The LONG of it

clothe:  v.  to put clothes on;  dress;  to provide clothing for.

It's January 1st.  I can't help but wonder why New Year's is depicted by a naked baby.  Maybe it's time to "clothe" this little guy/girl!  Because I'm anticipating the arrival of another grandchild in the next couple weeks, my knitting needles have been busy working on items for the new little one.  Perhaps the New Year's baby would like some of these knitted cozies!!

I've spent the last few weeks working on a new design for knitted baby pants.  I made some knitted pants for my grandson last year year, but they just didn't fit right.  With #4 soon to appear, I knew it was time to tackle another design project:  design some "longies", as many call them, that  cover the back of the diaper, yet are easy and quick to make.  The result:  Oh Baby! Knitted Pants 


Oh Baby! Knitted Pants

I have to credit the iPad JKnit app  in my design process.  It really helps in tracking revisions I make while working through the design process.  No more tiny slips of paper with alterations scribbled on them!!  I've had some time over the last week to complete 3 more sizes, so the pattern is ready to publish!  (See the pattern page of www.knittingdoodle.com )

I also made a sweater to go with these pants.
The sweater pattern comes from Fawn Pea and can be found on her blog ( http://fpea.blogspot.com/ ) The pattern is called "Super Natural Stripes". 



My final comment on "clothing" babies has to do with the question "Why spend time knitting a sweater for someone who will wear it 3 months at the most?"  If you use good quality, washable yarns, knitted baby clothes last a couple of lifetimes!  My grandsons wear sweaters their great-grandmother knitted for their grandfather when he was a baby.  And here is a WHITE sleeper I knitted for my first grandson.  It has already been frequently worn by three little boys.  My daughter just brought it to me to change the buttons since her next child is rumored to be a girl.  So the sleeper is going on child #4 and still looks great.

There's an app for that!

app  (ap)  n.  software made for mobile devices.



Something different today ... a review!  True, I'm a knitter.  But I'm also a technology geek.  I love the latest electronic this or that.  And I love comparing what's available on various platforms, etc.  I have both a Blackberry Playbook and an iPad.  What's available on the two devices for the knitter on the go?  Lots!  Here's the two apps I've loaded on my devices and what they can do.






Blackberry Playbook:    Counter by Robin deBled  (Free)
This app is a simple, easy-to-use row counter.  It is only a counter, but you can have multiple counters on your screen at a time.  Example:  a counter for rows or repeats or increases or decreases or more.  Because it is not specifically designed for knitter, the counter can be used for anything.












iPad:  JKnit by Jakrosoft 
($6.99)
This app is subtitled "Your Ultimate Knitting Project Assistant" and, I must admit, it really is.  It's also available for the iPhone.  It takes some learning and work to start using it.  Tutorials are available at http://www.jakrosoft.com/jknit.html to walk you through the program.


JKnit is a full service knitting tool and especially great for those projecrts that are either very long or have lots of different steps.  To begin using it, you need to take the time to type in your entire pattern -- separating each piece or block as you go along.  Each step (or "event" as the app calls it) has qualifiers attached that do the brainwork for you while you are knitting.  A bit tedious?  yes ... but the end result makes it so easy to pick up your project anytime, anywhere and know exactly where you are and what to do next.  No more staring at the pattern and your work and trying to remember where you left off!  Also, the online site (noted above) allows you to enter the project on your computer with a normal keyboard, then export it to your device.

For example, perhaps you must do an increase on each end of every 6th row.  When you enter that step of the pattern, you set those qualifiers.  Each time you tap the counter, the screen displays the row number you are on, the knitting directions for that row, and the number of stitches that should be on your needles. When you are on the 6th row, the screen tells you to do the increase!

I've done two projects using JKnit so far and I'm currently working on a new design using the program.  From the design point of view, it's wonderfully easy to adjust and edit the pattern as I'm knitting.

And now a quick picture just to assure you that I have actually been knitting.  With another grandchild due to make an appearance very soon, I thought a new baby cocoon was in order.  (Yes ... rumor has it this one will be a girl!)