Pixie Purls

A darling pattern for toddlers in three delicious flavors!

Strawberry Fruit Loop

Pineapple Fruit Loop

Grape Fruit Loop

Dress up that adorable little girl in fresh and fruity colors. When worked in a lightweight, easy-care hemp and cotton blend (or similar) yarn, this sleeveless top or dress is the perfect outfit for those hot summer days, and when temperatures cool down, it will look equally pretty over a little white t-shirt.

The top/dress is knit in the round starting with color A at the bottom hem. The skirt section is knit to the desired length for a top or dress, and then gathered in the front of the skirt before joining color B to knit the bodice. The skirt can be knit in a plain stockinette stitch, or one of the pretty pattern stitches noted in Variations.

$8.00

Size
6-12 months [12-18 months, 18-24 months, 2T, 3T]

Materials
DK-weight yarn in two colors (all sizes unless otherwise
indicated):
Color A (skirt):
• (Top) 153 [153, 306] yds
• (Dress) 306 yds
Color B (bodice): 153 yds
[Hemp-Cotton Blend Recommended]

Note: All models worked in Hempathy by Elsebeth Lavold
[34% hemp, 41% cotton, 25% modal; 153y/50g ball]

Recommended Needle Size
Double-pointed needles (set of 4 or 5), or 16-inch
circular needle: size US 2 (2.75 mm), or a size necessary
to achieve specified gauge

Gauge
22 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the round

Posted by pixie at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Well it's sort of anit-climactic at this point concerning the Fruit Loop pattern. I wish I could have had it published about 2 months ago! Such is life, such is life. Hopefully this WEEK though! :)

I did record a new podcast so I was productive this week as far as "knitting content" goes. I didn't knit much this week, I've been re-reading all the Harry Potter books. I thought I was preparing for the November release of the movie. Ya know what? They moved it back. UNTIL JULY of next year. So mad. The rumor is because Batman was such a huge hit for Warner, they don't have any huge blockbusters for next year and moved this to basically make sure next year wasn't a sucky year financially. Gotta love corporate America. Batman did rock though.

So here is a photo I stole from Claudia.

It's BG and I and the "Fiber Dogs" enjoying some time at Claudia's house, attempting to enter all her stash into Ravelry. She got through 4 balls of yarn. Baby's are distracting, and BG mostly wanted to run around and touch everything.

Then I stole another photos from Amanda.

That's one of my Country Kiddie test knits (I knit that one) up on display in the sock yarn section at Knitch. It's funny because I often knit in "Knitch" colors because the colors they use for the store are my favorite shades of teal and blue which of course look wonderful with pale browns and white.

I'm still mad about Harry Potter, in fact I think I might actually be depressed. Harry Potter movies are NOT meant to be release in the summer, they are so very *fall* to me. BAH!!!! Am in the only one who thinks it's crappy to release it in the summer (ignoring the fact it's been delayed over 6 months).

:(

Posted by pixie at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

BG's birthday is fast approaching and I have been planning an out-of-state party for her in the central-most state to all the family (Virginia). It's been busy, I'm having the food catered (well, I pick it up but people prepare it) and I'm going to rent a party city air tank thingy to blow up loads of ballons and the cake situation still isn't 100% (I'll find out tommorow) so that has me a tad anxious, but I have two back up plans for that.

So yeah, the feeling reminds me of when I was 12. I loooove birthdays, anyone's birthdays. so far planning BG's and recieving stuff in the mail makes it feel like it's MY birthday because of how happy it makes me and how fun it is. Just today someone sent an entirely too cool box of stuff in the mail. BG went bonkers for what was in the box, an Alpaca- Alpaca directly from Peru. It's beyond soft and actually made of Alpaca. It's SO cute. Check it out. I can't get it out of her hands.

The party is going to be so fun, I can't wait to see her open presents for the first time.

Posted by pixie at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I've actually come a long way on BG's halloween costume. I've knit one leg of her pants, and I finished knitting the top except I want to add something on to the bottom of it now. I haven't photographed any of that so here is another finished item (though it is missing the ears). It actually is WAY huge on her though you can't tell in the photos. I think if I have enough yarn I'll knit a second one and she can wear this one next year as a winter hat.

It's the "Lil-Devil" pattern. I modified the little devil arrows hanging off. The directions said to CO one stitch on each side but that looked awul, so instead I kfb on the stitches one inside from the edges. It turned out a lot cleaner. I think I also SSK'd instead of k2tog which for me always turns out cleaner. I'm using picky yarn so it was important to get it as perfect as possible. I cast on extra stitches because my gauge was smaller and I guess I over estimated which is why it's so big. I did a normal cast on and just picked up stitches for the sides.

I had grand plans to record two podcast's this week, but alas I am sick. Sucks. I had so much I meant to do this week with my very limited days before I go back to work and this entire week was a bust. I have no idea how I even got sick as no one else is sick around me or in the family.

So far I am just hoping BG doesn't catch it though she was a bit hot today, so I gave her some Tylenol before bed and I am crossing my fingers. Today she was taking up to 5 steps on her own before crouching down. She walks all the time by holding onto things or pushing things but this was the first time she took more then 2 steps on her own. Hopefully once the little devil costume is done I can get some cute shots of her walking around.

Here is the latest knit for myself. Can you guess the pattern (without peeking at my ravelry page!). Someone mentioned it in a ravelry thread and I knew I had to knit it as soon as I saw some other people's FO's. (crappy phone pic)

Posted by pixie at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a *must* knit. I've always been a fan of Wendy's designs. This one is so intensly kick ass. It also is shown in one of this fall's most popular colors. No. 6 brought to you by Stitchdiva.

Speaking of fashion, I was a very bad girl and bought a new knitting/work bag. A large Hobo Dooney & Bourke. I might be mad, but I love it. I have no idea what possessed me to get it as I honestly am normally annoyed by the droves of people walking around with Coach purses and swore I would never spend a bunch of money on a purse. I suppose I am a hypocrite. A happy hypocrite.

Tomorrow night I am going to FINALLY see the new Batman movie. My last plans got squashed after BG had a bad day and it just wasn't possible. This time I am going at night so it should be fine.

Posted by pixie at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This month has been fun, she wants to push everything. Pushing the diaper box around the living room, or her big girl potty that sits un-used in the bathroom. It makes a funny noise when the rubber on the bottom scraps the floor so we say "push push push!" and she will push it all over. Walking with 'assistance' and on August 3rd she said "uh oh!" when she dropped her sippy cup. I believe she actually said the word "baby" a few days ago but past that one day she hasn't said it sense, and "uh oh!" came out with gusto and was easily repeated.

Today we went to see our financial advisor (aka how to afford college for BG one day) and the secretary watched her while we spoke with our advisor. Never a cry or a whine escaped her lips. The women watching commented "she loves music, I mean LOVES" which of course we already knew, and as I spied on her she was rocking her music and swaying. She was having a blast. This helped ease my apprehension about daycare. She's a social girl and is happy if there is lots going on. She's taken a few "steps" on her own, and loves to jabber in her own secret language. She giggles insanely at puppies and babies and loves to watch our dogs pick up the food she drops.

She is my constant inspiration.

Posted by pixie at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Today I created my very first schematic using Marnie's fantastic tutorial. Yesterday I worked on a new section for pixiepurls.com (not live yet, just did some rough compositions in fireworks). I also am only 1/2 an inch from being done with the top for BG's Halloween costume. Lots of knitting related things going on here. I even have fantastic final photos of the Fruit Loop pattern but I am not allowed to post them until you guys can get the pattern. Right now I am just waiting on my very wonderful tech editor who has been very patient with my "new to pattern writting" crazy self!

This summer has seen lots of rain here in Georgia. This is a good thing but the heat these storms bring before them has been pretty rough. Our poor little air conditioner can't keep up. Oh that reminds me, today I hosted a "sewing" party at my house. Guess who showed up? The president of the Peacthree Handspinners Guild (Jen!). How lucky did I get? She taught me how to sew and create gathering for a really cute apron pattern I had stashed. All sorts of other lovely ladies showed up (Tammy, Amanda, Ann) a few of us sewed while the rest knit. The husbeast even took BG for 2 hours so I was free to *really* sew.

This weekend is really turning out fantastic. Tomorrow we go to see Batman (first movie with my husband in nearly a year!) while BG stays at her first ever "babysitter" (a friend I've known a long time who has 6 month old twins and loads of toys for her to play with). I'll have an "11 months" entry not to many days from now, and I really hope a finished Fruit Loop for sale! Here comes the thunder, I better put the computer up.

Posted by pixie at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)