the blue blog archives: hugs and kisses

I've got a bit of a Robitussin hangover this morning. Still, housecleaning, laundry, and the internet wait for no man (sick or not). And I'm beginning to realize that babies also don't wait until you've finished their baby sweaters to be born. So it's time for me to get back to work on the baby sweaters!

I had planned to make this Mandarin Petit sweater for one of the many babies-on-the-way I have to knit for. But the gauge was a bit daunting and the babies just keep on coming. (There is some relentless baby-making going on out there these days!) I rethought my baby sweater plans on my weekend yarn crawl in DC and Shannon helped me pick out Rowan Cashsoft DK to make this sweater from Miss Bea's Rainy Day for said baby girl. (Fellow Knitsmith Lisa knit this one in a green Cascade 220 Superwash and it was fabulous!) I've recommended the Cashsoft to so many customers in the store, I'm embarrased to admit that besides the collars on the boys Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts, I've never used the yarn. Thankfully, I can now say that it is just as amazing as I promised all those customers!

It's just soooo soft. The cables are standing out very well. And the whole thing is machine washable. You can't beat that. Cashsoft, where have you been all my knitting life?

And now that I've done my housecleaning, laundry and internet duties, and restarted the baby knitting, I'm off to see if some hugs and kisses from the boys might not be enough to kick this cold. Boy medicine to the rescue!

posted by alison at 11:18 am | in hugs and kisses

Comments

Beautiful! And superwash, too? Too good to be true! (And aren't you glad you won't have all those ends to weave in?)

Feel better!

Posted by: Mary at September 1, 2006 11:22 AM

Yes, I just loooove Miss Bea!! I've got yarn stashed for another of her lovely sweaters, now I really got inspired to toss the weasly into a corner, and start a new Miss Bea. You're to blame...

Posted by: Helene at September 1, 2006 12:01 PM

ohhh how pretty!

Posted by: Michelle at September 1, 2006 12:06 PM

Of all the sweaters I've knit for my granddaughter Katy, Miss Bea's "Tea for Two" is her favorite. Yours looks lovely and is bound to be a favorite sweater too.

Posted by: Barbara at September 1, 2006 12:13 PM

Wow! The cables looks so great! The color, too!

Posted by: Lori at September 1, 2006 12:27 PM

I'm home for work with a cold in the nose and I'm hoping oranges, tea and naps will do the trick.

The hugs and kisses cables are so pretty in that precious pink.

Posted by: LaurieM at September 1, 2006 12:53 PM

While I adore Cashsoft beyond reason, I have also found that Plymouth Dreambaby makes a fabulously soft baby sweater. I can get gauge for both DK and 4ply patterns with the DK weight yarn. And, while I hate to be cheap, 7 bucks for a baby sweater doesn't exactly make me sad either.

Posted by: liz at September 1, 2006 12:57 PM

Keerful. It may be "machine washable", but you'd better keep it to the gentle cycle and under no circumstances put it in the dryer. I speak from sad experience.

Posted by: Kat at September 1, 2006 1:02 PM

Hi Alison,
that is one of my favorite patterns.. i keep telling myself i'm going to make in so many different sizes cause it is the only pattern that i totally love and could do again and again.. but have i started.. ha of course not.. grr.. anyway i'm still settling in to Queen Creek, AZ.. i did start my own snb on monday nites at a great coffee shop.. and can't wait for more people to come.. i went to one last nite up north of me in Mesa.. it was so cool to meet other knitters.. and i got to play knitting dr again.. and helped one of the girls fix a little prob.. it was simple and cool.. and the yarn was so soft.. i didn't want to give it back.. haha.. see even though i've left the east coast i can't stay away.. thanks for writing a wonderful blog and showing great shots of your life! hugs Karola

Posted by: Karola at September 1, 2006 1:21 PM

I fell in love with this and just ordered the book. I have a grand daughter who will look beautiful in it (and she has a younger sister so it can be passed down!).

Posted by: Judy Foldi at September 1, 2006 1:26 PM

Beautiful, got to get some Cashsoft

Posted by: Angie at September 1, 2006 1:49 PM

The X and O s really stand out nicely, I love it!

Posted by: Jen at September 1, 2006 2:31 PM

I knit one of the Miss Beas XO sweaters for Maya out of Cascade Sierra and loved it - a great pattern and a quick knit. Maya calls it her Kisses and Hugs sweater - for the Xs and Os... hope you and your recipient like this one as much!

Posted by: Thea at September 1, 2006 6:12 PM

I love Cashsoft. If I find a stray ball in the orphan bin, it always comes home with me. Same with Rowan Calmer.

Posted by: freecia at September 1, 2006 7:48 PM

I've been knitting for tons of babies too. What's up with that?

Beautiful pink sweater you are working on - love the xoxo cables.

Posted by: Julie at September 1, 2006 8:24 PM

Oh, it just gorgeous, and I know how you feel...I always try to get all my laundry and cleaning done in one day so that I have some of my weekend free for me.
Internet is part of me...

Posted by: Orli at September 2, 2006 5:30 PM

that sweater is gorgeous
I hope you're feeling better soon.

Posted by: Teyani at September 2, 2006 9:05 PM

Love the cable it looks great and I love that color. I sure baby will love it

Posted by: lori at September 3, 2006 6:08 PM

That's pretty funny--I have literally sold thousands of dollars worth of Cascade 220, I own quite a bit of it myself and have yet to knit with it.

Posted by: Cirilia at September 3, 2006 9:13 PM

You know, that there is a pattern for hugs and kisses socks at interweaves website?

A few days ago there was something in the tv about having a lot of babies been born theres weeks and they mentioned that it must be becuse of the cold winter/ autumn we had ...

Posted by: Sibylle at September 4, 2006 4:53 AM

wow.
this is my first time here,
i found your site via whip-up and
i have to tell you
that a "visit" turned into
an hour and a half!!!
you have made some
amazing things!
i am a fairly new knitter,
trying to teach myself alot of stuff
and you have really made me
want to keep trying...
wow...
:)

Posted by: gkgirl at September 4, 2006 9:13 AM

Beautiful sweater in Cashsoft... and good decision on avoiding the Mandarin Petit. I just finished a beautiful yet exhausting baby blanket in that yarn and, for the effort, it seems so *small*.

Posted by: Joanne at September 4, 2006 4:06 PM