amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Selissa · 06-07-2005, 01:19 PM

some af you might remember a while back when ds wouldn't wear the peace fleece soaker i made him. well after inumerable lanolizings and 3 conditionings i finally got him to wear it. yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i dyed the yarn myself and made the rise extra high so i could fold it down and provide extra leak protection for my heavy night wetting belly sleeper. this cover is so great for nights yay! and much cuter on his bum.

then i took the first soaker i ever made. it was flat knit, sewn together poorly, to short in the rise, too wide, and way to big in the legs.

I reseamed it, added a waistband, cuffs, and an I-chord tie. i am really proud of how it ended up coming out. this one is lower rise and airy for hot summer day use.

please excuse my elyucko couch. we usually keep a quilt on it cause ds has so grossified it.

sweet~potato · 06-08-2005, 08:29 AM

I love how colorful it is! The cuffs and waistband on the second one look so nice with the color of the main soaker part. Great work!

Sunflower_Momma · 06-08-2005, 08:49 AM

Looks great! I seem to recall that you just started knitting about a year ago. How hard was it to learn? I can knit and pearl, increase and decrease, but some of the other stuff (and I know it's all knit and pearl) is confusing to me. So, how long did it take you and did you have anyone irl to help show you?

khogue2002 · 06-08-2005, 11:29 AM

That is a great looking soaker...I love the colors!

Are you knitting covers for the new baby too?

Selissa · 06-08-2005, 05:10 PM

thank you all

Rebecca-it wasnt' that hard for me really. but it seems to be the type of thing i am sorta good at. (sewing on the other hand is an entirely different story lmao) i have a copy of "stitch and b!tch" and websites bookmarked that have video's of different techniques. anytime i would come to something i didn't understand something in a pattern i would look at S&B. if i still didn't get it i would look at the videos. it was techinique that worked well for me since i learn best by hands on teaching myself....(i get bratty when people are trying to show me how to do things, WAY too defensive sigh lol)

as an example of how fast or slow i learned

first project- purple soaker, flat knit in garter stitch sewn poorly

second project- freeform ferret pocket to practice increase and decrease

third project-one set of breast pads (more increase and decrease prectice)

fourth project-flat knit soaker with texturisation, still poorly stitched up but better than first lol

got fern and faeirie pattern, taught me tons

fifth project-first soaker pictured above

6th project-second soaker pictured above...which is actually the first fixed.

so as you can se i haven't really knitted that much. if you can knit, pearl, increase, and decrease i think you can learn to do anything. if you have a question about a pattern just ask here. i do all the time lol

next ia m knitting a pair of shorts for ds and after that i will fix 4th project soaker. lol

karen- i am a little but the pattern i have requires measurements and since i don't have a baby yet i don't have measurements lol. i am not yet experienced enough to know how big a largish newborn soaker should be ya know?

but if i finish the two projects i have lined up i am gonna ask someone with a chubby newborn to measure for me so i can go ahead and make one (or more)

have i mentioned that i love knitting?

it is the only tangible thing i have ever been good at..well i have the potential to be good at at least..i am still a bit of a novice. i am actually starting to look forward to getting new patterns so i can learn new things

i would love to get the wonderpants pattern next (it's for cargo pants/shorts)

Megmama · 06-08-2005, 11:21 PM

They both look great..may I also say you are great at dying the yarn..what did you use?

btw..I've been a terrible friend and your box of diapers is still sitting here next to my desk...I am down with some kind of flu so I can't get out until I'm better, but I swear as soon as I am, they are in the mail.

I should throw some yarn in the box to make up for it

ZenMama · 06-09-2005, 01:37 AM

Fantastic, yea!! I love the first one. Did you do a three needle bind off? If so, next time try the kitchener stitch to join the seams. I LOVE knitting soakers.

Do you have a ferret? I would love to see your ferret pocket, we have a newly rescued ferret and we love her so, she needs a pocket, she likes to sleep with my girls though!

Awesome anyway Mama, you must be so proud!

Selissa · 06-09-2005, 03:17 PM

MEg- thank you

i used food coloring, vinegar, and apinch of salt in a cassarole dish to dye. i love dying..that is my favorite part...i love seeing how the colors come out.

don't worry aobut hte diapers, you jsut get yourself well...of course yarn is always apprecaited lmao

Lizz- thank you too lol. no i didn't..where can i find out how to do a three needle bind off? for the crotch seems i left them on the needles and did a kitchner stitch (which i love) though it is backwards lol whoops. for the bind off on the legs i jsut did the basic bind off..then at the last moment on that second soaker i figured out that i could bind off in ribbing so i did that for the waist..which gave it much more stretch and worked quite nicely. i have actually been meaning to come here and ask about other bind off techniques so this three needle thing has me curious

yeah we have a ferret. i think i have a picture around here of the pocket somewhere.... i'll look anyway.

i just cast on, like 6 -8 inches, increased every other row for a few inches and then decreased every other row for a few inches. till i had a good curled up ferret sized shape. then i sewed it all up except about a three inch hole. he loves it..i'm sure your would too.

congrats on the new ferret the yare cute.

MotherMoon · 06-09-2005, 03:19 PM

A friend of mine did something like this for their guinea pigs. They love it.

khogue2002 · 06-09-2005, 03:56 PM

Selissa, here is a video and written directions on the 3-needle bind off.

http://knittingatknoon.com/3_ndlbindoff.html

khogue2002 · 06-09-2005, 04:13 PM

Selissa,

If you want to try an inexpensive ($4) soaker pattern that doesn't need any seaming/grafting or picking up stitches for leg cuffs, try the Trim Soaker pattern at Warm Heart Woolies!!
I took a little break from soaker knitting for the past week or so to do a bunch of knit cloths but I'm nearly finished with my 6th soaker from this pattern in about 2 months. And I am not a fast knitter!

The pattern has basic increases/decreases and a section of optional short rows at the top back to cover the diaper, though if you like your extra long rise folded down, you could just skip them.

JeniLyn · 06-09-2005, 04:43 PM

I really like the soakers.
I think your color choices for dyeing are great. I haven't dyed anything yet, although I have some wool all ready to dye. I was going to try kool-aid dyeing; Maybe I'll try food coloring, too.

Great job!

Oh, and i'm glad he'll wear them now!!

Jeni

ZenMama · 06-11-2005, 02:41 AM

I believe Stitch N B*tch has the how-to for the three needle bind off. I like both.

The ferret pocket sounds perfect. Ours, named Ratlis, really enjoys getting into my knitting bag and all bags and getting cozy. I saw several big ferrets at the pet store the other day stuffed in this little hanging tube thingy and they did not fit, but were in heaven and fast asleep with their fat heads and rumps sticking out. It was so funny. I would love a picture if you have one handy. Oh, and our ferret's newest trick is to ask to join me in the shower, so weird!! But she loves it!

Have fun knitting.

Lizz

Dannielle · 06-13-2005, 07:54 AM

They look great!! I'm SO glad he'll wear them now