My little guy turned one a week ago. I don’t even know what to say about it. I love having babies. I love watching them grow… if only it took a little longer to go from a little squeaky lump of perfection to a running ball of chubby energy. *sigh*

He wasn’t sure what to think of the whole celebration. To be honest I think he was a bit scared of the candle. (Nothing like the excitement of this first birthday.)

When I saw the hat that Meg made for Finn a few weeks ago I knew just the handmade gift I wanted to make for Hunter for his birthday.

It’s the Stella Pixie Hat and the pattern is gloriously FREE through ravelry. I knit it up with a strand of Knit Picks kettle dyed sock yarn in Spruce and a strand of Pagewood Farm Chugiak hand dyed sock yarn in the Peaceful colorway. I spent my week of no computer or computer genius to knit it. I stayed up really late. I didn’t do the button neck band, just made about 8 inches of i-cord on both ends of the neckband so I can tie it. I think that makes it easier to make it stay on.

I took my little elf for a walk, but he moves so fast the majority of my pictures turned out like this:

He must scrunch up his nose, squeal in delight and try his darnedest to run every second he’s outside. Unless he finds something to examine.

Then he’ll slow down for maybe a second.

He’s worn it near constantly since his birthday. It must pass the itch test because he doesn’t try to pull it off.

Or maybe he just knows how cute he is.

So stinkin’ cute I can hardly stand it.

Okay, the SweetPod pattern isn’t quite ready.  I guess since I had set the goal of having it ready to sell by the end of this week the universe aligned against me.  We had a wonderful trip to Idaho for Thanksgiving full of food and fun and aunts and uncles and cousins, but we came home with 2 sick babies.  Sick croupy babies= not much sleep or time during the day when I’m not holding someone.

But I will steer you to Raelyn’s blog where she shows off her SweetPod.  It looks perfect!!  Woohoo!

I’m hoping to have it finished soon so I can wrap my brain around things like Christmas.

That said– can I show you what I accomplished while sitting in the car for about 28 hours last week?

My very first big person sized sweater!   I saw Amanda’s sweater a few weeks ago and instantly thought, “That is the sweater I would knit for myself– if I could somehow find the time.”  It’s the Shalom Cardigan by Meghan at Involving the Senses.

When the reality of the length of our Thanksgiving road trip sank in I sneaked in a trip to the yarn store.  I bought some Cascade Ecological wool, which was pretty and super inexpensive.  I tried to find something with a lower itch factor for the same price, but to no avail.  Now I’m kinda wishing I had splurged for some Spud and Chloe outer, which I think my extremely wool sensitive self could handle.  Even with a turlte neck on I’m pretty itchy.

It went really quickly.  We drove from Denver to Boise in one day.  I cast on as soon as the sun came up and by the time we were there I was done with the yoke and a few rows of the body.  I knit a row here and there while we were there and then finished the rest on the drive home.  I love that it is all one piece– no seaming required.

Maybe next time we make that drive I’ll make myself a non-itchy one with sleeves.  And one more button.

Still, I totally love it.