Oh Thrashers. I love you.

kelly without a net is really excited to announce that we are preparing for our one thousandth person to cast on their version of in threes: a baby cardigan.  One Thousand.  That’s a one, with three zeros after it.  I am totally floored and awed and appreciative and excited (that’s a lot of adjectives).

I’ve put together a small giveaway commemorating this event!

Right now, 980 people have cast on and entered their in threes: a baby cardigan in the project database on Ravelry.  Once we reach 1,000, I’ll open a thread in my kelly without a net group on Ravelry entitled, “One thousand threes!”  Every one who posts in the thread (post whatever you want!) will be entered for a chance to win one of 5 prizes (randomly selected).  The thread will be open for exactly 48 hours, so be sure to check back regularly.  One entry/post per person, please (I’ll delete any posts after your first).  You do not need to have knit in threes before to win.

First Prize:  One skein of Malabrigo Rios, your choice of colorway

Second Prize: One skein of Malabrigo Worsted, your choice of colorway

Third Prize: One skein of Malabrigo Dos, pantano colorway

Fourth Prize: your choice of kelly without a net pattern

Fifth Prize: your choice of kelly without a net pattern

Please spread the word to your friends, be on the lookout for the post in the kelly without a net group, and THANK YOU for helping make in threes: a baby cardigan successful!

It’s so funny how grown up and mature we think we are at 21 years old. I was in love with my college sweetheart, and marriage seemed like the logical next step.

We’re so very blessed, because for all the growing and maturing we’ve done over the past decade, we’ve grown and matured together. Still in love. Still a team. Still happy together.

But this past decade had brought so many changes–3 children, 3 moves (one overseas), 3 years abroad, changes in jobs and career paths. The list is endless. I can see why so many who marry young end up as divorce statistics.

We’ve been blessed. I’ll never take that, these rings, our promise, my Marcus, for granted.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

This is my favorite Christmas decoration. It has been since I was a little girl. My Nanee’s house was always a holiday wonderland, and most of her decorations were handmade. This was a gift from several years ago, a recreation if the one I remember playing with at her house in childhood.

This is one of my 100 objects because of more than the decoration itself. It encompasses so many of my childhood memories. Going to Nanee’s house to decorate was an annual tradition. I think about it every year around this time. I remember unpacking her boxes. Putting the decorations on the dozens of shelves that I swear that she had Poppy put up just for the holidays. Decorating her tree.

This decoration is my childhood.

Now that we’ve gotten the exclamation points out of the way, let’s talk details.

I got the idea for a garter rib body after knitting about a dozen Snow Day Cowls, a pattern by my friend and fellow designer Sue.  I loved the idea of a hat that had a garter rib body, and was surprised that I didn’t find one.  But I never sit down to put the hat together, mostly because I was intimidated with finding a way to make the crown come together nicely.  Then my sister got pregnant with her second child and decided not to find out what she was having.  Suddenly, I *needed* a gender neutral baby hat, and I knew this was where garter rib could work.  So I went to work.

Nolan is sized for newborns, infants, toddlers, and children.  I had a variety of head sizes to work with here at the house, but I also referenced Kate Oates’ great head sizing chart.  Because heads come in many different shapes and sizes, this was a wonderful resource for me as a designer (and a knitter).

Nolan is knit in sportweight or DK weight yarn.  I knit my first sample in Huckleberry Knits Nootka Merino sportweight (the Huckleberry colorway) on 3.25 mm needles.  I knit my second sample in String Theory Hand-dyed Merino DK  (the Nevirrik colorway), also on 3.25 mm needles.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the stretch that the the garter rib has, without all the work of regular 2×2 ribbing.  In fact, if I had added extra length to the toddler-sized hat I knit for Jessica, I could have worn it!

Nolan is priced at $4, but between now and the end of November 2011, if you purchase in threes: a baby cardigan or Wyatt, you will receive Nolan free of charge!

I hope you enjoy Nolan as much as I have!

See if you can guess something about me, just from these three objects. I bet you can.

I may not be the best Catholic. I’m not in church every week. I haven’t read the Bible from cover to cover. I can’t recite scripture. But I am Catholic. I believe in one God, the Father. I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe that Mary was conceived within original sin and that she was a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I believe he later ascended into heaven. I believe that the Pope and Bishops and Priests are here to help lead us on the path to righteousness. I believe that nothing I do will ever be “good enough” for God…but that He’ll always forgive me and love me, anyway.

These three objects are the most important to help and remind me along the way.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the pattern details:

Yarn:  Any sportweight or DK yarn that you can get gauge with, approximately 50 (65, 80, 100) yards per hat

Needles: 1 set of 3.25 mm dpns

Additional Notions: 1 stitch marker, darning needle

Gauge:  Approximately 12 stitches to 2 inches over in garter rib (unstretched)

Sizes: Newborn (Infant, Toddler, Child) These translate to approximate head circumferences of 13.5 (17, 19, 21) inches when stretched.

Stitches/Abbreviations Used:  CO cast on; BO bind off; K knit; P purl; P2tog purl 2 stitches together; K2tog knit 2 stitches together; SK2TogPSSO slip one stitch, knit next two stitches together, passed slipped stitch over that new stitch

So get that yarn wound and your needles ready!  This is a quick knit that is perfect for all those little heads this holiday and winter season!

These books aren’t favorites, or representative of my favorite genre. In fact, they’re my latest “to read” pile, which continues to grow faster than I can put a dent in it.

And that, of course, is as me as it gets.

What a great way to start a week!

the original "in threes: a baby cardigan"

If you’re looking for details about in threes: a baby cardigan, you can purchase the pattern via download at Ravelry (you don’t need to be a member to purchase…but join…Ravelry rocks!).  I really hope you enjoy it!

Have a spectacular day!  I know I will!