Celtic Cast On

This post is long over due! We all know my excuse soo lets just get right to the good stuff.

This package was sent from Denise. I swear she can read minds because it was on my list of things to knit for Tadpole. I didn’t have the yarn on hand to make it with so it was bumped to the bottom of the list.

It was only a few days later that the little hat arrived on my doorstep. This hat has plenty of stretch and rolled up brim that it should still fit by fall. I love it, thanks Denise!

The next package actually arrived the morning I had Tad. Moose brought the package to the hospital for me to open.

These super cute socks were knit by Hanna and have a very cool story behind them.

Hanna tells me,

A woman was travelling in a train with her 2-month-old baby during the
war in 1939. Their journey was cut off as the railroad had been
damaged in bombings. A retired crafts teacher was travelling in the
same train and she felt sorry for the baby who had no warm socks. She
unravelled her own hand knit sweater and knit a pair of socks for the
baby. Later on, the baby’s mother knit several pairs of socks using
the original socks as a model and also taught her daughter to knit
them. Now the pattern is very popular in Finland and ofter referred to
as the “train socks”.
Hanna also sent this really cute onesie! It is unlike any that I have seen over here, it wraps around like a kimono and has snaps on either side.

Thank you for your wonderful gifts Hanna!

The cutest little rectangular box arrived in my mailbox not too long ago housing these:

The sweetest little pair of mini knee socks from Kathy.  She adapted Kristen`s Mystery Sock pattern to fit Tad  in one of my favourite shades of green at the moment. These are so adorable I almost can`t stand it! 

While she has been wearing them regularly there is still quite a bit of room to grow into yet.  Thanks Kathy they are perfect!

Lastly I must tell you about a package I received from my Twinny Kelli. This package came in the summer wayyyy before the shower even started.

Kelli knit a gorgeous blanket out of alpaca for T. It is super duper warm and gets rave reviews when its out and about with Tad. The first thing I get asked is did I make it…………errrrrr yyyyyeaaa….. no no I didn`t make it, a friend did! As much as I would like to claim it as my own knit I simply can`t. I was soooo excited when I opened the card that said there was an alpaca blanket in the box. I immediately started rooting in search for the blanket, I was not disappointed. An alpaca blanket was more than enough but Kelli filled the box with some cute twisted stitch socks, a bib and yarn! Talk about spoiled. Thank you Kelli for your amazing package.

That my friends wraps up the package posts. Thank you sooo much to everyone that took the time to make something for our little Tadpole, she has been truely spoiled by you all.

This beautiful cardi set was a gift for Tadpole from Freida of Restless Needles.  I love the tweedy yellow yarn she chose, she`s got my colours down pat It`s sized 9-12 months and will be so perfect for Tadpole to toddle about The Ridge next year. I absolutely love it!

Freida added an extra button with the package that I think I might attach to the beanie if Tad is a girl. I’ll always know where the button is if I loose one. 

I also received a package from Colleen of Rabies on my shoes. She sent this warm felted blanket for Tadpole’s car seat. I haven’t decided how exactly I want to use it yet but Colleen suggested cutting a slit in it for the seat belt… I don’t know if I can bring myself to cut it but we’ll see once Tad arrives. She also included some goodies for me which was way too much.

 This delicious Warm Vanilla Sugar cream which smells heavenly and some great sock yarn from Knit Picks I have yet to try.

Thank you ladies for your wonderful gifts, Tadpole is going to be a warm little bundle of yarny goodness!

Its taken a while for me to get pictures of the next couple of packages. The weather has been dull and rainy which provides horrible lighting and I also needed Moose’s help  to showcase this next one.

This most gorgeous quilt was made by Pat of Pat`s Knitting and Quilting. If you haven`t had the opportunity to see Pat`s work yet, what are you waiting for, get right on over there and check it out. I`m always inspired by her  projects and her quilts are amazing!!!

Pat had posted the start of a beautifully bright baby quilt on her blog a few months ago. I immediately loved the bright colours and fun blocks she was using but never imagined it would end up being sent to The Ridge for Tadpole.

Is this not the most beautiful baby quilt you ever did see? If this doesn’t stimulate Tadpole’s little brain I don’t know what will.  I can’t wait to snuggle under this quilt with my little baby, not to mention that this will be great for story time, learning colours and shapes.

Tadpole is one lucky baby!!!

The back is lined with a lovely soft flannel that will be perfect for snuggling, I’ve been thinking about getting under it myself all week, especially after yesterday’s snow!

Moose was amazed at the many hours it must have taken to make this beauty and that it was made for our little one!

I don’t think I can express how much I truly love this quilt, the bright vibrant colours suit my and Moose’s personalities to a T and I imagine Tadpole will give it rave reviews in just a few weeks!

Thank you so much Pat, its perfect in every way!

*Two points for any who can spot Bosty in this post *:)

It only seems fitting that this next package from Monika, Biko and Happy arrived just before Socktoberfest got underway.

Tadpole’s first pair of socks!!!

How incredibly adorable are these socks??? 

 I love the garter stitch detail, so unique, I’ve never come across a pattern for baby socks that is this cute. I may have to give this pattern a go and make another pair for Tad. 

Love  that the package was addressed to “My name and Moose!” heheh

I laughed sooo hard when I pulled out this card…

 For those of you that haven’t been reading all that long, Moose calls me Donkey and obvious I call him Moose. This card was just too perfect,  love it when someone GETS me!

Monika chose the cutest fabrics, for these wonderful handmade, double sided bibs.  I couldn’t figure a way to get both sides in the shot so you’ll just have to believe me, they are awesome.

 She also made two wonderful, again double sided burp cloths to complete this wonderful package. I’d hadn’t  heard of a burp cloth until just recently but now I can definitely see how useful they are going to be.

Thank you so much Monika everything is sooo fabulous.

I appreciate the time you took to make and tailor everything to suit my personality!

  Something very odd has been happening on The Ridge, odd yet wonderful.

It all started a few weeks ago when I received a package in the mail. I wasn’t expecting anything and didn’t recognize the address which I thought was odd but intriging. The package was from Sarah, her letter explained that Dianna had asked her if she would like to participate in a virtual baby shower for my little Tadpole… I think my mouth was trailing on the ground at this time…. a baby shower for Tadpole???? Moose was wondering what the heck I was reading and I explained that Dianna had set up a virtual baby shower for us. We are still both amazed that someone we have never met would organize this for us, not to the readers of my blog taking the time to make something for our little Pole. Truly this is amazing!

I  couldn’t not share this wonderful gift with you all, so I’ll be posting here and there about the wonderful gifts we have received from you my wonderful readers.

Like I said the first package I received was from Sarah, she made this gorgeous little hat for Tadpole.

This is a Prairie Poppins original design. According to Sarah  , the cable pattern comes from an Austrian knitting book she found in a museum filled with goods from Austrian Farmhouses. I love twisted cable patterns not to mention those cute little pompom/bobbles in the corners.

I’m not sure which yarn she used, its super soft and she did say it was superwash which will be good in case Moose accidentally gets his paws on it. He’s pretty good about knit things though and knows to leave them be or ask but ya never know.

You can’t really tell the size from the pattern but I’d say this will fit a newborn or month or two old Tadpole and will be ever so cute!!!

Thanks again Sarah its perfect!

The other package I received was from Amanda and Lily of Joli House.

Amanda knit this adorable Baby Surprise Jacket for Tadpole.

It’s knit with a lovely brightly coloured sock yarn great for a boy or girl and who couldn’t love those little ladybug buttons down the front?

I also love the, what looks like applied i-cord,  she used for the neck and trim, finishes it off so nicely!

This jacket is sooo adorably tiny! Would you believe I took these pictures with the jacket on a knitting needle??

Thank you Amanda and Lily I love it!

Tadpole will be a snug little newborn in this hat and jacket not to mention the most stylish little knitter baby

Today was a wonderful knitterly day! This morning I met up with some wonderful local knitters to drink tea, knit and talk all things yarny!

From left to right Areli aka KnittyPants, Kim and of course Heidi.

Check out A’s rocking socks, I adore her shoes!!! Kim was sporting a lovely hand knit scarf and socks while Heidi had on her yummy Noro scarf. What was I wearing???? NOTHING knit!!! Not a dang thing!! Think it was too early in the morning for me to think about what knit to wear.

I worked on my Junipers while sipping tea and maybe talking a little too much because I had to frog my second mitt and start over but it was worth it!

I should be done these fairly soon if I keep focused on my chart. I can’t wait to adorn them with the cutest little leather look buttons I found.

Until we meet again kniterati’s!!

Can anyone tell me why my sidebar is not where it should be????

Thankful for family,friends and this beautiful part of the world I am so blessed to be living in!

Thankful for all my wonderful readers, Celtic Cast On just wouldn’t be the same without you!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well seeing as i’m really awful at keeping up with the ABC Along i’ve decided I’m playing by my own rules. We’re skipping G for now, if anything good pops up I can always backtrack but for now lets talk about H.

                                                                      H is for Heidi.

You’ve all heard me talking about my knitting friend Heidi before but I don’t think I really told you how talented this girl is!! Heidi taught herself to knit a few years ago and started churning out these amazing felted bags which she sells in Etsy. They aren’t just any old felted bag, she does the most amazing embroidery work on each of her bag, each one unique and different but all are exquisite. Her Etsy shop is Lilibeth’s Garden, go have a peak. Also have a look at her sold items and you can really get an idea of her amazing work.
Not only does she knit, she crochet’s, draws and has a definate pull towards the fiber arts. *Soon I will have her into rug hooking, it is only a matter of time*
We have known each other for a few years and while knitting brought us together we have discovered how much we really have in common. Her husband says its crazy how alike we are, and that we could be sisters. Very true very true, but let me tell ya I could only dream of having a sister like Heidi.

                                              H is for Heidi a wonderful and talented friend!