Wyoming Breezes

seaming shoulders on BSJ July 2022 Nothing motivates more than a publicly declared goal.  These two projects (Baby Surprise Jackets) we’re neglected in a bin for years, needing only minor effort to bring them to completion.  It took less than 15 minutes to seam the shoulders together on the brown sweater. That finished, I was able to pick up stitches at the neckline for the small collar. Knitting the collar and weaving in the ends was completed in short order. adding collar to BSJ All that remained to be done for both Baby Surprise Jackets was selecting and sewing on buttons.  Baby Surprise Jackets - complete with buttons July 2022 The sweaters are finally finished and off the “To Finish” list. Obviously, I prefer knitting projects like the BSJ rather than completing the “finishing” tasks. 

July 2022 Five projects are currently in my knitting queue: the Noro scarf, a pair of scrap yarn socks, the Redcliffe City socks, and two Baby Surprise Jackets (BSJ). The scarf should be finished tomorrow, the scrap socks (one finished and the mate at the heel flap), and the first Redcliffe sock is at the heel flap.  While cleaning the sewing room, I found a BSJ that needs shoulder seams and a collar added. The jacket came off the needles in 2020 . I also need to sew buttons on this BSJ as well as a purple one that was finished in 2018 .  I don’t know why I didn’t finish these BSJ years ago!  Currently, I seem to be in a mindset to get clear out lingering/stalled knitting projects, and they are out of bins and in a queue. 

Baby Surprise Jacket September 2020 In the evenings, while watching NCIS on Netflix, I've been working on the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This will be a good sweater for a toddler when it's finished.  I am using Encore and Encore Dynamo yarns - both a blend of washable wool and acrylic.  The sweater is knit in one piece and folded into the sweater shape when finished. The shoulders are the only seams.  The pattern is available online (digital or print) at Schoolhouse Press

taking advantage of a warm summer afternoon September 2020 Last week, I made an effort to sit outside and knit for at least an hour each afternoon. I soaked up every bit of sunshine I could because I knew a winter storm system was headed this way and would bring a drastic end of summer.  For a change of pace, I cast on a Baby Surprise Jacket, using two skeins of Plymouth Encore. The variegated skein is Encore Dynamo (color 042 - Persian Empire) and the solid brown is Encore (color 1204 - Brownstone). Both skeins were purchased at a thrift store several years ago. 

adding a collar to the Baby Surprise Jacket November 2018 Last week, I seamed the shoulders of the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) and picked up stitches to add a collar. The directions for adding a collar can be found in this earlier post . finished Baby Surprise Jacket buttons will be added later I've knit over ten BSJs since I purchased the pattern several years ago. I prefer to add a collar to the sweater if I have enough yarn. 3 grams remaining After the collar was added, I had 3 grams of yarn remaining - not quite a case of "yarn chicken" but pretty darn close.  I'll search for some appropriate buttons in the button jar. Hopefully, I can get to that soon, so I can find a recipient for this little jacket. 

Baby Surprise Jacket on the needles October 2018 I've been knitting in the evenings while binge watching Designated Survivor. Brenda recommended the series to me, and I'm hooked. With all the evening knitting time, the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) is progressing nicely, and I hope to finish it by the end of the week. I've knit the pattern numerous times, but I still marvel at the ingenuity of the design. This BSJ will be toddler size when finished.

beginning a Baby Surprise Jacket October 2018 My knitting has slowed to a crawl. Normally, I have three or four active knitting projects, but currently I have two - cotton dishcloths (they really shouldn't count as a project) and a newly started Baby Surprise Jacket. I have a lace scarf on another set of needles that has been stalled since June 2017. I need to put the project bag by my chair to work on in the evening, but I've lost interest in it. It's time to finish the scarf or to frog it. Do you have a project that has been neglected for a year or more?

all the items entered in the 2016 Fremont County Fair The County Fair was held last week, and the items I entered showed well. I was pleased to bring home 9 blue ribbons, 2 red ribbons, 1 reserve champion rosette, 2 champion rosettes. Noro Baby Surprise Jacket Judge's comments on the back of the Noro BSJ entry tag: Wonderful little garment - very nice color work appropriate for garment and age of user. Noro Hitchhiker  Judge's comments: lovely color work - fine knitting, too - even points and stitches. Nice, nice! Encore Baby Surprise Jacket Judge's comments: Wonderful sweater! Love the colors - stitches are beautiful. Items entered and ribbon received:     •   Faroese shawl - blue     •   Nymphliadia shawl  - red     •   Twined runner - blue     •   Lacy Hitchhiker - blue     •   Desk chair socks - blue     •   Infinity scarf - blue     • ...

Noro Baby Surprise Jacket front January 2016 I had a blast knitting this BSJ with the Noro Kirara yarn: the bright Noro colors kept me motivated. I used two completely different skein colors, but the Noro colors complement each other so well, it works. For the record, the skein change was at the end of the red and beginning of the turquoise stripes. Knitting notes and specifics can be found here . Noro Baby Surprise Jacket back January 2016 Another project for the donation box, and two more skeins slashed from the stash.

completed Baby Surprise Jacket January 2016 A collar has been added and buttons attached to the Thrifty Baby Surprise Jacket , so it is officially finished.  I love knitting this pattern and always delight in how the gangly blob magically turns into a cute sweater with only two seams (at the shoulders). back of Baby Surprise Jacket Elizabeth Zimmerman was a knitting genius and created many delightful patterns; however, I simply cannot could follow her original, "pithy" patterns. I am not what she would call an intuitive knitter: I need row by row directions. Obviously, I am not alone, as Schoolhouse Press adapted the original Baby Surprise Jacket pattern (BSJ) for all non-intuitive knitters. You can find the pattern here . Knit just one BSJ, and you will be hooked. I'm embarrassed to admit that the following BSJ came off the needles in 2014 ; however, the shoulder seams were not done and buttons not attached. I had hoped to find some yarn that would work fo...

Baby Surprise Jacket January 2016 Dee (Tangled Up in Sticks and String) has challenged herself to Slash the Stash in 2016 . I've decided its a great idea and have begun the slashing of my own stash. The first project was the Thrifty Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) posted last week, and since the pattern was out, I grabbed two skeins of Noro Kirara that I purchased years ago, and cast on another BSJ on smaller needles. I had previously used the Noro to cast on a scarf, but it just didn't look right, and so the knitting stalled for months. I frogged the scarf (I only had about 6 inches done) and balled the yarn, waiting for the perfect project. I think it is very happy becoming a BSJ. With any luck, this BSJ will be finished by the end of the week. If I have enough yarn, I will add a collar. Yarn :     Noro Kirara (51% wool, 29% cotton, 10% silk, and 10% angora) Needles :     size 6 US

nearly complete Baby Surprise Jacket December 2015 Several months ago, I found two coordinating skeins of Encore yarn in a Casper thrift shop for a total of $1.50. The original price stickers are still on the yarn labels: $6.50 for the turquoise, and $6.98 for the off-white colorspun, so I got quite a bargain. Last week, those two skeins became a Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ). Hopefully, this week, I can seam the shoulders and then add a collar (directions below) with the remaining yarn. Yarn :     Encore Colorspun (Drifting - color #7009) off-white and some turquoise plied together     Encore (color # 0469) turquoise/teal Pattern : Baby Surprise Jacket pattern from Schoolhouse Press (I recommend the A-B-C-SJ, Adult, Baby, Child Surprise Jacket Pattern because it includes the a row by row pattern for the baby sweater). Using this pattern makes knitting the BSJ easy and enjoyable. The original pattern (the directions are NOT row by row) is a bit confusin...

Baby Surprise Jacket September 2014 Hopefully, I will have enough yarn (it's scraps) to finish this Baby Surprise Jacket. I had hoped to knit a mirror image of this BSJ , but clearly that is not going to happen. Now, I'm just aiming for finishing the sweater with the yarn that is remaining.

The latest Baby Surprise Jacket is off of the needles, seamed, and has an added collar. Specific details (pattern, yarn, needles) can be found on this earlier post . I still need to find and sew buttons on this little sweater. Collar details : pick up 18 stitches along each front neck edge and 20 stitches along the back of the neck. To prevent the collar from overlapping the buttons in the front, begin and/or stop picking up stitches at least four stitches from the front cast off edges. Knit 22 rows (11 ridges) and cast off in purl on the right side.

Baby Surprise Jacket May 2014 As the temperatures began to rise, my knitting slowed to a crawl. At one point all my needles were empty, which is highly unusual for me since I often have up to four or five projects in the works. Craving something to knit, I started a Baby Surprise Jacket to use some wool that has been in my stash too long. Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman Yarn: Lion Brand - Lion Wool - 100% wool (Rose #140 and Winter White #099) Needles: size 8

Open Class entries Fremont County Fair Riverton, WY July/August 2013 I entered 13 items in the County Fair: some in Open Class and some in Fiber Arts. Open Class entries could be made with any type of fiber; however, the Fiber Arts entries required a natural fiber content. Open Class entries, ribbon and premium awarded: Spring Violets Vest - blue ribbon - $6 Baby Surprise Jacket - blue ribbon - $6 February Socks - blue ribbon - $6 Vintage Doily - blue ribbon - $6 Holiday Apron - blue ribbon - $6 Fiber Arts entries Fremont County Fair Riverton, WY July/August 2013 Fiber Arts entries, ribbon and premium awarded: Reader's Wrap - red ribbon - $5 Fraternal Twin socks - red ribbon - $5 Rainbow socks - blue ribbon - $6 Headband - fourth place - $3 Sky Scarf/Cowl - fourth place - $3 Dishtowel - fifth place - $2 Dahlia doily - blue ribbon - $6, Best of Show rosette - $40 Vintage d...

Baby Surprise Jacket started and finished - July 2013 approx. size 2 or 3T The buttons on this Baby Surprise Jacket were sewn on the morning entries were due at the County Fair. I knit the collar at the Community Band concert the night before - nothing like coming right down to the wire. Yarn: 2 skeins Plymouth Encore (color #517) Needles: size 8 circular Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. awarded a blue ribbon Fremont County Fair Riverton, WY

When I finished the Orange Blossom  and Bluebell sweater sets for my sister Marilyn, my oldest sister requested I knit three more Baby Surprise Jacket sets for her Grandmother Boxes. I've been working on these sets for several months and finished the last pair of socks yesterday.

Julie, a knitting friend, gave me several small balls of pink, baby (fingering) yarn a couple of months ago. The pinks are a shade different and are not as obvious as this photo shows. I estimate the jacket, knit on size 6 needles, will fit a 3 - 6 month old. This pink and scrappy Baby Surprise Jacket will be donated to a local pregnancy center.