baby knits

little bertie blazer from sublime #640 booklet in cashmere merino silk dk

over the last couple years of physical pain and medical trails, i've knit more and more to keep my sanity. even after my diagnosis of infertility, i would wistfully knit baby items as weird way of letting things go.  friends would have babies, and i'd usually pass on these little tiny knits thankful to have a gift on hand to give.  some i held onto, waiting for time to help me ease my grip and let go even more.

 blocking the chunky knit cardigan from erika knight's book, simple knits for cherished babies 

made in lion brand fishermen's wool

and then i found out i was pregnant, and something crazy happened.  i was terrified to knit baby things.  i'm not a superstitious person, but there was something so scary to me about knitting specifically for one person, knowing there was a chance that little person wouldn't make it.  i was afraid to have a physical reminder linked to longing and hope.  but just like all medical trials, a short, two week period of bed rest early on in me knowing about my pregnancy gave me little other to do than pick up the knitting needles. i found that the more i knit, the more i felt ready for whatever was ahead.

Zip Up The Back Hooded Baby Sweater in Colinette Cadenza in Thunder

i started off with a tiny zip up the back hooded baby sweater, an all time favorite item my mother-in-law had knit for my daughter years ago.  i have yet to add the zipper, but absolutely loved the pattern and the finished, tiny result.  i'm so glad this classic pattern has been made available for free!

chunky knit cardigan from erika knight's book, simple knits for cherished babies 

made in lion brand fishermen's wool

since our baby will be born somewhere around the end of the year, i was convinced i needed to knit something even teenier for it to wear right away!  i used an old favorite pattern from erika knight's book, simple knits for cherished babies, and added my own garter stitch shawl collar after everything was seamed.  the pattern calls for chunky yarn, so i might be pushing it with this lion brand fishermen's wool dk/worsted weight yarn.  it's pretty little, but babies usually are!  we've taken a poll in the house and have decided all it needs it a little tiny pocket and leather buttons.  and a smoking pipe.

christine's baby booties using knitpicks stroll in dove heather

i'm only halfway through my next project, but it's turning out so perfectly, i had to share!  this is another classic pattern that has been made available for free online.  word is, they're the absolute best and actually stay on babies feet!  i originally saw spindelicious' perfect version on ravelry and would still love to knit an exact pair.  i thought i'd test out the pattern first using the knitpicks stroll i had on hand, and am so happy i did.  the pattern is great, i just made sure to slip that first stitch purlwise for the top of the toe section, knit or purl to the end and then knit or purl two together (like turning the second half of short row heel on a sock).  i am much happier with the result as opposed to whatever the pattern was asking me to do that i obviously could not wrap my head around.  oh, and i also shortened the cuff by 12 rows only because i was getting bored and tired.  i included the eyelets the pattern suggests, and plan on knitting an i-cord for the ankle out of a contrasting yarn to make them a little more interesting.  possibly a black and white tweed.

i'm sure i'll be fine if all i ever knit were these couple things, but if anyone else has some favorite baby patterns to pass on, i'd love to check them out!   

well, hello!

one of the toughest years of my life, will end with one of the biggest miracles!

i've missed you!  life has been a little nuts over the last year(s), but i'll kick things off with some incredible news!  doug and i were in the middle of embracing a heartbreaking diagnosis of infertility (and impending hysterectomy) when the most amazing miracle surprised both us and my doctors - a sweet baby boy who is due to arrive in december!  i am still in complete shock and at a loss for words.  i can say i'm 23 weeks along and thankful to be feeling better than i've felt in years!  thank you for all your kind support and concern in the meantime.  i'm slowly picking back up the neglected pieces of my life, and hope to even share some work with everyone here soon!  i'm just taking it one tiny babystep at a time.  winkyface!

baktus and sandal weather

edit: since so many asked, the sandals i'm wearing are gee'wawa maria fisherman in grey. 

another week gone by.  i really can't believe it's march already.  those couple months of being sick have made me feel like i missed a good portion of this winter, but oh well.  i'm just glad to be up and about!

i decided it was time for another garter stitch project and this simple baktus pattern was super quick and fun.  i would have finished it in one sitting instead of two had i not set the scarf down, picked it back up and started increasing every other row instead of every fourth row!  even though the sudden jut where i changed the increase rate caught my attention over and over, i kept knitting away until the halfway point when the decreasing instructions made me realize what i had done.  my lazy self considered leaving it, but i really wanted a less dramatic triangle than what i had made, so out it came.  even though i had to knit half the scarf twice, this pattern is still a new favorite.  and the cotton peaches and creme in faded denim really made this a perfect scarf for the quickly approaching spring.

oh man, it's friday?

i mean, t.g.i.f.  this week really went fast, which means something good - i'm slowly getting better and out of the house!  it's been so nice to slowly emerge back into the land of the living.  so nice in fact, i'm holding back on the exclamation points.  i'm getting the office whipped back into shape which means i crossed off number one on the new years goals list.  i also spent most of the week trying to wrap my brain around some difficult pattern drafting for my knitting machine which is also a goal for this year.  i'm breaking the last goal as we speak though by exercising, blogging and listening to music all at the same time.  i'm not aiming for perfection.

i know i said i'd have a couple knitting patterns to post on here, and i still plan on sharing them.  i tried working through editing them this morning, but have one too many knitting patterns floating around in my head right now.  soon, i promise!

small knitting

here are a couple small projects i've been working on - dishcloths, placemats, and my take on this hat and fingerless mittens from that beautiful article in the january issue of martha stewart living about knitting.  i've been living off easy knitting projects that only take a couple hours to complete, and in the process, have discovered the beauty of the garter stitch.

i hope to be posting an itty bitty pattern i wrote soon too!

matters of the heart

wow, thank you all for your kind and encouraging words.  thanks for listening.

i have good news to report.  this week has been slowly getting better!  on monday and tuesday, i thought i was relapsing again into... well... whatever's been going on (another infection?  ulcer?  i've never felt so out of touch with my body), but wednesday went much better than most days in the last couple weeks.  i actually got out of the house and spent a wonderful morning and afternoon with my valentine.  the fresh air, the sun, the snow... i could tell as soon as i stepped out the door that my relationship with the great outdoors has been a little strained.  you know i still love you, boo.

it's hard to ease back into to doing something, anything at all during the day.  it's been a little emotionally bumpy to try to figure out what i can handle.  underneath all the doing, what's buried deep in your heart - your motivations for doing things, your anger, your selfishness - rises to the surface in trying times and it's been hard to slow down and deal with it.  as painful and revealing it can be, being honest and vulnerable with the people around you is always the better choice.  maybe not everyone feels this, but i do.

blue

my recovery regime ::  loads of kusmi tea and chocolate sent by kind friends + comfy clothes (the top and camp socks from doug and bottoms from my sister jenah have kicked my usual "athletic huxtable" look up a notch) + plenty of knitting (why yes, i have taken up designing doll clothes in my spare time. and sometimes i talk to the dolls.  and they always understand me.) 

it's getting to be a challenge to not feel blue about still being sick.  a recent unexpected emergency room trip (that's dumb, when do you expect to go to the e.r.?) sent us into a spiral of more tests and no real answers yet.  everything was really starting to wear on all of us, and then some people stopped by unannounced to just sit and visit.  the house is in a constant state of mess, i'm usually far from presentable and i'm starting to really care less.  the most recent visitors did so much to lift my spirits.  their encouraging words gave me a burst of hope.  right after they left, i was listening to a podcast that mentioned that patients in hospitals who are told encouraging words actually have a much higher chance of recovering faster.  i believe it.

the emotional challenge of whatever is going on is hard, but i still feel so well cared for.  just when we need it, we'll get a call, a text, an email, a care package in the mail, or someone stopping by with dinner.  it's making me realize that the thoughtfulness and kindness behind what you do is just as sustaining as the physical act of taking care of others.

prison crafts

oh man, i've started in on the kid crafts.  i'm just a step away from making license plates in my spare time.  i think i need to get out of the house.

at least i had an instant use for this fun pastime - little thank you gifts for the caring friends who have made my family meals while i've been sick.  people have been so thoughtful, showing up at our door with delicious food right when we need it.

the last of the last

it feels good to be sold out!  i forgot anything was even left in my shop.  thank you customers, you sure are the best.  how refreshing to start 2012 off with a clean slate!

valen-tiny

i finished another hand knit cardigan for a little friend's first birthday modifying this great pattern just slightly so that i could make the body completely seamless. notice the use of the contrasting white again? baby sweaters are a perfect way to use up leftover yarn. i had just enough wool-ease in both the rose and natural heather. 

but i'm afraid it's not going to fit and wish i could figure out if it will without ruining the surprise. i tried to dig through the baby clothes to see if i could compare it to anything i had on hand, but couldn't find a sweater, small jacket or sweatshirt in this size. anyone know of a chart online that would tell you such things?