De-stashing (and Re-stashing)

During tough economic times such as these, who wants to be buying more yarn? Uh, wait, let me rephrase that. Who can afford to keep buying more yarn (without guilt)? Not me. Especially when I already have an overflowing stash lurking in the corner. So what's a girl to do? Turn to her friends, of course!

This past Sunday, spurred on by Julia, a bunch of us got together for an afternoon of de-stashing, and yes, re-stashing. Upon arrival, I was greeted by hugs from good friends and a mountain of fibery goodness, to which I promptly contributed a bag full of yarn. The result:

I have no idea exactly how many skeins, balls, and hanks were here, but trust me, it was a lot!

And we're talking good stuff, people! It was like Christmas! I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I ended up leaving with even more than I brought. Julia sent me home with a couple of pregnancy/birthing books, a copy of Goodnight Moon for Bean, some maternity clothes, and yes, I took home some yarn:

My haul of (interestingly) pastel-paletted softness: Rowan Cotton Glace, Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, RYC Cashsoft Baby DK, Misti Alpaca Lace, Blue Sky Alpacas 100% Alpaca Sport, Valeria di Roma 100% Angora, and I'm not sure, but I think it may be Lornas Laces.

In my defense, 1) it was less than I brought with me and 2) they made me do it! Seriously. I was surrounded by professional enablers. *cough*MJ*cough* Kat specifically brought the Blue Sky and Cashsoft goodness with me and Bean in mind, Julia saved the Angora for me after remembering that I fell in love with a beret she knitted out of it a couple years ago, and I was *forced* to take the Cotton Glace because "it's perfect for a baby girl!" As for the Misti Lace, well it's just beautiful and I know I could knit a pretty shawl with it, and the sock yarn is just gorgeous and *had* to go home with me.

Incidentally, it just occurred to me that I don't think I ever mentioned here that B and I recently learned the gender of our baby. Bean is a girl! I had a feeling this was the case all along, and this was confirmed a few weeks ago. We're at 23 1/2 weeks now, and Bean is growing - and moving - more and more each day. And yes, I'm growing as well- the bump is in full effect!

Do these horizontal stripes make me look pregnant?

I must say, I love it. I absolutely love being pregnant. Despite some of the usual discomfort associated with being nearly 6 months pregnant, I've been really lucky thus far, and I feel great overall. And I'm oh so excited to be adding a girl to the mix of recently born baby boys. :)

So now- what to make?? All I know for sure so far is that Bean will be getting a pair of angora booties, but other than that, I really have no idea. Any suggestions?

Elliott Lloyd...

...was born on Friday February 6th at exactly 9:00pm. He was 6 lbs, 1.5 oz and measured 18.5 inches long. He was healthy and bright and more than either his dad or I could ever imagine.

His labor ended up being a perfect end to a pregnancy full of ups and downs...it was 4.5 hours of some of the most physically intense work of my life.

Elliott at 4 days

He is by far the best thing I/we have ever made.

Perhaps the thing I find the most charming are his little hands...my hands.


Mine have been very good to me. They have allowed me to be creative and expressive and I hope his version of my hands serve him just as fully throughout his life.

Here's also a little video I was able to catch of him this afternoon:

Thank you to everyone for all their kind words of encouragement throughout my pregnancy. This community has been so wonderful in helping us through a very challenging time. You guys are the best! I couldn't have done it without you!

FO: Pine

Yay, as this was just gifted, I can finally show you my first FO of the year, and one that I completely adore, too!

Pine
Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket (Ravlink) by Elizabeth Zimmerman (pretty obvious, but hey)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (100% superwash merino) in Beryl - less than one skein.
Needles: US4
For: Dis' soon-to-be-born baby boy!

This was my first BSJ - actually my first EZ project - and I can say with complete confidence and certainty that it won't be my last (of either)! I thoroughly enjoyed knitting this little sweater. I loved working with this yarn, watching the subtle shades of green and specs of brown emerge, and I loved knitting this pattern, watching as a non-descript blob magically turned into an actual garment.

I know I am late to the party (understatement) but that EZ: genius! That being said, I found all the extra information on the BSJ incredibly helpful. My brain can comprehend only so much even without the presence of pregnancy hormones- so I found everyone else's notes on Ravelry very useful. Again, yay Ravelry!

I'm especially in love with the little wooden buttons I found. This was, however, not without some frustration. I headed over to my local fabric store (which boasts, in addition to the usual rounders, an entire wall of buttons), thinking I'd have no problem finding just the right ones. Silly rabbit. I looked up and down, through rounders and bins and little tubes and nothing spoke to me. Nothing. Seriously?? Then, when I was just about at my wit's end, I spied a tiny section of wooden buttons, including these which I immediately fell in love with.

So.cute. They definitely completed the sweater!

I also decided to knit a pair of socks for the baby. May I present what may just be the teeny-tiniest socks ever.

Pattern: Playful Pairs (Ravlink) by Diane Soucy
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (100% superwash merino) in Beryl - way under one skein.
Needles: US2

This is a really good, easy pattern/formula for basic baby socks- I definitely plan to use it again. It doesn't call for a lot of yarn, so it's great for using up leftover sock yarn (who doesn't have that?) and they knit up ridiculously quick- I would start one and before I knew it, I was finished!

I can't wait to see Dis' little one decked out in these! :)