FO: Sugary

I couldn't think to knit anything for Bean until I knew whether I would be knitting for a little boy bean or a little girl bean. Then, once we found out, I was in the throws of (happily) knitting for friends' babies. And so it came to be that I finally got around to knitting for my own. First garment for Bean knit by me: check! Just looking at its stripey goodness makes me happy. :)

Sugary*
Pattern: Country Kiddie by Pixie Purls (Ravlink)
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Cotton Multiringel in 2210 (45 % Cotton, 42 % Pure New Wool, 13 % Polyamide) (Ravlink) - less than one skein
Needles: US3

This is a seamless, top-down baby tee. Super fast, super easy, super cute. There. You know me, I'm not a fan of the plain stockinette, but thankfully babies are mini, so I was able to get through this without a problem. Plus, I'm easily amused, so the stripes kept me interest. It's also a great project for stash-busting extra sock yarn. If you have any babies to knit for, you should make one of these, seriously.

I've officially entered my third trimester, so just about 3 more months until Bean is here. I can't wait to see her in this!

* Named because the colors remind me of some kind of sweet confection, and also because I knit this through testing for and diagnosis of gestational diabetes. I'm okay, we're okay, but I will be on dietary restrictions and undergoing blood glucose monitoring for the rest of my pregnancy to ensure that my levels remain under control. This involves omitting refined sugars and carbs, carefully measuring out all my meals and snacks, calculating my (complex) carb intake, and testing my blood four times a day. It's time consuming and, let's face it, a bit of a drag (I'm not gonna lie), but as long as it keeps me and Bean healthy, I will gladly do it! (And I will be looking forward to that first postpartum cupcake**!)

** Marnie thinks Postpartum Cupcake would be a good band name. I totally agree!

6 weeks!

It's been a while since I checked in here. First of all, thank you all for your wonderfully kind words of congrats for our new addition! Life is crazy with a newborn, but we are slowly but surely settling in. Although, I'm sure there will always be a settling process with kids...always the next step or phase.

Mama and her babies

Its hard to believe Elliott is now 6 weeks old! This also means that my leave is 1/2 way over, but I'm not dwelling on that, yet. Elliott is becoming more and more of a little man every day. He can already do so many things he couldn't do just weeks ago. And he now weighs in at a whopping 9 lbs! (He likes his milk! :)

Benjamin Button

I wish I had some crafting to share, but I just haven't been able to manage any yet. It's been a challenge just to get the laundry done sometimes. Instead, you'll have to settle for an action shot of Elliott in one of Nonnahs' FOs: Pine. It was the perfect garment for our now weekly trek to the San Diego Zoo (lots of hills, which are great for mama). And he looked mighty cute...if I do say so myself. ;)

Stretching at the zoo

I hope you are all doing well! I've been able to steal away some blog reading time here and there, but not nearly as much as I would like, so I'm dreadfully behind. But I do look forward to checking in to what you are up to soon! I miss you guys!

Let the Bean knitting commence!

So we know I've been all about the baby knits as of late, but I had been concentrating my efforts on knitting baby gifts for friends' babies, not my own. Until now. So exciting! I'm planning to knit a February Baby Sweater for her soon, but I'm starting out with a cute little tee. The pattern is Country Kiddie (Ravlink) by Pixie Purls and the yarn is (now discontinued) Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Multiringel.

I bought this yarn - I don't even know when, but it was years ago - from Knit Cafe. I fell in love with it on sight and it's been sitting patiently in le stash all this time, just waiting for the perfect project to be paired with. Many months ago, I came across this pattern on Ravelry and bookmarked it immediately. A cute, simple baby top, that you can knit with a small amount of sock yarn (of which I have a plethora) - I knew it was only a matter of time before I would knit one of these for someone. Little did I know it would be for my little one. But wouldn't you know, everything fell into place and I think it's the perfect coming together of pattern and yarn for a very special recipient. I'm really enjoying this project for all of the above reasons. The colors are bright and cheery, the stripes keep my interest, and picturing little Bean wearing it one day makes fills me with happiness.

I must have been really inspired by this garment over the weekend, because at our weekly trip to the market yesterday, I picked up a colorful assortment of gerber daisies in much of the same colors.

Oh and speaking of babies and knitted gifts for friends, you may remember that I knitted a toy snail for Julia's baby shower last year. Well, Griffin is now 6 months old, and I'm overjoyed to know that he loves Snailsace- he even *reads* to him! Yay!

Honestly, knitting for babies - whether for your friends' or your own - does it get any better? I really think not!

FO: For Ryan

It's baby knits central over here! Another FO, another baby shower gift. I have absolutely no problem with this, mind you. Baby knits = happy place knitting. Here's a set I just gifted to a dear friend and her new baby boy.

Ryan Tee
Pattern: Baby Baseball Tee by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark (Ravlink)
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport (60% pima cotton, 40% modal) in Leapfrog (1 skein) and Willow (just over 1 skein).
Needles: US5 and US3

I wanted to knit a little sweater, but nothing to bulky, as this is for a SoCal baby. I also wanted to give an easy to care for knit for my non-knitter friend, hence the machine washable yarn. Check and double check. This knit up pretty fast, as I knit the front and back pieces at the same time, and then both sleeves at the same time. You know me, knitting anything twice is like pulling teeth, so anytime I can double up, I'm there! The part that took the longest- seaming. Ugh! Now, I've come a long way with seaming. I almost enjoy it, some of the time. But for some reason this one kind of killed me. But whatever, it's done now, so why complain? I love how it turned out.

Modification: I decided to lose the pocket in front. No biggie, I think it looks just fine and dandy without. :)

Ryan Mocs
Pattern: Baby Moc-a-Soc by Bekah Knits (Ravlink)
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport (60% pima cotton, 40% modal) in Willow and Knit Picks Risata (42% Cotton, 39% superwash merino, 13% nylon, 6% elastic) in Buttermilk - less than 1 skein each
Needles: US2

I've had this pattern on the brain since I first laid eyes on it. I just had to wait for the perfect occasion to knit a pair, and I'm so happy to have found one. The pattern was wonderfully well-written and fun to knit up. And come on with the cuteness. I mean, really. If you've had this in your queue for a while, too, go ahead and knit up a pair- you'll love 'em!

Side note: I guess these were a hit at the shower, since I was approached by both my friend's mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law for these patterns. Well, this after I was solicited to knit a couple extra pairs of the booties. I don't know how you guys feel about knitting for hire, but personally speaking I am not down. First of all, I really don't think people are aware of how much time and effort (aka blood, sweat, and tears) goes into knitting, and I certainly don't think most people have any idea of how much hand-knitted items would cost them (I know I wouldn't have any idea what I would charge, but it wouldn't be cheap). Also, I have a hard enough time knitting something more than once to begin with. Also, deadline knitting? Not a big fan. Also, and this is a biggie- I really think it would be a sure fire knitting mojo killer. I knit for myself, and for my close friends and family, which brings me joy. I fear that knitting for hire would take away at least some of that enjoyment. And given all the other things I've got going on (even when I'm not 6 months pregnant!), my knitting time is precious as it is. I'm not ready to give that up, not even for some extra cash. And anyway, I haven't even knit a stitch for Bean yet- sheesh! I'm so excited to start little Bean projects, I can't even tell you! So yeah, no knitting for hire just yet, but I was flattered, and glad these knits were such a hit. :)