Big Softie meet Big Pooey

I've discovered that Indianapolis harbors two great knit shops.  And I take this time to confess the envy I have for my friends who live there!  Knit Stop and Mass Ave Knit Shop.  The websites articulate their differences quite well.  These two shops are night & day in comparison with eachother.  However, each has it's treasures to share!  After a brief sojourn in the city, I am thankful to have experienced both of these shops alongside my Martha Stewart friend :)  And I aim to make the trip again! 

At Mass Ave Knit Shop, Heather and I were bombarded with everything knitting.   The place was a lovely mess of yarn, knitters, patterns, and crates.   We took our time to soak in all that it had to offer and took  great delight in the quirkiness of it's owner--a spiky-haired woman in her fifties who spoke above her glasses and knew exactly where to dig up a pattern we were looking for.  Perhaps tackily, we left with free patterns & no purchases ;)

The pattern we were most excited about is called Baby Born.  It is a sweater that appeared in the 2001-2002 Winter issue of Interweave Knits.   Mass Ave. had it knit up and placed on a mannequin in their front window just above what appeared to be the baby section of yarn.   {Heather and I giggled about the organization of yarn in this shop...}  It's a cardigan sweater knit up in chunky yarn.   It caught my attention, knowing how quickly it would knit up {a matching hat is also included in the pattern}.  Plus, it looked super cute!

The yarn I've chosen is a periwinkle shade of big softie by Sirdar.  It is half wool, half acrylic--making it warm, durable, breathable and wearable.  Heather and I joked about having to choose a yarn that wouldn't result in a sweaty baby.  The last sweater I knit for Lily was done in 100% acrylic yarn, and she sweats like a marathon runner when wearing it...

So far I have completed the back, and the two front panels.  I am getting nervous because I only have 1 1/2 skeins left and two sleeves & a collar yet to complete.  Hmmm.....this may end up being sweater vest!  

What skills have I gained from working on this sweater?  I have learned how to bind off stitches in the middle of a row :)  This is not as scary as I once imagined, by the way!

And what is new in motherhood?

I've discovered that Lily is not ready for potty training :)  I figured as much, but have been testing her awareness lately.   Last night shed some light on the issue for us.   We have a training potty in the bathroom that she likes to sit on.  After sitting on it for awhile, I took her off and pulled up her pants [minus a diaper].  I then scooted her off to her nightly bath.  While drawing the water, Lily wandered in: she had pooed in her jeans.  The little angel had been waddling around like nothing happened, all the while pooing in her pants. And it was literally like 2 minutes after taking her off the potty! The most disgusting/amusing part is that I wasn't even aware until I stripped her down for the tub and noticed brown shmears on her legs.  Not only did she poo, but her momma dragged her through it as I removed her pants!    Clearly she is not ready to be potty trained as she was clueless to the stuffing between her cheeks ;)

No More Chilly Lily Mitts



Thumbless Mittens

 Do not be fooled: these mittens knit up much quicker than the arrival of this blog update :)

I knit them in a couple hours, completing the second one on the way to our fall excursion at Pokagon State Park!  I absolutely loved this project!  I even improvised, adding little bows to the wrists :)   The yarn knit so beautifully and makes these little marvels look like pure luxury....    

Lily wears them well and we were glad to have them for our hikes through the woods!

What a great trip!  I can't say that Pokagon is the best state park I've ever visited, but I can say that it was a great place to be that weekend.   The colors, smells and textures that surrounded us were intoxicating.   We strapped Lily to our backs using the Ergo Baby Carrier our friend Sara & her mom so graciously purchased for us: best carrier out there!!  Lily slept while Alex & I held hands like old times :)   We had taken this trip 3 years ago with our good friends, Ben & Brooke.   It was bittersweet to go again, as we really missed their company :(   We didn't do much--hiked, ate overpriced mediocre food at the inn, played at the park, fished some, and overall explored the grounds.  Though we were only an hour or so from home, we felt worlds away from all the things that fight for our attention on a daily basis.  We were submerged in the grandeur of creation and our love as a family.   And we returned to campus refreshed, revived and united.  

I cannot say that we returned well-rested, though...  Traveling with a 16 month old is difficult.   We stayed at a cabin---the same cabin we stayed in with Ben & Brooke actually!  However, I would not stay in a cabin there again :(  It was dank, worn, unkempt, and a bit like a bad motel.   I couldn't sleep.  And when you put the little one down, it's not like you can sit and watch t.v. together.  There we were, in the dark, in a dingy room at 8:00 at night, not knowing what else we could do but go to sleep.    It's not like we could put Lily in another room.  And turning the tv on would've woken her up.  We succumbed, and simply said our usual midnight adieu: "Good night, Sweet dreams, I love you" & tried to call it a night as we curled under crispy covers and sank into a sinking mattress upon flat pillows.  [And let's just say I wished I had taken flip flops with for the shower.]  Not quite the relaxation I imagined.   But with the sun the next morning, we arose and savored what was left of the weekend before heading home. 

 

Lily's been wearing her mittens ever since & I am ready & rearin to go when it comes to knitting more!  I have two good friends (Val & Kristina) and a sister-in-law (Lauren) expecting their first babies in March & April: oh how I hear the knitting fairy calling my name! 

A Harvest



Ah, Fall.....

The beauty that surrounds along with the cooler temps have inspired me to once again get crafty! I also had a conversation with my sister which really got me goin'---she was off to shear her Shetland lambs as soon as we finished talking! 

Last year's hat is so small now that it makes Lily look like an acorn--her head has grown!  And the mittens that match the hat hardly make it to her wrists :(   Sounds like a job for her Inconsistent-Need-a-Reason-to-Knit-Mother!


I have decided to begin with thumbless mittens for Lily using the luxury yarn in the photo below:



Thank you to the Red Purl for this intoxicating skein....



  
 
It feels so good to pick up my needles again, and this yarn is so smooth & soft!!  I completed one mitten last evening---it knit up quick :)  And just in time for our fall break outing to Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN.   

Still Hangin' On....

"MY BABY & ME"

By now, it is fairly obvious that blogging daily, weekly, even monthly is not on my list of priorities--my sincere apologies to all who may care.... 

However, I do still honestly enjoy the times I have to write about this journey of mine.    I started out this blog with a reasonable---perhaps lofty---goal of knitting through the entire Debbie Bliss' book Baby Knits for Beginners.   Though this dream of mine did not come to fruition, yet I press on!  

Continuing to knit, reading about knitting, and yarn shopping...all these things keep me connected to the reality that my baby is growing up & the moments that pass are precious.

As it is, she is now 14 months old: walking, some talking, hitting, and throwing everything--balls, books and fits.

Staying involved with knitting at any capacity is my way of attempting to slow down time...to hang on to those moments that have already passed.

Within the last several months, I have enjoyed knitting a cap & booty set from another Debbie Bliss gift: Quick Baby Knits.   I have also attempted the seed stitch shoes by Debbie in the beginner book---several times, in fact.  I hope to come back to them again for a final time.  And a third project of mine is a loose-knit scarf (self-designed, purple/gray variegated bulky blend acrylic yarn on size 15 needles).  Lastly, I knit a flower out of leftover yarn pieces.  The flower pattern is from the December '09 issue of Yarn Forward.

I have also collected some great yarn from some charming shops, too, including several skeins of Debbie Bliss cotton in yellow and purple as well as two skeins of Lion Brand bulky organic cotton from Erica's Craft & Sewing; a skein of the rowan equivalent of Debbie's cashmerino and an Aran blend from Lizzie Ann's Wool Company; 100g of a dark brown wool specialty yarn and a delicate merino blend of variegated pink & white from the Red Purl in Niles, MI.

Much like motherhood, these sporadic tastes & splurges leave me with fond memories & a dream of what's to come. 

FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!

I have so much to say today!  My apologies for too much time has certainly passed since my last entry :(  

First, I must begin with a most important update (drumroll, please....):  I have completed The Boatneck Sweater!!! And just in time for today's 90 degree weather.  Super.  Thankfully, it's a bit big on Lily.  In fact, it will probably fit her perfectly this fall.   I added a knitted flower to it that I think tops it off quite well.  However, I am not sure how long the poor thing  will last, as Lily nearly tugged it off for our photo shoot... (as evidenced below)

I found it difficult to get excited about a new project when this one loomed over me!  I now feel a new sense of freedom to knit anew.  For our seven-year anniversary, my husband and I took a trip to Holland Michigan where there lies a darling little knitting shop called: Lizzie Ann's Wool Company.  I wandered in and bought me some new yarn (mauve aran and lilac cashmerino), which then motivated me to finish The Boatneck Sweater upon my return home.  For me, yarn is like chocolate: the richer, the more luxurious--the more tasty & satisfying.   I find that the owners of the knit shops I meander through don't quite know what to make of me.  "No, I'm not looking for anything specific."  "Yes, I knit, but I'm quite the novice."  They look at me strangely and walk away awkwardly.   I wonder if, with my stroller and big 'ol purse, they think I'm going to steal a skein or two ;)  The next Debbie Bliss project is a beanie hat.  I think it'll knit up easily, but I'm debating whether or not to veer from my Debbie Bliss book to do a different project--something rewarding, something different, something quick.   I am eager to begin.

For my second note, I went to visit my sister in the middle of May and met her Shetland Sheep and their little lambs!  I visited another great yarn shop: Paradise Fibers--ironically located behind a porn shop.  My husband refused to go in with me, and kept watch in the parking lot--he was convinced that it wasn't actually a yarn shop.  I entered hesitantly to discover a great, tiny warehouse of dreamy skeins.  It was so overwhelming, I did a once over & walked right out...  I now regret that--what a missed opportunity! 
My sister has advanced from the world of novice knitting to spinning and dyeing her own fleece!  Yep.  She owns a spinning wheel made out of PVC and has bags of wool to spin-a-way.    I cannot wait to see and feel one of these skeins!  She taught me to knit socks on circulars, and (no suprise here:) I have set that aside.   The needles are a size one (so tiny!) and it was taking quite some time to advance.  I plan to come back to them at a later date.  Baby socks would be perfect!  I have to say I was pretty proud of myself for figuring it out and it definitely felt easier than knitting on double pointed needles.  For more info, see Knitting Circles Around Socks by Antje Gillingham.


It is the Fourth of July today.  Independence Day.  Today as I celebrate the freedoms I have in the United States of America, I also celebrate my new-found freedom from The Boatneck Sweater.  {Fireworks display scheduled at 10.}

A New Mom's Reflection on Mother's Day

On Sunday, I celebrated Mother's Day for the first time as a mother myself. Let me just tell you that I felt like a million bucks. Not because of anything anyone did to celebrate my new role (though I did totally love being showered with encouragement & gratitude), but simply because I felt so in love.

I awoke with an utter peace and sense of belonging as I contemplated a whole day set aside in recognition of the role women have as mothers--the role I now have. The sun was shining, my baby was smiling, and my husband was glowing...

 Since becoming pregnant, all the preparation and anticipation, then the arrival & survival, I haven't really been able to take time to really grasp the fact that I am now, and will forever be, a mother.
I remember several months ago being asked by my sage father-in-law: "What have you learned about yourself now that you're a mother?" I don't recall my response. I don't think I had any idea what to say. I was probably changing a diaper...

So, now that Mother's Day has passed and I have been thinking about what to write in this blog entry, I respond to this thought-provoking question. And I proclaim that as a new mom, I have learned alot about myself and much, much more!

• God is my helper. Period. There have been so many times where my emotions and energy have run thin, and I have been tempted to give up or to give in... But God has been there to whisper into my ear the encouragement and strategy I've needed.  He has given me peace and creativity continually. 
• I am a problem solver.  I've discovered  that the most exhausting part of being a new mom is the constant problem-solving!  But I've also discovered that I'm pretty good at it ;)  In addition to the Lord, the library has been a constant resource for me, as has my own intuitiveness.   
• I enjoy housework.  Crazy how the mundane has become my solace.  When my little Lily goes down for her naps, I set to it!  I am surprised to find such joy and relief in getting the laundry done, doing the dishes, picking up and tidying the house.  Perhaps it's because these things have gone to the wayside for the earlier months that I now  appreciate being able to do them...
• I enjoy being a working mom.  In many ways, I had wondered what kind of a mom I'd be.  Particularly, would I get stir crazy being home all the time, would I want to work?  Or, would I love being home & hate to have to work?  Well, I didn't really have a choice in the matter.  We needed the second income.  And as God would prepare it, a position opened up and was offered to me that allowed me to work part-time.  Twice a week, I head to my office as my husband takes care of Lily.   AND I LOVE IT!  The job is great--working with international students keeps my eyes open and my mind sharp; it also really taps into my passions.  And.... I really enjoy knowing that Lily & Alex get their one on one time. 
• I love to shop.  I crave garage sales & thrift shops! This is not something new necessarily for me, but boy has it re-emerged with a vengeance.  I imagine I am like a drug addict who's just gone through rehab and then goes to a party. Bad, bad--very bad!  It's just that baby stuff is so cheap & there is a plethora of it to find out there!  Why buy brand new when you can find nearly new items for  50 cents??  It's the hunt that I enjoy most.  Ay, the reins have been pulled as the closets & drawers are overflowing... 
•  I need a makeover, badly.  So, Regis & Kelly are doing these new mom makeovers all this week and it makes me wanna cry.  I try.....but, getting dolled up is work for me now.  And after retaining & then losing a ton of hair,  I now literally have a one-inch fringe of little hairs growing all around my hairline and they make it impossible to look cute.  They curl up and stick out like tongues on 2 year olds!   On top of it all, I don't buy clothing or accessories for myself much anymore, and what I do purchase has to meet the following criteria: comfortable, inexpensive, and adaptable (aka, solid & plain).  OH, Reeg!  Kelly!  Pick me!
• My heart aches for the wounded, oppressed, lost and forgotten.  Since I can remember, God has always urged me to remember other people as greater than myself.  But I have to confess that I often push those thoughts aside.  Now that I am a mother, God has given me an even bigger heart.  And this heart of mine aches even more for those around the world who are hurting.  I am changing from becoming one who is grateful for what she has, to one who is further breaking for those who don't....  Does that make sense? What I am trying to say is that I am becoming uncomfortable simply being content to be grateful.   Rather, I am seeking to know how God might use me & my family to show His love to the hurting in a tangible way.   It is a gracious God who allows the sun to rise again in spite of all that He's seen go on in a day...

And this is where I must end with my reflection.  I recommend the following books: The Road to Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam and Love the One in Front of You; My Trip to Swaziland by Autumn Good-Turney.   

This is part one of two entries.  I aim to enter another more light-hearted blog where I can articulate the things I've learned about being a mom in general.    As a sneak peek---one thing I will mention is the Bella Band and it's multi-functions :)

Boatneck Sweater Nears Completion....Sister Beefs up Competition

For all you doubters, here it is: proof that I haven't bailed on my original plan.  Though, I have altered it a bit....  I have to confess that I've skipped several projects in order to begin this one: The Boatneck Sweater.   I feel I have fair reason for this.

The two projects I've passed over are the sachets and pillowcovers. 

Sachets? These are not something I would use, nor do I know of any expectant mother who would put them to use....so I deemed it unworthy of my time ;) Not to mention, that the skills I would learn/practice, I have already mastered: stockinette stitch & seaming.  And now comes my bow.....

And the Pillowcovers?  Well, these I would actually enjoy keeping or giving as a gift, but I feel I can come back to do them at a later time.  This sweater was all too pressing, as I wanted Lily to be able to wear it before the warm weather sets in!

And.....I have dragged my feet!  As I knit, I discover that I am quite ADD.  I can begin a project, but it is another thing to complete it.  My excitement wanes & drifts....  I have only to finish the left sleeve on this puppy & it will be done.  I could finish it in a few hours max!  But as the weather warms, the sun is shining, birds are chirping... I become more interested in cleaning, decorating, and visiting with friends.   I may have to turn the air on high so that my Lily can actually wear this sweater when it is completed!   And, don't you know: I will!

Lest you worry that I may never complete another project---my sister has gotten the knitting bug recently.  And we are quite different in many ways, but particularly in our zeal for knitting.    What started (and remains, quite honestly...) as a curiosity for me, began as a full-throttle quest for my sister.   Each conversation we have consists of a new stitch she's learned, a new project, a new yarn!  She feverishly knits socks and is now spinning her own yarn and has purchased sheep: what??!!  Yes, you can't make this stuff up, people. And this is what I have learned to admire about her---find her interests, and she dives in completely! {Committedly, too,  I might add.} This is a whole new level of competition for me.  I fear I may be out of my league here.

Nevertheless, I am rolling up my sleeves again as the competition heats up.  I am pretty sure that, living on a college campus, I cannot get a sheep--nor do I really want one....but I can knit and I can learn and I can prevail!

GAME ON, TERI!

Completion

I have a sense of how God must have felt after looking upon all that he created in the beginning of time..... "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31  From start to finish, this quilt took me almost four months to complete, and I cannot describe how satisfied I am with it!  Is it perfect? No.  But it is decent and lovely.   Seaming it together was--dare I say it--a breeze!  And where there are imperfections, I see character :)  

As this project was being knit together, my little girl has been growing.  I feel that each week, she is embarking into a new season of expression and exploration.  Currently, we see a lot of personality coming to the surface.  Take something away from her that she is impressed with, and she will become very feisty; very quickly!  She is beginning to discover her knees and may be crawling soon...   Over the last four months, she has begun uttering "dad and bob..." and loves to smack her lips together.  Clapping is a new skill, too!   All of these things become faded memories, I'm told and I've already experienced.   I'm trying to savor the moments, and wish I would've recorded them on a calendar.    

So, what's next?

Well, in the knitting realms of my life, I have begun the boat-neck sweater for Lily in coral colored yarn--which I need to finish quickly, because Spring is also on its way.  I also recently won a bid on shopgoodwill.com for a bunch of needles and crochet hooks--including a circular needle!  Super exciting---I spent $13 on approximately $50 worth of needles :)  This has gotten me even more motivated to begin other projects. 

And as for mothering, I may soon be following my Lily around the house and.... outside in the yard.  I look forward to warm, sunny days roaming the park and tending to garage sales with the little lady, traveling and visiting family and friends.  I learn more & more how meaningful it is to be engaged in conversation with my daughter; to comfort her and assure her, to speak words of life and truth and love over her. 

 So here you are: proof that I have not fallen off the face of the earth & this blanket is near completion.  As I write this, one third of the blanket sits complete upon my lap!  This photo shows the layout sans the final pieces.  This upcoming week is Spring Break for me and, I know I've said this before, but I anticipate finishing the blanket by the following Monday!! 

In related news, seaming has proved itself much less scary to me.  I have found a rhythm and where I veer, it is not noticable---woo hoo! 

In the mothering realms of my life, my Lily continues to wear her knitted hat & scarf as we continue to receive snow!  She is starting to discover her knees and should be crawling soon.  There is a game she's loving to play too, of call & response--she yells, you yell back and so on :)  I try to savor these moments and ponder them, treasuring them in my heart....  We entered her into the Regis & Kelly/parenting magazine Beautiful Baby Contest.  (Our Lily is in the lower right hand corner on page 246 of the L's. Honestly, how do they choose from so many babies??!!) Finalists will be announced on Monday's show & then viewers can vote for the winner---here's to hoping my little knitting inspiration makes it all the way!!!

So, the saga continues....the knitting one that is.  Sleep for baby Lily continues to be on the up & up; thank goodness.  But, this blanket has come to a stall yet again.   I am nearly finished though & did make a lot of progress.  At this point I have 11 more squares to knit in the soft gray shade and about that many more to correct from previous colors.  I hesitated to redo squares I'd already knit, but I knew I'd be dissatisfied with the results, if I didn't.   

Getting nervous about seaming, wondering if I've left enough of a tail on each square....

Saw a photo of Ms. Debbie Bliss!  I was taken aback at how happy it made me to see her face!  She has a new book out on designing your own knits and I discovered that she has a background in fashion design.  This must be why her patterns are so timeless.  

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll make it through this book before Lily has children of her own!

Project Progress

I have a few photos for you to see of the progress I have made and the yarn I am using.  I've chosen a muted, neutral color scheme and Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton yarn.

So, I was thinking last night about how to get a move-on with this particular project....  And I decided that I am going to give myself until the end of the month to finish.  I can do this!  Now that I've said it, I have accountability and......... pressure. Yikes! 

I am sure that if I were able to have tea with Debbie Bliss, I would finish this stinkin' blanket in no time!  Oh, Debbie.... how I need to hear your voice urging me on ;)

Tea Party with Debbie Bliss

And now for a knitting update.  Drumroll, please....   I have learned how to create button holes & a picot edge!  "How?" you may ask.  Well, let me explain.

For Christmas, my husband got me a knitting magazine.  Bless his heart...

Before I go any further, does anyone else find most knitting magazines to be ridiculous??  Oh my word....  The designs are so tacky & out of date, and the models are so cheesy and badly photographed.  I get really irritated.   The only one I've found to be remotely current is Knit Simple.  And even that one is just okay.....kind of marmish, but has some redeemable qualities, like knitting tutorials & consumer reports.    

But let me tell you about this magazine Alex found for me.  First, it's from the UK which makes it cooler already.  Americans can't seem to branch out in the knitting realm, but leave it to the Brits to pave the way!  I knew they did this with fashion.  Well, of course they're ahead in knitting, too!   Anyways, the publication is called Yarn Forward.  This magazine is full of current info. regarding the knitting world.  Info. like "books we love", "websites", "yarns we love", knitting news, and a wide variety of patterns for all levels (really!).

I fell in love with the feature, "Three Knitted Flowers", and this is where I learned about K2tog, YO (knit two together, yarn over), which is an easy way to create a buttonhole or a lacy edge (picot).   Of course, I learned all this by mistake as I was following the wrong pattern for the flower I really wanted to knit.  And I misunderstood "repeat to end" to mean "keep knitting until you are down to one stitch."  They really just meant knit to the end of that row....  {You knitters  out there know that one doesn't really run low on stitches when decreasing & increasing at the same time.}  Do the math, I was knitting for a long time before I figured out that I had probably misread something.  Instead of a flower, I began knitting a blanket!   But like I said, this is how I learned!  I learned terminology & technique :)  And I was able to go back & fix my knitting & make a flower I didn't even want to make: ta da! 

Now, you may be wondering how this fits with my current Debbie Bliss project, The Garter Stitch Blanket.   It doesn't really.  I just needed a break from all those squares that I am lagging so far behind on.   Although, now that Lily is napping regularly during the day, and sleeping well at night, I sense I may get back to work on that blanket real soon! 

And....being the Debbie Bliss fan that I am, I nearly wet my pants when exploring the blog portion of Yarn Forward's website.   Check it out.....   All I gotta say is, why do I live in Indiana???

PS---if you place your mouse on the blog entry, you will discover the links I've provided you :)

If at First You Don't Succeed, Try...Try Again

Last night, I was ready to ream out my husband for not being supportive of my sleep training ideas for Lily (picture Cam & Mitchell from Modern Family, and guess which one is just like Alex...).  And then the Lord reminded me of a book I had in my possession.  Remember how I'd checked out every stinkin' book about sleep & babies from the library?  PS: I feel really badly if there are other moms out there in my town who are also looking to the library as a resource on this topic.  I've even renewed them all.... Sorry!

Well, anyhow....there was one called The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight.  After reading all the others and not discovering a concrete solution, I was not so sure that this would include one either.  Nevertheless, I had to hope.   I couldn't stand it any longer.  Lily was waking every night three or four times, inconsolable unless she was fed.  I would fight her on it, and then end up giving in....angrily.   I knew that this was not a good habit for her.   She was getting plenty to eat during the day, and her diapers were so wet in the morning that she was wetting the bed! 

So, what would this Sleep Lady say that I hadn't already heard?  Not much.  However, she put everything together with such clarity and concreteness, that I literally saw the light!  I won't reveal much else, but if you're interested in more information regarding her methods: see the link.  I will say this: Lily slept 12 hours last night.  So did I.  Praise Jesus :)