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.}