Knitty bitty

I picked up the baby blanket again. Or rather the squares for the baby blanket. Either way I'm knitting again despite being ever so sleepy. I'm determined to finish it. That blanket and the one for my other pregnant friend. And the sweater for Isa...and the matching one for her brother, Connor.

Baby steps for baby gifts. No pressure, just no more excuses. Felt good to knit again. I finished a couple of squares and another half of one while making dinner. Despite the numerous interruptions at least I got something accomplished. Once the kids get back into school my goal is to knit as much as I can during the day.

Nothing's happening

Sad to say but my extreme fatigue has continued to keep me from knitting. I have two baby blankets to finish, still have to sew that baby sweater, plus make the matching one for the other baby--both of whom are already here (a full 7 wks. early). We are taking a trip up to Portland at the end of this month so I may bring my stuff along and maybe knit on the way up. Bad part is that driving makes me sleepy. Being a passenger makes me sleepier. And actually able to sleep. No promises on anything getting accomplished.

I'm hoping that I'll get to see a doctor while I'm up there. I would only be having a pulmonary work-up done and right now the main focus is on my liver (see my other blog Sore & Sleepy). Either way I really miss my "kinda tired" days. At least with those I got stuff done. This new fatigue...it's like my entire being is exhausted. I really can't describe it. It's worse than pregnancy tiredness. Seriously.

I miss knitting. I miss going to the yarn store and drooling. I miss pouring over magazines and trying to decipher patterns. I miss how it took my mind off of the pain I was in. I miss the way the yarn feels as it runs through my fingers. I miss watching a ball of fiber turn into something palpable and usable. I miss everything about it.

Coolest Cupcakes EVER

I ran across a link to these cupcakes at Knitty.com and my jaw literally dropped when I saw them. The time, talent, and love it took to make these just blows me away. This woman needs to open a bakery because I would be a dozen of these in a heartbeat! Of course I'd probably have to go to where she is, but I'd do it!

See more cool pics here: Knitting Cupcakes


I went a little yarn crazy at Ram Wools since they are having a big sale. Bought enough Mission Falls Cotton to make another baby blanket, as well as a bag of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Chocolate. Hoping to make a sweater out of it. I bought 24 skeins of yarn for a little over $100. That's just insane baby!! YARN HOOR ROAR!! I'm using my own money, so DH shouldn't freak, and believe me, it was hard not to keep adding more to the cart! Seriously, check out the sale, stock up, it ends tomorrow!!

Back on the sticks

Square #3 was started last night while babysitting the sweetest little toddler in the world. Megan, Hayley (the babysittee), and I all sat watching Barbie Princess & The Pauper while I picked up my Denise needles and cast on the obligatory 14 stitches. I worked about 13 rows before I had to start dinner, but at least it's a start. The brain fog wasn't nearly as bad, however I think I have an extra "push" as I really want to see what the end result is going to look like. Plus, since I have to sew this blanket then maybe that will help me overcome my fear of sewing the sweater. That or I'll just go down to Gossamer and see if they can help me. :o)

I found a really cool forum for knitting at Knitty. They have a wicked board there where people post about different online and retail stores having yarn sales. I can't tell you how happy that board makes me. Of course the pocketbook may hate me when it's all said and done, but in the meantime I am surfing it for bargains everyday.

Patiently waiting

My yarn and completed baby sweater are still patiently waiting for me to finish them. For the past few days my brain has been in a total fog. It's so bad that I can't remember if I took my medicine just 5 mins. prior--literally. Insanity I tell ya! So rather than frustrate myself worrying about what row I'm on (and if I counted properly), I'm rolling with it and waiting for the fog to lift. Tough, though, because I am really excited to see what this blanket will look like when it's done. I also want to finish the sweater for Isabelle and start up the other one for Connor, yet I know that the sweater is way more difficult than knitting up small squares, so that is definitely on the back-burner. I'd love to have the sweaters done BEFORE the babies come, however since they can't wear them until it gets cold (a.k.a. about 4-5 mos. after they're born) I'd rather take the time and make sure I do it right than hurry through and screw it up.

I have another gal whom I don't know really well but she's super sweet and cool and we've become "friends" to a degree, and she is expecting her first baby (a boy) around the same time as everyone else is. She's doing her nursery in a true nautical theme and thus I want to make her a patchwork blanket in blues, creams, and reds. Fun stuff!!! I love being the semi-surrogate auntie that can knit up presents left and right! Too bad most of the babies live far away though... I'd love to babysit and get my fill...then give them back to their parents! :o)

Fox Costume

I know it's not knitting, but it is garment-making and I was quite proud of this thing, so I'm sharing it. Last year my daughter decided she wanted to be her favorite animal for Halloween. Her favorite animal is a fox...or more specifically, a red fox. I looked high and low for a costume that would work for her and the only one we found was in the UK and was priced at $50 (shipping not included).

Let's back up a little... When I was in Middle school I took sewing classes. Keep in mind that this was in the late 80's so a sewing class was not unheard of. In that class I made an ice cream pillow and a dog sweatshirt. I probably made one or two other things but I can't remember. Sad thing is that those items have disappeared--I'm guessing in my mother's basement, or given away by her. No matter, the point is the same. I haven't sewn anything since I was about 12 yrs. old. Still, I have my grandmother's sewing machine and Megan really wanted to be a fox, so I figured "what the hell."

I found a pattern that I could modify to make it more fox-like, and together, Megan and I picked out the main fabric (a rust colored fleece) for most of the costume, plus some white faux fur for the belly and ears. I didn't want to make mittens because I knew it would be difficult for her to hold the bucket and Trick or Treat, so I bought some white stretch gloves, some black "witch" fingernails, cut the nails down, and glued them to the gloves. Worked like a charm!

I will say that I was incredibly intimidated to make this costume. The pattern wasn't very helpful and most of the things I had to do I either hadn't done in forever, or had never done. I was so sure she would end up with a Gordon Cartrell costume (reference from the Cosby Show where Denise makes Theo a shirt that is all kinds of messed up). I fretted over sewing in the zipper--my first ever--and worried that one arm would be longer than the other. In the end, it came out quite nice. Not perfect...yet not too shabby. I decided not to sew in the elastic as I practiced with it and sucked. In the end I rolled up her sleeves and ankles inside and pinned them.

She was beyond thrilled! She was a little put off by people asking if she was a cat (she did kind of look like one), but in the end she could've cared less. I got a huge boost of self-confidence and even DH was proud of me. I can't say that I've sewn anything since, yet I do want to start quilting. One day... On to the costume pics:

First, the inspiration. This is the costume that we found but had a heart attack over the price. I didn't put the faux fur at the tip of the tail on Megan's, but wish I had. Live and learn.

Now, here is the costume I made full-length

Side view


Megan being silly

Two down, fifty-four to go

I got started on the baby blanket last night, but had to stop after making two squares. My brain has been so foggy lately that I was having a hard time keeping track of how many rows I had knit up. I literally was counting outloud as I knit...one, one, one...to keep track of which row I was knitting...and then when I'd hit like row 13 I'd double remind myself by saying, "The day my son was born, 13, the day my son was born." Pathetic I tell ya! I did take some pics though, so here they are:

This is the blanket I'm making. It's Debbie Bliss' Garter Stitch Blanket from her "Baby Knits for Beginners" book.

Close-up of the blanket. I love how the squares are turned!

The yarn palate I am using from Mission Falls
From Left to Right - Goldenrod, Moss, Chili, Ivory, Musk, and Lentil

Close-up of the yarn to show the texture in it

The two squares I've knitted up thus far

Hopefully my brain will be more cooperative today and allow me to finish up more of them. I'm excited to see how it's going to turn out!