Avigayil (photographed by her daughter, Rubi)

• Project : “Something, Something Darkside Cowl”
• Pattern : ‘Darkside Cowl’ by Sarah Fama (Ravelry link only)
• Yarn : Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

The pattern and yarn both called out to me for Avigayil because of the textures.  The cowl’s pattern is very bold and distinct.  The yarn is super smooth and luscious to hold in one’s hands while knitting, so you can imagine that it is wonderful to wear.

It was a joy to knit for Avigayil.  I miss her smile and creativity, and am so happy to find her well!

Look at these goodies!!!  What a wonderful package, that includes :

• Candy!!!  There is a small box of Texas Longhorns (of which are going with me to work,) and two chewy pralines (one regular and one Habanero.  The later will go to the hubby.)
• A beautiful skein of sport weight alpaca yarn from White Bear Fibers.  It is soo soft and I’m thinking that it would be perfect to make the Vermillion Shawlette.
• A spinners party tool.  This is going to come in handy after the baby is born.
• A cute personalize journal.  The cover reads “The daring adventures and peculiar happenings of one Baby Darsie”.  I can’t wait to chronicle events in this when baby Zoe is born!

Thanks again to Layla.  I love the package and it made this rainy day so much brighter!

IT’S A GIRL!

We’ve decided to name her Zoe Jane (no, not after the song by Stained, although I’ve been informed that is, in fact, the name the lead singer gave to his daughter.)  No, John and I were trying to agree on a name, something harder to do than one would imagine.  You see, I was convinced that this was going to be a boy.  I just had a feeling.  It took us a whole twenty minutes to agree on a boy’s name.  I’m a fan of old fashioned names, and my husband …. not so much.  But we both love the name Zoe, and if for some reason our little girl does not, she can fall back on her middle name, Jane.

So, after calling family, texting friends, and posting the good news on Facebook to cover all the bases, it was time to get serious.  And by that, I mean it was time to figure out what I planned to knit next!

Here are the patterns that I want to knit for little Zoe :

• Miss Dashwood : Too adorable not to knit for a little girl.
• Baby Ruched Caridgan :  I have a skein of Tina’s yarn in ‘Pink Petals’ that I’m saving for this one!
• Newborn Vertebrae : This makes total sense to me; open more in the front, it allows for spit ups and the like.

Now, I just need to finish the baby blanket. It is about half-way done.  It is just so large, that I almost need a second bag to tuck it away in when I take it places.  So, this has become the tele watching knitting project.  And speaking of finishing, I have a few other folks in my family who are due this summer/autumn, and I need to get a head start on those projects as well.  This certainly is the year of the Baby in my family!

I met LaMisha when I participated in my first NaNoWriMo, back in 2009.  She immediately struck me as someone who I wanted to know better.   Creative to the core, she not only writes but has her own photography business, LaMisha Allen Photography.  I was excited when she signed up my Pay It Forward list, because I always enjoy knitting for my friends who are non-knitters.

A lovely shawl for a lovely lady!

• Project : ‘Springtime In Virginia’ Shawl
• Pattern :  ’Bella Bontanica Shawl’ by Karen Strauss (Ravelry link only, sorry.)
• Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm, “Findley” in ‘Crocodile’

It was a pleasure to knit a piece like this, because it was so delicate and so ‘fragile’ in a way, something that would be admired and held dear for both the person creating it and the one receiving it.

This was my first experience with lace weight yarn.  Did the thought of knitting with such a fine weight scare me?  Yes, at first.  But this yarn was a true luxury to work with (a sturdy merino/silk blend.)  I also want to mention that this yarn was a gift from Chan, a belated Christmas gift that I stroked and fondled all the way home  from our last lunchoen in Charlottesville.  I knew that I couldn’t wait to create something lacey with the yarn, but I just wasn’t sure at the time what it would manifest to become.  Because, for me, I knit lace for the procress, never the end result, and never something to keep for myself.   There is zen calming effect on me, working a complex knitting chart.

But now it has a home, and one where it will be cherished!   LaMisha, it was a pleasure to knit for you!

LaMisha

Tory asked me last year if I would knit her a wedding shawl.  I was all too happy to oblige.  She handed me yarn, picked out a pattern, and the rest was easy!

Beautiful Tory!

Perfect wingspan

• Project : Tory’s Wedding Shawl
• Pattern : Mantra by Susan Pandorf
• Yarn : Blue Heron ‘Rayon Metallic’, in ‘Polar Bear’

The shawl took longer to knit than I had planned, mainly because I couldn’t do any knitting during my first trimester, so this project had to take a side seat.  I was so happy when I was able to not only finish the shawl, but to deliver it to the lovely bride-to-be.  She is so happy with it (as you can see in the photos.)

I can’t wait to attend the wedding in July.  I’m so happy for them, and I know that they are going to be happy together, for a very long time.

Tory and Brandon, the happy couple!

Me and my Mom, 2011

Today is my Mom’s birthday!  I won’t spill the beans on her age, but regardless of how old she is, I’m so happy to have her as my Mother.

While it’s no secret that we had a very rocky relationship from the time I was in my early teens until I was about twenty-three, we’re very close now.  Not a single day passes that I don’t speak to her on the phone or at least text her.  And with my pregnancy, she’s been my life line.  From bringing me Slurpees while I was sick in my first trimester, to helping me sew some cotton/warm weather friendly maternity clothes, she’s been right by my side for everything.

And now that I’m going to be a mother myself, I see her in a different light.  I see her as more human, a woman who, like all mothers, must put herself aside for the good of her child.  I never understood that until now, and it explains a lot.

Happy Birthday, Mom!   I love you so much!

The lighting is terrible, I know.

This weekend we have approached the half-way mark.  20 weeks and, as you can see, I’m still growing.  I’ll spare you the many physical details of pregnancy (they are not all pretty,) but instead simply bask in the baby bump glow.  Emotionally, I’m a train wreck most days.  My temper and ability to keep the cranky at bay is getting worse; I am having to work especially hard to hold my tongue.  My poor husband suffers from the results the most.  I’m just thankful that he loves me and understands that it is the hormones talking, not me.  Because, try as I may to act like a lady, it isn’t happening.

There is still so much that we have to do!  We need to get the nursery ready, and cat proof the basement a bit more.  We keep putting the last part off, mainly because it is so tedious, but it is something that just has to be done.  Storing items such as linens and random items that have no place save for the basement, adding some shelves and moving things that are potentially dangerous/hazardous to cats.

So, it is a long process, especially when I’m tired, achy, and would rather crawl into bed than try to store sheets and towels in SpaceBags.  But we’ll get it done, one way or another.

• Project : Baby Pullover
• Pattern: Bulky Baby Pullover by Diane Soucy
• Yarn : Jackson by Tahki Yarns

At first, I wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out.  Yes, it is a simple pattern and knits up quickly with bulky yarn.  But the neck was a little odd; you go back and pick up stitches.  The way that it was written, I thought that there would be a placket.  Still, it turned out nice and I’m happy with it.

The yarn that I ordered to make the baby blanket for MY baby finally arrived!  I really want to cast on straight away, but I have some other projects that need to be finished first.

The color is called ‘Charteuse’; it is a little brighter than in the photo.  And the pattern I’m going for?  Why, The Hemlock Ring of course!   Boy or girl, this is the blanket that I’ve dreamed of knitting for my child since John and I started trying almost four years ago.  So, I’ll keep you posted.  I don’t know how long I can hold off before I start casting on!

But, now that I am able to knit at my regular pace again, I can start posting some finished projects.  And I’ll admit, while I have tons of things to work on right now, the compulsion to cast on more and more baby items for ‘Cletus The Fetus’ is overwhelming.  But at least I have one sweater completed.

Good for a boy or a girl

• Project : Cherry On Top (aka, Baby’s First Sweater)
• Pattern : Garter Yoke Baby Cardi by Jennifer Hoel
• Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport

As you can tell from the cat hair on the sweater, Cooley fully approves and wanted to make sure to show his love on it last night, after I finished sewing on the buttons.  And speaking of buttons, I want to thank Amanda B (Mander) for the awesome antique buttons.  I’ve been hoarding them, and they turned out to be perfect for this project.

The sweater was easy to knit.  I really love the contrast with the garter stitch yoke against the straight stitch of the body and sleeves.  I want to make another, smaller one for the baby to wear sooner.  It is just a fun pattern, with no seaming and minimal weaving in of ends.

I’m also interested to know what you, my fellow knitters, like to knit for babies.  What are some of your favorite patterns?

No make-up and exhausted, but look at that bump!

I’m starting to rub my belly involuntarily now; something that I don’t notice but other people do.  And it is all that I can do to watch my mouth and make sure I’m on my best behavior.  Some days are terrible; I understand more and more why women were once ‘sequestered’ while pregnant.

But, despite moodiness and the desire to eat an entire cherry pie, one fabulous thing has happened …

I CAN KNIT AGAIN!!!!

I started a simple cardi for the baby with some red and brown yarn that I had in my stash.  The pattern is Garter Yoke Baby Cardigan, and it is almost finished.  I also ordered the yarn today to make the baby blanket; Hemlock Ring!  I love this pattern, and the yarn will be super-wash, so I can toss it in the washing machine if needed.

In addition to knitting, my mother is helping me with a little sewing for myself.  I’m dying for some vintage clothing, and since finding maternity vintage is next to impossible, I’ve decided to make new garments from vintage patterns.  A simple shirt and skirt combo from the 1950′s, and a cute inverted-pleat smock dress from the 1960′s.  We ordered the patterns today and I’m hoping to get started on them next month!  While I love my maternity jeans, I am going crazy not having anything vintage or fun to wear!

I am hoping that, now that I’m feeling better, I’ll be blogging more in the near future.  Baby knitting to share, sewing progress to display …. things may be back to normal here at the Menagerie quite soon!  Thanks for sticking it out with me!