EyeKnit

Does this work???



Wouldn't that be something.

Yeah, I know... not so nice of 9-month-pregnant blogger to go AWOL from the blog for a week plus, and come back without a baby, huh?

Believe me... I wish she was here already too! I am getting TIRED! As my ankles seem to swell to gigantic proportions when I'm on my feet for more than a nanosecond or so, I've been spending a lot of time sitting & lying down... hence much knitting.

You never doubted I'd make a purple & black hat for Sam, right?



Yep, ordered up the yarn, and bam... 2 days later, a hat. Pom pom and all. The best part... he likes it!



The not-so-good part is now he realizes that knitted items can be ordered upon request... so last night, as he was hanging out in bed next to me, while I was working on a scarf, and he was playing with some yarn and one of my "knitting things" (that's a needle, for the not-3 crowd) he asked for a scarf. In all of his favorite colors. Purple and black? No! Apparently, this week, the favorite colors are white, brown, purple, and red. (I will make a million purple and black hats before this scarf materializes)

Fortunately, I have lots of other projects to keep me busy... Sue's mom requested a scarf from her favorite knitting daughter (me! ha ha). And far be it for me to turn down an opportunity to knit something... so I started this:



This is a pretty cool pattern, actually. It's the My So-Called Scarf pattern. Kudos to whoever decided to increase AND decrease in every stitch and see what it looked like. It's kind of fun. I'm using Rowan Tapestry yarn, which is a mixture of wool & soy... and that's fun too. I've just accepted that soy can be made into milk... now I have to figure out how it gets to be yarn. Hmm. I have some doubts that Sue's mom will like this scarf-- she specifically requested something black & white... and this is neither... but hey-- artistic license.

And on the topic of long strip-py things...



I started my own "Circle Of Friends" blankie (from Last Minute Knitted Gifts) for the baby-- slightly pathetic as I am doing the whole thing myself, with no friends, so it's a very small circle... but I started the entrelac pattern I had originally bought yarn for, and decided I didn't like it as much as I wanted to... then saw a couple of the Circle of Friends blankets around the blog-world, and needed one of my very own.

So that's my knitting update. I also finished the pink baby sweater (& a matching hat, of course), but want to sew the buttons on before I take pictures.

Hang in for baby updates... as the monkey said when he put his tail over the railroad tracks... it won't be long now...

Our New Addition!

It's a . . .



Car!

Yep... the '96 Civic hatchback was a little too small for a family of 4... and when it needed $800 of work, it was time to send it to the big parking lot in the sky. After some interesting experiences at dealerships (MORE than enough fodder for our next office meeting on customer service), we decided on a 2007 Subaru Outback Wagon. It's really cute. I'm guessing the next new addition will be even cuter... but we'll keep you posted.

Yeah, so I have hatarrhea. So what.



They're preemie hats. Good baby karma, and whatnot.

I didn't make all of these in the last 2 days. Most were done, and just needed ends woven in etc. I did make the little red one start to finish Tuesday night. One of our Wednesday patients was a NICU nurse, so I did these to bring to her.

This maternity leave thing is good for knitting. Midwife yesterday reports "no progress" despite a week of constant contractions, so looks like we're on target for November 27th. I worked a little bit yesterday, and will go in for a few hours today to meet with the new accountant & do an interview. Saturday is my last official day, and then the real maternity leave kicks in.

I am struck lately by the gravity of "maternity leave" for women who have no intention of going back to work. I can't imagine not working. I am in awe of my friends who stay home with their kids. I couldn't do it. I don't think I'd make it 2 weeks. I'm not saying it's wrong... just wouldn't work for me. At all. But anyway, I can't imagine leaving work Saturday to go on "maternity leave" knowing that I wasn't going back.

It is like saying "AS OF THIS DAY, I AM NO LONGER A... (fill in former occupation here)... I AM A MOTHER." (Not a cow or a hen, or a snort). Like, yeah... becoming a mother does change an awful lot of things... and in my opinion, being a full-time mother is probably the hardest job out there... but I really like still being something else too. Of course, I happen to love what I do. I equally can't imagine leaving my kid(s!) in daycare to head off to a job I hate.

Okay, too much thinking. Now I'm tired. 9:00 a.m.... must be nap time.

Okay, at what point does this become a certifiable medical issue?



I can't stop!!!!!

Next up... more work on the Ab-Fab, plus finishing the pink sweater (& starting the matching hat, of course!)

Of all the things I knit, it's hats I like the best.



I made an appropriately-sized hat to go with the tiny baby sweater. I think I'm saving this set for our baby-to-be, due for arrival in about 2 weeks (eep!) Sam won't wear the bigger hat-- this week, he does not like orange, which is just as well because it's a little small on him, and a little girlish anyway.

He keeps asking for a purple hat (or purple & black). I've been hoping it's just a phase, but he's been insistent-- so I think I'll suck it up & order the yarn. I'm thinking one of those long stocking-cap looking things (just to prolong the agony of knitting with purple & black).

I also started another hat, for one of Sam's daycare teacher's daughters.



Never too early to start sucking up to the teachers in the baby room again.

And yes, Sue, I will work on your throw-- hats are just so wonderfully mindless & easy & portable & convenient! I love hats!

Sorry. My photos suck lately. We got some holiday catalog & it had a "tabletop studio" with backdrops & lights and everything. It was designed to be used for photographing jewelry, and stuff you're selling on EBay. I thought it probably would be really good for photographing knitting... but would MUCH rather spend the $80 on yarn. So, my photos suck lately. (I think I used to say "pictures" before marrying the Canadian.)

Anyway, here's a shot of the first hat to match the stripey sweater. The hat is cute, but probably a few sizes larger than the sweater.



So... I cast on another hat, smaller. It's amazing what a difference 16 stitches make. This should be a quickie.



Here is the progress on the Ab Fab Throw.



For a day off (I know! 2 in a week!) today is pretty busy... our annual International Theme Work Holiday Party is tonight... this year, we're doing Indian food at Akbar. Gotta finish up trivia, buy socks, and work on a few other surprises...

Ha!

I almost fell off the finishing wagon. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but 11 rows before the end of the shawl, I found myself starting a baby hat. 11 rows!?! Fortunately, I caught myself after a few inches of ribbing, and managed to get back in control, and finish the shawl.



I have Carriellen's blocking wires... I'm finding them a little bit scary, all long and flexible in their plastic bag... gotta get over my fear, and block this puppy. Then I can decide what to do with it.

The baby hat will match the orange, green, white & purple striped baby sweater. Actually, it matches in color only. Size-wise, it's a little large. But cute. So when that is done, I'll make a smaller one.

I also started the Ab-Fab throw, as a housewarming gift for someone who is finding it necessary to leave me & move to Chicago this week... mohair is a little gross, no?

One of my patients today said I should take some days off where I can just stay in pajamas. I think Wednesday might be one of those days. Expect much knitting.

I leave you with some fall photos...

Enough nonsense.

I have too many things on the needles that could be finished in 2 hours or less. I'm not sure how these socks got to the top of the list, but they did... and tonight, they are done.



You do not want to know how out of breath I got trying to take this picture.

The socks are from the More Fun Than Cables Sock Pattern. The yarn is Sockotta. I wouldn't have bought it if I realized it was so... stripey.

I never inteded for these socks to match up. I'm not sure why not. I think I was aiming for whimsical, although I don't quite think that's what I achieved.

Anyway, they are finished, and officially off the list. They are comfortable, and are keeping my feet warm as I type... AND, there is enough yarn left over to make matching baby socks for my soon-to-be-baby-girl... although I'm NOT starting anything new until I finish some more WIP's.