2009 Projects in Review

Things I've learned from this last year of craft:

1. I always think green is my favorite color, but clearly blue and red were in 2009.
2. I like to keep extremities warm.
3. Needle felting is fun, I should pick that up again.
4. Do I like to make toys? Yes, I do.
5. Making a person is the best craft of all!

The Evolution of the Hipster

from paste magazine

The neglected to mention that if you were a hipster girl in 2005, you were learning how to knit. They do get half credit for having the model wear what looks like a hand knit scarf.

Baby Benji Beanie

Pattern: Baby Beanie (ravelry link)
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Needles: size 2

This was a cute, easy pattern, just right for full term preggo/new mommy brain. I really wanted to finish it before he was born, but he came 4 days earlier than predicted. A friend and fellow knitter was coming to meet him so I HAD to finish it.

How is that more motivation than the birth of my first child? Re: Ben can't yet discuss the pros and cons of various sock yarns.

But he looks so cute wearing them that this will not be the last knitted hat he is subjected to wear!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Baby Benjamin

Our little boy is here! After 19 hours of labor (I went natural!), he finally made his way into the world. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. at birth. Now here we are two weeks later, and the little chunker in my lap is 9 lbs.! He can already wear the next size in diapers and has grown out of some of his newborn clothes.

We had a little scare with severe jaundice that ended us up back in the hospital on bili lights. We were fortunate to be able to room-in together so I was able to continue to breastfeed. We are all home, healthy and happy now.

Baby crafting posts, commence!

Cuddlefish, aka Nautie from Knitty

Pattern: Nautie from Knitty.com (free!)
Yarn: O-wool Balance (in my top 5 favorite yarns of all time!)
Needles: size 6
Made for: My baby-to-be (about a month away!)

This was a fun and weird knit. I like making toys...there's also a Mr. Dangly 2.0 waiting in the wings for his photo shoot.
I don't have all that much to say about this project. It wasn't boring, wasn't too hard, and make people laugh. All in all a good deal. Also, my poor future son will realize that that his mom has always been a little odd early on. : )

Hopefully I will get my other creations blogged about and current projects finished before d-day. Only a month left!

Baby Earflap Hat

Pattern: Baby / Kid's Earflap Hat (infant size)
Yarn: Jo-Ann Sensations Soles and More
Needles: size 2
Made for: baby - to - be, modeled by the ever adorable Baby Chris

I made this for my little one due in November, but I made it infant size since baby sizing seems to be all over the place and they grow so quickly. But, it fits my 6 month old nephew (who is in size 9-12 month clothing). There's no way my kiddo will be that big by February, which is the last month cold enough for a hat in Texas.

Luckily, the pattern is a fun, quick knit and I have plenty of yarn leftover. I did increase the stitch count by 50% because I didn't get gauge. Why bother knitting a bunch of swatches when you can do math? And then have your sweet and patient husband correct it?

Hello World...

...it's been a while. I have two excuses. One, as evidenced above, I am with child. A sacred vessel. My eggo is preggo!
This picture was taken soon after we found out the gender, at about 5 months. I hit the 7 month mark this week. I haven't been able to see my feet for a while.

Excuse number 2! We bought and moved into our first home earlier this summer. Owning a home is a lot of work. If it wasn't the hot water heater going out, it was the AC. Or the brand new dryer (I'm glaring at you, Maytag). Ah, the joys of home ownership. Why is it that whenever you mention a problem you're having with your house, someone says that to you? It's infuriating.

So, between sitting on hold with warranty departments, incubating a tiny person and being pregnant though one of the hottest summers on record, I haven't had much time or energy left to blog. I have some things to say now, though, and some crafts to post about, so I am more or less back in the blogging game again!