Baby Surprise Jacket

Continuing the tradition of knitting a sweater for when friends and family are expecting, a friend gave birth to a boy early in July. Continuing the tradition of using up stash yarn, I used leftovers from a sweater I made for an expectant cousin two years ago, Garnstudio Drops Merino Extra Fine in 09 (brown) and 15 (light blue). I made Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket.

I did run out of yarn before I was finished, and I didn't have anything on hand to substitute that wouldn't look like I had run out of yarn, so I did buy another skein of the brown to finish up.  

The pattern was interesting in that I couldn't really figure out how it would all come together. I followed the pattern blindly, and it only really made sense after I had cast off. I wish I could explain it better, but once you bind off, the jacket wants to fold in a couple places and then it all works. Up until that point, I kept my fingers crossed. 

The Starting Point

I've struggled with my weight off and on since my teenage years, and it's on again. My struggle is my own, and I'm figuring out how much I feel comfortable sharing here on the blog. While I'm not obese, I am plump. I am not comfortable in my own skin right now. I'm bigger than I was a year ago, I currently have two pairs of pants that can zip. I could continue, but I'm choosing not to. It wouldn't be productive.

Work is hosting an optional Biggest Loser competition, starting today. I'm opting in. I'm hoping that little bit of structure will be the motivation I need. When it comes to doing things I don't like doing, I am better if I have to "report" to someone regularly. Even if it's just a weekly weigh-in with the Biggest Loser "Chair."

Additionally, I am going to take my measurements weekly. In the past, I've gotten discouraged and fallen off wagons when the scale didn't move, even if it was because dense muscle tissue had replaced body fat. This way, I'll still see measurable (pun intended) results even if my weight doesn't change.

I've put a lot of thought into how much to post on the blog. This is a personal matter, and while I am taking it public by writing this, that doesn't invalidate my right to privacy. I've decided not to post my actual stats, but I will share the changes. In other words, you'll know how much weight I lost in a week, but you won't know my starting and ending weights. I will post weekly pictures, but I'll be wearing jeans and a tank top. This is my body, this is my comfort zone. I'm not passing judgement on anything else, this is just what feels right for me. So, here we go!

Bobo is already "over it."

It's been a while

Wow, I knew I hadn't blogged in a while, but I didn't realize it had been nearly 5 months. Here is Day 1 of my August resolution to be a better blogger!

When I left off, my husband was fighting an infection (a complication of diabetes) and we were spending a lot of time in hospital waiting rooms. It eventually required minor sugery, but that took care of it. During that time, I finished Cerisara.

         

My swatch grew in length, so I made some adjustments to account for that as I went. The body worked out exactly as I had hoped; however the sleeves didn't grow in the same way, especially after wearing it a few times. They're more or less bracelet length, but I like it. I used Knit Picks Swish DK in Velveteen, it's very warm and soft. It pills, but not terribly. I do need to shave it periodically. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it – non-knitters can't believe that someone could hand-knit this!

Yarn, yarn, yarn

My stash has gotten out of control. Here it is, thrown about the bed:

Not that there is too much yarn. There is never too much yarn. I don't understand the concept of "too much yarn" unless and until it gets to the point that entire rooms are just filled top to bottom with yarn, like Uncle Scrooge's vault from "DuckTales." Yes, I'm an '80s baby.

My stash has out grown it's various containers, and I don't know what is in it. I've never been diligent about adding purchases to my "stash" on Ravelry; I usually only add them when I'm adding the finished project, if anything. I have no idea how much I have of any yarn, unless it's a full skein. Not to mention the mystery yarn.

My mission, my poorly documented mission, has been to destash and organize. So far this month, I have knit a baby sleep sack, a baby hat, an adult hat, and a Color Affection, and I finished a long-neglected Array. I have another adult hat on the needles, as well as a softie that I'm making up as I go. On the agenda tonight is the organization aspect. De-mystifying the mystery yarn, weighing and calculating the yardage of remnants, and organizing. Wish me luck!

Waiting Room Knitting

As far as knitting productivity goes, nothing beats nervous hospital waiting room knitting.

My husband has an infection – a complication of his diabetes – that we've been treating since he left work early on Tuesday and went into Urgent Care. Thankfully, I was able to join him; and we've been at the hospital every day since, culminating tonight in a routine surgical procedure to drain the abscess. He's been in a lot of pain, and we've spent a lot of time waiting. Waiting for his regular doctor, waiting for the specialist, for the pharmacist, for lab work, for ultrasounds, for the procedure... He's in very good hands. And he's hardly the first person to have medical issues and who is loved by a Knitter.

By coincidence, the onset of his infection coincided with the beginning of 12 inches of reverse stockinette stitch on the cardigan I'm knitting (Cerisara by Bonnie Marie Burns). My mind was so occupied that I barely noticed the knit-boredom. And it helped that nerves made me knit a bit faster than usual. Now that we're home, all I have left are a few rows on the bottom hem, and the sleeves.

Post-procedure, Ben is feeling well. He's on pain meds and will be for a couple days; he has a follow up visit on Monday but we're optimistic that the worst is over. His doctors have been wonderful; cautious but aggressive.

My supervisors have been wonderful all week, they've done everything in their power so that I can be with Ben as much as possible.

My in-laws have been wonderful as well. My mother-in-law has accompanied us on many appointments, even though she was relegated to the waiting rooms even more than we were. My father-in-law is a Radiologist at the same hospital, he's been able to review the scans and stop in periodically. They looked after our dog last night and are doing the same tonight as well.

My mom has been extremely supportive as well, though she is further away and could not be here in person. I've cried to her on the phone more than once this week.

Of course, given the choice, I would much rather not finish Cerisara this weekend if it means we don't have to back to the hospital.

Free Valentines Printables

 Enjoy these free Valentine's printables!

I could never stop love you (English)

I could never stop loving you (French)

je ne pourrais jamais cesser de t'aimer

Interested in seeing this in another language? Hit the comments with the translation!

A view of my Monday

It's been a long time, blogworld. Over the last few months, work and family things have kept me from crafting and knitting and blogging as much as I would have liked, hence the long silence. Not that the work or the family things have been anything less than pleasant; just that when I run out of hours in the day, the knitting, crafting, and blogging are the first things to hit the back burner.

Today was a pretty perfect day. I organized our bedroom closet, and then I organized my yarn stash and my needle stash (How did I end up with 2 US #6 18" circular needles?), and then I dove back in. I've been camped out on the bed, where I can sit comfortably and spread things out. Bo has even joined me.

I haven't taken a complete break from crafting. I've been working on a poncho for a close family friend's newly adopted daughter. I bound off the final stitches earlier today, now I just have to weave in ends and complete the top edging. Pictures to come, and probably a pattern as well.