a little bunny

I made one of these for my neighbor’s new baby, Gabi, and it was so cute that I had to make another for Edda. I used Hobby Lobby’s “Bamboospun” for both bunnies, which is not normally a yarn  I would use. I initially picked it because it was soft and machine washable but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. And I do love it. It is not at all “plasticy” like a lot of these fluffy yarns that are 100% acrylic and it has a lovely drape thanks to the bamboo. I’m considering making a sweater out of it for Edda to wear this fall/winter. The pattern is Lion Brand’s “Bunny Blanket Buddy” and there appear to be  several permutations of it on the  Lion Brand website. This is the one I used.

I made the head about 2” tall instead of the 3.5” the pattern calls for. For the face, I cut a roundish shape from white craft felt and embroidered the features on it and sewed that onto the head with white floss. I sewed a bell into a little, felt pouch and put that inside the head along with the stuffing to add an interesting sound when Edda shakes it. (I sewed it very securely, there’s no way in the world she’s getting it out and swallowing it.)

socks, booties and excuses for not blogging

Meet my new excuse for never blogging anymore. She’s sweet, but she keeps me busy! When I get a spare moment, blogging is just not that high on my list. I would rather just knit. My knitting has been pretty boring to blog about anyway, since my sleep-deprived brain can only handle very simple things right now. I did finish a pair of purple socks for my mom that have been hanging around for months.  I also started working on a blankie for a friend’s baby. I’m not sure if she reads this blog, so I won’t get into specifics. It’s on ravelry, if you’re interested. The yarn I’m using is Knit Picks “Comfy Sport.” I highly recommend it. It’s very soft and not very splitty. The colors are lovely, too.

I made some  “Christine’s Baby Booties” for Edda out of some leftover cherry tree hill sock yarn and they have been the best ever at keeping her feet warm. She can wiggle her way out of any sock or bootie on the planet except these. If you ever make them, don’t leave out the tie. The tie is the key to the staying-on-ness. They look pretty darn cute, too!

Here are some recent photos of Edda in handknits:

More about the baby

There hasn’t been a ton of knitting going on during the last two weeks. Actually, there hasn’t been much of anything going on besides lots of diaper changing and nursing and lying around dazed and exhausted. In spite of all the trouble, I’m finding motherhood extremely exhilarating. I think my baby is the loveliest ever. Pardon me while a share a few of my favorite photos.

Two of my good friends, Amy and Mandy, made this quilt for Edda.

This is Edda about to leave for her 1-week checkup. (She’s yawning, not crying.)

Edda and Oliver having some bonding time.

Edda wearing her socks that I made.

Edda and her daddy taking a nap after we came home from the hospital.

Edda wearing her viking hat.

Napping with the cozy pinwheel blanket. (That has been the most-used FO so far!)

Ok. Sorry for the picture overload… We’ve pretty much been taking pictures continuously since the birth. Edda was born on Thursday, January 22nd after a grueling 25 and a half hours of labor. We had decided to have a natural birth, but after 20 hours or so, I started having serious second thoughts about that decision. Fortunately Ryan, my Mom and my labor coach were there to help me get through the last five hours without getting an epidural. I’m really glad I stuck with my decision. Even though it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I wouldn’t change it. Ryan was really awesome through the whole thing and I feel like the experience really brought us closer together. Tomorrow Edda will be two weeks old and I’m feeling almost back to normal. (except for some unfortunate stitches. ugh.) She is such a little bundle of cuteness.

As far as knitting goes, I finished some ankle socks in Panda Cotton (Trail Mix colorway) and I’m now working on some socks in a turquoise, brown and gray colorway of Austermann Step. I also made a pair of fingerless mittens for my sister, Olivia.

Next time I post I will hopefully have some sewing to show off! I turned 21 on January 29th and I bought a cool new sewing book with some birthday money. (This book. It is very inspiring.)

She’s here!

Edda Rose

born January 22, 2009

eight pounds, two ounces

and so, so perfect.

Burp cloths… lol

I’ve been sewing a lot recently. A few weeks ago all the flannel at Hancock Fabrics was 50% off so I bought some.

And I made…. burp cloths. Glamorous, I know. They are really cute burp cloths, though. I wanted to practice sewing and I thought they would be an easy practice project. (Those are tiny, cute mushrooms on the printed flannel!)

My stomach has reached a most uncomfortably large size. I’m really ready to have the baby now. Fortunately, the end is near: my due date is Monday. It can’t be long now. I’ve found that it is really hard to take a decent picture of one’s stomach that is isn’t terribly embarassing, but I want to document it so I won’t forget. I’m not sure if i’ll believe it was actually as big as it is after it is gone… This picture is sort of ok, but I’m still only posting the smaller size.

Not much going on knitting-wise except a pair of socks in panda cotton. I thought I would hate the yarn as it is a cotton-based sock yarn and I vowed never to knit with one of those, but I’m actually enjoying it a lot! I think the elastic in the yarn makes all the difference in the world. Maybe they won’t be so warm that I can only wear them in the dead of winter… South Carolina needs to be a little bit colder.

christmas is over.

I feel like Christmas was here and gone too quickly this year. It might be that I feel this way because I have a lot on my mind. Baby Edda should be here anytime in the next two weeks and her coming has basically eclipsed any and everything else in my mind. Some updates:

I finished the nursery but I haven’t photographed it yet because every time I get it cleaned up something happens and all the mess from the rest of the house gets hidden back there. Grr.

I gave all the presents that I knitted. I think everyone liked them. (Actually, I’m pretty sure most people liked them a lot, which is excellent because I really spent a lot of time making them exactly the way people wanted them.) I managed to surprise my mom, which is always a big deal as she is very hard to surprise.

Mom’s socks (rav link) I loved this yarn, Zitron Lifestyle.

Ryan gave me a set of knit picks’ harmony straight needles (10″) for Christmas!  They combine the things I like about bamboo needles with the few things I like about metal needles to make a whole new kind of needle (at least, new to me).  I like bamboo needles because they are strong, flexible-ish, light, they don’t “clink” and they warm to your hands as you use them. I like the fact that they are “grabbier” than metal, but sometimes they grab too much.  Also the points are usually too blunt. The harmony needle have nice, pointy tips and they are much smoother! They are also pretty, but that’s just extra. Love, love, love.

Ryan also gave me a cute little espresso machine, which I also dearly love.  Ryan is a keeper.

——–

Some recently finished baby things:

viking girl hat (ravelry link)

a basic bib

Sorry if this post has been long and rambling… I felt like I had a lot to catch up on. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I may or may not get around to updating before the baby gets here so… if you don’t hear from me in a month or so it’s probably because Her Majesty has arrived.

(of course, I intend to post before then, but you guys know my track record is not so great, hehe.)

relief

I can finally breathe. I am done with my exams. I will never have to take another math class. NEVER. I am so, so thrilled about this. The rest of this week will be pretty busy, but who cares? I don’t. Math is over.

In knitting news, I have begun the seventh and final stocking for my family. This one is for my next-to-youngest sister, Sara. It is pink and white on request. I would show a picture, but there’s not much to show at this point. I finished Katie’s (youngest sis) stocking. I finished it at my parents house and Katie was so excited about that she didn’t want me to take it home to block it. I love it when my knits are so enthusiastically received.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. It’s easily my favorite holiday for many reasons. I love to cook, so I always do a lot of that. I also love my family and I really love how mine and Ryan’s families get along so well. The last few years, our two families and my mom’s parents have had a great feast at my parents’ house. (14 people!) This year my very good friend Lyn and her mom were with us as well. Lots of good food and conversation were enjoyed by all.

I have so much to be thankful for this year, but I think our baby has to be at the top of the list. I can’t wait to see her! I’m also very thankful for Ryan. He is a wonderful person and I know he’ll be a great dad for Edda. (I could go on, but the list would just get too long. I mean, I haven’t even mentioned yarn…)

On a less serious note, I finished two more Christmas stockings for my family! That only leaves the last two, one of which I have half-finished. I’m so close to the end now…

(these are still unblocked)

baby shower

My church had a baby shower for me on Monday night. It was a very fun and sweet time. My friend Leah was the main planning-person and she also made the adorable cake you see pictured. The shower was bunny-themed to match Edda’s room that I’m painting with bunnies. (Remember back when I was posting pics of that? Yeah, it’s still not done. I got interrupted, but I’m planning to finish over thanksgiving break.)

some more cake pictures:

One of my good friends, Mrs. Dean, made me a shawl! I had mentioned to her that I wanted to make myself a nursing shawl but I wasn’t going to have time because of all the other stuff I was planning to make. (I really think I have over committed myself.) So she made the shawl for me. It is seriously warm and cuddly. I have a thing for squooshy cables.

a close-up of the tag, which is part of the overall effect:

Another friend, Eloise, made a cute hat for Edda.

Sorry for the picture-laden post. I guess the surplus of pictures will help make up for my lack of words… lol.

homebrewing… mmmm.

Ryan bottled his first batch of home-brewed beer this afternoon. It has to sit in the bottles for a week or two before drinking so it can get all bubbly. (I mean carbonate. lol.) We tasted a little bit of it even though it’s “green” and it was really good! Ryan is so excited; he’s already planning his next brew. I told him he needs to make me some cider next…

In knitting news, I finished another baby sweater. The pattern is Baby Mine and I used the undyed version of knit picks Gloss.

It still needs to be blocked and to have the buttons sewn on, but I think it looks nice. I can’t wait to try it on her. Speaking of the baby, we chose a name for her: Edda Rose. What do you think?