Holding Pattern

I'm still here. The bun is still baking.

My frustration is getting to me. *sigh* I am chasing the carrot but someone keeps moving the stick. When we went to the hospital last weekend they told me to come back when my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and they were strong enough that I had to stop what I was doing until it was over. That occured last night so we went back. I had charted my contractions for 3 and a half hours before I decided to call Labor & Delivery. I gave them the run down and they told me to come on in. Hubby and I put Gwen to bed leaving one of my good friend's to hold down the fort and we hopped in the car. Neither of us had much hope that this trip would end with a baby but we had hit the milestone the hospital prescribed so we followed directions. End result of the trip: no baby. I am still 4 cm dilated but I am also now 50% effaced so that is some progress. They also "stripped my membranes" which isn't as bad as it sounds- it is a simple procedure that can release hormones to stimulate labor- we'll see if it has any effect, so far it has just made my contractions somewhat more painful. This time, when we left the hospital, they told us not to come back until I was having regular, close, white-knuckle contractions. So there you have it- the new carrot.

And in non-baby related news (yes! there is some!)

I finally finished the Knit Puffy for my Secret Pal:

Here it is in its natural habitat :) Pattern is from OneSkein. Knit per the instructions from Aloo yarn. I know I complained about knitting with the nettle yarn but in the end I was really pleeased with the results. I might even make another one. But not anytime soon. I sent the package off on Monday and my pal, AJ, received it yesterday. I really enjoyed Secret Pal 10 and will most likely do the next swap.

I have also been the lucky recipient of a couple of fun and fabulous packages in the last couple weeks.

First up, a prize from an SP10 group contest, courtesy of Robyn, my fantastic hostess!

This is a really cute cross-stitch kit. The balloon reads, "Who are these kids and why are they calling me mom?" For those of you who don't know, cross-stitch was my first needle art love so I am looking forward to tackling this project. Thank you Robyn :)

Next I received a treat from Sasha of free wool as a prize for a contest she ran:

All sorts of good things. Three vintage knitting pattern booklets (I swear I think my grandmother made me one of the sweaters in one of the books- it looks so familiar!), a Japanese booklet of little animals (the correct term escapes my brain at the moment and I am too lazy to look it up) to needle felt, recent copies of BabyBug (Pooh Bear loves this!), mothering, ReadyMade and Bust- all of which is really more inspiration than I can handle right now. My crafting/knitting to do list is multiple pages long and I know that my time will be limited to non-existent soon. The bag included some whistle candy and a Fran's Macadamia Gold bar which was waaaaaaaayyyyy too tasty. Last, but certainly not least, is a really neat skein of Noro Sakura which is a really unique yarn. Fabulous bright colorway and it periodically has these sections where the yarn is wrapped around the base in a way that totally reminds me of the friendship bracelets I used to make with my friends from embroidery thread back in the day -So fun! Thanks Sasha!

Lastly, a big hug and thank you to everyone for the kind words and good wishes you've sent my way as I have been making my way way through the slowest labor ever recorded, I really appreciate it... you guys are keeping me (somewhat) sane.

Next time: Baby Knits - the longer BtB stays in, the more I get done...so that is the bright side of this whole thing. BTW, generally a bad sign when the nurses at your doctor's office take a look at you and say, "Man, you are going to drop that baby any minute!"

I'm a Lucky Girl!

Guess what has arrived?

My Secret Pal 10 package complete with the big Reveal Information!

Let me say, a big

THANK YOU!!!!!

to my fantastic pal: Karen Malave of The Knitting Patch.

Just like my first goodie box this one was full of lovely things:

Let's see...

-Chocolate (Lindt Milk Chocolate with Toffee bits & Toblerone), can't go wrong there, yum!

-A copy of Knit 2 Together (yippee! multiple projects from this book are on my "to knit wish list")

-An adorable needle felting kit (I have been ogling needle felting kits online and classes around town for months but had not done anything about it yet- now I just have to find the time)

-And lastly, a beautiful skein of Sea Wool with the dpn's and stitch markers to make the Bordello Socks on the label (I swear Karen was reading my mind, I have picked up and put done a skein of Sea Wool every single time I have gone into a yarn store of late. And this colorway is a perfect choice for me, a red with touches of pink that beautifully combines my two favorite colors)

Participating in SP10 has been a great experience, it has been so fun to receive fun gifts in the mail. I still have one more package to send to my spoilee (I opted to do three packages) but I need to finish up the bath scrubby I'm knitting before I can get it out the door. I'm about halfway done and hope to finish it by the end of the week so I can send it off and reveal myself. I keep putting off working on the scrubby because I don;t like the yarn... I know I could just scrap the thing and send a store bought scrubby but it isn't the same and, well, I'm stubborn. I will conquer the Aloo!

It Came from the Stash...

As part of a contest for Secret Pal 10, my group is supposed to confess to the oldest yarn in our stash. Potentially embarrassing, and yet, this was my idea! (See previous post, I won a contest for coming up with the question)

The oldest yarn in my stash is 10 skeins of Aurora 8 in Pink Heather (#732)- at least I think it is ten, might only be nine... I'm too lazy to walk up two fights of stairs right now to check for sure.

Lovely yarn really. I made a hat for my daughter out of Aurora 8 and I liked working with it, not as soft as RYC Cashsoft or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino which I prefer to use but quite nice for a 100% merino wool (at least to someone like me with, shall we say, wool sensitivities).

I bought this yarn while I was taking my second set of knitting classes (Advanced Beginner) back in October of 2005 and it was intended to be a neat little ribbed poncho pattern put out by my lys. As you can see that never happened. I was distracted by baby knits (none for my daughter mind you, gifts for other folks... well, excepting the Albatross but you know that story already). Now ponchos are passe and I have no idea what to do with the yarn (though I still like the idea of a poncho {I hate jackets/coats} and am just a little tempted to just go for it- hell, I'm a mom now so I feel like my fashion card has been revoked by default anyway *sigh* so sad, but I just can't be bothered, although it does bug me that Pooh Bear is usually more stylishly attired than I am).

A few weeks ago I swatched for this cardigan:

from Rowan Classic Mothers & Babies but I couldn't get gauge without needing more yarn and there was no hope of my finding more in the same dye lot so I gave up and ordered the called for yarn instead. Since I needed several more skeins of the Aurora 8 I told myself the cost to get the "correct" yarn wasn't that much more *cough*. (And I bet you thought that swatch was actually for the originally intended project, silly, silly.)

I want to do something with this yarn. I like the color (I've rarely met a pink I didn't like). I feel badly that it is just hanging out in a drawer... Any ideas?

SP 10 Goodness

So, I feel terrible because I have been meaning to put up this post for a couple days now but life has gotten in the way (hate it when that happens).

Anyway, I won a contest in my Secret Pal 10 group and I received my prize from Robyn on Thursday. Ta da! Aren't these cute?

Little knitted sweater earrings! Robyn is so clever, with her etsy shop full of stitch markers and earrings.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

I was having one of those days yesterday- not the really bad kind, where everything goes wrong and you can kvetch about it and everyone understands, but the icky kind. The kind where you just feel off kilter, grumpy for no reason and while nothing catastrophic happens nothing goes quite as you intended either. This kind of bad day is almost worse because you start complaining to your friends, your non-verbal daughter, your cats and your houseplants and they all stare at you as if to say, "And..." There really isn't a problem but you feel like there is- do you know what I am talking about or are you now staring blankly at your computer screen?

Anyhoo. Yesterday was an icky day for me. My daughter didn't nap in her normal way and so she was fussy. I wanted to run errands and "get something done" but my daughter's failure to nap nixed that idea. I went shopping for some maternity capris because I know, I just know, that at some point the weather will turn and it will be warmer. How is it possible to be too big for a size medium but to be swallowed whole by a size large? What kind of specs are these maternity clothing folks using? The "I'm sorry but if you are a short, borderline size 8/10 because you were too lazy to lose all the weight from your first pregnancy before you, surprise, got pregnant again woman with overly developed calf muscles you will need to be naked from the waist down for your third trimester" spec? Because seriously, I have been to four stores and have tried on (no exaggeration) 36 pairs of capris (jeans, khakis and black, I'd settle for one pair or some combination of the three) and unless I am willing to pay $65+ for a pair of capris I will only wear for 2-3 months I am SOL. Now I already coughed up $80 earlier so I would have a pair of jeans to wear (semi justifiable since I had a potential 6 months to wear them in) so I am not really into forking over the equivalent of 3 skeins of STR (um yes, sock yarn bug has bitten HARD!!!!) for capris... And yes, I have thought about cutting off my jeans but there are two problems with this: 1) I live in Seattle. It was 78 degrees last Friday. It is 52 today. Even in the heart of the summer you can find yourself needing long pants. 2) My jeans are only a demi panel. For those of you who have not experienced the joy of the third trimester belly in your life this means that shortly the elastic panel designed to keep my pants up will no longer come up on my belly high enough to do its job. Not only will my belly likely be exposed if I don't wear a long enough shirt but the possibility of dropping trou can also occur without warning and nobody wants to see that. This girl needs capris with a full panel.

But really none of that is the point of this post.

The point is this, into every rainy day a little sun must fall and here is mine:

My first package from my Secret Pal! Yippee!

It arrived yesterday afternoon and made all the grumpy ickiness go away (at least for a couple hours *wink*). Such fun goodies - I am so excited. 2 skeins of Catalina baby alpaca in Red (a lovely rich color), a little stuffed ram to add to my collection of sheep, Nestle Crunch with Caramel bars (um, one didn't make it to the photo), Ghirardelli Caramel squares, and last, but certainly not least, a copy of the Yarn Harlot's new book! My pal even had the book signed at the recent NYC Represent event, so cool. I don't think I will make it to Portland or Vancouver to see the Harlot in person since I will be 8 months pregnant so this was a great gift (but I want to go badly, Hubby doesn't think much of my casual, "It is only a four drive" statement). So HUGE thanks to my pal (who resides in Brooklyn), I loved all of it!!

The gift I sent to my spoilee should arrive today or tomorrow and I only hope she likes it as much as I like mine... I am excited to see her reaction, picking out of few things for this round was a bit harder than I had anticipated but I already have a couple ideas for my next package...

I'm off to work on a baby gift for a shower next weekend, fingers crossed that it will be done on-time (the baby bolero from OneSkein)... I also need to cast on for the Bubbly curtain from MDK for my powder room but I just "discovered" (denial had a part in this I think or maybe just pregnancy induced stupidity) that my window is twice as long as the one in the book and I am going to need more yarn.

Raindrops on Roses and Ziplocs for Knittin'

As part of of Secret Pal 10 I am supposed to discuss my favorite knitting accessory but here's the rub: I don't think I have one. I've been thinking about it all day and the only accessories I use with any regularity are my row counter (or counters, I have one for each project), my point protectors, stitch markers, and ziploc bags. I can't say that I feel a particular affection for any of them... Well, that's not quite true, I do love my ziploc bags, they keep me neat and organized (at least close to organized). And I probably couldn't live without my row counters, given that I have to have one for each WIP and I get really anal about clicking them along... so I guess they are my favs.

But I do have a fantasy favorite accessory: a ball winder and swift. I daydream about having these two items, I ogle them online. *drool*

Oh and *double drool* a Namaste Needle Binder

Excuse me, I need to go get a towel...

Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

Yup. I'm participating in SP10 - my first time and I am really excited! My husband is mumbling something like, "...crazy whacko knitters..." Here's my info:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I really like knitting with alpaca and with cotton… Since I am a relatively new knitter I don’t have that much experience with various fibers and I have been reluctant to use wool because I can’t wear wool directly next to my skin without itching like crazy. I did recently knit a hat from Aurora 8 merino wool without incident, however, so maybe there is hope.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

At the moment, a lovely Ziploc bag. Tres Classy.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for about a year and a half with almost a year hiatus during that time. I took several Learn to Knit classes while I was pregnant with my daughter. I’d consider myself an advanced beginner to low intermediate. I routinely take project knitting classes and I don’t mind asking for help so I can tackle higher level projects.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an amazon wish list

5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Under normal circumstances I have a more savory than sweet tooth, HOWEVER! I am pregnant so all bets are off and I want way more sweets than usual. A favorite candy? Combinations of chocolate and caramel. I am really digging the Nestle Crunch with Caramel right now.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I cross-stitch. I dabble in other crafty things (scrapbooking and crochet for instance). I want to learn to sew. I am looking for a needle felting class and one of these days I’d like to tackle dying my own yarn. No spinning yet. But I’m not ruling it out.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like all kinds of music. Really. Hip hop to opera. The only things I really can’t tolerate are heavy metal (the current crop of “artists”- I really like the old 80’s big hair bands), super electronic sounding techno & overly sappy easy listening (think Celine Deion – sorry!)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

My favorite color is pink followed very closely by red. I’ve been really into wearing shades of green and I love wearing brown. I am not too keen on yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with one daughter and a new little one coming our way in mid-July (a boy). We have five cats which is a bit eccentric but it works for us J

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Mostly Scarves or mittens. It rarely gets cold enough for a hat but I have been known to sport a fashion hat on occasion. I do wear ponchos on occasion.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I have knit a fair number of baby things: booties & hats mostly. I am currently tackling my first baby sweater. Still learning so I don’t have a favorite thing yet really.

13. What are you knitting right now?

A baby blanket (bane of my existence- slow and, at this point, boring!), a baby sweater, a baby bonnet, and a scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes. I like giving handmade gifts so it would be awkward if I didn’t like receiving them.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circulars (addi Turbo). If I am using straight needles I use bamboo. I do not like bamboo circulars.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I wish! I’m thinking of asking Santa next Christmas.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

My oldest knitting UFO is the baby blanket mentioned above. I started it in November of 2005. My oldest general UFO is a cross-stitch project I started for my husband (a picture of an “old fashioned” golfer) about ten or eleven years ago. I may have to finish it because recently he has been giving me a ton of grief about it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I think I’d have to say Christmas though I also get a big kick out of decorating for Halloween and Easter. My mom decorated for most holidays so I do the same.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Sheep. It started when my husband and I went on our honeymoon to Scotland and he bought me a small stuffed sheep.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Fitted Knits, any Debbie Bliss baby book (except Baby Cashmerino which I already have). Trekking in colorway #126 (pink, brown and cream)- I can’t knit socks yet but I want it just in case! No subscriptions yet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Intarsia. And I need to get better with Fair Isle I’ve only done one small project thus far).

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I want to be a sock knitter. It is on my list of things to do. I wear a size 6.5 to seven (sorry, no tape measure handy!).

23. When is your birthday?

December 11

I can't wait for the fun to start :)