Hey baby....nice coat

Pattern: Baby + Toddler Coat & Jacket

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky

Size: 0-3 month

For: A sweet baby girl who will be here soon! She'll live in Seattle so she'll always need a good coat pretty much year round!

What's missing from the blog?

I've been looking over my blog lately and I realized what's been missing from Meg's Knitting Knot: the knitting.

I entered 2013 with just a few goals: do more writing (such as getting my blog going again) and to knit for myself. While the first goal is going somewhat well (I'd like to post more but due to lack of time/energy/mostly nothing that interesting to say I don't), the second isn't going that well. But I am knitting.

I'm almost finished with a baby gift for a dear friend who's expecting her first baby (a girl) in early May. I'm making the Baby and Toddler Tiered Coat. It's pictured here in a rare moment of quiet. The wee one was asleep. The hubby was out of the house. And I either finished the chores or chose to ignore them and sit in the sunlight on the couch. It was glorious. I'll post a photo once I'm finished with the gift.

Oh, and my hat obsession may have come to an end. I finished Rosebud by Jared Flood. It's gray, it's slouchy and I love it. I just haven't taken any photos of it. I'll work on that for you all. I know you can't wait!

A hand knit kind of day

I've always loved the Anouk pattern from the Yarn Harlot. When I found out I was having a girl, I pretty much went from the ultrasound appointment to the yarn story to get yarn for this sweet dress. But as life with a baby is pretty messy and now life with a toddler is also messy and much more mobile, the dress got shoved to the back of the closet. Until the recently.

I pulled it out and decided today was a hand knit kind of a day. And you know what? The wee one agreed with me.

Then she decided my hand knit hat Foliage would be the best choice to complete her look.

She was right.

Details of both projects can be found on my Ravelry page.

A real head scratcher...

Before Ruby was born, I made her a knitted Christmas stocking. Not just any stocking, one that matched mine and the hubby's. I picked out the yarn, I made it before she was born so that I had plenty of time to get it done. I finished it. It looked great. Then, like the good knitter I long to be, I blocked it.

And then something odd happened. It got spots all over it. Little pink spots.

Was it mold?

 Was a weird color transfer from the gray yarn to the cream yarn?

Seriously, what the $#%& was it?

Nothing got it out. Nothing. I know because I tried it all.

So here I was. New mom. Exhausted mom. All my knitting & planning gone. So what's one to do when one is obsessed with having a finished perfect Christmas stocking for baby's first Christmas. A Christmas, mind you that baby won't even remember? Well, what all good knitters do around the holidays: I stayed up way to freakin' late and knit another damn stocking.

And I loved it.

And I'm pretty sure Ruby did too!

BTW...if you have any ideas what the hell happened to stocking No. 1, please let me know!

(This photo was taken w/ my cell. I can't figure out how to turn it the right way, but you get the idea....she loved the stocking! Or thought it was something that she could fit into.)

My best F.O. (that's finished object for you non-knitters)

Here it is. Or rather, here she is:

Ruby Harper

Born Oct 7 (hence the long & much needed blogging break).

She's a bundle of joy, energy and laughter! She's brought so much love & happiness into our little family it's like we were just waiting for her.

Although, instead of a finished project, I'm thinking this is one that's still ongoing. And I don't mind at all.

Hat Trick

One thing I've discovered while on maternity leave with no baby yet, is that I can get a lot of knitting done. It also helps if it's quick baby knitting. And it helps when one also discovers Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey Season One is on line. Hence, the mass knitting.

 F.O. #1: A pumpkin hat for my little pumpkin. (I actually whipped up two of these in a weekend since another friend is also having a baby right before Halloween). So trust me, this counts for two.

F.O. #2: The baby umbilical cord hat project out of left over sock yarn. The yarn is so old I don't even know what brand it is. But it's perfect for my little one. I even have enough yarn to make another hat.

F.O. #3: Finally a little something for me! This is Catherine from Winged Knits. I've been wanting to make a tam for myself for over a year now. I've cast on at least three other tam projects and haven't loved/liked/been smarter than the pattern on all of them. But when a friend made this one, I knew I had to have it. The yarn is Malibrigo Twist and I just love the color. The photo doesn't due it justice as sunshine is scarce in Seattle these days. Plus I wanted to block it and get it ready to wear!

Now baby and I will be decked out to step out in style. In about 6-7 weeks. Give or take.

Anouk

Pattern: Anouk

From: Knitty

Yarn: Cascade 220

I've always loved this pattern and wanted to make it for some special little girl. Now it'll belong to my little girl (due in a 1.5 weeks)! This pattern is especially versatile because it's a little jumper that grows as they do. I made the waist bands (seen here) longer with two button holes so it can be a little top when she's bigger. So it's not only cute knitting, but highly practical knitting as well!

My first baby sweater - for me!!!

Project: Garter Yoke Baby Cardi

Yarn: Debbie Bliss

Size: I'm thinking 6 months....

Modifications: Instead of picking up and knitting a button band, I tried something new. I added a ribbon to reduce rolling on the sides and used it as a tie. I think the pink flowers add a nice pop to the purple sweater, don't you?

Four years and counting...

Today is my four year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe this crazy adventure started four years ago today! Although technically, it started out nine years ago when my dear friend Shannon and I were going to have drinks after work. As we were leaving she said, "Oh, and by the way, my fiance is going to meet up with us and I think his old roommate may be with him. Is that ok?"

Turns out, it was pretty ok with me.

Now here we are about to embark on the biggest adventure of them all come early October when our baby girl is due to be born!

I can't wait....

Go on, I dare you not to say, "awww...."

I know. Isn't she and the sweater just adorable? This is my friend Ella and she's sporting the Lovey Dovey shirt from Spud & Chloe. I made this earlier this past fall but I couldn't post it because Ella's mom reads my blog. And then I had to wait for her to grow into it. But here it is, the middle of winter and she pulls it off with style and flair! What girl doesn't need a little pink top in the winter?

Pattern: Lovey Dovey

By: Spud & Chloe

Yarn: Watermelon & Popsicle sweater yarn from Spud & Chloe

Quick Hits Thursday

• My last blog post on knitting here at the Knitting Knot was on July 2. And it was about my frustrations with my current projects. As the lack of blog posts - even knitting ones - show, there hasn't been a lot of creativity around here this summer.
• After many misses, I've finally hit on something good! I'm back to knitting with a lovely little project. It's top secret as it's a gift, but stay tuned, pictures are coming soon.
• I got a fabulous new camera for my birthday. I've been playing with and loving it so much! Expect more pictures soon of all sorts of stuff.
• I'm finally heading out of town for some much needed R & R! A road trip beckons to see family, friends and Yellowstone! I've never been there so I'm really excited! Also another reason I'm excited for my new camera!
• I think my garden is confused. You see the weather here in Seattle has been quite confusing/frustrating these days. We go from weekends where it's 60-something, no sun and rainy. To the next weekend of 90-something record breaking temps. And back again. I have lots of green little tomatoes but I have my doubts they'll ever turn red. Unless it's this next week when I'm out of town. 'Cause that's just my luck.
• I've been trying to eat local this summer. My current addiction is blackberries. I can't get enough  of them.
• See you in a little while - with lots of great pics!  I know you're excited! I am!

Ian & the Oz Vest

Remember a few months ago when I was working on the Oz Vest pattern for a friend? It was a simple pattern that gave me more troubles than I care to remember. Even after sewing it on all twisted, ripping that out, sewing on two different sets of buttons because I didn't like the first set, I still managed to get it all done and ready to go before the little guy arrived. There was minimal OK, a lot of swearing while working on this project.

But in the end it turned out pretty darn cute.

And you know what? Ian seems to give it the thumbs up.

And that's just what I wanted to see.

Oz Vest*

Project: Oz Vest

From: Natural Knit for Babies & Moms

Yarn: Plymouth Select Worsted Merino Superwash in someshade of blue that I can't seem to remember.

*I'm not sure what it was about this project, but to say it was hell is truly an understatement. It looks so easy and quick, and maybe it is, but for me, it was freakin' miserable. I had to restart the damn thing about 4 times because I kept messing it up and getting off the pattern repetition. I managed to sew the vest together all crooked and twisted. It took quite a bit of time to figure out how to get it undone due to my super skills of weaving ends in. There was a lot of hard work that went into this sweater. And even some blood, sweat and tears. And quite a bit of profanity. But this fu$#^&*% sweater is done. Thank God.

Auntie Meg's Brag Blog Entry

The babies I've been knitting for have finally started growing into some of their gifts from Auntie Meg. They are too cute not to share (and I'm referring to the babies and the knitted goodies of course!)

Here's Diya on her six month b-day sporting the dress from Natural Knits for Mom's and Babies.

See...she really does like it!

Here's Macie with her hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. At the time we didn't know if Macie was a boy or girl so I went with the sporty option and added a stripe instead of the bow. Her dad thought it'd be a boy for sure, but big sis Cameron wanted a little sister. I should have listened to Cameron and went with the bow, but I think the stripe is pretty sporty and hip.

Macie thinks so too. Gesh, what does dad know?

P.S. Due to an error on Clearwire's part, the internet at our house has been down for a few days. Fingers crossed it gets fixed before the weekend. I'm very behind on my blogging and keeping up with my favorite blogs! I'm trying not to sweat the small stuff these days, but it's pretty freakin' annoying!

Oh Boy!

I decided that 2009 was the year of the girl. Last year I whipped up projects for Emery, Sloane, Macie and Diya. Soren was the token male of the group.

And so far, 2010 is shaping up to be year of the boy. Taylor arrived not long ago. My coworker will have her baby boy in mid-April. A dear friend is having her second baby. And while it's too early to find out if she's having a boy or a girl, she does already have an adorable little boy! And my stalker, er, I mean friend from Purly Girls, Abby just announced she too is having a boy!

Now it's time to start looking for some adorable boy projects. I've got some ideas, but if you have any sugesstions, I'd love to hear them!

2009: Projects in Pictures

Here's a few of the projects I worked on in 2009. From baby hats to jam to baby dresses, quilts, sweaters and a few little projects for me (hat, started a sweater and made myself socks). Oh, and I learned how to make creme brule. A pretty productive year if I do say so!

A Hand-me-down with love

Two years ago, I knit one of my first baby sweaters for my dear friend Jen who was expecting her first baby. She and I had both moved away from Boise and were now, quite literally on the opposite ends of the country; she was in Richmond, VA and I was in Seattle. I wished I could be there to throw her a shower and to go shopping for cute baby things the way we had shopped for single girl things - a new lipstick, cute top for a hot new date, shoes. But I couldn't. So I did the next best thing. I knit her a baby sweater for her first born. I knit it with love. There are a few mistakes in it. And I swore at it along the way, but Jen knows that about me and still loves me so it's ok. Not only did Jen love this sweater, my first sweater, but her baby girl Isha loved this sweater.

And you know what? Isha baby sister now loves this sweater. And I couldn't be happier. Ok, I could be if I could be there in person to meet Diya, hang out with her, Isha and Jen.

Sweater: Child's Placket Sweater from LMNK
Yarn: It's been a while and I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it's the same as the yarn called for in the pattern.

Lovey Dovey

Pattern: Lovey Dovey Top by Spud & Chloe

Yarn: Spud & Chloe in Watermelon & Firefly Sweater

For: a sweet little baby beach girl

Garden Knitting

Project: Strawberry Hat

Designer: Ann Norling

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted

Gift: For a new mom-to-be

One of these things is not like the others...

There's been a lot going on around the Knitting Knot this summer, but sadly, there hasn't been a lot of knitting.

That's about to change!

I've got two baby projects on the needles (They are gifts, not for me people!)

Lovey Dovey from Spud and Chloe is coming along.

And soon I'll be working on another little baby gift for a shower in a few days. Picture to come (hopefully) before the shower! Must go and knit now!