Green Striped Hat- Purlbee Hats for Newborns

I looked everywhere for a pattern that would go well with my green BSJ cardigan, and would use the same sport weight yarn... and came up blank. I guess I sort of don't need a pattern, but I'm such a new knitter that I wanted some guidance!

Finally I settled on trying to adapt the Purlbee Hats for Newborns pattern (free on their website, or on Ravelry). I love the look of all of these the hats... simple, classic, not fussy.... but I thought the stripes would be especially nice with the yarn I had. But they use a very thin line weight. Since I was using a DK/sport weight yarn, I cast on 84 stitches. I calculated that a gauge of about 6.2 stitches per inch would make the 13.5 inch circumference called for by the pattern. When I came to the decreases, I skipped ahead a few rows until the numbers matched 84.

I used magic loop technique with Takumi interchangeable needles.

Unstretched and unblocked, it came out at about a 12 inch circumference. It is very stretchy, and looks about the right size for a baby. We’ll see!

Spring Green Baby Surprise Jacket (take 2, 3-6 month sized this time I hope!)

So this is take two on the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. (Take one is blogged here). My copy of the pattern is from her book Knitting Workshop. This time I made sure I was getting the gauge-- 6 stiches/inch. I used a slightly lighter yarn, Cascade 220 Superwash Sport in 3 colors... moss green, "banana cream" (just as an accent color) and a "greens multi." It is considerably smaller... I forgot to take a picture of the two jackets next to each other, but 1 stitch per inch difference made a huge difference in the size... this one is at least 1.5-2 inches smaller in circumference. It looks much more in the range of what a 3-6 month old baby would wear, which was what I was going for. 

I did an icord bindoff this time in the Banana Cream. I used the same wooden buttons... I'm sort of obsessed with these. 

Very happy with it... can't believe I got it done before the baby came. Now please, please come baby, mommy is rather tired of being pregnant and wants to meet you!

Pregnant Mommy and Little Bug Pictures

A post of pictures of Little Bug and a very pregnant Mom. Just because they are so cute, and capture a sweet time that will soon be past!

Newborn Hat

Okay baby, anytime you want to come I'm ready!

Until that time I'm just going to keep making things. Here is a little baby hat, made with a free pattern from Janet Russell on Ravelry.

This is my second ever knitting project! I made it with Cascade Superwash 220 Merino, so it can be machine washed. I mostly followed the pattern, but made it shorter with the hopes that I won't have to fold up the brim, and added an "icord" to finish the top. 

The knitting isn't totally consistent... not sure why. Actually I sort of like the "rustic" look, but I might not like it on other projects. It might have happened since this was my first attempt at "magic loop" technique, which is sort of weird to do. Maybe I'll get better at it... or maybe I'll eventually learn to use double pointed needles. 

It was a quick knit, once I got started (it took me awhile to figure out how to join the round and get going with the magic loop thing). 

Pajamas Part 2: Bamboo Knit Nursing PJs

While I'm on my PJ kick, I just had to make some new nursing PJs for Mom. Once again, I haven't made any in years! But I'm still wearing and loving the 4 pairs I made before little Bug was born. 

The pattern is totally self drafted. It was one of the first patterns I ever made, so it is sort of a mess of a pattern, but it does the trick. It is modeled after nursing PJs by Japanese Weekend which I have never seen in person, but looked like a good design, and the sizing was traced off of other tops I own that fit well.

I'm not sure what the real JW PJs are like, but mine are fantastic, even if I do say so myself! They are great for nursing, day and night. The cross front provides enough support for light wear around the house without a bra, at least for me. The front panel is a double layer, so it absorbs any light leakage, and I can slip a pad between the layers if the leakage is heavier. The bamboo knit (from Natures Fabrics) is super soft and doesn't pill at all, even with less than gentle care (machine wash normal, hot dry). The knit is super stretchy and I make the length extra-long so it covers my belly even when I'm gigantic (like now, 40+ weeks pregnant!).

I'm also loving the colors this time around. The teal is fantastic, and I wasn't so excited about the gray but adding the striped trim (which is a scrap of rayon/lycra from another project) was totally inspired. 

Economically I definitely feel a bit smug, since the JW PJs cost $70 each, and I have a feeling mine are better anyway-- bamboo, more generous length top, double layer front...! 

Pajamas Part 1: Bamboo Flannel PJ Pants, His and Her

Still waiting for baby... so I'm moving down my list to luxury items for Mom and Dad-- new PJ/lounge pants!

It's been awhile since I've made pajamas... the last time I was so inclined was before little Bug was born, and I'm still wearing those. I made one with a bamboo flannel that I just LOVE... even after 3 years of nearly daily wear, it is still super soft. I made a couple other pairs with cotton flannel from Joanne's that I figured with soften with time, but actually they've gotten a bit rough in texture, almost pilling on the surface. Not ideal at all! 

Therefore, when I was fabric shopping for flannel for PJs, it was bamboo flannel all the way. Unfortunately the selection of prints in bamboo flannel seems to be really limited... someone please let me know if you have a source I haven't found yet! Natures Fabrics only has a very kiddie looking pink cupcakes print, and The Bamboo Fabric Store has a turquoise and brown scroll work print. The scrollwork was the clear winner. 

I've never ordered from the Bamboo Fabric Store, but they were fantastic. They shipped super fast, and when I somehow ended up with natural instead of the print (which was probably my error when I ordered), they refunded the mistake and sent off a replacement order super fast. 

When I was lamenting my ordering mistake to my husband, he expressed his desire to also have some bamboo flannel PJs. I wouldn't have chosen this print for him, but he said it was fine, and preferred it to plain white which was the only other choice. So I ended up ordering 5 yards!

For my PJs, I traced a favorite pair of my old PJs The waistband is folded over and a channel is sewn for 1/4 inch elastic, which creates a frilly top edge and a weak elastic band around the waist, which is how I like it... totally unrestrictive.

His were slightly more complex. I traced a favorite pair of his PJs, which had a clear front and back (much higher rise in the back. He also requested pockets... funny, I have NEVER made side seam pockets before since as a woman, I don't really feel I need any extra padding in that area! But they were super easy to sew, I think I will have to start adding them to things I make (such as toddler clothes... toddlers can never have enough pockets!). 

I've always sort of cringed at the economy of making PJ pants. But I just looked up prices for bamboo flannel PJs online, and at $70 a set, my $50 of fabric for two custom made PJ bottoms doesn't sound like such a bad deal!

Handmade Baby Boy Layette

Here is my collection for the new baby boy! Can't believe I got through my list before he was born...

Two pairs of Big Butt Baby Pants (Made by Rae Pattern). This was the only pattern I ended up buying, just because it is so cute! I made it in Bear Hike Flannel by Birch Organics in Shroom and Little Lambs Flannel by Michael Miller's, from Fabric Worm.

The back panel is plain gray flannel from my stash.

Two zip baby sleepers (blogged here). The pattern is traced from a sleeper I was given, and the fabrics are from Fabric Worm: Blue School and Bugs by Birch Organics. 

Bamboo Fleece Sleeper (blogged here).

First outfit for a newborn! The top knot hat was made from the free pattern on Make it Love it, out of bamboo interlock from Natures Fabrics. The shoes are made from my favorite bamboo fleece and the free pattern at make-your-own-baby stuff. The top is from a pattern I made for my daughter when she was a newborn, also made from bamboo interlock.

Four pants from Made By Rae's free baby pants pattern. The print fabrics are organic cotton from Nature's Fabrics and the solids are cotton knits from Etsy.

Four envelope neck Ts from the free pattern at Smalldreamfactory.

Bamboo Fleece baby blanket edged with merino wool (blogged here).

Baby Surprise Jacket in knit Alpaca wool (blogged here).

Besides the handmade items, there are the few hand-me-downs from my daughter that aren't too girlie, a few irresistable used items from the great second-hand childrens stores we have in town, and 2 packs of carters onesies, one in newborn and one in 0-3 months.

I'm officially ready! His due date is 2 days away. He can come anytime he wants!

What to wear when you are VERY pregnant...

What does one wear when they are MASSIVELY pregnant? Because I get huge when I am pregnant, there is just no hiding it. Until my maternity leave started recently, I've also needed to look somewhat professional for work. I haven't bought a single item of "maternity" wear-- the readily available styles turn me off and I can't see spending all that money on something I'll wear for a couple months.  

For pants, I have a stash of wide-legged yoga pants, mostly black-- all, unfortunately, the discontinued Still Pant by Lululemon. There has got to be something similar on the market these days... quite honestly I haven't looked. I did however buy some Lululemon fabric from Peak Fabrics, with the thought that I would make some of my own... but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I also wear leggings (also Lululemon, bought back before the translucent pants fiasco...). Of course, oddly enough, the ones I'm wearing in these photos are navy blue! Oh well. 

Generally, I prefer to wear super-stretchy knits, tunic length or even better, dresses that now serve as tunics. The stretch knits help to define shape, without looking so blatantly "maternity," and they grow with my endlessly growing belly! Thicker knits help smooth any bulges (stretchy pontes, double layered knits, or lined). Drape or cross necks are a plus since they also work really well for nursing later on... I hate baring my belly in public, and usually have a scarf or wrap around to use for coverage from above if I need it. 

The above dress is my favorite, favorite thing to wear this winter. It is a drape neck wool jersey sheath, lined with rayon knit lining. Self-drafted... just a simple tube. I actually cut this out a couple YEARS ago, and it was languishing in the bottom of my unfinished project bag because when I cut it, I had never lined anything and I was daunted by the process. When I found it again this fall, I sewed it up in a couple hours. With a sweater, it is super-cozy in the sub-freezing weather we have been having, and with the dress length (now tunic-length) I never have to worry about adequate coverage.

I also have several tops made with the same self-drafted drape neck pattern, just not quite this long. They are fantastic for both maternity and nursing, and so quick to cut and sew. For thinner knits, I do a double layer in the front for extra coverage.

This is an adaptation of the Megan Neilson maternity wrap pattern. I blogged the original here. While it looks super cute in the photos, I really don't wear the original because I can't deal with all that wrapping, and I can't stand always looking down all the time to see if I'm still properly wrapped! So in this version, I used the top of the pattern and just cut a rectangle (slightly flared to the hips) for the body of the top. At this point, I wish it were a couple inches longer... it just barely fits. It would also be better with a sash under the bust, or perhaps a bit of elastic there to help define the shape. The fabric is a stretchy rayon-lycra knit from Marcy Tilton (I think... might have been Emmaonesock).

This is a knit sheath dress, made in a very cool striped knit with a sewn texture. The pattern is New Look 6643... which I blogged in a very, very different style here (this was my maid of honor dress for my best friend's wedding!). Made up in a knit, it is a nice relaxed sheath dress, so versatile! The fabric is from Marcy Tilton. 

Another unblogged project, a tunic-top from a Vogue pattern. I made this in early fall, and it has served well as a maternity top, despite the fact that the fit is a bit loose. At this point though, I sort of wish it was a couple inches longer!

My First Knitting Project Ever: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket

This is my first ever completed knitting project!

I'm a good crocheter, but I seem to have inherited a block against knitting from my mom. My mom is a master crocheter-- she made the most amazing, complex crocheted blankets, we each had one on our beds when we were growing up, and she always makes a gorgeous crocheted baby blanket for her grandchildren and often the babies of our cousins. As a kid I started out with granny squares and later made fancy doilies for fun. 

My mom also taught me to knit when I was a teen. I never saw her knit anything, and I never finished my first project... a purple scarf. A totally endless project, made with local craft store acrylic yarn, that I've carried around with me for years. It is soooooo ugly!

Somehow when I was browsing for baby things, Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket jumped out at me as such a cute little sweater for a newborn. I walked into our local yarn shop and asked the owner if I was crazy to want to knit that as a first ever knitting project. To her credit, she said no, it was a fine project for a beginner! She had a copy of Elizabeth Zimmerman's book with the pattern in it, and set me up with bamboo circular needles and Berroco Alpaca yarn. She even encouraged me to try striping, which turned out to be not too difficult on this pattern.

I relied heavily on the help of Youtube videos to get my knitting skills up to date, and also to help me through the project. The series of videos by City Knitting on making the Baby Surprise Jacket were fantastic, I doubt I would have completed the project so well without their help!

The only small disappointment is that the sweater is actually sort of large for a newborn! It probably won't fit him until next fall. My gauge is sort of off-- it was about 5 stitches per inch, when it should have been 6.

Therefore... I've started another one, in a sport weight yarn with a smaller gauge. People did mention that this pattern was addictive!

Waldorf Blanket Doll

While I had all of my doll-making supplies out, I decided to make the new baby a birthday gift of a Waldorf blanket doll/star doll. 

His head is made in the traditional waldorf-doll style with wool fleece stuffing and a minimal embroidered face. He has a bit of embroidered mohair yarn hair and a sewn on cap. 

His body is made of a striped organic cotton knit on one side, and organic bamboo fleece on the other side. 

I couldn't find a free pattern, so I just made it up as best I could!