We’ve come to another Wednesday and I’m still here – and still pregnant.

The extra waiting has given me plenty of extra knitting time, though, and I’ve been happy to finish the projects I mentioned last week.

The Little Bean Bag is finished and oh so sweet. Once again blocking did wonders for it and the owls really pop out now. I also finished the hat I mentioned last week and love the way it turned out. I was avoiding it because I thought it looked way to big but now I’m thinking it might just fit a newborn. The diaper cover I was working on also came off the needles but I’m not so impressed with it. Despite the many tutorials I’ve watched my short rows are not invisible and I found the pattern rather confusing. I’m hoping the first point can be remedied by trying it again and the second point is simply my prego fogged brain…so I cast on a second one on smaller needles. The first cover came out looking too big so I’m thinking I’ll felt it to hide some of its lesser qualities.

For a quick afternoon knit I made up a pair of sweet little baby socks – using up the rest of the gorgeous wool from the bonnet I made a couple of weeks ago. These were my first attempt at socks and being so quick and tiny made the process very satisfying.

Now I’m thinking of tackling the vanilla soaker pattern (it’s 18 pages intimidate me) or possibly purchasing the Picky Pants pattern. But really, despite my passion last week, I may be tiring of the baby knits and really just looking forward to holding this little one in my arms.

Sorry for the less than stellar photo – I lost my mind tonight and decided to bake up a storm, forgetting I had a photo to take.

With all the knitting that’s been going on I haven’t been reading as much but I did finish Simplicity Parenting. I’m sticking by my previous praise of it and telling everyone to read it. Finishing my non-fiction read meant I could reward myself by starting The Thirteenth Tale. I’m only on the second chapter but excited to finally get into it. I love getting lost in fiction – although my family may not always appreciate my complete absorption. While dreaming about knitting I’m also still perusing More Last Minute Knitted Gifts for baby and gift ideas.

Baby is calling for ice cream and the peach pie baking in the oven is starting to smell pretty tempting so I’m off for a snack.

For more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things.

Another Wednesday, another yarn along, more baby knits.

This week I got to those buttons so Yellow Girl was gifted to a happy birthday girl and puerperium was folded away with the clothes for baby. I’ve been focusing on the my Little Bean Bag (Owlie Sack pattern found here) and loving this pattern as well. The cables were fun and while I often rush through the shaping so I can enjoy the mindless stockinette in a project I’ll admit I’m a little bored of the round and round.

For a break from the stockinette I cast on this diaper cover in the same natural Fisherman’s Wool I used for the puerperium. I was excited to get into the short rows in the pattern when I realized the next needle size I needed was being used for owlie sack so I’m back to the stockinette. I also purchased this sweet soaker pattern and while I’m sure the pattern is great it is very long and detailed which kind of freaked me out so I’ll see how the first one goes. It’s so hard to know the proper sizing for a newborn. With every new babe I’m always amazed at how tiny they are so I’m afraid I’m may be oversizing all these sweet knits.

I’m also showing the newbie hat I started an age ago and for some reason never completed so I force myself to finally finish it to start on these sweet booties to match.

Bored of baby knits? Unfortunately I am not. As I mentioned in this previous post, I’m baby knit crazy. I’ll get over it  (I’m starting to plan my Christmas knitting) but I don’t promise it will be soon.

In books I’m still working on Simplicity Parenting…very slowly…as that is my non-fiction reading speed. I’ve also finished the second half of Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. For those unfamiliar with it the book is divided into two sections. The first section is all birth stories and the second is more practical teaching on childbirth and midwifery. I skipped the first section this go through because I find I do better if I don’t fill my mind with too many other experiences this close (hopefully) to childbirth. I love reading about other’s birth stories but at this point I’m focusing on trusting the process without overwhelming the issue with possibilities.

Now I’m hoping to plough through the rest of Simplicity Parenting and reward my non-fiction commitment (because I generally feel this deserves a pat on the back) by finally reading The Thirteenth Tale which I’ve been renewing at the library for quite a few weeks now.

Thanks for coming by today and if you’re interested in more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things.

It’s almost Wednesday and I’m linking with Ginny for yarn along.

Has it been a week? How did that happen? It’s been a blur but there has been some knitting and reading happening…more knitting than reading which seems to be a common theme for me lately.

I finished Yellow Girl and my puerperium…apart from those pesky buttons. Yellow Girl is so sweet – I just love it. It’s for my little lady’s birthday later this week so I’d better get on those buttons. I will definitely be using the tiny tea leaves pattern again. It was easy to follow and well written. The puerperium was also a great pattern. I love it – even if it does look gigantic next to the newborn clothes I got washed and ready this week. Svenna offered her warning that it may end up closer to a 3-6 month size but I didn’t heed her advice soon enough (Svenna is the puerperium queen – she even has some in her shop). Although I’m dreaming of tiny newborn knits 3-6 months will be a more realistic age (and season) for sweater wearing but I am tempted to cast on a second in a tinier size.

After mentioning last week that I was going to knit this hat I tore it out and decided to knit a baby bonnet instead. None of my babes have worn a baby bonnet before so I’m hoping this will suit. I’m also hoping there is enough of that gorgeous cashmere blend for some socks or booties.

Last but not least I’ve been working on the Owlie Sack. I love the green Cascade Heathers wool I’m using and can’t wait to see it finished – and snuggling a baby! All these baby knits are getting me even more excited to meet our new addition.

Does this picture remind any of you of a mid-winter shot? Had to snag this photo during a hailstorm and it was suddenly very dark. I’ll update my ravelry shots when I get some sunshine tomorrow so you can get a better look at these projects.

After that long-winded delve into my knitting projects I feel somewhat apologetic about dragging you all into a long-winded discussion of my reading materials….I’ll aim for brief. I’m still enjoying Simplicity Parenting and raving that every parent should read it. If you haven’t you should. It’s great. I’ve been adding more knits to my queue from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies and More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (my turn came up at the library again). And today I found my copy of what I consider to be the birth book, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – I think anyone who is expecting or expects to be expecting should read it. I’m looking forward to revisiting her wisdom over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks always for visiting and if you’re interesting in more yarn along posts sharing current reads and knitting (or crocheting) projects stop by Ginny’s place.

Hope the week is treating you well!

Psst: I posted earlier today about the completed Winnie Cooper sweater as I’ve been promising for a couple of weeks now. Check it out here.

Here we are on the eve of another Wednesday and I’m happy to join Ginny in another yarn along.

After what felt like endless knitting while on vacation (which was a good thing) it’s been a bit slow since we got back to the many distractions of home. I’ve finished the sleeves on my Yellow Girl and have started on the button band. Against my inclination I’ve managed to stick to the projects at hand – for the most part. Puerperium‘s sleeves are still calling to be finished (and, er, started) but I did cast on this little hat. My mother-in-law gifted me her stash of beautiful wools when we were visiting and a buttery ball of a merino/silk/cashmere blend has been begging to be something special for babe. I still haven’t proceeded past the cast-on but I just may allow myself to get a little distracted with it tonight.

Amongst the finishing I have I’m insisting that I will get to work on the Owlie Sack this week. A friend is nearly finished one she began knitting and it is cuter than cute. I’m just dying to see a little babe all snuggled up in it.

I’m still reading Simplicity Parenting (visit last week’s post to hear me wax poetic about it). Have I mentioned how rubbish I am with non-fiction? I am seriously challenged without a storyline which is why, although I’m enjoying it immensely, I am still only half way through. Dare I pick up a fiction title in the meantime? Also, after Lydia mentioned it on her blog, I picked up Organic Body Care Recipes from the library along with Vintage Knits for Modern Babies after all of Tonya‘s inspiring baby knitting. I have enjoyed perusing both of them and getting ideas.

On the topic of the first title I have yet to attempt making up any of our personal care products but I have wanted to try for ages. I’m curious if any of you have beloved recipes for personal care products that you can’t do without. I’d love some ideas and tips!

Thanks for visiting!

At long last the Winnie Cooper as promised. It was actually finished over a week ago but with all the excitement of coming home and getting settled it was tucked away for winter wear. Today the sun is not blazing and I found (to my surprise) that I had a willing model to help me out.

Elizabeth is not a fan of photographs but was quite proud to display her new sweater (it’s enough to make a mama’s heart swell).

She loves it and it that makes me so happy.

The pattern is the Wonder Years Sweater, knit in size 8 – 10, using Cascade 220 for the main body.

I hummed and hawed about which size to knit but I am after all my mother’s daughter and decided to knit a size larger than I figured she’d need. Then I added to the body so it would be a comfortable length and then added a little more to the sleeves because I am forever burdened with sleeves that are too short.

I may have overshot it a little – note the rolled sleeves.

Elizabeth says it will be perfect for winter and has no complaints that she’ll be wearing it for the next half decade…we’ll see what she says when she’s 13.

The pattern was great. I loved working with it and found it straightforward and easy. My only complaint would be that the arms are wider than I’d like so I would probably add more decreases earlier on when I knit from the pattern again (which I will). My only frustration was picking up an equal amount of stitches on the button band….the same frustration I had last night working on Yellow Girl.

I also have to give credit where credit is due – although blocking seems like rather a dull task it sure brought the best out of this sweater. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve blocked my knitting but I may have to change my ways.

And the simple fact that this beautiful girl loves every bit of it from baggy sleeves to antiqued wooden buttons is just perfect.