March is the New February

I just couldn't resist finishing one more February project, even though it bled over into March. This, of course, made me behind on the March project, but more about that later. For now: Longies! 

Knit with Filatura Di Crosa Zarina. Usually I don’t choose varigated colors like this, but the yarn was so soft and squishy I was temporarily blinded. I ran out of the yarn on the longies and the store didn’t have any of the same dyelot, so I chose a pink varigation that matched the green of the blue/purple varigation, and used them in stripes on the legs and straight pink on the feet.

with matching BSJ

 The feet turned out really huge, but I think she’ll grow into them (given the genetic evidence).

like a little easter bunny

All in all, I liked many qualities of the yarn. It's soft and smooth, mega squishy and springy. It stretches to accomodate huge diaper butt. The color I chose is just a little loud.

Episode 3: Revenge of the Baby Sweater

I was delighted to knit this sweater again. The first time I used a heavier yarn and modified the stitch count a bit. This time I used a DK (and on the skinny side, even for DK) and it turned out a great 3 - 6 month size. My daughter is about 1 month old, and it is still a little large on her.

 

I do like this pattern. It's pretty easy (once you are used to EZ's general "pithy" style). The only thing I had a problem with was making up the sleeves. First I just sewed the edges along the perimeter: the initial stitches together, then extra cast-on stitches to extra cast-on stitches, and then arm edges to arm edges. And as you can see this made a pretty stupid looking silhouette there. On my second try, I gathered up the extra cast-on stitches and sewed them to the body. This makes a normal-looking sleeves and more ease in the underarm area. Surely this is what EZ intended, and maybe I'm just an idiot for doing it wrong the first time. But I know I'm not the only one who finds her directions "open for interpretation", so I hope this might help someone else.

 

I didn't have an opportunity to run out for the perfect button, so the button stash had to do. The contrast of the oatmeal color of the button is perhaps a little strong, but it went nicely with the burgundy and matches the natural colored soakers that usually grace the bottom half of my model.

Tilty, not Dusty

World, meet my Cropped Tilted Duster. Cropped Duster, say "hello, world".

I found out that I was pregnant last Spring and knew that I would want a better pregnancy-sweater solution than I had last time (which was a ridiculously oversized second-hand hoodie -- so big that I continued to wear it after the birth, zipped up around my daughter in the baby bjorn... until she was too big to be carried in the bjorn.) So, the month of May saw a bright hopeful beginning...

The back flew off the needles, no problem. Being a conscientious and busty knitter, I did a lot of gauge swatch calculations and ended up expanding the dimensions of the front a lot. I noticed that even on the less-endowed model, the line between the ribbing and the stockinette on the fronts was awkwardly high on her bust.

I finished the fronts and the arms lickety-split. I compared the back and fronts to a sweater that fit me at the time and there was a little discrepancy... and I realized that one becomes only bustier during pregnancy, and that I would have to rip-and-repeat the fronts in a more generous size. No problem. Until I ran out of yarn.

I could handle that, though. I had another cone of the exact same yarn (ColourMart 100% extra fine merino 15/44 NM) in black, so I finished the ribbing sections with some black trim. I think it looks nice, and even quite possibly intentional.

Finally, all done, seamed, everything. The moment of truth can be harsh. In October, at only 5 1/2 months pregnant, I'd already out-grown my pregnancy sweater.

I took a philosophical approach. It was a successful project (in all except it didn't fit me.) Maybe it would fit after the baby. Or I could gift it to a more slender pregnant friend.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I'd knit the damn thing, I was going to wear it! Last month (8 1/2 months pregnant) I squeezed it on. I had to shuffle the front around a bit and fasten it in an alternative manner, but I think it looked rather nice all in all.

And goddamn, I am so hugely pregnant.