I've been making this lately...

And that is all. Oh, and sorbet. And I just started knitting Harriet a tiny sweater, and will post an update when it's done.

Wiped

I've not been making cats lately. but I did find this one asleep on my baby's change table, on top of Baby's going home outfit, no less. This is my part-time cat, belongs to our next door neighbours, and she likes to sleep curled up in inappropriate places. I've also never posted a photo of a cat on a blog before, and thought this represented an ideal opportunity. Mostly because from this photo you can see that I've been busy preparing for baby, who actually has clothes, books, toys, and a changing pad. And also the stack of reusable wipes in the lower right hand corner-- I sewed them myself!! I learned how to thread my sewing machine, how to wind a bobbin (well enough for it to function, though not quite correctly) and made these wipes out of towel and an old shirt. Stuart helped cut out the pieces. And I'm pleased with them, pleased that learning how to sew might not be an impossibility, though I don't actually think that I like it that much. Sewing is not a multi-task, is it? But still a skill I'd like to acquire.

Baby Blanket DONE

And knit with so so much love, every stitch. We can't wait to meet you, little squirmster!

December knitting

My most exciting project lately has been growing a baby, and this seems to have been going well for the past nineteen weeks. On Wednesday we'll discover whether I'm growing a boy or a girl, which is very exciting. Also to see those kicking feet again, and get some kind of sense that this is real.

Below is the baby's blanket, knit from a recipe in Stitch and Bitch using "granite" tri-coloured Mission Falls wool. I spent $50.00 buying the wool, only to realize that I'd only bought half what I needed, and I need to get some more of the stuff, but none of the knitting stores I went to had any of the tri-coloured left. There's time though, as the baby won't be born until May. And this blanket-so-far is quite significant, different than everything else that I've ever created, in that it has absolutely not one mistake. Yet.















Next up are the booties I've made for our friends' Steve and Carolyn's baby. Project was a little more urgent as wee Spud is due in March, and so I whipped these up as an in-utero Zmas gift. This is my third or fourth time making these, and I never fail to be overwhelmed by their adorableness at completion. How amazing to contemplate a real live baby-to-be whose tiny feet will fit these.















And finally, I had to knit this rather furtively so Stuart wouldn't have his Christmas morning spoiled. Not that the hot water bottle was the highlight of his pickings this year, but still, I didn't want him to know. So I told him I was knitting a sweater for the cat, and though he didn't believe me (I am quite outspoken about my loathing for animals in clothes), I sure confused him plenty. This was a last minute project, knit from scraps in my basket, which is why the front and back of the cozy don't match. But it looks quite cool, actually, and is somewhat brought together by the snazzy matching buttons. I am proud of this, and it was most well received.

Cardigan Completed

My cardigan is completed, after ten months of knitting fun. Which is sort of impressive seeing as I don't knit very often at all, and that I've never made anything quite to this scale (except for the unfortunate electric blue poncho that proved unwearable but taught me a lesson about me NEVER again wearing ponchos or chunky wool.) Back when I started the cardigan, I predicted it would turn out wonky and though my prediction came true, it did far less than I would have imagined. The biggest problem is that the buttons are spaced haphazardly, and indeed I don't know what I was thinking. I've decided to ignore this, however, and revel in what's right instead (which definitely isn't the ribbing along the edges either, but alas). What is right is that the cardigan fits, and that it's even wearable. That the sleeves aren't too long, are even the same length, and there are no holes anywhere from dropped stitches. Never mind that the cardigan looks a bit lumpy, and makes me look a bit lumpy, for what can one expect from a cardigan? I am very pleased. The pattern came from here (though we will not talk about how their model is skinnier than mine), and I thank Erin Smith for her learned counsel.

Summer of Pie

'Tis been the summer of pie, mainly. And because half of it has gone into the freezer, we don't yet look like this has been the summer of pie. Also because we've been blessed with good friends to share pie with. We started the season off with rhubarb strawberry, then in June went strawberry picking and came home with bezzies for jam galore and two strawberry pies. July brought forth raspberries (albeit from the market), and then peach (as shown here). Blueberry has proven a favourite, however, and we've just made another last night. All pies with either lattice crust or marked with their initial. We're looking forward to a winter of fresh fruit celebration, that is if we have to look forward to winter at all.

Booty Call (Ha Ha)

I haven't completed a knitting project in ages. Was lucky this weekend to have the excuse of a friend's upcoming bebe to get on it. Here are two adorable booties, pattern via Crystal's blog. Crystal's are nicer, and these are way wonky, but they are undeniably cute, and were fun to make.

Other things I have made lately include a heart shaped chocolate cake, a dinner party, an entire (finished) novel, a fabulous short story, and a tidy house.

Post-Season Round-Up

My major knitting project this winter was not so major as my "major project" this winter was finishing the manuscript of my novel and it's finished... until revisions begin in September. So there was no sweater, but I also know enough to know how terrible my body looks in knitwear-- I learned that the hard way with a poncho, and that was a lot of effort for nil. Maybe next year. I did knit a blanket for my friend Lynda who is expecting un bebe in June. I just need to tie up the ends and send if off to California. And for the last while I've been knitting up squares with ends tangled up in my knitting basket, and I've just sewn them together. I intend this patchwork to be a lifelong project, and I think it's pretty cool thus far.

Coming up: new Pickle Me This Press Book this summer with limited circulation, though copies of "I Wish My Enemies Were Russians" are still available.


Please note I still have yet to successfully bake a chocolate cake.