Naked Knitting

This gave me a giggle, but really, have you tried knitting while naked? Don’t your breasts get in the way? Or is that just me being 9 months pregnant?

Thanks everyone who has commented lately, it’s given me something to smile about. I try to go back to everyone’s blogs, because I have no idea how to directly reply to anyone. I know it’s possible but it seems to escape me. Any tips?

I’ve finished the body of the seamless yoke baby sweater.

(funny stuff, I did a search for the link, on the office computer, had a typo and got this:
Did you mean: shameless york baby sweat? Why no, not really. I don’t even want to know what that means!)

Anyways, the sweater is cute. I messed up a bit on the end, but all that means is it’s a bit longer than it should be. The directions just kinda assume you know how many rows are between buttons and such. Also um, I did the sleeves differently, using my favorite way of doing sleeves. I’m not sure it will work. And then there’s the fact that I ran out of yarn and I don’t have $8 to get more. Or money for buttons. So I have a sleeveless cape type thing! It’s cute none-the-less. And a good way to occupy myself during this miserable week.

It just looks wrong though doesn’t it? I mean besides the fact that there’s no arms. And it needs blocking. I dunno, I’m getting stressed, it looks funky! I feel I should frog it, what do you think?

Closeup of bottom details and buttonholes. I love the yarn, debbie bliss cashmerino. But it just looks wrong! Am I crazy?

So way back a month ago I started some thumbless no-scratch mittens for Evie (who am I kidding, all I make is things for Evie!) Well I didn’t finish them because I just was iffy on the yarn and the colors. Last night after the Princess Leia bonnet finished I started on a new set of mittens. I haven’t bought any for her and I realize I can use socks, but why do that when I can keep my mind and hands busy and just make her some?

It’s not the best yarn, Bernat softee baby. But at least it is multi-colored and will match almost all her outfits, right? All I can do is knit from my stash for awhile.

I really need to make some things for my boys. They are 8 and 6 and all I really have left in my stash is a small bit of wool and a lot of acrylic. I was thinking mittens? Any one have any ideas?

Pregnancy stuff

I thought I was in back labor last night. It was terrible. I tried to take a shower but some godforsaken reason we didn’t have any water pressure. WHY? DH has carpal tunnel, he did his best to do some massage but he was in a lot of pain too. I tried to just go to sleep between the contractions that are constant (which, I dunno, do you have contractions during back labor? In the front I mean?) but not in any pattern whatsoever. I got into bed around 930, knew it was a bad idea, and sure enough the restless legs kicked in. All I wanted to do was call the doctor and demand he take this baby out! Luckily I stayed sane and just tried to get through the night. I got an hour or two of sleep, woke up to knit and watch hell’s kitchen (don’t tell me what happens I’m not caught up yet! And was there not a new Top Chef this week?!). Kill time, kill time, kill time. Never heard back from the receptionist about my high blood pressure and swelling, and they are closed today and Monday. Well, the doctor works at a free clinic today, maybe someone will be in the office.

Tuesday looks so far off!

It’s a terrible photo I know but it makes the point.  It’s supposed to be 103 degrees today.  Ugh! This is my car parked in the shade.  I can’t wait for fall 😦

 

Stick a fork in me.

I’m done.

37 weeks tomorrow and until… last Friday or so I was coping.  But 4 days straight of what is probably the worst migraine ever, restless legs, incredibly swollen feet, unable to sleep, peeing every 20 minutes… etcetcetc… I’m just miserable.  More than miserable really.

Are you tired of hearing about my migraines?  I know poor DH is.  It’s nothing new for me to have migraines; I’ve had  them since I was 13 or 14.   But not daily!

I have done everything I can for this one.  My next stop will have to be the ER for another shot.  What fun.  So I’m killing time, waiting to see if DH can get some time off work to drive me up the hill to the ER.  I may break down and have my roommate take me, but I really really don’t want to do that.  I don’t really care much for him and being stuck in the car with him for an hour with a migraine sounds miserable.

Evie needs to be born so I can take my migraine medicine.  I don’t know how much longer I can deal with all this.  3 weeks I guess, right?  A few days ago that didn’t seem so long.  I know I’m not the only pregnant woman with migraines.  How the hell do you deal with this?  You’d think the third time around I’d have gotten a grasp on this.  It just gets worse each time.

I can’t lay down and rest or the restless legs really act up.  It’s almost tolerable if I’m sitting up.  I’d love to lay down and rest my poor head but I can’t.  So I started knitting this seamless yoke cardigan.  Ever seen someone miserable knitting?  I bet it looks fairly amusing.    It’s a fun pattern, not too difficult for a broken brain.  I’m using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino; the tiny stitches and very soft yarn gives me a very nice sense of accomplishment.

And it takes my mind off wanting to cut off my head.

 

I never could get the hang of Thursdays

Good news! The boys had reading placement tests this week, to see what groups they should be in. I was a tad worried about Andrew, he can read but he never showed us how well till this week. My little 1st grader is reading at a level most 3rd graders read halfway through the year. His teacher/stepmom said he only missed two words, one was frightening and… I can’t remember the other. Andrew was telling Evie (or more accurately, my tummy) that she needs to be born soon, he’s ready to teach her how to read!

Zane, no one was worried about him. He’s been reading since he was one. Yes, one. Amazing stuff. He was very proud to tell me that even though he is in 3rd grade he reads better than most 11th graders. That’s right, Zane reads at a level almost 3 times higher than what he should. I am one proud mommy!

Smart AND cute!

They come home from their Daddy’s house tomorrow. I can’t wait. I miss them while they are gone. Never thought I would be one of those people sharing kids and having to schedule all that mess. But we’re all a LOT happier now.

Pregnancy News

Not much to report really. I had a lot of contractions yesterday, for an hour there it was every 5 minutes. Evie is such a tease. I wasn’t too excited cause I knew it is still a tad early at 36 weeks. But they are at least every hour or so, if not more often. I could have this baby now and be perfectly happy.

Heartburn has been a bitch and a half this week. I never had it with the boys!

The same thing with morning sickness. I threw up once with Andrew and never with Zane. I threw up twice this week alone! Whoever said morning sickness is just for mornings and early pregnancy is NUTS! (I threw up at night and I’m 36 weeks, there goes those theories!) So many things are different about this pregnancy. I wonder if it’s cause it is a girl this time, or cause it’s a different daddy or just cause I’m 30 instead of in my 20s. Maybe a combination of all 3.

Still have a migraine, but after 6 months straight, I dunno, I kinda get used to it I guess?

Evie’s nursery is pretty much done. I’d repainted a few months ago from ugly bright brick red to a pretty mint green. I washed all her clothes and sorted them into age groups. I got a rocking chair, boppy pillow, changing table, basinette (for our room) newborn diapers. All that’s really left is to move the furniture and move sophie’s litterbox and food. I need to pack my suitcase and get some lanolin and nursing pads. Every time I think I’m all ready I realize there is more to do!

Have you seen these nursing covers? i got one as a gift yesterday! The woman who did my pedicure and I were talking about nursing and she asked me if I had one, I said no, I’ll just use my baby sling (which I am dying to use, hurry up Evie!). I guess she really likes them cause she brought me a very cool orange one! What a nice surprise. The pattern is sadly not on that site(though the ones that are there are just as great), but it is so awesome I plan to use it for something else once Evie is done nursing.
Knitting News

I’m working on a secret surprise. It’s nothing spectacular, but I don’t want to share till it’s done cause if it doesn’t work or looks silly I’ll be embarassed!

I also got yarn for another pinwheel sweater.

The “white” is really more of a grey, so it will be a pretty grey/purple/pink for Evie. If I need more yarn, I’ll finish it with some of the cream that is left over from the first pinwheel I made.

 

Migraines are all the rage

I’ve been getting migraines for as long as I can remember.  At least the last 15 years.  But they’ve never been as often as during this pregnancy.  Evidently thats fairly common, what with all the hormones and such.  I get them daily.  Most times I can work around them and ignore them.  Saturday night I felt a great one coming.  By Sunday afternoon I was crosseyed and crying in pain.  When it gets bad my doctor sends me into the ER for a shot.  What shot depends on the doctor there at the time.  Some use Demerol, others Morphine, others still use Stadol.  Then there’s the anti-naseau shot, and that varies too.  Last night was a demerol/zofran combo.  Zofran is so much better than phenergan for me, phenergan sometimes induces restless legs and there isn’t much worse than doped up and restless legs.  You are almost asleep but for the restless legs.  It’s annoying and frustrating.

I don’t know why but this shot woke me up.  Almost hyper.  Yet still asleep.  To make matters worse I only got 3 or 4 hours sleep and my head is still killing me.  I think I slept less last night than normally.  With a shot!  Frustrating.  Maybe I’ll get some sleep today.  I still feel awful dopey and exhausted.  Plus the migraine.  Fun.

My 36 week appointment is tomorrow.  We’d talked about doing an ultrasound this week since the baby was measuring big at the last one and the boys were both almost 9 pounds 2 weeks early.  Between this and all these migraines I’m hoping we’ll induce in 2 weeks.  That would be perfectly ok with me.  More than ok.

Also I get to have a pedicure tomorrow.  It’s not something I normally do but at this point when I can barely see my feet, and knowing they are going to be up in stir-ups soon, I think it will be nice to have a flash of color.

Today is the boys’ first day at their new school.  They are super excited.  Andrew’s step-mom is his first grade teacher.  It will be interesting to see how that goes.  Zane is in 3rd grade and there are two other boys with glasses this year in his class.  He finds that very exciting.  I am very encouraged by the parents and students I’ve met so far.  After a fairly disasterous year at their old school, for both of them, I have high hopes this year.

In knitting news, I have been searching around for what to knit next.  I dunno if it was the migraine or lack of interest but I started and frogged 4 things this weekend.  A hat, a scarf, a sweater and… something else, possibly a different hat.  Since I’m not on my regular computer but the one in DH’s office/Evie’s nursery, I figured I’d save my searches and ideas here.  It might be helpful to anyone out there that has read this far as well.

Free Knitting Patterns across the web

f.pea’s free pattern fridays – 15 awesome free patterns, including seamless baby sweaters.

angel lace baby cap

top down seamless baby raglan

baby’s tied shrug from prima

 halweh from magknits

easy baby cardigan 

icutie – without the apple insignia this could be cute!

presto chango baby sweater

quick baby sweater 

one piece baby sweater

seamless neck down cardigan 

shower’s this weekend baby sweater – with some adaptation, this could also be cute.  kinda a blank template!

stegosaurus hat and scarf – a newborn dino for halloween!

magknits swing thing sweater

I guess it’s fairly obvious I’m trying to do baby things before Evie gets here.  Also, I hate seaming.  With a passion.  I have some Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino (or some such) that I can’t wait to use.

Also, DH has mycrazyroomate.com bookmarked.  It’s funny, this guy hates his roommate as much as I hate mine.  His is just more amusing.

 

Pinwheel Sweater – a “better” armhole

I’ve finished one sleeve for the pinwheel sweater and I’m working on the last one.  I thought I would share the way I’ve been doing the armhole and sleeve because the pattern is difficult to read and understand – for me at least.  And since I had done it this way for Piggle and… something else… it was already familiar to me.

When you get to the part of the pattern that says “knit the first set of 18 stitches and the yo from the round before, place the second set of 18 stitches on a holder, join a new ball of yarn and cast on 18 stitches using a provisional cast on – see below for provisional cast on instructions (this will be the sleeve later), join yarn and continue knitting 4 more sets of 18 stitches plus the yo’s from the previous round, slip the next 18 stitches on a holder, join yarn and cast on 18 stitches using a provisional cast on, knit the last 18 stitches and yo from the previous round.”  Ignore it.  Way to confusing in my mind!

What I did (which I’ve discovered is also called an afterthought heel, interesting) is knit the 18 stitches plus one yo on waste yarn, then turn the work and knit these same 19 stitches again with waste yarn.  Switch back to your working yarn and continue the pattern.   In the middle of your sweater you will have two rows of waste yarn where the armhole will go.  It looks like this.

When you’re ready to do the sleeves, pick up 19 stitches of one side on #9 needle.  Personally it’s easier for me to see what stitches to pick up if I do it on the wrong side.  Just push the needles through to the right side when you are ready to knit.

Pick up the other side of the 19 stitches and it looks like this.

Now you remove the waste yarn,  a tad scary, I know.  You end up with two needles and an armhole!

Spread the stitches out to 3 or 4 needles, whichever you prefer, then continue the pattern.

The only thing that I discovered, and I suppose I’m missing something, maybe someone can point it out, is that I now have to purl the sleeves in order for it to look the same as the rest.  No big deal but knitting is a lot faster than purling for me!

If you see anything wrong in my explaination, please do let me know!  Enjoy your pinwheel sweater!

 

A few months changes a lot

I ran into a photo I took, rife with morning sickness and sleeplessness, way back at week 12

Fast forward to today’s photo, rife with sinus infection, at 35 weeks.

Ugh, I’m so ready to be done. So very ready for Evie to be here.

Sinus infection has gotten worse. I keep waiting for it to get better. The boys were supposed to come home today, but I’m terrified I will get them sick and they will miss the first day of school. So they are going to stay with their daddy awhile longer. 😦 I miss them lots.

What were we doing 35 weeks ago?

Well besides that, sickos!

We were actually in Las Vegas getting married. That’s right, Evie is due exactly 9 months to the day of our wedding. Since our “monthaversary” is Saturday, I wanted to share a few photos. Sadly, all the photos are on a harddrive that’s not currently in a computer, so what I have to share is limited.

Here’s our engagment photo, taken by then 7 year old Zane. Sean really is happy, don’t let the face fool you.

We decided to go to Vegas. I didn’t want a big wedding, and since my parents were paying and they go to Vegas all the time and get special treatment, it sounded good to me!

We got married at the Excalibur, in medival costumes. It was a lot of fun. Sadly again, those photos are available atm. Here’s one my Aunt took after the ceremony.

I got in a bit of street photography (my favorite kind) while we were there.

We stayed at the Luxor, with these fun statues out front.

Knitting News

I should hopefully be finished with the pinwheel sweater today. We’ll have to see, sickness may take precedent. Here’s a taste of some of the colors. Very… fall-ish?