Baby Love

So, a few months back I posted the beginning of the GLA quilt. I started out thinking that I would do a re-run quilt and make the hand embroidered quilt from Last Minute Quilted. Remember this one?

I had some great fabrics picked out from Purl Soho...

.....that I ended up not loving together.

So I decided to forgo the new fabric for the awesome pink pansy fabric that I used for the first hand-quilted baby quilt. That plan came to a screeching halt when I heard from Fiancee's friend (who is having the baby) that they aren't really into pink. So that meant no Alexander Henry bright pink pansy print.

And thank goodness... because otherwise I wouldn't have gone into my favorite city quilting store - Quiltology - and I would not have seen an urban Amish quilt hanging on the wall... and I would not have fallen in love, all over again, with Amy Butler.... and I wouldn't have made my new favorite quilt:

So I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this quilt. Everything about it. The colors. The rounded corners (I had never done that before... I did it using a rotary cutter and a tupperwear lid. Not suggested.). The fact that I wrote "welcome" in stitches at the bottom corner and it is possible that no one will ever see it. The fact that after all these quilts, I still can't seem to cut my corners at 90 degrees, so this quilt is much smaller than it started. I can just imagine a new little baby hanging out in the middle of this blanket. Loving life. Drooling. Looking cute next to the awesome Amy Butler prints. (:

The baby swag does not stop with a quilt, of course. I say "of course" because, as a former buyer for a swanky children's clothing store, I take pride in finding awesome baby gifts. Lookie:

The Bummas are soooo smart. I guess the hospital sends the baby home with disposable, non-chemical wipes that the parents are supposed to use for a few weeks. I guess new booties are too sensitive for normal wipes. So these are cute, eco-friendly alternatives to what the doctor sends home. I think this is an especially appropriate gift, since the father of the baby-to-be is a gastroenterologist (I guessed on that spelling...).

The onesie? It's just flipping cute. Go to www.lovesweetpeas.com to order it. My former boss will appreciate your business. Also from Sweetpeas, my favorite non-handmade part of this gift. I forgot to take a photo, so the stock photo will have to do...

Gorgeous, no? If I had a bajillion dollars, I would outfit my future children's rooms in Serena and Lily, exclusively. Beautiful products for moms and babes. They also have a really great book out about decorating your nursery. Check it. I admit, this is a lot of baby swag. Even for me. But, in my defense, the mother-to-be is Fiancee's best girl friend from his childhood. And this is her first child. And that is a big deal.

Alright. Time to sleep. I get to go see my niece this weekend and I need to build up a reserve of resting hours. For some reason, as a 16 month old, she doesn't understand the importance of her aunt getting a full 8 hours! The nerve! (: I also get to go to my sister's classroom (she teaches 2nd grade) for their Halloween party. I think I am going to dress up as my sister. I think they'd get a kick out of it. That, and I have no idea what is relevant to a 7 year old, so I think it is the only costume they will understand. Any other suggestions are more than welcome. Happy weekend!

Knitting Explosion.

Something has gotten into me. I keep starting and finishing projects. Highly peculiar. Wanna see?

Pattern: Whirligig Shrug
Designer: Stephanie Japel
Source: Interweave Knits Weekend Knits, Fall 2009
Fiber: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in Light Winter White
Amount: Barely over a skein
Size 12-18 months

This sweater took me just over 2 days of intermittent knitting. So little time for something so stinking cute. Obviously this is not for my kid, because I have none, but I would definitely slip this on over a plain onesie all the time - the sleeves are short enough that they wont get in food, because it is a shrug, the drool doesn't actually touch the sweater, and it is so easy to put on and take off. Love it. The only thing I would change about it is I would do it in a washable fiber to take all the fuss out. I have some left over Cashmerino, which is washable, and I think I'll be using it to make another for a new baby.

The pattern is very well written with no mistakes that I noticed. I really love the designers adult patterns, too. Check them out on Ravelry. The model is Jayden, who is turning 1 year old on Monday. Time. Freaking. Flies.

Pattern: Habitat
Designer: Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed
Source: Brooklyn Tweed
Fiber: Beverslide Dry Goods, McTaggert Tweed
Amount: Less than a skien
Size: Medium

So, this is the 4th (I think) Habitat that I have made. Every one is just a little smaller than it needs to be, as they don't cover the ears all the way. So I made this one with a chunkier weight... but then I got scarred that Fiancee would be drowning in it, so I just did the medium. Boo. It is, once again, too short. But I still love the pattern. Still love the fiber. I'm not too mad.

Pattern: Angora Baby Booties
Designer: Joelle Hoverson
Source: Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Fiber: Diamond Angorissima... or something like that.
Amount: Half a skien

I've also made these on multiple occasions for different babies. They are so fast, so easy, and so extremely cute. They took me 1 episode of Mad Men and 1 episode of The Biggest Loser.... so 3 hours. Well, off to pull my sources - 2 weeks until publication! WOOOOT!

Would ya look at that....

I actually finished (FINALLY) my hoodie! I even have proof! Look:

Don't judge, but... this is the first non-accessory I've knit that I could not wait to wear. I did a load of laundry last night just so I had a shirt to wear under it today. And I hate laundry. Particularly laundry on a Friday night. This is a GREAT fall piece.

There is this phenomenon that occurs in the city that I don't think happens in places where people drive. It's called Winter Sweat. Winter sweat happens when a person is walking dreadfully fast toward their mode of public transportation during the cold months. You walk so dreadfully fast (because if you aren't in a hurry to be somewhere, why leave your house in the midst of cold weather?!) that you don't realize your body temperature starts to go up. Then, once you reach the train platform/bus stop/taxi, and you stop moving, you become keenly aware of just what a work out your walk was. The indicator is generally a bead of sweat dripping down your back in a slow, agonizing fashion. Why am I sharing this truly useful information with you? Because sleeveless sweaters help keep the Winter Sweat Keeps my warm, but not so warm that when I get to where I'm going, I'm reaching back in my memory, hoping to find an image of myself putting on deodorant. (: An overshare, sure, but I just want to make clear how much I loooooooove this sweater. On with the show.

Pattern: Heather Hoodie Vest
Source: Interweave Knits, Fall 2009
Designer: Debbie O'Neill
Fiber: Beaverslide Dry Goods McTagger Tweed
How much: Eh, a little over 4 Skeins.
Size: Small
Mods: I made this thing two inches longer.

This is the only photo of me looking taller than someone else.
Detail shot. Of the sweater. Not the ring. Can you tell fiancee took this photo?

So the pattern was super easy. I mean idiot proof. I don't know what else to say about it, because it is that awesome. I think that is all I have for now. Back to doing homework!