Happy Day Mobile (aka Maternity Leave mobile)

It's amazing how much crafting you can do when you don't have to go to work. I'd be such an amazing, unemployed craft maven. Since I became pregnant, I've had all these grand plans for cute baby knits, but I haven't had the time/energy or inclination.

Well, in just two work days home and waiting for little one to show up, I'm more than making up for lost time.


Here's the Happy Day Mobile from Crochet Today. I first saw it while visiting the magazine's office maybe a year and a half ago -- I was totally smitten and knew some day that mobile would be *mine*. The designer, Amy Gaines, just has a way with darling little faces.


I'm a snappy sunshine with chubby cheeks and puffy clouds!

I'm a cheerful rainbow! So 80s!

And we're raindrops! One of us is deadpan, the other bashful. Because why would a raindrop smile?

I bought yellow, blue and orange Sugar n Cream cotton yarn because it was on sale at Michael's (yes, we made a special trip to Michael's in Woodside). And I just used what oddments I had sitting around for the rest. Gotta love projects like that.

I definitely knew that I had to make this a few weeks ago, when we were unable to remove the weird planter hook from our little nursery. (And I mean little. My craft room became the nursery with the help of a temporary wall). This hook has been here since we moved in, and it's probably been stuck there much, much longer. The screws are stripped, suggesting we aren't the first folks who have tried to remove it.

Here it is in action!


All that's left to make is a little stuffed animal for the little one. I think I'll have time to make one right?

La Grenouillère

The French really do have a way with baby knits, as Jess pointed out when she bought me "Tricots Intemporels Pour Bebes." Really, the designs are all classic but still fresh and all around charming. Like clothes little kids really *should* wear.

And this one just stood out for its overall snuggliness.

This is La Grenouillère, a little sleeping suit for our guy. I used my favorite Spud & Chloe sweater yarn in splash -- for some reason, I really love this yarn, especially for baby knits. The colors are delightful and I find it soft and springy and just pleasant.

I will be honest. I struggled with this one. First of all, I lost my knitting mojo for a few months, due in part to a cough that I was only able to shake a week or so again. Plus, since I don't generally knit socks, turning the heel seemed downright bizarre. And I also struggled with the French pattern -- I just didn't have the patience. So my mom, a French teacher and knitter, translated it for me, which helped tremendously.

I'm basically dying to get the little one in this because it just looks so soft and cozy, but I realize it might be a while. Maybe not too long, though. He's due in six days. SIX DAYS PEOPLE. And I still have two more little projects that I need to finish....

For Marie's little gals

So I'm in the pregnancy home stretch and finally feel like knitting again. Have a few things on the needles for my little guy and hope to cast off before my due date -- July 17.

Luckily, I have a few projects from my pre-knitting slump to show, namely these gifts for Marie's precious twins, Caroline and Lilly. I could go on and on about the wonders of Marie, from her generosity and huge heart to her endless enthusiasm and creativity. (And how down to earth she is. And how she has a way of bringing you down to earth without your even realizing it.) But Jess summed Marie up pretty well (and beautifully) on her blog, and I don't think I can do any better.

So I'll get right to the dresses and sweaters!


While she was in France, Jess bought me this fabulous French baby knits book, and I fell for the chauffe-couer pattern (which translates to heart warmer). I knit them up in Knit Picks telemark. Surprisingly, my lackluster French was enough to get me through the patterns without much difficulty. (The next thing I tried to knit -- well, let's just say it's a good thing my mom was a French teacher.)

But I also wanted to sew a little something, so I tried out this pillowcase dress pattern in coordinating fabric from Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush Line. This is a quick project that turns out super cute. Making two at once was delightful!


I hope some day soon I can introduce my little guy to Marie's little girls! It's getting close...

A blanket for baby

Like most knitters, I've spent years making baby items for my friends -- particularly in the past few years. And I never had much trouble choosing patterns for them. I wanted something kinda throwback for Christa's baby, something with lots of earth tones for Kate. For my one friend Jen something jovial. For my other friend Jen, something pure and angelic.

But when it was my turn to knit for my own baby, I was crippled with indecision. First off, knit or crochet? Bright, primary colors or something more muted and classy? For weeks, I pinned designs on Pinterest, queued pics on Ravelry. I was about to go on vacation and knew I had to decide -- and the Sunshine Day baby afghan was the winner.



I wanted something with a vintage feel, and I search for a palette of colors that were playful but not too cloying. I settled on Cascade's Eco Alpaca for the background and, because of the wide range of colors, Superwash for the flowers. I know, I know, Alpaca and Superwash. I'm an idiot.

Here's what I'm a little ashamed to admit: I didn't enjoy making this. The motifs are so small that I felt like I was constantly cutting yarn and adding new yarn and weaving in ends. I could never just zone out while making it, even for a few minutes. I think that's why it took me so darn long. This made me so sad -- this blanket is for my first child! What kind of mother will I be if I can't even sacrifice enough to CROCHET A BLANKET?

I'm blaming my impatience on random pregnancy side effects, like the cough I've had for 10 weeks and my inability to focus enough to read an entire magazine article. In the end, I decided to keep it on the smaller side so it will fit car seats and strollers. Now, I can focus on little rompers and soakers and other such things.



Having said this, I do love how it turned out. My joins aren't great, but it reminds me of something my grandmother would have crocheted for a new baby. She excelled at motifs (and probably never complained about them). Something about it feels heirloom-y to me. This blankie will be too warm to bring to the hospital come July, when our little guy is expected to arrive. But maybe some fall afternoon, when it's a little brisk out, it will be my turn to wrap one of my blankets around a baby, our baby.

A goodbye shawl

There's a reason that I've been absent since November, which I'm so sad about. But we're having a baby boy in July! I couldn't be more excited -- we feel so blessed and lucky and just wonder who he'll be. I've therefore been distracted and unmotivated and full of excuses when it comes to crafting, apparently. But I hate that so I'll just jump in.

A few weeks back, a longtime boss of mine got a new job. Yay for her, sad for me. She was a mentor to me and responsible in large part for any opportunities I've received. That seems worthy of a shawl, right?

It's the boneyard shawl, knit up in Noro Silk Garden, which was given to me by Maya at the Spiders holiday swap. I had never used Noro before (gasp!) and enjoyed seeing how the colors would work up.



And now, since I'm at 21 weeks pregnant, it's time to focus on baby knits. For my baby -- isn't that crazy? After years of making things for others, I feel tremendous pressure to find the perfect baby blanket or sweater or booties or cap. I've literally spent evenings starting at Ravelry, trying to decide patterns and colors. Boy appropriate but not too BOY, you know? Don't want it too loud and too primary color heavy, but don't want it too pastel and baby-like. This is tough work. Hope to have something to show off soon.

It is finished

And it's only, um, five months late.


My brother got married in June and moved into a lovely new home. I just couldn't buy him dishes, you know? It's my brother! But with so many babies coming into my life, I was really behind on gift knitting, so I didn't even start this until after the wedding.

Since my brother's tastes are pretty conservative, I knew I'd have to table any crazy crochet patterns or zig-zags. I settled on the Moderne Log Cabin in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, basing the colors on the sofas and pillows in their home. But garter stitch? Wow, that s*** takes forever!

So I'm dropping it in the mail today - a little later than I wanted, but well within a year! I imagine then wrapping themselves in it while watching the Steelers, or spreading it on the floor as they sit in front of their fireplace.

Just a cozy cap

So I've had the Super Cupcake pattern for some time now. I even finished the cowl, wear it all the dang time and, somehow, managed not to ever photograph it. But after Rhinebeck, where I spotted a few delightful Super Cupcakes in person, I decided to make the hat myself.


This is quick and easy and fun. I must admit that I just wanted to make it right away, and I wanted it to be fire engine red, so I bought some Patons during our Joann Fabrics run after Rhinebeck. (Look, there's only one Joann's in New York City, and it's out in Staten Island. So if I'm in the 'burbs and near one, I go. Also picked up a few foam wreaths!)

I think this is my new go-to winter cap.