As promised
Here is the fruit of my labor. Hold on to your ovaries:
I know, right??? Could you just die? (Not that I flatter myself, but my friends do say I know how to stitch a garter.)
For the knitters (or should-be knitters) who want to try it, this is the garter stitch wrap top from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight. I used Debbie Bliss's Baby Cashmerino yarn, which is so soft that every now and then I had to stop knitting and run the skein along my cheek while I purred like a cat. Try it, it's fun!
I modified the pattern because I was running out of yarn. Also, no lie, I had the thing almost finished and then realized that it was too small. Like, small as in the only thing it would ever fit is perhaps a malnourished Chihuahua. So I ripped the whole thing out and started over again. (Only for my sister would I do this. Anyone else would just have to not feed their kid. Or get a Chihuahua.) This time I followed the directions for the size 6-9 month sweater and ended up with something that might fit a newborn for at least a few days. So do be very aware of that if you give it a go.
Check it out, though! Buttonholes with actual buttons! Yeah, that was me. I totally did that. And if any of you out there are knitters or crocheters, you can find me at Ravelry under the username "missnem." I'd love to meet up and see what you're working on.
I wrapped the sweater and gave it to Jen on Saturday at a little brunch/shower thrown by the ever-elegant Jeri. Also, look how cute my pregnant sister is! Her face isn't even big. She's due in a week and you wouldn't know she's pregnant except for the part where she's tired and uncomfortable . . . and also the massive growth in her abdomen which causes men at church to do a double take and tell her how fat she's getting. Those men are lucky to be alive right now, I can tell you what. If I weren't wishing for her to go into labor this week, I would instead be wishing that this Sunday were the day when she started the killin's.
I know, right??? Could you just die? (Not that I flatter myself, but my friends do say I know how to stitch a garter.)
For the knitters (or should-be knitters) who want to try it, this is the garter stitch wrap top from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight. I used Debbie Bliss's Baby Cashmerino yarn, which is so soft that every now and then I had to stop knitting and run the skein along my cheek while I purred like a cat. Try it, it's fun!
I modified the pattern because I was running out of yarn. Also, no lie, I had the thing almost finished and then realized that it was too small. Like, small as in the only thing it would ever fit is perhaps a malnourished Chihuahua. So I ripped the whole thing out and started over again. (Only for my sister would I do this. Anyone else would just have to not feed their kid. Or get a Chihuahua.) This time I followed the directions for the size 6-9 month sweater and ended up with something that might fit a newborn for at least a few days. So do be very aware of that if you give it a go.
Check it out, though! Buttonholes with actual buttons! Yeah, that was me. I totally did that. And if any of you out there are knitters or crocheters, you can find me at Ravelry under the username "missnem." I'd love to meet up and see what you're working on.
I wrapped the sweater and gave it to Jen on Saturday at a little brunch/shower thrown by the ever-elegant Jeri. Also, look how cute my pregnant sister is! Her face isn't even big. She's due in a week and you wouldn't know she's pregnant except for the part where she's tired and uncomfortable . . . and also the massive growth in her abdomen which causes men at church to do a double take and tell her how fat she's getting. Those men are lucky to be alive right now, I can tell you what. If I weren't wishing for her to go into labor this week, I would instead be wishing that this Sunday were the day when she started the killin's.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
22 comments:
An oxytocin-inducing sight, for sure! Great reading and viewing.
Angela
New Zealand
I have the opposite problem - I knit so loosely I need to knit to the smallest size on a pattern! ...and hence that is why I make my own patterns (knit or crochet) and utterly disregard gauge :P
Ana, friend of Angela (above), also of New Zealand
Jenny promised to eat an olive if it would send her into labor.
She ate it.
And disliked it.
She's the best.
You almost convinced me to pick up my needles in the summertime, which is a feat!
Also, I'm not in labor Azucar. But that's ok. This is the most precious baby sweater ever. Nem, I actually ended up skipping church on Sunday because I just didn't think I could handle it. Probably a good call.
i really didn't think anything could make me want to hold to my ovaries (i'm so done) when i read your brag in the last post. but holy smokes, i'm holding them (or at least am reconsidering that edict i keep telling my 9 year old that "she can't date until she's 30).
One day I will learn to knit and/or crochet, and I only hope I can make something that darling. Well done!
It was even cuter in person!
I am not a knitter but I may have to become one before I have any more babies.
I would knit if it would not be an utter cotrastriophe (or however you spell it). That is going to be one cute baby!
I am NOT a knitter but that is adorable and I sort of want to be one now. Besides the little bebe in my uterus (to be born at the very beginning of winter) kicked while I was looking at that sweater.
Is something like this really doable for a person that is normally pretty sucky at crafts? Or what's easier? Booties? A hat?
That is really just so darling. I am in utter awe. Dang you! Every time you do some amazing project I get all inspired that I can do it when really . . . let's be honest . . . I'm just not going to be as good at it as you.
P.S. Really, have you thought about Etsy?
You, ma'am, are like seriously, SO talented!! :) Wow, I am amazed. The sweater is beautiful.
That is absolutely adorable. I'm going to make one!
And mj, booties and hats are harder, I think. My first knitting project was a sweater (at least when I took up knitting seriously as an adult--I had made little pieces of knitting as a kid) and it was a complete success. Baby and kid sweaters are good because they are small, therefore quicker projects. But, Desmama, though I don't know how Nem feels, whenever I've completed a project like this, there is no way I could charge enough on Etsy to make it worth my while.
That's beautiful. Can't wait to see it on the baby!
Angela and AmiZOOKey, welcome and thanks so much for your comments! Part of my problem could have been tight knitting (and maybe I should have used a larger needle) but my comfort is that other people on Ravelry had the same problem with this pattern. :-)
Azucar, just knit something in a nice cotton!
Yeah, probably a good call, Jen. Would have served them right, though.
April, the trick comes when it takes 10-15 years of dating to actually get to the marriage/babies point. So, you know, something to factor in there. ;-)
Thanks, AmandaStretch! I tell you, it's easier than ever to learn because there are so many great tutorials and videos online, as well as loads of groups to join if you want. Dive in, woman.
Awww . . . thanks, Jeri!
Eva, seriously. Even if you only finish one thing you'll feel so proud of yourself.
Audra, I'm sure you would be great at it--I just can't imagine you sitting still long enough to do it! I don't know how one person manages to do all the things you do, but it seems like you've always been able to keep 12 things going at once. You impressive thing, you.
OH, Mj. We must talk. You can absolutely do this. And I agree with Mrs. Clark that booties and hats SEEM easy because they are small, but they are actually harder because you have to do a bunch of different steps/stitches. The first (and easiest) project I ever did was a baby sweater because it was, no lie, a square and 4 rectangles that you put together at the end. All you had to learn to do was cast on, do a garter stitch, and cast off. If you email me I can see about getting you a copy of the pattern for you to check out.
Desmama, if I can do this then anyone can. Seriously. And you would probably learn the RIGHT way and would make less mistakes than I did. So get ready. I'm coming over and you are making a scarf. I think I could only do the Etsy thing if I were a much, much faster knitter. On that sweater, for example, I spent $28 on yarn and enough hours that I'm really glad I didn't count them (also there was the part where I had to start completely over again from the beginning). So yeah. If I were better and faster I would think about it, and if people were willing to pay enough to make the yarn & time costs worth it. (Like if I could somehow get those angora booties down to, say, an hour each . . . then we would be in business.)
Emandtrev, thank you so much. Wanna get in on the scarf action? Of course then you'd would probably be like, "Wait, THIS is all there is to it? And here I was, thinking you were talented . . . "
Word, Mrs. Clark. Word. My grandmother-in-law used to be a big knitter before her eyesight degenerated. She said that she eventually would only give knitted gifts to OTHER knitters because they would know and appreciate how much work had gone into it. That's not my rule, but I know what she means.
Chosha, thank you! I can't wait to post pics of the baby!
So cute. And here's the part where I totally confess that I saw your sister in person a couple times in the last few weeks (at the Provo library) and almost approached her to tell her I read her sister's blog. But I didn't, because I decided it would be too weird. Good thing I'm just telling you here instead, huh.
I can testify, though, that she didn't look very fatso pregnant at all, and reading here that she's due so soon is really surprising to me. She looked great.
/weird stalker rant
Hey, Bridget! I'm actually so sad that you didn't say anything to Jenny. She has always, ALWAYS loved it when people say, "hey, aren't you Stephanie/Nemesis's sister?"
Or maybe it's just me who loves it. I forget.
Anyway, she would have thought it was funny. And I'm sure she'll be your best friend forever after you said that nice stuff about how not fatso pregnant she looked.
I'm not a knitter, but I certainly appreciate the talents of those who do. Your sweater is fabulous. And the blonde hair and blue eyes of your niece--well some day some prince is certainly going to fall for those hook, line, and sinker.
I used to work for BONZ in Christchurch, NZ - they sell Knights and Caroline Moore Leather Jackets and gaudy intricately picture patterned handknit sweaters (amongst other things). I was recently talking with the owner of one of the stores that stock my stuff, who has just started stocking some knitted sweaters for sale. I told her that back when I worked for BONZ (just over 10 years ago) we sold handknit Merino sweaters at an average price of $500-600NZD - $200-$300NZD (the price that this store currently has these new sweaters priced at) was generally the price of lower end priced sweaters at BONZ and there were definitely sweaters that cost a LOT more. As a designer, creator and seller of my own items now I feel that having a job like that definitely helped as I know what it's possible for them to sell at - my opinion now is that it's not so much a lack of appreciation in customers, (although that certainly can be a factor) as WE have to be confident in our designs and work and explain that, sell THAT to the customer, make them see WHY it is worth $X - so really I guess I'm saying that failure to get others to see the value of our work is largely ours - people appreciate and value what we appreciate and value :)
MissNem/Stephanie - your blog is highly amusing - thank you!
And I totally agree with what you were saying to your friend about knitting baby clothes - I was just on the phone yestetday trying to convince Angela that I could teach her how to make that wrap baby cardy as it was basically block knitting (squares and rectangles..) with minimum shaping, and a few holes for buttons - easy! Not to mention baby/kids clothes are SOOO much quicker to make - makes you feel SUPER productive!!
Bridget you totally should've said something. It would remind me to make sure my kids follow the library rules and I roll my eyes less because people are watching me. Also, then I could've told you my sister's only funny because I give her help. Mwahahaha
just have to say that my daughter is 10 not 9!!! with the way time keeps speeding up, i think i'm ok with holding my ovaries until she's let's say 27 (you convinced me maybe should start dating a little younger) then she can get married at 35 and give me a grandbaby sometime after that and then maybe just maybe if i start practicing now i'll be able to make her something just as cute!!!
I have forbidden any more activity from my ovaries. However, the sweater is worthy of ovarian explosion. Try The Lacy Bonnet from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies. It's not as hard as it looks. Every time I took my baby to church in that bonnet we got mauled!
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