Hopefully just hiding...

Walter didn't come home last night.
He may have been spooked by the stormy weather. He may have decided that he wasn't going to put up with any more of the antibiotics he was having twice a day (for the absess he's acquired in a recent cat fight). He may have decided that he didn't like all the strange smelling baby paraphernalia that's been accumulating. Or my greatest fear- he may be hurt and unable to make his way back home.
So I'll be spending the day trying to distract myself with some sewing as I keep my eye on the window where he usually appears to meow to be let in...

36 weeks

Now you see it... Now you don't...


At 36 weeks my belly can still fit into one half of my wedding dress and I've finished with my day job (until some time next year).
Bring on the freedom to craft, nap or read whenever I want to, for a few weeks at least..
(no I'm not covered in bits of fluff.. it's just the bedroom mirror hasn't been cleaned for a while...)

Botany

Wow! thanks for all the lovely comments about the Baby Kimono, and all the encouragement to get a pattern written up. I was thinking of knitting another one first, to try to figure out how much yarn is needed to make the fronts the same, but it seems there is demand for the pattern as is, using just 2 skeins of Koigu, so I'll write it up with some options and suggestions for variations.

Of course, that means I'll need to tear myself away from the obsession that hit immediately after finishing the Kimono: Infant Socks.

Using this pattern, which I've been told do actually stay on. They're so quick, and addictive, and they're multiplying rapidly- 3 down and one on the needles at the moment. I figured it's a good way to use up an old partial ball from the stash- Rowan's 4ply Botany. Machine washable wool. In fantastic Rowan colours. I wish I had bought some more way back when they discontinued it- it's perfect for baby knitting.

baby kimono

At last, a finished project. This is the baby kimono I've been working on for a little while- tinkering with stitch counts, shaping, little details that matter, and the quantity of yarn I had, plus trying to keep track of what I was doing so that I can write up a pattern to share.

The end result I'm quite pleased with, but I had to sacrifice width on one of the fronts due to yarn supply (Picture the souvenir T-shirt: "I knitted a cardi from 2 skeins of Koigu and all I was left with was this tiny little ball of yarn!"). If I had felt like ripping back to the start, I could have sacrificed the cuffs, but as you can see I obviously didn't feel like it. Reports from the recipient of this kimono suggest that the cuffs aren't really that necessary, other than as a device for baby to suck on and drool all over... yum! Although I suppose this would happen with or without cuffs.

I've started writing up the pattern, although pattern writing is competing with the urge to just carry on knitting... or have another nap...

More pictures in daylight and the process here at Flickr.

The Vital Statistics:
Pattern: based on a patten from 2005 issue of Australian Family Circle Magazine, reinventing it as I went... Pattern to be available soon! [*update: pattern now available for download here]
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM, 2 skeins (just!)
Needles: 3.5mm bamboo straights

Meet me in Melbourne

Come one come all!

If you're a blogger and in Melbourne on Sunday June 17, would you like to meet a few other bloggers?

The (almost) no rule Meet Me in Melbourne bloggers gathering will be in the Flagstaff Gardens in the afternoon from 2pm onwards in the vicinity of the kids' playground, near the junction of Peel, William and Franklin Streets. You can come in any guise for as long or short atime as you like. BYO picnic paraphernalia- perhaps some afternoon tea to share.

The only rule? Wear a name tag with who you are and the name of your blog.


And no excuses, like you don't know anyone or are worried your type of blog won't fit in. It's the perfect opportunity to get in touch with some of your on-line acquaintances and plan to meet up. We all share the desire to connect to each other through our blogs, so I'm sure none of us are too scary in real life.

Of course being Melbourne, the weather is something of a lottery. Please check on the morning of the meet for latest details and weather contingency plans at the following blogs:

soozs big adventure

muppinstuff

pea soup

(I'd be adding my name to the list if I could be certain that I'll be in a fit state to A blog and B attend, given that the baby is due a few days later...)

If you'd like to help us spread the word (even if you can't come in person) please copy and paste this post to your blog. We're working hard to bring you one of those groovy badges so stay tuned...

Dozing

Saturday lunch time-ish...
As I lie on the sofa, baby kimono blocking on the porch in bright sunshine, and contemplate whether I can fit in a nap as well as lunch before yoga class, I thought I'd share some of this week's mail:



From Amitie's Blog VIP club, fabric samples for this month are japanese deep indigo prints. Lovely - such simple patterns and such deep colour. The Owls are particularly cute. If I had more energy right now, and some clear table space, I might do something with them immediately. Instead, they've been tucked into my favorite stash box, along with many other fabrics that I really want to do something with. Maybe in a couple of weeks when I finish working...

Right now, I think the need to nap is calling.

More vessels...

If you've liked the vessels I've posted made by my friend Karen Ho, and you're in Melbourne, then you can see more of her work at the Ceramics Victoria biennial award exhibition "Future Functions" on at the Skepsi on Swanston until the 19th May. According to the gallery blurb: The exhibition celebrates the contribution of Harold Hughan to the field of utilitarian ceramics in Australia whilst also recognising recent developments in style and technique.
Karen didn't win the award, but I'm really excited for her that she's in this exhibition along with other well known and professional potters. Go Karen!

vessel wednesday: taking a dip

Today a blue pool. A gift from my friend K, the potter.

The colour reminds me of the bottom of the pool where I went for a swim tonight.

As my belly has grown rounder, and my back has started to feel some strain, I've found that lap swimming is something I crave. Lap swimming something I've done (off and on) for years, and it's definitely my preferred form of exercise, but it's taken on new importance in my life lately. It takes quite a bit of effort at the end of the day, after work, and the commute home, to muster up the energy to go.

What helps me to get there is the knowledge that the buoyant feeling, the rhythmic pace, and the chance to stretch my body out as I count off the laps, is an increasingly important part of my pregnant life- to keep me balanced, my energy levels up, and my body mobile and comfortable. The feeling -during and after- is so wonderful, that I want to run up to each pregnant woman I see on the street, tell them how blissful it is, and passionately urge them to start swimming, if they haven't already.