First Halloween

I did make a portion of her Halloween costume - her hat and leg warmers. However, the dress still hasn't happened.

Further Quilting and A Few Lessons Learned

I'm taking further baby steps on my quest to become a quilter.  I made this quilt for my new little niece.  She lives far away, so I had to find another baby to stand-in as a model.  *Wink*

I learned many things while making this quilt, but mostly, I learned what not to do when quilting.  Here is my short list: 

1.  Don't sew together the pieces if you plan to add a binding.  With the patchwork quilts I previously made, there was no quilting involved.  The fronts were squares sewn together.  Then, I sewed together the front, back and batting, flipped it right side out, and voila!  With this quilt, and all of my future quilts, I expect I will actually quilt the pieces together and then add a binding. 

2.  When the pattern for the binding says "baste together", pay attention to the word baste.  This ties to number 1 because I sewed the quilt together, and then took it all out.  But, then I did it again when the seaming instructions only told me to baste the pieces together.  This time, I couldn't take out the work, or I would have risked putting a hole in the quilt, and that would have led to patching, and so on. 

3.  Use a medium loft batting, or at least not the lowest loft.  This isn't just because it's softer and becomes more yummy and plushy when washed.  Also, the higher the loft, the more hidden the quilting will be (if you need to hide your quilting as you're learning what the heck you're doing, like me).  I used brown thread to quilt, and I really regret it.  It's just tacky, and when I realized this, I thought that it would disappear into the batting better once it was washed. 

4.  Don't rush.  I actually learned this lesson on the previous patchwork quilts I made.  Instead of quickly trying to finish the work I was doing, I left the quilt on the machine with the needle down to hold my spot.  Then, I went to bed.  While I made countless mistakes on this quilt, I would have made far more had I not stopped when I was exhausted.  Each time I stepped away, I realized things as I was dozing off that I would have otherwise missed. 

5.  Use a pattern.  I learned the colors of my niece's nursery - pink and brown, then shopped for fabric.  Shocking as it was, I wasn't able to find many fabrics at the store that were exclusively pink and brown.  So, I purchased what I could find (and liked) and decided to work from there.  It is common for me, unfortunately, to try to design something, and then I work out the math incorrectly.  Remember the ridiculous camo blanket?  I found a square that I liked, and it involved the number of fabrics that I had purchased.  I decided to replicate the square as the quilt itself, and then computed cuts.  Of course, my math was wrong.  Very fortunately, a little sashing with the backside fabric, and I'm actually happy with the correction. 

6.  Be good to your machine, and it will be good to you.  I did a side project that I think bent the arm on my machine.  Now, I can't use my 1/4-inch presser foot or the needle hits the foot and breaks.  Shooting broken needles across the room (and directly at my eyes!) is scary!  I'm now having to make-shift 1/4-inch seams because even the markers on my machine are off, due to the bent arm. 

That's my short list so far, but I have more projects coming! 

I'm truly enjoying sewing, but I miss knitting.  As the weather is turning cooler, I had to visit one of the over-priced baby clothing boutiques in Hoboken.  I spent $32 on a small knit sweater for my little girl, and that was after a 20% off coupon.  When I stopped for a brief visit at my former job today, I was asked by my friend and former co-worker, Stephen (who also happens to be the greatest quilter, hand and machine sewer, and all around creator of all things fabric, fleece, and fur who ever lived), whether I made it.  I told him how guilty I felt buying it.  My husband, little girl, and I are hoping to take a trip soon, and if we do, perhaps I'll finally make the Baby Surprise Jacket I've always wanted to make.

More Photos

I've been working through some photos today for some thank you cards, and I just can't help but post these last few. I shot these within seconds of each other, but her most common expressions are all here.

Let's Do It Again!

Ready...Set...

Sewing: New Hobby, New Projects

I learned quickly that trying to complete knitting projects was futile now that I have a baby to tend to.  It took me several weeks to complete this knit hat, which she wasn't terribly excited about it, as you can see.  (This picture is from when she was 8-weeks old.  She is almost 5-months old now.)

Sewing has proven to be a much better option, which I realized after making my first baby quilt a few months before her birth.  Last week I completed my second patchwork quilt, which I made the same way, but with a border this time. 

It is for my unborn niece, who is due in October. (My brother's baby.  Incidentally, my husband's sister just had a baby girl yesterday!  Stay tuned for her gifts!)  She'll be the little sister to the cutie pie I knit several blankets for a couple of years ago. His primary blanket was a blue basket weave, but there were many camouflage blankets as well.

Here he is with his sister's blanket.  He's 2-years old!  Time just flies.

With the scraps from these first two quilts, I made a little cloth burp rag, the pattern to which I found on Sew Mama Sew, it's scrap buster contest.  I've been wanting a burp rag for when we are out in public or at church.  The cloth diapers we've been using are quite worn and tattered, which is fine for home, but slightly embarrassing when we're out and about.  I've been tempted to buy the ever popular Aden and Anais burpy bibs, but hope that my handmade one will now satisfy my needs.

Here it is with the original quilt I made. 

I found several patterns that I will make in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

First Bites

Here she is eating her first bowl of cereal, which she gobbled down like she's been eating solid foods from a spoon for ages.  I hope it's a sign that she'll be a good eater! 

Life Lessons

My mother comments regularly on how sewing and knitting abilities skipped her generation and jumped from my grandmother to me.  I just think it's unfortunate that I haven't been able to learn from my grandmother because we live so far apart.  So instead, I seek out and pay for classes or beg them off of kind, patient friends.  As a mother now myself, I hope to be able to pass along as much know-how as possible to my daugher, which I hope she continues to nurture.  I find so much joy in creating things, but my biggest frustration is how hard I struggle to find information and learn. 

Two months ago, I took a sewing lesson, and she watched patiently from her stroller.  Yesterday, I took another lesson, but my little girl was not interested in watching.  At four-months old, she's very interested in being involved.  So, the only sewing I completed during my lesson, I completed with her on my lap.  Sweet angel!  I won't complain.  I love her so much and hope she learns to appreciate the simple things in life, and I hope to teach her.

Bring on the Heat!

She's ready for the sun in her adorable Gymboree seersucker outfit. 

Her baptism gown was a little less comfy in our unairconditioned church. The day was perfect though. Thank you, Grandparents, for coming and helping make it such a special day! We love you!

12 Weeks of THIS!

I'm the luckiest mommy ever! She's 12-weeks old today, and I can honestly say that these have been the best 12 weeks of my life.

Video Post

I saw this video today and just had to share it with you.

And It's Only the Beginning

Seven weeks have past since she arrived, and in some ways it seems like she can't possibly be that old, but in other ways, it seems she's been here all along. Her personality and sense of humor are becoming more apparent every day.

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Last week, she started smiling at us. This week, she's discovered her mobile, and squeals with delight as she stares at it endlessly. I definitely know the feeling!

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A Little Late

She finally came on March 1st, and I'm finally posting some pictures of her first two weeks. I'll write about her birth later.
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Due Today. Probably Not Here Tomorrow.

Our little girl is technically due today. But, she's shown no indication of being interested in departing the cozy and warm confines of my belly. We're not terribly surprised. First time moms don't typically deliver early, and we also know that the doctors backed up my due date from 2/27 to 2/20 based on an ultrasound early in the pregnancy. Our doctor told us this week that they'll give her until the 28th before they'll want to induce.

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In the meantime, I've finished her blanket. First, I added a lace edge because I gave up on the cabled edge after countless attempts to follow the pattern. Unfortunately, the lace edge gathers on the corners like a fitted sheet, which is a little discouraging. I should have accounted for that and picked up twice as many stitches on the corners.

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Next, I purchased some fabric to cover the back of the blanket from City Quilter in NYC, which is where I purchased the fabric for Baby Girl's quilt. It's a wonderful fabric store, and I'm dying to take some of their classes.

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Finally, I brought the fabric back to Hoboken and went to our local sewing/crafting store, M. Avery Designs. I took a private lesson yesterday with Megan Avery herself. Together, we hand-sewed the fabric to the back and added the yarn ties to secure the fabric to the knitted blanket even more tightly. Megan is just a delightful person, and I'm definitely going to be frequenting her store for more sewing instruction in the future. I'd love to be able to sew Baby many fun things on my unused sewing machine. She suggested starting with Martha Stewart's baby kimono pattern, which I think is a definite possibility. I'm also determined to make Baby Girl's first Halloween costume with my own two hands - maybe something involving intermediate to advanced-level knitting and sewing! Your suggestions are welcome!
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Now that the blanket is finished, I'm finally able to guiltlessly pursue other projects. I made this little cocoon pea pod (Ravelry Link to Pattern) for her, which will photograph much better with her in it. It was so rewarding to start and complete this project in only a few hours! Baby blankets take so long. I honestly wondered toward the end whether I would ever finish her blanket.

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I've also started the first of several elephants that I'm planning to make for a mobile for her crib, and then let her play with once the mobile comes down. I'm a little obsessed with elephants, for some strange reason. This pattern from Jelly Bums (Ravelry Link to Pattern) includes legs that are not shown on the cover. I've also casted on Ysolda's pattern for Elijah, but he's too big for a crib mobile.

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Otherwise, the pregnancy continues to be going smoothly, and I can only hope that labor and delivery will follow the same path. The only frustration I'm beginning to experience is the seemingly unending negativity and "just you wait" comments from other parents. I've found that surrounding myself with positive people during pregnancy has been invaluable in promoting and creating the positive experience I've had. I have a team of people including a few very warm, caring friends and family members as well as some carefully chosen professionals who are providing me the love and support I need. One of these people has been our super-positive and experienced doula, Julie, who will be with us through labor and delivery. Between my loving husband, who so sweetly nurtured me through some sudden nausea I experienced last night, and just knowing that Julie will be there with us is enough for me to keep those Debbie Downers and "just you wait" comments about labor and delivery from sticking to me.

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One day at a time is all I'm tackling right now. Planning beyond that just isn't possible. So, for now I'm going back to knitting on the elephants, watching a little HGTV, and eating some tomato soup, which I'll follow with a cup of overly-sweet hot cocoa. The overly-sweet hot cocoa is super fun because it gives Baby Girl a hyper case of the wiggles, and probably is partially to blame for her super chubby cheeks that we saw during our ultrasound this week.

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Progress! Baby and Her Blanket

I completed the chart portion of the intarsia baby blanket and have started on the cabled edge. Unfortunately, that isn't going so well just yet, in spite of several attempts. I'll try a few more times, but might have to resort to another edge option.
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This is my first cable project, and as you can see, there were some serious issues that I didn't realize in time.

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It was also my first intarsia project, which proved to be a quite challenging technique on this project as well. All in all, I'm disappointed by the mistakes but am overally just happy to have completed the chart portion. Once the blocking and edging are complete, I plan to sew on a fabric backing to cover the countless strands that hang from the back. I've considered knitting another blanket to attach to the back, but I'm not sure that's a realistic option, since Baby Girl is due in less than a month.

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Our still-unnamed baby girl is growing quite well, and consequently, I'm expanding too. During this morning's ultrasound, they estimated her weight at 6 pounds and 9 ounces, where three weeks ago, they estimated her at 4 pounds and 10 ounces. The sweet ultrasound tech stopped my husband who was speculating on her birth weight by saying, "Oh Dad, don't do the math." I would have hugged her had I not been covered in blue goo.

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We also saw this morning that she has hair, which came as a relief to me since I've had excessive hiccups and heartburn since the beginning of the pregnancy, which "they" say can indicate that the baby is going to have lots of hair. I've been hoping for something to come from all the hiccuping and heartburn. Honestly, though, those are really my only complaints. I feel fantastic and still often forget that I'm even pregnant, though that's become less often these past few weeks as she has been growing so much (and so have I!).

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