Marie Makes a Really Fast Baby Poncho

Everyone needs some fairy tale dress up clothes. I had a pouffy slip like one would wear under a square dancing dress. It was great and I remember feeling like the most beautiful girl in the world while wearing my slip. As a future mother, I want to encourage my little one to dress-up and play make-believe. To start her on the path (and because I think it is adorable), I knit her a little red riding hood cape.

This project was super quick -- big needles, bulky yarn -- and it only took me two days to get the body done. Because I don't have a baby yet, I modeled it on the family dog. Unfortunately, she looks a bit more like the big bad wolf than little red riding hood.

Pattern: Drops Knitting b16-1

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lanaloft Bulky

Marie Makes a Baby Blanket

It's cold here and it will be even colder in February, so I decided that the baby needs a blanket. I didn't want it to be too heavy, so I decided to use up my random assortment of sport weight yarn. I also didn't know what gender I was having when I started, so we went with multi-color. The result -- a random log cabin blanket. I am a fan, so if the baby doesn't want it, I'll take it. But judging by my family history, any blankets that I make for child number 1 will be stolen by child number 2 (I'm looking at you sister #2!) which means this blanket may be for a child who hasn't even been dreamed of yet....

Pattern: Basic Log Cabin Pattern that I made up
Yarn: Random assortment of sock yarn, sport weight yarn and Brown Sheep Sportweight
Needles: US 5

A Sweet French Lady Makes Some Booties

Back in October, my husband and I were able to take a babymoon to France. We had a great trip and I would definitely encourage incorporating a babymoon into any pre-baby planning process. While we were in Toulouse, we were sitting outside one of the many fabulous cathedrals watching the city pass by. I was knitting, the husband was reading and an elderly lady, hair akimbo, crooked teeth and gentle eyes, started walking in our direction. I smiled at her (typical American) and she smiled back, came up to me and asked me, in French, if I was pregnant. I responded affirmatively and we carried on a bit of a conversation. Eventually, after asking if I was having a boy or a girl, she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of knitted baby slippers for my upcoming baby. I was quite surprised and also very touched. She said that she was a grandmother and had a lot of time for knitting and she liked to welcome newborns into the world with knitted gifts. I profusely thanked her and she went on her way. After she had left, I kicked myself for not getting an address where I could send a photo of the baby wearing her gift.

Not to over pontificate, but I was touched by the effect of a simple hand knitted gift from a complete stranger. Her utilitarian gift of baby booties reminded me of our basic connection as humans. We all live, we all die, and somewhere in between, we try and prepare the next generation for the ups and downs of life.

Marie Makes Some Baby Leggings

I spent some time yesterday finishing up my baby leggings. Hopefully they are long enough to last her for a while. This project resulted from a combination of factors. I added the stripes at the end because I was running out of green yarn. Then, I lost the rest of the skein of green yarn after I had only finished one leg, which meant I had to rip it out and figure out a new plan. In the end, it all worked out and hopefully her burgeoning fashion sense won't be too offended :)

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Leggings

from The Knitters Almanac

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool 

and random yarn from the pile