Marie Makes a Baby Sweater

Yep, I know y'all are surprised at another baby item! We've only got two weeks left till d-day, so I am getting to the end of my pre-baby knitting. While going through my baby projects, I realized that I hadn't made her a sweater and, really, what is more basic than a baby sweater?

Unfortunately I picked the wrong pattern for the sweater as it required a lot of different steps and generally made for unenjoyable knitting. In the end, it is pretty cute but I wouldn't knit this pattern again. However, I'm betting the baby will still look pretty cute in her homemade sweater:)

Pattern: Snug

Yarn: Taken from sweaters that I recycled from thrift stores

Marie Makes ANOTHER baby blanket :)

This is the second blanket that I made specifically for the baby, however, we have a plethora of hand-made blankets around here that will likely get wrapped around the little one.

I knit this blanket out of Berroco Vintage Chunky, a washable, acrylic-wool blend. The big needles and large yarn made it knit up quickly :)

Marie Makes Booties for the Grandparents

Christmas knitting has been fast and furious and I still have some projects to photograph. I didn't knit for everyone, but I did knit quite a few things. I think knitting for gifts is a delicate balance because I don't want my recipients to feel like Ron Weasley when they receive yet another Christmas sweater....on the other hand, I like receiving gifts that are unique and handmaid because they are usually things that I would not buy otherwise. Oh well, what's done is done and these gifts have been gifted.

For the grandparents this year, I was on a slipper kick. Slippers are warm and practical. Grandparents like warm and practical with the added bonus of handmade, right?

First up, Grandpa's "Judy's Booties." The pattern is from my great aunt who passed it on to me. She used to make these for my grandpa, but now the torch has been passed and it is my responsibility. Grandpa is a huge Broncos fan so the colors echo the Broncos color, although I think I may be a color off. The yarn is from a large wool sweater that I took apart.

The grandmas got similar Mary Jane slippers, although each with a different twist. The pattern is the Mary Jane Slippers from the Purl Bee. It is an easy, fun pattern and I may make a few more....someday.

You can't really tell from the photos, but one has a white soul and the other does not. The one with the white soul is a bit smaller than the other. 

Merry Christmas and now it is time to start the baby countdown! 

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