Baby

My best friend had her baby. He is tiny and looks like an adorable goblin. He officially has a name, as of the weekend. And he has this jacket, which it’s possible that he might fit in about a year (he’s swimming in 00000s at the moment).

Pew-whatever cardigan. Lovely pattern, although the formatting on the pdf was a bit whacky and made it hard to read. But hey, it’s free, and more importantly the actual instructions are well written and easy to follow. Will definitely be knitting this again, possibly with embroidery or intarsia additions to the front.

I also finished of another Aviatrix hat, because it was on some needles that I wanted to use.

Also a lovely pattern, took me two day’s commutes to finish up.

I still haven’t finished the edging of that blanket, though. I’ve got two sides of the border done, and there’s been no movement on that front for a while. I did have my wisdom teeth out last Thursday, so I’ve been drugged up to the eyeballs, which I think is a fair excuse, but it’d be nice to have it to give to her maybe when her mum goes home a bit after Easter (Oh shit, that’s weekend  after next), or a similar time. We’ll see. That might be my knitting mantra – we’ll see.

Sewjourn

Two weekends ago, now. Seems an age.

I don’t think I was particularly productive. I sewed two skirts, from the same Ottobre pattern that I have been using – it’s a yoked a-line from 5/2007. I made a velvet and a corduroy version, both black and so hard to photograph:

And also both slightly too large, it turns out. I was going to unpick the hems this weekend and fix it, but of course I didn’t get around to it – they’re very wearable as is, just not as well fitting as they could be. Full credit goes to everyone else at Craft Camp for their lending of needles and sewing machines and overlockers, as well as moral support over my constant confusion and wailing. Especially Su, who sewed two of the same pattern for herself. It definitely wasn’t a competition, but if it were she would have won by a mile on every count. In an inspiring kind of way.

Here’s the same pattern sewn in a light cotton – not at this craft camp, but I’d not photographed it so I took advantage of the light and the mirror.

I also sewed half of a top, or  a quarter of a dress. I traced off a dress pattern from another ottobre, but the pattern only went up to a 38 and I am a 40. But they run a bit large, so I just went for it and made a  muslin of the bodice, which needed some adjustment (heartfelt thanks to Su and Janet for pinning and advising). Then I made ANOTHER muslin which will be a top, only I ran out of fabric. I bought some more this weekend, to finish it off. I don’t know if I’ll wear it but I’m determined to finish it, since its primary function is to be practice. No point practising halfway.

I also knit some, traced off some other patterns, ate and laughed and talked a lot.

That's Su's side of the table, there.

One of the many advice committees of the weekend.

This spectacular pig-dog followed Jenny home.

It was a marvellous time, and I was not at all ready to go home when it was over. I feel so lucky to be able to go to this lovely place, with these lovely women. It’s nice to have time and space to make, to have the wisdom and moral support to do so. But even more than that, I feel so privileged to have these weekends where we share our stories with each other, our problems and our triumphs. It’s like one big group therapy weekend, only much much nicer.

I can’t wait to go back again.

Dreams

Dreamt about packing for craft camp last night. Dream me is more organised than real me. On the plus side, it was nice to have decided what fabric to bring without having to take time out of my day.

I realised the other day that Sewjourn is my happy place. Specifically the driveway. Ok, that sounds weird, let me explain. I can picture myself here:

Or here:

It’s a liminal space – in between, a gateway, a crossroads. There’s not much going on, so I can create it well in my mind’s eye. It’s quiet, and clean, and bright. And whichever way I’m going, I’m on the way both to and from something lovely. I’m heading back from the studio after a morning of making and chatting and laughing, to a delicious meal, or a quiet contemplative bath. Or maybe I’ve been reading in the house and I’m heading back to be with my crafty family. There is joy and love and comfort waiting for me. Probably I am still chuckling about something someone said as a parting shot as I slipped out of the studio, or I have my head down thinking about what I am going to make when I get back there.

If I am in my real life, and I need a breath of fresh air or a moment of calm, that is what I picture. This view:

Or this one:

I’ve needed it this week, too, that dose of calm, that deeper breath. There have been several infuriating meetings and the like. Good thing I’ll be back there soon, to restock my supply of calm.

I also dreamt that I went to the fat fashion swap in Melbourne. When I found out about it, I seriously considered flying in for the day to go to it. I am not going to do that, but maybe some of you would be interested. Here is the facebook page with the information.

In less literal dreams, I finished Abby’s blanket that I was knitting for my bestie’s child.

I did, of course, make an error in the lace. I got off by a few stitches, for a few rows, and didn’t notice for a while. I set my chin and refused to tink back, because I was on a deadline, and my bestie is of the ‘that’s how you know it was handmade with love’ school of thought. I kind of wish I’d fixed it. Or at least taken close ups of a different part of the blanket.

It’s actually quite hard to spot in real life – I’m not fooling myself either. While it was blocking I looked for it so I could fret over it, as you probe a sore tooth. It took me a good minute to locate it.

Blanket ravelry details here.

Said baby was due on Sunday, as I was blocking the blanket. It’s still not here, and I’d appreciate it holding out a little while longer. I finished a matching Puerperium cardigan on the bus this morning. I brought needles and buttons to work and I’m going to finish the finishing at lunch, and then drop the two of them over tonight.

I requested that the baby not come this weekend, while I am away. On reflection, though, that would be fine – the respective families are going to descend and wouldn’t get a chance to smuggle the much awaited brie into the hospital for a while, anyway. So this weekend is fine, just… wait a few more hours, baby. The knitting is not ready yet.