Life and knitting in Chicago

Gotta love Chicago

And I do.  But this does not surprise me.

Insomnia = more knitting time

Pregnancy insomnia means fast progress on this knitted coat from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby.  I'm using Rowan Wool Cotton rather than the Debbie Bliss DK cotton the pattern calls for, and seem to be getting gauge, more or less.  Wool Cotton has more yardage than the DB cotton, so you would need fewer skeins.

The chocolate brown yarn is so dark and luscious that it highlights the something extra I knit into each of my sweaters:  golden blonde hairs from this beauty.

Finished/acquired

The Louisa Harding sweater I knit months ago but did not piece together has been returned to me, magically sewn together by unseen hands.  It's a knitting miracle!

This is a store-bought item that I could not resist. 

Parenting role models

Love this. 

On the needles

Finishing up a "rose heather" (aka pink) sweater for Little Miss Pink, and casting on for this lovely jacket from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby.

The pink sweater is the Cashmere Baby Sweater pattern from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies.  Knitpicks Andean Treasure 100% alpaca yarn was a perfect substitute for the Jaeger cashmere yarn the pattern called for.  I got exact gauge with the Knitpicks yarn, and used less than 2 balls for the newborn sized sweater. 

Just sayin'

Natalie Dee is a genius

Once again, Natalie Dee hits the nail on the head.

Gratuitous belly shots

Pregnant or even more rotund than normal?  It's hard to tell, even at 8.75 months.

Shower the people

This past weekend my family came into town for a visit and to attend a baby shower hosted by my friend Nancy (she holding the diaper cake).

Baby girl was the lucky recipient of many generous and gorgeous gifts.   Knitters will naturally recognize the Pea pod sweater set

knit by talented Elisabeth (mother of future knitter), and this gorgeous lace cardigan from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits and knit by my own mother Linda.

I felt very loved and very lucky to have such a wonderful party.  I can't wait for my daughter to get to know my family and friends.

Building a nursery

Slowly but surely.  The crib came Saturday,

and Peter assembled the dresser/changing table last night.

Baby's pink wardrobe is expanding exponentially--I added a pair of mitts to match the baby beanie, and a thoughtful friend gifted us these onesies.