Sunday, May 29, 2011

Supermom

Well, I always thought I'd be a good mom because I love kids. Since I am generally not a responsible person, I didn't even begin to think that I'd be too irresponsible to have kids. Only responsible people worry about that kind of crap. As it turns out, that was the right way to think about it. I suddenly realized today what a nauseatingly responsible person I have become. I am rarely late coming home. I don't flake out of things any more and never just because "I didn't feel like going anymore". Keeping up with laundry is like second nature to me. If I have a spare moment, I throw a load in. In my free time, I think about what to cook. There is always a casserole in the fridge for Evan to eat. I make omelettes and bacon on weekends because I always have fresh eggs and bacon in the fridge. I'm up by 6 am every day. All I can say about this is, WTF? Haha. Well, I guess we all have to grow up some time! Honestly, it feels pretty good to be consistent. And it's not as tiring as you'd think. It's a lot more exhausting to be completely free and have an inconsistent schedule where I choose to play or be productive at night instead of sleeping.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Gnome Cardigan for E-Dawg

I saw a gnome hat on Jessica Rose-Kim's knitblog a while ago that was inspired by Heliina's baby cardigan on Ravelry, that was in turn inspired by Spillyjane's gnome mitten pattern on sale on Etsy. Heliina's cardigan was so adorable that I just couldn't get it out of my head, even though there was no way to get the pattern and I've never designed my own sweater pattern and actually never knit a yoke sweater, and a top down dk weight toddler yoke sweater pattern is really hard to find! So I finally just bit the bullet and designed it myself - with the help of Vogue's Knitting reference book. It actually took quite a bit of planning - but I am starting to think it will turn out ok :). Isn't this adorable? Every young boy needs a gnome sweater :). I hope it'll lie flat after I block it.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Cardigan

I just finished the Keep On Truckin Baby Cardigan (raglan, bottom up) from The Brown Stitch (http://thebrownstitch.com) today!  I think it took me under 2 weeks of commute time (on the bus) to knit in worsted weight - which is kind of amazing, I think.

Generally I find the neck pretty large (although I haven't seen it on a baby yet), and the sleeves overly wide at the ends.  I'd change those things next time if I knit this pattern again.  I am trying to be a little more daring with colors (I'm extremely conservative), so I used blue for the collar and the button bands.  I think it looks kinda nice.

I'm totally in love with raglan shaping!  It's sort of magical!

This is for my MIL's best friend (who has a new grandson) - so not really anyone I care about personally - which makes it more a present for my MIL from my perspective.  It's fun to give people who aren't expecting anything from me a nice handmade gift!

Good morning, Mama.

When you call a German out on being a jerk, they may stop or they may not.  They may apologize or they may not.  But one thing they will immediately do is angrily explain to you why they were being a jerk, and probably the reason will point right back around to something you may or may not have actually done to deserve it.  Note that facts during their angry explanation are secondary to the "story".  Sometimes they get changed for dramatic effect.  If it were a movie, it would have to have a disclaimer: "Story loosely based on ..."  If it were an Agile Manifesto, it would read, "We value ... Effect of Overdramatized Angry Story over Fact".

This morning as I'm trying to shove a writhing and screaming baby into a carseat while my husband strolls around the kitchen not trying to shove a writing and screaming baby into a carseat, he pokes his head out the door and angrily calls to me to hurry up.  Are you serious??