Earthtones Girl

“It’s always obvious which people are most worth knitting for…”

That is what my other dear knitting friend said when I thanked her (briefly via email) for the sweater she sent CJ.  She also said a few other things that brought me to tears!  I’m starting to think the real goal here is to make me cry…

Here’s gift #2…

She had me just with the yarn color and those leaves.

The best sweater pattern ever…

A Baby Surprise Jacket (by Elizabeth Zimmermann) with a brilliant unvention, to use EZ’s phrase, rib-cuffed long sleeves!  Brilliant!!!

Perfect!!!  Now here’s the best part… I dare you to read on and not need a tissue…

Told you you’d need a tissue.  I know this is meant to be worn and loved but I just want to frame it.  I want those messages of love to be daily reminders for my boy.  Sarah also hoped for a son for me.   I’ve chosen my friends very wisely!  Our sons even share the same name, spelled differently (Julian & Jolyon) yet equal in beauty.

Thank you Sarah for the jacket, your love and ever-present support.

When someone gives you a gift there is clearly love and thought and well wishes behind it!  When a knitter gives you a gift there is also the element of time!  Yes the other gifts took time to purchase, wrap, etc but a hand knitted gift takes hours and hours!  Those hours could have been spent doing tons of other things but the knitter spent those hours on you… On making a gift for you!

This post is one of two, to show off gifts made for my son.  My friend Carolyn’s gift is up first…

When she handed this to me, I just held it and looked at it for the longest time.  I couldn’t say a word.  I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was!  And the work involved…the time involved, the time spent, left me speechless.  My dear friend knit this on #2 needles with sock yarn.  For you non-knitters, that’s a lot of stitches,  effort and there it is again, time!

When this was made my baby’s gender was unknown.  She was secretly praying for a boy and chose red, still gender neutral but would look gorgeous either way!   I would come to know later that many people wanted a boy for me, we’ll talk more about that later.  Let’s admire some more.

My favorite part is the “attached” socked feet!  Does it get any cuter? Um, no!  I wish I had an “action” shot for you but it is way to big and really doesn’t show the beauty.  In the meantime lets see those feet again.

A perfect little baby sock! I can’t stand it, really I can’t!  This should be just the right size when the weather really gets cold.  Actually at the rate my boy is growing he’ll be in  it even sooner.

To my friend Carolyn, I’ve said thank you in person, via written note and now online!  Can you tell how happy you’ve made me!  You are one of my dearest friends and I love you.

From one knitter to another… Knit on!!! And I get it, on all levels!!

When I was pregnant with my daughter Kira, my one and only hobby (reason for living) was knitting.  I had grand plans to my new baby lots of warm goodies to keep warm and snug.  But as fate would have it I developed carpal tunnel syndrome which caused non-stop pain in the last two fingers of both hands.  I tried to knit through the pain but eventually I lost the battle and was only able to complete a few items.

Now everyone says each pregnancy is different so when I learned of my new pending arrival I grabbed the needles and got to work.  All the while praying it wouldn’t happen again.  No such luck.  It has happened again and  it’s even worse this time around.  I was stuck the first time having had only one trick in bag but not this time.  In the five years since Kira was born I’ve learned a thing or two.  And all I can say is thank heaven for my machine and hand sewing skills.

All that said, here’s my little babe’s first toy.  I’d like you to meet Basil the Softie Bear (pattern by Nana Company)

I wish you could feel how soft and sweet this little guy is.

I followed the instructions to the letter, using linen, wool felt, hand sewed the details, etc.  I really love how it turned out!!!

I stuck with a polka dot fabric theme, even found dot grosgrain ribbon in my stash.

And here’s the back…

I slipped stitched the back closed…I highly recommend acquiring that skill.

Can you stand all those adorable dots? I can barely.

There is supposed to be a little patch on the back that reads, “This bear belongs to (then you fill in the baby’s name)”.  I’m going to have to wait to add that a bit later.

Thank God I can sew because even though I can still knit albeit very slowly. I think I would go insane and take everyone with me if I couldn’t make something, anything at all.

And if you’re wondering what I have been knitting here’s a little peek.

I think this little bear will go quite nicely with the hand knits.  Don’t you think!