Poppy

Dear Poppy,

Thank you for blooming. Last night you were still holding it all in and sometime between then and this morning you have opened, burst, shed your shell. Your happy shout of color marks two years here for me. The first morning I woke in this Ohio home I was greeted by poppies. Thank you for returning year after year and thanks to the someone who planted you. You make me happy.

Yours Truly,
Sarah

orange and purple vest

Malcolm has two favorite colors: orange and purple. So when I asked him what colors I should use for his (Easter) vest, orange and purple it was. I wondered, should I honor his request? I did ask didn't I? And concluded with, it is special when someone takes your favorite things seriously. This was something I wanted to do for this boy, while he's still a boy and takes my knitting creations seriously. I was a little intimidated by such a bold combination until I realized it could be snazzy done up with an argyle pattern. So, using the same pattern as last year I just replaced the cables with diamonds, which only took a little figuring. It was completed for wearing the Sunday after Easter and I feel really good about that. Even though it was so so so very close... It was a lesson learned in "letting go". Knitting on deadline can take the fun out of it. Yes, I was knitting Easter morning and sort of stressing over it. (Finishing always takes much longer than I realize with all the seams and weaving in ends, bah.) I don't need to let that happen again.
Back to the boy and his vest. He loves it. He is two, he can pull it off. And I think he should.

(vest details: modified cable vest pattern, Manos Del Uruguay Stria Cotton: Tangerine and Violet)

spelled: muumuu

That's right. I'm learning new things every day. Muumuu is spelled with double, double u's. Fascinating.

I realized that while I was working on this dress that I haven't sewn for myself since I was 13 years old. Growing up there were a few summers when I would spend a week with my Grandma Vera and she would teach my antsy body to slow down and sew. I wonder who had to learn more patience in those weeks? Anyway, I am so grateful for that time together, and the smell of a hot iron on fabric always takes me back to that place.

One thing I didn't realize then, but struck me now is that it takes a certain amount of courage to sew for yourself. AND, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to sew for yourself when pregnant (and then take a picture and post in on your blog). I'm feeling quite courageous.

I've got the whole summer to be pregnant and I want to be comfortable. I am starting to get the point where I have very little tolerance for anything around my waist, hips, or belly. When I was walking through the fabric store (only intending to buy elastic and a snap setter) this pattern nearly jumped off the shelf. It spoke to me: flowing, roomy, nonrestrictive, muumuu. Then the linen was on sale and that settled it. At home I began cutting, sewing, and thinking: "Am I going to look like a sack of potatoes in this thing?" (Enter courage.) I adjust a little here and there and kept going until it was finished. And then, I wore it. In public. Multiple times. I can pull weeds in it. I can dress it up or down with a cardigan, necklace, and shoes. If I want a little more shape I can add a sash empire style.

The back yoke is quite large and in all it's whiteness stands out quite a bit. It makes me think it should be embellished with a big rose or something. That would require more courage so we'll see.

I think it will do nicely, even though I have to admit it is a little "potato sackish".

preview

So I know it is a sorry way to end a week of non-blogging, but here is a sampling of what you'll want to tune in for next week. This is deep stuff my friends:

*Did I succeed in sewing a mu-mu for myself? (how do you spell mu-mu? do you know what I'm talking about?)

*Should orange and purple be knit together?

*A tale in which I attempt to sell books for yarn.

*Why I can't resist the baby kimono.

and,

*All about when I took a "sick day".



Have a good weekend. I think it will be a scrambled eggs and toast dinner tonight with a walk to the park.

Were you wondering?

I've been knitting little things. And yes, that's my bump.

(bootie details: pattern - Stay on Booties from Knitting for Baby, yarn - sport weight Blue Sky alpaca)

the month of May

Hello friends, hello blog. May. It's a good month. A good month to ease back into blogging. Sorry about the disappearance - I'm so magic. I had a case of blogging ambivalence which lead to blogging absence. But, since it's May - such a beautiful month - I'm back.