Can't Make Up My Mind

Between this:

the beginning of the Easy Lace Poncho...


and this: the beginning of the Lace Leaf Shawl...











The poncho is much easier and uses worsted weight yarn. The shawl is a bit more complicated as well as more interesting. I can't make up my mind so I'll do both for a while and see which one wins out.

I've learned to multi-task with the baby and knitting is no exception. No, I haven't mastered knitting one-handed which would be quite a feat, but I can breastfeed and knit at the same time. Since Karalyn eats 6 or 7 times a day I actually have many opportunities now to get some quality knitting time in. Note, however, that this only applies to the easier poncho. The DK yarn for the shawl keeps getting tangled in her feet and hands.

Here's an interesting observation - cats and babies like the same things. Toys, milk, soft blankets and shoulders to sleep on. I've found the cats snuggled in Karalyn's pillows and eyeing her rattles with great interest.

Happy Wednesday!

In The Pink

Pattern: "Polly" from Berroco Scarves and More Collection #225
Yarn: Berroco Pronto, color Wild Rose, 50% cotton 50% acrylic
Gauge: 3 sts/in
Needles: US size 10 and 11
Size: Large (12 mos)

Don't look too closely at the picture. It's a cute dress, very fast to knit and I liked the little detail using double yarn overs for the ribbons. But. My knitting is very uneven with this piece, especially the Reverse Stockinette. I had to put it down (to change diapers, burp the baby, etc.) and pick it back up so many times I thought I was never going to finish. Karalyn will wear it next year and she won't care that the knitting isn't perfect so I guess that's all that matters.

I'm trying to decide what to knit next. I want to do something for me but not a sweater...I still need to lose a little more weight. Maybe a shawl? An easy one like Shoalwater from Fiber Trends? I've got about 900 yards of Koigu Kersti in the Ocean colorway that would look very similar to the picture. Or, I've also got 600 yards of Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Iris Garden. That would make a small Shoalwater or Clapotis. Can Clapotis be used as a shawl if I blocked it out?

While I make this extremely critical and important decision, I'm working on a pair of socks. I started them last year as an experiment using Magic Loop, the Figure 8 cast-on, 2 socks simultaneously and toe-up all at the same time. It was a bit much trying to do the socks on the same needles so I split them up but I still got bored. They have been on the needles ever since, and I suddenly feel compelled to complete now them even though they're just straight stockinette.

My days are running into each other. Beyond the feedings, diaper changes, burp sessions and seemingly endless crying jags (Karalyn's, not mine) I manage to get out. Sometimes I take Karalyn for a 2 mile walk to Starbucks. Sometimes we just meander around the mall. Then again, on some afternoons we just lie around on the ottoman and take a nap. I've watched every sporting event there is on TV. Oprah is my new friend. Life is very slow right now.

Latest photos of the babe.