Yarn Buying Withdrawal

I haven't bought any yarn in 2 months! Not since before the baby was born. There I was, smug that I was doing so well in Rebekah's Yarn Focus Challenge (Rebekah, am I still in the hunt?). I had made only one purchase since starting that challenge, some Muench Big Baby yarn from By Hand Yarn and Knitting in Sonora. That seems like ages ago.

Can you blame me for a sudden urge to splurge? Lori told me about these stretchy circulars that would be neat for socks. So what if I haven't knit socks in a while. Wouldn't these be a good reason to whip up a pair?

I've been hankering for the Lantern Moon circular needles. So help me, I might just buy an entire set. If the needles ever get here, that is. Apparently they are still in transit from Vietnam. Does anyone else want these? They would be an unabashed self-indulgence. So beautiful I'd be afraid to knit with them.

OK, the day has started. Baby is fed, bathed and napping and it's not even 9am. I'm doing good. If she's amenable we might even go on a shopping trip this morning, woohooo! Yesterday I watched a show about a couple in the 40's who started their family later in life and now have had 6 kids in 5 years. EEEEEK! How do mothers manage their time? I'm still mystified.

A Time to Knit

Quick, while the baby is sleeping I will post a short entry in my woefully neglected blog. Not that I haven't thought about it. I wish I could write every day! But a little person named Karalyn, aka "Spitty", is currently demanding all of my time so that's the way it goes.

In very spare moments I've been able to do a little knitting. Since the baby arrived I've knit another baby hat and a cardigan:

This is the Baby Hat from One Skein


Details - yarn is Peru DK Luxury, 70% merino, 20% alpaca and 10% silk. I used US size 4 needles but didn't change the pattern other than that. I originally knit this while Karalyn was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but her head was still too small to wear it properly. Now her head may be too big and it's super hot here so she won't wear it anyway. It's a cute hat. Easy pattern, very fast.

The latest item is the Baby Bolero, also from One Skein


This one is knit with Debbie Bliss cotton cashmere and is leftover yarn from the Diane tank from last year. I think I knit this on size 9 needles for the body and size 10 for the ribbing. Another easy knit, pretty quick. I wish I had done this in the round, though, instead of in separate pieces.

I'm currently halfway through another knitted item, a dress, for Miss Karalyn. That one is really, really fast but I wasn't able to do much more over the weekend beyond completing the back.

My days are different now (see Babe in the Wool). Before, I used to obsess about what I would knit and what yarn I would buy next. Now I am the 24/7 caretaker of a tiny baby. And it takes so much time! I've always taken pride in being an organized person and I think I still do pretty well, but wow it's a challenge every day just to be showered and changed by 10am. I still think about knitting a lot because it's my little escape. Those moments when I can knit more than one row are like gold.

Hopefully I can get more done when Karalyn is a little older (or is that just a pipe dream?)

Finished Object

There's a reason I've been AWOL from this blog for the past couple of weeks. I have a long birth story to tell but that will have to be for another day. Here's the high level:

I developed a severe form of preeclampsia very quickly, literally overnight. In a span of 3 days, I went from my normal routine to Suddenly Motherhood. The complications from the preeclampsia made the labor long (26 hours after induction) and the delivery quite torturous (back labor with very little epidural effect). Plus, I had to have an assisted birth (vacuum) because the baby was stuck and I was exhausted and panicked.

When Karalyn finally showed up, though, it was like a miracle had just happened. I still get teary-eyed when I think about it all.

I was in the hospital for another 3 days while the doctor tried to get my blood pressure and edema under control - don't I look like I have Gary Coleman cheeks?? As of this writing, the baby is still in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She is doing wonderfully well - she's off any medications, she's eating well (I have already started to breasfeed) and she doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects from all that had happened in utero and during L&D.

Everyone says she is a princess, though. She knows what she wants (a diaper change, feeding, etc) and gets it. I don't have a problem with that.

It's so hard to leave her at the hospital after a visit and I can't wait to have her home. So far I am enjoying everything about motherhood that I am allowed to experience. I feel so very, very lucky.

Karalyn Eve
May 7, 2006 3:50pm
4 lbs 14 oz
17 inches

(BTW, I finished Kristy's baby blanket! And right now I've knitting a hat for Karalyn. Preemie clothes and hats are very hard to find - knitters who have donated crocheted and knitted hats are angels.)