Kiss Hat Pattern

I have had a couple people message me for the pattern I have for the baby kiss hats I make (and sometimes sell) on Etsy. So, here is the pattern for the Newborn size. It knits up quick, so there is still time to make one for someone special this holiday season! And thanks to Sharon for the amazing photos!

gauge: about 4-5 sts/inch

needle size needed: #8 DPNs
yarn used: light grey worsted weight (I used some Cascade 220 wool for the one featured, though I have made TONS of these in everything from Cotton Ease to Caron's Simply Soft. Whatever you prefer!)
Other notions and supplies: a pink or blue piece of ribbon, about 3 inches long, sharp metal large eye needle.

Cast on 55 stitches and join, taking care not to twist your stitches. Place marker if desired.

Knit in single rib stitch (K1, P1) for 5 rounds.

Knit in stockinette (K the entire round) for 13 rounds.

Begin decreases!
Decrease Round 1: (K9, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 2 (and rounds 4, 6, 8, and 10): K entire round.
Decrease Round 3: (K8, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 5: (K7, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 7: (K6, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 9: (K5, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 11: (K4, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 12: K entire round.
Decrease Round 13: K entire round.
Decrease Round 14: (K3, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 15: K entire round.
Decrease Round 16: K entire round.
Decrease Round 17: (K2, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 18: K entire round.
Decrease Round 19: K entire round.
Decrease Round 20: (K1, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 21 K entire round.
Decrease Round 22: K entire round.
Decrease Round 23: (K2TOG) five times.

Knit one more round, then cut your yarn, leaving a good six inch tail. Thread tail onto a sharp sturdy needle (I found a metal craft/embroidery needle works best), then thread through remaining stitches, removing needles.  Insert a 3 inch piece of pink or blue ribbon into the top, pull your knitting stitches snug, then using the tail stitch ribbon securely into place.

Weave in ends and enjoy!

we chase sunbeams

We chase sunbeams on Sunday mornings.

T-Rex

A quilt for T-Rex: welcome little guy!

Without further ado....

We present Norah Rae Krygowski
Born 5/25/11 6:12PM

Stats:

8lbs 7oz
21 inches long

She took a little extra time deciding if she wanted to come out but we are glad she finally did.

**BONUS**
So my family was calling for updates constantly prior to Norah's birth. I started to text them Babywatch news team updates (The best Baby Doppler in the tri-state area) to keep the calls down to a minimum. My mother would then ask if Frank was available for the weather. Let me explain, Frank Marzullo is one of the weather forecasters on Fox locally and he used to do the weather in my home town. So I started to wonder if I could get Frank to do a baby update. So I emailed him and explained my plan. Frank jumped right on board and filmed the following video clip for my parents. Thanks Frank!!!

While we are waiting...

So here we are a week past my due date, and still no sign of the elusive new member of the family. We were so sure this kid was coming early! All those heavy duty contractions beginning at 36 weeks! Already dilating! Lost my plug!! Sigh.

Leave it to parenthood to remind you there is nothing you can count on, no guarantees. You know what they say about people who ASSUME. So much of the process is learning to release, let go of any expectations you have and just "go" with it. In that vein, and trying to stay positive, we have gotten a TON of stuff done in the meantime, in between flood warnings and the Rapture, that is.

Deep freezer purchased and stocked: check.
Major yard cleanup and mulching: check.
Cobwebs swept up: check.
Potty training complete: check.
Cars cleaned out: check.
Mount Washmore and Mount Foldmore in the laundry room defeated (thanks, Mom!): check.
A few closets and storage spaces cleaned out: check.
Baby clothes washed and ready: check.
Nice hair cut: check.
Pedicure: check.
Bennett in big kid bed: check.
Kitchen and bath floors scrubbed on hands and knees: check. Didn't do much, by the way.


Burke's Grief Quilt for this year complete: check. Now I need to figure out what to do with it: Sell it and donate the proceeds, give it away...


Baby Quilt for the new one completed: check. It's from Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear book, a favorite of Bennett's when he was little. Choosing a unisex theme was kind of hard since we don't know yet if the babe is a boy or girl...


And the back. I used a simple purple batik and added a strip of stripes from the front and more of the kids.


Swing set assembled: check. Separate post coming on that insanity. Imagine Ikea. In hell.


New bed for squash, cukes and pumpkins: check.


Rest of the garden in: check. And planted by yours truly in efforts to bring on labor.


I even got pretty far in the quilting of Bennett's tool quilt! I'm trying to emulate wood grain with the quilting. The sun has not been cooperative, so these are the best photos of the quilts I have right now, but more when it's done.

Anyhow, we are still waiting. If there is not much happening by Monday we are going to begin the process to file formal eviction papers. As Bennett says: COME ON OUT, BABY!

Score!

I've been jonesing for a few sewing books lately, and found that many were not available through our local library. So, I finally indulged a couple weeks ago. I really lucked out and scored this awesome book at my local Half Price Books... and the patterns were still in it!


Heather Ross is a tremendous illustrator and fabric designer, and I keep hoping the baby will be a girl so I can make MOUNDS of these:
And even if it's a boy, I've got some fabric lined up to make several pairs of these from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings book:
Then there's this awesome pattern for a quilted sleeper, also in Handmade Beginnings.

Maybe this is what that scrappy pile of fabric will turn into!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

I love Eric Carle!




I have had this fabric and played and played with ideas for well over a year. Finally I am getting it done! I used the tossed animals fabric and made fun wonky blocks to highlight them along with a block of the children in the corner, then added the complimentary stripe print as the sashing.



Now onto finishing the back (I have a lovely purple batik print I think will go well with the front) and figuring out what to use for the binding... maybe some of the children print? The brown print I used on the front? What do you think?

...and One Star up Above.

Two Fireflies

Three Turtle Doves

Four White Horses

Monkeys go GRRRRRrrrrrr.

Look ma, no pants!

Finally a solution to Bennett's hatred of pants. It's been hard this winter to keep him happy (ie: sans pants) and warm.

The solution?
Cute little legwarmers!!!
And check out those chubby little legs... so cute!

I can do it myself!

The setup.
The toss.
The reach.
The leg-flip.
The satisfaction.

Now if only he can figure out how to sit back up on his own!

7 months

Dear Bennett,

You are now 7 months old. It's hard to think that you've passed the half-year mark; before I know it you'll be wrists-deep in birthday cake and running around the back yard. We went up to Young's, where we held the memorial service for your brother, to look at the animals in the nativity display they have every year and you got to see your first sheep and even a couple of donkeys. Your attention span is increasing and you were fascinated for several minutes by them! Next year we will remember to take some carrot and apple bits.
Speaking of carrots and apples, you are experimenting with more food. So far you've tried sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, apples, and peas. Peas are the running favorite at the moment!

You are learning to work within the confines of the force of gravity: If a toy falls just outside your grasp while you're sitting up you've learned to shift your balance to your other leg/apply counter pressure with the opposite arm to avoid biffing out. You are not quite crawling yet, though you can get onto your belly and try very hard. You push off towards what you want but inevitably move further and further away. I know it's frustrating, but you will get the hang of it soon, I promise! Hang in there!You've been sick quite a bit, but luckily you were good and healthy for Christmas! We made the trek to see the BigK's and you handled the journey like a champ. I'm so glad you slept most of the way. You discovered the best seat in the house is with your Grandpa. You also got to see many of the extended family that loves you very much along with your aunt and uncle. They LOVE spending time with you!

Santa brought some cool toys, your favorite is a rubber giraffe named Sophie. When you unwrapped it you began cooing and haven't stopped chewing on her squeaky little legs and ears. I'm going to have to make a leash for her so she doesn't get lost. You also dig the tag ball uncle S got for you, the talking book Oma J and R sent, and the Curious George book Grandma and Grandpa K will be great to read to you next year. Overall you ended up with loads of awesome loot!
You continue to make awesome noises, some of which sound like words. Awooo and hammm are two common ones. You are also starting to reach for me and Poppy if you want to be held. You lift your little pudgy arms and "ga-hmmm!" We then know it's time for some snuggles.

We're all beginning to see more of your personality. You are quick to smile and slow to complain; unless you're feeling crummy, but everyone needs extra when they are sick.

Well, baby, welcome to 2009. We are excited to see all of the big changes in store for you this year!!!

Love you bunches and bunches...

yours,
Mamma.