Black & Tan I

Today's pattern comes from Psych - particularly the episode "Black & Tan".  It's the scarf Sean wears while walking down the street with the fashion models.  It's quite simple and fairly quick to make!

Using light grey worsted-weight yarn and a size H/8 crochet hook,
Foundation chain: Ch 10
Row 1: DC in 3rd ch st, DC across, ch2, turn
Row 2: DC across, ch2, turn.
Repeat row 2 until piece measures 8 feet. 
Cut 16 12" pieces of yarn
attach as tassels (one to each stitch) to each end of the scarf

That's it!  A perfect addition to any Psych fan's wardrobe!

6 months

Yes, I know you're used to geek craft posts on Thursdays, but Ganon has just turned 6 months old, and I must commemorate the occasion.  He's been such a good eater lately - he gets so excited when I put him in his high chair!  So far, he loves all his green vegetables, all the orange and yellow ones he's been given as well, but he absolutely hates mashed potatoes.  He was cranky for nearly an hour after we tried to feed him some.  The funny part is that when I was little, I wouldn't eat anything that wasn't mixed into mashed potatoes! 

He's over 2 feet tall and nearly 18 pounds now - a far cry from his tiny beginnings, and only a couple of inches shy of the maximum height for his car seat.  I've been looking at intermediate seats, and I'm leaing toward a Britax one.  That brand seems to have the highest rear-facing maximum weight, and are able to stay rear-facing for the full height of the seat. 

Teeth!  Oh, teeth are the bane of my existance!  Not only did one of my wisdom teeth come in a couple of months ago, but poor Ganon has been getting his first.  He broke out in a mild fever (99-100 degrees) for nearly a day, and the next morning, he had tiny spikes poking out of the top of his gums, just left of center!  His first tooth! 

He has also begun talking and babbling a lot more.  He loves to say "Hi!" on the phone, "hey" when he wants your attention, and "yeah" to agree with things.  He's really quite amazing!

The Elder Wand

I'm a geek.  I dressed up to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1).  I brought along my trusty verson of the Elder Wand (one of the three Deathly Hallows themselves!)  Here's how I made it, so you can have your own as well!

Begin with a 14" dowel (I used a 1/4" diameter)

Attach a small ball of polymer clay approximately every 2 inches.  Make one end ball slightly smaller, and use the removed clay to enlarge the ball second from the other end.  Use a ball-ended tool to create indentations in each ball to add texture.  Add a glob of clay to one end.  Stand the wand upright to flatten this glob of clay.  Again using the ball-end tool, draw a line downward from where the clay attaches, increasing pressure as you go down to create a decorative texture.  Bake according to the clay's instructions.
I suggest making two small stands and using those to hold the wand sideways to bake.

Sand thoroughly and sand extra on the unadorned end to create a slight taper.  Add a base coat of off-white or cream colored paint.  Add a second coat if needed.

Create a wash of dark brown paint, 2 parts water to one part paint.  Paint the whole wand, allowing the paint to pool in each indentation.  Paint a silver band two balls from the base end to serve as a handle.  Coat the entire wand with a gloss coating. 

There you have it!  Your very own Elder Wand!  14", Elder, with a Thestral Tail Hair core.

Teeth

Ganon has been sleeping for a nice 6 hour stretch each night - which is great for my rest!  He has started to wake up in pain, though, as his teeth begin to work their way to the surface.  Poor kid. :(  He also likes to nurse about twice as often when the teething pain hits, so I can't get much else done.  Ah well, at least I have the week off of homework!  He's gotten his next round of vaccines as well, and was such a champ again!  This time, I didn't even get his pants back on before he stopped crying!

His little fingernails grow so quickly, I clip them almost every day, and they're still always sharp!  It wouldn't be such an issue if he hadn't started to grab everyone's face...  At least he gives lots of sloppy kisses!

House Scarves

I hate working with DPNs.  I am endlessly frustrated by the variation in tension where the needles meet.  I prefer to work in the round on short circulars (<3 my Boye Needlemaster).  I do use DPNs for things too small to knit with even a 18" circular.  This is precisely why I have not tested the small and medium sizes of the tube-knit scarf.  While the patterns are listed for Gryffindor scarves, they are just as useful for any other Hogwarts House, with a color substitution. 
Sizes are as follows:
Small: Toddler (3')
Medium: Child (5')
Large: Adult (7')

Pattern written for size L(S, M)

size 10.5 needles
Worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart in Ranch Red (MC) and Gold (CC).)

Tube-Knit trapped bar Gryffindor Scarf:
gauge: 4sts and 5 rows per inch

Using MC, Cast on 60 (20, 40) sts.
Join, being careful not to twist
Knit in the round for 15 (8, 10) rows
*change to CC, knit 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, knit 4 (2, 3) rows
change to CC, knit 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, knit 25 (15, 20) rows
repeat from * until scarf measures 7 (3, 5) feet
change to MC, knit 15 (8, 10) rows
cut 120 (40, 80) pieces of 4" yarn in MC
Lay edge flat, attach to both sides of scarf in 2-strand bundles to each pair of stitches, sealing the end of the scarf.

Double Knit Gryffindor Scarf:
Using MC, Cast on 60 (20, 40) sts.

Knit a 1x1 rib (K1, P1) across, slipping the first stitch of each row knitwise.
Repeat for 15 (8, 10) rows
*change to CC, work in established pattern for 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, work in established pattern for 4 (2, 3) rows

change to CC, work in established pattern for 3 (2, 2) rows

change to MC, work in established pattern for 25 (15, 20) rows

repeat from * until scarf measures 7 (3, 5) feet
change to MC, work in established pattern for 15 (8, 10) rows
cut 120 (40, 80) pieces of 4" yarn in MC
Lay edge flat, attach to both sides of scarf in 2-strand bundles to each pair of stitches, sealing the end of the scarf.

*Note*
For either pattern, to switch to a first- or second-year scarf (even stripes), ignore the color changes in the pattern, and instead make 4" (2", 3") stripes of each color, beginning and ending with MC.  The tassels should alternate colors, requiring 60 (20, 40) 6" strands in each of MC and CC.

Grabber!

If you haven't noticed, my updating has been a bit irregular lately.  I'm doing my best to keep up and make sure there is a post-dated post for each day I've missed, but between holiday preparations and end-of-semester schoolwork, I've been a bit swamped.

Ganon has been working hard, too!  He has taken to reaching out and grabbing things.  His favorite thing to grab is whatever I'm holding at the moment.  He has started stealing food and shiny objects off the table (or out of your hands!) whenever you take your eyes off him, and loves to grab the little gerber puffs he's been eating.  The only trouble is that he forgets to let go before he pulls his hand out of his mouth...

Baby Jayne Hat

So cute!  So cunning!  So tiny!  A Jayne hat fit for a wee one! 

Materials:
Size 8 Double Pointed Needles
1/4 skein Red Heart Super Saver yarn in each of 3 colors:
Pumpkin
Gold
Carrot

gauge: 1.5 sts per centimeter
Size: 42 - TK cm head circumference

Using Pumpkin,
Cast on 64 stitches, distributed evenly over DPNs
Work 2x2 ribbing (k2, p2, repeat) for 3 rows, or 1cm.
Work stockinette stitch (knit every round) until piece measures 2.5"
Change to Gold
Work stockinette stitch for 2.5"
*K2, K2tog, repeat from * around (48 sts)
*K2tog, K, repeat from * around (32 sts)
K2 tog every round until 8 sts remain
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.  Pull through all 8 sts and pull tight

Using Carrot,
Count 7 sts from the beginning of the cast-on edge.
Pick up 17 sts
Row 1: Sl1, knit across
Row 2: Sl1p, purl across
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until earflap measures 2"
Row 3: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog
Row 4: purl across
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 3 sts remain, K3tog, tie off, leaving 5" tail

Count 7 sts in the other direction, pick up 17 more sts
Repeat instructions for second earflap

Cut 2 10" pieces of Carrot yarn. Fold in half and pull the looped end partly through the tips of each earflap, then pull the cut ends through the loop and pull tight.  3 strands should hang from each ear flap.

Using all 3 colors, make a 2" pom-pon and attach to the top of the hat

Voila!  Cunning, don't ya think?

Why Ganon?

Why did I name my son Ganon?  No, it wasn't a drug-induced whim in the hospital, it was a carefully thought out process that I had planned even before my pregnancy.  I began playing The Legend of Zelda on the NES when I was a toddler.  Playing Nintendo with my grandmother is one of my earliest, and happiest, memories.  I can proudly say that I have owned every Nintendo console (and handheld) and played every Zelda game since.  Zelda has been a constant in my life.  It was there, no matter what else changed.  At each major transition point in my life, a new Zelda game was released.  Coincidence, I know, but it still helped strengthen the emotional bond I formed with this childhood 'friend'.  It feels strange to speak in such a way about a video game, but it's true, Zelda has gotten me through all the tough times. 

So I knew that I wanted to name my children after The Legend of Zelda.  But why Ganon?  Well, the three recurring characters are Link, Zelda, and Ganon.  Link is the legendary hero, the chosen one, the knight.  He steps up to every challenge, defeats every foe, and emerges unscathed.  Zelda is the princess.  She is ever vigilant, ever patient, and kicks some ass when needed (Sheik, anyone?).  But Ganon... Ganon is the king.  He is ambitious, persistent, cunning.  Though he is never the victor, he is never truly defeated.  No matter where the game takes you... when you reach the end, there he is.  Ganon.  Always Ganon.  He even has a TV Trope saying as much.  Aside from all that... I think we all know that Ganon is the most badass.

I have always known I wanted 3 children - two boys and a girl (along with every little girl's dream of twins).  So I also knew that I wanted to use all 3 major character names from Zelda.  There's always the fact that Ganon is the oldest of the 3, and that he is separate from the other two.  (Part of me is still holding out for that dream of twins!)  The Triforce of Power (Ganon's piece) is also the top of the completed Triforce.  So there it was, obvious in my mind: My eldest son would be named Ganon.

My choice was reaffirmed when he arrived, with an olive complexion, a full head of red hair, gold flecks in his eyes (once they lightened from the black they were at birth), and a hairline that nearly reached his eyebrows.  Any doubts were irradicated and I was only left to hope that he would grow to love his name as much as I do. :)

Abbreviations

I thought it would be prudent to make a list of abbreviations I use in my patterns here.  I use pretty standard abbreviations, and an experienced knitter/crocheter should be able to figure out the rest...  I do try to explain any abbreviations I use within the pattern, but sometimes I forget.  I will also try to update this list as I use more abbreviations.

Knitting abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
K2tog or P2tog: Knit or purl two stitches together
Sl: slip stitch
Slp: slip purlwise
AxB ribbing: Work "A" Knit stitches, then "B" Purl stitches, and repeat

Crochet abbreviations:
Ch: Chain stitch
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
TC: Treble Crochet
inc: Increase (work two stitches in the next stitch)
SC2tog: Single Crochet 2 together
dec: invisible decrease

Five Months

Such a roller coaster it is, having a baby.

Ganon's new favorite activity is to stand on my lap, with me holding both of his hands, and jump and bounce.  He will do this, laughing, for nearly half an hour at a time.  His little legs are getting so muscular, it's rather shocking!  He has also been reaching out and grabbing things on his own.  The most common target: my mouth.  He will lay in my arms, one hand firmly clenched around my lower lip and teeth, while I talk to him (or to visitors or on the phone).  From what I've read, he's using his hands to help figure out how to speak.  I guess if it's beneficial, I'll just put up with it!  Speaking of teeth, Ganon's first have yet to show.  Some days, the little (painful) bulges on his gums seem ready to sprout a tooth, then the swelling will recede for a few days to a week.  It's very frustrating for the both of us.

He's been eating more foods now - a full variety of cereals and vegetables!  He likes the baby cereals, but isn't terribly thrilled with them.  Foods with more flavor, however, are a real treat!  He has loved everything we have given him so far.  (Green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots)  The only problem is that he sometimes gets so excited about eating that he sends himself into a fit of the giggles!  Have you ever tried to eat with the giggles?  I can't.  Neither can Ganon.  So I have struggled to find that perfect balance between fun and too much fun.

Perhaps the most exciting thing to happen this month is Ganon expressing his opinions on things (his face is so expressive!)  His favorite animals are lions, pandas, and birds.  His favorite shapes: circles and stars.  And of course, all children have favorite colors.  Ganon's are red and blue.

Those are the newest things this month, hopefully I'll have some tooth news next update!

House Unity Blanket

Hello, folks!  In preparation for Part I of the Deathly Hallows movie(s), I decided to make a house unity blanket!  If you don't know, that just means that instead of choosing one Hogwarts school house, you use all four main colors.  This is a fairly quick knit on large needles, and can easily be completed in a weekend.  I used 15mm needles and two strands of worsted weight yarn held together.  (As per usual, I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn)  For colors, I used "Black" as my main color, "Bright Yellow" for Hufflepuff, "Paddy Green" for Slytherin, "Ranch Red" for Gryffindor, and "Blue" for Ravenclaw.  This is a very simple pattern.  Finished piece measures approximately 4'x4'

The basic blanket is worked as follows:
Use wither a super bulky yarn, or two strands of worsted weight held together.
With black, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, YO, Knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 84 times. (87 sts)  (This is 4 rows past the second red stripe)
Row 2: K2tog, YO, Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog
Repeat Row 3 until 3 sts remain, bind off

At the same time, work the following color pattern:
8 rows black
2 rows yellow
8 rows black
2 rows green
8 rows black
2 rows blue
8 rows black
2 rows red

If you'd rather have a pattern matching the Prisoner of Azkaban style scarves, work the following color pattern:
10 rows MC
2 rows CC
2 rows MC
2 rows CC

For Gryffindor, use Ranch Red and Gold,
For Slytherin, use Paddy Green and Light Gray,
For Ravenclaw, use Blue and Light Gray or Warm Brown,
For Hufflepuff, use Bright Yellow and Black.

Make 4 tassels, one in each color (or all MC for single-house blankets) and attach to the corners.

I make tassels by wrapping the double-stranded yarn around a DVD case about 25 times, tying across one end, and cutting the other end, then tying around the whole bundle about 1.5" from the tied end.

Scaring myself.

I've been reading blogs.  Blogs that scare me.  Blogs about severely disabled children and blogs about grieving lost children.  Why do I scare myself like this? 

I think it's because I like to be prepared.  I have always found myself imagining the worst possible outcomes of any situation, preparing for that outcome, and being pleasantly surprised when things turned out better than I had expected.  The downside, of course, is all the additional stress I put on myself.  But I really don't know any other way to handle my fears - this is how I've always done things.

How would I react if something terrible happened to Ganon?  I don't know, but at least now I know that it wouldn't be the end of everything.  Somehow, these brave parents have coped, and that means I could, too.  That's what lets me sleep at night - the knowledge that no matter how bad things get, I will always find some way to pull through.

Doctor Who Scarf

I'm making a Doctor Who scarf as a holiday gift this year, based on the pattern here.  Using the guideline for the number of rows in each color... I went off on my own.  As I am allergic to wool (a terrible fate for a knitter/crocheter, it's true!) I had to find acrylic alternative yarns.  I thought I would share them with you today.  All of the yarns I am using are Red Heart Super Saver colors. 
Red:  cherry red
Brown:  warm brown
Beige:  buff or linen (from what I have seen, these colors are very close in person, the linen being slightly more grey)
Grey:  grey heather
Purple:  dark orchid
Green:  cafe (a slightly greenish brown. It was the closest match I could find - the original is a bit greener.)
Yellow:  gold

I used the photos of the actual scarf (also available on the previously linked site) and matched the colors as closely as I could.

Since this yarn is all worsted weight (as opposed to sport), I also moved up to a (US) size 8 knitting needle from the recommended size 5.  I get about 4 stitches to an inch with this yarn on this needle.  The original scarf is a mix of 11" and 9" widths, so I split the difference and cast on 40 stitches.  This scarf is still in the works, so I don't have a final length measurement or yarn amounts yet, but it will be spectacularly long, I'm sure. 

I'm also considering making one 6" wide for myself, with 2/3 long stripes, as well.  Thoughts?

Public Decency

A while ago, I went on a road trip with my family to the Mall of America.  Out of convenience, I did not bring any bottles, frozen milk, or even my breast pump.  I would be with my son, and could nurse him myself - I didn't need the extra bulk or worry of forgetting something.  I did put my Triforce nursing cover in the diaper bag, however, since I didn't know the ins and outs of Minnesota law regarding breastfeeding.  Using the cover, I nursed him in the mall several times throughout the weekend.  He's a terribly patient child, crying his distinctive 'hungry cry' while in the stroller, then quieting when I picked him up and staying quiet until I could find a place to sit and get him in position. 

If you don't know, there is a Nickelodeon theme park in the middle of the mall.  I did use the nursing cover, but it was still quite obvious what I was doing, and to be honest, it doesn't hide much.  When I nursed Ganon in the theme park area, the only looks I got were from curious children.  It seemed that my fellow parents just understood.  But when I was nursing him in the clothing wing of the mall, the dirty looks abounded.  Only one look was from someone who had a child with them, the rest were from lone women or groups of women. 

Shortly before we were leaving the mall, I was quite warm from all the walking, and Ganon kept pulling the nursing cover aside (he was overly warm as well).  With a shrug, I pulled it off entirely and put it back in the diaper bag.  I was on a bench in the hallway, and my mother had a comically shocked look on her face when she walked out of the store and saw me there, nursing uncovered!  I very nearly laughed out loud - but it would have startled the baby.

Now, if you think about it, a baby nursing doesn't show much breast.  My shirt covers the top part of my breast, my bra covers the bottom and outer side, and the nipple is in the baby's mouth.  His head covers even more, but you could conceivably look around it from certain angles.  The only thing even possibly visible is my cleavage, which my mother, once upon a time, encouraged me to show more of.  (Ooh, dangling participle!  There will be more of these.)

What people don't seem to think about is that breastfeeding is what breasts were made for!  Breasts are not 'dirty' or 'indecent'.  All mammals have them, and their sole purpose is to nourish the young.  While large breasts do attract mates, that is hardwired because of the reproductive implication that a large-breasted woman would be better able to feed offspring.  (Not true, just as it's not true that a wide-hipped woman is better at bearing children, but it still causes a physical pleasure response.)  So whip out those ta-tas and feed your tots! :D

Power Star!

Ganon loves star shapes.  They might be his favorite, perhaps tied with circles.  He just gets such a kick out of 'em!  Being a geek myself, I know that stars imbue the consumer with the power of invincibility... and have small black eyes just above the center.  That's just the way things are.  So of course, I wanted to make a star toy that Ganon could play with from an early age.  I searched online, but I just couldn't find a pattern I was happy with (all of them had far too many seams to sew and ends to weave in!)  So I made my own.  This is the Seamless Stuffed Super Star pattern - there are no seams at all, and  only 5 ends to weave in (and I just pulled them inside the stuffie instead of any real weaving.  I'll warn you now, though, this pattern isn't very refined - I have a hard time explaining some of the stitches and rounds in any other way, and forego round numbering entirely.  Feedback and suggestions on how to improve this pattern are always welcome!


The final piece measures approximately 6" across with worsted weight yarn and a US size "F" crochet hook.
magic loop 10 stitches.
Side 1:
SC twice in each ST - 20 sts
SC, *SC twice in next ST, SC 3, repeat from * 4 times - 25 sts
*SC 4, SC twice in next ST, repeat from * around - 30 sts
*SC 5, SC twice in next ST, repeat from * around - 35 sts
leave 5yd tail, break yarn

Make another, but don't break off the yarn.
First point:
*SC 7 (last sc should be in the space between the two SC in a single stitch)
CH 3
SC in the space between two SC in one ST on side 1, SC across the side to next two SC in one ST.
CH 3
SC in the space between two SC on side 2 to join.
SC 4, dec, SC 3, dec, SC 4, dec, SC 3, dec
SC 17, PM

DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, MM
SC 14, MM
DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, MM
SC 10, MM
DEC, SC, DEC, DEC, SC, DEC, RM
DEC, DEC, DEC, break off yarn leaving 6” tail
thread tail through front loop of all sts, tie off, thread tail back inside point, remove needle.
Repeat from * with 5yd tail on side 1 to form second point

Point:
SC 8 across one side (from one 2SC space to another), CH 3 (if no STs present, otherwise SC 3 through remaining loop), SC 8 across other side, CH 3 (if no STs present, otherwise SC 3 through remaining loop)
SC to join, be sure not to twist
SC 5, dec, SC 3 through back loop, dec, SC 4, dec, SC 3 through back loop, dec
SC 17, PM
DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, MM
SC 14, MM
DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, MM
SC 10, MM
DEC, SC, DEC, DEC, SC, DEC, RM
DEC, DEC, DEC, break off yarn leaving 6” tail
thread tail through front loop of all sts, tie off, thread tail back inside point, remove needle.

Make 4 points (total), stuff
after round 8 (RM) of final point, stuff that point extra firm
after final point is tied off, massage point until stuffing fills it evenly
Using black yarn, embroider oval shaped eyes to one side, the tops of the eyes should be even with the straight edge connecting the upper left and upper right points, and the bottoms of the eyes should be level with the center of the star.

Guilt.

Pardon me if I repeat myself, I expect it will happen often.  For the most part, I can't stand to re-read what I have already posted, and as the same feelings and thoughts pop up, I will repeatedly post about the same things.

When Ganon was born, he wasn't breathing.  It took a bit, but then he took some very shallow breaths and gave the weakest, most feeble cries I have ever heard.  They broke my heart they were so pathetic.  It took almost ten minutes before he gave a real cry and they called his time of birth.  He was still blue, but I told myself he wasn't any more purple than the newborns I had seen in informational videos.  I couldn't hold him.  He had to be rushed to the nursery - the hospital here doesn't have a NICU.  My family was waiting in the glass room between surgery/ICU and the nursery, three generations pacing and waiting for news.  They watched the nurses literally run past with a tiny blue baby and they follow as fast as they can.  They hovered around the nursery door and watched them start inserting tubes and attaching wires.  As the pediatrician stepped out, my mother asked "Will he be okay?".

"I don't know."



I know I did everything right.  I never smoked.  I rarely had caffeine.  During my pregnancy, I cut out preservatives, lunch meats, high fructose corn syrup, and junk food.  I took my vitamins.  I had a total of 19 cans of soda during my entire pregnancy - the only caffeine I had.  I ate healthy, I rested, I played Mozart through headphones around my belly.  I still wonder if there is something else I could have done.  Should I have slept on my right side instead of my left?  Should I have exercised more?  Less?  What did I do to cause this?

I know this guilt is misplaced, that there is nothing I could have done better and if I hadn't done everything I did, he likely wouldn't have made it at all.  "It would have been a tragedy." as the OB put it. 

He still has coughing fits sometimes while he's eating.  Every time, my heart drops and my mind races.  Will he start breathing again?  Will the coughs turn to silence?  Is he getting enough air?  Do I have enough space to start CPR if he stops breathing?  Will the guilt ever subside?

Dumbledore!

I've been enjoying writing amigurumi patterns lately.  Without further ado, here's the first pattern that I've successfully written:

Materials:

small amounts of the following colors of Red Heart Super Saver yarn:
dark orchid (MC)
buff (SC)
country blue (CC)
Caron Super Soft off-white
metallic gold crochet or embroidery thread
size F crochet hook
small amount of poly-fill
yarn needle

Instructions:
NOTE: This pattern is worked in a spiral; do not join rounds

Abbreviations used:
sc – single crochet st - stitch
dec – decrease inc - increase

Body (make one):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 8 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (16 sts)
Round 3: *sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 4: *sc, sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 5-12: sc around
Round 13: *sc 6, dec, repeat from * to end of round (28)
Round 14: using MC, sc around
Round 15: sc through back loop only to end of round
Round 16: sc around
Round 17: *dec, sc 5, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 18, 19: sc around
Round 20: *sc 4, dec, repeat from * to end of round (20)
Round 21: sc around
Round 22: *dec, sc 3, repeat from * to end of round (16)
Tip: Stuffing before the last decrease round make it easier to stuff!
Round 23: dec around (8)

Robe Bottom:
Round 1: using MC, sc in front loops of Round 15 of body (28)
Round 2: *sc 6, inc, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 3, 4: sc around
Round 5: *sc 7, inc, repeat from * to end of round (36)
Rounds 6, 7: sc around
Round 8: *sc 8, inc, repeat from * to end of round (40)
Tie off.

Arms (make two):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (12)
Rounds 3-5: sc around
Round 6: *dec, sc 4, repeat from * (10)
Round 7: using MC, sc around
Round 8: sc through back loops only to end of round
Stuff
Round 9: dec, sc 3, dec, sc 3 (8)
Rounds 10, 11: sc around
Round 12: dec, sc 2, dec, sc 2 (6)
Stuff
Round 13: sc around, tie off

Sleeves:
Round 1: using MC, sc around front loops of Round 8 of arm (10)
Round 2: sc, *inc, sc 2, repeat from * to end of round (13)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2 (16)
Round 5: sc around, tie off

Head:
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 sts
Round 2: sc twice in ea st (12)
Round 3: *sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 4: *sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 5: *sc, sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (30)
Rounds 6-11: sc around
Round 12: *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 13: *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 14: *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (12)
stuff
Round 15: dec around (16)
Tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside head and trim.

Hat:
Pick up 25 sts in a circle around top of head
Sc around twice
Working through back loops only, *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
dec around last round, tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside hat and trim.

Assembly:
Flatten top edge of arms and attach to each side of the body
Stitch head to top of body, forming neck
Using CC, sl st or embroider a decorative edge around base of hat, tie a small tassel to center of hat, trim to 1-1/4” in length. Tie around waist, leaving uneven ends. In loose ends, tie a knot approximately 3/4” from trimmed ends and fray.  Embroider eyes.
Using Off-White yarn, attach approximately 70 8” strands (folded in half) to the head to form moustache and beard, and a double line along hair line and hat brim.  Once attached, use a blunt needle to unravel each strand of yarn.  Trim hair and beard evenly, and moustache to approximately 1/2”  Embroider eyebrows.  Embroider a small stitch in each eye as a catch-light.
Using gold thread, tie beard approximately halfway down.  Embroider half-moon glasses under eyes.

Also available as a pdf HERE.

Baby's first meal

Over the past few weeks, Ganon has been sitting up more and started showing interest in what everyone else is eating.  Today, he grabbed the bag of chips my mom was snacking on.  Remembering that Ganon's nutritionist had noted these milestones as signs he was ready to start on baby cereal, I ran to the store to pick up a variety.  Oats, barley, rice, and brown rice were the available options for the "supported sitter" stage - since Ganon is still wobbly when he sits completely on his own.  Brown rice is the most flavorful of the four (in my opinion, at least) so I figured that if he liked that, he'll like the rest just fine.  I've also been eating brown rice myself, and Ganon has likely tasted some of that in my breastmilk.  So brown rice was first on the list to try.

A little while before his next feeding, I defrosted some frozen breastmilk and mixed up the cereal using the "Baby's First Meal" instructions.  It seemed a bit... liquidy, so I sprinkled in a tiny bit of extra cereal flakes.  It was still almost completely liquid, but I trusted the judgement of the manufacturer.  I set Ganon up in his Bumbo (a supportive seat, kind of like a short, soft bucket with leg holes - ours has a tray in front, as well) and fastened on a fresh bib.  Ganon stared, drooling, as I put the bowl on the tray and scooped a bit with a soft spoon.  He smiled as I moved it toward his face, and I slipped the spoon into his open mouth.  His eyes went wide and he swallowed, his tongue moving this way and that.  His smile stretched from ear to ear and he leaned forward, opeing and closing his mouth, looking for more.  I scooped as fast as I could, though I'm sure more ended up on his bib than in his mouth.  In the end, he began to cry, moving his head as if to try and find my breast, and we stopped so he could have a 'proper' meal.

All in all, quite a success.  I'm glad he liked it, and with no signs of allergies, we'll be able to move on to another flavor.  So exciting!

Breastfeeding

Breasts and babies.

Breastfeeding.


The big taboo over the most natural thing in the world.

I don't have a problem breastfeeding in front of others. Yes, it's a private time between Ganon and myself, but the mere presence of others doesn't lessen that. I put him in position, pull my shirt up and my bra down, and my nipple is in his mouth. (Not that it was always that easy - but that's another post.) My brother and stepdad got used to it within a month. It's not like I'm just dangling my boobs out there for all to see - I cover up and angle as best I can without making things unnecessarily difficult for either Ganon or me. My grandfather (once it was explained to him that regardless of what he had been told, breastfeeding was better than formula) has never expressed any discomfort at the idea, nor when I managed to nurse in the same room as him. I have never known this man to hold his tongue. Though he would rather make a joke than say something that might be taken as insulting, he gets is point across. My mother and grandmother, however, seem to think that nursing in front of a man - especially a family member - was highly scandalous.

The first time I nursed Ganon while visiting my grandparents, my mom got up, got a blanket out of the diaper bag, and threw it over the baby while I was nursing him. Now, it was a very warm summer day, and my grandparents don't have air conditioning. There was no need for the blanket other than to 'hide my shame'. As my mother so delicately put it: "Your grandfather doesn't want to see that." [emphasis hers] More recently, my grandmother was holding Ganon when he got hungry. I stood up, took him into my arms, and went to sit back down on the couch. As I turned around to sit, my grandmother gave me a very no-nonsense look, and said, "You can go in the other room to do that." Rather than cause a scene, I pursed my lips and sequestered myself in her bedroom.

Slightly grumpy, I sat down on the bed and began to nurse Ganon when, to my pleasant surprise, my grandfather came in the room. He turned on the TV and fetched the remote for me. I couldn't help but smile, feeling both grateful and righteous. Not only was I made more comfortable and relieved of my guilt, but I was right in that my grandfather wasn't offended by my nursing. Not that that changed my mother's or grandmother's views, but I'm no longer insulted by their ignorance.

First tooth

Ganon's first tooth is starting to make itself known.  Occasionally, the poor boy will just start crying, then try to gnaw on my knuckles.  A bit of acetominaphen eases the pain, but I know it will get worse before it gets better (when the tooth finally ruptures).  The reason I make note of this pre-tooth teething is that I am going through the same trouble.  That's right, my son and I are teething at the same time.  One of my wisdom teeth is currently forcing itself through the flesh of my gums, letting me experience first hand the type of pain that is just around the corner for my son.