Lollipop, Lollipop Oh Lolly Lollipop
Wow! Thanks to everyone who left all the great advice in response to my post on Friday. I've read each one and am beginning to get a good idea of what I should have ready and waiting. I would never have thought of some of the things that came up. Hopefully John and Z and I will be well prepared!
In the meantime, I've finished up the Lollipop sweater. Just to show what a difference a little trim makes on this small garment, I thought I'd provide the before and after shots relative to applying the edging.
Pattern: Lollipop
Book: Rowan Classic Yarns, Mother & Baby
Yarn: RYC Cashcotton 4 Ply in "Seafoam"
Needles: US Size 2
Size Made: 6-12 Month
Overall, this is an easy garment to knit if you don't mind small yarn and small needles and the occasional simple bobble. If I were to do it again I might consider substituting that bobble for a yarn over and just having a lace diamond. But the bobble does help to make the motif a little more floral and add to the decidedly sweet little girl quality of this cropped infant wrap sweater. I like the final result and am looking forward to putting it on my baby, even though the size I picked means that it will be quite large for her and probably won't be of much use until next spring. Even so, once it was finished, I held it over my belly to let her know that something else hand made by her mom was going into her little treasure cabinet -- the place where I am keeping all the lovely things (hand made and not) that she's been gifted with.
I didn't find any mistakes in the instructions for the size I made and I thought all the instructions were fairly clear -- though there are a few places where you need to read ahead through more than just the next sentence. The finishing work is simple, though I did choose to set in the sleeves. So much less time consuming in a baby garment!
The pattern called for the sweater to be assembled and a knitted edging to be knit and attached to the sweater. I knit a couple of intervals of the edging to see if I liked it. It wasn't anything special enough in my mind to merit the work of knitting separately and attaching to the sweater (while I like Rowan patterns, this knit and attach approach to edging is one I find generally tiresome and irritating because of the tedium of the extra finishing work and the fact that they often don't end up looking very polished after I attach them), so I decided to work from the general idea and look for a crochet edging that I could apply directly to the little garment.
A few closeups of the edging and how it looks in the final garment:
The crochet edging is a simple one. There's a foundation of chain stitches followed by loops created by chaining several stitches and then making a single crochet into the foundation chain at regular intervals. If you want to build it out, it's easy to add any number of rows to it, but I thought simple was best for a baby garment. Inspiration for it came from one of those books that I bought a while back, and that I refer to a lot when I am looking for possible interesting finishes -- Interweave's Compendium of Finishing Techniques
I like this book a lot because it has finishing techniques for more than just knitting. Crochet, sewing, weaving, braiding -- there's a lot of food for thought in this book, and the techniques are well illustrated. You don't have to be an expert in any of the techniques to understand the instructions. Another plus for this book is that it's hardcover and it's spiral bound -- so it stays open to the page you are trying to work from.
This just puts a smile on my face, Theresa. So well done and completely adorable!
It's a really sweet little sweater!
That's absolutely adorable!
It's just too cute
Beautiful! I absolutely love it! It is going to be so cute on her!
So sweet!! Don't you just love making itty bitty clothes?
Just found your site. I'm a medical technologist and a knitter. Nice to find you - I'll be back!!
Baby Z. will be stylin'.
Wow! The edging does make a big difference. Cute sweater!
Very sweet-she will look so adorable. When I have made "ballet" type sweaters I have,instead of a corded tie, used ribbon for the ties. There are many beautiful ribbons available and it seems to add a feminine touch to the sweater.I have used everything from polka dot ribbon to delicate chiffon types. I agree about the edging-I hate having to sew it on and have used my sewing machine before to attach it and find that makes a smooth attachment.
Hope all is well with Baby Z.
Looking at that sweater makes me happy! :)
The sweater is lovely...and thanks for the book recommendation...finishing is its own skill and I personally could use more resources for it.
Oh so cute! Little one will be so cozy in it.
Congratulations on another finished product. Just think... in 50 years or so, you may think of Z as finished!! Hope you are feeling well.
Congratulations on another finished product. Just think... in 50 years or so, you may think of Z as finished!! Hope you are feeling well.
cute sweater.
I don't know how green you're going to go with Z, but let me suggest disposables for the first few days before you go to cloth. You'll have enough adjustments for the first week without jumping right into cloth diapers.
Breast fed babies don't poop as often as bottle fed kids and their poop (hallelujah) basically doesn't stink. It is, however, the most amazing mustard shade and with a consistancy somewhere between French's and asphalt with similar coating characteristics. Particularly when mixed with what comes out of baby in the first 48 hours or so. Have lots of wipes and change baby close to running water the first couple of days.
Now, on to the rest of Z's life. Baby poo is mostly stinkfree but runny when breastfeeding so make sure diapers and soakers (if you're going that way) fit closely around the legs. If you need to go out, keep an extra clean blouse for yourself in the diaper bag. Trust me. I wore baby poo for 8 hours at my store one day because I had 3 outfits for kidlet and none for me.
I also really liked the little kimonos and baby sacques and gowns for the first two weeks. They take a while before their legs come down and the gowns just seemed more comfy for brand new baby. A copious supply of clean, ziplock baggies in the diaper bag makes everything work. You keep clean stuff organized in ziplocks and you put dirty stuff in new ziplocks until you get home.
When you breast feed, do not let anyone give you any crap about bringing baby into the bed with you and keeping baby on schedule. I fed 3 and very often had babies in bed. A person with normal sleeping habits is not going to smother baby. And a mother that can plug baby in and doze while baby eats is much less likely to lock herself in the bathroom screaming than one suffering from extreme sleep deprivation.
My oldest ate every two hours until he was 6 months old. Course he's 25 now and he's 6'5" and has been in the 98% since he was born, so... But babies like to nurse for comfort and love, not just food. Some babies will talk to the boob. My oldest would complain at it. He'd mumble and cuss (I could tell) and complain bitterly that it was late and such like. My middle son would sing to it. He'd hum and croon while nursing and pat the boob so it would know he appreciated it. My youngest was a lazy nurser and kept waiting for it to deliver like a water fountain. (He weaned at 6 months). None ever waited four hours between meals. But again, the shortest is 6'2". Let Z show you what she needs. She'll be very up front about whether she wants nipple or burping or whatever.
Get a nice insulated carafe to keep near the bed. You'll find you are incredibly thirsty when nursing. You're tired enough without staggering around at 3am looking for a glass of water.
Think, I am a cow. I graze like a cow. I would get weird when pregnant and eat almost no meat but crave peanut butter. Same while nursing. Chicken made me nauseous. You can't have chocolate, onions, any cruciform vegetable or any strong spices. No beans. Lettuce and pudding and very middle American bland food. It all gives the baby gas and believe me, they can scream in agony for HOURS if you screw up. You have never felt guilt until you have caused pain to a four month old infant because you had a slice of onion on a sandwich.
Nursing will probably hurt like blue blazes for 3 dqys, then the nerves shut off and it's all fine. You won't be able to feel your nipples, but everything still works. I'm sure some haven't had the problem, but everyone I know had 3 days of serious pain then boom! nothing.
Prepare to be enchanted, delighted and incredibly impressed with your baby--who will, I'm sure, be beautiful, intelligent and all around extraordinary (mine were prettier). You turn into a sappy, overly emotional twit when it comes to your baby. It never, however, wears off. I have one still at home and I still stand outside his door at night sometimes wondering if I should check and make sure he's breathing. Be prepared, however, to be overly emotional about everything for a couple of weeks before and after baby comes. Every time I had a baby, someone would leave a baby in a dumpster. I would watch the news, nursing mine, and weeping, beg my husband to call the authorities and tell them I would take the extra baby. That, you will get over.
Some of us have over developed nesting instincts, by my second one my husband realized you could tell about 24 hours before I went into labor. I would start cleaning fanatically--even pulling the baseboard splashguards off in the kitchen to disinfect behind. If you feel yourself getting anxious to clean and prepare the nursery or kitchen, it's liable to be your instincts taking over and preparing for the birth.
Just be prepared to really enjoy the baby. The new smell wears off way too fast. Before you even get the whole baby thing down, the little buggers have teeth and are walking. Then they learn to talk and it's all over. Designate lots of just hold the baby time. They don't need a lot of things and all you have to have is clean clothes and a wet washrag. You can worry yourself to a frazzle about decorating the nursery and developmentally appropriate toys and all kinds of silly stuff. Z needs your time and attention, everything else is secondary. You need to be calm and relax and trust yourself and your instincts.
You also have to remember Z will love you every bit as much as you love her. Be kind to the new dad, he's liable to be a tiny bit jealous after a few days, but mostly they get over that.
You'll be fine and Z will be perfect.
Lin
Linda - that was the best advice anyone has ever given a new mother.
Theresa - it's not possible to hold them too much, love them too much, or spoil them too much in the first 3 months. Skin to skin, sleeping on you or sleeping on Daddy, the silky soft hair, delicate skin, and those absurdly long looking fingers curled into tiny fists... touch and smell your baby. Lock the door, close the shades, turn off the phones, and spend 3 days (at least) curled up in the intimacy of your family.
Birth advice? Your body is designed to do this. Relax. Remember it's called labour because it's hard work. Be calm, breathe deeply, close your eyes, and focus on the strength of your body. Have Mr. bring along an icy cold bottle of pure orange juice for right after birth. Nothing tastes sweeter or more delicious! (and you'll need the sugar hit, along with those good vitamins and minerals).
Did anyone tell you about cabbage leaves? After about 3 days your milk will come in - sometimes all at once creating engorgement. You need to keep nursing but the swelling can be quite painful. Don't pump - it upsets the supply and demand equation and actually might make the oversupply last longer. You can take a tylenol but the most effective thing I ever did was something your grandmother would have done. Take a nice cold green cabbage. Get rid of those icky outer leaves and into the thinner, smoother ones. Peel them off one at a time, you might need to use a knife to remove the coarse vein. Wrap your tender swollen breasts in a couple of layers of cabbage leaves, leaving the nipples open. There is a chemical in the cabbage that is absorbed through the skin and relieves the swelling and pain. You'll smell like cole slaw - a nice addition to slightly sour milk, baby, and other stuff.... but within the hour you will feel much better. Trust me. It works. Linda is right though - don't eat the cabbage, or broccoli, or cauliflower, or brussels sprouts!
Thinking of you...
Rowan patterns are the best
Congrats on 36 weeks (i know, last post, but i thought i would still say it) i had twins at 36 exactly and though small they were healthy and home in a few days. i would rec. really small clothes to bring home baby in...especially if you deliver a little early. we were laughing at the clothes my husband brought to get them home in....soooo big! they fit now (and they are almost 3 months). glad everything is on track and the knitting looks great! oh yeah, for you, i recommend lots of comfy panties, that way you do not have to rely on husband picking them out.
The sweater is so nice and sweet and simple, and I just love the colour and the fact that it isn't pink even if you're expecting a girl! Take good care of yourself and Baby Z, many people will be thinking of you in the coming weeks.
Lollipop is lovely! Congrats on 36 weeks! You got so many thoughtful responses on 'what to bring'! I found that once the labor train got rolling, none of it mattered! Something I didn't see in regards to pads (glad a few folks mentioned them), is that the hosp we were in gave us some ice pads. At first I thought, nah, ick, but then I tried one. Ooooh, cool relief, and soaked it up like a pad...so if you can get enough for the first few days (dozen or 2), it'll feel good.
This is the darlingest little sweater. You're brilliant. And your edging decision was perfect.
Lollipop looks so beautiful, and I am sure when it fits your daughter she will look gorgeous in it.