auntie esq

The tank keeps rolling on . . .

40 weeks!!
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

I passed 40 weeks on Wednesday. That date was determined by an early ultrasound. Tomorrow is the original due date, the one calculated by me. Either way you look at it, I did it. I reached 40 weeks in a pregnancy that the doctors said I had a less than 10% chance of having. Further, I hit 40 weeks w/ normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar, no edema, great NST, and none of the other complications that everyone thought I would have.

Pure dumb luck.

Because, really I haven't been a paragon of pregnant bliss. I've exercised only sporadically, eaten according to my diabetic meal plan, but skimped on veggies and allowed in all sorts of treats, and ignored large portions of "what to expect." I've been awe of my good fortune each day of the pregnancy.

I don't feel like I've taken a single milestone for granted: the doubling beta, the heartbeat, 12 weeks, the normal ultrasound, 24 weeks, 32 weeks, 37 weeks, and now DUE!

And, if I would have posted this on Wednesday, I would have dripped even more happy-sappy all over your screen, but the prodomal labor contractions have taken their toll in the last 24 hours. They hurt. They keep from REM sleep. I keep trying to think about how lucky I am to be having false alarms, and how good it is that I'm so healthy that my midwives see no problem letting me go till 42 weeks . . . .

But I'm READY. I'm blessed to be impatient. And really, I'm all for Beta picking the date & time. Inductions should be saved for true medical need, not the Wavybrains who cried wolf with 2+ weeks of contractions.

However, I'm allowed to say that the contractions and the false alarms? They suck. I feel blessed even to have this to whine over, but man, I'm feel like Bush's press secretary right now. "We're at Terror Alert Red!" "Just kidding!" "Terror Alert Orange" "Ooops that was a bird!" "Terror Alert Red!" "Ooops, those really WERE senior citizens on vacation!" "We're serious! This is it! Terror Alert Red!" "Ooops! Bad information!"

I'd really like an inside source on what's going on in there . . . . .

Anyone have a contact with the reproductive CIA?

Thanks for all your support! There are more pictures on Flickr, including the requested bare belly shot. Anyone know how to remove stretch marks with photo shop?

Auntie's Opus

One Front, One Back
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Mr. Holland had a symphony. Auntie has bike gloves. These gloves were knit sans pattern to very demanding specifications. Lots more pics on flickr.

Details:
Pattern: Made up as went.
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted
Stitch Pattern: Greek Key slip stich
Colors reversed for each glove. 1 full ball of each color required. Click to see notes on the details.

Mitered Sunshine

All mitered up
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Auntie HATES rain. Auntie has no idea why she chose to live in the Pacific Northwest. Auntie would sell a kidney for a Pina Colada and a Beach right now. Since Auntie can't do that (damn laws!), enjoy a little burst of beach towel mitered squares. Self-stripping yarn dyed by Auntie.

Auntie Takes on Fair Isle

Colorwork Hat
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Auntie apologizes for her extended absence. If you read Auntie's other blog--www.wavybrains.com--Auntie has been busy penning a tome.

This is Auntie's first try at Fair Isle. The pattern is from the Fall Vogue--it is a sock pattern that Auntie blew up to Hat proportions. The yarn is Lamb Pride's superwash.

Auntie is not sure HOW she feels about fair isle. LOVE the results, so stylish and fun. But the process--so tangly and confusing. Even with yarn in baggies, the tangles still come. Auntie tried: dropping the second color, two handed (one continental, one english), two fingered continental, and still: THE TANGLES. Two handed was an awful lot of extra work, IAHO (In Auntie's Humble opinio).

So, if Auntie has any reader's left, share your best fair isle tips and tricks. PLEASE.

FSS arrives!

FSS arrives!
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

This scarf was knit by Spamantha as part of the FSS. Auntie is delighted by the scarf and has been wearing it everywhere. It is truly a goes-with-everything scarf.

Socks of Doom Done!

Socks of Doom Marching On
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Despite the technical difficulties with Sock Wars, the actual knitting was a lot of fun. A pair of socks in a weekend? Auntie is in love. These were so much fun to knit. Click to see more pictures!

Here is the note Auntie enclosed for her victim:

Congrats Sock Warrior, Weasley Mom,

You have been killed by Auntie Esq!

Your socks of doom are worked according to the
Sock Wars Pattern, and to US Women’s Size 10.
The Plymouth Galway Wool is hand-dyed by Auntie
in a colorway she calls “blue lagoon.” This 100% wool
is handwash, cool water ONLY.

Alternatively, felt or shrink the socks to nice slipper
socks for a child.

These socks were knit at our dog park, on a drive to Hood
River, Oregon (and back home via Flashlight!), while
listening to the book “A Changed Man,” and during
several good meals. Auntie had a lot of fun doing sock wars
and hopes you enjoy your new socks!

Grandmother Purl's Square

Grandmother Purl's Square
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Auntie is now offically addicted to the mitered square. In fact, she firmly believes that the mitered square might be the next Prozac. So, when she heard the call for squares for Grandmother Purl, she immediately thought "mitered square!" Less than 24 hours later, one 8 inch square. Yarn is Lion Brand Cotton, and the square is unbelievably squashy.

You too can get your mitered (or other square) fix AND help Grandmother Purl. Good karma all around. http://www.grandmotherpurl.blogspot.com/

Ready for Sock Wars

Blue Lagoon Close up
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

This is the yarn Auntie has selected for sock wars. Being the renegade, Auntie admits that the yarn is plymouth Galway, hand dyed* by Auntie. It *is* slightly heavier than DK, but Auntie (loose woman that she is) is getting gauge with US 3's. IF she were forced to use true DK, we would probably be talking about US 2's. Also, should Auntie be killed, Auntie plans to send ALL 400 yards of this delicious yarn to her killer along with the socks. Should Auntie do the killing (ha ha ha), Auntie may gift any leftover yarn to her victim to make a matching accessory with.

Auntie also just signed up for Sock Wars. Is it cheating if she uses the same socks for Sock Wars, Socktoberfest pictures, and Romancing the Yarn's Sock-a-long? Auntie loves multi-tasking.

*This is Auntie's first time playing with space dying methods and she can't wait to see how it knits up. More pictures of Blue Lagoon on Flickr.

Why This is a FO

Edge Detail (unblocked)
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Auntie will devote a full post later to the ins and outs of the FSS. However, right now, she must take the chance to warn other knitters of the hazards of hospital knitting. The FSS had been Auntie's constant companion since Labor Day and was in her purse when she fell. Her Paramour asked if she needed something to take with her to Urgent Care center. Smart Man, he knows that Auntie, even injured, does not travel without the knitting. At first, Auntie could only hold her WIP and mutter painful curses while waiting. Then, the nice nurse gave Auntie an even nicer shot of feel-great medicine. Auntie decided she could definetely knit while waiting for the x-ray. You know where this is headed right? The FSS was planned for 10 repeats. Auntie had just finished repeat 5. Somewhere in the recesses of her Auntie brain, she must have been thinking about being done, about whether 10-12 inches was a fine cowl and if 20 were really neccessary. This is the only explaination for why Auntie worked 2 straight rows in preparation for the final bobbles which she actually began while being fit for the cast. Knitting under the influence is NEVER a good thing. Although, Auntie does think, in retrospect that this is the PERFECT length cowl. Design decision, darling, never a mistake.

Self-striping Mitered Madness

This is what Auntie has been up to.  Her cast cover led straight to the mitered path of addictive knitting--perfect for her recovery. 

Self striping yarn seems ideally suited for miters, as the Mason Dixon chics have noted.   Hand dyed self-striping yarns are simply amazing. 

For anyone interested in making their own self-striping goodness, all you need is kool-aid and 100% wool yarn, any weight and brand.  Superwash wool is fine.    Auntie made a board and wrote about it here  and has many, many pictures of her process and yarns here 

For basic kool aid dying see knitty

Eunny shows you how to makes stripes the low tech way

Ysolda shows how to make a board