At last!

I have arranged for help this afternoon so that I can sew the sling. I'm over the moon. I love sewing so much. Well, so much that I started a blog! Hello? What an obvious thing for me to write.

Thanks very much to my friend for helping me with this task. It's easy to do other needlework around the children's schedule, but not run the sewing machine.

Frustrated with the Helmet Liner

My gauge is either too tight or the pattern is too small. I was rather suspect of casting on merely 84 stitches. I'm setting it aside for now to start the afghan. I have other charity work to accomplish, rather than struggle figuring this out in the summer heat.

I still haven't found time for running the sewing machine. I'm just going to have to hire help. It's been quite frustrating asking for help, and not getting any. I need to break down and create an incentive for others.

Helmet Liner Update

I was skeptical about how fast the helmet liner could be accomplished. However, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's going quickly, and I forgot how much fun it can be to knit in the round.

Finished the hat

I finished the baby hat yesterday, and now the set is complete. I may make another set, but we're still waiting to see how the baby does.

I began the helmet liner yesterday. I made the gauge swatch, the first one ever. I've never before made a piece where it was necessary. I've been holding back, making items where it didn't really matter. I'm taking the plunge with this one, and hope that I do a good job. It's silly that I've knit for this many years without ever checking my gauge, but I've been cautious about it. It's time to get over that hesitation, and expand my skill set. After that, I cast on the stitches. Here's hoping I can knit quickly enough to make the June 15th shipping deadline.

Frustrated with Time Management

I'm frustrated with getting time to sew. I just don't know how to get more help with the children. If only I could arrange for some help, then I know that I could get the carrier done quickly. It would make taking care of my younger son so much easier. Although I've asked, I keep getting rejected. I'm sure that I'll get some help at some point. It is quite frustrating to have others volunteer to do things I enjoy (like clean my house), but refuse to help with the children, so I can sew. I seem to be alone amongt my friends and family in my love for needlework.

Finished the Sleeper Sack

Last night I finished the sleeper sack for little Vivian. When I showed the Vintner, he was overcome with emotion. He hadn't realized that it was a burial garment until he saw it. He mistakenly thought that she would be a disabled child, not that her birth defect was fatal. We had a few precious moments together, appreciating the gift of children.

We give this to her, and her family, out of our love for her. Even though her life is to be very short, she is loved for who she is. We have such compassion for her family. She deserves the best that we can give: the softest, the most beautiful.

Afterwards, I started the matching hat. It's also of bamboo/silk yarn, but this is a crocheted, long hat for her. If I have enough yarn left after this, I will crochet some matching booties. We're now prepared for her arrival, should it be this summer. If she waits until the early fall, we'll have time for a larger garment, to fit a full term baby.

If you are compelled to contribute along similar lines, please see the sidebar. Bev's Country Cottage has many links and patterns to start you on your way.

New Yarn

Today, I purchased the supplies for the June charity knitting of a helmet liner. It's a variegated army-colors yarn. It should blend in well with the modern camo uniforms of the army. I also purchased the beginning yarn for the afghan for Afghans for Afghans. It's two shades of green for the green striped afghan. Both yarns are 100% wool. See the sidebar for the links for these projects.

I have yet to make time to sew the baby carrier. I'm too busy caring for the baby! The cut and pinned pieces are sitting beside the sewing machine.

Also, the last skein of silk/bamboo yarn is wound into a ball, and I'm starting the sleeves of the sleeper sack today. I hope to finish these sleeves quickly - this week - assuming the boys go to sleep at decent hours. If that goes well, then I should be able to start and finish the helmet liner by the 15th of this month. If I make the June deadline, then I'll have time to make another layette set for the baby, in case they make it to full term. I'm not really planning getting time for that until July. Full term would be early October for her baby, so I have plenty of time. I'm not taking on any other charity work, because I'm committed to having the afghan ready for autumn shipping. Winters start early in Afghanistan (compared to Texas) and this is the #1 charitable goal for 2009. This is the same pattern that I used in January and February for the limb wrap and lap blanket I made for disabled veterans. It will go rather quickly, once I begin, so I know I will make the deadline (unless I get detracted by other goals - again!) Here I was thinking that I'd have little demand for my charity knitting at New Year's resolutions. Ha!