Paper Crane Jacket

I often find I need a clear deadline, coupled with a clear desire (like, I'm about to return to work and don't have anything new to wear) to make me stop running around trying to do too many things, and focus on one task. In this instance, some sewing. Some sewing for myself. A Paper Crane Jacket. I'd been meaning to make one for a while, since being intrigued by the simplicity of the diagram in the book, and further inspired by others' creations.



I created mine in dark chocolate wool jersey. Hopefully it will fit into my wardrobe as a replacement for another dark chocolate light weight wool cardigan that I finally had to dispose of late last year, when I realised that the light mark I spotted on the elbow wasn't actually a mark, but rather the patch where the fabric had worn so thin it was transparent.



I based the sizing on another cardigan that I like the general size of. Due to the cut of the pattern, I didn't have quite enough length of fabric to make the jacket body or sleeves as long as I wanted. I used an offcut from the width of the fabric to stitch onto the bottom edge, folded double, giving a bit of weight and drape and perfect length.



The (hemless) sleeve I left with a point, which sits at a nice 3/4 length. I made a mistake in measuring the sleeve diameter though, and they are really quite snug. This garment will be cold handwash only for fear of the fabric shrinking at all and rendering it unwearable.



Hopefully that won't happen, because I love it. I love the drape and flow and ease of wearing it. And I feel like a young child, planning their outfit for the first day of a new school year, as I plan my attire for tomorrow morning around wearing my new jacket. Wish me luck for what feels like my first day of high-school...



And in writing about a paper crane, I have to mention this version too. For your next Japanese dinner party.

A silk cap

The Vital Statistics:
Pattern: Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap 2yo size
Yarn: Regia Silk sock yarn
Needles: 3mmm Addi turbo circular

Comments and such:
What a simple, sweet, elegant pattern. Simple to knit, and I really like the shape with the little pointy pixie peak. But too small for my son, so I'll be gifting it on to a friend's younger baby, and tinkering with gauge and stitch counts to knit another one for C. Perhaps in the leftovers from his Red Kaftan, combined with some orange/red yarn dyed by a friend. Will go really well with the coat I cut out for him on the weekend.

Every boy needs some wheels

Yesterday C and I did a bit of window shopping, tried to figure out what size Tip Toey Joey's I should get him (apparently the 6-12 month size, but I think he'll grow out of them in about 2 minutes, so we're going to wait a couple of weeks and then go for the 12-18 month size. He's a chip of the old block in the foot department). After venturing into Mandarino, we headed into Honeybee where I swooned over the beautiful toys. Gorgeous stuff. Really gorgeous stuff. Made me wish I was a child again.



We came away with a new set of Debresk wheels for him. Totally gorgeous, great feel, and parts that move too. A little fire truck to go with the convertible I picked up at Winterwood (aka, the Felt Dealer) a while back. So that he and Daddy have something to play with for years to come. He chewed it all the way back down the street, which I took as a sign that he liked it too.

I love the smell of paint fumes in the morning

I feel like it's a real struggle to get through the days this week. My last week with regular days simultaneously free of the day job child tending duties (while he is in the care of others) is crammed full of stuff. Stuff that really want to get done before I return to work.

The immensely long list of things I wanted to do while I was on maternity leave got torn up long ago, but there are still a few things that I'd like to do: spending some relaxing time crafting with friends, making the few things that are at the top of the mental stack of special gifts to be made, and getting the bathroom painted. It's all squeezed in amongst the mundane day to day stuff like shopping, cooking, eating, sleeping, cleaning, returning overdue library books and dealing with last year's tax return. The sort of stuff that I have no idea how I'm going to fit into life after this week, but know that I will, because it's necessary. Something will give, but we'll see what that is as I immerse myself in a new and different lifestyle from the one I've adopted this year.

And so this week, I've been doing some painting. Still little patches to be done, and the ceiling will need to be done after the light fitting is installed (in an ideal world it would have been done before the walls, but my world isn't that ideal). With the plasterboard walls now renewed with some "White Smoke", and the white grouting completed, the transformation from depressing to refreshing inches forward.

Trying it on

The wonderful thing about circular needles and real life models is you can try things on for size as you go. Sadly, although the size seemed OK at the start, and despite the fact that I'm knitting the 2yo size (although I admittedly haven't checked the gauge), it would appear that C's head is going to be too big for this cap.

I might frog it and reknit it fudging it up another size (pretty easy to do as it's a very straightforward pattern). Or I might just finish it for some other babe and try another with some larger wool and needles. It's a great pattern- simple and ingenious and I love the pattern that the stitches make. I do have some lovely red alpaca silk in the stash...

At least C's happy for me to dress him up in half made goods, complete with a variety of bits dangling off them, and take photos. Which makes me happy too.

Red Wall

One coat done and the last coat to be done tomorrow. At 2.5 hours per coat it's the sort of thing that needs to be done while the baby is in someone else's care. So I'm making the most of my last few days of childcare before returning to the day job to get things like this done.

Must also remember to call the plumbing supply shop to winge about the vanity (again) tomorrow. Hopefully we'll have it sooner than later. I'd really like to have it installed before I go back to work, but that's starting to look extremely wishful. At least the sight of a rich and warming red wall has lived up to expectations.

Learning

It's amazing to watch a child develop and learn. C now plays "[insert name of object here] on head" on command, he tries to say "cat" and he definitely said "baby" yesterday. Repeatedly, whilst looking at a picture of a baby. It was an amazing moment. I felt so proud.

Moments like that make me think I really should get a journal going again. If I did I would also write in it about how being a mother has somehow made me extremely sensitive to the suffering of others. So much so that the thought of that mother and her children in that basement in Austria, and the catastrophe in Burma, and the lack of food in hospitals in PNG, and earthquake in China, make me want to curl up and hide from the world. But I can’t. I know that such things are beyond my control, and I should accept the reminder to cherish the life that I have, watching my son learn and grow.



And because I don't want to fill my blog with baby related posts, I will now update you on the nappy situation as it currently stands, should you be interested:

We use eco-friendly (ish) disposables from Nordic Nappies, which we order online about once a month, conveniently delivered to our door. But for night use, we have switched to the not-so-eco-friendly-but-much-cheaper-and-they-do-get-us-through-the-night Aldi nappies "Mamia". Apparently Huggies aren't what they used to be, and didn't get us through the night. But Aldi do. My nappy choices are mostly about minimising laundry (and water consumption) whilst minimising production and disposal wastes. We use biodegradeable bags for disposal, collecting them in a large sealed bucket (with biodegradable liner) at home, rather than bagging each separately.

Today I...

Finally started on the painting in the bathroom. Progress ground to a halt over the last two weeks, with being sick and being away and being as we're still waiting for the vanity to be delivered.

We have added a few more tiles since last I posted about progress, taking them up to the ceiling. Or rather, taking them very close to the ceiling, because the ceiling isn't level (bet that was Sheil B in action with the spirit level again), so at one side of the room there's just under an inch gap and the other side it's about two inches. Annoying, but we'll be painting it and ignoring it except when we want to giggle about what a wonky house it is. And hoping it doesn't show up too much in the photos ;).

So today I got started on the painting. Undercoat on the brickwork in preparation for a deep garnet red. It's good to see things changing in there again. More notes over at Flickr.

Remember when

Last week C and I survived two long flights to enjoy a few relaxing, sunny days in Perth, in the home where I grew up. C’s sleep routine was all over the place and family tensions were simmering hotter than usual, but we tried not to loose the plot. We breathed deeply and meandered through days filled with social engagements and visits to special places. We even squeezed in a few unanticipated but rewarding catch ups along the way (including sleep catch ups mid morning because 4.30 am starts really aren’t my style).



I really enjoyed seeing some of my favourite people and places. I made more effort than usual to really be in the moment, drinking it in, not taking it for granted that I will be there, or see them again, soon. Knowing this, there was inevitable sadness in casting my eye over my shoulder as we left the beach; in getting back into the car after a long walk in Kings Park; in walking down the same old streets and through the familiar parks.



Childhood memories flooded me, and I found myself wondering what memories C will have of his childhood, and what memories my parents still have of theirs, spent so long ago, so far away. Much has changed in the places I once stood, ran, laughed and cried since I left there over a decade ago. Some memories are getting hazy, but being there brought them fresh to the surface to be remembered fondly, and then carefully tucked back into the corners of my mind.

Packing

Snotty heads not withstanding, C and I head out west tomorrow for a few days R&R at the home I grew up in. A last chance to say farewell, visit old haunts and old friends (which is not to suggest that old friends haunt me), and even a bloggy friend. I'm looking forward to it, but hoping my ears clear some more before take-off, and don't implode en route. Fingers crossed.

I'm packing plenty of clothes for C (I must admit I'm loving this selection of mostly handmade clothes that fit him right now. I'm sure this will be a fleeting state of affairs), trying not to forget to pack clothes for myself too and contemplating what I'll need to survive a four hour flight with a baby on my lap and no husband to share him with.

Packing includes his new sweater. The Red Kaftan. I love how it turned out, a few glitches aside (see below).

The Vital Statistics:
Pattern: Baby Kaftan by Debbie Bliss from "The Baby Knits Book"
Size: 9-12 month
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, about 3.5 balls
Needles: 3 and 3.25mm bamboo straights

Pattern modifications and comments: I love the style- the slightly set in sleeves are simple and neat, and the neckline is great- perfect for our big headed little guy. It's a easy sweater to get on him and I'm sure it will get plenty of use.

I have to say I think they oversimplified the writing of this pattern- I would have preferred if they'd given more specific instructions for the increases and decreases. I worked them on the edge, but when it came to seaming I wished that I'd worked them a few stitches in. It's the sort of thing that an experienced knitter thinking about what they're doing probably would figure out for themselves, but a less experienced knitter would really benefit from some more information to help create a beautifully finished garment. In the end I managed to get a pretty neat finish, but I had to resort to tightening up some holes around the neck edge when I was darning the ends in.

I also made a few mods along the way. Firstly, I added a couple of cms to the sleeve and body length, so that it will fit a little longer. It's a slightly large fit on him at the moment all round (width and length), and in good proportion. I think the original fit of the pattern would have been a bit wide and stumpier in proportion, so I'm glad I did.

Secondly, I varied the hem edges. The sleeves I missed the line in the pattern when it said to start stocking stitch with a purl row, so the edge effectively has an extra row. But I worked it as per the pattern on the front and back hem edge, and it rolls quite distinctly, which the sleeves don't. The bottom edge might lie flat with another blocking and steam press, but it really doesn't bother me. I also forgot about the bottom side split detail when I was knitting the front, so I seamed it all the way down to the bottom edge (see here).

Oh, and the yarn. The yarn is utterly divine. I want to knit with it forever.