Monthly Archives: August 2011

Plush Football

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So, for those of you who don’t know (which would have included me, before I got married to Paul) college football season is just around the corner. My husband loves college football. So, he thought I should make a nice, manly toy for our son who will be born right in the start of football season. So, here it is:

It’s actually pretty fun to throw around the room. Paul and I have been practicing.


And I’m even going to give you the pattern for free today. Yep- because I am nice like that.

Yeah. Free pattern is a good pattern, right?

And if you were wondering how big the football is, here is my very large belly for comparison.

Yep, I’ll be 37 weeks on Sunday, so we’re getting pretty close.

Ok- here is the pattern:

Plush Football
Size 7 DPN’s
Stuffing
Yarn Needle
Worsted weight yarn, brown and white (Not sure on exact measurements here, since I just used up yarn I already had, but you don’t need much white yarn at all)

With brown yarn cast on 6 stitches. Divide among 3 DPN’s.

Row 1: Join in the round and knit once around
Row 2: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 9 stitches)
Row 3: Knit once around
Row 4: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 15 stitches)
Row 5: Knit once around
Row 6: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 3, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should have have 21 stitches)
Row 7: Knit once around
Row  8: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 5, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 27 stitches)
Row 9: Knit once around (On ALL ODD numbered rows, knit once around- so I am just going to omit the ODD rows from here on out in the pattern)
Row 10: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 33 stitches)
Row 12: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 39 stitches)
Row 14: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 45 stitches)
*SWITCH TO WHITE YARN*
Row 16: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 51 stitches)
Row 18: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 57 stitches)
Row 20: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 63 stitches)
*SWITCH BACK TO BROWN YARN*
Row 22: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 69 stitches)
Row 24: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 75 stitches)
Row 26: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 81 stitches)
Rows 27-37: Knit all the way around
Row 38: Knit 1, K2T, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2t, Knit 1  (Repeat on all 3 needles)
Row 39: Knit all the way around
*Repeat rows 38 and 39 until you have one 9 stitches left (3 stitches on each needle)*
(But remember to switch back to your white yarn when you only have 63 stitches left and then back to your brown yarn when it gets to 45 stitches)

 Cut your yarn leaving a 6 inch tail, stuff your plush football, using yarn needle pull the tail through remaining stitches and pull tight to close. Then, using white yarn create the ‘laces’ on the top of the football. I did two strands of yarn going lengthwise of the football, and six going width wise. Use the picture as a guide if you need help. Or do what I did and Google a picture of a football to make sure I had it somewhat close to being right!

Enjoy!

Cherry Picking

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So yesterday we went cherry picking. I think I was a little over-zealous with my cherry picking, because now I have 10 pounds of cherries and I’m not entirely that I want to pit 10 pounds of cherries. Yeah.


And so they’re just sitting on my kitchen table. Giving me the stink-eye. Begging me to do something with them.


The good thing about all of this cherry picking was that it gave me a nice little workout yesterday (a lot of stretching and reaching, and also I think driving over crazy-bumpy roads helped too) because when I went to the doctor this morning she said that this little man is locked and ready to go.

And that I’ve gained 3/10ths of a pound!  Ok, so maybe this is a total TMI, but he’s definitely dropped and when she did my exam today she said she could feel his head wayyy down low in my pelvis (which makes my waddle-walk that much more hilarious, because it feels like I’ve got a bowling ball between my legs) and I’m dilating  (um, yay!) and things are looking good to have this baby pretty soon. She thinks it’ll be in the next two weeks. So let’s hope she’s right.

36 Weeks

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So I made it to the “safe zone”, as my doctor put it. Something magical happens at the 36 week mark where they decide that if you go into labor from here on out they’re not stopping it.

Something happened in my brain, too. Once I hit that magical “36 week mark” and I took my very last dose of Nifedipine there was this switch that went off in my head that was like “Ok- it’s go time!” even though it could very well be 4 more weeks until this baby comes for some reason I just all of the sudden got ridiculously impatient for him to arrive. Every little twinge, Braxton Hicks contraction, weird symptom has got me running to Google to find out if it’s a sign of labor. I should be banned from my computer for these last few weeks, seriously. But at least I am not on bed rest anymore, so I can at least feel like I can be productive and get things done while I am waiting on this little dude to arrive. Although, with all of that sitting around I did for the last few weeks I DID get a lot of knitting done, and that’s always good.

And now we play the waiting game. Since I stopped taking the medication (this is day two of no labor-stopping meds) will he decide to join us soon? Or since we went through all that work to stop labor early is he content to just sit around until 40 weeks? (Or 41, or 42?!)  I don’t wanna force him out early, but just so you know Togglebuttons, we’re all ready for you! We’ve got everything set up and ready to go. We’ve got the crib set up, we’ve got the car seat ready, we’ve got the hospital bag packed. But now that I’ve got everything all ready to go I just feel like I am sitting around waiting. Just… waiting. I know, everyone has said that the last month is the worst, getting impatient and just wanting to hold your baby already. I’m only two days into my ‘last month’ and I’m already getting stir crazy. Not to mention it’s just too darn hot to do anything outside, and I end up just sitting on the couch in front of the fan all day.

So, whenever you’re ready, baby, we are ready for you.

Fishy Fishy

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I made another fish this weekend! He was a belated birthday present for our niece Arielle.


And these pictures that Paul took of it are cracking me up. I would have never thought to take pictures of it on top of a bowl of apricots.

He’s much more creative with the photo shoots than I am. I’m pretty sure I should just have him take the pictures from now on.

And today I am going cherry-picking with some friends. I am hoping that the exercise will bring Togglebuttons out… SO happy not to be on bedrest anymore. That was getting mighty boring! But I DID get a lot of knitting done, so it wasn’t ALL bad!

Penguin II

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So, I loved that little purple penguin so much that I decided that Togglebuttons needed his own penguin.

Little Penguin waves “hello!”

And now he’s joined the rest of the little zoo!

Also, while cleaning out the spare bedroom and making room for all of the baby stuff, I found that little blue and white bunny that I made a year and a half ago. He’s not my favorite, but hey, it’s another critter to add to the menagerie.

So, any ideas of what animals I should make next? I’ve got to keep myself busy until I am off bedrest, so I don’t go absolutely crazy. So, any suggestions would be appreciated! I know Autumn already suggested a green elephant (to match the bedding!) so I may start on that. But I’d love to hear what you guys think!

Little Purple Penguin

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I made this little Purple Penguin for a custom order. Isn’t he cute?

He’s on his way to Portland as we speak.

I liked him so much that I cast one on today for Togglebuttons! Although, his will just be a black and white one.

Also, can I show you guys something kind of disturbing? It’s not too gross, don’t worry. This is a picture of my feet today.


Sausage feet! They look sunburned! They’re so swollen that they’re turning pink! Pretty gross, huh? I swear I didn’t adjust the color or anything, that’s how red my feet are! It’s soo hot outside right now, and that sure isn’t helping with the swelling! Plus, the medication they put me on to stop contractions is also a blood pressure lowering medication… well, that’s contributing to the problem. BUT, in good news, I went to the doctor yesterday and everything is looking great. He’s head-down, I’m not having any contractions thanks to the medication I’m on, but he said I should stop taking the medication this weekend, and then if I go into labor then they are just going to let me have this baby! I am trying not to get too excited about the fact that I might be having this baby as soon as next week, otherwise if I don’t end up having him next week I don’t want to be disappointed. But things are looking good, and he’s still measuring big. They approximate him to be around six pounds, but who knows how accurate that is. But everything is looking good!

Another Friend for Togglebuttons

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I made another little friend for Togglebuttons! It’s a pattern I’ve used before, and thought he was kind of fun, so I thought I’d make him again.

Although, there is something not quite right about his face. I always struggle with the faces…

But I think I am done working on him, because I don’t feel like working on it anymore. And I’ve got other projects to attend to.


Although, his green color does coordinate nicely with the baby’s bedding.

Yep- I think he’ll fit in nicely with the locals.

Also, guys, I totally finished that tie I was working on. And it rules. Seriously, I’ll show you pictures on Thursday. It’s the best, ever. I am really pleased with it.

Ok- see you all tomorrow with your “You Knit What?!” Wednesday!

Nursery Bedding

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So, for my baby shower present we got the cutest bedding for Togglebuttons Nursery from my mom. I absolutely adore it.

Isn’t it the cutest, EVER?

 My sister Erika is actually the one that found it for me. And I instantly fell in love with it. And I think it’s gender neutral enough to use for other future children, girl or boy.

Togglebuttons little buddies are already in the crib waiting for him! Now all we need is a baby!

 It even has a cute little dust-ruffle, in my favorite color of green! Ok, now that I am looking at these pictures, I realized I probably should have ironed them before taking pictures and posting them all over the internet… (sorry mom)

Now I just need to get something to hang his cute new elephant mobile on! (If anyone has any great ideas on how to attach it to the crib, I’d love to hear them. You can see a picture of the mobile hanging to the right, just behind me (it’s hanging from the light fixture) in this picture.)