Knitting: Dusty Lavender Sweater Set for Scarlett

I had enough yarn left over from the sweater I made for Audrey that I could make a matching one for Scarlet, and so I had planned to do it, but the project ended up being fast and furious due to a last minute family photo shoot! My in-laws came in town for Scarlett's blessing and earlier this week my mother-in-law called to see what I thought about doing an extended family photo--we haven't had one since I married into the family and I had mentioned something a while back but wasn't planning to have it so soon after having a baby! I decided to set aside my vanity and instead focus on what the girls could wear. Much more fun.

Because of the cooler weather, not only did I need to finish this sweater but I also thought Scarlett needed a matching hat...

...and booties. The sweater is from the Debbie Bliss Special Knits book. The booties are the "Slip Ons" pattern from Zoe Mellor's 50 Baby Bootees to Knit (so many darling patterns in this book!). The hat is from the Bernat Organic Cotton Mommy and Me Book.

And look how beautiful my girls look in their matching outfits! I had to make Audrey a dress too. This is from a pattern I have from my mother's collection. It's Butterick 4676--darling bishop's yoke dresses with or without ruffles.

These gorgeous photos of the girls are by a local photographer, Jennifer Fauset.

Crochet: Earflap Hat and Scarf for Audrey

I have been crocheting up a storm for Christmas gifts, but I had to sneak one in for my cute toddler--in pinks and purples of course because purple is Audrey's favorite color. She helped me pick out this yarn--so fun. I can't wait to do more of that with her as she gets older.

The hat pattern is based on this free Lion Brand pattern but I used a worsted weight yarn instead, Vanna's Choice, and altered the pattern to make it work. I made the scarf using the same stitch and sized it to fit Audrey. She loves it! She looks darling in it and it's warm too. Just in time for making a snow man.

UPDATE: Still loving this hat and scarf! I've got a pattern for these hats for babies to adults in my shop!

Knitting: Lace Yoked Sweaters in Dusty Rose

These sweaters are my favorite knitting project so far! I love the old fashioned lace yokes. I found the pattern for Audrey's toddler sweater at Lionbrand but I used this beautiful cotton/merino wool Dusty Rose "MainLine" yarn from KnitPicks.

Turns out I really enjoy following a more complicated pattern and yarn overs are really not so difficult. It keeps it more interesting so it seems to go more quickly than sticking with stockinette. I think the result is beautiful! I want to do this sweater again in a larger size. Would be gorgeous in a dark color--KnitPicks has a "Red Velvet Cake" that looks fabulous.

I love the seed (moss) stitch around the neck and in the placket. Though the pattern for Scarlett's sweater didn't call for it I decided to duplicate it because...

...Scarlett's sweater is from an entirely different pattern--more popcorn than lace--but I like it too. I used Lorraine Major's 5HBS (five hour baby sweater). I went out on a limb with this one because the pattern called for a bulky yarn but I wanted to use the same worsted weight yarn. It worked, but barely. It definitely could have been a bit bigger.

I didn't do the popcorn on the bottom of the sweater as per the pattern so that Scarlett's sweater would be more similar to Audrey's.

So fun to have the matching set.

Rooms: Baby Girl (#2) Nursery

The nursery is coming together! The chair was delivered, and I love it. My upholsterer did such a great job with the slip cover--matched the pattern perfectly. I love this fabric, and the trim, and it's comfortable besides. I made a pillow out of the crewel-embroidered fabric for the crib bumper (actually cut out two in a plan for twin beds down the road but only sewed one now as hand sewing the trim was a bit tedious). I found the side table on JCPenney.com of all places. Love it when I can find what I had in mind--no painting required.

For years I have been storing this painting of my mother and I realized the colors and size are perfect for this little girl's nursery! I love the idea of my mother looking over her. I painted this right after I graduated from college and my mother really never loved the idea of it hanging in her home. I think it made her self conscious and/or maybe she didn't really care for it. When I pulled it out a couple months ago I thought about trying to change I few things I would do differently now but decided to leave it as is. It is from that time. And I think it looks like my mother, which is the most important thing to me.

I have set up the little display cubbies in the closets. They add some color and personality to the room. I love these closets! More about them later (we had some built in Audrey's room too).

The crib is all set up. I am really happy with the way the bumper and skirt turned out. I LOVE this fabric. So fun to do another girl's room and have it be so different from Audrey's. This room feels sort of eclectic vintage to me, while Audrey's is a bit more formal, a bit Asian. I don't know... In any event, I really enjoy pulling these rooms together.

I found a crib sheet with a pale pink polka dot at Target, and I think it's just the thing for the crib.

Audrey didn't need the chest of drawers in her big girl room so it's in Scarlett's to use as a changing table. The glass knobs work here too luckily.

I have some ideas for a couple more oil paintings to paint, a framed crochet piece and some crochet pillows, but that will take some time. For now we're pretty ready! We just need the baby girl to put in the nursery!

Sewing: A Waldorf Doll for Audrey

Based on advice I've received from many moms and dads, seems it's a good idea to have a special gift for Audrey when her baby sister arrives. Something to make her feel as if she hasn't completely fallen out of the center of attention. A lot of people recommend a "baby" of her own, to mimic mommy and the new baby, but I liked my friend, Margie's, advice: she said you'll have a real baby in your home and Audrey should learn to help with her baby sister. She also reminded me that as parents we often have different ideas about how children should play, what toys they should bond with, how lifelike their toys need to be, etc. So instead of getting a doll with all the attendant baby accessories (which was difficult anyway since I didn't want plastic), I decided to sew a little Waldorf doll for Audrey. I love these dolls! I love the philosophy behind them. And I really hope Audrey will love hers.

Thankfully I have an amazing friend in Margie who has made many of these dolls for her daughter and some friends. She and her girls, Sophie and Olivia, came over to my home a couple evenings and Margie taught us how to make the dolls. We were using the Magic Cabin Doll Kit, but it helps to have someone to offer the finer points of dollmaking. The trickiest part was making the head, and getting the wool wrapped tightly enough. There was also a lot of hand sewing. It took a bit more time than I imagined but I think she turned out beautifully!

I wanted to make the doll to resemble Audrey so I embroidered big, round, dark brown eyes and a little pink rosebud mouth. I didn't like the lighter brown hair I found so I went with a reddish-brown. Audrey's hair has been cut in a cute pageboy style but that wasn't really possible with the doll so I opted for bangs and pig tails. Also thought this style was least likely to be too abused by a toddler!
I used the Magic Cabin Doll Kit patterns for the clothing as well, which sew up really quickly. Difficult to make clothing that small however!
I had a difficult time finding what I thought was the right fabric for the clothing in terms of the right pattern scale. I think these fabrics (Bubbles & Blooms by Beverlyann Stillwell for Lyndhurst Studio and Classic Red by Paintbrush Studio) worked really well for a traditional, American look. I would also like to try something a little more funky and European, but I can make more clothing later.

The important thing is that I finished this doll in time! Audrey was a week early and so who knows when this little baby girl will arrive...