shiso mama

Of course there’s been some making of the wearables for Otis-ina, although not really as much as one might think. I don’t any problems starting any of these projects, only finishing them, unfortunately.

I bought this yarn to knit a baby blanket for a friend when she was pregnant. I believe that child (the oldest of three) is now six. I’m not sure how many times I’ve tried to use this yarn, and I finally finished a project with it. I used this pattern here, a pretty easy one to follow. I thought that sewing in a zipper would be easier than buttons and button holes, but it’s pretty much a toss-up as long as you can find the right zipper. Here’s a tutorial on sewing in a zipper, in case you ever find yourself in need. The hood is ribbed and the body is boxy, so it looks like my baby will have a little pin-head when she wears it.

A little top for Otis-ina to wear while we’re in Taiwan this summer. It’s made of a really thin cotton that I’ve been holding onto for some time. As opposed as I am to pink, I find myself surprisingly drawn to lavender, it’s kissing cousin. And burgundy. And mauve. And for some other reason, these ruffles made me irrationally happy. Alarming news, all of this.

And a little knitted cap, using this pattern and Koigu yarn, which has a slight sheen and comes in the most gorgeous colors. It also feels just great and has these subtle color variations, even in some of the solid colors, that I just love. I found myself drawn to this dusty rose yarn, and considered pairing it with a pale green grey, but when I asked the salesperson if it was too depressing for a baby, she paused and then said, “uhh….. nooooo, i don’t so.” I should’ve known that that was the response I was actually looking for, since I then bought this dusty turquoise color instead, and although I like the color quite a bit, I should’ve realized that knitting the two next to each other would make the rose appear - gasp!- pink! Damn, I forgot basic color theory.