Last week my ex-husband and his truly sweet wife had a teeny, tiny baby little baby girl in Ireland. This means that my daughters are now big sisters, and once the whole crew moves back to New York in August, the girls will have a new baby sister in their lives on a very regular basis. We coo at her daily on the video Skype feeds (anyone with people in foreign countries needs this free service NOW) and she is just about the most precious little thing ever!
Now you can imagine that a 42 year old tough broad such as myself could have gone either way about this whole baby thing, right? Wasn't the choice between some sort of pathetic bitterness leading to quiet, stoic acceptance or sheer, unbridled enthusiasm? Well I have opted for the latter and it is such the better choice. It's a win-win situation: there's a new baby in the family, the girls have a little sibling, I get to knit for a little tot and thereby hopefully extend my good knitting karma, the girls will go to Ireland for the month of July, I still get to go to Paris with the Curmudgeon of my dreams, and I don't have hemorrhoids and am forever finished with Tucks pads! Seriously, we are all thrilled. This baby has so many people loving her already, and that is as it should be.
Did I mention that the little babe was barely a five pounder? This means that a teeny, tiny sweater was in order. I decided to go for the EZ Feb. Baby Sweater on Two Needles, my go-to baby girl pattern. Such a winner.
The Specs:
Pattern: Baby Sweater on Two Needles (Feb. baby sweater)
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Beach Fog, about 1/3 of the skein, max.
Needles: size 3 addi turbos
Mods: Since this little babe is extra tiny, I went with the smaller needle size and started the lace pattern after only 2 1/2 inches. Peeper-lou said that she wanted the sweater to have cap sleeves, and I was only too happy to oblige. The buttons are from Natural Stitches.
I just loved Dream in Color, the yardage is unbelievable and the color is just variegated enough to be interesting but is in no way loud or garish, two qualities that I think we all are looking to avoid.
More evidence that Ravelry ate my brain: This past weekend I went to Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh, and when faced with their gigantic selection of Malabrigo, I came home with three skeins of Pollen. At the time I thought it was an odd choice, but it felt right. Later that evening I checked on the Malabrigo board on Ravelry and saw that not only had there been a thread about 'What to do with three skeins of Pollen?', but that I had participated in it! I mean, I always knew dementia was coming my way, but so soon?
It was so much fun reading everyone's fave ravspects, thanks for all your comments. The lucky winner of the Phildar Préface yarn is Susan of Knitting as Fast as I can. Congrats, Susan!
43 comments:
What a wonderful choice- very inspiring. That sweater made me squee and that pollen is "nothing to sneeze at." (heh heh) What a beautimous color.
I think serious good karma is in order - what great modeling for your daughters - I love that high road! Woo Hoo! And the sweater is darling, darling! I really need to make one. The pollen is simply gorgeous!
Yay! Thanks!
The sweater is so adorable, but I'm even more impressed with your enthusiasm. Not only are you a wonderful ex, but you are a wonderful role model for your girls! Of course, I'm not at all surprised.
That sweater is the cutest. I appreciate your attitude towards your ex, his wife and their baby. Somehow my husband, his ex, and I have all ended up living in the same city AND we all work together. Long ago, we decided to be a grown-ups about it and these days we usually end up having Thanksgiving together. I'm sure that if I had a baby she'd knit something for it and I'd do the same for her baby. A lot of people think our arrangement is very weird, so even though it's not always easy, I'm glad to know we're not the only ones who can all just get along.
Darling, darling sweater :)
Way to work the karma angle. The sweater (cap sleeves and all) is adorable! Love the Dream in Color, too. It's some good stuff.
You will have wonderful Karma coming your way for knitting a sweater for your ex's baby. It is always fun to knit for babies no matter whose they are though. I am always wishing for babies to knit for.
Your "tough old broad" status is going to take a serious beating after an act of such selfless kindness and maturity. There is nothing easy about dealing with an ex, a remarriage, or a new baby who is related to your own kids, and very few people can handle it with the grace you are demonstrating. (I wish my husband's ex had even once put the interests of her son above her own bitterness.) And the sweater is gorgeous!
I always enjoy reading your posts, but this one was most inspiring and I couldn't resist delurking to comment! As a high school teacher, I hear about the fighting and power struggles between divorced parents all the time and I'm really glad to see that it's possible to move on, be happy and spread more happiness. The baby will only THRIVE in such positivity - as will your daughters. You are an awesome role model!
...And the baby jacket is the sweetest sweetest ever. I love it!
What a sweet sweater! You are definitely doing a lot for your good karma -- I think it's a real work of love to knit anyone a sweater, and to do so for an ex's child ... well, that's just saying something powerful to the knitting gods.
What a great thing for your girls to have a little sister, too! I always wanted a sister. Unfortunately my parents decided to give me a brother instead, and then, when I got married, wouldn't you know I found myself with a brother in law? Now we just have to hope the two brothers mature enough someday to get married so I can finally have sisters!
Next time you're in Pittsburgh, let me know -- we should get together!
what a sweet gesture!
That's adorable. The color is perfect. Congrats to your daughters on being big sisters!
Okay, that is the cutest thing I have ever seen and the buttons are to die for!!! Now, how about upping your karma ante with some wee little booties??!!
It's absolutely darling! :) You are so sweet to knit it.
What a precious little sweater. I love the different buttons, I would have never thought to do that!
so pretty! great baby sweater - it's such a great thing to do! I am truly a believer in good karma! :-)
I am currently totally in love with anything and everything Dream In Color. LOVE IT! I also wanted to say that I think it is great that you are able to maintain a good relationship with your ex. I am a child of divorced parents who can't even be in the same room. I mean dear god people it has been 28 years! I just wanted to tell you that I think you are an amazing person.
Awww...that sweater is so cute! And that Malabrigo...I might have to get me some of that. It's been way too long since I bought any malabrigo!
This is a very cute sweater; but honestly, karma indeed. Awesome.
A new, sweet baby girl...especially your daughters' sister is always a good thing!! I love the sweater you knit her, gorgeous.
Oh, what a sweet, sweet little sweater! Glad to hear it about the yarn, too, I have some of that in my stash.
(It's tough for me to believe that my kid was nearly twice as large as the little girl at birth! Here's sending some good vibes their way.)
Congrats on the new family member! She sounds so sweet. My girls were almost that small so I have a soft spot for the tiny ones!
Peeper Lou got it right on the cap sleeve idea! The FBS looks fantastic!
Wow, barely a five pounder! I can only imagine a baby that small... all of mine have been between 8 lbs 3 oz and 9 lbs 12 oz! A five pounder would probably just fall out for me, hehehe...
What a precious tiny sweater for a new tiny baby! Love the cap sleeves.
That Pollen Malabrigo looks so yummy and buttery- my favorite color to decorate with (I have many walls that color...) but I truly cannot wear yellow without looking terribly ill... so if I ever get an urge to knit something in that yummy color, it would be for my baby sister who tans in the first 5 minutes out on the first sunny day of our minnesota year- how's that for unfair?! Ugh... anyway, can't wait to see what you knit up with that yarny goodness!
Happy knitting-
ali
Now that is just wonderful. Good karma all around.
Love the sweater with the short sleeves -- I'll have to tuck that one away in the recesses of my brain somewhere.
Love the cap sleeves! It's such an easy, obvious mod, and yet no one's done it before? You've done well.
I have a half-brother and half-sister, and I realize now what a potentially difficult situation it was. See, it is possible for everyone to get along! Congrats for handling things so well :)
Yes, definitely the way to go. Kudos to you for your positive attitude. All the well wishes you send out there will definitely come back to you and it makes it easier for your girls to love their baby sister without guilt. That is a sweet little knit!
Damn I missed your Ravelversary contest! Boo hiss. I need to check the blogs more frequently!
The baby sweater is darling - and good for you for your positive attitude!
adorable baby sweater! i must say, i loved reading this story! you don't hear enough of these stories!
Great story, and I love the baby sweater and yarn. I often have that choice to make - will I be open and positive about things, or will I choose to be pissy? Usually I try for the former, but sometimes the latter comes out. So Congrats! to you for making the positive choice.
What an adorable sweater!! You're right, it's a perfect go-to girl sweater. That's great that you can see her on Skype (I love that program!)
Beautiful sweater. Beautiful pollen. And congratulations on the new little person in your family. :-)
I have a very similar sweater for a bigger baby girl on the needles in Dream in Color Classy. I love it! It's my first Dream in Color yarn and my first EZ Feb sweater. What unbelievable fun, that there are still things to discover and be new at in this knitting game.
Beautiful cardigan! Love the yarn choice and the cap sleeves are darling!
Pathetic bitterness never leads to good things ... being happy was the correct choice of moods.
The sweater is adorable.
Great attitude, great sweater!
Oh-so-sweet!
What a terrific choice of yarn/color for the baby! Some smooshy love right from the start, and those buttons---ADORABLE!!
I am in total love with your Gingerbread Dude/Pain d'épices socks too. :)
ahhhh!!! so much fun to have a new baby in the family!
and i totally forgot about your kid-free month!!!
it all is just perfect!
oh. and the sweater is adorable!!
What a good ex you are! The sweater is just adorable. The buttons are perfect. Much good karma coming your way.
You ARE truly a wonderful lady.. What you've done and continue to do is wonderful for your family as well as the example you show others...EXCEPTIONAL!!!!.. The sweater is so so sweet...
It's precious. And truly a wonderful thing to do!
An absolutely perfect and precious sweater!
you are a wise woman.
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