Erica’s Blog

  OK, I finished it.  I like it.  I like the feel of the yarn and the openness of the stitch pattern.  It’s kind of scrunchy (that’s a technical term, ya’ll).  It would be really interesting to see this stitch done in a fingering weight yarn or something.  After making a few shorter, cravat-type scarves, it was nice to make a longer one for a change.

YARN:  Moda Dea Floral in black from the Yarn Fairy.

STITCH:  Grand Eyelet Lace from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker.

NEEDLES:  US 13’s and 17’s (third row of the pattern repeat has you use larger needles).

I actually started a really cool scarf from some of the yarn from Jeannette today, but I had to frog it about eight or nine inches in b/c it was rolling too much.  Feh!  I’m going to redo it with a wider garter border on the edges in hopes that it won’t do that again.  Phooey!

Some day, I’ll finish that gold Wool-Ease scarf. ….

  OK, OK, OK — I realize that this is a horrid picture of me, but that’s not the point.  I just started on the third (and last) ball of Moda Dea Floral (black) for this scarf.  How much longer do I need to make it?  Just a few more inches?  The whole rest of the ball?  Please send in your comments so I can decide.  Thanks.

I haven’t posted about it in a while, but it IS still P.A.I.L. (pregnancy & infant loss) Awareness Month.  Here is some information from www.firstcandle.org about stillbirth.

[To the two bereaved moms who shared their stories with me this week via email -- Thank you so much for entrusting me with your story and your pain.  I feel such a bond with you now that I wouldn't have had otherwise.]

 

Following are the most recent Facts on Stillbirth (PDF) and  ways to reduce the risk.  A printer friendly version of this document is available to use as a handy reference or handout. 

• Stillbirth is the death of an infant in-utero and past 20 completed gestational weeks.  More than 26,000 babies are stillborn in the United States each year.
   
• The majority of these deaths occur at or near full term – they are otherwise healthy babies that die shortly before or during birth.
   
• It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of all stillbirth deaths remain unexplained.  Researchers feel that this is more likely due to a failure to investigate the deaths, rather than a medical mystery.
   
• Stillbirth deaths are unpredictable, and there are no identifiable risk factors.  They cut across socio-economic classes, races, religions, body types and maternal age groups.  No woman is immune.
   
• There is no standardization or guidelines for autopsies and data collection when a stillbirth death occurs - policies vary from hospital to hospital. Autopsies are rarely performed and any data collected remains in the hospital files, rather than being shared with researchers.
   
• Mothers who suffer a stillbirth do not receive recognition in 39 out of 50 states.  There is no certificate of birth or death – making these babys’ births “invisible.”
   
• Some of the most common diagnosable causes for stillbirth are:  placental problems, birth defects, intra-uterine growth restriction and infections.

At this time, stillbirth cannot be predicted or prevented.  However, there are helpful strategies for pregnant women to follow to help reduce the risk of stillbirth: 

• Begin to monitor your baby’s activity at around 26 weeks.  If you feel less than 8-10 kicks during a two-hour period, or if the baby is moving less than usual and you are concerned, contact your doctor immediately.  Kicks Count
   
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs (unless prescribed by your doctor)
   
• Report any vaginal bleeding, leakage or sharp pain
   
• If you are post-term, discuss options with your doctor. Pregnancies longer than 42 weeks may be at increased risk for stillbirth
   
• Do not hesitate to request a second or third opinion anytime during your pregnancy if needed to put your mind at ease.

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your doctor’s advice.

  This is the yarn Sherri gave me on Thursday.  She was SO funny about it — apologizing that it wasn’t as much as she had thought was in the box, etc.  Like I can complain about getting free yarn?! 

Adri, what do you think about those two balls of turquoise?  It’s not silk like she’d said, but cotton and viscose.

Sorry I haven’t posted much this week.  I really haven’t been feeling very good.  My allergies were acting up, so M-Th, I woke up with a headache every day that never completely left me.  I won’t gross you out with describing the “seasonal” issues.

Survived baking for the bake sale at school w/o pigging out.  The double-chocolate muffins were a hit.  Gee, and they never even knew it was a classic Weight Watchers recipe!  (What they don’t know won’t hurt them.)

Sadly, however, on Friday I discovered that WW has released some one-Point mini carrot cakes with the cream cheese frosting.  They’re tiny but yummy, and they come eight to a package.  I found them at Safeway when I was getting treats for Thing Two’s class.  Well, the box didn’t make it twelve hours.

Got a wig for Thing One for her costume last night.  Didn’t go up to the party store, but found one at Spencer’s (BOY, was THAT a DUMB idea, taking her in there!).  It goes down to her waist, so it’s long enough.  Any longer might not be too practical.

Hubby got Jenna a new collar so that I can take her for walks.  It’s not a choke chain, but it has these things that poke her if she pulls on the leash.  With this collar, even Thing One can walk her!  OK, now I’ll have NO excuse for not walking her.  She & I will be getting more exercise, and this should help 1) her behaviour and 2) my weight loss.

      What’s the origin of the word “hijinks” anyway? 

Thing Two’s kindergarten readiness class had their Halloween festivities on Friday.  It was cute — they paraded to the big meeting room, where the Alzheimer’s caregivers’ support group was meeting, and the folks in there gave them candy and had a good chuckle over them, then they went to the office for more candy, then back to class.  Each parent had brought snacks to share.  Theoretically, we’re only supposed to bring store-bought stuff for a couple of different reasons, but of course there’s always one person who doesn’t follow the rules (see the hard-boiled-egg mouse in the second picture).

 Feel like I’m making some progress on this thing.  Look how long it’s getting!  Next post about it, I’ll have to loop it to get it all in one picture. 

  Cast on for this last night with the gals at Starbucks.  YARN:  Moda Dea Floral (black) from The Yarn Fairy.  PATTERN:  Grand Eyelet Lace stitch pattern from Barbara Walker’s book.  It’s going really fast, despite the fact that I wasn’t paying attention last night and had to frog it and start all over again.

Here are the promised pictures of the yarn from Jeannette….

Well, tonight was the third meeting of the SSF/San Bruno Knits group at the Bayhill Starbucks.  The group is growing, which is encouraging and a lot of fun.  I’m sure we got some goofy looks as we moved furniture around, etc., but hey — we were seven paying customers (nine if you count Jeannette’s hubby and son, who were there just at the beginning).

Our little group started b/c Jeannette was tired of having to pay $65 to take a knitting class just to get to sit around and knit and gab.  She brought Jean and Katie, two co-workers who knit and Rita who, the first week was just considering learning.  The second week, she had needles and yarn in hand!  Last week, we got treated to a glimpse or two of Katie’s intricate, trophy-winning tattoos (imagine having to drop your drawers on stage in front of hundreds of people to show off the pictures on your butt!). 

As it turns out, Jeannette’s son goes to Thing One’s school (a year behind her), and she knew me from the WW Double Chocolate Muffins I made for the Pumpkin Patch last year   (“YOU’RE the one!”).  South City is such a small world!

This week, we were joined by Jennifer, who was hopefully not scared off by us old fogeys, Helga, who was knitting a papoose for the daughter she’s expecting in a few months (Good thing I forgot to wear my picture of Paul today!  I think she probably would have been freaked out by that story!), and Ada, who was knitting some beautiful, brightly striped socks on two circulars (Can you say “Cat Bordhi”?) with self-striping Regia sock yarn.  Next week, Donna might come, and I may try to rope in Gretchen. 

I tell ya, I gotta make myself a shirt or a button that says “Yarn Magnet”.  Jeannette sent me home with a big bag full of yarn!  I’ll post pictures tomorrow (ohhhhhhhhh, Daniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!); I tried taking them in the kitchen in the “good” light, but yarn pictures at night just don’t turn out.  In return, Jeannette has specified two balls of yarn she’d like me to use to make a cape for her Chihuahua.  Yupp.  You read that right — a cape for a Chihuahua (Hey, Adri, should I make one for Scooby?  j/k).  Hey, for all this yarn — NO problem!  You should see this stuff — some of it would make gorgeous lacy scarves.  I’m drooling, I’m telling you.

Well, off to bed.  I *must* drag my rear out of bed to go work out early in the morning if I’m going to meet my goal of going to Curves a minimum of three times every week….

 

Thing Two’s craft class won’t be meeting for a couple of weeks, so they had their Halloween party today.  It’s cute — they parade around the atrium of the Municipal Building, then troop on down to the Park & Rec Department office to “trick or treat”, then back to class for treats.  Here are the best of the pictures.

Too bad Miss Tinkerbell hates to have her picture taken, eh?  Actually, she was doing really well considering she took a tumble last night and has an open wound that has to get Neosporin on it three or four times a day (painful!).