Let see how long I can keep this blogging thing-y going. I have a few weeks left before I have to bring home the bacon. Till then, I plan to squeeze in as many crafty projects as possible in the midst of caring for the bub and crazy pumping schedule, did I mention that I pump exclusively coz baby boy just won’t latch on?
Anyway, I finished this wrap (my first ever, yay) a few weeks before he arrived.
Pattern: Cosette wrap by Alana Dakos
Yarn: Sanguine Gryphon Free Range, sadly this yarn is discontinued and I forget the colorway, let’s just call it honey, shall we?
Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse for the picot edge
Needle: size 9
I am not a wrap person and often time can’t find a proper moment to wear it being in California and such. I mostly spend my time at the comfort of my suburb in San Jose, which is hardly freezing cold and this winter is especially warm. So, the jury is still out whether It’ll get a decent flying time or it is just a one hit wonder and I shouldn’t be spending my precious dollar and time in wrap/shawl project. Having said that, it does help perks up my otherwise plain jane wardrobe
The pattern is very simple and shaped by short row. The only thing is to make sure to track the short rows with a bunch of stitch markers. The short row compensates for the tedious stockinette stitch throughout. I love that it is finished with a picot edge, totally elegant.
The Sanguine Gryphon yarn has a lovely color but a bit itchy, not as buttery as merino wool that I am now accustomed to. I like that it pops out when I wear it with a plain old black or white t-shirt.
You see that bump right there in the picture, I finally come to terms with the fact that it’ll take time for it to go back to its former glory. I was distraught when I ran into a co-worker who thought that the bun was still in the oven three weeks after I gave birth. I am still breast-pumping, so dieting is not an option. I try to exercise regularly to burn it off as much as I can, mostly doing zumba and cardio kickboxing, i do see my weight goes down by the week. This bump is another reason why I hesitate on sewing projects at the moment. I now fit right back into my pre-pregnancy low rider jeans but have a few more pounds to shed before I can fit into my dresses and skirts.
That’s a beautiful shawl!
It took me four months to get back to pre-preg weight and more like a year before the body was done recovering, so don’t sweat it—it will come (and I was very young and fit at the time…). Your have my major admiration on the pumping (although I will hope a latch is somewhere in your future)… I knew a woman whose daughter had a cleft palate and thus was physically unable to latch, who pumped for nine months (and by that time had enough milk frozen for several months after)… I would do it myself if I had to, too, but that is an intense commitment.
@Tanit-Isis: Thanks, unfortunately, pumping is the only way to go for my son. He is one little frantic baby. If he does not get his milk on time, he’ll throw a big fit and I end up spending an hour calming him down, sucks i know…I am planning to wean him off when he reaches 6 months at the most or sooner if it is proven to be too stressful when I get back to work
it had been so warm lately! i am not complaining — thats why people love california! but for fashion purposes i do wish it gets colder sometimes
i do hope we get some coldness before spring comes for reals so you can wear your awesome shawl!
pumping and then feeding is tiring! its like doubling time needed for feeding. i have to pump at work and i am very bad at keeping the schedule, and now i think its hurting my milk supply… eeks!
@juebejue: yeah, pumping sucks but in a way, it is one way for me to catch up on reading blogs/news. you are back at work? hope your pumping goes smoothly and be careful not to catch mastitis…I had it once and it ain’t fun
My little one took a whole two months to take my milk directly off of me. Pumping sucked. LOL. As far as tummy pooches – I did the old fashioned thing and wrapped. I had corsets and wrapping concoctions that I wore 24/7 faithfully for 6 months. I think it helps somehow. I ended up slightly flatter than pre-pregnancy.
@Susan: wow the corset does work huh? my mom has been insisting, i am looking into that as well just as a shapewear when I go back to work
Beautiful wrap! The color is so fun. Come visit me and you’ll definitely get some use out of it.
Yesterday it was in the 20′s.
Don’t worry about the post-baby belly. You have to be patient with your body. Good job on the fitness classes. Just a tip…stay away from crunches until the separation in your ab muscles heal. Do planks or other core exercises until then. I give you major props for the pumping. I know how tiring it is. I was able to nurse my daughter but this time it didn’t work out with my son. I pumped for two and a half months and ended up getting Mastitis twice! It took me a little while to get over the guilt, but like my mom said, my baby needs a happy mom. So I moved on and went to formula. It’s definitely been easier going back to work this time without having to pump. But you can do it! Bring a worn piece of your son’s clothing with you to smell when you pump at work. It will help keep your supply up. ok, the end. Sorry for the book