One week

I wrote a post when Baby MiH was born - just to record how I felt. And with Thanksgiving being celebrated I thought I could give you an insight on how I feel about having 2 kids - when you never expected to have any. 

I never thought I was going to have a second baby. In fact I was so adamant I was not going to have another baby that I got rid of baby clothes, steriliser, bottles. I was lucky that the prams I have can still be used by Baby MiH, otherwise they too would have gone.

But Little Baby MiH is such an obvious addition to our family. Of course we have been talking about him for 5 months now. Baby MiH knew his name and had to include him in everything he was doing with me. When Little Baby MiH came he was so excited, everything in his world revolves around what Little Baby MiH does now. Look at that smile, it is genuine, he was desperate for a brother. I had an inkling, but I had no idea how much he was actually yearning for one. Good thing too because they will have to share everything! 

Little Baby MiH completes our family - to the point that he totally slotted in our routine. He is awake to say bye to Baby MiH when he leaves for nursery, he sleeps when we eat with Baby MiH so we can focus on that (we need to) and awakes usually for bath and reading times - as if he just knew. 

I don't think I could be more grateful today. All my fears were unfounded - and I should have trusted that we were meant to be a family of 4. I cannot wait to see how the boys relationship develops and how we grow as a family and individually. 

And, as it is a time to be grateful, I am SO grateful to have met so many people through the blog that inspire me and find my blog interesting. 

Anyway normal activity real resumes and of course the MiH boys will appear soon with some new crafty projects. 

Halloween T-shirt | A finish {Sewing and Cross-Stitching}

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! 

Halloween is a bit weird for me - we never celebrated it at my house when I was younger, so I don't feel that much attachment to it. Of course, this is all going to change now that I have children - and in fact it has changed in France too - everyone is dressing up now! 

This is my excuse for not making a full pumpkin outfit for Baby MiH - but going for something a bit more stylish (that he will be able to wear again). To be fair, this is the only year I will be able to do this, I am sure that next year he will be asking me for an outfit. He is already asking me for specific shoe colours (that we don't have, of course!)

Back to this project, I have spent all day yesterday making it the T-shirt and the cross-stitching. The T-shirt was quite quick to put together - the cross-stitching was a real time waster, but that is because I went for a much bigger pattern than I expected (I wanted a 'happy' ghost...). 

About the patterns: 

- The Tshirt pattern is Api by Blousette Rose. It is in French BUT with 4 pieces to sew together (and in fact a lack of precise instructions) I don't think you can really get it wrong. I made the pattern in the smallest size (2 yrs) which works perfectly for my 22 months-old. The jersey fabric is organic - and this is why I made one - from Ray-Stitch, and it is on sale! It is really easy to work with. 

- The Halloween cross-stitching patterns are from my Pinterest embroidery board. I used a cream thread rather than white to make it just a bit more ghostly. I used the waste canvas method to add the cross-stitching (I am a fan, cannot stop cross-stitching everything!). 

I am very pleased with the result - even though it meant cutting some sleep time last night (I did not IG at 2 in the morning when it was finished as I thought it might be a bit sad). Baby MiH was happy to wear it, which is always a good sign. I did not have that much luck with his ghost mask, oh well... He is off to nursery now, and there should be some snaps of him with all his little friends. 

So I managed to make a cute outfit - in one day - that did not scare Baby MiH (he has now understood the concept of fear...)! I can now relax!

Hope you are all having a great Halloween! 

Christmas posts will resume as of next week... 

Meet Desmond the Dragon | A finish {crochet}

He is cute, he is green, he is a dragon - let me introduce to Desmond (not my choice). If I am honest, I still cannot believe I have finished it. I do not crochet as much as knit, and thought that might be actually above my skills level. But look, I made him - with my little hands, on my own, no help! And he does actually look like the pattern - I know, amazing!

He is MUCH bigger than the pattern suggested - which may be why Baby MiH is not that keen on him (basically he is a big as he is when baby MiH sits).

In other things I am proud of having made are the eyes (well one of them, the other one is a bit wonky - did you notice the editing of the left eye). I could not find any, and then I thought of that fimo clay I had, 30 minutes in the oven, a bit of clear nail varnish (essential DIY tool) - et voila!

Then there is the clever bit about the spikes, so clever! You make a backbone chain, and then make the spikes! The back of the head is not the easiest of bit, but it is still very clever!

The ears are probably the cutest bits. Again it took me a while to understand - and a lot of Ravelry stalking to make sure I understood what I was supposed to do - I think I managed it ok.

 

Here is the back, it is a bit wonky, totally my fault - it happened when I pieced together the head to the body..

 

Pattern: "DIRK" - lalylala crochet pattern N° VI - Dragon, Dinosaur (available here)

Yarn:  Artenaso Definition sock yarn in Crocodile and Drops Karisma in Forest Green
(the white and orange yarn are leftovers from the fox hats, and the fabric from the Botanics collection)

Hook size: 4mm 

Modification: none only mistakes (except the size)
  Filling: Soft toy filling found here

There are many other great patterns by Lydia, I love the afro on Loni the Lion ... which one is your favourite?

Knitting and decreasing | A new baby hat {Knitting}

I will start with my star model (so you don't even have to read to the end of the post to see him)! Here he is, eating his breakfast, and therefore busy enough not to take his hat off. This is not going to be his hat though, I was only making sure this would fit another one year old  - and it clearly does. 

The pattern is from Phildar Catalogue Layette no 84 - in French. If anyone is interested (once you see the final result of course) I can write a translation - and include my modifications. I am knitting it in Rowan Creative Focus worsted yarn (I just love the palette of colours), in 3.5 mm. 

In the pattern I came across a new decrease stitch that I thought might be of interest for the knitters out there. 

The white dot shows the decrease stitch

Et voila. It is a bit fiddly, in fact very fiddly when you are working on DPNs with not many stitches left - but you do go from 3 stitches to 1 and the 'seam' really shows. Any new stitches you have found recently?