It's a boy! And another boy!

TWIN BOYS! What am I getting into?

I should have known... I've been chowing down on anything with hot sauce. LOL

We had a wonderful gender reveal party with our close family and friends! It was such a wonderful way to get together and celebrate with some more adult time than a shower (not that I'm knocking showers, I can't wait for mine, this was just different!) We played a few games and everyone voted on what they thought the gender of the twins were! Most thought they were a girl and a boy, some wishful thinking ladies thought 2 girls, and only three people chose 2 boys (my mother in law, sister in law and step sister in law! LOL) On the menu was a bunch of my "craving" foods: Buffalo chicken, ranch meatballs, munchos, chips and salsa/ queso dip, pudding, jello, olives, pickles, ranch dip, mac and cheese.... Oh it was yummy. :)

A garland made of sonogram pictures... just paper clip to a wide ribbon and pin up!

Find the blue paci and pink ribbon to win a prize!

My cute prize table! It's a wooden ironing board with cloth diapers as a table cloth!

Photo albums for the winners of the gender guess, little socks stuff with organic lollies were the favors and monkey bread kits went to those who found the paci and bow. :) (We are doing a monkey theme. :))

I made handmade bunting for decoration- these will go up in the boys' room

cute right?

Some of the food with the cake- all very random cravings! And yes, that's a bottle of tums- that stayed on the table!

? What's inside? Pink? Blue? a layer of each? EEK! It was gluten free to say the least. :P

oh! Gramma's cutting the cake to see what the grandbabies will be!

BLUE!!!!!! 3 layers? Oops. Nope, not triplets, but mommy ran out of batter for the fourth layer..... 

So that was the party! We had such a blast! It was a lot of work for this mama to prepare for and BOY were my feet swollen by the time I got to bed (WAY passed my bed time!) but it was worth it! It's so lovely to share this sort of thing with those closest to you!

Two skirts on a Sunday morning.

With my expanding waist comes the shrinking of my wardrobe. It's sad.

So.... I made myself two new skirts. cost? $0. They were made from fabric and an old skirt that were in my stash already.

Tada!

This one was made out of just over a yard of wool flannel for the body, and a bit of leftover black cotton interlock for the fold over waist. The front and back panels are essentially the same, but I cut an extra low dip in the front to accommodate my growing belly. I made it to measure a bit wider than my hips so there would be ease in the unstretchy wool, and added a giant pocket on the side front.

This one was an existing skirt that had a fixed waistband and a zipper. Good golly that was NOT going to fit in the near future... I cut it about 8 inches below the original waist, cutting off the zipper and making it wider than my hips. I added the same fold over "yoga" waistband out of another piece of cotton interlock. This one is a bit bigger which is fine.

I figure these will work for pregnancy and after since they are stretchy and not specifically maternity.

If anyone is interested, I'll make a tutorial later, there is another piece of wool that is calling out to be another skirt.

What I've been knitting...

Soaker sacks!!! Well, one soaker sack. I knit it with a striped seed stitch pattern and I'm rather pleased with it....

Sleep Sack basic pattern

For newborn size:

Supplies and Materials:

• size 5 16" circular needles
• size 8 16" circular needles
• stitch marker 
• measuring tape
• worsted weight wool (I like Peace Fleece)

Abreviations:

• k- knit
• p- purl
• m1- make one (increase)
• yo- Yarn over (increase)
• k2tog- knit two together (decrease)

With smaller needles, CO 64 stitches. Knit 2" 1x1 ribbing (k1, p1) 

Switch to larger needles

Rnd 1: (k8, m1) around (72 stitches total)

knit plain until sack measures 14 " from cast on edge

Eyelet band for drawstring: 

Rnd 1: purl

Rnd 2: knit

Rnd 3: (k2, yo, k2tog) repeat around

Rnd 4: knit

Rnd 5: purl

Final round, bind off

Make a cord or use ribbon (I like a plain crochet cord or icord for this, it's more secure). Thread it through the eyelet row.

This is awesome for little babes to sleep in. It keeps the toes warm and makes midnight diaper changes a breeze. :) 

Cuddle sack pattern for newborn

Materials and supplies:

• Apx. 200 yards worsted weight wool (I used PeaceFleece, but alpaca, merino and others would be lovely)
• US 8 16" circular needle
• US 8 double pointed needs 
• Cable needle or one of the DPNs for pattern
• Stitch marker for round

Abbreviations:

• k -knit
• p- purl
• k2tog -knit two together (decrease)
• m1- make one (increase)

Pattern:

Cast on 84 stitches and join to work in the round, place stitch marker. 

Knit in stockinette for 1.5-2 inches, on last round, mark the center of work (knit 42 stitches, place marker, knit to end)

Start cable pattern as follows: 

Rounds 1-5: Purl 4, knit 8 purl 4, knit 8, purl 4, knit to center marker, Purl 4, knit 8 purl 4, knit 8, purl 4 knit to marker

Repeat this round 4 more times

Round 6: Cable Round

(Purl 4, slip 4 onto cable needle and hold in front of work, knit 4, knit four from cable needle (twist made) purl 4, slip 4 onto cable needle and hold in BACK of work, knit 4, knit 4 from cable needle (twist made) purl 4, knit to marker), Repeat to marker (Purl 4, slip 4 onto cable needle and hold in front of work, knit 4, knit four from cable needle (twist made) purl 4, slip 4 onto cable needle and hold in BACK of work, knit 4, knit 4 from cable needle (twist made) purl 4, knit to marker). Note: The cables should twist towards each other. 

Rounds 7- 16: Repeat cable pattern round 1. 

Round 17: Repeat cable round 

Rounds 18-23: Repeat cable pattern round 1

Round 24: Switch back to stockinette. 

Round 25-27: Knit plain

Round 28: (Increase round)  (k21, m1) 4 times

Knit plan until sack measures about 14 inches from cast on row. It will be curling at the top and it's supposed to, it will make it more comfy. :)

Decrease: 

Round 1: (k 20, k2tog) repeat around 

Round 2: knit

Round 3: (k19, k2tog) repeat around

Round 4: knit

Continue this pattern until there are 56 total stitches, now we'll decrease more quickly:

Round 1: (knit 5, knit 2 together) repeat around

Round 2: knit

Round 3: (knit 4, knit 2 together) repeat around

Round 4: knit

Round 5: (k3, k2tog) repeat around

Round 6: knit

Round 7: (k2, k2tog) repeat around
Round 8: knit

Round 9: (k1, k2tog) repeat around
Round 10: knit
Round 11: (k2tog) around
Round 12: knit

break yarn, thread through tapestry need and pull through remaining loops. Weave through several times.