Pattern: Cotton and Wool Hats from “Easy Baby Knits”
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport

Easy knit, though I’m not sure it will fit her in a few months when she actually needs it.  Oh well!  Hopefully I’ll have some time to whip up a few more baby items before I go back to work in September.

I didn’t really use a pattern – I just cut up an old sheet for the center part that goes under the mattress and then cut rectangles for the front, back and sides. There is a pleat in the center of each panel, but you really can’t see it. The fabric is Herb from Jessica Jones, and I’ve got a lot more of it so let me know if you have any suggestions on what I can do with it!

I also finally hung up these birds, which are made from leftover MOMO It’s a Hoot fabric from my art project.

Here’s a look at the rest of the room so far:

Just a few more weeks to go – eek!

This little guy has a good story – I actually picked out the fabric for this teddy bear when I was 7 or 8 years old.  My mom cut out all of the pieces but then never finished putting it together.  She pulled it back out and finished it up for our little one – very sweet!

My mom can not only sew, she can also knit!  She made us the cute knit booties and sweater.

I actually had these from the earlier shower but forgot to take a picture – my mother-in-law, the talented seamstress, made these cute booties too.

Finally, my co-workers had a shower for me and another co-worker who is due two weeks before me today.  They made this summer-themed diaper cake – I love it!

I do actually have some finished projects of my own, but haven’t gotten around to taking pictures.  The nursery needs some decluttering first, but I promise I’ll share soon!

Embroidered bibs and burp cloths by my sister – aren’t they cute?  The embroidery on the yellow burpcloth, in case you can’t read it, says “BURP!”

Rug woven by my husband’s aunt.  It is made from a bathrobe so it is super-soft.  Phoebe tested it out for me and seemed to like it.

My sister-in-law knit these adorable tiny booties.

My mother-in-law sewed two sets of flannel sheets and a matching blanket, along with a sling!  Very impressive.

Of course I got lots of other wonderful gifts, but I thought I’d show off some of the handmade ones.  Now to find a place to put everything!  And just to show I haven’t been slacking too much, I’ll share what I ended up making with the owl fabric that I bought earlier:

I bought a set of fat quarters in MOMO It’s a Hoot fabric on etsy and put them in a set of frames we had sitting around unused.  Cute, huh?  And so easy!  I had enough fabric left to make quite a few of these birds, which I still need to do something with as well.  But we’re getting there!

Pattern: Hanging Laundry Bag from One-Yard Wonders
Fabric: Sprig by Jessica Jones (1 yard)
Notes: This turned out quite a bit larger than I thought it would (though if I had checked the finished dimensions I would have known the size)!  But, it will still be useful.  I’d rather hang it somewhere visible since it is such a cute fabric – I’m thinking perhaps the back of the door.  Not entirely visible, but better than in the closet!  The pattern is very easy and well written, the only slightly tricky part was attaching all of that bias tape.

Both of the leaf patterns are by Jessica Jones – the big leaves are called “Sprig” and the small ones are called “Herb.”  The other fabric is “Spotted Owl” by Alexander Henry.  I’m planning to make a laundry bag with Sprig and a crib skirt with Herb, and I’m not sure what I’ll do with the owl fabric – but it was just too darn cute to pass up!

I’m actually almost finished with the laundry bag – I’m using the pattern from One Yard Wonders.  I can’t actually make the crib skirt until our crib comes in (well, I could, but I want to make sure it is the right size)!  And I’m hoping to incorporate these cute birds into the room somewhere.  I’m looking forward to updating as the room takes shape!

It was pretty much a ghost town downtown this morning – these pictures were from around 10:30 this morning, and usually those parking lots are full.  After the snow finally ended around noon, the snow plows came out and people started wandering around and taking pictures!  In all, I think we ended up with about 20 inches of snow.

It gave me some time to finish baby’s first knitted items, though!

Patterns:  Hat from the Pea Pod Baby Set by Kate Gilbert and Cotton Bootees from Easy Baby Knits
Yarn: Rowan Calmer
Notes: These both may have turned out a bit big - but I think they’ll get some use eventually!  I’ve been wanting to make the Pea Pod set for a while, but didn’t have enough yarn for both the sweater and hat.  The hat is actually a bit confusing – I couldn’t figure out how to do the decreases without cutting into the lace panel until I realized that when the pattern says “arrange stitches so there are # on each needle,” you are actually supposed to rearrange everything so that the lace panel is centered on one needle.  I’m not sure why it’s not written so that the panel is centered to begin with.  But in the end, it turned out pretty cute!  The bootees are, as the name of the book implies, pretty easy and quick.

Speaking of handmade baby items, look at the cute little guy my husband’s cousin’s wife crocheted for us!  Awwww.

Pattern: Francis Revisited
Yarn: Louet Riverstone in Sandalwood, 4 balls (I think)
Notes: Very quick and easy pattern! I couldn’t get gauge with the recommended needles, or even with size 11′s. So I used 11′s and went with a larger size (the medium) than I would have normally. This made the sweater fit, but as you can see the gauge is a bit loose.  I really don’t think this yarn is actually bulky/chunky like the label says!  Regardless, it was nice to have something finished quickly, and it is nice and warm for the freezing weather we’ve been having around here lately.

Now for the big news - we’re having a baby!  I’m almost 18 weeks along now and we’re very excited (and nervous)!  I haven’t knit anything for the baby yet, but I did get a book of baby patterns from my MIL for Christmas and will probably go searching around on Ravelry tonight for some ideas.  Yay!