My contract came in the mail finally!!! WOOOT!!! This marks three and a half months of growing anxiety that I dreamed up the whole thing. But no; I’m really going to be a published author. Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today, I’m going to make a brand new start of it in old NEW YORK! Hubby took some photos of me signing the contract.

In other exciting news, which may or may not be even bigger news, the baby is currently napping IN HER CRIB. I love attachment parenting and baby wearing, but it created a baby who only wants to nap in the front pack. After a year and almost 21 lbs, my back is killing me. Also, she no longer sleeps through typing, so I can’t write when she naps any more. The crib will be our friend. The crib will be our friend. The crib…

Sweet-as-Pie knitting pattern from Tot Toppers

You know how I said I didn’t need no stinkin’ gauge swatch? Well, as it turns out, YES….YES, I DO. I thought I’d a smaller size needles and end up with an 18 month sized dress, but it turns out I needed even bigger needles than called for in this pattern to make something that might possibly fit an 18 month old, not a doll. Whoops. I moved from size 6 to size 9, and the skirt so far looks much more reasonable. I’m still madly in love with the yarn.

I also bought this pattern from a new-to-me pattern shop that I love. Isn’t it adorable??? And a new lace pattern that has zero leaves! Hurray! Not that I dislike the leaf lace pattern; I’m just bored of it. Hopefully it will be warm enough in Seatown this summer for J to wear this dress. Yesterday it apparently snowed near here, but I haven’t lost hope yet that spring may visit us. SUN. IT BURNS ME PRECIOUSSSSS. Just kidding. SUN I NEED YOU!!! SOB. I’m so tired of rain. Did I just say that??? What kind of Seattle native am I? They’ll revoke my membership.

I’ve been wishy-washy lately. Emotional. Distracted. Putting off Big Decisions that frighten me in favor of comfort and a little self-indulgence. I’d like to say I’ve been reading, but even that requires too much attention. I’ll start a book only to wander away from it. The internetz, it is rotting my brain. Facebook, twitter, google–fast snippets of life and information all at the push of a button. How can I be expected to maintain a concentrated attention over multiple hours if I don’t practice? I have grown soft and dull and over worked.

Malabrigo Yarn Rios

But this post was about casting on a new project. I went to the yarn store to purchase some leafy green Spud & Chloe Sweater yarn with the idea of making my own owl sweater dress: the top would be owls in the left-over yellow from the Owlet sweater I just made, the skirt would be a leaf lace pattern in green. But when confronted with the green choices at the store I balked. The green just didn’t jump out at me, and I was unsure of my ability to remake the pattern into my own. I dawdled around the store, hubby and baby in tow, until I happened upon a beautiful dark blue colored yarn. I didn’t have a pattern for it, but I wanted it. So, spur of the moment, bought it. It’s superwash merino and pretty thick. Aran, I think. I whiled away my free hours last night surfing ravelry for a good pattern, only to decide to do the owlet sweater again. After casting on and knitting a few rows, I changed my mind and frogged it. The Owlet Sweater, I decided, is been there, done that. I want to learn something new. Something just challenging enough to hold my attention, but not too challenging that I put it aside and forget about it.

Elenka Dress designed by Inna Aleksandrova, knit by Yantarik

Today I cast on a new dress that I think I’ll stick with. The Elenka pattern’s smallest size is 2T, so I’m knitting with smaller size 6 needles. They feel tiny in my hands, so used to size 8. Of course I didn’t knit a gauge swatch. I’m pantsing it, again, hoping that it’ll fit J for this summer, not next, when I’m done.

The blue will bring out her eyes.

I also bid on and won a Scrivener package from Larissa Ione. I realize that I’m procrastinating by reading books on craft and studying structure and pondering–always pondering–am I doing the right thing??? That Amanda Hocking person is making how much epublishing? Will people even be reading paper books in three years when mine comes out? And the grass is always greener. Cast on, cast off. What I need to do is make a choice and stay the course, because the end will be the same. J will look good in the brilliant dark blue whether it’s an owl or a pussycat. People will read my book in print or on the screen. Some will like it, some will hate it, but the story will be out there to light my little corner of the universe.

Now for the real work: knit one, purl two, and repeat.

I finished the Owlet Sweater for J in time for her first birthday party yesterday. It was a little big, but she’ll have plenty of time to grow into it. The party was lovely–purple, yellow, and pink streamers and balloons everywhere, lots of love and laughter. J had a fabulous time. She’s such a party girl. I know exactly where she got that extravert trait from, and it isn’t the same place she got her long eye lashes.

Owlet pattern by Kate Davies, knit in Spud & Chloe Sweater yarn (organic cotton-wool blend)