Ticket is now seven months..

Seven months and one day to be more accurate..
In the past month or so, he is less of a ticket and more of a child.  In the past month I started turning from F with a baby to F the parent.  It is so strange..  I suddenly I am becoming aware that my world is becoming Ticket-centric but I seem ok with it.  I think the reasons are pretty selfish to be honest.  There is this little creature, who now does have personality and is able to communicate (roughly) what he wants, who sees me and lights up every time.  Actually come think of it (without my morning coffee) that is pretty manipulative, but I am so falling for it...

What is happening to me!  The Ticket has taken over..

Hexagon crochet cardigan

Finished my first crochet cardie for Ticket. Quite proud of myself as I haven't made a cardie before, although not enough to pick buttons and get Ticket to wear it.

Can give you a sneaky preview since you asked so nicely. I will even show you what buttons I am thinking of eventually getting round to sewing on.

What do you think?

Its the Hexagon sweater revisited pattern from Cozy'z corner.  It is very easy to follow.  Effectively you make two curly hexagons and you sew together to form the cardigan.  What you need to do is sew two sides from each hexagon together and then you need to sew the shoulders shut.  It will make sense when you have them infront of you.

I made it with three balls of Rowan Savannah and it fits my rather big 6 month old Ticket quite nicely.  Hoping it will fit for a while, fingers crossed.  I've slgithly editted Cozy's pattern below, to to achieve a similar result to mine (and also how it made sense in my head).  Cosy's pattern is in US terms [dc is actually a tr for us UK folk]. Hope you find it helpful. Good Luck.

Ch 6, join yarn with a sl st to form a ring. Alternatively form a magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 2 dc in ring, *ch 2, 3 dc in ring, repeat from * 4 times, ch 1, hdc into top of beg ch 3 (6 sets of 3 dc clusters).

Round 2: ch 3, dc in same space, *dc in each dc, 2 dc in 2ch space, ch 2, 2 dc in 2ch space still, repeat from * 4 times, dc in each dc, 2dc in 2ch sp, ch 1, hdc in top of ch 3.

Rounds 3 - 12: Repeat round 2

At the end of round 2 fasten off. 

Make a second hexagon leaving about a yard of yarn for use in stitching.

Sew the 2 hexagons together along one side and then fold each side to form a T shape. The seam you just sewed is the center back, and the tops of the sleeves will be  left open. 

Sew the top of sleeve seams from the cuff edge to 9cm (3.5 inches) from each front edge.

Cuffs
Join yarn with sl st at the inside side of the current cuff edge. Ch 3, dc in next 4 dc, * dc dec over next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts, repeat around, join with a sl st in top of beg ch 3.

Round 2: Repeat round 1

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st in beg ch, fasten off, weave in ends.

Repeat for other sleeve.

Adding length (optional)
join yarn with sl st at current waist edge. Ch3, dc in each st all the way around the bottom edge. Ch3 turn and repeat until you reach the desired length.

Edging
join yarn with sl st at neck edge . Ch 1, sc in same st, (you can sc up to where you would like the first button to be) *ch 3, sk 1 st, sc in next st (button loop made), sc in next 10 sts, repeat from * 3 times, sc in last dc, 2 sc, ch 2, 2 dc in corner ch loop, dc in each st all the way around the bottom edge to other front corner, 5 dc in corner ch loop, dc in each st up front (for button band) to neck edge, ch 1, turn, sc in each st down front and across back ending at bottom front corner. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew buttons on button band opposite button loops.  (Try to get round to it, don't be lazy like me)

Oh hello again

Haven't been on for a while. So much has gone one, that I really don't want to get into right now, but I wanted to get the ball rolling again so here I am..Ticket has grown so much since last post.

To the uninitiated he is just another baby who doesn't do that much still, it is not like he is walking or talking yet.  I, however, know everything there is to know about him and I can reassure you that is not the case.  He's now rolling all over the place, using this as means to get from A to B. This is a great pain as he can't be left unattended even for a second.  We have started eating solids (that is foods other than milk), and he is so proud (so is mummy of course). Now he has opinions on what he wants to do, and finds ways to communicate that to us. He has also moved to his own room, which felt to me like he went off to university and was almost tearful about it..
What I have also realised is that I am so his favourite person in the world.  That is such a big responsibility, especially since he also finds me the funniest person in the world,  I now must live up to these expectations...

First impressions

When Ticket first came out of me I thought,  my goodness, all that pain and effort for THIS?
Then as time went by, and  I started to grow fonder of the little caterpillar.. Strange, I don't even know why. It's not like we have a good heart to heart, or he supports me through the tough times, but hey ho.
About a month ago I was trying to describe it to a friend. The best I could come up with was that it is like I am a teenager again and he's the coolest kid at school that I really want to impress and hang out with.
Now I started noticing that I get sheer joy just but starring into his face and see him light up lookingback at me.  I mean we do spend a lot of time together,  but still, why? Is it just a ego thing ? If so, how disappointing... I don't understand how Ticket could have changed me so dramatically in such a short period of time...

Orange and walnut chocolate bites

Staying on the foodie theme.  Just wanted to share as they are simple, relatively healthy (in other words, no butter) and I love them! Note my attempt to food porn.

You will need:

• 4 large clementines (oranges) preferably organic so that their skin have not been exposed to any chemicals
• 1/2 glass (150ml) of fresh clementine juice 
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp French toast crumbs
• 150 gr chopped walknuts
• 1 cup brandy or water
• Dark chocolate (melted)

1.     We peel the clementines and put the peel in the blender. We put the peel, juice and sugar into a saucepan and simmer for 7-8 min stirring often with wooden spoon until the mixture comes off and no liquid is visible at the bottom of the pan.  We set aside to cool

2.     In a bowl we mix the walnuts, the crumbs and cocoa powder.

3.     We combine the orange peel mix with the dry ingredients. We mix well.

4.     We make the mixture into balls or whatever shape.  Each time dip your hands in the cup of brandy or water to avoid sticking.

5.     Place on baking paper to firm. Once firmer dip each ball into the melted chocolate and place back onto the baking paper to dry. 

Alternatively, you can use orange marmalade instead of the peel mix (I’ve used St Dalfour Orange & Ginger Spread in the past as it has no added sugar.)

three is the magic number

Came across a buzzfeed list of three ingredient recipes.  Some of them sounded delish so I will be giving them a go some time soon.  A quick list not to forget..
peanut butter cookies
raw energy bars (although to be fair I have quite a few raw cookie bar recipes that are so yum.  If you haven't tried them you are so missing out.) 
orange sorbet
peanut butter cups
salty banana and peanut butter ice cream
sweet potato veggie burgers
flourless chocolate cake

Once I've tried them I will let you know which of these are worth making. They do look good..

some sort of chip

I find that being at home with baby is quite the self-discovery trip.  I guess, it has been a long time since I had the luxury of time to think.  I feel I am getting to know myself better as well as feel more comfortable in my own skin.  It is strange as I have been closet insecure most of my life.  (Great at hiding it though).

So, today I realised how big a chip I've been carrying on my shoulder.  So not wanting to conform, me nor my baby.  This is the first handmade thing I made for my first born child, my darling son:

I mean don't get me wrong.  Despite it not being the best, I am very proud of my creation.  It is the first garment I have ever made with my own hands.  Not only that, but I actually adapted a cardigan pattern (found here and here) and turned it  into a vest (let me know if you need a hand with that) And I did this all by myself.  .  But seriously, what was I trying to prove?

Oh well, onwards and upwards. Boy hasn't tried it on yet as it was on the big side.  I think now might just be about time so I just washed it for him to be wearing soon.  Hmmm, I could even post a picture.