Sunday 12 August 2012

Second Year of Projects Week 7

I've finished my Ravellenic Games sweater! It was completed at 9:45 on Friday, and I'm pretty pleased with all said.
I had to close up a couple of holes under the armpits where I picked up my stitches, but other than that, I think it looks good. Because the yarn contains mohair, the jumper has a slight halo to it which make it warm and soft. And I didn't run out of yarn! In fact, I only used 301g, though I did have to break into the 4th ball for that extra gram which was a  bit annoying. This is pretty incredible, as it's only my second sweater, my first top down, and the first sweater took me over a year to finish, can't believe I managed it in two weeks! I think my Mum will be really excited when she opens it on Christmas, since it's exactly what she asked for, quite long,not tight but not baggy and 3/4 sleeves
I've also finished a second Ravellenic Games project, though it's not quite the calibre of the first. A bit of background: for the first three years of my course I was based at one hospital, and I moved to another at the start of this year, but last week was my paediatric surgery week, so I was back at my original hospital. This meant that I got a chance to bob in to the NICU, and ask them what knitted items they really needed. The answer was very small blue cardigans, which they are really short of. So as soon as I finished Mum's sweater, I cast one on.
Pencil is for scale, so you can see how tiny it needed to be. The yarn was sent by a Ravelry member who was having a clear out of baby yarn, so I'm really grateful to her. It's very soft, and I should get 4 of these cardigans out of the 100g, so they'll be really appreciated. I've also got some blue scraps, so I'll probably make a stripy one as well.

It's been a really busy week this week, as well as having an essay to write and a presentation to do (I got 83% by the way, and did get it finished in time), I've been in 7 days this week, with some late nights through the week, emergency surgery on Friday and then1-9 in Children's Emergency Department last night, and back in this morning from 9-1. I need to sleep! Surgery was incredible, it's amazing the surgery they can do on really tiny babies and the differences they can make to children's lives. I also watched the removal of a googly eye from a 2 year old's oesophagus, which was quite amusing, and he was none the worse for wear for having swallowed it! CED was also interesting, it's amazing how happy kids can be with lumps the size of eggs on their heads, and how worried they can make their parents. Just to reassure you, everybody was fine, and went home with various plasters and painkillers. But after all that, I need to sleep, I'm so glad I have a day off tomorrow!

I am missing updating this blog though, I only seem to post on Sundays at the moment, but I just have so little time. I'm going to try make the effort to do at least one post during the week as well, so I don't have to add the medical stuff in with the year of projects, since I'm sure people come for knitting, not hospital stories!

14 comments:

  1. hospital stories are part of your knitting stories, though, so I for one am perfectly happy to read both :)

    I hadn't realized premies wore handknit sweaters-- I thought all the premie clothes had to be sterilized and made of petroleum products. Now I have a project, starting with calling the local hospitals. Thanks!

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  2. I am amazed that you did two sweaters within a two week period. Just sayin'.

    My first sweater (and only, to date) took me six months...and I finished it right before I got pregnant with Little Man. I haven't made one since. I think I'm going to make my vest soon enough, though :)

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  3. OH MY that baby cardigan is so sweet, and let me tell you as a Mum of a premie baby it will be appreciated.

    OH Yes well done in getting your jersey done in record breaking time as well

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  4. Your sweater looks great! And you made great time getting it done during the games! Way to go! I can't believe how tiny the baby cardi is! What a wonderful thing to do though!

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  5. Your sweater looks great and well done on getting it complete in just 2 weeks and oh my gosh how cute is that baby sweater love it and I'm sure the NICU is going to appreciate them. I love hearing your hospital stories to me they are part of your blog and I enjoy reading them.

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  6. OH my goodness, my heart wrenches at that teeny tiny sweater!! Having a preemie can be so hard to dress. . . When my son was born, even the preemie clothing was too big for him (and there was no charity clothing at the hospital where he was born). On the bright side, I've got lots of pics of a beautiful infant in huge clothing, though. ;)

    Beautiful sweaters!!! :)

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  7. congrats on your finishes, they are beauties...nicu's are incredible places..lots of miracles!

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  8. Those two sweaters....soooo adorable!! Congrats on the medals and completing both!

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  9. Your sweaters are beautiful. So sweet of you to knit for the NICU. My daughter was in the NICU when she was born and received a beautiful fleece blanket from a quilter. We still use it with her!

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  10. As the sister of a NICU baby and the "aunt" of two others I know those sweaters will be appreciated. My sister (17 years ago) wore doll clothing for the first few months of her life so I know those sweaters will be cherished.

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  11. WOW! Congratulations on your mom's sweater. It is awesome and definitely an accomplishment for two weeks. Your NICU cardigan is also lovely.

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  12. I loved reading your hospital adventures. That wee sweater is too cute and I'm sure much appreciated as you said. Great job on your moms sweater.

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  13. Well done for your ravellenic project and as the other, I quit enjoy your hospital adventures. I am impress by the tiny size of the cardigan for premie. Do you not have some requirement for the yarn, only synthetic or natural fiber?

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  14. Wow.... you are the Usain Bolt of sweater knitting, and they are both lovely! That teenie little boy one is making my ovaries twitch - adorable!

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