At last!
Sunday August 12th 2012, 9:45 pm
Filed under: Friends,Knit,Knitting a Gift,Life

Carolyn is expecting.

Carolyn was due.

Carolyn is overdue, and any woman who’s ever been there is probably putting a hand on her own back in sympathy about now.

I have been trying to get myself to sit down and knit a hat for her son for about a month now. There was that wedding in the way, but after that I had no excuses. I saw her at church last week and thought, well, blew that chance of getting it to her before the delivery.

But I knew that there would be a happy announcement made–and there had been none yet.

I got a note from her: her mother was in town to help and she was a knitter and wanted to know where the best yarn shops around might be?

Deadlines cure procrastinations. This morning I pulled another Malabrigo Rios out of my stash: superwash merino for a tired mom about to have a toddler and a newborn. Forty stitches, a few rows, a checking of size on the Bev’s Country Cottage site, a total rip, a start over, 50 stitches, size US 5 needles of 1×1 ribbing, and looking at how long that was taking me, I ditched the idea of ribbing all the way up. I switched to US 8s because rib stitches come out bigger than stockinette ones (and stockinette knits up at twice the speed) and zoomed through a plain swath that showed off the colorway. Five spirals of decreases and a little pigtail of crocheted chain stitch at the end.

Got it done in time. Just barely. And it was so cute–what had taken me so long to discover what that yarn could be?

Went off to church, where I connected with Carolyn, met her sister and her mom, and apologized: This was all my fault. The baby had been waiting for me to finish his hat. Now at last he can come.

They cracked up. They loved it. Her mom exclaimed over the knitting and tweaked the little pigtail–bouncy bounce! Carolyn waved it at her husband, going, Now we can finally have the baby!

Her mom mentioned in an aside to me that she wasn’t going any distances right now, yarnstorewise. I told her I had stash I’d be happy to share. There’s no way a new grandma who knits is going without yarn to shower the little ones with, not around me she’s not.

(Edited later to add) because how could I not: my niece Emily just had her baby. And this is what she just told me on FB:

So, aunt Alison, I don’t know if Eric posted this or not, but we named our baby Eden Alison, the Alison after you. I have always admired the positive outlook you have on life, and hope to emulate that.

Gobsmacked does not begin to tell it. I read that and exclaimed Oh WOW!!! so out loud that I had to immediately explain to Richard, sitting next to me, why. Wow. Hope y’all don’t mind my bragging here. Welcome to the world, Eden Alison!

I’ve got me more knitting to catch up on!


14 Comments so far
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As soon as I entered my “stuff” in the fair, I started on next year’s fair exhibits–the first is a baby shawl because there is always a need for a baby sweater, shawl, cap, socks.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 08.13.12 @ 5:08 am

Congrats on the namesake. Beautiful name. I was named for three grand women – well, two… and it turns out I had a great aunt with the very same name (on my father’s side)…

Comment by Channon 08.13.12 @ 6:47 am

how cool to have a child named for you! I’m all in favor of giving kids family names (did it myself, named my daughter for an aunt on my husband’s side and my grandmother)

Comment by Bev 08.13.12 @ 8:19 am

I don’t know you in real life, and have only met you once, several years ago when you autographed a copy of your book for me, but even I can tell that your niece’s reasons for naming her child for you are apt. Your positive approach to life, your love of family, and your generosity, not to mention your atrocious puns, are why I started reading your blog once I found it. I think I would like to be you when I grow up!

Comment by shadylady1216 08.13.12 @ 8:42 am

Emily got that right! Congrats on the honor! Including the atrocious puns. I love ’em!

Comment by Don Meyer 08.13.12 @ 8:59 am

Congratulations on finishing the hat so Carolyn can have the baby, and I’m crossing my fingers that she’ll have an easy labor and delivery.

You know I’ve been saying all along that you’re a fabulous inspiration to others, including me, and now baby Eden. Congrats also to Emily’s new family!

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 08.13.12 @ 9:25 am

love(1000)

Comment by Pam 08.13.12 @ 12:38 pm

What a beautiful hat. Hope Carolyn’s baby has come out to play by now. Love the namesake story. g

Comment by gMarie 08.13.12 @ 3:07 pm

How lovely!!! And what an astute niece :-}
I just heard my niece Liz is expecting her second baby :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 08.13.12 @ 4:17 pm

Brag away!!! 🙂

I can completely relate to your niece’s (and husband’s) decision: we named our daughter after my grandparents as testament to their personalities and values.

Best wishes for healthy and happy times to the new parents and their newborn!

Comment by Suzanne from Montreal 08.13.12 @ 7:28 pm

What a lovely name for what is certainly a lovely baby! Welcome to life, Eden Alison!

Comment by twinsetellen 08.13.12 @ 8:48 pm

Emily & Eric sound like they’ve made a truly positive start for little Eden Alison. Congratulations to all! And I hope Carolyn has her baby soon, too. that hat is way cute!

Comment by DebbieR 08.13.12 @ 10:10 pm

Congrats to all and especially to Eden Alison for having such a cool blessing for a name.

Comment by Margo Lynn 08.14.12 @ 5:20 am

I just love that name. 😉

Comment by Momo Fali 08.15.12 @ 6:55 pm



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