Oh baby!

I finished my Smocked Babydoll Top last week and finally got around to asking Hayden to take a picture:

Pattern: Smocked Babydoll Top from Classic Elite Yarns Make It Modern leaflet, smallest size
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Cotton Bam Boo
Discussion: I am very happy with this top. I love the style, I love the fit, I love the neckline, I love the texture on the top, I love the yarn, and I love the color. This yarn has become one of my Desert Island Yarns, along with Cascade 220 and Rowan Kid Classic. It is so easy to work with and so very pretty. The pattern, even with all of its seed stitch, twisted stitches and cables, was pretty easy to follow. I did a lot of it in the car to and from Purl Jam. Closeup shots:

I'm getting better at taking the bathroom mirror shots - I think.

Who doesn't love a top that shows just the right amount of cleavage?

And here's a shot of my budding photographer, marching in a parade in his Thing 1 costume:

Yes, it's hot here in Nashvegas. He was a sweaty mess when we made him take that costume off.

Speaking of sweating, I'm getting back into working out and not a moment too soon - since the blood clot thing happened, I've gained about 8 pounds. It's so frustrating. I am 3 pounds over the number I said I'd never get to again, and I have become so self-conscious at the pool that I immediately run for a towel to wrap around my waist the minute I get out of the water. Skirts that used to sit low on my hips are now around my waist, so I've been living in running shorts and camis or sundresses. Running will really help me get this excess weight off, but I can't run yet. Ugh. I know that it'll eventually come off and I'll get back to where I want to be, but it's still not a fun place to be at the moment. And in addition to feeling pudgy and yucky, I'm slow. I went to swim practice this Sunday for the first time since the beginning of March. I have been swimming on my own and have tried to push the pace a bit, but it's hard when you're by yourself. As I started to get in the slowest lane, everyone else in that lane started telling me I didn't belong there, I needed to move up, they're slow, blah blah blah. I had to actually argue with them that I belonged there, and sure enough I was right - I was the slowest in the lane. It's embarrassing to be the girl who had the rockin' body in the bikini and could keep up a decent pace but now is soft and slow and running around the deck with a towel around her waist. I must keep telling myself that this too shall pass. A good friend has told me several times that a setback is a setup for a comeback. What the f*ck ever.

Okay, enough whining and back to knitting. I have started a new project: the Sasha skirt by Louet. I'm using 4 colors of Claudia Handpainted linen that I got at Purl Jam. Hopefully it'll go fast because I'd like to have it done in time for our Chicago trip in the beginning of August. I've also swatched for a Central Park Hoodie in Jo Sharp DK Wool Tweed. Mosaic Yarn Shop, the shop in Virginia that hosted Purl Jam, is doing a KAL, so I'm playing from far away. And I'm still on Sleeve Island with my friend's Fair Isle cardi. I'm working on both sleeves at the same time, and I'd like to get them done by the end of August.

Off to knit a bit more before Hayden and I spend some time in the pool. And no, I wont' be forgetting that towel!