The belly is at maximum capacity. It can't get any bigger. Surely. There are two days until Dudley's official due date. Did I tell you they are estimating his weight at around 4.5 kilos...nearly 10 pounds...
I'm so ready to move on to the next stage. It's been wonderful having four weeks of relaxing, baking, doing 'lunch', getting massages, pedicures, my hair done and not working but I'm ready to move on. I really want to meet Dudley and if he stays in there much longer he'll have more knitted clothes than any other baby I know of. They are coming off the needles at a fast pace right now. I'm keen to knit this vest from a new Japanese knitting book for myself, but I need to adjust the pattern and with this gigantic belly....it's just not possible.
So what have I been knitting?! Well baby clothes of course. I started the Knitty blu jeans in July people and finished the knitting part of the project in a couple of days but the finishing was daunting so I just put the pieces away. Last week I finally washed the pieces to shrink them and bought some elastic for the waist and sat down and seamed those darned jeans. They turned out pretty darned cute!
The back
Close up of the tag....it says Bendallok...a combination of my last name and Daz's
Another cute project that I just HAD to make were these cute baby overalls that I found in the Australian Creative Knitting Annual from 2004.
Here is my version in green
I used some soft Japanese merino yarn in green and they will definitely keep Dudley warm in the winter. Here's the back:
I used some furoshiki covered buttons that I bought at a great furoshiki shop in Harajuku (it's at the bottom of the Ukiyo-e Museum).
Ooh and then I discovered the Thrifty Knitter's baby vest pattern, Pebble and decided that I definitely wanted to make it. I wanted to use the one ball of Rowan felted tweed that I had in my stash but I knew it wouldn't be enough yarn to complete the vest so I had to do it in two colours which meant having to knit the vest up a little differently. I did it pretty much the same but had to pick up stitches for the button borders. I also added some bendall robot embroidery because I felt inspried.
The vest is one piece that opens at one shoulder and the side. Here is a photo of it open:
I had a little bit of yarn left over so I also made a matching baby beanie but it's TINY (photographed with a tiny cotton newborn beanie which looks big next to my beanie). I don't think any son of mine will have a head that small even as a newborn....oh well.
I've also finished a pair of these Bella Knitting baby pants but have yet to take a photo. And I think this baby viking hat will be next on my list as well as a pair of matching socks for Dudley and myself.Ok so that's my craft round up of the past few weeks. I would like to write a summary of what it's been like to be pregnant in Japan (not that I really know what it's like to be pregnant anywhere else), but we'll see if Dudley gives me any more FREE time. Off to eat breakfast now and pysche myself up.....hopefully my next post will include details of my most amazing FO ever.
Wishing you all the best, Kat! Hang in there...it won't be long now.
(That's going to be the best dressed baby in Tokyo this winter!)
Posted by: Jan | October 11, 2007 at 11:09 AM
All those little baby outfits are adorable! The dudster will be here soon enough! Hang in there! Good luck! We're thinking of you!
Posted by: Lisa | October 11, 2007 at 11:57 AM
oh my god! gaaaahhh! i'm so excited! i'm on pins and needles awaiting dudley's arrival! and i can't wait to hear your birth story.
by the way, the concept of citizenship has crossed my mind, having a baby in a foreign country and all that. what will dudley be? japanese? australian? american? enlighten me!
Posted by: gleek | October 11, 2007 at 12:45 PM
The silence has been deafening since we met for lunch last week! I thought for sure that Dudley had come already. Hang in there. Your knits are all so sweet--especially those jeans. Aww.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 11, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Good luck with Dudley! I love that side-opening vest with the robot embroidery. So cute!
Posted by: molly! | October 11, 2007 at 06:43 PM
I'm so excited for you!
Those clothes are so cute, too - Dudley will definitely be stylin'. Thanks for all the pics and updates.. looking forward to seeing who's been hiding in that belly. :)
Posted by: Jeanie | October 11, 2007 at 07:07 PM
Those knits are all super cute! And the side - opening vest will be great if Dudley is anything like Ali, who hates having things pulled over his head.
I don't know if they have a better system in Japan, but apparently in Australia estimated birth weights are notoriously inaccurate... they said Ali would be 3kg and he was 3.7, which is quite a difference.
I'd love to read a post about being pregnant in Japan if you have time to write one.
Good luck and look forward to hearing baby news soon!
Posted by: suzy | October 11, 2007 at 07:34 PM
Darin must have his work cut out for him massaging those busy hands of yours! I'm totally inspired--gotta pick up the needles and try to catch up.
Posted by: Kirsten | October 11, 2007 at 08:43 PM
Wow! Dudley is going to be the best-dressed baby in Tokyo! Can't wait to see him in all the things you've made. It most definitely is the 'calm before the storm'- enjoy it while you can!!!
Posted by: rae | October 12, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Such cute knits! Hang in there. I was three days overdue and thought I would never make it. It will happen when you least expect it ;-)
Best wishes to you all!
Posted by: Niki | October 12, 2007 at 02:08 AM
Oh Kat - Dudley is going to look so adorable in his new mama-knit clothes.
You were the hot topic among the Halifax knitters this week. Two of us had seen your amazing tummy video and were talking about how cool it was.
I hope everything goes well with the delivery! We're rooting for you here in Canada!
Posted by: Steph VW | October 12, 2007 at 02:47 AM
SUPER cute! Dudley is going to be the best-dressed kid in Japan! Good luck, you guys!
Posted by: Mariko | October 12, 2007 at 02:50 AM
Here's wishing you a super easy, super joyous birth!! Take care and get your naps in now!
Posted by: Heidi | October 12, 2007 at 03:50 AM
Want him to show up asap? Raspberry tea and sex. Worked for me.
Posted by: HibiscuitsGirl | October 12, 2007 at 01:32 PM
the outfits are so sweet.i like your emroidery and choice of colours too.i had about a thousand ultrasounds in tokyo when i was pregnant and they said the baby was going to big.i went home to australia to give birth (they wouldnt give me anymore ultrasounds after having so many here) and they just felt my tummy and said, mm nice size...she turned out to be 7 pound, not so big..goodluck, its an especially nice season to snuggle a baby.
Posted by: melinda | October 12, 2007 at 10:24 PM
I'm impressed by all this baby knitting! That vest is so clever-- babies hate having things pulled over their heads.
Hope Dudley makes his grand entrance soon :)
Posted by: Veronique | October 13, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Wow, you've been busy! That has to be the cutest pair of jeans I've ever seen. Take it easy, can't wait to see Dudley!
Posted by: myra | October 13, 2007 at 05:57 AM
Oh Kat, all the clothes are just adorable! Love them. (also really like the vest for you... tres cute!)
My four friends who had babies this summer all topped the 9-lb mark, so I feel for you. I hope you have a quick and easy labor - and a happy healthy Dudley to welcome home! Best wishes.
Posted by: ann | October 13, 2007 at 10:12 AM
hey kat, greeetings from denmark, hope all has gone well for now and dudley has met the world and that he, mum and dad are all doing great. we are both thinking of you here
johnny and amanda.
ps. the viking hat and pictures of same are a must, can i order one in an adult size?
Posted by: johnny | October 14, 2007 at 02:26 AM
Congratulations to be! Love the jeans.
Cristina (blu co-creator)
Posted by: Cristina | October 14, 2007 at 06:06 AM
I love that vest! And, actually, all of the little baby knits!
Best of luck... can't wait to meet Dudley!
Posted by: Sarah W. | October 15, 2007 at 04:32 AM
I'm so glad that you're both doing ok!
Hang in there, it won't be that long anymore.
Posted by: Myriam | October 15, 2007 at 05:22 AM
Those are the greatest baby clothes every! Much better than the overpriced Disney crap and stuff with weird English on it available in Japanese dept. stores.
I love the vest--I was thinking of making Josephine from IK but I like this one better. If you have a chance pls. post the name of the book or a link. Thanks!
I hope the delivery goes well!
Posted by: Rachele | October 16, 2007 at 03:04 PM
Oh i love the baby knits! I cannot wait to see the new pinku model!
Posted by: lomester | October 17, 2007 at 06:03 AM