Hello! After a few days’ bed rest (for the flu that wouldn’t die) actually mandated by our midwife. I’m feeling better, typing no longer makes me seasick, and I can actually eat FOOD and drink DRINKS! (Other than crackers and saltines.)

I don’t know how this sickness happened, or how it settled in for so long! I felt like hell on Tuesday, Wenesday, and went back to work on Thursday…then Fri – yesterday were a MESS. Today was still really slow, but not AS bad, so I finished knitting my maternity top in between naps.

The basic concepts that went into it are:

1) I know myself better than to think I’ll feel like knitting myself very many sweaters that I’ll only be able to use for a short time. If I DO knit myself something while I’m pregnant, it has to last the whole time, and even after the baby comes. I’m not about to spend a week on something I’ll only wear for a week! (Longevity)

2) I’ve heard that a pregnant body temp is a lot higher than normal…so I want something that I can adjust the warmth of…by opening buttons or something along those lines. (Adjustable temperature)

3) The size should be pretty much self-adjusting. I want to get a lot of use out of this, but I don’t want to have to do any reworking of the sweater at later stages…it should just grow on its own. (Adjustable size)

4) Since I’m not making myself a ton of new maternity sweaters, what I DO make I want to be able to wear with a lot of stuff. (Versatility)

5) This should be something I don’t have to think too much about while I’m knitting (baby brain) so that in case I somehow lose track of where I’m at in the pattern, it’s either really east to figure out OR just doesn’t really make much difference because it’ll turn out fine anyway. (Not very complex…but looks sophisticated)

6) Easy care / multiple season use. I chose a cotton/rayon blend with lots of bounce. Should be washable and not need to be treated too preciously. Also, it’s 5 sts / inch on US8s (5mm), so very easy to sub yarn, use other fiber content, etc.

SO…it’s kinda plain, but I definitely think it’s versatile and I really hope that my construction idea holds up to the other points above.

It’s going to be really easy to customize, by either adding a stitch pattern (it’s stockinette) or lengthening the sleeves or making the whole body longer, adding shaping, etc. It took about 3 or 4 days of knitting to finish.

Anyway, sorry for the “no photos,” it’s got ends that need weaving and buttons to attach…then I’ll show you the FO.

OK, back to bed because tomorrow is back to the office!