A little bit of colour…

These were going to be a beautiful little pair of plain cream bootees with tiny daisies sewn on them. I imagined that my baby might wear them with a little dress smocked and embroidered with more little, tiny, daises. That was because I was CONVINCED I was having a little girl, but today’s scan has conclusively shown that the Bunkey is a boy! And (after a little wistful sigh – only a very little sigh) I am delighted. I do love little boys, they always seem somehow more sensitive and innocent then little girls but maybe that is just the ones I have met. Besides, one day I will have a little girl to make dresses for and knit little lacy cardigans for. And in the meantime I’m planning on making a mini cricket jumper and some tiny but manly little jackets. I really am very, very happy.

Pattern: Zoe Mellor’s ‘50 baby bootees to knit’
Yarn: Jaeger Sienna 4-ply cotton
Needles: 2.75mm inox circulars

I know that I promised a picture of me and the bump in the Juno cardigan but I have been so busy lately and ill with a cold. The floods have been keeping everyone at work busy. Plus I’m in my dressing gown at the moment and I’m too lazy (and too comfy!) to go and get changed. ;-)

I almost forgot to say, Bryony asked in the comments to my last post about whether Juno was a bit chunky over the chest. It is fairly thick but the v-neck means it is still very flattering. I think that it would look great, regardless of how buxom one might be, as long as whatever you wear on the lower half balances it out.

Drum roll please….. Juno is finally finished!

Pattern: Juno Rowan Magazine 40
Yarn: Rowanspun Aran in Gables (It took less than 5 balls, which at only 3.50 each from Cucumberpatch means the cardigan only cost £17.50 – bargain!)
Needles: 5mm Denise interchangeables


This pattern was easy and it was a quick knit. I know it has taken me months to finish but that is because I was just not knitting! In actual knitting hours this comes together very quickly.

I like the design, I love the cabling and I think this will look great with a pair of jeans. I ended up going down a needle size even though I got gauge with the 5.5mm because I preferred the fabric on the smaller needles. I made the smallest size and didn’t bother altering it to account for the change in needles because for some reason all my knits from Rowan magazines have come out bigger than expected. This was no exception: on the smaller needles it is the perfect size.

I think with knitting the real proof of how good a project is, is how much it gets worn. I’ll have to let you know on that!

Anyway, now that this is out of the way I’m really enjoying the mystery lace although I’ll have to catch up this week. I’ve only just finished clue 1! But it can be my train knitting now, so it will soon speed up.

I can’t tell you what a weight off my shoulders it is to have finally finished Juno. I was feeling a bit of a knitting fraud while it was gathering dust on my needles.

Maybe I’ll do a post later in the week with a photo of me and the little bump wearing Juno. I always like to see people wearing the clothes they’ve made.

Love

It doesn’t matter what you look like…..

Someone will love you.

I’ve been feeling unattractive recently: my clothes were all too tight, my hair is dry and my skin is bad. But today my Monkey took me out and bought me some lovely maternity clothes and then we went out for coffee and cake and now life is very, very good again. But really I know that it doesn’t matter that I’m not looking my best at the moment because he loves me anyway!

By the way I have given in and signed up for the mystery stole 3. My yarn is on its way. I just NEEDED to knit lace. Plus doing something like this will get me back knitting more again as I’ll want to keep up with everyone else.

And does anyone know of a (free?) cardigan pattern that I could use some Rowan Calmer for?

A little mouse with clogs on...

Thanks for all the lovely comments on the Bunkey's forthcoming arrival. It really meant a lot to me.

I’m feeling pretty relaxed after two weeks holiday but I’m not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I just hope there haven’t been any disasters while I’ve been away.

Monkey and I had a lovely holiday, we started off in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, which is a truly beautiful place. It is how I would imagine the Shire would look in the Lord of the Rings, so it didn’t surprise me when I did a quick google search and found this article, which says that Tolkien was a frequent visitor to the area.

After a few days we moved on to Kilmarnock in Scotland and the next day went across to the Isle of Arran for two days to attend my friends’ wedding. It was really wonderful, Arran is just stunning - the perfect setting for a wedding.

We acquired a little hitchhiker along the way. I made it from the Lucinda Guy book ‘Designs for Kids’ as a present for my friend who bought me this book and another Lucinda Guy book when she found out I was pregnant. My friend knows me so well, I love all the patterns! Anyway since I made this I haven't been able to get the 'little mouse with clogs on' song out of my head so that explains the title of this post.

We came home via Wigan and Manchester and managed to catch up with relatives who live nearby. We saw my Aunt, Uncle and my cousins and their other halves. This was especially nice as the Monkey hadn’t really had a chance to meet them before and he really, really liked them which makes me happy because I know how lovely my relatives are and it is nice to share it!

We also went to see his Brother’s new house in Manchester which is by the Mersey and surprisingly quiet (I didn’t even realise the Mersey went through Manchester!)


Since we have got back we have been tiling, painting and generally decluttering in preparation for the baby. Who would have thought that it would already be so much work!! I’ve included a picture of the tiling - I know it isn’t that great but my Mum will want to see it because she received a panicky call from me when the tiles were sliding down the wall and adhesive was going everywhere on Friday (I’d applied way too much - oh well everyone has to learn).

On the knitting front, I’ve gone back to the Juno cardigan and have almost finished the collar so hopefully I’ll be able to finally post a proper finished item soon! About time...

Secrets

I’m not good at keeping secrets. I’m not saying that I would ever tell the personal secrets my friends have told me. The secrets I have trouble with are the happy ones - what people are getting for Christmas, who might be getting a surprise party and who is getting a pay rise. I find these things sit at the front of my mind, waving their hand frantically in the air, like a clever kid in the front row of your class. It’s difficult to ignore.

These past couple of months I’ve been keeping a secret and it has been so hard because I’ve wanted to tell all of you. Finally I can - the Monkey and I are going to have a baby (or Bunkey* as it has unofficially been christened). We are so excited and happy, but also slightly scared! The baby is due on the 7th of December which seems very soon - how are we supposed to learn how to be parents by then! At least with the baby being a winter baby there will be plenty of knitting opportunity.

Anyway, this also explains the lack of knitting that has been going on here as I’ve not been feeling that great. Everyone tells me that I will ‘bloom’ in the second trimester, (how quaint!) so I’m looking forward to that. Expect to see some seriously speedy knitting to make up for the last few weeks!

In the meantime I’ve been knitting a Pomatomus sock in a leisurely manner…

I have also been tagged by Riggwelter for "7 random things about me"

I love doing these things.

The rules:"Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog (I might cheat on this being a bit out of touch with blogs recently). You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog."

1. I have never eaten an egg (other than in cakes etc) and nor do I intend to. They are just so white and yellow – it’s just wrong!

2. Kendra is my middle name. It means wise. My Dad loves Anglo Saxon names (my brother was almost named Beowulf!).

3. I hate eating in front of people I don’t know very well.

4. I’m thinking about applying for an allotment.

5. I have two goldfish (Raffles and The Professor).

6. I have loads of recipe books but much prefer to make it up as I go along - leading to some interesting meal times.

7. I’m pregnant!

I know it is a bit of a cop out but if you haven’t done this yet please consider yourself tagged!

*half Bunny half monkey…