A walk by the river

Sorry it has been so long. I seem to be saying that a lot recently… At least when I start my maternity leave I’ll have a bit more spare time (until the Bunkey makes an appearance).

I was going to come on here and moan about the long commute to my new office and how awful it is but then I thought about it and realised that really it isn’t all bad. It does take a long time but I’m getting lots of exercise and seeing sights on the way that tourists travel hundreds/thousands of miles to see (it looks like a postcard doesn’t it?). Plus I get to walk past a waffle stall. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I love the smell of waffles.

So no complaints from me today, and tomorrow I’ve promised myself an afternoon of catching up on everyone’s blogs and I won’t feel guilty about not doing housework instead.

Something exciting happened this week. Lyndsey sent me a link to her finished Celtic Knot Stole. I love the pale pink she used. It is so nice to see one of my designs knitted up by someone else, especially when they have done such a beautiful job of it.

Another exciting bit of news it that I managed to persuade my Mum to come to the Knitting and Stitching show with me at Ally Pally. We’ll probably go on the Sunday I think. Anyone else likely to be there?

Long live lace

The last time I went home to my parents I went on a huge search through my old cupboards for a copy of Scrap Saver’s Stitchery, which I’ve had for years. It is a great book, full of the sort of patterns that make you want to put on your frilly apron and bring out the patchwork placemats. Unfortunately I couldn’t find it anywhere, which is really bothering me as I want to make the bear changing bag for the Bunkey. Anyway, during my search I came across my old crochet basket, when I was about 11-16 years old I loved to crochet lace. I used to hunt out the little booklets of doilies (I think they are still available in some newsagents!) and make yards of filet borders. This is the basket that I lined to keep all my yarns and hooks in. I love it so much, it really brought back memories (I must have been a bit of a geek as a teenager!). The lace has all yellowed and the hooks have gone a bit rusty but I’m not going to be abandoning it to a cupboard again. So expect to see some crocheted lace joining the knitted lace soon.


Talking of knitted lace I’ve completed clues 1 and 2 of the mystery stole 3 project. I’m so behind but I really love the pattern. I’ve seen the rest of the clues and I’m so glad I joined up because it looks like a really imaginative, unique design. I’m using Lane Borgosesia in white and some tiny transparent seed beads. The picture isn’t that great I’m afraid.


I’m also knitting Bliss from Rowan 39 to use up the Calmer I had lying around (thanks for all the suggested patterns you gave me by the way). This is my current no-brain knit. I’m hoping to finish it next week as I’m on holiday. We’re going down to Devon to cat sit while my parents are on holiday. So the only downside is that I won’t get to see my Mum and Dad while I’m there, but I will get to see the sea, which as you might have guessed I miss a lot here in London. Plus I might be able to fit in a couple of rounds of crazy golf – it’s as close to a sport as you’ll ever see me get!

Thanks for the comments on the last post. It was so lovely to hear about your children. And I'm glad to know that little boys like cuddles just as much as little girls because I've got a whole lot of hugs stored up and waiting for this baby!

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?