pitter patter

Still waiting for the pitter patter of the tiny feet of Newborn, now overdue. The wait is driving me slightly mad and to save my sanity, I'm working through all my odds and ends of yarn, churning out bootees. Thankfully for the Newborn's sartorial future, I've met lots of local mums-to-be and had lots of coffees with them already talking for hours about the kind of things only other pregnants could possibly be interested in, so I've had the perfect excuse to make half a dozen pairs - and even the opportunity to add in some pink!... C

sweets (and socks) for my sweet

Obsessed with baby knits as I may be just now, I did find room on my needles for some Valentine socks for the Working Man. The softest pure wool, made even softer with a good bath, in a lovely ruby red. A simple top down pattern again in moss stitch rib which looks lovely and is incredibly satisfying to knit for some reason. And to feed his addiction, a big jar of home made fudge... a tried and tested (and much loved) recipe packed with so much organic sugar, butter and cream it must be good for you! For me, two lovely red Pantone mugs, perhaps not so homemade, but already filled several times already with lovingly made hot tea... surprisingly good with fudge... C

blanketed

London spent the early part of this week hidden under a thick blanket of snow. Practically unheard of in this city, and everything ground to a halt except for children released from school for some serious snowballing and snowman-building. Just lovely to look out onto - a clean and very hushed cityscape, but eight months pregnant and with the Working Man in Wales for a conference, I spent two days housebound by unfriendly icy pavements. A good time then to make some serious headway on the blanket I've been knitting these past weeks. For the Newborn of course, and from a sale score of some lovely taupe coloured cashmerino. I chose to keep things simple, elegant and reversible with moss stitch. It should be a great size for the car seat or pram when I finish the final ball I have of this yarn... an end finally in sight! Super soft and very, very cosy as I can confirm now that it's plenty big enough to cover my ever growing bump... C

little steps

I've got a new addiction - baby socks! So cute and finally a use for all those scraps of yarn you can't quite bring yourself to throw away... kidding yourself you're keeping them for darning (mmm... darn old socks or seize perfect excuse to go shopping for new yarn?). They use hardly any yarn and will hopefully keep Newborn's tiny feet warm in March. Knitted on the hop without a pattern but scaling down a favourite top down sock pattern and satisfyingly quick - I have another pair on the go already... And another small step, I have finally got around to adding a few items to the wethreecreate etsy store! I've even added a gallery over to the right. Not much on there yet, and I promise more to come as I get organised, by it's a little step in the right direction... C

freezing

We've had bitter weather here in the south of England over the last few days. That and nursing the Working Man's recent illness have kept me even more at home than usual, and I've been putting my time to good use. I've been trying to make more than we need of a couple of meals a week for freezing and making life a little easier when the new baby arrives. This weekend, lasagne, and I took extraordinary delight in a little production line of individual ones. Of course, two were consumed 40 minutes later, and they were delicious, so I'm not sure they'll all last until until March... C

pretty in pink

Some softer than soft angora, pinker than sky blue pink socks for mum coming to visit for the day next week. Lovely yarn, though it breaks easily and needed some patience and adjusted tension, and they might not last for long, even as comfort socks, but they'll be lovely while they do. A really basic top down sock pattern, inherited from my grandmother. I've fooled around with toe up, but top down remains my first love - even the picking up stitches and kitchener... Knitted in simple stocking stitch (ideal TV knitting) starting with a provisional cast on so I could finish them off from the top up to make the best of every scrap of yarn and finish off with a comfy picot edge. Looking forward to seeing you mum. In the meantime back to the baby knitting... C

little stars!

Well its been a while but here in Ireland we have been busy - making stuff but not blogging.

There has been a positive rash of babies, so lots of little shoes to make and as we are feeling the pinch, like everyone else, time has gone on making bread, soup and pies! along with warm woolly jumpers for joe - and this year dad making the christmas presents!

Anyway, this is work in progress - the little kimono top from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies - with 3 little star mother-of-pearl buttons (for luck) to be stitched on when the cherished littlest one arrives.

Dad has been busy experimenting with some wood turning. So far earrings and now baby rattles - as you can see! After years of designing and making furniture for Heals in London, this is quite a departure and has already involved some finger injuries. Tiny things for a change! ...A