More Bears

Fisherman Bear

Ballerina Bear

Passing the time on

So, I'm still waiting and yes I am enjoying my last few days of quiet time, but I am running out of things to do to entertain myself. The bears are coming on. Here is Pirate Bear.

And Springtime Bear.

In a break from the bears I decided to do a bit of spinning. It was particularly nice weather on Saturday, so I was able to spin the first single outside. I'm not one for just sunbathing, but this was a good way to enjoy the sun. I was a bit nervous about spinning this Alpaca-Silk blend, from The Felt Studio, which I bought at WoolFest. It wasn't cheap and I was worried about messing it up and it not looking as nice as it did as fibre. I tried to be careful and keep checking the weight and amount of spin. I'm really pleased with the results. I think it'll make a nice lace scarf.

I've been wondering what to do with my other handspun recently and tried a couple of other projects, which both ended up in the frog pond. There was some BFL humbug and red merino-silk blend that I got from Wingham when I bought my Kromski wheel. They were the first chunky yarns I every spun and so they're not totally consistent. I had about 300g of each. I eventually started this cardigan for me. I don't think the photo really does it justice.

I ran out of yarn for the sleeves, so I've ordered some more BFL fibre to finish it off. If it doesn't get done before the baby arrives I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point. It's a really quick knit on 8mm needles. The pattern is based on the one in Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns.

Waiting

My pregnancy is now officially full term (i.e. within 3 weeks of my due date) and has been for about a week. I feel like I'm in limbo. It's like waiting in for a delivery when you've been given a 12 hour window, except that this goes on much longer. My bump feels ridiculously large and I'm quite tired most of the time. Hope this doesn't go on for another 4 weeks.

At Caitriona's request here's a snap of the near fully cooked bump (I tried my best not to look embarrassed, but haven't succeeded.)

I decided I'd knitted enough baby things, so I've been entertaining myself this week by knitting bears. Here's the first three, relaxing on the sofa.

The smaller two are in Rowan Organic Cotton, DK weight. The larger bear is in machine washable acrylic. The pattern called for plastic joints, so he has proper swiveling arms and legs. The patterns are from Emma King's Best Dressed Knitted Bears. I'm currently knitting some clothes for them and I'm half way through another bear. I've enjoyed what I've knitted so far from the book, but it has to be said that this isn't a book for people who don't like seaming. All the pieces are knitting flat and seamed. At points this gets ridiculous. The arms of the bigger bears are knit in two pieces for no reason I can fathom. Now I've tried some of the patterns I might consider making a few changes to make my life a lot easier.

FO catch up

I've been a bit rubbish about the blog for the last couple of week, particularly since I'm now on maternity leave and so should have a lot more time to write it. I think half the problem is that my brain has turned to mush, so I forget what I'm planning to do half the time. If I have forgotten your birthday or not replied to an email I apologise. Hormones are very strange things.

I've been busy with the knitting. Here's a few knitted items that I've finished that aren't meant for future presents.

Some plain socks knitted with my handspun sock yarn. The fibre was from Freylalyn's Fibres (80/20 wool/nylon with glitz). I was a bit disappointed that the glittery bits didn't show up more. Becca, you were right. It wasn't worth it.

That was my first attermpt at spinning sock weight yarn. It ended up a little thicker than I really wanted, but it was of even thickness throughout, so at least my gauge was consistent. They'll make nice warm socks for winter.

I finished this little dress that I started months ago when Jen was first pregnent. Hopefully it'll be just the right size in the late Autumn, as it's knitted in wool.

I also finished these socks in a cotton yarn, which has a small amount of elastic (see Ravelry)

I originally started them to knit on the bus as the pattern was fairly simple, but since I'm not getting the bus any more and I wanted them to wear in the Summer months I just finished them off.

I also knitted a couple of baby sweaters, though I promised myself I would stop now as I think I'll have plenty. I was slightly concerned that these two would look a bit girly, but I really don't think the baby is going to care. The first is in Baby Bamboo and the second is the left over Rowan Pure Wool Aran from my jumpers. It is intended as an outer jacket.

These jumpers and the dress above were all from patterns from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by by Louisa Harding. I can't say enough good things about this book. I think I've knitted more from it than I have from any other pattern book that I own. I have started to mess around with the construction to reduce the amount of seaming, but only because I've knitted the same patterns so many times. The thing which really attracts me to the book is that the patterns are made to be knitted in standard weights, rather than the random weights of yarn particular to a certain brand or range of yarn. The instructions are also very clear.

Hopefully I'll have chance to finish my current project and blog about it before life gets taken over by nappies and sleep deprivation.