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.