The only reason...

...I can think of for owning a Land Rover when you live in a city. Sometimes there just aren't any spaces left.

You know you're a geek when......

Getting out (well a bit)

Last week I had my first night out in a while. I went with Pinkphish to see my friend Christophe performing at Heaton Perk Cafe. I realised when I was chatting to Phinkphish that I have actually known Chris for 12 years now. He was taking Music A level when I met him (and Maths, which is how we met)and ended up reading Music at Durham. He lived with Snaterkat and I for a few months in the middle. Since then he's lived in Barcelona and now in Ireland, making music all the while.

While we were in 6 form Chris used to play in our friend's rather noisy, and lets face it, fairly crap rock bands (wearing earplugs). He's now into the more folky side of things, playing with Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies. He's one of the wellies. They've recently had an album out and they're travelling round the country. Have a listen and if you feel inclined you could pop along to one of their gigs (I now with I'd written this sooner) or buy their album. I can certainly recommend it. We had a great time.

It was lovely to get out and have some time for just myself. It's just good to be able to give all your attention to the conversation. It totally wiped me out though and poor Jacob was not happy until I was home and had given him a cuddle and some milk. I don't think we're quite there yet.

Finally Some Knitting

Jacob's Christmas Stocking:

It's enormous. He could get in it.

2 degrees this morning. Hurrah! The thaw has begun.

In the best icicle on the street competition the winner is Number 14:

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas and New Year to you all. I've really enjoyed these Christmas holidays. I was getting quite weary before they started. It's been so good to have Graeme and other people around during the day. We took Jacob on his first trip away, to my parents' in Sheffield. I didn't get much sleep, but it was fun. He didn't seem to like the present opening. All the new toys were a bit overwhelming for him. The fairy lights went down much better.

Jen leant us her Bumbo seat, which Sophie doesn't like at all. Jacob really likes being able to sit and look at things.

I completely failed to take photos of the couple of Christmas knits I did. Mainly tea cosies. I am nearly finished with another item of secret knitting and some tension squares for some piecework knitting I signed up for. I thought it might be something I could do at home when my contract runs out. So not much that's blogable on the knitting front, but I am actually getting time to do some.

We also have a good amount of snow. I don't think I've ever seen this much since living here. It's been consistently cold for a couple of weeks, so it's actually hanging around. It looks like it'll be here for another week at least. I know it's not much by North American standards, but here's our back garden.

3 Months On

I've neglected my blog a big the last couple of months, mainly because I don't have much to say. Lift has settled into routine. Nothing much to report. Jacob is over 13lbs now and is tall/long for his age, but thin, which means his trousers fall down all the time. He's got good head control and enjoys the door bouncer, although he mostly looks serious when in it because he's concentrating on his feet.

He's started going to bed earlier, so I've managed to do a bit of knitting, although I'm often in bed early myself, because he hasn't stopped waking in the night to feed. I've managed to finish the pair of socks I started when my maternity leave began, and I've made a smaller pair for Jacob, so we can be matching mummy and baby. They're not quite right in shape. The heel is too pointy, but you never know these things unless you try. I'll do the next pair differently. Baby socks are definitely better at staying on than bootees.

I've also knittied a tea cosy and a baby surprise jacket, but I've given them away already without taking photos. All in all I've not done bad, pretty much the same as when I was teaching, except that I don't get the holidays to sit and knit.

We're off to my parents for Christmas, and I've pretty much failed to give people in Newcastle the Christmas cards I've written to them, so I'll take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas one and all, and a Happy New Year.

Birthday Weekend

It was my 30th birthday this weekend and to celebrate my mum, dad, brother and sister-in-law all came to visit.

My present was two apple trees for the back garden and the labour to clear the existing hedgerow, which had been allowed to grow from windfall seeds, and to sink posts and plant the new trees. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. The trees are trained along wires, so they should form a hedge, without being too imposing. Here's the men of my family hard at work.

There was some suggestion of dressing up for Halloween but after 30 years having your birthday on Halloween starts to wear a bit thin. I did put Jacob in his Lion bib (bought for him by Pinkphish) and I bought him some 'scary' socks.

We all had a really good weekend. Just because it made us all laugh, here's my brother, a well respected quantity surveyor who manages of multi-million pound construction projects, trying out the baby gym.

Smiling and Laughing

A 6 weeks Jacob is smiling and laughing. Well, it's a silent laugh but it still looks like laughing. It makes life more fun and it's nice to be appreciated.

I feel like I reentered society this week, by wearing normal clothes, all be it a size larger than pre-pregnancy. Considering I was the size of a bus 6 weeks ago it doesn't feel like bad going.

Sorry to keep making baby-centric posts, but now much else going on right now. The knitting I am doing is secret and very slow.

Out and About

Everything going well for us. We've managed to get out a few times. We even managed a trip to the coast last week with my parents. Jacob slept right through his first trip to the seaside though. He also slept through being coo'ed over at the hair dressers. Here he is with the proud grandparents.

We've bought a lightweight push chair so I can push it without pulling my scar. I'm hoping to get out on the bus some time this week. I'll be glad when I can drive again. It will make a lot of difference.

In knitting news, I have actually managed one and a half tea cosies since bringing him home. But I haven't got round to updating Ravelry or taking photos. I have taken photos of him modelling Purlpower's socks and I took a snap of the little booties and hat made by Flossie, and attractively presented in a neatly sewn pouch.

Huge Thank Yous

A big thank you to everyone who sent us cards and presents in the last couple of weeks. I have a house full of flowers and lovely gifts. Jacob should certainly feel very welcome. I'll be saving all the messages to show him when he's older. I was going to try and take photos of everything and post them here, but I fear if I wait till I've done it then it might not happen for a month.

The only one I've managed so far is picture of Jacob with Aunty Lucy's sheep. I love his hands and feet. Good for dancing around.

My two boys.

After being seemingly unwilling for weeks, Jacob Alexander was finally dragged into the world by ceasarian section, at 11.50pm 12th Sept 2009. Ended up staying in the RVI longer than we planned but finally home and even able to relax in the garden with my two boys this afternoon.

The return of the evil hemp cardigan

About 3 years ago, at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate, I bought enough hemp yarn from the House of Hemp to knit the Linda Cardigan from their pattern book. I didn't begin this project till the following Summer. When I began I had no idea it was going to take me two years to get to the end.

At first I was enthusiastic and threw myself into it, but I soon found myself getting bored. It was knit on 3 mm needles in a 2 row repeating lace pattern. The yarn splits often and isn't all the comfortable to hold. So it wasn't easy enough that I could switch off and just knit, but not interesting enough to hold my attention. It then got stuck for a longer period when I started to suspect that the sleeves were going to end up far too wide.

My enforced period of sitting has meant that I finally got round to finishing it. I fear that my feelings about the sleeves were well grounded, but I can't try it on properly because I am just way too large right now and it looks ridiculous. Here is the almost finished product. It does feel like a relief to get it done.

For anyone wondering why I'm still hanging round finishing tedious projects. I am not 12 days overdue and will be induced on Friday morning if nothing happens in the next 2 days.

Rosy Posy Tea Cosy

Inspired by Suzanne's efforts I decided to use the yarn left over from my first tea cosy and other odd balls from my stash to make this Rosy Posy Tea Cosy. I really like the way it turned out.

FOs a plenty, but no baby

I'm 10 days overdue now and the novelty of being at home with nothing to do has well and truly worn off. One way or another the baby will be here at the weekend and I will once again be able to bend in the middle and lay on my back.

I have been getting plenty of knitting done. Here's a small sample. I won't say much about them as they're Christmas presents, although I don't think any of the recipients read here. Knitter see my Ravelry page for the details.

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.

A bit of a holiday

Last week we ventured down south to visit Graeme's brothers and their families, and to have a few days of holiday. We hadn't met our newest niece yet and wanted a chance to see everyone while we were still more mobile. It was great to see everyone, but I was so busy sticking ballerina stickers, helping people on and off the trampoline and providing cuddles, that I forgot to take any photos.

In between the two weekends we visited Stonehenge, Bath, Wells, Glastonbury and Bristol. Despite being told it wasn't worth it I really enjoyed Stonehenge. Maybe it just feels more relevant to see a Neolithic construction when you've been studying that period for several weeks.

Bath and Wells were both really attractive places. We even made it into the new thermal spa. I thought they might be funny about letting a pregnant woman in, but they just told me to avoid the steam rooms and drink plenty of water. I was very grateful for just being able to float for a couple of hours after all the sight seeing.

Glastonbury was a bit of a disappointment. Just a lot of new age type shops and hippy types hanging around. We went up to the Tor, which if nothing else is geographically quite impressive. It just appears out of nowhere.

We weren't to impressed with Bristol either as a sight seeing place. It might have been more interesting if I'd been a bit more energetic and walked around a bit more. I was running out of energy at that point and it had a lot to live up to given the previous places we'd been. We did visit the SS Great Britain, the first steel hulled steam ship, built by Brunell.

We also made it to Get Knitted, but I didn't buy much since WoolFest was not long ago. We finished up with the National Arboretum, where we saw a lot of very old trees and some new discoveries.

Retrospectively I would have liked to have a longer holiday or spend more time relaxing, but then we wouldn't have been able to see the family, which was quite important to us. We now have a house full of baby equipment, kindly passed on by them.

WoolFest2009

I figured out on the drive over that this was my 4th WoolFest in a row. It doesn't seem 3 years since I first went but there you go. Time flies. This time I took my Mum along with me to share the love. Most of the usual stands were there with lots of yummy fibre, although I was a little bit disappointed there were more stalls selling balls of yarn. There seemed to be a lot more felting stalls this year.

After admiring the fantastic handmade baskets the last few years I finally gave in and bought one to tidy all my knitting mess into in the living room. As well as being quite simple in design and therefore looking great, the wood has a really good smell. It was made by Phil Bradley.

I didn't buy an awful lot else. I got some lovely fibre from Felt Studio. The first is a 50/50 baby camel/silk blend, which is extremely soft.

And the second is this BFL/Alpaca/Bamboo blend, which is also quite soft and in a larger quantity (100g).

I got the obligatory buttons from The Button Lady, a set of DPNs to make up my depleted ones, and some rather dirty to feel, bargin bin, black yarn to felt with (£2/500g).

I really enjoyed going again this year, although I must say it felt like hard work lugging my overweight self around. I look forward to being more mobile next year.