This is me

Thought I'd share a recent picture of me - taken, I think, at week 33 of the pregnancy (2 weeks ago), when the weather was vaguely sunny and summery. I'm looking out of a window at the moment, and it looks like we might have more rain any minute now.



I'm feeling good. Still tired but feeling more happy and contented.

I'll also post a crafterly update soon.

R & R

That does stand for rest and relaxation - which I have been doing quite a lot of last week. By forcing myself to slow down to half pace, I have actually managed to start and finish an item. I have been quite inspired by this scarf.

So I started one too. It's a 1x1 ribbed scarf, alternating 2 different skeins of Noro Silk Garden, I think in shade 201 and 8. I cast on 43 stitches and the finished scarf measures 7 inches wide and 62 inches long. With a little bit of focus and time, this was a pretty quick knit. I love how the colours turned out. Hubby loves it too, so I might have to make another for him.

It still needs a quick wash and block and it will be ready to be gifted on Friday. It's for one of my very best friends, who is godparent to the children.

Here's the little man posing with the scarf!

Thank you my wonderful blogging friends

Just a quick post to say thank you to my wonderful blogging friends for all their encouraging words and advice. I feel very honoured to have such wonderful and caring friends.

I promise that I am taking it easy. I am letting a lot of things slide. (the kids are enjoying their more than the "occasional" McDonalds.) I just wanted an avenue to release some frustration. I've always been a person who does things and has loads of energy. I just feel different. Baby is growing well and kicking up a storm. We're all looking forward to her arrival.

I blame the pregnancy

My sporadic and uninspiring posting can definitely be related to being pregnant! I am tired (constantly!). I have lack of focus - I just flit between projects neither completing nor progressing on any project. I am about to start at least 7 new projects, but I haven't because I can't be bothered to look for the yarn, pattern or to swatch. Since the builders finished, I have been tidying up and reorganising what feels like the whole house. I am officially fed up of washing and folding tiny mini stuff.

My list of things to do before baby arrives include:

• finish packing the hospital bag. Find essentials like maternity bras!
  
• Put up blinds and curtains in the children's new bedroom so that they can move in. I certainly don't want them waking up at 5 in the morning
  
• set up the nursery in the room to be vacated by the children
• Spring clean the whole house as it's covered in dust (still!)
• Tidy up spare room so my parents can stay when they visit
• I'm sure there's more but I can't think of it at the moment

I must go through my stash as well because I am about to collapse under a mountain of yarn.

Knitting workshop

I have had such a fabulous time on Saturday. I signed up for the Professional Finishing Techniques course held at Stash and taken by Debbie Abrahams. I had persuaded Kate to come too. And we met Fiona and Heather. Being a mainly self taught knitter, I've kinda fudged my way through quite a lot of the finishing of a garment. Boy, am I glad I went. Debbie is a wonderful teacher - very knowledgeable, approachable and enthuastic. What's great was also knitters sharing experiences and tips with each other.

The course was based around knitting and finishing a sweater for teddy which has all the elements of full sized garment. So , I turned all this.......

into this.....

Teddy is one happy bunny. Did you notice the contrast colour neckband? It wasn't intentional. I've been having pregnancy related forgetfulness and just plain forgot to bring my yarn and notes! But I managed..... I'm very proud of my mattress stitch. Look - all perfectly matched up and you can't see the purple yarn which I used for sewing up!

Now I just need to finish up some of my WIPs to practise my professional finishing!