It's okay to keep casting on

But if it is not, I don't want to be right!

Due to a broken laptop fan and some difficulty writing a blog post, which is currently still a draft, it has been a bit quiet.

Not so much on the crafting front, so I have a few things to share! As I'm writing this on the phone, I'm not certain how the pictures will line up, but I'm sure you'll be able to figure out which is which.

First up, a sock yarn sweater, design by Hannah Fettig of knitbot fame. I'm already not looking forward to knitting the tiny sleeves, but otherwise it's a very satisfying tv knit, great for mommy brain moments!

Another one is the Wendy Blanket, which is crochet (I know, insane, I don't crochet, in fact, I do, but not often) and is starting to feel a bit daunting... The next section has 40 (40!) granny squares, and then it needs at least another granny square section. I want this blanket to last Luke a long time, so it needs to be large enough for when he starts filling out his bed.

Another thing I'm working on is writing down the pattern of the kerchief I knit out of some hand dyed sock yarn by Helen of Ripples Crafts fame. I love wild skeins and I also love not losing a shawl to grabby Bubs, and I'm hoping at least one of you does as well (your own Bubs, obviously)
The next one is already taking shape in my head, but with the speed of new Bubs related items appearing on my needles, it might take a while...

Not shown here is a vanilla sock, or another sock yarn sweater, as a cardigan in a linen/cotton blend which I cast on this afternoon. Or the Baby Sophisticate which is intended for next autumn. Neither is the small amount of spinning I've finally managed to do with Bubs in his wrap...

I figure that as long as I have needles, it's okay to keep casting on!

A few things that came off the needles...

Tiny socks!

A colourful pullover 

Edwardian Boating Socks (not quite off the needles yet)

A sock

Pièce de Resistance

Not pictured in this post: Gigantic kilt hose for the Photographer, which we failed to photograph before he had to return home. I know, mommybrain. They were handspun even. Another not-pictured-here: a lovely cardigan. It's waiting to be washed now, being the victim of a vicious milk attack.

Amongst things that never came off the needles, except for to frog: a few cardigans for Bubs, who has either outgrown them before they were finished, or no longer has any need for, due to his furnace-like nature. 

The boy glows in the dark.

Trying to get back...

Gosh, hello,

it's been a while again, hasn't it?
During my pregnancy and my new life as a mum writing has turned into something I used to do, rather than something I enjoyed doing. It may have something to do with not wanting any of the happy escape from our little cocoon, or maybe it's just my language centre having a rough time...

Either way, writing a regular blog post seemed like a chore. A bit like having to do homework when there isn't even a deadline. As I'm forced to leave this little bubble of happiness soon (far too soon, who ever thought 12 weeks was enough time to recover?)* I figured I'd start with something I used to enjoy.

These last 11 weeks have been a roller coaster ride with Bubs. A healthy, strong boy with a temperament to match can get himself in all kinds of trouble... It's been a steep learning curve for all of us to say the least!

Luckily there has been some time to craft and even attend a craft fair.
After making Bubs a warm Shetland wool blanket it appears he won't need it for too long now, so I've started on a cotton blanket. I'm crocheting for the first time in a while, granny squares!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go feed the hungry. I promise not to be so long next time!

*the horror...

Has it really been this long?

Apparently so, my list of previous posts tells me. In that case, I should probably start by wishing those who may actually still see this a happy and prosperous 2013. May you be in good health and surrounded by that which makes you feel loved.

Gosh... 

So what happened since the last post? As I'm writing this on my new phone (which is a recent thing, more on that later) I can't support every single thing with a picture so you'll have to take my word for it!

First of all, the lovely, most handsome baby of 2012 arrived. A brave lad named Sam started up my best friend's family and did so in a way no one will forget any time soon.

Almost immediately after, I went on a trip which was planned a long time ago, before the Stowaway announced themselves. The lovely Helen from Ripples Craft organised a knitting retreat on a remote island off the North West coast of Scotland, Tanera Mor. Even though I've not taken this pregnancy lightly, I wasn't going to allow a small bump to cramp my style!

As a result, I found myself in my little pop up tent for 2 nights while travelling to the island. The last of which *on* the coast, *in* gale force wind. Brave, silly me, I ended up sleeping in the car instead. Not to worry, I managed to get everything back in the car, met up with some of my fellow retreaters and we made our way to the island in good time!

We spent a lovely week there with tons of single and double rainbows, went on walks, indulged in good food and made new friends.

Having returned, life quickly turned back into the daily struggle to get out of bed, dressed and to work. Apparently I've been tired enough to have a mental block toward anything creative except for knitting. I've done loads of that, not all of which photographed yet...

Eventually, I found myself on maternity leave, Christmas came around, a trip to the airport to collect the photographer, and, finally, a new phone which does not disagree with me about its basic tasks (like not rebooting in the middle of a phone call or declaring a full battery as empty).

Now I find myself such a short time away from my due date, I'm getting a little sad about this particular chapter coming to an end. Having been very, very lucky with a healthy and mostly scare-free pregnancy, I'll miss little Bubs (renamed by the lovely Helen) rumbling around.

Strange, how one can go from hardly being able to wait to meet a new life, to not wanting to end the previous state...

Mind you, I won't miss needing several attempts or wishing for some heavy duty lifting apparatus just to get out of bed...

Signed,
The walrus.

Stowaway

I know, I know,

it's been a while. I know. But I'm here (briefly, before my next short trip) so make the best of it, right?
You know what it's like, having the Photographer over for almost 3 months, his visit coinciding with a big stage production asking for a lot of your time, and then there's the music lessons, multiple national holidays with their festive events, and let's not forget the almost full time job. Writing a blog post worth writing seemed  to end up on the bottom of the to-do list.

Besides, I wasn't knitting anything I could share yet. Some of it I will share soon enough, as the happy recipients of the massive knit project have already happily received their gift. I just need to edit the pictures (and there are a few) so I can share something I'm really proud of.

None of the above has anything to do with the title of this post, but that probably a result of me not knowing where to start on that one, so I'll just go ahead with it anyway.

So we discovered a stowaway.



Uhuh....



Fortunately we found this stowaway fairly quickly after it boarded, so we didn't miss a thing... (even if the Photographer chose denial as a strategy for a while, bless him).


See if you can find it

Right, now I know you can't see it, but you know what I'm trying to tell you, don't you?*

Somewhere in there is out little stowaway, bouncing around all ready to come out in 20 weeks! Yes, we're expecting!!!

We're all in good health, although the Photographer tells me he sleeps extraordinary amounts of sleep. I wish I did too, but that's the way it is I guess ;)

Little Stowaway is doing just fine, growing, bumping around, dancing little jigs on my bladder... I know, we had a check up today, and that's what it looked like!**

I hope you'll share in our happiness, as it's the best thing that happened in at least 6 years!

With that, I have to leave you for now but I promise not to leave it this long again... Hope to see you back too!

*no, I'm not trying to tell you I'm getting fat(ter)***

**and felt like, now if you'll excuse me... 

***I suppose I am, but it's not fat

****thank you, economic crisis, thank you US Immigration for making us feel special and unique

Tour de Fleece - Stage 15

Tour de Fleece - Stage 14