knit n bitch

From now on, I want to be known as 'Loretta'

My hubby and I are Monty Python fans and in the movie, The Life of Brian, there was a scene where a man wanted to be a woman, so he told his mates 'from now on I want to be known as Loretta'.  We like to give nicknames to our unborn bubs, and before we knew we were having a girl, we gave her the name of Loretta (ie, could be a boy wanting to be a girl!)  It's a long and strange story!

Anyhow, this is a 32 weeks 3D scan of 'Loretta' and looks much better with a bit of weight on compared to the last photos.....look at those lips!!!

Feathering!

With only 6 weeks to go before the arrival of Madamoiselle Baby #4, I am in major feathering the nest mode!  I am taking a back seat from work (thanks to Jemma & Kathleen!) and catching up on some knitting, cleaning, tidying and quilting!

I have been itching to sew the Amy Butler Big Nap Pillow for some time now and I've had a pile of fat quarters in the divine Olivia The Pig fabric that I have been dying to use on SOMETHING and this seemed the perfect project.

 

Sweet Pea Hat

In line with my quick fix baby clothes phase, here is my latest item!  It took me all of about 3 hours to make and I wanted to use the Sublime Organic Cotton DK, coz it's just sooooooooo soft!!  The green trim and peas was Rowan Handknit DK, and is a lovely contrast.  It was quick and fun to knit, and I made the newborn size, as I figured they wriggle less at that age.  The Sweet Pea pattern is downloadable from Susan B Andersons website (she's also the author of Itty Bitty Baby Hats).

Elizabeth Zimmerman Cabled Aran Coat

My plan was to knit an exact Zimmerman Cabled Aran Coat.  It's knit in the round then steeked (sewn on either side and then cut) up the middle (eek!) where the bands are, then the sleeves and hood are added.  I'm using the DIVINE Rowan Cocoon, which I love to knit with, despite the initial shedding!

EZ patterns have never been majorly updated, so following the patterns are more a gut instinct than anything else.  Here's what it SHOULD have looked like when complete....

OK, as you can see from the updated progress shots, I went for a completely different cable configuration. I choose my own, and kept it simple. So, although this has the theory of the EZ Aran Cabled Coat, it will actually be more of a personal pattern. I will knit the sleeves with a wide rib at the bottom so that they can be turned up, and one simple cable up the middle. The hood will share the one simple rib too. I am taking deep breaths for the double crocheted steeking, coz that’s a LOT of steeking.

Sadly, photos don’t do it any justice and its very long. Think that has to do with the lovely drape of the Cocoon, so lucky I am 5’9”.

Will post more when I get there……

Baby Fetching Inspired Hat

This is a hat that was adapted from a pair of fingerless gloves in Knitty, you can find the free pattern at Grace Knits A LOT! blog.  It is designed for an adult using chunky yarn and 7mm needles, but I used a 12ply/aran weight and 4.50mm needles and this took it down to a baby size.  It as easy peasy and lovely and quick, and oh yes, PINK!  I looked at it after I finished it and thought "Oh my God!  That's so small, it's never going to fit the new baby!", but then I reminded myself how teeny tiny new bubs are and this is primarily a hat for her when I leave hospital and for the first few weeks. I only used about half a ball of Zara Plus, so gotta be happy with that. 

I have to admit that I have been 'quick fixing' of late and ignoring my glorious, but rather HUGE projects that would be sooooo good to be wearing right now as we head into the Aussie winter (which is a bit of a pathetic description to give it, especially when you have grown up with really cold English winters, but still!).

Anyhow, I have turned my attention back to my monster, lay on the lap, huge needle, mammoth knits and finding them decidedly satisfying after so many little baby projects.  Watch this space (hopefully not for long).

 

The Cupcake Courier

At our knitting circle last night, Miss Marge sprug a surprise on both Robynne & I with a most fabulous gift!  This gift, she maintains, was to make up for her (ahheem!) slight lack of pressie giving at our knitting retreats (not that we ever minded, her company was enough!!).  Anyhow, she couldn't have picked a more apt pressie for the pair of us, as we are both bakers and love our gadgets! 

So, without further ado, I introduce to you the amazing Cupcake Courier, which is now available in Australia (apparently Oprah raves about these!).

 

It has 3 tiers and nice deep cupcake dips, to make sure your cupcakes stay well and truly upright (trust me, after 24 birthday cupcakes fell over and blended into one on a car journey, when I had them in an inferior carrier, this is VERY important)

Pretty eh? Plus, you can take out the tiers and use it to carry an nice big birthday or wedding cake!   Horrah!

Well done Marge and thank you, thank you, thank you!

3d Baby Pics!

Ok, so they look a bit scary, but the doc said not to take the pics too literally, as the 3D scanning picks up interference as well as the baby's face, plus, as 20 weeks, the baby is still minus all the yummy, squiggy fat that they have when full-term!  Stillllllll.....I still think they are pretty amazing so here they are.

Cache Coeur

There is a theme in my knitting at the moment and it happens to be girly and pink (now there's a surprise!). 

This beauty was a dream to knit, really quick and satisfying!  The pattern is from The Wheel, Ashford's Fibrecraft Magazine, and I was lucky enough to have the lovely ladies at Bilby Yarns send me a copy!  Horrah!

The yarn is Merino Cashmere Sock Yarn from The Knittery (yummy yum yum - that's a technical knitting term dontchaknow) and I only used half a 100gm ball to make this newborn wrap!  Open's up a whole lot of potential for my stash of sock yarn (considering I am yet to break through into the sock knitting world).

I think this will look lovely on "loretta" (our dodgy nickname for the unborn).

Russian Dolls in Crochet!!

Again, it's been a while since I posted any crafty stuff on here, but you're used to that by now right? 

Anyhow, this is my first serious piece of crochet and I am quite pleased with the result, although there are a few things I would like to do differently, such as tighter stitches so the stuffing doesn't doesn't show through.

These were made with my new daughter in mind (although with 4 months to go before we meet her, I guess I have time to make a new set).  Instead they are now headed for the UK for my sister, who is due to have surgery on her back (Nasty!!) on the 30th of this month.  Thought they might make her smile during the whole ordeal!

The pattern is from the marvellous Amy Gaines and was easy peesy to follow, even for a virgin croheter like me.  I decided to make the faces all unique and I love the finished result!

pink, pink, pink, PINK!!!

Yes, you guessed it, baby #4 is PINK!!!!  Horrah!! 

Not that I don't just LOVE boys, but when you have 3 already, it feels so great to finish off our lovely family with a little girl.

We didn't plan to find out until she popped, but I had an amnio and when my doctor gave me the results asking if I wanted to know the sex (with a little grin on her face), I couldn't resist!  Needless to say we are thrilled and I will FINALLY have a use for all the Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton I own in pinks and lilacs! 

Feeling much better nausea wise, although I never have easy pregnancies and I fear this one is not going to sail past with ease.  Still a few female hormones won't defeat me!

Oh and on the knitting front, I have started back with a vengence and just need to find the time to photograph and post....watch this space!