I was supposed to be working on this:

and finishing this:

but accidentally started a new project, which is this:

You know how it goes:

“Where’s the needle gauge (I haven’t written down what needle size I’m using of course) … ah, in the accessories box … ah, what’s this little box, left over sock yarn … no, I’ve got yarn lined up for next pair of socks … where was that yarn anyhoo? … oh yeah, in one of the stash baskets … look at all this lovely stash! … wonder if I could do a hat in this green, no way, not enough … wonder if I have any other greens … I’ll just look through this other basket… oh look! 4 different bits of green, I’ll just do a sample and see if they go together … whoops, seem to have started a scarf.”

But I can’t get too distracted as I have an Important Project to finish that involves lots of Amy Butler fabric. It’s a special present and I’m a bit nervous about it! Watch this space.

Oh and the nice people at Sirdar sent me 14, yes 14, balls of yarn (Baby Bamboo - again!! I just love it though will refrain from machine washing it again!) as compensation for the shrunken blanket. I’ve choosen colours I think will go together for a blanket for my sister’s baby, due in June.

P.S. No I will not be joining in the  Knitting Olympics … it’s a crazy good idea but I’m not finding much knitting time at the moment so it would just be frustrating. However, my local stitch n’ bitch have said it would be fine to bring wee Bunny along one afternoon for a knit session … now, what are the chances she’ll sleep …?

Some while ago we bought Bun a proper winter coat from John Lewis (I love JL - it’s the one shop I don’t mind going into town for because usually I hate city shopping for clothes and the like, but JL is great for yarn, gifts, cookery stuff and the Glasgow store is huge; they have everything!) I decided that I would knit her a hat to match and found this pattern on Ravelry and some wonderful tips on adapting it into a baby/child size here.

I am *so* happy with this hat. I found some yarn in my stash which was the exact colour I was looking for - a lovely raspberry pink - but no ball band unfortunately. My guess is some Rowan 4 ply but I’m not sure; it’s got almost a cottony feel to it and the yarn looks twisted like rope. I’ve got some green in the same line and think I may make another hat for Bunny! Actually this hat may go to her anyway as it is ever so slightly small for Bun and rides up her head after a while.

This was a lovely wee project and knitted up quick on my 3mm Pony circs.

I blogged a while back about a blanket I was making as a birth gift to my second daughter.

The yarn - Sirdar’s Snuggly Baby Bamboo in shade 132 Putty - was bought for me by my MIL in Wool for Ewe in Aberdeen’s Rosemount area. I had wanted to make a special baby blanket, even though I didn’t know when the special baby would make an appearance (it turned out to be 2 years later!) I fell in love with the yarn after seeing a sample blanket in the shop - the drape and heaviness was perfect for a blanket. The pattern I chose was from Zoe Mellor’s Adorable Knits for Tiny Tots; Hearts and Starts Blanket.

I worked on this project on and off for a year or so. I took it on holiday and worked a couple of rows in the grid. I liked working on it but other projects kept on distracting me and finally I put in the last effort needed to complete it before Christmas as my first handmade gift to Bunny. The blanket was huge - about single duvet size - and absolutely lovely.

So the air was positively BLUE when I opened the washing machine door (the instructions read machine washable at 40 degrees, which is what I did prior to blocking) to find my hard worked project F****** Felted! Ok, this is what I thought at first. Actually, after a long walk (ranting on the phone to my sister) I took a closer look and though not felted it had significantly shrunk and was all fuzzed up. I spent 2/3 hours stretching. grooming, pinning the blanket out and left for 24 hours. What I had was this:

disco diva, originally uploaded by julezkeith.

“It’s murder on the dancefloor - that’s why I prefer to practice my moves on the bed!”

Dashing, designed by Cheryl Niamath, knitted by me in Rown Felted Tweed, shade 152, on 4mm dps. These are modelled by me but made for K who they will fit slightly better.

Clapotis - designed by Kate Gilbert - finished by moi in Noro Silk Garden, colourway 265, on Addi Bamboo Circs 5mm.

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Ah. How sweet. Bun was bridesmaid at my friend’s Lel wedding. I’m quite pleased the dress I made was passable i.e. nowhere near perfect but most people didn’t look too close!

However, I did think ‘is she ever going to get the chance to wear this dress again?’ So, what with Halloween the next night, I took up scissors and fabric dye (it took to the cotton lining, but not so much the satin which looked good I think) I made Bun her Halloween bride costume.

And lots of lessons learnt about dressmaking. Think I will try an unlined dress next time as less fiddly for a beginner. But at least the bride was happy with it. Phew.

I had hoped to finish my Clapotis to match the skirt I was wearing to the wedding, but I was about a day or two out. However … it is finished, ends tyed in and all! And I love it! So photos in next post …