Emmett

So, he was born a month ago today... all was great, he was 9 lb 2 oz and I am relieved to have him here in the world safely.  We're all settling into our new ways okay... there is a fair bit of yelling going on, but I'm confident it will pass.

Apologies for the absence... I fear it may last a little longer!

Too small and too big

A little while back I finished Mil's jumper.  Ravelry link here. The first thing I have knitted for my lovely boy.  I am fairly happy with it.  I love the yarn (Stylecraft Pure Luxury Merino DK)... so so soft, but I made a bit of a mess of the neck... not thinking very clearly about how the two-tone was going to work.  And then... the damn thing ended up being way too small!  Good old Mil wore it for a while, insisting that it was 'fine' but really it was way too short in the arms and in the body. 

I'm knitting him a new jumper now... a tank top, which will be the right size!  And, luckily there is a cousin this can go straight to, and then it can come back for our next.

So, too big?  That's me.  I'm too big, way too big.  Going for the op on Tuesday... wish me luck!

Backstitch pattern review series

Over at Backstitch, we've started a series of pattern reviews by lovely bloggers. The idea is to give you a useful resource for when choosing patterns from the shop. 

The first of our pattern reviews is by Helen of Angharad Handmade. You all know Helen don't you?  She has a great blog as well as an Etsy shop where you can buy all the nice things she makes.

The review gives you some valuable information about the pattern, as well as some inspiration... who could not be inspired by this lovely spotty number?!

Read the full review here within the articles section on the Backstitch website.

 

Clickerty-clack

I can't get enough of knitting at the moment! I am seriously missing sewing but just can't get my backside off the sofa. I think B is getting a bit bored of me saying 'I know what I'm going to sew next' and then not doing any of it... I have masses on my 'to sew' list and zero motivation for it.



But, those knitting needles? Click, clack, click, clack. I'm in heaven!

I've finished this unborn childs second pair of shoes... I know, daft. I am fully aware that babies don't wear shoes, but those cute little bootie patterns - irresistible! (Saartje's Booties, ravelry link here). That's it though. I've moved on to some serious functional knitting.



I really wanted to knit the boy a cardigan. He likes cardigans over jumpers really, but I couldn't find a pattern I was happy with, so I have opted for the placket neck jumper from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I am knitting it in this super-soft Stylecraft 100% merino.




But, anyone have any ideas how to get me off this sofa and up into that sewing room?

Baby Knits

Today I finished two projects. A red jacket and some booties. Both for the baby. Some might be forgiven for thinking that this baby is going to be born in December, not May, but hey, you know the what the British summer is like.


I am loving knitting at the moment and now feel quite lost that I have nothing on the go... not sure what I can get click-clacking on next? Perhaps something for the boy... poor chap has not been knitted anything yet.



Both projects are in my Ravelry. The jacket here and the boots here. Both projects are free ones, the jacket from here and the boots here, and both were really great quick knits... highly recommended. The only concern I have is that the booties really are tiny. I think if I made them again, I would make them longer in the foot. They currently measure up at 7cm heel to toe... I know babies are small, but 7cm? Besides, it looks like I'm cooking up a nine and a half pounder in here.

And, how are you all? Enjoying this sunny spell?

Backstitch: Free Alphabet Embroidery Transfer

New blog post over at the Backstitch blog: Download a free alphabet embroidery transfer.

Knitting for the bump

I haven't done any knitting for ages. I have been slogging to get Backstitch up and running and craft-wise I have been beavering away on some projects that will be for the Backstitch blog.

But a couple of days ago I picked up the needles again.

I am 31 weeks pregnant and really getting quite big now. Getting to the stage where I am not just moving slowly, but trying to move less too. And although this goes against my nature, I have realised that moving less and knitting make a winning combination.

Now, this poor little baby that is wriggling away inside me hasn't been crafted anything yet (actually that's not exactly true, but near enough) so a small red cardigan is on the needles.

The pattern is a free one (God bless Ravelry), and is available here. This is the link to my project in Ravelry.

As we don't know what flavour this baby will be I am knitting it in a nice universal red, and shall be using a big brown wooden button, yet to be purchased, as the feature. I think the cardi has a pretty unisex shape too.

Hooray for knitting!

Backstitch goes live!

Well, whoever would have thought I would do this?!! I've only gone and done it though...
Backstitch the online store selling fabric and patterns opened it's virtual doors yesterday.

I hope you like it... it has taken some time and some more effort, but I am pleased with the result.

Please feel free to spread the word!

Kenwood love

I am in love with a machine. After several years of hankering, I came across this beauty at a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago. The man wanted £30 for it... a fair price. I, as is typical, came to the boot sale unprepared for large purchases. Just before heading home B and I scrabbled together our pennies and I was able to offer him £17. I think he could see the desperation in my eyes.

Mil and I made cakes. I think we might be making cakes more often.

3 years

Last week, our little boy turned 3. That's 3 mad years of parenting.



And, biased I might be, but I think he's lovely.

Scarlet fever/ tonsillitus/ double ear infection

Our little boy has been lost in a world of poorly... for almost 2 weeks now. First scarlet fever, and now tonsillitis and a double ear infection. He is just starting his second round of antibiotics, and is dosed up with painkillers.

He is not himself at all and I want him back... I miss him.

So, not much of anything going on around here other than getting through the days and nights and hoping that things improve and that our fun-loving, creative and thoughtful boy comes back soon.

I love my ironing board

So, ages and ages ago I picked up an old wooden ironing board from a car boot sale for £2. Yes! A whole two pounds. Up until this point I was using a duvet cover laid out on my cutting table.

The ironing board was grubby and with rusty bits and the cover, if you could call it that, was pinned on very badly with multi-coloured drawing pins. Also, when you ironed it gave off a nasty whiff... Nice. I did take some before pictures, but it was so long ago that I cannot find them.

It took me ages and ages to recover it, and I have been doing it in stages, but it is complete. I stripped it down and beeswaxed the wood, tacked on some new luscious thick felt, and have just recently added some jolly red canvas.


Ta-da! One brand new spanking delicious ironing board.


I love it.

Edited to ad: Can I just make it clear that I only iron for sewing purposes, oh, and weddings and interviews. I didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea about me and ironing.

Oooooh, and I have been very slack. A few weeks ago, Petit Filoux awarded me my very first blogging award. A Sunshine Award. It is 'awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world'... do you hear that? Can you imagine!

Well, I am dead chuffed, thank you Petit Filoux, and sorry for being so slow with my response... real life has been getting in the way of this one.

I am going to be a bit naughty and not pass it on, but please do all have a look over on the right there and take a look at a few of the very many blogs that I follow. And go and check out Petit Filoux... that girl is a whirlwind of creativity.

And, bring on the sunshine.

my mate for life

Happy Valentine's everyone. We don't really celebrate Valentine's day in this house with any seriousness. Occasionally, if the other is lucky we might present a card. Like a lot of the world we try to celebrate our love and togetherness in small ways every day, and rather rebel at being told to show love.


However, I did feel compelled to make my love a small lavender pillow to keep his smalls scented. With a heart on one side and a swallow on the other. As well as some rather dubious homo erotic and criminal meanings, swallows also symbolise love and loyalty as they choose a mate for life.

And B? He made bagels... what more could a girl ask for?

Next project: a quilt for the new blog

I've started on my next project... a quilt for the Backstitch blog (which will be up and running soon) I was basting it at the weekend which is a bit of a job with an expanding bump!

I'm hand quilting this one so some dedicated hours in front of the TV I think.

Just desperately in love with this fabric though, which will be in the shop once I go live.

Hello out there!

We are had our 20 week scan last week, and I'm happy to say that all is well in there. Next time I see this little chap/ chapess (there were no clues!) it will be in the big wide world. Gosh.

Finally Finished!

I have finally finished my 'first' quilt that I started back in September 2008. Yes, I know, it's a miracle, it only took me 16 months! Truthfully, I am overjoyed and relieved to have completed this project. I have started quilting it twice, and unpicked it twice, started with one type of batting, and ended with another... basically changing tack many times before ending up here, at the end.

I completed the quilt top in October 2008 after joining a quilting and patchwork class. Then I had to figure out how to quilt it on my own. It sounds daft saying 'on my own' about a task that seems pretty straightforward to me now, but I just didn't have the confidence, or (dare I say it) experience, that I have now. This quilt really makes me realise how much I have been learning over the last year or so, not just in being able to finish it, but in the quality of my stitching.

I am VERY pleased to have it finished. I love that it is no longer in a pile under my desk. I love (most of) the fabrics and it's rich and playful colours. I love that it is for us, and I won't be wrapping it up and giving it away like so much that I make. And, I love that we have already been snuggling under it rather a lot.

Kimono for May

My friends seem to be producing babies faster than you can say reproduction at the moment and so there has been a load of baby makes recently. This is the last for a while... I actually think that I am next... now there's a terrifying thought!



I liked the look of this 'Lucy's Kimono' in Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing. Like a lot of people in the Flickr pool I did have some trouble with bunching where the sleeve seam meets the main body, but it is not too bad.



I made an error with the shoulders too - the shoulder seams meet each sleeve in a different place, but again, it hasn't effected the overall appearance too much.


I used a red flannelette so it's all cosy, and some floral bias binding that I got from my local yarn shop... I bought them out when I saw it! I think if I do this pattern again I will do a snap closure on the inside (rather than another tie) like some others on Flickr have done. I think a snap would be more practical.

Overall I am happy and I think I'll do this one again.

Quiet

It's all been a bit quiet on here over this cold festive snap. We had a very lovely Christmas and New Year, and things have been happily peaceful.

We are all back to our normal routines now though, so I should be back blogging, but the crafting has slipped a bit.

I have been busy with other things including the new business, of which there will be more talk another time, and of course busy growing.

But until my crafting enthusiasm thaws, here is a picture of some roses, taken last night after dinner.