Toddler skirts

Recently I've been working on making my own toddler skirt pattern. I think I've finally mastered it!

Before the dreaded end-weaving stage

Knitted in the round a thick band of K2 P2 makes up the waistband then it's knitted in stockineete with a few increases until I reach the desired length.

Then I got to teach myself how to do ruffled edging, which is tons easier than I'd expected. I was so pleased with the green one I made a rainbow one too!

Danger baby balanced precariously on a chair!

Baby (Toddler) Cardigan

Should have rotated prior to uploading!!

I'm currently knitting this cardigan for my little one, it's one of  a load of patterns my grandma gave me and is probably one I had knitted for me as a child. I've got a huge box full of patterns from the 70s and 80s so I thought I'd have a try.

The front pattern

So far I've got one front panel and the back piece knitted, the pattern is quite nice - a bit "leafy" and as you can see from the picture below it should fit - if I get my finger out and hurry up with it!!!

Check for size while the baby sleeps!!

Crocheted Milk Jug Cover

Another recent project was this crocheted milk jug cover, I've added beads round the edge to hold it in place. It's for a friend - I don't even own a milk jug so this is the best picture I can get. I love crocheting and this was lots of fun to make.

I used a book called "Two Balls Or Less" to get some inspiration for the pattern but as usual I made it up after a quick glance!!

Crazy Crazy Monster Pants

I'm currently knitting monster pants for a friend (well, her baby) pictured is the bum, the pattern has a face on the nappy-cladded bottom! I've now begun the legs. They are a challenge especially since, as a rule, I hate knitting in the round especially with DPNs. To make matters more interesting the legs are striped which means I have to do something else I hate - change colours!! So far though I'm pleased with the progress!

Still Crocheting

So, the baby took up more of the past year than I'd anticipated but I'm pleased to say, now she's almost 11 months I finally have some time to not only crochet but also blog!

This is my most recent project, made with one ball of chunky wool and a 5mm crochet hook, it's hdc in a spiral and sc across the top. Then hdc triangles attached for ear flaps and the decoration added.
It looks like all my crocheting will be baby-themed now! I intend to post about all the things I've made but have had no time to blog about. Fingers-crossed I'll now have time!

Hope you're all well, sorry for the long break!

Introducing...

Elsie Grace, born 11/03/2011.I would've posted sooner but I've been keeping up a busy schedule of breastfeeding, nappy changing and where possible, sleeping! Born 7lb 3oz she now weighs 12lb 4 oz.

Oh Yeah, I Have A Blog!

I can only apologise for what is surely a blogpost drought of epic proportions. However, in my defence I have a really good excuse.

I've been too busy. Too busy to blog and too busy to craft.

Why? You may be asking. Well, a few reasons. Firstly and most life-changingly the Other Half and I are expecting our first child at the end of February.

For those of you not aware of where my previous blog-posts were written from we lived in a static caravan (or mobile home) on the middle of the Yorkshire moors. Perfect for a hardy couple who can cope with fluctuating temperatures and water from a spring but no good at all with a teeny tiny baby.

We were planning a family so it shouldn't have come as a surprise but foolishly I'd taken the "6 months of trying before you get pregnant" as gospel. What then followed was a mad rush to find a suitable house and then an insane decorating rush. It's still not finished, the nursery is still a work in progress and there's baby stuff literally all over the house.

I've now finished work so expect a deluge of posts featuring stuff I've made for the baby followed, at the end of the month, by another distinct lack of posts except the odd one entitled "WHY WON'T IT STOP CRYING?!?!?"

We haven't found out the sex of the baby so there's all the pink or blue things for me to make once it's here. In the meantime here's a picture of one of the almost finished rooms in the new house. My bedroom, soon to have a moses basket in it too.