Don't you just hate it when blogs have huge gaps?

Sorry about the massive gap in my posts. All I can give you as an excuse is the fact that I've been pregnant ill. I'm feeling much better now, but it's only five days to EDD! So a whole new set of reasons to not be blogging will come along soon.

Since we last spoke I have been manically knitting tiny cardigans for the new arrival (pattern here). The fact that these cardigans are tiny means that I can afford to splash out on beautiful wool. There have been a few done in soft cashmere and a few in fluffy lambs wool. I have slowed down now and all projects are on hold whilst I gather my strength for the days ahead.

At the beginning of my pregnancy I was bought the starting material for a changing bag, it is safe to say that I haven't even gotten the material out of the bag it came in. I doubt I'll get the chance to for some time either. Maybes I should use the material for clothing for my DDs and enjoy it in other ways.

Back so soon?

Christmas saw me getting lots of lovely John Lewis vouchers off friends and family so I could indulge in my wool frenzy come the sales. I bought some gorgeous wool called freedom spirit by Twilley's of Stamford. This was a total bargain at £1.50 a 50g ball and I've already used most of it up making socks. I made myself a pair in the "desire" colourway and they are divine. I've never had a real wool pair of socks before and I'm a complete convert. I adore the way they go a little felted on the bottoms from being walked on and the way they settle to the shape of your foot.

I also got some Rowan Wool DK in a beautiful mauve colour that I decided to make into a hat and a tunic for my toddler (as if she needs any more clothes!) I thought I'd try my hand at lacework whilst I was at it and the results were quite nice. The hat was copied off a pattern for a Barbie dolls hat on Ravelry , I just upsized it a lot and added pom-poms. A success all round really until it came to the wearing of them. Within one wear the tunic had gone REALLY bobbly and the hats pom-pom came off leaving it in a bit of a sorry state since. The tunic came through the wash and looks so much better, the bobbles have gone! I suppose all that is needed now to make it better is for me to pull my finger out and re-attach the pom-pom.

A first for everything!

About a year and a half ago my friends started a knitting group and I went along for the chatter, only having a little knitting experience, and that was from when I was in school. However I got the bug and have been knitting since then tackling projects such as socks (everyone got them for Christmas) and hats, I even made myself a vest from Rowan studio 20. It turned out alright but I think it could do with being felted a bit more, either that or I could put on two stone and still fit into it.

At the minute I'm really enjoying Sarah Keay's work and I'm soaking up inspiration from her book Design & Make Jewellery Using Textile Techniques. I've attempted the monofilament attachments and the french knitted wire and have a long way to go to perfect both, however I'd also really like to try the nuno felt techniques.

Juju Vail is another crafty lady I'm enjoying following at the moment. I lent her book, "Creative Beading" from the Settle Down Cafe when I was there one day. I was instantly hooked by all the crystal bicones and vintage buttons. Since then I've gone a bit crazy making necklaces and earrings, which is a bit weird as I don't have my ears pierced and a lot of these only work on ear wires!

Now that the weather is turning I'm losing my need to knit and now have a need to make beautiful summery dresses. I found this version of Burda's Anda dress and by chance I have a very similar batik stashed away from my visit to Malaysia and this is going to be my next creation. I thought that since I'll be downloading one pattern I may as well get two and I'll be having a go at Burda Style Magazines cape. It recommends that this is made in wool jersey which mean that I may have to re-mortgage my house to complete it!