Molly Models Handknit

I thought I should post another picture of Molly in my knitting, so here's a cute photo of her in the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting.

Mother's Day Monkey

I'm knitting my mum some socks for Mother's Day. In the UK, Mother's Day falls in March (22nd this year in case you need reminding). I am halfway through knitting Knitty's Monkey Socks. Love them and wish I didn't have to give them away, not an uncommon feeling for me after knitting pretty socks - I always knit far prettier socks for other people than I do for myself. I'm not convinced that I'll get the socond one finished in time, my mum is coming to stay on Friday so I only have 4 more days, I guess I had better get casting on. Too much knitting to do...

The socks are knit in Opal Handpainted yarn, colour 20 on 2.5mm needles.

Some projects finally off my needles

So, despite having a little baby to deal with all the time, I have still managed to do a bit of knitting and have actually finished some things. I finally got around to taking a photo of my Rowan Iceland sweater, after buying buttons last week.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and think it looks really nice. I was a bit worried that I finished it just in time for the weather to start warming up but I figure I can just wear it over a t-shirt when it's a bit chilly instead of a coat. I can't wear it under a coat because the sleeves are too wide and bunch up under my armpits under a coat, which looks very amusing.

I also finally finished my Wendy baby hoodie, which I was having trouble with due to a very strange looking hood. I thought the pattern was all wrong and was going to frog the hood and knit a new one until my friend pointed out that I simply hadn't joined the top seam so the hood was quite flat. All I needed to do was remove the ribbing on the hood, sew the seam and re-knit the hood and hey-presto, a handsome looking hood, yay! So, I did that last night and found some buttons I had kicking about from a project I never finished and voila, a finished little sweater for baby Molly. No pictues of her in it yet though as it's for 3-6 months.

I need to be knitting some baby things for other babies at the moment, two of my friends have recently dropped baby girls - very cute. I feel the need to spread the knitted love.

Molly is home

My little baby girl came home a couple of weeks ago. She's an absolute delight, I couldn't be happier!

Yes, that is one of my handknits she's wearing, in fact, that's one I'm wearing too! Mine, you will probably recognise as my February Lady Sweater. Hers is called Elly and is from RYC Classic Baby, knit using 2 balls of Wendy Peter Pan DK on 4mm needles. I knit it a year or two ago, not knowing who it would go to. I was going to give it to a friend but couldn't part with it, just as well really!

Haven't had much news on the knitting front. I have pretty much finished my Rowan Iceland sweater, it just needs the ends sewing in and some buttons. No pictures at the moment.

Nothing much to report, just wanted to show I'm still around...

I will leave you with this interesting piece of information:

Tired

I'm so tired. Molly is still in the hospital so I've been going back and forth to see and feed her all week, it's really exhausting. Luckily my mum has been here as Mr H is in Canada, so she's been helping me by doing the shopping, cleaning, cooking etc. I'd be in such a state without her here.

I have been getting a little knitting done. I finished a blanket for Molly while I was still in the hospital. It was originally a basket I knit ages ago which wouldn't hold its shape, so I frogged it and knit a blanket instead. I made the pattern up myself. It's knit in Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere but I don't know which colour, and was knit on 4mm needles.

I can't wait to have her back home and in her moses basket where she belongs. I was hoping she would be back before this weekend coming so I could take her to the airport to meet Mr H but I don't think that's going to happen now. I think she should be home fairly soon as she would have been 37 weeks tomorrow, which is no longer considered premature and she's starting to wake up more and has even finished drinking a couple of bottles. She's not sick at all, it's just her eating ability. The paediatrician said yesterday that her tube should be out in a couple of days so they won't force-feed her in the hope that by the next feed she will be so hungry she will eat more. Fingers crossed.

I also started knitting a little baby cardigan in Bergere de France Caline from Knits for Babies. I hope it's not going to be too difficult as it's labeled 'expert', ohh err! I'm sure I'll manage to get through it. I'm doing size 3 months, so hopefully I'll get it finished before Molly has time to grow out of it!

Oops, I seem to have dropped something...

I had my baby! She came nearly 6 weeks early. I gave birth to the beautiful Molly Lilian on 17 January at 15:17. She weighed 6lbs 3ozs/2.88kg and was 45cm tall. I am now back home as of today and still recovering well from my c-section. Unfortunately little Molly has had to stay in the hospital as she is so young and is having trouble feeding but we hope to have her back with us soon.

I know that I'm her mum and so I'm incredibly biased, but man, isn't she a cutie?! She was instantly cute. Maybe that was helped by the c-section, meaning that she wasn't all squashed up when she was delivered.

We have no idea why she decided to come so early. There was talk that I may have got my dates wrong because she was so big for her age but the obstetrician decided that she was definitely 34 weeks and thinks it was probably my 'unintelligent' uterus (apparently they're not very smart organs) deciding that as baby was so big, it must be full term. Whatever the reason, I don't care so long as she gets nice and strong and I can bring her home soon.

What I've been knitting

So I shall give you a bit of an update on what I've been up to recently project-wise.

I have almost finished my Rowan Cocoon Iceland sweater, all I need to do now is sew up the seams and knit the welt. Since this involve sewing, it will probably be a fair while before I actually get it finished.

I knit some Mrs Beeton wrist warmers for my mum for Christmas, which she loves. I knit them using Rowan Kid Classic and Rowan Kidsilk Aura. I missed out the beading, merely because I just couldn't be bothered.

I also knit some more Chevron Socks, this time for my dad. I think he liked them, my step-mother certainly did. I also knit some more Fetching using up some Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed that I had kicking about my stash, I think they looked very cute and they were well received.

I'm sure there's more Christmas knitting that I completed but I know I'm lacking some photos, like my mum's Fidget and the hat I knit for Mr H.

Speaking of Mr H, wish him luck as he started his new job today over in Lausanne. I think it's good timing as I feel I may start nesting any time soon.

I can't believe it's only 5 more weeks now until I'm a mummy, how crazy is that??! I'm not convinced I'm going to make it that far, I'm sure bubs is trying to make a break for freedom! My mum refuses to book her flight yet until she's convinced that I'm going to make it all the way. I shall have to wait and see what my obstetrician says when I see him for my final scan next week.

I can't believe how little baby knitting I've done. I managed to finish my Pinwheel blanket after being donated some yarn to finish the cast-off. I also knit a really cute sweater using Araucania Pomaire, copied from a sweater knit by Annelis.

I really want to knit some more blankets and some booties and sweaters and hats and rompers......... Oh, when will it all fit in?