And so it has begun...

I have finally bitten the bullet and started knitting for the baby which will, hopefully, be arriving in about 17 weeks. Judging by the state my hands were in last time, swollen and painful, and unable to bend properly, I think I should have about another 10 weeks worth of knitting or crochet in me before I have to pack in. So I figured it was high time I got my finger out if I was going to produce something.

In truth I have been surreptitiously looking at patterns online for several weeks, without wanting to admit I was going to actually attempt any of them. I've been glancing at baby wool in the shop making a mental note to come and get it at a later date. Didn't want to tempt fate you see, pretty much in the same way that the pram we bought last week did not make it over the threshold before being stashed in my mum's spare room. But it takes a bit of time to hand make clothes, even little ones, and it's not easy with a toddler playing under-the-bridge with the wool, or using the needles as drum sticks, so in reality further procrastination was not really an option, at least not if I wanted to wrap my new girlie up in a lovingly handmade something-or-other before she gets too old to not want to be seen dead near something her mum made.

On the needles, and the hook, because since when did I ever do things by halves, is a cardigan that ties at the side and a baby blanket. Other items will, I'm sure, follow on. Just as soon as I find a pattern I like, or one that I can translate.
Why is it all the nice patterns online (and by nice read 'free', we are on a tight budget after all) all American? Not that I mind them being American, but it is hard work trying to translate them into Old English. What the hell is Worsted wool? And we've measured our needles in mm for millenia, why do our American cousins have to confuse matters by using their own scale? And that's before you get on to the different terms for crochet. It is even harder being confused when you have a baby brain! And so I have temporarily laid aside my plans for all the beautiful items I have found, and have resorted to the good ol' Sirdar book I bought when I was expecting Daughter No 1.
Pictures to follow once complete (Christmas then!)
I've probably told you this before, but in all seriousness if you are after a pattern, be it knitted or crochet, free or paid for, English or (shudders) American, then you could do no worse than having a wee peek over at Ravelry And if you get stuck, the forums are a good place for advice (or just a chin wag if you feel the need to procrastinate or play work avoidance!)

Til next time!