Plodding along

Work progresses slowly but surely on the Liberty Bell Afghan. I've finished Chart 2, the Emblem chart. The pattern calls for the stars to be embroidered or duplicate stitched on at the end, I can't remember which. Something I don't know how to do anyay, so we'll cross that bridge when (if) I come to it.

It's turning out ok, not great, but ok. I suppose I was expecting too much from it, wanting it to be perfect. Intarsia is hard y'all!

I have to weave in all the ends from this chart, then do the next border before the Star chart. At least it's only a big yellow star on a blue background, I hope to get through that one a bit quicker!

I'm on the heel flap of Alice's Sunday Swing socks, nothing very exciting there. I'm not rushing them either, just breathing deeeply and knitting away on my lunchbreak. Every evening and weekends are devoted to the Afghan to get it done.

I have loads of patterns picked out to hopefully make for my friends impending girl, I must make a list and put them up here so I have to make them. If you blog it, it must be done, right?

It's really dark and gloomy here this evening, yuk. Hopefully the weather will pick up a bit for Alices last week off before back to créche and then school in 3 weeks...

Happy Thoughts

Think happy thoughts, that's what I keep telling myself. That way I can cheer myself up a bit.

So, I'm enjoying the bit of evening sunshine here today.

Some prospective knitty news:

My best friend is currently expecting her 3rd child in December. She has two boys and we were both praying for a girl. She had her first scan yesterday, and, it's 95% certain to be a girl!!! I'm so thrilled for her, she was crying on the phone to me with happiness. She's had a tough few months so I'm really pleased she has some good news. Although, the pressure is on to knit pink! I don't know where I'm going to find the time!

Here's the pics of the cotton bibs I made last week:

I made two of these. Bear in mind that it needs a press with a steam iron to flatten out the petals!

Pattern: Petal Baby Bib from One Skein (Ravlink)

Needles: 3.5mm for the bib, 2.75mm dpn for the Icord

Yarn: Zettl Colorado cotton

I used smaller needles than called for to make the bibs a little bit smaller for a newborn and also to make the Icord a little bit firmer. And, to be honest, as they were the only dons I had in my "bag 0' bits" on holidays!

I love this pattern, I will make more of these for sure.

I've made three others of this before for charity, they're such a quick knit, I get one done in an evening. So, at least I've begun the baby knitting!

Work progresses slowly on the Liberty Bell Afghan:

Not a huge amount to look at, but that there represents a few knitting hours, let me tell you!

I'm about halfway through Chart 2.

Each row is taking ages as I need to de-tangle before I start. It's enjoyable enough though, so I can't complain. Although it's not the best tv knitting in the evening project I've ever had. But, that's the only chance I'm getting to do it, as it's not exactly portable!

So, I cast on a portable project, socks for Alice! I'm not going to partake in the Cookie A KAL this month. Instead, I've started these:

Sunday Swing Socks from Knitty.

I'm not sure it's the best meld of pattern & yarn, but it's easy and soothing to knit, so I carry it everywhere with me and knit it at lunch in work so calm the nerves.

There's something a little Harry Potter, "jolly hockey sticks" about the stripes too, I think.

I really must get cracking with some pink girly baby knits though. I would love to make my friend a blanket, as her youngest son loves the one I made him, but I just don't think I'm going to have the time.

Yay! squishy chubby girly cheeks on the way!