A year ago...........

I sat down with my Mother in law and she taught me how to knit. I had knitted in garter stitch when i was younger - but really didn't know what i was doing.

Here is my first project..... a little NB hat - It took me forever, and it still doesn't have the ends sewn in.

Since then, knitting has become on of my favourite pass times. I am still very much a novice, but am trying new things all the time.

Here are a few things that have come off my needles in the last couple of weeks. I am trying to be a good 3rd trimester preggy woman and have my feet up relaxing..... you don't have to relax your hands do you?

I made my MIL a pair of fingerless gloves, she lives in Waipara which is at the northern end of Christchurch. I thought they would come in handy at this time of year.

The beret next to it was a knit for me...... i have hardly taken it off, but i wouldn't really call it a beret - It is more like a large Rastafarian beanie.... the Utiku wool has stretched a bit too.... time for a wash and shrink i reckon! Both the patterns are from my new Louisa Harding book .

I have finally finished the Annoukish pinafore...... well i think i have finished - watch this space..... i don't feel like it is finished yet..... hmmm may need some very cute wooden buttons on the pink tabs.... but am still unsure. The lovely Christine taught me how to picot crochet. It is really easy once you know what you're doing!

Aren't these tiny coat buttons cute!!!! AND i bought them at Spotlight!!! Normally their wooden button selection sucks.

The last two evenings i have been making these, for our soon to be born baby girl. I used the Pimp my longies pattern, lovingly crafted by Jen. It is a very nice and easy pattern to follow. For these ones though i didn't do the short rows in the bum..... which has given it a nice and even stripe body.

There goes that picot crochet again!

And..... on the needles now........ a little NB hat to match the longies. Awwwwww

So, i think i have got a little hooked on the knitting thang..... but would like you all to know, that all of these projects have come out of my stash and not bought for! WOOT!

The finished hand warmers.

Not really my fave pattern OR yarn... BUT they are done...... Now on to ones done on DPNs - i hate sewing up, as i suck at it!

Sooooo purrrddddyyy

Looky at this! YUM! My hands are still pink..... 24 hours later.

This is 12ply that i purchased at last years Knitworld sale. It is for a few projects... including my TNN yarn swap.

Had a lot of fun. I used Wilton cake dyes from a woman on Trade me. Was a great deal.

Something new!

So.... It is Dad's birthday on August the 1st, and the poor man ALWAYS gets forgotten about by me cause his birthday is next month . It creeps up real quick.

So, this year i am prepared! Dad plays a lot of croquet all year round, so i thought that a pair of fingerless gloves for the colder months would come in handy.

I found a nice and easy pattern knitted on flats when i was in Nancy's embroidery the other day. I also grabbed some Noro, 100% wool.

I also purchased some more Knitpick DPNs - and used them for this.... just cause they are sooo nice. Here are some progress shots.... i have actually finished them - but need to photograph them. It's a great pattern as you can do a glove in an evening! my kind of knitting, lol.

Wedding plans!

Well..... FINALLY! I have booked our venue.

Mike and I are getting married at 'The Gear Homestead', which is out the back of Porirua.

We have chosen this beautiful place, as back in my cheffing days it was my favourite place to work when doing weddings.

It is owned by the Porirua City Council so is available to the public. YAY!

So...... 22 Feb, here we come!

Pukekura park

A few weeks back, Poppy and I went up to New Plymouth to stay with my best friend Heidi. She and her partner Scott had a wee babe called Thomas in March.

On one of the days we went to Pukekura park. It is a really beautiful place, I have fond memories of visiting the 'Lights in the park' during summer when i used to live there.

Heidi took this beautiful photo of Poppy and i feeding the ducks, and spying on the ENORMOUS eel that was swimming below the surface!!! EEEKKK

A mini stash

Well, after Esther giving me the wonderful cuts of PUL a few weeks back... i just HAD to get more to make a full set for the *bump*. There is enough here for 44 nappies..... Will make Poppy some matchings ones too.

Isn't it pretty!!!! you can buy this from Megan at Little buttons.