Warning! Lots of baby photos ahead 🙂

We visited Marilyn two weekends ago. I am not being biased at all to say she is the cutest and most perfect baby I’ve ever met. She’s really good at being cuddled too.

These are the official blanket photos:

Yeah, not much blanket in there! But do you really need to see the blanket?

Last weekend after completing my Winter set mitts, I cast-on for the ‘Snug’. I was inspired by Marilyn’s cuteness and also her parent’s admiration for my hand-knits so far. I made some quick progress on the hoody early on and I was certain it would be finished in time for this weekend. But then I lagged behind after having a particularly busy week (not to mention some grueling gym sessions; I showed up to a cycling class at 7:30am on Monday morning to find I had signed up for a RUNNING class, yep, that was pretty funny, not).

This morning I woke and discovered I would be getting a visit from my newest niece. Needless to say that was all the motivation I needed to push through and complete the hooded cardigan in record time. Little Marilyn gave me a bit more time by pee-ing everywhere at her home, giving me an extra 20 mins to complete the button band and sew on the buttons, 5 mins before their arrival. I love this baby! Once again the parents were thrilled. I was thrilled that they were thrilled.

I’ve cast-on for a Baby Yoda Sweater. Alert the media, I have discovered the meaning of knitting.

I have lots to catch you up on, but unfortunately I can’t do it all here today. I need photos remember!

I’m participating in Tour De Fleece, which basically means I’m spinning everyday for 2 weeks bar 2 rest days (I took an unplanned rest yesterday shhh). I’m a part of IxChel’s spinning team, and I whilst I picked out three hanks of fibre to spin with, I already feel I’ve deviated from the plan! I have many different fibres of Charly’s that I haven’t even tried and I thought it would make sense to have at least tried them before I embark on another Bendigo Show.

So far I’ve spun (but not plied, I think I’ll leave that to last, or when I run out of bobbins whichever comes first), 100gms of BFL seaweed bunny and 100gms of Cashmere Fling. This morning I began preparing this Navajo Bunny fibre, I stripped it down the most I’ve ever split a braid before to approx 16 sections. And then, there it was, the fibre told me its purpose. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad, I like having frivolous fibre/yarn which serves no purpose up until it is needed! The fibre didn’t whisper, it shouted, damn and I thought I had other plans, oh well.

In the new little niece update. She is gorgeous and so far has been the perfect baby for my sister, I’ve seen her once outside of hospital and got a very long cuddle (her head was very heavy!). My sis and her hubby have also been the perfect knitted gift receivers, so I’ve cast on a ‘Snug’, which is a hoody cardigan. A girlfriend at work said cardigans with hoods were the best thing when she had hers. No hat to lose, and when theyre all snuggled up, you pop the hood on and they fall asleep on your shoulder… apparently! I’m hoping to have it done for next weekend in time for another visit.

I’ve had a couple of knitting casualties recently. There’s the charcoal swing coat: I washed it for the first time to finally settle down the puckered pleats. The pleats looked a whole lot better but the cardigan grew exponentially and is destined for a frogging.

Then there was my first pair of socks to wear through a hole (I knit them for Damian but they were reclaimed), the fact it was probably the second pair of socks I knit I was willing to accept this from the yarn.

This week I popped on these socks and almost the exact same thing has occurred. Same injury, same yarn, socks which have died before their time.

The decision was simple, unfortunately I won’t be continuing with my ‘Diversion Socks’. My Jitterbug stash will be used for stripey cardigans and shawls. It is a lovely yarn, I just can’t be using it for socks, it’s too heart-breaking.

In other more positive news! I’m competiting in TDF or Tour De Fleece this year. My sizeable IxChel stash needs a pruning and what better time to do it right before the Bendigo Sheep Show. The two organisations must be in cahoots!

Here’s where I’m starting out: 3 braids of IxChel BFL Seaweed Bunny, to be 3 plied into something like an 8 ply.

And here’s what I achieved from my first day of cycling/spinning

I’m looking forward to getting a lot of spinning done, so my Bendigo purchases will be made with a lighter conscience.