Merry Christmas to Everyone

'What a wonderful day we had yesterday spending the morning with the newest member of the family and spending the afternoon and evening with the eldest.  Almost 86 years of a difference in ages but both have brought such delight to me.  Of course every one else is important too and each in their own ways have added to a lovely Christmas and filled me full of pride and joy.

I am now able to show you some of the things I have been making over the last few months. I am not going to show them all today but these are just a couple of pieces I made for my Grandson.  Of course the Santa Sack has been made for some time however the last minute name tag was only completed at the beginning of this week!

Inside were a few handmades, a red christmas cardigan knitted in the newborn size, really cute but a little large for him, I may re knit it if his Mum will let me ( I wasn't happy with the pattern).  My pentagon ball was a big success, I used bright colours and patterns (I know babies  don't see colour just yet but the patterns were bold) and of course the jingle made a lovely sound.  

I know the burp/washcloths will come in handy for mopping sticky face and hands.  I made up a changing bag His and Her style for Mummy and Daddy, enclosed in each a changing mat, wipes, muslin and burp cloth which can mutate into a bandana bib there is room too in these little pouches for nappies and a babygro!  Each was made with little significant icons, Mummy's have her favourite elephants and Daddy's has fishes and trees!

These are only a few of my finishes but unfortunately when I look back through my photos I seem to have forgotten to take a record of some in all the rush to get things finished and wrapped up and gone off to recipients. Ho hum!  That's life.

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas Day and haven't indulged too much.  Now we start to get back to normal routines but today will be a relaxing one I hope for everyone and I for one am hoping to sit down and do a bit of hand stitching of my third block of my Night Before Christmas Quilt for next year!  Enjoy whatever you are planning.  

 

A Baby Boy

Struan Ian Paterson Mackie arrived on Sunday morning 14.12.14 at 05.35am weighing in at 6lb10oz. Parents and baby are all well and now home from hospital.  What an exciting weekend - is there any wonder I missed posting on my blog?  We are delighted, over the moon, overjoyed, and thankful to welcome our first grandchild into the family. This little bundle is a real cutie, just like his parents he has long legs, long fingers, long feet and just perfect!  I can see a few problems in the future when coming to buy school shoes just as I did with his Dad.  What a wonderful Christmas present we have been given - the most precious gift of a beautiful Grandson.



Maybe now you will understand why I have not been showing off any of my finishes over the last few months.

I asked throughout the pregnancy if there were any specific items I should knit or sew and was given a blank canvas and free rein. There was only one specific request -  just last month, to knit little black and yellow bootees to match the baby's coming home outfit - a strange request I thought at the time, but in true Grannie fashion I did what I was asked.  I did make a couple of other pairs just in case Mummy changed her mind on the day, however all became apparent when I was sent a photo of him in his bumble bee coming home outfit. So cute!

Well here are a few of the finishes I've had to resist showing you over the last few months

..........The big knitting project - hours and hours of concentration, and worth every single minute.

..........The first of many quilts, this fabric you have seen before, I bought it some time ago in Canada and have been saving it for a special event.  This quilt was made earlier this summer as was a quilt for a girl just to be on the safe side.  The little girly quilt will head off to Project Linus to give a hug to a less fortunate family.

.......... And all the little knitted cardis, mitts and hats, carry bag etc I've produced. I am so glad I'm a knitter  - it's so nice to have some traditional handmade items to pass on to the next generation but it's good to try out the more modern styles too.  Many of the patterns I have used were knitted 30 years ago and looking back through photographs I see my own two boys wearing similar garments knitted by my Mum.  Old traditions are lovely but it's also nice to make new ones for the next generation.

........... Last night was our class Christmas Dinner, what a lovely evening we had, enjoying the chat and a lovely meal.  I can now reveal what I made with the fabric I showed you last time.  These two little items were really fun to make.  What a variety of lovely projects appeared for our lucky dip, all sporting a piece of this fabric.  there was a cushion, a little bag and purse, scissor keepers, book covers and a glasses case, a table topper, mats and runner.  What good fun we had sharing our projects.

Hopefully you will have another update soon but I may not have time to sit and blog - I will be too busy cooing over Struan and doing what Grannies do! So forgive me if I miss a few instalments. 

Negativity

I am sorry to say I have no news for you this week - so rather than witter on I am just going to say sorry, no news, no photos (ok I've managed one), no inspiration. Unfortunately I have not been feeling 100% this week.  I have had a horrible head cold which I  am pleased to say is now getting a bit better.  So to everyone out here who is feeling a little sorry for themselves and has a cold my sympathies are with you.  Keep cosy, drink lots of fluids and do nothing. Relax and listen to your body until it mends itself. (Maybe someday I will take my own advice).  I think we are needing a good frost to kill all the germs out there at the moment, lots of folks with colds and tummy bugs.  Having seen the weather forecast though maybe the wind will blow the germs away - I think we are set for a stormy week.

Here I am, doing just what I said I wouldn't do - wittering.  My stitching last night was a little project for our Secret Santa for our Christmas night out a week on Tuesday.  All our class members were given a fat eighth of this fabric which was used in one of our colour tutorials earlier in the year and each gift must include at least a small  piece of this fabric.   It will be fun to see what ideas everyone has managed to come up with.

 

Keep cosy this week and perhaps by next week I will have something finished I can show you - or then again .......maybe not.