Another part, however, knows surely that as one door closes another opens, and this is the right decision. As soon as it was made, I felt a huge weight had lifted from my shoulders. And of course, I still have all the work I had done so far (including patterns for Daisy, Tiggy, a lace stole designed for a bride, a beaded clutch, delicate cotton gloves, a dense cabled cardigan coat and more), which I can publish myself and submit to magazines.

I hope, too, to get back to writing here; sharing the process, and having space to knit other people's patterns, both for me and for my precious boy. I've missed it. Spread too thin - the joy of knitting was in danger of leaving. I have a little work to do to extricate myself from a mild funk, but I hope you'll be here with me.

With love,

anna
x

To fit size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52) inches
Finished size: 33.5 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46.5, 50.5, 54.5) inches

For days which appear, through a window, glorious, but on venturing out are found to be cooled by a breeze. Elbow length sleeves, v-necked, invisible fastening and fabric binding to back neck.

Knit in Rowan Wool Cotton, a 50% wool/50 % cotton blend with a stated tension of 22-24sts x 30-32 rows over 4 inches. 50gm (113 metres (123 yards) x 9 (10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) balls.

Skills: Knit and purl stitches, slipped stitches, working a hem, increases, decreases, yarnovers, sewn buttonloops, sewn-on binding

NB: Read more about the method used for sewing the buttonholes here.

£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 1.8Mb

For more photos, see my previous entry here

While I'm on: those who have told me 'a friend will give me a copy of (pattern x)' please know that your friend, while charitable to you, is actually in breach of my copyright - perhaps now, the friend will direct you to my website where you can find this and many other patterns available for download. My free patterns are offered to be knit, but not distributed without my prior permission. I know this sounds persnickety, and there's no way for it not to, but if knitwear designers do not have our copyright, then truly we do not have much at all.

There have been some changes at Raitte Hall and I'm itching to update and spring clean the site. It's looked like this for years now, and it's high time we moved some furniture around. Also, stay tuned next week for an exciting new pattern release - a favourite from the archives. You won't want to miss it.

Materials
8 x 50g Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere (shown in shade 02), or equivalent DK yarn
3.75mm needles

Finished size
Approx 28" x 40" (70 x 100cm)

Instructions
Cast on 150 sts. Work 3 rows in K.

Stitch pattern
Row 1: (RS) K
Row 2: K3, P to last 3 sts, K3
Row 3: K3, *(K2tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times. Rpt from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 4: K.

Rpt these 4 rows 57 times, or until blanket is desired length.
Work 3 rows in K.
Cast off all sts.

It makes my day to have a moment to write, and the wherewithall to think straight.

First of all, Helen, Gabrielle, Maud, Sophy, Katie and Noo made my day by awarding me the singular honour of being a blogger who makes them smile. These really are the most charitable women, given how sparse the smiles have been recently, and the least I can do in return is urge you to pay them a little visit.

And then! Did you see! Jeong-A told me, and Leslie sent me a link... it's someone you might recognise, meeting the doyenne of craftwomen (less than 4 minutes in)! And the old dear (the jacket, not Martha, nor Barbara) didn't fall on his face, or say anything to embarrass me!

So you can see - my days have been made in many ways.

And to everyone who made my day by enquiring after a pattern for a baby blanket (immediately below this post), I will make your day by writing up the recipe (really, it couldn't be simpler) and having it up here in the next few days. Bearing in mind that our definition of 'a few days' is somewhat looser than it once was.

My tradition these past few years has been to take a walk on New Year's Day, to reflect and consider. I am not generally a prayerful person, but the rhythm of boots on a substantial walk can induce a sort of meditation, where mind and heart open together. At the start of 2008, my life has already changed beyond recognition. This year, I forewent my walk; the opportunity to rest was too attractive to ignore.

The bad news this year is that the publication of my book is delayed. It was inevitable, I suppose. Truly, nothing could have prepared me for how completely time consuming a new baby is - and mine is generally a good, patient boy who is already easing himself into a civilised routine. Yet still my working time has contracted to a mere hour or two each day - once ablutions, sustenance, rest and the general administration required by life have been factored in.

But the good news is that this means I can enjoy these precious first weeks, days which can never be regained. And, remembering that my glass is half full, it will still be published, in good time.

I'm late for everything, these days, but if I have not missed the chance, let me wish you the very best of health and happiness for 2008. You never know, maybe I will even write about some knitting, now and then.

Stanley John Alexander took us by surprise when he arrived 18 days early on 24th November.

Despite his best efforts to convince obstetricians and midwives to the contrary, he was found on the day to be breech and was delivered by emergency c-section at 2.32pm.

Stanley thanks you for noting his birth: for those with an interest in such things, a full account can be found here (scroll down and click on 'view full message').

With love to you all from

Anna and Stanley

Regarding the Biggy Print, I found the inspiration I was looking for here. With each week that passes, the book deadline looms nearer and the chances of me knitting anything for myself that will be worn while still a non-parent, or even when newly a parent, recede, but it's fun to daydream. If the next batch of patterns goes seamlessly (it would be the first), I may find a few spare hours between the end of work and the arrival of the loaf.

Meanwhile, newborn sizes are far easier to justify, and I am not a superstitious mama. In fact, every fibre of my being wants only to knit for loaf... I force myself to observe other commitments.

The navy cardigan and stripy hat are newborn size. The brown is a genuine EZ surprise: a photocopied sheet was handed to my mother by a knitting friend of hers, without benefit of any pictures or diagrams, the only description being a handwritten note, 'This is an Elizabeth Zimmerman design, great for leftovers'. So using leftovers from an intarsia design from the book, I commenced, and finished up with what seems to be a double-breasted version of the baby surprise. Considerably larger than newborn size. But I'm sure he will find use for it, even in his first winter, as a warm outer layer with the sleeves rolled up.

I had had this in mind for a baby surprise jacket, but having had one surprise I don't feel much need for another. Do you have a delightful baby pattern up your sleeve, which would work in 350 yards of STR Heavyweight?

A dull post - but I fear I am rather dull at present. Forgive me.

I've also got some gorgeous Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed bought in one of Cara's destashments. I've been thinking of making a Mommy Snug with it, but the arrival of baby is within sight (I have never been so excited to see Christmas merchandise in September! It means the wait is nearly over!), and I don't want to waste this gorgeous yarn on a garment I'll only get a few weeks of wear from.

So back to the Biggy Print: I had meant to ebay it but never got around to it. Now I'm thinking I could use it to make myself something quick, simple, which I will be able to wear for these last few weeks but also into the early part of next year when I am no longer pregnant but also not yet my pre-child shape. But I'm all out of ideas. What would you make with 11 skeins of Biggy Print? I've taken a cursory look on Ravelry but nothing has quite grabbed me, so I thought I'd ask here, on the offchance you'd seen a shape from whence I could draw inspiration.

My own dear pattern for Bridie is published therein, along with some prose about me. Little loaf permitting, I'll be attending the launch and would love to see you there. The launch is free to attend, but you should phone Loop and let them know you're coming. You can find more information here (scroll down to the end of the page).

And me! Hilarious!

The socks alone would have been more than enough but Suzanne threw in two MORE skeins of Claudia's (it's not a yarn I've come across in the UK, and so is extra special to me). I am tempted to make another pair of Monkeys, all for me, me, me!

A baby hat, looking just like the white aubergines at the farmers' market this weekend. A strange thing has happened to my perception: it used to be, on seeing baby clothes, that I would squeal words to the effect of 'Look how tiny!!'. Since baking my own little loaf, I now look at the same garments and think, 'Oh! How enormous!'

And at the risk of being superlative in my praise, even the retractable tape-measure arrived not even a full week since I broke my last one (with some over-vigorous measuring).

Suzanne, thank you so very, very much for such a thoughtful and precious package. I do not think anyone could be happier with their Sockapalooza experience than I. At a time when even deliveries of yarn have lost their thrill (each one means more unbloggable book work), you had me galloping upstairs to share my delight with Mr Raitte, admiring my sock-clad feet.

Stay tuned for ginormous baby knits!

So this is a call for test knitters. Before you jump off your seat to volunteer, please read the below: You are amazing! Thank you so much for every single offer of help! I can see I will have far more willing friends than pieces that need knitting, so let me give some thought to the best way of allocating knits to knitters. And if I may, I'll hold onto the details of everyone who's offered, because even if I'm not able to utilise your skills this time around I'm bound to want to in future.

I will pay you (no princely sum, but the equivalent for the size of project to what I would pay my usual knitters here in the UK), acknowledge your contribution, and give you (at my expense) a copy of the book when it is published. You will not be able to choose the colour or size of the project you knit, you will not be able to keep the project you knit. We will discuss what size of commitment you would be able to take on.

In return I will expect you to:
* Meet a mutually agreed deadline including allowing sufficient time for carriage
* Be party to a non-disclosure agreement
* Keep me informed of your progress
* Feed back on the pattern, including asking me if anything is unclear or starts to 'look wrong', rather than ploughing on regardless
* Be confident in your knitting skills.

There may be more, but that will do for now. If you leave me a comment below saying 'I'm interested', I'll get in touch to find out more. Or feel free to email me, if you have the address (I'm sure most of you do, all these years and I still haven't got around to putting a mailto link on the site).

Also, if you're still reading and still feeling helpful, I don't suppose you know of a good source for reasonably attractive and also reasonably cheap fabric tote bags, of the type suitable for keeping knitting projects in? Someone with more time and love for her sewing machine than I would whip up a half dozen of her own. At the moment I lack even time to knit a pair of booties for my dear burgeoning baby, my little loaf, so I must throw money at the problem instead, and rely on that other someone's industriousness. I tried 'etsy' but the search results were too huge and unwieldy: a personal recommendation would be far preferable, if you have one.

My dears, thank you for your patience and for being here with open hearts when I can be.