There’s been so much birthday cake in the Knitting office of late it’s a wonder any of us can lift an arm to use a needle. Deputy Ed Emma W hit the big 3-0 on Friday followed by me hitting the not so big, but none the less momentous feeling 2-7 on Sunday. Carrot cake, coffee cake and the biggest fondant fancy you have ever seen have all graced our coffee table this week. So far not one knitted gift though.

On the other hand I have been excelling at knitted gifts for my nearest and dearest, all going down a treat and with a waiting list as long as my arm. It started with my plan to knit everyone a Christmas present. Well, I didn’t quite manage everyone but I did finish a fabulous wash bag, (waterproof lining and everything!) based on Tina Barrett’s ‘Learn to knit’ duffel bag, for my mum – check it out below. I also made a glamorous glasses case for my Nan, out of Tilli Tomas Rockstar, though unfortunately she couldn’t stop laughing at it on Christmas day because with the velvet lining inside it turned out a little chunkier than I had envisaged. Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all. 



Then we got a Biggan wrist warmers kit in the office, in two shades of purple yarn – the favourite colour of my friend who was finally coming back to England, after a year away in New Zealand. Since she was leaving sunny climes for Cornwall I thought this would be an apt gift and so I launched enthusiastically in to learning how to knit with circular needles (whoever invented the magic cast on method is a genius).

When these were done everyone wanted a pair, and though I have the best intentions (I get bored quite quickly and seduced by new patterns very easily), none have materialised because I came across the most fabulous chickens in Rowan’s Organic Cotton Kids Collection. I had to make one, and thought it would make the perfect ‘thank you’ gift for my friends who threw me a birthday dinner and are enthusiastic chicken keepers themselves. Some people turn up for dinner parties with wine and flowers, I turned up with this…



… but look how cool he is! Now my mum wants one so I’m currently making another, with slight improvements, hopefully in time for Mother’s Day. I know that gives me just under a month, but I need to get my skates on as you never know with me, I may come across something else that takes my fancy before then!