I’ve been spoilt for the past few weeks. Mr B has been working from home and then on holiday, meaning I haven’t had to venture outside first thing in the morning for the school run for almost a month. So although yesterday was the first day back after the Christmas break, today was the first day I had to see just how cold it was first thing in the morning. But I’m a knitter: I am Prepared.

Rose went out wearing a vest, tights, trousers, long sleeved top, socks, legwarmers, Sweet Baby Cap and Tomten Jacket with the hood pulled up. I wore my new socks from Diane and scarf from Kai (pictures coming up), wristwarmers AND mittens together and a hat, along with my coat and other clothes of course. Along with the baby sling, which is another three layers of fabric, this meant that all that could be seen of my daughter was her face, and I’m now considering the possibility of some sort of baby balaclava. Oscar refused to wear anything other than a hat and gloves with his coat and Henry leaves even earlier to get his bus and probably discards his hat once he’s turned the corner, so it’s just a poor defenceless baby flying the flag for extreme knitwear wearing. But it all worked as we arrived back toasty warm other than cold cheeks on our faces.

All this is a roundabout way of saying that I do love my knitted accessories and I am so lucky to have knitting friends who make me gorgeous knitted stuff. And that it’s about time I shared my Christmas presents.

A beautiful Gail aka Nightsongs shawl from Kai, knitted in Malabrigo sock yarn and adorable Mum-and-baby matching Express Lane socks from Diane, knitted in The Knittery Cashmere. All have been worn and loved already since they were unwrapped and greatly appreciated, especially since it’s apparently going to get even colder here in the next week…