Crazy lady knitting-related insomnia

I have been making leaps and bounds in my knitting progression over the last week or so - I've really amazed myself!

First there was learning to increase for the knitted chicks.

Then, I'd been searching for ideas for something to knit for my step-sister's baby which is due in the Summer. We have quite different styles so it was hard to come up with something she wouldn't just politely accept and then send it off to the charity shop at the first opportunity! I wanted to make something she'd really like and actually use but also something that was within my capabilities as a rookie knitter.

I re-acquainted myself with Ravelry, which I joined a few years ago but didn't do much with, mainly because I'm not really a pattern following kind of person. But then I stumbled upon this pattern, for knitted baby "ugg" boots, and decided that I just had to make them. So I learnt such things as yf, SKP, kfb and other things too, with the help of lovely knitters on youtube! Once I had the idea in my head, I simply could not sleep until I had determined whether or not I was capable of knitting the cute little boots - it turned out to be much easier than I thought, but that didn't stop me from staying awake until 3am to make as much headway as I could before going to bed. Anyone following me on Twitter will be aware that this is not unusual - once I get a project idea in my head, I can't sleep until I'm satisfied that it's possible and will work.

I finished them yesterday evening - aren't they cute?! Another amazing thing about this project is that I actually followed a pattern! The only things I changed were the yarn (I used what I had in my basket) and I crocheted the cream detailing on the front and sides rather than weaving as the pattern suggests.

I'm pleased as punch that I learnt some new knitting skills and solved the dilemma of what to knit for the new baby in the family (and I'll admit I had a lot of fun knitting with pink - there isn't much opportunity for pink things in our house!).

Now that I have learnt these new stitches, and to trust in patterns, my knitting potential has dramatically increased. I wonder what other baby items this clucky step-aunty can create?!

I expect to find myself on Ravelry a lot more in the coming months.