BEFORE hitting 50 next year, former SNJ news editor Sandra Ashenford has compiled a bucket list of 50 goals to achieve before her birthday.

The aim is to do one every week.

List item no 29 - knit a baby blanket KNITTING – does it put you in mind of the likes of Julia Roberts or the nanas from the Shreddies advert?

It’s a craft that has traditionally been the remit of white-haired grandmothers, but in recent years lots of Hollywood stars, including Ms Roberts and Kristen Stewart, and even the Duchess of Cambridge have been snapped with knitting needles and wool.

Men have been getting in on the act too with actors David Arquette and Ryan Gosling both apparently keen knitters.

My own white-haired nana tried very hard to teach me the skills of knitting and I did once manage to complete a slightly wonky scarf but as the years have passed I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I’m never going to look like Julia Roberts and I’m never going to be good at any sort of craft that requires any level of manual dexterity. However, knitting a baby blanket was added to the list by daughter number two, who was over-joyed back in March when the list was compiled to be pregnant with her first child.

I bought some wool and some needles and an idiot’s guide to knitting and was keen to get started but when the daughter and her husband received the heart-breaking news at their 12-week scan that their baby had died, I couldn’t face knitting a single stitch. Now, though, I am expecting not one but three new grandchildren to go with the gorgeous grandson I have already.

Daughter number one is set to provide him with a little sister in January, and daughter number two is expecting twins a few weeks later.

We are all excited and terrified in equal measure but, having literally been holding my breath for weeks, I’ve decided to pick up the needles and start knitting.

The aim now is to complete three little blankets (pram size, rather than cot size, I think) but sadly my knitting skills still lag a long way behind my enthusiasm.

Even if the finished results are slightly wonky, I hope the grandchildren will know they were made with love by their silver-haired nana who really doesn’t even vaguely resemble Julia Roberts.