Pregnant Kate Middleton reveals she's relaxing by knitting as she talks baby names and due date

Kate Middleton has revealed she's relaxing into her pregnancy by taking up knitting, as she appeared in Scotland on her latest royal tour.

The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, who covered up her baby bump in a tartan flared-hem coat yesterday, said she's taken up the popular hobby as she talked baby names and her due date with the crowds.

[Related: Kate Middleton covers her baby bump in tartan on trip to Scotland]

Speaking to well-wisher Caitlyn Coffield, 17, during yesterday's trip to Glasgow, Kate said: "I've been trying to knit and I'm really bad. I should be asking for tips!"

After being handed a woollen hat, babygro and teddy bear, Kate said: "It's very sweet of you.

"I'll keep it safe for the big day."

As well as discussing her new knitting hobby, Kate also admitted the royal baby is due mid-July and that she and Prince William have drawn up a shortlist of baby names.

She told a member of the crowd: "We have a shortlist for both [boy and girl], but it's very difficult...My friends keep texting me names."

The Duchess added that the baby is due in mid-July, she realises it could arrive at any time.

She said: "It's [due] around mid-July, but apparently babies have their own agenda."

[Related: Kate Middleton wears Topshop for her latest official outing]

Kate and Wills were visiting the Quarriers Stopover Project in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday, where they spent an hour chatting to the 14 to 25 year-olds who live at the shelter.

Showing no signs of the severe morning sickness that plagued her in early pregnancy, Kate was even spied playing a game of ping pong (the retro sport sister Pippa Middleton is a fan of) and was seen smiling and laughing as she met the crowds.

Kate's new knitting hobby makes her one of the hoards of women who've taken up the hobby in recent years.

Billed as a great way to de-stress, knitting has gone from becoming an old-fashioned past-time to a cool hobby - with many women whiling the time away on a commute by knitting.

In 2011, it was reported that sales of John Lewis yarn and other haberdasheries had more than doubled in some cases on the previous year, with online searches for knitting rising accordingly.

Tell us whether you're a fan of knitting like Kate, over on Twitter now.