And another holiday comes to an end...

What is it about January that makes it go so quickly? I have been on holidays for 5 weeks and it seems like a minute. I have to confess that the end of December always seems to disappear in a whirl, what with Christmas and New Year and all the social activities centered around both.

But January should be different. It is full of lazy, hot summer's days when you just bum around the house doing very little indeed. It should feel like it takes an eternity but here I am again lamenting it's end.

It wasn't a complete waste though. I got a fair bit of knitting done and finally managed to churn out some sewing. I must say I am particularly pleased with the design of the 1-2-Go bags. Possibly my best accomplishment of the holidays. I also did a lot of decluttering and general tidying up - of course not quite as much as I wanted to but at least a fair bit was done.

On the knitting front I am up to here:

on my Montego bay scarf. I guess I am about a quarter to a third of the way through the second skein and it is just divine. The colours are very hard to catch with the camera but it is so vibrant and alive. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Sock Sport (rainbow colourway) and I am so glad I chose to do this project rather than socks. There are a few patterns that might do this yarn justice but most I have seen flash most alarmingly! I can hardly wait to finish this, block it and show it off.

So anyway, tomorrow it is back to the chalkface - years 10 and 12 psychology and years 8 and 9 science - and for the first year I am not as full of enthusiasm as usual. Politics, it is the ruination of good education. I think I have also missed my annual Officeworks trip with Beth given that she is still OS. I am sure I will get into the swing soon enough. The kids will cheer me up and as always I will enjoy my time with them. The rest of it? We'll see....

Woolly Mail!

Well woolly mail and woolly market purchases....

This is divine (did I mention divine) Nirvana Soft Spun from Zen String in the Valentino colourway. Oh my goodness!! DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!! This stuff is just gorgeous.


I received a parcel from Irene at Jolly Jumbuck containing some luscious Achilles sock yarn in purple haze colourway. I also have this yarn in chokolat colourway that I have finished one sock in. No photos of it yet though, more about it later....


And at the Talbot Farmer's Market in Sunday I not only caught up with Frank for a lovely sticky white, I also snagged 500g of natural Corriedale grown locally. I am very much looking forward to some dyeing .


And while we were at the market I was conned by the boys into buying these two. Two cute little quails that live at the bottom of the cockatiel aviary. The little darlings even lay! We now have 3 tiny little quail eggs!

Fabric A-go-go

It has been a great time for fabric collection! Firstly I received a shipment from Fabric.com this week. with some lovely quilting fabrics in varying designs. I have enough of each for two 1-2-Go bags. I was specifically purchasing fabrics that I felt would look better in the smaller format.

I also went to Purl's Palace in Daylesford last weekend and picked up a bag of miscellaneous kimono fabrics. There are some truly beautiful (and quirky) fabrics in there. Some are large enough for 1-2-Go bags on their own and others will need to be pieced with solids . Either way they will be stunning.
Now because I am absolutely spoilt for choice, I just can't decide where to start so.....

The first two people to type "taken" and a description of the fabric they want in the comments section can have one or two 1-2-Go bags in the fabric of their choice. Once you have done this you will need to email me and leave your details. As has been my want 1-2-Go bags are A$18 including shipping Australia wide. International costumers can expect to hear from me regarding additional shipping costs.

SOLD: Coffee Break 1-2-Go Bag

A$18

The perfect bag to take one project anywhere you want to go! Made from quality dressmaking cotton and fully lined with sturdy cotton drill, this 1-2-Go bag has both a drawstring closure and a snapped flap to keep your project safely inside.The dimensions of this bag is approximately 20 x 24 cm and it will easily hold one skein of yarn and needles with room to spare.

To purchase this item be the first person to leave your name and email address in the comments section of this post and I will contact you for mailing details and payment information. These will be deleted once I have contacted you. If this makes you hideously uncomfortable, write TAKEN in as the first comment and email me your details at jackikelly@optusnet.com.au

Obviously my beautiful Monster Knits yarn is not included.

All The Complete Fabrication products come with complimentary shipping Australia wide. International shipping will incur a charge.

Don't anyone panic!

I have plans for some more 1-2-Go bags in the very near future!

SOLD: Rainbow Donuts 1-2-Go Bag

A$18

The perfect bag to take one project anywhere you want to go! Made from quality dressmaking cotton and fully lined with sturdy cotton, this 1-2-Go bag has both a drawstring closure and a snapped flap to keep your project safely inside.

The dimensions of this bag is approximately 20 x 24 cm and it will easily hold one skein of yarn and needles with room to spare.

To purchase this item be the first person to leave your name and email address in the comments section of this post and I will contact you for mailing details and payment information. These will be deleted once I have contacted you. If this makes you hideously uncomfortable, write TAKEN in as the first comment and email me your details at jackikelly@optusnet.com.au

Obviously my beautiful Jolly Jumbuck yarn is not included.

All The Complete Fabrication products come with complimentary shipping Australia wide. International shipping will incur a charge.

SOLD: Knitting Kitties 1-2-Go Bag

A$18

The perfect bag to take one project anywhere you want to go! Made from quality quilter's cotton and fully lined with sturdy cotton drill, this 1-2-Go bag has both a drawstring closure and a snapped flap to keep your project safely inside.

The dimensions of this bag is approximately 20 x 24 cm and it will easily hold one skein of yarn and needles with room to spare.

To purchase this item be the first person to leave your name and email address in the comments section of this post and I will contact you for mailing details and payment information. These will be deleted once I have contacted you. If this makes you hideously uncomfortable, write TAKEN in as the first comment and email me your details at jackikelly@optusnet.com.au

Obviously my beautiful Jolly Jumbuck yarn is not included.

All The Complete Fabrication products come with complimentary shipping Australia wide. International shipping will incur a charge.

SOLD: Japanese Butterflies 1-2-Go Bag

A$18

The perfect bag to take one project anywhere you want to go! Made from quality quilter's cotton and fully lined with sturdy cotton drill, this 1-2-Go bag has both a drawstring closure and a snapped flap to keep your project safely inside.

The dimensions of this bag is approximately 20 x 24 cm and it will easily hold one skein of yarn and needles with room to spare.

To purchase this item be the first person to leave your name and email address in the comments section of this post and I will contact you for mailing details and payment information. These will be deleted once I have contacted you. If this makes you hideously uncomfortable, write TAKEN in as the first comment and email me your details at jackikelly@optusnet.com.au

Obviously my beautiful Jolly Jumbuck yarn is not included.

All The Complete Fabrication products come with complimentary shipping Australia wide. International shipping will incur a charge.

The End is Nigh!

After weeks of dedication and perserverence, my ballet camisole is nearing the end! I can't even begin to relate to you the relief that this instills in me. I must confess I was at the point on frogging this a ways ago. It seemed to be going nowhere, it was dull as dishwater to knit and the yarn (Jo Sharp Desert Cotton) makes a lovely fabric but is a pain in the rear to work with. Sam gave me the pep talk ("you will love it when it is done" "just do a bit more and see how you feel" "don't frog it yet") and I made a resolution to hammer on.

Hammering on meant bribe myself with a number of deals - no casting on or working on anything else until you have done 5 rounds, If you do an hour on the pink horror you can cast on something new, and so forth. Surprisingly, once I made the decision to finish the damn thing it has gone quite quickly, but it still was very boring!

The yarn was/is the most frustrating thing to work with! It is splitty, as are lots of cottons, but more frustrating is he way it kinks and twists as you are working a ball. I had to reball every ball and then knit from zip-lock bags to stop the balls tangling with themselves and each other. Even that wasn't a guarantee and I spent much time detangling.

How am I feeling about the project as it nears the end? I do like the finished look and I do like the fabric that the yarn produces. Will ever knit the pattern again or buy the yarn again? HELL NO!

Beth insists I post the details of this little gift!

My dear friend Beth has had to go home to her family in the States at short notice due to an illness in the family. Now it has taken me many years to indoctrinate the girl into the Australian ways of environmentalism and conservation, so I couldn't bear the thought of her heading home and falling back into the rampant consumerism of the "Yankies".

To help her on her way I whipped her up this coffee mitt from the book One Skein Wonders in 100purewool merino worsted (June colourway). Apparently it has been quite a hit in Starbucks across the greater Sac and San Fran areas (notice how I know the Lingo ;)). Not only that but she has been extolling the virtues of environmental conservatism. Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner! Now if only I could teach her to spell like an Aussie....

Hey Beth. Thinking of you all Sweetie.

The post that will be gibberish to most of you

I have no idea why I needed to do this so much. In a way I blame mmagoo6 from Ravelry and in another way I just blame insomnia, complete boredom with the endless rows of stockingette in my ballet camisole and generally stupidity.

So...ON-ON people. Need something to mop your brow at the wet check, need to wipe down your beer at the drink stop, looking for the perfect way to say "Screw You" to your favourite Grand Master? Maybe this is just what your Spiritual Advisor is looking for to cleanse the foreheads of the newly christened and what hash tart should wash with anything less?

Yarn: Something cotton or cotton blend in a DK or worsted weight

Needles: 4mm

Gauge: Get over yourself, it is a cloth!

Notions: Darning Needle

On-on!

CO 40 sts

Row 1: (k1, p1) repeat to end

Row 2: (p1, k1) repeat to end

Row 3: Repeat row 1

Row 4: Repeat row 2

Row 5: k1, p1, k37, p1

Row 6: p1, k1, p14, k9, p14, k1

Row 7: k1, p1, k12, p11, k14, p1

Row 8: p1, k1, p12, k13, p12, k1

Row 9: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 10: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 11: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 12: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 13: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 14: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 15: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 16: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 17: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k4, p14, k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 18: p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k3, p4, k13, p5, k2, p1, k3, p2, k1

Row 19: k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p2, k5, p12, k5, p3, k1, p2, k2, p1

Row 20: p1, k1, p1, k6, p5, k11, p6, k6, p2, k1

Row 21: k1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p3, k6, p11, k5, p2, k1, p3, k2, p1

Row 22: p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k2, p5, k11, p6, k3, p1, k2, p2, k1

Row 23: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k5, p13, k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 24: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 25: k1, p1, k10, p16, k11, p1

Row 26: p1, k1, p3, k2, p4, k18, p4, k2, p4, k1

Row 27: k1, p1, k2, p4, k2, p20, k2, p4, k3. p1

Row 28: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Wet check - best grab a beer!

Row 29: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 30: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 31: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 32: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 33: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 34: p1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k20, p2, k4, p3, k1

Row 35: k1, p1, k3, p2, k3, p20, k3, p2, k4, p1

Hash Check - stand up, wander around aimlessly and wait for the slow bastards to catch up

Row 36: p1, k1, p8, k20, p9, k1

Row 37: k1, p1, k8, p20, k9, p1

Row 38: p1, k1, p9, p18, p10, k1

Row 39: k1, p1, k10, p16, k11, p1

Row 40: p1, k1, p11, k13, p13, k1

Row 41: k1, p1, k9, p2, k15, p1, k10, p1

Row 42: p1, k1, p8, k3, p2, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p2, k4, p9, k1

Row 43: k1, p1, k8, p4, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k9, p1

Row 44: p1, k1, p9, k1, p2, k3, p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k4, p9, k1

Row 45: k1, p1, k8, p4, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k2, p1, k10, p1

Row 46: p1, k1, p17, k1, p3, k1, p2, k4, p9, k1

Row 47: k1, p1, k8, p4, k25, p1

Row 48: p1, k1, p24, k4, p9, k1

Row 49: k1, p1, k8, p4, k25, p1

Row 50: p1, k1, p25, k2, p10, k1

Row 51: k1, p1, k37, p1

Row 52: (p1, k1) repeat to end

Row 53: (k1, p1) repeat to end

Row 54: Repeat row 52

Row 55: Repeat row 53

Bind off and add hanger if desired.

On-after

I resisted the temptation for an on-back or any false trail. ;)

Now. Would anyone care to screw the pattern?

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Three People, Five Litres, One Hour and Thirty-nine minutes...

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2008 with luck and prosperity for all. Rest assured that my thoughts are with those that need them.