The Complete Fabrication

It's Hip to Knit Sqaures

2011-08-08T11:45:00.003+10:00

My knitting time of late has been taken up with knitting blanket squares for the Save the Children Fund's Born to Knit campaign. Basically, you knit 20cm x 20cm (44sts x 88 rows) squares in 8ply (dk) pure wool and join 16 together to make a baby blanket. I have done some squares for the boy's school and have also vowed to make a whole blanket myself.

I am up to square 8, nearly halfway, and it has been really enjoyable. I think that charity knitting is great for the soul. Giving your time to create something for someone you will never meet is an interesting concept. I like to think that the item will be a cherished item that will be immensely handy to its recipient.

You know what I think would be cool? If some of the readers of this blog joined me in my charity knitting. You might want to knit one square and post it to me (email me for the address) to join squares made by others or do your own blanket and hand it in yourself. I will give a random, yarny prize to someone who joins me on the quest by either knitting a square and sending it to me or knitting their own blanket and posting a link in the comments.

Come on knitters, lets cover the world in wool!

Okay.....

2011-07-18T14:58:00.000+10:00

Maybe I do have a small problem....

But I mean, aren't they pretty?

The Knitting Naughty Corner

2011-07-12T13:42:00.004+10:00

Do you have a knitting naughty corner? You the place projects go when they have committed the mortal fibre sins of not working, being boring or just losing your eternal love? I certainly have the KNC. Projects might languish there for days, months or even years. They go there for so many different reasons. Mainly it is because I have found better, more interesting or more pressing things to do. Last week I decided it was time to tackle the KNC and make some hard decisions about the fate of the recalcitrants dwelling there in.

This escaped! As far as I remember it went to the corner about Christmas last year for the sin of not working properly. As often happens with lace, I repeated the same row about 3 times, got the wrong number of stitches 3 times and cracked it once! Off to the KNC it went and there it stayed. I bought it out again last week and finished it off.

Luna Moth Shawl by Shui Kuen Kozinski knit with 8ply Bendigo Cotton in black (well technically I think the colour is called 'Noir' but it's black). My original plan had been to knit a cotton shawl for the summer months, you know, when the evening cools and such. It has become a winter finish but I am sure it will useful none the less.

It was a kind of enjoyable knit. The pattern is not particularly intuitive and it easy to mess up if you lapse in concentration. Would I do it again? Probably not.

The KNC isn't empty yet although this has managed to escape and is currently being finished.

Gotta Love Cute.

2011-07-03T17:35:00.002+10:00

My beautiful little red-headed warrior requested the production of a Cats hat that "looked like it had ears" after he saw a hat that I made for the CCPAS auction. No worries, found some leftover white something or other, found a scrap of leftover navy whosawhatsit and set to work. Of course needed more than a scrap of the navy so headed off the next day to Lincraft*, grabbed some navy Cozy Wool and finished right smartly.

Looks cute huh?

Even cuter close up!

I tacked the corners in so they would stand up even better, so the warrior was very pleased. Little did I know that my mission was not yet complete. Apparently such a hat requires a matching "tail like Half-Cat" and so I went back to work.

Now tell me, is this the cutest thing ever?

* Is it just me or is the range at Lincraft always disappointing? There are some lovely looking yarns but you pick them up and they are overpriced, acrylic rubbish. I only went there because it was closer and was again just utterly confused with the decisions that their marketing department makes.

Twirly, Whirly, Glitzy Scarf!

2011-06-11T12:57:00.003+10:00

I think I might have a problem, I appear to be blogging regularly again. It's a miracle I tells you, a miracle!

Today's blog is a special one. Over the next few weeks I hope to knit and/or sew a number of items to help Curtain Call Performing Arts School raise some funds for our upcoming show, Bye Bye Birdie. These items will be silent auctioned at the trivia night we are having on the 24th of June, but if any of my Aussie readers want to bid now I will shout you postage if you win. I will also text or email the top bidder here on the night if they get outbid to give them a last chance. If anyone from overseas wants to bid I will split you the postage cost.

Item number one:
This twirly, whirly ruffly scarf (modelled expertly by Max who was a great sport owing to the lack of chics around here) is handknit from handdyed (by Happy Spider) wool/synthetic mohair/glitz yarn. It has an eyelet edging and a garter border. It is nice and soft and cuddly for either big or little girls.

If you would like to bid just leave the amount in the comments section and shot me off an email at this email address so that I have a contact for you. Also give me a yell if you want anymore details.

Shhhh, it's a secret!

2011-06-08T17:37:00.003+10:00

I am about 99.99% sure that my sister in law doesn't read this blog. Further to that I am actually pretty sure that she doesn't even know I have a blog. If I am wrong, "Hi Ral", please stop reading here.

My latest finished offering is Holden, a lovely quick freebie knit in Wired for Fibre Rita (80/20) in Baroque. It is a birthday present for the aforementioned Ral that she will get on Sunday. It is very pretty, have a look...

Hopefully the recipient will like it and wear it lovingly. Most of the time I think she appreciates handmade things and then sometimes I'm not so sure. Oh well, no one said that zealotry was easy!

So I am not the only crafter in the house.

2011-06-05T17:58:00.003+10:00

While Jason and Bevan were outside making the back gardens more dog-proof than they previously were, Duncan and I did some crafting together. Sometime ago I taught Duncan how to use the sewing machine and he made a little bag (probably didn't blog that but it cute and a fair first attempt). Today he decided that he wanted to make himself a heat pack.

He did everything from choosing the fabric to the final product with the exception that I threaded the machine. The finished heat pack is pretty good. A little wonky down one side but still very functional and funky.

Seeing as I had the machine out and running I decided to whip up a hot water bottle cover for Rohan who has quite taken to this charmingly old-fashioned heating method. For weeks I have been filling the bottle and lamenting that, whilst warm, the rubber is hardly snugly. Well, with the machine threaded and fabric on the table I really had run out of excuses!

See, much snuglier. :)

Well now let me see...

2011-05-28T14:08:00.005+10:00

A few things have happened since last we did meet.

Jason and I celebrated our 15th Wedding anniversary. Okay it isn't 50 years but I still think we are doing pretty well.

To celebrate in style we ditched the children with various relos and friends and took off on a 12 night cruise of the South Pacific (Pentecost Island, Port Vila, Port Denerau, Suva and the Isle of Pines to be precise). Some photos to make you jealous....

Is that the greatest hat you've ever seen. There was a slight theme to the adventure. The next few photos might give it away....

You're quite correct, the weather was stunning (and a lot of drinking was done). I did manage to get my Hedera socks in Lang Jawoll Magic finished whilst away. It does suck sitting on your own private balcony knitting away in the sunshine. Really it does.

The pattern is adorable but I have to say, with all due respect to my mother who purchased this yarn, if Wollmeise is Hitler’s apology for World War II this yarn is his last act of revenge! It is sticky and fluffy and the ball is terrible (reball if you do buy it). Thankfully it is also very cozy and very pretty. In defence of Mum, I would probably have picked it off the shelf too.

I also cast on Batik on the ship and finished blocking it today! I had about 20 cm left of a skein of 80/20 Wollmeise in Mistelzweig (we're different). That is just a little tighter than I like to run it usually!

But the result is truly stunning. I love the combination of the cables and lace, especially with the twisted stitches.

Cables a la Carte

2011-03-04T20:21:00.001+11:00

Remember this design?
It is finally ready for purchase! Only took a few months....

Some days just call for a silly hat!

2011-02-20T19:44:00.002+11:00

For some reason this was a hat that just had to be made! It's utter silliness appealed to me and the idea just had to become a reality. The design is a sick and sad product of my warped mind, the yarn is Evoke FBF merino (siren colourway if you are interested) and the result is, well, just a bit silly.

I hate to say it, but I think it is just silly (and daggy) enough to be a little bit cool. I haven't written the pattern for this as I am not sure there is a need for very silly hats but if there is interest I certainly could. It must be about time I gave you all another freebie anyway.

So school started back today.....

2011-02-04T14:29:00.002+11:00

The last year for a long time that my boys will all be at the same school. My big boy is in grade six this year! How the hell did that happen? Surely it was but yesterday that he was born...

Anyway, with the kids in school there was just one thing to do - hit Purl's Palace before it closes forever and undertake some retail therapy to soothe my "distress". is this ruler bangle just too cool and nerdy?

I promise, crafty stuff will come soon.....

Still Alive

2010-11-14T14:25:00.003+11:00

Thought it might be best for me to at least flag my alivedness to the cyberworld by way of a quick post. There are no photos (I HOPE that I know who has my camera and that I will get it back tomorrow) and no knitting (see first point) and no new patterns (although one is ready to fire when I find the motivation.

I have to tell you all that I have been very low on motivation for the last little while. My brain goes so slowly and the day seems to go so quickly that I go to bed wondering where the day went. I have gotten some things done but not much. Hopefully some more medication (oh thank you great pharmacologists) and some resolution of some ongoing crap (although I am not that hopeful that this will happen) will see my improvement continue.

So in case you were wondering....

Yes....I am still alive
Yes....I have been doing some stuff that hopefully you will see soon
Yes....I do think about my blog and my followers and the fact that I have sadly neglected both
and
Yes....I am trying hard to get better.

Comfort is in the eye of the beholder

2010-10-14T13:46:00.004+11:00

A spot in the sun....

A spot in the shade....

On some cushions....

But lying on the stones?

Knitting content coming soon (I promise).

And they said it couldn't be done!

2010-08-30T14:54:00.003+10:00

Yep, those are bona fide dolphin pants you see there! Of course receipt of said pants did elicit mutterings of gloves.....

The things we do for love.

2010-08-26T09:31:00.004+10:00

As you may have gathered my youngest, Rohan, is quite the demander when it comes to handmade goodies. This is a man who likes handmade, knows what he wants and is not at all afraid to ask for it. Surely I blogged about the Muppet made of dead Muppet that he thought would be great fun? No? I just checked and I didn't. Okay, I shall digress momentarily from the original purpose of this post to tell you about the Muppet from Dead Muppet (MDM).

I took Rohan shopping with me one day to Spotlight and he picked up some novelty yuck. I chortled and told him that it was dead Muppet and that it come from the pelts of Muppets that had "gone to the farm". (I should add here that we do have a very warped sense of humour here and these sorts of comments are seen as hilariously funny). This led to him wandering around Spotlight commenting (and giggling) on the mountains of DM until he came to some seriously bright red cack that he decided was perfect Elmo colour and that I should knit him a MDM.

Wishing to encourage the love of handmade goodness I obliged and this resulted...

Rohan was particularly taken by the pom-pom eyes and apparently the "little black bits in the eyes are very impressive"! Not that you can see them in this shot but they are definitely there.

Anyway, back to the original story. Yesterday I was informed that Rohan's toy dolphin, Dolphin-Seal (yes that is really his name), was suffering under the burden of this recent cold snap and required some clothes to keep his dolphiny-goodness warm. It would seem that what Dolphin-Seal needed most was a jumper, knitted and made in his favourite colour - black. It was also related that Dolphin-Seal needed this very quickly as he was particularly cold and it would be best if I made it right then.

Because it is impossible to say no too often to a cute little ranga who likes his stuff handmade I went and found some Woolbale I picked up cheap one day and proceeded to measure Dolphin-Seal up for his jumper. Dolphins, as I am sure you know, are difficult creatures to outfit. This may account for the fact that they spend most of their lives au naturale. There had to be fin holes (because Dolphin-Seal likes to pick things up and give fin cuddles) and naturally his dorsal fin couldn't be folded over in the back of his jumper. So after measuring twice and knitting once, I give you Dolphin-Seal and his very spunky jumper, a labour of love for my little ginger.

Dolphin-Seal and his new apparel have taken off to school today for news such is the impressiveness of the work. I am a little worried though. As happy as the Rohmeister was with the jumper, he now tells me that Dolphin-Seal needs pants!

What a day!

2010-07-24T20:20:00.006+10:00

Sam and I trotted off to the Quliting and Craft Show at Jeff's Shed today and had a lovely day wandering the stalls buying things we didn't really need! We meet up with Susan, Tara and Susan's beuatiful daughter Nadi. We saw Suzie Q's gorgeous quilt (I think it should have won but I know very little about quilts) and saw many other beautiful quilts.

Finally, I found another way to waste my time! The minute I got home I had to whip out all the charms and "fixin's" that I bought and start immediately making stitch markers. Hope you like the products of my new little hobby!

Old gold Ballerinas

Old Gold Shoes

Silver Princess Crowns.

Silver Shoes

Silver Ballerinas

The Week the Rangas took over the World

2010-06-26T16:13:00.003+10:00

My ranga met one of his favourite rangas!

Cameron Ling was very charming and was very impressed that a fellow Ginger carried his playing number. Rohan got his hat and jumper signed as well as two photos signed for his brothers. There are some past and present footballers who could well learn from Cameron, he was exceedingly gracious and nothing was too much trouble.

Jellybeans!

2010-06-20T13:34:00.004+10:00

Cheerful even on the dullest day!

Some sneak previews of my new design....

Also coming in a straight unisex cardi as well. I am looking for a name and a few more test knitters (sizes 2-14). If you have any suggestions for a name pop on a comment. If you want to do a test knit drop me an email.

I would apologise....

2010-06-01T14:43:00.005+10:00

but I really don't feel like it. I know it has been an age since I posted and don't think I haven't had notions of doing so. I really, truly have, however the notion never cemented into the reality and thus no posts. I guess I am a little bit sorry, but I am sure your lives are all travelling along just fine regardless.

I have finished some things since last we spoke...

Knit it down in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran. I love this yarn and the result is a nice cozy, warm casual jumper. Just right for weekends with jeans.

And I finally succumbed to common sense and made a Central Park Hoodie using BWM rustic 12ply (just like Sam) in the Earth colourway. After procrastinating several weeks regarding the seaming (you know how much I love seaming), I love the final result. If it has any faults it might be a tad too warm at times!

And during the procrastination I made a new striped scarf to replace the one taken from the pub in which I left it and an aran weight shawl for the pink swap. I am finally free of the Jo Sharp Desert Aran that I hated so much! The scarf is made in balls of dodgy Spotlight yarn seeing as I just couldn't justify another Noro scarf. The result is nowhere near as nice as the original but it is a fair substitute.

The other news is that I am working on a new design. Teasers and details to come but I can tell you that it is a cabled coat/cardi/cropped cardi for boys or girls in 8ply.

Well I did take the camera...

2010-04-07T12:10:00.003+10:00

We have just got back from a lovely, relaxing 5 days at Wymah Valley Resort on the "shores"* of Lake Hume, just the other side of Albury. It was in fact so relaxing that whilst I took the camera with us I didn't take a single photo.

You will need to believe me when I tell you that the kids had a great time swimming, riding their bikes, at the kid's club, going to the movies, Easter egg hunting, going to the petting farm and dozens of other things. You will also need to believe that I had a lovely time relaxing with my friends and doing a little knitting (and drinking and trivial pursuit).

This is what I have to show from my weekend. A Central Park Hoodie looking like it is on the way to done....

* I say "shores" because the lake is so depleted that the shore is actually about a kilometre from the resort at the moment. One day the drought will break. One day.

My own private Everest.

2010-03-14T14:50:00.005+11:00

Yesterday, through the slight haze of a beer induced headache, it came to my attention that Jason was playing his cricket semi-final. "Not a problem" I thinks to myself, "he should have fun and I will laze about the house pretending not to see the refuse from the night before, watching some TV and generally being sloth-like". Then the non-hungover voice spoke words of reason. "If Jason is playing in the semi-final then that means that he has, at best, three weeks of cricket left and, if he loses, today and tomorrow!"

"Today and tomorrow?" hungover Jacki thinks. Not that I hoped he would lose but I have to admit that the hungover Jacki was rather pleased with the thought of the season being nearly over. "But you are making him a cricket vest" says non-hungover Jacki "and if he loses this game he won't play again until next summer. Wouldn't it be nicer if you finished it for tomorrow?"

Hungover Jacki thought about this for a moment (or ten) and agreed that "yes, that would be nice" and my sloth-likeness turned into knitting-like-a-manic-to-finish-the-vest-todayness.

I knitted like a woman possessed. I made up the pattern as I went. I messed up the pattern, frogged back and made it up again. But Everest was climbed! At 12.30am last night the blocking started and it was finished this morning under (thankfully) brilliant Autumn sun.

At 12 noon Jason pranced off to cricket in his new vest. Okay the back was still a mite damp but other than that it was finished!

I love the centre cable, it looks oh so fancy (but really wasn't that hard) and I would like to report that the whole thing was done without a cable needle. Do yourself a favour - learn to cable without a cable needle! You will never go back.

If I am to be honest the neck finish is so-so and a more finicky person would do it again, but Jase is happy and thus I am happy.

Bad Jacki, Naughty Jacki

2010-03-07T20:24:00.004+11:00

Well, I guess you know that you have neglected your blog when even your mother tells you "it has been a long time since you posted anything on your knitting blog thing". Yep, she calls it a blog thing. Those wacky older people, sorry, I mean people "of a certain age".

Now that I have ensured that my mother is going to kill me, disown me or refuse to babysit the kids; I suppose I should move on to something interesting.

Problem is, there hasn't really been that much of interest happening. Of course stuff has been happening. Hell, I have a husband and three kids. Stuff is ALWAYS happening. But nothing "blog-worthy" seems to have gone down. FOs have been thin on the ground owing to school information nights, housework, a social life, trips away and life in general.

I did finish a cardi but I really need to take nicer photos of it to blog it properly. I'll get back to it okay?

I have started a few things. A jumper for me is in the naughty corner owing to a rogue stitch at the underarm that refuses to cooperate. We will have a stern talk at some stage and it might survive through to completion. I have also frogged Jason's cricket vest after many complaints as to its incorrect sizing (okay it was a little snug) and I have restarted a new version. Here is a progress shot with showy big central cable....

I also have a pair of socks on the go after seeing them on the Yarn Harlot's blog called Sleepy Hollow. Yes I do feel like a bit of a Harlot Harlot following Steph but if you look at them you have to admit they are darn nice socks and I am intrigued with the gusset technique. Is it really my fault that I get a little excited by a new gusset technique? I never said I wasn't geeky. Look, there isn't much to see but here you go (I only started last night okay).

Well there you go Mum, I updated the "blog thing", my apologies for my slackness but sometimes real life gets in the way of cyber life - thankfully.

School!

2010-02-02T22:21:00.005+11:00

Just a quick photo of my baby's first day of school. After a slightly rocky start to the day (his big brothers were so excited that they got Rohan a little emotionally overwrought), he has had a fabulous first two days and can barely wait to go back Thursday.

It is amazing how many people have asked me if I am sad that Rohan is now at school. Hell no! He was so ready to go and it is great to see your children enter the new phases of their lives. Not to mention that now that all of them are at school I also enter a new phase of my life. For the first time in 10 years I can leave work and come straight home without picking up anyone (woohoo) and I have Fridays completely to myself to do things.

Look at all my big boys. How damn cute are they?

Oh, and do excuse the big wet patch on Bevo's shirt. I unfairly insisted that he wash off the large amount of toothpaste that he had deposited there.

A freebie for you!

2010-01-23T12:10:00.004+11:00

After some thought and such I decided that I like my concept of offering one size of a pattern for free and multiple sizes at a cost. With this in mind I decided that I should publish a size of the Tayla Jade for nix, nothing, nada! For no good reason I have chosen the size 4. Sizes 1 through 10 are still available for the low, low price of $5, click here to purchase.

So here you go!

Size 4

Finished Chest Measurement (without ease): 58.5cm

Materials and Notions:

3 balls of Anchor Magicline (70m per 50g ball) or equivalent 10ply (worsted) cotton.

4.5mm Circular needle (40 or 50cm for sizes 1-6 or 80cm for larger sizes).

4.5mm straight or DPNs if preferred for the straps.

Darning needle

2 Stitch markers

Gauge: 18sts / 10cm

Glossary

CO – cast on

pm – place marker

s2,k1,psso – slip two stitches as if to knit two together, knit the next stitch and then pass the two slipped stitches over.

yo – yarn over

K2tog – knit two stitches together

ssk – slip two stitches and then knit together through the back of the stitches.

BO – bind off

The Knitting

Starting at the bottom:

Cast on 110 sts using the circular needle, place a marker and join to work in round. I would recommend a long tailed cast on or similarly stretchy edge.

Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Purl

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: Purl

Round 5: Knit

Begin Lace Pattern:

Following either the chart or written lace instructions, work 5 repeats of the 8 rounds.

Written lace instructions:

Round 1: [k1, yo, k3, s2,k1,psso, k3, yo]repeat to end of round

Round 2: knit all stitches

Round 3: [k2, yo, k2, s2,k1,psso, k2, yo, k1]repeat to end of round

Round 4: knit all stitches

Round 5: [k3, yo, k1, s2,k1,psso, k1, yo, k2]repeat to end of round

Round 6: knit all stitches

Round 7: [k4, yo, s2,k1,psso, yo, k3]repeat to end of round

Round 8: knit all stitches

The Bodice:

Round 1: [K20, K2tog] to end of round.

Round 2: K50, pm, *p1, K1*to one stitch before end of round, p1

Continue repeating round 2 until bodice section measures 7 cms.

The Top:

Round 1: knit to second marker, BO remaining stitches in the round.

From here on in the garment is worked back and forth on the remaining stitches.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: k4, p to 4 sts before the end of the row, K4

Row 3: k4, ssk, k to 6 sts before the end of the row, k2tog, k4

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until 30 sts remain.

Work 6 rows of garter stitch

The Straps:

Row 1: K4, turn

Row 2: Continue on those 4 stitches until strap is approx 30 cms long or desired length

Row 3: ssk, k2tog

Row 4: k2tog

Cut yarn and thread through the remaining stitch

Rejoin yarn beside completed strap, BO all bar 4 stitches and repeat rows 2 and 3 for other strap.

Finishing:

Weave in ends and block. Trust me; blocking does make all the difference. For the uninitiated, this really just means wash your TJ and lay it out nice and flat to dry, pulling the lace out open. See not that scary at all!

This pattern is provided 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 and the payment of a small license fee.

Big Fluffy Blanky is DONE!

2010-01-21T15:57:00.004+11:00

And it's huge! How huge you ask? Well here it it with 8 year old Duncan lying on it!

It ended up being most of 12 balls of Paton's Soft Haze in all so it weighs in at a little under 600g. I know that people poo-poo acrylic but knitting something that big in wool would just get completely unmanageable in one piece. The acrylic component makes it so much lighter but still warm and snuggly.

Damn it, let's look at another photo shall we? Minus the child this time.

The blocking was more or less successful although there is some edge roll as you can see. I don't really care though, this is an item for snuggling under not laying out on the floor. I can barely wait for it to get cold enough to use it properly!

So I have achieved something these holidays - one big arse, huge, fluffy blanky!

So feeling the love for this

2010-01-11T17:33:00.002+11:00

From the great Morphologica at Etsy, a research scientist and artist from Sydney. Great stuff for we self-confessed nerds, geeks and science fetishists.

I love School Holidays

2010-01-06T12:45:00.006+11:00

It isn't just that this humble little teacher doesn't have to go to work (although I confess that that particular point is very appealing) it is more that the world just turns at a slower pace.

There is time to make Dutch Pancakes for lunch and let the eldest help make them without having to hurry.

Okay I confess that it is actually just Aldi shake and make on the Dutch Pancake maker but we all still enjoyed them. As an aside, if, like me, you are too lazy to make pancakes from scratch I highly recommend the Aldi brand. For the other crunchies, I should also report that not only do they now have free trade organic chocolate and ground coffee (amongst many other fto products) but they have also just released free trade organic instant coffee.

There is also time for one of the kids to geek up the process by labelling seperate plates for each type of dutch pancake.

And some of us haven't even made it into clothes yet....

And there is crafting time to take on ridiculously big, out of season projects like this.

That is currently 4 balls of Patons Soft Haze becoming a big arse blanky! Jason thinks I am crazy but I'll show him.

Yep I love school holidays!

PS Merry **Insert Religious Day of Significance in here** and Happy New Year.

At long, long last!

2009-12-19T16:53:00.003+11:00

Felix's Cardigan has been resized and is available up to a size 6!

Click below!

Is this the coolest thing ever?

2009-12-15T14:04:00.005+11:00

Sam made me this for Christmas! I know it isn't Christmas yet but she was so excited about it that I got it early! BONUS!!!!

I have been eyeing of this pattern for an eternity but knew I was a long way away from having the crochet skills to make it myself. And if he isn't cool enough leaning on the window sill with his bottle of beer, check this out!

He smokes his cigar too! Could it get any better? Bender is off to live on my bed with my other new "toy" babelfish that I bought at the Daylesford Maker's Market.

It is made by the very talented Jodie from Ric-Rac!

Introducing Tayla Jade!

2009-11-29T17:13:00.011+11:00

After having a fantastic time taking photos today with my little friends Bella and Hannah, I can now give you "Tayla Jade". A halter neck top for girls aged 1 to 12. This one was designed for my goddaughter Tayla and I wanted it to be light and cool (hence the lace) but also have good coverage in the back and top, after all she is my angel!

For sizing reference, Bella is wearing a size 8 which has plenty of room to be worn this season and next. Hannah is wearing a size 2 which would have fit last season and still fits this.

The pattern for Tayla Jade is available from Ravelry. Just click the button below!

Felix coming this week, I promise!

I have been very busy!

2009-11-28T18:00:00.004+11:00

First a little teaser of the mystery lump in the basin and one of its little sisters...

All going well, the pattern for this should be ready tomorrow. Don't hold me to that though.

Felix is nearly ready for release too. I just need for Mum to come home from a little break with her sister to get some notes off her copy. What moron jots notes on someone else's pattern? Yep, that would be me!

Just to whet the appetite for Felix, here is the size 2 I made for my niece. Gotta love machine washable, $3 a ball (clearance at Kmart), pink but not too pink Cleckheaton Country.

And who could resist the little ladybug buttons?

The Drought has Broken!

2009-11-22T17:41:00.002+11:00

Ir rained and I did some designing. Stay tuned.....

Cuteness

2009-11-18T10:52:00.002+11:00

Three beautiful boys all dressed up for the Ballarat Cup!

And I looked and nearly a month had passed...

2009-10-28T08:26:00.006+11:00

How the hell does that happen? One minute it is three weeks ago and now it is today. I am sure a bazillion things have happened in the interim but they seem to have flown by in a blink.

Since last I posted there have been four birthdays, a kid's dance concert and the usual array of "stuff". I have turned 38, Duncan has turned 8 and we have got two new cats -

Georgie

and Mia.

Both from the local RSPCA. Georgie is 3 and was a stray. Mia is 9 months old and was surrendered. They are both very sweet and the house feels like a home again with cats in it.

I have finished my Wheat Cable Vest by Lisa Gonzalez in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran.

I really like it although it a little large on me. It is off to a new home as a birthday gift. It has given me a gift though, it forced me to learn to cable without a cable needle. It is modified a little. the bottom is knit in the round with a cast on 4 stitches shy of the total back and front and there are only 2 purl stitches between cables at the sides. I also cast off more stitches at the underarm for a narrower shoulder. The pattern called for 1x1 rib at the neck and shoulder but I chose to continue the 2x2 of the bottom. Well that and you all know how much I love 1x1 rib.

In further news, the Felix cardigan is in test knit up to a size 6 and should be ready for release soon.

This week I lost a friend

2009-10-03T15:46:00.003+10:00

I would love to be able to regale you with tales of crafting misadventure but I am afraid that this week such things are the last thing on my mind. Crafting has been a nice distraction but that is about it.

On Wednesday I found out that one of my dear friends was a victim of the tsunami in Samoa. I have known Viv since I was a teenager. Back then she was a teacher and I a student but even then we shared a passion for the performing arts that bonded us. I remember the productions that I did with her when I was at high school as some of the highlights of my education. I was never the star but none the less she appreciated my contributions and treated me as though I was as special as any of the leads.

I can still remember sharing mushroom pizza with her and another teacher (John Stubbings) before a performance, 'Bats' I think it was. I had never tried mushroom pizza and in her particular style she told me just "give it a go". I did and actually enjoyed it.

Later we became colleagues when I returned to my old high school to teach. That same passion was there and the same happy smiley face greeted me so many years later. Viv knew that I loved the performing arts and soon I was roped into all sorts of things.

I have had so many magnificent experiences with Viv. School productions, Rock Eisteddfods and other endeavours. We got cross with each other at times, we probably yelled at each other some times and we certainly didn't always agree but we always had the best time and we shared a love of the process and the product and an immense pride in the efforts of every student.

Later we shared a homeroom and together we loved and cared for those kids. Each one of those students knew that there were people looking out for them and they appreciated it. Like me, Viv loved a project, she loved to help a kid that needed an extra nudge or some adult attention.

Viv and I also worked side by side as subject leaders - she Arts and I Science. We went head to head at times. She a dogged advocate for her great passion and me mine. We also supported each other often when we could see the way and others couldn't. Later when I was head of curriculum I could have cheerfully strangled her on many an occasion when she was such a passionate advocate. Regardless I always appreciated that passion.

Most importantly Viv was my friend. She was caring and loving and she seemed always to know the right things to say. She was there when I needed her and I her. I remember calling her from the winery next door to her place one monday night from a hash run. I was quite slooshed and it was probably 9 or 10 o'clock. She got her shoes on and came over for a drink. I knew she would.

The news has been a bit surreal of late. I keep seeing Viv's face and hearing about the teacher from Ballarat. Viv was not just a teacher from Ballarat. She was Rod's partner, Carla and Steph's Mum and my friend. I am going to miss her terribly.

Monday her desk next to mine will be a stark reminder.

Viv's family have requested donations to the Red Cross appeal for Samoa and Tonga. I would be grateful if you could spare a few dollars.

I knocked down the fence!

2009-09-19T15:29:00.002+10:00

Fence has been sitting on my knitting pile for weeks (maybe months) now staring at me in a most accusing fashion saying "when ya going to finish me?", "why are you starting something else when I still here?" and "come on, I am nearly finished, just finish me."

I was sort of feeling the love for this for as little while. I really liked the lattice lace and I still really like the look of the finished product but the thing just did my head in. I decided to do to the armholes in the round which was a bad move and the pattern was just damned hard for me to read. Maybe it makes perfect sense to some but it just isn't written in a way I like and that bugged me. I am quite sure that there are people out there who think the same of my patterns. I like my instructions to be sequential. I would rather read the exact same thing in four different places than be skipping here, there and everywhere. It is the same reason I like APA referencing over footnotes.

Well I have fixed my dilemma, fence has gone to the frogging pond and will no longer be looking at me unloved and unfinished. Now I need to work out what else to do with the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran. I really would like a vest. Any suggestions?

And in other family news, my baby turned 5!

Now see the problem is....

2009-09-05T11:52:00.003+10:00

I have been working on big things again and I seem to think that no one (not even my nearest and dearest) want to hear a never ending stream of WIP in posts or the mundane details of my pedestrian life.

Well I have finished something so here I am!

An Ishbel (yes, how original) knit in Jolly Jumbuck's Gradient Dyed Cashmerino in Sandry's Rainbow colourway. It took a hair over a full skein. Thank goodness that Sam also bought a skein and thus I could steal some of the purple from her. As beautiful as it looks on me it is in fact a gift for a dear friend to say thank you for her support and love over the last year. She has no idea she is getting it so hopefully it will be a nice surprise.

The pattern was a lovely easy knit. The stockingette section made perfect out of the house knitting and I managed most of the lace portion whilst in the company of others. I did however stuff the whole stockingette section by Evelyn-A-Clarking it, by not really reading the pattern and doing what every other shawl I have knit has done and ancreased only on the knit rows. Oh well, a little fudging and a well placed increase and all was well. It has changed the shape of the finished object a litlle but it is still quite lovely. Oh hell, here is another shot for good measure.

I have put Fence (the vest I was doing in Jo Sharp Silkroad) in the naughty corner for maybe the rest of its life. Maybe it is because I tried to over think the process by doing the bottom in the round, or maybe it is because the pattern is difficult to comprehend or maybe the stars just aren't alligning but I see this one heading to the pond.

And in news just to hand, I have started the process of sizing Felix's Cardigan up to size 6. Hopefully that won't take an age and then it will be similar to my other patterns in that the original size will still be free and the others sizes will be available for purchase.

Sunday's are for being lazy

2009-08-16T14:04:00.004+10:00

At least that is what I am telling myself. Long time no blog huh? The horror of larger projects is that there isn't much to blog. I haven't even had anything non-craft related to blog about. Life has been blissfully boring (well sort of).

I have finished something though in the last two weeks. Duncan wanted a Geelong hoodie, and given that he loves his handknits so much, I agreed that this should be done.

Rather than strict Geelong hoopss I opted for a more abstracted Geelong approach (read, I did it in navy and white). Duncan decided that he didn't want sleeves so I have just finished off the arm holes with a few rows of garter. To be honest I could have kissed the boy when he said he didn't want sleeves, I was getting pretty sick of the whole kit and caboodle.

This is knit in Bendigo luxury 8ply. I still can't rave enough about this yarn. The hoodie that I made Rohan is wearing really well. As I suspected it needed a shave (and may need another) but it is blissfully soft underneath the fuzz and kid's handknits should only be machine washable if you ask me.

I now have some Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran on the needles that I am trying to turn into a vest. Hopefully it won't be another 2 weeks before that is done.

I tried to resist, honest I did....

2009-08-01T19:43:00.003+10:00

Damn Sam for leaving her Noro striped scarf here. Damn me for having 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden on hand. Damn the boredom caused by knitting another hoodie.

I succumbed. I made a Noro Striped Scarf.

I have to confess that it looks really cool. What I thought were muddy sections when I was knitting at night ended up having the most delightfully subtle variations in the light. I also have to confess that it is warm and snuggly and goes with most outfits in a casual sort of way. I also have to admit that I quite love it and it was a quick fun knit.

It is no where near the full 4 skeins, in fact I think I probably have enough of each colour (251 and 268 for the purists) left for a hat of some description. I knew all along that the full 4 would be too long but whilst debating where to finish I hit a join between red and navy blue. I took it as a sign from the gods and cast off.

So now I am the same as the rest of the internet knitting world. I have a Noro Striped Scarf!

Bendigo!

2009-07-19T20:37:00.012+10:00

Yet another trip to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show has come and gone. Sam and I ventured over on Friday via Purls Palace and the Chocolate Mill in Daylesford before landing at the Bendigo Woollen Mills and then onto the motel. After check in, there was a brisk walk of town with the main intent of finding a bottle shop and hence wine before returning back refreshed and exercised. It was then, clearly, wine o'clock. Rach, Grant and Neko arrived shortly there after. Excellent timing I'd have said!

I was declared the queen of wine and wool and presented with my shell soap-and-toiletry-holder tiara and very long Sam-made knee sock sash.

Wine, pizza, chippies, chocolate lava cakes and Eskimo Pie were consumed and we settled in for some knitting and TV (and more wine).

Saturday saw us head off to the Ravlery breakfast which was a hoot and saw us walk away with a range of prizes and consume the most long-awaited coffee of the weekend.

The show was of it's usual standard. The stallholders had some magnificent wares and both Sam and I purchased a range of beautiful things (although I think I was very controlled coming home with only a little over 500g of yarn).

Here I am showing my justifiable love for some Wooldancer rainbow organic merino and some equally loveable Tailored Strands Alpaca.

Sam was enamoured with her Jitterbug from Sarah Durrant that she has been babbling about for the last month (year, century..) or so.

There was some amazing wool craft like this...

And some VERY ugly jumpers like this...

There was a sheep that Sam tried to speak nicely to...

It didn't reply so I gave it a seeing to.

It was much better after that! There was an alpaca that really belonged in "The Big Book of British Smiles".

And lots of other cute alpacas and big-bummed rams.

And all I came home with was this "little" pile...

See, some of it isn't even yarn!

As Promised.....

2009-07-09T16:25:00.005+10:00

The Rose Ribbons Shawl is done and dusted. Another lovely Evelyn Clark design from her book "Knitting lace Triangles". The book is a bit of a bugger to get in Australia but well worth the effort as a learning exercise. In it Ms Clark goes through the complete design process for this particular style of shawls as well as including a number of pattern suggestions.

This is "nearly" as the book prescribes. It went a little askew when I got a little carried away and did the flower beginning and then two repeats of the flower lace instead of one. I then continued on as prescribed but decided that I had enough yarn for an extra round of double repeats of the flower and the leaf lace. I finished it with the first six rows of flower lace and transition 1. The edging is two rows longer than suggested just to get the lighter tone on the cast off edge.

This is a lovely shawl and I am very pleased with the end result. The Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 (ED colourway) is again not the softest of yarns but forgivable for the great colour changes. If you are after a soft-as-silk shawl stick to something else. If you love the subtle gradient changes then go the Kauni.

Oh, and I would like you to note from the last photo that I do not have the 37 chins indicated in the first.

Marriage and the art of the school holidays

2009-07-06T11:32:00.003+10:00

Today is my parent's 46th wedding anniversary. That is not a typo - forty-six! That is one hell of an effort any way you look at it. I have been married 13 years. Jas and I have been together now for 17. Most of those years have been marvelous, but I think any married person will tell you that there are times that aren't so great too. There are times that you could easily pack your bags and walk away without a moments thought, yet you don't.

I have seen my parents marriage and take it as an example. I know there were times that were less than great. I know that there were times when either one of them could have walked away. I also know that they hung on despite this and they have had many great and happy times together in that 46 years. Making a commitment to stay with one person forever isn't an easy one.

Jason and I married young, or at least what is considered young these days. I was 24 and he was 22. I sometimes say that we are still together as much through good luck as good management. What I mean by that is that we are both quite different people to who we were as young adults. Thankfully the changes have been positive (or at least bearable) and we still love the person that the other has become. In many ways it could have easily gone the other way.

On a less serious topic it is school holidays. Oh how I love school holidays. I know that some parents dread it but I love the casual, relaxed nature of a school holidays spent at home. I love the lack of time constraints and the lack of pressure (and I confess, the lack of work). Currently the kids are still in their jammies. Bevo is on the computer completing a very important Scooby Doo related photo collage and the two youngest ones are entertained with a cubby made from the couch, the coffee table and two blankets. They probably should be dressed but where's the hurry? We aren't going anywhere.

I also love that the holidays is a chance to tackle some of those bigger jobs that seem to much trouble for the weekends. So far I have sorted all the boys clothes, taking the too small to a friends house and shuffling the rest down a boy. I love that my kids are so unconcerned about these things that they are excited to receive "new" clothes from their bigger brothers. I also finally tackled the bathroom cupboard in our ensuite. I am sure that I haven't organised that since we renovated nearly 5 years ago! The knitting stuff in the lounge also got a going over. Needles back where they belong and all that jazz.

I have also got a little knitting done in the hols.

Pattern: Omo Scarf by Lucia Tedesco
Yarn: Cashmere 8ply from Ebay
Needles: 5mm
Comments: I just love this scarf. The pattern is beautifully textured without being fussy and easily remembered being just two rows.

Pattern: Hannah by Blake Ehrlich
Yarn: Cleckheaton Merino Supreme
Needles: 6mm
Comments: This is my new hash hat. I need to have my hair ponied to run and my old headband had lost it's elasticity. The only mod I made was to add about 3cm to the hat as I wanted it further down my ears. This thing whipped up so quickly. Even with pulling all the decreases to make it a little larger, it still only took about 3 hours.

Work continues on my Rose Ribbon Shawl. I anticipate an end very shortly.

Where to start?

2009-06-29T15:17:00.006+10:00

I finally think I am fully back in the land of the living. At least I am finally getting up to posting an update of sorts.

The school holidays are here and I am enjoying a relaxing day at home with the kids. No pressure for any of us. Just bumming around doing whatever we want. Bevan only got dressed because I needed him to pop to the shops for some bread for lunch. Failing that I am convinced he would still be in his jammies. I did a little housework and have just been pottering besides.

I have been doing some knitting since last I posted, although I must confess, not a whole lot. Most of this stems from falling down the stairs (think from 1st floor to ground) and tearing a rotator cuff muscle in my shoulder. For a few weeks there knitting was just a touch to painful. Luckily though it was/is my left shoulder and although it is a long way from "right" I can knit pretty easily now. Ballet however is a whole other question.

The finished objects...

Pattern: Children's Hooded Tunic #232 by Diane Soucy
Yarn: Luxury 8ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills in Brick
Needles: 4.5mm
Comments: This is the new yarn from BWM and I cannot rave enough about it! It is soft and fluffy, knits beautifully and goes through the machine without an eye flutter. In my opinion it is far superior to any of their other yarns. An absolute winner.

Pattern: Edna Rose by me.
Yarn: Jo Sharp DK Silkroad Tweed in Berry
Needles: 4mm
Comments: I modified this to make a slouchy hat rather than a beanie style as the pattern was originally written. I cast on 100sts for the rib and then did an increase row of k4, kfb before commencing the pattern. In reality I probably picked the wrong combo of yarn and pattern for this but the end result isn't bad. If I was to do another (and I might), I would use a lighter yarn and switch to 4.5mm needles for the body of the hat.

My current WIP is a Rose Ribbon Shawl by Evelyn Clark in Kauni (EP colourway). It is great fun and running along. Pictures will come when it is finished. I also have to start another hoodie for Duncan as his is getting a little small and he loves it so much. I have some navy and white Luxury to knit him a "Geelong" hoodie. Should get onto that but the lace does becon....

I have been a little quiet.

2009-05-31T09:57:00.003+10:00

Those that know me personally know that it has been a rough week.

Tuesday I watched two marvelous people bury their eldest son. He was 22 years old, in his third year of university, had a beautiful and loving girlfriend and a loving and supportive family. For days now I have known that I had to write about it but it is so hard.

Rhys was one of my students, a number of years ago granted, that as many others have touched my life and changed it. One of the lovely things about being a secondary school teacher is that you watch kids grow into amazing adults. The special ones keep in touch, a process now made much easier through sites like Facebook. Some send text messages, others email, others send messages through younger siblings. My life is enriched by many of these young people. Not just the "good" ones (of which Rhys was one) but also the naughty ones who overcome their issues to finish high school and move on in life. I have cried with them and I have laughed with them.

Rhys died because he was living as he believed was right. A young lady was involved in an argument with her boyfriend early on a Sunday morning in the street. Rhys and a friend asked her if she needed any help. Her boyfrind turned around and punched him. He fell and cracked the back of his head on the concrete. He never woke up.

His mum told me that he was responsive in his coma. At times during the time he spent in hospital he would show signs that he could hear them. She said he looked perfect. He lasted nearly a week before he gave in.

The funeral was massive. With the team mates from his football and cricket teams, his uni mates, his high school mates, family friends and others he has touched, there were hundreds in attendance. So much as it shouldn't have to be, the service was a lovely record of a very special and stupidly short life. The messages were the same. Rhys was passionate and loving in everything he did.

I had to watch my kids hurting. It isn't fair that people so young should suffere such loss. It isn't fair that the world should suffer such loss.

This whole episode is just so pointless and has ruined so many lives. Rhys' family will have the rest of their lives to come to terms with all this as will his mates. Adding to that the boy responsible is now facing manslaughter charges. I am sure life will never be the same for him and his family either. I also can't help but feel for the poor girl who must feel some responsibility in this whole mess. Stupid shit caused by angry beer.

Regardless, wherever Rhys is I hope he realises how much he was loved and how special he was. There better be sport and I am sure if there are others he has already made some new mates.

Someday we'll find it...

2009-05-18T10:39:00.005+10:00

The Rainbow Collection that is!!

I think Rohan might have a rainbow problem!

The kids have all wanted scarves and being the obliging mother that I am I have happily knit them all up.

Bevan's...

Duncan's...

Rohan then decides that he needs one too. Exploration uncovered that he wanted it be like Bevan's, but stars not diamonds, and rainbow! I got the scarf done after a few false starts and then the child wanted a matching hat and matching "gloves" (always ask a 4 year old clarifying questions because it turned out he really wanted mittens).

Now Rohan is (nearly) head to toe rainbow! I wonder if I have enough yarn left for socks?

PS: The yarn is Susanne's House of Wool in Rainbow. The scarf and hat are my creations, the mittens are Basic Cuff-Up Mittens by Patti Pierce Stone The diamond scarf was from a lion brand email and is knit in Shepherd Colour 4 Me. Duncan's scarf was my creation in Monster Knits Corriedale (blue fish colourway).

I love Jila Mints!

2009-05-08T14:11:00.005+10:00

Not just because they are tasty. Not just because they are sugarfree. Not just because they are made here in Ballarat by a family owned company. Not just because that family all went to the school I teach at.

But also because the awesome (recyclable) tin that they come in makes a great handbag knitting kit!

All the bits and bobs you might need on the run! Markers, darning needles, a tape measure and a little blade for trimming ends. Truly my best idea this week. All the necessities and fits in the handbag with no trouble at all.

And just to prove that I have also been knitting.....

The flower basket shawl from Evelyn Clark in the Yarn Cafe Sock Club yarn from Yarn Collective. Small but lovely.

The Problem with Big Projects

2009-04-26T16:13:00.005+10:00

The problem with big projects is that it can effectively seem to the outside world that you have given up the art of knitting to pursue a professional tiddly wink career. Whilst I have long thought myself a shithot tiddlly-winker, I have in actuality been knitting, all be it on large projects.

One is finally finished! Okay I confess that the actual knitting was finished some time ago (at least a week or two) but given my great love of seaming, it had been waiting patiently for a bit. It is amazing how you can convince yourself that it is imperative that you get other things done first and besides "It isn't even winter yet".

Well I finished last night which was ideal timing given that winter seems to have arrived today (brrrr, it was 4 degrees this morning) and I got to wear it to the market and out shopping.

Pattern: Climbing Vines Pullover by Joëlle Meier Rioux
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Old Sage (5 skeins)
Needles: 4mm for rib, 5mm for body.
Comments: I have lengthened the sleeves by about 5 cms after the increases, they just seemed to short for a heavy jumper. I also had no hope of stopping the lace work where the pattern dictated and making a front the same length as the front. Had I of thought about it I would not have done the yarn overs that have resulted in a holey type arrangement at the top.

There was one source of help for my seamaphobia, Knitting Daily sent out links to vertical and horizontal seaming tutorials. I highly recommend them if you are a fellow sufferer.

By the way, a quick Public Service Announcement. Jason took my photos for me as he often does (bless his little heart). However, being a bloke, he was so involved in the technical aspects of the photography that this happened:

Sweetheart, surely even you can see the bunching, the unsightly rolls and the bad posture! PSA: Men might take technically good photos but they are crap at telling you you look terrible!

Hmmmmmm

2009-04-22T17:16:00.001+10:00

I'll leave the suggestion with you......

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T09:22:00.002+10:00

Pattern: #308 Lola Bunny by Beth Skwareck

Yarn: Cleckheaton Nature - Merino 8ply in Brown
Mods: The legs are 10 rounds shorter (an efficiency issue, I had a day to finish this little bunny) and the ears are shorter so they stand up. Otherwise done by the book.
Comments: A clever little knit, loved the butt! Stupidly I remembered yesterday morning that I made my nephew, Angus, a bunny for his first Easter and then decided that I really should make my niece, Mabel, one as it is her first Easter. After finiding a seamless, knit in the round pattern I was off about 11am. Stopping for meals and essential family functions, she was finished about midnight. Must stop doing this to myself. Pushing finger is now numb.

Hope your butt is this tidy after all those eggs! Happy Easter

Big Enough!

2009-04-04T17:00:00.002+11:00

My little boy is big enough now to have his own Geelong membership with his own special seat and today is the first home game. How cute is this?

And now for something completely different!

2009-04-02T15:29:00.001+11:00

Check out my cousin Derek's wife!

Wee Little Things

2009-03-29T16:09:00.005+11:00

Some time Friday night I decided that I wanted to make something for my niece Mabel's baptism today. This was a fairly stupid idea given we had guests, I knew that I had a date with Beth Saturday arvo and tickets to the movies for last night (Gran Torino, great film, go see). The project then had, by necessity to be small. I have always loved Saartje's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijnand decided they were small enough and managable enough for the time available.

I started a pair in the yarn that I used for my Tyro socks using the stated needle size and the largest sizing and found that the resulting bootie was adorable but tiny. I also felt that whilst cool and funky, the colourway may not actually be to my sister-in-laws taste. I cast that bootie aside (vowing to make it a twin at a later date) and started a second pair yesterday morning.

This pair are made in Artyarns Ultramerino 4 (colour 127) on 3mm needles. I have also sized them up a little, casting on 43 sts and adjusting accordingly. They now seem about the ideal size for an abundant 4 month old. I also stole a great idea from Susan and made longer straps to be used as ties rather than buttons (which, whilst adorable, strike me as a little too much fuss when working with an infant).

Heartlands

2009-03-24T21:13:00.005+11:00

I think this may have become obsessive. I have gone from shawl-less to owning three in as many months. I love them so much that they live on the backs of my lounge suite. I have turned the loungeroom into the den of an 80 year old woman. All it needs is doilies and plastic flowers!

So bad has the issue become that I have ordered Lace Style, Wrap Style and Knitting Lace Triangles. I bought lace weight yarn on Sunday. LACE WEIGHT!!!! This has gone too far I tell you. Too far by half. I mean how many shawls does one woman need?

Anyway, for the record, this one is Heartland Lace Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark knit with Knitpicks Gloss in the Pumpkin colourway. The yarn is a silk-merino blend and is just lovely on the hand. If you can get hold of some I would highly recommend it. Mine was generously gifted to me by Sam. The design is gorgeous, complex and geometric and I enjoyed every moment of knitting it.

Ugly yet strangely compelling

2009-03-24T21:08:00.004+11:00

I am not sure what anyone was thinking here. What was Knitpicks thinking when they made this colourway (Meadow Multi)? What was I thinking when I bought it? What was someone thinking on Ravelry when they favourited the project? What are all the other people who buy it thinking?

The thing is that this colourway is really quite ugly but in another way it is compelling and attractive. It is the strangest combination of colours, and even the shades of the colours used are a bit odd. Together there is no obvious blending but also no great contrast.

I can't tell you what any of us were thinking but there is just something about these socks that I rather like.

The Stitches and Craft Show

2009-03-15T14:09:00.005+11:00

Melbourne Showgrounds, Thursday the 12th, Sam and I, fun for all.

Giant knitting needles.

Selvedge greatness from Jodie

The knitting competition items.

What do you do when the muse leaves home?

2009-03-15T13:29:00.006+11:00

I have actually finished a number of projects, been plenty of places and have a number of things I could tell you all about. Sometimes I have even thought about blogging these things. But putting the actually words together seems to have eluded me entirely. Any ability I have had to make a coherent and even moderately entertaining post apparently went to Mexico and refused to catch a flight home. For the sake of looking like I am still alive, let's go through the finished objects....

Pattern: Made up by me. for the record, cast on 10 sts, knit 5 rows then do one drop stitch row, finish with fringing.
Yarn: Monster Knits Bulky Corriedale Handspun (Bluefish Colourway) - 1 skein
Needles: 10 mm
Comments: Duncan is very taken by this. He picked the yarn from stash and it knit up very quickly.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: The Knittery Merino Cashmere Sock (Gold) - 1 skein plus about 10m kindly donated by Tania
Needles: 4.5 mm
Comments: This is just beautiful. The yarn is soft and fluid and the pattern was entertaining and fun. The nupps confounded me for a moment but once I got all loosey goosey on them they behaved better.

Pattern: Hope by Jennie Pakula
Yarn: Panda Heath - a little under 5 balls
Needles: 4 mm
Comments: I have modified this make a casual jumper. I joined after the lace yoke and omitted the shaping. The bottom and sleeve hems are just rolled.

Pattern: Tyro by Huan-Hua Chye
Yarn: Babylonglegs Sock Yarn (Gothika) - 1 skein
Needles: 2.5 mm
Comments: I did this top down with a traditional heel flap and a modified, grafted star toe like that on Fargyles. The colour of these is stunning. Somehow I got over-excited on the heel flap and it a smidge too long which affects the fit somewhat. I could care less, they still look pretty cool.

Hmmmm...

2009-02-28T14:12:00.001+11:00

Maybe yarn is not my only stashing problem......

I think I found something!

2009-02-25T16:40:00.004+11:00

I bought this yarn what seems like an eon ago, but it was probably only sometime last year. It was love at first sight! The pinks, the purples, the black to set them off. What wasn't to love? It came from Baby Long Legs on Etsy (although rustling up an URL for you all I notice she has moved). The colourway is called Gothika and it is even more beautiful than the picture might indicate.

I had kept this skein as trophy yarn. Just way too good to actually knit! Why do we do that? It is as inexplicable as never using the good china and not wearing your good shoes. What is the point of keeping these things? Well I bit the bullet and started knitting. Let me tell you. Just as bangers and mash are far more special on the good china, this yarn was going to make any pattern look great.

I needed something with some interest that wasn't going to override the gorgeousness of the yarn. Tyro provided the solution. I have done one sock and as I read the pattern, the other sock spirals around the other way. No danger of Second Sock Syndrome here. I can hardly wait to get it started.

Oh and I finished these:

Plain vanilla with a forethought heel - an interesting process that I am glad I have tried. The yarn is from Happy Spider. Not the softest of base yarns but the striping is excellent.'

And work continues on my Hope jumper and my Granny Square blanket but I can hear another shawl calling....

Now What?

2009-02-17T11:08:00.006+11:00

I feel the knitting emptiness of an addict without a dealer... I suppose I will need to get back to my Hope Jumper and Stripy Socks but I have to confess that they are just not the same.

For the record.....

Pattern: Candle Flame Shawl (Archived) by Dean Crane
Yarn: Kauni Effektgarn 8/2, 150g, EQ colourway
Mods: None
Comments: I think I am in love! What the yarn lacks in softness it more than makes up for in colour.

Knitting Crack.

2009-02-14T12:44:00.002+11:00

Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 (EQ colourway) that is. I swear this stuff is the knitting equivalent of crack. It is so addictive! If I have said "Just one more row" once I have said it a dozen times but then I look at the unravelling ball and see the next colour coming.

"Just until the colour change" she says menaing it full well at the time but I think you know what happens. Yep, then you see the next colour coming.

"I wonder what it looks like with the next colour added" she asks herself curiously and then proceeds to knit a whole other repeat.

There are at least a dozen other things that need to be done in this house but I just can't drag myslef away from the crack! Maybe I will just knit to the red.....

Thank you all so much.

2009-02-12T14:31:00.001+11:00

The out pouring of support after my last post was overwhelming and much appreciated. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes.

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

2009-02-07T13:15:00.002+11:00

Earlier this week I was contacted via email by Craft with a request to feature my Seamless Kimono Pattern. I was honoured and, as a long term reader (and linker) or Craft, I agreed immediately. I eagerly awaited the post and was pleased as punch when it was up.

Last night I decided to read the comments on the post. I shouldn't have....

"The only differences that I can see between this knit and the baby kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting is that the Mason Dixon kimono is in garter stitch, while this one is in stockinette, and it ties at the bottom instead of using sewn-on ribbons like the Mason Dixon pattern.

It's not *quite* the same pattern, but it's certainly close enough that it shouldn't be called an original pattern. It's more like a variation"

And

"That looks remarkably like the baby kimono in Mason Dixon Knitting. I'm not a big fan of copyright infringement and suggest CRAFT check this out."

There was one comment of support, pointing out the obvious differences in construction. I am a huge fan of the Mason-Dixon One-Piece Kimono. In fact a browse through my archives will show that I have knit it twice. Suggestions that I have "ripped it off" are insulting to me and insulting to the Mason-Dixon ladies as I have not at any point had any contact from them with similar concerns. To suggest that I would change the MD pattern from garter to stockingette, call it my own design and post it on the Internet are deeply hurtful.

One problem with the Internet is that it is all to easy to post an anonymous comment about someone's integrity and walk away with little thought as to the person you are defaming. I realise the I could comment back on the Craft blog but I am loathe to look like I need to defend myself.

All that I ask folks is that next time you are about to type first and think later, remember that the person on the other end of the computer is a real person and that this real person was very upset.

Drought makes people do strange things

2009-01-29T16:15:00.003+11:00

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

2009-01-27T17:03:00.003+11:00

No! It's Tank Girl!

All finished up and being worn in the sweltering 40 degree heat today (actually my thermometer says 40.3 but should we really quibble about 0.3 of a degree). As it is we are battened down with all the blinds closed and the fans on but it is going to get hotter and we are going to swelter. This is the second or third hot day in a row and whilst our house is pretty good from an insulation and temperature regulation perspective, it is starting to get to the point where it is nearly 30 degrees inside. Oh well, it is summer and you do have to accept these things.

Back to the tank (there is every possible that I got waylaid for a while there). As I am sure I have told you previous, it is knit in leftover, from stash Moda Vera Eleni in Soft Grey and Periwinkle Blue. I figured on fairly early that I didn't have enough of the grey so decided that a little below booby stripe of blue was the go. The blue and grey are quite tonal and as a result there are times were the blue is barely visible and then it "flashes" out like it has magically appeared. Rather neat really.

The pattern is Tank Girl from the book Stitch n Bitch: A Knitter's Handbook. It is an interesting texture and I quite like it. Is it my favourite thing I have ever knit? No, but it beats the hell out of some of my recent froggings. I modified the pattern to knit the main body in the round. A reasonable mod I thought at the start. What I didn't allow for was the positionings of the knits and purls for the shoulders and thus some fiddling was needed here. I also increased the width of the shoulders by 3 stitches to better hide a bra strap.

I have now moved onto more selfish, stashbusting knitting with Hope by Jennie Pakula from Yarn Magazine. I am using some Panda Heath in a lovely teal colour that I bought ludicrously cheaply from Sue's in Sebastopol. Locals should note that her range has improved quite a lot of late and the service is lovely and friendly.

I think I have decided that I am going to join this in the round and knit it as a jumper from here on in rather than a cardigan. I just think that I might wear a jumper more often than a cardigan. It should (hopefully) become a nice little henley style jumper with a button placard (is that what it's called).

Well, Umm, Yes....

2009-01-25T12:59:00.004+11:00

That is a very wonky Granny Square. I did crochet it myself with my own two hands! I get that it isn't really great and closer observations of it revealed a "shell" that has 4 double crochets rather than 3 but I am pretty happy with it as a learning piece.

Why Granny Squares you ask? A quite valid question. I rather fancy making one of those Granny Square lap rugs that were all the rage in the 70's. I am sure that pretty much every Grandma's house had one and I also had a doll's blanket that I recall. I was thinking of using the rainbow yarns I bought a while back from the boys' schools' craft market, but I am not sure how much of it I have and thus how far it will go. I might have to hit the next market and see if I can snaffle some more.....

Holidays

2009-01-24T14:07:00.010+11:00

And not a scrap of knitting was done.

Selfish Knitting, Stashbusting and Stashbuilding.

2009-01-17T11:28:00.006+11:00

I think I may have used up all of my selflessness at Christmas. Far as I can tell, everyone who was likely to appreciate a handmade gift got one. The exception would be Mum, but she got sock yarn instead and has been chugging away on her second set of 4 ply socks.

Since the fat man came, I have barely produced an item for another. I did invest 2 hours in production of a frap holder for Beth's Mum but that was such a triffling that I am not sure it even counts. So far I have finished my Leaf Tee Shirt and a Sassymetrical and have now embarked upon Tank Girl from Stitch n Bitch.

I have been committed to trying to get through some of the larger amounts of yarn that I have had sitting in stash. The Leaf Tee was made from Amaizing that I bought and age ago from an Ecoyarns sale. The Sassy was knit in Cotton Fleece that I also bought an age ago from an Ebay seller. The Tank Girl is also a stashbusting exercise, using up some more of the Moda Vera Eleni that I bought on impulse from Spotlight sometime shortly after the birth of Christ.

A better person than I would probably continue on this stashbusting campaign but I confess that I have dabbled in some stashbuilding instead. In my defence, I did off load some yarn that I was not likely to use anytime soon on Ravelry so I did earn some pennies for stash enhancement that way.

So, I present my lastest babies.

Some Happy Spider Glitz and 5 ply sock yarn from Yarn Collective. Reasonable prices and excellent service. The Glitz I purchased specifically to make some winter goodies for some of my knit-wearing girls. The sock yarn is for me (well you do need to take full advantage of the postage).

Sam and I also put in an order to American Yarns for some Sugar 'n Cream. I admit that I just wanted to see what the buzz was about. I have to say that the colours are lovely. Much nicer than I have seen in any Aussie cotton. I will be very interested to see how it knits up.

And my absolute favourite! Kyoto 5ply sock yarn from the lovely Mandie at Ewe Give me the Knits. I must apologise to Mandie in that the photo in no way does her dyeing justice. This yarn is luminescent and I just LOVE it! Add to my absolute adoration of this yarn the fact that it came overnight and I can not recommend the yarn or the service highly enough.

Sassy!

2009-01-12T17:02:00.005+11:00

Pattern: Sassymetrical by Gay Schiff
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Limelight colourway, about 2 1/2 skeins
Mods: None really. I added a button and crochet loop more because I had no form of shawl pin than any design issue. It might also be a touch longer than the original. I really just knit to fit and the point at which I was happy. For the record, there are 6 decreases.
Comments: When I picked this yarn for this project I did worry that it might be a bit much in a larger garment. I have used it before for smaller items like bibs, hats and bags, but let's face it, it is a very bright shade. I thought back to the sage advice of Susanah and Trinny on an episode of "What not to wear" that people do not wear enough colour and went for it. I am glad I did.

In some ways the chosen shade limits the other garments that the cardi can be worn with, but in many other ways that isn't a terrible thing. I could have done it in black or a neutral and it would have matched everything in my wardrobe but this way I have a statement piece. Something that stands proud and yells "Hello, I'm over here" without adding "the one in the clown outfit with the floral mu-mu".

More Recycling

2009-01-11T16:59:00.005+11:00

After the other week's frogging of Ballet, I got to thinking about other things I had knit that I had never worn. This led me to the Shrug This that I knit post Christmas last year. As far as I can remember I have NEVER worn it past the photo shoot I did when I had finished it. In hindsight I think it would be much nicer if it were longer or I was far more petite. On me it made me look very busty and just didn't do it for me.

It is now history and I have recovered 75g of 100purewool merino in the June colourway.

I am thinking it will make a very nice winter cowl or perhaps a hat. It will at least make something that I am likely to wear.

I have also been busy with some more post-Christmas me knitting. It would seem that I am having a little selfish period after all those lace scarves for Christmas. My latest project is Sassymetrical by Gay Schiffknit in Limelight Cotton Fleece.

It is coming along nicely and I think I actually might wear this one.

Wow!

2009-01-05T13:36:00.002+11:00

Wired for Fibre! Wow is all I have to say. Excuse me whilst I spend some special time with my new friends.

P.S Katie has a sale on at the moment. What are you doing still reading this? Get going!

Just Amaizing

2009-01-04T14:56:00.004+11:00

It is done! This is my newly completed, whilst drinking Black Hen Shiraz and watching Knocked Up, Leaf T-shirt by Melissa LaBarre. I have used Imperial Purple Amaizing, a corn fiber yarn that is machine washable and a heavy sport / light 8ply weight. It has a tape construction that was lovely to work with.

I was a little worried when I got to the end of the first ball. Seemingly there was a frayed section about every round or so. I decided it was either a very dodgy lot (which I really hoped wasn't the case) ir maybe it had something to do with the cardboard inner that the stuff is wound around. Hoping for the later, I rewound all of the other balls off of the cardboard and had no more trouble. I can't say whether it was the tube or the first ball was just crappy but better to be safe than sorry.

I am really happy with the end result, am wearing it now in fact! The Amazing has a nice feel to it. It is not incredibly soft but neither is it scratchy. I decided to finish all the edges with ribbing which I am glad of. I think it gives a far more polished look than the rolled edges in the original. I am sure there are others who would prefer the casualness of the roll. I also decreased 24 sts (every 4th row) just under the bust to give a more fitted look. Other than that, there were no mods.

This was a quick(ish), fun little knit that I think has turned out very well.

Sometimes you just have to admit it didn't work.

2009-01-02T14:38:00.004+11:00

Longer term readers might remember this little number from last summer.

It is the Ballet Camisole from the now defunct Magknits, knit in perfectly good Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran Cotton. I really didn't enjoy this knit even whilst I was doing it. There were endless rows of stockingette and the yarn wasn't behaving very well. When it was finished (ie after I conned Sam into doing the crochet edgings) it didn't fit well and was just wrong. The fabric didn't work and the thing grew about seventeen sizes in the wash.

Today I bit the bullet.....

There were sacrifices......

The top just couldn't be saved. Okay someone with patience might have saved it, but for me it was a goner.

But......
I did save a touch over 300g of usable yarn. Now I am not sure what I will do with said yarn (and might I add if someone had use for it I could be persuaded to send it on to you) but I feel liberated now that is back in balls and I am free of the pink horror.

Sometimes my friends, you just have to admit that it didn't work.

Happy New Year to Me

2009-01-01T20:00:00.000+11:00

And Happy New Year to you.

Ahh the Post Christmas Lull or "What's with all the Purple?"

2008-12-31T12:19:00.004+11:00

I can always remember the joy of those few days after exams had finished. You went from being flat stick all day every day to nothing. If you were anything like me you left a fair amount of the studying to the last minute (or at least SWOT vac) and so you were either sitting an exam or studying for the next one. In my case, subjects like Psychology had 3 or so exams per unit so there were a lot of exams. As was the custom, once that last exam was finished it was straight to the pub for a few destressing ales. The next day, once the hangover was under control, was just bliss. There was NOTHING to do! No study, no exams, no nothing and I used to just sit around and luxuriate in the nothingness. Of course all to soon there was packing to do to move out for the holidays and other things (like Christmas) to occupy the days but there were always a brief period of nothing. Christmas is very much like this as well.

So I have been in the nothingness for the last two days. There has been little to do past basic chores and the spat of Christmasness has passed. There have been many BBQs here in the new garden and hash runs from here so really the Christmas ruch has only just finished.

So what have I done in the nothingness? Well there has been some coffee and a little shopping (not much though, I try to avoid the post Christmas retail meltdown) and finally some 'me' knitting.

Bevan bought me a lovely purple t-shirt top for Christmas. It is not necessarily the shade I would immediately jump to myself but it is quite lovely and seems to suit me, but I fear it has started a purple haze....

I spent a little time with my Ravelry stash page and was looking for a project to get me going. I decided on the Amaizing that has been sitting in my stash for sometime as a nice summer-weight yarn. It has been sitting, I confess, because when I bought it it had a very obvious and quite disturbing mothballs smell to it. I thought about returning it but didn't want to be a bother so it has been sitting in a container with bicarb hopefully desmelling. It isn't entirely desmelt although interestingly, the vast majority of the stink seems to be in the ball band and cardboard tube it is wrapped around. Once reballed and knit the smell is nearly gone. I am hoping like hell that a wash or two and it will be gone entirely.

Anyway, what colour is it? Purple! I am doing Leaf T-shirt by Melissa LaBarre which is coming along quite nicely. I have put the sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn rather than casting them off as I think I will do a rib cuff to them. I am not sure I want the roll that is in the original pattern. I think I will also do a ribbed waist.

Given that this was a larger project I figured I needed a pair of socks on the go for travel knitting (travel of course being a generic term that might mean to the shops or might mean to the moon). Again, back to the stash page and I chose the Happy Spider self-striping that has also been there awhile. What colours you might ask? yellow, pink and PURPLE!

Me thinks I have a purple problem. Even the dishcloth I did quickly the other night (owing to the next ball of Amaizing being under the bed that Jason was sleeping in) was mauve! Help me, I am in a purple haze and I think I like it!

Sports Beer Guernsey

2008-12-28T13:46:00.014+11:00

My apologies for getting this one out after Christmas because it really does make a good bloke gift. I made the Essendon one for Dad and the Golden Point Cricket Jumper for Jason. They thought they were cool. File the idea away for the next birthday.

Sports Beer Guernsey

Requirements:

35g (70 m) 8 ply yarn (see notes at bottom regarding customising)
4 stitch markers
4mm circular
4mm DPNs
Waste yarn
Stitch holder
Darning needle

Gauge: 22sts / 10cm

Finished Size: 20cm circumference and 15cm tall – BEER sized!

Glossary

pm – place marker

kfb – knit front and back

slm – slip marker

SSK – slip, slip, knit

Body

CO 18 stitches using the circular needle.

Row 1: kfb, pm, kfb, kfb, pm, kfb, k10, kfb, pm, kfb, kfb, pm, kfb

You have now created the right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve and left front between the markers.

Row 2: purl across
Row 3: kfb, kfb, slm, kfb, k2, kfb, slm, kfb, k12, kfb, slm, kfb, k2, kfb, slm, kfb, kfb
Row 4: purl across
Row 5: kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb.
Row 6: purl across.

Continue repeating rows 5 and 6 until there are 24 stitches between the2nd and 3rd markers (across the back)

Create the sleeves: k to first marker, place the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, knit back stitches, place the other sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, pm, knit to end

Join the neck: From here on the jumper is knit in the round so slip all stitches evenly onto the DPNs and join to knit in the round. Make the side (under the sleeve) the start of the round.

Knit until the work measures 8cm from the bottom of the neck vee.

Work 4 rows of 1x1 rib.

BO loosely.

Sleeves

Evenly space the sleeve stitches on 3 DPNs.

With the right side facing, locate the centre bottom of the sleeve opening. Pick up one stitch from the left of the opening and continue knitting the round, picking up one additional stitch onto needle 3

Knit 19 more rounds

Work 4 rows of 1x1 rib.

BO loosely

Neck Opening

Pick up stitches around the neck opening. The exact number is not particularly important but for the record, I pick up 12 across the back of the neck, 12 down either side and 1 in the centre of the neck.

You are working 1x1 rib except for the centre front stitch, this is always knit. Work 4 rounds by working rib to 2 sts before the centre stitch, knit this stitch, SSK the next two sts and continue in rib.

BO loosely.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Customising for your team:

The Essendon (Black and Red) version was made entirely in black and then a separate biased sash was knit and sewn on. This requires a very small amount of yarn.

The Golden Point (Blue and Cream) version has the stripes knit in as I went.

If you require vertical stripes I would strand them as I went.

As for the little hats. The black and red one is in 2x2 rib and if I recall I cast on about 20 sts, knit about 4 rounds, then did 3 decrease rounds - the first k2, k2tog then k1, k2tog then k2tog. The blue one was much the same but I started with the peak by casting on 4 sts and then working 4 rows of garter increasing 1 st at each end each row. then I cast on to 20sts, joined in the round and did much the same as the other only in stockingette.

And a great Christmas was had by all...

2008-12-26T12:56:00.005+11:00

A little note to trampoline buyer beginners - 12 foot doesn't sound that big on the box......

Merry Christmas to you all from me and my monkeys. I hope you all had a happy and peaceful day yesterday.

Christmas at Stitch n Bitch

2008-12-26T12:30:00.006+11:00

Last Tuesday night saw Sam, Tania, Rach and I venture to our local "lake"side* restaurant for Stitch n Bitch - Christmas Style! Now excuse the quality of the dodgy phone camera photos but some silliness for your perusal...

My gorgeous socks from Sam. Socks For Veronik by Mona Schmidt knit in Yarn Cafe BFL sock, Golden Sun colourway. Aren't they beautiful? And check out my new shoes - it is a crime what you can get at Kmart for $30 these days.

Tania in her Pink Puzzle. I think she liked it, she wore it home!

Sam proudly displaying her Wollemeise scarf (I believe she shrieked when she realised she now owned Wollemeise) and the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran she got from Tania. Look closely, it is in the shot....

And Tania modelling her socks from Sam and Fargyles (one made by Sam and one made by me). Check out that Panna Cotta. That stuff was choice!

Foolishly, I forgot to take a photo of the lovely handmade soap I got from Tan (and it is now in the shower and not fit for photography). I am not sure what the girl is saying about me but it was "Gin and Tonic" scent.... It is delicious with a hint of lime which I love.

Rachael is a new knitter and new to our little group but she loved the stitchmarkers that Sam made for her so she was not left out.

*I say this because our local lake has nought but a dribble of water in it. See here.

Progress at the Ponderosa

2008-12-22T09:14:00.003+11:00

After a fairly slow start to all things I feel like the last few days have yielded some progress.

Christmas was all set to be a non-event here but I finally got around to doing some gift wrapping and there are now gifts under the tree. Okay, they will only be there for less than a week but better that than never! I also managed to get hold of Santa and he has started to organise the boys' gifts.

Yes people, that is a shed! A real live shed. And in front of the real live shed? Real live grass! I never saw us as the instant turf types but let me tell you, that stuff rocks. We chose instant turf because that particular variety drought tolerant to the point where a small amount of water once a fortnight (that is two weeks for the non-English speakers) keeps it green and lush. You can't buy it as seed and grow it yourself the old fashioned way. Between rain and the water tank we have installed, this lawn should always look like that.

It feels like things are happening. Now to start that pre-Christmas cleaning and organising.....

More Christmas Knitting.

2008-12-16T23:06:00.006+11:00

Those that know me will already be aware that I haven't been well the last few weeks. The upside of this is that I have been highly productive. Knitting has been my saviour during this time (and the bane of Jason's existence). There is something about just having to do one little wee thing over and over again that eases the mind and occupies the body. Then all of a sudden, low and behold, all those little somethings has materialised into a big something. There is therapy in the accomplishment and calm in the process.

Some of the results of my convalesence....

Pattern: On the Sunny Side by Melanie Hoffman
Yarn: Bendigo 8ply cotton
Needles: 4mm

Comments: This pattern is written for a 10ply and hopefully the smaller yarn and needles have made it small enough for Mabel. Oh well at worst she will grow into it.

Pattern: Stuffies by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Mystique 16ply in Cocoa
Needles: 6mm
Comments: I knit the head and then picked up stitches to knit the body down. This seemed to work well and eliminated one seam. Bevan helped with the costuming and hopefully his little cousin will like it.

Pattern: Not Rocket Science Coffee Holder by Me
Yarn: Hand-dyed 8ply I picked up from the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show.
Needles: 4mm
Comments: This has an extra repeat in it to make it longer for manly hands.

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne (and some/much credit should go to Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Panda Purla
Needles: 5mm
Comments: This yarn really surprised me. It is light and fluffy and has a lovely feel to it. It is a touch splitty to knit but not horrifyingly so. Something funky happened with the stitch numbers on this but some quick maths and I managed to save the project.