What's with all the hats?

And well you might ask. Somehow I have managed to knock over two more hats - a Transformers Toque and a Chromosome Cap. Can you tell that both really appealed to my geekier sides?

The Transformers Toque was great fun to make and probably my most complex stranded colour work item. Mum is a whiz at colour work but it is something that I haven't really done much of. This particular one is destined for an adult friend of mine that has a bit of a Transformers thing. Of course the boys have thought to put in orders which were quickly rejected. Bevan even thought that it would be particularly nice if one side was one background colour and the other side a different background colour. Ah, the naivety of youth.

The Autobots side:


The Decepticon side:

This is knit in Hamilton Woollen Mills 8ply that I bought an age ago from Willabaa in town. From memory I paid 50c a 50g ball for a pack of ten. It has been the best 5 bucks ever spent. It seems to have the most unbelievable yardage. From one ball I had leftovers! The grey is Lincraft Cozy Wool, cheap and nice enough but a bugger that it only comes in 100g balls.

There were few mods. Due to using 8ply on 4mm needles instead of sport weight yarn, I had to start the decreases early and I sort of "winged" the top (including a 3-needle bind off because I wasn't feeling the grafting zen).

The Chromosome Cap is knit in SWTC Karaoke on 4.5mm needles in the large adult size without a single modification ( a miracle for me). Gotta love a project that is beautiful and geeky. :)

I also have a few works in progress - some Circle Socks which are my "mobile" project and a self-devised vest that is just resting whist I do a few small things....

The Last 1-2-Go Bags for a bit...

The holidays have come to an end and I managed to squeeze in a few last bags before I head back to my other life....

Up for sale (A$18 including postage within Australia) :

Red Stars (obviously it comes without my lovely Monster Knits yarn) - TAKEN:


Green Arcs (again minus my yarn) - TAKEN:


Should you be interested in either bag please email me with your preference. I will get back to you ASAP.

Some Finished Things.

I finished a hat for a dear friend of mine who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer at the moment. It is completely unfair that someone under 40 should suffer from breast cancer but she is a stubborn wench so I doubt this will beat her. The weather here has turned cold of late and I imagine that she is more than a little chilly.

The details. Made from a little over one ball of Bamboozle from Lincraft using the Herringbone Stitch Chemo Cap pattern from Fiber Rhythms. I am not sure that the pattern and the yarn are a perfect match but the final product is deliciously soft and that was the objective. Just as well the fabric this yarn makes is so lovely as the yarn itself was made by the devil himself! It is splitty and extremely unforgiving.

I finally got around to making another Seamless Baby Kimono for one of the fecund folk at Curtain Call Performing Arts Studio where I take dance lessons. I am not sure which of the two latest mothers will get this and which will get the Seamless Kimono Sweater that I made the other week. I am tempted to wrap them both alike and let chance decide.

The technical details. My pattern, Jolly Jumbuck 8ply Diana in Spring Fling colourway with Fling Pink trim. Only mod is an i-cord tie.

Seven, count them SEVEN 1-2-Go Bags!

**SORRY FOLKS THESE WILL ALL BE OFF TO NEW HOMES**
There will be more I promise.

The following 1-2-Go bags are ready to head to new homes! As previously, 1-2-Go bags are A$18 which includes shipping within Australia.


There are a few differences this time round!

1. Some of the bags have been made specifically to match people's existing knitting bags. asw such these people have first call on these 1-2-Go bags. However, I don't want them to feel they have to have them so if they want another bag they are more than welcome to it and the bag originally destined for them can go to someone else.
2. There are two people - Tracy and Deb - that have long-standing orders for bags and they will get first choice of the rest.
3. Any others are up for sale!

How are we going to do this then? If you would like a bag please email me with your first, second and third preferences. Include the "matching" ones because you never know, the people may not like them. I will then contact you in the next day or so with an "offer".

This is all very messy I know, but it is the best I can do for everyone.

1. Mermaids - Taken by Bec.


2. Seahorses - Taken by Kim A!


3. Coffee cups - taken by Tracy!


4. Pink Dots - Going to Fiona!

5. Chinese Fans - Scooting off to the other Fiona's place!


6. Flutterbys - Joining it's big sister knitting bag at Donna's place!


7. Coffee Beans - TAKEN by Jo!

Email me if you are interested jackikelly@optusnet.com.au

Hat Week Continues....

My version of Angela Hayne's Charlie's Car Cap from Magknits. Cleckheaton machine Wash (on sale at Kmart $5.25 total) and some Hamilton Woolen Mills I had lying around. The most expensive part were the patches ($14.95 as Spotlight). A packet of multicoloured buttons $4.99. Total cost about $25, look on the boy's face, priceless! (Jason tells me that that is tacky. He could be right.)

Mods to the pattern. I used I-cord and 10 stitches in the round for the traffic lights and a three-needle bind-off for the top. I also used 4mm needles and a 100 stitch cast on.

I love Mail!

Maybe that's why I shop so much. Today the postman arrived with a bumper load - three parcels, all yarny!

I received some more yarn from Irene at Jolly Jumbuck so that I can finish a seamless kimono that I started before Easter, specially dyed for me. Irene also included a pair of Hugalugs - what a pleasant surprise! There was also 10 balls of Amaizing from Ecoyarns in a stunning purple shade. God knows what I will do with it but something will come to mind. There is also a lovely skein of NZ 8ply hand-dyed by Susanne of Susanne's House of Wool.

One of the things that impressed me most about today's haul was this:

My Ecoyarns parcel was wrapped in recycled plastic! It is great to see people practicing what they preach.

Edna Rose

It is my Gran's 94th birthday on Friday. I am sure she wouldn't mind me saying that. Once you get past 90 I think every birthday is a trophy! So what do you give a 94 year old for her birthday? I mean, really, if you don't have everything you need and want by 94 when are you ever going to have it?

So I decided to honour Gran's birthday by designing something especially for her. May I present "Edna Rose", not-so-skillfully-modeled by me.


The pattern if you are interested.....

Materials

110 metres / 120 yds 8ply (DK) yarn. I used Bendigo Woolen Mills Classic

4mm 40cm circular

4mm DPNs

Stitch marker

Darning Needle

Glossary

p2tog: purl 2 stitches together

yf: bring the yarn forward to the front of the work

ssk: slip one stitch onto the right needle, slip another, knit through the back loop

k2tog: knit 2 stitches together

gauge : 22cms /10sts

The beginning

CO 120 sts

Join to work in the round (be careful not to twist your stitches)

Work 10 rounds of 2 x 2 rib

The pattern (Lily of the Valley)

Round 1: *k5, p2tog, k2, yf, k5, yf, k2, p2tog, k2* repeat to end of round

Round 2: knit all stitches

Round 3: *k4, p2tog, k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, p2tog, k7* repeat to end of round

Round 4: knit all stitches

Round 5: *k3, p2tog, k2, yf, k3, yf, k2, p2tog, k6* repeat to end of round

Round 6: knit all stitches

Round 7: *k2, p2tog, k2, yf, k5, yf, k2, p2tog, k5* repeat to end of round

Round 8: knit all stitches

Round 9: *k7, p2tog, k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, p2tog, k4* repeat to end of round

Round 10: knit all stitches

Round 11: *k6, p2tog, k2, yf, k3, yf, k2, p2tog, k3* repeat to end of round

Round 12: knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1-12 three times or until work measures approximately 15 cm from beginning

Decrease Rounds

Round 1: *k2tog, k3, p2tog, k2, yf, k5, yf, k2, p2tog, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 2: *k2tog, k14, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 3: *k2tog, p2tog, k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, p2tog, k3, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 4: *k2tog, k10, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 5: *k2tog, k1, yf, k3, yf, k2, p2tog, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 6: *k2tog, k7, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 7: *k2tog, k4, yf, k1, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 8: *k2tog, k4, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 9: *k2tog, k2, ssk* repeat to end of round

Round 10: *k2tog, ssk* repeat to end of round

Thread end through remaining stitches and secure.

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.