YarnSticksBooks

A few hats.

2010-04-13T16:33:00.003+09:30

Over summer I got out of the habit of both knitting and blogging. The last week or so has been a lot cooler and has inspired the completion of a few projects.

B's I want a slouchy hat.
You know, the hat she decided she wanted after teasing me about my hats saying they looked like trees and onions. Brat.

It's the Slouchy Copy Cat Hat by Terra Jamieson.

2 balls of Cleckheaton Country 8 ply
4 and 5 mm circulars.

Also finished is my hat, Marquess by Ashley Knowlton.

I skein of Naturally Harmony in 8 ply.
3.75 and 4.5 mm needles

Bye Bye Damson = Destash

2010-01-06T12:18:00.004+10:30

Sometimes a project just sits around niggling at you. Not growing or getting any closer to being finished, but still taking up space both in your home and your head.

Currently Damson is that project.

Problem #1 I have managed to stuff up somewhere and my stitch count is out, by 1, but I can't see where.

Problem #2 I really don't like it enough to spend the time fixing when I can cast on something I like much better.

Solution - Destash.

7 balls moda vera angora blend in teal + 2 currently knitted up
2 balls moda vera angora blend in brown

I am asking $8 for the yarn + postage.

Let me know if you want the knitted part frogged and rewound or you would like to play with it as is and I will thread some yarn through the live stitches.

Anyone interested?

Goals for the New Year

2009-12-31T12:32:00.003+10:30

This year has been a year of drifting along, dealing with things and ending a few too.

I am looking forward to being a lot more settled and structured in the New Year.

For now I am making a list of goals I would like to happen in 2010.

* Get medical situation under control
* Find a job
* Get bicycles for both B and I -I would like a basket on mine. Dorky, I know :)
* Finish a few more things
* Pass on yarn I am not happy with. Trying to use it only makes me stop knitting and takes up space.
* Play with spindle
* Make time to get together with other knitters more often
* Learn to use the spinning wheel
* Use the loom
* Sew some more
* Participate in Ravlimpics and make Rogue for B
* De clutter books and cds
* Go to the beach at least once a fortnight.
* Add to this list as I think of things.

Progress happens in a non orderly manner.

2009-12-02T15:37:00.007+10:30

Why is it that as soon as I get close to finishing something I want to cast on something new?

I have several projects sooooooooooo close to being finished.
A few ends to weave in, washing and pictures to be taken. Nothing that would take a super long time if I focused and just did it. But knitting is fun and the one area I can totally ignore things like should and could. The biggest consequence likely to be that it will get cold and I will have to weave those ends in to wear something before I leave the house. Or just tuck them in my sleeve which is much more likely.

Miss B has added to the startitis this time. After paying me out about Porom and Gretel, she has decided she would like a slouchy hat after all. She has chosen the 'Slouchy Copy Cat Hat'.

K mart were nice and reduced their Cleckheaton Country yarn to $2 a ball. It looks like B may end with some mittens as well.

I am playing about with a few shawls as well as trying to focus on working on some older stuff too. For now that means I have picked up the fuzzy feet

and have been working on them as well as Damson

I still want another Ishbel and and and......

Ishbel

2009-11-11T11:09:00.003+10:30

Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
4mm Addi Turbo
1 Ball of Bendigo Luxury 4 ply in Ruby.
Size Large.

Ishbel has been done for a while and I love it. It has been worn and worn and worn again. I love how it wraps around my neck but the ends don't get in the way how a scarf does. I also need to practice my blocking. Those points don't look very pointy. I think it has something to do with not casting off loose enough. I want another one of these. Maybe in ruby again or maybe pink.
I keep meaning to get a better picture but that now looks like it won't happen until the weather cools down again.

Summer has hit with 39c days and we are melting. The funny thing is now that the weather has warmed up, my knitting mojo has returned. I am back to knitting a bit most days. I am still not knitting the amount I used to but it is nice to be back in the habit of picking up the needles.

It is also nice to see a little progress on projects that have been sitting around for way too long.

Mail and balloon blocking.

2009-09-17T15:25:00.007+09:30

I love receiving mail, especially when it's from a fellow blogger.

2Paw was holding a giveaway on her blog and I managed to snaffle this lemony coin purse, perfect for storing stitch markers in. Thank you so much Cindy.

I decided to block some beanies on balloons and see how it worked.

Firstly Porom, because although I had worn this hat a few times I had never actually blocked it.

And then Beanpole Beanie. (Ravelry link.)
Made using Cleckheaton Country 8 ply.
4 mm & 4.5 mm needles.

Both hats have come out considerably larger since their dunking. I am hoping they shrink a little while drying but it looks like I may have to reconsider what needle size I use for future hats.

Rogue snuggles

2009-08-27T11:50:00.003+09:30

Rogue has been washed and worn many times since it's first bath. It has become my favourite snuggly jumper and has been prefect for the crazy windy weather we have recently had. Apparently it's perfect for kitty snuggles too.

My sister and I have been spending more time together being crafty so projects are slowly getting worked on again.

Temperance is growing all the time, yet his tail still seems bigger than he is. He has his own personal feather duster following him around. Probably a good thing as I never did like dusting :).

1 Step foward 2 Steps back.

2009-07-01T12:06:00.003+09:30

While waiting for Rogue to dry I decided to pick up something from the WIP pile to work on.

Cobblestone seemed like a good choice seeing as it is mostly done and I could do with another finished jumper with the weather we have been having.

So I picked up from where I left off. Or where I thought I had left off. - Attaching the sleeves to the body again.

This was when I realized what the problem with the sleeves had been before. Not that I had just knit one way too long but that one was knit a size M and the other was a size L. The super huge sleeve has been frogged and restarted.

It's raining again now and I am really wishing I had a few more of these WIP's finished.

What WIP have you had sitting around the longest?

Rogue in the tub.

2009-06-29T07:40:00.002+09:30

I spent yesterday seaming. The result being that Rogue is officially now a garment.

A very dusty, grotty, furlined garment as you would expect after being dragged about in pieces for a year and a half. So for now she is in the tub taking a much needed bath. Pictures when she is dry and presentable.

Just when it feels like it's never going to end.

2009-05-27T13:03:00.003+09:30

The Sirdar Town and Country socks feel as though they have been hanging around forever and I really wasn't enjoying working with this yarn. Scratchy, not so pretty colours and really I was just bored with them.

I am happy to have them off the needles and on my feet though.
It is getting cold at night and more knits are on my mind.

Forest Canopy Cowl

2009-04-23T16:29:00.005+09:30

Forest Canopy Cowl

I used 1 skein of Malabreigo Silky Scrumminess and followed the pattern exactly.

What is even better is that it has gotten cold enough to wear it now.

I had been lazy and used a longtail cast on when making my previous Gretel's, but I really wanted to do this one right. I finally got brave enough to tackle the tubular cast on required for Gretel and while it's a bit fidley I love how it looks.

I have been sick for what feels like forever. Between being at the hospital, my doctors and in bed I haven't been doing much of anything except feel awful and whinge a lot.

I am feeling half human now and get to play catch up with everything that had been left and right now I am really not sure where to start.
The tafe pile is overflowing and I am not sure it is humanly possible to get it all done.
I guess all I can do is start and go from there.

CFS/ CFA beanie pattern.

2009-03-13T19:55:00.003+10:30

I have modified theknitaholic's SES beanie with her permission and made up charts for the South Australian CFS volunteers and the Victorian CFA volunteers.

Unfortunatley blogger isn't playing nice and I can't post the charts on the blog.

If you want a copy just e mail me and I will happily send it to you.

Edited to add: Marg has posted the pattern on her blog for me.

Changes

2009-03-01T10:31:00.003+10:30

Yes it's still me, Jess, Chocolate and Knitting.

Yarnsticksbooks just suits where I am at so much better and is much less confusing when going between here and Ravelry.

Thanks 2 paw for reminding me I forgot to say who I was.

Eeeek E mail problems.

2009-02-28T19:18:00.002+10:30

Sorry guys, but it appears I am not getting all of your entries at the e mail address I mentioned in the last post.

Can you please leave a comment to let me know you entered.

I would hate for anyone to miss out.

Thanks.

Want a Gretel???

2009-02-11T18:35:00.009+10:30

With 181 people confirmed dead, One thousand houses gone and over 4000 people now homeless due to the Victorian fires I was thinking about having a raffle with people donating to the bushfire fund to enter.

The thing is, someone beat me to it and thought a lot bigger than my train of thought had been going. They have fantastic yarny scrumminess as prizes so I am sending you over there.

Go look, donate and enter.......... Serendipity.

As for me, I'd still like to know you donated and I'd still like to give someone a chance to win a Gretel. So go ahead and enter both here and there :)

Here are the ones I made for myself and for Miss B's Nanna.

I will be using the same yarn : Cleckheaton Angora Supreme.

It will be black.

Donate at any of the listed charities:

For donations to the Victorian Bushfires Appeal:
National Australia Bank BSB: 082-001 Acct: 860 046 797
Or call 1800 811 700
Donations can also be via the Bendigo Bank online or at any branch.
Bushfires information hotline: 1800 240 667

For donations to help victims of the QLD floods, Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal:
Phone 1800 173 349
Or donate at any branch of Commonwealth, ANZ, NAB, Bank of QLD, or Suncorp
Internet Banking:
BSB 064 013 Account: 1000 6800

Salvos - Ph 13 72 58 +++can take international donations online

Red Cross - Ph 1800 811 700 +++can take international donations online

Email me at inspired_by_chocolate at yahoo dot com dot au with how much you donated and put GRETEL in the subject line.

Every $10 AUD you donate gives you an entry.

So donating $50 AUD would give you 5 entries.

I will be casting on tonight and entries will close when I cast off.

Good luck and happy donating!!!

Editing to add - Shopping at Coles today also counts as they are donating it's profits to the bushfire fund today Friday 13th February 2009.

If you are anything like me today's shopping bill might be a little higher than normal as any chocolate purchases are totally justified.

So once again tell me how much you shopped and purely for my amuzement tell me the percentage of chocolate vs food was in your trolley. :)

Dropping in

2009-02-09T14:56:00.002+10:30

I am currently working on my Forest Canopy Cowl and am nearly done.

After that I have a plan for something.

I am still working out the details as yet but check back on Wednesday.

Booga Bag a FO

2009-01-24T10:10:00.004+10:30

Inspired by Tigers recent felted bag addiction I decided to raid the stash and play along.

Booga bag
5.5 mm needles
4 balls of Vintage Hues
I used Wendyknits mods for a bigger booga bag although I picked up more stitches along the sides of the base because somehow a different number popped into my head. OK it would be because I read the pattern the night before and thought I remembered the numbers and didn't bother to check. Lazy I know. It's holidays and I am allowed to be.
Anyway it worked out and I am happy with it.

Over The Fence

2009-01-21T19:17:00.004+10:30

I have been meaning to chat in Over The Fence for so long and I awlays keep forgetting that it is Tuesday night. Usually I remember about Thursday but this week I actually remembered.

It was lovely to chat and get to know other knitters a little.

Rell, Red, Wombat, Brighidskiss, Kelebek , Z and Pips. Thankyou all for being so welcoming.

I fully intend dropping in again next week.

Now to go and knit with help from my assistant.....

Sneaky surprise mail

2009-01-19T09:51:00.004+10:30

Last week I snaffled some yarn from Donna in a ravelry destash. Her stash is so much fun to raid.

Blue Zephyr.

One day I will be brave enough to play with this and not just pet it and drool over Victorian Lace Today.

Blue Grignasco Tango.
More blue, I have been working with pinks and purples and reds, which I love, but I needed something different to look at.

Also in the package was a present.
Who can argue with having a Birthday when surprises get added to your parcels?

Not me that's for sure. I think I need more Birthdays in a year.

Miss B has been needle felting and here is her latest creation.

Inspired by the Twilight series : Aro.

Knitting again

2009-01-10T10:08:00.006+10:30

It's been a while since I really knitted much of anything or even picked up the needles for a while there.
Lately the mojo seems to be coming back thanks to a visit to Tigers where I sat and knit and remembered how much I like it.
I have been working a little on Rogue.
I finished a pair of socks and a beanie.

Trekking Socks.

Usual 72st stocking stitch socks.

Turn a square beanie by Jared Flood.
Must bribe Miss B to model for more than 5 seconds.
I used Bendigo Rustic in Midnight Tweed gifted by Kate and leftover Noro. I don't like the brown so much but it was fun to make.

Which means it's also time to play with some new yarn and give in to startitis. I can't have the mojo running away again ;p

Jasmine by Kim Hargreaves.

Cotton.
Cotton in 4 ply.
Not may favourite thing to work with. It feels nice but kills my hands.

And Eastlake by Norah Gaughan.

Love. Love. Loving this.

So is Temperance.

I have kitty assistance everytime I pull this out.
I have never had a cat that liked yarn this much and it's very slow going.
Knit 3 stitches, save yarn from teeth, knit 3 stitches, save yarn from claws. Repeat.

The yarn is incredibly soft and squishy so I can hardly blame her for liking it so much.

Temperance

2008-12-28T09:39:00.004+10:30

I have been thinking about getting another cat for a while but wasn't quite ready. I even looked at bunnies for a while. Black Kit Kit bunnies. That was the whole problem, whatever animal I looked at I wanted it to be Kit. I wanted it to behave how Kit did, miow how Kit did and most of all love me how Kit did. Kit greeted me when I came home, slept with me and rarely sat with anyone else, not even Miss B. She had chosen me and that was it.

I adored her just as much and for a long time was lost without her. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

Lucy spent her time between Miss B and me, gradually spending more time with me than Miss B.

I gradually stopped looking at black bunnies and looking for black kittens.

I played with kittens in the pet shop. Cute, affectionate, but somehow not quite right.

I looked at give away kittens in the next street. Cute under the dirt and fleas, but still not quite right.

Two days before Christmas we visited one of Miss B's school friends. Their cat had had kittens.
Christmas eve Temperance came to live with us.

Yarn overs aren't so bad.

2008-11-17T18:11:00.003+10:30

I still don't love them and much prefer cables, but yarn overs sure do make a pretty baby cardy.

I still have the sleeves to sew up and some buttons to find, but the knitting is all done.

I also have to convince a friend to have a baby and that it would be a really good idea if that baby was a girl ;p

Babies and Yarn Overs

2008-11-10T08:22:00.004+10:30

I really seem to have trouble with yarn overs. I either forget to do them or I drop them way to

often for my knitting to look anything like how it is supposed to.

I know it is just a matter of practice and it probably wouldn't hurt if I stoped trying to watch tv at the same time. It's just that while I am knitting it is usually when I am also watching tv.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater has been on my list of one day I would like to make this list for a few years now, but I have never had a reason to make it and I wasn't about to play with yarn overs just for the sake of it. Sneaky dissappearing little things that they are.

Then I found out that my niece was pregnant. Out came the pattern and yarn. Out came lots of muttered swearing and two attempts later I have a collar and one sleeve.

It is actually looking like it is supposed to.

I may have done a happy dance or two around my loungeroom.

Then sister came over and told me that my niece had a baby boy. Eeeeek.

Can anyone suggest cute boy jumpers?

6 Things About Me

2008-10-21T12:20:00.004+10:30

I have been tagged by Kate to do the the 6 Things About Me meme.

I think there are some rules about tagging six others once you are done and letting your tagee know when you have posted your 6 things.

Anyway, here goes.........

1. I forget passwords incredibly quickly.

5 seconds after I have thought of that word or phrase that I can't possibly forget - I have forgotten it. Yet I can ask Miss B my password from some thing I signed up for 6 months ago and she can remember it off the top of her head.

2. I read my horroscopes every day.

3. While I could now be sleeping in the middle of the bed seeing as I have it all to myself, I somehow find that I still stay on my side. I'm not complaining, making the bed is much easier this way.

4. I don't like my foods touching on the plate, unless it is gravy on top of my food.
I happily eat combinations of food, but I have to have been the one to combine them on my fork.

5. I don't mind doing laundry and washing dishes, but really dislike vacuuming.

6. I'd rather mow the lawn than vacuum. It doesn't have to be done as often and it has no weird corners or things in odd places to manouver around.

I think most people have done this now but if you haven't, then consider yourself tagged and let me know when you have posted. I'd love to read your 6 things.

Casting off, ripping and casting on.

2008-10-11T16:25:00.005+10:30

Casting off - Porom.

I saw this on Brooklyntweed's blog and had to have it. I raided the stash for the totem I had bought last year when spotlight had a clearance.
Like any other hat I make Miss B gave it a nick name. This one is affectionately known as the onion hat.

Pattern by Jared Flood.
Yarn - Patons Totem 2 balls.
Needles - 4mm and 5 mm.

I ripped the purple Koolhaas. The Moda Vera Mousse is just too fuzzy and was looking worn out while still on the needles. So it is back in the stash and I am wondering if it would felt........

I have also cast on a something pink with yarnovers in it. I may just be crazy.

What Cobblestone?

2008-09-22T08:19:00.003+09:30

Um the one folded up and stashed in a zip loc before being abandoned in the corner. Not only does it have wonky decreasing it has one arm longer than the other. Is anyone else getting the idea that this yarn may not want to be a Cobblestone?

After some encouragement from Tigers I dragged Rogue from it's abandonment and have gotten it back up to the arm shaping. It's really not so much fun the 2nd time around.

I finished the stripey socks

Yarn:Four Seasons Hot Socks - purchased at Lincraft a few years ago
Needles: 2.25mm
Pattern: Usual - cast on 72 sts.

Intended as something to look forward to after finishing Rogue

Berroco Inca Gold, this is scrummy stuff.

Rogue may be competing for knitting time with this.

Cobblestone hates me

2008-08-26T11:01:00.004+09:30

Otherwise known as

'Just because it looks simple doesn't mean I don't have to concentrate'.

Cobblestone is done. Sort of.

Remember the ripping back because the neck was too long?

Yeah um. I ripped back and back and back. Then started again.

Then realised that back where I had ripped back to I had managed to also rip out a decrease row. So all this knitting has been happening on too many stitches.
I tried to fudge it and threw an extra decrease row in.......

But it looks crap.

All puckered and wrinkly.

Guess who gets to rip .......... again.......

Or shove Cobblestone in a corner and knit socks.

Plain stocking stitch socks.

And watch Lucy roll around in the sun.

Knitting in the black hole.

2008-08-13T13:30:00.003+09:30

Garter stitch scrunches up on itself and no matter how often you measure it, it just doesn't seem to grow.

Until you knit 3 inches past where you should be.

Let's rip and re do. Argh.

Pink anyone?

2008-08-07T08:16:00.003+09:30

Apart from missing Kit incredibly and not feeling overly motivated to do much without her supervision, I somehow got it into my head that Cobblestone is almost finished and I shouldn't blog until it is done.

This sounded good in my head but really doesn't work when I actually want to blog but Cobblestone still isn't done. So I am blogging and somehow everything I have been knitting is pink.

I wasn't wearing my first pair of Fetchings at the original length, so I ripped back the cast off and extended them. Now I think I may wear them out.

I finished Elbac finally. Ribbing and cables take forever,but the end result is worth it. I love, love, love this scarf.

An example of knitterly logic.

Cobblestone is taking forever to knit, so lets throw in a quick project. Lets make a beanie when I still don't wear beanies I just like making them. Lets ignore the fact that Cobblestone isn't being knit in the time I am knitting a beanie.
I finished the beanie, looked over at Cobblestone and wonder why it is taking so long to be done...........

A daytime class option would have been nice.

2008-07-14T12:45:00.004+09:30

Tafe offers their multimedia subject in two ways.

A) A 1 week block (think brain overload)in the shcool holidays or

B) One class a week for the term.(more realistic as far as having time to absorb the information)

The problem with spreading it out over a term is that then it is only offered as a night class. Leaving Miss B home alone every Tuesday night and coming home myself, by train, alone and in the dark was not an option.

So Miss B spent the week with her nanna and I left my brain in the classroom amonst all the electronic components.

The advantage being that I was so busy in class that I had no time to just stay home and sulk.
When I came home and did sulk and stomp about, Miss B wasn't there to see it.

Lucy our other cat was pretty thrown by the sudden changes. Kit gone. Miss B gone. Me being gone all day and getting home later than usual. She made herself very comfy on my lap when I got home each night.

I loved the class, my brain exploded several times, and I managed to get all the tasks done. I also passed the prac test that we were all scared of . YAY!!!

Our lecturer John was fantastic!

Patient, understanding, non critical, approachable.

While he obvioulsy knows his stuff, he never once made anyone feel silly for not being familiar with the equipement.
He didn't expect us to understand it all instantly and explained things as many times as we needed.He explained things simply, yet never came accross as condescending.
He would tell us what wasn't working and leave us to think about what line was wrong, letting us figure it out for ourselves, but was always there when we got totally confuzzled and needed more explanation.
We must have driven him nuts, yet he never got flusterred or irritated. Even when we had wired up something totally back to front and inside out.

Now to clone him and have him lecture the other subjects..........

Kit was my favourite.

2008-07-12T10:31:00.005+09:30

I know parents aren't supposed to have favourites amongst thier children, but does that rule apply when it comes to cats?

My scaredy cat Kit, who runs and hides from people let alone cars, somehow managed to get hit by a car last weekend.

We burried her in her sunny spot, but it doesn't feel real yet.

Coming home to her not being here is strange.
I keep expecting her to walk in and have her miow at me for being out all day.
Or to come sit on the keyboard so I stop studying and pay her some attention.
Or something.

I can't believe how much I miss her.

Rogue? What Rogue?

2008-06-30T08:44:00.003+09:30

Do you remember Rogue?

That happy red blob that was knitting up so fast and squishily.

It went to the beach to have it's picture taken and then just vanished.

It is too small. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!.

Today is the day I face it.

I will be the one in the corner surrounded by the pile of frogged red yarn.

Family History and the Cemetery

2008-06-26T08:56:00.003+09:30

One of the other things that has been recently distracting me has been family history.
Part of puttting the pieces together is either going to the cemetery or looking at the records.

Wandering around the graveyard and praying that your relative is not the one burried under the unreadable headstone, wondering if you will be able to find it at all and secretly hoping the headstone says a litttle more than just the date of death is all part of the process.

Time consuming, fascinating and frustratitng as the procedure can be, I accept all of this as part of the search.

What I didn't like was when I went to search for a relative in the Cheltenham Cemetary here in Adelaide, was that there are no searchable records accessable to the public.

No link via the council pages.

No nothing.

The way to access information for this particular cemetery is to contact their admin office, put your request in writing along with a fee and wait four weeks for a reply.

I have to say this disgusts me.

I have been able to search every other cemetery for free. I haven't come accross this before and it has totally thrown me.

What happens to those who have travelled to search for relatives? They don't have four weeks to wait for a reply.

What if the relative isn't burried in that particular cemetery? Is it fair to be charged for this?

What if? What if?

The records are obviously there. Why are they not available to the public?

I really feel that this information should be freely given.

What say you?

And another project begins

2008-06-23T17:45:00.004+09:30

I met up with Kate, Em, Helen, Denise and others for WWKIP Day.

Of course everything I have on the needles requires concentration throughout the whole project, or it is at the point where concentration is required.

So what did I do?

Cast on a new pair of socks.......

A busy week

2008-06-08T10:51:00.006+09:30

Last weekend Miss B and I went to the Spinners and Weavers open day at Little Hampton with Miss A and Tigers.

Dispite the yarn and ready made knitwear on offer, I found most of it just wasn't me. I did find myself fascinated with the bits and pieces in the stall offering shawlpins, tapemeasures and earing holders though.

What did others think of the offerings???

I finally got Miss B to stand still for 5 seconds and model Black Black Black.

She loves it.

The Bendigo Classic seems to pick up and hold every bit of fluff and fur possible. It probably would have looked better knitted at a tighter gauge and I really don't like the neck. It's what Miss B wants though so I guess for now it stays.

I finished my fetchings.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Black - 1 and a bit balls leftover from making Tubey.

Needles: 4mm dpns.

I had a discussion on Stash with a class mate.

Hi Marcus :)

His mother is a quilter and therefore he totally understands the concept of stash.

There is no such thing as too much stash, there is only the question of having enough for a particular project.

Usually you don't have enough of a particular item and therefore purchasing more stash is entirely appropriate.

Marcus's Mum has taught him well!!!!

I started Elbac

and I received an Options Folder with I managed to snaffle in the Destash Thread on Ravelry.

Thanks Barb!!!

Snug feet

2008-05-30T17:47:00.003+09:30

I finished the Thuja's just in time for the cold nights. I think I have made 3 or 4 pairs of these now, and each pair I love more than the last. Probably something to do with knowing in advance how snuggly they are going to when they are done.

Pattern: Thuja

Yarn: 2.5 balls Cleckheaton Country 8ply -Burgundy

Needles: 4mm dpn's

Also finally cast off, seamed, washed and drying is Black Black Black. Miss B's never ending black jumper.

Hopefully I can talk Miss B into modelling over the weekend.

All this finishing, I think it's time to cast on some fetchings

Even cuter than I had imagined..........

2008-05-26T11:11:00.002+09:30

I don't normally like soft toys or bears at all.

They don't do anything, the collect dust and they take up space that I could fill with yarn or books.

But somehow even I can't resist the hedgehog.

It's all Donna's fault, hers was soooooooooo cute and she even sent the eyes and nose so I just had to drop everything else and wrestle with the floof.

The hegdehog is done and I am totally sucked in by the cuteness. Thankyou Donna for being so evily enabling :)

Kit on the other hand isn't so sure about the blue floofiness and the attention it is getting from the humans.

Yarn Update

2008-05-23T12:11:00.001+09:30

The international yarn supplier will be sending the replacement yarn at their cost. YAY!!!!

Now to go and sew up a hedgehog.....

A question

2008-05-21T08:44:00.003+09:30

I ordered some yarn from somewhere overseas.

It has arrived but they sent the wrong colour.

I have e mailed them to let them know and they have replied asking "Do I want the correct colour sent?"

Duh, I want what I ordered, but I am unsure what happens if I say yes...........

Do they then send me the correct colour, but I pay for that yarn and postage?

Do I return the wrong coloured yarn, meaning I pay for postage on that?

I am not sure how it works out without me paying more money in some way, and I already stretched the budget to get the yarn in the first place.

Or do I just accept the colour that was sent to me?

How have you dealt with this issue?

Inspired by the cuteness........

2008-05-20T10:01:00.003+09:30

Just because it's cold and I wanted a quick fix, I started some Thuja's.

Burgundy Cleckheaton Country in 8Ply.

But then Miss B and I were distracted by the cuteness over on Donna's Blog and just had to have some for ourselves.

Seriously, when the teeneage member of the household is trying to figure out how to reach through the monitor and swipe a knitted project, even promissing to knit it herself (note: teenage inhabitant generally refuses to knit, so project must be super special), you get your hands on pattern and yarn quick smart.

Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to keep her interest, she has been distracted by a pumpkin headed person from a creative knitting Halloween issue, but at least she is knitting.

I have to try not to giggle every time I ask her to do something and she responds with "But I want to knit." or "When I finish this row."

The result is I get the privilege of knitting the Hedgehog :)

Half the back to go.

Discoveries and decisions.

2008-04-27T09:20:00.003+09:30

Discovery.

Knitting is kicking my butt at the moment.

Gauge keeps lying to me and I find myself needing to reknit the body of Cobblestone.

Decision.

Ignore the body for now and work on a sleeve.

Much more enjoyable than tempermental knitting was spending Thursday with Tigers and drooling over her spectacular sock yarn stash.
Otherwise known as the NOT Stash, everyone knows sock yarn doesn't count - right?

There are going to be some seriously warm feet in that house.

Small projects

2008-04-18T10:17:00.002+09:30

Small projects don't always equal a small investment in time.
I know this and yet I am repeatedly surprised at how long it takes to complete a pair of socks.
I realise that the stitch count for a pair of socks is some where up there with the stitch count for a jumper, yet I am always horribly dissappointed that socks just don't grow fast enough.
Especially when I am only so so about the colour.

The opal sock yarn was bought a few years ago when Miss B was in orange mode.

She is now in Green/Black mode so I will have some brightly coloured feet this winter.

And something I enjoyed working on sooooooooo much more.

Gretel, this time for me.

Once again in the discontinued Angora Supreme and once again Miss B insists that the cables look like trees and that the 'Tree Hat' shouldn't ever be worn.

Meh, Miss B is also on school holidays and happily giving her opinion on anything and everything.

I am conspiring to drag her to a yarn store where I can cover her in so much yarn that she can't talk for 5 minutes or so ;p

Either that or knit her a bobbled bikini. :)

About time...

2008-04-08T10:32:00.004+09:30

It feels as though I haven't finished a project for a very long time. Everything seems to be hanging on forever and going so slowly around here. Especially these socks.
I really, really didn't like working with the tangly yarn and am glad I sent the other two balls to a new home so they couldn't sit there staring at me, making me feel guilty, knowing that I was never, ever, going to knit them up.

Now that they are done though I am glad I persisted as somehow I do like them.

They are a little scratchy but should come good with a wash.

I enjoyed finishing something so much that I decided to cast on a (hopefully) quick knit.

Koolhaas just because I wanted a purple one for me even before I made the grey one for C.

Gretel is growong slowly..............

And I am about to start the sleeves on the Cobblestone Pullover.

Fighting tangles

2008-04-04T15:16:00.002+10:30

Sometimes you just have to sit down and do it, wether it's type up some homework or untangle some sock yarn.

The sock is progressing and is almost up to the toe, funnily enough homework is moving its way forward too.

Now if only people would stop tempting me with their never ending ravelry ques. You know who you are ;p

Settled now?

2008-03-28T09:53:00.005+10:30

Between moving, classes starting up again, personal happenings and the ridiculous heat we have had lately, I just haven't felt settled.

Funnily enough my knitting seems to follow the pattern of my current classwork. Scattered and all over the place.
I start off all enthused and race along until something gets tricky/ I make a mistake/ I don't understand something. Then I skip ahead to the next section as best I can.
Ultimately I have to come back to that point and fix it to be able to finish it.

Guess what I am doing this afternoon...........and no it's not knitting :(.

Where does that leave me with my knitting?

Spotlight socks - Yarn needs major untangling.

Opal socks - I need to rip back a few rows, my feet aren't THAT long.

Black Black Black - I need to sew up the pieces.......... someone send seaming mood.

Mitts - I need to rip back......... I forgot to increase for the thumb duh.......... oh and what do I do with all those ends? Do I just leave them and sew them in later? Do I sew them in along the way? If so........ how and where?

Rogue - I love this. I have separated the front and back.
Working on the back and eeek, my tension seems to have changed.

I think I know how to fix this, I am just not in the mood to rip back just now.

That is one pile of uninspiring knitting staring at me. It all needs fixing of some sort.

What to do, what to do.......... ohhhhhhhhh I know cast on............

YAY!!! Cleckheaton Angora Supreme in grey. Cast on Gretel for me.

Knit, knit, knit.

What the ??? Broken yarn........

Join yarn.

Knit, knit, knit.

Broken yarn......... eeek moths have been munching.

Throw yarn down in disgust.

Get out other ball of yarn and wind it to check for damage.

Perfect ball, nothing wrong with it. Trust me to have started with the moth eaten ball.

Wonder why moths ate one ball and not the other. Decide it doesn't matter and just be grateful they left me something to knit with.

Decide it's time to work on the one thing that doesn't need fixing.

Cobblestone.

Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed raided from stash.

So called bargains...........

2008-03-09T11:31:00.005+10:30

I bought the Moda Vera Socks from Spotlight the other week.

I am sure I had decided not to buy cheap sock yarn again after last time, but I think it whispered something about encouraging the local craft stores to stock sock yarn and I got sucked in. It came home with me.

I chose the burgundy/ khaki combo and I like how the pattern is knitting up.
The yarn is a little thicker than the Moda Vera Adore that I tried last time but still pretty thin compared to other sock yarns.
It is not super soft like patonyle, yet I am not finding it scratchy at all either.

But damn does it tangle and stick to istelf when you try knitting from the centre of the ball.
I will finish this pair, just because I am stubborn, but I can't see myself using it again.

So if anyone likes dealing with tangles and wants the other two balls of this I have in my stash...... let me know. It's all yours.

Just promise not to tell me that it was only my ball that was tangly.

A finished swift

2008-03-02T19:47:00.003+10:30

The swift is done and I love it.
I love it so much I want to buy yarn just so I can sit and wind it.
OK, I would probably still want to buy yarn anyway, but this makes it so much more fun.
I almost think I owe C another Koolhaas for this.

And knitting......... this is Rogue at the beach.

The body is now done and I am ready to separate the front and back.

This is one of those knits I don't want to put down.

Just one more row.

Just till the cable does that next bit.

Ohhhhhhhhhh pretty, just till it twists that way again.

I am beginning to think making another of these for Miss B is going to be no hardship at all........

Project Spectrum - Fire

2008-02-24T14:51:00.002+10:30

It took me a while but I finally decided that my Project Spectrum for the fire element would be Rogue.

I have wanted to make this jumper for a few years and even cast on at one stage.
Wrong yarn, wrong colour, and mixed dyelots. Eeeeeeek!!!!
Yes that attempt did get frogged.

Now that I have started (again), I don't want to stop.

I am really enjoying watching the cable emerge and the brightness of the yarn.

Bendigo Rustic 12 ply in Red Currant.

Knitting at last.

2008-02-16T13:46:00.003+10:30

Thanks to the enablement of Donna and Kate I have been able to get back to the knitting.

Koolhaas is finished and modelled by the recipitant.

Did I enjoy knitting it? Yes

Does the reciptant love it? Yes

Does it look good on the recipitant? Yes

So far so good.

Do I look stupid in hats? Yes

Am I going to make one for myself anyway? Probably :)

Does kit care? Only if she can sit on it.

Still surrounded by boxes...

2008-02-02T12:36:00.000+10:30

It would seem that I am still surrounded by boxes.

While it is driving me crazy and it will get worse before it gets better, that the end result will be worth all the craziness.
There is yarn in one of those boxes isn't there?

At least we are no longer crawling under the kitchen table to get to the back door, a very elegant manuver at which the cats stared at us strangely for.

At the other end it was all go, go, go to get those boxes packed.
This end I have run out of puff and am taking my time unpacking.
It is a great chance to sort each box of stuff as I unpack and decide whether the contents are really relevent to our lives anymore.
More often than not I am finding that most of my stuff is just stuff and I kept it simply because I could. I am a great believer in 'I might need it one day'.

To counteract those boxes are the other boxes of which every item must be kept, even though there is no corelating home for them at this house. Finding homes for things in a half unpacked house is tricky.

The good news is that I am finally getting to the boxes that contain some yarn. (No, still no Koolhass pattern).
Mostly yarn I had forgotten about so far, so it has been fun to explore and see how my taste and yarn purchasing habits have changed over time.
Is it only me that shakes my head at some of the ' What was I thinking?' purchases?

One ball that did make it to the needles was a ball of Opal Hundertwassers in an Orange/ Yellow/ Green/Purple colourway. I think I bought this under Miss B's 'I like orange' influence. She has since changed to 'I like green and black'....... Ah well, looks like I will have yet another pair of very bright socks.

Now to hunt down the box containing my Bendigo Rustic to start my Project Spectrum project.

How much longer?

2008-01-19T16:07:00.000+10:30

My house looks like this

Every single room. Boxes from floor to as high as I can reach.
Some filled, some taped and waiting to be filled and some still flat.
Every day it gets that bit harder to get through the house and every day there are more things I wish I hadn't packed yet.

Like the yarn.............

and Koolhaas...........It isn't finished, it isn't packed, but I think I packed the pattern.........

Kit keeps helping.......... she packs herself into that fruit box. She doesn't want to get left behind.

Firsts

2008-01-09T10:06:00.000+10:30

First - FO for the year

Patonyle socks with picot edge.
72 Sts on 2.25 dpns

I have little ladders in these and am reminded why I like those little circulars so much.

First- Absolutely love this knit

Koolhaas.

I am making this in exchange for someone making me a swift.

It is nice and squishy and I am going to have trouble parting with it. I am already scoping out yarn to make one for myself.

First - Colourwork.

I saw these mitts over at Chrisknits and just had to try them.

I was having so much fun with them I forgot to do the increases for the thumb....... Oooops also first mistake for the year.

First - Ripped Project.

The Sirdar Eternity jumper is no more.

I started it in 2006 and have worked at it on and off ever since.

The yarn is a mix and while I don't mind it, I just don't love it enough to keep going. It has been ripped and re wound into balls.

2007 Round Up

2008-01-06T11:36:00.000+10:30

Meme taken fron Chrisknits.

THE 2007 YEAR IN KNITTING MEME

1) The Quickest Knit Item of 2007

The plain beanies for D&T. Not super exciting but super quick.

2) The Slowest Knit Item of 2007

Either the purple pullover because I have barely touched it and really dont think I want to OR Shedir with all those travelling cables.

3) The Funnest Knit Item of 2007

Gretel is my favourite.

Enough challenge to make me think, but small enough that I don't get bored or frustrated and shove it in a corner before finishing.

Gretel also has the bonus of being incredibly pretty.

4) The Stupidest Knit Item of 2007 (Maybe something you shouldn't have tried)

I don't think I have one........ if I did it was something that was so stupid I never got past swatching.

Oh wait! Yes I do.
Knitting the country silk jumper in a scarily bright pink was probably the stupidest thing.
I doubted my colour choice yet I still kept knitting.

Lesson: Listen to that little voice that is telling you it is ugly.

5) The Best Received Knit Item of 2007 (A much appreciated item you knit for someone else)

Gretel!!!

Miss B's Nanna is a fantastic knitwear receipitant.

6) The Worst Knit Item of 2007 aka The "one thing I will never knit again, even upon penalty of death" Item of 2007

I am not sure what to pick knitwise but I am dreading seaming Miss B's Black Black Black.

Oh wait. I really don't like the bright pink country silk jumper very much.
It's nice and warm, but the colour...........Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Remind me that I don't usually use certain colours for a reason.

7) The Best Knit Item of 2007 aka The "I could knit this over and over again" Item of 2007

Gretel and Wicked are both in this category and I have plans to make more of each.

2007 Knits

* Rosedale United

* Gretel for Nanna

* Madder Ribbed Sock

* Grey Beanie For D

* Blue Beanie For T

* Crochet wash cloth

* Ribby Pulli

* Patonyle Sock

* Pink Striped Scarf

* Pink Striped Beanie

* Blue Striped Beanie

* Socks for Sisters

* Adore Socks

* Wicked

* Beret

* Miss B's Newsboy Cap

* Roll Neck Jumper

* Mittens for Me

* News Boy Cap

* Irish Hiking Scarf

* Mittens

* Grey Beanie

* Green Beainie

* Dashings

* My So Called Scarf

* Super Sneaky Socks

* Knee Warmers

* Central Park Hoodie

* Beanie

* Fetchings for Nanna

* Urban Aran

* Patonyle Socks

* Thuja Socks

* Magic Stripes Socks

* Shedir

* Happy Feet

* Green Fetchings

* Rolling Thunder

6 Jumpers

11 Pairs of socks

12 Hats

5 Mittens/ Mitts/ handwarmer thingys

1 Knee warmers

1 dishcloth.

Last FO for the year!

2007-12-31T21:19:00.000+10:30

Rosedale United is done. The last finished project for 2007.

I went with the rolled neck after all, I just didn't decrease as many stitches as before and I am much happier with it than I was yesterday.
It is looking even better now that it has had a bath and is now snoozing on the trampoline, waiting for the cats to keep it company while it dries.

Pattern: Rosedale United

Yarn: Noro Kureyon col148 - 10 balls

Needles: 5mm Addis

Modifications:

I made this longer; almost 20cms longer. I seem to need to make most patterns longer, but lately it seems that every jumper I make I am adding more and more centimetres to each garment.

I skipped the intarsia rectangle as I felt with all the colours this jumper is busy enough.

I also decreased about 20 stitches less than what the pattern stated for the neck band.

Notes:

I really wasn't too sure whether I was liking this very much while I was making it due to there being a lot more baby pooh brown in the mix than I had counted on. It wasn't until I had knit the sleeves and the body, joined them and started decreasing for the yoke that it all started coming together and the colours seemed to fit in a way I could live with.

Now I am looking forward to the weather cooling down and this being a very warm, cheery jumper on a cold grey day.

UGH!!!

2007-12-30T22:04:00.000+10:30

Casting off too tightly really takes away the excitement of almost finishing something.

Rosedale United is fighting me with it's neckline.

First try - followed pattern, neck too small for my cat let alone me.

Second try - tried more stitches and ribbing instead of rolled edge and managed to cast off too tightly.

Third try - redid cast off. Neck is still a tad tight and I'm not happy with how it sits or looks.

I may go back to rolled edge but with more stitches

............ tomorrow.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-26T19:24:00.000+10:30

I am hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your holidays as much as I am.

Christmas Day was spent at the beach with a picnic lunch.
Eat when you want, doze when you want.
Walk along the waters edge when you want and of course chatter and catch up.

My family is one of those which seems to be not only spread out all over the place, but also have family members who work during the holidays, so we have several smaller gatherings and it can take weeks to catch up with everyone.
The benefit......... Christmas lasts for weeks :)

Also benefitting from the holidays is my knitting.

Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks.
Yarn: Hot Socks Lincraft Brand
Needle: 2.5 mm
Notes:
I cast on 72 stitches and fudged the ribs a bit. There was no way the original stitch count was ever going to fit.
I also used my standard toe as by the time I got back to these I had forgotten I was supposed to be following a pattern.

A gifted Gretel and a very happy Nannna.

My Nero project has grown.

Rosedale United from Knitty.

The body is done, the sleeves are done. I just need to join them together and keep knitting.

Gretel

2007-12-20T12:10:00.000+10:30

Gretel is done and I love it. Pretty, pink and poofy, just how it is meant to be.

Miss B is still in her 'refuse to model hats' mode so I will have to wait till this is gifted to get a better pic.

Yarn: Cleckheaton Angora Supreme (Discontinued) 1.5 balls.

Needles: 3.75mm and 4.5mm

I followed the pattern as written, apart from the few times I became distracted or interrupted which required fixing.

This yarn also sheds fluff which somehow ends up in your mouth when knitting. I don't remember the purple I used to make Wicked doing this, maybe it's just the pink

It is very warm and really shouldn't be knit on a 33 degree (celcius) day.

Hats

2007-12-15T13:37:00.000+10:30

I am really looking forward to making things for those of you who are participating in Pay It Forward.
I think I am just as excited to see what you come up with for your giftees.
So many choices to make; patterns, yarn and colours.

Miss B could not be bribed into modelling hats today (or any time in the last week) so I'm sorry, you get flat hats on a table pics.

These beanies are going to family in Canberra.

Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 12 ply
Needles: 5mm
Size: Hopefully one that fits; it's hard to measure peoples heads when they live hours away.

Seeing as these were cast off I decided to ignore all other WIP's and cast on for Gretel.

I am taking Miss B's advice...... we don't need those jumpers finished until winter....
Shush about taking advice from a teenager when it suits me.

I am loving the prettiness of this and will shut up about having just stuffed up half of the last row by twisting the wrong way in the wrong place.
Just when I was thinking I knew what I was doing.........

Time for a cup of tea, some chocolate and some fixing.........

Pay it forward

2007-12-08T18:17:00.000+10:30

I saw this on Chris's blog.

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Flitting all over the place

2007-12-02T09:53:00.000+10:30

I have spent a ridiculous amount of time just staring off into space and wondering why we are here.

Why do some people die early and others seem to live forever?

Do each of us really have something we are meant to achieve in this lifetime?

If so, what is it?

Losing someone close also makes you look a little more closely at your own life.

Am I living in a way that makes me happy?

Am I really focusing on the goals that matter?

Do I still want what I previously wanted?

What do I want the most?

All of this in an attempt to deny the reality of just how little control we have in our lives and how much it scares me.

Luckily I can control yarn and needles.

The back of miss B's BlackBlackBlack Jumper

A Blue sock in Patonyle.

A Sleeve in Noro.

And Crochet.

Inspired by the dishclothes I saw over at Brainylady's I decided to give these a go.

Shush about the fact that mine came out as a long rectangle. I just kept going till the ball of cotton ran out.

And Thankyou to those of you who left messages or e mailed. It means a lot.

Lost

2007-11-22T09:29:00.000+10:30

I received a call last night, letting me know that a friend had passed away.

I only spoke to them the other day, arranged to catch up and now they are gone.

It just doesn't seem possible.

I am going to play with some yarn and try not to feel so lost.

A Meme

2007-11-22T07:48:00.000+10:30

For Kate

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.

Troy. His interpretations and explanations are certainly unique.

2. What were you doing at 0800?

Thinking about what I need to do today and comparing it to what I am going to do.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?

Making myself a cup of tea

4. What happened to you in 2006?

I graduated from Certificate IV in Women's Studies.

I shared some writing at the graduation ceremony and made a speach. I still have trouble believing I did that as I hate public speaking and sharing anything that isn't knitting.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?

I don't think I have spoken yet today. Last night it would have been something like, "Move over Kit".

6. How many beverages did you have today?

2 cups of tea

7. What colour is your hairbrush?

Black

8. What was the last thing you paid for?

Yarn. Silly, silly question.

9. Where were you last night?

At home.

10. What colour is your front door?

White. The back door is a little more interesting......... undercoat green.

11. Where do you keep your change?

My purse or in a small basket on my dresser.

12. What’s the weather like today?

Peeking out the window - It looks cloudy but will probably end up being a nice day.

13. What's the best ice-cream flavour?

Not really an icecream fan. Vanilla. I can add whatever I want to it and it tastes good.

14. What excites you?

New yarn, fabulous patterns, meeting challenges, connecting with people.
Robbie Williams, a jar of chocolate sauce and .......... oh shush.

15. Do you want to cut your hair?

Yes. Yes. Yes. And colour it.

16. Are you over the age of 25?

Yes.

17. Do you talk a lot?

Not at first, but once I get to know someone I don't shut up.

18. Do you watch the O.C

No.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?

No

20. Do you make up your own words?

accidentally, often.

21. Are you a jealous person.

Yes. I want all that yummy yarn that is taunting me in ravelry.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A'.

Ann

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'K'.

Kate

24. Who's the first person on your received call list?

Andy

25. What does the last text message you received say

" I'm having a boy!!!"

26. Do you chew on your straw?

No

27. Do you have curly hair?

Nope. It's wavy though.

28. Where's the next place you're going to?

That's a toss up between the tissue box or the yarn stash.

29. Who's the rudest person in your life?

They are no longer in my life :)

30. What was the last thing you ate?

1/2 an easter egg. Brilliant breakfast food. I am not sure what is worse. Eating chocolate for breakfast or the fact that I still have easter eggs left.

31. Will you get married in the future?

I like to think so.

32. What's the best movie you've seen in the past 2 weeks?

Because I said so. Not sure it would be the best,That's but it is the only movie I have watched in the last 2 weeks.

33. Is there anyone you like right now?

Not sure yet.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?

Last night

35. Are you currently depressed?

No.

36. Did you cry today?

Yes. And Last night too.

37. Why did you answer and post this?

Because I promised Kate I would:)

Too Too Hot

2007-11-20T13:05:00.000+10:30

Summer has made it's presence felt and the plans I had in my head for knitting seem to have gone out the window.

Reading has been preferable to having yarn on my lap the last few days. The closest I have gotten to actual yarn is reading blogs. I love the bright pink being spun up over here.

I very much envy all you who are just going into winter.

Can someone send me some snow? I think I need to throw it at these guys.

They decided that a house just down the street was a good place to hold a training session for some new recruits.

The cats and I decided it was a nice moring to sit outside and be entertained.

November, ribbing and yarn additions

2007-11-10T10:51:00.000+10:30

It's November and there is a challenge I have seen floating about.
National Knit A Sweater Month.

Considering how I flit between projects I decided to give this a miss. I think I enjoy watching everyone else race to the finish line more than participating.

What I did decide to do was play with Noro in November after being inspired by all the Noro Knits I saw last November.

And just because I had nothing on the needles that wasn't at some point of needing concentration I started a beanie for Miss B's Uncle.

Miss B's Black yarn has arrived. Time for some craziness.

And as a reward for even considering to attempt black ribbed craziness 5 balls of Rustic Red Currant joined to order.

I did have plans for a wrap cardy but I think this yarn wants to be something else.

Ribby Pulli is done!!!

2007-10-31T17:21:00.000+10:30

Finally! It is done. I have been wearing it all day and I love it.
I wish I had stuck with it and finished it sooner.
Remind me of that next time I get bored with a project halfway through. OK, maybe don't.

I decided on the roll neck and no the neck doesn't really sit like that - it is the top I am wearing underneath that has bunched up.

Notes:

Ribby Pulli by Bonnie Marie Burns
I lengthened the body and added a ribbed roll neck instead of the patterns funnel neck.
Cascade heathers yarn purchased at www.yarnsonline.com.au I used 5 and a bit skeins.
Knit on 4mm addi turbos

Update on Miss B's request:

Incredible amounts of grovelling have happened. Incredibly amusing reasons as to why I should knit her a black jumper and she shouldn't have to knit it have also been forthcoming.
Reasons such as " But it's 'special'(insert sing-song voice) when you make it."
Accompanied by grins and giggles as she gets more outrageous with her sucking up.

I'm a suck. Yarn has been ordered.

Miss B's Request

2007-10-28T10:58:00.000+10:30

Miss B has requested that I knit her a jumper.

She would like it to be black and it would have a lot of ribbing.

I am considering it.

Absolute craziness.

That feels so much better.....

2007-10-19T12:59:00.000+09:30

After being annoyed with the Ribby Pulli for so long, it feels incredibly freeing to have ripped back, fixed and gotten it back onto the needles.
I am up to the neck shaping now, sooooo close to being done.

The next dilemma comming up is the neck. I am not sure if I want to go with the funnel neck in the pattern or if I will change it to a ribbed roll neck.

Any thoughts?

I started the Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks - Nancy Bush

The yarn is Hot Socks by Lincraft. While not a spectacular yarn it is a ginormous improvement over spotlight's adore yarn.

I am enjoying this, it is ribbed, but not so ribbed that it is killing my hands ribbed.

Recent discussions about random balls of yarn and teaching a friend to crochet has inspired be to pick up the hook again.

This will be a scrappy blanket.
Blues, blacks, greys.

No particular method or order in colour sequence - I will keep going till I am either sick of using a particular colour or run out.

No timeframe for finishing.

Simply a way to make use of those random balls of yarn that aren't enough to make anything out of.

FO FO FO!!!

2007-10-13T09:17:00.000+09:30

Mainly due to distract myself from how much I had just ripped back on the ribby pulli I finished some other projects.

Pink Striped Beanie

Pink Striped Scarf. This used the same yarn, same dyelot - very different results from the two balls of yarn.
One side has very long repeats of colour and the other stripes frequently as it did in the beanie.

And Patonyle socks. I love these.

Bright and happy and so, so soft.

I think I can face putting the Ribby Pulli back on the needles now :)

Ribby Pulli - Progress???

2007-10-05T08:49:00.000+09:30

This is how close to being done the Ribby Pullover was on Tuesday night.

I tried it on and love it.

All except the mis matching ribs where the body and arms meet.
The ribs are out by one stitch and in my more" fudge it" moods I figure my hair will cover the bits I am not happy with.

In reality I know I wont wear it like this and not being totally happy with it is the main reason I haven't finished it.

Bugger.

Time to rip.

Overwhelmed By Ravelry

2007-09-27T09:59:00.000+09:30

Since joining Ravelry I have been overwhelmed by temptation and at the same time totally uninspired by my knitting.

Every WIP I have on the needles is suddenly incredibly boring. Yet at the same time I have been stuck with indecision about starting anything else. What to start?
There are just too many options.

The Ribby Pullover is driving me nuts. All that grey; and I have messed up the decreases, my ribbing doesnt match where I have joined the sleeves. I have put it aside to be frogged.

I haven't had a block of knitting time long enough to get immersed in the Hemlock Ring Blanket and I just haven't felt like working on any other WIP. Everything just looks really bland.

I figured I needed something small to pick up the needles again.

Beanie using Moda Vera Brilliant in Blue. I love how it stripes. So does Miss B. Guess who has claimed it.

Knitting was still feeling a little bland though so I started some socks in patonyle.

Colour. That's what was missing. And fun. Knitting is meant to be fun.

Sister Socks done.

2007-09-16T16:31:00.000+09:30

I decided a while ago to make a pair of bedsocks each for two of my sisters.
4mm needles, 8ply yarn. They would knit up quickly, no problems.

That should have been the story.

Me being me, I lost interest in making 4 socks in the exact same colour pretty quickly.
I seem to have lost the urge to knit much lately, nothing has been sending out those knit me vibes. The part done socks were just sitting about hogging the coffee table.

Today was all cold and windy. The perfect knitting weather. Perfect finishing weather.
Perfect sock wearing weather if my sisters give these socks a new home.

Beginnings?

2007-09-09T16:21:00.000+09:30

Inspired by Brooklyntweed's Hemlock Ring Lap Blanket I decided to start my own.

So far all I have is a blue blob.

I wonder if it will grow up to be a pretty blue blob........

Wickedly Wicked.

2007-09-01T11:13:00.000+09:30

Ok Ok, a flat on a table pic doesn't keep you guys happy.
Here is the "headless supermodel shot" for chocolatetrudi.
Chris, I hope this makes you happy too.
You have no idea the effort involved in getting Miss B to take a picture that doesn't involve the cats or my feet.

Can I eat some chocolate now???

Wicked

2007-08-29T19:42:00.000+09:30

Chatting away, scrunching up her arms to fit them in the pic and relaxing

with a cup of tea is Wicked.

Pattern: Wicked

7 balls of Angora Supreme

4.5mm addi turbo

I decided on 3/4 length sleeves and no pocket.

I loved working on Wicked. I loved the Angora Supreme and I loved being able to try her on along the way.

I think I spent more time trying her on than I did actually knitting some days, but then I also dragged it out to make the knitting last .

Another sleeve to go

2007-08-13T07:29:00.000+09:30

Wicked just needs another sleeve. I need some time to actually knit that sleeve.

This is so frustratingly close to being done that I want to ignore the world and just get it done.

Life of course has other plans.

Plans like the Mt Pleasant Fiber Festival that Tigers and I went to on Saturday with the girls.

The fiber festival where I was remarkably restrained and didn't purchase any yarn.

No yarn came home with me at all. This was partly due to lack of lighting near the handpainted yarns, I can't choose something if I can't see it; and partly due to my plan of not buying small amounts of yarn that I end up not knowing what to do with.

I still have the purple handspun I purchased last year which I can't decide if it is destined for mittens or socks.

I left the fleece behind too, same story, I still have last years taunting me that I have never learnt to spin.

I was hoping to find a swift but didn't see one.....

Books... My wishlist included Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits and Favourite Socks.

I came home with Fitted Knits and am waiting for Favourite Socks to arrive.

Miss B's list consisted of ....... Fudge.

She found fudge and was happy.

New additions

2007-08-07T13:58:00.000+09:30

To my knitpicks options set

I took advantage of Donyale's 10% blogger's discount and free postage for June and July special. Therefore I was able to satisfy my urge to buy everything I wanted to add to my original collection all at once.

The 9mm, 10mm and 12mm tips that weren't part of the original set. Another lot of 4.5mm and 5.5mm tips seeing as they are the ones I use the most. Some extra pockets and of course extra cords so I can try and knit even more things all at once.

Now it's purple's turn

2007-08-01T08:47:00.000+09:30

The Project Spectrum triad of purple, orange and brown has arrived and it feels like I have been waiting for this segment of project spectrum since the begining.

Purple is a colour that I really like and yet I don't seem to work with it very often. I am particular about the shades of purple that I like and often end up taking blue or pink yarn home instead.

Brown is pretty low in my preference list generally and often only makes it's way into my basket for the purpose of making C a beanie. Having said that there is a Noro combination with purples and brown in it that I'd like to play about with.

Orange. Miss B likes orange. I don't mind it on other people but I really don't like it for myself.
I think the only orange in my stash is a splash of orange in a multicoloured ball of sockyarn.
I seriously doubt orange will get a look in during the next two months.

Purple obviously has priority for me during this triad and so far my present list of projects to work on consists of:

Wicked.
I am loving this.

Sidar Eternity Pullover.

And for some brown I have the adore socks on the needles.

What's on your list???

How long does it take to knit a sleeve?

2007-07-30T08:08:00.000+09:30

Thankyou all so much for the Birthday wishes.

Miss B loved the idea that you were all thinking about her and wishing her such a great day.

The kitchen did survive and no the birthday girl did not have to clean up.

Luckily for me she didn't make as much mess as I had been dreading.

As for the title of this post, I have only just finished the second sleeve of the Ribby Pullover.

It took me 2 weeks. Can you tell I really don't enjoy the DPN/ ribbing combination???

Actually it's not that bad once you settle into it and I did have some help in diverting my attention away from the sleeve.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows insisted on being read and......

after seeing it knit up over at Donna's this yarn insisted on coming out to play.

Miss B is 14 today!!!

2007-07-26T08:57:00.000+09:30

The last couple of years we have bought birthday cakes, but this year Miss B wants to make her own.

She has some idea of decorating it with an Emilystrange theme.
I am not sure what she is envisioning, I just know that it requires green lollies.
Lots and lots of green lollies.

So tonight there will be

1 teenager
1 mixer
Bowls
Spoons
1 Oven
1 Cake
Cream
Icing
& Assorted lollies in my kitchen.

Most of the lollies will be eaten before the cake even makes it into the oven I am sure.

All I know is that she was one happy teenager this morning after opening presents that feed her Emilystrange addiction, and after all that sugar tonight she will be even happier.

Ravelry got me.

2007-07-24T07:01:00.000+09:30

Just in time to go back to classes I get my Ravelry invite.

I'll be playing as

yarnsticksbooks

Ribby Pullover

2007-07-19T12:45:00.000+09:30

Here is the start of the Ribby Pullover.

Ok so it's half done and I am already thinking grey wasn't such a good idea colour wise.

It is nice after the brightness of the cleckheaton country silk, but depending on the lighting this looks grey/ muddy brown.

Remind me that it really wouldn't hurt to make myself a jumper in black.

I loved knitting the body in the round. The sleeves not so much.
Ribbing and DPN's is a combination that I can manipulate easily enough. I just don't like to, therefore sleeves progress very slowly.

I am considering buying a small circular to do the other sleeve on.

This is something I probably should avoid; I can envision the different sized sleeves already.

Early morning happenings

2007-07-16T08:01:00.000+09:30

Miss B went to her Nanna's last night and so wasn't here for our evening meal. Chicken Schnitzel, mashed potato, corn on the cob , carrot, brocoli, beans and gravy.

Yay! Extra mashed potato for me.

I then spent the night dreaming about eating the extra piece of schnitzel for breakfast.

As those of you with teenagers in your households know, this is a big deal.
There are never leftovers after a meal and if by some miracle there are, they are quickly claimed by the constantly hungry teenager.
(If teenagers don't claim the leftovers, the cats are next in line.)

I got up this morning thinking about schnitzel, put on some socks cause it's cold and started walking out to the kitchen.

I get to the doorway of my bedroom and UGH!!!
Slushy. Wet. Sock.
During the night Lucy somehow picked up on my breakfast plans and decided to let me know she didn't approve.

I am not hungry now, I have odd socks on and Lucy is sleeping with a big grin on her face.

I think I'll go and knit.

Holidays

2007-07-14T09:42:00.000+09:30

I am loving this lot of holidays, just enjoying the break from deadlines and having to be places at certain times.

I have been spending a lot of time doing a lot of not much. Sitting in the sunshine, playing with the cats and guilt free knitting.

Catching up on blog lines and drinking way too many cups of tea.

Shopping for yarn with Tigers, and convincing ourselves that the yarn we bought in the first store doesn't resemble the yarn we bought in the second store in any way.
The fact that both of my purchases were of the same brand means nothing.
Actually it may mean that I end up with knitted items that I can wear together for once. Or not.

Miss B is happy, her cap is done.

Cabled Newsboy Cap from Stitch and Bitch Nation.
5mm and 6mm needles
Cleckheaton Country 12 ply in Black.

Now that hers is done I am thinking I'd like a black one too. Me who doesn't wear hats. I just want one, same as I want a beret that I wont wear either.

To make Chris happy and show that I do have arms, although most days I could do with a couple of extra ones.......

Cleckheaton Country Silk raglan sleeve roll neck jumper.

Cleckheaton Country Silk 13 balls
Colour Overly bright berry
4mm needles

I added 5cm extra to the length meaning I worked 40cm of the body before starting shaping for the arms.
I am still undecided about how this looks but I love how it feels.
It is comfortable and warm and I'd like another jumper that fits like this but in something not so bright. The sleeves could be about 1cm longer too.

It's Done...

2007-07-12T16:19:00.000+09:30

The Cleckheaton Country Silk roll neck jumper is done.

Finally. All finished.

And I'm still not sure if I like it or not.

It is warm and comfortable, it's just bright. And bitsy.

I am happy to have it done and off the list of WIP's.

I forgot to get Tigers to take a picture for me, hence you only get to see part of it.

In other knitting news, I gave in, I started Miss B's Black Newboy Cap.

C has put in requests for black knits also.

I have put in a request for black yarn to be purchased by someone other than me.

Let's see what happens.

Is it holidays yet???

2007-07-05T08:44:00.000+09:30

I feel as though the most I have seen of any knitting lately has been to wash a bathtub full of knits and have them sitting all over the house taking their time to dry.

If I am not going to get much knitting time I can at least have some new yarn to look at.
Sock yarn found in Lincraft yesterday in a sneaky visit on the way home.

June's Project Spectrum projects, Irish Hiking Scarf and Mittens.

Both made using cleckheaton Country 12 ply, % balls for the scarf, two for the mittens.

The hat in the middle is the Newsboy cap made in Paton's Jet.
Miss B is trying to claim this. She hasn't succeeded so far so has put in her demand, uh, request for one in black.

Mittens Schmittens.......

2007-06-25T14:14:00.000+09:30

After finishing the Irish Hiking Scarf I wanted some mittens to go with it.
Sounds logical, even sounds pretty simple.

So why did I spend the weekend knitting a pair of ginormous mittens?

Something to do with ladies mittens not being big enough to not squash fingernails and me totally underestimating how much bigger mens mittens are.

No wonder I like Fetchings so much.........

Letting go

2007-06-18T08:07:00.000+09:30

Sometimes a knit just isn't working, you know it but you keep trying anyway. You knit a couple of rows here and a couple of rows there. But the whole time you really aren't enjoying it.
You don't like the look of it, you don't like how it feels and working on it has become a chore.

Yet if you put it aside and work on things you enjoy, you feel guilt. You know it really wouldn't take long to finish if you just worked on it.

The knit has become more than a chore, it has become a burden.
Something that sits quietly in it's basket niggling at you and taking away the pleasure of knitting.

Realistically this is only my own expectations of what I should make, should finish and how long something should take me to do that is niggling at me.

Yes, I could work on that scarf, I could finish it and it probably wouldn't take that long.
But I am not enjoying it and knitting is meant to be fun.
I really don't know why I have so much trouble admitting when something isn't working, why I have to keep trying and trying.

Yarn can be un knitted.
It can be rewound.
It goes back in the stash all too easily. Once you start. Bye Bye lace scarf.

So winding and placing yarn back into the stash happened yesterday creating space for something I want to work on. Something I have wanted to make since I first discovered blogland.

The Irish Hiking Scarf.

UFO Update

2007-06-17T07:51:00.000+09:30

I seem to have gotten over the sniffly cold just in time for C to share his viral thingy with me.

Blah, there are times when sharing is NOT a good thing.

To distract myself from feeling crappy I went through the knitting basket and had a look at the UFO's.

Mistake ridden shawl which I just don't want to knit anymore = May's Frogged Project

Next up is the lace scarf.
C keeps making comments about this looking like his Nanna's curtains.

I already have doubts about this scarf. It was gfoing to be for someone else but I am really not loving it and I don't know that they will.
This may become June's frogged project.
What do you think?

Back to where I started from.....

2007-06-09T15:44:00.000+09:30

A few more little projects that snuck their way on to my list.

A grey beanie for C.
Odd decrease placement, but it fits.
This was knit in Liza Leo, which is an alpaca, linen, wool blend.
It sounds nice but is is horrible to work with and seems to go out of shape as you knit it.
I have some more of this yarn but I have a feeling it will be returned to the store.

Something I am much happier with is how well Miss B's Mittens turned out.
Made with Totem yarn that I snaffled for $1 a ball. Sometimes it pays to look under the clearance table.

And now, maybe I can pay some attention to the cleckheaton jumper.

Or maybe something else will jump out and distract me.............

Unravelling

2007-06-07T09:43:00.000+09:30

Unravelling is what you spend your time doing once you go back and look at any knitting you did while you had a cold.

The cleckheaton counrty silk jumper was almost done. Front, back and both sleeves were knit.

I got ready to seam and looked at the pieces again. Something was wrong.
It looked a little........... short.

Yep, I had forgotten to add the extra length I normally add to anything I want to actually wear. With my head all clogged up I had blindly followed the pattern and was left with something that would probably even have been too short for Miss B.

So riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip it went, back to the armhole shaping.

Casting on isn't such a great idea when your head is all clogged up either. It involves counting........

So last night I cast on, yet again.
This time it is mittens for Miss B.

I had planned........

2007-06-04T09:00:00.000+09:30

Last week

I had planned on having the Country Silk jumper all knitted, seamed and finished over the weekend.

I had planned on posting a project spectrum related post.

I had planned on answering Katie's tag for 7 random things.

I had planned on finishing that another sneaky beanie that made it to the list.

I had planned on starting a new project.

What happened instead was

I ended up with a lovely snotty cold type of thing with bonus nausea that makes you feel crappy and unable to think properly.

Miss B spent several days exhibiting teenage behaviour in ways that seemed to take enormous amounts of time and effort to work through. Just what you need when you are already feeling crappy.

I spent a crazy amount of time searching the internet for tafe related purposes, (I swear they hide these things on purpose). Knitting related activities are so much easier to find.

I did manage to cast on a new project. Yep that's it. Cast on is all I did.

Sneaky little things

2007-05-26T08:46:00.000+09:30

Just when I thought I had the WIP list under control a few sneaky little things jumped in front of the que.

First was C's Brown Beanie.

This is the second one of theese I have made for him and somehow I made this one a little too short. ( Avoiding ribbing......... no not me........)

So now it is fixed.

Next was another beanie, this time for Miss B.

I figured if she is going to run off with my scarf she may aswell have a beanie to go with it.

Only thing is, now thats it's done, it really doesn't go with the scarf. Ah well.
At least it will be warm.

Back to my knitting

The start of the roll neck jumper

using Cleckeaton Country Silk in the berry colour.

I can't decide if I like this or not. Some days I really like the brightness and other days I have no idea what I was thinking.
The bits throughout are bigger than I was envisioning and I tend to think it looks a bit worn out and 'bitsy' without even being finished.

On the upside it is really nice to knit with and I have someone waiting to claim it if I hate it when it's done.

Isn't mum nice? She is making a blanket just for meeeeeeeeee.

More FO's

2007-05-23T16:18:00.001+09:30

My So Called scarf is done amd I love it. Unfortuantely so does Miss B.

The only good thing about her liking it is that I have an excuse to make another one for myself.
That would involve buying more yarn, what a pity.

Also done are Dashing.

These I'm not so sure about.
I think it's the extra length on the arms , it feels weird.

Slowly my WIP list is going down and it feels good to not have so many projects hanging over my head.
As much as it was fun to cast on the second I found something I wanted to make, having so many projects going at once became a burden.
I felt pressure to work on this, and then, no I should be working on that.
It just took all the fun out of knitting and I found that really hard to accept.
For me knitting has always been fun and when it wasn't....... I felt a bit lost.

So for now I will keep working on those WIP's and add a frogpond item to the rotation every now and again.

Although I really, really would like to cast on for the Ribby Pullover.................

Interview Meme

2007-05-21T10:56:00.000+09:30

Last week I read Nat's Interview meme. I really liked meme as it's a chance to get to know a little bit more about the people on the other side of the screen. I never knew she chased her husband........ go Nat!

I asked her to interview me.....

1. How long have you been knitting?

My Mum taught me to knit when I was about 8.
Chunky plastic needles, red acrylic yarn, 2 garter stitch rectangles sewn together to become a vest.
I remember being disappointed that my knitting didn’t look anything like Mum’s knitting and it took me sooooooo much longer to do.
I don’t remember if I wore the vest once it was done or not, I just remember those never ending garter stitch rectangles.

I played about with knitting here and there while growing up but really didn’t focus on it, I was much happier to spend my time curled up with a book.
Then Feathers came along; and I made a few scarves. I got bored with that pretty quickly and went on to beanies.
It probably would have dropped off again there as I wasn’t ready to jump in and tackle anything bigger, but then I discovered knitting blogs.
I also discovered bloggers’ fascination with knitting socks.
Some loved it, some hated it and many said turning heels was really hard.
That was the bit that got me, how could so many bloggers love making socks if it was so hard? So I had to try it, to figure out what was so great about it and to see if it really was that hard.

I bought a pattern, some sock yarn and a set of dpn’s. I took forever making those socks, procrastinating to avoid the heel.
I gave up trying to read ahead in the pattern, it just didn’t make any sense to me.
I stuck to one step at a time and it worked, I had socks.Then I wore those socks, and I liked it. They were so warm. I also found I liked wool much, much more than acrylic.
Damn…. There began the addiction.

2. What is your ultimate project?

This one changes depending on my mood, but usually involves something that involves

(a)lots of concentration (Diamond Fantasy Shawl: I know this doesn’t require much effort for others, but I have a talent for losing yarn overs).

(b) being rather large(Cabled Afghan: if it requires more than a jumpers worth of yarn I will be attacked by startitis and never get back to it).

(c) being beyond my budget and so luxurious that I would never wear/use the item due to fear of ruining it.

3. What are your pet knitting/ blogging dislikes?

Knitting dislikes

: Ribbing
: Ribbing
: Ribbing (Mum, look at your socks: Yes, I really, really love you :)
: all the really nice yarn lives in another country
: all the really nice yarn costs a lot
: my child insists that yarn fumes are not food
: I knit faster in my head than I do in reality. Very disappointing when I want something finished.

Blogging dislikes

: Wanting to blog and remembering I haven’t taken a picture yet. Always happens when it’s dark and cold.
: Wanting to blog but having no knitting progress and nothing to say.
: Wanting an update on someone’s blog….. and they haven’t blogged yet. Yes I am impatient.

4. Favourite memory of your child

Hmmmmmmm, this one is hard. What to share? What to share?

Miss B draws a lot and I try and keep up with the constant supply of paper, pencils and pens she seems to go through.
At Mum’s she was given a workbench to create on and exterior paint to play with. She spent the day happily explaining to Mum what she was doing and what colours she wanted next.
I’m not sure what she loved more, Mum’s total trust in her abilities to create something appealing or the chance to express her creativity in a medium other than pencil and paper.
It could have been just the chance to get messy. Either way she was glowing.

Watching your Mum and your child get messy creating something together is definitely memorable. ( Mum managed to get much messier than Miss B)

It’s even better when you don’t have to clean up the mess.

5. Favourite comfort food/ item (can be yarn...)

Chocolate!!!

As much as I love yarn, if I am craving comfort I tend to gravitate to pattern books and magazines.
Deciding what I’d like to make next is much more comforting than untangling yarn or frogging.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW MEME
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explaination and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

A Meme

2007-05-19T12:40:00.000+09:30

I did end up posting Mum's socks, Express Post, so hopefully she got them yesterday. I am hoping they dropped them off in her letterbox and didn't leave that annoying little red and white card that means you have to run to the post office. If that happened she may not get them until Monday or later.
I should have just held on to them.

Here's a meme, just because I was curious about what I have or haven't done.

Here's the key: Bold for stuff I've done, italics for stuff I plan to do one day, and normal for stuff I'm not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Top-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
KnitHousehold items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
KitchenerBO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
EntrelacKnitting
purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
IntarsiaKnitting
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Mum's socks are done!!!

2007-05-17T11:53:00.000+09:30

I would love to say that these were finished and gifted on the weekend in time for Mum's birthday, but they weren't. I finished grafting the toes and sewing in ends just now.

Kit pretending she wasn't about to sit on the socks

Throw some ribbing into my knitting and it slows me down a lot.
3X1 rib in Cleckheaton Marino Bambino. Soft and machine washable.

Now the dilemma is do I post them and hope they get to her tomorrow?

Remember this is Australia Post we are talking about.

Or do I hold onto them so I can give them to her in person if we manage to catch up this weekend.

I have visions of her dropping in and me having nothing to give her because I posted it.

Blah!.

Another Finished Object!!!

2007-05-12T08:21:00.000+09:30

Kneewarmers are done.

They are funny looking things, all bumpy and odd shaped.
I feel kind of weird sending these off to Great Grandma,

they look so odd, yet they are what she asked for.

Central Park Hoodie all done and dry

2007-05-09T15:31:00.000+09:30

The sun came out after all today, so you finally get to see a finished and dry Central Park Hoodie.

Yay, something green for project spectrum.

I love this pattern.

Once again I used Bendigo Rustic yarn in 12 ply, this time in Elm.

5.5mm Addi Turbos for the cuffs and body. I only changed to 4.5mm Addi's for the sleeve cuffs.

I used just under 4 balls ( they are 200gm balls) so I have a ball left to play with.

I am taking the fact that Miss B doesn't want to take it off as a sign that she likes it.

As a bonus you get to see Miss B in her cow pj's.

I have no idea why she couldn't put some jeans on, but she is 13, there doesn't have to be a reason.

Kit and Lucy think Miss B should decide what to wear.

2007-05-09T07:58:00.000+09:30

Central Park Hoodie is done and washed and is now taking it's time drying.

Miss B wants to wear it 'right now', so of course the weather has decided to help by being wet and gray the last few days.

I have been working on Great Grandma's Knee Warmers. I have figured out the short rows, but am having problems with gaps. I am fine when increasing, no gaps at all. The wraps do their job perfectly.

As soon as I started decreasing there were huge gaps.

I think it has something to do with the huge markers I was using to mark my place, I may have knit a bit looser to accomodate the marker. Although I used the same markers for the increases with no problem.

I probably just need more practice. Hopefully the second one will come out better.

Lucy had claimed CPH as her personal blanket and really isn't happy about it being finished. It's no fun sitting on throw rugs that you are allowed to sit on.

Almost done

2007-05-05T09:27:00.000+09:30

Central Park Hoodie is soooooo close to being done, just the button band to do.

What do I decide to do instead?

No. I didn't cast on for something else. I did start rearranging furniture though.

So of course I am now in the middle of it all and have furniture blocking all the doorways and haven't quite decided what to move next to make room for moving the next thing.
I figured I was just too tired last night so I went to bed thinking I would be able to make more sense of it all once I had had some sleep.

I got up this morning only to find that I feel crappy, all achy and nauseuous. Blah.

Miss B then decided to tell me she has a sore throat and a runny nose.

All I want to do is curl up on the couch with my knitting.

I have a wardrobe, three bookshelves and some other bits of furniture in between me and my knitting.