bits and pieces. this and that.

Oh dear, I'm not a very loyal blogger am I? Sorry!!
But here I am, nearly twelve months later filled to the brim with knitting jobs, tech editing jobs, book reviewing jobs, and one pattern about to be published. I LOVE MY KNITTING LIFE.
Instead of trying to catch up on all that has happened, I'll just push forward, suffice to say I've been knitting, knitting, knitting....
Currently I am working on some projects that my lovely friend Michelle has given me. Michelle is the editor of Yarn Magazine, and is currently working on a book. I am knitting some samples, but can't say anymore. 
Also, I have been spending a lot of time at my favourite yarn store, Evoke, because, for the last six months....I...HAVE...BEEN...WORKING....THERE!!!! Oh, I am so happy, I have never had a better, more fulfilling, more creative, more exciting job than this one. And of course, the beautiful Elissa is simply that...beautiful.

The project I'm feeling most inspired about currently, is my Hexagon-how-to blanket. Designed by Lucy of Attic24, the Hexagon how-to is a simple, yet interesting project. I am crocheting it in Amy Butler & Rowan's Belle Organic dk, is some divine colours. When finished, it is going to lovingly live in our little caravan, perfect for those chilly autumn evenings sitting by a bbq, camping with the family. <3

A lovely new friend told me today she 'found' my blog, and it reminded me I should be a little more faithful to my little 'ol blog here.

So, the kids have gone for a walk, the veges are already cut and prepared for dinner, and I have, oh, about 15 minutes of uninterrupted time.

The above mentioned friend, Elissa has opened the most gorgeous yarn and fabric shop in a nearby town, and I have made a weekly visit, and purchase!! What luxury, to actually be able to go into a shop and fondle the yarn, have a chat, and just be surrounded by all the fabulous colours and textures. Please go visit

Evoke!!!

My knitting adventures lately have consisted of very big projects that I am slowwwwly making my way through. The biggest of which is Wray, a new design by the very talented, (and only 13 years old)!!! Lily. I am test knitting this short sleeve cardigan, and it is a whopping 46", mostly in rib, so is inevitably taking me longer than anticipated. Oh yeah, did I mention it is in LACEWEIGHT!!

I love it, but boy oh boy, lots of knitting.....

I took an instant gratification break by knitting a Cosette by Never Not Knitting, and it is gorgeous. I used a DK weight yarn, and it is a little bigger than the intended sizing, but I quite like that. I love the colour, Topaz, it reminds me of my Mum, who when I was younger used to wear some topaz earrings that I loved. Ahh!!

yarn: the main colour is Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in colour Topaz. I used three skeins exactly, felted the joins and had less than 10cm left at the end.

The contrast edging is Spud & Chloë Fine, colour 7815 (don't you hate it when the ball band only has a number, no colour name?? I do !) I held it double.

Needles: 5mm 100cm Addi turbo

Mods: because I was conscious of running out of yarn, I worked about 5 rows less of the short rows, I don't think it makes any difference.

Obsessed

I've been a Twilight fan for a while, but I've just recently discovered fanfiction, and its been keeping me up too late many a night now. I can find an alternate ending to my favourite characters, Bella and Jacob (swoon) can now end up together, whilst enjoying rather a lot of smuttiness in between...oh la la!!! Came across all this via a ravelry group.

I've also been tech editing for Yarn magazine, so far I have done a tea set, beanie and am now on a bag. WOW!! Actually getting paid to knit/crochet...how lucky am I?? The only one

published so far is the tea set, this is mine...

And to other knitting, it is coming along, I am trying to finish a lot of WIP's so I can start something new...

Plus, my brother and his fiance are expecting their first child, my first niece/nephew, and I am SOOOO EXCITED! So of course, am knitting a blanket...

Specifics:
Pattern Tea Set by Marika Simon

Yarn Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply cotton in colourway blue and natural
Hook 3.25 mm
Mods none as it was a tech edit.

Masters

Hey there, so I've been AWOL a while now, I am six weeks into my Masters of Education (yippee:) ). Alas, my knitting has suffered terribly though. My grand plans of designing Mr 3's cricket vest is about this far along...


Upside down photo but you can probably gather It Is Not Finished. But it will be one day!!

So I've been concentrating on smaller projects like headbands, beanies and crocheted hairclips. Am loving Spud and Chloe sweater yarn at the moment. <3




Good news, a friend gave me a gasp JOB gasp to tech edit a crochet pattern. Due Wednesday!

And ifinished an assignment today 9,200 final word count. Phew !!!!!

An old photo of Mr 3 when he was about 1 1/2ish. Too cutie !


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Marina Pl,West Ballina,Australia

Merry Christmas to all who are reading my small blog. Hope it was wonderful, mine was, spent with children, parents, siblings, husband!! A grand day.

I gifted only one Christmas present this year, Montego Bay Scarf, to Mrs. Osmetti, Miss 5's pre-kindy teacher, who truly did deserve the time I spent on every stitch in that scarf. I hope she liked it, it was hard to tell at the time, just the usual polite pleasantries were exchanged over it. I wanted to tell her about all the looong hours I spent, the late nights in that last week, the mistakes I didn't put up with, but unpicked to get it just right...but I didn't..of course, that's not what we knitters do is it. Only I, and all of you who also knit, share that knowledge.


Nevertheless, we live in a small town, perhaps I'll see her wearing it one day. :)



Specifics:
Pattern Montego Bay Scarf by Amy Singer
Yarn Handmaiden Fine Yarn - Sea Silk in colourway Pink
Needle took quite a few false starts to settle on 5 mm, not too tight not too loose, I also invested in some lurvley Lantern Moon Ebony needles as the yarn was so slippery.
Mods none apart from changing needle size and making the braided fringe a very loose braid.

One big Catch Up!!

I've been missing in action for a while now, still knitting, just not so much computer time. This is because of two reasons, 1. I bought an i-phone, which can I just say I LOVE!! But it's not so easy to put pictures up on blogger from my phone, and I'm always on the internet on my phone now, rather than the desk. and 2. when I am sitting here at the desk, all I can see are all the invoices I have to deal with, and bills to pay, that I tend to, well, get up and walk away......

So, baby Quill turned 1, and she got a beautiful blanket for her birthday.

Pattern: Hearts and Stars Blanket by Zoe Mellor

Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton, about 12 skeins

Needles: 4mm

Time to complete: well, one pregnancy, one summer, one year of baby's life, nearly two years all up!!

But it is what I wanted, an heirloom that she would treasure for years and years.

Also on a side note, I bought this yarn in the early stages of my pregnancy, no inkling if I was having a girl or a boy, just as well it's not a boy laying under there, must have had baby brain that day!!

Ok, next up we have a little backpack I did for my Mum. Just some acrylic yarn she picked up super cheap, took next to no time to knit, and she can throw it on when she goes for a walk.

Pattern: Textured Backpack by Ros Badger, published in Instant Expert Knitting

Yarn: Sean Sheep Little Grins

Needles: 5 mm

And something I am very fond of, is the Spring Garden tee from Nevernotknitting. I have seen some of Alana's designs on Ravelry, but never gotten around to knitting them. Then my (far away) LYS had a KAL of the Spring garden tee, and I even managed to stashbust. But had to modify the pattern to include stripes, and also did a little lace edging around the hem. I really like this top, it would nearly be one of my favourite knits ever, unfortunately, Arwen doesn't think it is quite long enough, so every wash I am stretching the yarn and blocking length length length....:)

Pattern: Spring Garden tee by Nevernotknitting

Yarn: Rowan Calmer, from stash, I made size 4 and used every inch of yarn I had, all up I had 368metres.

Needles: 4 mm
Mods: The stripes, I made them up as I went, and did ok I reckon. Also the lace panel from the sleeves, I added to the hem.

Next time I'll have the She-knits Mystery KAL to show, and discuss. It is currently blocking and drying, felted but not lined, and I am having issues with the scarf portion. Really I just want to finish the dreaded bag, give it away and be done. But next time. Before christmas. :)

Bye then x

12 rows per day?

Can I complete 12 rows a day EVERY day in order to finish Zoe Mellor's Hearts & Stars blanket. Quill's birthday is the 31st August, I need 24 hours blocking time... And well I just don't know if I've got it in me. I'm slow on the best of days and this blanket is full of moss stitch, double slow for me.
I started this when I was pregnant with little Quilly and then I could only knit one row at a time. It made my tendinitis play up HORRIBLY!!! I think it would be special to give it to her on her first birthday.
Last night I knit a strand of my hair into the middle of one of the love hearts, I thought that was such a loving and sentimental statement, not my husband though, he was watching me like I was crazy!


Well, wish me luck everyone.

--Post From My iPhone