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

Another one bites the dust...

I think I'm actually starting to knit a bit quicker, I started this bag for my Mum about two weeks ago. Normally it would take me hours and hours but I've got it finished, and still been knitting other things as well.
So it's the textured backpack, specifically requested so Mum could use it while walking and still be able to swing her arms. She picked the yarn and all up I think it cost under $5- not too bad for a Nana eh?!



-- Post From My iPhone

i love my iPhone

I've never been that bothered by what mobile phone I have, as long as its got a game or two, (and truthfully solitaire will do), and can make a call and SMS it'll do.

But last week, I was able, on DH's account acquire myself an iPhone.....and Oh.My.God!!

What a phone. This last week has seen me taking an impromptu video of the kids feeding cows over a fence, playing Bookworm as I'm feeding Quill and chatting around on Rav at 3 am when I can't sleep. What a toy!! Why did no-one tell me before? So now I'm twittering/facebooking/goodreading all around town and probably am making a right twit of myself. Haha!!

But of course still knitting too. I have finished numerous small projects lately:

Am very happy with this knit, the Turn-a-Square beanie by Brooklyntweed. I am just loving reading his blog and twitter updates at the moment.

This turned out very well, except my jogless stripes, my first attempt and they came out jogless on the inside but the outside, the part EVERYONE will see is running a marathon...great big bits of contrast yarn stretched in one smooth stripe vertically up the hat.....Not Good!!

Particulars:

Yarn: Jo Sharp silkroad dk tweed in colour Granar, and the contrast is the delightful Filatura di Crosa Zara print in colour 5031 (don't' you just hate it when 'they' cant' come up with at least a name)

Needle: 4mm and 4.5 mm

Alterations: none

Also I rather quickly whipped up the gorgeous little pair of sockies for Buby Quill. I made myself Roza's socks in this yarn and had enough left over for some baby socks. I don't think the colours work with the stitch pattern, or with the Roza's sock pattern either for that matter. But they are made, and they are soft and comfy! Now if only they would stay on her feet!!

Particulars:

Pattern: Baby's first sock by Ann Bud

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock multi in colour Baby stripe (ahhh!!!)

Needle: 2.25 mm Brittany birch....the best sock needles EVER!!

Alterations: none

And before I go, can someone please read my Blog....even my Mum doesn't :)

Crochet blah blah

I'm not sure if I really like crocheted garments, but I am SOOO happy to have learned how to do it! I'm sure it will come in terribly handy to add to my knitting. Since the Sweet and Swingy Dress I have made a scarf, the Tea Scarf by Pixeldiva. It was a quick crochet, but used a fair bit of yarn. The pink I used 52 grams, so had to buy that second ball for a mere 2 grams!!

Particulars:
Yarn Cleackheaton Country 8ply in colours green, pink and blue.
Hook 6 mm
Alterations none, really liked this pattern after I saw Kelly from Tangled Yarns attempt one.

A Good Week for Jett and Quill

I'm very happy to say I've finished not one, but two projects this week. Firstly Robin from Rowan's Story Book of Little Knits. There aren't many boy patterns in this book, I like this one as it's done in cotton...perfect for Aussie weather. Plus yarn was on sale at the Woolshack hehe!!

Particulars:

Yarn Rowan Handknit Cotton in Black, Celery and Chime

Needles 4 mm and 3.75 mm circ

Alterations none, but I had a massive amount of yarn left over at the end. Sewing in the shoulder patches was a pain!!

Look at Jett's face: he has to make funny faces in photo's now, we say smile and this is what happens......:)

Okay, next was my crochet dress. It turns out crochet is surprisingly easy, and quick...but I don't have to tell any fellow crocheters that do I??

So I made the Sweet and Swingy dress that was in Crochet Today. I used left over stash yarn, and if you sort of squint it looks perfect. Yes, there are a few mistakes. But overall, quite good. (if I do say so myself eh!!!!)

Particulars:

Yarn Jo Sharp Dk Wool in a brown colour. I bought this off ebay and it was unlabeled. And Cherry for the trim

Hook 5 mm

Alterations I didn't do the reverse single crochet around the neck and arm holes as I thought it would be too fussy. Instead I added a flower, which I think is so cute!!

Crocheting for ducks

I have joined a crochet group, in the hopes of learning how to crochet. I don't really like the look of crocheted items, but I love the edgings and pretty flowers that add to knitting. So I called up a lady who had an ad on the local noticeboard.

I went to her house and I was the youngest (by about half) of all four ducks who also belong to this group. I was given instruction on holding the hook, using the correct hooks (plastic is not acceptable sorry), how to strand the yarn through my fingers (acrylic does some very nice colours nowadays says the boss duck), and was strongly encouraged to do a lap blanket to start. I put my foot down at this and (barely) convinced her I could do a washcloth.
But from the amount of crocheted blankets around the ducks house I bet she is a master crocheter so I will return next week, and meekly take my shoes off, sit on her plastic covered hard chair, and be taught to do something other than a granny square...haha!! Hopefully!!!!

By the way, is it just my old duck, or do all crocheters hate knitting?

Quilly Magrilly

Quill received her first (and probably only) hand knitted toy this month. I made a toy for all my kids, Red Ted, Penguin and now Ballerina Bunny.

After my first two attempts at toy making, I am extremely proud of Ballerina Bunny...she is perfect (apart from her unusually floppy neck anyway).

Here are her stats:
Pattern: Ballerina Bunny from Sublime printed in Knitting Magazine 055

Yarn: Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK in Piglet and Vanilla

Needles: 3.25 and 4 mm

I think Quilly likes her anyway, which is just as well as I'm not making another toy until I have grandchildren. It's the massive number of tiny little pieces you have at the end, all with yarn hanging off them, and you know you have hours more of sewing up, sewing in ends, stuffing....blech blech blech...

Knitting, children, money....you know general flashes of brain activity.

I am being baptised on Easter Saturday, my children too. We are becoming Catholic's. I am aware I need something white to wear, so I'm making myself a shawl. The Summer Lace Shawlette from Interweave is what I've decided on. It is coming along nicely too.

I also finished a dishcloth for DBrother's new home. Don't think he quite knew what to think/do with it. ;) It is Grandma's Favourite dishcloth in Peaches & Creme Raspberry Swirl. Yummy!!

And I've also finished some rompers for Quill. Sooo cute!!! They are Debbie Bliss Romper Panties printed in Essential Baby. I made them in Filatura Di Crosa Zarina as the gauge was slightly tighter, and I had read these pants came out huge when made to the recommended gauge. And they fit my bubba fine, as you can see, she's not a starving child either. She snacks from green pastures.

DH and I are applying for a home loan, our first one. And it was all looking very good, except we have a debt on our credit file which is holding us up. It was only $500 four years ago, but nevertheless it is there and there's nothing we can do about it. I've been praying some generous person will read our documents and feel moved to tick the yes box, instead of the no box. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will spark for us.

Arwen started pre kindy this year and is thriving, and Jett is doing well. Just about out of the terrible two's....

Merry Christmas!!

Well it's that time of year again. And how exciting for us now with three little ones to be joyful with. Here they are posing for their christmas card photo.

My knitting has been coming along well too. I have lots of projects ready to start. My lovely brother even visited a knitting store and bought me some things whilst on holidays recently.
Ahhh!!!

Little Project Month

I have this massive blanket on the go at the moment, you know knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl, etc, etc, etc.....so to compensate I've been doing lots of little; immediate gratification projects.

First I made Jo Sharp's Purse from Knit Issue 4. My lovely DH bought me some Lumina for my birthday and also 4mm Tasmanian oak needles so it was a pleasure to knit this. Plus it is my first bag of any kind. Unfortunately it is still in the top of my cupboard unused, as I just don't get out at night anymore. Three kids, my mum is not so willing to babysit in the evenings and Quill only goes 3 hours between feeds, oh well, one day hey?

Then I made the Baby Bib o' love, a cute little project from Mason Dixon Knitting, which by the way is a fantastic book..

It is made with the ever lovable Peaches and Creme in colour peppermint. Arwen has requested one too, so I have hers on the needles, to be made a little bigger though.

Little Sandals

I searched and searched and searched for the perfect sandals or booties to make for Quill, I had plenty of the Sublime yarn left over.

These are the ones I really liked......

but they were just too tricky for me. They are Better than Booties by Ann Budd..maybe one day! Then I tried some pattern off someone's blog that I can't even remember. Just as well, as I'm sure it was written wrong, and I couldn't get it to work.

So I settled for the Debbie Bliss sandals that I have made before, and therefore know they work. I don't like the pattern very much, too complicated and too many ends to sew in. But this is what I came up with.

They look cute with the Little Daisy cardigan I made for Quill, so I am pleased. But it is an area of my knitting I'll have to work on, cos those Better than Booties are just better than Cute. ;)

Little Daisy Cardigan for a Little Angel

I am making Zoe Mellor's Hearts and Stars Blanket for Quill, but it is taking SOOOOOOO LONG that I had to satisfy immediate knitting cravings.

So I discovered the Little Daisy Cardigan by Sublime Yarns. How perfect for the Australian spring weather too, open at the front and short sleeves. I made mine in colour Gooseberry 004 a pretty green colour, and I used the suggested Baby Cashmere Merino Silk dk. Very yummy yarn, nice and soft and perfect for next to baby's skin. Also found a button in my very old button box that matched perfectly.

Any complaints: well it came out a little on the small side. I made the smallest size, which is for a 0-6 month old, and it Just fits DD2 now. She is 5 weeks old, so unfortunately she won't get much wear out of it. It also could do with being 3 cm longer.

Here's my girl wearing it, although she's none too pleased about having her photo taken. xxxxxxx

To dummy or not to dummy?

I have just had my third child, I have a 4 year old, 2 year old and now a 4 week old.With my previous two children I didn't use a dummy, my first I just never thought of it, never saw a need. If she was upset or unsettled I rocked or held her.

The second time around I thought of it, but couldn't bring myself to put that big plastic/rubbery thing in his mouth.

Now lo and behold I am questioning the use of dummy's again. This time i certainly don't have as much time to hold and rock new baby. And she hates to travel in the car, so yes, I bought a dummy and use it religiously for car trips. But now am considering bringing the dreaded dummy indoors.....

I don't really know what I find so offensive about dummy's, I think I don't want to cover up my precious angel's face with all that man made plastic...

Quill Jemima

Yes, I had a little girl, Quill Jemima on the 31st August. She is an Angel so adorable and of course we are all madly in love with her. Here is a pic of her beautifulness at 3 weeks old.