Finished Object

Typewriter blanket – WIP

Posted on August 3, 2012August 11, 2012 by bekswhoknits

This 10 stitch blanket is getting bigger slowly but surely.

I have now used up two balls of yarn, and am trying to figure out how big to make this.

I’m also under a bit of pressure because although the bub isn’t due for another month, her first was a month premature.

So this is taking up all of my knitting time and it’s making me feel like a typewriter.
It’s the ten stitches.
Everytime I get to the end of the row and have to turn around I go *ping!* like a little bell is going off in my head.

It’s incredible just how quickly it’s knitting up. I’m going to be incredibly proud once it’s finished, and just hope that it is loved like the love that went in to it.

~~~
lets talk!
tweet tweet ~ ravelry ~ email me

Pastels everywhere

Posted on July 16, 2012July 16, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Have I mentioned that next weekend I’m in Melbourne?
I probably should have because it will be the first time my Gentleman Friend and I have left the state in 2 years.

So I’m pretty excited. We’re going over to see The Shins!
Which is pretty exiting in itself.

The first birthday present I bought for my boy was a Shins wallet. It is freaking cool, but it was retired just before it was about to break. I have a feeling it may make it out of retirement for a weekend.

So I’ve been making lists and preparing.

I’ve also realised that my sister-in-law is due in another month. I swear she had at least 6 more to go, so I’ve dedicated very knitting minute to a baby’s blanket.
It’s another 10 stitch blanket.

I’m particularly fond of pastels at the moment.

~~~
lets talk!
tweet tweet ~ ravelry ~email me

Just another boring weekend

Posted on June 25, 2012June 25, 2012 by bekswhoknits

But that was just why I wanted.

I rediscovered Enid Blyton and spent Saturday reading the entire St Clare’s series.
As a result, smashing and cracking as adjectives have crept into my vocabulary.

I also watched this wonderful famous five parody.

I rediscovered tumblr thanks to the new iPhone app. Hello wasted hour’s of looking at doctor who tags.
find me here

I also finished my first item for my etsy store!!!

That’s the really exciting one.
I also failed at making a sponge cake. I turned it out and it was still liquid in the middle even though it was brown on the outside. It got tipped back into the pan and back into the oven. Needless to say it was very flat.
Even the whipped cream on top didn’t whip.
But they say practice makes perfect. I may just try again.

Friday (finally)

Posted on June 22, 2012June 22, 2012 by bekswhoknits

What a week it’s been.

So here, presented without comment, are some of the creations I’ve finished off in the last few weeks.

For bonus credit, go have a read of this commentary of the Ravelympics saga.

A poor example of how to handle a copy right infringement. Particularly as the knitting community understands copyright pretty well. But Caitlin has blogged really extensively and writes better than I could (or have a right to considering its not my country’s idiocy. But we have plenty of our own)

Riff socks

Posted on June 15, 2012June 20, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Well this is my second attempt at Riff socks.

The first one (if you’re playing along at home) was a disaster.

The second pair were a little better.

Firstly, I do love the bare pattern. So much that I’ve cast on another pair with the same needles (2.5mm addis), same yarn (Moda Vera noro purple blend), same amount of stiches (60 all up – 30 a side) just without the riff part.

The riff part simply took too long. And it isn’t really seem worth it in the end.
It doesn’t stand out like I thought it would. It needs a plain coloured yarn choice.

I’m not the biggest fan of long socks, so I cut these short after three repeats of the normal pattern. I did start the transition pattern, but they were getting too long for me.
They would have looked fantastic, but I wouldnt have worn them. And I am a selfish knitter.

I’m only going to knit things for people who want them.

Maybe if someone looks at my socks, and says that they’d want a pair but longer I’d knit them properly.
But for now I think in retiring this pattern. Well the riff part anyway.

Sport, movies, rain

Posted on June 11, 2012June 11, 2012 by bekswhoknits

It was definitely a weekend to stay inside and keep cozy.

Apart from going to my local to watch my boys lose and wait for a non-existent roast, which only in hindsight wasn’t worth leaving the house for.

So inside I stayed and knitted. I finished off my Riff socks (but more on those on Friday) and immediately cast on anothe pair with the same needles and yarn and basic pattern (without the riff part).

I then wore said socks for the rest of the weekend.

I finished watching firefly. Cried at the appropriate points during Serenity. And wished that there was more.

Then needing more Joss Whedon (I finally got around to seeing The Avengers last Tuesday so I’m in a Joss mood) I started watching Angel.

It might take me a while to get into it.

So my weekend wasn’t spent with my nose in a book as I originally intended, but I did keep my (warm and cozy) feet up.

Tea cozy

Posted on June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I was struck the other day when I was at the post office.
They always get you when you’re waiting in line to pick up a parcel, and all you can do is look at the books, DVDs, nick-nacks that are on the shelves.

I spotted these two books and after reading a bit of them in line I had to have them.

I started reading the knitting section, realised that the author really knew what she was talking about, and that there were sections on things I didnt even know about.
Then I saw the sewing one and thought if its the same quality as the knitting section this will be a great investment.
And I have learnt so much.

They were both $25 each, from Australia Post but I’ve liked them both so far.

And my first creation inspired by one of these books is my tea cup cozy.

The reason I was at the post office was that my new favourite jeans had a hole in them, and so I’d ordered another pair. But they were $40 and if you spent $50 you got free postage. So I spent just a little bit more than that. But one of the things I bought was this mix it cup with a pink mix it lid .
For $4 I now have a new tea cup which I can take on the train in the mornings.

But it gets a bit hot, so using on of the basic cables in the book I made a cozy for it.

I have to say I’m not all that happy with it.
I forgot how much Moda Vera Ella stretches. And so most of the time it ends up falling off the cup.

But it was so quick to make i’ll probably make another one really soon.
I’m thinking maybe a bow – that would be really cute.

Has anyone ever made a tea cozy?? Any tips I should know about??

Lesson learnt.

Posted on June 4, 2012June 4, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Always, always write down why projects you’re working on.

Particularly when you run out of yarn and don’t know when you’ll buy more.
Particularly when it ends up being about 6 months between shopping trips.

Because you’ll probably forget what pattern you were working too. There’s a lot of lacy baktus scarf patterns around.

Lesson number 2? When you don’t know what pattern you’re using, put a lifeline in place so when you have to frog back it’s a bit easier.

And frog back I did. 4 times.

I really was ready to thrown the damn thing out the window. Perhaps use it as a mop, or leave it in a draw with velcro.
But I persevered and ended up finding this photo still on my phone.

So apologies to whoever created the pattern because I’ve lost all other evidence.

But I’ve finished the damn thing and now I don’t know what to do with it.
I really don’t like it.
It’s not something I would ever wear, and dear ol Mumsi took one look at it and declared it not to be her either.

So it will sit in the gift bin until someone deserving comes along.

It’s such a pretty yarn too (Moda Vera Beauvardia) and fortunately I have a lot left to make something that’s actually pretty.

A slice of organic life

Posted on May 21, 2012May 20, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I was given this book a few years ago now, and it’s since become a constant companion.

It’s quite light on, but it does give a nice overview about living organically.

It makes me day dream about keeping pigs, and making jam, and living more sustainable.

I’m quite glad that my Mister shares these dreams and aspirations (even if he day dreams of chickens, ducks, geese, and weiros, which would be slightly more useful, but not quite as relaxing for this bird-fearing girl).

Last Christmas I started a trend of all handmade gifts. This year I intend on continuing that, but I do want to diversify. I also want to have those ‘last minute gifts’ handy in the cupboard.

So I spent most of this weekend knitting up dishcloths.
I felt very proud of myself as they were wish homespun yarn from our recent Bridgetown Adventure.

At the time I felt a little disappointed with this yarn, because I just didn’t know what to do with it. It is quite coarse and doesn’t feel nice on your skin; it wouldn’t be good for clothing.
But it is knitting up into dishcloths quite nicely, and I can see them being quite good for exfoliating cloths.

This is why I started looking through that book. I think these would be lovely presents with a home made lavender soap.
I have a lovely lavendar plant in my garden, which is very underused.
Unfortunately this book didn’t have a recipe for soap, but I will make a carrot soup tonight.

The rib goes marching two by two

Posted on May 18, 2012May 18, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I really can’t tell you much about this one.

It’s made from gifted stash yarn, in 2×2 rib, until I used up the ball.

It is pretty though. And because the yarn changes weights it looks really specky.

But it’s a simple rib which took no time at all.
Just like this blog post.
Which is good because life has been manic this week and I’m out the door again!!!
Have a good weekend everyone!