Grandmothers favourite.

This is the sum total of my knitting this week. Between resting my elbow, and then succumbing to the common cold this is all I’ve achieved.
Trust me, it’s difficult to knit when you’ve got one hand permanently holding a tissue to your nose.

So here’s one grandmothers favourite dishcloth in a horrible colour way (Moda Vera print).
It looks so pretty in the ball but the colour changes are too close together for my liking.

Anyway, this will be going in someone’s Christmas present and they’ll never have to know that I don’t like it.

Beside i dont know what else can I do with horrible yarn.
And what else I can just churn out when my nose stops dripping for more than 4 minutes.

I’m hopelessly pathetic when I’m sick. Someone fetch me some hot lemon and honey drink.

20120906-211704.jpg

20120906-211716.jpg

20120906-211727.jpg

20120906-212017.jpg

20120906-212033.jpg

Socks. All about socks

Well this pair of socks started came into the world a while ago.
The flew to Melbourne and back without a single stitch being added.
They then sat around looking at the blanket being knitted, feeling lost and abandoned.

And then when I do pick them up again, I’m already kind of bored. I’m knitting them half heartedly thinking “I wish I had a pattern, or something more interesting than sockinette”.

Aha! I’m about to do the gusset, surely I can do something different with that!

So I hunted down Ravelry and found a centre V increase. I modified it to the number of stitches I had and I was on my way.

The heel turned with ease, the ribbing was complete when I felt restless.

What else can I do or learn for these socks.
Picot edging!
I love the look but have never learnt.

So onto YouTube I go and find my knitting guru, knitting by Judy.

And voila! I have a pair of socks with some interest.

The yarn is Moda Vera noir (as I can’t help but buy it in every pretty colour), and I’ve used two different colours and switched them over at different points.

Two at a time baby!

20120824-072316.jpg

20120824-072330.jpg

20120824-072342.jpg

20120824-072350.jpg

20120824-072424.jpg

It’s finished!!! (and in the nick of time too)

The 10 stitch blanket is finally finished!
And just in time. My new niece was born this morning in the early hours.
So I missed the free postage (my parents flew over as they’re on the other side of the country) but it will get there safe and sound.

I included the washing instructions on a photograph of the blanket (thank you photo). And I was I inspired so I did a congratulations card using a photo of us.

So it’s finally finished. I can cast on something new now!!!

20120817-155339.jpg

20120817-155345.jpg

20120817-155409.jpg

20120817-155403.jpg

20120817-155418.jpg

The blanket of doom!

Ok. These Friday posts are turning into a Dr Seuss story (here’s me knitting on a train, here’s me knitting on a plane, would you like green eggs and ham).

So here are some knitting goodies that I found the other weekend.
My local second hand shop has just closed. It’s on the way home between the train station and home, and I always look at the pretty things in the window.

I’ve bought some pretty tea cups, and my tea pot from there.
It’s been there as long as I can remember. But it’s closing so I had one last look through.

And I found some hidden treasures.

20120809-213339.jpg

20120809-213401.jpg

20120809-213427.jpg

Aren’t they wonderful?

It reminds me of that great scene from coupling when the ladies are describing a man’s hottest on a scale. Knitting pattern guy is quite high on the scale.

And of course here are the obligatory updates on the baby blanket.

20120809-214515.jpg

20120809-214519.jpg

20120809-214526.jpg
~~~
lets talk!
tweet tweet ~ ravelry ~ email me

7 questions answered

This week has been very knitting-light. So instead of showing off what’s on my needles (because that would be super boring) I’m answering 7 questions Catie has always wanted to ask another knitter

Do you hold on to horrible yarn from your early knitting days because you’re convinced that it hates you as much as you hate it…and it’s good to keep your enemies close?

I have some horrible pink yarn which I bought from k-mart which is horrible. And I bought 8 balls of it!
I was very knitting naive, and the ball band said pattern on the inside, and my size requires 8 balls. I thought “I should be able to knit that if the pattern fits on the ball band”. of course there was just a link to the pattern on the ball band which I took one look at (my FOs at the point were 2 garter stich scarfs) and went ARGH!!!
But it was too late! I already had 8 balls of the stuff. When I went to knit with it I realised how splitty it was and how slow it was to knit with.

I’ve learnt a few lessons with this yarn. The first being don’t buy yarn from k-mart.
The second, try one ball before buying 8.
The third was if you’re going to make a scarf using two colours make sure they’re both a similar guage (sorry Mum. I now know that was an appalling scarf. Absolutely horrid)

But I still have three balls of the stuff. I honestly don’t think I’ve made anything that I’m happy about from this yarn. And I don’t think that’s about to change. But I feel bad for throwing it out.
Maybe a use will present itself? One can only hope.

What do you do when you give someone a lovely hand-made gift that they don’t like or don’t use? Is covert reclamation allowed?
I’ve only had one Christmas which I lovingly crafted presents for my immediate family. I am still yet to see a photo of my nephew in his three odd socks (which were freaking adorable!), but I have seen ones of the beanies.
I would assume that the first scarf I made Mum would go unloved. But no one would want it anyway. (Again sorry Mum!)
But I’m assured that my other brother adores his minion and it is a travelling companion.

I’ve started to ask before making my Gentleman Friend knitted treasures. He’s a frequent recipient of beanies and socks. Some which get worn and some which don’t. He’s pretty honest with me which is appreciated.

When your mother in law gives you a large bag full of cotton yarn to make dish cloths out of, how much obligation do you have to start popping them out? Is the obligation greater if you have not given her grandchildren?

I’m going to substitute mother in law for grandmother in law. I’ve only been given yarn from one person, and there was no obligation attached. I now have a lot more mohair than I know what to do with, but I don’t think I can make dish cloths from that (well not useful ones anyway).

On a slightly related note, everyone is getting dish cloths for christmas. I’ve decided.

Are shawls really fashionable these days, or is that a delusion I’ve fostered to deny that I dress like a Jane Austen reenacter?
I’m not a shawl wearing person, but I think they look pretty.
I’d like to wear shawls over my jeans again like I did in highschool. I always liked that look.

Does my knitting really make the whole couch vibrate?
I’d love to know! I do enjoy knitting on the couch. I have a lazy boy which is horrible to knit on.

What would you do with all the spare time you would have if you didn’t knit? Would you be thinner?
I may not be thinner, but I would be more well read.
Television is so much easier to consume whilst knitting.

Do you think sheep would find it creepy that I spend so much time petting yarn?
I used to visit my great-grandparents sheep farm when I was younger.
I liked the smell of the sheep shearing sheds. Maybe knitting takes me back to all those fond memories?

I think the sheep would like to know that they’re responsible for bringing so many beautiful things into the world.
If I were a sheep I’d be proud.

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

My eyes are dim

I cannot see.

Well I can see but my eyes are giving me a lot of trouble.
And when you’re feeling downtrodden, everything else treads on you.

So I’ve been saving my eyes for work and not knitting in the evenings.
But I’ve been asleep by 7:30 so I haven’t missed it too much.

If you don’t see me around much it’s because I’m saving my eyes for seeing.

All I have to show is an update on my ten stitch blanket.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

20120629-200824.jpg

Riff socks

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.

20120615-181028.jpg

20120615-181124.jpg

20120615-181309.jpg

20120615-181349.jpg

Tea cozy

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.

20120608-085545.jpg

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.

20120608-090500.jpg

20120608-090506.jpg

20120608-090512.jpg

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

The rib goes marching two by two

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!
20120518-152111.jpg20120518-152129.jpg

20120518-152143.jpg

20120518-152148.jpg

20120518-152300.jpg

A star-crossed slouchy beret

So this hat caused a little drama.
Not because of the pattern. The pattern is gorgeous, well written, easy to follow and easy to knit.

It was because I ran out of yarn, with only 3 decreases to go.
And I wouldn’t have run out of yarn if I hadn’t have cast on so tight I couldn’t get it on the other side of the circular needle and had to cut it off.

So it was back to spotlight to buy more yarn. And it has been discontinued. Arg!!
Fortunately for me I had a call the next day saying they had called around and there was a ball left at another store and they’d order it in for me.
Yay!! Thanks Spotlight Midland – much appreciated. Great service.

So I was able to finish my hat, remove my letter box key, and now I have almost a whole ball of Moda Vera Ella to make a matching scarf, or maybe gloves.
It’s such a pretty colour and a really easy yarn to work with. It’s a shame its discontinued really.

But where does the letter box key come in?
This was the knit I took on the train to mandurah for the football game.
And as soon as I hopped on the train I lost my stitch marker. There was no hope of finding it (it wasn’t special in any way) so I searched my bag for a suitable replacement. And that was my letter box key.
Which would have been fine if I hadn’t have run out of yarn!
So for the week, out went the knitting to the mailbox. After my trip to spotlight I replaced the key with a proper stitch marker.

But it is a super cute hat and I will appreciate it even more for all the drama.

20120314-085559.jpg

20120314-085606.jpg

20120314-085613.jpg

20120314-085618.jpg