Sewing - FO No 1

Here is my first finished sewing project of the year. I sat and stitched the binding on last night so it would be off my "to do" list.
Pattern: Keeping Them All Together bag
Source: Australian Country Threads, Vol 6 No 12

I used little dragonfly buttons as the top of the letter "T" as they had been in my stash for quite a while and I thought what a great way to use them up. I bought most of the fabric from a patchwork store in Melton, and the yellow gingham I bought at a shop in Williamstown. My sister made this same bag for my mum for her birthday, but in different colors, and I really think hers look much better than mine, but I shall use mine a lot as it has a zipper inserted on the inside so nothing falls out of it. Australian Country Threads has a lot of great things in it, and I have been buying ever since it came out, which was when I working full time so it has probably been about 10 years now. I have every issue and they are stored in the box in my front room, which is where I take my most of my FO's pictures. Paul made me that box when Lachlan was about 3 years of age, and I love it. Although if we had to move it anywhere I would be worried because I would have to empty it out, and it is still quite heavy to move. So now that I have finished up this one, I will have to have a look back through some issues from later years and see if there is anything else I can make to use up some of my fabric stash. I dont know which is worse, hoarding fabric or yarn (but secretly I love both of them), even though Paul said he would like his half of the wardrobe back sometime soon. Tomorrow I shall show you the new Rowan knitting books that I received today. They only took a week to arrive so it was nice and quick. There are some really beautiful patterns in them, and I will show some of my favourites too. Happy Knitting!

Monday Morning

Look what the postman delivered this morning. My purchases from Kate arrived today. I love the bag. It is just the right size and so cute. Kate you did a fantastic job, and I just love it. Did I say that already, well enough of repeating myself this morning. I can see this bag getting lots of use. See the little hairclip with the pretty button attached, Isabelle has already seen it and I am just waiting for her to ask if she can wear it in her hair. I also bought a little book from her too. The book is in Japanese, and no I dont know how to read a single word of Japanese, so hopefully by looking at the diagrams I can work out how to make some of the toys in it. Shouldn't be too hard should it!

Also, I finished my sock. I have not cast on the other one as yet. Saturday was my dad's birthday and I thought I would be able to knit on the first sock and then start the second sock. Oh no, not that night. At 1:00 in the afternoon I had a pain in my right side, like a stabbing pain. I did not know what it was but 5:00 and it was still there, so a little visit to the doctor and an injection for pain, which did not work, just let me tell you that. At 9:30pm that night the pain just vanished. I was so thankful as it was really starting to worry me. The doctor did think it could have been appendicitis, and that is one of my childhood fears so it did not help me feel any better. In the end it must have been intestinal colic, as he first thought it was. Thank goodness. I really dont want anybody cutting me up on the operating table. So I did not get to finish the sock that night, or have cake either, not that my waistline needs any extra calories. Sunday morning I finished off the toe and here it is. I used the yarn (Stormy Seas colorway) that Katt dyed for me and it is so nice and comfy to wear. Hopefully today I will cast on for the other one, but I am still trying to finish up the knitting bag. I did quite a bit on it last night, so hopefully today the binding will be all done and I can show you all tomorrow.

Spring IK

I received my IK Spring issue today. How fast is that. I usually receive them a few months after I have seen everyone else get their issues. The picture on the left is the Cable Down Raglan designed by Stefanie Japel. It is knit from the top down in the round. Now I have never knitted anything in the round apart from a booga bag (and no it is still not finished, just waiting on the strap for the handle to be done) so I dont know how I would go knitting this up. I absolutely love it, and the sizing goes up to a 47" bust so it would easily fit me. I think this will have to be put in the plans to knit up this year, along with all the other WIP's. Seriously with all the projects that I have going, I think the only ones that end up finished are the ones I absolutely love or get the motivation back for them that I had when I started them in the first place. The WIP basket is probably thinking that it should go on a diet soon or otherwise it will end up with indigestion. Now that I have divulged all the ugly little secrets about my overflowing basket, I started a pair of socks two days ago. How far have I gotten - well I have just passed the heel last night on the first sock, so hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have it finished and casting on for the second one will have been done too. I am also making a bag for my knitting which I saw in an issue of Country Threads. My sister made one for my mum and I absolutely loved it, so now I am making my own one. I have cut all the pieces out so after the embroidery I will be able to sew it together. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it will turn out okay. Also a big THANK YOU to all you wonderful people out there who left comments on the gray jacket. I loved every one of them, and I did write back to you all so hopefully that email problem is sorted out by now and you all received my replies. If not, a personal thank you to you. Enjoy your weekend knitting and crafting too!

FO No 7

Pattern: Cable Yoke Jacket from Simply Baby by

Debbie Bliss.

Yarn: 8 ply pure new wool, 3 1/2 balls

Started: 14th February Finished: 20th February

Size: 9 - 12 months

This was a quick and easy knit, and I loved the way the cables popped out after knitting it. I think I will give it a good pressing to straighten out the bump where the zip is though. I dont know whether it would really fit a 9 month old though, I think it looks more for a 6 month old baby. I always had the impression that her patterns turned out quite big but this one may have been smaller since the pattern actually used cotton instead of wool. I think this is the first project I have finished in the colorway for PS too, so a double bonus there. Now I am off to pick out another pattern to knit up and use some stash too.

Cable Yoke Jacket

This is the Cable Yoke Jacket from Simply Baby by Debbie Bliss. I really like this book as the patterns are so cute and adorable, and most are not that hard to knit up. I started this jacket on the 14th of February. I am knitting it in the 8ply pure new wool that I bought from Spotlight. It is a dark gray

and the knitted fabric is firm but the stitches just pop out on the cables and make it look quite nice. I am now onto the second front of the jacket, so hopefully after a bit of knitting this weekend I will be able to finish it up.

I also popped into the Borders bookstore yesterday whilst Isabelle was at school and purchased the Itty-Bitty hats book. It has so many cute and adorable hats in it, and quite a few I would like to make as baby gifts for people. The one on the front is quite adorable, and for anyone who would like to know, yes they do have boys patterns too. I love the little boat hat and the people hat too, which has a girl or a boy knitted and stitched onto the actual hat and they look great. They use nice bright colors in this book which is part of the attraction I think, since a lot more people use brights for baby knits. Once I finish a few more projects for PS I think maybe a little hat out of this book can be sneaked in between projects. I am going to try and accomplish some ironing and vacuuming this morning before we reach our estimated 38 degree day. Isabelle is sleeping over at mum and dad's again tonight, so it will be just Lachlan and us for dinner. My dad's birthday is next Saturday too, so I must find a good pressie. He is one of those dad's that seems to have everything already, so trying to find the right pressie is a bit hard. I knit him a pair of socks last year, but alas I think they were a tiny bit short for him, so I dont know how much wear they get. Okay I am off before I get sidetracked reading more blogs, so have a great weekend!

FO No. 6

This is the Baby Raglan Cardigan from the Baby Zhivago book. I finished it today, and it will be gifted to Paul's cousin who had a baby girl last night. That was good timing on my part I think.

Size: 6 months

Yarn: Baby Zhivago, 1 ball of white and 3 of pink

Started: 3rd February, Finished 14th February

This is a slip stitch pattern at the top where the white and pink mix, which makes a very firm fabric, so it should be great for winter time.

I also revisited Spotlight today and saw a few of their new yarns. I bought some new yarn, 8 ply pure new wool for $2.99 a ball. They have a lot of autumn colors like yellows, oranges, browns and reds and gray too. I grabbed a few colors for a few baby knits in boys colors. When Lachlan was little I found that you could really only buy blue, red and green but after today my knitted gifts are going to be quite different colors, and I really really like them. I think tomorrow I will go and buy some of the brights for the girl knits too, bright purples and different pinks too. The color selection is great. They did say that they are waiting on a lot more different yarns to come in so we shall see what new ones they bring into the store. I also finished the back of a baby jacket last night too, so onto the front today. I am trying to stay cool in the house with the airconditioning on, and I think the storm we are expecting is getting ready to arrive. I can hear the thunder already and it has turned quite dark outside. I hope that we get lots of rain before tonight finishes. Well I am off to pick out another pattern to knit up and finish a few other bits and pieces of some other knits too. Happy knitting everyone.

P.S. I have emailed everyone who sends me a comment, but for some reason on certain days it seems to reject them, so if you have not received one from me I am so sorry but it is getting rather annoying having some rejected and some not, so if you have commented I am extending a personal thank you for your wonderful comments, and hopefully sometime soon things will return back to normal with my emails.

Oops ... more yarn

I have broken my yarn stash diet. I could not help myself after visiting Spotlight today. Isabelle and I decided to make some bracelets, and found some lovely aqua beads to make some too. As I turned around to check out the yarn I noticed the big white baskets full of clearance yarn. Well I had to have a look just in case I missed out on something I really really wanted, and guess what, right, I found some cotton yarn that I had looked at before but the price was too expensive for me. Now as you see in the picture I bought 9 balls of each of the Katia cottons. The white one has a sheen to it, and is Katia Perla, and I think knits up as a 4 ply. The pink and purple colors are Katia Espiga and knit up as an 8 ply. They were only $2.49 a ball, and when I reached the counter the lady informed me that they were originally $8.99 a ball. Wow what a bargain. Spotlight are going to be getting some new winter yarns into their stores so they are making room by clearing some of the summer yarns out too. I know that Zhivago and Country 8 ply are being reduced too, so maybe if there is one close to you and you need to enhance your stash, pay them a visit. I am very glad that I went now, and perhaps the white will be knitted up in the next two months too. Must go now and help Isabelle make her friend's beaded birthday bracelet. Happy knitting!

FO No. 5

This is the second version of the King of Swing jacket for my nephew who will be turning 5 in March. I love the colors of this jacket. They are so nice together. This is the smallest size which is 5 to 6 years of age. It should fit him for a while too, which is great.

Yarn: Patons Totem 8 ply, 7 balls of brick red and 1 ball of orange.

Started: January 2007, Finished 10th February

Now to finish off a few other things in the WIP basket, which is starting to overflow I am afraid. I am going to finish up Isabelle's friend's scarf which is a nice mauve color, and the pink baby cardigan, and lastly Isabelle's white cardigan. The white cardigan will have to be the Project Spectrum project I think along with the Aran Tweed Cardigan which is making a small bit of progress but nothing great to photograph at the moment. Well I must go and enjoy the peace and quiet as Isabelle is sleeping over at her grandparents tonight. She informed me that now she was a big girl she could have a sleepover at their house. I will wait and see if I get a phone call at 10:00 tonight. By the way we played find the missing tooth this morning in bed. Isabelle slept in bed with me since her runny nose was annoying her, and this morning her tooth had fallen out. I was afraid that she had swallowed it, but did not want to show any concern, and as we pulled back the blankets there was her tooth sitting there. Luckily the tooth fairy can now pay a visit to her. Coco the kitten has made me type this post a lot slower than I anticipated. She has a desire to chase the words as they appear on the screen, and she gets in the way trying to catch them. She has now just jumped into the space above the drawer to play peek a boo with me. She follows me around everywhere, even this afternoon whilst playing Norah Jones new CD, she lay on the coffee table and went to sleep listening to the music. As soon as the CD finished she woke up as if to say where has the music gone to. Well off to get some WIP's organized and knit, knit, knit away.

More ..... books

I have been spoiling myself lately with more knitting books, and trying not to buy any more yarn. I think this is a good idea as it will help with using up the stash, so a great idea in fact. I have been browsing the Emporium Books website which is based in New South Wales, and they have a vast array of books, so this is where I usually order my books from which are not readily available here. First off, Never To Old To Knit looks like a simple basic book, with little techniques like different buttonholes, different cast ons etc. I dont know if I will knit any of the patterns, ok maybe the hat in there, but nothing that stands out. I have not sat down and read through it all, but it seems okay. Now secondly the Knitting For Baby book. I have borrowed this book from the library about 3 times now, and sadly never knitted anything from it, but as we have a few family additions this year I thought I might knit up something from the book, so I thought it was high time to buy my own copy. The patterns in this book are just so adorable, so I will be making plans for its use in the next few months for two of Paul's cousins who are due later in the year.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK book. I love the patterns in this book, classic but with style. I even love the capelet/poncho which is full of cablework and looks quite elegant. I think this book was a good investment, and it came from Sunspun which is located in Canterbury in case anybody would like to know where I bought it.

I have been knitting too, as I only have half a sleeve for the King of Swing jacket 2, and then I can put in the zipper and seam it, and its ready for March. I am also trying to knit Isabelle's best friend a birthday pressie too, but for some reason I am not loving the yarn she chose. I think maybe a new yarn is in order for the pattern to look nice. I have also nearly finished a pink baby cardigan, but more on that later on in the week. I am a tiny bit tired today since Isabelle was up last night with a runny nose. When she gets a new tooth she seems to come down with cold like symptoms, and this has happened since she got her first tooth when she was 5 months old. Two weeks ago her first top tooth fell out, and the new one had already broken through, and now her second top tooth is about to fall out, which is being held in place by one root, and I really wish it would fall out while we are at home so we dont lose it. She still went to school this morning though, and is thoroughly enjoying it. She had her little assessment on Wednesday afternoon and went very well. She showed me the chart where she is the tallest girl in her class at 120cm tall. There is one boy that is taller than her too. She made friends with a little girl Chelsea yesterday who is the smallest girl in the class (as she informed me of this on the way home). On Monday she is going to be awarded Student of the Week for being such a good pupil. Her teacher is quite proud of her, and so am I. I am hoping to get a photo of her at assembly on Monday morning. Well that is about it for now, much rush and do some vacuuming before picking her up from school, as we are making a visit to the library to get some more story books. Happy knitting and sewing everyone!

First Day of School

Isabelle loved her first day of Prep yesterday. She even made a new friend but does not know her name, so maybe today she will find out who she is. She has half days until the 24th of February, then it is until 3:30. I have not gotten used to her being away for so long, as kindergarten was only 12 hours a week, and I had her at home with me for the rest of the time. I think I need to adjust to her being at school too due to the loneliness of yesterday. I am sure with time I will get used to it again. Lachlan's day was good, and that was all I got out of him. I checked his timetable, and it seems Textiles is the main class for him this year, apart from English and Maths. No art or graphics this time around. I wonder if he will need to use my sewing machine! Hmmm, could be interesting. Well I am off to do some housework before picking Isabelle up from school, and then I can relax and do some knitting.

Cables Untangled by Melissa Leapman

What a fantastic book this looks. I only received it this morning and thought that I would show you a few of my favourite patterns in it. First up is the Fringed Skirt which starts in a size 31 1/2" and goes up to a 47" which is the hip measurement. I just love it, and cables are my all time favourites to knit up. Maybe when I shift some weight from my hips I will knit myself one.











This is another favourite which is called Turtleneck. I think I would have to omit the turtleneck part though as I think it would annoy me too much. This starts in a 37" and goes up to a 53 1/2" so the sizes are quite generous which is always a good thing for us larger people.

This is another favourite, maybe because its red too. It is called the His/Her Reversible Scarf which I can see making in the very near future. I love this pattern, just gorgeous. They actually have a picture of a man wearing it in the book and it looks great on him. There are many other patterns that I love in this book, lots of blankets, cushion covers, scarfs and hats, mens sweaters which are just beautiful and a few other ladies sweater patterns too, which are beautiful. It also has a 100 cable stitch pattern and rib cable pattern section at the end of the book which would be very helpful, especially if you like to design your own knitted items to wear. I think this book will be getting a lot of use.

I also tried to download a picture of the other King of Swing jacket that I was knitting for another nephew of mine, but alas it did not work for some reason, so here it is today. I am now onto the sleeves, and then just the collar to knit and the zipper to sew in. His birthday is not until March so it should not take too long. I will try and knit some more on the baby items today, possibly the blue one since it is the start of Project Spectrum today and I cant wait to see what everyone makes. Isabelle also started school today so she was very excited this morning. I think she will have a great time, even though I was told "don't go anywhere without me mum" before I was leaving her at school. I will post her "first day" photo tomorrow. Now I am off to cast on some stitches for sleeves, and sort the ironing too which is starting to overflow out of the ironing basket. Happy Knitting!