FO No. 21 - Baby Hooded Jacket

Pattern: Patons Handknits book 961, Baby Jacket
Size: 12 months
Wool: Feathersoft 8 ply, about 5 and a half balls.
The baby jacket is finished! Hooray. I sat on the couch yesterday and seamed it together. The photo is a bit dark though as yesterday was miserable weather. I rolled up the cuffs on the sleeves too, but now realise it makes them look too short. Oh well rolling them down again will fix that problem wont it. I hope that our friends will put it on their baby as I am not really sure what they think about handknits for babies, as this is their first. I also bought some little shoes too, and I will wrap it up tonight. Hopefully we can visit them sometime soon. I also started another little girl's baby cardigan, and this one should knit up quite quickly. Paul's cousin had a little girl on Thursday, Asher, and she was a bit early so I need to hurry up and finish that one too. I only cast on last night so I might be able to finish it during the week.
Also Isabelle has lost 2 more teeth in the last week. She lost one whilst bouncing on the trampoline with her brother (and yes it was already loose), and last night she lost one whilst munching on some chocolate. She thought she had broken her big tooth, but I explained it was the little tiny one next to it. The tooth fairy seems to be a regular visitor at the moment, and of course she has to have her school photos next month, so now she will have gaps. She also has two other loose teeth, so it could be four gaps by then. She always seems to lose them a few at a time, and of course losing teeth means she has a bit of a cold too. It always happens, so now we expect her to have the snuffles. I hope that it goes by next Friday as she has her birthday party at McDonalds then. She is all excited about it, and hopefully I can get some nice photos of her with her friends. Well that is it for now as we have one of her friend's birthday parties to go to today, and then I have a little bit of running around to do for her party next week. Hopefully I can get some presents wrapped today too.
By the way thank you so much for all the lovely thoughts about the bag. I used it last night for my knitting and it fit so much into it. I am sure that I will be using it quite a bit. So I must go, and have a wonderful weekend.

Apples & Pears!

I received my pear and apple fabric last week, and thought what a great idea for a bag. I made up my own pattern, and whipped it up about half an hour ago, cut it out and stitched it together on the machine. The pear fabric is actually pockets on both sides, and I really do love it. I bought mine from Sarah who always sells such beautiful fabrics and vintage chenille too. This will be great for toting along my knitting projects and the pattern book too, just the perfect size.

I also finished up my other dishcloth, and I really love the colors in this one, as they are totally different to the other two colorways. The bright orange dishcloth was tested out in the shower by Isabelle who loved using it to wash her face. I will have to keep the green one for me I think, and knit up a few more. I also finished Lachlan's beanie as you see above, and it is a perfect fit. The pattern was actually from a Lincraft pamphlet that my mum had so it came in very handy. Lachlan and I also finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was a great book, although I am sad that there will be no more adventures to read. Well that is about all for now as I am off to sew up the baby pink jacket. I finished knitting the hood last night, and it took so long because I got bored with it, but picked it back up last night and finished it off. Now to sew in the zipper and hopefully tomorrow I can post it for you all to see. Happy knitting!

Dishcloths!

I thought I would show you all some knitting since I havent shown any for a little while lately. Here are some of the dishcloths from the Mason and Dixon knitting book. I used some of the Anchor Magicline cotton that I bought a few weeks ago from Spotlight. They each took one ball, and the color variations are very nice and bright too. My mum thought I had been using different balls on each of them until I told her it was just the way the yarn changed colors in the ball. I quite like these ones, and I have a nice green one on the needles too, which I knit on when I have a spare moment. Paul has been working up at Wangaratta since Friday and wont be back until tomorrow night. I hope he will be back tomorrow night and doesnt have to stay another night. My mum and dad are going to take the kids to their place for a few hours whilst I get some things done, like wash the floors and do the ironing. At least I will be able to collect my thoughts for a few hours whilst they are gone and be prepared for when they get back. I dont know how people manage on their own with small children and no break at all from them. You really do need time out sometimes.

I took the kids to see the latest Harry Potter movie yesterday afternoon. Lachlan didnt like the dementors and hid behind his hands. Isabelle said a few things were scary too. I really liked the movie, and it was a bit dark and eerie in parts, and I felt the movie was sad in some ways too. The kids did enjoy it though, and Lachlan thought it was the best one yet. We also purchased the new book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have been reading it since we bought it. I amm now up to Chapter 13 and it is quite good. It was nice being able to read in bed, as before I had Isabelle I used to read in bed every night. I had a chance to last night as Paul wasnt there, and he usually gets up at 5:00 in the morning so he needs all the sleep he can get. Well mum and dad have just arrived to give me some free time so I had better hop off the computer and get some things tidied up and out of the way. Happy knitting!!

Quilt In Day

I'm back! I havent gone anywhere, but I have been busy getting back into the school routine. I had a fabulous time on Saturday at my sister's quilt in group. There were about 150 ladies, and quite a few knitters too. I did get some nice comments on my knitting as I didnt have any hand sewing to take with me. My sister got lots of great compliments on her Angel's Journal quilt which is absolutely gorgeous I must say. She is hand quilting it which will take quite a while.
There were some great stalls too - Fragrant Cottage from Warrnambool, Blue Willow Cottage from Werribee, The Village Patch from Maldon, and The Drapers of Mount Macedon. I have been to the shops in Maldon and Werribee before, but not to the other two. After all the snow we had yesterday around us, none in Melton though, I will venture up to take a peek at the Mount Macedon shop. She had really beautiful things on display. Annette from Fragrant Cottage was the guest speaker, and she had some really beautiful quilts to show. Two of them she bought when she was in the USA, and were quite old, but really beautiful.
I did buy some goodies too, which you know I would have. I just cant help myself when I see really nice things I want to make. I bought some extra sharp little scissors which I will keep by my sewing machine and will be really handy. I also bought a jacket pattern, which goes up to a size 12 so I should be able to make a few for Isabelle as she grows. Let's hope that the first one turns out okay. I also bought two books - Winsome Baby which has some great appliqued bibs, baby blocks, baby bags, and other such cute things for gifting. I also bought Annie Downs "A Christmas Story" and it is even autographed. Beautiful projects in this book, and I love all the little stories she adds in her pages too. They are so funny. Last but not least a little bag kit from Blue Willow Cottage which I plan to make very soon. I just need to find a magnetic clip - any ideas where to buy those things in Melbourne, Australia.
Back to the knitting, and yes I have been knitting. I have done a couple of rows on my pink sock, halfway through the hood for the baby jacket, and have started a brown jumper which I am knitting out of Country Silk in a rich brown color. I hope it will look alright on me though, as it is really just a plain jumper. I do need to get back to finishing off some of Isabelle's too, as I dont want her to outgrow them before they are finished. Isabelle also had her report day today, and she got an excellent report. I also booked in her party at McDonald's as that is what she wanted instead of a big present. Only about 3 more weeks to go before she turns 6. I think once they start school the time just flies by, and you will wish they were babies again. Well that is it for now as I must go and get some much needed sleep as my ear infection which is still lingering has been making me feel a bit queasy so after some much needed ear drops I am hoping it doesnt take too long to go away. As Paul would say - there is always something wrong with me, or in this case him too as he hurt his back again on the weekend and couldnt go on the tram lunch. It just was not meant to be! Happy knitting!!!

Two Tiny Kitties

Here are the next 2 kitties that I sewed up yesterday before my niece turned up for her sleepover. She chose the one in the little pink dress, although secretly Isabelle wanted to swap her one for the pink one. The green one has been adopted by Isabelle to keep her other kitty company, but I can see myself making some more of these delightful little kitties. I am going to try and make some in other colors now, so we shall how they turn out. I am off to do some grocery shopping before taking Isabelle and my niece to a birthday party. After that it is off to mum and dad's for dinner, and then to pick up some more catalogues to deliver on Sunday, and make my sandwiches to take with me tomorrow for the Quit In. I shall report back over the weekend to show you any goodies I end up buying. Bye for now.

Apparently I Rock

The wonderful Jessica nominated me for the Rockin' Girl Blogger award and I am so honoured. The only hard part of this is that I now need to nominate 5 wonderful bloggers (just 5, so unfair) so here goes:

1. Julie - she makes the most amazing knitted animals I have ever seen. She is truly inspiring and so talented. She also has two gorgeous children, Toby and Amy.
2. Anny - I think we all know Anny and the wonderful knits that she creates. At the moment she is designing her own little bags, you must go and check them out. She talks about her wonderful husband and two sons too, who are two little cuties.
3. Karin - Karin is a most talented knitter, and I love all the items she creates. You must congratulate her too on the birth of her new daughter, Tara, when she comes back to blogging. She also has another beautiful daughter, Noor, who is now a big sister!
4. Claudine - Claudine knits the most delightful items, and sews the most wonderful things too. She also designs her own hat patterns as well, which are just fantastic, she is so clever. You must go and check out her little crocheted mouse too, so cute. She also has a cute little girl Annette, who I must say is a perfect model for her handknits.
5. Katt - what can I say about Katt. I just love her handdyed yarns, which are just the most gorgeous colors. She has 2 girls whom she knits for too and she is a great knitter too.

Now I hope these ladies can nominate 5 bloggers to accept the award too, and make sure you go and have a read of their wonderful blogs. I know I love checking in to see what they create, and their daily adventures too. Happy knitting and sewing!

Little Kitty

Pattern: Little Kitty by Melly & Me.
Meet Tink as she has been named by Isabelle. I have 2 more to make for one of Isabelle's little friends, and my niece who is staying with us on Thursday night for a sleepover. I am sure she will love it too as Isabelle has been sleeping with her kitty. I think this one turned out okay and it is always a good thing when your daughter gets upset because she cant find it to go to bed with, although I could do without the tears!
I am still knitting away on the little pink jacket too, and have finished both fronts over the weekend. I now only have the bands, sleeves and the hood (those hoods always take such a long time) to complete now. Hopefully on the weekend I can complete it as now I CAN GO TO THE QUILT IN on Saturday. I attend every year with about 150 other crafty people, who sit and sew or knit for the day. They also have a guest speaker who will talk to us for an hour and show us all her work too. Paul explained that a few of the wives were not going on the tram lunch, so I didnt have to go either if I didnt want to. They are going to a Sports Bar afterwards to watch the footy, and I do like watching the footy, but can really use my time for other things I really enjoy. So it is a win/win situation as Paul can have a night out with the boys and I can catch up with some people I have not seen for quite a few months. I might even take those socks to knit on Saturday and try to complete the first one, otherwise I am afraid it will never get done. Thank you too for your wonderful comments too, I loved them all and really do appreciate every one of them. Happy crafting!

Patons Baby Hooded Jacket

Ah the relaxing mornings of sleeping in when the kids are on school holidays seem to be rushing by. I have managed to sneak in quite a bit of knitting time though, due to a fair amount of rainy days we have been having. Up above is the Baby Hooded Jacket from an old Patons pattern. I am knitting this for one of our good friends who had a baby girl last week, Jessica, welcome to the world. I made this same jacket for Lachlan when he was about 6 months old, in a light blue color and I used to put it on him when it was quite cold and it kept him very warm. I am supposed to use a 4 ply yarn for this, but decided to knit it in an 8 ply Feathersoft yarn, which isnt really that thick for an 8 ply, so it might turn out a wee bit bigger, but they will be able to use it for longer, being a 12 mth size. I really hope that they like it, as sometimes I am unsure what new moms will put on their babies to wear.

I have also been knitting some socks, although the baby jacket has been getting more devotion than the sock. I think it is the Gentleman's Fancy Sock (correct me if I'm wrong) from the Nancy Bush book. I cant be bothered going to annoy the kids to get the book for me, as they are watching Arthur and the Invisibles. We took them to the pictures to see the movie, and they loved it so much we decided to buy a copy today. At least it keeps them amused for an hour or more. I am using Katt's Pansy colorway for this sock, and I love the vibrant pinks and purples too, although usually I am more of a blue/green person. I am hoping to knit some more on this over the weeke and hopefully tonight.

I also visited Nat who sells Sugar'n Cream yarns here in Oz, so I was able to buy some for the dishcloth swap in August. I really wanted some red too but she has none left in stock at the moment. I will have to wait until she gets some more in. I am so excited to be joining in this swap, so I hope it is a lot of fun. I also bought some Anchor Magicline cotton for $1.99 a ball today at Spotlight, so I grabbed some of each color to knit up some dishcloths for Christmas pressies for my mum and sister. They have such nice colors, and being reduced from about $6.00 a ball is a great bargain. I am hoping to make some of the patterns out of the dishcloth book for them, so I will see how they turn out and show you all. Some of the patterns on the labels of the cotton look good too, so I will have to sneak a peek at them too. Nothing much else has been happening around here, apart from trying to keep the kids entertained. Wednesday we delivered 500 papers, and I now have a sore back from pulling the trolley around behind me, which I hope alleviates soon. Yesterday was spent having the kids and their friends around entertaining each other. Next week Isabelle has 2 parties to go to, and I have a lunch with Paul's work on the Tram Restaurant on Saturday, which in a way I was annoyed with because it is my sister's quilt in on the same day and I go every year and chat and craft with some great ladies. Oh well I will just have my mum fill me in on all the gossip when I get back. I get a bit nervous meeting new people, and all at one time is a bit overwhelming too. It is allright for Paul as he already knows all the guys, and only has to meet their partners. Well I am off to go and sew some little kitties which hopefully I can show you all next week. Happy knitting everyone!