2008 - No. 19 and No. 20

Little Pumpkin Hat from itty-bitty hats.
Size: 6-12 months
Yarn: 8 ply pure wool from Spotlight
Orange, 1 ball
I used a small part of green for the leaf and brown for the stem.
Needles: 4mm dpns
I knit this on Wednesday after wanting something quick to knit and use up some yarn. Sorry for the mishapen shape but I couldnt get it to sit right for the photo. Isabelle would have gladly put it on her head as it fitted over it last night and she didnt want to take it off. I loved knitting this little hat and the leaf and stem were perhaps the easiest and quickest parts to do. I think it turned out rather cute and does look much nicer stretched out so you can see the pattern properly.






Pink Paper Bag hat from itty-bitty hats.
Size: 6-12 months
Yarn: 8 ply pure wool from Spotlight
1 ball of dark pink, mauve and a small part of light pink for the picot edging.
Needle size: 4 mm dpns
Started: Thursday 23rd April and finished this morning.
I used ribbon for the tie instead of the i-cord as I thought it would be nicer and faster too. I also had the perfect color.
I think this one turned out rather cute but a bit more work changing the colors in the different sections.
I have had this book for quite a while now and love all the patterns. I have seen quite a few around blogland knit up and they always look great. I think the next one I knit will have to be the one with bunny ears which looks so sweet. Isabelle can still fit this one over her head although it is a bit small. I think if I knit the next size up and make it a bit longer she can wear it. She wants it in the same colors as this one so perhaps next week I will knit one up.

I have also started knitting a cabled bolero type cardigan for Isabelle as I had to wait for the Tiny Tots yarn to arrive at my lys. The color is called crystal blue and it is so pretty. Even the ladies in the yarn store were admiring it. When I have some decent progress I will show you all.

Today is Anzac Day so Australians and New Zealanders pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives to give us what we have today. Every time I hear that bugel sound I always get a shiver, and I like seeing everyone gather to pay their respects. I went to a dawn service quite a few years ago now but I do admire people who get up early every year and attend, and to the people who travel to Gallipoli too. I think it is a great day. I know that most aussies will be sitting down at 2:30 though to watch the tradition of the Essendon/Collingwood match. I am an Essendon supporter so I know who I want to win today. Go Bombers!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful (non-smoky) day today. We have been having smokey air for a week now and I just want to get some washing on the line so it wont stink when I bring it in. It makes me think of parties long ago where we used to sit around the bonfire trying to keep warm. Thank you all too for your lovely warm wonderful comments on the past 3 baby knits, I loved all of them.

2008 FO No 18

Pattern: Drawstring Pants from Baby Knits by Lois Daykin

Yarn: Katt's handdyed Opal 8 ply yarn, 3 balls

Started: 13th April, Finished 16th April

Size: 3 - 6 months

This is the fourth pattern that I have knit from this book, with plans to knit many more from it. These pants were so so easy and quick too. I really love the way the stripes turned out too, great job Katt. Pop on over and see all her wonderful yarns if you feel like you want to knit something stripey. I just wish this pattern had been around when my kids were so little as I would have loved popping them on to wear. I will have to knit up some cotton ones next to use up some of my stash.

I would also love to say that I appreciated all those wonderful wishes for my blogiversary and the last 2 finished projects. I was a bit stressed this week with a few friends suffering through some emotionally hard times, plus the interview which did not result in me getting a full time job. At least Isabelle will be happy that I am home for some time yet and still help out in her classroom too. Have to look at the positive things in life dont we, as I think there is always a reason these things happen. I hope you all have a great day!

2008 - FO No. 17

Pattern: Tea for Two sweater from Miss Bea's Rainy Day book by Louisa Harding

Size: 1 - 2 years

Yarn: Spotlight Hues of Opulence cotton, mauve

about 6 balls

Started: 22 March 2008 Finished 12 April 2008

This is the third one that I have made. I just love the way the cables pop in this cotton and it knits up so nicely too, although knitting the bands on 3.5mm needles was a little awkward at first as the cotton felt so thick. I will be popping this one into the knitting gift basket for a future gift.

2008 - FO No. 16

Pattern: Frilled Dress, Baby Knits book by Lois Daykin

Size: 9-12 months, Started on 8th April and finished on the 12th of April.

Yarn: TLC Cara Mia, burgundy/rose color, 1.75 balls (100 gm balls)

Needle Sizes: 3.5 mm and 4mm needles

I really loved knitting up this little dress and the ruffles were so easy too. They are my favourite part of the dress. I omitted the pockets from the back though because I didnt think them necessary and I think it looks just as nice without them. The photos do tend to look a bit fuzzy though, and I dont know whether it is because it is overcast today or my batteries are getting low.

I am nearly finished another small sweater so hopefully tomorrow I can show it here. I was planning on finishing it today, but Isabelle had her first birthday party of the year (many more to come like last year I assume), and we found out that she has an allergy to ponies. She was brushing the pony and her eye swelled up and went all red and horrible. Luckily the party mum has 3 kids with allergies and had some phernergen (is that how you spell it) so it made the swelling ease off a bit. It has been a few hours now and she seems happy and her eye seems much better too. No more pony rides for this girl in future just to be on the safe side.

Paul's grandmother is starting rehabilitation next week and has just been moved to the other nicer hospital (and I am still not going in to get over my fear as Paul would say) so I will see her when she comes out. It will take a few weeks as her left side was affected and I am sure it will take quite a while too considering her age. I am hoping it will go well for her as she is usually such a bubbly funny lady so it breaks my heart seeing her like that. I dont want any more anxiety attacks so Paul will visit with the kids.

I also am having my first job interview on Monday. I have not worked full time since I had Isabelle which will be 7 years next month, so this is the first real interview I have had. I do hope I dont stuff it up as it is in Melton which will be very handy, and the extra cash would be good too with everything going up with the interest rates.

Oh and thank you so much for all your lovely concerns about Paul's grandma too and the comments about the eyelet vest too. I really loved reading them. Enjoy your weekend!

2 Years

of writing this blog! Time goes by so quickly. I remember when I first started blogging and wanted to share my projects with people. I had been reading blogs for quite a while and thought hey why not join in the fun. I was worried that no-one would read my blog but I was so wrong. I have met many wonderful people, some fantastic knitters, some fantastic crafters too, and seen some absolutely wonderful projects. Blogland makes me feel so welcome and I do enjoy every conversation, comment and heartfelt words from you all. I know that there is many of you whom I have not met in person but you are a true friend to me, so thank you for sharing and caring too.

Onto other wonderful news and Paul's grandmother seems to be stable. Paul spoke to her on the phone last night. We didnt go to the hospital as the kids had just had their first day at school and you know how tired kids are after not going for a while. We will go in tomorrow night. She still has her wonderful sense of humour and the doctors say it will take quite a while for her to recover from the heart attack. We will just need to take more care of her.

As for knitting, I have started another project and nearly finished one. Hopefully by the end of the week I will have some photos for you.

The yellow rose is out of my garden this morning, so enjoy its loveliness and the sunshine too.

I Cant Believe It's April!

This year is flying by so quickly just like last year. I would like it not to rush by so fast as I would like to feel as though I have more time to do things and knit. The kids go back to school tomorrow, yay for some peace and quiet, boo for early mornings again. We had some horrible weather this week so we didnt really do much outside. Lachlan finally got his birthday present, his Wii game and has been playing it everyday. Great for exercise. I really like the baseball and bowling, not so much the tennis as I tend to hit the ball outside the lines.
A little group of visitors were in my next door neighbour's fruit trees yesterday while I was hanging out the washing. They were so noisy and I thought there were only 2 of them, but then they flew off after their snack and there were 6 of them. This one kept sitting on top of the tree and looking over. I think they are parrots of some sort, not really sure, but they are so vibrant and colorful. We have been seeing more of these around the area lately along with the galahs and cockatoos. I really love watching them.

I also bought some new books, and have only had a chance to photograph 2 of them. I will have to gather the others and take some photos. I have decided that 2008 will be the year that I teach myself to crochet. I really love those little crocheted toys and this book has 2 really lovely ones, a bear and a kitty which I really want to make. There are a few other goodies in there too which are quite cute.






I also finally got my copy of Louisa Harding's new book, The Wonderful World According to Miss Millie. I am knitting a striped cardigan for Isabelle called Venezia. I am using some stash yarn Zara, in a color light blue and aqua. They look great together, although my mum did say it looked like those baby cardigans that I made which were stripey.
I have also joined a KAL, Elisa's Nest Tote, which is a string like market bag, so I should have started it already but as always am trying to knit a few other items first. I really enjoyed the CPH knitalong so I am hoping this one will be lots of fun too.
Onto other news, which is very sad. Paul's grandmother had her hip operation which went very well. She came home and was feeling great, but yesterday Paul's brother rang to let us know that she is in hospital again. She had a mini stroke and then a heart attack and was home alone. Her neighbour checked in on her and found her on Thursday. She is stable so we will visit her tomorrow night. I feel really bad because she only lives 10 minutes drive away from us. Apparently we were given keys to her house so that if anything happened a number was called and the agency would contact us, and we did not receive any calls from them. Perhaps they were not contacted in this instance, but I feel as though we should have checked in on her. I thought that some of the relatives were there with her to be quite honest but they must have gone home thinking she could cope on her own. I really do worry about her and I am hoping that she will be okay. We did ring the hospital this morning and they said she was stable so I will keep sending good vibes. I really do not like visiting hospitals, the only time I can handle them is to visit a new baby. I remember my grandfather hating hospitals and he had to go in to have cataracts removed from his eyes quite a few times. Now I know why he didnt like them much.
I will post again on Tuesday after the hospital visit tomorrow, and it will be my 2 year blogiversary then too. Hopefully lots of great news, see you then.