Crochet Designs For Kids

This crochet book is by Lucinda Guy, one of my favourite kid's designers for knitwear, and now crochet. I thought I would show you some of my absolute favourite patterns that hopefully one day I can create for littlies as birthday gifts. The sizes range from 2-3 years, 3-4 years and 4-5 years, so at least they will stay in them for some time (unless they grow like a weed).


First up is the Posy Headscarf which is so cute. I love all the little crocheted flowers attached to it.


















Next up the Ariadne doll who likes to take her dog Hercule for walks. How sweet. If Isabelle loved dolls (she goes through phases) I would try and make her one. Perhaps I could make one for my friend's little girl.















Here is one of my top choices, the summer cap with the Sweet Cicely skirt and the Sweet Cicely top. The green looks really lovely in the book.
















This is the Cozy Connie sweater. I love the pattern detail in this one, so cute.

















This one is extra cute for boys. It is the Milo Owl sweater. I really love owls and seeing them all over the craft blogs makes me like this sweater even more. It is paired up with the Winter Warmer scarf which buttons so it doesnt fall off. Great idea which I should incorporate into Isabelle's scarves.







This is the girl's version of the Winter Warmer scarf and hat. I think they look so cute. It is pictured with the Bessie Bird Coat which is just adorable.

Well that is about it, but there is a gorgeous blanket, a toy whale, a toy elephant, little slippers, a few beautiful dresses, a granny square bag which is called a Best Beach Bag, and another gorgeous blanket which is called the Bon Bon Blanket and is made up of crocheted circles attached together. Sorry I didnt show those but the post was getting rather long. I do hope this helps Jade to decide whether to buy this book or not, but I really do love it.

New Books

I received my Amazon order today, no less than 1.5 weeks after I ordered them. It wasnt due to arrive until 5 June so this was wonderful.
Knitting In the Round, The Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop will be on my to read list during the week. I never really knew about her until last year when Jarod wrote about all her wonderful patterns. Now every second person seems to knit one of her patterns and write of her wonderful stories in these books. Now I will get to read them and knit them too. I am so looking forward to that. The new Lucinda Guy Crochet Designs For Kids book is full of really wonderful patterns, clothes and toys. I have all 4 of her books now and each one is excellent, especially the drawings that her partner does. It inspires me to start drawing again like I used to. I have taken some photos of my favourite patterns from the book and I will show you all tomorrow. I really will need to learn to crochet before I attempt any of them though. I suppose this will inspire me to learn properly (Auntie Helen where are you), and my aunt showing me some of the stitches too. She is a really wonderful crocheter and knitter but likes to do cross stitch now before her eyes wear out (as she likes to say). I always think that is funny but true. Okay have a lovely sunny day like it is here today, and I will see you all tomorrow. By the way Rebecca I will post the meme answers on the weekend for you.

I've Been Movie Memed!

The lovely Beth tagged me for a meme so I thought I would participate, not that I actually go to the movies a lot, so here goes:

1. One movie that made you laugh - The Bee movie.
2. One movie that made you cry - King Kong - I hate movies where they hurt animals
3. One movie that you loved as a child - The Wizard of Oz. I always remember waiting for Dorothy to turn into color from the black and white part.
4. One movie you've seen more than once - As Good As It Gets.
5. One movie you loved, but were embarrased to admit it - None that I can think of.
6. One movie you hated - Ooh I didnt like The Castle (perhaps Paul watching it over and over had something to do with that)
7. One movie that scared you - Oh I agree with Beth on this one, those awful Hannibal movies.
8. One movie that bored you - I am sure there is one but I cant think of it at the moment.
9. One movie that made you happy - Oh Narnia was a great movie and I had read all the books when I was younger so it was nice to see them made into film.
10. One movie that made you miserable - King Kong.
11. One movie that you werent brave enough to see - Oh The Ring movies, too scary.
12. One movie characted you've fallen in love with - Oh the fawn from Narnia, he was so sweet underneath it all.
13. The last movie you saw: The Golden Compass and Enchanted. Both great!
14. The next movie you hope to see: Ooh perhaps the next Indiana Jones, Prince Caspium and definately Harry Potter when it is released.
15. Now tag 5 people. These lovely ladies - Kate, Jessica, Sandra, Tiennie, and Jade.

The knitting is still continuing, alas with no photos at the moment. I hope to rectify that over the weekend though. I have finished the front of my dad's sweater, nearly finished the back of Isabelle's cabled sweater and halfway through another sweater, Brambling, for Isabelle too.

My mum and I went for a visit at Stitchery Blue this morning. They have moved into larger premises and it is their 6th birthday today too, so I was lucky enough to find some really lovely books that I had been looking for with 15%. Yarn was 20% off and the sale goes until 9:00pm tonight. They sell all the rowan yarns, sublime yarns, debbie bliss, and colinette yarns too. If you are ever in the Williamstown area it is always worth stopping by to have a look. My mum bought some arucania sock yarn and received 20% off and the color she chose was a really lovely mix of blues. I wish I had bought some of it too now looking back. Oh well, always an excuse to visit again. I will have to now go and get organised before I pick Isabelle up from school and head to my parents for Friday fish and chip night. Oh I must say I loved all the wonderful beautiful comments on Isabelle's cabled bolero too. Thanks so much!!!

FO No. 22

Pattern: Cardigan from Sirdar Vintage Knits

Size: 6-7 years, 66cms (actual 72 cms)

Yarn: Sirdar Tiny Tots, crystal blue

6 balls

Button from stash

Started: end of April, finished 16 May 2008

I knit this for Isabelle to wear with a dress when the nights get cooler, or over a pair of jeans with a long sleeved top. I love the cables in it, and the Sirdar Tiny Tots yarn is a fave of mine. I think I started this at the end of April, and it seems I forgot to mark down the actual date. I did finish it up late last night so I am glad another project is done.

I also joined in the #3 swap on ravelry for aussie knitters. I just got my swap partner's details today so I cant wait to get started. It is going to be so much fun. I joined in the dishcloth swap last year which was really nice too, and it is always nice to receive a little surprise in the mail.

I have also started knitting a jumper for my dad out of some of the yarn that he purchased at Bendigo. I feel as though I am knitting it forever and I am only halfway up the back. My dad is one of those with a beer belly so it makes everything a bit larger. I also started a cable sweater for Isabelle too out of some Smoothie DK, mid grey color, which looks lovely so far. I figured since she always gets so dirty I would knit something in a darker color for her. It is looking good so far and I will make sure I take a photo during the week when it is hopefully a bit brighter. We have had 25mm of rain this weekend so far so it hasnt been the best to take photos in. I also ordered some other Smoothie DK yarn in other colors, teal, cornflower blue, cream, pink, red and coral. I do have plans for it all and it looks so nice sitting there. I also popped over to the Wool Shack during the week as they were clearing yarns to make way for some new ones. I got some DB cotton at $3.95 a ball I think. I also have some lovely sock yarn winging its way to my house from Yarnomat. Great service so it should arrive in the next day or so. Once I get it I will have to show you all, and then I will need to knit a lot during this really cold weather so we have some warmer clothes to wrap ourselves up in and the stash is a tiny bit smaller.

Oh thank you all too for the lovely comments you left me on the last few posts. Time seems to just disappear at the moment and I cannot believe it is nearly half the year over already. Sad isnt it. Well I better get back to some knitting before preparing dinner. Have a great day!

I Hope You Mum's Out There

had a lovely wonderful day for Mother's Day. I spent the morning cooking Isabelle pancakes, and then Paul cooked us bacon and eggs. We went to see Paul's gran who was out of hospital for the day. She has lost 26 pounds and looks very thin, but a lot better than when she was in the hospital. She is so glad that she can smile again, after lots of tiring physio and muscle work. She will be back home next week for good we hope. If she worsens she has decided to go into care or a nursing home, but lets hope she can stay independant for a long time yet.
We then popped over to my parent's for a roast dinner. My sister had cooked a black forest cake which was really lovely. I gave my mum a little fabric bag to hold all her knitting notions in and a lovely ball of sock yarn too. I receieved this lovely skinny golliwog from the kids which I absolutely love. Her name is Bridgette. She is designed by Kate Finn (there is a website who sells her toys). Isabelle would love one too in a pink dress. I love the cherry fabric on this one, and she even has little red stripey bloomers underneath (no showing underwear on the blog though). Hee hee! Isabelle also bought me a little tea light and holder from the school stall and a flower candle holder too. Then to top the day off Lachlan cooked me chinese lemon chicken from a cookbook all by himself. The lemon sauce was very tart, but next time he will put less lemon juice and a bit more sugar he told me. It was lovely to eat. The leftovers are in the fridge for dinner tonight.

Oh and an update for kitty lovers. This was Tilly a little while ago this morning whilst I was on the computer reading blogs and emails. I popped up the blanket on the computer desk for her to lie on and she started dozing off. Oh she has decided to return just now to keep me company. She was playing peek a boo with Bella at the bedroom window. She is such a playful happy little kitty!

Bendigo Woollen Mills

My parents and I decided to take a little road trip this morning after taking Isabelle to school to Bendigo. Mum and I wanted some yarn, although I had nothing particular in mind. We arrived in just over an hour so it was a great trip. We arrived at BWM just after 10:00 and guess what, not a single other person was in there. Mum and I went about 2 years ago when there was a bus trip visiting, so there was hardly any room but we had it all to ourselves today. The back room didnt have a great deal of goodies that I wanted, but I did manage to snatch up a few odd 200 gm balls to make some hats. I purchased 1 200 gm ball of 8 ply tuscan, 1 200gm ball of wineberry, and 1 200gm ball of chocolate brown all from the back room for a discounted price. I also bought a ball of 4 ply cotton in driftwood which is exactly the color in the photo.

In the second photo I bought 11 balls of 8 ply in geranium to knit Isabelle a sweater and a lovely 10 ply mauve packet for another of Isabelle's knits. The mauve only cost $2.00 a ball, and the geranium was $3.00 a ball, so it was nice to grab some bargains. My mum went overboard and bought 3 adult sweaters worth of yarn (not from the back room) and two pairs worth of Miami sock yarn. She seems to be on a knitting sock adventure at the moment and has knit up 3 pairs in the last two weeks.

Bendigo was beautiful today with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. The pastures were green too, and there were lots of lambs and goats running around in the sunshine. We even stopped at the apple place and I bought some nice crunchy apples and beautiful red tomatoes which were grown just around the corner from the shop. I also bought some mandarines, even though I am the only person who eats them. Everything looked so nice to eat.

As soon as we got back towards Gisborne though the beautiful weather was gone and it was cloudy and cold again. At least it stayed nice for our little road trip.

Well that is it for my little adventure today, and now to find some hidey places for the yarn to go. Perhaps I need to be like the Yarn Harlot and start hiding it in the gravy dish! Have a great day.

2008 - FO No. 21

Pattern: Sirdar Snuggly Fair Isle DK 1538 booklet

Size: 6-12 months

Started: Last year, finished today

Another little sweater, the same as the one I knit last year for a gift. This might be a present for my sister's pregnant friend as she is not finding out the sex of the baby. I kept putting this aside and knitting other things and rediscovered it last week and decided to finish it off. Now to work on Isabelle's cabled bolero which I am onto the second front already. Hope you all have a great day!

Tilly the Kitty

Here is what has been keeping our family busy for the last week. Tilly the kitty arrived via Lachlan's friend. His stepdad found this little munchkin wandering around the city centre on a busy road about to be run over by a car. Fortunately they already had a few cats and their friends wanted a boy kitten, so she came to live with us. Lachlan was excited to have another kitten in the family. Bella seems to like her too and trys to keep licking her face which I dont think Tilly really likes. It is so funny to see Tilly chasing Bella around the house and they both love playing hide and seek in the front room with the couch cushions. She is such a placid friendly kitten too and quite cute.

Isabelle stayed home Friday as we both have ear infections at the moment and havent been feeling very well either. She enjoyed having the kitten to play with though and distracting her from her sicky feeling. Apart from having to clean up a few little accidents she has been quite good going to the kitty litter. She has quite a few fleas too which we are trying to get rid of with a daily douse of flea powder. I also discovered that Isabelle again has lice eggs and had to comb her hair thoroughly yesterday. I guess I will be doing that for the next 10 days to make sure no head lice appear. We had 6 months of this last year on and off and I was hoping to skip it this year. It drives me insane and hurts Isabelle too having the lice comb go through her hair so much, especially not feeling the best as well. So apart from the sicky germs and the nasty hair bugs everything else has been okay. The knitting has been slow going this week. I have been attempting to knit a cat pj bag for Isabelle and realised after knitting the head that I used the wrong sized needles so I need to reknit that part. I am hoping to get the rest done this week if nothing else pops up and Isabelle will be home tomorrow too so I should get a bit of knitting time to do it. The cabled bolero has the back done and half a front too. I really should start some more on this one too. I also have 5 babies to knit for in the coming months, around June to November so I have been looking through my books trying to knit NEW patterns that I havent tried before. Oh and if anyone has a copy of Alan Dart's gnome pattern I would really love a copy for Amanda. I bought that issue and do you think I can find the pattern, no of course I cant. I know I put it somewhere to knit it at a later date but after searching yesterday, well no luck! If you have a copy you can part with just email me on pmci7823@bigpond.net.au and let me know. I would greatly appreciate it! Speak to you all later and have a wonderful weekend.