Classic Navy

I can't help it...........I'm still knitting, and thought I'd share one of the recently completed shawls I've been doing.  This lovely lace shawl is made using a pattern I purchased via Ravelry.  Hope you can see it here.  I love all the designs by this lady, Bev or Boo Knits.

I hope this photograph will show the lace design detail.   The pattern offers several size choices, by simply adding more 'solid' or more 'lace', such a great idea.  I've just finished working on another one in a different colour, and with beads.

I purchased this wool last year from this store:-  http://www.pickupstitches.com.au/ when there was a little sale happening.  It is Heirloom Baby Pure Wool in 4 ply, and lovely to knit.  I used 6 x 25 gram balls, plus a bit on the 7th.  The picot cast off takes a surprising amount of yarn!!!

Despite being a knitter for many years, I've come to realize there is so very much I do not know.  This pattern introduced me to a few different things, and of course, the chat on Ravelry, with links to tutorials, etc., is so enlightening.  I have to admit to not paying much attention to blocking in the past, but I now have a new found respect for same!!  This is how the shawl looked just after it had been soaked in warm water, wrapped in a towel, stood on, then stretched and pinned within an inch of it's life!!!  I'm sorry, but there is no other way I can describe 'blocking'..................LOL

And just another photograph - a close-up.  Of course, I didn't get very adventurous with colour.  I can't resist good old classic navy.



If you are looking for something like this, I can really recommend any of the patterns in the Boo Knits range.  They are all delicate, yet the instructions are extremely easy to understand - both written and charted.

Now I'm off to 'block' the second version of this pattern.

De-stashing Projects

I'm still in a mind to reduce the various materials I have 'acquired' over the years, and have managed to make a few small things to keep in the cupboard as gifts for whenever.  The little cardigan above was done with the remaining few balls of white baby wool I bought from Pick-Up Stitches earlier in the year.

This close-up should show the little cables that are worked into the pattern.  I had never done this before, and really like the look, and will be trying more patterns like this in the future.  I feel the little rectangular MOP buttons look quite alright for this.  The pattern was one I found and purchased via Ravelry.  The designer has a website too:-  http://www.creativecrochet.co.uk/

Of course, I am still working on the 10+ kilos of yarn sent to me by my sister.  Another knee rug is in progress, but some of the yarns are quite thick.  I decided to make a few coathangers with some of these bulkier yarns.  I am always in need of these myself, so they've gone into use already.  They are nothing special, but feel really quite soft.  One is done in crochet, the other knitted.

And, continuing along the ever present baby theme I seem to have going at the moment, this fabric has become a double sided summer wrap.  Easy, peasy, two lengths right sides out, bind with the last little bit of fabric.  I've been carting this length around with me for years and years.  When I had babies, I always carried these with me.  You never know when you need to put your baby down 'somewhere', and that 'somewhere' might be a surface that is a little bit suss in my opinion.  Not that I'm any sort of clean freak I have to say, but at least the wrap gives you some peace of mind.  I have to add that my babies hardly ever had illness of any kind.

I am still quite busy with the watering duties, but as I type, I can hear a slight drizzle, and can smell that wonderful smell of rain on dry earth!!  We have been told to expect some rain this week, so bring it on I say.

Sugar & Spice

Things have been rather crazy here lately, but I've managed to finish another knitting project, as well as a little pair of pants to go with my latest little cardigan.  I am not sure if the photograph is showing the colour correctly, but these little pants are made from very fine hot pink corduroy [everything of course was in my stash].  Oh, I do wish I had a sweet little baby to use to model this.  It would look so much nicer actually on a child the right size!!

I am quite happy with the little cardigan.  It's a rather more boxy and roomy design than the red one, and is a pattern I purchased online as an instant download - http://www.patternfish.com/  If you are at all interested in lovely patterns, that don't cost the earth, then I can recommend this site to you.  This pattern comes in about six sizes, and cost just under $6.00!!

I knew I wanted a little pair of pants with a contrast turn up to go with the cardigan.  I found this pattern in one of my Top Kids magazines, but I am not sure if this magazine is still going.  I always found it had rather spunky little fashions for kids.  I found a partly finished brushed moleskin skirt that I can use to make pants to go with the little red cardigan.  It's the traditional creamy beige coloured moleskin, and very soft - watch this space!!  It's so much fun making little clothes again.

 I hope the close-up will show you the lovely double moss stitch and cable design that is worked into the little cardigan.  I liked the idea of the collar, which I think makes it a little more dressy.   Of course, I again used my favourite twisted rib in the bands, etc.  The wool was some more that I purchased from that lovely store in Kyneton, Victoria -  http://www.pickupstitches.com.au/




Thank you all again so much for persisting with comments.  I am not at all sure what happens.  I have honestly never had a problem leaving a comment on other blogs.

I need to catch up on some bookwork now.  It's BAS time again, and today I finally received the Cash Book back from our accountant, so it will be clerical duties for me for a few days.

The Little Red Cardigan

Thank you everyone for your enthusiastic comments on my last post.  I've been absent from blogging for a number of days.  I seem to have been kept busy here lately.  I can now share with you the little red cardigan. I am finally finished.  I have no idea why it's taken me so long to knit a baby's cardigan!!  This was knitted with the Heirloom Baby Wool in 4 ply that I purchased from Pick Up Stitches in Kyneton.  It knitted up beautifully, and I'm totally thrilled with the result.

I hope this close-up will show you the little reverse stocking stitch relief pattern.  I rather like the back of it, but thought I'd go with the 'designer' and do as directed.  I do however much prefer to work my ribs as a twisted rib, ie knit and purl into the back of the stitches.  I find I like the finished result.

This design was taken from a very old knitting book I've carted around with me for years.  It has even had a run-in with some hungry mice [notice the corner that has been chewed!!].  I think I was given these books by an aunt years ago.

I've made this to fit 6-9 months, as it's to be a gift for an expected infant - early next year.  The booklet says 3ply, but I have a feeling that today's 4ply is yesterday's 3ply if you get my drift, as my knitting tension was as given in the book.  I encountered a couple of new things with this little pattern.  I had never knitted a band along with the fronts for a V-necked cardigan, but loved the way this was done.  The instructions also suggested to use turning rows every 1½ inches to avoid the sagging that occurs with knitted on borders.  I honestly had never heard of this.  It worked well I must say.  It's actually nice to see a proper set-in sleeve application, rather than that dropped shoulder line effect so common to newer designs.  

I think I'll make a little pair of denim pants to wear with this [I have some quite soft, thinner denim], and have found this really old flannel in my stash which I thought would make a super soft lining for said denim pants.  Now I just need to find that Burda Baby book with the really cool baby duds pattern in it!!

Thank you again to everyone who cares to leave such lovely comments.  I do appreciate the time it takes to do so.  I also appreciate the emails I've received in the last few days asking after me.  I know I have been absent from my blog for a while, so thank you ladies for caring to ask after me.  All is well, I am just busy with animals and outside lately.  I have lots more of this lovely wool, so hope to get another little piece underway soon.   

Knitting & Crochet Fun

In between my embroidery, and animal duties, I've been playing with some woolwork.  My sister and niece recently sent me their yarn stash, so I've made a start at using it.   I plan to use it for small projects, ie knee rugs, scarves, baby accessories.  Much of it is acrylic, easy to launder.  The knee rug above is the first of my experiments.  I had five large skeins of this multi-coloured pink/purple, and really wasn't sure how far it would go, so I began with the crochet design that starts in one corner and works out on the diagonal.  I kept going until I had used just over two skeins, and then began working my way back into the other corner.  It will make a nice little knee rug to pack in my 'nursing home kit'................  If you see a slight colour variation, you are quite correct.  Despite all the bands displaying the same dyelot number, there still seems to be some difference.  Never mind, this was a project I could work on at night, with a repetitive pattern, and it didn't require a lot of counting and thought.

I have also managed to knit a child's beanie using the wool I purchased recently from Pick Up Stitches.  I love this strong colour contrasting wool.  It is very soft.

This was my first piece of Fishermens' Rib/Brioche Stitch, and I really enjoyed working it.  However, it is VERY elastic, so I needed to use needles one size smaller than I would normally use for traditional rib.  I would love to knit a good sweater in this pattern, perhaps in a colour a little more suited to my age group..........LOL..........

I've not long started a little baby cardigan in red 4 ply pure wool, having almost completed the back, and hope to have it finished by the end of next week.  I really love knitting for babies and toddlers, so will try to do a few things in the coming months, before the real heat sets in here.

I've only just noticed that Blogger seems to have given us a new photograph viewing capability.  I quite like it.  Hope others do too.

I'm still around!!!

This week seems to have completely disappeared on me!!!  Thank you all very much for the positive comments on the July needlecase.  I am pleased to report the grey felt turned up, along with the lovely apple green ordered at the same time.  Somehow it just disappeared.  I have to say a special thank you to Catherine [Catherine's Place] for getting to the bottom of the dilemma and organizing a second order for me.  She has some very nice products and I will be putting in another order ASAP.  I have to admit though, after the grey felt arrived, I am happy that I used the black felt in the July needlecase.  I think the contrast is more striking.

I have made a start on August's needlecase, but I find I've been needing something to do at night, something that is not so taxing on my eyesight.  These little toddlers' beanies are quick to make and use left overs. 

I thought I might also share this pram cover with everyone.  I knitted this using homespun wool.  It's not the 'softest' cover I've ever come across, but it should be very warm.  This little 4-row pattern creates a waffle effect, and was very easy to knit.  I do hope the close up is clear enough.    Both this and the beanie pattern are in a book I've had for years - All you can Knit and Crochet for Babies [Golden Hands publication].  I really like the styles in it, despite it being quite old. 

The Camel Hair Scarf

It seems ages since I've posted anything.  Family has been keeping me a little busy of late, but I do have a little something to show everyone.  I love working with this lovely soft baby camel hair.  This scarf pattern is very easy to do, nice when you just want something to do in front of the TV at night.  It is almost long enough [had a fitting on the weekend..................LOL.........yes, we have scarf fittings at our house!!].  I'm knitting this supposedly 8ply on 6.5mm needles, just to have a slightly looser tension, keeping the feel a little softer.  There will be a tassel at each end.  This pattern was in an Australian Knitting magazine, and is a simple garter stitch, increase one, decrease, and so on, which makes a 'chevron' effect.

I have become interested in the many and varied fibres on the market today, and can't believe how many exciting products we have at our finger tips.  I saw this site some time ago, but had forgotten about it: http://ecoyarns.com.au/index.php    I can see some time wasted [??], and money going out of my account!!!  After knitting with bamboo fibre a few years ago, and more recently using bamboo quilt wadding, I'm quite keen to try some of the newer products available.  I hope you find something interesting on this site.