4KCBWDAY2: A Mascot Project.

Today the prompt for the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is to find a pattern that represents or embodies our house mascot. Yesterday, I chose the house of bees, so today I need to find a pattern with a bee-like theme...

When I'm looking for a new project, I usually start by looking through my knitting board on Pinterest, or my queue on Ravelry. If I can't see what I am looking for, I use the Ravelry advanced search to narrow down some options.

So, at the moment I'm thinking I need to make a cute little hat for a baby shower in a couple of weeks. I searched baby hat bee, baby hat honey. Then I tried a few other things bee related, and some how I ended up with this sweet Norwegian baby hat pattern.  I also remembered this Flower Power hat I favourited a while ago. When I find a pattern, I like looking through a few finished projects and reading notes to see how people went in knitting or crocheting. As I read and looked around for information on these two patterns, I also started considering the crochet Owl hat that I made for another friend's baby recently.

Now like a bee, I'm flitting between these projects, trying to decide on one. Because they won't use up much yarn, I'm sure I'll be able to find yarn for whichever one I pick in my stash.

Which hat do you think I should cast on?

Little Coffee Bean Cardigan

FO Friday!
Another project that has been sitting unfinished for MONTHS, and only needed 20 minutes to complete! I just had to sew in the ends and the buttons.

I made the Little Coffee Bean Cardigan (link to Ravelry free pattern) for a friend's baby as a first birthday present. Her birthday was in April. Then we moved. Then I procrastinated. Now it is spring and warming up each day, in fact today it is 31C.

I am really pleased with it, but not so pleased that she will probably never wear it, since next winter she'll be too big! This is a really cute pattern for babies, easy and fast to knit, and the pattern is well-written and clear.



Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply in colour and colour.
Wooden buttons from Lincraft





For other great projects, check out Tami's FO Friday!

WIP Wednesday: Monkey socks

I have been knitting these socks for a while. They are usually my portable project, so I really only knit them at Brown Owl (my craft group) meetings.




As you can see I am practically at the toe decreases, so I should just sit down one afternoon and finish this sock! It is a long weekend here in Australia next weekend, and although we have a few nice things planned, I should be able to fit in some crafting time.

Socks: Monkey from Knitty
Yarn: Umm, not sure, but I think it's Ranco Multy
Method: I always use Magic Loop on one circular needle to knit socks.

Check out other people's works in progress (WIPs) on Tami's blog here.While you're there check out Tami's beautiful new yarn colourway, Witch's Brew. It's so pretty!

FO Friday - Baudelaire knit socks

Finished my Baudelaire socks!

I started them just under a year ago, but finally got the motivation to finish them.

Pattern: Baudelaire by Cookie A from Knitty

Yarn: Araucania Ranco Solid

Needles: 2.5mm Addi Turbos circular needles

Method: Magic Loop, toe up

I do love this yarn, the colour is so beautiful, with tiny, natural looking variegation throughout, the subtle changes add real depth to the colour. It was lovely to knit with, no splitting or knots.

The pattern was fun and easy to memorise, it was fun doing lace and cable patterns together in the leg. This was my first toe-up sock, and I don't really like the shape of the toe, it is a bit pointy and rectangular, so it doesn't fit my toes very well. I prefer the rounded toe shape of cuff-down socks. But it was fun to use a different construction method, and I may try it again, but maybe starting with more cast-on stitches, which would decrease the point. 

They are also slightly big, but I wouldn't wear them under shoes anyway, they'll be house socks. Overall I'm happy with them, and I'm inspired to keep knitting socks!

Check out other FO (Finished Object!) Friday's on Tami Amis

Unwell and knitting

I'm having a sick day which is VERY unusual for me. I left work early yesterday, and was up all night feeling crap, so I stayed home today. I've spent the morning catching up with  blogs, and will now use the afternoon to knit and listen to podcasts.

I have two projects on the needles that I am actively working on.

I've picked up my Baudelaire socks again, and am now on the home stretch - they're toe-up and I've passed the heel and am now on the leg.



I am also knitting a simple drop stitch scarf using Debbie Bliss Kidsilk Haze. A friend got me a skein for my birthday, there was a sample of the scarf in the shop and the yarn came with the pattern. Such a sweet gift as she doesn't knit! This is lovely meditative knitting, except the yarn does start to irritate me after a while and makes my nose and eyes itchy!

2012

I'm glad to see 2012. Last year was a hard one for me, for personal reasons, and especially at the beginning of the year, I lost a lot of my passion for reading and crafting. I am determined to make this year great, so I am working through some goals to work through this year. Some of my goals are:

Running:

• train for and hopefully complete a half-marathon
• run 500km during the year

Reading:

• use Good Reads to keep lists and record my reading
• write occasional reviews of books
• read 50 books

Sewing:

• create a list of things I need, and sew then using my stash

Knitting

• work through Year of Projects
• go through all my yarn stash - designate projects for yarn, and update Ravelry

Blogging and Social Media:

• blog at least once a week
• sort out photos
• no wasting time lurking on forums - either participate or get out!
• use Ravelry, Good Reads and Google Reader to help prioritise my time, not waste it

I also have some writing, medical and organisational goals, including starting art jounaling.

It's been great to read through everyone else's goals and resolutions in blogland, I think this time of year is really positive!

Wow, 2012's first completed project!

Today has been lovely. A sleep-in, followed by sorting through my yarn stash, knitting while listening to Cast-on, drinking tea I got for Christmas, and eating leftover Christmas cake. This is how I used to spend my weekends when we lived in England, but since being in Oz I just haven't done it. I'm going to try and make knitting a priority in my life in 2012, I get so much out of it. Including wearable knits!

I bought Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in December 2004 to make Knitty's Tempting and started knitting it in early 2005. By 2006 it was a UFO, and I notice that in August 2008 I had decided I was never going to complete it, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't wear it. I queued Shalom (link to pattern PDF) by Meghan from Involving the Senses in Ravelry in October 2008, and looks like I started it in April 2009. I have never blogged or made any other record about this project. I think I started it one weekend, worked on it intensively for a week or so, then stopped.


Today, I went through my stash (one of my 2012 goals). I saw Shalom, and how little I needed to do. I finished it in 2 hours. I think the reason I stopped knitting was that I wasn't sure if there was enough yarn to make it. There definitely wasn't enough to make it full length, but I just knitted until I used all the yarn and it's a nice cropped length. It's not the most flattering garment, as it does stop right at my waist, but I think it will be great with skinny jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt.



The Shalom cardigan was on my Year of Projects list - so I can cross it off! I also did some knitting on a pair of socks, so I am going well so far.

2011 Summary

1. Penguin, 2. throw cushions, 3. Echino Handbag1, 4. BobbleBlue back, 5. Ripple on Chair, 6. AppalachiaProgress, 7. Amigurumi bunny side, 8. WIPknitbag, 9. EnvyCloseUp

I thought I’d done hardly any crafting over 2011, but  looking through my photos, I completed nine projects.  I also started some UFOs that I will try and finish in the next few months, and I may have completed some other small projects that I didn't take photos of!

My favourite project was the Echino handbag, I used it all the time, and still love the fabric. While in Japan last year, I picked up some more Echino fabric in a more neutral colour, so I’m definitely going to make another bag, more like a tote.

I also in 2011:

• took part in the Knitting and Crochet Blog week, and posted a blog post every day for a week
• ran the City to Surf (a 14km run) and raised over $700 for the Cancer Council in memory of my dad who died at the beginning of the year
• went on a fantastic trip to Fukuoka, Japan
• started a new job
• lost over 13kgs doing Weight Watchers
• attended Brown Owls (my local craft group) meetings and
• started regular Pilates classes

WIP Wednesday Aidez

This is the back of Aidez. I am really only working on it on weekends, I'm training for the City2Surf, a 14km run. So most days after work, I go for a run, cook dinner, eat, and by then am a little tired to focus on knitting a big project. In the evenings I'm working on crochet squares for a blanket. I am enjoying knitting Aidez when I do it though, the cables are fun and it's growing fast!

On the weekend I went to my Mum's local craft store. It had a great selection of books and patterns. As I still haven't decided on a fair isle jumper, I was looking for a pattern for that, and I found a great one in Cleckheaton 950. Unfortunately, I can't find a photo of it online, but I'll take one later. It's quite Christmassy, which is exactly what I was looking for!

Even though I feel like I haven't been knitting much recently, tomorrow I get to do it at work! I work at a school, and the students are working on knitting squares for Wrap with Love, a charity that makes blankets out of donated squares. I'm going to check it out, and maybe help some students to cast on. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids knit!

Aidez

This is a progress report on my year of projects!

I've been working on Aidez this weekend. It's lots of fun with some new cables that I haven't done before. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the back. I was having so much fun knitting it this afternoon that I forgot to take a photo before it got dark!

I'm using Cascade Eco, which I ordered from WEBS. I love the smell, it's like sheep! It feels so nice as well.

So this is a photo of my swatch. It's not even an exciting swatch with cables, it's just stocking stitch. I promise I've done more than this!

WIP Wednesday: Baudelaire

Yes, I've started on my 2nd sock! I'm much happier with the toe this time, the pattern uses a figure 8 cast on, and I used this tutorial from A Gathering of Wool. It shows how to do this cast on using Magic Loop, which is how I knit my socks. This tutorial was really helpful in getting my stitches looking nice and neat. This is my first time knitting toe up socks, and the first time using the figure 8 cast on. I do like toe up, as you can check the length of the leg of the sock. I'm always worried that I'll run out of yarn, so tend to do them a bit shorter than I'd like.

I've been working on this sock on my lunch break at work, I can get a few rows in each day so hopefully I can get some momentum going and actually finish a pair of socks!

To see other WIPs, check out Tami's Amis Blog

A Year of Projects

I read about this on Crafts From the Cwtch and it seemed like just the thing to get me organised for the next year.

Basically it is just working out my knitting (and crocheting) goals for the year, posting a list, and then every Sunday posting about my progress. I'm using my Rav queue and my UFO pile as a starter for my list.

• Aidez, a cabled cardigan (I've JUST cast on this)
• Moonlight Sonata Scarf
• Some mittens or gloves for myself, maybe Bella's Mittens or Wine and Roses Mitts. These are completely different, so I could do both!
• A slouch hat for myself, I like a few: Slouchy Copy Cat Hat, From Norway with Love, 
• A Fair Isle sweater, maybe Autumn Rose Pullover, Bonbon, 
• Owls sweater
• Beer Gloves
• Finish at least 2 pairs of socks ( I have about 5 unfinished socks hanging around!)
• Finish Shalom, or use the yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran) for something else

As I only read about this last night, I'm sure I'll be updating this list over the next week. 

Rainy Long Weekend

It's a long weekend here in Australia, and it's pretty cold and miserable.

Saturday was busy, I headed into the World Wide Knit in Public Day in Sydney, watched Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in 3D, and then we wandered around the city checking out the amazing light sculptures for the Sydney VIVID light festival. Lots of buildings, including the Opera House, have light patterns beamed on to them, it is so cool. The Fire Dance at Campbell Cove was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, they had fire jets to choreographed to the sound of music. I absolutely loved it!

I finally joined Pinterest and played on that all morning, it's a great way of keeping inspirational pics together, I just need to find more boards to follow. If you're on Pinterest, please let me know in the comments so I can follow you!

Today will be spent doing pleasant things:

Walking: In my gumboots to the library

Eating: Porridge with golden syrup
Knitting: Appalachia hat
Blocking: Lace Ribbon Scarf
Reading: Started Early, Took my Dog
Drinking: Tea

Bobble Blue - FINISHED!

Bobble Blue has been a long time coming. I first fell in love with the pattern when I lived in England in 2006. I had a subscription to Interweave Knits given to me that year, and the picture of the model sitting outside the cafe in her bright blue Bobble Blue tempted me.

On a mini-break over that summer to Pembrokeshire in Wales, I visited an Angora goat farm, Blueberry Angora, which sold yarn direct to the public, and I bought enough for a sweater in a gorgeous maroon colour (called Russet Red). It was so fun to visit the farm, I got to meet the little goats that contributed to my yarn! The yarn was a little scratchy, but fine to knit with and I would mostly wear this knit over a turtle neck or long sleeved top.

I started knitting, and loved doing the cables and bobbles, so much fun to see them pop! Then we traveled for four months and moved to Australia. Bobble Blue was put in the bottom of a box. Finally I had inspiration to finish the last few bits – picking up stitches for the collar, and seaming it together, and blocking. I even bought some buttons, which was the last thing to do. But I wasn’t sure about the buttons, so I didn’t sew them on.

Another move, across town this time, instead of across countries, and I was inspired to finally finish it off. I bought different buttons, and sewed them on. It was done!

It is now a bit too big for me, I’ve lost weight since I first started it, but I I’m still really pleased. It’s not the most flattering garment, but it is so warm and the perfect thing to wear in a Sydney Winter, when it’s not quite cold enough for a coat.

I’ve got one more sweater with a similar story (started in England, complete except for inserting a zipper). Poor Rosedale, it was actually finished, except I sewed the wrong type of zipper into it, so once I unzipped it I couldn’t zip it up again. I have finally bought a new zipper, so that is my goal for next week!

Details

Started: October 2006
Yarn: 6 skeins of Russet Red Aran, 80% Angora, 20% wool, bought August 2006
Pattern:  Bobble Blue, Interweave Knits
Completed knitting : February 2009
Sewed on buttons: May 2011







To check out other finished things, check out Tami Ami's blog!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday: Appalachia

I've cast on for a new project! And, no, I haven't finished those socks...



It's a knit hat, Appalachia,  by Bear Ears. I'm using Noro Kureyon Sock and Patonyle for the main solid. A fun knit so far with my beloved Noro, though it's going very slow, because I don't know how to do stranded knitting. So I just drop and pick up each colour as I need it. I know I should practise two hands, but it feels too awkward!

I'm doing it as a KAL in Ravelry, which is spurring me on.

I've started back at a new job, so am having less time to blog and craft, but I'm starting to get used to my new schedule. I get a proper lunch break, so have taken knitting a few times, and I'm going to try to make that a habit.

To check out other Work-In-Progress Wednesdays, click on Tami's Amis and Other Creations


In other news, I'm looking forward to the next Brown Owls meeting on Friday night. I'm glad the meetings are becoming regular again and seeing the old faces.

Nearly time to go back to work

I'm really glad I've started blogging regularly. One of the major reasons is I am currently a lady of leisure! I quit my job that was taking up way too much time, and have been spending time at home. During this time I've participated in Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, iHanna's Postcard Swap and worked on a few projects. I've been able to go to Brown Owls meetings and meet friends for lunch or dinner.

I've found a new job though, and am starting back after the Easter Break.

My new job starts early and finishes early, so I'm hoping I can continue blogging and crafting. 

In fact my goal is to finish this pair of Baudelaire socks. We are going away for the Easter long, long weekend, and I want to do a lot of work on these socks!

Where are they now?

These hats are hats that are no longer with us...Lost on the streets of distant countries.

The first hat, a simple cable beanie was knit for The Boy when we lived in Japan. I can't remember what pattern or yarn I used, and it was done before I had a blog, or even a knitting notebook, so I have no notes. It would have been one of my first projects. It was lost one evening, very sad...

The second beanie was knit without a pattern, just a basic hat, and random stripes according to how much yarn I had left. It was completed in England, for The Boy, and again, lost.

Now this sounds like The Boy is very irresponsible and disrespecting of hand-knitted goods. Quite the opposite. He is the most appreciative and supportive of my knitting and craft hobbies, and is always pleased and proud to wear something I knit him. I've heard him tell people (completely apropos of nothing) that the article he is wearing was knit by me. But everyone can lose hats, and this is proved by the fact that I too have lost one.

The third hat is the Cabled Newsboy Hat (Ravelry link) from Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch Nation. It was the first project I made that used knitting in the round and cables. I was so proud of myself, and I loved wearing it. The yarn was a Japanese yarn, Puppy brand, and had alpaca in it. It was so cozy and warm. I lost it one day when we were in London, I had lots of bags with me and was getting hot and flustered, I took it off and put it on the top of my handbag. I realised soon after that I had lost it, we looked in the streets and asked at the counter of shops we had been into but it was gone. I do wonder what happened to it.

I've always meant to knit another one, this might be the year I do. And the boy has had the same beanie that I knit for him as a replacement for the other, he's had it for years now and not managed to lose it!

Check out other blogs posting on this topic by clicking on this link or searching for 2KCBWDAY4 in google.

Envy Neck-warmer

I wanted a quick, easy project and Envy fit the bill. It had everything I liked, seed stitch, cables, and was a really cute pattern. Check out the photos with the pattern, they are fantastic!

This was really easy, only cast-on with 20 stitches and an easy cable patten. I didn't use a cable needle for it. I knit it on 8mm bamboo needles instead of 9mm, since that was what I had and I didn't want to buy another pair of needles, I don't knit bulky stuff very often.

I used Morris Fuel, which is a 100% bulky wool in a gorgeous bright purple, used just over one 50g skein. It isn't plied, but was easy to knit with, didn't split much, it looked like it may have broke if I pulled tightly, but I knit this very loosely since I was on smaller needle and I didn't have any problems.

I did make button holes, it is meant to have three big buttons, but I didn't have any suitable buttons in my stash. I've used this bright red flower brooch I got for Christmas for the time being, and I really like it. If I see some nice buttons, I'll grab them and put them on. I'm not sure whether to get buttons to match or to contrast the purple.

Don't look too closely, as you can see I haven't weaved in the ends yet!

My Creative Space

My creative space is on the couch, in front of my laptop.

I am still working on the Baudelaire sock, I have just done the heel and am now starting on the leg. I am loving the lace pattern, now I have to start incorporating the cable as well.



The book I'm reading is Agatha Christie's autobiography. It is so interesting. I love the way she writes, and it is really evocative of time and place. I've just finished the section on her childhood (I suddenly noticed that I was already up to page 88 and she was still only seven years old!), I love all the information she provides, and explains how families lived their lives during that period (late 1800, early 1900s).

I bought this book at North Sydney Markets, the second-hand book variety was great! We went last weekend for the first time and I ended up buying two other books as well: The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh (which I have wanted for ages, I have a slight obsession with the Mitford sisters), and Love Among the Butterflies by Margaret Fontaine, excerpts from a diary written by a Victorian woman.

Check out other creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

Baudelaire Socks

I've cast on!

I'm knitting Baudelaire, designed by Cookie A. It's a free pattern from Knitty.

I'm using a beautiful yarn I bought in Sheffield, England over Christmas:



It is toe up, so that is a new method for me, have almost finished the toe, and looking forward to starting the lace pattern.