Wednesday, April 15, 2009

wow - just wow

...nothing more needs to be said really.....

A knitting update

To say that life around herehas been cazy would be an understatement and as a result any sort of crafty activities have been on hold. Until this week. Easter, while marking the school holidays and two weeks of my adorable boy being at home also marks uni holidays which means for two whole weeks there are no lectures to attend, no tutorials which I need to go to and relative freedom.

So... what have I been doing with all my free time? Getting crafty - that's what!


Pattern - Stacked Eyelet Cowl (Rav Link) (Non-Rav Link)
Needles - KP 4.5mm 40cm cable
Yarn - The Yarn Cafe - Sock club colourway "Pistachio"
Comment - When I opened my Yarn Cafe envelope and saw this yarn I knew that it wanted to be a cowl for this winter and the stacked eyelet is a pattern that I've liked for a while. Nice and simple, good for variegated yarns, I thought it would work well with this yarn which it does. I've used the yarn doubled as it was a 4ply and I wanted something a bit more chunky. It's snuggly and warm and just right for two brown winter coats that I have. I've still got about 30gr of this yarn left so I'm thinking I'll pair it with a plain beige 8ply to make some fingerless mittens.

Pattern - Tweedy Cabled Cap (Rav Link) (Non-Rav Link)

Needles - KP 4.5mm 40cm cable

Yarn - Some generic 8ply 100% wool picked up at Kmart for $2 per ball. Used about one and a half -not bad for about $3.00

Comments - Izaaks beanie from last year was looking pretty sad and more Jewish skull cap-ish than keep-your-head-warm-beanie so we decided he needed a new one. He sat at the laptop with me and we trolled through Rav for a while when he saw this pattern and loved the cable at the front. Apparently it's very ninja band like? Anyway, I didn't do as many rounds as the pattern because he doesn't like things covering his ears so it's quite a bit more shallow than the written pattern. Finished in a day though - quick, easy, nice knit with good shaping and I like the way that the decreases use the pattern as a design feature. If I could wear a beanie I'd want one like this

Pattern - Test knit for fellow Raveller

Needles - KP 4.5mm 40cm cable

Yarn - Malabrigo Worsted

Comments - This is a test knit for a pattern that is yet to be released and at the moment, doesn't have a name. I really like it though, nice lace pattern with straight rows for a rest. This pattern also recommended a Russian bind off which I had no idea how to do so it's been a good motivator for learning a new skill as well. It's snug and the Mmmmmallll is just so warm and cosy. This was my first FO in Malabrigo and it certainly won't be the last. This yarn is somewhat special, it being a birthday gift from George and all so I wanted to do a good job with it. I think I managed that! This is very yarn savy as well - less than half a skein for this little baby. I had 56gr remaining. I'm planning another one of these about half the size for the little miss of the house who is desperate for one "just like you Mum" Sometimes she's just too cute!

Pattern - Waffle Stitch Fingerless Gloves

Needles - 5mm straights

Yarn - Malabrigo Worsted

Comments - This is the 56gr left over from the cowl and given the cooler weather that we're having in Canberra this week a pair of fingerless gloves seems only fitting. It is strangely nice knitting flat for a change and this is a good looking, well written pattern which is perfect for the half skeins of the stash. I've done one and am 8 rows from finishing the second. There was a period of panic where I thought I was going to run out of yarn but I'm going to be fine and will end up with a few grams left over. I really feel like I've gotten the most out of this skein of yarn. I cast on 40 rather than 36 as I do have larger than normal hands and I'm a tight knitter but I need not have bothered. They would have been big enough with the 36 and are, if anything, a touch too big with the 40. I'm not going to block them - I don't want them to grow any bigger. Can't wait for the cowl to dry though - I can have matching cowl & gloves! yay!

So that's what has been happening in the crafty stakes here since Friday - I'm really enjoying having the extra time to get projects finished. I've also knitted exclusively from stash so that makes me feel good as well. The next things on the needles will be gloves for the kids and a beanie for Charlotte. I like the little projects too - being able to start something and finish it wthin a few days has fed my 'instant gratification' needs. I'm also feeling the need to crotchet so the hook may well come out in the next few days. Yay for holidays!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Easter...

at our house included
...Easter crafting to share with some friends over lunch
...some backyard camping with George and her brood which was great. Nothing like waking up in a tent and then walking 10 steps to be inside a nice warm house with all the mod cons!

...a few choccies - a rabbit for each of the kids plus a few eggs

...lots of knitting - including 2 FOs - more details to come later and another cast on to happen this afternoon

...some chill out time at the National Folk Festival. First time experience for me but I'll definitely be back next year with the kids as well. It was a really great night out. Will post a more detailed post later but it was fab.

...having pide for dinner with my folks while watching the rugby

...the best bit of easter? Chilling out with these two adorable little people who really make getting out of bed each day just a little bit easier. I love them more and more each day


Thursday, April 2, 2009

Tough times

The past few weeks have been tough - well probably the past month really and as a result I haven't been online or blogging much. Things in our house are slightly messy and awful right now but I'm hoping it will all pick up again soon.

We're now just one week away from holidays for the boy and myself which I am absolutely and thoroughly looking forward to! We plan on doing lots of nothing during the break - a few day trips planned here and there but on the whole I think we both need time just to take a break, rest, relax and refresh. So six days, 3000 words and two shifts to go before the first half of the semester is over and done with for me. Izaak is doing well at school although this week has been messy with his normal classroom teacher being away. In saying that he has surprised me with how well he has coped with the change in routine. Charlotte on the other hand. Well, Charlotte is just being Charlotte. Enough said about that.

In crafty news I completed the favourite colours swap recently. My swapee is a purple lover so I went back to the old faithful - clapotis - with some 8ply Waratah Fibres. I'm not sure of the colourway because I'm not sure where the ball band got to. Slightly scratchy while being knitted but it softened beautifully on blocking. This swap had quite a long time from sign up to post out and as a result I collected quite a few more things that I had realised. A few things here... a bit there and it soon adds up! Anyway, the purple parcel that I posted out....



No parcel for me as yet but fingers crossed it'll be in the first few days of next week. In other yarnish news my absolute favourite store - the yarn cafe - had a recent offer which I couldn't resist so next week should be a deliciously yarny mail week. Due to the rather large amounts of yarn coming in I'm destashing this week to make some room (and dosh!) for the new stuff. Am working on a lace project for myself too but will share piccies once I've got more done.
Izaaks class are presenting their item at assembly today so the girl and I will head up to the school in a little bit and see how it all goes. Then it's cake and coffee with the people who we were neighbours with years ago. Her daughter is a few months older than Charlotte and the girls get along really well so it'll be nice to catch up with them again.
Anyway, that's all folks! Till next time....