T i g e r k n i t s

It's finished and it fits!!

2010-01-13T16:15:00.008+10:30

I just finished sewing a zipper in my Viking Cabled Central Park Hoody and I looove it!!
Finally something that fits.
I mucked up the zipper 3 times and had to unpick it luckily I only had to unpick one side but gah! so much unpicking.

I am now an expert (self-proclaimed of course) at installing zippers.
Here is what I have learnt:

Baste it in with two strands of sewing thread with small stitches. Make sure you are lining up the rib on both sides.
Use a sewing machine to secure it in place permanently - use a medium/long stitch - I didn’t realise my sewing machine, although set to medium, was sewing tiny stitches.
Remove and tidy up threads.
Dance around and show the cat, be amazed at your skills.

Anyway it is done, drumroll please...

I blame Ikea

2009-12-31T15:21:00.022+10:30

This room has always been a junkroom and the door is kept closed. I have wanted to improve the room by adding some bookshelves but never really had the time. Miss A and I went to Ikea, they had a great bookshelf system on display that might just work in that room. That afternoon, after a few calculations I roped Miss A into helping me clear out the room, it was just going to get a tidy up at that stage. Then maybe we could put the bookshelves in bit by bit over the next few months. It was so cluttered we could take 3 steps inside the door and that was it.

Over 4 days we fixed it up:

Day 1: We cleared it out. After clearing out the room we could see that it was pointless putting in new bookshelves when the carpet was so awful - split and tearing and worn in places, so...we started ripping out the carpet.
.

Day 2: Now it was almost bare it looked better We got some carpet tiles from Bunnings and over the next day they were laid. Then we went back to Ikea to order the bookshelves and came back home to finish laying the tiles. After dumping everything in 3 other rooms it looked so messy that we had to get the back room in order fairly quickly as I couldn't stand having it so messy.

Day 3: We finished the carpeting the night before delivery so we just had to wait for the bookshelves to arrive. We assembled them (that was fun) and put them in the room. The first one took an hour ( and a few melt downs) to put together, the second one took 45 mins and by the third one we had the steps down pat so the rest took 30 mins or less to assemble.

They fit along the long wall round the corner and almost along the length of the short wall.

Day 4: Now we just had to put back in everything we had taken out. Would it all fit? Would it look messy? Would we have more space?

The room looks fantastic, there is room for the rocking chair so Miss A can have a quiet place (so can I ;) )

It all fits, with room to spare! There is heaps of space on top too. I even attached the bookshelves to the walls for stability. Although now I think I need to readjust them as the shelves are together at the tops, but have a half a centimetre gap at the bottom and I fear they are angled toward each other rather than straight. Which means unscrewing them and I know how much fun I had getting those screws in the first time!

Here's the view from the doorway:

Clearly more than 3 steps.

This was a long overdue home improvement, we worked from the time we woke up to the time we collapsed into bed for almost 4 days. My back hurts, my feet are dirty and my hand is numb from the screwing in of many screws and my bank balance has dropped. Like I said...I blame Ikea, but the room now has a nice, fresh feel to it.

Wollmeise Wednesday

2009-11-04T19:57:00.006+10:30

Wow, This is a yarn that I have wanted for ages! I can't believe that I managed to actually get some.

It is Wollmeise Poison Nr 5 and I will love it and pet it and call it George

One of these will definitely become and Ishbel.

I also managed to buy some other colours, oops:

Petit Poison

Fliederbusch

Der Letze Versuch

Purple is my favourite colour.
The camera does not capture the beautiful colours of the wollmeise at all, they are lovely.

Christmas has definitely come early.

Spooky

2009-11-01T08:38:00.006+10:30

We don't celebrate Halloween in Australia but over the years it is becoming increasingly popular. This year, as a favour for a friend Miss A and I went to the Parents Without Partners (PWOP - there's a whole 'nother post there) Halloween Party.

Of course we had to dress up gah!:

Miss A looking scary as the Grim Reaper and me as Buffy The Vampire Slayer. So easy to do BTVS - wack on a blonde wig and go find Mr Pointy and we're all set. This is the best picture of BTVS although I couldn't work out why the flash wasn't working, it took me ages to work out that my finger was covering it - and I have 6 photos to prove it. I wish I could blame that on the blonde wig but unfortunately my brain has decided not to work properly for a few weeks now.

My friend and her daughter went as a witch and the devil. I can post this pic as it doesn't show her face and I don't like posting pics of others without their permission and if i asked her then she would know about this blog and shhh it's a secret.

They had some activities for the kids like this one:

Miss A and her team had to wrap a small child in toilet paper, you can just see the poor little paper-wrapped boy. They also had an eyeball and spoon race.

It was a good night lots of music and most people made the effort to dress up.

Watch out, she's comin' for you, and you and.....you!

Delights

2009-10-31T12:08:00.009+10:30

I was lucky a few weeks ago, I am not often lucky but must have gotten some good karma from somewhere - treat people nicely, have some patience, be kind etc lol.
I managed to catch a Wollmeise update following the steps posted by RoseRed. Here's my first lot of Wollmeise:

L to R we have Fuschia, Aquarius, Hortensie, Rittersporn and 2 Ballerina.

Here they are close up the camera did not capture the colours quite correctly they seem to glow IRL, but it does show the difference in colours especially with Rittersporn.

Fuschia

Aquarius

Hortensie

Rittersporn

Ballerina

I can't get over how tightly twisted the skeins are they are very firm and stick out, not soft and floofy and falling over. I'll see how they go when it's time to wind them into balls.

The knitting goddess shined on me again and I now have some Poison Nr 5 ( along with a few others) on its way here, hopefully this week (it takes only 7 days from when it is marked 'dispatched' ...cool). I have wanted Poison Nr 5 since I saw it being knitted on someone's blog just 2 years ago, and my heart skipped a beat. Will post pictures when it gets here.

The Taming of the Yarn and Maybe I Need To Get Out More

2009-10-03T13:39:00.004+09:30

The yarn has been surprisingly easy to tame, no tangles at all, such relief. lol. Here it is in my drying cabinet - looks like a fridge but it has a fan at the bottom and it will blow hot or warm air upwards. I think this is from the 1960s or 1970s, great for driyng yarn.

Here are the balls all dry and ready to knit:

And here it is reborn as a Viking Cable CPH. Loving the challenge of incorporating the cables into the CPH pattern. Not much of a challenge for some but for me it is.

Having issues with trying to work out what needles and what size to work in regarding jackets. Ms Koalajeans 2 below, is much better than before and I am so much more likely to actually wear it BUT maybe I went too small, now I ummed and ahhed over the sizes and calculated and thought and you know...thought it would be ok but it has turned out a bit on the small size. I like how it looks on, it is passable but not perfect, but no way can I do it up, it will have to stay an open jacket. (At least I don't have to go searching for a button) It could be and inch or so longer.

What do you think for the next one? Do I just go up a needle size, I know it will be more drapey and that would be ok or do I go up to the next sized needle or do I do both. How do you work out what size to knit?
I feel if I cannot make one that is just right - with all the agonising over sizing that I am doing and to have it not come out as expected according to my calculations - that I may just give up altogether. ( I hope I don't and don't want to but I cannot keep reknitting completed jackets lol) And gauge geez, I am so close to correct gauge if only possibly maybe a quarter of a stitch out and then I remeasure and it is bang on gauge. The only other things to change are needle size or pattern size.

There must be something wrong with me at the moment I was watching Casino Royale you know the James Bond movie with Daniel Craig and after the movie was finished I was so upset, for days people, for days. Here was James ready to give up his career for this woman and she ended up crossing him (to save his life it turns out later) and drowned herself and he tried to save her. I was so upset because he was in love with her and she was not just another lay to him etc and it ended badly. This has been on my mind for days now. I just feel so bad for him. I need to watch it again, but Miss A won't let me: "Gee Mum I'm getting worried about you". Weird huh?
Maybe after all the womanising we find out why he distances himself from his ladieez. Just as he begins to open himself up he shuts himself off again, perhaps it is because I can relate to that.

Maybe I am just in love with Daniel Craig's James Bond, no that couldn't be it, must be something else.
I will need to watch the next movie to find out ;P

The demise of a jacket

2009-10-01T12:26:00.019+09:30

These school holidays I had three major goals -besides getting a good rest (four days in my pjs counts for that right?) and gosh how nice that was - wait I am still in my pjs now, guess there is a fine line between relaxing and slob I will let you know where that line is when I find it.

Anyway the goals were:
1. to finish Ms Koalajeans take 2
2. to frog my Cental Park Hoody Oh Nooooo!
3. Block the vest

Well it was easy reknitting Ms Koalajeans and here she is...

It was a little snug straight off the needles so I am hoping that a good blocking will stretch it out a little. It is still heaps better than how it was before.

I also had to block my Bracken Vest which I think I finished a few years ago and then stuck it in a bag in the top of a cupboard ready to block.
And now my CPH. I loved this hoody, it was one of the first jackets that I knitted (second actually) unfortunately I chose to knit it in a size that was about 2 sizes larger than I needed. (what was i thinking?!)

Oh and since then I have learnt the importance of recording size knitted and needles used etc. I have to reknit this but have no idea what size needles were used. I think I used 5mm not sure, and I have to go hunt for the pattern, I have a vague idea of where it could be but that's it. I will have to go to Ravelry and look at the cover of the magazine it was in.

Here is my lovely assistant assisting me wind the pieces into balls:

After about and hour ot two, this is how it looked:

Can anyone forsee any problems winding this back into balls? It was okay on the swift but off it, it puffed up and now it looks like fancy cushions!

Here it is soaking in some Soak Wash, mmm smells nice.
Still soaking at the moment so I will post more pictures of it later. I will weigh it down a little to get rid of the kinks. I knitted Ms Koalajeans 2 with kinky yarn and it was not nice, it was rough in places.

Now, off to do some R&D (research and development) on Ravelry, I will not be frogging and re-knitting anymore jackets!!

Friday Fill In #142

2009-09-18T19:41:00.003+09:30

1. My car needs a wash.

2. School Holidays are coming up next.

3. Lately, things seem like they are going to be great.

4. My knitting room is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.

5. What happened to that piece of chocolate I had here?

6. Re-knitting Ms Koalajeans is not impossible!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to resting, tomorrow my plans include recouperating and Sunday, I want to knit because I don't have to work yay!

Croak

2009-09-17T17:52:00.003+09:30

See this....
It is now several balls of wool. I could not envision wearing it outside the house, it looks dowdy. Must say that they yarn is yummy and soft and I still really want it finished, just in a smaller size that's all.

I made the decision to rip it out and re-do it. Not a hard decision considering it didn't turn out like I had wanted it to. It needed 25 rows taken out from the underarm to chest section and 5 cable repeats off of the bottom. If that was all that was needed I could probably have cut and grafted, however I felt it was too wide a the back neck as well. Now this is not a case of not swatching or not measuring because I measured and swatched and checked it all the way along. Although it did stretch a bit lengthwise, I think it's a case of not realising that the fabric would have a little more stretch and that a smaller size would be okay too.

So now I have this...

I didn't reskein and soak the yarn to straighten it, I just wound it into a ball and started knitting it up. The stitches are a bit wonky so I hope they will settle after blocking.
It is now two sizes smaller and my fingers are crossed even tighter this time ( no I have checked and rechecked the figures/gauge/etc and I am sure that this time all will go well.

Andy doesn't really care as long as I sit still.
He insists on squishing himself right up next to me and the arm of the chair EVERY time.

Friday Fill Ins #139

2009-08-29T12:04:00.004+09:30

1. He was a little bit odd at first.

2. Sunny days are what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend is my daughter.

4. Life sucks to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be deceiving.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was my cat Andy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dvds and knitting, tomorrow my plans include more knitting once I get off the internets and Sunday, I want to stay in my pjs and knit but I have to work!

Friday Fill In #137

2009-08-14T18:30:00.003+09:30

Oops missed a few:

1. When will my prince come? lol

2. Ice Age 3 was the last good movie I watched.

3. Everything has its beauty but even that doesn't last.

4. Fast food is what I had for dinner. (see 7)

5. I'd like your stash.

6. Home is where I want to be right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting rid of this headache, tomorrow my plans include lounging around in my pjs and Sunday, I want to not work !

I have the need to stay home and lounge about tomorrow. I have cast on Mr Greenjeans in Koala Luxury 10ply and so far it is down to the rib and cable part.

This is my first top down raglan and I am loving it so far.

Friday Fill In #135

2009-07-31T19:03:00.004+09:30

The tooth is all fixed and works well.
I have finished my first uni assignment for this semester ( there are 6 ) and will treat myself by starting a new project. High on the list is Mr Greenjeans, in BWM Luxury Koala and some scrummy Fortissima Mexico Country Clour sock yarn.

Finishing my assignment is a huge weight off of my shoulders, I have been forgetting things at work which has been worrying. I feel more able to handle the load of this semester at the moment but that could change as the semester progresses.

I have finished all of my custom-knit projects unfortunately I did not get to take a photo of the mobile phone bag that I finished, and the feathers scarf is now out of the house. Now it is time for something solely for me.

Friday Fill In:

1. It's time for tea.

2. Spotlight; it's not a bad place for yarn sometimes.

3. I must be an obsessive knitter.

4. Knitting is the best thing I have ever known.

5. My socks are simply handknitted.

6. The last time I laughed really loudly was when Miss A made me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to surfin' the internet, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to blow out the candles ;) !

Friday Fill In #134

2009-07-24T20:56:00.003+09:30

Not much has happened this week, we had decided to go to the movies and out for dinner but that was not how it went. We got to the movies and before it even started I had busted a tooth on a Chocolate Eclair ( a chewy toffee ). Dinner was a soft Macdonalds hamburger because I did not want to break the tooth further - it is pretty bad, luckily it doesn't hurt yet. I was able to call the dentist before the movie started, unfortunately they don't open on Saturdays.

1. Breaking a tooth is not the end of the world.

2. Sitting here, listening to the sound of rain falling, I feel comforted I love hearing the rain falling on the roof at night it helps me sleep.

3. Chocolate tastes so good!

4. Sometimes, putting others first is necessary for the good of all.

5. Sock yarn is breathtaking, really.

6. Well, maybe there is a god.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sulking over my broken tooth whilst surfing the internet, tomorrow my plans include work, having someone come over and fix my roof, visitors Saturday night and Sunday, I want to ~~sulk some more~~ spend time with Miss A playing Wii Sport.

Join in here: Friday Fill Ins

Late Friday Fill-In #133

2009-07-18T14:40:00.008+09:30

1. Frozen Pizza and ready made garlic bread make a quick and easy dinner.

2. Interweave Knits is the book I'm reading right now.

3. July brings back memories of winter.

4. That I would beat Miss A at WII bowling was obvious.

5. They say if you tell your dreams to someone they will laugh at them.

6.You've got to think it over.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying up late, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to go to the markets!

Friday Fill Ins

Lame I know but this is my first time.

Socks!

2009-07-13T15:04:00.007+09:30

Two pairs of socks have been completed this month:

Yarn: Vinca - #549
Needles: 2mm
Cast On: 68sts
Comments: Interesting yarn to knit with, lovely colour changes. Firm fit.

Yarn: Opal 'Lupin'
Needles 2.5mm
Cast on: 68sts
Comments:
Accidentally snipped the working yarn at the ribbing and had to reattach :( fortunately it didn't muck up the matching striped too much. Had to add some more black yarn 2 rounds before the end of the toes otherwise one would have had yellow and red at the tips of the toes. Very easy to match this yarn.

I have decided that life is too short to be saving the 'good' sock yarn. I had been waiting until I was worthy of the good yarn - not saying I am now worthy just giving up on that idea as no matter how careful I am during knitting, a small error inadvertently creeps in, whether it is a missed decrease found after the toes are kitchenered or me not remembering if I crossed a box on my ticky sheet. Socks are rather forgiving and mistakes like these do not affect the end product.

So I am going to be knitting up my Noro and my long petted yarns and my excitement for sock knitting is now bordering on the crazy side :)

2009-04-29T18:30:00.000+09:30

New Socks!!

2009-04-23T10:08:00.005+09:30

Holidays have been spent writing up lesson plans, studying and some knitting in between.

Spotlight had new sock yarn out so I had to try it. It is Moda Vera Noir. A little scratchy in places but hopefully it will soften up with washing. It was also very thin in one or two places but for only $12.95 ($8.95 this week on special - typical!)

I also finished my first pair of monkey socks, these seemed to take the longest time as I could not decide on a pattern, much time was lost researching patterns on Ravelry. One is bigger than the other because it got tried on a lot.

My third lot of Teaching Practicums starts on Tuesday, so I will be tired and grumpy for the next 8 weeks, I have 5 x one day per week sessions followed by a three week block.
I have prepared a unit of work containing 9 lessons on plant life cycle / germination etc.
I have decided not to do a teaching prac next semester as I feel it would be beneficial to have some more ideas for lessons by doing other fun units such as Maths and Science (oh boy) for both 2nd sememster AND Summer Semester. I need to do Summer Semester this year or my plan to finish in 2013 will not happen.

It is finally raining here and it is expected to continue for the next week, yay, lesson plans are almost done with one more to go, so that leaves the rest of the holidays for knitting. We all know how great it is to be sitting inside under a rug knitting, while outside is grey and dull and wet (or is that just me?)

So What's New?

2009-03-29T16:34:00.009+10:30

A new look, however I now have to change and repair all my links!! Surprise, didn't know they'd disappear, and gone too are my finished items and In Progress bars.. will have to find them and stick them in.

This is not going to be done sometime soon, but I will eventually have this as I like it.

Okay, I think i like how it looks now.

Cannot get the old one back so this will have to do won't it?!

Can't see what is missing, will have to go through old template to find out...thought I could just pop old template bak in the html space if I didn't want to have to fiddle with this one but guess what? Yep updated Blogger does not work with old Blogger template :(

Off to find out what else to put in. At least I figured out the progress bars whoohoo!!

2009-03-22T20:43:00.004+10:30

Not much knitting has been happening this week, why? Cos I'm addicted to this dam Vampire Wars game on Facebook.

It is sucking up every spare minute I have. I think it's because I have been so focussed on the real-life never-ending happenings - uni/study/work/parenting etc - that a bit of fantasy role play is very enticing.

You attack people for blood, hire minions and they give you blood, blood is the currency etc etc.

Anyway enough of that, I currently have 3 pairs of socks on the needles.

Not happy with how the Nutkins have turned out so it'll get frogged, only half of one done.

My Lorna's Laces in tickled pink are striping and I don't like it so they are awaiting a trial on larger needles to see how they'll turn out and if the striping will be more of a pooling type of effect.

My plain tiger socks are the ones I've turned to, plain, non-thinking knitting and they are the only ones I'm happy with at the moment.

No pictures, it's too late to get the camera out and find the sockies. And I need to go get some more blood mwahahahah!!

2009-02-15T12:54:00.013+10:30

We have been messing around with the Ashford Dyes again. Now that the shed is set up it is so easy to head out there and throw some dye on some yarn.

I will never get ( well I don't think I will ) any Poison Nr 5 from Wollmeise. So I tried dying yarn with purple and black:

Wanna closer look? It's darker in person.

But wait.. were's the black? Well after it had dried I noticed some patches that I missed, and I checked during dyeing, really I did, so I threw it in a purple dyebath for a second go. Some black bits remained black and the purple went really bright. In person it looks more darkpink and dark purply black. This will be a Forest Canopy Cowl Fetching Set.

I am trying to dye the perfect *tiger* yarn. Oh wait let's look at my first go - which I used to knit my Tiger Feet socks ( yes, I did do one) emphasis on the one.

Just not happy with how they were knitting up. And I suck at duplicate stiching so I've found out. They are hibernating because I had to go and attempt tiger yarn #2:

But wait, where are the white bits? Duh forgot to leave room for white. Back to the dyepot:

This is tiger yarn #3. I'm much happier with this one but there is a bit too much grey. Alhough I like how the colours merge into each other- took care with this when dyeing it up, so that turned out as planned - which are a bit lost in the way it knits up but. Had to drop everything to see how this would knit up. Grrrr ;)

wish blogger would stop messing around with my photos looks much better the right way up.

Miss A had a go at dyeing up some balls for projects that she has requested. This we have named Rainbow Pony Spew, it has soo many colours. It is going to be her winter Fetchings.

This one she dyed up for socks, mainly has primary colours and is not as colourful as the above yarn.

This is my blue/green attempt. This one is also for a Forest Canopy Cowl/ Fetchings Set.

I have not been monogamous with my knitting lately which is not at all like me.I cast on the teal Moda Vera Socks to see how they'd knit up ( been doing that a lot lately) on 2.5mm needles. So far so good these will be put aside as an 'in between projects' project, something to grab when a small project is needed. They are more teal in person.

Still want to knit a Wisteria and a Tangled Yoke Cardi, and have the yarn ready to go for them but uni starts up March 2nd and I am having fun messing around with dyeing and socks at the moment.
I know when uni starts I won't have the time to mess about and will be back in the strict timetable cycle of work sleep study.

I knew it

2009-02-10T18:35:00.003+10:30

Now where did I put that crown?

2009-02-08T11:51:00.010+10:30

A few projects to update:
firstly another felted bag. This was completed at the same time as the others but I've only just found the camera charger and now feel comfortable using the camera again knowing the batteries can be charged.

Lincraft Cosy Wool, 1.5 balls. 5.5mm needles. This bag carries my sock WIPs.

Also completed Patonyle Socks #4314 from a destash in Ravelry.

Just wanted to see how they would knit up. Lucky to have the stripes match up.
2.5mm needles and my sock recipe.

Lion Brand Magic Stripes 2.5mm needles and my sock recipe. This is a bit scratchy after the Patonyle so they are hibernating for a bit.

I saw these on Ravelry and had to have a try at making them. In a coincidental twist, last night I was surfing the stash for yarn to use for my next pair of socks and decided that I am competent enough at knitting socks to use my hand dyed tiger yarn that I made ages ago (think 2 yrs ago or so it's been waiting that long) so they were already ear-marked as the next socks.

I even want to name them the same but feel it would be 'wrong' to, so I've called mine Tiger Feet Socks.
The details are duplicate stitched on which would be easier than changing yarn for such short runs of colour.

Nearly forgot....
Finished my Raspberry Cowl and had enough yarn leftover to make a pair of fetchings.

Handyed cleckheaton country 8ply beige. 4mm needles for Fetching, 4.5mm for Cowl.
Cowl pattern is Forest Canopy Cowl. Had a blast knitting these.

Pfffftttt.

2009-01-25T14:00:00.003+10:30

That's a raspberry.
And here is some raspberry yarn which used to be beige:
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8ply.

Again blogger thinks this is the right way up.

This is going to be a Forest Canopy Cowl.

Time Wasters

2009-01-10T18:27:00.002+10:30

My current time wasters:
You move your cursor around on the black area below and to change colours just click the mouse button.

First seen here: not sure what the done thing is when you stumble across little gems like this but am acknowledging where I found it.

Also this little addictive game: Boomshine

Bag Adventures...

2009-01-08T08:05:00.012+10:30

I have my knitting mojo back in felted bags at the moment. There have been lots of discoveries during this Research and Development phase. I am trying to find a 'goto' bag pattern. So far my experiments have ended up too big, too thin, and almost perfect.

Some tips for felting:

Don't use towels, the lint will mute the colour of your bag, when I used jeans, the colours were much brighter and obviously no lint was on the bag when it came out of the machine.

For a first attempt, stick to the pattern, I wanted a big bag - not a huge bag that is not good for anything. (see previous post)

Maybe putting the item in a zippered pillow case is not a good idea, I never ran into any problems when I just threw it in the machine. (see below)

Check the handles, when I used the pillow case the handles must have rolled in on themselves and felted that way therefore they ended up waaaay narrow.

Check the bag, when I used the pillow case the bag felted in on itself where it was folded in half and put into said pillow case. Was difficult to pull apart and still has creases where it melded to itself.

To summarise: pictures later as blogger is not playing nice today, oh here we are...

First Bag: French Market Bag 256 sts around is waay too biig.
See last post for pics.

Second Bag: French Market Bag with 164 sts is still a little on the big side but not too bad, handles are a bit too short.

Third bag: Ann's Petite Felted Bag, this is the one where I mucked it up by putting it in the pillow case for felting, apart from that it is a good size and I am making a second one that will be perfect :)

See the difference in handle with? I assure you they are both 9 sts wide.

Fourth Bag: Petite Felted Carrier, decreasing the handles at a rate of 9 rows to make up for the mod to change to two handles. No pics - but a WIP none the less.

All of these are knitted with Vintage Hues and 5.5mm needles.

Cat Content:

They line up for food in our house. Always in this order though.

Bag? What Bag?

2009-01-03T09:27:00.009+10:30

I should have listened to that inner voice. I sort of did when I ripped back 10 rows but I should have gone further. I thought it was huge but was kinda sure that it would lose inches in the felting process. It shrank heaps length wise and not much widthwise.
Dimensions before were:
14inches across bottom square base
14 inches tall
(Blogger insists this is the right way up for this picture)

After felting it was:
12 inches square across bottom base and
8 inches tall

It felted really nicely, lost lots of colour variation though as it all melded together.
Miss A saw it and instantly said "I'll have it", after a fit of laughter at it's size, so it has gone to her as planned. I still think it would make a better cat bed. Gee, looking at those pictures though I can see that it did shrink a fair bit. It is still huuuge.

I am now going to raid all the pure wool from my stash, I know I have cat bed yarn in there somewhere. And I want to make another smaller bag for myself in the same colour. At least I know it will take a shorter amount of time as it will be way smaller than this one. I am planning 10 inches square base and 14-16 inches for the sides - I still want it taller.

Please knitting goddess, don't let me accidentally make something out of non-feltable yarn. Cos we all know that's where I am headed next.

The best superglue ever...a cautionary tale

2009-01-02T06:57:00.003+10:30

Standing in Bunnings debating the merits of cheap superglue with one that cost a few dollars more.I really neded this to hold well so I bought the more expensive superglue, the 'Loctite' brand, sounds good doesn't it? Mr Ex used Loctite lots so I knew it was going to be good. You put that on bolts and stuff that you want to stay put.

So when I got home I knew that I needed a strong bond between glue, plastic and metal. So I slathered the glue all over the end of the plastic cable and then put a dob in the metal hole just to be sure. This is where I became unstuck hahaha.

I tried to take a photo, but the camera will not focus on something so small.

I think the glue dried too fast - it set in about 2 seconds!!! - making the plastic now slightly larger than it should be for correct insertion. I pushed and pushed but I could not push the plastic cable all the way into the metal :( (operative word here, all )

Now the join is super bonded albeit about 4 mm is left sticking out that shouldn't be ( I have pulled and tugged and cannot yank the cable out ) At first I chucked it in the bin, but on second thoughts it is thicker yarn and with such superior bonding there is no way that it'll come unstuck now so I tried it out and yes, it'll pass. The yarn doesn't get caught much at all, really, I hardly notice it.

A new cable has been ordered, however. And if you need to stick something I highly reccommend the 'Loctite' brand superglue it's fantastic!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T07:32:00.002+10:30

Happy New Year everyone!

Miss A arrived home last night, she is pale, pastey, grumpy (as predicted...she wasn't home 5 minutes before yelling at me?!) and looks just terrible, needless to say we stayed in last night.
This had something to do with the cat throwing up though. It is not right to just watch the cat throw up, you have to move her so she will not puke on anything not easily cleanable. Watching her hawk up while she is under a table, is not ok with me, if you are near the cat then dammit! Grab Her! Don't sit there, in the way, 2 feet from the cat and watch and yell at me. I just said to grab the cat and was met with a verbal attack.

Sometimes I think these visits do more harm, it takes days to get her back to her happy self. Don't get me wrong, she loves and wants to go I am just not sure about the care she gets while there, the other children are older and have a later bedtime, I think they let her stay up until she is ready for bed (10-11pm) and then the excitement of 3 other kids gets her up at 6am.

Got some photos to share.....
This is how far along the bag is:

I am enjoying this knit and did actually rip back 10 rows to bring the stitch count from 296 which looked huge even before felting to a still big 256 stitches. Even if it felts to half the size it will be big enough. Slight problem Miss A saw it and asked why I used that horrible colour. Doh. I quite liked it and was thinking about how I could snatch it for myself.

I thought I was going to run out of yarn as the base sucked up nearly 3 balls before the frogging and I wanted 2-4 in the sides (estimated) plus 2 for the handles (I know that is an overestimation there but I want to be on the safe side). So off I went back to Spotlight and got some more blue/orange Vintage Hues. While I was there the orange colourway looked very yellowy, yellow is Miss A's fave colour, I kicked myself - Why didn't I choose her favourite colour? Needless to say I got some of that to make another bag for her, I quite like that colour, looks a bit like tiger stripes and I just love tigers.

See anything wrong with this picture:

A Knit Picks needle is not meant to come apart there is it?

Right up until 11:48 was happily knitting along on the bag when this disaster struck. No stitches were lost, I hunted for the superglue and couldn't find it, ( I am sure I put it in an easily findable place last time I used it) luckily Bunnings opens at 9 today.

Settled

2008-12-30T10:30:00.003+10:30

I trust everyone had a good Christmas, mine was very quiet, as usual, quiet but nice.

Miss A has gone to her dad's from Christmas day to NYE. One more sleep to go, it is getting easier to let her go and count the days till she returns, well she doesn't return, some grumpy, harpy returns and 2 days later she appears, but that's a whole 'nother post.

Do you think I could settle into some serious uninterrupted knitting time for the 6 days she was gone? 6 days, no plans, no 'have to' do anything, nope, but that was they plan. oh well.
But now that she is due back tomorrow and after speaking with Jess last night, I am raring to go and have found the magical project that will renew my soul and reinvigorate my love for knitting and help me stop verbally harassing the cats. I have, or will have - as soon as I stop looking things up on Ravelry, petting my yarn and blogging about it - decided on my next project : TaDa... a French Market Bag for Miss A.

Project Specs:
Needles: still agonising over the size here (what ones, what ones I think blogging is my way of procrastinating on this decision) I *think* I will use 5.5mm *think*
Yarn: Cleckheaton Vintage Hues colour 1279 blues and reddish in colour.

I really want one for myself so why would I be starting one for her first?

Aha! there is method in my madness.....( I have clearly been left on my own too long with only the cats to talk to, like they are actually people and care about /understand what I am saying)

The size will be an 'unknown' and I have pretty clear expectations on what sized bag will be right for me, I need to practice first, see how the yarn/needle size gels with the finished product.
Don't know how firm the fabric will be in relation to the needles used. Ravelry can be a curse, when you are trying to work out what needles to use and 4 people on there have each used different sized needles. Will be experimenting with 5.5mm, or maybe 6mm, hmm maybe 4.5mm ( see what I mean )
Don't know how the colour will turn out in the end, have chosen my least liked colour to experiment with.
Am making this first one slightly larger that the pattern specifies due to not knowing which sized needle to use and the fact that the yarn specified has a different gauge to what I am intending to use.
And finally OMG Miss A's birthday is in 9 days and what have I bought for her?!? Surely I kept something back from Xmas like I usually do....nope.....Have I bought something during the year and put it away, forgotten in the back of my wardrobe?....nope...can't I just say that the bike I got for her in August was her present? .....nope....How about the new glasses that she needs, can't they be her birthday present?........c'mon now your just bein' mean, no glasses means she can't see......This doesn't make me a bad mummy does it?? She will get a gift. (if I get off this damn computer and start it)

So you see how I really must stop researching and blogging and petting the yarn for this project and GET CRACKIN' - she's home tomorrow!!

Update

2008-12-03T17:21:00.002+10:30

So what have I been up to?
Not much at all really.
I have been reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.
I am such a sucker for vampire romance stories. So why would the quiz result surprise me??

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits.

Whether you're a night owl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle.

Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it.

You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Socktober

2008-10-01T10:59:00.003+09:30

Here are the most recent socks that I have completed.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

Spunky Eclectic 'Signature' yarn

3.25mm needles

Nice thick, warm socks for winter.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Dream in Color Classy 'Ruby River'

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'pink/white'

Specs:

Hobby Print

2mm needles

My sock recipe

Not very happy with the way the colours pooled. Might have even posted these finished before - can't remember.

Current WIP: Sea Socks

Thuja again (love this pattern!)

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'blue/green'

Other News

Uni

has just one more test to go in a week and a bit and then I am done for the year. Not doing Summer Semester this year, I really need the rest.

Car

found out who damaged my car, disappointed to find out that it was one of my students and even more disappointed when I found that I had to fork out for the repairs myself as the Dept will not cover staff cars! My car was not the only one vandalised either. Anyway, the damage has been repaired and I have been relieved of over $300. The crash repairers did a fantastic job, I am very happy and I will not dwell on this any longer, the damage is gone now.

Holidays

it is the holidays and we are both sick again. At least something in my life is predictable hey? I managed to avoid coming down with the flu during school-time but now that the holidays have started, I succumbed.

Weight Loss

Had official weigh in last week and my loss so far is 6kgs. I had engaged the services of a Personal Trainer 6 weeks ago and it is going well. Up until we both got sick that is and now I have no energy to do anything except reach for chocolate and pepsi max. I will worry about exercising when I am better.

Bikes

Miss A and I have new bikes and intend to go riding a) when we are better and b) when it is not raining. Kmart had 25% off bikes, Miss A had grown out of hers, great timing. I was ust going to get mine serviced but when we went to the bike store there was a bike in my fave colour for only 50 bucks more than a service would cost me. My old bike was bought when I was in my late teens and bike technology has changed a lot since then so.... a new bike was bought for me. The car has also had a towbar installed complete with bike carrier so we can ride further away. That was one of the main activities that we were going to do these holidays, best laid plans of ours always go astray.

So that's about it, being sick makes it the perfect time to sit and knit, so that's what is planned for the duration of this fluey/coldy thing.

Threes

2008-09-02T13:37:00.000+09:30

They delivered the wrong washing machine.
I am going to bed now lol.

Long time no blog...or On The Edge!

2008-09-02T12:19:00.005+09:30

Alternative Title: This is called living.

Don't you love it when the universe conspires against you?

WARNING: I will hit the next person that says, "Things can only get better from here".

Yes a ranty post, strap in and let's go. (It won't be too bad, I promise)
Seems like I only blog when things are not going as expected.

On Saturday my washing machine fried. It was 12 yrs old. Only $999 for a new one which is getting delivered today. Probably should have turned it off when it started making that funny noise and not when the smoke started coming out of it right?

Also signed up for a Cross Trainer only $999 can put it on GE Card and pay it off slowly right? Wrong if I want to use GE Card, I will have to pay full price of $1699 blah I can juggle some money over and pay cash for it....will only be broke for a few weeks...oh gee I have my prac teaching block coming up and I have to take that as Leave Without Pay- one whole week. Oops perhaps the cross trainer was not a good idea right now? Can save $700 this way, why pay them $700 when I don't need to right? But I want it! And I have paid a deposit, They need to get one in so that'll buy me some time, what? it's here, now, I need to get it this week? shit.

Today was my divorce hearing.. it was granted, so that's not so bad right. Mr Ex didn't show up and cause problems or anything like that.

Today I woke up to find that my car had been 'keyed'- right across the bonnet, Not too bad, it's only a car and it will only cost $350.00. Not buying yarn at the moment, it's only a couple of jumpers worth. I thought it was that stray cat that has been hanging around but the crash repairers said that it was definitely a key. Who would key my car at work?? See above that no money = no going anywhere. Haven't been to the shops for two weeks.

My dear cat is still marking his territory IN THE HOUSE!! aarrgghh!!! right infront of us, IN the video cupboard ON all the videos and playstation games WTF? If I have to fork out another $60 bucks for Lego Starwars I will scream.

I have enlisted the help of a personal trainer 3 weeks ago hence the desire for a Cross Trainer. I have exercised my huge butt off and have currently lost 7kgs. I am on a health kick and have managed to avoid the chocolate cakes at morning tea and just eat my banana and I have now been pushed over the edge.

The lovely girls from work and I will be going out for tea tomorrow night, there may be alcohol involved, definitely schnitzel parmagiana and chips (diet!? c'mon I need a break-haven't you seen the week I've had?? Yes, I know I have no money, Yes, I know my Personal Trainer will not be happy, Yes, I know I will pay for it in sweat later this week)

Can you say 'Cash Flow Problem' ? I will look back over this post and laugh in a few weeks time.

BTW any invites over for tea will gladly be accepted.

I'm Baaack

2008-08-03T10:37:00.005+09:30

Tigers is back from the dead. ooh zombie Tigers. scarey.

Anyway I have completed 2.5 socks. Cant remember what I have already posted about so apologies if I am repeating myself.
One is the horrible hobby print.
The other is DIC Classy in Ruby River. beautiful, love the socks and the yarn. Thuja pattern.

Over the last few weeks I have written posts in my head and not gotten round to posting.
They were all hilariously funny and witty. But I have since forgotten them. sorry again.

Lots of things to post about but no pics too lazy to get the camera, find the socks (they have been swallowed up by my room)

I have been:
drilled
filled ....obvious dental reference which is to be repeated in 3 weeks time. Oh joy!
scanned
poked
prodded.....problems with most of my girly bits, again Oh joy! also to be repeated in a few weeks time. See the pattern developing here?
miserable...due to above girly issues and general malaise of having a respiritory illness for 6 weeks.
ill....and so are 7 out of the 12 kids in my class so possibly to be repeated in a few days time.
studying...this is ongoing and I am trying to stay on task and up to date with weekly work.
socialising...girls from work have been ensuring that the above is not happening and have changed my online dating drinking status from non-drinker to social pisspot.
recovering...now I know what a hangover feels like ;)

Mr Ex has also had his own health problems that have impacted on Miss A, he has a bone tumour in his spine and his treatment so far is going okay. Miss A however has not been ok and that is one of my reasons for not posting as often these last few months.

1, 2, 3 bam

2008-07-04T16:27:00.002+09:30

Tigers is down for the count...
She has caught another bug and is still coughing and spluttering. (not to mention - wheezing, crying, demanding drinks from Miss A and being a general pain in the a#$e)
I think this might be a record - over a month and still sick!

Luckily she is now on 2 weeks holiday from both work AND uni yay! First priority is resting and getting well.

She's trying to finish off the Horrible Hobby Print socks from recent posts.
Photos of knitting activity may appear, who knows?

test

2008-06-21T21:05:00.001+09:30

Cough cough

2008-06-13T17:16:00.002+09:30

I won't be going anywhere this weekend because I am sick...cough, cough, splutter, wheeze etc.
World Wide Knit In Public Day will be going ahead without us. I had hoped to attend this year, oh well.

Because I am sick I am allowed to surf the internet aimlessly for as long as I want to. Miss A cannot have it as she is well and the laptop is now infected as I have touched it. I feel a bit like a warped King Midas: 'I've touched it so now you cannot mwahahaha!'

I decided to make a mosaic, I'm sure you've seen them around and it killed half an hour for me.

Here's my mosaic:
The rules are :
A. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
B. Using only the first page, pick an image.
C. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into the mosaic maker

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to
?4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

1. Loch Ossian Dawn, 2. Italian Clouds Canvas, 3. Wilderness of Glacier & Snow Lake, 4. drops in drops, 5. 4978-John Cusack, 6. Hat Lake Snow, 7. Roatan Beach - Perfect Day !!! 25000 + views and 200 + faves - Thank you - Janusz, 8. hot chockit in hungary, 9. water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 10. We are choosing hope over fear., 11. A big bloody Samoan storm that turned gay!, 12. Tiger! Tiger! Burning Bright

Kntting has not happened much this week cos I just don't wanna. The Iris Vest patterning has only 2 rows to go still and I don't wanna do it. The socks are pooling unidentically and I don't wanna knit them either. I have turned into a miserable 4 year old!

One thing I have learnt being on my own is if I feel that I am getting sick I wilI struggle on and get some shopping done quickly. We now have enough essentials and a few frozen dinners to last the weekend and then some. Not having someone else to pick up the slack is a bummer. Knowing that we will not starve this weekend If I can't get out of bed tomorrow is good.
Lots of funny foods end up in the trolley when I am not feeling well....blocks (plural!) of chocolate, custard tarts, and heat and eat puddings (hmm, all plurals)
Can you say 'comfort food' ?

Long Weekend

2008-06-06T16:43:00.002+09:30

Aah, this weekend is a long one courtesy of the Queen having a birthday. Thanks QE.

My university assignments have just been posted in which means I have come to the end of this semester. Must go and see how long the holidays are...ooh looks like about 6 weeks. I feel so tired and have looked forward to this for so long, to have respite from one stress is terrific. I have 3 days off now until back to work and it is delightful.

I am currently knitting the Iris vest, but have decided to modify it to knit it in the round and omit the front opening. After 5 false starts we are off. So far it's going well, no pictures cos I am stuffed and not getting up to get the camera. I'm using some Cleckheaton Country 12ply in purple.
What's the bet that the size will be wrong? I am sort of slotting the pattern into an old vest pattern the difference is only 6 sts which I will reduce when the pattern has finished.

My socks are in time out as the pooling on the second one is not nice. I hae tried knitting tighter, looser and it is still not nice. This is disappointing as the first one was good.

The Mega boots stretch socks are also in time out as I think they might be better on smaller needles and can't decide whether to continue or frog 'em.

Also can't get hold of 4-5 balls of Cascade 220 number 2428 lot 0665. I have 3 balls but need extra for a complete 3/4 sleeve cardy. That means I have to save up and get 8 hanks of something suitable. Now if I lost weight I would need less yarn, this is my main motivator to get fitter. Hence we have had no soft fizzy drink for the last 3 days. Not much, but it is a start.

So I have a free weekend of knitting to do when I let them out of time out. Which one should I let off first? Or I could start something new, you know, just for the weekend, seeing as though the others are naughty.

Forgot

2008-05-18T19:31:00.007+09:30

Forgot about the 3 pairs I had on the needles at the time plus the yarn 'in transit' oh and what I got today.... soo that'll bring the total to, let me see....oh let's just say closer to 140.

Found some Sllivans sock yarn at Lincraft today and 4 balls came home with me. Need to try this on 2.5mm needles and see how they turn out.

Finished the ones on 2mm needles:

Liked these but 2mm needles are small I need to try 2.5s.

Jenny Wren is finished not sure if I included picks of both before, so here they are:

Knittery Cashmerino Warm Pinks I think.

At Lincraft I picked up some Shepherd Colour For Me for some quick knit 8ply socks for me using Thuja pattern, 3.25mm needles and 48 sts cast on:

These are one of the pairs that were on the needles and missed being counted:

Hobby Print by rico, 2mm needles. Same specs for both of them but they are turning out a little different. The yarn is pooling diffeently on the 2nd one. See the pink and white stripe, much more noticeable and I don't like that, they are more random in the first one. They have been set aside for the pink ones.

Not just knitting socks either, this is Puff, a bear I made a few years ago now. The yarn is so soft and squishy.

Had 2 balls left over that were re-discovered when stash diving the other day and were turned into a scarf for Miss A. It is Patons Charming nice and squishy but not much use for anything but a scarf.

Not much else is happening here, been doing some prac teaching this semester and need to get 4 more days in, in the next 3 weeks and write a report then this semester is done. Can't wait cos I have not had a proper break for well over a year and I really need one. Struggling to complete this semester.

131, 132, 133, 134...

2008-04-27T18:34:00.002+09:30

134
134
I have enough yarn for 134 pais of socks!! No way am I going to calculate how long I have to stay alive to knit them! I should be knitting now instead of typing this.

After Jess came over last Thursday and peeped at my sock yarn stash, I decided today, that I should try and count how much I have, how much it cost *shudder* and while at it I should probably write it down.

Been hunting the Sullivan's sock yarn, which I happily found whilst on holidays last week. Am currently knitting the pink,black,orange colourway and really like the colours. It is on the thin side though and so I am using 2mm instead of 2.5mm needles. I have the opportunity to purchase this direct from the company, in packs of 10, but am unsure then of how to offload the excess? Etsy maybe?? Not sure, still thinking about this.

No points for guessing my next project ;P

Currently working on...

2008-04-05T16:34:00.003+10:30

Jenny Wren socks
Yarn: The Knittery Merino Cashmere Sock yarn
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm
Mods: 70 sts, incorporated pattern into my sock recipe, Eye of Partridge heel.
This is slow going as it is at a tighter gauge than I am used to and the needles are have been rubbing my hands. But still an enjoyable knit. These are the first socks that I have knit that have a pattern, and continue said pattern down the foot! Ooh what a wild, reckless knitter I am becoming. I have knit ribbed before but not cables. I prefer to let the colours of the yarn shine through. This is a very simple pattern and I love it.

Photo of completed Crayon socks, not sure if I blogged these finished before, here they are anyway. I added some length to the foot and they are now comfy.

Still really enjoying knitting socks and have stash dived and rounded up all of my sock yarn. Oh my!
I have 2 very big tubs of sock yarn, this really needs to be knit up and I must stop buying sock yarn.

When is it too hot for knitting?

2008-03-14T18:15:00.005+10:30

The temperature here is ridiculous. Here's the way it went, and continues to go in degrees C.

Monday 3rd March.....35

Tuesday 4th March .....36

Wednesday 5th March.....38

Thursday 6th March.....38

Friday 7th March.....39

Saturday 8th March.....40

Sunday 9th March.....40

Monday 10th March.....40

Tuesday 11th March.....38

Wednesday 12th March.....39

Thursday 13th March.....40

Friday14th March.....38 last night's temp was 30! (hottestnight for however long) tonight 20.

and the latest forecasts:

Saturday 15th March.....38

Sunday16th March.....38

Monday 17th March.....39

Tuesday 18th March.....39

Wednesday 19th March.....31 yay cool change!

Thursday 20th March.....27

Apparently we beat the record for 8 consecutive days over 35 degrees and another one for the longest heatwave in an Australian Capital - I think that's it. Woo Hoo. Last night on the news they showed some rain pouring down, just in case we Adelaideans forgot what it looked like. Gee it looked really good. I promise I won't complain about winter when/if it comes.

It is way hot out by the computer so I am giving myself the weekend off of studying

(removed rant about text book availability and how it is nearly 3 weeks into the unit and they are just now sorting out textbooks which we should have been reading in week 1) hmmm. I figure with Miss A at camp next week and at her Dad's ALL Easter, I will catch up, and by then, my textbooks will have arrived. There will be no time for tears, I'll be too busy studying.

So when is it too hot to knit?? I am getting more knitting done now than ever before. Possibly due to new portability of sock projects and influx of sock yarn - darn stuff must breed when I'm asleep. Where did that package come from?

My sock knitting has increased due to the new method. The Tiger socks are done. I would change one thing though and that would be to knit the foot 2 cms longer or maybe more. The slip stitch on the heel actually sits on the underside of the foot hence a little more footage would be good. I think I did 30 rows then the toes.

The crayon socks were ripped back and restarted, they were half a foot complete each. Haven't worked on these since April 06. But made up that loss in no time. I did add to the foot in these, but still could be a little longer. I think I did 36 rows for these.

So next pair of socks, I think I will go to 40 or 46 - as the pattern recommended - it was hard to judge, some patterns said begin the toe 3cm from the top of your foot, and others were begin the toe at the base of your toes, neither is right for my feet.
Once I get this recipe right for my foot I'll be happy.

We couldn't wait till the weekend...

2008-02-29T19:00:00.007+10:30

I dyed these during the week.
From L-R : orange from the other day, green, teal, blue, pink and purple and plain pink.

Happily got the strand variegation that I was looking for -each strand is a different colour to the next one. Lots of fun to make. can't wait to see how they knit up.

The sock is coming along really well. Turning the heel was way faster and smoother that the 2 on 2 circs method. I could put it down, pick it up and carry on. Not like having to set aside 2-3 hours for the heel with the other method.

Started this late last Saturday night and it is nearly done! I will, hopefully, finish one this weekend.

Dyeing Adventures

2008-02-26T16:05:00.005+10:30

Sock yarn is difficult to find here in SA. Spotlight has just started stocking some Moda Vera Socks in yucky colourways. I am really disappointed with the choice of colour inyarn over here.
Anyway at $4.99 per ball we shouldn't complain. I bought 3 balls first, one in a red,khaki colourway and one in blue and this one in brown/beige/black. Like I said disappointed with colour choice here. I thought it might be dyeable so grabbed it. I am on a bit of a tiger fix at the moment so thought if I could dye it with orange it might be okay.

BEFORE: blah

DURING: nice variations of orange/brown

DONE: mmm tiger.... much better

Still not sure how the pattern will turn out but have envisioned one in pinks, one in blues, one in purples, Miss A wants green. Guess what we'll be doing this weekend.

Floozy

2008-02-24T07:05:00.009+10:30

Normally I am a one project woman, normally. I have been suffering startitis for the first time I think.

I have the Kiri shawl on the needles growing slowly. A good project when I have the time to sit and concentrate on something.

I have another Ice Queen on the needles as the other one is a bit short for me but okay for Miss A. An easy knit for when I can't concentrate and want something straightforward to do. Looking forward to wearing this in winter.

Yarn: Caressa DK same as the other one.

Needles: Boye size 6s (4.25mm)

And as a constant in the background to work on whether it is a few stitches here and there or easy knitting or a 'take with' project....

Now that the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, I have a hankering to knit some socks. In the past I have used the Crazy Toes and Heels method. This has served me well as it was a way that I could understand to begin knitting socks, I cannot use dpns. However I think the reason that I haven't knitted socks for so long is the fact that with this method (2 at a time on 2 circs, toe up) I have a contraption that is not so portable. I have always bemoaned the fact that it takes me over an hour for one heel (they are knitted around and around even while doing the heel so it takes a longer time than a heel flap) .

I am envious of Jess who produces beautiful socks on a regular basis. So I am going to give her method a go, see below...

short circular, top down, heel flap etc. I remember trying this with a sock in progress before and couldn't do it. It felt uncomfortable. This time it is different, I think the construction will be easier this way - especially the heel part. And I can take it with me more easily than the other way.

I only have one of these needles so I am off to find another few so that I can start it's partner.

I am a bit obssessive when it comes to matching socks, I don't think I will be comfortable with just measuring them for the length, so I think it will be ticky sheets and row counts.

Specs:

Yarn: Yarnivorous' Tiger sock yarn given to me by Jess. Thanks Jess - I have wanted to start these for ages and now have the sock bug again.

Needles: Addis 2.5mm, 30cm length

I am excited at using up my sock stash again. I can take these with me and always have a sock on the needles laying around.

Uni

Summer Semester finished this week yay! I am soo glad to have that behind me- 3 units plus working 6 days a week phew! No more maths exams! I now have one week off - first semester 2008 starts on the 3rd March.

Other

Miss A is at her Dad's this weekend, it is getting a bit easier but not much. It is my turn to pick her up from his girlfriend's place and I am to beep when I get there. Not allowed to go and knock on the door. Aah, but I will have my sock for company, not too dark I hope, maybe I'll get a few rounds in!

Aaaah - relaxed not stressed

2008-02-08T17:48:00.000+10:30

Aaah, I am looking forward to the weekend.

Miss A has gone to her dad's and I've made progress - this time I didn't cry on the way home from dropping her off! Not at all. It is still not easy though. She returns Sunday evening. hmmmm

Plans for this weekend were to plow through my Health assignment tonight and tomorrow, but that has changed. I managed to do it this afternoon and after working on it, just tidying it up a bit, for just over an hour a short time ago - It's done, complete yay!

My English assignment was also submitted tonight so I figure I have earnt some free time. But I won't go and knit just yet, I'll draw out that smug feeling of having all weekend just to knit ( there is the small matter of housework and mowing the lawn, that, I will leave till Saturday - don't wanna get all sweaty tonight)

So know I am in an empty house with my Kiri Shawl ( whichis going nicely, sorry no pics) and stuff all on tv, what shall I watch?! Might be a podcast night and just leave the telly on to combat the feeling of total aloneness.

What have you got planned?

Knitting

2008-01-27T17:49:00.001+10:30

The Flared Lace Smoke Ring ended up a no-go. I couldn't knit a repeat without stuffing it up!

So Ice Queen was the next best thing. A nice easy knit, something that I think would be suitable as a quick Christmas gift, along with Fetchings.

Done...

Yarn: Caressa DK

I need to make another one though because I made this one too short, but it is okay for Miss A.

Kiri shawl has been started:
Yarn: Kauni EG

Needles: 4.5mm

Been doing some 'home improving' these holidays, as well as the outside, I got my plumbing fixed ( a few seized taps, new washers needed here and there, a dripping shower repaired etc ). I treated Miss A and I to a new bathroom vanity. The old one was small and dinky, only one cupboard and just about to rust through where the plughole was. Not to mention it was low compared to this one, no more stooping to wash my hands. Bliss.

Forest Canopy is a FO

2008-01-20T17:39:00.001+10:30

Finished it last night and blocked this morning:

Used my new lace blocking wires too.

Pattern: Forest Canopy

Yarn: Araucania 'Jewel' from Tapestry Craft

Was able to squeeze in 2 more repeats of the pattern and looking at the amount of yarn left I might have been able to do another, but wasn't game to try.

Is there anyone who is good at algebra - I need a tutor for my maths assignment. I started it at 9:30am and when I finished, the clock read just past 3pm! I missed breakfast and lunch and I still need to recheck it. I hate maths.

I have 5 health lessons to plan for, an English assignment, this maths assignment and one maths exam left for this semester.

Now I am inbetween projects they are the last hing on my mind. I think a Kiri shawl might be next or a retry of the Flared Lace smokering in Kaalund 2ply.

I won a Golden Spork!

2008-01-15T11:15:00.000+10:30

Tink had a delurking day and I commented - don't do that very often. Which made me eligible for the Golden Spork Awards. (Didn't know that)

I won a spot in the "Crafty/Creative" category.

Thanks Tink,

I'd also like to thank.....wait, I have a list here somewhere...a speech...just let me...

Yard Work

2008-01-15T09:20:00.000+10:30

Blogger is not playing nice again and it is taking ever so long to upload a few photos.

I have spent the last four days working my ass off in the backyard, hauling a half tonne of rubble and a tonne of gravel. I wanted to put some gravel down to level the cat run a bit and to cover the bathtub sized hole where I dislocated my ankle. To do that I needed some edging. I had some long pine logs down the side of the shed, but to get to them meant that I needed to clean that up. It took half a morning to drag them out and clean up the side.

To cut a long story short - I've gravelled and rubbled all over the yard. The edging is done, the area in front of the cat enclosure is gravelled and the side of the shed is neater. I bought a garden swing - cos I've always wanted one and that sits on the gravelled part. It is beginning to look like a home instead of a neglected paddock. I put together a trampoline for Miss A's birthday present and the garden swing. I can feel my testosterone levels rising and have even gained some bicep muscle too!

The cat run is complete. Unfortunately the first night I let them out there one of them found a weak spot and escaped. Two visits later by Securakat and the enclosure is secure again. Luckily the cat came home that night and was easily coaxed down from her tree with a can of cat food. All that I need to do today is to clear an area of gravel to put in some grass. Then that's it - not doin' anything else these holidays - except start on three assignments and prepare for another maths exam. Ooh I past my first maths exam with 91% yay.

Here's a shot of the entrance:

Can't do much about the rainwater pipe though, but I have filled in an area in front and raised the ground level so that there is not such a step over. Heaven knows I don't want to trip over again.

Below you can just see the shadecloth that I put up that nearly killed me. I had to go out of my comfort level and up one more step on the ladder to reach the highest part and I was shaking like a leaf the whole time while cable tieing 5 metres of shadecloth to the house. Had to lay down for ages afterwards, I felt so sick.

This pile of junk and the old chair ( as well as the 11 foot long pine logs ) were down this side of the shed... I wish now that I had taken some before pictures it was atrocious.

Mr Ex used it to chuck his rubbish and any old bits of scrap he didn't want down there. I have never seen it this empty before. Now the neighbours are keen to replace the fence.

You can just see the edging around the grass here it looks better in real life. After years of having Mr Ex saying that what I wanted to do was too hard, I managed to do it - with the help of two children ( dear neighbour's 12yo son was keen to help and Miss A got us drinks on request - with much bellyaching ) but it feels good to know that I can do it alone.

As a treat I have gone on a yarn ordering adventure - please someone hand me the scissors to cut up my card with.

I have something coming form Kpixie which is unfortunately stuck in customs since the 7th January, in, wait for it....Montreal. What the....? How/why is it there?! The lovely lady from Kpixie says it will either get to me or make it's way back to them, sob, I want it now. That will teach me to place an order so close to New Year's Eve.

A package from Astrid's is on it's way as well.

Ecoyarns is having a sale and I have coveted some Wild Cherry Karaoke for ages and a sale is the best time to buy isn't it?

Shawl craziness has hit here. I am still loving the Forest Canopy Shawl, have fallen in love with the following shawl patterns: Kiri, Seraphim, Spring Things, Sumac Leaf ( damn Ravelry - will people stop cueing things please?!) Leaf Lace and Angel Lace from Fibretrends and Diamond Fantasy.

The good thing about this is that I still want to knit each and everyone of them I haven't lost enthusiasm for them which is unusual for me.

No links cos blogger is really effing me off with the slow uploading of pics. I waited for half and hour and then it came up with an error and I really must go dig the side up.

First FO of 2008

2008-01-05T11:03:00.000+10:30

I'm counting this as the first for 2008, even though I could have finished it New Year's Eve. It really needs blocking though, this is the first item where I didn't block the individual pieces and now I am regretting it.

Details:
Yarn - Neon from Bendigo - Bracken
Pattern - PT 8227 from Bendigo I modified the ribbing as they have it doubled and turned back on itself and use short rows and I didn't like that.

Stash Enhancement:
After umming and aahing for several weeks I caved and purchased:

Dream in Colour Smooshy - Dusky Aurora from Knitting Inspirations

Dream in Colour Smooshy - Gothic Rose also from Knitting Inspirations

Araucania - Ocean, from Tapestry Craft.
I would love to know how they dye this as not one strand is the same, and variations within the strand are mottled. One of my aims for this year is to clear out the shed and set up a dyeing area. I plan on getting a big table to lay the yarns on, storage for the dyes and utensils and maybe a second hand electric stove or a microwave specifically for dyeing. I have some Cascade 220 in a bright pink which I want to splatter with black and blue.

and Jewels also from Tapestry Craft

All of which I have in mind for shawls.

Like this one:

Forest Canopy Shawl, a tester for Miss A. I am loving knitting this! Not sure about the colours though but Miss A loves it.

Our cat enclosure should be done by Wednesday next week whereupon I will post pictures. The cats do not use the pet door willingly at the moment because it only goes to that square enclosure I posted about earlier. My neighbour had the idea to turn it on it's side and push it up against the cat flap enabling the cats to go outside of their own accord now. Rather than me fighting to put them into the enclosure out in the yard. I need to get some shadecloth ready too, as it gets very hot down that side in summer and they will need shade.

Uni studies are going well I received a letter commending me on my high acheivements (a Credit and a Distinction in my first 2 units) Assignments are due on the 14th of Jan so I am busy working on those. All is well there.

Can't wait to get back to work this year as I have spent way too much, need to focus on bills and debt this year as well as saving. I also want to focus on fitness too. Way overdue!

We went to the swim centre the other day and spent about 6 hours in the water- my friend encouraged me to move my arms and legs constantly, which I mostly did, by treading water the whole time. Miss A and her friend would not allow peaceful, floaty resting in the water ( I nearly fell asleep at one stage it was so nice!) that was an invitation to be splashed - today I am still stiff and cannot move easily. So more time on the treadmill is needed this year.

It has been so hot here, a heat wave last week 3 days over 40 degrees C, yesterday was close to 39 and today is supposed to be 39 degrees.That is about all I have been doing - study in the morning, try to knit the rest of the time and watch episodes of Angel. sweet.

This...

2007-12-27T16:17:00.000+10:30

Inside

Outside (not my legs BTW)

nearly freakin' killed me!

Good news on the cat enclosure, it will be completed in a week and a half. The cat flap is now in and even if it is slightly uneven, it works and that's the main thing right?

The bad thing was that I had to cut into Asbestos. I had all the safety gear - respirator and filter rated for asbestos, complete disposable overalls to cover head to toe and safety goggles.
It was like being in a sauna suit for 3 hours! Bearing in mind today was over 30 degrees C. It took me over an hour to be able to sit up and walk again, I was stuffed.

I superglued the stanley knife to my thumb (don't ask how I did that), I siliconed half my hand, The PVC glue didn't stick to the plastic, only to me (again, don't ask). I popped a seam -lots of seams actually, in the disposable overalls, Miss A said I had holes in it everywhere and the respirator made me sound like Darth Vader. Of course, now I will worry that I didn't use enough protection and imagine that I inhaled the asbestos and will certainly die from Mesothelioma. Time will tell.

I will be disposing of the pieces of asbestos according to regulations. ie: wrapped in 220 micron? thick black plastic, taped with silver duct tape and delivered to a waste collection point. Phew!

What's the bet the cats won't use it?

Christmas was almost cancelled!

2007-12-26T15:39:00.001+10:30

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

We nearly cancelled Xmas this year as 6 days beforehand one of our cats went missing for 4 nights!

Miss A and I were very upset as it was really unusual for her to just disappear like that.
To add to our worry was that it was very stormy - the most rainfall since April this year. Our cats are never going outside again let me tell ya. Those heartbreaking
4 days were it. I am not going to lose another cat again.

I have enlisted the aid of secureakat and we have decided to enclose the whole side of the house where the 2 rainwater tanks are. We don't use this side at all and it is currently gravelled, all i want to do is move the gravel so that a strip down the middle will be grassed. Unfortunately it won't be done until end of Jan early Feb.

Have you seen the price of cat play equipment?! I intend to make a lot of it myself (any excuse to purchase a power tool) A nice man at Bunnings has cut a sheet of wood into bits so that I can glue and screw and make boxes for the cats to sleep in. Miss A will be in charge of the colour/painting part.

After a trip out today, I think the cat problem is sorted temporarily. It is actually a large puppy enclosure but with a few cat toys it's a cat enclosure. I intend to put them in here for a bit at a time so that they are not stuck inside. Maybe feed them the good tinned stuff as a treat so that they look forward to it.....cos they hate it at the moment.

Infernal human un-imprison me!

Puddy (who was on the missing cat list) realised she was locked in straight away and wouldn't stop meowing. Andy and Kitty went in together (they do not get along with Puddy very well) and they were like "ooh there's food, ooh there's water, look over here, a scratching thing, look a kitty tray, hang on ... what's this wall here? How do we get out? I want out!" Took 'em 20 minutes to work it out.

What did Father Christmas bring you? ... I was lucky to get some yarny goodness that was unwrapped many days before Xmas - Dream In Color Smooshy sock yarn in Gothic Rose and Dusky Aurora, some blocking wires in preparation for my forays into lace knitting.
Couldn't resist the Tapestry Craft sale ( ummed and ahhed for many days before committing to buy) I've ordered some Auracania yarn in Ocean and for Miss A Jewels for shawls.
What is it that I have a hankering to knit shawls?? The triangle shawl from the Knitting Olympics of 2006- I think it was - kicked my ass and that was/is a very simple M1 one st in from each end and once in the middle. Reminds me, that needs to be frogged.

Now I am not only on a yarn diet, but a money diet too. Can't wait to get back to work and earn some money or I'm gonna send myself broke!

Long time no post!

2007-12-19T06:20:00.000+10:30

Oops, when I first started this blog I was very keen and couldn't wait to add stuff. Especially through the breakup as it was a way of letting off steam.

Life has settled down now and I lead a very boring life of work/study/sleep/raise a family etc as I am sure a lot of you do too.

This does not mean to say that I have lost the knitting bug. I still look forward to knitting time, and it still calms me down. I just knit really slowly and progress is not as fast as my kntting time is limited due to studying at uni. And the fact that I decided to take on 3!! units during my Xmas holidays. Goose!

Anyway, I am on holidays now and have settled into an acceptable studying schedule. (study in the morning/knit in the afternoon/ bugger the housework)

So I know that I owe pictures of the Shawl Collar Jacket - that was a joy to knit and I need to knit something else in the Shadow Tweed. I still need a photo of this, but I will get to it I promise.

I have been wanting to try lace knitting for a while now. Ravelry is a great place to seek out patterns and check up on yarn and I have spent several days checking out lace projects to find out how difficult they are.

So I have settled on three patterns:
Forest canopy Shawl
Diamond Fantasy Shawl or
Flower Basket Shawl

I think it will be the one that has the edging knitted as you go, if I remember correctly, that's the Diamond Fantasy. As usual any advise is greatly accepted. What is the best project for a wannabe/beginner lace knitter?

I had my heart set on a variegated blue yarn but do you think I can find something here in Oz? Nup. I was looking at the Araucania, but at around $20 a ball for a first time lace project I don't think so. I did settle on some country prints in the blue/green/purple but it has been discontinued and there is none to be found.
I know that is not laceweight but I reckon if I try lace with a more chunky yarn it will be easier for me and I really wanted a chunky shawl anyway. I can envision myself chucking the mess of fairy floss across the room if I stuffed up with a finer yarn and that would be the end of lace knitting. I should really call it lacier knitting as, you know, it isn't wuite laceweight if that makes sense.

I've even ordered a lace blocking kit from here as well as some Cascade 220 to try.
And I have some Dream in Color on it's way in Gothic Rose and Dusky Aurora from here.

I am currently kniting a vest out of Bendigo Neon which is going well so far, but very slowly and one more pair of Fetchings.

I have received some great news workwise recently: I have been made permanent! with a payrise and upgrade woohoo. (hence the spurge on blocking wires/yarn etc.)
This is amazing in itself, as people in my line of work know that to be offered permanency is a rare thing, as well as at a time when my school is closing to make way for the Super school and the department had said no permanency was to be offered at this time. So that relieves a lot of financial pressure as I know I have a job as long as I want it.

I've rearranged my knitting room - taken out my study desk, moved my stash to the small room next to my knitting room, crammed in a sofa-bed (still have both recliners in there) and added a TV. It is just a great place to sit and knit, with the fantastic natural light during this time of year.

I doubt I will post again before Christmas. But I will endeavor to update fortnightly in the future.
Merry Christmas.

Blocked, Barbecued and Blubbering

2007-09-29T07:44:00.000+09:30

WARNING: Picture heavy post...You can tell when i'm on holidays can't ya?

The Shawl Collar Jacket in Shadow Tweed has completed fronts and back. I didn't try too hard to get the shadings to matchup. I just started knitting with the same strength of colour. Quite pleased at how the fronts do match though. Tried the 3 needle bind-off on the shoulders (again) and I just cannot get the whole wrap,pickup etc. I think I am wrapping the wrong stitch and when you go to pick them up, they are stretched across the stitch, making a little hole. It is not too noticeable.

Kitty says, "Now can I sit on it??"

After Mr Ex took our BBQ and the Webber Kettle that I had wanted, I really missed BBQ'd food, especially with the weather warming up. I took the plunge and purchased a BBQ a few weeks ago. It came in a big box with assembly instructions! Simple enough step by step instructions that were kinda easy to follow.

This lot.....

became this...

Also been adding to the garden we have...

Tomatoes

S'posed ta be Sweetcorn

Potatoes

Beans

Peas Oops about the bottom of the photo.

Cucumber

Experimental Oak Lettuce

Experimental because it was purchased to eat and we ate and then because it still has it's roots attached, I thought it might grow/turn to seed and we might get some more growing. It has picked up since being planted and is no longer wilting, so maybe it will grow seed for us. Dunno.

Miss A has gone away for the weekend (4 whole nights!!!) I hate it when she goes,I have a very hard time dealing with it, but she really wanted to go this time, it's the only time she gets with her father - he hardly contacts her any other time. Mr Ex has replaced me with another ( didn't want Miss A much at all until he got a girlfriend who could look after her for him) and she gets to go on what was our regular family holiday. After more than ten years going to the same spot for the October long weekend I now stay home alone. sniff. It kills me to send her on holidays, I was teaching her how to run the shower and how to organise stuff in the tiny shower cubicles, not put bare feet on the floor etc. and now I have to hand that over to someone that I don't know. *short pause to dry tears*
The song playing on the radio is "Big Girls Don't Cry", how appropriate.

Anyway the footy Grand Final is on today, the most footy I've watched is the last 10 mins of the preliminary finals this year. My team is in the Grand Final this year- GO THE POWER!- Really looking forward to this, I intend to sit and knit while watching the footy, and try not to cry anymore.

Tragic, I know. Luckily I have my cats to keep me company and with the fights I'm breaking up between Andy and Scrappy I won't get bored.

Oh, Mr Ex reckons he will take Scrappy next week, so then I'll be down to 3 cats. It will be better for Scrappy 'cos he can't even sleep without getting attacked. I have to wake-up several times a night to separate 'em. I've sprayed Feliway around the house so hopefully that'll help today.

Ravelry!!

2007-09-19T17:35:00.000+09:30

I'm in, Tigerknits, add me if you wish.

After not feeling like knitting I am suddenly feeling enlivened.
Bendigo has, available for a short time, Neon (striping like Shadow Tweed/Vintage Hues but in an 8 ply) , I love it and can't wait to actually touch it. It is definitely a limted production and will not become a permanent addition (I know this because I asked/begged them to keep it)

I have picked up the Shawl Collar Jacket out of Shadow Tweed. I intitially wouldn't pick it up 'cos I thought I wouldn't be able to work out where I was up to, fortunately I found that it was only just started and just past the ribbing.

But I wanna play with Neon!

Fore!

2007-09-01T11:26:00.000+09:30

I think that's how you spell it..
Miss A has taken a liking to golf and to encourage her we have purchased a putting thing that returns the ball if you get it in the right spot, an indoor model connected to the power point.

We needed something outside so this morning we created this...

Andy the cat loves it! Pokin' his paws in and scooping out the ball, to the dismay of Miss A.

Uni has kept me really busy these past few weeks. Boring unit I have to push myself to do. I am behind in the readings, my group of 4 people has only me contributing to it and the assignment is due in 2 weeks! I am the one sending emails and uploading to the boards, we have 3 members that I don't hear from at all this is very frustrating. I refuse to do everyone's work so I will only do my bit and if we fail then so be it.

Have not been knitting at all - it has taken me 3 months and I still haven't finished a scarf.
I have orders for Fetchings that I just cannot do - don't wanna. Need to order some size 2mm addi turbos for socks. I did cast on some lovely sock yarn, a present from Jessica but I think I need smaller needles. The fabric was just too holey for socks.

I have had Laryngitis for 2 weeks and then a slight head cold and have been feeling so drained. Thant's my excuse for not studying. So looking forward to summer.

One thing I have been obsessing over is coffee beans. I purchased a bean grinder and a plunger this week and have been brewing some nice coffee ( Have only started drinking coffee this year and now can't get enough)

Yep...

2007-09-01T11:21:00.000+09:30

Your Theme Song is Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

"There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves."

You haven't been feeling a lot lately, and you think that's a good thing.
The comfortable part is nice... but you should really work on numb.

What's Your Theme Song?

Sickness and secret projects

2007-07-19T11:31:00.000+09:30

Urggh. What a way to spend the school holidays - sick. Miss A came down with something last Wednesday and on the weekend shared it with me. Although we did spend Friday to Wednesday curled up in bed hacking up our lungs ( and I intend to return there soon ) we managed to spend some quality time together. It was worrying - she had a fever for 3 days.

So much for seeing the new Harry Potter movie, going bowling, going to the park....

Been working on a new project, very fun and different. Will take some photos and share when I get better.

You Are Best Described By...

San Giorgio Maggiore, Twilight
By Claude Monet

What Famous Work of Art Are You?

Seen better days

2007-07-05T16:17:00.000+09:30

These curtains were made by my Mum over 30 years ago! The fabric was soo old they had started to disintegrate and some curtain rings were broken. I finally got the motivation to make some new ones.

Andy is the feline model for this shot... heaven help him if he runs up these curtains like he used to with the old ones.

I took out the small one in the middle as I wanted these to close over the door thus allaying my fear that I was secretly being spied on by the neighbours at night time (or the Boogey Man or some such creature that may be hiding out in my backyard)

Knitting Knews...

Two orders for Fetchings must be completed these holidays, funny how I couldn't stop knitting these until someone actually wanted me to make them a pair, now it's a chore to be put off until scarves are finished. Now ask me how many scarves I've made in the last 2 weeks ( the answer is 2 and a half)

Uni News...

Semester one is finished yay! Semester 2 starts on the 23rd July. School holidays are here next week and they end on the 23rd July so I have two whole weeks in which to solidly knit - that's the plan anyway.

Personal News...

Miss A goes to her Dad's for 2 whole nights - he picks her up tomorrow and will drop her back Sunday. I am still finding being parted from her very difficult. Luckily he doesn't ask her up very often. She is glad to be home too as I don't think he spends very much time with her. The girlfriend and her 3 daughters look after her more than he does. Roll on Sunday.

So what delights have I got planned for myself to tide me over?
I have Angel complete season one, Sixteen Candles, Duece Biglow 1, The Family Stone and all the Alien movies (That will go well with my new curtains cos I will wake in the night and be able to go to the loo without the monster from the movie watching me through my back door)

Oh and I have chocolate - Clinkers, Snickers Pods, Dairy Milk family block, Quatro biscuits, and Iced coffee. That should cover the five food groups ;)

Reminds me, I must set up the treadmill these holidays too.

Found It

2007-05-28T16:01:00.001+09:30

Okay here's Miss A's Hoody...

Bendigo Rustic 12 ply in Pink Opal.

Shawl Collar Jacket in brown Shadow Tweed - the back... Go on click for the bigger picture that shows the pretty colours.

The left front...

You want pictures??

2007-05-27T10:37:00.000+09:30

You can't have pictures!

Oohh, this morning I was motivated enough to snap some pics of Miss A's Central Park Hoodie and the back and left front of the shawl collar jacket out of Shadow Tweed, now I can't find the camera cord!!
As the camera's battery cover is split in halves and the batteries come loose, now may be a good time to think about buying a new camera - especially if I can't find the cord.

Now that my last assignment for this semester at uni is now finished ( have to submit it for assessment this Friday, so tweaking time is there) and I have only one unit left for my Cert 3 in Disability Work (lecture this week) it is much easier to breathe now. Funny that.

Life does seem good at this moment. All the crap we went through seems to have paid off.
Ahh for some prime knitting time this week.

Quickie update

2007-05-06T08:26:00.000+09:30

Long time no blog.
Just can't seem to do anything interesting to blog about.

Miss A's CP Hoody is now almost finished with just the seaming to be done. Stuffed up the grafting on the hood and was too lazy to ungraft it and am now sorry I didn't take the time to fix it up. It has a few dodgy stitches right on top of the head!

I've taken a liking to the new Paton's Shadow Tweed and bought a whole lot when it was on special last week. I am currently making the Shawl Collar Jacket in the brown colourway, I went nuts and bought all but the orangey red colour. This yarn reminds me of the Point 5 from Colinette, it is soft but not even firmly spun so I'm wondering how well it will wear.

Another problem is that I could not for the life of me get gauge. They want 14.5 sts with 6.5mm needles and I can't get close to that with 6mm or 5.5mm so I'm doing the smaller size and 14 sts / 10cm with 6mm needles. (got 14sts with the 5.5mm too and I'm not going smaller as it will then be a too firm a fabric which I don't like)
Does that mean that I need to go down a size more when knitting the ribbing?? Hmm, will it then throw out the collar (knitted separately and sewn on later)
They want 6.50mm stocking stitch and 5.5mm ribbing so if I'm knitting my stocking stitch on 6mm needles do I then go to 5mm needles on the rib? Decisions, decisions.....It is very nice to knit with though, lovely and soft.

The teacher that I work with asked me, "Do you knit fingerless gloves?". "Why yes, I do", I replied, knowing what was coming....yep some more Fetchings, again with that lovely black alpaca. These I will knit mainly at school and still have some 'me' knitting time at home.

Not very happy today as I am sick, hit me like a brick on Friday. One minute I was feeling fine, then sneezed and within 10 minutes - seriously that is how fast this thing came on, no warning or anything!! - I thought uh oh, am I coming down with something? Just suddenly had no energy, felt dizzy etc. So Saturday was spent on the lounge knitting and feeling miserable.

Oh, I also caved and ordered some Knit Picks Needles -finally. Blame that on the fever/ PMS/ medication........

Knitting

2007-04-07T08:47:00.000+09:30

The CPHoodie's left front is done and attached to the back.
I attempted the 3 needle bind off and when I came to bind off the last stitch I realised that I hadn't bound off any stitches as I went along. (can't blame the pain meds 'cos I didn't have any :p ) So a quick unpicking and a re-knit and the shoulders were finally attached. I'm pleased with the results, however, when held up against Miss A the part at the shoulders is not very wide....hmmmm... I'm thinking it will be okay after the hood and the ribbing is added - fingers crossed! No pictures as I am not hobbling around looking for the camera.

My ankle is starting to go down finally and my toes are looking more normal, the bruising is still a deep purple colour which is fine 'cos purple is my favourite colour. I'm off crutches and hobbling slowly and I don't need the office chair for moving around either. Yesterday I made it outside, down the step and back up again a big achievement that one.

I have lots of reading and summarising to do for uni and one unit is due on Wednesday for my Cert 3 in Disability and I just don't wanna do anything. I have to push myself to knit too.

Mr Ex is coming for some of his stuff today (not specifically to see Miss A for Easter, but to get his stuff!) I need to cut some ties there, he is no longer welcome in the house as his nasty comments on what I have bought/not done/my attitude/etc are not good to hear each time he visits. He is not happy about not being able to come inside, but I have rights and choices too.
Time to let go for good - not of him because that happened a long time ago - but of the sadness and the future that was planned but is not there anymore.

Easier typed than done sometimes :)

...grumble...

2007-04-04T14:21:00.000+09:30

I had a bit of an accident Monday night, I fell over in the backyard - tripped over my rainwater tank pipe and then fell into the hole where my fishpond/bathtub was. Luckily the bathtub had been removed and I fell on the soft?!? ground. When I looked at my foot my ankle was at a funny angle, oooh :0 I popped it back in and called for Miss A to bring the phone out. My dear neighbour and her husband were there within minutes, they helped me up and took me to the doctors, ran around looking for crutches for me and bandages and medication. I don't know what I would have done without them....probably just gone inside and gotten out the frozen peas.

Xrays show a small sliver of bone broken off but no fractures.
So now I have the rest of the week off as well as the Easter break to recover.

Crutches are a big ol PIA - the computer chair is so much easier. The pain medication makes me feel sick so I'm not having anymore of that in a hurry (the pain isn't too bad anyway)
I won't post pictures cos it's just gross looking at the moment.

Thought of a whole week of knitting time was dashed when the pain meds made me dizzy/queazy/sick etc, I still cannot sit up for very long, let alone do anything constructive.

In other news Mr Ex now has a new g/friend and is pushing Miss A to meet her! Not happy 'bout that. I was not allowed to have anymore children I would have dearly loved to have two and now he's shacked up with a woman who has 3 girls. She has/is clearing out her youngest daughter's room so that Miss A can share the room and have sleepovers. Over my dead body!!!

What is it that now he wants to have more contact with her now that he has a g/friend??
Am I wrong to think that when I look after her 3 daughters then she can have a go at looking after my daughter?? I do not want to become the single mother from Desperate Housewives...remember her? But now I understand her so much more.

What would you do??

Where Does The Time Go?

2007-03-24T09:32:00.000+10:30

Well not much has been happening here lately just the same old work and study routine.

University studies are going very well and I'm even enjoying it. Got some credit for my previous studies and have been successful in applying for exemption to two assignments for one unit. Phew - that means less work.

Even been allowing myself time off for knitting. No pictures yet as it's just the CPHoody for Miss A and is growing slowly. I haven't had the urge to knit anything so haven't picked it up for weeks now but it is there and this week I've been knitting a little, even if it's just one row after I've read my papers, it's starting to entice me back. I'd forgotten how relaxing it is for me. if I put it off much longer Miss A will have grown out of the Hoody!

Really - not much happening = not much blogging.

I got in!

2007-02-18T15:55:00.000+10:30

I applied to go to University a while back and last Wednesday I got the letter.
I have won a place at Charles Darwin University to study a Bachelor of Teaching.
I'll be doing it externally which means it is all either online or posted. Yippee!

I have a fantastic learning support network and organised a wonderful mentor.

How I am going to fit it all in is something I haven't figured out yet.

At least this means that I don't have to:

Drop 2 - 3 days work/pay to physically attend Uni. I can keep us in the manner to which we have become accustomed (late night chocolate binges and Iced Coffee always in the fridge)
Get someone to look after Miss A while I attend. (she can sit right next to me and ~~bug me~~ play on the old computer while I study - yeah we'll see how long that'll last ;)
Worry about being back in time to pick up Miss A. (As usual she'll be with me 24/7......)
Spend $$ getting to Uni and back. (helps to pay for the new computer)

It does mean that I won't have as much time to knit, so I better get cracking on Miss A's Central Park Hoody before she outgrows it.

And because it is going to be mostly online, I've invested in Broadband which should be here by next weekend I hope and a new computer. My old one is totally full and will not stand up to the rigours of late night, long hours of studying. Can you believe I am only getting on average around 32Kbps! Damn slow. At it's worst my broadband will be 64Kbps twice as fast, kewl. Oh and have 4 connections so that Miss A can access it at the same time, Neopets here she comes.

So this weekend was spent setting up the old computer for Miss A (she has to earn her computer time mwuahaha) and the new one for myself. Vista sure is purdy. Guess what was easier....

I had a good idea to update the old one to SP2, all well and good but the installation went awry and I ended up with the computer not recognising the modem! What! no internet for 2 days!!! I have just worked out what was wrong and fixed it, phew, that only took nearly 2 full days. A quick reinstall of the Operating System and a few tweaks...

I tried to install Internet Explorer 7 and that went belly up too I think it has something to do with Windows Update ( which also went belly up but is now fixed after having half a day spent on it) So I will try again now that the updating program is working. (something about not being able to connect to the internet to update itself - I hope......)

I have integrated my antivirus, firewall and anti spyware into Windows Live One Care, not linking cos I've spent too many hours at that bl**dy website searching it for fixes, and that seems to be going well. One subscription instead of two, and it was cheaper than one subscription on its own.

So hopefully in a few days I'll be able to report a full thumbs up on the computer system here at Chez Bankrupt.

Oh my stars

2007-02-11T09:09:00.000+10:30

Now who says that the horoscopes are all generic and broad?

How about mine, dated the 9th (Friday) which I just saw today:

Remember that material possessions are just that - material. At some point in your life, you are either going to lose them, ruin then, or throw them away. The only question is when and how. Don't put yourself through unnecessary emotional turmoil over the loss or damage of something tangible. Attach yourself to people, rather than material things. Good friends and loyal family members will be there for you until the end.

Spooky huh?
Bearing in mind a few days before it did say that my luck was going to change. Yippee I thought until I realised that luck can also change from reasonably okay luck - and you don't know that that is your good luck - to bad luck and not always to really good luck.

That scarf has told me it wants to try and be a Grape Hyacinth scarf pfft! yeah right have you seen the pattern for that? I've had three goes at just the ribbing so far. But it is looking like it needs to be this scarf so I will keep trying.

Anyway now I am sick as well as Miss A, we have a burning need for groceries and I am not feeling very well which means I have to push myself to drive the car (shudders - when I think of the car I get this funny twitch..... ) to the nearest grocery store for milk, iced coffee and more chocolate and cheese and cat food and kitty litter and...............

Of scarves and things...

2007-02-10T17:51:00.001+10:30

Recently finished the Stress Relief Scarf, this was a kit available in stores by Patons, if I remember correctly. It came with a circular needle, a sewing needle, instructions, yarn (Zhivago) and a nifty zippered bag. I have made several of these now and from different yarns. This one is Velveteen and it was a quick knit.

I have decided not to fringe this one.

I liked being in between projects, that delicious time of choosing what's next. Maybe some Karaoke, or that nice Alpaca from Bendigo, Noro, hmm what else is in the stash?

I thought that I'd try the Irish Hiking Scarf but as I only have one ball of the Bendy Alpaca, I left off a cable repeat so this one will only have two cables. i like my scarves narrow and long, I'll see how it goes and if it likes this or wants to be something else - I was thinking of Coronet.

So far it's okay.

Oh an update on my car....
the leak is indeed fixed - a simple sump plug problem, now the skeptic in me wants to know if it was this simple to fix all along or were there really mega buck leaks.....we willl never know.

A bit sad on Friday after work when I went to my car to find that the idiot next to me had opened his/her door onto my car and taken some lovely chunks right out of my driver's door!!
Hmmm, white on dark blue does stand out terribly. So this morning was spent finding some touch up paint.

Thanks to the wonderful guy at the crash repairs who colour matched and mixed up a jar of paint for me and then asked if I needed help to apply it. "That would be great," I replied "then I can see how to do it"

After doing the door he then proceeded to check the whole car and spent some time touching it up - the car - and as he did we chatted and I told him how much bad luck I was having with it. When it came time to pay he said not to worry about it and that maybe that would help to change my luck....wasn't that nice of him? Phew something nice for a change, now if I'd just been able to get his phone number.....

Miss A is sick this weekend so we are in for a real quiet time of knitting and dvd's in bed.

Turning UFOs into FOs

2007-02-04T07:32:00.000+10:30

I don't know what it is but lately I have felt the need to complete some UFOs.
Fetching number 3 for me is finished.
Doll blanket number 1 is finished...can't remember where or what Doll Blanket number 2 is?
Here's the pictures:

Completed blanket

Blanket in use

Here is the reason Barbie and Ken were not happy last night:

Kitty (top observation deck) and Andy (penthouse) decided they needed a room for the night.

In other news, remember that I bought a smaller, newer, modern, sleek, fantastic car in December??

Yeah, well fantastic car has had an oil leak, so after taking it back to the car yard where I bought it for repairs and being fobbed off, told it was fixed, nope nothing wrong, etc - it was still leaking so I decided to take it to the local dealer for independent tests and repairs.

After the dealer having it for 2 and a half weeks I just got my little car back on Friday. So Miss A and I took it for a drive to the beach and got a celebratory icecream, ducked into Foodland for some tea and when I came back there was a stupid A**hole parked 2 inches - I kid you not 2 inches!!- from the back of my car!!! I just got in and forgot to take his number and forgot to check for dings thinking that no, nothing would be amiss (trusting soul aren't I)....

Next day I remembered to check....yep bumper was scratched and lower down has some scratches and a chip of paint taken out of the lower bumper.

Not to mention how pleased I was on Saturday morning to find out that the car was still leaking in the exact same spot and worse than when I took it in to be repaired!! AARGGHH!!!
2.5 weeks and $1800 later I am back to square one.

They had the engine, transmission, Air Conditioner, everything, all out - rear main seal they declared - big expensive job, so everything they did to it was unnecessary because it still leaks, I paid for work that didn't need to be done because it still leaks.

They will be getting a call from me come Monday morning!
Is there no one that can find and fix an oil leak?
Is it because I am a woman they think they don't really need to fix it?
Did they just overlook it? honest mistake?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I know it's just a car and worse thing are happening out there.
Mr Ex thinks this is funny and taunts me about it.
This is typical of my life anything can and does f*ck up like this. Constantly. I am tired of it. I want to cry. I can feel the depression monster stalking me so don't be surprised if I don't blog for a while.

Edited to add:
Okay I've had a bit of a cry and a lay down (and some chocolate ;) )and I am feeling a little better about the whole situation. Fingers crossed we can get it sorted out soon.

More Finished Objects!

2007-01-26T12:40:00.000+10:30

Ripping out the first lot of Miss A's Fetching's was the way to go! These babies knit up extra quick - maybe due to the fact they are one repeat less and a larger yarn than I previously used. They have turned out slightly larger than the first ones.

I am itching to make another pair for myself as these are comfy. The first ones that I made for myself I didn't bind off loosely enough and it is slightly uncomfortable, but these ones....mmmm.

Yarn: Country Silk in Pink
Needles: Boye size 4 US

Another FO is this hideous scarf in something called 'Sparkle' - thin and nubbly and sparkly - I think came from Lincraft or Spotlight. I have had it on the needles for over a year and it is good to get rid of it. I asked Miss A if she'd like it and her face lit up she thinks it's great.

After rearranging my yarn stash I have found all my UFOs. The Vest with the yarn that made my fingers peel (as soon as I find it that is - it has some good circulars and a very nice stitch marker- can't for the life of me find the damn thing) and the Eyelet Baby Hat, that would fit an adult, have gone to the frogpond. Not too bad but I don't think I'm gonna finish the Mermaid toy from the 'Knit A Square Make A Toy' book or the family of guinea pigs Miss A wanted last year - I have the yarn for them though oh what was I thinking ?!?

Here's to knocking off some more UFOs hey?

Let the Renno's begin

2007-01-23T14:50:00.000+10:30

While I am on holidays I have been taking the time to do some small repairs to the house.

Of course I only remember to take the 'before ' pictures afterwards! But not with the bathroom, I remembered so here are some before and after pics: Eww! yucky. Now bear
in mind that Mr Ex said it was too expensive to fix, can't be done etc and for less than $150 and a week and a half and much effort it is nearly completed.

I scraped out all the old grout, siliconed around the edges, re grouted, and waterproofed the shower.
The main thing was letting every step cure. Silicone needed to be left 72 hours, new grout 72 hours and 24 for the waterproofing. Can't wait till Saturday as the shower will be back in action yay! Bathing with a shower hose has been fun but give me back the shower!

I had to redo the bathroom because I had that part of the house restumped and lifted and

the consequences of that repair was lots of cracks to the tiles, tiles falling off and gaps in the corners of the walls. Not counting the gaps and broken tiles that were there already plus a leaking shower.
Such a blast doing this all by myself, oh but Miss A did bring me buckets of water on request for wiping the grout off. Who needs a man??

Here is a list of what I have done so far and a list of what needs doing, I am so proud that I did these things by myself (I am listing them because I need a record of what I have done because fixing a house up becomes so overwhelming and it feels good to look back on completed repairs) :
*Installed a doorbell

*Pantry cupboards - painted, reshelved, new door handles
*Re mortared the chimney - a lovely bricklayer did this for me

*Fixed leaky shower taps

*Backyard cleaned up, bathtub pond,orange tree and passionfruit vine removed - thanks to a great
friend and her husband who came down one day and backyard blitzed me

*Antenna - never had a proper working antenna and can now watch crystal clear crappy tv

*Laundry tap - fixed in 5 minutes after having no tap for the last 10 years, just a broken one

*Verticals in my knitting room - thanks Vista!

*Created a knitting room - see pics below

*Purchased two comfy recliners for knitting room

*Rainwater tanks fixed to stop leaks

*Checked smoke alarms - I have 11 foot ceilings and a heavy ladder, this was no easy feat!

*New outdoor setting all set up

*Bathroom regrouted, sealed and waterproofed

Here's my backyard...a bit of a blank canvas at the moment but plans for veggie growing and flowers abound. Oops probably shouldn't have emptied the grouting bucket right there. You should have seen it when it was an overgrown jungle, this pic makes it look good!

To Do List

-Clean the gutters

-Buy a lighter ladder

-Dig the garden and make a veggie patch

-mulch garden

-Rolladoor

-Replace bull nosed verandah

-Paint house inside and out

-Curtains for computer room

-New bathroom vanity

-Resilver bathroom mirrors

-Remove rubbish behind the shed

-New screen doors

-Restump other side of house

-Make a cat enclosure down the side of the house

Knitting Room

Here are some pics of where I sit and knit:

The recliners are covered in rugs because the cats like to climb up them and scratch them and I don't want them to. Therefore the cats are only allowed in the room when I am in there too.

Bookshelf with books

Yarn stash, yep this is all of it, all in the one place, so I can look at it and it can shame me into using it up.

Here's a pic of the completed Central Park Hoodie. Yarn: Bendigo 12ply Rustic in Damson

Miss A's CPHoodie now has a completed back. Yarn: Bendigo 12 ply Rustic in Pink Opal

Miss A's Fetching went to the frog pond and was restarted with 5 stitches less and on bigger needles and now it is way easier to knit. Yarn: Country Silk? in pink

Now I get to knit them while I wait for the grout to cure before being able to paint on the waterproofing at 9pm Thursday night (The sooner it goes on the sooner we can use the shower)

First FO of the year

2007-01-08T08:10:00.000+10:30

Hopefully it won't be the only FO this year!

I have just finished the Central Park Hoody....not totally happy with it as it is a tad on the big side but it is perfect for wearing over a jumper :( Next one will be two sizes smaller I think, I wanted to wear it over a tshirt not a jumper as well, but it is nice and warm and was cozy at the park yesterday.

Had a family reunion picnic in the city where it was cold, windy and drizzly for a bit and the hoody kept me nice and warm.

Sorry no pics as yet. But trust me it is finished.

I have now started on Miss A's CPHoody in Pink Opal from Bendigo. As soon as she'd seen mine it was like "Make me one!"

What's that? Where's the afghan I just bought all that wool for....dunno....I cannot decide between a nice cabled, single stranded throw (dammit Jess ever since you sent me that link....) which would take me forever and I'd need to sit right next to the chart, or a double stranded, garter stitched, sewn up block version - which would be a quick knit, nice and thick.

So what sort of throw should I start? Thick 'n' easy or thin but cabled?? both?
I have selected a fawn coloured shade of the Cleckheaton Country and a matching flecked one as well which I was going to make the Lion Brand Winter Night Afghan.

Bearing in mind I wanted a throw for warmth and something to chuck over me when I feel like napping on the lounge. And the fact that I am a pretty slooow knitter oh and feel the cold hmmm...I thought the blocks would make a nice portable project but having now sewn up the hoody I am not really that keen on seams.

Bendigo's 12ply rustic would make a nice cabled throw, but I have the stuff to make the thicker one. That's why there is no afghan started at this house

New Years Resolutions:
1. To not eat so much chocolate -does not include the four chocolates I just ate for breakfast this morning.
2. To not purchase more yarn - does not include the Socks That Rock Club membership I just paid for and we will not mention the cost of this again or I will have to go into a whole 'nother post about why I signed up! Nor does it include the purchase of any yarn to make an afghan of some sort when a final decision is made.
3. To never let my backyard/frontyard/side of house become overgrown again - ever! Such a pain to have to wrangle into submission singlehandedly. I wish that I had remembered to take a photo of how bad it was but I think I am ashamed of how bad it was and don't want all of blogland to know.
4. To save money - for improvements on my house. Sadly neglected for years and I mean something like 15 years! Needs TLC (Truck Load of Cash)

Doing well so far aren't I?

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T13:46:00.000+10:30

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Father Christmas was kind to you.

So what have I been up to for the last few months!! Was it really back in October that I last posted something?!

Well for a quick update:

I sat the STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test) in the middle of November and achieved good results, so now just waiting for the round of offers from the Uni in January next year.

My home loan went through 2 weeks ago.

The Property Settlement has been finalised at last and Mr Ex is now out of the house. Everything now remains where I have put it and stays cleaner for longer. Miss A seems to be coping okay. She still gets to see him on occassion.

I had been spending an awful lot of time cleaning and tidying and sorting the place out - I now have a Knitting Room complete with 2 comfy recliners and in a few weeks there will be verticals on the windows so that we can sit out there at night time and noone can see in. Must get some pics up.

Hmm what else....

There's a mouse plague in my kitchen cupboards! Eww, so far we are tigers-2 mice -0. The battle continues.

Oh, renovations - I've had my chimney remortared by a lovely old man who climbed up on my roof - in 37 degree heat - supported only by the small planks that he fashioned into some sort of ladder. I didn't breathe until he left I thought for sure he would either fall off my roof ( see I said my roof- I own a home!!) or fall through my ceiling but he did a terriffic job and now it won't fall down anytime soon.

I fixed my pantry cupboards and gave them a coat of paint - forgot to take before pictures of both of these jobs duh!

The Central Park Hoody stands at a back, 2 fronts and 1 and 3/4 sleeves. I am not knitting anything else but this and still it is not growing. Ah hopefully now that I have 5 weeks holiday I can finish it shortly there is only one thing in the way -

you can't knit and drive at the same time -

I have just bought a new to me car, a really modern car which is soo different from the Kingswood ( read tank ) that I have been driving for the last 8 years. (Mr Ex is not happy with me ;) )
I will post a picture when I can but I my batteries are flat at the moment so when I charge them I'll try to restrict myself to one or two photos.

Have a great Christmas and don't drink too much eggnogg!

2006-10-29T18:56:00.001+10:30

I have just been gifted with these.....

Wanna closer look?

A friend's mother cannot use them anymore and was giving them away and my dear friend thought of me.

I will certainly appreciate and use it. I have a had a bit of a play and have just about worked out how to use it. It's not that much different to my Ashford.

Now today was spent knitting and the shoulder bind offs on the Central Park Hoodie had to be ripped out several times before I could complete the last cable and bind it off right. Unfortunately when I got home and had the left front and the right front sitting together I saw that I didn't have a matching cable on the left front so had to rip out again the shoulder of the right front. Are you with me? I sat for ages binding it off so that the right had a cable on the very top when I later found out the left didn't have one?!

Sheesh, now having cast on for the sleeve, the rib is not as tight as I like it. I like my cuffs to sit around my wrists snuggly and not flop about. I'm thinking of casting on a tighter cuff and graphing up the increases and adjusting them so the sleeve cap will fit the armholes. That'll have to wait till tomorrow cos I have no graph paper. I will be soo glad when this hoody is finished.

My motto: Nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

Not another update?!

2006-10-29T10:10:00.000+10:30

Ahh so much is happening here I have limited time to actually post. Feel free to skip straight to the knitting part.

Let's see...
The Centrelink issue is now done and dusted with a resolution in my favour, worth the fight I must say.

Mr Ex is dragging out the Property Settlement. He has has it for 8 weeks now and he and his lawyer are taking their sweet time contacting my lawyer. Funny that, he always insisted on a fast and amicable settlement when he is the one doing the stalling. Let me tell ya their are dirty little tricks happening here at home. He is getting really good at setting Miss A and me up. It took me a while to realise the extent of the set ups but he is good. Lots of things that he knows will upset me.
I'm sure I'll laugh about it later but man he is doing me in. Should be all over in 6 weeks but that's what I said 8 weeks ago. sigh

Preparation is going well for tertiary entry right on track there. STAT test is in 3 weeks.

Knitting Part
Been concentrating solely on the Central Park Hoodie, which had me stumped there this week. The 2 fronts are not going to line up perfectly they are 1 row out which won't be a problem. The cables will match though and that's the main thing right?. A quick call to Jess got things sorted and now I'm on my way.

Looking forward to an afternoon of knitting with Jess and Miss B today.

Giving up on knitting group today for several reasons:

One being that on such a great day it has been scheduled for the library cafe (our winter location) and I am getting tired of going there (overpriced food, mouldy cheesecakes and not much choice in the way of food) The ones that actually attend regularly are itching to get back to the gardens and the people making the decision don't always attend.

Two: most people cannot attend this week anyway and I'd probably end up sitting there on my own. Knitting in public is fine if you are not the only one.

Thirdly: Jess is still recovering so staying home will be good for her today.
Better run I need to go and have a shower,oh and must duck to the shops for cake.

Knitting goes so much better when there is chocolate cake don't you think?

Another Quick Update...

2006-10-21T16:59:00.000+09:30

I am soo tired...
I have spent the day at a course to help me prepare for the STAT test (mature age entry for Uni) 7 no we finished an hour early, 6 no we had a half hour for lunch, okay 5 and a half hours of test questions.

My brain is busted.

Not much knitting has taken place here lately. The Central Park Hoodie has a back, a left front and half a right front. Each evening this week I have had good intentions of picking it up but have been side tracked by one thing or another (mainly going to bed really early - at 8pm!) It's been my first week back at work this week.

Going out for tea with friends and Miss A tonight and really looking forward to a Schnitzel Parmigiana yum, my fave! Luckily I don't have to work this Sunday so hopefully I can slot in some knitting, but I really have to get stuck into my Personal Competency Statement for Uni entry.

I got word last week that I have indeed passed my Cert 4 in ICT (hip, hip) and the Cert 4 in Business Admin has been finished too. I've signed up for a Cert 3 in Disability Work and can transfer credit across from the other two Certificates lessening my workload by 5 units out of 11. At least it has paid off completing them.

My to do list now stands at:

Property settlement, going slowly but progress is being made there.
Uni Personal Competency Statement.
Maths for STAT course in a few weeks.
Actual STAT test in a few weeks too.
Cert 3 in Disability.

'Keep yourself unstressed' recommends the instructor...ha

Addressing comments

2006-10-05T08:05:00.000+09:30

Thanks for the comments...I've decided in future to try to reply to the comments in a post otherwise they get lost after a few days and unless you go looking for a response (I do) it's difficult to find. And I know I get excited to get a reply to my comments.

2paw : Thank you, I'm so relieved that it ended up looking ok.

Jessica : Yes, I remembered the Yarn Harlot did a post about fixing cables with pictures that really scared me. And now I have one of my own, hee hee. Must admit I was shaking the whole time I was fixing it. (and not breathing much)

somebunnysloveDOTcom : Imagine doing that with LACE? uhuh, I can't even knit lace let alone rip it and fix it like that. shudders Although I am leaning towards lace in future projects....

Now after all that fixing I'm thinking that the size I chose may be a bit big - not by much but I'm thinking as a jacket it might be ok to knit it a tad smaller than a jumper.
It works out the same size as my favourite jumpers but as Jessica suggested jackets are open in the front ( yes it did need to be pointed out to me) and it'll gape anyway. So it will be bigger because of that openness.
No drama because I've only nearly completed the back and am quite ok with reknitting it.
It's hard to judge how it's going to turn out. Deep down I've had this inkling that I should be knitting the next size down.
Should I follow my intuition or keep going? I think I'll restart it, wool stretches so it should be no problem in a smaller size. That way it won't look like a dressing gown as I fear it'll end up.

I actually thought I was knitting the 44" size all along until I checked and found out this week that I was doing the 48" one. Don't know how that happened!

Knitting when you should be sleeping: a cautionary tale

2006-10-04T16:38:00.001+09:30

It was just after lunch when the thought occured to me that I should check the cables.
To my absolute horror I discovered a misscrossed cable about 3 cable crossings down!
Ack.
Turns out it was one of the first ones I did at 4 am this morning.

There was no way in h*ll I was going to rip back all of those rows - that was about 10cm work.
So I bravely read up on dropping stitches to fix cables.

I forgot to take a picture of the misscrossed cable but remembered once I had dropped all the stitches off, so here's the first part I call Come Undone ( notice the reference to the Robbie Williams song that I slipped in there?)

Here it is all fixed up, phew this only took 45 minutes to complete (best song reference here is Phoenix From The Flames) The cable in question is just above where the armhole shaping starts.

I feel that I am evolving as a knitter - deliberately dropping stitches to fix mistakes. That's something I once thought could only be fixed by a complete restart.

For Miss A's patience early this morning we are going to a Beanie Baby Party at our local shopping centre. Although I'd rather hop into bed than spend 2 hours frolicking with pricey Beanie Babies.

Robbie, Robbie, Robbie (chanted)

2006-10-04T09:27:00.000+09:30

Miss A and I scored some tickets to the Robbie Williams concert! Aaaayyyy :)

We woke up at 3am, got ready and headed down to the nearest outlet which was 5 minutes away.
By 4:10am we were happily sitting (and knitting) second in line, can ya believe it second!
I got heaps done on the CP hoodie.

The Newsagency opened at 8am but we were lucky - we only had to stay till 7:15am when the newsagent decided to take pity on us and hand out place-holding number cards. That left us free for an hour to go home, have breakky, go to the loo and be back there at 8:40 to register and wait.

Still holding our breath at 9am cos they might sell out before we get a chance to purchase.
But we were really lucky, scored two Gold seats (seats! I'm taking Miss A and thought seats would be the go if we could get 'em ) In a really good spot too.

We are sooo thrilled!!

sings: Let meeee entertain you, do do do.

Be afraid, be very afraid....

2006-10-01T05:59:00.000+09:30

Blogger is really messing this post up- it's not letting me separate the paragraphs so it all rolls into one, sorry.

I took this quiz and just look at my result!
Of course I knew that I was so it's no surprise really. I took it twice and got the same results.

What Type of Lunatic are You?

'Complete Psycho' PLEASE VOTE!!!
Take this quiz!

Quizilla
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Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

I haven't mentioned my stalker before have I?
Well when my marriage ended I went along to one of those COPE courses on how to move on after separation. Well this guy there wouldn't stop emailing me saying how we'd be great together and how much he liked me ?! Geez I'd only just met him and only knew his name! Turns out he'd tried this with other members of the group and one member's daughter. Well every now and then he'll still email me with links to -ooh lets see how compatible we are / let's see if we like the same movie quizzes and photos (that I would never open I'd just delete) Anyway it made me feel creepy so I refer to him now as my stalker. The last email was a couple of months ago - now this course ended 2 years ago!! and it was only for 6 weeks.

I wasn't real worried because I knew I was a bit ~~wacko~~ of trouble and this poor guy didn't know what he was dealing with and now this quiz has proved it! ha ha.

On with the knitting content:

Ahh the Central Park Hoodie is coming along nicely:

Blogger isn't playing nice though and wont upload the picture! I've tried four times so maybe in a few days we'll see four pics of the hoodie's back. Sorry Jess, I know you really wanted to see it. You'll have to wait till knitting this afternoon.

Surfing this morning I came across this pattern. Hmm, it is specifically for beginners and looks good, I'll definitely add this to my 'want to knit' pile.

Cat content:

As I've been typing this there has been a strange noise from the backyard. Something jumping up and scraping the back fence. I thought it was Kitty because I did see her on the roof of the house behind us. Obviously it was a cat jumping up and not quite making the top of the fence and sliding back down again. Upon looking out some time later I could see Kitty coming back from over there but the banging/screeching continued.

I went out there several times and it wasn't until I did a head count that I noticed Andy missing. Gathering courage I climbed onto the rabbit cage and looked over the back fence. It's 6:45am mind you. I don't think we have neighbours there yet it's been very quiet and the dog that was there I haven't heard for a while.

Anyway looking over the fence yep, it was Andy. Poor thing was soo tired from jumping up and sliding back down as soon as he saw me he started meowing. A sad, sorry meow. How was I going to get him back, Kitty had been over there but she had obviously seen the trellis going up to the little shade area and uses that to get back. I think it was Andy's first time and he must have followed Kitty.

What was I going to do?? The big ladder we have was way too heavy for me to lift over the fence and I could just see over that fence standing on a rabbit cage. Would the rabbit cage continue to hold my weight?? Could I lift that heavy ladder over the fence?? Should I go and get help my friend two doors down has a teenage son?? But it'sonly 7am on a Sunday!! What if someone does live there how is it going to look when they see a woman in her pyjamas hoiking a ladder over their fence?! Looking around the yard I found the old beanbag that I'd been meaning to wash after a cat had piddled on it. An idea struck I'd hold the beanbag over the fence and then Andy could climb onto it and I'd pull him to safety, with him sitting nicely on the beanbag. hmmmmm.

Yeah, but as soon as I threw it over the fence he ran. Bugger. Ok, so I called him and then slowly put it back over the fence and after four tries he managed to hold on enough to be able to lift him.

I didn't count on him seeing my arm as an extension of the beanbag and he ran straight up it onto my shoulders. Luckily I had a thick jumper on over my pj's.

The beanbag is now part of the cat rescue kit.

Must add that Mr Ex and Miss A were not home as they had gone away for the weekend and every weekend Mr Ex has gone away in the past something has gone wrong with the cats be it sickness or one of them getting run over, it's always something!

It's times like this that I wish that I had a partner to help me, so I didn't have to do it alone. Some one I could be cacking myself laughing with over this ( I'm feeling my quiz results are justified cos I'm cacking myself laughing all by myself ). In the past I could call Mr Ex and know it'd be taken care of. But hell, I managed by myself and I'm none the worse for it.

So all of the cats are grounded for the day and they can stay inside, they've just used up one more of my nine lives. :)

Lucky I can type cos I can't talk!

2006-09-17T07:48:00.000+09:30

Urgh I feel sick. I still have this horrible virussy thing from the end of August - this'll be my fourth week.

Surely there is a limit to how much green sh*t a body can produce. My voice disappeared for two days and all I was left with was a squeak, then it turned husky.

It was suggested to me that I could get another job - another job I already have two!! -while I had a sexy, husky voice. I can just imagine myself describing some frilly, feminine lingerie whilst sitting in my daggy pj's with my knitting in my lap. I could call myself Kandy or something like that. "What do you want me to be wearing?", I'd ask. *shudders* Anyway it's not gonna happen.

I've taken on some more study this time in a Cert 3 Disibility Work program dealing with challenging behaviours and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Because I've already completed the Cert 4 in ICT I can get credit transfers for 5 out of the 11 units which cuts down the workload heaps. So now only have 2 Cetificate courses to complete. This is one that I really wanted to do and begged the assessors for a place if there was a vacancy and was very lucky to get in.

The lawyer stuff is happening and papers have been drawn up and served regarding property settlement. This is costing me a fortune! Mr Ex has started cleaning out the shed. The shed, I forgot was extra space think of how much stuff I can put in there!

The home loan is approved and waiting for me. So that's one thing I don't have to worry about.

Still debating as to how much I should borrow, should I take the extra amount and pay for it for the next 30 years or should I take less and put the extra amount that I'd pay weekly into a savings account.
eg: borrow an extra 15,000 be locked into the high repayments for 30 years or borrow 15,000 less and be locked into lower payments for 30 years while saving the difference and ending up with 28,000 at the end of 30 years?

I think I just answered my own question but then it means that not all the renovations will be carried out straight away and I'll have to save up for them. And I am a very impatient person! But in the end I'll have 28,000 to renovate with compared to owing 15,000.

It is a bit scary being the one to make the financial decisions but exciting too. I need to cover myself if I lose my job and become unemployed and if I borrow less then I could sleep better at night knowing that it's not going to be a problem making the repayments.

There are so many fees and hidden costs like insuring myself so that if I die the loan will be paid out for Miss A. Changing from the current loan to a new one, breaking the fixed rate lock in contract for the current loan. groan

Ugg, this is why I haven't been knitting very much I've been going over the figures trying to work out what to do.
The Central Park Hoodie is almost up to the third cable on the back, veeerrrryyy sllloooww going.

Oh and I went for the Bendigo Damson (purple) and am loving it.

Saturday Update

2006-09-03T07:43:00.000+09:30

Yesterday Miss A and I went to the Royal Show. We were lucky to have some free tickets as we were working a shift in the Handspinners and Weavers Guild's stall. It was the most fun day we have had for a while.

First we had to go and get the showbags - not too bad Miss A only wanted 4 of them. I'd been planning ahead financially so it wasn't a great blow to the budget. It was a 'stuff the budget' day and the fun we had was worth it. I must add here that I hate going to the show and I still have that coughy infection but I had the best time and want to go again. ( I've seen the Twistie bag and reckon that'd be a good knitting bag as well ;) )

I bought the Coke bag because I thought it would make a good knitting bag, it has 2 sections both zippered one for purse and phone etc and the bigger section for my knitting. I can't help buying knitting bags it's like my obsession with tables ( I really like tables for some reason!) Anyway if I see a bag that can remotely be used to carry my knitting then I just gotta have it. ( I have about 15 bags suitable for carrying knitting at the moment but can't stop myself)

I was a bit nervous turning up for duty at the stall as I haven't really met anyone from the guild before, I normally just lob in to the monthly meeting buy fleece and go. But they made me feel at home and got me spinning pretty much straight away. I was even able to get some show goers to sit and spin. I got a real buzz cos I know what it's like to go and watch someone spin and want to try it cos they make it look so easy, but this time it was me giving the demonstration and answering questions. And my spinning has improved, I was able to spin nice and evenly with only a few accidental slubs, joining on was easy. Although I must say the fleece had quite a long staple which made it easier to spin - it was a Corriedale/Romney X if I remember correctly from Lomman's near Burra - they have nice fleece. I do have a bag of their fleece that I have yet to spin and this has renewed my interest in spinning.

Miss A bought along her french knitting and did some of that during the afternoon. There were a few people interested in her work and asked where they could get a french knitting thingy. Looking back we should've made a few out of popsticks and cardboard rolls (clingwrap rolls not loo rolls I know the hygiene issues there) and made up little kits with yarn to get the kids started.

I'm thinking of getting a new wheel. Mine is hard to treadle and it walks away from me while spinning and the one I used yesterday was so easy I don't even feel sore today yet after half an hour on my wheel I get a sore back.

So any ideas for what makes a good wheel and any recommendations as to which brand?
Single or double treadle?
Single drive or double drive?

Ready, Set, Go!

2006-09-01T08:28:00.000+09:30

The Central Park Hoodie officially starts today, so last night I decided on a size (finally) and cast on my 110 sts and started the ribbing. I've done a total of 4 rows so far.
I haven't knitted anything in about a month I reckon, I've had too much here, thinking and preparing for the future. Starting to get excited about this again and look forward to knitting it later today.

I've had this sucky cold/fluey thing this week and now Miss A has it we are having so much fun here with snuffling and coughing and crying.

I start my second job today...did I mention that before? Respite caring for people with disabilities in the community. Really looking forward to starting but not nervous because I know the person that I'll be regularly working with. There's also an opportunity to increase the hours by working with other people, and to be called in as a back up, so that will help with the finances.

So what colour did I choose for the Hoodie?? Well you'll have to wait and see.....remember it was a toss up between Elm and Damson from Bendy.

Happy Knitting

Fantastic Friday!

2006-08-18T18:34:00.000+09:30

Okay, there hasn't been much knitting this week - well none at all!

I've been ringing lawyers and banks and downloading divorce papers and preparing to start my second job.

Yep, that's right a second job. Which requires me to have an ABN (I think that's Australian Business Number??) so now I have my own business.
I will be subcontracting my services as a respite carer. This involves taking a person/child with disabilities out for a few hours each week, so we get to do fun stuff like go walking on the beach, play sport etc. It has the scope for me to expand the hours and work evenings and nights and weekends, which will fit in if I decide to study further.

Mr Ex and I have agreed to settlements regarding property and child support and care of Miss A.
I get to stay in the house, YAY!

I visited the bank this afternoon and I was pre-approved for a home loan. With more than the amount I wanted to borrow! Enough to pay the lawyers and a few small improvements to the house (which, no doubt, I'll be showing off on the blog) Only need to go and see the lawyer next week to get the agreements in writing and approved by the family court. Then back to the bank and there you go.

We'll be sitting down to fill in the divorce kit this weekend so it's all happening here.

Oh and the uni course I'm thinking of doing (Bachelor of Education) is being offered waay closer to home so I'm definitely looking into that a bit further.

Funny how things are just slotting into place right now. It's going to be a great ~~weekend~~ future.

Oh, forgot to add, remember I purchased Damson and Mariner from Bendigo? Well the Mariner was still not going to be ready for another few weeks so I asked them to substitute Elm for it. I'm going to knit the Central Park Hoodie with Elm. Now I'm not a green person but that one just caught my eye and I've been dreaming of it - you know how it is.

Quick Update:

2006-08-04T07:21:00.000+09:30

My Bendigo order came yesterday, and I am in love!
The Damson is more beautiful than I could have imagined and I can see it as a Central Park Hoodie, and can't wait to start. It is great to have a project that I am excited in.

The Mariner that I ordered is on back order so I get to be surprised when that comes. In the meanwhile I'll just pet the Damson.

I have had the worst birthday of my life this year! If I could have stayed home in bed I would have - and looking back I wish I had called in sick.

Centrelink are being difficult giving me the run around and one person told me they had lost my paperwork so when I went in to see them - on my birthday - I waited for ages and lo and behold, there, on the desk in front of me, was the missing paperwork!
Turns out it wasn't missing at all. If they could all just get their story straight they'd do a lot better. So I am fighting them (still) and it's the principal of it all now, not just the financial benefits.

The kids in the class I work in all made me gorgeous cards which I'll treasure and we shared cake.

We went to see Hoodwinked yesterday, my choice, the verdict - eh. Okay for little kids but the storyline could be confusing for them. Miss A and I had a whole, huge cinema just to ourselves.

Oh and the hot water system broke last night at midnight so it was washing by bucket this morning. This I didn't mind so much.

Mr Ex now has another thing to hold over me as he has the finances to go out and get one today and I don't.

This post been a little disjointed but I didn't want to put all the bad things up. It's funny cos that's what I started the blog for, an outlet for what I was feeling, what I was knitting etc. But now that I know people read it - gasp - I find I censor what I say otherwise it'll be a whinge session again. Sure there's going to be conflict with Mr Ex and the Centrelink issue will be ongoing so I'll just write little updates. And it's important to stay positive.

I may have to start a good thing for the day and a bad thing for the day and keep it small. Or a whinge session warning so that you can skip that part.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's knitting group this Sunday!

Ready for the Knit A Long

2006-07-31T16:25:00.000+09:30

Okay, I have everything ready for the Central Park Hoodie Knit A Long.
This'll be my first KAL (apart from the disastrous Knitting Olympics effort of 2006 - but I just won't mention it again and it'll disappear, right?)

Remember when I ordered the yarn and then I said I hoped that I could live with it if it turned out darker? I mean it couldn't be that much darker could it? It looked pretty.

Well...I must say it is a very dark plum bordering on a brown. ~~Wild Plum my a** I would have called it a brown geez I should've bought something from Bendigo instead of something fancy.~~
Okay that's way dark but it does have some pretty bits in it. I wonder if the dye will fade after washing. Knowing my luck I'd end up felting the thing ;)

When I arrived home today I found the Knitscene Mag in my letter box (I hope it's the right one - I'll open it later)

Just to be sure there is some Mariner and Damson on the way from Bendigo. (It's my birthday on Wednesday so this is a present to myself) I think Rogue would be good in Mariner and yeah a purple jacket is to my liking more than this Rowan. I'll swatch it though and see how it turns out. I'm thinking trying to knit cables with it may be beyond my patience.

Nah, I'm sure it'll turn out okay and I have a few small projects to finish off before the KAL starts - Fetching for Miss A which is going good so far.

Fetching is finished

2006-07-23T14:29:00.001+09:30

After some furious knitting fetching is now complete.
I did modify them and I am perfectly happy with them. I have put the changes here incase I lose my notes so I'll have a record of them.
I thought they'd look better if the cable up the top was repeated so you have 2 down the bottom and one up the top.

Mods:
Hand
At the end work 5 rows k4p1 rib, then work a cable round then:
round 1: k4p1 rib.
round 2: Decrease by k1, k2tog,k1, p1 all around.
round 3: K3, p1 around.
round 4: Cast off - regular plain cast off.

This gave it a completed cabley (??) bit at the top and made them fit snuggly, just covering the base of the fingers.

Thumb
Pick up 3 sts at each side instead of two and it helps to eliminate holes.
Round 1: Decrease by knitting 2 tog at each side, thus eliminating the extra stitches.
Knit 6 more rounds for a total of 7 for the thumb ending just below the thumb joint.

Working with the yarn was a treat and it took less than one ball. Just don't pull too hard on it because it'll break - I was tightening up a stitch - luckily I still had enough to weave in, but did not pull as hard on the second one.

I can understand how addictive these are, and I am off to start another pair for Miss A. I think hers will be in the pink Cleckheaton Country Silk. I'm itching to knit with that and she wants a pair, so her scarf will have to wait a little.

Next project started.

2006-07-22T11:00:00.000+09:30

Okay, so I finished the mittens and was in that dreamy stage of what to start next. It was either the light pink scarf for Miss A in Cleckheaton Country Silk which would have been a rib pattern or Fetching. I couldn't wait to play with the new yarn I purchased last week so Fetching won.

Specs:
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in Festival
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty
Needles: 2 x Boye size 5s

I somehow accidentally, in the second cable, knitted 1 row short before crossing the cables - I must have clicked the row counter on mid-row. It looked a bit funny and I tried to let it go, but I knew it was there so this morning I took a big risk ( 'twas a big risk for me) and yanked out both needles and ripped back to the cable row, carefully pulled the yarn out of a stitch, picked it up with a needle and thread all the way around and carefully put it back on the needles, phew. It is now fixed and even though I was shaking when I did it I figure the more times I do it the less scared I'll be - not that I'm going to deliberately make mistakes just to rip 'em out ;)

I had to figure out how to cross the cables, I now know that the working yarn needs to stay at the very back behind the stitches on the cable needle, and that you don't knit the stitches off the cable needle out of order or from the same side they went on. It has been a great introduction to cables and I can't wait to finish/wear them. Now if I could just get off the internet I may have them finished by Monday like the designer says.

Oh and the yarn I ordered for the Central Park Hoodie is now on the way as well as the pattern for it. Perhaps I should join the knit a long.

Oh Bugger!

2006-07-21T12:49:00.000+09:30

I've done it now.
You see if you go here the price for Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran is AUD$31.90 per ball. (and I reckon shipping would be extra) Yep, that's right!

But here the same yarn is only US$7.00 which works out to just AUD$9.34 per ball. You can do the math cos I need to go lie down now. (Turns out a saving of around $330.00 Australian)
So I now have enough to do either the Rogue Hoodie which is a jumper or the similar Central Park Hoodie which is a jacket.

You can see I'm trying to justify it but I hope you'll all agree it was too good to pass up. I just hope I can live with it if the colour turns out way darker than the monitor shows ;)

Now Jess what was that about a yarn diet?? Sounds good to me, lets start tomorrow.

TaDa..

2006-07-21T12:17:00.001+09:30

At 6:30pm last night we had mittens!! Want proof? Here it is...

Currently eyeing off the Central Park Hoodie. There's a Knit A Long starting in September..Hmm what yarn to use? Do I go all out and get some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed before it all disappears and if so what colour, and what if the colour is different when it actually gets here? I can't decide.

Mitten update

2006-07-20T09:32:00.001+09:30

Last night I finally sat down to knit, I now have this much more of the mittens done:

See Andy's paw in the bottom left corner? Just before he pounced on them!
I hope to have them mostly complete tonight...then I can decide on the next item to work on.
I really want to make Fetching with the yarn I bought yesterday, so I think they will be next. Plus it's a good introduction to cabling.

Happy knitting ;)

2006-07-19T11:15:00.001+09:30

The trip to the yarn stores was great fun, it's just a pity there aren't many of them and we can't go more regularly. ( I don't think their stock changes too much) Unfortunately I didn't find much that I really wanted to make something out of so my total purchases were:

Patonyle in cream to dye, I am planning to make a variegated pink pair, with a few stitches in each colour shade of pink from very pale through to very dark. Might be able to do it this Sunday.
Some Jo Sharp DK Tweed for Fetching, and Cleckheaton Country Silk because I liked the colour and thought Miss A might like it for a scarf.

More things to add to my 'to do' list! I still haven't done anymore on the mittens, I am so slack these holidays, although I have the best intentions of actually knitting it just isn't happening.
I plan to watch some episodes of "Buffy" and knit - I really do but the weather is so nice at the moment I can't settle inside.

I did however dye something else. I have this Bodymate pillow which lays across the back of the pillows on my bed and it had been a very bright peachy pink - a little like the top colour below. I did go looking for a purple cover for it but at $30 I couldn't justify buying a pillowcase. So my next option was to try and dye it purple. After one and half hours (and $11.00) it is now a beautiful royal purple colour, darker than the bottom colour, but you get the idea.

Not wanting to let the dye bath go to waste I searched for other items that I could dunk into the mix.
The t-shirt in front was next, followed by some white towels, flannels and socks. They didn't turn out a nice purple though, but a paler blue. But it was fun to do anyway, and I'd definitely recommend it.

Dye used: Dylon Cold Dye A26- ultraviolet.

I ~~conned~~ asked Miss A to make us some muffins so I'd better go and ~~eat one~~ get 'em out of the oven.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho or I want to be a pirate!

2006-07-17T10:37:00.001+09:30

Because it's the holidays we have a list of things that Miss A wants to do. One of them was to go to the pictures. It was either Over The Hedge or Pirates 2, and after Piglet's Big Movie I will not let her pick the movie ever again! - I haven't fallen asleep at the cinemas since. So I had to talk her into seeing Pirates 2 - which wasn't as difficult as I thought it would have been, we've been watching Pirates of the Caribbean heaps these holidays and I don't mind watching it over and over, really ;) Aah, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Ice skating was another activity that I promised her these holidays so yesterday we forked over $27, donned ice skates, and for 2 and a half freezing hours I saved Miss A from breaking her neck/arms/legs/fingers etc, on the ice. I hadn't skated in, ooh about 17 years (used to go ice skating regularly in high school) She of course, has never strapped on a pair of ice skates in her life. Last time I went I'm sure you had to tie them on, now there is a ratchet/lever system to secure the blades to your feet.

If you were lucky you could snaffle a chair to push on the ice which helped with stability. So once she was able to get her hands on a chair whe was off. After about an hour with the chair she was ready to try it by herself. Not too bad for a beginner. At least I can say I didn't fall over or cause anyone else to fall either, it was quite fun and I reckon we'll go again.

Now a knitting update:
I am not knitting very much at all and really should get stuck into it while I have the time.
I have only this much done on my mittens:

At least they won't take much longer to finish.

Unless....Jess and I are off to the LYS's this afternoon! We did plan to go last week but Miss A was hit by a virus that makes you ralph a lot and lay there like a limp ragdoll who can't tolerate light of any kind. That was scarey cos it came on so suddenly but luckily only lasted for a day and was recovering the day after. Thankfully she didn't pass it to me, normally she shares her bugs.

Just don't know what to buy yet, maybe some sock yarn cos we all know I really need more of that.
I want something to dye, something for Fetching and Coronet perhaps.

So buying yarn and knitting said yarn will be taking place today, better go and get ready.

Red sky in the morning...

2006-07-10T07:45:00.001+09:30

This was the sky that greeted me this morning, (yes, it was that red) I remember this old saying whenever I see a wicked sunrise/sunset:

Red sky at night shepherd's delight.
Red sky at morning shepherd's warning.

Shepherd's warning was that he should get the sheep in quickly as it was going to be a stormy day. Well it was quite windy here overnight, settled now and the sun has started to come out, it's supposed to be an okay sort of day, a top of 18, but tomorrow's forecast is rain.

Yesterday afternoon was spent at knitting group, and I've come home with an 'I want to make that' attitude. Although I have my mittens to finish, Coronet and Fetching are now on my to do list.
Now as to the yarn, I don't think there is anything in my stash that will do so perhaps a trip to the yarn stores should happen these holidays.
I should put a 'To Do' list in the side bar but I fear it will grow waay too big, then I'd have to add all of my UFOs and that means a hunt through all my knitting stuff but now I am happily in denial and don't have to admit that the mermaid toy has not been finished or the blanket that was going to keep me warm during winter is just a really long scarf right now. Perhaps confrontation would be good and make me finish them off.

I do have some finished items I haven't been completely slack:
Last week I completed Miss A's grey/pink mittens - well they were supposed to be mine but they are a bit small so she can have those and I started another pair. A work colleague admired them and I sold them to her :( Now I have to knit another pair for myself. Next time I will knit to a price as what I sold them for barely covered the yarn. Lesson learnt.

Pattern Specs
Yarn: Piuma from Spotlight - 2 balls
Pattern: From Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Needle size: 5.5mm (US 9) - 2 circs.

School Holidays are here now and there are two whole weeks of prime knitting time.
Miss A should be suitably occupied as she now has one of those sets of knitting ring/looms from Spotlight and thanks to Miss B we can now make Scoobies. What do you do with them once they've been made?...we are yet to find out. But Miss A is loving them, so I can see another packet will be purchased when we come across them next.

Thank you Secret Pal!

2006-06-21T16:58:00.000+09:30

When I got home today I had a surprise waiting for me to collect at the post office (We all love getting parcels now don't we?)
This is from my Secret Pal. This post is big on pictures as blogger was behaving today.

First up is the magic box - Customs had a peek inside and confiscated the kitty treats :(

Inside we have a lovely selection of lollies, yumm. I give 'em till the weekend then they'll be all gone. There is some jam too. Wonder what flavours looks like umm raspberry and apricot but I'll let you know when I taste 'em.

Some lovely hand creams and toiletries. Can't wait to try these.

Kool Aid for dyeing - soo much Kool Aid. Now I have to go and buy some yarn to try it on. I've used up all my Patonyle dyeing stash. Thinking about trying some Bendigo sock yarn......

Oh and I thought the little round things were lollies, hah luckily I read the packing slip, I think they are the Easter Egg dyes...would've been nice to try and eat those. (No wonder customs had to open the package)

This is some Silly Putty I had some of this when I was little and played with it for hours. I think this was supposed to go to Miss A...hmm maybe I'll have to have a go at it first ;)

PomPoms you should have seen Miss A's face when she saw these. She has a PomPom fetish big time. The cats now have some new toys aren't they just great it seems a shame to let the cats have a go at them. Andy loves the balls!

Some yummy Knit Picks yarn...Shimmer this I chose for a shawl. Some sock yarn we have Stargazer Lilly, Pansy and Grandma.

These were the best part of the surprise. My Secret Pal took all sorts of photos and had added some notes on the back. These were very interesting. See the one of the Coral snake? This actually bit her soon after she took the photo! Ouch! Beautiful pictures SP.

So thank you, this has made my day!
Now if you'd like to leave a comment and let me know where your blog is I'd really like to take a peek.