it's been a while

my goodness, I was distracted a moment and totally lost track of time.

what happened to those two months? lots and not a lot particularly blogworthy.

there was some knitting for the Majura Primary School spring fair...

don't you love cheezezombie's slugs? I sold all three to 9/1o year old boys!

In amongst that was stealth knitting for my love's birthday....


fittingly 'van dyke' socks from the book 'socks from the toe up' and knitted in our own talented local dyer fibreweb's yarn - it was very beautiful.

They are very appreciated - and isn't that important for hand knitted sock recipients!

I've started a summer cardigan - I think I have managed an inch and that was on our recent holiday with about 2o hours in the car! Three kids on an 800km each way drive doesn't actually allow much knitting time I found. We had few lovely days in Armidale being proud at my love's doctorate graduation and visiting her family and some of the spectacular local spots.


We went horseriding. I really dislike horseriding. Horses scare me. A lot. In fact I think I would be more comfortable skydiving than being on a horse. Maybe. But the pirate was keen and I had to be brave.

the next little while is going to be so so busy too. You see we have plans....

They involve turning my 96m2 60's house into a 120m2 thing of beauty and fit for a family of five. It's fun and I am getting to totally indulge my frustrated inner architect. We are working very hard to keep it as sustainable as possible ( I plan to blog about that soon!). And cheap. The plans are off being tweaked and drawn up right now, all going well we will be able to afford it and find a builder who will start sometime in the new year.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention - my sister has started her stem cell treatment. She is amazing. And hairless. I think she is only the 2nd MS sufferer in Australia to be accepted for the treatment. So far it is going very well and we are all hopeful. The next step is the most difficult. Fingers crossed it will go well and she won't feel totally totally awful through the next lot of chemo.

fini

specs.

Springtime Bandit Shawl.one extra repeat row.Grignasco tango yarn.4.5mm needles

creating in the sun

Its a frosty frosty Canberra morning. For reasons I can't explain we are ready for work and school an hour early. Which leaves time for some more rows of the Springtime Bandit shawl sitting in the morning sun by my front window.

I am planning to give this shawl to my sister tomorrow when I visit her in Sydney.

Finished.

I didn't make her first haematologist appointment but hopefully want to make the second, which is next week (btw it looks like she will be accepted for a stem cell transplant which is very good news) .

Once again I may not be too realistic with my deadlines.

Hope your creative space is sunny too. For more head over here.

creative hug

In my last post I wrote a little about my sister's battle with MS. I want to say thank you for the lovely comments. I thought I would let you know that the good news is that she does not need to find a suitable donor, that they use her own stem cells. It is an amazing things isn't it?

We won't talk about how they do it though - that bit isn't so impressive.

I asked for some suggestions on a shawl for her - and now have some great shawls in my queue! It was so hard to choose - eventually I settled on the springtime bandit.

Except, I couldn't work out how to start it.

I scanned the internet for clues and even met a knitting friend for coffee. Working together it still made no sense. I tried to fudge it.

It didn't work - see?

The peak is more like a bite. I got a few inches in and found another mistake and this settled it. I realised I needed to make this shawl with love and mindfulness and not take my usual approach of ignoring mistakes and pretending not to be bothered by them. I took it apart and went back to the research stage.

I took another hour or so looking at lots of cast ons and finally found what I needed. It wasn't quite the deal but made enough sense to help me find my way. I am much, much happier with the result.

This is such a beautiful and quick knit, and I know will be perfect. I just want to finish it before the 13th, when my sister has her appointment with the Haematologist. Whether she proceeds with the transplant or not I think she will be needing a warm wool hug from her big sister to keep close.

for more creativity head over here.

getting by

I posted recently on the virtues of frugal comfort. This fortnight some things popped up which meant my income dropped by 30% and I suddenly found I had live totally by those ideals.

The really frightening thing is that it has been possible. I couldn't sustain it for a long time, cause that means not enough wine!, but I could definitely manage it much more often than I have been.

And it has come at one of my peak birthday gift times. Which is rather good as it has given me the opportunity to practice my handmade pledge using all kinds of things from the stash.



firstly I made the pinni for Edie



Then the 2 days, which turned into 2 week, scarf for Jo

and yesterday the handwarmers for Karen

And now for the details.

The Pinni is taken from the wonderful 'Absolutetly A-line' book. It is a little shorter than planned, which happens when you are using left overs.

The scarf for Jo was knitted using Cascade Heritage Yarns -a totally divine soft yarn.
The pattern is a simple one I made up. I like the body of it, but the edges are very wonky, even after blocking, and it hasn't held any shape at all. In fact blocking for two days seems to have been a complete waste of time. But having said that I think it will be lovely to wear.

The pattern is
1st row k*yo, k2tog* repeat to end
2nd row Purl
continue with row one and two till it is long enough. Though I threw in an additional purl row a couple of repeats in at either end for effect. I am wondering if I had a k2 at either end I might have ended up with something more stable, or if I had used smaller needles, or....? Any suggestions are very welcome.

Finally the handwarmers are the easiest thing I have ever made and look totally lovely. They are made from Bendigo Rustic 8 ply in Red Currant - an old favourite. Pattern can be found here.

I really want to make so many more things than handwarmers to comfort my lovely sister. I may have mentioned before she has MS. This week she found out that it is worsening even with the wonder drugs she has been on. So now her only option for keeping or improving her mobility, and keeping out of a wheelchair in the next short while, is a bone marrow transplant. We are all scared. I have this need to make her shawls and wraps and things to snuggle into. I would love some suggestions for easy but beautiful ones I can complete in weeks rather than months.

frugal comfort

I once heard an expression of a way to live. It was about the past but it is something I aspire to. Frugal comfort. Now we would call it a sustainable lifestyle. For me it comes with images of warm fires, wholesome simple meals, friends, family, home and, especially, making do.

In the spirit of frugal comfort I have been on an unofficial and rather healthy break from buying sewing supplies. This has meant working through the stash of fabric and finishing off some long overdue projects, instead of spending all my spare time and and money shopping for supplies and not actually getting to the projects themselves. The pile of fabric is going down. It is a nice thing to behold.

So what have I been making? this past couple of weeks a bag for a gift from a felted opp shop jumper. I love making things from felted jumpers, but the right ones are very hard to come by.

And my new favourite cord pants, in what has become my favourite pants pattern. The cord has been hanging about for years waiting for me to get to it. I love the wide legs and making use of scraps of other fabric as a contrast (which was not only nice but necessary when I didn't have enough red cord). I have had them only 2 weeks and worn them just about all weekend for both weeks.

Now I am onto my first quilt using an old sheet, stash fabric and a vintage chenille bedspread. More on that later.

And about the scarf. I was still sick and didn't make it to Sydney, developed knitter's forearm and took a break. I am still only about 30% done, shamefully. Luckily I have a couple of weeks before the next visit to finish it off.

stealth scarf

I have been working on a quiet little project. By stealth.

Now it is finally finished and turned out beautifully I think. Just the right amount of interest in the pattern for someone who does not like a lot of decoration. It drapes beautifully because of the lace detailing and the fine yarn. It feels gorgeous to wear.

The specs:
Pattern: one row lace scarf
Yarn: Jolly Jumbuck Hercules 4 ply.
Yardage: about 2/3 of a skein

another weekend

It may seem that all my posts these days are about weekend adventures and not a lot of making things. We do seem to be having more than our share of weekends away, so much so that I am looking forward to the coming weekend at home with relief.

There are reasons for the lack of project progress, well several really. Of course, all the weekends away aren't helping.

Some stealth knitting is taking up most of my creative time, but I finished this on the weekend and should be able to show and tell in the next couple of days. It has turned out rather nicely.

The cardigan of the dreadful name isn't helping things. I started it as part of the knit-a-long we are having here in Canberra, but it is tedious and I keep finding other things to be doing that are much more fun. I am only about 10cm into the back and that is it. Totally it. I will say that after some initial concerns about the yarn it is coming up a treat and will make a beautiful cardigan. I just wish it was more fun to knit and I was an XS, rather than somewhat larger, to make the knitting shorter.

And I do have to admit I have been more than a bit preoccupied with a new relationship which puts making stuff to the side a little, in the nicest possible way.

So for now you get a shot of the weekend activity. The pirate has been deposited with the first mate in the blue mountains for a few days of the school holidays. We managed to fit in a bushwalk before I headed back down the highway to my very quiet house. This was the view on the walk. Not bad is it?

evil or....

I while back I mentioned I was making things for the school fete. Cute things.

I finished one and had left it sitting on a table.

Next to scissors.

Yesterday I noticed a hole. When I looked closer there was a definite cut. Two in fact.

I confronted the pirate who confessed straight away. There was no denying it really - even his quite sophisticated lying skills couldn't get him through this one.

why did he do it? All he can say is he didn't like it.

Didn't like it? What's not to like?

Should I let him live? I'm still thinking on it.

I am also considering the message in this.

Maybe it is to do with his mum being distracted by love.

or maybe he is just evil.

taking the worry away

Someone I care about has been going though some big life changes.

I wanted to make her a little something but hadn't quite decided what when this month's mixtape arrived.

and there on page 28 was a pattern for worry dolls. very very cute worry dolls.


and now my friend's troubles are being spirited away by a little worry doll from me.

the search ends

I have invested so much time in the great cardigan hunt.

It has been so frustrating. But I think I now know what I want.

Sort of.

I am quite keen for something with a collar. Either fitted or swinging. Can't decide. It has to be able to cope with the country silk that is in skeins all over my lounge room, waiting.

I got a bit excited about this.

It isn't too bad at all in a librarian kind of way (no offence Jodie!). I could change the collar to make it a bit more my style. I quite like the shaping and the detail along the bottom. It is Jo Sharp's Essential.

Then I looked at the pattern - would you believe it only goes up to a 95cm bust! I have my Grandma Ethel's bust line and I will only say it is substantially more than a waif like 95cm. I'm not at all interested in trying to resize this pattern at the moment. So I am back to the 'other option'.

The 'other option' will be a dull knit - that is the only thing holding me back.

But it will look pretty fine in deep green and I think it might just suit me.

And I do love a big luscious button.

This one has the enticing and romantic name 'Jacket with collar and set in sleeves'. Makes you just want to rush out and make one doesn't it?

Thanks for the suggestions - it did help me work out what I was attracted to.

first you need the tools

The lovely Canberra snb are having a cardi knit a long. Its a good opportunity to make another other cardi. It is a good opportunity to enhance the stash.

If you haven't been working really hard to save some money.

And I have enough stashed away for two caridgans.

But both stashes were bought because they were a bargain, not because they sang.



In fact neither gets me too excited.

The problem has been solved through a little colour work to the Cleckheaton Country Silk.

I tried to cheat first - and was reminded of one of those life lessons that things should be done well - not half-arsed.

What should have been a one hour project ended up taking almost all day. But then I did it a better way.


But now I have some really nice yarn.


Except I have spent hours on Ravelry and can't find something I want to wear that will work with the yarn.

Nothing.

I can't face knitting something I can't anticipate loving. Could you?

a rescue mission

A few days ago two friends and I had a night without children. On such an evening conversation turns to all kinds of things and, of course, at some point leads back to the school our children attend. This time it was particularly the dire state of the craft stall at last year's fete. There was a lot of stuff that just did not sell. It was heartbreaking for me and I can't even imagine how it must have been for the organiser.

We talked about what would make a truly great craft store and at one stage I was even pondering volunteering to coordinate before my friends talked my off the ledge. Instead we would make things, starting now.

One of of my friends had seen a wonderful little knitted toy made by a workmate. She thought it was a seller and even offered to learn to knit for the cause. I never pass up an opportunity to cultivate knitting friends.

The first thing we did when we got home and dispatched the babysitter was a Ravelry search.

It was this sweet little thing.


and then we followed the link to the book and all the other patterns

and before you could say 'how cute is that!' we were on the bookdepository site buying the book.

less than a week later we had the book, the knitting lesson was given and we are off and making.

Any more volunteers out there?

phew

well that was christmas 09. I took a little while to get over it. I won't bore you with all the details - it was busy. it was fun. it was productive.

it was too short.

here is a snippet which includes presents, renovations, a broken arm, the first visit of the tooth fairy, knitting, walking in the mountains, lounging in the mist, a new bike for the pirate, a letter from santa, a letter to santa, heatwaves, vegies, job applications, visitors, friends, parties, naps, sewing, cleaning, freecycle, plans, crushes, wine, champagne, grandparents, air conditioning, travel, new friends, new resolutions, new plans, and a whole lot of love and friendship

Honestly I think I am the luckiest person alive with the friends I have and the support I get. I hope you are as lucky.

And what did I learn these holidays?
that my aircon does work, that freecycling can get rid of mountains of stuff and it feels very very good, that the tooth fairy can remember to come, that a waterproof cast does exist, that it does not come in green, that it costs quite a bit, that you can knit a scarf and not go insane, that stones and a mountain stream can keep 4 boys under 8 occupied for hours, that march flies like blue, that it does get hot in Guthega, that you can get good coffee in Cooma, that knitting socks from the toe up is fun, that you can find a pattern for pants that isn't too bad, that having an oven again is magic, that the pirate can cope with a broken arm without too much problem, that a child can have a broken arm for days and a mother not be sure it really is hurt, that new birkenstocks feel fabulous, that shopping for clothes and fabric after a fabric and clothes diet feels fantastic, that leaving salmon in the car in 5 days of over 35deg isn't at all good, that eggplants produce very very well and peas only grow with mulch and much much more.

I hope your 2010 is a lovely one.

reunion

On Friday afternoon the pirate and I were hanging out at home discussing the pros and cons of having a brother. He would like one - a twin one. He misses the first mate desperately. It occurred to me that we didn't have anything particularly important planned for the weekend and 20 minutes later we were in the car and on the way back to the blue mountains to reunite these boys who love each other so much.

In fact, I overheard a magical conversation between them last weekend. They were discussing the options around marriage and how they felt about it. The first mate declared he did not want to marry a girl - No, agreed the pirate. The first mate reasoned that if you married a girl you had to have babies and they didn't want babies. No, agreed the pirate again - babies were awful. Who will you marry? I asked, and of course each other was the answer.

Being in the mountains, with its common misty cool weather, provides the perfect setting for settling in for an afternoon of knitting. I have been very frustrated with a particular pattern I want to knit from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls book. I have made many attempts at getting pattern working - and it has just not been lining up. I put it away several times and tried again later. On the weekend I was determined to work it out. It is my first attempt at laceweight knitting and I thought it was me being inept. But guess what. The pattern is wrong. WRONG!.

So now that I have finally worked that out and worked out how to get it right I am off.....

It was Rhododenron Festival weekend in Blackheath - but I was much more excited about this Waratah I found on my morning walk.

creative space poolside

One of the many charms of knitting is that you can take it anywhere.


Poolside at Thursday swimming lessons, for instance, finishing off the Hedera Socks.

for more creative spaces pop over here

creative space

My creative space this week is mobile. I am in Darwin at a conference and when I have free time I am doing a crawl of cafes with good airconditioning so I can knit. It is too stuffy in most of the rooms at the conference venue, good but dull in the hotel room, impossible outdoors and just right in this cafe.

The thing I love about knitting at a conference is it is such an icebreaker, particularly with women. I love that you find all kinds of closet knitters in these conversations and make friends you never would talking work.

These are my Hedera socks. one down one to go. If only I could knit on the almost 6 hours of flying time I will be doing later today.

For more creative spaces head over here.

it's OK, I guess

I have finished Amelia.

She is nice but she does not set my world on fire like Flair did.

She is a serviceable and comfortable cardigan - but no fashion statement.

Maybe it is the yarn - Rowan felted tweed.
Maybe it is the pattern
Maybe it is the colour - brown.


she is rather unexciting.

don't you hate that?

Amelia

Amelia is lovely.



Amelia is nearly finished



Amelia is too big to leave the house.

(and for those clever people who noticed - yes the twisted rib is all wrong. Next time I must read the instructions)

Time to start something portable. Something to take to the city snb tomorrow
(oh please let me be well enough)



And it shall be ....



Hedera in Araucania rancho.

Not sure where to begin

I went to Sydney this weekend - a visit to the Stitches and Craft show dovetailed nicely with handing on some extra children I have been responsible for for a few days -and visiting my sister.


I was at that show for 6 hours! (you can tell I was without the pirate)

I was so completely shattered by the end and even champagne could not revive me.

The good news is it was nice to see some wonderful fabrics in the flesh and some clever crafty people flogging their wares. But, it was a very disappointing turn out for the knitters - only 1 stall selling yummy yarn not available at one of the local shops.

They did have these great drop in spaces where you could learn a skill or just join in. I knitted a cup cosy thingy at the knitting drop in and had a lovely chat to some ladies from the knitters guild. The cup cosy was great timing as my sister has those latte cups that will burn your skin clean off if you don't have a buffer of some type, as I discovered that morning. Knitted cup thingys are so much more sexy than a paper towel.



But the most fun was meeting the famous ric rac , having a big belly laugh in her talk on blogging, and getting up close with those cute bots. Jodie had some notes up for the talk and I could see the name of my wee blog up on them. Big breath......Eek, - I really hoped this would turn out to be a good thing, wondering what on earth she was going to say. And it was in the context of a community you meet through blogging and how complete strangers can be supportive - so all good, and fun. And don't we all love a bit of good attention? So thank you Jodie - you made my day, and I promise to do a post on my avatar to put it into context and show it is not me wearing scary scary make up!

I came home with a cold, less money in the bank - and some things to show off next time.