Pictures!!!

Pattern: Daffodil Stitch Tea Cosy
Yarn: Heirloom Easy-care 5ply
Needles: op-shop tortoiseshell straights

Flowers - a variety of patterns found via the flower page on Knitting Pattern Central, odd balls of Cleckheaton and Spotlight yarns, 4mm dpns

time: about a week (on holidays, with many many car hours)
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The Posy cosy is done!!

My first FO for the year is the tea cosy for my MIL. Graduated green ruffles topped with an array of loud and gorgeous flowers. My MIL is thrilled, as am I to see that I got it right, and that is surely good knitting karma with which to begin 2009. There will be pics soon, I promise, but my computer is having some overheating issues, and I am borrowing my in-laws' computer for a minute, so I don't like to take up their bandwidth with too many knitting photos.
We are in Hay, though not for long, and have been saying how much we do not miss 35.2*, nor 37.3*, nor 38*C. We don't even miss 29*C. Yay Hobart! Our travels are not yet over, but normal bloggin will resume on or after the 16th Jan. There have been old friends, family friends, family, more family, and new friends too this holiday, and still more people to see and places to go over the next week.
Oh, and I have to check out some yarn shops in Melbourne next week - my MIL wants another tea cosy, this time in Noro Kureyon. Oh the hardship of the shoppping. (Did I mention my stop-over in Nundle?)
leaving you all on that tantalising note,
I'll catch up with you all soon.


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Woolhugs

At last I can reveal the stealth project of the last month or so!!! Our dear Tinkingbell has had a bit of family stress, so after a bit of fussing and wondering what on earth I could do to help when I live three hours' drive away, I stalked some of Tink's online knitting buddies and organised a blanket for her, to give her some 'woolhugs' (thanks Zeph for the word!)
As squares arrived I started laying them out on an old sheet:


Then I tried to crochet them together - not a success. And very v-e-r-y s--l--o--w... so I abandoned that plan and went with bold whip-stitching, and offset the strips, to create a very rustic blanket:


We drove up to Tink's place Friday evening, with me madly whip-stitching squares together in the car on the way (thankfully the MOMD does not object to me having the light on while he is driving). I then had to resort to some trickery and deception to get it finished: yawning on Sat morning, I blamed the neighbouring cows for keeping me up to midnight - not entirely true, I got several strips sewn together! Waking up reasonably early on Saturday, I got an hour of sewing in before appearing for breakky; and during a quiet moment after lunch, I checked on Miss V - and stayed up there for an hour - another two strips!! When the small people were eating their dinner, I claimed a headache and went upstairs for some quiet-time, fending off Tink's offers of pharmaceutical assistance (I was a little weary, but didn't need actual drugs) and got it finished! I came down, just in time to confess to my bending of the truth and give Tink and The Accountant their gift - Tink was quite overcome, and nearly burnt the prawns! She could not believe that I had been so sneaky, and that so many people had contributed without even a whisper of a hint reaching her - and she stayed thrilled from then until we left after lunch on Sunday. The Accountant had a gleam in his eye that boded ill for anyone who tried to wrest it from him during evenings in front of the tele, and Tink spent ages patting each square and trying to guess who made them. (I took pictures of all of them individually, so give me a shout out if you need a pic of your bit/s)
When we took photos outside yesterday, Tink said she loved it so much she could just wear it forever:


Now I am home again, and normal knitting can resume - aside from all the xmas gifts on my list that is!

Oh, and I have one more square I found hiding on my living room floor - that must be why there is an unbalanced corner - it was fate! My apologies to the knitter - I'll send it up there asap!
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Birthday Prezzies!!

Thanks Mum! (and Dad - I'm not sure how much input you had, but thanks anyway!!)
I got home this afternoon to a parcel of loveliness - the birthday prezzies for the MOMD and I had arrived today!!
My share is (brace yourselves) yarn and buttons!!!
100m/100gm of Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky Tweed
and 495m/225gm of Harris DK in 'Gaelic Green'
and Butterfly buttons!
I had given Mum some ideas and my colour preferences and waited to see what she came up with, which was beautiful as you can see!!!


Slightly overshadowed by the above glory was the arrival of a package from Sydney - I couldn't resist the 30% off sale!!

(Note the boy in the background - total camera floosie.)
The yarn may or may not become socks, and the circ needle is most definitely going to begin making socks for the MOMD a possibility - I started some for him months ago but could not bear the catching of the yarn on the bump after the join for every single stitch!!!!
I shan't blather on any more - I need to put children to bed so I can play with my goodies uninterrupted!!!

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Sometimes Bad is Good

I was A Bad Girl last night.

I didn't go to bed until after 1 am.

That was because I was having a Pride and Prejudice (see notes at end of post) festival. I enjoyed the first episode (and a little of the second) the night before, so at 8.30 I sat down in front of the Genius of Jane Austen, and watched the rest of that so excellent BBC series.
Of course, once I finished my dinner, I did not sit there with idle hands, oh no!

I was A Good Girl.

See the completed tea-cosy for my MIL (an amazingly tolerant and patient woman who has been dropping such hints as "I'm really looking forward to that teacosy, my old one is falling to pieces"). It has taken me forever to get back to this, because I really didn't like the first version, so this week I decided that if I disliked it that much, I should frog and start again. Three nights later, et voilá! I think that this will be sent with extras, to apologise for my incredible tardiness.

I also finished Roseleaf #1 - so pretty!

Can you see the cuff? I did my first Tubular Cast-off! Although the first few stitches are a little wobbly, as I learnt the rhythm and worked out the right tension, the rest of it is fine, and sooo s--t--r--e--t--c--h--y!!!!

I immediately (insert five minutes of admiring my bee-yoo-ti-ful sock!) cast on the next sock, using the Easy Toe at the end of this Knitty article on toes (nb lots of pictures, loads a little slowly). It is so fabulously simple! I love this toe. It is my dearest friend (at least where toe-up socks are concerned. If it were a choice between this technique and chocolate, things might be different). I started with 12 stitches picked up through the crochet chain, worked 4 rows stocking stitch (beginning purl), unzipped the crochet, put a needle through those 12 stitches, and began working in the round, picking up two stitches along either short edge, and then doing paired increases up the sides of the toe every other round. And look at it now! 5 rounds into the lace-patterned foot already!


Notes: doing a little search for P&P, I found this website: Pride and Prejudice - an e-text which is hyperlinked to annotations on the characters, themes, historical information etc etc which is a treasure trove for Austen fans!! I clicked on a link to Regency fashions and was lost for quite some time - for instance, this fashion plate on shawls - don't you just want to go grab one and start playing???
The whole book, free on Project Gutenberg.

Oh, and for those who wondered (2paw!) I found my sewing machine presser foot.............................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
in the cereal cupboard.
Of course, where else should it be??

ETA: Grey's Anatomy is back on! Thrills!! (though strangely low key first episode, I thought)

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Phew!

My long-suffering Tea Cosy Swap pal inkberryblue received her package this week and - much to my relief - was thrilled with the cosy I made! I'm thrilled that she's so happy, and check out the mosaic underneath - is that a great match or what???

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Pay It Forward - Please???

Ok, so everyone was wildly busy leading up to the Silly Season, and blogging was irregular, and reading blogs was in random snatches, and commenting was well nigh impossible...
BUT STILL.

PEOPLE.

COME ON.

I knit. I sew. I can cross-stitch. I cook. I can make stitch markers.

Isn't there anything in there that's just a leeeeetle bit tempting???

Tinkingbell put her hand up first, so there are still two places left:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 2 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Come on! Boost my faltering crafty ego - tell me YOU would like me to make you something (I'll even take large, detailed and fairly specific hints!!)....




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Scratching the Itch

So, remember how I was DESPERATE to cast on fifteen different new things???

Well, some serious Ravelry-ing and stash-diving later, and two new things have jumped onto my needles:
A raglan cotton cardi for my smaller daughter

The beginning of a Luna Moth shawl (pattern from Elann) - not convinced yet, but it was pretty fast to do this much, and I'd love a shawl, and it has to be dk since no purchases are allowed... though I'm also thinking about casting on a dk version of Adamas by Miriam Felton....

I also picked up an ancient UFO - I promised a girlfriend a pink scarf with coffee-cream flowers, and my guilty conscience has been smiting me, so here are some flowers, and I will cast on the scarf itself asap:


And there has also been some socky action - following the miraculous rescue of my Knit Picks dpns, my Roseleaf Sock now has a heel:


and my Mum now has one Salty Toe:



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Let This Be A Lesson To Me...

Self-disciplined preparation does not begin and end with the stocking stitch swatch.


In fact, a sensible person, one who has learned many times over the past 34 years, in many different arenas - cooking, sewing, studying, driving, teaching, having babies and even when knitting - that one should ALWAYS READ EVERY WORD OF THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THE MATERIALS.


However, that person obviously went on holidays, leaving me to play with my new yarn, new needles, pretty swatch and lovely pattern, and I COMPLETELY MISSED THIS BIT:



This of course explains why my nearly beautiful fabric still looks bunched up and lumpy even when stretched out on my foot:




Pass me the Maya Gold.


There's going to be some frogging today.


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10 days, in 5 pictures!

I finally learned how to put the tea cosy on properly!! Thanks Shelly!


I made such a small, pointy, badly-grafted forethought-afterthought heel on my Welt Fantastic socks that I had to frog it back to the beginning, and begin again with more stitches.


Then CHRISTMAS!!! We had a lovely day, opened many fabulous prezzies, cooked and ate piles of wonderful food, and I got some knitting goodies!!!

Penni gave me the Jar For Yarn, Christmas teatowel and Knit Picks dpns - ooh, pointyyy....
And Tink gave me a Box 'O Yarn (Purple Naturally Mohair, and Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Old Rose), gorgeous dark chocolate, and some peppermint and eucalyptus soap! I am truly spoilt!!!
And can you see the swatching going on there, with CTH yarn on KP dpns?? Thank you girls!!!

Lastly, this is where it's at: my Roseleaf sock!

Falling Leaves, from Knitty Fall 2005, in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino, Old Rose, on 2.5mm Knit Picks dpns. After 4 attempts, I found success with the Easy Toe from Tiptop Toes, Knitty Winter 2002.

Life is fantastic.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year, because I know you all had a great Christmas!!


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Quickest Update Ever

Techno glitch ate my earlier post - if you read version one, ie nothing at all, I hope you find this real one soon!

tree: up
decorations: not yet
cards: no
presents: most
food: semi-organised
children: still alive (thanks to my enormous powers of self-restraint)
rumpus room: unholy mess
front room: this is where present wrapping, tree assemblage and untangling of decorations is occurring. Try not to picture it
knitting: when? *sob*
sewing: nearly done
ants: every night
washing: done
kitchen: don't ask.

I. Will. Knit. Tonight.

so ner.

:>
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I don't have to wait for Christmas

Because I got goodies yesterday and I didn't have to wait to open them!!!!

D'you wanna see??

In Christmassy colours, but perfectly legal to open it because it was the package from my Aussie Tea Cosy Swap partner, Shelly (ozrockchic on Ravelry)!!

And look what I found inside!!!

• Very cute card full of good wishes
  
• Hot stuff red/pink/orange crocheted cosy, with ties and a button-closed strap to accommodate the spout
• Extra Golden Cup charm and little ceramic tag that says "Tea for Two" - which is exactly how much tea you get out of that pot!!
• Tea infuser with cut floral mug on the end of the don't-lose-it chain
• Lei flowered teabag/strainer/spoon catcher in the shape of a teapot
• Byron Chai tea mix (yum)
• Ferrero Rocher chockies (yum yum)
• Lemon myrtle soap (smells yum)
• Sugar'n'Cream cotton in Midnight Magic colours that are totally ME!!!

whew. So much fun in one little package!! Thank you Shelly - you do indeed ROCK!!!

But Wait!! There's More!!!
(no steak knives)

I also received a package from WA, from a certain online enabler, who took her business name from a well-known Aussie folk song.....


what could it be??


Why, an order from the Jolly Jumbuck, of course!!


I ordered 2 skeins of Tofutsies, with the bonus set of Addi dpns that Irene has as her summer special, and then I might accidentally-on-purpose have added an itsy witsy skein of Achilles superwash merino sockyarn in "Bruised Plum"....
Furthermore, Irene noticed a couple of knots in the skein as she put it all together, so she threw in a bonus set of (the other kind and size of ) Addi dpns... and can you see those letters dangling over the luscious plumminess? She has 'jolly' and 'jumbuck' spelt out on little stitch-markers tied to the corner of the invoice!!! I like her style, and her excellent customer service!!

Oh, and one other thing - I resisted for about 4 hours, then I accidentally started to play with some yarn and needles, and so there is a swatch of 6 rows of ribbing happening in the pinks-and-charcoal Tofutsies :>

Other things are happening too, like kids with colds, and a family photo session on a beach, and mad mad knitting and making and sewing, and cleaning for rellies (Friday!), and son's friend for sleepover (Sat) and hockey bbq (Sat) and snb xmas picnic (Sat!!) and b'day for another of son's friends (Sun), and a few other bits'n'bobs - hope you are all having a nice time with your Silly Season!

ETA: DO NOT GO TO JOLLY JUMBUCK!!
NO!!
DON"T DO IT!!!
I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THE NEW YARNS AND THE FABULOUS COLOURS!!!!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!

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Brace yourself Bridget*

...there's plenty to catch up on, so here's the first in a series of What I Did While I Wasn't Blogging About It posts.

First knitting items:

Some flowers for my MIL's birthday (24th Dec), which open out to reveal:

and

The instrucctions were found on the Dishcloth Boutique site, where you will find amongst the many treasures: Yvonne's Double Flower pattern on page 3 of the Knitting Patterns, and the single flower Doily Style pattern on page 2.

I knitted the two facewashers out of Heirloom 8ply cotton in a cream colour (from stash), and it came out so beautifully! 4mm casein dpns, which was a little awkward at the 'cast on 8 sts and join to work in the round' stage, and I think it might be easeir to manipulate, and make a flatter centre, if those first 2~3 rounds were worked on needles a smidgen smaller.
Mods: I added an extra lace round before doing the edging on the Doily Style washer, just to bring the petals to a definite point. I think I'd like to add an edging round to the Double Flower one the next time I make it, just to give it a little more of a finished look, if you see what I mean.
These were quick and fairly easy - if you've knitted a hat in the round, you'll have no problems!! They came out at about 18~ 20 grams each, so I have a little bit of cotton left over - colour-work washers, anyone??

Second knitting items:

These Raspberry Fetchings were started way back in the Great Fetch-a-thon of Dec '06, but the intended recipient has slightly larger hands than I do, and requested a bigger pair. Fortunately, we visited Miss 1's namesake Great Great Great Aunty V (91 and powering on), who is a knitter herself, and she was very taken with them, they fit her, she loves the colour and the bobbles of the picot edges, so on Tuesday (yes, 11 1/2 months after they were cast on) I wove in the ends and wrapped them up in raspberry cellophane like a giant bonbon, and sent them to her via the MIL - I hope she will get some use out of them next winter.

There is lots more to tell you (another FO, the exponentially-expanding nature of Xmas lists, the Dance Concert, the visitors, the germs, the thing I cast on the other day that I knew I shouldn't have but did anyway.... and still more), but the ham bones need skimming (ham and potato soup tonight to chase away rainyday gloom and fight off those germs), and I may have to convince myself to do the tiniest teensy bit of housework before lunch.
And I have to take photos of some of the Things I Want To Blog About.
So this will have to do for now!



*for the slightly perplexed, the title comes from a creakingly old joke:
Q: What's the Irish definition of foreplay?
A: Brace yourself, Bridget.
(boom boom)
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