Bright and shiny..

yes, it's new, the project not the thread.

Finding inspiration in various places.

Pretty threads which have been resting for some time in a bag in my lounge room.

A chance sighting of a project on a person I passed in my travels last weekend.

Pretty flower motif generously shared by Annette of My Rose Valley.

It's true mine look a little different to the original. I made the pink and white practice flower and decided that I really didn't care for the largish centre hole, so I added another row to fill that in for the most part.

I am really enjoying playing with these 1970's colours. All of the threads are op shop specials with some of them probably originating in that era.

1.5 mm hook - 8 cm square

Size and shape of the finished item will be dependent on how far these threads go and when I tire of making pretty flowers. Sure there are more spools of some of these colours and lots more beige for the square borders.

Cotton perle in sizes 8 and 10 because not all threads are created the same!

After seeing 'The Orchardist' by Amanda Coplin mentioned by more than one yarn along participant, it was really obvious on the display at the library! I just had to take it home to read. I have not been disappointed. While this is a book which skirts some taboo issues, it is very readable and sensitive of the characters experiences.

Joining the fun of the Yarn Along today.

Sunny Thursday wishes to all.

A quick look at July

I do enjoy looking at all I've finished each month, even when there are several still on the needles

Purple granny beanie based on Granny Square beanie designed by Lisa Gentry in 'Donna Kooler's encyclopedia of crochet'. Pocket bag made using Linda's fabulous tutorial. Red Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting Socks from around the world'. Pink Tee was a test knit for a new pattern Farmer's Daughter by Lisa Kereliuk. Coloured free socks using Butterflies are free pattern designed by Rose Hiver. Mauve Miette designed by Andi Satterlund. Grey and Navy ripple beanie because the yarn was rolling around in my bag, no pattern required.

Lots of stash busting going on here, or at least not allowing yarn to build up. I only purchased the light coloured yarn (cheap at the Spotlight sale!) for the Purple granny beanie, though some of the other yarn used was gifted to me. The dark purple yarn was leftover from my textured vest I finished back in 2011.

 An oldie but a goodie.

How was July for you? Lots of starting or lots of finishing? Lots of stashing or stash busting?


Have colourful Tuesday afternoon.

In the pocket

The granny string bag is done and as you can see here there is lots of yarn left to make more (or maybe something else?).

I used one strand each of the pink and cream thread

I haven't given it a work out to see whether it is right for me yet. I'm sure there will be an opportunity soon.

Cleverly fits in the little pocket at the base

Thanks Linda for the pattern.

The granny squares are all finished ready to be sewn together with the crown. They may or may not be exactly the same as I don't currently have the book with the pattern in so I was just reading off a sample square I had made previously. Doing this in company may lead to slight variations.

On another note I was wearing the garment which the dark yarn is leftover from the other day while crocheting and was surprised by the difference in the colours.

I guess 3 years of washing and wearing changes the colour of yarn.

Lot of inspiration to be had today at the Quilt and Craft fair but unfortunately I couldn't find yarn suitable for the Father's next pair of socks so I came home empty handed.

Hard to believe I put the finishing touches on a sock today while I was out and then proceeded to lose a needle before I got home - lucky there are more where that one came from.

Hope your Sunday includes time for creating.

Granny goodness

Indulging the hook this week for a little last minute gift.

Purple leftovers from a past project, pink thread from a huge cone no label

Purple squares for a granny hat like this one and pink string for making one of these just like my gran used for her daily shop.

There has been less reading this week while I complete some knitting projects, but I have finished an entertaining little novel 'Still Life with Husband' by Lauren Fox. Written from the perspective of a 30ish female it explores the issues of life and family with plenty of good humour. I'm sure I recognised some of the characters.

Off to visit the other's joining in Yarning Along.

Have a sunny Thursday.

Free to fly away

finished socks.

The left and right socks are mirrored - Perfect

 Pattern - Butterlies are free by Rose Hiver is available free and is well written with separate graphs for each leg. Perfect in so many ways. Sure hoping Miss18 agrees.

and around the back too

Yarn - Moda Vera Noir in the Rainbo colourway and unlabelled dark red 4 ply (best guess Bendigo Woollen Mills luxury in Ruby)

Cool stripes on the bottom of the foot

The last part of the pretty pink project.

Enjoying perfect winter days, walking at the beach.

Happy Creating

Sewing Knitting and Hooking...

all got a look in at my place.

After finishing the knitting on the back of the pink tunic I sewed the shoulders together and finished the neck opening - too easy.

There was some work on the second Free sock - almost there, just the toe to complete,

and sewing the toe of the first sock.

At craft night this week there was a bag of yarn needing a new home - no I didn't resist even though it is mostly this very thick chenille yarn which I am not good at knitting, but there's always a possibility of a little hooking. I couldn't resist the temptation last night and got a ball out for a bit of a play. So far so good. While there are lots of balls of this yarn they're not long so it should be used up real soon.

Hope your Friday night was productive.

Where's winter gone?

I finished knitting my Mauve Miette, found buttons in the stash which work but the weather here has been unseasonably warm. I really want to wear this now. It's true I used different yarn than the pattern suggested but it is the correct weight for the project, it is light and fluffy and too warm. 

Excuse the dodgy self photo's

Luckily winter is set to make another appearance this weekend so I should get an opportunity to wear my new cardi.

Pattern Miette by Andi Satterlund, Yarn Cleckheaton Divine

There are still two socks on the needles and my pink pretty is progressing nicely. Only sleeves to go and they are short so should be done in no time.

Are you stitching along with the Friday night sew-in ladies? You can sign up at the temporary new home down under (thanks Wendy).Fortunately for me they are a lovely bunch and not at all exclusive so my needles will be clicking along.

Hope the sun is shining in your creative space today.

Bright Happy colours

Recently I was given some skeins of sock yarn - all of it unlabelled but all definitely have a wool content. They may or may not be full skeins though I'm sure there is enough to make a couple of pairs of socks.

You can all see where this is going? Of course I cast on - not one but two socks. not even similar! (no chance of these becoming part of the stash)

Both are progressing nicely.

Starting 'Diagonal Rib' socks by Ann Budd for taking along when I'm out and about as this pattern, a simple 4 row repeat, is easily memorised.

This yarn makes pretty stripes

The second sock is another colour work sock, the pattern is 'Butterflies are Free' by Rose Hiver. I do like watching these patterns appear in my knitting and find it difficult to put this down.

I'm loving the combination of the solid with the multicoloured yarn

Sure there has been good progress on last weeks pretty knitting - even with some unknitting going on.

Pretty textured pattern

I finished the first part and cast on the second.

Enjoying a little winter sunshine

Still reading 'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult and enjoying the story. I do like books written in this style, where each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the main characters. I feel it creates depth in the story and it certainly shows how different characters experience the situations.

Joining the Yarn Along this week and looking forward to seeing all the lovely projects everyone is working on.

Have a colourful creative Thursday.

Off the needles

Apparently I have been misleading you all into believing that there I don't do reverse knitting on my socks - So not true. These socks caused significant issues at various points of construction and there were times when there was serious competition between forward and reverse. They were socks that required a lot of attention. In an effort to complete projects I usually deal with the reverse action and reknit, if I stop to contemplate the task I am less inclined to fix it, I know I have several incomplete projects from my past for this reason.

Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'. 

Knit in Patons Patonyle 4 ply red and cream - almost 50g of each.

Special socks for MsM's 'O' birthday

The grey and navy crochet ripple hat used all but a metre or so of each of those bits.

These are the true colours

Yay!

Thanks to Linda and Ana for the stash buster challenge I am making space for some fresh yarn.

Wishing you a wonderful week of creative fun.

A small selection..

of the amazing display of Hotties in the challenge to raise funds for a good cause.

  

Keeping good company.

Lots of lovely designs using various techniques - a feast for the senses. Enjoy

My FNWF

While I got this book from the library for inspiration and I really did think I would start a sewing project.

 I spent some time looking at the projects being very indecisive, so I picked up my needles to do a few stitches while I decided. No sewing decisions were made, instead I kept knitting along. (Hope my clicking needles weren't too distracting)

Some good progress was made on my pretty pink knitting as well as completing one of the front bands on the Mauve Miette, which is creeping closer to finish.

A little textured band

Thanks Cheryll for inviting us to stitch along.
Today was my local knitting group and I worked on my socks. The one with the cream sole is finished and I am about half done with the leg on the second one. I'm ready for them to be done as I already have yarn and a pattern chosen for my next sock knit.

Poppy socks by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'

Sunday is the official opening of the Hottie Challenge exhibition in support of the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I'll be heading over there to check out the gorgeous creations in real life.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Ooh pretty

New projects and a new book.

Knitting with Patons Stonewash

A little pink cotton lace knitting making a change from red and cream socks, so far so good.

I decided on a lighter read this week, not sure I succeeded? House Rules by Jodi Picoult is set around a teen character with Aspergers Syndrome. There are lots of rules and routines to get through the days. So far I am just getting to know the characters, it takes more concentration than I thought it might.

A little hooking this afternoon using some leftover yarns to make another hat (because we're bound to have more hat weather before winter is through).

Grey and navy ripple hat

Joining the clever people yarning along here.

Happy creating.