All about the beanies...

I used this picture and

used this yarn (4 seasons 8 ply wool from Spotlight) to knit up a couple of beanies...

Using an alternate modular construction, which means the beanie can do double duty as a tea cosy if required.

And, as one just wasn't enough I added some other colours and knit another with a similar top piece but a more conventionally constructed hat. This one includes a friendly native who likes to hang out in the tree.

It seems I have knit a number of hats in the past year so tagging was easy.

This lot got boxed up and sent off to take their part in the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Just this once the Post people co-operated and they have already landed at their destination.

I wonder if any of them will find new homes?

It appears winter may finally be on its way to these parts, so lucky I've worked up a few more just for family and friends.

Oh, and the beanie making isn't over yet...

Just this week I cast on a few more.

A lovely soft number in this beautiful blue/green Knitpicks Preciosa,  that refuses to show its true colours in pictures.

The knitting is actually all done on this one.

A little one for a special little person that joined the extended family recently, perfect for using up a little leftover Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 ply in Denim.

Ready for the band to be added.

And a, just because I still have more of this Cleckheaton Country 8 ply peachy pink colour, and I wanted to try this design, (the cream is the same brand yarn).

I've progressed past here and finished the colourwork, only the band to go.

It's been a good knitting week all round.

Wishing you a weekend of fun in your creative space.

It may be a disease...

There was a lot of hat knitting going on last month, when we just happened to have the hottest October in forever! 

So there's a couple of red hats - one with cables and one with lace in some vintage Cleckheaton crepe from the oppy. The yarn is lovely to work with and a good strong red colour. The pumpkin orange hat was to rescue me when I left home for an entire day without my knitting! I went past Lincraft and picked up yarn and needles to cast on immediately. Emergency averted. 

The last week of October was all about playing with all the colours. Lots of brights paired with some darks to make the very colourful hat. And for a completely different look reds and browns together with varying degrees of contrast.

The odd couple were also completed in October. Socks are good for all the seasons. 

I now have three almost finished mittens, just thumbs to go. 

I don't need reminding that we're expecting a long hot summer!

I'll be ready for the cool mornings (if they ever return).

Hope you're enjoying your week so far.

More of the same...

Yarn arrived

Knitting at the beach 

Nearly done this star blanket 

Starting again at the beach!

Finished

Coffee and knitting 

Knitting and cake in the sunshine 

Another finish. 

The pictures tell the story much better than my tired brain after too much working. 

Hope the sun has been shining in your corner, too.

So what exactly does 5 kilometres of yarn look like...

when worked up into fun (or not so fun) projects?

Stashdash is a fun challenge organised by the KnitGirlllspodcast.

Red cowl/scarf in Bendigo woollen mills vintage

Just like any fun challenge there are various goals – this year the choices included, 3k, 5k and for the organised dashers there was a 10k. The challenge includes WIP's so those in the know line up a whole lot of almost done projects for finishing during the 7 week challenge. 

As a new comer this year I was very unprepared with only a couple of small projects on the needles at the beginning of the challenge, but a little crochet project put me in the running for the 5k so I just knitted through all the hours to make the goal a reality.

I know you've seen this before - Pastel star blanket in Patons Big baby 4ply

The rules are simple, there are no restrictions on using old yarn or finishing old projects, any yarn in your possession is considered stash, no matter that it came into your possession during the challenge.

The white collar - fluffly like a bunny - Bella baby angora mix - beautiful

I was pleased with my finish including finishing The Father's socks which pushed me over the finish line on the last day.

Diamonds on a sock for The Father - Bendigo woollen mills Luxury 4ply Denim colour

 Everybody has their own strategy for keeping up the momentum over the challenge period.

Red Vest - in Moda Vera Faith

I could have made the challenge a whole lot easier by working on tried and tested patterns instead of playing around with new designs.

Next year I may even be ready with several WIP's lined up at the starting line.

Diamonds for Helen in Bendigo Woollen mills Luxury 4ply - Lake colour

13 - Projects completed – Diamonds were a huge part of it – Dad's Diamond socks, Diamonds for Helen shawl, Diamonds in a Hat, there were diamonds on a headband (or four), Moon beams, Holiday Affection, Pastel star blanket, Fluffy like a bunny collar, a red cable cowl, my new red vest, my socks with hearts, the second sand tracks scarf, and a headband featuring the cable design.

All together here - lots of squishy yarn fun and no serious dent in the stash

Love me some yarny fun.

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful.

Starting over...

Well a new month started and apparently that is as good an excuse as any to start a new project of Four!

There was a hat out of some liberated yarn that the Mother shared with me last weekend.

Cleckheaton Country 8 ply in white and mauve make a pretty hat.

A little diamond pattern that has been following me on my travels this week and is now finished, though there is no evidence of that. The sun is supposed to visit tomorrow so I may be able to remedy that situation.

An old 25g ball of baby wool that is a taupe brown colour and didn't match any of the other colours in the bag, became a headband this week. Perfect really considering I was looking for a way to keep my hair under control while out walking in the wind.

Heirloom baby and the current cable fixation. A perfect quick project for a short train journey.

I've cast on a couple more things too - they're small so I'm hoping they'll be done by the end of the long weekend. I'll let you know how I get on with that.

Enjoy some stitches on your weekend. 

Heart a hat...

Still playing with colours and hats.

Pretty pink and blue this time for more hearts on a hat.

Trying to decide whether the solid hearts should be closer to the brim or the crown on this design.

Both of these are made from the same chart starting and finishing on a different row. 

Both hats are knit in Cleckheaton country 8 ply, only the blue is a current colour.

The grey and plum one was made last month, I didn't realise I hadn't shown it previously.

Just to confuse things even more I'm planning another one with the solid hearts around the centre of the body of the hat. Just need to choose the colours for that one, oh and maybe finish the scarf I started on Monday.

Do you have a preference for the placement of the solid hearts?

Hope it's warm in your creating space.

One done...

It's true I didn't finish Friday night when stitching with friends or even Saturday at knit group but it was done by bedtime!

I added a plain stripe in the middle of the colourwork and I am really happy with the way this hat looks completed. 

 Makallie with modifications in Cleckheaton Country Naturals.

 And progress on another. I worked on this one today while knitting with friends and have begun the crown decreases. Yay. 

There may have been a little yarn shopping at the nearby Lincraft this afternoon, I have more ideas!

Playing with textures in mystery yarn from the oppy.

Hope everyone had time for some stitches on their weekend.  

Thanks to Cheryl for hosting Friday Night with Friends.

Finishing...

In no particular order, because I have absolutely no idea where April escaped to!

A cowl knit from yarn with all the colours - and a little fluffy too.

Whimsycowl designed by Nim Teasedale in Moda Vera Fern - now discontinued

I knit directly from the part ball which I had - the yellow stripe at the bottom and the blue stripe at the top were just how it came out. Perfect to pair with almost any outfit.

Playing with pictures in knitting to make another hat or three!

My own design knit in 4 Seasons Pure wool 8 ply

A test knit of a shawl pattern all ready to be gifted to a friend living in a cold place.

Slow dance by Nim Teasedale knit in Bendigo Woollen mills Luxury 4 ply - colour Lake (which is a much nicer colour than it appears on my monitor).

Another test knit that needs to remain a secret for now, but lets just say it's super cute with a big personality and lots of hair.

Oh, yeah more hats have been added to the stash - I don't think there'll be any excuse for a cold head around here.

Makamie Hat - all three are knit in Cleckheaton country 8 ply.

Needles are a-clickin here these days with more projects already filling some of the needles freed up from all the finishing.

Thanks to Kris and Peg for hosting OPAM.

Wishing you all a wonderful May.

Because...

I need all the colours!

Anyone would think I've been knitting all the things. Enjoy all the colours this weekend.

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.

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.

Knitting along...

If you have seen enough socks you probably want to move right along and check out all the other lovelies on your list.

I just seem to be stuck in a sock groove. They have all been for me so far, but I am wondering how many pairs I can make for gifts and if anyone on my list would appreciate socks at Christmas when it is 35C out?

Pattern from Socks a La Carte - Jump over the Candlestick on the leg with Dutch Heel and star toe. It's cool enough out to wear these today.

Very comfortable.

Bendigo Woollen Mills yarn - 4 ply Luxury in Purple Storm.

 

There has been a little progress on the Reversible Wrap this week. I sewed the sleeves on part one so that I wont have a whole lot of sewing to do at the end.

It also meant that I could count the rows required for part two and I'm nearly there.

I cast on part three to take to NCB tonight, plain knitting backwards and forwards is always good when socialising. Little concentration required once I get a rhythm.

Joining the yarn along where I like to spend time finding inspiration.

Happy Creating.

New yarn and knitting

The Mother passed over four these little Gems when I visited on the weekend.

Patons Gem 100% 4 ply cotton in 50g balls at 50c each - Bargain.

Still deciding what they may become - very possibly a pair of cotton socks in my future.

For those who were asking - yes my socks from last week will get their matching pair, not quite sure when though as I have started a larger project and a new book.

(the background today is what I am currently quilting)

Using gifted Cleckheaton Country Naturals in dark blue to make the Reversible Wrap by Jo Sharp.

The pattern is simple to knit and I am enjoying making this section with its 'bumpy' texture.

The second blue sock turned a corner yesterday - well I started the heel anyway so it will soon be onto the foot.

The book is an amazing account of the author's trek through the Western Sahara with all the challenges that presents. I am enjoying the reading.

Check out what others are reading and knitting over here.