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.

Friday night In

Last night was all about the knitting... 

Almost to the heel of the sock and made a start on a new hat in the reclaimed red yarn.

The mitts are still waiting for their finishing touches and the blanket is still awaiting the final colour stripe.

 Today is close to perfect- sunshine, blue sky and a gentle breeze so I took my knitting and went for a walk to the beach.

Good for keeping hands busy while having a little sit down in the sunshine and the shade.

Thanks to Wendy for hosting FNSI. 

Wishing you sunshine on your Saturday. 

FNSI October

So the last 2 weeks have sped by in a blur of yarn in all the colours, (oh, and the landscape, and planes of last weekends short break in the country).

Tonight I'm prepared for a quiet night in with a number of projects in various stages of completion. A comfy couch and a project for every eventuality...

The blanket is ready for a final stripe in the pretty green, the orange and blue are a sock in progress, well it is cast on, the blue with all the speckles are mitts awaiting their finishing touches and the red is waiting to be cast on, another hat and mitts coming up!

Wonder which of these will get the most attention tonight?

Hope there are lots of your favourite colours in your creative space this weekend.

August- Where exactly are you hiding?

There was a little knitting action in the craft space.

There was finishing and plenty of starting!

For the OPAM record, a couple of days late, 7 finishes last month.

Three of them are the same design worked up in different yarns for wonderful effect, as I worked the first one in an Angora mix the working name of this design is fluffy bunny colour. Ha! In the picture they are the white(angora mix), the green(100% alpaca) and the orangy/pink one that is a beautiful merino single.

The red cowl is another new design, Deloras will be ready for testing shortly.

The father's diamond socks went down a treat after I rushed to get them finished when the celebrations were moved forward a week so the parents could enjoy a trip with my brother and his truck. They're currently enjoying a little outback adventure. 

A pretty pink headband accompanied me on a run around kind of day, it's a fabulous project for on the go.

The mythical wings shawl, that's the one with all the bright stripes is a test knit for the Gabrielle. A very clever design that gives a nice triangle shape without all the stitches of a top down design.

It was a big month of knitting and finishing, the needles are currently waiting patiently while the hooks are having a turn. Haha!

Hope your days are sunny and bright.

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.

Blues...

The socks I was working on remind me of the colours the water turns when skies are grey.

A beautiful blue grey colour in lovely soft yarn.

Seems I have a diamond fixation at present. 

Then there were two.

Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury in denim colour. 

Little needles and lots of stitches.

Ready for gifting to the Father this weekend. 

Hope you have time for stitches this weekend.

New...

Yarn and needles you can't see.

I haven't decided what the yarn will become yet, but I am using my new needles and they are lovely to work with.

 Another headband, because the first one has been in almost continuous use since I finished it.

And new socks all finished and ready for wearing.

A perfect knitting day today, in good company. 

Hope there's something new in your creating space.

Busy with yarn

I finished the first of the socks with heart, but only after knitting too far. Apparently that's what happens if you keep knitting while out and about with out stopping to measure!

Hearts socks in Bendigo Luxury 4 ply - Purple storm and Aquarium.

 I made the heel and toe plain - this one is purple the next one will be in the blue. Oh yeah that light colour is blue, really! One day the light will be right when I'm ready to take a picture.

I finished the Pastel star blanket, too. After running short of the pink on the final row of the second pink stripe, I added three rows of the multicolour and ended with a purple row.

Rainbow Ripple baby blanket pattern by Celeste Young this time I used Patons Big Baby 4 ply - it is soft and light and warm.

Hope your weekend was full of stitches and there was no one trying to make you drop them!

All the things!

The finish of the Fathers Christmas socks was about a month late - but they fit comfortably and will be much loved.

A finish of course means I can start something new - you're right I finished one thing and started one thing - a change from my two for one routine of the past, but so far so good.

Using the Rainbow Ripple baby blanket pattern  by Celeste Young again with unidentified yarn. I am enjoying the autumn colours perfect for an autumn arrival. 

Colours make all the difference, you can see my previous project using this pattern here.

The cooler weather has been perfect for a little crochet at the beach, especially in the evenings.

The clouds only add to the glorious sunsets.

Hope your week has been a good one and your weekend is a wonderful one.

May all the colours play nice in your creating space.

A lot of Knitting and little Unpicking!

The combination of delightful yarn and relaxing pattern made this shawl a quick knit (or maybe I just become obsessed making stitches with all those pretty colours).

While some of the last rows felt like they took forever, they ate the yarn and it was all done rather quickly.

I used the pretty natural shade for the edging and love the contrast in both colour and texture.

Mystery Benefactor - design by Kelly Brooker

Main body of shawl in Sweetgeorgia Merino silk - deep cove colourway and border in Fleece Artist Merino Angel a wool/mohair/nylon mix

New socks for the Mother for Christmas (and not even December yet). 

With a lovely lace design on the legs and

a pretty cable on the heel. 

The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Athena which is a gorgeous silk/wool mix and has the most luxuriant feel. The pattern is a lovely design by Qianer - Corn Mint Leaves socks.

After looking at the tunic I made earlier this year and figuring there was no easy fix for it I undid it  and will repurpose the yarn into something that fits. I'm hoping to cast this one on this weekend if I manage to get one more thing finished today!

Bendigo woollen mills - Stellar in the Red coral colourway

It hasn't only been about the yarn but I don't have any evidence of the sewing stitches, I will remember to take photo's while the sun is out soon.

Wishing you sunshine in your craft space.

Slowly, slowly...

I have been using small snippets of time to make progress on the the sewing project, but I've not yet taken a picture so you won't see it here!

There was a little action with pretty coloured cottons to add to the sewing.

I did have fun with my needles and hook - and still there is a mountain of cotton colours to left. Lucky I guess as I'd like to make some more of these.

Quick to knit or crochet in all the colours. 

While out socialising with fellow creative types last weekend I managed to finish two socks.

No not a pair!

On the left - Corn mint leaves by Qianer and on the right Layna shorty in my size.

I do like to mix up the colours and textures though and they provide entertainment for when there is not much else happening.

Just so I don't get bored with the second socks of those 2 pair, which I have already cast on by the way, I started a little slipper to keep my toes warm on these cool evenings that have returned to my part of the world.

Steps to elegance is a test knit - both quick and fun

I enjoyed working this one up - though the use of a multicoloured yarn for the contrast colour may not have been my best choice, the scrap was there and I'm trying to move some of those along.

Hope your weekend is filled with all the colours.

Cutting, sewing and clicking...

Cutting some of the fabric that has been collecting dust on my shelves this past year (or more)!

I like all the colours and the fun prints I found there. Sure I made a big mess pulling things out and rearranging the fabrics to find nice complimentary or contrasting colours and prints.

Sewing some of the previously cut fabrics, it sure was nice to get reacquainted with my sewing machine and this extra long weekend means I may make even more progress on this lot.

The needles are still clicking away in the evening, I'm working on two more socks - one of which will be the Mother's Christmas present.

Bendigo woollen mills Luxury 4 ply in Cerise and Athena 4 ply in Heather - a little pinker in real life than it appears here next to the deep pink.

Hope your week shows all the colours.

Finishing all the footwear...

This was a sock pattern that I just had to make up - and when I had these leftovers available it seemed the perfect time had come. I really enjoyed knitting these up even if the yarn presented some issues as it likes to stick to itself which slows things down when trying to use 2 colours.

You'll recognise the dark one from the Father's socks I completed last month, the fog colour was a friends leftovers.

Eisern design by General Hogbuffer in Regia design line - eggplant and fog

A pretty pair of anklets with a lace fold down cuff. I made these in size small so they knit up very quickly compared with the usual large size I make. There will be a bigger pair soon.

Layna Anklets in Bendigo Athena 4 ply Ice Blue (I really did pick up a big bag of this last month)

Getting ready for some summer fun - I hooked up a couple of pairs of the barefoot sandals in cotton with my 1.5 mm hook.

These are perfect for dressing up feet without wearing shoes.

No purpose other than fun.

Hope your week is off to a fun start.

Because apparently one is not enough

I started another sock.

This time I'm making an old fashioned anklet just in time for some warmer weather.

Wishing you a sun shiny weekend.

Ooh Look!

That would be one sock with just the toe graft to go!

Yarn Regia design line - Kaffe in Eggplant and fog

Eisern design by General Hogbuffer, with my modifications in the twisted stitch section where I was too big for my 'Socks' thinking I knew what came next and not checking the chart for details. It all worked out in the end and the fit is perfect.

 A successful weekend knitting project.

Wondering if one is enough?

Happy Monday

Sometimes...

projects take much longer than they should!

Take the chocolate stripe socks for The Father as an example - 3 months in the making (give or take a day or two). Lots of other things kept jumping in ahead of these socks and then when the first one was done I sent it home with The Mother for a fitting. I did not have good notes on these so I had to wait until the first one came back to me to make another that almost matches.

Improvised rib with cable in Dad size, Moda Vera Noir chocolate colourway

I included some fairly serious reinforcement through the heel and sole area to try to ward off the holes which are appearing in the socks I knit for The Father last year.

All done ready for delivery Sunday.

After knitting an inch or two of ribbing on my blue lace project, which is still undecided what it wishes to become, I decided that I had sufficient yarn and it really would be more usable with one more lace repeat so right after I took this picture I ripped out the ribbing. Gotta love that about yarn it really is flexible enough to change on a whim.

Rose garden lace in Rowan wool/silk blend

This week has been a lot about socialising and I couldn't resist this little afternoon indulgence.

Cookies and cream cheesecake with coffee.

Enjoying a little spring sunshine and the flowers in other peoples gardens.

Promise - I didn't pick any.

So tonight is FNWF and I'll be in so I may just join in the fun.

Will you be stitching along tonight?

Wishing you sunshine on your weekend.

August Finishes

It appears August was a good month for finishing projects including a bigger one that had been on the needles for a while. Cape I'm looking at you!

Coffee Cape in Bendigo woollen mills Classic 8 ply Java
(There will be a post dedicated to this project soon)

The baby blanket was nice change of pace - the design is very rhythmic and the colours really were just a lucky dip from the 4 ply cotton stash. I already mentioned that I am ridiculously happy with this one and luckily I don't need to send it out immediately so I am enjoying looking at it draped over the chair while it waits for a bath.

Round ripple afghan in 4 ply cotton with a 3 mm hook

I whipped up this little Mandala while out and about on Friday with leftover cottons from the baby blanket. There is another of these using different colours but it was sent on its way before I thought to get a picture.

I think I'll use this one for a coaster or candle mat.

Pattern from here

Look here - two socks from the same pattern and yarn! I finished the first pair of the Father's socks with a whole week to spare. I will deliver them next Sunday when I venture out to say Happy Father's Day.

I enjoyed both the pattern and the yarn on these. I really like all the colours and have enough yarn left to make some for me, Yay!

Forbidden City socks design by Qianer in Regia Design line - Eggplant 

There were two more pairs of mitts this month, I have to say the portability of these projects makes them perfect for working on while travelling. 

Bendigo woollen mills - Luxury 4 ply - Purple Storm - a new design in the making

These Blue Caracao mitts used up some unlabelled 100% wool yarn and they are thick and warm all ready for next winter.

Baranduin Mitts by Amora Designs

Cables have been the flavour of my knitting this winter - I see that all of the knitting projects here included cables and yet they all have a different look about them.

Maybe Spring will see me change direction or not?

Wishing you a wonderful September.