I smell a rat...

Seems I just left a whole lot of posts in draft instead of coming back here!

There was a little knit a long for a very cute rat - not much yarn or knitting required but look at all those ends.

When she was done Ratty went out to investigate the herb garden bed at the local community garden.

What is this lovely looking green stuff?

Yum, Spinach...

but I smell something delicious in the kitchen

Look fresh cake!

All these adventures before going home to entertain Maggie the cat.

Quite unusually for this time of year the gardens in our neighbourhood are still green.

Hope there is some green in your world, (probably without the rat)

Pattern: Rats by Sara Elizabeth Kelner available on Ravelry

Otto the turtle

Had an adventure sans arms and legs.

We were lucky to spend a few days in Daylesford recently where the colours of Autumn are really making a show.

The sunshine and blue skies provided perfect conditions for a little stroll around the lake where Otto decided he should undertake a little rock climbing, he says the view is better from up there.

Then he was down on the pontoon by the lake where, honestly I thought he was going to take a dip, even without limbs. Though he says - he was just looking to see where the duck had disappeared too.

Speaking of Ducks they are a very friendly lot and walked right up to us, Otto wasn't so happy about this as these were big and he thought they looked hungry. I believe they were just opportunists but he jumped in the bag, all the same, to stay safe.

A little rest up the tree was in order after all those adventures.

We had a lovely time in Daylesford where I visited the Chocolate Mill - this way to the decadent delights and little afternoon snack.

Hope you have time for a little adventure in your week.

Anybody out there?

Just dropping by...

To see

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.

Three

Finishes in July.

Two of those were big!

I have enjoyed wrapping up in my Color Affection already, I love the colours and the generous size of this one.

The top one is a design I am playing with. This version is off to a friend who lives in a cool place so should be useful for a few more months.

My moon beam was just a fun knit and used up leftover yarns. Bonus! 

There are more projects on the needles creeping towards the finish line, you can see some of them keeping the moon company. 

A new month with all the possibilities ahead. 

May your needles be busy.

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.

Swapping

I recently participated in a swap over on Ravelry for a little something handmade with yarn. Oh, and some little extras too.

I got lucky with this gorgeous cowl and hat set knit especially for me and some yarn to keep me busy for the next little while, well after I get through some of the current projects.

These are the other goodies that turned up in my box - pretty buttons, a bookmark, lip balm, hand cream and a gorgeous and practical bag.

All of it is lovely!

Of course I had fun putting together a little package too, included were the blanket you've seen here before and the finished Nessy Pecker.

I put my sewing machine to work to make a project bag from some Australiana fabric that was taking up space in the cupboard and made a matching little pouch for keeping the little things all together in there.

Two of the coasters that have been flying off my hook lately also made the trip.

All these goodies are now happily residing in their new home. 

Hope you found a little spot of sunshine today.

Works in progress...

So I've been flitting around in and out of the craft space without achieving much at all!

The purple pecker is still a work in progress though it is nearing completion. Just a little more assembly and embroidery - maybe there will be a finish this week?

A new sock project started a week ago using leftover's from the most recent socks made for the father and a friends leftovers of the same yarn in an alternate colourway.

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

The sock itself is not a challenge but the combination of yarn and mostly working on this while out and about has presented it's own problems - dropped stitches in this yarn are difficult to retrieve. There have been many dropped stitches so far!

I've been busy in the sewing space too, now that the sun is putting in a more regular appearance.

So far it has been all about the cutting but I'm confident a whole day at home would ensure good progress on these pieces. We'll see how long it really takes.

Hope your week has been colourful.

Hearts and flowers for spring

 A couple of weeks back a bag of crochet cotton came into my possession. It just happened to be something I had been looking out for, a lovely range of 1970's colours in a thin weight. I thought they would work well for an ageing project that's been patiently waiting for a little injection of colour. I haven't yet pulled out said aged project but I decided to have a play with some of the colours anyway.

A little Christmas crafting.

What about three colours together?

Pretty new coasters for Spring in all the colours.

Various crochet cottons, most unlabeled, and my 1.5mm hook - using Mandala pattern found here.

These have been multiplying while I neglect to finish all the half started things.

I hope I have some colours left for the ageing project when I'm done with these little beauties!

Would you use these on your table?

There's something new growing in my project bag too - among the neglected projects.

Wishing you all the colours in your creative place this week.

Meow...

So I made a little kitten to watch out the window for birds.

You can't see them but she sure could from her prime watching position.

She soon turned back when she smelled a fish though.

The Nursery Cat designed by Sara Kelner was a fun quick knit, I just took my time with the stuffing and face details. I knit this one in Bella Baby Alpaca mix which has just the right amount of fluffiness for a toy. It didn't take very much of either of the colours so there may be more toys in my future.

I've been knitting up a storm this past week so I should be back again soon with more finishes.

Wishing you a week full of cute fluffiness.

FNFW

My reward for finishing the Father's sock during the day Friday was to work on something new and frivolous with friends on Friday night. So I started something small with fat yarn, if not fat needles.
I worked on this again at my Saturday knitting group, but didn't achieve much there between answering questions and chatting.
So far I have a body with a tail.
I'll be past later today or tomorrow to see what the friends got up to.
I'm off to deliver the father's socks and eat some mother made food. Yay.
Hope you get to celebrate your Dad too.

Finished... and lots more squares

My Colour Affection shawl is complete - loving the colours together

and the way the stripes work so nicely together on the front and the back.

Yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury in 4 ply - the colours are Ghost, Mink and Brick.

As the yarn comes in very generous 200g balls I have enough left to make socks - just as soon as I decide which pattern to use I will be casting on.

The body parts all came together at NCB on Wednesday evening

In A Bot a great pattern by Jodie.

Ready for adventure in his new home.

I have cut a gazillion more squares for the scrap blocks I started last week - should keep me busy for a while .

Just hoping no more cutting is required.

My work contract expired Friday and my students are on holidays for the next couple of weeks so I am indulging in a break of my own this week. I am planning lots of creative activity - but I may just sleep the week away especially if the sun forgets to get up!

Have wonderful weekend and stay warm.