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

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.

What a different view today!

This was my view when out walking this afternoon, makes me want to play with some pretty pastel colours.

Lucky my new project is a pretty green with a little blue.

And very soft, squishy alpaca yarn.

Wishing you all the pretty colours in your world.

Merry Christmas

to all who come here.

More crochet pieces for another

Splat!

All the parts were quickly made then there was a just a small assembly job to get this little guy finished up, unlike the Fathers Christmas socks which are taking forever and may not be complete by Christmas Day?

Oh my what big eyes!

The Grey cat is made with the yarn weight specified in the pattern and is larger than his purple sister.

Splat - by Cheezombie

He does of course perform the same function.

A happy resting place for your morning coffee.

Wishing you all a Safe and Sunny  Christmas Day with lots of delicious food.

Mistea

Changing things around...

So I pulled these two lovelies out Friday all ready for some sewing action when I got home from socialising,

but I picked up a new book on my way home and spent the journey having a little read.

The book has lots of good ideas for exploring knitted fabrics as well as some really cool patterns specifically for yarns made from fibres other than wool. 

I couldn't be distracted from my needles and yarn so knitting won, besides which it was cold out there and sitting under this growing yarn goodness was very cosy. Cape the third is coming along nicely even with all those stitches to work each row.

The fabric is having a turn today, I've done some of the unstitching already so there should be some quality time at the sewing machine this afternoon.

Thanks Wendy for hosting FNSI, I really do enjoy the creative company via cyberspace and will swing by later and see what some other creative types accomplished.

May your weekend be filled with bright spots.

In under the wire!

One more finish for May - mitts to match my cape and use the last of the yarn.
A new crochet project using the Bendigo wool/bamboo mix I got with my voucher.
The cape is so close - I only need to attach the collar once it dries, my friend will add her own buttons.
Happy creating.

Seasons..

A pretty scarf for autumn.

Yarn Freedom Spirit. Design my own

The colours in this yarn remind of me of autumn in places where leaves change from green to pretty colours before carpeting the ground. We don't have many trees like that here so it is fun to play with this yarn of the season.

The hook has been busy making more hats with leftover or donated yarns.
A pretty doily inspired pink/purple one and

red diamonds.

Both hats modeled by a fellow yarn ball, not sure what I will use once I've knitted that boring grey/green yarn?

The beach from a different angle.

The moon was coming up over the water, even though the sun was not yet asleep, it was very large.

Wishing you lots of colour in your creative space this week.

Inspired

Last weekend I went to the Australasian Quilt Convention and though there has not been much stitching happening here recently I really enjoy seeing the work of the talented artists who can work magic with fabric and thread.

This was the 10th year of AQC and the challenge theme was 10. Lots of very creative entries were displayed showing the individuals interpretation of this theme. The standard was very high and I have no idea how the judges decide which ones are the best, I really had a hard time choosing a favourite but this entry titled, Ten in my Tank today, by Jill Hessing appealed to my sense of humour. See the Cheeky Kitty.

Titled: Ten in my tank today by Jill Hessing

Though I have no need for any more fabric until I start sewing lots of things again I did pick a little yarn.

Pediboo Sock, a wool and bamboo yarn, in a lavender colourway.

Lucky I have been knitting and crocheting all the things recently as I attended the Official opening of Unwind Craft Cafe on Friday evening and won a Bendigo Woollen Mills voucher so new yarn will be coming to live at my house real soon. Well as soon as I decide which colours I really need. Ha

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday evening.

Just add words

Blue cable cape - going backwards.

Mini Ydggrasil - moving in the right direction

Sylvester - ameniko cat

New slippers in case winter ever comes back.

Some of the things I've been working on while offline.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Working on them

While the sun was shining last week I grabbed my hook and a random ball of cotton yarn to take with me on my walk, well one needs to be prepared there may be an opportunity for a little sit down. As happened it was just a little too windy for sitting at the beach so I found a sheltered spot and enjoyed the sunshine without the wind.

I've been toying with the idea of making a top which combines both crochet and fabric, seems I'm not the only one, as there are plenty of clothes currently available in the stores which combine the two. Now I have no clue whether I will be successful but I am being entertained by this simple idea. 

I don't have a pattern so I am making it up as I go along and there has been quite a bit of forwards and backwards trying to get a good shape going for the neckline.

Sure this is different from the picture above and I think I have just about the right shape to make it work this time? It's starting to look like the picture in my head.

No I haven't picked up the gazillion stitches on the blanket yet, I did make a start on Friday but it wasn't working out straight so I need to start again.

Last week I received a small package, a little something I won over on Ravelry. Very timely as it contained a set of stitch markers which turn out to be extremely handy when you have a very lot of stitches on the needle, they make keeping the lace pattern in line just that little bit easier, well at least they help me to find my mistakes without needing to count all the stitches after every row.
I worked out on Sunday that I would need to do 4 rows every day this week to finish the knitting by the end of the month - so far I have done 10 of those rows, thanks to the Pubic Holiday Monday, making me 2 ahead of schedule.
I may just end up with a truly finish.

Ethereal Triangular Shawl in progress - further along than this now.

Oh, and Vicky made me that very bright pink pot holder under the shawl and included matching kitty snips too, these are the cutest little scissors on a keychain.

Happy Creating.

Unwound

Last week I heard there was a new place in the north western suburbs where I could buy Bendigo woollen mills yarn. Much closer to me than Bendigo and in a suburb adjacent to one that I travel to almost weekly. Saturday when J's mum suggested an outing, I suggested we check it out.

It turns out the shop only opened on Thursday of last week, so they are still getting things sorted but it is looking very good already.

Unwind Craft Cafe sells a selection of yarn, fabrics, tools and handmade items as well as coffee and cakes.

The decor is retro and they have some amazing pastel coloured cabinets similar to ones I remember neighbours having when I was growing up. The cafe tables and chairs are straight out of grandma's house, speckled laminate and cushy vinyl, our table was decorated with a suitably 1970's cloth. 

The coffee and poffertjes were delicious (and not from the 70's).

Luxury 4 ply in the Lotus colourway

Drinking coffee and having a little snack is the perfect way to contemplate new yarn. I had plenty of time to look at all the colours as they are right there in the flesh. 

I was restrained and only brought 1 ball home, but I know where I can get other colours, which I cast on last night while waiting for the fireworks to start.

Hope your Monday includes time to create.

Granny groove

After last weeks success with the little doilies I couldn't resist the challenge of working on something a bit bigger - this one will be size large when it is finished. I'm still working my way through the same cone of thread and I have no idea how many metres were on it to begin with but after working on this giant, I finally feel like there has been a small reduction. Lots more project potential still.

Cluster stitch doily from The American Thread company 1955

This is almost half of the crocheting done though there are only 10 more rounds to go they only get longer from here. Lots of little details to keep things interesting and my hands busy. Using a 1.5mm hook this time.

I wound my new yarn into a pretty ball and started working with it - this is all kinds of wonderful.

Wonderful to work with on my little round needle as it slides along nicely and wonderful to the touch. I am very happy with this yarn. Cascade Heritage Silk in a deep teal colour not the green that the picture looks like.

Sure I played with the drawing thing on my camera app.

Regular Melbourne weather patterns here with sunny and cloudy on the same day.

I love walking at the beach in the late afternoon and seeing this kind of amazing sky. Looking east with the setting sun behind me you can see a little pink tinge on some of the clouds.

Wishing you all kinds of lovely for the weekend ahead. 

Are those new?

There was some knitting which involved thick yarn and fat needles this week. I made this cosy cowl in teen colours, mostly because they were the ones I had in the right thickness, but we'll just keep that between ourselves, okay?

After I signed on to help with this one I thought I may have made a mistake, we are after all heading towards summer down here, not so this week, (it would have been a very welcome addition on some cool mornings). Just need to find some suitable buttons to attach and this will be done.

Two coloured checkered cowl by BillS

Pretty yarn for a pretty sock.

I bought this yarn a little over a year ago when the whole sock thing was just gaining momentum.

The Great Wall IV Socks by Qianer

Then it sat patiently waiting a turn because of the whole multi coloured look of it, when I decided that my preference really is to work with solids. An opportunity to knit along with others over on Ravelry saw me looking for suitable yarn in the stash, time to pull this out and see whether it would work. The yarn, Happy by Wendy, has a high percentage of bamboo and just a little nylon so it is perfect for warmer weather socks. Means I won't need to wait until next May to get my feet into them.

Coming along nicely I'm onto the foot and really enjoying the knit and the yarn.

Total impulse buying in the supermarket today, just had to try these TimTams with strawberry filling, well they had the new sign on them! Delicious even if they weren't coated in Dark chocolate. At the back of the pic you can see the mess I made with the buttons. I'll get some real photo's next time the sun is shining in my space.

Enjoy creating your weekend.

Still knitting...

the same sock, but I finished a book this week.

Diagonal rib sock  by Ann Budd with arch foot shaping

'Digging to America' by Anne Tyler was recommended by a friend. While the subject matter centres on family issues and intercountry adoption, the text is written in a thought provoking and entertaining way. I enjoyed reading this book and stayed awake way too late turning the pages.

'The Children' by Edith Wharton will be my next book. I haven't read the first page yet but I have read a lot about this author's life and writing. An adventure awaits.

Hope your week has included some creativity and sunshine.

Not much

All I managed this week was a few rounds on the rug. When I showed this project before I was thinking it would become something else but that is one of the benifits of crochet, it is easy to change direction even after you have begun.

Moda Vera Hope in Grey and purple - 5.5mm hook

I'm thinking it will make a perfect mat for standing at the sink. While it is warm and squishy the yarn is completely synthetic so it won't hold moisture (oh sure I'm messy at the sink).

I spent some time this past week flicking through my collection of vintage pattern books, most of which I inherited from granny. I spied this sock pattern and have the specific yarn called for in my stash. I found my inspiration for the father's next pair of socks.

Patons and Baldwins Stitchcraft #169 (most likely late 1950's)

While there are some lovely patterns in this booklet for women's knits, boy are they on the small size! It is interesting to note that most of the patterns have instructions for one or two sizes only, even the children's garments.

Now it's time for me to go enjoy the sunshine.

Hope the sun is shining in your space too.

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.