A Few Pics To Catch Up

Baby Blanket Progress


Zoe Meoller Baby Slippers



Shawl Back Shrug (more of my non lacy lace, complete with duck tail). Blocking didn't help, going to try pressing it. It is awfully snuggly though :-)







Baby Shoes



"Dugal"

Pooped

Things have been hectic around here again. Dad fell over again and ended up back in hospital.They discovered pneumonia again and a small fracture between no. L2 & L3 in his lower back. The fracture was not serious but very painful. Thinks it's been 3 or 4 weeks now, time has become a blur. Last time I had time off , but have worked as well as trying to get in as many visits as possible. Mum and DD went to New Zealand for 6 days and I had to look after Mum's animals and try and keep the gardens alive in the dreadful dry heat. We also organised a new (well nearly) car for DH as the old ute was about to drop the gearbox all over the road. Unfortunately we got well and truly screwed with the finance. Can you believe some companies charge you $10.00 to make a loan repayment. There has been some definite breaches of the trade practices act by the finance broker and I am in the frame of mind to do something about it.

On a happy note DH is getting a puppy on the weekend. I have finished the shawl back shawl, it's a bit stiff even after blocking. Finished a pair of baby slippers and working on another which need to be completed by the 23rd. I have also made progress on the baby blanket. Pics next time

Nearly there

On my second attempt at crocheted picot edge to The Shawl Shrug. Then it will be complete.

Today I spend a couple of hours in waiting rooms and nearly have a baby slipper to show for it.

Dad is back in hospital, with a small fracture in his back and pneumonia again. All seems to be getting better, but it means a lot of running around. So not getting home till 7.30 - 8.00 each night after work. He is waiting for a place in rehab which is a bit further away. Have some time off end of next week which should make things a bit easier hopefully. Have to look after Mum's animals and gardens, but that's just next door. Mum & DD going to New Zealand for 6 days. It's a dog judging trip for Mum, but they are using it as a trial run. They hope to go to England next year together.

Time to finish said shawl & slipper

Still Working on Shawl Back Shrug

Have to say it's been a bit of a challenge due to the instructions being fairly bare-boned (if that's the expression). It's top down and basically you just keep going till you think you've reached the armholes, then do sleeves to desired lengths, either both at the same time on 2 circs or individually on dpns. Then go back and do the fronts and back together. You get given a cast on amount of stitches for an adult and child size , then it's up to you. I have made it to back & front and should be plain sailing from here as you just keep decreasing until you runs out of stitches. Then it's just a band all the way round (lot's of picking up stitches - uhh).This is my second attempt at lace and think it's not really going to look that lacy, probably more like a honeycomb texture, being acrylic yarn can't see it blocking out much. But hopefully will look nice over summer dresses. My second attempt at Adia is coming along slowly and again still not really that lacy even on needles 3 sizes bigger ,but may block out OK.

Found some Cotone ( a good substitute for Cara) at Lincraft Bankstown and they have a mailing service, so didn't even have to make the trek across town, and must say postage was really reasonable. Was impressed as they took my number and called me back at 5.30 on Tuesday afternoon took they order and package was at PO Thursday to collect. Seems they are the only store with any Cotone left as Lincraft will not be ordering anymore. Was also impressed with the Blacktown store as they bothered to find out which store had some in stock. So anyway Baby Blanket will be able to proceed. Did get some Cara from Ebay but not enough of different colours for the blanket. So will have a stash of it now.

Stitch Markers

Needed some more for Shawl-Back Shrug just started. Have a stash of beads mainly from gifts my daughter received when she was little, for making necklaces etc. So went to $2 shop and picked up some loops & wires for jewellery making and came up with these last Friday evening. This could become a dangerous addiction:-/

Desparately Seeking Cara

What to make this blanket for my friend's baby. Thought my stash of Cara Cotton Acrylic Blend by Grundl would be perfect. It was sold at Spotlight here in Australia. But I'm a bit short on the amount I need, if anybody has colours other than green , I would be interested in buying it, or even Sullivans Cotone,looking for bright colours.Eg. orange,deep pink, yellow or blue

Computer's Huummm

Yes both managed to die on the same day. The desktop tower caught fire due to a faulty on switch, not much damage but was without it for 4 days. I think the lap top will be more terminal. Have been trying to find some Cara yarn or Carola as it's also known from Grundl. Have some, but not enough to make the blanket I want to. It seems it's probably discontinued and was one of those that got sold off in Spotlight a few years ago, it's only stashed about 3 times on Ravelry. There was some on Ebay, but more than I need and most really not the colours I'm after.

Finished Meret two weeks ago and made a trial run of Lion Brand's City Mouse , have now started on my version of it. Frogged Aida and have started again with bigger needles and less stitches, it actually does look like lace now, that's mainly a few rows a day work project though.

So Excited

My dearest friend who has been trying for a baby for years is expecting. Last ditch try
at IVF has worked. Evidently I haven't given up knitting baby stuff yet. Think a really nice blanket will be first up.

So no Wicked or Owls.

Working on Meret for my daughter at the moment should be pretty quick - better get back it

Finished and worn today

Love It......is "Wicked" or "Owls" next ??????

Life's been getting in the Way

With about 10 days off work and only a right front side band of rib to go on CPH. life took over and that's where it has been for about that 10 days.

Mum who turned 80 yesterday and Dad who is 89 caught a virus and got a chest infection , meanwhile Dad also fell over and with what we thought was a sprained ankle , was actually a fracture and he also developed pneumonia. So he had to spend 8 days in hospital and Mum is only just getting over the infection herself, so it has has meant a lot of running around to and fro from the hospital and running errands and just generally stressing. Thrown in the middle was a full weekend of Schipperke Club shows, and the judge and husband staying for a few days. Better guests I could not have hoped for which made things a lot easier.

Anyway it has all been for the positive for Mum and Dad, as Dad is now enrolled in a transitional care program, including physios, occup therapist and a social worker to get Dad hopefully more mobile than he has been for a while and now knowing what help can be provided for them in the future. Mum's 80th birthday went off just fine. So now I can relax a bit just in time to go back to work (yay - NOT).

Think I really do need to knit to help relax a bit more, housework is already 2 weeks behind, I'm sure it can wait till Monday.

CPH progress

Progressing well , just about to armholes. Picked up another two skeins of JET at The Wool Inn, same dyelot, considering this has yard has been in my stash for about two years and bought a at clearance, they had to be just waiting for me. So we may get sleeves yet

Finally...

..pictures of Twist & Shout (colour still way off)




...spring is coming

.... I've cast on CPH, using Patons Jet, going sleeveless and seamless at this point

.. and I finally finished the Twilight series

Mostly Reading

Having a bit of a break from Knitting , still doing a few rows a day of Adia at work, but decided to read the first of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, as I'd heard people say they like it better Twilight. Well I have to say no and that it's probably not fair to even compare. Sure there is the vampire - romance angle, but it's written for adult audience, and a bit of murder mystery thrown in, a good quick read but not the epic the Twilight series is. So now have picked up Breaking Dawn again and 400 pages in so will finish this time as enjoying it, and appears Jacob hasn't done so badly after all.

Hippie Vest Completed

YAY

Twist and Shout Finished

Finished back on about the 19/7, but have been unable to get a suitable picture. It's a perfect fit, not quite as figure fattering as I thought it would be , although back when I started I would have described I was more shapely, and I think it really suits curves. But I love it anyway. Adia is progressing slowly. Crocheting a hippie type vest for my daughter as part of a dancing costume, it's quick, but I find crochet so boring, making it up as I go along , tried a downloaded pattern and couldn't get to work, so went back to the Reader's Digest Needlecraft book, chose a stitch type and have gone from there. Pics later

Lifetime & Tax Time

I've done it ! Achieved Lifetime Membership at Weight Watchers with an official lose
of 19.1kgs. Now to maintain it:-/. And on to my treat to myself for this achievement -Twist and Shout. I decided to block the pieces before sewing together and doing collar. Soon as the yarn hit the water it was instantly softer, so it's going to be really snuggly. Hope to get onto sewing the pieces together this weekend.

.

Meanwhile a trip to the accountant landed me two days of solid homework & a fair bit of running around ,yukky but will beneficial. Have tried a new one this year and thank goodness, it seems we've been missing out on heaps and this one actually speaks in laymans terms. This is such a relief with hubby new to being a soletrader.
So a lose of knitting time should be well rewarded. But couldn't help but start Adia (twice, first time not wide enough and a niggly mistake). Using the Cashmere Blend in Tidal from Wired for Fibre. I used my voucher I won from Serendipity's bushfire appeal. It's wonderfully soft, part of the reason why I decided on a scarf and not socks. This also gives me a chance to try out some lace, got to first 12 rows on first attempt and was already in love with it, so had to frog to make it perfect.
Thanks again Ladies. I did make the terrible mistake of undoing the skein without having anything or anyone to help me wind it into a ball and spend two days unravelling the mess, lucky I like a good puzzle, but oh the wasted time

Twist and Shout

Nearly finished second front panel then, just sleeves and neck to go. have tried to take a pic but no camera I have will even get close to the true colour. It's a great knit when you get on a roll with it.

Socks

The Online SuperSocke Cotton socks are completed, very comfortable and go straight through the washing machine with no problem. I also has quite a lot of yard left , reckon I could get nearly kneehighs from one ball.

Back onto Twist and Shout, had to get back into the rythym of it, and thank goodness for the KAL on Ravelry, and I was a bit confused with the increases of the right front, but once I was clear about it off I went, have had to rip a few rows on a few times, but mainly a concentration issue. It's not too hard that I can't do a bit at work, and it would be quite a quick knit if you did in one go and get into the flow of it. Will take some pics, but need decent light to even give an idea of the purple shade and there's not much of that at the moment here. Back to it

Working on WIP

Not much happening, slowly working on the Online Cotton Socks, mainly trying to finish of the Skaife crosstitch, good to be working on WIP. I might up the ante on the socks, want to wear them :)

For anyone interested found a website that you can download whole books for free
http://www.suvudu.com/freelibrary/.

Includes fairly recent Scifi/Fantasy books, publisher's idea is that you read the first of a series and then go out and buy the rest.

YAY Sunshine

What a beautiful day today, so good to see sun, I was actually getting quite down with the cold and wet, think because I was at home and noticed it more. One disadvantage of being slimmer, I'm feeling the cold. Went up the coast and visted my daughter's godparents and had lunch at Terrigal today and it was lovely.

Last night my friend had the opening of an exhibition of some of her painting at the Mars Hill Cafe in Parramatta, which was a nice evening.

Elliot (below) has been to the eye specialist and still not sure if the fleshy lump in the corner of his eye is due to injury from previously mentioned escapades or a tumor of a blood vessell, going with anti-infammatories for 2 weeks to see how it goes. Not that he is at all concerned about it, there's too much ball chasing to be done. Have hopefully now dog proofed the fences


Have picked up my double rib socks in Online Cotton, and only have to graft the toe of the 1st, then start on the second , feels good to get back to an UFO, and simple enough so I can take it to work to finish, if I don't before the weekend is out.

Managed to finally finish Eclipse, have had less than 100 pages for about 3 months to go. Have started New Moon but goodness know how long this will take for me to get through it , knitting takes priority.

65 Questions

From Cathie's Blog

1. First thing you wash in the shower? My hair if washing it or otherwise my arms
2. What color is your favorite hoodie? Black only one I have , but will be purple once I knit CPH
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Yes, everyday
4. Do you plan outfits? Yes
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Mmmm, generally pretty relaxed
6. What is the closest thing to you that’s red? My Hair
7. Describe the last dream you remember having? Don't remember
8. Did you meet anybody new today? Yep a vet with the personality of a pole
9. What are you craving right now? Coffee & Cookies
10. Do you floss? No
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Coleslaw
12. Are you emotional? yes, but not irrationally so
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Probably when I was a kid
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? Both
15. Do you like your hair? Yes, but wish I had more (on my head)
16. Do you like yourself? Yes, proud of myself at the moment for losing over 17kgs
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? I suppose then I might out if he's dumb as he appears
18. What are you listening to right now? Top Gear Australia on the TV in the background
19. Are your parents strict? no, but I was extremely shy so didn't get up too much
20. Would you go sky diving? No
21. Do you like cottage cheese? Yes
22. Have you ever met a celebrity? See recent post,if taking picture of Mark Skaife and my daughter counts
23. Do you rent movies often? No, haven't watched the ones I bought a few years ago yet
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you are in? my rings
25. How many countries have you visited? New Zealand
26. Have you made a prank phone call? Yes, a woman scorned
27. Ever been on a train? Yes years of commuting to Parramatta & Sydney
28. Brown or white eggs? Don't care as long as they are free range
29.Do you have a cell-phone? Yes
30. Do you use chap stick? Yes , just bought a Palmers one, love their body lotion
31. Do you own a gun? No , they scare me.
32. Can you use chop sticks? no
33. Who are you going to be with tonight? Hubby and daughter
34. Are you too forgiving? No, wouldn't say I hold a grudge, but definitely don't forget
35. Ever been in love? Yes - 3 times
36. What is/are your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? She's on leave catching up on some personal stuff
37. Ever have cream puffs? no
38. Last time you cried? whenever "Find My Family" was on TV ,gets me every time
39. What was the last question you asked? What exam's do you have tomorrow?
40. Favorite time of the year? Autumn, not too hot not too cold , no allergies
41. Do you have any tattoos? No
42. Are you sarcastic? Occasionally
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? no
44. Ever walked into a wall? Probably
45. Favorite color? Deep Purple
46. Have you ever slapped someone? Not that I remember
47. Is your hair curly? No, but not dead straight either
48. What was the last CD you bought? a Live one for my daughter
49. Do looks matter? No, but dirty looking people put me off
51. Is your phone bill sky high? I hope not, sick of ringing Telstra will all their billing mistakes
52. Do you like your life right now? In someways, have some plans for more improvement
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? No
54. Can you handle the truth? Yep
55. Do you have good vision? Short sighted , computer use I'm Guessing
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? If I thought about it...try not to think about them
57. How often do you talk on the phone? Daily
58. The last person you held hands with? Hubby
59. What are you wearing? Jeans and sloppy Joe 3 sizes too big
60.What is your favorite animal? Big Cats
61. Where was your default picture taken? Not sure what that is
62. Can you hula hoop? pretty good on the WII
63. Do you have a job? yes a Gov one
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Milk, capsicum, shallots & bananas
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes, a car one at least

Hoodie Finished

Hoodie was finished on Thursday and posted Friday, what should have been simple turned out to be a bit of a pain, I think doing the bottom in the round just complicated matters for myself instead of expediating it. Did not block it being acrylic, still not good at doing that I admit. Gave it a quick steam with the iron as the bottom edge was rolling, fixed that problem but don't know if it had an adverse affect on the fabric, it was a lot softer but also a bit droopy. This is what I get for rushing to an overdue deadline.

Started finishing off a cardigan that was in the things I got from my friend's mum. It just needed rib border done on one side of the front, originally had button holes, but I did another as for my Mum's friend who I will send it to, she tried it on when she visited and did not want buttons. Then just used the stitches from the top of each border and picked along the neckline and did about 10 rows of rib for the neck. I have no idea what the neck should have been like with no pattern as a guide, this was all I could easily think to do. So now will sew border (don't know how) to main body on each side of the front and that can get posted tomorrow too.

Will try not pick up anything else, or if I do make sure some thing simple which I can put back down. Have leave but so many things to catch up on. The dogs have been ripping holes in the chainwire fence to go and chase stray dogs or rabbits. So have to painstakingly wire the fence down to the pipe on the bottom at every chain, so they hopefully can't get a grip on it to pull on and crush it, think I've spend about 6 hours on it so far if not more and only about half way and the back is not happy about all the bending over. Then there's their night yard that doesn't have a pipe along the bottom only thick wire, which is just about destroyed, so it maybe a case of the leftover colourbond from the roof around that bit to stop them getting out. The other day they skinned the end of Mum's 19 year old cat's tail, which had to be cut off , fortunately she is still fit as a fiddle and came through the op fine, but it's a worry. And it's not like they don't have space they've got about a quarter of an acre to run in.

The house & car are a mess, with all the rain. Had our Schipperke specialty show today, so yesterday was cooking for lunch (after spending hours on the fence), we all take a plate and share after the presentation. I am trophy steward so Friday was wrapping all the prizes. Still wanting to catch up with a few friends all in different places of course. As well as try and cook up some casseroles and soups and freeze them to make life a bit easier when I go back to work. Need to have some xrays of my hips as they have been sore for a long time. And meant to be sewing a jacket for my daughter. And I was kinda thinking I might want to relax a bit and not have to run around all over the place - yeah right.
Oh well prioritise I think is the word

Goodies Delivered

The Triumph Scarf , beanie for the same yarn, Fetching & Mistake Rib Socks were today given as gifts today to my daughter's Godparents who are off the Alaska. They seemed very pleased with them, her godfather not having got a beanie yet and godmother who had been looking for some thick socks and going to wear them on the plane. Such a good feeling when your knitting is appreciated and you hit the right mark with the type of gift.

Nearly finished the hood of the Camo Vest

Found It!

Well my husband did ( find the Camera that is), under a pile of stuff here in the study, not impressed after literally driving round the countryside looking for it. We thought he might have taken some photos of a car he was working and left it in it when delivered back to the owner (old and forgetful both of us). Nothing really to take photos of. Working on the hooded vest nearly finished the body and will work on the hood tomorrow. Really need to get it done and in the post on Monday. Did have to frog a fair bit, tried to carry the yarn up and swap skeins every few rows to get a better pattern with the camo yarn, but it doesn't work well in the round I discovered. Have to admit to swapping a few times using knots to join the yarn.

Only real highlight of the week is getting within a kilo of my goal weight.

Whoops no, being forgetful again the highlight of the week was definitely this



My daughter Rowie with legend Mark Skaife at the launch of the Sydney 500. Must say it looks like it's going to be a major event with heaps of other things going on as well as the racing. Tickets seem to be great value and cover public transport as well. Hubby has gone from saying "not another street race" to " I think I'll get a 3 days pass". Looks like that's our Family Christmas present sorted.

Can't Find my Camera

So haven't blogged for awhile, have resorted to using hubby's phone. So for FOs, the mistake rib socks , very soft and quishy, may have trouble parting with them. Some Fetchings on the same Spotlight Fun yarn but different colour ( with extra cable at wrist, and finished cable for finger edge), to go with socks . A beanie to go with the Triump Scarf, just made it up as a went along (and it actually worked) double rib with single cable every second lot of knit stitches just to add a bit abit of interest.

Have started on Carnival Hooded Vest for my Godson from the wool allergic family, only have about a week to get this done for his birthday , doing what I can in the round to hopefully expediate matters, at least it's stocking stitch , can mindlessly keep going round & round in the odd break at work.



And a picture of what I bought with my voucher from Wired for Fibre, Cashmere & Merino sock yarn, it's abit greener than the picture and oh so soft, have to find a special pattern for this.



15.9kgs lost only 1.4kgs to Goal

Triumph Scarf Completed

Probably should have done an extra skein, but I figure 130cm in long enough, might make some matching mittens with the 2 skeins left. The scarf may shrink a bit as think it needs to be blocked.

Have started some socks in mistake rib using Spotlight Fun 50/50 wool/acrylic in 8ply hopefully a fast project and at least something I can do a bit at work. Still really like the mistake rib stitch and think will make a lovely thick squishy sock. This will be the second item for my daughter's godparents.

ps - diminishing rib cardigan will be frogged, will never be small enough for it to fit, will do again though

More Purple

Had to do it , I now have 42 balls of Cleckheaton Country 12PLY (now discontinued) in a beautiful shade of purple, now to find projects to justify the purchase. Thinking Manon from Berocco, plus a cap & scarf and mittens with the leftovers, sounds justified to me :))

In the Fifties

Yes I made it under 60kgs this week, was quite a shock, as last week I was 2 days late for weight in due to being ill, and only registered 100gm lose, but to my amazement from Saturday to Thursday the WW scales registered 1.4kg lose, was totally shocked, but extremely pleased as you can imagine, 3.8 kgs to a healthy weight range.

Just to let you know I am only 4'11" so have the pleasure of being in the 44-56kgs healthy weight range, bout the only thing I don't like about being short, apart from not being able to eat much. Who knows I might even post a picture of myself when I get to goal in Twist & Shout ( my goal & birthday present to myself).

Bought another 10 balls of country 12ply in the purple , had to use Ebay again , but not to worry still has been a bargain and I absolutely love the colour , have been scouring Ravlery for more patterns to use the leftovers on. Notice the seller has more in the same dyelot very tempted to stash up on it, as couldn't find any elsewhere and don't even know if Country 12 ply is being continued. Have to say I visited two of my local Spotlight Stores last weekend and the yarn situation was very poorly.

Did put Twist and Shout down , but did cast on for one of the front pieces first. Plugging away at the Triump Scarf, had to frog it a bit as made an error, there is still an error in it still but too far back to frog and I think really only a knitter would notice the cable going in the wrong direction, I can live with it. Trying to achieve the 16 rows of the pattern a day mainly so I know where I am at when I pick it up. Forgot to write it down when I left it and took awhile to work out where I was up to.

On a final note knitting has helped me lose weight, I've been inspired by wanting to make & fit into lovely "little" cardigans. Cheaper to knit as well. I think blogging has too, before I started this blog I didn't finish many projects, now I finish nearly everything and my weight is another project I will complete.

Couldn't Stop Myself

The back for Twist and Shout is nearly complete , didn't mean to start it till the Triumph scarf was completed, but can't put it down, it's much easier than expected. Going to run short of yarn, as the meterage is way shorter than recommended yarn. Ebay seller has another ten balls in same dyelot and I think Spotlight had some in their clearance for a $1 a ball , may still be there. Have to check it out Saturday, not up to it today. Still not feeling well , the headachey stage of a throat infection, hence the time I've had to knit, not going to work.

Will stop at the back and pick up Triumph Scarf again ... I will

Coming along slowly

Like the way Triumph Scarf is coming along , have got the abbreviations down pat, but still have to refer to the pattern for rows. Not even a quarter way there , can feel it starting to drag, even with having 2 days off sick, maybe it's that I'm not feeling well.

Have gone down a needle size for the tension square for Twist and Shout requires one for both stockinette & rib. Still to do the rib one. This will be the hardest thing garment I'll have attempted, so doing all the proper preparation.

I Forgot

That I was supposed to be knitting a scarf for my daughter's godfather and socks for her godmother as they are going to Alaska and the other set of godparents have had knitted gifts for holidays in cold destinations to have to catch up.

Started the Triumph Scarf in Lana Liza Leo a nice soft Alpaca/Linen/Wool/Polyamide blend in grey, not spun very tight so could show up the cables a bit better, but softness makes up for this. Not going to be a fast knit as have to follow the 16 row pattern closely. But love how the cables develop.

Started the tension square for Twist & Shout at work, hope it works out Ok , I'm so loving the way the cleckheaton yarn is knitting up and the colour is just the perfect purple

To Finish, Hibernate or Frog

I'm up to the sleeves on the Diminishing Rib Cardigan , it is very small (my fault I'm very short waisted and tried to shorten it along the way, which turns out with this yarn probably not necessary) So the dilemma , should I frog and do exact to pattern , this means frogging about 2 thirds of it. Do I wait and hibernate it till I'm at my goal weight, about 9 kgs away, it may fit perfectly and will only have a day or so to finish it. Do I take the risk and finish it off and have the possibility of having to frog it anyway. It's not going to look like the original pattern I know but to me it's cosier, the yarn I would have normally thought pretty ugly, but just drawn to it and this pattern together. I have enjoyed doing it so far, has been quick and taught me new techiques, tubular Cast On & Off.



The Purple Cleckheaton Country 12 ply is here make Twist and Shout.
Might make my tension square and go from there.

Weight in today 12kgs lost (and not to be found again)

VP Bag Finished , another project started

Finished and waiting to for a few gifts to placed inside and then mailed to a hopefully happy recipient.



My friend's Mum decided to get rid of her knitting stuff as she is now a keen quilter, all circa 70s & 80s. A half finished cardigan I assume (not quite sure what it was) , partly made with this Panda Astro, I frogged the cardigan as the yarn called me to make into The Diminishing Rib Cardigan from the latest Interweave Knits. I even made a swatch for tension and it seems to be right on. The yarn is mostly Acrylic , but has a tiny bit of mohair. It is nice and soft (a pleasure after the VP Bag) and hopefully will have a nice drape to it. I've done my first tubular cast on and Icord edging, so it's already been a successful learning experience. It's worked from the top down and in one piece, hopefully will be a fairly quick knit on 5mm needles

Oh and lucky me I won $25.00 to spend at Wired For Fibre through the Serendipity Blogs Bushfire appeal. Thanks to Jacqueline for organising the appeal and raising over $20K and to Katy for donating the prize. Waiting for some 4ply "Hero" or "Brave" to come back in stock

VP Bag Progress

The VP Bag (very pink or purple - or this case both) is progressing slowly. Had trouble with the mistake rib as didn't seen to work from the instructions. Luckily the picture of the bag with the pattern was very clear and I figured it out from there.Have to have a pair of socks done in this stitch. The bag is a bit hard on the fingers and not fast being acrylic and done in needles .75 to 1mm less than recommended size. But a good stash buster and the fabric is really sturdy. Had planned two bags , but rethinking that. Hoping my 3 year old god daughter will like this one.

The online socks came to a halt at heel turning , have to sit down and figure out how many stitches to work in first short row. The bag became a priority having birthday deadline.

Think I have found some yarn for Twist & Shout (Knitty Fall 2008), my planned present to myself when I reach goal weight. There is some Cleckheaton Country 12ply on Ebay for $2.50 per ball , and it's purple, cause it just has to be purple:-). This would make it very affordable as well.

Still basically on one income , hubby has decided to go it alone with vehicle restoration , has about six months worth of work lined up. But things need to be bought to get the work done and income definitely won't be regular. But he is happier than he has been in a long time, and he's not a bad house husband, so I'm happier too.

Dropping in Quickly

Thank goodness for the rain here , but spare A thought for those who are flooded out in Northern NSW & QLD. Glad to be geographically in the middle of the North & South of the country at the moment.

Hey, if you haven't donated towards the Bushfire appeal, this might inspire you.
Each $10.00 donation to the Red Cross gives a ticket in the draw for some great prizes here: http://passionfruit.typepad.com/serendipity. What at great idea and congrats to Jacqueline the organiser & prize donators.


The RSPCA is after donations of pet food, towels, food bowls (even icecream containers) for help with pets who have been rescued from the fires. Regional centres aren't accepting donations as they cannot ship them. NSW donations can go to HO at Yagoona. Our work arranged a collection and one of the staff delivered items.

Also hear the radio station Nova FM is collecting blankets for victims and will come & collect lots of 50 or more. Or can be given to their on road promotional vehicle that travels around.

Knitting a VP (either very pink or purple) Bag from Yarn website for 3 year old god daughter, pics later.

Hit my 10kg weight lose goal today, nearly halfway - yay

What to Say

Our hearts go out to victims of the bushfires in Victoria, it's truly incomprehensible the magnitude of this disaster. It just looks like a nuclear bomb has gone off. So many people lost and it appears due to arson. Whole towns wiped from the face of the earth. So many people homeless.

I live in a bush fire zone , and even though we've not had a fire through here in the 40 years we've been here, with temperature at 43c on Sunday and everything so scorched and dry from 3 weeks of extreme heat, it smelt and felt like the grass could self combust at any time , just a carelessly thrown cigarette butt and all hell could break lose. Time to get onto council as they do nothing along our road to reduce fire danger. We have done the right thing and not illegally cleared the trees off our land , but now have a situation of having so many dead trees from the drought. We are not allowed to burn off , there is so much red tape to get one through the Bush Fire Brigade and our last request got ignored, it makes me very nervous. Our house being only a few years old had to pass bush fire regulations, we have a 40000 litre concrete water tank with diesel pump and fire hose, but a situation like Victoria , this would not amount to much help. I love the rain we're having so much right now.

Ah the worry

Spent today worrying about my daughter, who started at new school today for year 9 and didn't know anyone. She was at her last school since Kindy. All turned out OK, a girl she used to go to after school care with a few years ago, started today as well. So they hung out together. She has figured who the mean girls are already, so knows who to avoid. She likes the teacher she has met and says most of the kids are nice .Phew - so did not want to be the big mean Mummy who took her away from her friends and a good school and cause her pain.

She is actually going to catch a bus home tomorrow, a first as well, think I'll still be worrying tomorrow. She is so much braver than I was at her age.

Magic Stripes

Just not impressed with Magic Stripes, frogged sock, just doesn't knit up neatly. And was an ugly colourway as well, liquorice allsort colours, pink, orange, green with dark grey, would have forgiven that if it had knitted up well.

Got some Online Supersocke Cotton out from the stash , and doing a simple double rib using 2.75mm , very nice and soft knitting up neatly and can knit at work without much thought, looking forward to wearing these.

Another over 35c day today, becoming the norm. We've just spotted a red belly black on the front verandah, first snake this summer and hopefully the last

more Fetching

Well think I've satisfied my fetching fetish for now. Love the black ones , even though they are a cheap acrylic. Modified them from suggestions from the Fetching Ravelry Group. They are for my friend who says she has average to large hands and from all comments the original pattern is quite small, which would appear to be so, as the Patons Tweed DK one's are just right for me and I do have small hands. I added an extra row of cable at the wrist , four rows of 4x1 rib before the thumb and completed the cable be fore doing the picot castoff. This seems to prevent the rolling with a flatter neater finish. A lot of people said they didn't like picot castoff, but I find it very appealing and one of the things that draw me the pattern. Will definitely do some more, royal purple yarn from Biggan I think for daughter and I. That will have to wait still on one income, so stash busting is the only yarn option at the moment. Thinking of making matching socks.

What now, maybe back to Magic Stripe Socks, or start a cable scarf.

Weight gone 7.9kgs and counting , over 10% of my body weight

Fetching

Love Love this pattern (Knitty - Summer 2006) unfortunately did not quite have enough yarn to complete mittens to match the Road Scarf, but wanted some so badly.So an abbreviated version was completed , few rows missing and only a hole for the thumb.

Now working on a version in Patons Tweed, which maybe a bit small for anyone but me (really sad about that).Then I want to make some my friend in Black and some how I don't think it will stop there.

NewYear & a FO

Happy New Year everyone, hope it's turns out good for you.



The Road Scarf is completed , and an attempt at blocking being made, given the 12 different stitch panels, had no choice really. Original pattern asks for repeat of four stitches, but I thought I take the opportunity out to try some more. Stitches include Basketweave, Simple Seed, Double Rickrack, Hazelnut, Drop Stitch, Diamond Seed, Ridge, Chevron Seed, Moss, Network, Mesh & Sugar Cube. Yarn Elle Tweed Aran from a discount store , nice and soft even if only 20% wool. Not sure how will block given wool content. Is a stash buster, just under a skein left, will attempt to get some short fingerless mittens out of it.

Shock horror also finished a blouse I was sewing for my Mum, only took me about 12 months.