Its a long way from here...

Today I traveled. A long way. Relatively anyway; we're pretty good travelers, us Aussies. But still, here I sit, 947km from home (according to google).


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And now I'm here I find myself at a bit of a loose end (here is lovely by the way).



There are no children to feed or bathe. Nothing to clean or maintain. Just me and free broadband internet. So I've downloaded some photos and I'm ready to bombard you with them. A potted history of our June, if you will.

Lily lost her first tooth! She's been walking around bearing her teeth at anyone who will look... Its pretty disturbing.

We got two new family members - Meggs on the left and Sophie on the right. Meggs is named for the Australian cartoon Ginger Meggs; and Sophie for the main character in Mamma Mia. Lily named Sophie. We tried to dissuade her from that name, but its stuck. Paddy calls them 'Meh' and 'Sousie'. They're still pretty timid - especially Meggs - but they're warming up slowly.

I made this hat for Nath. I love it. Its Marram by Eskimimmi (rav link). Its a really clever pattern that looks far more complex than it is. Only problem is that its too short. Based on comments on rav I added another repeat, but its still too short. Oh well. I'm still really proud of it.


I also knitted this cowl for a colleague at work. He loved it, however my cast off may have been a little tight... like, he got it on then couldn't get it off for quite some time... A little unpicking and looser cast off fixed it though and he's pretty chuffed. The middle pattern is a row of double yarn overs which means that when its on the yarn folds towards the neck, making it extra warm.

Lily and I found the most enormous strawberry in a punnet the other day... it must have been a couple that just grew together... but it was pretty stunning! Guess who had the best lunchbox that day...


And a picture of Paddy as you'll most likely find him nowadays. If you ask him to do something he closes his eyes. If you ask him to stop doing something he closes his eyes. Its his way of pretending to not hear you. He does it alot at dinner time...

So there you go. Amazing what kind of posts you can do with a bit of time... I've still got tomorrow night away - but its the final of Project Runway so I see myself holed up in my 'spa bure' with some chocolate and the remote... See ya!

Gifties

I don't have the energy to really blog about these bits - I'm proud of them and they were both gifts for colleagues. The details are on rav.


Kimono for Monica it was pretty but really dense resulting fabric.



And this foxy cowl for a lovely lady who helped me at work.


I've still got a few more gifts for lovely folks. I'm really enjoying knitting at the moment.

FO - lace ribbon scarf

I started this in September 2008 and decided that I had to finish it before beginning anything new*.


So here it is. Lace Ribbon scarf, in merino bambino, knitted on nana's old tortoiseshells. I didn't do as many pattern repeats across the scarf as required and in retrospect I think it may have been a mistake. It's as long as I am tall. It could have been longer but I was bored to tears by the end. Great TV knitting though.


It was knitted for my sister. But as she's sitting on a beach in Mexico at the moment she's not received it. I'm frankly a little offended that she didn't hang around to receive it. Screwy priorities I reckon.

*I did start a little jacket for my step niece in bendy 4 ply... but that doesn't count!

Twitchy?

Have you ever checked out your stat counter? Ever looked at the google search terms that lead people to your blog? I've done it a couple of times (blogged here) and have always felt sorry for the poor folk who went looking for some information on how to control errant twitchy fingers and got stuck with my ravings... Here are some recent searches...

• twitchy (fingers, causes of etc)
• twitchy stitch logos
• twichety fingers (only three hits come up when you search that!!! And I'm one of them!! Don't know why that excites me... )
  
• sans clothes (referred to an image I had of some old-style barbies)
• Knitting in literature
• Mother's Day bags
• Twitchy number 1
• Knitty Topaz
• this is as good as it gets

Also still get the odd hit from the old Front Debacle of 08 on Riot Act.

I don't have any pictures to accompany this post so I'll add this one of some FO's from last year. (And because I promised images of FO's last post and didn't deliver. Cos that's what I do - promise and fail to come through. Cos I can. Cos its my blog.)

Yarn bombing!

We were driving through O'Connor this evening and my ever vigilant husband spotted some yarn bombing! He immediately lept from the car (I slowed down slightly) so he could get a couple of snaps. It was at the roundabout at Scrivener and Brigalow Sts and at each of the four give way signs. Anyone know who's responsible? Kudos.

FO!

Finished Object. This is convertible from Knitty in bamboo. I'm really crappy at remembering yarn and needles and that business. I know that Rose Red did something in the same yarn a long while ago. I modified it so that it was done in two parts and grafted together to satisfy my need for symmetry. Its pretty. And its got a reasonable amount of weight in it too. Its one of the biggest projects I've completed. I love it.

I love Knitty.

Especially because the patterns they churn out are always the 'wrong' season - which means we've got six months to knit the patterns and have them ready to go at the appropriate time. Instead of starting in spring, and finishing in Autumn.

I'm loving Topaz - might be my first foray into fair isle...


And decimal (although I'll never knit it)


Pioneer - I might have a go. Got some swanky possum/merino from when my mum went to NZ in scarlet. Although it may be a little unattractive on my 'curvy' frame.

Perhaps Hanne (which is strange and interesting all at once) would be better?

Flit and float might be the answer to the malabrigo lace-weight conundrum.
Steggie is cute and might be put away for when Paddles is a bit older.
Aeolian is stunning.

whatdoyareckon?

Gifties and stuff

I've kind of lost my blogging mojo so you get a picture post...

I made this seafoam scarf from the hacho I bought a while ago. I want to finish it off with some buttons - its more a cowl-length.

This was a beautiful surprise gift from Happy Spider for Lily, to go with the gorgeous hat she knitted for her a while ago. Lil's has insisted on wearing during the last couple of 38 degree days. Really.

And this was a stole that I started to knit with my cursed malabrigo lace weight. I've frogged it because even though it looks great, it was a bugger of a pattern to remember and it just wasn't flowing. I believe this skein is cursed because of cast on about eight projects with it, and none have pushed my buttons. I've now put it aside for a while.

Youth, talent, a killer sense of humour and perhaps a knitter?

That's what I found when I stumbled upon this Miss at Kitten and Snake. She was mentioned by a commenter on the RiotACT thread and I've devoured her comic offerings. I predict big things.

More nicey niceness

Looky here! The wonderfully generous and prolific knitter and spinner extraordinaire Happy Spider sent Miss Lily a hat. And its the softest, smooshiest most snuggly thing I've ever touched. Thank you!!

Wonderful idea....

http://inchmark.squarespace.com/inchmark/2008/9/9/magical-thinking.html
Keeping track of things kids say by scribbling them on a piece of paper and sticking them in a jar...

George and I would have had a few last friday when we met up at the National Museum with the kiddlie-winks... The kids did some painting which was part of an indigenous art display, then we went outside with [lukewarm] coffee to bellow at the kids like fishwives watch the kids playing. At one stage George asked Pirate Jim to put down a stick, at which point Lil started singing 'put down the stick when I ask you too' with all the passion of an opera virtuoso...

Last night would have yielded a couple of memories too as Lily shouted 'You're a meanie' at the arsehole who owns The Front in Lyneham and threatened to call Astroboy to come and 'teach him a lesson' . After last time this man/establishment is should be named the 'knitters nemisis' after a second 'shunning of knitters'. No one else has written this up yet I note, but in summary:

*Bells has taken matters to the next level and posted at The Riot Act *

our regular Monday at Tilley's wasn't to be as there was a concert on. QuiltingMick acted quickly to find an alternative and rang The Front, asked if they were 1. open and 2 amenable to a group of 10-15 of us coming in. No problem, she was told. But when we turned up last night there was a problem. A private function. I suspect this function wasn't put on at the last minute just to ensure that our renegade group of knitters could not congregate, but I wouldn't put it past that mob. Anyhoo, we decided to adjourn to All Bar Nun and asked if we could put a note up. Sure. But by the time we drove past the establishment, the note had disappeared. So Bells popped back in to put it back up. Up went the note again, and this time we watched as the bastard took it down. If they didn't want us there then they should have just said so. If he doesn't want financially secure (you'd have to be with a yarn habit), artistically minded, vocal women frequenting his venue then fuck him. I won't lose any sleep. I will however probably design a badge so that the world can know what a poor example of customer service that establishment provides.

Apologies for the swearing.

A hunting I will go.

This weekend while visiting the old folk in Nowra, I wandered in the footsteps of the great yarn hunters, to Sew'n'Tell in Berry, NSW. I, unlike others, didn't come out empty handed. I had a couple of pattern ideas in mind, and I came out with some Mirasol Hacho (303) and some Freedom Spirit (505).

by withahookby n0nnahs (pardon the copied Ravelry images. I'm lazy and its dark and gloomy, so no good for photos.)

The Twilley's is nice (I've used it for felting before), but the Hacho makes me swoon. I could barely wait to get home to get stuck into it. However, the washing and general fall out from a weekend away will have to come first. Then, my pretty, then we shall yarn cake you and create a suitable form for your beauty.

Of course, no visit to Nana's would be complete without coming away with a bag of things she claims "I'll never use, Naomi"! She'll then accuse me of filching said items at a later date. This haul included three small flower design patchwork fabrics, a little thingo for attaching press studs, the press stud bits, a bias binding maker, a yarn needle, some rainbow overlocker thread, one million little shell buttons and god only knows what else. Nath fears my forced forays into Nan's sewing room - it usually means more piles for my sewing room.

In other news, I signed up for Backtack. I've not done a swap for sometime, but I decided to get in on this one and devote my all too it. The theme is Gold Frankincense and Myrrh. Mmmm. I love a challenge!

Toodle pip. Best away and do that cleaning thing.

Beech Wood

I've finished my Malabrigo Beech Wood cowl. It's sumptuous.

To finished it off I made a little pin out of an old tortoiseshell needle. I just put it in boiling water and slowly bent it.

I'm not sure which I'm more proud of.

This is... a wip

My lovely lace ribbon scarf, for my even lovelier sister. I'm enjoying this pattern, but can't wait to finish it so that I can cast on a new one in my Malabrigo.

Also, my Beech Wood (Rav link) is approaching the end of its first repeat. But I can't be arsed photographing it. Even though its stunning. But join me at SnB today at the Labor Club and you might get to fondle it.

Another wip is a loom that I made using the instructions in the latest edition of Craft magazine. However its been thrown across the room in disgust because I can't get the alternating wefts (attached to the heddle bars) to work according to their diagram. There's nothing for it - I'll just have to buy a proper one...

Love, thy name is Malabrigo Lace...

After my first fondling of this yarn at last week's SnB, I was in love. Bells had been using it for her Pi, and i was in heaven. Its comparable to stroking baby skin. Seriously. So, I got me some. It only took a week from the States. Upon hearing that Kuka was using it for her lace ribbon scarf I got some fingering weight in the most bedazzling colour.



And it is as soft as I remembered it. Lily's rather attached too. Can't wait to cast on for that...

Also got a thicker one which within an hour of getting it in my hot little hands I had yarn caked, and cast on for the Beech Wood cowl (inspired by Avalonne's beauty in Smoothie). Man alive its beautiful.


Was going to do the appropriate links, but Mr Man is up so i'll get back to them later...

k2tog

How wonderful is this???

Check out this talented artist here and here...

Pictures...

So the baby shower went really well... here is a [dodgy] picture of the nappy cake. It was fun and easy and came out pretty spectacular if I do say so myself.

And a finished little rainbow hat. My daughter is terribly shy and hates posing (NOT).

A while back Lily asked me to do a rainbow hat for her. I baulked at the idea of having to shell out for a heap of different rainbow coloured yarns, so the lovely Spidey dyed some gorgeous self-striping for me. Its so yummy.

And finally, for no reason, a picture of my son. He's too cute when he eats his toes.

All the idiots are out today*

I was just singing to Lil (part of our bedtime ritual) and some maniac with a 5000 decibel engine tore past our house, did a burn-out around the corner and sped off. This of course startled her out of her alpha sleep making it a damn site more difficult than in needed to be to get her to sleep. This kind of thing makes me so angry for several reasons.

1. It is thoughtless and dangerous.
2. It makes me rehearse arguments/remarks/things to shout.
3. It makes me imagine creating devices or items that i could use to slow them down or damage their cars without being detected (i was just considering throwing a bouncy ball with nails all through it)
4. It fills me with totally impotent rage. I can't do anything to relieve it.
5. It fills me with negative thoughts such as the above when I could be sitting and contemplating the wonder that is my daughter falling asleep.

arggggggggggggggggggggggh. Does anyone have a magik trick to zen that kind of feeling away?

In other news, I've finished a mitten. Thumb and all. I've been walking around with it on in the 33 degree heat just admiring how clever I am. I'm very proud of myself for knitting on dpns!

check ya later.


*This is what Lil and I say when people do dicky things when we're driving around. Like sticking in the right-hand lane even though they're not overtaking or turning, or doing 75 in a 40 zone... more things that fill me with impotent rage.

I'm back on the knitting bandwagon... with mittens! I've even been to two SnBs - accompanied by my beautiful little man. Although he wasn't a very attentive date - he was found shamelessly holding (or being held) by other women!



Anyhoo, the mittens are from Knitting-and and are pretty easy. I haven't done the thumb yet and the red strip is where I've used waste yarn and will now pick up those stitches to do the window where your fingers can pop out. Picture's a bit dodgy, but you get the idea...

I've also finished four roman blinds for my lounge room - only taken 2 years since we moved in, and one year since I got the fabric. But the camera is flat so you'll have to wait for those.

Must go, Master Paddy is bellowing.

Perhaps....

Well perhaps I was taking the whole 'blogging without obligation' a little too far - as Quilting Mick suggested.... In my defence, I am 34 weeks pregnant and we've had a loss in the family (granted that was only last week) and basically I haven't done anything more remarkable than sleep. I finish work this week which will be great - lugging my increasing girth around in the heat is becoming tiresome. I did make it to Stitch n Bitch on Sunday which was wonderful food for the soul. But I certainly haven't done enough to keep you folk entertained.

What I can do is bring you an installment of 'Where's the Dayflower?' You may remember that my little sister is off gallivanting around the world and before she left I gave her a Dayflower scarf. Seems she's been using it, because I just got a photo of her at Perito Moreno Glacier. Looks likes she's learned to wear it properly too.

Yay for useful gifts!

I've got more to tell, but I don't want to raise your expectations. I'll leave it a couple of days.