Let Me Knit!: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

shiver

It's been a big week for us at Casa Crazyhouse. Our beautiful little boy started school and seems to be doing okay as far as we can tell (he's not telling us anything!).

It was hard sending him off, even harder in shorts. What is going on with Melbourne's weather? It's summer, and next week not one day is over 23℃! I love winter more than all of you combined, but some consistency would be nice!

Due to this sudden cold snap I've been taking stock for winter, yes seriously, and I noticed that I'm mega-behind on my Sherlock KAL blanket. Square 11 has been released and I've only finished the first six.

So tonight I'm cracking on with Square 7 and watching a lot of tv with Felix instead of working on my customer's blanket. She'd understand.

I'm cold.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Planned creativity

Mid November last year I had a bit of a panic attack. The festive season was rapidly approaching, Marcus was starting school at the end of January, Dot's applications needed to be in (along with the $30,000 a year for the program!) and I had previously announced that Christmas was at our place.

Panic! Chaos! Lots of crying! Cue Chantal.

Chantal dropped everything, drove straight over and organised the next two months of my life perfectly. It all went off without a hitch and I swore that panic wouldn't happen again.

This year's plan involves me working on something to do with Christmas on the 25th of each month, that way having it all sorted by the time it needs to be ready. "Everything done by December 1" is the phrase, I think.

So on Sunday I finished up yet another banner (I can hear my family groaning), sewed up an old advent calendar, and crocheted a bauble.

The pattern is from Meet Me At Mike's, and it was super fast, less than an hour. I'm feeling pretty good about this plan, to be honest. This could work.

I now return to my regular knitting/ sewing up schedule. So. Many. Ends.

Monday, January 26, 2015

By jingo!

What's the most Australian knitting image?

No question.

Happy Pavlova Day, my fellow Australians! I managed two over the weekend.

For Sunday, an Iced Vovo pavlova: four layers, sandwiched with cream, jam, crushed Iced Vovo biscuits and marshmallow, topped off with more meringues. It was so sugary, my teeth squeaked.

For today, an old fashioned pav: with cornflour and vinegar, it is WAY chewier. Plus I added a chocolate Australia. Chocolate countries taste the best.

Dot agreed.

Hope you all had a great long weekend!

Friday, January 23, 2015

Typical knitting timing

I finished up Dot's adorable poncho today. (Marcus' godfather's comment: "Why are you making something she can easily escape from?")

Bendigo 8ply alpaca. Big lofty and squishy with surprisingly little shedding while I worked on it.

The pattern was a freebie from Aus Country Spinners, and it was full of fun details

Little ferns.

Diamonds and an amazing yarn forward psso that I'll be using again.

Great pattern all round, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Dot? She's not going near it for a while the. It's going to be 33℃ today. Last thing she needs is an alpaca poncho!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Not knitting, sewing

It's hard to write about knitting when none of it grabs you. Currently I'm sewing up a blanket for a customer, crocheting an edging on to Marcus' blanket and sewing up a jumper for another client.

Too much to start a new project, too much to pick up another old project, but I needed something.

Time to bring out the sewing machine.

I made a little bucket to hold Dot's myriad of fairy dresses (her current favourite was a Christmas gift from her cousin Rohan. Took me almost a day to take it off her) and trying to contain some control has been near impossible.

I used this amazing tutorial and some fabric from Ikea (I love Ikea!) and all up it took two hours, but that was in sporadic bursts.

I did have rope handles, but the rope is far too narrow to make big enough knots to not go through the grommets. Back to Bunnings tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Very smelly, and everywhere

On Sunday I ventured out to the country. The annual lavender festival was on at Lavendula and the need for fresh cut lavender was great, albeit somewhat scary.

Bees. Everywhere. Seriously. I happen to be rather allergic, but I persevered and brought home a lot.

The first bundle was the only one I managed to get most of the way through, so the second two will be dried for later use.

I have 30 lavender bottles for my Finishing Touch customers for this year. Now I need 30 customers!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Motoring along

What's this? Barely the first week of the year and two Finished Objects? ~ clears throat, prepares acceptance speech for Knitta of the Year ~

Not likely.

I finished my Danish Flag coaster for my History of Magic class. The theme was Vikings! I didn't know what to make, so this seemed a reasonable compromise. The mitred squares were easy, but I hate the edges. Maybe if they were all going in the same direction, as they do in the blankets. At least I've tried them now.

I also whipped up a granny square for Quidditch (yes, really Quidditch). Round One is make something for charity and this is heading of to a group blanket. I'm not technically participating in my Harry Potter group this term (January-March) so I'm in the Students on Sabbatical group, and managed to wheedle my way into becoming the Quidditch Beater, which means I need to come up with cheers and encouragement for other members.

Me? Enthusiastic about knitting/crochet?

Never.

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

If you think it's too hot to knit, then you don't know me

It's currently 32℃ here, heading for 35℃ and I'm still knitting. Nothing can stop me, only because I have an air conditioner, but still I am knitting.

A small metred coaster, as I've never made a metred square before. You start off with an odd number and decrease the centre three stitches into one until you have one left and cast off. I can see why so many knitters love them: you have less knitting per row as you go along which is lovely.

Almost as lovely as my Christmas present from my brother-in-law, Jase. Not only did he give me a yarn bowl (to hold my yarn in one spot as I knit) but he made it.

Jase, you truly rock.

Monday, January 05, 2015

Ow. Ow. Really ow.

Yet another tooth pulled out; I'm surprised I have any left. End result is that not much knitting has been achieved.

However, on the weekend I was informed of a random prize won where I could pick any pattern on Ravelry up to US$6.00.

I chose Tiny Owl Knit's Beekeeper's Quilt. Now, how much Madeline Tosh sock yarn should I start stocking up on?

In case you were wondering, the correct answer is "all of it".