A Geek's Adventures in Knitting

Finished the ballet cardigan

2009-09-23T19:43:00.003+08:00

All done.

Added on a sideways knit band, which also included the ties. I knitted the whole thing in the round, using the double knit method - very easy actually. Just kind of boring knitting a long, long tube.

Next, I'll be making crochet gloves and choker for me (part of new character costume) and a men's long coat (patchwork, with applique felt leaves). For a costume for a character that used to be a tree.

Will post photos when I get to it.

Oh, and I picked up Smoulder again, and will be knitting on that at home when watching DVDs etc.

Nearly done on the ballet cardigan...

2009-09-18T16:23:00.004+08:00

So I finished the second pink cloud cardigan, but forgot to take a picture before gifting, sorry.

I'm very nearly done on the ballet cardigan.

The body and sleeves are knitted, and I've even done a crocheted edge to stabilise it all over.

I'm now knitting the ties. I'm hoping to be done by the end of the weekend, if I get some DVD and knitting time in!

Progress thus far...Then.. well. I'm not sure.

I've been brushing up on my crochet skills, I've finally got the needles I needle to make socks two at a time , and I still have the stripy Smoulder cardigan to finish. I might try working on the latter - the weather is pefect for it coming into Spring proper..

Two pink cardigans. I must be seeing double.

2009-09-03T21:09:00.003+08:00

Two small girly girls wanted a pink cardigan each.

One for ballet, one to match her friends.

Thus we have item one..

and item two.

Both mostly at sleeves stage. Both top down raglans, though at very different guages.
Knitting while watching ABC iView is the bestest thing ever, and I want ABC to add more programs covered. Pretty please.

A tale of woe.. where I should never speak aloud pleasure at knitting progress.

2009-08-13T22:18:00.002+08:00

So I was knitting on my cardigan. And making good progress. The back was done earlier. I finished the left front. Excellent.

I started the right front. Then.. got about half way before I realised that there was an error on the left front, about half way down. Okay, I can deal. I put my other, half finished right front on a spare needle, and then rip out back to the error, and the reknit half the left front to fix the error. Cool. Not too-too painful. I pick up my other front, put it back on the needles and continue.

Except... Now I realise that my carefully knit-to-match-the-left-front buttonholes? Will no longer be evenly spaced due to the error that was made on the other half.

So. I could either have button holes that vary in distance from 6.5cm apart to about 5cm, or.... rip back to the first buttonhole. Being overly perfectionistic is just not all it's claimed to be, you know?

I have now actually knit the equivalent to almost a whole cardigan side again. And still have more to go.

Of course it's all my own fault for saying how pleased with the progress I have been making, due mostly to watching lots of ABC sci-fi on ABC iView. (Love that.)

So anyway, hubris - once again, I salute thee!

*sigh*

Life is crazy, but knitting keeps me sane (mostly)

2009-07-28T18:24:00.004+08:00

So apart from a unreasonable meltdown on Saturday, my life continues apace.

Lots of stuff going on, but knitting has kept me sane.

I have photos of Mum's socks for you...

Note the eye of partridge heel, the ribbed and shaped top. They fit nicely and I am assured they are both loved and comfy. So that's a win.

I have also finished my Clapotis. Beautiful. Photos not the best, since I haven't had a chance to photograph it outside. It's also not blocked yet, though I am less worried about doing that.
Of course, this takes me back once again to picking what to work on.

I have a two works in progress, a cardigan and hexagon blanket, but the former is too big to comfortably lug around and the second is more of a "inbetween" portable project.

I have that lace yarns I mentioned a while back, but it occurred to me that if I am going to knit lace, maybe I should think about knitting myself that wedding shawl. So I have to pick "the" yarn. I don't think I'll be getting "the" dress, so I'm making do! ;)

Of course, I also have to deifinitively decide on a pattern also. It's all a work in progress. Or rather work yet to be in progress.

In the mean time, I look at my stashed yarns and think about what I can do while I decide on the other one...

Decisions, decisions...

2009-07-15T20:28:00.000+08:00

So I have a couple of things on the needles.

A cardigan, and wrap and some crochet hexagons.

But I feel the siren call of lace. Unfortunately, the two laceweights in my stash are on the decidedly thin side. As in 1 ply wool and 2 ply silk. Skinny-skinny without any fluffy to make em look fat.

So what pattern to pick and fine enough needles to make the stitches not look too gappy.

I've cast them both on a few times with little success, so it's back to the drawing board and looking, looking again..

I am a ... Sock Knitter

2009-07-14T19:29:00.001+08:00

So, I finished the socks.

I would show you pictures, only I left them with the giftee. Since she made me dinner while I kitchenered the toe and weaved in the ends, I am not complaining.

She has agreed to provide pictures, so they will come at some point.

Now to decide what to pick up next. That woolly & alpaca Clapotis is looking a good bet, except it's getting too big to comfortably lug around. I need to finish it so I can actually wear it. Which would be nice. Mmmmm.. warm black and gothy winter wrap. Nice.

I am just so over being busy

2009-07-08T20:22:00.003+08:00

Work is crazy busy right now. Finishing a project, taking calls for a new position in my team, its all a bit nuts. And I need a holiday oh so bad. I'm just wiped every evening. Which has meant no knitting group, cos I just can't drag myself out.

I'm working on stuff still though.

I re-did that skirt properly. Took off the waistband, resized the whole damn thing and ended up taking it in 12 cm around the waist & hips. I mean, honestly. Patterns lie. But it fits now, and I am happy. It's fairly warm, too.

It looks like this : (no me in it, too tired to change etc)

And I've been knitting on my mum's socks again. They had a brief break because I felt bad every time I looked at them. Not due to the fault of the socks themselves, no. But due to what happened while I knit part of the leg and turned the heel.

It's one of those slightly odd stories where I still feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, even though I am not entirely sure I should.

It goes like this. I had to go to an all-day training course on bullying in the workplace. I took my knitting. During the course, quietly, while watching the single presenter, and actively asking questions, clarifications and so forth, I knit on my sock.

(You can see where this is going, huh?)

Several times during the day people asked what I was knitting, generally took an interest. Including the presenter, who I spoke to in at least 2 of the 3 breaks of the day. Sock knitting happened, below the level of the desk no less.

Okay, day finishes. The next day I get an email from the local learning coordinator to "just let me know" that she'd received complaints. From attendees and the presenter. When I went to speak to her about it, she increased that to state that the complaints had said I was rude and distracting. And that "everyone had the right to have a positive learning experience". I told her it helped me concentrate when sitting for long periods (true). She then suggested that if I "needed to do this, maybe you should have stood up and explained why and asked if it was OK.." (bashes head against wall) For... goodness' sake, when did knitting become a 'special needs' issue?

I felt this was massively unfair, particularly from the presenter - noone said boo to me about it, and I would have put it away if anyone had. For goodness' sake, during a table discussion I asked the guy next to me his opinion. He blinked, paused then said, "Sorry? What? I was in my happy place..." And I am the rude one. (sigh)

I told the learning coordinator that I thought the session wasn't much of a success - if someone can't complain in a session about someone knitting as bothering them, what hope will they have about making a complaint about actual harassment? I got the "oh, that's not fair, people need time.." etc. Maybe I was harsh on her, and still smarting about it. But jeez. I am cross about the person who made the complaint, but even more so about the presenter. Though the coordinator changed it later to saying the presenter "mentioned" that I had knitted - so god knows what the truth is.

Anyway, the whole thing left me feeling really uncomfortable, and still does. I don't do criticism well, particularly in a work context. So looking at the sock makes me feel bad, though that's passing thank goodness. Ah well, I have hopes it will make the wearer so pleased I forgot all about the other stuff.

Peace.

Why can't sewing patterns be sized correctly?

2009-07-01T20:56:00.004+08:00

I know, it might be me. But I wear a standard size.

And both of the adult sized clothing items I have made come out way way different to the size I normally wear.

What happened? I made a skirt, based on the written sizing. It's too big :( About 1-2 inches too big around the waist and hips. Sigh. I shall have to acquire some assistance to pin and take it in. Which means the waist band will have a new seam, cos there is no way I can envisage me unpicking the whole damn thing and resewing it on. I mean, really.

And I was so happy with myself. I put in an invisible zipper!! Correctly, no less! And did a box pleat front correctly! Anyway, I'll take it in on the side. I am of the opinion that i don't think the slight off centerness of the zipper after taking it in will be noticable since it's on the side.

On a slightly, better note, I finished those slippers. They're drying by the heater now.

Giant pink troll boots for the small person.

2009-06-30T20:16:00.002+08:00

So my daughter wanted her own troll boots (slippers) like mine.

They're finally done. At least the knitting is.

Now I need to felt them of course.

This is what they look like now. (That's a 10 cent piece for scale purposes sitting on top.) Yup, they're big.

My man looks dubious that they'll ever get down to the right size. Ye of little faith..

I want the T shirt. Edward v. Buffy

2009-06-22T19:28:00.000+08:00

2009-06-20T10:30:00.002+08:00

Things I am trying to do..

* Finish Mum's socks.
* Finish small person's troll boots. (close...getting close)
* Get my man to decide, (now he wants a jumper), what this jumper will look like so I can plan it, buy yarn etc..
* Finish the embroidered pillow number 2
* Get over my second cold of this season (I am so annoyed. I had a flu jab and all it did was stress me out)
* Not freak out at work, and hopefully make my new deadline.
* oh maybe get some more hexagons done.
* Usual housework stuff.

And on that last one, here's a great link for joining granny squares (for a note to self).

Hope your list is smaller than mine.

Starting a blanket and finishing socks.

2009-05-21T21:43:00.003+08:00

So there is knitting and such going on. But my man objects to my use of double pointed needles in the car (as passenger - he's driving) as he sees them more like steel stilettos than implements of sock making (and yes, I can see his reasoning). Anyway, so that means no socks in transit.

Thus, I have been crocheting, since I don't really want to drag around either my Clapotis (blue, large and fuzzy) or my Smoulder (not quite so large, but requires 8 colours and paying attention, and hurts my shoulder to carry).

I do like the feeling of progress of doing the little hexagons.
I have seven now. It takes about one hour TV program to make one. I get about 3/4 of one done on the way to work. I'm good with that.

Socks are relegated to the in front of TV knitting mostly, so they'll probably take a bit longer. Ah well. Winter's going to be around for a bit. I'll get there. Giftee is keen to wear them. :)

And small person needs slippers, so maybe I'll dig up the partially knitted Mini Fuzzy Feet and get them done - I know she'd prefer them to actual slippers and they'd be warmer than socks.

Oh, and my absolute great thing? Falling asleep last night to rain on a tin roof. Love it, love it.

Errr... Now I can't decide.

2009-05-11T21:22:00.003+08:00

So I tried out doing more 'filled in' crocheted last round. And now I can't decide.

Which one?

The all the way open version (on the left) , or the more hexagonal version I just largely made up? They are both a little over 10cm across.

Can't... decide....

It will be a full blanket, what do you all think? Help the clueless... it's charity, honesty. Without the tax deduction.

So we have gifts by halves...

2009-05-11T19:49:00.004+08:00

Okay, so I didn't get the oh-so-secret (ha!) mother's day presents done in time.

I got them half done - one each.

One sock for my mum...

And one of two pillowcase embroidery for my mother in law to be at some point. :)

Both got given with a ... "Happy Mother's Day! There's another one coming, and you can't take that one with you yet..."

Thankfully, both mums accepted this with good grace. Which is a good thing, or I might have .. I don't know. Not given them hollandaise on their eggs benedict or something. (I made brunch).

Also, in other news... i have finished sampling hexagons.

I have three.
I have decided I like the right most one, the classic granny square vibe but in a modern heaxgon stylin'. (giggle).

Flowers to come at some point. Also considering the odd white hexagon scattered amongst the red to keep it modern looking.

Oh and.. I need to finish the sock/pillowcase mates at some point. Soonish. But perhaps not right this I-rushed-to-get-the-first-ones-done point..

Oh, and Smoulder.
So pretty. So wearable. Yet... gives my shoulder pains from carrying it and all the supplies around. Sigh.

I finally finished it!

2009-04-27T17:26:00.002+08:00

That bag I have been meaning to make for an absolute age.

I am very happy with it! I learned how to put in a zipper, and made a lined pocket for my mobile, and it's even got reinforcing and such so it's nice and sturdy.

I only had to rip out one section - the handle is patched and I didn't notice until after I sewed it how one directional the pattern is in small sections, so I had to do it over.

Anyway, on to the photos!

Hey... wait a minute....

2009-04-25T21:18:00.004+08:00

So, I'm testing crochet hexagons.

I've completed the first one (after the one who's instructions I couldn't follow) - the graphic granny afghan. It looks like this..

And then I decide to start the second one - Crochet Hexagon Throw.

After I've started round 3, I look at it.

And then I go get my other one, and then compare the patterns line by line.
And, realise, that despite using different names for some of the composite stitches, they are identical. Sigh. Well, I guess I have less to test now.

I still have this one.. and I am going to look at how this one is constructed and maybe try that too..Of course, they may be identical. I shall look more closely this time..

And I'm still looking for someone who can understand this pattern - Little Hexagon motif.

Maybe I should switch to flowers for a while?

Oh and I started sewing the bag I mentioned a while ago. Which stalled briefly when I realised that the fabric was definitely directional when in small sections and thus some of the strap needed to be ripped out and restitched to match the rest of the strap. But I feel better about it now, even if no further progress was made ;-)

I can't do photos right now.

2009-04-23T20:36:00.003+08:00

Not that I am incapable or anything, but my Big Two projects on the go/about to be got on the go are gifts for mother's day.

And you know how mothers, god bless 'em, want to be supportive and everything?

How they stay interested in what you're up to, how you're doing, so they can provide thoughtful and caring encouragement?

Well, in these days of modern fangled-communication, they read blogs.

Who'da thought!

So, since both gift reciepents to be already kinda know what they are getting, I don't want to blow the surprise more than I need to.

I am still trying out those haxagons though, so I'll be able to post the first one soon (I have about a round or so left.)

I tried the Little Hexagon pattern but couldn't follow the instructions. Any more experiences crochet divas out there wanna take a look and get back to me, please do.

I also tried a flower or two, on the look out for the perfect one of them, so I'll get back to you on that also.

Peace to all, and watch out for the zombies.

The blankie with the hexagaons.

2009-04-20T20:09:00.004+08:00

Okay, I've been crocheting. I have a nice cotton circular coaster to replace the purple felted square on my desk.
Then I tried out granny squares. They were fun.

I borrowed a book from the library 200 stitch patterns for baby blankets. I even made one of the blocks.

And then I thought to consult with the expected owner of said blanket. (That's afghan to you Americans in the audience).

So, remember how I can be somewhat finicky? Picky even? Shush you up the back.

My daughter can also be like that from time to time.

So after extensive consultation with her we agreed on a pattern.

Hexagons in red, with sewn on white flowers.

Now this may seem easy right. Two colours, clearly defined boundaries.

But now I have to decide on which hexagon pattern I wish to use.

They vary from the open lacy and small, to the solid. The granny-squarish to the .. well, there are a few.

I narrowed the list. There is only, oh, 5 I have to try out. :)

Will post with notes. And maybe a flower or two.

uh-oh

2009-04-16T22:23:00.000+08:00

Have discovered dangerously addictive quality of crocheted granny squares.

Small size & ease of completion = great small scale satisfaction without requiring pattern or thought.

Daughter has requested red blanket to cover herself on the couch. I complain about her extensive using of the great grandmother's (mine, so her great-great grandmother's) crocheted blanket as hiding place/random stretchy/thing to leave on the floor.

She wants her own.

Plus... I have stash yarn.

Resistance is futile.

photos later.

So... I've crossed to the dark side

2009-04-13T20:17:00.003+08:00

And learned to crochet.

I have a brand new coaster for my coffee mug and am looking at crochet patterns. It's all down hill from here folks.

A beret, a raven and a whole bunch of ...meh.

2009-04-10T08:09:00.003+08:00

So, I haven't blogged for a while.

I haven't really been doing terribly much - recovering from minor surgery, looking after my darling man (who's not been the best), having an absolute bust of a birthday, oh and small amounts of project stuff.

While I have been doing knitting and such, I am plagued at the moment by a general sense of meh.

I can't settle on a project (knitting or sewing or otherwise) and am just feeling pretty blah all round.

While not the self-absorbing depression of my teens/twenties, I know myself well enough to recognise it when I see it.

I also know that, in time, it'll pass. Besides, unlike my teens/twenties holing up by myself and telling the world it can screw itself really kinda isn't a possibility for a mum/grown up adult type person. So I push on.

I intend to try out a few projects over this easter long weekend and see if I can get my zing back.

But onto the craftiness....

I have ...
a finished Nevermore raven. I am really happy with the result actually. It needs to be carefully blocked (pressed? I don't know the correct verb for embroidery) and maybe framed in a cheap shadow box or something.

I also have a finished beret. I originally made this to cover up some stitches on the crown of my head, but it turns out my hair covered them just fine and it wasn't necessary. I do love the beret though.

It's knit in Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK yarn. Sweet Honey Beret from Interweave knits. I really liked the pattern, the texture is really open and fluffy. I strongly recommend checking out the video instructions on how to do the set up rows - the pattern instructions for those two lines had me stumped. The info is on the Ravelry page.

What next? No idea. I keep knitting about 3 -5 rows of something before deciding I don't like it.

I'm thinking I might make myself a bag. There is a small bag of my daughters that while in garish colours, would make an excellent outing bag (keys/purse/notebook etc). I might make one of them. Or.. I should knit a bunch on smoulder (that red striped cardiagn) but our DVD player is broken, so it'd be in front of the computer.

To feel so at sea on a long weekend is criminal, I tell you...

Nevermore!

2009-03-27T20:48:00.004+09:00

Well, I finished the beret and wore it to work, then realised that my body wasn't actually ready for work yet, wore it to the shops and then to my specialist appointment. Here I found out that I am healing well, but that some of the tape didn't like my skin much. Ouch.

However, I forgot to take photos in daytime so you'll have to wait for the pictures. Photographing black at night is a way to frustration.

Also, since I picked up some kind of nasty trojan virus I have spent a rather large chunk of today starting and restarting my machine. And removing things, and installing (more) anti virus stuff and so on. I've got quite a lot of embroidery done as a result.

Some starting photos:

Now, of course this is my first attempt of embroidery on anything other than a toy. I'm armed primarily with the Instructibles Embroidery 101 and a copy of Embroidery from my local library. I'm ahppy with how it is turning out so far though.

This is where I am at now: just the raven left. (Which means his eyes, and filling him in with black thread.)

Things I have learned.

Satin stitch looks beautiful but.. takes forever to do.
Yes, you really can tell the difference if your needle goes on one side of a single thread of the fabric or the other.
Embroidery is apparently yet another one of those geeky crafts that I find inexplicably satisfying.

And yes, I still am really itchy. And periodically sore. (sigh)

I look like a zombie..

2009-03-24T12:38:00.003+09:00

(Not really.)

Well, I'm at home feeling somewhat sorry for myself following minor surgery. I should be fine in a couple of days.

However, since I am a bit vain, I'm knitting myself a stylish beret to cover the stitches on the crown of my head for when I go back to work.

I've chosen the Sweet Honey Beret (see also the ravelry link) in some nice Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK in black, leftover from my daughter's teacher's Vintage Beret.

I'll still hate all the tape-covered stitches etc. but I'm trying to focus on the end outcome and not look at myself in the mirror too much. And I do faintly worry about what people will say at work..

My man commented when he first saw me that I looked like I'd been in a fight! ;)

Anyway, I'll post beret pics when it's done.

The one with a side order of ... meh.

2009-03-21T09:35:00.003+09:00

Well, I am having a knitting 'meh' stage. Which is half true. I actually have things I am knitting..

the smoulder cardigan goes along nicely...
and my Clapotis is also progressing along (on thicker yarn which is a nice change).
But their basic problem? They are big. Too-big-to-drag-around-without-making-my-shoulder-sore big. Guess how I know that now?

I tried starting knitting an Icarus, using my Centrovaggia laceweight. But.. Centrovaggia is actually classed as a 1ply yarn. That's thin. Really thin. And even though I went down to a 3mm needle, I still feel that the knitting looks visually too loose for me. See in the stockingette sections? Yeah, I feel like they need more visual weight to highlight the quill lace. Or the yarn needs to be a bit fluffy, to visually fill the gaps.
So, I considered what to knit. I started casting on the new Aeolian with some 1ply silk in an ivory colour, but the yarn always looks a bit yellow to me, and I'm not sure. Plus, it's on 2mm needles, and I am not sure I am ready for another fine needled project right now.

I could knit socks, but.. I'd need to ball up the either of the 2 potential yarns (it's still in hanks). My bestie who owns the ideal yarn swift & winder? In hospital with her newest creation. (Hi Bibnbub & bub! And yes, I will keep making that bad pun over and over..)

I might yet do that. Then I can knit those Beaduelaires. Hmm, better go look for needles, huh? Or maybe knit up that cashmere blend sock yarn that Mum dyed. Or knit the yummy 8ply handdyed I have into a scarf thing.

I need a portable project - my minor surgery (to remove some moles) has been moved to Monday. I don't, as a rule, do surgery/needles well. I'll need something to keep my mind off it all.

In other news, I've started on that Nevermore project. But I think I'll post about that separately - I am doing progress shots as I got through it and so it will be a long post unto itself.

And remind me to tell you about my new computer-based thingie. Evernote.

February is a bad month for me

2009-03-02T15:29:00.002+09:00

Not in a scary-evil-things-happen kind of way, just in a really, really busy kind of way.

So I have small person birthday parties, post-christmas catch up, babies arriving and due and school going back and so on.

All a bit crazy, which would be why I am nursing both a cold and a bloody awful cold sore. Hmph.

I have been crafting also, but since it is largely baby presents, and all three expectant mothers read my blog, you'll have to just believe me. Will post after gifting.

Oh, in other wonderful news... The Last Watch is out, translated into English, at Borders, and thus...

bought and read. Wonderful stuff. Though I wonder if the journalist on the cover who is quoted as saying that the author is the "Russian JK Rowling" is on crack, LSD or some other mind altering substance.

They both have "fantasy" elements. Which is a bit like saying Pride and Prejudice is just like Teletubbies, because they are both english.

Anyway, more in a while. Maybe.

Simple things.

2009-02-10T21:15:00.002+09:00

Some days, even bad or difficult days, you find small pleasures in the simple things.

Right now? I have a glass of milk.

And two chocolate biscuits from the pack I'd forgotten I had.

.....

I hope you find your simple thing today.

The one where I become oddly interested in all sorts of needlework

2009-01-27T21:12:00.004+09:00

Apparently, I've become a 1950s CWA housewife..

(not that there's anything wrong with that..)

I'm getting interested in both quilting and embroidery. Not that the knitting has gone anywhere, so don't panic.

The quilting first.

I've long admired Amy Butler colourful quilts.. I have her In Stitches book. Though really the much more clean and modern Denyse Schmidt quilts or Lotta Jansdotter (like the one shown and linked below) are much more my decorating style..

But with a small girly-girl who loves nothing so much as fairies and butterflies and ladybugs and flowers and pink and purple and things that are sparkly... I am considering a vintage-y girly patchwork quilt comprised mostly of the loeftovers from the toys and skirts etc I have made for her. I might dig through clothes that we have that are partly stained/damaged also and use some of that. Also, my Mum has given me some truly vintage fabric from her mum which I may also use. I figure with enough collecting of pink/purple/pale blue/pale green fabric I can make a bunch of quilt squares like the one below.

I had this link hanging around from ages ago and finallty tried it out.
Thus. Take one 3x3 fabric square (my little squares were 4inches square to start)
Then cut in half horizontally and vertically.

Then turn the top left square 90 degrees to the left. Turn the bottom right square 90 degree to the right.

Sew them back together.
Done!

I really, really like the finished look. Kind of random & scrappy without too much random & scrappy. Now I want to make a whole bunch until I can make a single bed quilt for small person.

And the embroidery? Well, I'd really enjoyed all the handstitching on my little car & caravan. It totally surprised me. And amused my man no end. But anyway.
I've been left with the whole.. "but what would I ever do with anything embroidered?...

And then I saw this.. I am totally going to embroider myself this on some fabric and frame it for my quiet room. I'm sure my doll Elizabeth, and her pet toy jellyfish would totally approve... I'm getting a 'wannabe-goth-girl-grown-up-and-gone-crafty' vibe in there I think...

Projects and impatience.. and conservatism

2009-01-22T08:22:00.005+09:00

I don't do well with waiting really. I can manage it better as an adult than I could when I was younger, and I can fake 'waiting calmly' pretty well, but... I don't like waiting.

The economic crisis may suggest that I am far from alone in this (although thankfully, my own breed of economic conservatism means I don't excessively spend on credit to acquire). I was so insulted when my man first pointed out to me that I am conservative.

I wanted to rant, "Conservative! I had purple hair! And wore all black for like a decade! And like art, and food and ... and..." He didn't intend it as an insult, merely an observation. Having studied sociology at uni as a minor, I thought there was nothing I less wanted to be when I was finally 'adult' than conservative middle class. It was boring, and dull and so, so.. main-stream.

I am a little more reconciled to it now. As in I accept it's true, though it does not sit well with me. For example, I am concerned with being economically stable, and providing for my family. I would choose economic stability over an arty-unstable existence doing interior design or being an artist - in a heartbeat (though I would find the latter two more emotionally satisfying). There is more, but the details don't really matter.

I guess, at heart, I am trying to embrace myself as I am, rather than riling at the universe that some kind of 'whimsical, arty, daring, brave and admirable' me that would have gone to Florence, slept with italian poets, written a book or become an artist.. doesn't exist. But that isn't where my life took me, or where me, and all the characteristics that make me, including economic and emotional conservatism, took me.

This is all sounding as if I don't love who I am, or where I am at. Neither is true. I think I am finally, getting adult enough to "put aside childish things" including ideals that were never likely to be.

O....kay. That was a rather extend diversion. What was I on about? Ah yes. Waiting. I don't wait well.

I get frustrated when I feel like I haven't been making progress (which is great in my working life as a motivator) but not so much at home. But I have been making progress and it's good to remind myself of such things from time to time.

I have finished the blue polka dot dress. I'm not super happy with it fit wise, but it is cool and comfortable and not bad for my first attempt. I'm typically heavy on myself standard-wise, and have to keep reminding myself to give me space to learn stuff without brilliance.

The gifted baby blanket had its ends sewn in.. and was gifted yesterday to the new little niece. So cute and small :) My own small person was totally taken. And very grateful for a girl! (She would tell anyone who'd listen that she had enough boy cousins...)

I have also started on my Smoulder. Now, that has been a long wait. But an very enjoyable knit I am finding. While it is all in stockingette, the regular colour changes is making it engaging enough to retain interest.

And I've also been knitting a baby jacket thing. It's a Debbie Bliss pattern from Simply Baby. I can't remember which one, but it's in the last of the Katia Mississippi.

And on that note, I have to go get ready to see a movie about a heroic mouse. Enjoy your day everyone!

Heat is bad for knitting

2009-01-08T20:47:00.003+09:00

Okay, yeah over summer now. Have I mentioned I loathe feeling sweaty?

All this heat is leaving me feeling very blah on many fronts, including the knitting.

I'm not sure whether it is all the gift knitting I have queued, or just the general heat.

It may be both. I've even felt too hot to consider sewing at the moment, even at night. There's a cool change coming monday.. for two whole days. Sigh.

In the bad news all the gift knitting will make for poor blogging most likely. That said, I'm considering making something gratuitously selfish for myself :) I keep looking at my Ravelry queue and pondering. I need to keep it to stash yarn though - I've been working on estimates of how much we need to save for the wedding and, frankly, the numbers were kinda scary.

Thankfully, that does leave quite a lot of options still.

Denim yarn bag
Baudelaire socks
Smoulder stripy cardigan
Icarus shawl
Horseshoes cardigan in red silk
Zetor shawl in ivory lace weight
4ply cotton bags
Vintage beret (maybe - not sure I can pull off a beret without bad hat hair).

I think that is all for the moment. I do have other yarn, but that's all the stuff with projects picked out.

And I do have a couple of works in progress, but I think I need the new and shiny to get my mojo back. And I might give myself an out pass on some baby gifts with some sewn stuff rather than knitted - that may help.

Anyway happy new year to all - I hope you have air con.

The one when I'm a vampire geek (oh and other stuff)

2009-01-04T15:39:00.004+09:00

Geek ramble. Skip to "in other news" if bored.

Okay, some/many of you know this. I am a total vampire fiction geek. I will consume pretty much any vampire themed story/film/book with some enjoyment and truly adore the 'good stuff'.

I've been reading the Twilight series of novels (like many, many people, since its on the best seller lists).

And I just got back from the film. This is not a review. I am in no way a 'balanced' review of such things. (There are those who will gleefully point out that I really enjoyed both Underworld 1 and 2 at this point.)

But I loved it. I loved that the photography was lovely and helped me fill out all the gaps in my knowledge - like exactly what the kind of wet wilderness it is set in actually looks like. My imagination and experience was a little sketchy since I have seen snow twice ever and grew up/live in a place that is pretty much sunny year round. So that was great.

The casting was (in my opinion) very true to the book. The characters all looked/behaved like I imagined.

The whole thing is very teen drama/soap opera. And I gorged myself on every moment. Like eating a whole box of Christmas chocolates because they are there, and someone gave them to you and they just taste so so good. (I may have also done that recently, but I digress).

I do believe it probably helped having read the book, but still. Wonderful.

And in other news...

I have one partially completed project and one done. And another book discussion.

Firstly. the partially completed project.

I have made up most of the Butterick 50s retro dress. Shown here. The actually pattern and instructions were quite clear, and easy to follow. The biggest problem with it that I had was with the sizing. The envelope sizing did not match the size of the finished garment. For example, some sections had huge amount ease. Like about 5+ inches in some cases.

So when I matched the recommended size for my measurements it varied from a 14 to an 18! (I normally wear a 12). However, the finished measurements on the printed pattern itself (not the envelope) were just fine. So I ended up making a 14 which is really too big. I need to get some help to take it all in (and will do so when I corner Bibnbub at some point...) it's also really really long. Ankle length. Which I refuse to believe is because I am short. At any rate it needs to be shortened drastically to around just below the knee I think. I added straps rather than just the spagetti type straps it was designed for so I can wear a bra with it. Otherwise, on my actual sewing front I am happy with it - its a dress, I didn't stuff anything up and I quite like it.

I also made another toy from the More Softies book. I even unintentionally bought exactly the same fabric as the pattern used! I am really happy with it. My man found the fact I was making a toy car & caravan pretty amusing, but it actually made me feel happy to make it and makes me happy to see it sitting on my shelf. The second photo shows the other side of the caravan. There is quite a lot of hand sewing on this, which i am still getting used to. That Instructibles embroidery tutorial is quite handy. Possibly the fact that it was made on my last day of holidays might be my subconscious trying to hold on the 'holiday' vibe as long as possible but that's too much psych for this hot a day.

Finally, I finished my copy of The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman.

Like Twilight, it's classed as a young adult (YA) fiction.

It is, quite simply, wonderful. Neil Gaiman is a brilliant writer, and this shows this off yet again. I commented to someone today- all of his stuff is great, but you can tell the difference between is teen/kid stuff and his adult stuff becuase the former has violence or dark stuff implied of happening off scene, where as the adult ones display it. But thy are all great.

Any way enough from me, next week I'm back to my usual programming. Happy New Year all.

What would I do without YouTube?

2008-12-30T16:10:00.003+09:00

Say what you like about the nasty porn, the racist epithets and so on, there are things I love about the internet.

One thing I love is YouTube. Not for dumb videos blogs or video of people hurting each other.

No, I love it for the fact I can learn how to do just about anything with a simple search.

For example.. things I have learned from YouTube.

1. How to tie a sari for my LARP character.
2. How to neatly and easily carve a whole turkey!
3. Information about top and bottom bobbin tension (several)
4. And today, how to attach bias binding!

I would have sworn I blogged pre-Christmas... (pic heavy & long)

2008-12-28T10:39:00.008+09:00

But apparently this isn't the case.

So first off. Merry Christmas (or your chosen holiday of this time of year).

This is our tree, from Christmas morning. With small person looking through for presents for one of the people present (at that time, her, me, and her dad).

There was MUCH baking done. Some (uncharacteristic) family dramas (though thankfully, not on the day itself). There was fairly mild weather (hurrah). My maple glazed ham was awesome, and so was my turkey and the pudding was stupendous. Okay not a lot of modesty there, but I loved eating them anyway. Family reaction was a bit more varied. ;-)

And there was loot. Too many to list here, so I'll just mention those likely to be of interest to the bulk of my readership. (ha! I have a readership. giggles..)

I got a beautiful necklace to go with last years bracelet & earrings. black with pearls and silver beads. I also got a gorgeous book on gothic art. Thus..

You can see the necklace in the next picture.

Sitting on another gift - a signed first edition of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. :)

On the holidays front, I've also been working on sewing a bit. I am aiming to sew actual pieces of clothing.

You see, I made the doll's clothes my daughter requested. While fiddly, it did wonders for my self-confidence for sewing. You can see them here. Princess and Prince Charming costumes. Made by varying the patterns for basic dresses/pants etc.

So anway. I first tried a simple skirt for my daughter. Which she loved.

Next came..

the butterfly dress. Which was also a hit.

After this? Well... I'm going to try something for me.

This. In blue with random white polka dots. Which makes me happy.

Christmas projects!

2008-11-29T18:22:00.004+09:00

Okay, I have been totally burning the candle at both ends of late. Not with frivolty, no, no.

With working during the week and the working on Christmas/house projects on weekends.

You've seen the deck and the shawl. (And Clem, the shawl was done in 5ply and took about 2 and half weeks. It was fast because it was interesting and portable. And I was paranoid about not getting it done before Christmas).

Other stuff I have done ... curtains. This is sheer and heavy ones for the living area and dining area, and just the sheer ones for the quiet room. They are awaiting a final spot steaming of creases and hemming. And they look like this.
That quiet room is more of "project room at the moment. See? (For my friend who had asked what happened to it).
So the projects.

We have the aprons for gifts. These use the excellent Lotta Jansdotter pattern from Simple Sewing. Using a Michael Miller and Japanese fabrics. The middle one is my favourite - and matches my decor so I had to resist the temptation to keep it!

Then we have this little guy I finished today on behalf of a friend who is about to become an uncle and wanted a gift for his new niece/nephew to be.
It's another Michael Miller fabric (I don't pick out his stuff especially, but it does end up coming home with me a lot!) using another Softies book pattern. More Softies I think it was.

And today I picked up the fabric for those cushions for my nephews. After searching through all my stash I discovered that is almost all either unsuited to cushions, girly or grown-up neutrals.
Oh and I got suckered by the cool 50s housewife Christmas print.. another Michael Miller. [shrug]
And I also bought a bunch of girly-frou-frou satin etc. for a present for my daughter. She wants a princess and prince costume for her girl and boy dolls. I'll find time somehow. I was going to photograph it to show, but she surprised me and I only just got it hidden in time! Evenings only project ;-)

So I have the end of my Koolhaat to knit (about 3 rows), 3 cushions for which I am learning appliqué, a doll's princess outfit, a doll's prince outfit, if I have time 4-5 oven mitts, and something with that cool 50s housewife fabric. Maybe a table runner.

Oh and steaming and hemming the curtains.

However, I do not have any other presents left to buy. Oh I lie. I need to buy 3 small boxes of chocoltates - two for my team at work and one for my cleaning lady. And that makes the work I do need to do not seem so bad.

Things I love...

2008-11-15T18:24:00.006+09:00

Some of you might have noticed the impending holiday season. (40 days left)

Well, this year (unlike many) I am feeling more than usually prepared.

There are many things that have been recently finished around my house (in prep for Christmas) that I love.

One of these my Dad and Stepmum did - our new, huge and ultimately fabulous outdoor decking. Let me show it off...
And, notice the wonderful inset pond, that makes the whole thing flow into the garden... beautiful!
(It is huge - about 8 m by 4m in size!)

Things that I have actually done...

Finished my MIL-to-be's shawlette. Which I am very happy with.
And the action shot... (I tried for a front-ways one, but you can't see much of it and the photo was way to contrast-y to post.)
I think it's pretty, and a nice size. If I made another as a shawlette, the only thing I'd do differently is add another pair of repeats so it came over the front more. But lovely still.

From here, its a lot less knitting and more sewing. I'm making a swag of aprons for family for Christmas. But, for this weekend, and probably next weekend... curtains.

Our living area and spare room have no window coverings bar paper (We've been here a year, but the money wasn't really there). And we didn't want another summer without proper window coverings. So, we did the deal and bought curtains. Or more to the point, I bought tracks, hooks and lots of fabric. Custom made curtains were way, way out of budget. And I have a discount cards for textile traders and spotlight.

So I have several piles like the one below in my future. And a big roll of heavier blockout fabric. Sigh. I keep telling myself that prefect rectangles etc. don't matter too much, and that noone is going to score me on hemming of curtains. However, I'm such a perfectionist, it takes real effort not to beat myself up over stuff like this.
Photos when I'm done.

Things I love

2008-11-04T20:14:00.003+09:00

Well, there are many.

But since I am now heading into sewing-for-Christmas-time, there is one thing I really wish I could afford to spend money on right now.

Japanese fabric. They have the nicest stuff.

Like linen, and high quality cotton. And the cutest stuff that never gets twee.

Take a look over on Superbuzzy. It's Japanese fabric mecca. (Excuse the mixed metaphor) I've heard. I haven't ever bought anything from them, but boy do I window shop a lot!

On a rough estimate, I clocked up around $80 without thinking too hard. And they don't even have any linen out at the moment.

*sigh* Back to stashbusting..

So.. I've been knitting

2008-10-31T17:21:00.005+09:00

Yes, I know its been a while.

The secret (tm) project is done. I have finished a couple of things, and started on some more.

So we have...

Finished..

Pinky Cloud.
This was happily recieved by its owner who wore it to a wedding, where she stopped every single person who spoke to her to tall them that it was new, and that her mummy made it for her :)

Aura hat.
Gift for Christmas for surfing sister in law to be at some point. It's made from Rowan Calmer, which I love the finished product of, but don't love the price. Thankfully, this only took the single leftover ball I had. Altered to knit in the round because it would be silly not to.

Vintage beret.
Finished Christmas gift for daughters (other) teacher. (She has two). Very nice finished product. I used Sublime Cashmerino Silk DK, which I can't recommend enough. Beautiful stuff. (And just to tease... see that pinky edge in the corner of the picture? Secret gift!

Started.

Koolhaat. (in joke, sorry) Okay, not much done on this. It got sidelined by my other new project...

the Da Vinci Shawl.
This one was from a Ravelry knit-along. I'm not doing the full sized shawl (I only have two balls and doubt the recipient-to-be would wear a full sized one anyway. I'm very much enjoying knitting it though. And surprisingly easy to knit in transit, so there you go!
I've also picked up a copy of the book, More Softies. The website is here:

Which may become toys for gifts for Christmas, but possibly not because I have since found out my Sister in law would like personalised floor cushions for her brood. I wish I had known this before I bought the book, not 2 days later. Sigh. Money is tight, and I probably would have left it to buy later. Oh well. It is a lovely book, and thanks to discount vouchers, wasn't terribly expensive.

I also need to make curtains for the lounge before summer. But it's what, at least 54 days til Christmas. Ages. Right? Ha!

Be well all.

yeah, not much blogging, sorry.

2008-10-16T19:48:00.002+08:00

I blame two things.

Warhammer Online. (wave that geek flag!)

And the fact that I am knitting my mum a Christmas present (hi mum!) so can't blog it.

I should be done soon. I hope.

More stuff after that, k?

Math geek strikes again!

2008-09-17T17:54:00.003+08:00

Yes, you remember this part of me, right? Where I feel the need to reassure myself through math..

Feeling like I wasn't making progress on the baby blanket.

So I make my Excel spreadsheet. The first column is the block number, then the number of stitches in the block and then rows and then the % complete when the block is finished.

Sigh... my maths heritage always comes out eventually.

Note to self

2008-09-17T10:09:00.003+08:00

Dear Spider_knit,

Christmas, you know that big family event at the end of the year where you make stuff for people and give presents? Well, that is happening before any of the babies that are coming.

I know - babies are exciting. And cute. And fun to knit for.

But if you want to give those people those things you were thinking of for Christmas.. well, you'd better get off your butt and get started.

Okay?

Fondest regards,

Your ever hopeful,

Sanity.

p.s. a photo to show dispite current illness, knitting is happening.

We have booties! (and a spring cloud on the horizon)

2008-09-07T16:56:00.005+08:00

So, the booties are done. Honestly, I think the sewing up took longer than the knitting.
Here they are in their insufferable cuteness ;)
And then there's the daughter's summer cardigan.

Those of you following for a while know that I try to knit one summer and one winter jumper or cardigan for my daughter. Inspired by a photo on Ravelry, (and the promise of a quick knit), I've started on a cotton blend Cloud Bolero (Ysolda pattern).

So far so good, one evening of watching Hellboy on TV and a big chunk done. (The original specification was "pink with a purple ribbon". She picked pink yarn (after a lot of "this one! I love this one!... No! This one!" etc. And then forgave the purple ribbon for a life-like pink flower button. If she wasn't five and as cute as a button herself, I suspect it'd look ridiculous. But I think she'll just look cute. :)

Heartfelt makes me swoon..

2008-08-28T22:04:00.003+08:00

And want to be girly, and skinny and flounce around with big dark eye make-up waiting for Mr Darcy to take me to tea... erm... *cough*

My Heartfelt book and Rowan 44 arrived yesterday. Which means record time - I ordered on Saturday (their Friday but still) from the UK. 3 and a bit days people. From a whole 'nother country. Why is our service so poor from elsewhere? (Yes America, I am looking at you.)

At any rate, Heartfelt is definitely my favourite knitting book. Maybe ever. I want to get the yarn for several items in it and wear them. Like right now.

Not that Rowan 44 isn't getting the love, no, I like many items in that too. But Heartfelt is .. my inner knit desires made in a printed form.

Oh and I'm knitting booties. Good gracious they are quick! I've nearly finished one today, just in transit with no other knitting time! Photos when done.

Yes, I'm knitting.

2008-08-21T20:39:00.002+08:00

I'm even feeling like I'm making progress, which is saying something since I've only been sporadically in transit. I'm upto block 6 of 10. But of course they get bigger as you go, so.. my calculations say about 33% done. But it feels like it should be a lot more, so maybe there is something wrong with my maths. I know, we're been down that road before...

I'm enjoying it really. Switch brain off. Knit. Occasionally count ridges. Knit some more. New colour. Wheee! Knit.. repeat.

Here it is. Lovely look to it in person, and I'm liking the yarn. Which is surprising because its acrylic, and I'm a yarn snob. I mean, I wouldn't wear anything out of it, but it doesn't suck as a gift yarn for non-knitting aficionados. It's Sirdar Snuggly DK. I give it a 3/5 for general yarn consumption, and maybe a 4/5 for a non-natural fibres (Calmer would get a 5, in case you are wondering. But its 3 times the price, sooooo...)

And if you're my brother, stop looking. It's a secret. (Are you listening mother dear? Don't show him, ok....)

WAR ate my knitting time

2008-08-17T21:58:00.002+08:00

I was doing great on the knitting Olympics... up until about .. um.. Friday.

Which would be when I got into WAR, otherwise known as Warhammer Online Beta.

This has sucked all knitting time as I geek out completely. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Photos of blankie in progress later. Sorry. Bed now. Work tomorrow, and my man's birthday.

Happy Birthday honey!!

Fuzzy Feet mk. 2

2008-08-07T13:41:00.003+08:00

Okay, the second pair of Fuzzy Feet are completed, felted and gifted to the very appreciative mother in law.

Here they are post felting.
I have to give the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran a big thumbs up for felting. These were hand felted and the finished quality was really quite good.

And, in another note I have "swatched" for the baby blanket. It's not proper swatching, I don't care terribly much if it is on on guage or not, just that I am happy with the finished fabric density.
I am. That means it's all systems go for the knitting of the Moderne Baby Blanket for the Knitting RavOlympics! Yay!

(And those of you who have no idea what I am talking about.. well, it really doesn't matter).

Because some days i just want something to do the work for me.

2008-08-05T21:05:00.005+08:00

Work is hard. Work avoidance is enjoyable. Thus, I give you wordle. This is my blog graphically, apparently. Get your own at http://wordle.net/

(Oh and the second pair of slippers are done bar the felting. Photos later.)

Joss Whedon online musical number

2008-07-31T17:19:00.001+08:00

Go now. Right now. Watch this.

I love Joss Whedon.

Arrowhead shawl is done!

2008-07-27T12:07:00.004+08:00

I was going to title this "I think I may have become French" but thought people searching for it may not have look at it ;)

So why French? Because apparently I have become the kind of person who wears scarves as an accessory - quite a new thing for me.

In that vein, I've been knitting the Arrowhead shawl.
And the detailed up-close photo:

And the stretched out to see it all together photo:

and the pre-blocking photo. Anyone considering not blocking, take a look at this compared to the after photos. Huge difference.
This is possibly the best use I've ever done of variegated sock yarn. Thoroughly recommended. (Touch 4ply, if you're wondering).

troll boots .. or why I won't have cold feet anymore

2008-07-19T19:12:00.002+08:00

I finished my Fuzzy Feet.

They are very very nearly dry.

I got impatient and hand felted them, which was not difficult and most consisted of what I imagine non-knitters would do to a hand knitted item that was really dirty. Or perhaps had a nasty stain.

I tried them on periodically wet while felting them, checked inside and out to compare colour and evenness to decide which I liked better and so on.

Then they got worn wet for a long time to shape them, then put in front of the heater to finish drying.

They fit pretty well I think.

Making jumbo socks

2008-07-13T15:51:00.003+08:00

For felting.

My house is kind of cold, and my feet, once cold, stay that way.

So, I'm making a quick-knit pair of slippers. Fuzzy Feet from knitty to be specific.

First one is done. Note the comparison of size with my converse hightops. It's waiting a mate before being felted. (No, not a gauge error).

And progress is being made on the scarf/shawl. Since you knit from the point and get bigger, I'm slightly bored with it as the shine of very quick rows disappears with the increasing number of stitches. Which is fine, and I'll get back to it after finishing my slippers.

They are much quicker and I'm sure a few more episodes of Dead Like Me will do it. I love this series, I'd forgotten all about it until it came up in conversation at Stitch and Bitch recently, and I have reaffirmed my love of its quirky-macabre humor. Wonderful.

Decisions, decisions..

2008-07-06T10:21:00.003+08:00

Ah, siblings have no respect for stashbusting.

My brother is going to be a dad. It is their first child, and is a naturally big deal for him and his partner.

Of course, this requires knitted goodness.

Now... I love my brother. But....

well...

He doesn't take care of stuff the way I do. (Actually, the way most people do.) Anyway, this means that baby stuff for them will require a certain level of unkillable-ness to it.

Since this generally means either cotton or mega-superwash wool or (gasp!) acrylics.. I really do not have anything suitable in my stash, and certainly not in the quantities required. Okay, I can do a hat or booties from stash and probably will, but I am thinking you know, its my brother, and I think I need to go the whole hog and knit them a baby blanket.

Those of you who knew me around 4ish years ago may recall much complaining on my part as I finished my last baby blanket - for my nephew-in-law. It was moss stitch. It was beautiful. But it was moss stitch and therefore god awful slow to knit. (At the time it was also the largest single piece of knitting I had done.)

So, while I am definitely more experienced now, and prepared for the slowness, I still want to pick a more interesting choice to knit.

And this, dear reader, is where you come in.

I am considering one of two patterns, and looking for suggestions for not-too-expensive unkillable yarn.

Pattern One : The Pinwheel round baby blanket.

This would be knitted in probably rainbow striped colours I think. The good example shown above by Knittingnav via flickr.

Pattern two : Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason Dixon.
Again in different colours to those shown here (by Katinka31 via flickr again), since they don't know what they are having.

What do you think? Opinions? Thoughts?

Warning : Unrelated-to-knitting content. A letter to my mentor.

2008-07-03T19:56:00.004+08:00

Okay, this is an out of the ordinary thing. I don't even know if I will send him this link or not, but I feel like I want to get this out there.

Tomorrow, Friday, a man I greatly respect is retiring. This man was instrumental in my career and I am very, very grateful to him.

I'd write his name, but I don't have his permission to put it up, so I won't.

But I like the idea that my gratitude be out there in the ether of the web, spreading good vibes about him, because he so very much deserves them.

I have a small gift for him, that I will give him tomorrow. And this letter, which I will also post below.

Cheers. Next post will be back to the knitting, promise.

Hello,

I’ve thought a lot about this, and am still not entirely sure what to write.

Mostly, what I need to say is simple, but terribly important.

Thank you.

I am incredibly grateful for all of the support, and guidance you have given me over the years I have known you. I know, absolutely and in truth, that I would not be where I am today without your help, knowledge, guidance and encouragement.

Through you I have learned to read what people are really seeking as well as what they say. How to suggest a new way of doing things without telling the client they have been doing it wrong. How to weather office politics with decorum and self-respect. How to moderate my extremes and still be true to myself and what I believe in. How to better pick which battles are worth fighting and which will just cause you grief later. How to get clients on side. How to teach without being didactic. And, hopefully, as I now take on my own management responsibilities – how to be a manager while respecting what your people bring to their work.

It was an honour and pleasure to have worked with you.

I wish you all the very best life has to offer.

Sincerely,

Me.

Socks are done.

2008-06-27T23:13:00.001+08:00

Thank goodness.

Oh and I'm knitting

2008-06-19T20:05:00.002+08:00

I thought I should mention, in hindsight of the last post, that I am actually continuing to knit.

I am currently turning the heel of the second Anastasia, which has progressed reasonably well despite my these-are-taking-forever prejudice against them.

They now look like this:And I have resisted casting anything on. I intend to still try to knit small gifts etc as I go with other bigger projects, so the yarn purchase is more of a stumble, rather than a complete leaving of the wagon. But damn.

Arrrrgh - thump. Defn: the sound someone makes falling off the yarn wagon.

2008-06-19T19:15:00.004+08:00

Pride cometh before a fall.

I post here the message of downfall I sent to Bibnbub...

I made the fatal error. I planned for the next thing I really, really want to knit.

I created a checklist (wishlist) of all the colours I need for the Smoulder cardigan.

It takes a total of 15 balls of yarn in 8 (!!) colours. 5 of these are discontinued colours.

Janette’s Rare yarns had two of them with a note to email her if you were after something not listed.

I emailed her the wishlist. She mailed back in under 5 min (again !!) to say she was only missing 3 colours, and had 10 balls of the 5 I am seeking! And it’s under $80!)

And then, I looked at who on Ravelry to see who might have the ones I am missing for trade/sell. One person in perth has lots of one of those left. I sent her an email.

I have shades of the Evil Willow episode of Buffy. With Anya and Xander talking. And Anya explaining that when good people go bad they go like, really bad. And I just used a Buffy reference - and tried to Wiki it to get it right - to make a point about my yarn. Oh god. I need to sleep. Or something.

See? Yarn evil. Take over brain.

Anyone have either Night Sky or Fandango in Rowan 4 ply cotton? It hopefully will be all I'm missing...

I love quick projects

2008-06-08T10:30:00.002+08:00

I forget sometimes that knitting doesn't have to be about long term but beautiful things.

Sometimes small can be pretty too. I finished the beret for my daughter's teacher. It's to be a Christmas gift - I have a list of these to do over the coming 6 months as part of the using of the stash.

This is what it looks like on me. Only one photo, because in every other photo, for reasons I cannot ascertain, I look very stoned. And the one photo that would have been great was completely washed out in the upper range - meaning the light beret couldn't be seen properly.
It's pretty, using the Gretel pattern I mentioned earlier and some Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed. I'm fond of this yarn, having used it before, but in this instance I think it was a bit thicker than the called for yarns, meaning a more slouchy and larger beret than originally intended. Not ridiculously so or anything, so it was stay as is.

I picked Gretel .. and the finished Daisy Cardigan

2008-06-03T20:02:00.003+08:00

Because if you are going to be distracted, you may as well pick something you need to do anyway.

It looks like this...the yarn (Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed) is a pretty, pretty colour. I think of it as cornflower purple...

And I finished the cardigan, but it has no buttons because my man went out all Saturday afternoon and thus there was no button shopping. It looks like this...

and from the back with the arms held out...
It's a little big, but not as much as you'd think because its based on an older pattern for kids which is more boxy with lots of ease. Plus you know sprogs grow...

oh and that's our new lawn in the background. Yay for lawn and less sandpit..

What next?

2008-05-31T14:14:00.004+08:00

So..

I finished the cardigan, and all the sewing and weaving in of ends. It sits blocking ever so slow (cos its winter).

And I sit browsing my stash and pattern queue trying to decide what to cast on next. I mean.. I know I could just keep knitting away at the Clapotis, but that's pretty mindless knitting and likely to take a while, so I am heading onward and upward to decide the next project.

I thinking to keep it small in order to get it done quick and move on. I like small projects between big ones, it lets you feel like your making progress.

So .. choices choices... Ravelry with its photos of everything I have queue, and all my stash does significantly help this process I must say. But still. Now I am spoiled for choice.

Do I want to knit Saartjie's booties? Like these from Brooklyntweed. They have no recipient at this time, but would be quick, cute and fun to knit. And I have plenty of left over sock yarn around to knit them with..

Or Gretel? This is destined to be a cabled beanie for my daughter's teacher come the end of the year and so will be needed to be completed at some point before then..

Or that square denim bag I've been planning for myself to use up the leftover Rowan Denim yarn I had from my Raspy and the Action jumpers I did..

Or the felted slippers for me that I decided to knit, using either this Knit 1 free pattern...

Or these Keep Away Felted Slippers from the Knit Front and Back blog. Both of which suffer since they don't meet me "I want to do it now" criteria, since they need to go to someone else's house for felting..

But really, that's barely scratching the surface. There's the Aura lacework beanie that I think I have enough Calmer to knit.. that's interesting and pretty and from stash.

There's baby socks and Beaudelaire socks... and that Koolhaas beanie for guys that actually looks nice yet interesting.

Anyway. That's what my brain does when picking a project. Not really surprising that hours later I still haven't made a decision, hey?

Adventures of Spider_knit

2008-05-30T19:51:00.003+08:00

In this weeks episode, we have a new project, the end of an old one and the wonderfulness that is trading yarn...

..

(sips coffee) God damn I love coffee. Have I mentioned that yet? Apologies to anyone offended by the blasphemy, but somehow "gosh" or "goodness" just doesn't express it. I tired editing it to those, but it just didn't work.
I couldn't give up coffee entirely when pregnant. I gave up sushi and pate and soft cheeses and eating anything pre prepared and alcohol with ne'er back glance, but coffee got me. I got down to one savoured cup a day, but just missed it too much to dump it entirely. And I wasd well under the 3 cups you're currently recommend.. but I digress.

Okay. Good news front. I have a new job (hooray!) I also now have a cold (sulk)

But the knitting has continued, albeit a little slowed by work being really busy and me being sick and sleeping a lot.

I am down the to collar of my daughter's cardigan, button bands are done. For some reason the mid to dark red and the white totally blow out my camera's colours, and it photographs oddly. But, since blogs are a nuisance to read without the pretty pictures, here's a photo anyway. I'll get a natural light photograph when it's done.
In other news, the very polite and nice MadamSewingStick on Ravelry messaged me to trade some of my unwanted Katia Mississippi. In return I have some lovely Paton SWS (soy wool blend) that a destined to become felted slippers for me :)
Finally, since the cardigan is nearly done and not really portable, I permitted myself to cast on my next project - the Raven Clapotis in Korrpi colourway. The only bad thing I can say is that I didn't read the description of thr yarn properyl when ordering and it has alpaca in it, so it a teensy bit fluffy. This isn't a bad thing, just not what I originally had in mind. On the amazingly good side.. the colourway is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. I could live in these black-meets-colours forever. My inner goth sqees every time I pick it up. It makes me want to be 19 with chunky black patent leather boots and a black ankle length coat again.

Of course, I could be oversharing at this point. ahem.

Let's see a photo.

Okay, I am now going to take my virus-ridden self to sit in front of the TV and watch Willow go bad in Buffy while I knit this cardigan collar. Take care all.

Mini Sophie!

2008-05-21T21:07:00.002+08:00

I had reached that point. The point that Stash-Knit-Down-2008ers over on Ravelry refer to as "finishitis" .

The point when all of the projects on your needles are tedious, or deeply lost midway through knitting or just plain uninspiring.

I just wanted to finish something. It didn't need to be big, it just needed to be done. By me. Now-like.

So I made a mini-Sophie bag. My little one often takes her dollies for bike-rides and pram-strolls around the backyard. Only she didn't have a handbag for all the essentials a mum needs. You know, like bubble mixture, dolly bottles and her mobile phone.

So I made her one, out of stash no less. I had garishly KoolAid dyed Patons Jet yarn, four sekins of it. Now I have less, and a less-garishly felted bag. I made it 1/4 sized, and really like the shape. Quick, and easy construction.

Here it is prefelting...and afterwards. Very dense nice fabric, knitted with yarn held double and 6.5mm needles, in case anyone wants their own one.

All your yarnz belongz to us!

2008-05-13T21:51:00.001+08:00

It's offical. Ravelry is leet.

Look at the proof.

Why yes, I am that big a geek. How kind of you to point it out ;)

Excuse me while our normal programming is interupted by my new toy.. WiiFit!

2008-05-10T20:09:00.002+08:00

Love it, love it. I don't care if I look ridiculous and my man laughs at me, I loves it anyway :)

No idea what I am talking about? Check this out...

And I have exercised more in the last three days than in the last three months. As in actual doing of something for exercise potential.

Sad, isn't it? It just shows you how little exercise I've been doing.

Oh and good lord my balance is terrible!!

oh, and also light on knitting 'cos I am (still) doing job applications. And I can say there are few things I want to be doing less on a Saturday night than job applications. (Silly mother's day - means I'm out most of tomorrow, so can't do them then...) And one is such an odd one that a) it has 13, count 'em 13 criteria to write to. Many of which could have easily been combined.. and one of which requires a Year 10 certificate (or equivalent). And I went to uni for this rubbish.

But needs must, and unless I want to go back to my substantive Job of Doom (tm) I'd better get an alternative - I'm on a deadline now people. Wish me luck. Interview Monday.

Cardigan in progress and losing my vibe...

2008-05-06T17:31:00.002+08:00

This is the darling girl's cardigan-to-order. I've started the sleeves, it will also have a collar with the same flower motif. Her orders, I'm just the knit-slave. This would be the child watching TV in her pouffy fairy-dress. I didn't have the heart of energy to argue, plus - she's happy.

And this leads me to the purple silk scarf I was knitting that just leaves me cold. I think I'll put it into hibernation and allow myself to cast on another project (from stash, naturally). I'm hoping if I pick something small and easily finished, I'll feel better about persevering with the above cardigan and the ever continuing Anastasia socks.

Why one of the projects I have in my queue is another pair of socks, I don't quite know. I had such a stretch of finishing there for a bit, I think I've lost some of my patience :(

Oh, and in better news.. I can pick up my WiiFit on Thursday!

More reasons why my man rocks my world..

2008-05-01T21:38:00.002+08:00

That would be my Black Apple print, framed and beautiful.

His comment? " 'Cos I know your inner goth doesn't get to come out much anymore.." {grin}

Now we just need to paint the walls so we can hang pictures!

Saying goodbye to beauty and hello to dullsville.

2008-04-21T21:26:00.003+08:00

I don't have terribly much to report.

Just.. I waved goodbye to my family for a week or so, and as a result to the beautiful shawl as it wings its way to its new owner. I hope it keeps her warm and loved for a long, long time.

I'm still knitting on that cardigan, only I'm terribly busy with writing of job applications (the necessary evil they are) so little else to report.

Send me good vibes so I can win the job I really want and be able to stop writing these blasted things!

Peace all.

What made my inner goth faint from pleasure..

2008-04-09T19:37:00.001+08:00

Peru yarn in the Korppi (Raven series) colourway.

Finished projects

2008-04-06T17:12:00.002+08:00

I have two finished projects to display.

We have Print O' the Wave .. (sorry couldn't get another body to photograph)

Here it is unblocked....

and blocked...

and a little detail...

It was so big I had to move it from the spare bed to our kingsize after I started since it didn't fit the double bed..

Second we have the stashbusting Flame Beanie.

I'm now working on a cardigan for my daughter, and a simple scarf. All is good. The cardigan is in Filatura Di Crosa 'Zara' which I love. It's so soft and squooshy. Tiny bit splitty when knitting meaning you need to pay attention, but the loft on it is so lovely its totally worth it. And fabulous colours available.

The Incredible Power of Contentment

2008-04-06T10:09:00.003+08:00

The Incredible Power of Contentment

Kudos to ZenHabits for excellent post-title. Interesting read...

Oh, and I probably post something later. I finished a beanie and hope to photograph a shawl.

I'm done.

2008-03-29T18:57:00.002+09:00

I'm done.

It's beautiful.. and blocked and much bigger than I had expected!

But.. no photos to be posted until after Monday night SnB I want the full wow it's ... experience in person ;-)

Which means I have one WIP. (The socks don't count, remember). I feel so virtuous it's silly.

Ten repeats from a return to sanity

2008-03-26T22:13:00.004+09:00

I have ten repeats to finish the edging of the Print o the Wave. Then, a little teeny bit of grafting and a whole lotta blocking. I can see the end... :)

Then it's onto a whole bunch of small stuff... a beanie, a felted bag and planning a medium sized project - little miss' winter cardigan, now agreed to but needing to be designed, swatched and so on. It will look a little like this.

That's little squiggly cables on the yoke. It will be red with white flowers :) I have the red yarn stashed, so should just take one ball of white to be purchased :)

Cute, huh? And a little easier than the 6+ colour number she was considering at one point. Very picky about her clothing my little one.

Tangled Yoke in use!

2008-03-24T17:09:00.003+09:00

Okay, I promise this will be the last lot of stuff on this cardigan, I'm sure you're all sick of it by now.

But I wanted to post a couple of photos of it in use. My man was tolerant enough to put up with my need for many photos so I could get.. well, all sides really. And a detail of the cables.

Anyway, I'm really happy with it and hope its cool enough to wear it to SnB tonight. :)

Front on shot.

Back.

And another longer (and more flattering) shot.

I am a math idiot

2008-03-21T20:25:00.002+09:00

Because apparently, I can't count. I thought I had like 10 repeats left of the lace edging.

I recounted. I have.. 22.

God. That's like 22+ hours knitting. When doing it fast, which since I am out of practice, I am not.

I think..... I'm going to celebrate the completion of the Tangled Yoke by casting on something.

Something small. Like a beanie. Just to take the edge off the additional 12 repeats I just discovered.

And to think I used to teach math.

My Tangled Yoke complete!

2008-03-21T16:21:00.005+09:00

Okay, I need to sew on some buttons. But all other finishing is complete, and it's blocking in my spare room right now.

I promise I will post some pics of me wearing it once it's dry.. but for now - look at the pretties! (sorry 'bout the blur flash makes the cables disappear!)

So .....

I just now need to finish that stole (11 edging repeats and counting down) and I can actually cast on something new! The novelty! (Yes, I know it's a self imposed rule, but work with me here..)

Progress... nearing completion of a major project

2008-03-13T20:49:00.002+09:00

Well, I'm nearly there. I'm knitting the collar of the Tangled Yoke.

That looks like this... I'm doing a three needle bind off - it has a folded edge (for the knit geeks reading)

Which has its progress slowed down considerably, since it no longer fits in my knitting bag. Or rather it does, but not if I need to put anything else in there (lunch, purse etc). Which is impressive, since its my 'Epic' (that's a geek joke. It's epic 'cos its a purple.) First time for that to run out of room...

On the plus side, this has lead to another project waking from hibernation. This has helped no end, and I turned the first heel of my Anastasia socks. These are dyed in my mother's handdyed. Beautiful colours, no?
(there's a heel there, trust me.)

And on the weekend, I shall have a skein winder... and then there will be lace. (whew!)

Wildlife spotting..

2008-03-09T17:28:00.002+09:00

Look! An emu!
Not the most fun knit, all in all.

Partly because the pattern assumed you could crochet, and I can't and partly just because I don't think it was very sensibly written. I would make a lot of changes were I to knit a second one. Which is, as you can imagine, not terribly likely ;)

More emu, more tangled yoke.

2008-03-06T21:42:00.002+09:00

The emu continues thusly.
The leg isn't attached at this point, just there as reference. I am working out the legs as I go, since I don't crochet and can't figure out what the crochet instructions mean. Plus, the whole pattern is very strange on this point since it seems to have been designed as a kind of display rather than toy - the instructions include a whole bunch of stuff about using skewers and/or dowel to make it stand up. Odd.

I'm going more for the 'feel' of emu rather than a perfect representation.

Oh, and I'm knitting Tangled Yoke still but not enough to really be able to see progress, the rows are too long !

The other thing taking my time is progressing my stash-busting plans. I've joined the very useful and inspiring Stash Knit Down 2008 over on Ravelry, which I recommend for my fellow Ravellers who are doing likewise. Did you know if you go to a yarn you have stashed you can go to "Pattern Ideas" on the yarn page for what other people have knit with it? Brilliant! And fantastically useful, a few of my smaller stashes of stuff found project this way...

This is what an emu knits like.

2008-03-03T20:49:00.002+09:00

Or rather, what a knitted emu looks like.

Or about half of one.
I need to finish it so I can gift it on. I've posted about that, right?

To be honest, I'm kind of over it. The fine gauge makes for a good tight fabric but it is murder on your finger joints to knit.

Getting yarn into (half) a tangle

2008-02-27T21:44:00.002+09:00

Okay bad joke.

But here's half a tangle of a Tangled Yoke. 'Cos apparently I can do cables when sick. *sniff*

Lots of lying down and watching DVDs at the same time helps of course.

Here is what half a tangle looks like..

And I have to add 'Herb' colourway? Bitch to photograph.

Because Knitters can be truly wonderful people

2008-02-25T16:33:00.002+09:00

JulieB over on Ravelry (knitcrack (tm)) was amazingly kind enough to send me some Jameison's Spindthrift to try out a swatch for a Venezia or Ivy League Vest.

Look!

How pretty!
She sent me a knitting-themed card people! Is this woman awesome or what?!

Now, unfortunately I need to go crumple in a flu-ish pile of blah. (home sick)

Welcome to use-what-you-have

2008-02-23T23:24:00.002+09:00

Well, some of you Ravelers may have already noticed the mass exodus onto Ravelry of my stash. .. That would be an influx (thanks my darling writing-major man).

This is part of an ongoing avoid-spending money strategy. As well as not being quite as much the conspicuous consumer and.. well, you lot know the reasoning behind this kind of thing, right?

So. I have a lot of yarn. But some of it just leaves me cold. So I need to be looking to use what I like, and trade what I don't.

We'll see how we go, hey?

Some days, I just want to give in to my inner knit geek.

2008-02-21T17:46:00.002+09:00

Days like today. When someone at work just seems totally intent on making your day harder while being really unpleasant about it at the same time.

So. I want to come home, photograph my progress and show off, dammit! Oh and add in a bunch of Australian knit stuff into Ravelry.

So.

The bragging. I have finally finished the first parts of the two sleeves and added them to the body and have started the yoke of my Tangled Yoke cardigan.
It's really getting kind of bulky to haul out on the bus. Not that it actually stops me from doing so, but still. I have about another 2 inches of stockingette uber-long rounds before I get to the interesting bit and start the named-for cables...

Look! A sleeve join!

Oh and on the Print o the Wave stole front. The yarn is ordered, and about to head from California to Australia. Not the correct dye lot, sadly. Ah well. Let's hope its a close match.

2008-02-12T21:45:00.002+09:00

Look, knitting!

Sorry about the image-empty posts of late. I've been a tad busy - last weekend was massively busy with 5year old parties, family breakfast and friends over for dinner. I didn't even go onto my PC once over the weekend - scary, huh?

But, I have been knitting.

Mostly, Tangled Yoke cardigan sleeves. The not-quite-on-gauge problem (for rows, but not stitches *sigh*) has run into the not-liking-the-sleeve-design problem. So, I found the original sleeves gaped too much at the wrist and I wanted a more fitted sleeve. Thus I ripped it all out, casting on 41 stitches instead of the original 59 (yes, there was math involved to calculated just how fitted I wanted it to be).

Which all worked swimmingly, I knitted along, trying it on as I went etc. (got to love knitting in the round for that).. 31cm into the project a thought struck me. I was following the original distance apart for increases up the sleeve. I needed to do an additional 8 paired increases to get to the right size for the yoke.. Um.. Would I have enough length to get them all in? More math/measuring. Oh look, no, no I won't. Bugger.

More math… Okay changing the frequency of increases means… yes I think I have it…work another 10 cm…. And then only a little speeding up a second time for the last 3-4cm. I have about 3 rows before it goes onto spare yarn and I cast on sleeve two. I'm glad I made notes on the changes, huh ? ;)

On the plus side I keep being surprised by just how fast a sleeve can go! I haven't even knit all that much and the sleeve's practically done! (Lace is great for perspective - *everything* feels amazingly quick to knit).

Where to from here? Musing on one's knitting queue..

2008-02-04T17:00:00.000+09:00

As I sit here, eating with delicious slowness my Leonidis Vanilla Crème Chocolate (my absolute favourite chocolates in the world, as Bibnbub will attest), I consider my knitting state of play.

Thanks to the offers of several kind souls, here and abroad, known personally and virtually, I will shortly have some of the requisite Knitpicks Shimmer. Not in the required dye lot, sadly, but we shall push on regardless and hope the karma of the world is kind to me as I finish this lace gift knit and that the difference in colour is not perceptible to the careful eye of either the knitter (me) or the once-knitting giftee! On the plus side, our local Stitch and Bitch has gained a new Knitpicks Dealer ™ much to the delight of the assembled knitters from a country-so-far-away-Americans-won't-mail-to-us.

I have approximately 27 repeats of the final lace side (maybe 26 when I finish the last little bit of the yarn I DO have). It shall wait patiently for the arrival of new supplies.

In the mean time, I have picked up a long discarded item - my Tangled Yoke cardigan. It had stalled, partly due to a re-take up of the lace stole and partly due to my dissatisfaction with the sleeves. You see they were quite loose on me. I'd knit about a third of the first one and I kept looking at it, willing it to fit better through sheer force of mental effort. To no avail. It wasn't bad knitting - another examination of the pattern showed they are in fact fairly wide at the wrist. Which, on reflection would be good if you lived in a climate which required the wearing of many layers (i.e. a long sleeved shirt under it). I don't however. The delay meant instead something positive happened. I took a fresh look at it.

I ripped out the entire sleeve, did some math and cast on a much smaller sleeve edge. I shall do more increases to get up to the correct arm scythe size, but it is now only a little loose and I think a much more wearable fit. I knit it on the bus this morning, and discovered something. After an hour, I could see visible progress! Wonders! It's obviously been so long since I knit anything other than lace, I'd forgotten that knitting could HAVE visible progress.

This has made me rethink my extended queue of projects. This queue has several lace pieces on it. I am now thinking that maybe, just maybe, I should take a different tack. I think, after I have finished the lace I should reconsider new projects for something.. Smaller. Maybe socks? My little one was admiring the Blue Moon Fibre Arts colourway Fire on the Mountain, and asked if I could knit her some socks in that.. 5 year old socks… now that sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

(note to those who know me: Yes, I know I have Anastasias started already on the needles, and I still have the Tangled Yoke, but still. The Socks that Rock colours are so pretty..)

This is what crying over not enough yarn looks like.

2008-01-29T20:54:00.000+09:00

This is my Print O' the Wave stole.
This is, you will remember, a gift for my man's grandmother who can no longer knit herself and who's last knitted item was a perfect lace Christening shawl for my daughter.

As you can see from the above, I am less than a single side away from finishing the edging. I had done the math, you will recall, to work out how long I would need to knit to finish it (I think my sampling error was a bit high, and I should have taken more than a single timing measurement, but that's another post). The end was in sight.

Then karma takes me, and... slaps me stupid for my hubris.

This is how much yarn I have left.
I have posted on Ravelry seeking a swap/trade/buy/beg pathetically...

I can't however, buy the yarn myself directly from the company, because they refuse to post outside the US or Canada. (sulk) And our previous acquirer is no longer availible (sigh).

I should be able to get some in the same colourway, but not the same dye lot. There are a couple of people over on Ravelry having them for trade, but none with the right dye lot as far as I can tell.

This is how I feel, after all that work.

(photo kindly borrowed from D-Hub on flickr).

'Nuff said.
(and before people *cough* Fitzwilliam *cough* start to panic, I'm fine. Just kicking my own ass for not buying an extra skein when originally buying it. It had about 100m more than the pattern called for. That seemed.. plenty.)

Lace Stole Math

2008-01-19T21:45:00.000+09:00

This is what I just figured out. I have (both literally and figuratively) just turned a corner on the Print O the Wave stole.

248 edge stitches on a long side. 88 stitches on a short side. One of each remaining.

One repeat takes me approximately 17 minutes. A repeat consumes 8 edge stitches into the knitted on border.

This means...
248 = 31 repeats of edging.
88 = 11 repeats of edging.
(31+11)*17 = 714 minutes of edge knitting left.
714/60 =11 hours and 54 mins of knitting time until I can block, sew in a couple of loose ends and it will be done.

Somehow, 12 hours of knitting time suddenly doesn't seem so bad. I see end of the project! Can I get a huzzah?

Knitting badly interrupted... by reading...

2008-01-16T18:27:00.000+09:00

Yes, well. I was loaned this on Friday night.

Thought I'd take a look Saturday and bang! It ate all my knitting time.

I finished it this afternoon, walking home from the bus stop. Yes, I can read and walk home at the same time, can't you?

It was wonderful. A story of the fae, with lots of rock music. Wonderful read.

So, I've only done a little more - continuing the ongoing yawn that the Print of the Wave stole edging has been. This hasn't, of course stopped me drooling all over various lace stoles on Ravelry while I plan my next project...

Also, I am in the market for some of those embroidered Arabian style slippers. Couldn't find any at Freo markets, so keep an eye out for me, won't you?

Was I the only person who didn't know about the free Rowan patterns online?

2008-01-08T20:41:00.000+09:00

OMG.

Found here. There are heaps. Going back to 2001.

Que Sera, sera..

2008-01-05T09:38:00.000+09:00

Remember that bit..

"I asked my mother, what will I be? Will I be pretty, will I be rich? Here's what she said to me..."

So my anticipated Belisa silk lace weight arrived, bought on sale from Ozeyarns. At first, to be honest I was a little disappointed - the yarn is a lot more yellow than I had expected.

This isn't the end of the world of course, it just means I probably won't be using it for the initial bought intention - wedding garment. Looks like someone I like (a lot) might get it at some distant point in the future as lace shawl-type garment.

On the definitely plus side, I am quite taken by the Centolavaggia deep red laceweight the terribly nice secret Santa brought me... and also by the suggested Celtic Knot Stole pattern.

I'm making progress on the Print O' the Wave too - I've completed one short side and maybe a quarter of one long side of the edging. It has suddenly started to drag, feeling like I'm not making progress. Which I clearly am, but it just feels like it is taking oh so long to get anywhere. I hope every lace edging isn't like this!! The Vogue cardigan wasn't :(

New Year's Resolutions...

2008-01-02T16:53:00.000+09:00

Michelle, over on craftyaction blogged about her crafty New Year's Resolutions. So I got thinking... I am quite one for resolutions but rarely get into sharing them overly from a fear I won't get far.
(Witness the failed photographic Project 365 project).

However, one one of the blogs I read they were exposing the importance of telling people about your new resolutions in order to facilitate change. This does mean a few things. It means there is risk of the failure being known. But, since you'll see for me that this represents something I intend working on this year, all to the good. I may be blathering about now, so I will get on with it.

There are a few things I want to work on this year.

I want to be the good role model for the kind of person I want my daughter to be. This has a couple of sub-resolutions -

don't yell through the house, go find the person and talk to them.
be brave.
be nice to other people, even when I feel like crap.
eat better.

Lose 4kgs (so I fit back into some of my favourite clothes) by end of June. (1.4 should help)
Reduce discretionary spending. For this, I plan on using two previously effective techniques - "If I had this much money to spend on yarn, would I buy this thing, or would I buy yarn?" and secondly - delay. The "Oh... I'll just buy that tomorrow/next week/when I get paid" etc.

That's all really. I mean, I intend to finish the projects I have on the needles, but I won't get worried about it if I don't. I intend to knit another lace shawl/object (maybe two) but again, it doesn't have the status of resolution. I may use knitting related items to reward myself for sticking to the others - buying yarn instead of junk food always works, but really knitting isn't a chore for me. It happens all by itself :)

Happy New Year folks. I hope it rocks your world (in a good way) and you get what you need. Peace & good karma to all.

Crafted Satisfaction at gifts well recieved.

2007-12-26T09:27:00.000+09:00

Ahhhh... I like Boxing Day.

The quiet... the chance for my little one to actually play with her toys..oh, hang on I need to go help build a Lego service station... Okay done :)

Well, Christmas is done, just the generalised merriment left.

I was actually really gratified with one set of gifts in particular. Being a novice at sewing, I actually breathed deep and made three sewn gifts for my nephews (in law to be.. if you follow me). Two of them came from the Softies book - a Japanese style bunny for the baby (10months or so) and a blue astronaut for the 4 year old who's into rockets and space. Finally I made a real sized rugby ball for the eldest (5 going on 6) who is about to start at his new school. His uncle went there too, and so my mother in law (to be) was kind enough to give me one of his old school blazers and an old rugby jumper. (Don't worry there are others, they aren't the final year sentimental ones). Anyway these got refashioned into the panels and emblem of the school on the ball.

I was really pleased. An oddly the one I thought the best (astronaut) was the least adored! The baby was so pleased with his bunny, and played with it, sucked on it, giggled at it and waved it around all afternoon :)

The ball was immediately received with a "My school ball! Whoo-hoo!" and then kicked and thrown around (thankfully its all squooshy and hence safe for indoor play ;-)

The astronaut got a "cool!" and then its new owner promptly ran back for the pool. (Hey, it was 40 degrees out (that's 104 American readers) so I could hardly blame him..)

Considering I spoke with my man about my misgivings about giving kids who are happily in the electronic generation such old fashioned toys was quickly quashed. All loved far better than I had expected, so I was really happy. Incidentally, so was their mum to talked to me about the difficulty in finding nice, not nasty looking, non-plastic toys for them!

On my front, I got several of my list items (yay!) including that coveted Interweave Knits subscription!! And of course, the aforementioned mixer :) :) So the loot was good. I also got some Egyptian cotton white towels. Amazingly lovely. As my man said, "I think my mum knows you well now.."

Oh the photo? well, the post looked kind of boring without any colour. They are some of the baking I did. Yum.

Have a great break all - I trust the festive season is treating you well and that you all have air con. We sort of do, but its kind struggling right now.. And SnB ladies, I'll see you Friday. Oh and any requests for favourite sorbet or ice cream?

However, let's hope there are no zombies in my future

2007-12-21T12:43:00.000+09:00

25%

It's official. I have been rated on a geek scale.

2007-12-21T12:39:00.000+09:00

I am...

70%

It must be Christmas-time.

2007-12-20T16:21:00.000+09:00

Why? Because our house is baking central :)

Every year (for many years now) our little family (originally of two, now three) bakes biscuits and fruit mince pies for giving away. Admittedly the third member of the house was originally not much assistance at first, mostly focused on the bright coloured things and how good the icing tasted if she could manage to get the hand into the white bowl and then into her mouth.
...
Actually, three years on, not that much has changed.

Anyway. I have been baking a storm. So far we have -

ginger snap biscuits (double batch)
fruit mince (approx 2kg from scratch)
chocolate peppermint biscuits (double batch)
Pastry for fruit mince pies is resting in the fridge before rolling out
and so is the vanilla biscuit dough.

This is, quite literally, the first time since 9am this morning I have sat down. (It's 4.30pm now.) I even ate lunch standing up watching over the simmering fruit mince. So a break is good.

After this, I'm onto making fruit mince pies and then biscuits with my daughter.

At some point (tonight or maybe tomorrow) I will go into the city to pick up the remaining Christmas gift (a book I had to order in) and hopefully my Christmas dress (our family tradition states that no matter how broke you are, you get a new outfit for Christmas).

Unfortunately my most beloved of Christmas presents - which is sitting in my bedroom as we speak - can't be used. (Yes, obviously I asked for one, and it isn't a surprise).

I love it so much, I honestly have thought about going in there just so I could hug it. More than once. This is, undoubtedly deeply geeky behaviour ... but I love it.)

It looks pretty much just like this...
You see, in addition to being a knit-geek and a computer game geek, and previously a role-playing geek and LARPing geek, and maths geek and book-geek...

I am also a foodie. (food-geek just doesn't sound right, somehow).

The way to a man's heart might be through his stomach. The way to mine is clearly through semi-professional kitchen appliances. Love you honey!

Anyway, those of you coming to the SnB Secret Santa will get to taste some of my fruit mince pies - and at least I should be able to use it by then to make pastry :) :)

Merry Christmas/festive season to all. I wish you good cheer, calm and really excellent food.

Peace to all.

I is a lace-knittin' fiend!

2007-12-12T21:36:00.000+09:00

Well, I think the lace bug has bitten me again. And hard.

Helped enormously by a return to my 45 min bus-commute.

I have completed I think maybe 10 repeats or so of my Print O' the Wave stole in the last week?

I am now heading into repeat 14 of the 17 for the second half.

I didn't bother to photograph it, because well.. it look pretty much exactly like this..
but on circulars. (that's the first half if you're wondering).

I now have three repeats to go and then the very scary grafting. And then the possibly less-scary but more time consuming edgings. Yes, that is correct. They are a plural. There's two of them. Let's not think about that right now, 'k?

All this sudden burst of lace caught me unaware. I was so psyched out Tangled Yoke but it's got nary a look in of late. Which is unfortunate, since I sit under a vent at work, making my working conditions subarctic and therefore could do with a nice cardi.

I also caught myself looking at cobweb lace patterns on Ravelry. For several hours. And then I caught myself and now feel faint at the idea. I'm sure I'll recover soon. Christmas is coming. And I had Interweave Knits subscription and yarn on my list. *crosses fingers*

Cos I have been such a ever so good girl this year.. {looks innocent...ish}

Oh and if I saw this when I made my list, that'd just about be all that'd be on it. Well, maybe some of this too. Oh, and definitely this. My inner goth child passed out a while ago from squeeing so hard she couldn't breathe. (Shhh, let's not wake her I need to go to bed..)

This didn't help.

Ahhh...

2007-12-09T08:50:00.000+09:00

Now everyone, stand up a moment.. stretch.... breathe in deeply and exhale.... take a moment to wriggle your fingers and breathe and wake up a bit. Okay. You can all sit down now.

(I may or may not have been training too much lately..)

Well, I have been the embodiment of busyness the last while.

On the other hand...here's a brief summary of some of the things I have done...

Supervised or did the installation of a variety of objects in my house (carpet, wardrobes, chest of drawers, bed etc. )
Cleaned new house. Sometimes multiple times since tradesmen don't believe in doormats apparently.
Moved house
Cleaned and emptied previous cupboard (aka the apartment) of residence. (this took WAAAY too long).
Unpacked all but one room (study, which does not have its shelves etc. yet) and 3 miscellaneous boxes. (This sounds trivial when I write it. It really, really isn't).
Run a number of courses at work without my usual co-trainer. (Nearly lost my voice three times on last day...)
Made a mohair beret for my mother's trip to UK/Birthday present (no photos sorry, forgot to ask before she packed it - it was a speed knit).
Went to my daughter's Christmas concert to see her play Rattle, Rattle Dump Truck on the violin, and then spend the rest of the concert on the stage giggling and whispering and playing with her friend next to her. (sigh)
Had several groups of friends & family over for meals
Bought all but three of my Christmas presents.
Finished and gifted the Cornflower lace scarf. For those of your following along I was reliably informed that it was gratefully received, the colour (her favourite) was perfect and she received many compliments on it. After much angsting over the fringe/no-fringe thing.. it worked really well. I liked the fringe a lot.

And last night, I made a bunny! He's for the baby (1 year old?) in the family.. I sewed him. All by myself. I even embroidered! And I didn't stuff anything up! Miracles!

And on that note... Christmas is coming and I have a stack of thinking left to do. Not presents, (they're largely sorted) but.. what baking and kid-friendly stuff I want to do :) And I get a whole two weeks off!!

At this stage my holidays consist of : Baking Christmas biscuits with daughter (her pick), Taking daughter to movies & taking the ferry to the city (her pick) and playing Zelda on the Wii (my pick!). Oh and trying not to put on 5 kilos over Christmas. I ahve the internal fortitude of a wet tissue at the moment, so it's not boding well.

I'll be incommunicado for a bit..

2007-11-13T21:22:00.000+09:00

I found out today it will be over a fortnight until our new place has a phone. Telstra. Sigh.

So, as we'll be moving our stuff over tomorrow, I probably won't be online for a bit.

(House is awesome, there's lots to do. Cheers all :)

Have a great fortnight all...

Ain't easy being green....

2007-11-06T21:50:00.000+09:00

Or rather, I think it is easy being green.

I seem to be on a green kick, so the blog follows..

Oh and updated stuff. Ravelry link, updated podcasts and blogs, so on.

'Nuff said.

A really busy weekend.

2007-11-04T21:14:00.001+09:00

I had a really, really busy weekend. I'm wiped, actually.

Why? Here's a hint.

I spent all pretty much all weekend at the new house, cleaning and painting wardobes. (They would be the one part of the house not really able to be easily painted once the wardrobe fit outs go in. And I didn't want plaster dusted clothing :P ) The rest of the painting to be done by professionals in about 6 months time.

Very exhausting for such small areas really.

And just in case you think I haven't been knitting...
That would be half of the centre panel of Print O the Wave shawl. I cast on the second half on Friday night. I can do a repeat now in around an hour and a half. Assuming (knock on wood) no stuff ups.

And I decided to do a proper gauge swatch for the Tangled Yoke. I'm definitely getting a bigger row gauge, and will be adjusting arm shaping and length accordingly.

It must be spring-ish time

2007-10-30T20:43:00.000+09:00

How do I know this? I get organisational-twitchy come springtime. Oh, and I'm moving house soon. Really soon.

There are days I can't believe I used to be the disorganised type. These days, it's all lists and plans. Of course, I do have rather a lot more on than I used to. ;-)

However, of late I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with everything I've got on. So.. I am working on a new plan.

Some research has lead me to the D.I.Y. planner system which appeals. In conjunction, more than likely with the Zen to Done rules over at zenhabits.net.

What I am really coveting now, is a filofax. Preferably in the Personal or Pocket size. Around the size of a wallet upto about two wallets side by side. Anyone who has such a thing, and doesn't want it, let me know and we can do a swap or something. I don't need a genuine filofax, but I do want one with ring binders, not just the type with push-in notebooks.

If all else fails, I work on the Hipster PDA version. Very cool, free downloads and all :)

What am I seeking? A way of getting all the minutiae of my daily stuff to do and to remember and so on, out of my head up to the time I needed it. My brain feels crowded .. We'll see how I go, hey?

I was tagged!

2007-10-24T19:44:00.000+08:00

Heather, from Crafitlit podcast and Mama O Knits has tagged me. I think she knows I secretly love these things. They're the natural continuation of those lists we used to do at school where you had to write your answer to a standard list of questions.. you know the 'who's the cutest boy?'/'who has the best hair'/ 'what's your favourite band' kind of thing...

Da Rulz: Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they’ve been tagged.

I'll see what i can do about the last bit, the number of bloggers I know personally is kinda thin and I think they'll be sick of me by now :) We'll see I guess...

My Eight Things:

1. I have 'She walks in beauty like the night' engraved on my ipod. It's the first line (and title) of my all-time favourite poem, written by Lord Byron. It always affects me, every single time I read it and I can recite most of it from memory.

2. My best friend should have been born British. He has the whole impression of being British, without actually being British. (accent, appearance, manners, fondness for obscure British history and he's a good Anglican boy to boot). His fondness for Australian Rules football is really the only thing marring the impression.

3. I am able to now say, with reasonable confidence "I used to suffer from depression". I was only properly diagnosed a couple of years ago, and as a result, got my stuff sorted out finally. I spent pretty much ages 14 to 29 suffering from one of the forms of depression. Not fun so much. It's weird not having it hanging in the background anymore. For ages it felt like I wasn't wearing my watch. That kind of ..' did I forget something?' feeling.

4. I wonder if point number three in any way explains why I love vampire fiction. I will watch any movie, read any novel and... yes, I play in a vampire-themed game. Read the name of the blog, folks ;)

5. I am not, by nature a detail oriented person. However, working for the government has meant I now behave in many things as if I am. Which is occasionally helpful, like when proving to your builder that your specification was right, their person transcribed the order incorrectly.

6. If I could live in period novel for a holiday, I would. Room with a View's Italy or Pride & Prejudice's Pemberly would both be smashing.

7. I found out that the nearest religious orientation to my own religious belief is 'liberal Quaker'. I found this out by using the Belief-O-Matic over at Beliefnet. I have known for a long time I believed, but never was able to put my finger on any label for it. This hasn't actually meant anything for me, but I found it terribly interesting.

8. I paid my way through uni working weekends at a game store for five years. We sold computer games, role-playing games, miniature war games, models, you name it. As a result, more than 10 years later I still have strange weird men smiling and saying hi to me in the street (ex-customers).

Onto the tagging! Now I need to check my list... I tag the Crafyaction's Bibnbub and Michelle, Lupinbunny, knitconvict, pen & purl. That's enough, right?