I finally finished it!

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....

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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..

(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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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)

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?

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)

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!

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...

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.