sunrisesister

After the marathon that was Lark, I needed something really quick and satisfying to make. I also needed something to take my mind off the knitting I ‘should’ be doing – like gifts and mitts. Thing is, I want to *enjoy* knitting, and not feel like it’s a chore.

So it was about time I made something for Peanut.. Baby It’s Cold Outside is quick and very easy! I am still a crochet newbie, but it worked out ok, even with my crappy seaming skills.

Made with Woolganics DK and a 5mm Hook (my new knit pro harmony wood ones! yay!)

Today is my birthday! And the first meaningful post in a long time, it seems. Apologies! I lay the blame on sickness, university, hectic family life, and lots of changes happening.

But there has been knitting! And crochet!

Two pairs of crochet mitts, in school colours, for each girlchild. They are made in Bendigo Classic 8ply (crepe construction) so they are warm, and fairly hard-wearing. The girls love them! The boy prefers his gloves..

I cast on Lark, a Vest-Hoodie pattern. Loving it so far, and I’m up to the middle of the body, ready to reattach the top of the pocket. It’s a great pattern, and I can see it getting lots of wear. I am making it in the new Bendigo Luxury 10ply, in black and ruby. I opted for darker colours, as my son is a Wearer of Food! (and sand and dirt and worse)

The February Lady Sweater is taking a short break. For some reason, I got up to the lace section, and fell out of love with it. I wont frog it – it’s going to have a holiday in it’s project bag, until I have the brainspace to work on a big project again.

Now, for the fun part! Like I said, today is my birthday, and I have been so seriously spoiled! My family all live overseas (actually, isnt it ME who lives overseas? ha!) so the joy of Internet Shopping is evident. My mother, who is NOT a knitter, asked me ‘what yarn do you like’ and so I listed a few, not realising this would hit my doorstep..

That, my friends, is TWELVE skeins of Malabrigo worsted. Yes. Enough to get naked and roll around in! Uh huh! And, a DELICIOUS Namaste bag, which has already been christened as My New Bag, and filled with current WIP and other usual gear.

And, of course, it’s my turn to recieve goodies in the Ravelry Birthday Swap! The poor tired looking postie gave me this:

Yes, it’s RED RED BEAUTIFUL RED! The gorgeous Falkonfly spoilt me rotten.. Tea cup, tea of all kinds, buttons, chocolate, notebook, book, pincushion, lollies, beautiful YARN and more! I love it ALL! She stalked me well

This is in addition to what my beautiful SIL-to be sent me earlier in the week…

A luscious box of Lush goodies! I LOVE this stuff, and spent a good half hour sniffing and umming and ahhing. As a former-soapmaker, I am always admiring other people’s wares and ideas!

So, I have some WIPs to get cracking on, and a nice long 4 week break coming up soon to knit in. But today, I am relaxing and enjoying my spoils What a lucky girl I am!

What a spoilt, spoilt gal I am..

First, William is student of the week this week! He’s stoked!

Off to Vivienne’s house to install her wireless router, and I take my handspun for some TLC and expert plying. I come home with this, totally knittable yarn!

We stop off in Bayswater (Baysvotten – Poo Water in Swedish, thanks Lisa!) on the way home, and I bought a HEAP of beautiful herb seedlings. I forget if I mentioned the obvious, but the drought/evil summer KILLED my beautiful vegie patch. Not one thing survived, apart from my potted strawberries, rosemary, and 2 tomato plants which provided ONE tomato EACH. Not impressive. These herbs are a welcome addition to my potted herbs, and a welcome addition to my cooking again. Oh, how I have missed thee, fresh chives! mmm!

I didnt go overboard on the vegie seedlings – I stuck to what I KNOW will survive the winter months.

We dashed over to Clark Rubber to grab a piece of foam to repair a knitting machine that I was given last week. It’s a 1972 Singer 321 Memo Matic in ALMOST usable condition. Instead of wasting time finding a new sponge bar, I am going to reuse the old one and get it cranking. Pics of that another time maybe.

And then, somehow, accidentally, I stimulated the economy again. This is a purchase I have wanted to make for 10 years, and never before has it been affordable. (thanks Kevin!)

I am having an affair with Mr. Dyson. His codename is DC19 Turbine *swoon* He just extracted a dogsworth of fur from the carpet. I bought this from The Good Guys, who a) gave me this for about 20% off, and b) give money back to the local community. It’s a big splashout on something so tedious, but holy fuck I love it. It will keep me off the streets

Picked up kids, and headed home. To two parcels sitting on the mat! WOOOHOOO! My day just got even better! One was a parcel of goodies for Emily from Janine.. an awesome Spy set thing and books. She LOVES it. I will get a pic perhaps when I am allowed to.

And last but definately not least… a box from Dana up in Bathurst. Addressed to Char S. Loris HAHAHA

GORGEOUS vintage yarn, from her Grandma’s stash. There is a little history behind this, and I am feeling very blessed to be looking after it now. Inside was a pile of patterns and clippings, and I HAD to take a pic of a few gems:

Clearly the one thing missing in my life is a crocheted bikini. I’ll get right onto that. Might make a nice wedding gift for Lorna and Mark? No?

Today has totally rocked in a totally materialistic way. Awful, but awesome. Now to go and cook Neil and nice dinner to make up for spending such an INSANE amount of cash on a vacuum cleaner. Actually, dinner might not do it..

Today I trekked early into the city to help out at the Stitch n Bitch stall at the Stitches and Craft show. This year, it was held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, and I have to say, the venue was fab. Apart from the stinking heat, but we wont go there.

We chatted to heaps and heaps of people interested in the many groups around Melb, learnt some tips from the machine knitters guild chick next door, and had a wonderful browse thru the market area. Lots of stalls, but sadly not so much for knitters. Lots of quilting fabric, expensive sewing gear, and a craptonne of beading shit. Pear Tree yarns were there, but amazingly, nothing grabbed me! The yarn barn were selling 8ply, but I was ideally after 10ply for winter knitting. I did stop by the Wondoflex stall though, to talk to Marilyn, and she very happily sold me 4 skeins of the long-awaited patonyle colours!! I am so excited about this – perfect manly colours for winter socks.

I also stumbled accross a group of felters. Some really amazing things on offer there, and I am kicking myself now for not picking some more stuff up when I had the chance. But I did collect cards for online buying..

There was some amazing fibre for sale, and when I clapped eyes on these babies, I couldnt resist..

Small, but will be enough for small projects like babies booties and toys. The colours are amazing.

Some of the ‘art’ around the main shed was good fun, and I managed to take some pics..

And this stall, which can only be described as an EXPLOSION of Shabby shit. I mean, Chic.

It was a good day, and it was a wonderful way to meet lots of new people, all passionate about their own craft. But I am glad to be home.. I am starving and sweaty!

Note: weblinking is broken. Need to fix.

When I downloaded this pattern, I almost had a coronary at the sight of the chart. It looked more like a gang of spiders had been dipping their feet in ink and dancing accross the page. But I remembered that crochet patterns always look complex,but arent, so I gave it a go.

This scarf took me 4 freaking hours. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Crochet rocks, and I dont care if I do it backwards.

It’s meant to look like falling leaves (It’s a Persian pattern) but I kinda think it looks like flames of a fire. Orange isnt my usual colour, but I am giving it a go.