Nine months!

That's how long since I last posted.........long enough to to be closer to my 26th Wedding anniversary than my last post which was about my 25th!!! It's slightly shameful and more than a little embarassing....if I have any followers left please accept my apologies.

I have lost count of the projects I have been working on since my last post........but most of them have been of the knitted variety rather than the stitched kind, but that's ok, it's just where I am at right now - and what I am enjoying :-)

I have rediscovered Ravelry and am loving the community there. I have also become addicted to knitting shawls - not traditional shawls or baby shawls, more like triangular scarves I guess. Westknits are some of my favourite designs so far.........here is a link to my Flickr photo's if you fancy taking a peek.

I will try not to leave it another 9 months til I post again ;-)

What a difference 25 years makes :-)

Doesn't time fly when you are working hard, raising a family, moving half way round the world, having fun? My oh my, don't we look sooooo young! Where did the last 25 years go?!

We are flying to Christchurch on Friday for Labour weekend to celebrate. It will be our first visit to the South Island...can't wait :-)



19 October 1985


2010

Sigh...sewing?

After reading Carolyn's post today, I left this comment.....

I am surprised - and slightly saddened - to realise that I have got to the stage where the whole process is kind of daunting now! Shocked actually.....as at one time I would have made at least 60-80% of my wardrobe, and have made just about everything from baby to bridal.

After a break of about 4 or 5 years I have now got to the stage where I don't know where to start to get back to what I loved! Sometimes I go into my sewing room....look at my patterns, choose one and match it with fabric...then think about everything I have to do before it becomes a garment, and instead of being excited....I am left feeling overwhelmed :-(

Got to get back to some kind of sewing pleasure again!

It is how I feel right now and I really do want to change that. I used to live, breathe and sleep sewing - particularly making my own clothes. I know things change and we all go through phases, but I would really love to feel excited about sewing my own clothes again.

So, with summer just around the corner I think I will try some skirts first......I have this lovely new Japanese linen that is ideal for this time of year, and a simple pattern that I know works.....so, baby steps :-)

New Niece and finished baby blanket :-)

My new niece has arrived safe and sound. I was honoured to be at her birth and to be the person to dress her for the very first time :-)

After making great progress on the baby gift for her I had come to a standstill with the borders...but I finally finished it over the weekend. It has been washed and blocked and has turned out beautiful! I love it......and so does my Sister In Law (don't know about the baby yet, haven't really asked her Lol)



I realise it is not a conventional baby blanket....but nor is my SIL! It was knitted in Sirdar Eco Wool which is Undyed Natural Wool and the borders are cast off in red.

Sorry, the photo's aren't great but I will try and link to the pattern online if I can. It is called the 'Stanley blanket' and designed by Julie Bernhardt.

Got to go, late for work - will come back later and try to link this post!

Hamilton here I come.

Tomorrow I am driving to Hamilton with three friends to visit the Hamilton Craft Fair. We are leaving very early....6.30am early! We want to get there in time for it opening so we can make the most of the day.

I don't have any planned purchases....I will just go with the flow, and the budget of course :-)

The Bead Hold's stand is on my must visit list.....one day I intend to visit the shop in Auckland at some time and do a class there. Their website and customer service is great, but nothing compares to actually being in a shop like that :-)

Latest knitting

I usually have some knitting on the go, although I don't always think to blog about it! My latest project is a snuggle sack for my new niece or nephew who is due to arrive in about 4 weeks time. I just couldn't resist this beautiful pattern and yarn combination - and doesn't that baby look so cosy? Makes you want to climb in, doesn't it? Although, I would only get one foot in it so not much point really Lol.I am using a 60cm interchangeable needle, I have recently treated myself to some Knit Pro Symfonie Wood needles and I love them. In fact, we have decided to stock them in the shop as we are so in love with them :-) Seems like we aren't the only ones as they are already selling well.

The colour isn't that great in this shot. The pattern instructions have you knit 3 seperate pieces for this item!? A circular base, a rectangle for the main part and then a ribbed top. Then you are told to stitch all the pieces together. Why would you want all those seams in an item like this? And why would you want all that extra work?
It made absolutely no sense to me, so I didn't cast off the base, just increased the 6 extra stitches on my last row and am knitting the main part in the round, then I will only need to increase 1 stitch before doing the rib...........no seams at all!

The yarn is a new one to us in the shop. It is a 4 ply Machine Washable (got to love that!) NZ Merino, Alpaca & Possum (with a small amount of nylon to make it suitable for socks) It is already proving very popular and while knitting with it I can totally see why. Beautiful colours and so lovely to knit with.

The pattern isn't easy to see in this colourway but it gives a lovely feel to the knitting. It is knitted at a slightly loose tension which makes it feel very soft and 'snuggly' :-)

I am also working on another item for the same baby which has been a real labour of love over the past 6 or 7 months, I have had to work on other things in between as I needed small breaks from it. It is almost finished so I will show you once it is blocked - I love it and can't wait to give it to my Brother and SIL as I know they will too.

Crafternoon Tea

I had a lovely afternoon at the Govett Brewster art gallery for their Crafternoon Tea. It is linked with a new exhibition by Yin Xiuzhen, part of which is this amazing installation of weapons! All of them are covered in knitting. On the floor was what looked like a huge knitted circular mattress - which turned out to be 1'000 scarves wound in a spiral - it was called Unbearable Warmth and is to symbolise the pressure that can come from parents and grandparents, particularly for those children who don't have siblings and carry the expectations and hopes of not only their parents but also their grandparents. Very interesting. I know I wasnt' the only one who wanted to dive on it and lounge around Lol. I am just annoyed that I didn't charge my camera battery in time!

On 15th August there is another event for Guerilla knitting which I plan to attend. It was like being part of a large knitting group.

Another part of the exhibition is the giant scarf they have there that is being worked on by anyone who cares to. It will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to a charity of the artists choice. The scarf has 88 stitches and is being knitted in white, to represent luck and purity.