Chickadee

I started a new project the other day, Chickadee by designer Ysolda Teague.  I have admired this on Ravelry for some time and decided too use up some old stash to do a trial run before splurging out on new yarn. I have brought one of ysolda's patterns before and liked her style,  easy to follow.
This is a bit challenging with lots of new things learnt. Found it quite difficult doing stranded work on purl rows my birds not too good , but I can live with it. Also I have been put off for ages doing anything much with short rows, but found this tutorial and  it  is so easy to do, dont know why I was so scared of them.
Had to go up to a size 40 even though I am a 38  but my waist is bigger, tried on before doing waist shaping and it seems spot on. I did do the sleeves one repeat shorter as my arm length is shorter than size I am doing.

I am using up some old Madonna Perendale superwool, have used this before and washes up nice and soft and can see this being well used and warm for the cooler months to come. I will definitely be making another,  I think in nicer wool  and colours, trying to find something in larger hanks or cones as I hate joins.

I have also made a few Milo vests, love this pattern. Made them in Possum Merino wool and did  a little bit of crochet chain for the branch and buttons for eyes love how it turned out.
Been away for a few days with the family to Hanmer Springs, it was so hot there 34 deg that tar was melting on the roads. Then I had 2 nights in Christchurch can you believe it was 11 deg brr!!!
We rented a lovely house that was near a lovely walk and cycle track and found a  stream that the grandkids could plunge in to get cool it was lovely.  The track was great  for Josh as he could ride his bike on the tracks as it was all shade with lots of trees. Hanmer is a lovely place at  any time of the year.
I dont seem to have many pics but Linds friends took some with me and kids so hopefully will get them at some stage.
Well am looking after Joel and Georgia as Josh has hydrotherapy at lunchtime, we are going up the shops and they can help with my shopping!!
Have a lovely week
Janet

It's About the Cross - Christmas Music Video

ITS THAT TIME AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Tonight me and the grand kids are decorating the tree at my place, while Mum and Dad are out shopping. This has become a tradition in our family.We started with a lolly hunt which was so  much fun, then desert which was  chocolate cream puffs with  raspberries and these delicious Eccles  or Banbury cakes.We then decorated the tree and its looks great.Josh has helped me load on these photos its great having a helper.
Much fun is being had by all!!!

Very Excited!!

I have been trying not very sucessfully to be patient while waiting for this awesome book to arrive from Scotland. It is called Colors Of Shetland by Kate Davies and I was not dissapointed. It is a beautiful book that combines my love of knitting and history and much more, beautiful patterns, most of them beyond my capabilities I think, but I am going to try one or two! Problem is the wool used is from Jamieson and Smiths in the Shetland Isles which makes it quite expensive with the postage. The colours are so lovely and this place has been going for years. One day I would love to visit...... oh well we can all dream!!!!

This is a fantastic Christmas present to myself and would be for anyone interested in knitting, patterns and history of the Shetlands.

Camping Out!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/noro-striped-scarf

Well as the title sugests I have not been camping out! In fact I have been tirelesly making these Camp Out Mitts by Tante Ehm. I even splashed out and brought two balls of Noro wool and I was not dissapointed even with the uneveness and bits in it , the colour changes are so beautiful, would love to buy more and more but hard to find in Little Old NZ. I did manage to get some Wisdom yarn from Spotlight while not as nice as Noro it comes a close second especially the Wisdom Poems Silk. I have been making these for Christmas gifts I am sure they will come in handy for next winter. I also made a couple of Honey Cowls which like the Camp out mitts is a free pattern on Ravelry. I have not been a fan of cowls (short neck and all) I made 2 of these in wisom pems and one in silk the silk gives a nice drape and fell in love with it.
Also I have made my first Noro Striped Scarf 11528 people have made this so figured as i had some Wisdom Yarns with long colour repeats would put it with some nice brown Perendale wool I had, pleased with it and I managed to get the edging right after a couple of rows.
Having some lovely weather here at present after such a rainy spring.
Do have a great weekend wherever you are.
Janet

Miss Jane

Yesterday I finished a lovely knit by Tikki (Georgia Hallam) on Ravelry. I knitted this in a very economical wool,  Harvest by Skeinz. I almost used 8 balls and all up it cost only $32 !!!.It is perfect for this time of year when the chill winds still blow! The wool blocked out lovely and soft and will be nice and warm to wear.
I also found this deldightful pattern on Ravelry it is called Seamless Kimono Sweater by Jacki Kelly, I really enjoyed knitting this and have made two and hope to do one of her other designs Seamless Baby Kimono

this is a free pattern for small sizes while others are paid but a very versatile pattern to add to your to go baby outfits.
Hmnnnn......... what to make next !!!!!!?
Have a great week wherever you are
Janet

Celebrations

Tonight I celebrated a special birthday with family.  Had a great day.

Spring has Sprung (I think!)

Well today arrives nice and sunny but blusterly and NO rain yay!

Ive been busy in the knitting front doing some more of Tikki's patterns and joining in with her spring KAL on Ravelry. First up I purchased the lovely pattern Acacia mainly because Georgia has had her eye on it for some time but alas it only goes up to size 10 but her chest size is that so will try and purchase some cotton which seems hard to do here in Nz. I made the 12 months size out of one skein of VP Max, this is a lovely yarn and the teal colourwauy was so rich and saturated I just cant capture it with my camera. Might try this in some of VP sock yarn but will take much longer than the day it took me to do this one.
I also cast on yesterday and finished an Adams Eden for 3 months size using Utiku wool, another lovely quick knit from Tikki.

Another little addiction of mine has been to make these delightful Owlie Puffs once I started couldn't stop they are soooo CUTE.

I also purchased the Beyond Puerperium  (this one goes up to size 2 )and is a very useful top and have made 2 of these up in VP Max, one for a friends grandson I also made buttons to try and match but decisions decisions!! I also had a market on Friday and sold some handmade buttons.
I have had a busy time in the last few weeks it was the twins 11 year  birthday what a milestone, every year I am so thankful  for them as these little ones were born at 24 weeks and were only 700 g each!!
Also had my 13 year old grandaughter come and stay from Christchurch for 2 weeks of the school holidays, she loved Nelson and would happily move here, it has been a hard time for her as she had to move away from all her friends and school because of  the quakes also their house will have to be rebuilt. She was also a prem at 2 lb 12 and is doing great.
I also have a milestone happening this week , more of that at a later date!!

Take care all ........and have a great week wherever you are.

Catching Up And New Things

Well it seems ages since I posted here and it has been! I had a week away with the family in Greymouth at the CCS house it was a nice break, it rained a lot but it was nice and relaxing as always.

Been busy as usual with knitting and I had my first market! It was at Richmond, it is a small market with just a few stalls but very friendly people. It was -1 deg that morning so we all had multiple layers of clothing on but we were lucky to have a sunny spot. The G kids were a great help.

I have made several knitted items another Milo Vest in Vp Max for my friends new to be grandson. It looks lovely and it is the first time doing this with cables.

I also made an Autumn Cardigan by Kelly Brooker. This is great garment for layering as we head into spring.

Made some little shrugs too that are so cute.

I have also started a new venture and things to sell on my market, HANDMADE BUTTONS!

I have really enjoyed creating these none of them turn out quite as I had envisioned but too cute! I reckoned as they are handmade any thing goes! No more hunting around for buttons now to go on my knitting, I can make just what I need ,it really puts my stamp on them.

Well I am hoping for some sunshine this weekend as we have been having so much rain and not too many frosts, the daffs are coming out...... lovely can't wait for spring.

Have a great weekend wherever you are in the world.

More WIPs and F/O

Hello everyone hope you are all keeping warm here in NZ, very cold and frosty and I can even see a light dusting of snow on the Stoke hills, unusual for us .

What better things you can do on a cold but sunny wintery day but make homemade bread and of course The Pumpkin Soup! AND KNIT of course.

I have finished a few items the first being Patricks sock in VP yarn in a green grey colour, he absolutely loves them, its the only things to keep his feet warm in his freezing office. I just managed to get a pair out of his size 12 feet with a little bit left I knit till 8 ins then did a 12 in foot, phew!!

I also made Georgia a pair of fairisle socks out of some oddments of VP yarn.

I purchased 4 skeins of Needlefood 4 ply sock yarn off trademe. I have wanted to try this for ages, but you can no longer get it so was thrilled with this find and have started some Monkey socks one of my favourite sock patterns that I also come back too and my plain ones I always use this pattern fhttp://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephanie-pearl-mcphee I have made it dozens of times. I found it in a book called Knitting Rules which you must read, very funny and great for begginer knitters.

With the raspberry Needlefood I think I will make another Sunday Market Shawl, well mine is a scarf really as I made it in 4 ply opposed to 8 ply but I love this scarf and am never not wearing it, even in the house!

I also stared a little Pebble Vest last night this is a great free pattern that knits up quick and is great for newborns, I am doing it in Utiku Multis Oasis and looks great, getting the button is the hardest part. Thanks to all the lovely designers on Ravelry who share their patterns for free. I love this site, it is so awesome you must try it and see that is if you are into knitting or crochet.

Well the sun is out in the back garden so must put washing out and hopefully it will dry today.

Have a good day wherever you are in this wonderful world we live in.

Janet

Winter Warmers

Well its all about keeping warm here right now, minus 3 the other morning brr!! I am not a fan of the cold I must admit so have been busy knitting some things for ME for a change!

I have had my eye on this lovely tunic,' http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/still-light-tunic"on Ravelry to knit, every project looks lovely and suits all types of figures, even mine, ha ha. I don't buy many patterns off Ravelry but this one I had to have, I have not been disappointed at all. I brought some reasonably priced 4 ply baby yarn from Utiku wools in Taihape this is merino and lovely and soft and a fabulous raspberry colour I brought 6 balls but used just under 5 I am definitely going to make this again,It is so warm. The designer is Vera Valimaki and if you are not a member of Ravelry you must join and take a look at all her patterns so many I want to try as I love her classic designs. Her blog is here
I also finished some socks for me using some wool off trade me from Joy Of Yarn love this wool.

Lindsey badly needed some too and Georgia and Joel  and Patrick, the list goes on but it is true that once people have sampled Merino or wool socks they never ever want to go back to shop brought ones, who can blame them they are just finding out what  we have known for ages!!

I also finished James 3rd Milo vest and I think it turned out great and would go lovely with jeans. I also made a little pair of mitts.

I have just started a pair of fingerless mitts for Josh he will be glad of them I think.
Well I have got the pumpkin soup and homemade bread on for Joel and Georgia as they are coming for lunch as Josh has Hydro. That will keep us warm as it has only got to 6 deg!
Keep warm if you are this side of the world
Janet

MILOMAY2012

I was very excited to cast on for my first Milo vest I have been longing to knit this for a long

time as over 4000 people have knitted this on Ravelry. Love the simplicity of this knit all done in the round, no seams ...... Bliss!

Tikki the designer on Ravelry has a bit of a competition going in May to knit her design and to win some lovely yarn.

I made both for James who is 2 and I made the size 3 with 4 length and just fits him! I am loving the autumn colours right now. The first I made with mainly Vintage Purls Max a beautiful soft and squishy Merino wool.

I have just finished a second in Avocado and Oasis from The Wool Company Utiku wools. While this is not as soft as the Max I think it will be very warm and hard wearing I washed it is conditioner for blocking to soften it a little.

I have also made several Reike Hats for the Grandchildren big and small, its such an easy pattern and quite trendy in its simplicity.

Been enjoying the beautiful sunny Autumn days after the frost, this is a lovely time of the year the colours are so beautiful can you tell I love autumn colours and they are the ones I like to wear!

I am still ploughing through my Still Light Tunic it is an epic knit, I'm liking it so far, have nearly finished the first sleeve and only got one more then the pockets. I can see this being very warm for winter.

Have a great week all

Janet