Autumn Days

Its been a while again..... mainly because I keep hoping to get better pictures of my knits etc but my tablet died and my camera seems to snap co-lours that are nothing remotely like the real thing! I could be waiting for ever! Did a few more gradient dyeing but it is time consuming knitting up the blanks but it is well worth it. The pattern I made from the gradient is the Rikke hat my favourite hat pattern to go! this one was for Kena. I have made about 8 or nine pairs of socks and still have at least another 3 to go I don't mind though socks are so satisfying to knit. I had a market on Thursday last week in Richmond they changed the day from Friday (because of Anzac day) and it was much better had a good day so i promptly put in a order of undyed yarn from Wool2dye4 I love getting NZ wool but we don't have a lot of choice here sadly to say! I want to concentrate more on selling my yarn than knits, it is just getting known really. I have been taking part in a non mystery KAL held by Tikki of the famous Milo! talking about the Milo pattern it is Milo May coming up in a few days, I am sure you will find at least one or two on my needles! I have just finished one of my most favourite knits the Featherweight Cardi its been on my queue on Rav for ages I did make one out of baby yarn but that doesnt count! Looking through the projects on Rav there are some stunning striped ones and decided to do mine similar 24 row stripes, it fits great and is lovely and soft to wear go to my project page here

The weather has turned quite cold here had my heat pump on for the first time yesterday brr. I have been eating lots of Pumpkin Soup though........... Yum!!! This is a pic of the Gidday Baby KAL I am knitting the sleeves on so it will be finished in my next post and possibly another that I have on my needles while I have been waiting for the next clue. Keep warm Janet

Sock Blank Experiment I thought was a Fail !!

I have been meaning to have a go at dyeing sock blanks to make a pair of socks that was identical. The usual way is to use a knitting machine, so I had to improvise by hand knitting! yes I know boring............ Anyway this is what I did using some Skeinz undyed sock yarn. I cast on 6o stitches after a bit of maths which I am not great at and 6mm needles I had first split the skein into 2 50 gr balls and knitted two strands together. It mindless knitting while you are watching TV. I put a running thread through the blank like this

This was done so I could try and make stripes one half being black, i was figuring on having

2 rows of stripes per 30 stitches. Even though I got most of the water out prior to dyeing the black bled for a couple of inches and all the other colours seems to merge so much I was contemplating throwing the whole thing out !!! Anyway I thought black socks would be okay but tedious to knit so carried on. This is what I was left with and it was so exciting seeing the colours emerge! My third attempt I decided to not be so precise and just ladled the colours on that I like and what I had already mixed up and this is how it started out

I have finished

one sock and I have labelled it Firecracker I wonder why! I am knitting up another blank this time using 80 stitches as this wool is a little thinner, will be interesting to see how it goes. Now what colors to use for this one!!

3 Years On (Christchurch Earthquake)

Once again we think of the people of Christchurch today, of ones whose lives will never be the same after 22nd Feb 2011. The sadness seems to get worse as we see the effects it had and still having on peoples lives. I think we are just seeing the reality of that day, the lovely city razed to the ground and so many lives lost and families lives changed. Although there is much progress on the rebuild and a hope for the future, it will take decades to materialize. My family in Christchurch are one of the ones affected by this event, and are still living in temporary accommodation, thankfully well away from the Eastern suburbs where they once lived. Their house hopefully will be demolished this week and will be another part of their lives gone, some will say it is only a house but it was their home where they made dreams for the future. That now means that they will not live in that house when a new one is put up, too many bad memories and they don't want to live on the edge of the Red Zone. I have a granddaughter who for a few months at the end of last year could not go to school because of the wind, she is terrified of it (Christchurch is one windy city!! ) Thankfully she is getting some help, and she has started going back, luckily they have some good procedures in place at school for when it is windy. These are some very real problems for lots of children in Christchurch that will take some time to get over. For now though they can look forwards to a new stage of their lives in building a new home somewhere near where they live now. Proud of you Rachel and Patrick and girls for hanging in there as its been tough every step of the way for you and many others, lots have just thrown the towel in and left ChCh, not so easy if you have a good job there!!I'm sure waiting it out will mean in the future you will have one of the safest and most beautiful cities once again.

Its Been Awhile

Well feeling motivated today to getting back here again. Ive been at Linds for the past few days babysitting animals while they were away. They had to go later as Great Granny (Mons) passed away on Friday, she was in her 98th year and was a lovely lady and will be sadly missed. Ive been inspired to make some Cardies for myself just lately as I haven't been doing the markets. I had been drawn to this pattern Criollo designer is Justyna Lorkowska. From the first time I saw it I have had it in my queue on Ravely. I made one then I made 2 perhaps there may even be a No 3 I love the construction, fit, everything and I really love cardies made with 4 ply especially as I dyed it up myself which was challenging to say the least, to try and get the skein's the same, of course I didn't but not too noticeable and I didn't feel like alternating skeins esp with trying out a new design. Of course now I want to try out more of her designs as the fit is fantastic

Had trouble capturing the colours I was dragging the model that Georgia so kindly gave me all around the house must find a name for her!!. The lovely little project bag I won in a competition held by Laura from The Dyers Notebook podcast and the prize was from Little Skein on etsy. The bag which features The Little Velveteen Rabbit is so well made with lovely quality fabrics I am so pleased with it , and have several WIP hidden away in it. It has inspired me to make some of my own so you may see yet some sewing related articles on my blog now that would be different wouldn't it!!! I am excited to add that I have now lost 10 kilos mainly eating healthy and exercises walking and Hula Hooping I borrowed my granddaughters hoop an have lost about 5-6 ins from my waist so if you have one handy go try!!!. Oh I have dyed some wool but not much, I am mainly dyeing what I need to knit as I have loads put away, hopefully will try the markets when it gets a little cooler to sell some. I must admit I will concentrate on the dyeing as I love it so much. Well its come over cold here and raining so must put another layer on, pleased that I got up to the shops early before the rain. Good old Metservice!

It's About the Cross - Christmas Music Video (+playlist)

Tree Time Again

Well its that special time of year again with me decorating the tree with the grandchildren. We have done the tree had lots of treats, treasure hunt and now a Christmas Movie!!! This tree must be more than 25 years old it was one of the first trees that were not real and it has done us proud it looks lovely each year. Sad thing is here in New Zealand we cant put choc decorations on because it is too hot sweltering today, but I am not complaining. Yesterday picked the first raspberries of the season,

there really is nothing nicer.

Christmas With a Capital "C"

Worth It

I decided I need to do more exercise and walking is the best option for me, and uphill walking is not my fave but need the cardio!! It is all worth it though when I get to end my walk by going through this lovely park. Isel Park

Hope you enjoyed your walk with me!

Dyeing and more Dyeing with a little Knitting!

Where have the last 2 months gone? It has been a busy time with several birthdays, mine included. Before we know it Chridtmas will be here and I am not prepared!!!I have been doing more dyeing and have made myself a lovely top Elfe is the pattern on Rav and have been wanting to make this for ages. Now I can dye my own wool it makes it easier to choose the right colours. I decide to go for a dark navy/black nd bright cerise pink and they look great together. I would totally recommend this pattern its do easy and effective like others have said next time I would do the jogless stripe down

one side.

I realize that while taking these pics I do need a new camera just cant capture the colours correctly. I have also done some baby knitting. I made three Marjie little shrugs this is a new pattern by Julia Stanfield, very quick and easy and takes very little yarn 50 gr for the smallest but I was using DK instead of 10 ply.

I also made a sweet baby cardi type shrug in 4ply merino that i hand dyed. I love this it is called NB vertebrae and is so cute and one again takes a bout 50 gr yarn. This is by Kelly Brooker. I have just finished my SIL a pair of plain socks in VP yarn that I over dyed (sacrilege I know) to be a more male colour they came out a lovely chocolate brown. Well Linds is just on her way to pick me up to go to her house then perhaps for a coffee. Have a good week wherever you are. From sunny Nelson!!!

IT'S SPRING!!

These came out of my garden just in time for the first day of Spring. I am home after nearly 5 weeks away. Lind's and Josh had the opportunity to stay a extra week at the Wilson Home because he was coming on in leaps and bounds! The kids were great had no problems at all, they both got their own school lunches and breakfast each day they were very organized!! It was lovely to be back though even though its just a few mins away. I had ordered some new dyes and couldn't wait to get started on experimenting with them. It's a lot harder than you think to get what you want, but really there are no failures as all can be over-dyed, or used in my 10 stitch blanket I am making. I really didn't do much knitting while I was a way except on the blanket which was mindless knitting which is what I wanted. I started on a lovely hat pattern by Tin Can Knits, 'Barley' its free and so easy. In fact I made a hat similar to it years ago and have been looking everywhere for it as it was a great pattern. I am making it in Skeinz Naked 10 ply which I dyed purple colours, its looking good! Hope you are having a good weekend wherever you are and enjoy the first of Spring if in this part of the world.

Spring Greens

Well one week is done at the Tolmie household. Apart from Joel getting sick things went okay. I came home for the weekend and managed to dye these skeins of wool a lovely green the first attempt was too light so did the same over-dyed and came out pretty much how I wanted. Trying to dye 3 + 200 grams the same shade provided a challenge and it means I have to go looking for a bigger dyepot! Lovely weather for dyeing got to 19 deg! Today back to rain and colder. The colour is somewhere between the two photo's. I also started a Beyond Peurperium in my handdyed merino and it is BRIGHT!!!! quite like the way it is pooling. Well Josh if you are reading this on your laptop in Auckland hopw you have had a great weekend and have another good week, keep up the good work!!

Filling In

Well Josh and Lindsey are off to the Wilson Home in Auckland today for 3 weeks of therapy. The other 2 will be staying behind this time and I will be staying to lend a hand, Dan will still be at home. They will all go up in the middle for a few days so that will be something nice to look forward to.

Joel and Georgia are busy doing some crafts with me as they are a bit sad. I have also been dyeing more wool and have been having some good results. The kids and Dan came round the other weekend and cleared out my little shed and now it is my designated dyeing space yay!! I have also been knitting a few things a Pebble Vest Benji Hat and many others. It was a shame I couldnt get to the Richmond Market the other week as it was blowing a gale, its a shame its only once a month! Josh also requested some socks for Auckland and only told me Thurs night (no pressure aye Josh?) He provided the VP sock yarn which he is a fan of. Turned out lovely here on my Ravelry page Well better go and pack things and relish the quiet while I can ha ha!!.