Brr Winter Is on Its Way

Very cold this morning but lovely and sunny, there is something I like about going for a walk on a cold winters morn, although generally I am not a fan of the cold in any shape or form. Been very busy knitting up a storm doing lots of Milo's for MiloMay 2013, a KAL on Ravelry. I am currently on number 6!! What I like about this patten you can so make it your own in many different ways. Cables stripes fair isle embellishments, this puts your stamp on a very clever pattern. I have also purchased the Bloom pattern another of Tikki's and have done a couple that just have to have the finishing touches put on a very versatile and practical pattern and i do like practical!!This pattern grows with your child or baby which is great, I see many more of these. I have started hand dyeing yarn which has been a lot of fun it is exciting seeing how things turn out, have tried different methods, crockpot, steamer, painted on and microwave. Have had trouble getting the dye out even when it has exhausted. Trial and error I think. I also had a lovely surprise the other week when I won a competition on a KAl on Rav with the Natural star group.I made the Flower Hat pattern and won some lovely Olive and Emma hand dyed wool. I also had some luck in scoring some Addi fixed circular needles off of Trademe for such a good price. My knit picks interchangeable were needing to be replace bit by bit so I was delighted to get these. I had purchased some of these when we were in Auckland a couple of years ago and loved them. They came in a lovely case with few extras.There were about 16 pairs, It sure makes my life easier when I can just get the right size needle without screwing and unscrewing cables etc. Well I am freezing sitting here so must get another layer on. Keep warm all. Janet

New Things

Ive been quite busy since the last post with my knitting (of course) I also had a market at the end of last month and did quite well. Exciting news is that I am now licenced to knit for sale the fab Milo pattern by Georgie Hallam aka Tikki on Ravelry. At the moment Tikki has a KAL with her group on Ravelry so if you are not a member go along and join, you will not regret it. At the moment I have made 2 Milos for May and I seem to be drawn to stripes.

Happy Easter

Autumn Bounty

The other week we went out to pick some tomatoes, well I didn't intend to but after trying some of the most delicious tomatoes I have ever eaten, decided to pick even though it was so hot and I didn't have any sun protection! it took me all of 5 min to pick a big bucket.These are I think the Roma variety. Now what to do with them. I have made two lots of semi dried they are so flavorsome.  Gave some away and have still a big bowl to probably make some type of sauce.

It was Joel's 9th birthday on Sat so I stayed overnight to see him open his presents. The next day we went out for lunch at the Club Waimea with the family forgot my camera so took this of us later on. A lovely weekend.
Haven't really got much to report on the knitting front,started Dans socks and I brought a pattern from Tikki on Ravelry using my discount that I received for the KAL last year. She is having another KAL at present called "A walk in the Woods" featuring 2 patterns Granny's Favourite and What Big Eyes You Have these are both lovely patterns and I am waiting on some wool from Utiku Yarns and The Wool Company so I can get cracking "Knitting" and enter!!
I have also applied to Georgie Hallam aka Tikki on Ravelry to purchase a license to knit the Milo pattern, but am thinking I would love to knit more of her designs for sale,  who could stop at one really!!!! I am thinking of doing the Nelson Market this year, see how it goes.
Well it is lovely to see the rain after so long without, the garden is looking green already especially the weeds! I even have some Feijoas on my new bushes, I really didn't expect any this first year, also the lemon tree that we replanted that everyone gave up for dead has lots of blossoms and a few tiny lemons are appearing, lovely I cant wait!    
Have a good week everyone
Janet

Little Pickles

I have been quite busy making a couple of these little vests Pickles Plain Vest this is such a sweet pattern and its free in size 1. Using the Wisdom Poems silk wool it came out about NB to 3 months,  more 3 months I think. Its lovely to have a girly type vest as most are of the boy type. I  love these colours.The button I made are perfect for this.

Also this beauty arrived on my doorstep, the 3 rd installment of the VP summer sock club. A lovely lace pattern for socks, not my colour unfortunately, sure it will suit somebody! delicious fudge and a lovely wee notebook .It is always exciting receiving these packages each month, even more so for the winter ones when the days drag out.

I also finished Ps socks for his birthday which were very well received. Now to finish Dans for his birthday!
I also started a project that could go for some time, another one of my garter stitch blankets. I have previously made one but got bored with it, so made it smaller throw for chair, this one I am determined to make to fit double bed. I have cast on 300 stitches and do one colour a row leaving a long end for tassels every six rows. I have so much old stash yarn that is is lovely to see knitted up into something useful. This one will be blues purple pinks etc, I have enough wool for one in creams browns peach shades. This will keep me busy during winter.

I made some lovely semi sun dried tomatoes, sorry no picks ate them!! the recipe was very easy and was from this lovely blog that I follow Foxs Lanehttp://foxslane.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/how-to-make-your-own-semi-dried-tomatoes.html
Well its another glorious day here in sunny Nelson, so much enjoying our beautiful autumn days, hotter than summer!!!
Take care all and have a great day wherever you are .
Janet

Little Chicky Finished

Finished my Chickadee yesterday and have since put buttons on but not comletely happy with them. This was a prototype to see how the fit was and I must say it fits very well. I will definitely be making another, next time hopefully will get the birds right!!! It has been a mission knitting this in the lovely hot weather we are having at present, when I wear it in the winter I will think of those far off days!
Trying to get a pair of socks finished for someones birthday soon, its the deadline that is pushing me on as I have sort of lost my sock knitting mojo. I am knitting them of course in another skein of VP, which I love and so does the recipient.
Today I had 2 of the grandkids we went to Isel Park again and this time went into the House we had lunch outside and we had a quick visit, I think the kids liked  seeing all the old things, but were too  scared to open the door marked 'Skeleton' so it was left to me! It was a scary dressed up manequin!  good job they had warned us! As the kids paddled in the stream it made me think how blessed  we are to have this lovely park right on our doorstep.
Well it is too hot to knit tonight and nothing on TV so will head off for a sort of early night.

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