Chloe ...

Enjoying the cool of the afternoon.

Knitting news
About half way through my next Trinket. This is another pretty one, but aren't they all!

A Trip to the Frog Pond and De-Lurking ...

Read on Wendy's blog http://wendyknits.net/ it's National De-Lurking Week I copied and saved the button to my server, so please do the same if you want to use it.

On its way to the pond ....










I knew when this sweater was motoring along so easily there just had to be a problem looming. I cannot get the neckband to sit properly... perhaps it's the yarn I've used, as I have substituted ... serves me right! (The sleeves look as though one is bigger than the other, but it is not. It's just the way I've taken the photo).

I think I'm going to have to frog this knit and reknit in a smaller size too, as it's too wide under the arms.

Oh well, that's not too bad as the pattern is so easy it will knit up twice as quick next time.. right? Am I allowed to say bugger on a blog? On a positive note ... the beads are already on the yarn, so all that is needed is to rewind and knitup.

I think it's time to switch back to my last Trinket, finish that and then reknit the beaded sweater.

Hey, it keeps me busy ... what else would I do with my time ... cook and clean - I don't think so!

Little Treasures ...

My Daughter, who doesn't usually request any knits, as she will not hand wash, has asked if I'd knit these for the Little Treasures in our lives.

Both knits are from the Rowan Little Treasures book. The little girl's knit is Bea and the Blanket is Odette, both knitted in Rowan Soft Baby. I've not seen or touched this yarn, but will substitute with Filatura's Zara, as it is a beautifully soft yarn and I'll be able to obtain a similar gauge. The big decision will be whether to knit Bea in the pink or cream. The pink is the softest of shades - Filatura do not produce this colour any longer, so I'm pleased I had tucked some away for a later date for the 2year old (hmmm, does that mean I've already made up my mind - it appears so!).

The Odette Blankets (note I said Blankets!!!) are for the twin boys due in approximately 6 weeks time, as Daughter would like them for their pram/stroller, with only a minor change. She does not like the cream border and has chosen a very simple lace edging from one of Debbie Bliss' designs.

I've said I'd make all if she promises not to put them in the washing machine! She has agreed, but said I must wash them to keep them looking as new. I don't care what the ball bands/manufacturers say, machine washed hand knits do not look as good after a few washes compared to hand washed garments. Call me old fashioned ... I know I'm right!

I guess I'll have to put Noro's Lizzy on hold until I've finished the blankets. Bea can wait a few more months too, as it will not be cold in Oz for ages.

Beaded Sweater Update
The neckband is almost done. I've had to change tactics here as I did not like the knitted neckband and cast off edge in the pattern, so have frogged and knitted the ribbed neckband separately and grafting to the neck, which is taking some patience and time. The end result will be worth it, as this is how I usually do my neckbands - knitted in the round and grafted to the body.

Life's tough with visitors like these ....

Rainbow Lorikeets.
http://www.zoo.org.au/animal_page.cfm?area_id=47&zoo_id=2&animal_id=84
A little information for those that are interested.

These are just a couple of the birds that visit our home every day. We are not on a large property, the usual small suburban homesite, but I planted native trees when we moved in 4 years ago, grevilleas. These plants attract the most beautiful birds that we enjoy every single day.

My Country ...

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror,
The wide brown land for me.
(extract from the poem by Dorothea Mackeller) http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/2000/m/mackel01.html

We took a drive north to the central coast about a week after the bush fires here in Sydney. I've a bunch more photos but not going to post as they'll probably take ages to download for some people, but the contrast is amazing from one side of the road to the other (photo 4). Photo 3 is approximately where the fires ended along the freeway.

The fire fighters are one special bunch of people. We saw houses with their verandahs burnt, but the homes still in tact. They did a fantastic job of saving the homes in the area as the fires were on most of the home owners door steps... literally.

I know what it is like to be caught in a bush fire, as I was about 10 years ago... driving blind from the thick smoke to get out... absolutely frightening... and there, at the end of the thick blanket of smoke where I emerged were the fire fighters, directing us all to a safe place.

Until you have experienced a bush fire, up close and personal, I don't think anyone can truly appreicate the people who fight these monsters.

What can we say but ... thank you.

Knitting News
Apart from the neckband, the Beaded Sweater is complete - photos tomorrow!

POOH BEAR! and a little knitting news

Who doesn't love Pooh Bear!

A little surprise for the 2year old. She absolutely loves Pooh Bear. Her latest wish was for Mummy and Daddy to put back the Pooh Bear curtains they've just taken down and replaced with fairy princess curtains in her room. No, she didn't want them and kept going to the hall closet saying, "Pooh Bear, Pooh Bear". Needless to say, the curtains have been put back and the 2year old is once again happy.

How gorgeous is this little set. For those in Oz - I found this kit at Spotlight. You have to have a handyman put it together, as with all kits, some parts just didn't fit easily and some drilling was required, but the end result is the cutest set for any little kid.

Beaded sweater update :
I've reached the underarms and will begin shaping tomorrow night. Not far off finishing now. The front and back of the top is the same, so only the tiny short sleeves and neckband to do. 4ply does take a little extra time, but I'm loving this beaded knit and only thankful it is not my size, othewise, it would never leave this house! Pickies when complete.

Falling in love with the wrong kinda yarn...

I cannot tell you how often I have been guilty of falling in love with a colour and yarn and it not working out. Why I cannot stick to the specified yarn I do not know. Surely the designers know better than I - they must have tried and tested the pattern - but no, I think I know better.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with the yarn or the colour, except, the stripes run the wrong way. They run up and down instead of across. I had forgotten that most hand dyed yarns knit up that way. I was seduced by the fabulous colour combination of this yarn. My friends loved it too and one in particular had said several times she couldn't wait to see Lizzy (Dec 17 post) knitted in it, so I began last night. I could see after several rows that it was not going to work out, but thought I'd knit a little more just in case it grew on me. By row 40 I decided that it was not going to work, so tried another stitch, nope, that didn't do much for me either. If I turned the knitting the other way, yeah, it would be okay, but, let's face it people... Noro is a great mix of yarns and colours!

Beaded Sweater from Vintage Knits

Whew!!! It's a hot one today on Knit Avenue. 44 degrees celsius - but I still continued to knit, well, for a bit anyway. Was hoping to get a lot more of this summer top done today, but gave in as my fingers were hot and sticky and wasn't making much progress at all. Trinket has come to a standstill, as it's impossible knitting with mohair in this weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be a little cooler, so I'll try with Trinket again then. Will be out with the 2 year old first thing - we're off to Playland for a couple of hours as I think it's time for a change of scenery as we've spent most of the Christmas, New Year celebrations around the house.

This is a cute little number by Sarah Dallas from her gorgeous book Vintage Knits. There are a number of patterns in this book that I must have - the only problem being - I don't think I will ever live long enough to knit everything I want to from this book as well as all the other projects I have lined up. I still haven't balled the yarn for Lizzy yet and she is definitely my next winter knit.

I've had the cotton sitting for ages not knowing what to do with it and the beads too. I had ordered the beads for another project, but when they arrived they were too big, but are just the right size for this 4ply cotton. The colour is the lightest green, very similar to the Jaeger Siena colour Meadow and the beads are Jaeger clear beads.

I'd always thought bead knitting was difficult, in as much as it would take ages to thread the beads, but after knitting the first Trinket realised how easy it is. The threading of the beads takes no time at all. This pattern uses about 900 beads giving a stylish yet simply garment that can be worn anywhere. Might sit up late tonight and see if I can knit to the underarms, although 4ply doesn't grow that quickly. I've started with 234sts with the pattern increasing at intervals to the underarm. I'm also knitting it in the round - the pattern is written as a conventional sweater front and back, but gee - I've just gotta be different. I've used a provisional cast on for the rib, so should have no problem with stretching out of shape. I'm not one for ribs on garments, but this is a gift for a friend and I know she loves the pattern just as it is.

Hope everyone has had a good Xmas and New Year - now onto knitting for 2006!