Knitting update...

Wednesday August 27th, 2008

Why have I posted a photograph of some ball's of wool. Well its a sad story really, I started working on a lovely jumper (aka sweater, pullover) for my yet to be born niece about two weeks ago. The pattern was great very simple, no complicated design just one colour. I've been knitting it over the last couple of w/ends when I have a spare moment, knit, purling away. I had 90% done - was so close to being finished - had the back, front and 1 sleeve done.

When...last night I thought I would measure it all just to make sure it was the correct dimensions. After double checking it and getting J to check my measurements just incase I was wrong, it became apparent that I it was out by 1 inch under the arms and the sleeve was out, the front was out and the back was out. The more I measured the more pain I felt, realizing that the only way to fix it would be to undo it all. (The pattern is knitted sideways not across!)

Late last night I worked on another gauge swatch and this morning decided I'll have to go up again in my needle size from 5 to 7, but guess what I don't have the circular needle I need or the double pointed needles in the correct size. So this project is going to be put away till the w/end when I'll pop out and purchase some more needles. It's very annoying to have sooo many needles by none in the size I need!

So my plan was to post a great pic showing a nearly completed jumper, oh well. I'll have to go back to finishing Miss S cardi - alot of sewing in threads on that project. I think that will take a couple more nights, then I will need to block it, sew it together, sew on buttons then - yeah finished. Well one step at a time.

Party's and Gifts

Saturday July 12th, 2008

The other w/end S attended her first birthday party for a playdate friend who was celebrating his first birthday. I was surprised S was such a trouper lasted 3 hours and seemed to really enjoy herself. S was the only girl - yet again! - looks like she won't be short of dates when she is older, like 21!! - lol

I made the gift for the b'day boy - a "no sew blanket" in Disney "Cars" theme and placed the blanket in a drawstring bag made of tonka car/truck material. The blanket was completed by 90% help from my Mum and rest help from my little bro - Thanks for the help, otherwise I wouldn't have had it completed in time. Instructions for how to make the no-sew blankie

Opening of presents - oh look it's our pressie!!

Mum and Dad with B'day boy

Let him eat cake!

S inspecting the balloons - hmm - yes they are ok!

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Today is another important person's birthday - my dear hubbie - Jameson, who is turning the big 40. We are going out for a posh lunch at a nearby restaurant and will have his cake at home. I'll post pics of his cake later.

Happy Birthday J - May you have many, many more - Lots of Love from C & S xxx

Prizes and Surprises...

Thursday, July 10th 2008

I received my prize tote bag the other day from Lisa at http://thetinhouse.blogspot.com/ for contest info - see previous post re contest. What a lovely surprise, since I had forgotten about receiving the tote bag, and Lisa's handwriting on the envelope looks like another Aussie gf's writing. Well I'm extremely happy with the bag - Thanks a million Lisa, very impressed with it! - tempted me to use an ol' pair of J's jeans to make a tote.

I'm now using it to hold my knitting - my latest knitting project.The jean pockets are great to store my tools - tape measure, crochet hooks (to fix dropped stitches - still trying to master that technique sometimes I just undo rows instead!), pieces of wool, labels from the wool, stitch holders etc.

Thanks again Lisa for the lovely tote, I'm enjoying using it and the bonus extras are gone!!

Pics of bag below:

Front of tote

Back of Tote
With lovely lining
& added bonus some Aussie chocs!
Perfect storage

Finished Projects

Wednesday July 9th, 2008

Finally finished a couple of projects that I was working on for S - yeah! Love it when projects are finished - see previous post re beginning of project - http://10minutecoffeebreak.blogspot.com/search/label/Knitting

Blocks

Making S's blocks became a family affair - Thanks to Mum for sewing the blocks together, straighting my very tight knitting (well it's a learning curve) Dad who cut the foam for the blocks, my little bro who sorted out the patterns and color scheme for each block. J supervised the whole process! Picture of finished blocks below

S playing with her blocks

Booties
I also knitted a pair of baby booties for my gf who baby is due within the next couple of weeks. Big thanks again to Mum for sewing them together for me. They turned out a tad big - for 3 inch foot, so he (they know it's a boy) can wear them in the winter. Actually they look like footie boots lol! Pictures below

Now I'm knitting a striped cardigan for Miss S - I'll post later about that.

K 4, P4, rep till end then P4, K4 rep till end.....

Wednesday, June 4

This is a busy bee week for me with J away this week, no extra help with S. J will be back home late evening on Thursday & is taking Fri off so we can have a fun day as a family, so far I don't have any plans for Fri, I should start putting together some ideas so we can do some fun activities with S. Sometime during the day we need to do our grocery shopping, which S loves - gives her a great opportunity to check everything out and tell me about it, this makes the shopping trip very exciting and entertaining.

Well I've decided that I wasn't doing enough projects! - what with my scrap booking, needlepoint, recipe book (a huge work in progress), being super mum to S and general household chores etc. I've decided to take up knitting.The other day I was inspired by this book, that I found on Amazon and fell in love with the jumpers (aka sweaters). BTW if you knit you will know the title is the secret knitting language. So I decided to give it a go, ordered the book, purchased wool, needles and re-taught myself. A couple winters ago, I knitted a very chunky scarf with my MIL helping me - it turned out surprisingly well.

I was amazed when I started how I remembered so much, it was like getting back on a bike. You soon remember once you start. My first project for S will be a knitted block. It's a nice project each side is a different knit and measures three and bit inches square, so it's fairly quick to knit. Some pics are below.

My new project!

Green - Seed Stitch

Pale Blue - Single Rib

Pink - Stocking Stitch with Ribbing

Pale Blue - Basket weave Stitch (my favourite)

Pink - Double Rib (actually is a tad small so may need to redo this square.)

Green - Garter Stitch
(ignore my fingers, the knitting curls onto the purl side at the moment, once sewn together the curling will stop!)
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My paternal nanny (aka Grandmother) was fantastic at Knitting - she passed down the secrets to my Aunt, who has 4 girls but unfortunately none are interested in learning to knit. If I can become half the knitter that Nanny was, then I will be getting somewhere. Nanny was known for her cables & Fair Isle sweaters they became true works of art - sorry I don't have a pic to show, wish I did.

I find knitting so relaxing, the feel of the texture as the project grows, knowing it's something that you made & hopefully will be passed down. I'm slowly getting a rhythm together though it's not fast enough to hear the click, click of the needles. I know in time that will happen. So at the moment I'm taking baby steps & plan to make 3-4 blocks for S then will progress onto a hat then jumper. Well better get back to my P4, K4 - it won't knit itself you know! I'll post pics of the finished block within the next week.

TGIF..

Friday, May 30th

Today is the last day of Colour My World, it's a shame I've really have enjoyed this little project. I hope other people will do the same and notice all the colours of the rainbow around them.

Electric Blue Friday
Blue is another one of my favourite colours, but I was surprised at how little I own that is blue! - maybe it's not a fav after all and I should take it of my list. Interesting that 4/7 photos are associated with water which is a calming and peaceful element.

I find blue to be peaceful, calming and restful. Some things that seem blue to me are a baby sleeping, taking a snooze on the sofa when you get a spare 10 mins, sitting outside enjoying the weather - even if it's winter.

What ever you do this w/end make sure you take 10 minutes just for yourself. Have a great w/end everyone. Oh and below are my photos.

My blue-eyed girl

Cone flowers in the back garden

Glass bowl

Just the right size for a cuppa

Make sure to drink my 8 litres a day.

Ready for next round

Retro drying up cloth

Thursday is dragging.....

Thursday, May 29th

Ma vie en rose et rouge

Today are a couple of my favourite colours - rose et rouge and it comes in so many shades; it did help having a little baby girl.

Kettle

Monkey's chair

Stop sign at the end of my street

Well worn birkies

S cossies/swimmers (aka bathing suit)

Berries on my oatmeal

A stack of t-shirts and jumpers (aka sweaters) that need to be put away!

Mid Week

Wednesday, May 28th

Jazzy Orange
I don't have alot of orange things in my house or garden so this colour was a difficult one for me, after hunting around my house I finally have some pics.

Only 2 seasons in MI - snow and road work!!

Look what I found in our fridge - a bowl of orange jelly (aka jello) with peaches - thanks J

Yummy orange soda drink

Vitamin C - I take it everyday

The laundry wall

I won....

Tuesday, May 27th

I'm so excited, I haven't won anything for years and just found out on the w/end that I had won a prize from a fellow blogger - yeah! - Its a handmade tote, made by a fellow aussie from her jeans. Lisa's blog can be found at Tin house check out the tote bag, so cute. - Thanks Lisa, I can't wait to receive it and use it. Nice to know other people on the other side of the pond are thinking of the environment as well.

Well today is...

Mellow Yellow Tuesday

Yellow to me is a happy colour, makes me smile when ever I see sunflowers, daffodils and homemade lemonade.

Kitchen Blind

You can never have too many coasters, even tacky ones!

Loved by aussies and S

Candles in the dinning room

S Bear toy - it's a cat, that pretends to be walrus!

Colour my World...

Monday, May 26th

Is it really Monday already? - the w/end just flew by for me. I hope everyone had a great w/end. In US today is a public holiday - Memorial Day, time to reflect on the fallen who have brought freedom to our countries - Thank you to all the men and women.

Plus it's the official beginning of the summer BBQ season, and time to plant our veggies into the garden, since the frost and cold mornings are on the way out!

On Friday & Sat our sub had a massive garage sale - that I only found out about the day before - grrr, since we have alot of clutter that we need to get rid off! Anyway Friday morning J was home to look after Missy S so I quickly went out around the sub checking out the garage sale. I found some great bargains, mostly for Miss S so I'll will post about that later.

& the rest of the w/end was busy with jobs, getting my "To Do" list finally tackled - J painted the basement bathroom, same color just a tad brighter shade. I started work on cleaning the basement. Believe me this is a massive job and will take more then one w/end to complete. The local scouts collected our ol' sofa and chair. This sofa was from UK, handed down from J's mum, when they collected it they mentioned it was in great condition - not bad for a 20+ year old sofa, hopefully it will find another family that can use it.

Today is the first day of "Colour My World" and its......

Green Monday

Christmas Cactus - flowers like made at Xmas, nearly died in the winter from the cold sitting in the family room, moved it to the kitchen table and it's thriving again.

Various champagne and sparkling white wine bottles that live on the top of our kitchen cabinet

Funny story behind these bottles, no we didn't have a party and forgot to tell anyone! This strange assortment of bottles live on the top of our kitchen cabinet and will never be thrown out. The packing company in UK were very enthusiastic about packing and packed these empty bottles away; they received VIP treatment triple wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a separate box away from the common beer and wine glasses. After this I don't have the heart to toss them out.

Broccoli ready for freezing

Lizard from New Mexico - clinging to our kitchen wall

Grapevine growing again

Hosta's growing in the backyard