Knit-tacular!

Oh yeah, I have a blog - Part 2

2009-11-17T14:44:00.003+11:00

Well, it's not like I forgot, I just ran out of time!

I've had a busy few months, not the least of which was The Boy's very first birthday. So I haven't had much time for knitting.I blame the heat, it's too hot for knitting when it's 36 degrees!

To make up for it, I've created a bit of a to-do list. Hopefully having it written down will actually make me pick up my needles.

I need to make:
*One more little mouse for a friend who saw the one I had on here,
*Finish a cabled beanie for a gift (this week! Eeep!).
*Considering knitting a pair of woollen soakers for a friend's new baby.

And, I really want to find the motivation to make this for The Boy's new room:

The pattern is so easy, I was amazed at how simple it was. I'm thinking blue and white with a red border to match his nautical themed room. This pattern is called The Best of Both Whirls and is available at Woolly Thoughts. I highly recommend their site.

Frills

2009-08-11T08:57:00.004+10:00

I think I'm in love with frills!

This is the yarn I bought yesterday. Moda Vera Frills.

Frill yarn is knitted in a different way to normal yarn. It's like a stretchy piece of mesh or gauze, and instead of wrapping the yarn around the needle to create stitches, you actually pierce the mesh.

This link explains it a lot better than I do!

I was so excited I started knitting some of it up pretty much as soon as I got home. It was a really alien feeling, almost like learning to knit again. At first, I thought, "how can anyone make projects out of this stuff?" However, once you get going, you start to get the hang of it. It's semi-fast, but still fiddly. I always feel like I need that extra pair of hands to pull the tape taught while I knit it.

I think the results are worth it though! This is just playing, and it may turn into a nice ruffled evening bag for me!

Yarn p0rn!

2009-08-10T14:40:00.003+10:00

I had to duck into Spotlight, that den of temptation, today for some interfacing. Only about $3.50. So far, so good! I was just about to pay when the little devil on my shoulder whispered "Just check out the yarn aisle."

Oh dear.

I left with this.

It was very affordable though, less than $50 for all this.

What's worse is that I have no projects planned for them, they're going straight to the stash. Oh well!

Moda Vera Frills in Black and White

Moda Vera Believe in Black

Moda Vera Cicogna in Black and Orange

Moda Vera Poetic in Brown and Cream (I am in love with this colourway!)

Moda Vera Cicogna in Choolate and Cream

Moda Vera Believe (actually an electric blue, not washed out like this photo).

I just need suggestions for projects now!

Super easy plaited scarf

2009-08-04T16:15:00.006+10:00

This is a scarf I created for a friend. I wanted something to showcase a few colours that was easy to knit while watching tv. I also wanted to use larger needles because they're easier on my hands.

This would make a great beginner project for someone who wants to knit something other than a plain garter stitch scarf.

You could easily use three very different colours, three complimentary colours like I did, or three shades of the same colour. I'm sure you could also be really tricky and use novelty yarns, or make the scarf in stripes.

You will need:

8mm needles

3 colours of 8 ply (DK) yarn. I used Acrylic because my scarves always get lost in the car and I like being able to chuck them in the washing machine. I used about 50g of each ball, although this will vary depending on how long you want to make your scarf.

Invisible thread - available from most sewing shops.

Wool needle.

Pattern

Using two strands of Colour One, CO 6 stitches.

Working in Stockinette stitch, knit until piece is as long as desired.

Remember, you will be plaiting the scarf, so you will lose as much as 25% length. If in doubt, knit more! I did roughly 450 rows, and it just wasn't enough.

You piece of knitting will curl into a tube. This is great, as it makes it double warm! However, if you want a flatter scarf, you could add a K border on each piece.

Repeat with Colour Two, and Colour Three.

You should have three long tubes of knitting. Now for the fun part.

Line the tubes up in whichever order you prefer. I'll assume you used One, Two, Three.

Using your wool needle and invisible thread, tightly stitch the three tops together. I would push the needle through the tube, so the bulk of the thread is inside.

Once you've secured the tops, you need to plait the tubes.

In case you don't know how to plait:

Take the left hand tube and pass it over the middle tube.

Take the right hand tube and pass it over the new middle tube (which used to be the left hand tube).

Continue passing them over in the order until you reach the end.

That wasn't a very good description, but there are lots of youtube vids out there if you get stuck!

Make sure to pull the plait nice and tight.

Once you've plaited all the tubes, use the invisible thread to sew the bottom together.

I had a bit left over, so I turned it over to make a neat end.

And it's done. You have a nice snuggly scarf for winter!

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'd also like to see your creations. Hope you like my first pattern :)

Softies

2009-07-28T21:54:00.005+10:00

Ohh, look at my posting on my blog! lol

I was recently involved in a Softie Swap with some online friends. There was no theme, as long as the softie was baby friendly.

Here are my contributions:

A caterpillar (with no legs. Does that make him a worm?) made from this great tutorial.

I put a sleigh bell in his head and a squeaker in his tail. He turned out pretty good I think!

Have a good look at Kimberly's site, she has some amazing free patterns, and lots of stash-busting things to make.

Marisol the Mouse from this pattern.

Mine ended up looking a little more rat-like than I intended, but cute nonetheless. If it wasn't for a child I would have made a simple i-cord scarf, just to add some detail.

That's all my obligation knitting done, so I've cast on my baby blanket for the Boy :) Nice to knit something without a deadline (although, I suppose he won't be a baby for long!)

Oh yeah, I have a blog.

2009-07-28T16:04:00.000+10:00

That's right, I made myself a blog, and never updated it.

A combination of a cranky, teething, non-sleeping bubba, miserable weather and really sore hands ahs meant I haven't been doing much knitting. Alright, I'm out of excuses :) I will try harder in the future!

I have a few little projects to put up though, so I shall make a new post for them.

Introduction

2009-06-09T11:39:00.001+10:00

It's a cold, windy day outside, and The Boy is in bed sick, so I thought I'd finally get my blog started!

Here's a quick introduction from me.

My name is L. and I live in sunny, sunny Canberra (no, really, there is sun here sometimes!).

I'm mummy to a gorgeous boy who is 7 months old. He's very lucky in that he is the recipient of all my crafting (or unlucky, whichever way you look at it ;) ).

I intend to use this blog as a place to show of some of my finished works and to share other fantastic tips, techniques, and tutorials with other craftaholics.

Hope you enjoy my blog! :D