Merry Christmas

I eagerly CO the other day for the Coraline cardigan and have only just finished the hem. I'm finding the Malabrigo silky merino to split easily when knitting which is a bit of a pain, but otherwise I'm very happy with the softness, sheen and colour of this yarn.


Not much else to report except tomorrow is Christmas Eve (yay!) and my family will be arriving in the afternoon to spend a few nights with us. Looks like it may rain throughout most of the festive season, but as long as the weather is warm I don't mind. So, I wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas
xx

FO: Featherweight Cardigan

Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace (3 skeins in colourway Vaa-only used a small amount of the 3rd skein)
Needle Size: 4mm/US 6
Size: Small

Another great pattern from Hannah Fettig, easy to knit and the end result is a wonderfully light weight spring/summer cardigan that can be worn anywhere. I again loved knitting with the Malabrigo Lace and was very happy with this colourway. Its a very dark green with small areas of blue, not the easiest colour to photograph inside (was a stormy day today so unfortunately no outdoor shots), but I think it will be versatile enough to dress up or down. In any case its a colour which the recipient, my Mum, can wear well. Hope she likes it!


With nothing else on my sticks I am now dying to CO for the Coraline sweater which I was going to wait until the new year so I could add it to my projects list for a new Ravelry group called 10 in 2010 (basically commit to knitting 10 projects of your choosing in 2010), but alas I don't think I can wait. Doesn't matter because I'm also taking part in the NaKniSweMoDo group (AKA National Knit a Sweater a Month Dodecathon...complete 12 adult size sweaters in one year) so I can add it to that list instead. My last years quota was five, so if I can top that I will be more than happy. So yes I plan to have a very productive 2010....

What are your plans for 2010?

For some time now I have been searching for a day to day bag and I finally decided a few weeks ago that what I really wanted was a Namaste bag, which to my great delight arrived today...

After much deliberation I chose the Carli bag in eggplant, which is surprisingly bigger than I expected, a good thing considering the amount of stuff I tend to carry around with me. I am very impressed with the quality and design of this bag and I love the deep purple colour.

Today also marks the beginning of my holidays (2 months off work yay!!), so with time up my sleeve I decided to dye up some yarn to cast on for the Garden Gate Socks. I dyed up a skein of rust orange and another of bluish purple which I will cast on in a few days time (I wasn't happy with the original picture so I edited it out, hopefully I'll have a better picture of the yarn for the next post) . Otherwise I have nearly finished the Featherweight Cardigan (ravelry link) and am planning on posting finished pictures this time next week.

FO: Whisper Cardigan

Pattern: Whisper by Hannah Fettig
Source: Interweave Knits, Spring 2009
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace (2 Skeins), Colourway- Applewood
Needle Size: 2.75mm, 3.5mm, 4.5mm circular needles
Alterations: I knitted the Cardigan much longer than the pattern suggested, continuing to do the increases every second row.

Im very happy with this cardigan its so lovely and light, perfect for the warmer months. I'm so glad I made it longer, I was debating weather or not to leave it cropped, but in the end chose not to. I think it goes better with jeans, skirts or shorts when its longer, which is what I mainly wear. I'm also very happy with the colour, I was a bit worried that it may be a bit boring and plain, but it goes really well with just everything in my wardrobe.

Otherwise, I'm still working away on the other Hannah Fettig pattern the Feather Weight Cardigan, which is coming along nicely. I have also decided to knit the Coroline Cardigan by the talented Ysolda Teague. I have chosen to use Malabrigo Silky Merino in the Blackberry (421) colourway, which arrived last week...

Its so lovely and soft, with a light sheen, cant wait to get started!

With the weather warming up I have also been keen to cast on some smaller projects. I have a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn which I'm thinking of starting the Springtime Bandit shawl. I'm also thinking of making the knee high Garden Gate socks using some yarn which I will hand dye. I think these socks would look really cute peaking over the top of winter boots. Just have to think up a colour combination and get dying.

Birthday Yarn

Today I turned 34, so to celebrate my birthday I decided to take a trip to Guyra which is about 30 minutes north west from where I live. Why Guyra? Heres why...

This huge wool shed marks the entrance to the town of Guyra, love the look of it! Anyway, situated in Guyra is a lovely wool shop called Black Sheep Wool 'n' Wares, the sole reason for my visit! So after much browsing and umming and arring I ended up buying a garments worth of Debbie Bliss Prima yarn, which is 80% Bamboo and 20% Merino.....

I'm not sure what I will make yet, but I've had fun this afternoon playing around with different stitch patterns, this one I particularly like...

All in all a perfect way to spend my birthday!

Catch Up

I'm amazed at how long its been between posts, life has been so busy with work, family visits and Paul graduation (now officially a Doctor yay!). So now things have quietened down a bit Ive finally got around to taking a few pictures of the patterns I love from the Japanese knitting/crochet book (てあみニットはる・なつ―そでつけなしのくつろぎ服 (Let’s Knit series), Isbn 9784529046787) that I mentioned in the previous post......

...there are so many cute patterns, not sure were to start!

On the project front, I have been mainly working on my Whisper Cardigan (Ravelry link), by Hannah Fettig. I'm now ready to start the short rows and finish off the bottom of the cardigan...

Its a great pattern and very cleaver construction, and as always I love working with the Malabrigo yarn....

I have also cast on for the Featherweight Cardigan, another of Hannah Fettig patterns, Im making this one for my Mum.



On the crochet front, I have started the Hexagon Blanket and have been having heaps of fun crocheting hexagons out of the Morris Yarn Paddington which I brought when I was in Sydney. I love the colours available for this yarn and am really enjoying playing with different colour combinations...

...and yes I am deliberately showing off my new Ravelry bag which arrived in the mail a few weeks ago.

I have been meaning to buy a project bag from Ravelry for some time, I was so happy when I turned the parcel over and saw this sticker on the back...

I even cut it out and kept it:)

And last but not least, I finally joined the NSW Knitters Guild, I have been meaning to for ages but since you cant pay online I kept putting it off.

Cant wait to check out their library!

FO: Aestlight

Pattern: Aestlight Shawl by Gudrun Johnston
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock (1 Skein- colourway Rayon Vert)
Needle Size: 4mm


I finished my Aestlight a little while ago but have only just got around to taking some pictures. I was knitting this as a mini KAL with missfee who finished her lovely Aestlight ages ago, oh well better late than never! The shawl turned out larger than I expected, considering it only requires one skein, and I love the look of the Birds Eye Lace. Such a great pattern.

Had a wonderful time visiting my parents and catching up with family, it was so nice to have a break from work and of course they spoiled me rotten. I visited Morris and Sons in Sydney and brought quite a few balls of their brand yarn called Paddington, which is a 6 ply 80% Bamboo 20% Merino bend. I also visited Kinokuniya and brought these books....

isbn 9784834726503


isbn 9784529046787

...the second book has some very cute knitted cardigans which I will take pictures of and put them in my next post.

My parents live near Bowal, so I was lucky enough to visit Wool Addiction, a very cute yarn shop (I didn't take pics!!!!). It is actually a house with four rooms full of yarns and patterns, certainly worth a visit if your ever down that way.

A Week of T

Last week I enjoyed a visit from a tea totaling gnome named Sir Earl, who is traveling the country with a whole heap of tea and other goodies (Travelling Tea Box....its a Ravelry link).


So I decided to make a couple of tea mats to send along with Sir Earl.....

Pattern: Tea mat and Coasters (Free PDF)by Etsuko Taniuchi (谷内悦子)
Yarn: Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids
Hook Size: 4mm

...as well as a couple of Tawashi

Pattern: Amikomo 3-28 Flower Tawashi A by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd) (Free PDF)
Yarn: Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids and Lion Brand Cotton-Ease.
Hook Size: 3.75 mm.

I have also been busy dyeing yarn and have just finished the Aestlight shawl (no pics just yet its still blocking).

I'm traveling south tomorrow, have an early flight to Sydney to visit my parents who live in the Southern Highlands area. I'm meeting up with my Mum in Sydney to have a leisurely day of shopping which MUST include a visit to kinokuniya and Morris and Sons (of course!). Cant wait:)

Cowl Swap

Last week I received a lovely parcel from Christabel as a part of the Cowl Swap over on ravelry...


The pattern is one of her own called 'Cupcake Cowl' which she will be releasing soon. I love the crochet brooch, such a cute package! The yarn is so soft and I love the colour. Thank you once again Christabel xx

I sent my cowl off as well to Emily...

Pattern: Thermis by Kris Knits
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted (Colourway Bobby Blue)
Needle size: 4mm
Notions: 2 vintage buttons

Anyway Im still getting over this awful cold, which I passed on to Paul who is at home sick as well. One good thing is that I have done a fair bit of knitting and even some crochet, will post pics soon. Hope your all well!

Spring Colour

I'm in bed with a nasty head cold, so to stave off boredom Ive been playing around with these pictures which I took last week. I so glad its almost spring!