New Years Eve

The last day of 2006 - what a strange year it has been. Just where do the days go now? I don't know about anybody else but I can't believe it is the end of 2006 already.

As far as I'm concerned, you just can't ring in a New Year without New Year Resolutions, I've always got a few (rarely stick to 'em though) and it seems appropriate to put some of them up here.

• Obviously, my main resolution would be to maintain this blog - I am getting a bit bored with it some days but ultimately, it's always nice to publish a new entry and upload pictures etc, and the basis for the following resolutions, too I suppose.
• Finish more projects: I am very good at planning and starting projects but a bit lax with the finishing...I have quite a collection of patterns that I want to try, so I had better get a move on with them all.
• Related to the one above - make a dent in my beautiful unSecretPal stash - so many gorgeous yarns to play with.
• Take better photos!
• Send out as many RAoKs as possible, time and finances permitting.
• Make things for "good causes" (charities).
• Start and finish something knitted other than a garter stitch scarf (scarves are fine, just not plain, boring ones).
• Participate in more swaps because they are fun - and who doesn't need more fun?

Happy New Year.

Cables Schmables

As if I don't have enough to keep me busy, I thought I would try a cable pattern, since I knew I had some cable needles...bought many moons ago, never thought they would be put to use!

This is the first attempt, using 5.00mm needles, 8ply wool and a very loose interpretation of a pattern from the book. Itty bitty faux cables.

Second attempt, same needles, 8ply acrylic - I decided to try a 6 stitch cable, one with the needle at the front and one with the needle at the back. A mini-cable swatch...

To be honest, they were fun but I really like the lacier / dantier cable patterns a lot more than these ones (some very nice ones in the book), except they are too complicated for me to try at the moment.

Anyway, I suppose that will end my knitting escapades for the night, my hands and neck are killing me now, I need to get back to some crochet projects and relax.

Knit is (still) a Four Letter Word

I finished my knitting pattern test a little while ago - it is more mistake than pattern but there is a resemblance to the photo...I can see a slight one, anyway (it also looks a bit 'fishy' to me, so I might just be going mad what with all the knitting I have forced myself to do today).

I wish I had made a wider plain border around the pattern (like the photo from the book) but I don't think I would've coped well with too many more stitches on the needles. As it is, I was forever untwisting stitches (poorly), picking up stitches I slipped off my needles (unintentionally), decreasing at the end of the rows when I found I had a few extra stitches left over etc.

I am actually really surprised that it was a relatively quick knitting exercise. Not so long ago to end up with a piece of that size would've taken me days, definitely more than the few hours this took.

I have decided I still like the pattern, just not the way it looks when I knit it, so I don't know if I will continue to practice this one, or if I will pick another pattern from the book and give it a shot. I suppose it would be more sensible of me to work out where I am going wrong, why am I twisting all my stitches, why do I have such trouble maintaining the correct stitch count and why is it nigh impossible for me to purl two together through the back loops! To be very honest, I think I will just pick a new pattern to play with...

Pictures...

I thought I would try center uploads and see if I could get a better looking layout...

This is the snowflake sent to me by a Crochetville Elf in Wisconsin, it's a lot prettier on the tree "in real life" and I am not looking forward to taking all the decorations off and packing it up for the next 12 months...but it has to be done, I suppose...



Two skeins of LionBrand Homespun which I have heard about but never seen over here (I don't think it's available) - the colours in this are lovely! I am not sure, but I think it would make a nice Winter scarf?



The very cute crocheted bookmark (with beads on the ends of the ribbon) sent by the same Crochetville member as the Homespun. You can never have too many bookmarks (and I don't actually have any I have made for myself, anyway, so this is very handy).



I have discovered these are not little floating heads as I thought, they are "Antenna Balls". I think they look a bit cute perched in the tree. Received as part of my unSecretPal Package last Friday (along with the following items).



"Eye Catching Crochet" by Janet Rehfeldt - some very nice crocheted accessories in this book, I especially like those little gloves pictured on the cover (and the itty-bitty sock earrings which might be a bit beyond my skills at the moment).



This is the beautiful cup & saucer (I would've been heartbroken had it arrived in pieces). Currently surrounded by some of my favourite objects on top of my cabinet, I might put it in the cabinet in the lounge room so everyone can see it.



Pretty cup again.



Very beautiful necklace and earrings, I will have to make myself look halfway decent and get a photo with these on, they are really lovely. Never can go wrong with pink!

A bit later on: as promised, wearing the necklace and earrings, terrible picture but far better than some of the others I took (why do I have a lazy eye?). Mum can not seem to grasp the concept of fully depressing the button and actually taking a photo so that only left me with the timer option...

Thank you, unSecretPal Jerry (as always). The items not pictured are a Christmas card (very pretty), a postcard from Solvang, a card for my mum (well, I assume it was for her - she has it, anyway) and the beloved peanut butter cups and Ghiradelli chocolate squares. Yum.



This is the knitting pattern I am hoping to do properly, it is really very simple (in theory, anyway) - knit, purl, knit two together, purl two together, yarn over etc, no reason for me to have so much trouble with it but I will persevere. I think it's a nice pattern and would stand alone well for a scarf or something. There is a "slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over" in there somewhere (can't remember) and I am delighted that I actually know how to do it now...

I've never tried knitting or crocheting from a graph / chart so this is a bit of a novelty, I am resisting the urge to re-write the pattern out in "plain English" because that would be easier but I figure it can't be that difficult to follow the graph. I've only gotten up to row two of the pattern so far (before I end up ripping it out because it doesn't seem right) so I haven't really had the opportunity to get too confused. Live and learn...

There are other prettier and lacier patterns (as well as the knit & purl patterns and cable patterns) but I thought if I could do this one (which I quite like anyway), I will be very happy for now.

This and That

Knitting and Michelle definitely don't mix. I have tried, since I got home from work, to follow a very simple pattern in the book and I am not having much success. I will keep plodding along until I get bored and give up or succeed. I am not sure which I will aim for. I am definitely blaming the needles and the yarn I am using, as well as my own incompetence - I did try the bamboo needles I have but they are horrible, very sharp at the tips and they are painful for me to knit with. I did have more luck with my plastic ones so that is a good sign as far as I'm concerned.

When I walked in the door, I saw a small package on the hallstand and I wondered whether it was from Deborah for the Holiday Gift Exchange but when I checked the return address, I saw it was from a fellow Crochetville member who had sent me something completely unexpected - two skeins of LionBrand "Homespun" and a crocheted pineapple bookmark which is very sweet. I am constantly being amazed by the generosity of people.

The package I received from unSecretPal Jerry last Friday contained peanut butter cups (thank God - I was going through serious withdrawal), dark chocolate with white mint filling squares, a crochet book ("Eye Catching Crochet" - Janet Rehfeldt), a lovely necklace and earrings set and a beautiful white / blue cup and saucer (Delft handpainted) which is currently on top of one of my cabinets in my room, until I rearrange and find a place for it amongst the collection. There were also three little toy ornament thingies (a snowman head and two reindeer heads, I think) which I perched in the branches of the silver Christmas tree.

I did end up bidding on the Annie's Attic "Award Winning Afghans" leaflet before I went to work but I was not willing to spend as much as other people obviously are and that's okay. I will just keep my fingers crossed that they do eventually re-release the leaflet. It's a poor business decision if they don't, considering how much of a demand there is and how much people will pay...the patterns are so lovely but you would really need to make all of them multiple times to get your moneys worth for the cost of the leaflet as it is.

Katie from Live2Knit sent me an e-mail telling me the sample card is in the post and I am eagerly looking forward to receiving it, so I can start planning and plotting (and probably not getting around to the 'doing' for a long time but the planning and plotting is a lot of fun!).

I will not be sending my spoilees package today but I have a good reason - I was confused regarding the deadline and I see I have a bit longer than I thought, so I have time to do some of the things I thought I didn't have time for. I figure if the poor soul has to wait so long to receive something, I might as well make it the best possible package I can...

Pictures to come in the next entry, this one is not cooperating!

Delights from the Continent

Thank you, Allena, for the link to the Knitting Help website - it was just what I was looking for, very informative. I understand a bit more now, even if only in theory.

I have played around a bit with some of my acrylic yarn and crappy needles, I almost ordered some very outrageously priced knitting needles online tonight (I really hate the ones I have!) but I managed to resist the temptation. There are some reasonably priced ones available which may or may not be much good to knit with, I might order just one pair and see how I like them but I will think about it a bit longer first. A friend is coming over on Friday and she might be able to help me with the concept of cables and cable needles, there are some nice cable patterns in the book my sister gave me.

I am delighted with the "Continental cast on" as I loath casting on with two needles (I hate endless foundation chains, too) but I haven't progressed much into an actual pattern yet (I am talking about stitch patterns, not item patterns) because of the previously mentioned needle problem, as well as this yarn which has a tendency to split and make my life a misery. I have been wondering what I can make with the lovely silk yarn from unSecretPal Jerry, maybe a pretty knitted wrap or scarf in a very simple lacy pattern from the book would work well? I am not sure, I would like to crochet something but it would have to be fairly fancy to do justice to the yarn and all I can think of is an actual shawl type thing which might require a bit more yarn than what I have.

I will definitely be posting the package to my Secret Pal spoilee on Friday, I need to do a bit of shopping in the morning and pick up a few more things if I can and also finish off some things I am working on and then I will bundle it all off to the post office and see how it goes. I hope she will enjoy what I send her. I know I haven't been a very good Secret Pal but I am doing my best.

A copy of "Annies Attic Award Winning Afghans" is available on eBay and I am very cross I will be at work when it finishes - if I remember, I will bid in the morning and just keep my fingers crossed although I don't rate my chances very highly. There is also a "Buy it Now" copy available for $US60 which is just ridiculous, I love the patterns in there but not that much. Maybe the rumours are true and Annies Attic will re-release the patterns in '07 but I don't know. I suppose I will have to be content to wait and see, or practically fork over the equivalent of a days work which is not very appealing, to be honest.

Back to the Secret Pal thing for a minute, I received a package last Friday but haven't had a chance to photograph what was in there (and some of the consumables have already been consumed) but thank you, Jerry, you continually amaze me with what you come up with. I will get photos tomorrow and dedicate a proper entry to what I was sent.

Right now I suppose I had better get myself to bed, I am very proud I have managed to stay up past 5 o'clock in the afternoon today - very unusual for this week! Hopefully I have managed to reset my body clock and will be free from the geriatric hours I have been keeping. It has been a very long week already...

Merry Christmas

My "Eleventy-first" blog birthday and Christmas. We celebrated Christmas a few hours early here - since I was working today we decided to do the presents last night so we have had a lot of fun over the last few hours of Christmas Eve.

Mum and my sister both seem very pleased with their gifts which makes me very happy and I love what they have bought for me. It's quite funny, I suggested some moisturiser as a gift and have ended up with Philosophy, Nutrimetics and Revlon - which is great because moisturiser is not something you ever stop needing...I love the Philosophy stuff, I am just too lazy to head into the city to buy it myself so I am glad my sister picked some up for me.

My sister also tried to encourage my crafty side by buying a sushi kit and book (a yummy artform in itself), a book with cardboard crafts (interesting, more for inspiration I would say than actual projects but I will have a better look through it and see what appeals) and a knitting book. Knitting? I am trying to resist the urge to start knitting because that way lies frustration and exceptionally painful wrists...but she is right, there is just not a good enough variety of crochet books available in this country so I may eventually give some of these patterns a go.

It's a fairly basic knitting stitch 'library' but there are some nice patterns that I think are really lovely and I would enjoy making things with them, if only I could. We shall see. There's at least one person I know who would be horrified to see the knitting needles I am using, and - to be honest - they're pretty awful! Ouch, my poor fingers...

I have pretty much got the hang of this Continental / German style of knitting, which I much prefer compared to the English style. Knit and purl are easy, it's the other things I find difficult to comprehend - slip, slip, knit? Where do I slip, what do I do with the slipped stitch? What is it supposed to look like when I am finished? I don't know.


A very silly little knitted swatch I did the other night, a bit mistake-ridden but not too bad. I will have to keep practicing as the mood strikes.

I am actually quite sad that Christmas is over and we'll have to take down our pretty trees, now. I think the little silver tree will be put in the garage as it is, I won't bother removing the ornaments or folding it up because it is too much of a hassle to redo, I might just stick a garbage bag over it and leave it as it is. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Now to tackle New Years Eve and then have a break for a few months...

Oh Christmas Tree

Blogger is being annoying again, so a quick upload of our other Christmas tree - mum's beloved fibre optics...

It is hard to photograph well, so I thought I would take a picture of it with the lights off and without the flash, there are so many beautiful colours. I must admit, it does look very nice sparkling away there in the dining room (which mum has rearranged for the tree). I like my silver tree better, though.

Two More Sleeps...

I can't speak for anyone else but I had a truly delightful day yesterday. I enjoyed the visit with our dear friend and it was wonderful to see her face light up when she opened her gifts - nothing spectacular but a few things to make her happy...I did explain that I "owed" her the doily and she was fine with that. I also made her promise she'd stick around at least until after her next birthday as I am going to start crocheting her birthday gift as soon as I can order the yarn for it. I'll use any sneaky means I can to keep her here with us...

She gave mum a beautiful Colclough trio, pink background with yellow and dark pink roses on it (I came across the saucer or plate a few years ago and picked it up because I loved the pattern so much but never did find a trio in the pattern), I was given two beautiful cups and saucers which are in the cabinet with mums trio, they are 'keepsakes' she says, so we will remember her in the years to come - we are not likely to forget her, even without them. I couldn't love her anymore than if she was my own Grandmother and I am very blessed that she considers me like her Granddaughter.

Tapestry Craft is running some classes in 2007 and I am wondering whether I will sign up for any, just for fun. There is a beginners crochet class scheduled but I don't think I need beginners crochet - it probably wouldn't hurt but there are some others which are more appealing. I will decide over the next few weeks...see who I can drag there with me, I like company.

I have ordered a "Free Sample Card" from Live2Knit which contains undyed snippets of the yarns available...I did purchase some of her hand-dyed yarns that were sold through Ecoyarns and they are lovely so I am quite happy with the dyeing, I just want to get a feel of all the fibres that are used...I have a lot of plans for her yarns, when I get my hands on some of the ones I am considering.

Deborah seems to think she may have sent my Holiday Gift Exchange package by surface mail which would explain the delay in receiving it, I told her not to worry about it and I will just wait and see if it arrives. I am not going to stress over it, I have too much good in my life to sweat the small things. The Holiday Gift Exchange is 'officially' over but Deborah said she would be sending me something after the holidays and I will happily reciprocate because there is so much I wanted to add to the final parcel but couldn't because I needed to meet the deadline for postage.

The Baby Shawl continues - I was able to do a few rounds last night in front of the TV, so I'm up to round 30 and have a few metres left before I have to join a new ball of yarn...if I have time today, I might stop in Lincraft and see if they have the same yarn, I think I will definitely be needing more than what I have in order to complete the shawl.

I am about to head out into the wilderness (ie. shops) and brave the "Christmas Eve Eve" shopping crowds, I still need to get a few things and then I will be sorted out.

More Christmas Craziness...

I didn't get home until 12:30am yesterday (this morning, really) - I had been shopping from about 8ish and I must say, it wasn't as terribly crowded as I thought it would be. I managed to buy mum 6 books and 3 DVDs which should keep her occupied while she is still house-bound - for a week, at least! I did buy her the third season of 24 for her birthday but I don't think she's sat down and watched it yet, so I must remind her to do that...

I haven't bought anything for my sister yet, but I will do that on Saturday since I know what I am going to get her and it shouldn't take too long for me to organise.

I did stop in at Darrell Lea and buy some chocolatey things but they are not likely to be gifted to the intended recipients so now I am not sure what I will do with them...

A few other incidentals for other friends and some people at work and then I am finished my Christmas shopping - cutting it a bit close this year, I know.

We're having 'brunch', or morning tea if you prefer, with a friend of ours this morning. I have to pick her up at 11. I didn't make that doily - I found my hook but the book is nowhere to be spotted, I wonder where I put it? I will stick a little "I.O.U." card in with her present - I will just have to owe her the doily.

I put the little "Crochetville Elves" snowflake on the Christmas tree and my sister was very impressed with it - she thought I had made it but the one I made is hiding at the back of the tree...the other one looks a lot nicer so it has pride of place on the front. I will put the little gingerbread-man ornament on the tree when I add some string to attach it, I think it's terribly cute - I like gingerbread decorations and things but I don't actually like gingerbread, or ginger for that matter...

The gene responsible for Christmas-tree decorating is also responsible for present-wrapping, I am terrible at wrapping presents, I am of the "less is never more" school and I always end up with far too much paper and ribbon - it never folds right...if I try to be frugal, I don't end up with enough - how does this happen?

Well, it is time to go and beautify myself, it will take a while...!

Freeform Crochet

Shell sent me a link to a Freeform Crochet flickr album - the items this person has made are so lovely! One day, I might have the courage to try freeform crochet...I don't know if I'd end up with such stunning finished objects but it would be interesting to try.

There is my little Christmas tree, as dressed as I can make it. Bit lopsided but it happens to the best of us!

I don't really think it's as stable as it should be on that table but I can't figure out where else to put it away from the dogs.

See the lone little crocheted snowflake? I probably shouldn't have used the silver metallic, eventually I will get around to using the pink, light purple and dark purple ones, too.

Not much else to report.

Scrawny Trees

I am up to round 27 of the baby shawl - the last round took me just on 15 minutes to complete, so without taking increases into account, there is at least two hours of solid crocheting left before I even think about the edging. As it is, from one point across to another, the diameter is roughly 53.5 centimetres. A far cry from the 125cm I am aiming for but I don't think I am that far off track with it. I will do 50 rounds of the pattern and then make up the difference with the edging - the pattern calls for 9 rounds (I think) but I will do more if I can. I like the edging, I think it's very pretty.

I have the 4ply cotton ready for the doily I need to make by Friday but I can't find the hook (2.50mm) or the pattern book, so I don't think I will worry about it now. I need to do some Christmas shopping today and later on, when I have nothing else to do, I will search for the hook and book and get stuck into it tonight...it shouldn't take me very long to do.

I don't know how I let Christmas sneak up on me - it's not as if the date changed but for some reason, I knew we were getting close and then all of a sudden, there's less than a week to go and I haven't done anything. Next year, I am determined to have all my Christmas gifts ready to go (bought and crocheted) by the end of July. The only Christmas stuff I will do from July is my ornaments, the rest has to be already finished, wrapped whatever. Actually, I suppose it wouldn't be a good idea to get chocolates in July for December. Okay, perishables are exempt from the deadline...

Once Christmas '06 is sorted out, all I have to worry about are the new arrivals in early '07 (February / March, I think), some first birthdays (April, August, October) and various other birthdays (January, March, April, July, August, October, December) - there are some very important birthdays (93rd, 85th, 95th) that I must be ready for.

My poor, forgotten bikini - it is not really forgotten, I am just letting it rest for a while. Maybe it will sort itself into shape by the time I get back to it?

A bit later on - I have been shopping and I still feel off and icky, I managed to buy myself two 'presents' and that was all...I did buy a few knick-knacks like Christmas cards and what have you - and somehow we managed to come home with not one but two Christmas trees. One I saw and I liked, it is just a cheap, tacky little creature so I bought it and then after, mum saw one she liked so she bought that. Now we have three trees although the one we were given is not long for this world, I think we will throw it out or give it away...

Whatever gene that controls decorating and organisation - well, I definitely do not possess this gene. I would blame my mother but she is good at those things so I assume it either skips a generation (but my sister is good, too!) or I inherited it from my father - while he is organised to a fault, I can't remember him ever decorating so I will blame his side of the family at least. My scrawny little Christmas tree looks horrible because I can't work out the branches and I didn't think to buy any really nice ornaments, just some little baubles in pink and purple (my favourite colours with silver, which is the colour of the tree) but I am still struggling trying to arrange the branches, so I haven't gotten to the ornamentation yet. I am definitely not a Martha Stewart or Bree Van de Kamp (oh how I would love to be like her)...

If I could be bothered - I can't, but if I could - I would be busily crocheting ornaments for my scrawny little tree. A bit of "mutton dressed as lamb" never hurt anyone, nor would it hurt my tree.

(Much later on - one snowflake attempted and finished, I used Bev's 15 minute snowflake pattern, which took me closer to 25 minutes...it's wonky and needs to be pinned and starched but I am not likely to do that, am I?).

I think that is all I can muster for now...

Quick Babbling

I have continued working on the baby shawl but now I have run out of yarn - it looks exactly like the pictures below except with one or two more rounds...they are taking forever already and I can not see this one getting to 125cm in diameter any time soon! I have to take mum Christmas shopping this week so I will buy some more of the Magnum Baby 4ply and keep going with it. I did start the other one in the blue Panda Baby Lustre 4ply but I didn't like the way it was looking so I ripped it all back and haven't re-started it yet. I was using my lovely 4mm wooden hook from unSecretPal Jerry and it does not like acrylic!

My sister took the pink booties to our friend and apparently, they fit her little one perfectly so she was very pleased with those. I can make more now I know they are the right size - and a few larger, too.

Christmas gifts, where am I with those? Well, I am not doing all that much. I tried the Seraphina Shawl in the copper yarn for mum and it was a nightmare, that yarn is definitely for a very open pattern with a huge hook, I couldn't see a stitch and it was all guess-work. Can't frog it easily, either - less stress to just cut my losses, so to speak.

I need to make one of those pineapple doilies for a friend of mine in white or cream (as per her request) - I did buy the cotton in white when I was at Spotlight so I must get started, maybe this afternoon will be a good time to get it organised.

Apart from that, the other things I will make will just be little bookmarks to stick in cards, or maybe some more snowflake type things as I enjoyed making those - nothing major or too time consuming. After Christmas, I will try some of the patterns I have had my eye on, bit more involved than what I usually do.

I have found some very nice yarns available online (within Aus), so I am planning and plotting to get my hands on some for particular projects...I might ask mum if she would be willing to fund a virtual shopping expedition as my Christmas present.

My Secret Pal 9 spoilee is probably feeling very unloved at the moment but I have almost got the box for her filled up and ready to post. I had considered sending things in stages but never did organise myself well enough for that. Shame on me!

The Next Day: Blogger wouldn't let me post this yesterday, and I forgot to try again when I got home from work...I went to Spotlight and bought some more of the Magnum Baby 4ply - different dye-lot but I don't think it is obvious. There were only three balls and I think I needed a few more but I just got what was there. Maybe four will be big enough, or I can do the edging in a different yarn. I bought some nicer baby yarn in a blue variegation for the baby boy shawl, too - it's softer than the Lustre.

Baby Shawl 1

I decided that I did really like that baby shawl I linked a few days ago, so I started it this morning. I am using 4ply baby acrylic and a 4.00mm hook - the pattern calls for 5ply and a 4.5mm hook so mine will use up a bit more yarn and need more rounds to be as big as the one in the pattern (125cm diameter) . So far I am up to round 20, a little less than halfway through just considering the number of rounds. Each one is getting larger so taking longer and using more yarn - I only had one ball of this yarn so I will have to go back to Spotlight and grab a few more or else I'll be in a bit of strife.

I am more-or-less following the pattern as it is written up 'til now although I think I will just continue it as I am and not do the changes that come up a bit further along. I hope that doesn't affect the edging because I think it looks lovely on the shawl - otherwise it would be a bit boring.

unSecretPal Jerry recently posted a round blanket (knitted) on his blog which has the same sort of pinwheelish pattern. I really like how these round blankets turn out although I am not sure mine should be quite so twisty...I am happy with it this way, at any rate.

As it is obvious, the joining of my rounds is not very smooth (larger gap) but I think it adds an interesting element to the blanket so I will not stress over it too much.

This is a close-up of the stitches, just ordinary trebles and chains with two treble clusters to stir it up a little, my photography skills are leaving much to be desired...

This is a better photograph of the yarn before I got stuck into it although still not great, the colours are quite pretty and much softer than they appear in the photos of the shawl.

When I get this one finished, I have another one to make in a colour more suitable for a baby boy, I thought this yarn would be nice for a girl...I will probably just end up using a plain 4ply Lustre yarn - there is not a lot of variety for boys.

Neglect

I have been neglecting my blog these last few days...I have been distracted with other things. There haven't been many crochet-related happenings to report, except that I received an order I was waiting on from Ecoyarns and I am delighted with the products I ordered, so that is very good (no buyer mishaps this time around!).

Shell got her Christmas package and, even though she told me she would keep it until Christmas, she has opened it already - which is absolutely fine by me (not that it is up to me!). I would've hated having to keep it a secret if she decided to wait.

Speaking of Christmas, I really hope I get paid this Friday because I am flat broke and have not bought a single Christmas present for anyone yet (eek) and I have lost track of payweek through not being at work. It would be very simple for me to check but...what if we don't get paid this Friday? I don't think I want to know...

I had a nice little surprise in the mail today, thank you to the Crochetville "Elves in Wisconsin" for the lovely card (with a little ornament cut-out on the cover) and the pretty crocheted snowflake - and it was even starched / stiffened which is a lot better than what I have done with the few I have made.

(Later on) Deborah just let me know she received her Holiday Gift Exchange package, so I am very glad to hear that! Apparently she is not well, which is not such a good thing. I have not seen hide nor hair of the package she sent me (quite a while ago now). I wonder if it is taking the scenic route? Deborah seems to wonder if it might be held up in customs because it smells nice - the package she sent for the Winter Scarf Swap did smell very nice! Maybe today?

The Cup Is Half Full

Okay, that's a stupid title - I've just half-completed the bikini top...

Obviously, I am not as good at 'guestimating' as I thought I was, my cups do not runneth over...an optomist might prefer it this way, I suppose.

I do like the way it has turned out, though. Not the best picture, I know, but I can't exactly put an action shot on here...well, I could but I don't think it is a particularly good idea.

unSecretPal Jerry got his package today and I am very pleased about that, I can't believe it arrived so quickly! I hope Deborah has received hers, too - if not then I hope she gets it soon. I have my fingers crossed that I receive whatever she sent me tomorrow but I can't really trust AusPost.

A 9-fan "Fan Bookmark" in metallic purple '4ply equivalent - I fudged up the pattern a bit at the beginning but I like the way it turned out. I think 8 is a silly number for the fans, so I added one more. It's a bit big for a bookmark but then, books are all sizes, too...

A crocheted 'snowflake' in the same purple, this is actually a doily motif pattern but I thought it would make a very pretty snowflake - and it was written for 4ply so it's actually the nicest of all the ones I tried. I wouldn't mind a Christmas 'tree' with lots and lots of these, I think I will have to start in January '07 and I might have enough by December...

I didn't get photos of the other ones, I think I forgot (as usual) and then was in a rush to get to the post office.

The non-crocheted mystery project - a very unrealistic but pretty "sunset" (with the sun in the sky, I know - but pretty is more important than realism sometimes) ...there are quite a few versions but this is the one I printed and sent, thanks to Shell for the opinions, they were much appreciated (even if she was responsible for several unnecessary revisions! "Change this, change that, change this...[many hours later]...oh, I like the first one you sent me best"...).

There is something seriously wrong with our postal system if someone who lives on the other side of the world gets their package before someone who lives in the same country.

Work today was quite okay, I did get another lesson in "Continental Knitting" from a very dear lady and I managed to ruin two rows of her scarf with my practice but I am almost certain she has forgiven me for that. I took my crocheting with me and managed to sneak in a round and a half while I was having my breaks. It can't be that bad a day if there is crocheting involved, can it?

I really like this crocheted shawl (PDF) and I think I might try it but I will have to commit to making two, so I hope it doesn't become an albatross around my neck. I don't know how I feel about the bobble-cluster bits - I will have to have a good read through before I make up my mind.

I must stop by the post office tomorrow (or soon-ish, anyway) so I can send another "RAOK". After Christmas, I will knuckle down and do some charity-crocheting, there are some charities I support that I know will need Winter items but I don't really want to run out of time.

Bras 'n Things

I haven't slept since my little nanny-nap yesterday afternoon and now it's 6:35pm...I am just waiting as long as I can before I succumb because I will be working tomorrow after my little break and I do not want to be awake all night and then be tired for work in the morning.

I like the Panda "Woolbale", the pink and black wool - it felts really well. I ran it through half a cycle (a short one!) and it came out quite nicely. I am still debating whether or not I will run it through again, I don't really want it to shrink all that much more but I think it needs more felting. I did add some crocheted handles but I used the Lincraft "Cosy Wool" and they don't seem to have felted at all, so they are very stretchy and floppy and far too big for the bag. I am not sure if I will un-pick the seam where I sewed them on or if I will just stitch them a bit higher so they at least pull the ruffled bit up when they are used. Looking at the picture, I am pretty sure I will eventually run it through again but I have it drying with a brick inside (I like the shape it gives) so it's just another case of wait and see. The band for the "Cosy Wool" does say cool hand wash so I did assume it would felt in the machine, I might try to hand-felt the straps and see how I go.

Angel got a hair-cut today and I am not really impressed with how she looks, I know at least she is tidy and clean but I kind of like her fluffy and scruffy, she looks a bit like a Siamese cat to me, now. What do you think?

I have made some progress on the bikini today (not sleeping will do that!), I have one of the 'cups' completed (and it looks huge) and about half of the bikini bottom done, it is slow and tedious with all the trebles but I am getting there. I have started (row 1) the second 'cup' and I will finish that next and get the top sorted out. I am hoping the edging will pull it all into shape. Maybe I am hoping for too much...I think I will use the aqua Panda cotton (pictured below) for the edging, I think it will be a nice, bright contrast to the variegated pink and white. I don't mind a bit of colour.


This is some of what I bought from Spotlight, there are lots of non-yarn items that I didn't get photos of, and I had already used some of the yarn before I took this photo, so there's a bit missing. The purple wool is lighter and has more of a grey shade in it - I think it's lovely. I am planning a few projects for it but I may change my mind. I think I will try and use the copper coloured yarn to make a shawl for mum but I am not sure how it will work out - I am sure I will document my progress (or lack thereof) here.

It's all really a case of trial and error but so much fun...I might do a bit more work on the bikini before I go to sleep.

Hol(e)y Stitches, Batman!

Introducing my 'handcrafted' FIMO! button! It looks a bit crude, I know - it is not really very refined at all but it looks okay on the bag. I think the silver is pretty and it serves the purpose it is required for, so it is all good.

I really should've spent a bit more time making it properly but I was in a hurry and I wanted it done already so this is what I ended up with. Rustic is the right sort of word I think.

As it is obvious, the fold-over is far too wide at the top but there is not much I can do about it now. I would like to chop it off but I don't think the fabric has felted enough. I would be very unhappy to have it all unravel on me now, that's for sure. I am still undecided about the strap, I made matching little rectangular FIMO! "things" to hold the strap on either side but I am not sure if they will work well. One way to find out but it involves making the strap and sewing, I am not good at sewing.

This is the new bag I am working on now, it is finished (except for the blasted handles) and it needs to be felted, but I like the way it has turned out. I "designed" it myself and - Shell - I can call it a design, because it is not just 'round' (so there!). Besides, those funky increases were a lot of work...

I did felt a swatch in the kitchen sink and it felted quite well without too much effort on my part, I wasn't sure if the wool was going to be right (just really cheap stuff from Spotlight) but it seems to be okay. I am lazy, so I might try just one cycle in the washing machine but I do feel terrible to waste the water for something that is, strictly speaking, unnecessary...with that being said, I want to felt everything so I am sure I will get over my reservations fairly quickly.

Obviously, my camera is working again - new batteries did the trick and I am terribly grateful for that (I am sure I am not the only one).

I received a very timely reminder today that I have forgotten some babies-on-the-way (obviously, not mine) that I need to make things for. I have until early '07 so I am not panicking yet but I would have liked to get everything sorted before Christmas and I just don't think that is going to happen.

Horror of horrors! I frogged the bikini bottoms I was making because I started with a 3.25mm hook instead of the 3.00mm the pattern called for (I couldn't find my 3.00mm) and I thought it was a wee bit too lacy (racy?) to be decent for me. And then...I couldn't find my pattern! I know I left it on the dining table (I was showing my sister) but it was nowhere to be found. Then I noticed the bag mum left under the dining table with all the rubbish mail she was going through and I found my pattern - in multiple pieces! Oh no...boy am I cranky with my mum right about now. I decided to start the pattern in Happy Hooker and, my goodness, it's all trebles so a bit brief with the stitches, too. I am about half way done with the front piece (it is taking forever) and I must say, it is not looking very interesting yet, I hope it improves.

I am following the pattern for the medium size so far, but it may not be sufficient to cover my, shall we say "generous" bits - even though I am using a larger hook than called for (which probably doesn't help with the hole-y stitch situation) but I will adjust as needed. The bikini top actually looks nicer than the Panda pattern, so that is a definite bonus. It is not flat in the photo but it does have the right shape, I hope.

Yes, it is pink. What other colour would I use?

My badly photographed purple Ballet Slippers (on a chocolate box, of course) - they are a much nicer colour, actually and I haven't added the little flowers yet but I will do that a bit later on. I might take a new picture a bit later on when the sun comes up and then replace it because they don't look as nice as they really are.

Good Thinking, 99!

Entry 99, a lovely number for me. I will wait until I reach 333, or 999 (if that is ever likely) but until then, number 99 is a very good entry to be writing...

Except for the bad news that I have somehow managed to break my camera, it is being very stubborn and refusing to turn on or off properly, the lens is not retracting and it is very annoying. I hope it is a battery issue but it's never happened before - and it's not all that long since I put new batteries in it, either. Hmm, indeed!

Unfortunately, that means I can not take photos of my sexy felted bag, which is still partially 'naked' because I wasn't able to find the rings I wanted, the ribbon for the strap or a button today. How disappointing! I have decided I will try my hand at making my own button but it could get ugly with the FIMO!. I will do my very best...and the good part about that is I have an excuse not to show my poor handiwork, since I do not have a camera! I knew there would be something good about that if I thought hard enough.

I made it to Spotlight today and I would love to show pictures of everything I bought - except some of it is a secret (shh...) and the other stuff is not all that exciting - loads of Panda 4ply cotton, because I managed to get my paws on the crochet bikini pattern. It starts off with "front (beg at crotch)"? I know the beg is for begin but really, can I be the only one who finds that incredibly funny and slightly disturbing?

I bought some Patons baby yarn (stupidly expensive for the crap that it is, in my not-so-humble-opinion) so I can make some more of those delightful booties for friends. I will go and visit Lisa over the weekend and take the purple and pink pairs in for her little one (I hope they fit) and I have to make some for a friend who is expecting a boy - I don't know if Ballet Slippers work for a boy (but they work for me!) - I might have to try a different pattern but I will resist as long as possible. I like to stick with things I know will work.

It's far too late and I have a sore head (thanks, Karolyn, for opening the boot and hitting me with it!) so...it's time to sleep.

Mysteries of Life

The Great Monstrosity of a Bag is finished! I decided to give the bag one last cycle in the washing machine (out of how many, I am ashamed to say considering we are in the midst of a severe drought and tough water restrictions!), and "The Little Bag that Could" did not let me down...much.

I will post on C'ville today, I hope Donna is not disappointed with my effort - the pattern was very good, I actually really liked the bag before I felted it but I can't say I dislike it now (except for a bit of wonkiness). Any mistakes are entirely my own and not a reflection of the pattern, of course. The only real change to the pattern is that I left off 95% of the handles and ad-libbed two little 'handle pockets' on either side of the bag, so I can attach a proper handle when I find one.

I used a 6.5mm hook (Susan Bates K10) and just under three balls of Karaoke "Cocoa" and 1 ball Karaoke "Bloom". I am glad I didn't use my beautiful geranium coloured Karaoke, I will try the next bag with a slightly smaller hook. Measurements before felting were just under 40cms (15.5 inches) wide, 31.5cms (12.5 inches) high - excluding fold-over, 48 cms (19 inches) including fold-over. I haven't measured it again but I will do so a bit later on.

Front (pre-felting)

Back (pre-felting)

Partially Felted

Mostly Felted

Felted!

All the magic happened during the last cycle, you can see how much it has shrunk compared to the partially felted photo. I decided to try some very strenuous 'hand-felting' in the laundry sink after the third machine cycle and that must've done the trick.

Felting is a mysterious process, I do wish I had known the secret handshake - would've saved me a lot of frustration (and water!) but in the end, I just made up my own and it seemed to work out okay. My sister asked for the bag and then she changed her mind and said it was too Winterish, which is fine - I think I will have to keep this one for myself but I might be game enough to try this felting thing again...perhaps after a good rain?

To be honest, there's still a bit too much stitch-definition for my liking but I can't say I am displeased with the results - especially considering what I thought I was stuck with for a good few hours!

I just need to find a good button for it and the right handles and I will be set (no lining is required)!

Yeti Slippers

I wanted to get started on that felted bag pattern from Donna yesterday and I had a quick sticky-beak around in my 'stash'...Donna used four skeins of Caron "Felt-It" and I know I don't have four of the Lincraft "Cosy" wool in the same colour but then I spotted the beautiful Karaoke sent by unSecretPalJerry.

I even made a little swatch (see?) because I wasn't sure if the hook size I was using was going to be too open or tight (6.5mm / K10 - I want my bag to be a bit bigger than the prototype, or so I thought) but look at the colour! It's beautiful - just like the geraniums we have in the garden! I had a bit of a panic and decided I couldn't use it because what if I mucked up the pattern and I don't want to ruin my beautiful geranium coloured Karaoke, so...I am making a test of the bag in the other Karaoke I have ("Cocoa" - it's brown) and if it works out and I know I have enough yarn then I will make a proper version in the red. Sound like a plan?





(proof of Geranium coloured beauty).

So this is what I have so far - it is massive! 40cms (or just under 16 inches) across and 20cm / 8 inches high, so far. I am not going to do a felted strap because I definitely won't have enough yarn for that in this colour - I may manage the bag with just the brown or I might have to borrow a ball of "Bloom" and do some creative striping...

It looked very potato-sackish to begin with but now it's starting to look like a bag, even if it's a big, floppy, brown monstrosity of a bag. I do hope felting is a magical process and there's actually no secret handshake or anything because all I know is I am supposed to put it in the washing machine and pull out something beautiful. That's the plan, anyway and I'm sticking to it.

Maybe the colour choice is a bit of a surprise to some but I actually quite like it, very 'mushroomy' to me, and there are such pretty flecks of colour along the yarn, a good Winter sort of shade, in my opinion.

I might rethink the hook size for the next one, even if this one does turn out nicely (and I am keeping everything crossable crossed, for sure). If it isn't bad enough that felting uses more yarn, and crochet uses more yarn...I think felting was invented by yarn companies to make crocheters use up all their yarn and need to buy more, but that's just a theory...

What else? Well, I made another pair of those cute little "Ballet Slipper" booties in purple yesterday but I haven't added the flowers or gotten pictures yet, some poor baby is going to have very hot feet this Summer. Lily brought her granddaughter over yesterday but I was occupied placating Angel (boy, was she cranky!) so I forgot to try them on her (the granddaughter, not Angel) to check if they fit...that was an odd little paragraph.

These ones I finished yesterday, too, although I made the straps a bit longer than they should've been. I am delighted to have finally found a crochet use for this rotten feather yarn, I have balls of it coming out of my ears (.99c per ball was nigh impossible for me to refuse, obviously!). One pair is done, 300+ to go before I make a dent in the feather yarn stash.


I gave these ones to mum to keep her feet warm because it is still cold in the mornings here, colder than it has been for several weeks...but I did warn her not to wear them while she is walking, they are a bit slippery on the tiled floors - after two knee replacements, I don't think she feels like another one! Poor mum, she has been depressed and miserable lately but maybe just starting to pick up a little bit - she has her first appointment with the Physio today, so we will see how that goes.

Five photos uploaded without any incidents - no screaming, hair-pulling, crying etc. How wonderful. Thanks, blogger, I do appreciate it!

Oh, I forgot - went to the post office yesterday and posted the Holiday Gift Exchange package for Deborah and some Christmas Gifts for Shell & unSecretPalJerry. Yay!

Misunderstood? Me?

Donna from C'ville posted a felted bag and cell-phone cozy that I thought was very nice so since she was after testers for the pattern, I e-mailed her and she sent me a copy of the pattern to have a go at. I will get around to it and in a timely manner, I hope!

I have three packages all ready to go and two more almost ready - Secret Pal, Holiday Gift Exchange and some Christmas gifts...I must drag myself to the post office tomorrow as I wasn't able to do that today (laziness is a curse, truly). I need to buy some more boxes and padded envelopes, as well.

I am really terrible about updating that WIP list, but if I remove anything, I am sure I will forget all about it - I am hoping I can have everything on there finished by the end of the year but we shall see. I might just put the finished items on there in the future, so it doesn't appear so messy. It seems that I like to start new things - starting patterns is easy, finishing is the challenge for me...I found my Star-Flower Shawl (WIP), so now it's just a matter of remembering which hook I was using and I might even be able to get it finished in a few days.

I don't usually do these little quiz things but I did see this on Donna's blog and thought it would be a bit of fun, really.

M	Misunderstood
I	Intense
C	Cuddly
H	Hot
E	Elitist
L	Little
L	Luscious
E	Easy

So there you go, now I've got it in black and white, it must be all true! Quiz here.

I wanted to post some pictures of the yarn I dyed (thanks to unSecret Pal) but I seem to have forgotten my photobucket password - either that, or some rotten bugger changed it on me when I wasn't looking...there we go, all fixed now:

Not the best photos but not as bad as some I have taken recently. My three pretties - I've done five but one is destined for Spoilee and the other is nestled quite happily in with all the nice yarns I received, it would be cruel to disturb it. Still saving the very last one, not sure what colours I will use but it would be safe to assume pink would feature in it somewhere.

While I have been twiddling my thumbs, I thought I might try some of the patterns I pulled out of the "Pattern Box" (yes, still cleaning today but made very good progress!), so I made the Ballet Slippers from "Precious Baby Booties" (Annies Attic). Very simple and relatively quick, quite similar to the booties I was trying to make before from an Erika Knight book but so much easier than hers. I love crocheting in the round. The flowers I ad-libbed on because I like flowers...and they are a bit lopsided but nevermind.

More Secrecy?

I hate not being able to post what I am up to, it's very annoying...I'm the world's worst Secret Keeper when it comes to things for other people, all I want to do is blurt it all out. I'm especially bad at Christmas and somehow mum always ends up getting her presents early because she is as bad as I am and I just can't help myself...I have lots of things I want to include here at the moment but not yet, must wait until everything is sent and received, I suppose.

A friend of ours is having a birthday this week (Tuesday), so I have made her two little gifts, nothing fancy, but I am sure she will like them. She's a very sweet person and she appreciates handmade presents.


















A doily and a bookmark - the bookmark is one of the patterns from Crochetroo, I didn't do as many fans as the pattern called for but I was running out of time and it's quite big since I have used a 4ply equivalent instead of proper thread. I love the metallic stuff, though...even if it is a bit stiff and wiry to crochet with. Way better than the Sullivans, that's for sure!

This is what happens when I uphold my end of the bargain and look at sock pictures until my eyes start to bleed and my feet are cold, too:

I apologise in advance for any pain these pictures might cause to certain people...I am using some kind of novelty yarn (obviously) but I can't remember what it is called because I threw out the label when I wound everything into balls...I am thinking "Heather" - I know it's a Lincraft brand anyway.


It looks a bit like a happy little faery (maybe even "Glinda-the-good-witch-of-the-North") ate too much fairy-floss and vomited on my feet...but I like 'em anyway! I am very pleased I actually got a pair of something - and they are almost the same (but my feet are only almost the same, anyway, so that worked out quite well).

The really good news is that it took less than a ball to make both - and I have two balls left! That might mean another two pairs?

Oh, happy days!

I am sure most will agree, the very best part is that this yarn is incredibly slippery and we have tiled floors, so I am sensing lots of fun in my future when I am walking from one part of the house to another...


One more?

What Day Is It?

The Smilie Ban commences now. I can write thousands of words here without ever using a smilie but I can't go a sentence without one on MSN. I blame Crochetville! I am so used to putting a smilie at the end of each post, it is now habit for me. That is the only bad thing I will ever say about Crochetville - the "Smilie Addiction".

Well, it has to stop - I am forgetting how to express myself without ":" and ")".

I woke up and I checked my clock. 5:12, which is about right, 12 minutes later than I usually wake up - but I couldn't remember if it was AM, PM, Friday evening / Saturday morning or God knows when. It looks basically the same outside at 5pm as it does at 5am, just a bit lighter in the evening although it doesn't take long to lighten up in the mornings. I hate sleeping in the afternoon but it was hot and I felt sick so I turned the A/C on and relaxed. I think I have figured out why I've been feeling so rotten these last few days but it's just a case of wait and see if I am right or wrong.

Shell gave me some very good advice about gauge swatching, which is a bit silly, because you would think it would be pretty easy but I couldn't make heads nor tails out of the patterns I was looking at. Some are good and detail the steps and others just say "such and such over such and such = X cms / inches" which is not good for me. I am not clever like that...I want specifics, please - need it all spelled out for me.

I am determined to get it right, I will swatch like my life depends on it...just not today, I am so not in the mood for that added stress.

So poor mum is home and she seems okay, a bit on the frail side - I hate that, mum has never, ever seemed frail to me before. I hope it passes quickly, maybe once she is used to being back at home and running her life again without those "interfering nurses" she will improve. Some good home-cooked meals might help, too - although I must say the food there was quite impressive, it looked more restaurant quality than the usual "hospital food" (not quite restaurant quality, but very nice all the same). Never knew mum was such a fussy eater, I suppose it makes a difference when she can't cook what she likes for herself or have us do it. We are waiting for my sister to finish cooking dinner, and it is taking far too long...I just had some smoked oysters, can't stomach the things raw (or "fresh", as they say!) but I like 'em out of a tin. I'm just classy like that I suppose...

This was quite funny (thanks to the original poster on C'ville), although I suppose the crocheters in the world should be up in arms it's titled "Knitting" instead of "Crocheting". Seems all you blokes are coming out of the woodwork. Maybe it's a southpaw thing (I am assuming he is left-handed and not just crocheting very strangely)? Five brownie points for the crocheting, minus 10 brownie points for wearing that rubbish when playing football. I can't respect a man who has to wear armour to play footy...

I'm off to continue perusing patterns and driving myself insane with failed attempts, also working on something non-crochet related which I am very happy with, will post about that when I can.

I Know A Secret...

So it is not a secret anymore and I much prefer it like this! I am not a big fan of secrets, to be honest, but it's a necessary evil for something called Secret Pal, I must admit.

Hi, Jerry! - The world's bestest (un)Secret-Pal. Lovely to finally get to 'meet' you!

Yes, one of those "elusive male knitters" (to borrow a phrase) - I feel like I should be hearing David Attenborough narrating in the background, such a rarity!

Truly, I am very glad the deep, dark secret was not at all a scary one - not for me, anyway...

It is almost time to pick mum up from the hospital, so I am looking forward to that. I hope she is not too bad a patient at home or I might pull my hair out until I am bald. Not a look I ever wanted...

Two finished items and neither one I can write about here yet. Bummer...

I like this "Citrine Skirt", I don't know about the colours they used though - I think it looks nice but not exactly me in that combination. I might have to try this one since I am lucky and have the pattern (thank you, unSecretPal Jerry)...

This Hubby Swap situation is really getting me down and cranky, I have not received the package back so I will assume that it has been received and that is it. I can't do anything about it now and I am beyond caring.

The last two packages for Deborah (Holiday Exchange) are underway, I still haven't found the missing items for the current one so I will have a very good look when I get home, it really should've gone in the mail already but I will probably just post the next two together so I can stick to my 'schedule' such as it is.

I suppose I better get ready and wear something presentable, since we will be leaving soon...I will have to write more when I come back.