I've been so busy knitting that I haven't had time to update my blog (in other words, I've been lazy). It seems as if everybody I know is having babies at the moment, so it has been a great time for me to experiment with baby knitting. I've done several hats, and a few baby cardigans as well. The hats all got finished, but the cardigans all need finishing touches, like buttons, or ends sewn in.
One of the things I've had to do a bit of with a one of the cardigans is picking up stitches. Since that is a theme on one of the blogs I've discovered, I thought I'd put the link here. This has the added benefit of being handy if I ever want to read it again.
I was going to add some photos, but flickr has changed something, so I'll figure it out tomorrow. For now, I'm going to finish watching the 4th installment in the Fast and the Furious pics, so I can go see the new one that is out at the movies. I need my Vin Diesel fix.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, June 19, 2010
is it that time already?
I can't believe it has been a year since I've put anything on this blog. I guess I have been busy with work and knitting, so I haven't had much time to blog. I was also busy going to the gym nearly every day, until my back decided it didn't want to be happy. I have only been to the gym once in 6 weeks, partly from fear that it will stir up my back, but mostly because I had completely lost my motivation. Unfortunately I lost my daily routine, and with all the rubbish food I have been eating (hello McDonalds), have put back on the couple of kilos that I lost.
I decided to do something about the unhealthy eating I was doing, and bought a 5.5L slow cooker today (15% off). It is a version with a timer, so hopefully that will come in handy. I also bought a 24cm Le Chasseur cast iron casserole dish (50% off) from DJs, so I can cook things on the stove or the oven. I am aiming to have fill-up-the-freezer days, by using the slow cooker and the dutch oven I'll be able to make a soup and a casserole.
To go with these, I bought a couple of cook books that were on special at Myer (35% off). I got the Women's Weekly Slow Cooking book, and Slow Cookers by Jane Price. If I can decide what to make for dinner tomorrow, it will be a day of slow cooking and hopefully fast knitting! I think I have done quite well out of the mid-year sales this year.
I decided to do something about the unhealthy eating I was doing, and bought a 5.5L slow cooker today (15% off). It is a version with a timer, so hopefully that will come in handy. I also bought a 24cm Le Chasseur cast iron casserole dish (50% off) from DJs, so I can cook things on the stove or the oven. I am aiming to have fill-up-the-freezer days, by using the slow cooker and the dutch oven I'll be able to make a soup and a casserole.
To go with these, I bought a couple of cook books that were on special at Myer (35% off). I got the Women's Weekly Slow Cooking book, and Slow Cookers by Jane Price. If I can decide what to make for dinner tomorrow, it will be a day of slow cooking and hopefully fast knitting! I think I have done quite well out of the mid-year sales this year.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I think I have been possessed.....
by a strange new addiction! I have never liked exercise, so much so that I usually do anything to avoid it. I usually joke that I only run for vomit bowls (in my job as a nurse), or for drugs/blood etc.
Last year a gym opened a few minutes drive from my house. I decided that I would join up, to try to get fit. The advantage with this gym is that it is on the way home from work, so in theory I could go there on the way home from work.
They have now been open for 6 months, and at the start of April I signed up for their 12 week challenge. That involved having an assessment with a personal trainer, and getting a program designed for me. You get bonus points for classes that you attend, and the winner gets a years membership to the gym.
I have not done too badly so far, considering the extra challenges I have had to struggle with...
These photos are of food we enjoyed at the Scquilters retreat in Adelaide in mid April. I had been really good for a month before this, so I allowed myself to let loose a bit. The dinner the night before the retreat started involved a plate full of all sorts of goodies from the buffet, followed by a plate full of desserts from the buffet. On my dessert plate (I wish I had a photo) I had seven desserts. I was good though, I didn't eat everything on my plate. I ate some of everything, and all of a couple of really good things.
The dessert at the Saturday night dinner was just devine. I could go on about how fantastic it was, but I think devine covers it. We had dinner that night at the Glenelg Football Club, which was special in its own way - my Grandad used to play for them after WW2. He was a great footballer from all I have heard.
Anyway, back to the original topic. Gym and exercise. I hate exercise. I always wondered why people felt good after doing it, I always felt like I was going to die, and wondered if I did in fact I did have any of those feel good hormones that are supposedly released by exercise. Until this week. I ended up off work for two days this week with the return of a headcold that I had thought was gone, until my sinusses decided to nearly explode on me and let me know they were there. On those two days I kept thinking about going to the gym, but you shouldn't do that when you are sick it is bad for you (especially when you are having a sick day). I could not believe that I actually felt the desire to go to the gym, before that I have always gone because I felt I had to.
So yesterday, after my 10 hour shift, I went to the gym. And exercised for almost 90 minutes. I did the bike, rowing machine, and the weights machines. After such a long day, and a hard workout, I felt good. Energised. I think I may have some of those feel good hormones after all. I am getting stronger, and fitter. Stronger is good, I completely failed all of the strength tests at the 12 Week Challenge assessment. I need to be able to do better than that at the final assessment.
I know I won't win the challenge, I can't get to enough classes with my shiftwork and being on call, so I won't have many bonus points (and I was away for 3 weeks). But I know that I have given it a good shot. And begun to like exercise - but not running. Two weeks ago I did a cycle class (like the spin classes), and then the challenge class run by the trainers assigned to my group. They can be really hard task masters, and I have to admit I didn't like it when I wanted to slow down and walk and one of them ran behind me so I couldn't stop. I think I more running than I had in 20 years. Talk about sore muscles!
I left the gym last night in time to be on call for the whole weekend (except Sunday night). I won't be able to do any classes, because I won't hear the phone over the music. I plan to sit now and watch a movie and do some knitting. And eat easter eggs that I have been slowly consuming since I came home from my 3 week holiday to Adelaide and Mildura. I will manage to use one of my yoga dvds that have been sitting in the cupboard for the last few years. I think that is the only exercise I will manage this weekend, I find it is too hard to keep the pedals going at a good pace if I don't have the iPod blaring loud music. I discovered yesterday the Ash Grunwald's music has a great pace for rowing and doing weights.
I am only a couple of rounds from finishing a hat, after that I can work on my Forest Canopy Shawl again.
Last year a gym opened a few minutes drive from my house. I decided that I would join up, to try to get fit. The advantage with this gym is that it is on the way home from work, so in theory I could go there on the way home from work.
They have now been open for 6 months, and at the start of April I signed up for their 12 week challenge. That involved having an assessment with a personal trainer, and getting a program designed for me. You get bonus points for classes that you attend, and the winner gets a years membership to the gym.
I have not done too badly so far, considering the extra challenges I have had to struggle with...
These photos are of food we enjoyed at the Scquilters retreat in Adelaide in mid April. I had been really good for a month before this, so I allowed myself to let loose a bit. The dinner the night before the retreat started involved a plate full of all sorts of goodies from the buffet, followed by a plate full of desserts from the buffet. On my dessert plate (I wish I had a photo) I had seven desserts. I was good though, I didn't eat everything on my plate. I ate some of everything, and all of a couple of really good things.
The dessert at the Saturday night dinner was just devine. I could go on about how fantastic it was, but I think devine covers it. We had dinner that night at the Glenelg Football Club, which was special in its own way - my Grandad used to play for them after WW2. He was a great footballer from all I have heard.
Anyway, back to the original topic. Gym and exercise. I hate exercise. I always wondered why people felt good after doing it, I always felt like I was going to die, and wondered if I did in fact I did have any of those feel good hormones that are supposedly released by exercise. Until this week. I ended up off work for two days this week with the return of a headcold that I had thought was gone, until my sinusses decided to nearly explode on me and let me know they were there. On those two days I kept thinking about going to the gym, but you shouldn't do that when you are sick it is bad for you (especially when you are having a sick day). I could not believe that I actually felt the desire to go to the gym, before that I have always gone because I felt I had to.
So yesterday, after my 10 hour shift, I went to the gym. And exercised for almost 90 minutes. I did the bike, rowing machine, and the weights machines. After such a long day, and a hard workout, I felt good. Energised. I think I may have some of those feel good hormones after all. I am getting stronger, and fitter. Stronger is good, I completely failed all of the strength tests at the 12 Week Challenge assessment. I need to be able to do better than that at the final assessment.
I know I won't win the challenge, I can't get to enough classes with my shiftwork and being on call, so I won't have many bonus points (and I was away for 3 weeks). But I know that I have given it a good shot. And begun to like exercise - but not running. Two weeks ago I did a cycle class (like the spin classes), and then the challenge class run by the trainers assigned to my group. They can be really hard task masters, and I have to admit I didn't like it when I wanted to slow down and walk and one of them ran behind me so I couldn't stop. I think I more running than I had in 20 years. Talk about sore muscles!
I left the gym last night in time to be on call for the whole weekend (except Sunday night). I won't be able to do any classes, because I won't hear the phone over the music. I plan to sit now and watch a movie and do some knitting. And eat easter eggs that I have been slowly consuming since I came home from my 3 week holiday to Adelaide and Mildura. I will manage to use one of my yoga dvds that have been sitting in the cupboard for the last few years. I think that is the only exercise I will manage this weekend, I find it is too hard to keep the pedals going at a good pace if I don't have the iPod blaring loud music. I discovered yesterday the Ash Grunwald's music has a great pace for rowing and doing weights.
I am only a couple of rounds from finishing a hat, after that I can work on my Forest Canopy Shawl again.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wrap me up
Ok, it has been too long. I have been up to lots in the last 3 (is it really that long) months, and have meant to post about it here but just not quite got there. I thought that since I am avoiding going to bed, I could post some updated photos of my Clapotis now.
I really love this wrap, but it did need to be washed a couple of times to soften it up. I was able to wear it a couple of times while I was away at the Scquilters Retreat in Adelaide in April, and it received some vary favourable comments. The colours in it are just delicious, I think I am now addicted to Noro yarns. For the colours, not the softness of the yarns. Or the knots.
My next post will include photos and details of other projects I have been working on, two of which I started while on my holiday. I can't believe it is a month since I flew back from Adelaide (or it will be tomorrow). I will also have to put some photos up of the Retreat. I have booked my leave for next years retreat in Bathurst, whether or not I will be able to afford it will be another matter. I am starting my savings this week.
I need to go to bed now, but I am sure I will have nightmares because I have enjoyed my cheese and biscuits a little bit too much since getting home from work. I had to do something - Grey's Anatomy had started already, and I can't watch Private Practice till I have watched the GA episode. It will be so exciting this week!
I really love this wrap, but it did need to be washed a couple of times to soften it up. I was able to wear it a couple of times while I was away at the Scquilters Retreat in Adelaide in April, and it received some vary favourable comments. The colours in it are just delicious, I think I am now addicted to Noro yarns. For the colours, not the softness of the yarns. Or the knots.
My next post will include photos and details of other projects I have been working on, two of which I started while on my holiday. I can't believe it is a month since I flew back from Adelaide (or it will be tomorrow). I will also have to put some photos up of the Retreat. I have booked my leave for next years retreat in Bathurst, whether or not I will be able to afford it will be another matter. I am starting my savings this week.
I need to go to bed now, but I am sure I will have nightmares because I have enjoyed my cheese and biscuits a little bit too much since getting home from work. I had to do something - Grey's Anatomy had started already, and I can't watch Private Practice till I have watched the GA episode. It will be so exciting this week!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Shawl obsessed
Two of my WIPs at the moment are shawls. One is the Fallen Leaves wrap by Dory Brown. I am really enjoying this pattern, as can be seen here:
I was working on this every spare moment, until I needed an easier project to work on at the Canberra Quilters first night meeting of the year. I didn't really like the idea of ripping back because I wasn't concentrating on the pattern. The project I decided to work on was the world famous (in knitting circles at least) Clapotis. I had bought the yarn in 2006 at the craft show. I am using Noro Silk Garden, and it is very pretty. I love seeing the colours change as I knit. I can't wait to drop all the stitches, I have already started dropping some of them more than the few rows that the pattern says to do. I have waited till I've been a couple of rows beyond the one where you drop the stitch to be on the safe side. I don't think it matters if you drop all the way to the bottom before finishing, but I am still trying to resist just in case.
Some of you may notice the ring stitch markers, thanks again to WithaQ for that tip. At the moment I have about 8 electric toothbrush heads floating around in the drawer needing to be used, all without the little colour rings you are supposed to use with them. They make great stitch markers. I am trying to convert all my family into using electric toothbrushes and giving me the rings (hint hint, Mum I am talking to you)! The other stitch markers are the pretty pink beaded ones I got from Donyale last year when I bought the lovely baby alpaca. That is going to be for my special Clapotis, the Silk Garden version is my practice run.
I didn't end up doing any stitching at the CQ meeting, I think it was about 200 degrees inside the church hall, so hot that I thought I was either going to be sick or pass out. I really started this on the 6th of February. I have hardly put it down, except to go to work or waste time on the computer. I am on the 12th repeat of the straight section, so not long to go now. The photo was taken early on, it is much longer now.
The first weekend of my Clapotis Adventure, it was really hot here in Canberra. It got to 40 and 39 degrees on the Sat and Sun, way too hot to spend at my house, so I went and sat at Mum's in the aircon. It was good timing that Dad's cousin was in town, so I was able to spend some time with her. She was visiting from Mildura, so it was a bit cooler for her here than back in Victoria.
On the Sunday I spent a lot of time in front of the TV, watching the terrible news of the bushfires. I had the last two Mondays off work, so knitting this shawl while watching the news has been therapy for me in a way, I guess. It has had quite a few tears fall on it, especially today while watching the service today for the day of mourning.
As well as the two shawls that I am doing, I am also working on some hats to give to bushfire victims. I figure it gets cold in winter where the fires were, so they will be well used. I love knitting in circles, so these will be quick and useful projects to give away. I have to find out who is collecting knitwear for the bushfire victims. The mother of one of my neighbours wants to knit some things as well to give away.
On the car front, I decided on the Suzuki Swift. I now have a really cute little car, though it is amazing how dirty they can get in 3 weeks. I will take a photo of the car tomorrow, and also of the Clapotis in progress. I should also do some weeding and pruning tomorrow, and go to the gym. Hopefully I can get up early to do that, before going to have a massage and hang out with the nieces. I love having a 3 day weekend, this will be my third one in a row. Pity that the last first one only came about from a nasty gastro bug brought interstate.
Next weekend is the Canberra Show, so I will be there watching the nieces behaving like perfect little angels (I hope) and checking out the craft exhibition. I can't wait to see what everyone has made. I know that QM has a gorgeous cardigan that she has put in the show, if only it was my size, it would have gone home with me. I have printed out the pattern, and will decide what yarn to use to make one for me.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Decisions...rotten damn things
I started thinking the other day that since my car is a '96 model I should consider upgrading to something newer soon, while it is still worth something as a trade-in. Turns out that I wouldn't get nearly as much for it as I hoped, so I decided that I need to seriously consider buying something newer, and soon. I have a reliable Corolla, but I don't know how much longer it will be reliable for.
My last car was a Laser, also a reliable car. Until I spent loads on it and it still decided that it wasn't going to go up hills without hugely backfiring and dying. That was not long after I started my first nursing job. I got totally pissed off with that car as you could imagine, and bought the Corolla on the way home from work one day! This time I want to take a bit longer to decide what to buy.
I don't want to have to get a loan, but I think I will have to get a small one to allow me to get something that will hopefully last me till 2020 (I have had my current car since 2001). I am totally confused about what I want, but know I want good visibility because my car is terrible if you want to see behind you. I also have trouble judging where the front of the car is, but that is because I am short. Some of the other things I want are CD player - to get with the modern world, keyless entry and good economy. My car does have a bonus that you don't have to turn off the headlights, it does it for you.
Any suggestions for little cars that are comfortable, safe and easy to park would be well appreciated. I am going on the weekend to do more research while my Corolla is being serviced. I am not sure how logical it is to get the car serviced, it is due and really does need a service. But I don't want to spend much on the car if I am going to buy something better, and hopefully in a really cool colour.
On a knitting note, for once I am not working on a hat! I am doing a scarf for my sister in Paton's Jet. Her birthday is in August and I am planning a matching hat and scarf for her.
I am also attempting a lace shawl as a gift for another friend. I am using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby, details will be on my project page on Ravelry when I get around to adding them. This has been an interesting project so far, it took me 3 attempts to get past row 1, I then forgot to purl row 2 and moved straight onto row 3! I have managed to get nearly through the second pattern repeat, with the help of my tracking system. I am not sure where I read about it, I thought it was on Bells blog but I could be wrong (just skimmed her lace posts and couldn't find it, so probably am wrong. Even if I am wrong, her blog is one of my faves and worth checking out).
Anyway, the system I am using is to have index cards with the instructions for one row on each card. I have them all hooked onto a little ring thing you get at the newsagents. This was an issue to start with, recently I had thrown out stationary stuff I thought I wouldn't use. Index cards and the ring thing were amongst stuff I tossed. To make the cards easily readable, I printed out the instructions so that each row would fit on one card. I just wish I could remember the easy way to do that, instead of having to create tabs. I vaguely remember that there is something in the print options. The system is working so far, and I also remembered to weigh the ball of yarn after the first repeat so if I am close to running out of yarn I will know if I'll have enough yarn for one last repeat.
I couldn't be bothered taking pics now, I should be going to bed so I can get up early for a long day at work in the blessed air-con. Before I decided to buy a car, I had gone to research getting a split-system air-conditioner in my lounge. Apparently, according to the plans, there is nowhere I can put it because I have townhouses on each side of me, and not enough wall at the front to make it affordable. The options I was given were out of my budget at $4000. While being depressed thinking of another year in the hot weather, I had the brainwave to get a newer car - at least that will have decent air-con!
I must be enjoying the challenge of lace, I am sitting here trying to work out how many hours till I can come home and knit some more of the shawl. I promise some pics next time.
My last car was a Laser, also a reliable car. Until I spent loads on it and it still decided that it wasn't going to go up hills without hugely backfiring and dying. That was not long after I started my first nursing job. I got totally pissed off with that car as you could imagine, and bought the Corolla on the way home from work one day! This time I want to take a bit longer to decide what to buy.
I don't want to have to get a loan, but I think I will have to get a small one to allow me to get something that will hopefully last me till 2020 (I have had my current car since 2001). I am totally confused about what I want, but know I want good visibility because my car is terrible if you want to see behind you. I also have trouble judging where the front of the car is, but that is because I am short. Some of the other things I want are CD player - to get with the modern world, keyless entry and good economy. My car does have a bonus that you don't have to turn off the headlights, it does it for you.
Any suggestions for little cars that are comfortable, safe and easy to park would be well appreciated. I am going on the weekend to do more research while my Corolla is being serviced. I am not sure how logical it is to get the car serviced, it is due and really does need a service. But I don't want to spend much on the car if I am going to buy something better, and hopefully in a really cool colour.
On a knitting note, for once I am not working on a hat! I am doing a scarf for my sister in Paton's Jet. Her birthday is in August and I am planning a matching hat and scarf for her.
I am also attempting a lace shawl as a gift for another friend. I am using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby, details will be on my project page on Ravelry when I get around to adding them. This has been an interesting project so far, it took me 3 attempts to get past row 1, I then forgot to purl row 2 and moved straight onto row 3! I have managed to get nearly through the second pattern repeat, with the help of my tracking system. I am not sure where I read about it, I thought it was on Bells blog but I could be wrong (just skimmed her lace posts and couldn't find it, so probably am wrong. Even if I am wrong, her blog is one of my faves and worth checking out).
Anyway, the system I am using is to have index cards with the instructions for one row on each card. I have them all hooked onto a little ring thing you get at the newsagents. This was an issue to start with, recently I had thrown out stationary stuff I thought I wouldn't use. Index cards and the ring thing were amongst stuff I tossed. To make the cards easily readable, I printed out the instructions so that each row would fit on one card. I just wish I could remember the easy way to do that, instead of having to create tabs. I vaguely remember that there is something in the print options. The system is working so far, and I also remembered to weigh the ball of yarn after the first repeat so if I am close to running out of yarn I will know if I'll have enough yarn for one last repeat.
I couldn't be bothered taking pics now, I should be going to bed so I can get up early for a long day at work in the blessed air-con. Before I decided to buy a car, I had gone to research getting a split-system air-conditioner in my lounge. Apparently, according to the plans, there is nowhere I can put it because I have townhouses on each side of me, and not enough wall at the front to make it affordable. The options I was given were out of my budget at $4000. While being depressed thinking of another year in the hot weather, I had the brainwave to get a newer car - at least that will have decent air-con!
I must be enjoying the challenge of lace, I am sitting here trying to work out how many hours till I can come home and knit some more of the shawl. I promise some pics next time.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
It is that time of year again. When I was vaccuuming the house tonight I realised that I hadn't made a decision to put up the tree, so it is still sitting in the cupboard where I found it today while looking for a ball of yarn that I had lost. My house is looking decidedly unChristmassy, except for the cards on the shelf above the kitchen splashback, and the presents needing to be wrapped sitting on the table. Amongst those presents are a selection of pressies for my neighbours gorgeous baby girl born today. I am assuming she is gorgeous, I haven't met her yet, but her parents are great people. Congrats to G and S on the birth of little K! Merry Christmas.
Back to the ball of yarn. I have been looking for it for about 3 months, which is when I last put it in a safe place. Since then, I have turned the place upside down numerous times looking for the rotten thing. Of course, I found it in the last place I looked, which was also a place I am sure I have looked before. Now if only I could remember which project I had decided I was going to use it for. It was either mittens or a hat.
Speaking of hats, one of my great work mates bought me flowers for my birthday a couple of weeks ago, so I returned the favour by making her a hat. I think I became addicted to Patons Jet while I was making it, it is great stuff to work with. When I get time I will post a pic of it. Right now I have to find a pattern on Ravelry that I thought I had printed.
Hope you all have a great day tomorrow, whether it be close to family or far away from them.
I know I will have a great day, my wonderful Mum makes her delicious Christmas Pudding while watching the Christmas Eve carols. Can't wait to eat it tomorrow.
Back to the ball of yarn. I have been looking for it for about 3 months, which is when I last put it in a safe place. Since then, I have turned the place upside down numerous times looking for the rotten thing. Of course, I found it in the last place I looked, which was also a place I am sure I have looked before. Now if only I could remember which project I had decided I was going to use it for. It was either mittens or a hat.
Speaking of hats, one of my great work mates bought me flowers for my birthday a couple of weeks ago, so I returned the favour by making her a hat. I think I became addicted to Patons Jet while I was making it, it is great stuff to work with. When I get time I will post a pic of it. Right now I have to find a pattern on Ravelry that I thought I had printed.
Hope you all have a great day tomorrow, whether it be close to family or far away from them.
I know I will have a great day, my wonderful Mum makes her delicious Christmas Pudding while watching the Christmas Eve carols. Can't wait to eat it tomorrow.
Monday, December 8, 2008
I'm off to see.....
the Wiggles, the wonderful Wiggles of Oz. Because, because, because... I can't remember the rest of the tune, but I have been singing this to one of the songs from the Wizard of Oz. But instead of singing "the Wizard", I have been singing "the Wiggles".
As you may have guessed, I am going with my sister and her girls to see the Wiggles tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it, I can't wait to see Bear and Monkey (their Dad's nicknames for them) jumping around like the psychotic little 1 and 3 year olds that they are. After the show I think I will have a nanna nap, to give me the energy that I need to eat the dinner I have ordered for tomorrow night - lamb roast with 3 bits of pumpkin, no peas and sponge cake for dessert. All in honour of the fact that 35 years ago on Thursday, my wonderful Mum went to sleep and woke up with me! The joys of caesars.
Usually we only have birthday dinners on the day of the birthday, but since I have tomorrow off to go to the Wiggles, tomorrow is the only day that I can get to Mum's for dinner at a suitable time for the kidlets. If we did Thursday night, I could get there at around 9pm, that is if I don't have to do overtime which is a common thing at work these days. I had a very long day at work on Friday, 11hrs with my shift + overtime, then half an hour after I got home I got a call and had to go back again. All up, from the time I left for work to the time I got home for good, it was a 16 hour day. Then I got hardly any sleep Friday night, so I feel like I am still trying to catch up.
One thing I have managed over the weekend, was to do some cables. I am knitting a hat for two people at work who really deserve something special. One is one of the level 2 nurses who is such a great guy to work with, and really funny as well. If he ever left my hospital it would be a huge loss for the department. The other is my boss, the CNC of Anaesthetics and Recovery. She is the best boss I have ever had, even if she does roll her eyes and moan when I say that I have had an idea (that seems to be a common response when I say those words!). She is a great teacher - she did my orientation in anaesthetics, and very approachable. She is a fantastic support person for the team. This year has been a hard year at work, and she has done a marvellous job keeping us all together. She deserves a special gift as a thankyou.
The hat I am making is the Lucky Seven hat, but I am not sure of the sizing. I am using a Lion Brand yarn that I got from Spotlight a while ago in a gorgeous blue colour. Tom has a fairly big head, so the hat needs to be stretchable for him. Deb has a normal size head, so the hat should be fine on her. I recently bought some blue Inca, it is a bigger gauge so may suit Tom and his big head, better than the LB Wool-ease. If Tom ever read this, he would laugh at this. He is a Pom, so we regularly take the mickey over the way he says things like 'book', and 'garage'. He hassles us back, the other day he said I looked just like Mick Jagger. I have to watch out that I don't do too much standing with one hand on my hip, otherwise I might break out into a Stones imitation.
Better go work on my hat for a bit while I watch Ugly Betty that I taped last week. Don't think I will stay up to watch Eli Stone (also on tape). I saw the first episode and really enjoyed it, thought it was very original.
I will try to remember to post all about the excitement I am sure us four girls will be having at the Wiggles concert tomorrow. One of the Drs at work said today that Captain Feathersword does a great imitation of Mick Jagger, I might have to copy it for Tom later in the week, lol.
As you may have guessed, I am going with my sister and her girls to see the Wiggles tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it, I can't wait to see Bear and Monkey (their Dad's nicknames for them) jumping around like the psychotic little 1 and 3 year olds that they are. After the show I think I will have a nanna nap, to give me the energy that I need to eat the dinner I have ordered for tomorrow night - lamb roast with 3 bits of pumpkin, no peas and sponge cake for dessert. All in honour of the fact that 35 years ago on Thursday, my wonderful Mum went to sleep and woke up with me! The joys of caesars.
Usually we only have birthday dinners on the day of the birthday, but since I have tomorrow off to go to the Wiggles, tomorrow is the only day that I can get to Mum's for dinner at a suitable time for the kidlets. If we did Thursday night, I could get there at around 9pm, that is if I don't have to do overtime which is a common thing at work these days. I had a very long day at work on Friday, 11hrs with my shift + overtime, then half an hour after I got home I got a call and had to go back again. All up, from the time I left for work to the time I got home for good, it was a 16 hour day. Then I got hardly any sleep Friday night, so I feel like I am still trying to catch up.
One thing I have managed over the weekend, was to do some cables. I am knitting a hat for two people at work who really deserve something special. One is one of the level 2 nurses who is such a great guy to work with, and really funny as well. If he ever left my hospital it would be a huge loss for the department. The other is my boss, the CNC of Anaesthetics and Recovery. She is the best boss I have ever had, even if she does roll her eyes and moan when I say that I have had an idea (that seems to be a common response when I say those words!). She is a great teacher - she did my orientation in anaesthetics, and very approachable. She is a fantastic support person for the team. This year has been a hard year at work, and she has done a marvellous job keeping us all together. She deserves a special gift as a thankyou.
The hat I am making is the Lucky Seven hat, but I am not sure of the sizing. I am using a Lion Brand yarn that I got from Spotlight a while ago in a gorgeous blue colour. Tom has a fairly big head, so the hat needs to be stretchable for him. Deb has a normal size head, so the hat should be fine on her. I recently bought some blue Inca, it is a bigger gauge so may suit Tom and his big head, better than the LB Wool-ease. If Tom ever read this, he would laugh at this. He is a Pom, so we regularly take the mickey over the way he says things like 'book', and 'garage'. He hassles us back, the other day he said I looked just like Mick Jagger. I have to watch out that I don't do too much standing with one hand on my hip, otherwise I might break out into a Stones imitation.
Better go work on my hat for a bit while I watch Ugly Betty that I taped last week. Don't think I will stay up to watch Eli Stone (also on tape). I saw the first episode and really enjoyed it, thought it was very original.
I will try to remember to post all about the excitement I am sure us four girls will be having at the Wiggles concert tomorrow. One of the Drs at work said today that Captain Feathersword does a great imitation of Mick Jagger, I might have to copy it for Tom later in the week, lol.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Hat obsessed
I have been too busy knitting hats to post anything to the blog. I think I am hat obsessed. It is pretty funny considering I have never been a beanie wearer.
Here are some of the hats I have made:
Pattern: Hurricane Hat
Pattern: Spiral Rib Hat
Pattern: my own, using a combo of hat formulas and just making up numbers.
My sister asked when I would make her a pair of socks, hmmmm maybe when she has made me a pair? We can learn together. I am currently doing the class sock from Sensational Knitted Socks with the bright yarn. So far I like it, but have learnt that you need to pay attention to the pattern. I hope to have a pair of cuff down socks, and a pair of toe-up socks done for me this Summer.
Here are some of the hats I have made:
Pattern: Hurricane Hat
Yarn: Vanna's Choice
Needles: Knitpicks Options 4mm circs - magic loop
I think I made this an inch shorter, after comparing it with the very first hat that I made. Depending on who I talk to, it either looks good on me or too short and needing to be folded up. I don't like the look of it with a folded brim, so it will be gifted to my niece. Little SennaBear loves trying on things that I make, and the colour looks good on her so it will be one of her Chrissy presents. I love the colour and feel of this yarn, so will use it again. Maybe for a lacey type hat.
Pattern: Spiral Rib HatYarn: Patons Feathersoft 4ply
Needles: Knitpicks Options 4.5mm circs magic loop
The hat is lovely and soft, but it is too soft I think.
Needles: Knitpicks Options 3.5mm circs, magic loop
I liked this pattern, might try it a bit bigger next time
Pattern: Sweet and Simple Baby Hat
Yarn: Patons Feathersoft 4ply
Needles: Don't remember, but was done magic loop
I am not too happy with this hat. I should have done the i-cord, but wanted to finish it in a hurry. The yarn is definitely not a good one for hats, unless I do premmie size with smaller needles. Feels lovely and soft though.
Pattern: my own, using a combo of hat formulas and just making up numbers.Yarn: Wendy Classics Courtelle Double Knitting
Needles: 4mm Knitpicks Options
Technique: Magic Loop
I really love this hat. I bought the yarn thinking that it would make a very funky scarf, but it is a bit too bright. It makes for a great hat and sock. These will be gifted to someone having a baby, but it has to be a girl.
Pattern: North Country Cotton Baby Socks
Needles: Knitpicks Options 3.75mm circs
Yarn: Wendy Classics Courtelle Double Knitting
Technique: Magic Loop
I enjoyed making these and will use this pattern again. SennaBear (21months) was the test foot for these, they are a bit too small for her little feet. She insisted that she had to have both socks on, and was very cute walking last night with them on - till she stood on the wood floor and nearly went over. Not a good floor for kids with socks.
I enjoyed making these and will use this pattern again. SennaBear (21months) was the test foot for these, they are a bit too small for her little feet. She insisted that she had to have both socks on, and was very cute walking last night with them on - till she stood on the wood floor and nearly went over. Not a good floor for kids with socks.
My sister asked when I would make her a pair of socks, hmmmm maybe when she has made me a pair? We can learn together. I am currently doing the class sock from Sensational Knitted Socks with the bright yarn. So far I like it, but have learnt that you need to pay attention to the pattern. I hope to have a pair of cuff down socks, and a pair of toe-up socks done for me this Summer.
I will have nearly 3 weeks off work over the Christmas period, because we won't be having any elective surgery (except for a couple of Caesar mornings). Unfortunately I will be on call for most of the break, so will not be doing anything exciting. I hope to be enjoying some fresh vegies from the garden, if they grow super fast.
Wow, looking back over this post I have been busy.
BTW, after that day with the bees I have had no more problems with them inside. I think they may have been attracted to the Dynamic Lifter liquid stuff I put on the garden. If I have a problem with it again I will be giving it away. I have noticed bees outside a few times, maybe they were swarming that day looking for all the seaside daisies I had pulled out of the garden a couple of weeks before - they always seemed to be hovering around them.
Better go do some stuff, am going out for Turkish tonight to celebrate Cathy Miller being in town. It has been organised by the wonderful QM.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Not the bees knees
I have BEES in my HOUSE!!!! I have no idea where they are getting in, but I have killed about 10 of them so far. Mortein doesn't seem to do a good job of killing them dead, just stunning them - the shoe does the job. In the last year I have found two dead bees under the gas heating duct in my bedroom, but hoped that it was just a freaky coincidence that they were sneaking in the door when it was open and dying in my bedroom.
I didn't notice anything flying around today while I was enjoying the day off work. It was only when I was creating the layers of the lasagne that I noticed what I thought were two blowflies hovering around. I thought it was great that they weren't getting too close to the dinner I was making. But then I walked into the laudry and saw what I thought were about 6 flies around the backdoor. Out came the mortein, and I did the rounds of every window and door in the house. Luckily I am in a townhouse with neighbours on each side, otherwise I would have had more windows to patrol.
In the bedroom was a dead bee, that very obviously looked like a bee. That was when I realised that I hadn't been invaded by flies enjoying relief in my house from the 30 degree day, but I had been invaded by BEES. I think once they got in, they just wanted to get back out. What I want to know is WHERE THE DAMN THINGS GOT IN!! The options are: holes in the flyscreen, a small gap I found at the bottom of the sliding door that could let them in, or through the roof. If it is the roof, then they could be coming in through the heating ducts, or the exhaust fan in the bathroom.
I am not very happy, as you can imagine. I had been doing the last rounds of a hat, and anticipating my lasagne that is hopefully going to be cooked soon. Now I am watching where I walk in case I tread on a bee and get stung. I haven't been stung by a bee since I was a kid, but I remember that it hurt heaps. Luckily I am not allergic like my sister. I am hoping the bees came in through a tiny hole in the flyscreen, because I don't like the idea of a swarm in the roof. I have had people in the roof this year, my brother put in insulation in February, and I have had heater guys here a few times doing service and repair of the heater. None of them noticed any problems. While I was on my bee patrol I could see them buzzing all around outside the front and back doors. Tomorrow I will be ringing a pest control person to come and spray my house.
I have had lots of things to write about lately, but not had the time to post. I have some pics to show of what I have been up to, including the stuff I got from the Tapestry Craft (Morris and Sons) sale. Today I had a brilliant idea of yet another project I could start - matching hat and socks for a baby that is on the way. I have only ever done one pair of socks - the baby socks in the magic loop booklet. They turned out ok, but not great. I have been doing magic loop hats, so have been practising that technique. I am glad I haven't had the problems with ladders that I had with the socks I did for my niece when she was born. Anyway, I have no idea what pattern I will use for the hat and socks, but it is something I can do from the stash, and it will also mean that I can make a pair for the Southern Summer of Socks. I might try a hat with cable, since I have never done cables before.
Other things to do in the next week, besides hope that I don't have a beehive in my roof:
I didn't notice anything flying around today while I was enjoying the day off work. It was only when I was creating the layers of the lasagne that I noticed what I thought were two blowflies hovering around. I thought it was great that they weren't getting too close to the dinner I was making. But then I walked into the laudry and saw what I thought were about 6 flies around the backdoor. Out came the mortein, and I did the rounds of every window and door in the house. Luckily I am in a townhouse with neighbours on each side, otherwise I would have had more windows to patrol.
In the bedroom was a dead bee, that very obviously looked like a bee. That was when I realised that I hadn't been invaded by flies enjoying relief in my house from the 30 degree day, but I had been invaded by BEES. I think once they got in, they just wanted to get back out. What I want to know is WHERE THE DAMN THINGS GOT IN!! The options are: holes in the flyscreen, a small gap I found at the bottom of the sliding door that could let them in, or through the roof. If it is the roof, then they could be coming in through the heating ducts, or the exhaust fan in the bathroom.
I am not very happy, as you can imagine. I had been doing the last rounds of a hat, and anticipating my lasagne that is hopefully going to be cooked soon. Now I am watching where I walk in case I tread on a bee and get stung. I haven't been stung by a bee since I was a kid, but I remember that it hurt heaps. Luckily I am not allergic like my sister. I am hoping the bees came in through a tiny hole in the flyscreen, because I don't like the idea of a swarm in the roof. I have had people in the roof this year, my brother put in insulation in February, and I have had heater guys here a few times doing service and repair of the heater. None of them noticed any problems. While I was on my bee patrol I could see them buzzing all around outside the front and back doors. Tomorrow I will be ringing a pest control person to come and spray my house.
I have had lots of things to write about lately, but not had the time to post. I have some pics to show of what I have been up to, including the stuff I got from the Tapestry Craft (Morris and Sons) sale. Today I had a brilliant idea of yet another project I could start - matching hat and socks for a baby that is on the way. I have only ever done one pair of socks - the baby socks in the magic loop booklet. They turned out ok, but not great. I have been doing magic loop hats, so have been practising that technique. I am glad I haven't had the problems with ladders that I had with the socks I did for my niece when she was born. Anyway, I have no idea what pattern I will use for the hat and socks, but it is something I can do from the stash, and it will also mean that I can make a pair for the Southern Summer of Socks. I might try a hat with cable, since I have never done cables before.
Other things to do in the next week, besides hope that I don't have a beehive in my roof:
- make the bed with the sheets that are sitting freshly washed and dry in the laundry - hopefully with no bees hiding in them
- have yummy sponge cake and lamb roast dinner tomorrow - my Dad's 60th birthday
- go to work
- finish my tax so I get a bill. Etax is useful, but not so great when it tells you that you will get a bill. As you can probably tell, I got to that point and didn't finish entering all the data.
- find where I put all the papers for my tax
- enjoy my Dad's 60th birthday party on the weekend
- get lots of advice from the garden nursery guy that is coming next Monday to help inspire me with my garden. Maybe I will get some plants that don't attract bees
- watch the Melbourne Cup
- Enjoy my four day weekend. I love having the Monday off, with a Public Holiday on the Tuesday
Wish me luck with the bees. I have declared war.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
seven random thoughts
Bec tagged me for the seven random thoughts meme, so here we go.
1. This is the first meme that I have been part of. I have been lucky not to be tagged before (that my foggy tired brain can remember) in blogworld. This had been a good thing cos I have trouble writing interesting stuff on my blog.
2. I hate water. Saying I have a phobia for water could be a better way of putting it. I don't like to splash my face with water, or put my face under the shower. The water has to be warm, not just luke warm. I can't go in a car wash, I have tried twice and won't bother trying again. The second time I went in a car wash I had a magazine to distract me, but I still found myself with my hand on the door handle ready to get out when all the water and brushes came at me. I even have trouble being able to walk along the footpath next to the lake. It all stems from childhood, I can remember being pushed in the deep end at Jammo pool as a kid and not being able to get up because a really big person (I was always a tiny little person) had jumped in and I couldn't get up to the air. I was really good at sitting on the side of the pool when we had swimming lessons.
3. I finished first grade Primary School at High School. In October 1980 in Canberra we had a HUGE storm that caused heaps of damage to my school - it got flooded, windows were smashed, and from memory the roof over the library collapsed. Luckily they had finished building a High School in the next suburb, so we finished the school year there. I can still remember putting up Christmas decorations around the classrooms. The High School didn't last long as a school, it closed down in the 90s I think.
4. I can remember when I was a kid I used to have fun sleeping in strange positions in bed, with my head at the foot end of the bed under the blankets, sideways or with my feet up the wall. I used to wake up sometimes having fallen down between the mattress and the wall. I still wake up laying sideways in the bed, with my feet hanging out the side of the bed. Good thing I sleep on my own, don't think any man would appreciate being kicked out of bed, lol.
5. My parents have rented or owned 3 houses in Canberra with the hideous brown cupboards and extra hideous yellow bench tops. I am not sure if that is why I hate yellow, or if it was an itchy yellow jumper that I wore as a kid.
6. My sister and I have the same size feet, and have managed to buy exactly the same sneakers and summer slip on shoes when we weren't in the shop together. We hadn't even seen each others shoes. It has been a real pain when we both take off our summer shoes and get them mixed up - my feet are a bit wider than Cathy's.
7. I have defective hands, they look normal, and usually are except that I can't count to five the same way everyone else does. I raise my fingers in this order: my thumb, index finger, middle, little and then the ring finger. I cannot straighten the ring finger on either hand without doing the little finger first. Or holding the little finger down with the palm of my hand. I have just been doing this to try to explain it, and discovered that I also have to straighten my middle finger as well to fully straighten my ring finger. Bizarre. I have only ever seen/noticed one other person with this defect, the daughter of a friend I went to school with. I should ask one of the Orthopods (bone doctors) at work why this is. Anyone else with this problem?
The seven people I would like to know more about are:
Wendy
Lissa
Olivia
Jo
Shadowlee
Caffiene Fairy
Donyale
Better go to bed, am on call tonight so need to get some sleep in case I get woken up at some ungodly hour and am expected to function.
1. This is the first meme that I have been part of. I have been lucky not to be tagged before (that my foggy tired brain can remember) in blogworld. This had been a good thing cos I have trouble writing interesting stuff on my blog.
2. I hate water. Saying I have a phobia for water could be a better way of putting it. I don't like to splash my face with water, or put my face under the shower. The water has to be warm, not just luke warm. I can't go in a car wash, I have tried twice and won't bother trying again. The second time I went in a car wash I had a magazine to distract me, but I still found myself with my hand on the door handle ready to get out when all the water and brushes came at me. I even have trouble being able to walk along the footpath next to the lake. It all stems from childhood, I can remember being pushed in the deep end at Jammo pool as a kid and not being able to get up because a really big person (I was always a tiny little person) had jumped in and I couldn't get up to the air. I was really good at sitting on the side of the pool when we had swimming lessons.
3. I finished first grade Primary School at High School. In October 1980 in Canberra we had a HUGE storm that caused heaps of damage to my school - it got flooded, windows were smashed, and from memory the roof over the library collapsed. Luckily they had finished building a High School in the next suburb, so we finished the school year there. I can still remember putting up Christmas decorations around the classrooms. The High School didn't last long as a school, it closed down in the 90s I think.
4. I can remember when I was a kid I used to have fun sleeping in strange positions in bed, with my head at the foot end of the bed under the blankets, sideways or with my feet up the wall. I used to wake up sometimes having fallen down between the mattress and the wall. I still wake up laying sideways in the bed, with my feet hanging out the side of the bed. Good thing I sleep on my own, don't think any man would appreciate being kicked out of bed, lol.
5. My parents have rented or owned 3 houses in Canberra with the hideous brown cupboards and extra hideous yellow bench tops. I am not sure if that is why I hate yellow, or if it was an itchy yellow jumper that I wore as a kid.
6. My sister and I have the same size feet, and have managed to buy exactly the same sneakers and summer slip on shoes when we weren't in the shop together. We hadn't even seen each others shoes. It has been a real pain when we both take off our summer shoes and get them mixed up - my feet are a bit wider than Cathy's.
7. I have defective hands, they look normal, and usually are except that I can't count to five the same way everyone else does. I raise my fingers in this order: my thumb, index finger, middle, little and then the ring finger. I cannot straighten the ring finger on either hand without doing the little finger first. Or holding the little finger down with the palm of my hand. I have just been doing this to try to explain it, and discovered that I also have to straighten my middle finger as well to fully straighten my ring finger. Bizarre. I have only ever seen/noticed one other person with this defect, the daughter of a friend I went to school with. I should ask one of the Orthopods (bone doctors) at work why this is. Anyone else with this problem?
The seven people I would like to know more about are:
Wendy
Lissa
Olivia
Jo
Shadowlee
Caffiene Fairy
Donyale
Better go to bed, am on call tonight so need to get some sleep in case I get woken up at some ungodly hour and am expected to function.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Remember, add the washing powder.
Next time I decide to quickly put the washing on while my porridge is in the microwave, I WILL add washing powder. I am doing a great job of wasting water today, I will just pretend that we don't have water restrictions here in Canberra. I had planned on getting all my washing for the week done this morning, but have a slight delay while I rewash the sheets, this time using detergent!
I have had a busy week on the work front and the knitting front, as a result I have lots of housework to do today. Luckily, I have the day off work so I can try to achieve stuff. I was making a hat for my Dad for Fathers Day, but ripped it back because it would fit my little head better than his big head. I was doing so well with it, even had perfect gauge. It has now been restarted on 5mm instead of 4.5mm.
My niece turned 3 on Saturday, so we had a really fun party. Pass the Parcel with 3 year olds is hilarious. Lots of my favourite foods were on show, honey joys made with Cornflakes, my Mum's sausage rolls and her egg and bacon savouries, little boys (otherwise known as cocktail frankfurts), as well as the usual fairy bread and a delicious chocolate butterfly cake. Maybe I should have taken note of my sister's tale of the cake, she forgot the eggs and had to take the mix out of the butterfly tin, obviously I take after her when it comes to forgetting essential ingredients like washing powder!
I gave my niece a hat that I made with Lincraft Prism for her birthday. It is such nice yarn to knit with, as long as you take care not to spit the 70% wool, 30% soy combo. It looks and feels scrumptious. For the two seconds that it was on her head, it looked like it was a good fit. It was way too big for her little sister, but looked very cute on her too.
I used the free pattern that they had at Lincraft, but made it using one circular needle instead of two straights. I am well and truly hooked on hats. That is probably a good thing, after seeing the hat I made for me, people at work want me to make matching ones for them. I will experiment with different patterns that I am allowed to produce and sell, and also different yarns. I have bought more Prism in different colours, and will even try to do the Palindrome Hat and Scarf. I have loved these since I saw them, but after trying Prism and then finding versions of Palindromes made from Prism I now know what yarn I will use.
On Saturday I had a great time pruning the garden. I will take photos later of all the bare patches I created! I ripped out all the seaside daisies, and attempted to dig out one of the roses. I have two rose bushes, neither of them have roses that are very suitable for vases, they don't have nice fragrance but they do have a zillion thorns. I didn't really like them last year when I moved in, but like them even less now. They can go and be replaced by something better.
The washing has finished, and the coffee has gone cold so I should get going with the housework. Tonight I will be stitching with the girls, so that should be fun.
I have had a busy week on the work front and the knitting front, as a result I have lots of housework to do today. Luckily, I have the day off work so I can try to achieve stuff. I was making a hat for my Dad for Fathers Day, but ripped it back because it would fit my little head better than his big head. I was doing so well with it, even had perfect gauge. It has now been restarted on 5mm instead of 4.5mm.
My niece turned 3 on Saturday, so we had a really fun party. Pass the Parcel with 3 year olds is hilarious. Lots of my favourite foods were on show, honey joys made with Cornflakes, my Mum's sausage rolls and her egg and bacon savouries, little boys (otherwise known as cocktail frankfurts), as well as the usual fairy bread and a delicious chocolate butterfly cake. Maybe I should have taken note of my sister's tale of the cake, she forgot the eggs and had to take the mix out of the butterfly tin, obviously I take after her when it comes to forgetting essential ingredients like washing powder!
I gave my niece a hat that I made with Lincraft Prism for her birthday. It is such nice yarn to knit with, as long as you take care not to spit the 70% wool, 30% soy combo. It looks and feels scrumptious. For the two seconds that it was on her head, it looked like it was a good fit. It was way too big for her little sister, but looked very cute on her too.
I used the free pattern that they had at Lincraft, but made it using one circular needle instead of two straights. I am well and truly hooked on hats. That is probably a good thing, after seeing the hat I made for me, people at work want me to make matching ones for them. I will experiment with different patterns that I am allowed to produce and sell, and also different yarns. I have bought more Prism in different colours, and will even try to do the Palindrome Hat and Scarf. I have loved these since I saw them, but after trying Prism and then finding versions of Palindromes made from Prism I now know what yarn I will use.
On Saturday I had a great time pruning the garden. I will take photos later of all the bare patches I created! I ripped out all the seaside daisies, and attempted to dig out one of the roses. I have two rose bushes, neither of them have roses that are very suitable for vases, they don't have nice fragrance but they do have a zillion thorns. I didn't really like them last year when I moved in, but like them even less now. They can go and be replaced by something better.
The washing has finished, and the coffee has gone cold so I should get going with the housework. Tonight I will be stitching with the girls, so that should be fun.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Things of blue
On Monday I picked up my quilt from the Caroline Conlan of History in the Making. Unfortunately she doesn't have a website, but if you want her to do any work for you I can give you her number.
The quilt looks beautiful, as you can see. Caroline custom quilted it, and it look spectacular. The actual star part of the quilting was a bit of a challenge, the design we had chosen for the quilt had bits that we thought would work for all parts of the quilt, but the star bits are parallelograms, not the diamonds that were needed for the pattern to work. I think that the design Caroline came up with for this portion worked really well.
Here is a close up of the centre of the quilt. My Mum is in love with feathers, so she kept showing me pictures of similar quilts she found that had feathers on them. Two quilting designs I don't like are feathers and stipples, so I don't think I will ever use them. I am sure feathers would look fine for this quilt, but I reckon this looks better, it is more original.
Don't you just love the design in the lighter part of the quilt? It helps the fabric to stand out. I knew nothing about luminosity when I chose the fabrics for this quilt, but I managed to create a good effect anyway.
It was hard to get a pic showing the quilting on the background fabric, but it is basically three quarters of the section in the light fabric. The border quilting looks a bit like swirls and hearts.
At the moment the quilt is still sitting on my sofa, waiting for me to cut out the binding, as well as remove the excess wadding and backing fabric from the quilt itself. The only problem with having to do that, is that I won't be able to admire it on the sofa while I am working on it.
Thanks again to Mum who offered to pay for a quilt of mine to be quilted when I bought my house, I am pleased I chose this one - if I had to pay for it to be custom quilted it would probably be sitting in a box for another 5 years.
The other scrumptious blue thing that has come into my home in the last couple of weeks is this gorgeous baby alpaca dyed by Donyale. I was inspired by QMs Clapotis that her Mum made for her, and wanted to make a similar but larger version.
The photos don't do justice to the colour, but it is a really nice bluey-grey. I also bought some stitch markers, because they just looked so pretty on the website, but they look even better in real life. The lighting in the bathroom shows off the colour much better than the lounge, but these are the only pics I have.
Speaking of bathrooms, better go do some cleaning before I go out for coffee.
The quilt looks beautiful, as you can see. Caroline custom quilted it, and it look spectacular. The actual star part of the quilting was a bit of a challenge, the design we had chosen for the quilt had bits that we thought would work for all parts of the quilt, but the star bits are parallelograms, not the diamonds that were needed for the pattern to work. I think that the design Caroline came up with for this portion worked really well.
Here is a close up of the centre of the quilt. My Mum is in love with feathers, so she kept showing me pictures of similar quilts she found that had feathers on them. Two quilting designs I don't like are feathers and stipples, so I don't think I will ever use them. I am sure feathers would look fine for this quilt, but I reckon this looks better, it is more original.
Don't you just love the design in the lighter part of the quilt? It helps the fabric to stand out. I knew nothing about luminosity when I chose the fabrics for this quilt, but I managed to create a good effect anyway.
It was hard to get a pic showing the quilting on the background fabric, but it is basically three quarters of the section in the light fabric. The border quilting looks a bit like swirls and hearts.
At the moment the quilt is still sitting on my sofa, waiting for me to cut out the binding, as well as remove the excess wadding and backing fabric from the quilt itself. The only problem with having to do that, is that I won't be able to admire it on the sofa while I am working on it.
Thanks again to Mum who offered to pay for a quilt of mine to be quilted when I bought my house, I am pleased I chose this one - if I had to pay for it to be custom quilted it would probably be sitting in a box for another 5 years.
The other scrumptious blue thing that has come into my home in the last couple of weeks is this gorgeous baby alpaca dyed by Donyale. I was inspired by QMs Clapotis that her Mum made for her, and wanted to make a similar but larger version.
The photos don't do justice to the colour, but it is a really nice bluey-grey. I also bought some stitch markers, because they just looked so pretty on the website, but they look even better in real life. The lighting in the bathroom shows off the colour much better than the lounge, but these are the only pics I have.
Speaking of bathrooms, better go do some cleaning before I go out for coffee.
Busy working in my native garden
The last couple of weeks have been so busy I haven't had a lot of time for crafty stuff. I worked out yesterday that my last proper day off was the 17th of August. Last weekend I went to the Canberra division (Zone 7) of the OTA's AGM/seminar day. There were some interesting topics being discussed, and I won a backpack/trolley bag. I think it was a leftover from the state conference earlier this year, but it is really cool. It has loads of pockets, and has wheels and a handle so you can load heaps of stuff into it and push it around if you need to. I sat there and visualised how many pasties I can fit into it to bring home from Adelaide next year. I will add a photo when I get round to taking one.
I spent time last Friday arvo and Sunday morning working in the garden. I have a little patch out the front of my place that had horrible diosmas in it. They were scraggly looking things, that had been badly pruned at some point. I hated looking at them, so had them removed by one of my neighbours. He certainly earned his money that day, a couple of the plants were so deeply stuck in the ground he had to use his car to pull them out!
The soil that was underneath them was mainly clay, I don't think there was anything good about it at all. I started my work trying to improve the dirt, by adding garden mix, compost, dynamic lifter, and potting mix that I removed from three rotten wine barrel planters that were in the backyard. I planted some natives and put down sugar cane mulch so that when it broke down it could add some nutrition to the soil.
Last week the local garden centre had their spring sale, so I bought more bags of compost and mulch, and some more plants (to replace half the plants that had died in the front garden last year). I spent hours digging the compost into the soil, using the garden fork I was able to get at 25% off. It was still really hard work, but much easier than last year. I think when I started on that garden last year it was 100% clay, this year it was much better. Using the fork was a lot easier too, the spade I used last year just got heavier and heavier with the clay.
Here are some pics of the garden, luckily I finished Sunday morning, because I got called in to work after lunch. I did run out of mulch before I was finished, so still have to top up one end of the garden, and inside the courtyard. I made a quick dash with my sister to The Garden to pick up more mulch at lunch time, it is still sitting in the courtyard waiting for me.
Here is a photo of the Correa that I planted in Katie's memory after she died in January. I didn't get any photos while it had more flowers, I have had to hold back some leaves so you can see the one flower that is left. Luckily that is one of the plants that survived. This close up was taken before the mulching, but the Little Cate correa is surrounded now by Cutie Cat Pansies. We had a bit of rain last night so everything should now be doing really well. Hopefully it will all survive.
I spent time last Friday arvo and Sunday morning working in the garden. I have a little patch out the front of my place that had horrible diosmas in it. They were scraggly looking things, that had been badly pruned at some point. I hated looking at them, so had them removed by one of my neighbours. He certainly earned his money that day, a couple of the plants were so deeply stuck in the ground he had to use his car to pull them out!
The soil that was underneath them was mainly clay, I don't think there was anything good about it at all. I started my work trying to improve the dirt, by adding garden mix, compost, dynamic lifter, and potting mix that I removed from three rotten wine barrel planters that were in the backyard. I planted some natives and put down sugar cane mulch so that when it broke down it could add some nutrition to the soil.
Last week the local garden centre had their spring sale, so I bought more bags of compost and mulch, and some more plants (to replace half the plants that had died in the front garden last year). I spent hours digging the compost into the soil, using the garden fork I was able to get at 25% off. It was still really hard work, but much easier than last year. I think when I started on that garden last year it was 100% clay, this year it was much better. Using the fork was a lot easier too, the spade I used last year just got heavier and heavier with the clay.
Here are some pics of the garden, luckily I finished Sunday morning, because I got called in to work after lunch. I did run out of mulch before I was finished, so still have to top up one end of the garden, and inside the courtyard. I made a quick dash with my sister to The Garden to pick up more mulch at lunch time, it is still sitting in the courtyard waiting for me.
Here is a photo of the Correa that I planted in Katie's memory after she died in January. I didn't get any photos while it had more flowers, I have had to hold back some leaves so you can see the one flower that is left. Luckily that is one of the plants that survived. This close up was taken before the mulching, but the Little Cate correa is surrounded now by Cutie Cat Pansies. We had a bit of rain last night so everything should now be doing really well. Hopefully it will all survive.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Gold medal hopes dashed
Just like Susanna Kallur, I can't get past my first hurdle of the Maine Morning Mitts. I am attempting to do them using magic loop with Noro Kureyon yarn, which has great vibrant colours, but is so sticky I am regretting the choice. I have never made mittens before, and made very bad magic loop baby socks for Niece1 3 years ago. I have been putting them off for days, just in case I couldn't get the rhythm of the magic loop and the increases going.
I should have had a bit of a warm-up before the girls came over last night so I could consult WithaQ, a legend in the sport of magic looping. I should know by now that if you don't do the training and the warm-ups you can stumble and fall.
I have cast on about 6 times to do these mitts for the ravelympics, and haven't been able to pass the first round. The first time was the most successful, till I looked at it and had a very loose dodgy looking spot in the cast on. I think I stuffed up an increase. I have been lucky enough to avoid knitting too many things with increases, so still don't have that skill mastered, I can do it but it is a struggle.
My other problem with this is that I can't seem to be able to count. I can't seem to remember if I am up to a M1R or a M1L. The last attempt seemed to be going ok, I even managed to get to the end of the first needle! But then my brain kicked in (as it does when knitting and my logic isn't on the same page as the patterns logic) and I started wondering where I could find the final M1L of the needle. In the pattern it is worked on 3 needles to get the patten repeats even, I am putting 2 repeats on needle 1, and the other on repeat on needle 2. Each pattern repeat ends in p1 followed by M1L. I guess I do the M1L between the needles and end up with it sitting on the next needle.
I am sure I have managed to lose you with my description of this, much as I have managed to lose myself. I have thrown the needles down for the night. I suspect these fingerless mitts are going to be mittenless mitts! I will have another go tomorrow when the brain is fresh, otherwise I will have to wait to consult with the experts for a lesson on basic knitting. These mitts are making the hat I made look easy.
The hat was a resounding success. Even though I am not happy with the seamed part of it, people at work were so impressed some of them want me to make them one. I have to experiment with a couple of different patterns, and work out how much to charge. Once I got past the tricky bit of adjusting the pattern, I really loved knitting the hat. I only frogged that half as much as I have these rotten mitts. If I give up on them for the ravelympics, I will have to move onto my jumper that needs seaming, and about 1000 loose ends woven in.
BTW, I tried to find a good link to the start of Susanna Kallur's 100m hurdle race, but had trouble. We watched it last night and it was devastating to watch. I think she was our favourite in that heat because her hair looked so cool. I don't think she had a good start, her foot looked as sticky as my Noro yarn, and she couldn't get enough height to go over the first hurdle. I guess that is what sport is all about - train your heart out and have it all turn to shit on the day.
Better get to bed so I can try again tomorrow.
I should have had a bit of a warm-up before the girls came over last night so I could consult WithaQ, a legend in the sport of magic looping. I should know by now that if you don't do the training and the warm-ups you can stumble and fall.
I have cast on about 6 times to do these mitts for the ravelympics, and haven't been able to pass the first round. The first time was the most successful, till I looked at it and had a very loose dodgy looking spot in the cast on. I think I stuffed up an increase. I have been lucky enough to avoid knitting too many things with increases, so still don't have that skill mastered, I can do it but it is a struggle.
My other problem with this is that I can't seem to be able to count. I can't seem to remember if I am up to a M1R or a M1L. The last attempt seemed to be going ok, I even managed to get to the end of the first needle! But then my brain kicked in (as it does when knitting and my logic isn't on the same page as the patterns logic) and I started wondering where I could find the final M1L of the needle. In the pattern it is worked on 3 needles to get the patten repeats even, I am putting 2 repeats on needle 1, and the other on repeat on needle 2. Each pattern repeat ends in p1 followed by M1L. I guess I do the M1L between the needles and end up with it sitting on the next needle.
I am sure I have managed to lose you with my description of this, much as I have managed to lose myself. I have thrown the needles down for the night. I suspect these fingerless mitts are going to be mittenless mitts! I will have another go tomorrow when the brain is fresh, otherwise I will have to wait to consult with the experts for a lesson on basic knitting. These mitts are making the hat I made look easy.
The hat was a resounding success. Even though I am not happy with the seamed part of it, people at work were so impressed some of them want me to make them one. I have to experiment with a couple of different patterns, and work out how much to charge. Once I got past the tricky bit of adjusting the pattern, I really loved knitting the hat. I only frogged that half as much as I have these rotten mitts. If I give up on them for the ravelympics, I will have to move onto my jumper that needs seaming, and about 1000 loose ends woven in.
BTW, I tried to find a good link to the start of Susanna Kallur's 100m hurdle race, but had trouble. We watched it last night and it was devastating to watch. I think she was our favourite in that heat because her hair looked so cool. I don't think she had a good start, her foot looked as sticky as my Noro yarn, and she couldn't get enough height to go over the first hurdle. I guess that is what sport is all about - train your heart out and have it all turn to shit on the day.
Better get to bed so I can try again tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Done
I finished my hat last night, I love the yarn and I think I am addicted to knitting hats. I think next time I will make up the pattern for me, instead of adjusting a different pattern. I will be wearing it to work today, pity I can't wear it AT work, have to wear a proper theatre hat. I will show it off to everyone though.
I think I will work on my WIP Wrestling next, then have a go at
my mittens on the weekend. I am going to try and magic loop them, I don't own any DPNs the right size, and wouldn't be able to use them anyway.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I think I have got it
I should have worked it out this way, but was told 12 less stitches was the magical number. All I could see was the number 12 in the pattern, so it looked ok to me when I didn't think it through.
I think this is it
Original size was 97 stitches. Decreases worked like this:
K10, k2tog=
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 1
End up with 1 less stitch from each 12 stitches
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Should have been 8 less stitches:
89 stitches, start decreases with row 3
K9, k2 tog
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1
88
not this: 85 stitches
k11,11 11 11 11 11 11 8
Does this make sense?
I am going to rip back and cast on again with 89 stitches
That way I can reward myself with wine and chocolate, not have them because of frustration
I think this is it
Original size was 97 stitches. Decreases worked like this:
K10, k2tog=
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 1
End up with 1 less stitch from each 12 stitches
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Should have been 8 less stitches:
89 stitches, start decreases with row 3
K9, k2 tog
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1
88
not this: 85 stitches
k11,11 11 11 11 11 11 8
Does this make sense?
I am going to rip back and cast on again with 89 stitches
That way I can reward myself with wine and chocolate, not have them because of frustration
That Dratted Hat
Ok, I am a bit peeved at the moment. I had consulted with someone about adjusting the pattern for my silk garden beanie. It was knitting up beautifully, even with the pain of the finger that I jammed in the drawer at Mum's (note to self, watch drawer when you close it, not the two little nieces playing nearby). Even the knotted join in the yarn two rows before the decreases was going to stop me. What did bring the knitting to a grinding halt was the fact that when I was doing the first row of decreases, instead of knitting to pattern and ending up with 1 stitch left I had 8. No matter how many times I counted, I couldn't change the 8 to 1.
Now I am no expert at knitting patterns, that is why I got some expert help. What I can't do is make it work. I could keep going with my knitting, but I don't think the decreases will work. I am tempted to rip it right back to the beginning and start again knitting as is, and ending up with a pattern that is too big. Or following the pattern on smaller needles (original plan B) and maybe having the fabric too stiff. What to do?
I think I will have a glass of red and open the block of chocolate and get stuck into that while I think about it. One good thing, I love the yarn and the colours in it. I am wishing that I had bought more so I could do matching mittens.
I need to go have a second bowl of Cauliflower and Parmesan Soup. Yes it does deserve the capitals. I don't know what magazine it was in, but one of the Anaesthetists at work was telling us about what she was cooking for dinner a week or so ago, and it sounded so good that we had to copy the recipes. This soup had fennel in it, which I have never used. It makes it such a great soup that it beats the Stephanie Alexander cauli and vegemite soup - and I really loved that one.
Now I am no expert at knitting patterns, that is why I got some expert help. What I can't do is make it work. I could keep going with my knitting, but I don't think the decreases will work. I am tempted to rip it right back to the beginning and start again knitting as is, and ending up with a pattern that is too big. Or following the pattern on smaller needles (original plan B) and maybe having the fabric too stiff. What to do?
I think I will have a glass of red and open the block of chocolate and get stuck into that while I think about it. One good thing, I love the yarn and the colours in it. I am wishing that I had bought more so I could do matching mittens.
I need to go have a second bowl of Cauliflower and Parmesan Soup. Yes it does deserve the capitals. I don't know what magazine it was in, but one of the Anaesthetists at work was telling us about what she was cooking for dinner a week or so ago, and it sounded so good that we had to copy the recipes. This soup had fennel in it, which I have never used. It makes it such a great soup that it beats the Stephanie Alexander cauli and vegemite soup - and I really loved that one.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
All pressed up and somewhere to go
I am supposed to be knitting, but have managed to achieve something that I feel I can brag about....I am up to date with reading my blogs!!!! Thanks to QM I keep up with everybody's blogs using google reader. Love that little reader, except when it tells me that there are 200 or so posts to read. The technique I used was to see which blog had the most posts, and read them all in one hit - even if there were 56 of them. There are some blogs that I read as soon as I see a new post, but lots that I read later. Thanks to reading the one with the most for the last couple of weeks, I am up to date - no new posts to read. Woohoo.
You are probably wondering what the title has to do with this post. On Wednesday I took a quilt to be quilted. Mum had said when I bought my townhouse that she would pay for one of my quilts to be quilted. I instantly thought of this quilt:
It was made at a workshop with Jenny Bowker, I think it wa 2002? It is a Broken Star quilt, made using Jenny's Pieces of Eight technique. I fell in love with the paisley fabric, and just love the quilt to bits. I think it will go on a wall, but to start with it can hang out on the couch with me. We took it to Caroline Conlan to quilt, it is being custom quilted. I am sure that it would look ok with edge to edge quilting, but I don't want it to look ok, I want it to look stunning. I will post a pic when I get it back, I hope I get it back soon. I have to measure the left over outer border fabric, I had hoped to use it for the binding, but think it might not be enough.
BTW, congrats to Jenny for winning Best of Show at the Canberra Quilters exhibition.
You are probably wondering what the title has to do with this post. On Wednesday I took a quilt to be quilted. Mum had said when I bought my townhouse that she would pay for one of my quilts to be quilted. I instantly thought of this quilt:
It was made at a workshop with Jenny Bowker, I think it wa 2002? It is a Broken Star quilt, made using Jenny's Pieces of Eight technique. I fell in love with the paisley fabric, and just love the quilt to bits. I think it will go on a wall, but to start with it can hang out on the couch with me. We took it to Caroline Conlan to quilt, it is being custom quilted. I am sure that it would look ok with edge to edge quilting, but I don't want it to look ok, I want it to look stunning. I will post a pic when I get it back, I hope I get it back soon. I have to measure the left over outer border fabric, I had hoped to use it for the binding, but think it might not be enough.
BTW, congrats to Jenny for winning Best of Show at the Canberra Quilters exhibition.
Fun and games at the craft show
On Thursday I went with my Mum to the Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair. Thursday used to be the quietest day, but I think it was busier than usual. My sister decided that she wanted to go, so we met her and her 2 girls inside. She had the 2 kid pram with her, so the children were nicely contained. Cathy commented on the many filthy looks she was receiving from mostly older ladies. It is amazing how poorly some people tolerate prams, but for Mum's like my sister taking the children in the pram is the only way they can get to things like the craft show. I told her not to worry about it, she had paid for her ticket (well Mum did, thanks again Mum) so she had every right to be there. The kids loved looking at everything, there were so many things to see.
When I converted my handbag to the backpack style I commented to my sister that I would get filthy looks too, but my back and shoulder don't tolerate wearing my bag on the shoulder for long. I didn't notice any evil looks, but I guess they were all behind me. I figure if people can lug trolley bags around, then others have the right to prams and bags on their backs.
I managed not to spend too much at the show I bought some Lang yarn for mittens and a hat at Yarns Galore.
They are the same dye lot, but look different. Two years ago I bought some different Lang Yarn wool from that stand, they were the same dyelot but looked like they were not. I made them into a scarf earlier this year and wore it to the show.
At Threads and More I fell in love with the colours of their Noro. I bought some Kureyon and some Silk Garden to make a hat and mittens for the ravelympics.
I have knitted tension swatches with each, the Silk Garden is much nicer to knit with.
Other purchases included a hat pattern and a Beadie for holding knitted tops together.
I figure the Beadie is sort of neutral so will work with whatever colour I wear.
I tried on the beanie at the stand, cos I have had trouble finding hats that don't look dicky on me. I thought the hat looked pretty good, much better than the hat I wear every day at work. My sister wants to learn how to make a hat, so I thought this pattern would work since it is knitted on straight needles. I only use circulars these days cos I find them more comfortable. I think I have worked out the needle size I will use. I needed a smaller size to get tension, so will use 4mm instead of the 5mm for the stocking stitch section. I am adjusting the pattern to make it a bit smaller so will keep my fingers crossed. To enable the repeats to work I will try taking off 12 stitches.
I bought the One Skein Wonders book from Can Do Books and have enjoyed flicking through that. There are some felted things I would like to try. I also bought a Curvemaster foot from Punch with Judy, she has so many things on her stand, if you want some sort of gadget for patchwork or other machine sewing, then she will usually have it. If not, she can try to get it. I also bought another purple thang, I have two of them but have no idea where they are.
One of the things I had planned to do with my week off was organise my spare room and my study/sewing room. Nup, didn't happen. I did find buttons on Monday that were for two knitted tops I was doing for DN1. The newest one would fit DN2. Of course, when I was looking on Wednesday for the safe place I had put them, I couldn't find them. I thought I had put them on a shelf, I know they are in a little white paper bag somewhere.
I have managed to catalogue a lot of my stash on ravelry, but have not yet opened the 40L plastic container in the cupboard. I know I have some zhivago, tapestry and some other yarns in there. And then there is the baskets of sock and baby wool. I desperately need some proper shelves in my cupboards to organise my stash properly.
Well, I am off to knit my hat. We have a Scquilters dinner tonight, so I plan to knit when I am not eating. I hope to finish the hat tomorrow or Monday arvo so I can show it off at SnB.
When I converted my handbag to the backpack style I commented to my sister that I would get filthy looks too, but my back and shoulder don't tolerate wearing my bag on the shoulder for long. I didn't notice any evil looks, but I guess they were all behind me. I figure if people can lug trolley bags around, then others have the right to prams and bags on their backs.
I managed not to spend too much at the show I bought some Lang yarn for mittens and a hat at Yarns Galore.
They are the same dye lot, but look different. Two years ago I bought some different Lang Yarn wool from that stand, they were the same dyelot but looked like they were not. I made them into a scarf earlier this year and wore it to the show.
At Threads and More I fell in love with the colours of their Noro. I bought some Kureyon and some Silk Garden to make a hat and mittens for the ravelympics.
I have knitted tension swatches with each, the Silk Garden is much nicer to knit with.Other purchases included a hat pattern and a Beadie for holding knitted tops together.
I figure the Beadie is sort of neutral so will work with whatever colour I wear.I tried on the beanie at the stand, cos I have had trouble finding hats that don't look dicky on me. I thought the hat looked pretty good, much better than the hat I wear every day at work. My sister wants to learn how to make a hat, so I thought this pattern would work since it is knitted on straight needles. I only use circulars these days cos I find them more comfortable. I think I have worked out the needle size I will use. I needed a smaller size to get tension, so will use 4mm instead of the 5mm for the stocking stitch section. I am adjusting the pattern to make it a bit smaller so will keep my fingers crossed. To enable the repeats to work I will try taking off 12 stitches.
I bought the One Skein Wonders book from Can Do Books and have enjoyed flicking through that. There are some felted things I would like to try. I also bought a Curvemaster foot from Punch with Judy, she has so many things on her stand, if you want some sort of gadget for patchwork or other machine sewing, then she will usually have it. If not, she can try to get it. I also bought another purple thang, I have two of them but have no idea where they are.
One of the things I had planned to do with my week off was organise my spare room and my study/sewing room. Nup, didn't happen. I did find buttons on Monday that were for two knitted tops I was doing for DN1. The newest one would fit DN2. Of course, when I was looking on Wednesday for the safe place I had put them, I couldn't find them. I thought I had put them on a shelf, I know they are in a little white paper bag somewhere.
I have managed to catalogue a lot of my stash on ravelry, but have not yet opened the 40L plastic container in the cupboard. I know I have some zhivago, tapestry and some other yarns in there. And then there is the baskets of sock and baby wool. I desperately need some proper shelves in my cupboards to organise my stash properly.
Well, I am off to knit my hat. We have a Scquilters dinner tonight, so I plan to knit when I am not eating. I hope to finish the hat tomorrow or Monday arvo so I can show it off at SnB.
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