Really loving this Rowan Lima yarn …

I am knitting number one (and only) son a jumper (that’s Australian English for sweater)  at his request.  Surprised me really that he would want or wear a handknitted jumper.  But I promised and so now it’s underway … but … he has quite sensitive skin and so only the very softest yarns would work for him.  That’s where this absolutely delicious Rowan Lima yarn comes in … 84 percent baby alpaca, 8 percent merino wool and 8 percent nylon.  It is sooooo soft and so lovely to knit up and I am really enjoying it.  The pattern is a freebie on the Rowan website called Smisby by Marie Wallin.  It has a quite simple fairisle yoke and the fabulous star stitch pattern for the body … which I have knitted before with various yarns and loved … but with this yarn it knits up much softer.  I will share more pics when I have knitted more.

Meet Roy ….

Rex has a new pal … Roy … the newest member of the ever expanding Rat family. Roy just loves curling up with a good bit of cheese in front of a warm fire (a bit like me really).

Next Project Please ….

I have been at a bit of a loose end projects wise … even though I still (always) have a couple of things on the go … which I pick up from time to time and keep plugging away at … nothing that pushes my buttons has arisen for some time … so I have just been playing with ideas and perfecting techniques, blog hopping and scouring pinterest for inspiration. This is what I have been working on the last week … a new project with my lovely SIL Marg.  Quite excited about this little project … but you will have to wait a while to see the outcome.

Sew Your Ends In As You Go People!!!!!!

So … I have not posted for some time.  Excuses are many and varied and really just not good enough … suffice to say that I  have been distracted.  But I am back now!!!! Did you miss me? 

So not only have I not posted …but I have not done an awful lot of crafting.  I think my mojo was indisposed somewhat.  However, deadlines looming have made it impossible to ignore that which must be completed … and over the last couple of days I finished the border (please remind me NEVER to do that border again) on my Babette blanket and (with a little kick start from my wonderful SIL) I am now into sewing in the ends.  WHAT ON EARTH WAS I THINKING as I blithely changed colours several times in every single square … that the ends would sew themselves in????? There is always a reckoning with ends and mine is now.  Mindless, boring, must be done sewing in of the ends. 

In my classes I always teach my students to sew in the ends as you go … it make life so much easier in the end.  I was kinda excited about getting to the end of the border … and in retrospect … it really would have been a good idea to follow my own advice I thought …

P.S. the outcome will be worth it … I just know it.

Freeform Knitting : Prudence Mapstone

If you are a freeform knitter/crocheter … then you would surely know of Prudence Mapstone.  She is the Doyenne of freeform and I have posted about her before.  Her colour work (not to mention her knowledge of stitchery) is simply mind bogglingly beautiful, creative, so so so clever and really at the very top of the freeform tree.  It was Prudence who introduced me to freeform many years ago … and when I think back on it now … I remember how lucky I was to be able to spend a weekend workshop with only two other participants with Prudence in Hobart in the very early days.  What brings me to this reminiscing … I was just looking at Prudence’s blog which I haven’t for some time and notice that all of her books and patterns are now available for download … including her very famous book Serendipitous Design Techniques for Knitting & Crochet 2nd Edition  It’s worth a visit and perhaps a little indulgence me thinks.  I have all of her books … but this book is certainly by far the best book on Freeform that I have seen.   Enjoy the images below from Prudence’s work or do yourself a huge favour and go to her gallery and look at her work there.  Amazing!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

not JUST knitting

I am absolutely blown away by the work of this woman : Ragne Kikas.  Amazingly detailed and beautifully sculpted wearable pieces.  WOW!!!!!

Hooked on Coral : Federation Square Workshops

YAY !!! Its finally official : I am running crochet coral workshops in Federation Square on the second Monday of every month starting this Monday.

Join us in the upper square this Monday 11 March from 12.00 until 2.00 p.m. and learn to make colourful crochet coral at our Hooked on Coral : Making Crochet Coral Motifs workshops.

The workshops will continue on 2nd Monday of each month right through 2013 for aspiring coral crocheters. Bring your own crochet hook and a little fibre to start although I have some yarn if you need.

And at the end of the year … we hope to make a wonderful display of crochet coral in Fed Square.

This is the most fun you can have sitting down …. or almost!!!!!