Workspace Makeover

I use a corner of our lounge to do most of my crafty stuff. Up until recently it was a real mess and not at all functional.

I had limited space and a limited budget but my primary need was a big desk. I managed to pick one up for $60 on TradeMe! What an awesome buy. The desk is huge and made out of solid wood.

I also bought two three tier bookcases from The Warehouse ($25 for both) and screwed them together on top of each other to make a space saving storage unit.

The great thing is now I can push my sewing machine to the back of my desk and still have enough room to iron, draft and cut patterns, block knitted and crocheted pieces and even write letters (I should really start doing that)!

Before - MESS!

After - Beautiful!

Shere’s new sweater

I’m still here! I’ve just been so busy I haven’t had time to blog about it!!

Last week I finished Shere’s sweater… and this one fits! Shere is 17 years old and although he’s healthy he’s very thin. As Winter is approaching I get worried about him getting cold – so I thought a sweater might solve the problem.

I learnt a lot from it:

• Using DPNs
• Mirror decreases K2tog and SSK
• Stripes
• Cats, no matter how good natured and compliant really don’t appreciate sweaters!

Although Shere let me put the sweater on him, and even fell asleep with it on, his behavior became very odd while wearing it. At first he had great difficulty moving his front legs without walking cross-legged, stumbling and looking completely drunk. Then he spent a good 10 minutes trying to wash it which seemed to confuse him immensely!

Then he proceeded to jump on things – lots of things. Chairs, tables, knees, desks. And he started playing with a pen on the floor!!! – being 17 years old it’s been about 5 years since I’ve seen him do that!

This odd behaviour seemed to cease as soon as the sweater was removed. And not surprisingly he hasn’t shown a great interest in putting it back on since.

Oh well. What can you expcet when you knit your cat a sweater!!

Pattern – Cats love sweaters by Christine Landry, Yarn – Crucci Rainbow 8ply pure wool, Needles – 3.75mm DPNs

Isn’t he so CUTE!!!

Crochet Diary: Top down yoke cardi

I haven’t forgotten about it – it’s just coming very slowly, with my preoccupation to knitting and the fact that I keep on buying yarn that isn’t for this… it has gotten slightly longer since last time though…

The trouble with hanks…

The hardest part about the bainbridge scarf was undoubtedly winding the hank into a ball. And not because I lay it out on the ground and started winding (trust me, I’ve done it and it ain’t pretty!)…

No it’s because a certain someone insists on helping me!!!

Knitting Diary: Bainbridge Scarf

Yah! My Bainbridge Scarf is done and I love it!!!

Project specs:

• Yarn: Hand-dyed hand-spun 80% alpaca/20% silk (YUM) bought direct from spinner via TradeMe – Sport/DK weight. 50g used.
• Needles: 3.75mm 60cm circular (plus a 3mm crochet hook to save many a stitch!)
• Pattern: Bainbridge Scarf (free via Ravelry) with alterations kindly provided by Flintknits.

This was a great first knitting project for me (well my first if you don’t count the odd garter stitch scarf I knitted when I was a child) and I learned a lot from it…

• Using circular needles and actually knitting in the round (thanks to Kate, Susan and Libby for that!)
• Broken rib stitch/rib stitch
• Button holes – Yahoo! Finally, a hole that is supposed to be there!!
• Picking up stitches to knit the tag
• Saving dropped stitches – lifesaver!
• Going backwards (undoing stitches) to the point I stuffed up to save things!!

Interestingly and comfortingly enough it was my trusty crochet hook that kept this project on track! Dropped stitches were saved by the crochet hook, picking up stitches was made possible by the crochet hook!! Who would have thought that this knitters biggest ally would have been her beloved crochet hooks!

I should mention that at one point, on the first row of the project I did completely screw up the rib pattern, which resulted in the third row being half pretty rib, and the other half being a moss stitch mess! At this point I frogged and started again and I’m so glad I did. It was quicker than trying to change 100 stitches from purl to knit or knit to purl and if I had kept on going it would have bugged the hell out of me everytime I wore it – even if no one else could tell. So in the end it was a good investment of my time.

I also screwed up the tag a wee bit and had to redo part of that and had to move the button because I sewed it in the wrong place the first time round (it was 1am, I was tired, these things happen!).

But overall I am very happy with the finished scarf – and I still can’t believe I KNITTED it!!!

Awesome free sewing patterns!

Today I was supposed to be knitting – but then I found this fantastic site and now I’m totally engrossed in all of the beautiful FREE sewing patterns available!

If you sew you have to sign up to this site – I guess it’s kind of the sewing version of Ravelry – where you can post your creations, upload your patterns, and hang out with other like-minded (obsessed) people.

Check out this gorgeous Coffee Date Dress by the very talented elainemay. The pattern is free! Isn’t she a talented girl!

I can’t wait to make it!

So many needles!

One of the reasons I’ve resisted knitting up until this point is the shear amount of needles!

A crochet project will almost never require more than one hook. However a knitting project can require straight needles, circular needles and up to five double pointed needles!

With all these needles I was thinking I may need a convenient way to carry them all – preferably without poking holes through myself or my handbags. So I made this wee organiser for knitting on the go…. to be honest at first I thought it would house all my needles but I don’t think that will be the case for long!

I did a wee patchwork design on the exterior. I saw The Sometimes Crafter do this and I thought it was such an intereting idea that I would try it for myself!!

In other news I went to a wee knitting meet up with some fellow Raveler’s from Nelson today. It was so great!! I can’t believe how much I learned! Those girls are amazing – and if it wasn’t for them… well let’s just say my circular knitting wouldn’t be so, ahem, circular!

Look what I got!

Look what was in my mailbox this morning… I am in LOVE!!!

It’s a beautiful hand-dyed hand-spun hank of 80% alpaca/20% silk yarn. I’m drooling just looking at the picture!! I think I am going to knit the Bainbridge Scarf with this

Tomorrow I am meeting up with fellow Raveler’s from nelson so hopefully I’ll start it then! I bought the wrong length circular needle (still getting used to all these knitting notions) so fingers crossed I can find the right one tomorrow morning – service ain’t great round these parts on a Sunday!

Unicef Unite for Mothers Campaign

Attention knitters and crocheters!!!

Join the Unite for Mothers this Mothers Day UNICEF campaign!

Knit or crochet a 20x20cm square and post or drop it in to UNICEF by Friday 1st May.  We need 1,400 squares.  1,400 represents the number of new HIV infections in children under 15 every day, mostly as a result of mother to child transmission.  We will stitch the squares into a giant ‘baby blanket’ which will be handed to MPs who are mums as a symbolic gesture this Mother’s Day .

Following this the blanket will be separated into smaller baby blankets and will be sent to Papua New Guinea to babies and children who need them this Winter.

Download instructions on how to make your square for change and where to post the squares when you have completed them. Please let Unicef know how many squares you plan to knit by emailing takeaction@unicef.org.nz or by phoning 0800 243 575 (NZ only) or (+64) (04) 496 9610.

For more information visit the web site http://www.unicef.org.nz/page/260/UniteforMothers.html

My goal is to knit 10 peggy squares by 28th of April (to ensure they arrive on time).

So far I’ve knitted 1.5 squares and delivered the campaign flyers to my LYS. So come on, join me and do some good!

It’s a great opportunity to bust your stash (remember these go to Papua New Guinea babies and children so baby friendly yarns if possible!) and practice new techniques – in my case that means knitting!. I haven’t knitted in so long and after 1.5 squares I am back on the horse – I’ve conquered the knit, the purl, the slip stitch edge and even saved a drop stitch! Wahoo!!! I can knit!!!!Bring on the sweaters

Top down yolk cardi progress report

On Wednesday I started the Top Down Yolk Cardigan. As I said in the last post this pattern is generated by knitting software! So far it seems to fit. I wasn’t planning on doing waist shaping but I have decided I will do some and have just started decreasing the sides.

I’m a wee bit disappointed you can’t see the yolk pattern row – I should have done a three DC cluster and skipped two stitches instead of a two DC cluster. Ah well. And I don’t know about the neckline. It’s so plain – maybe I’ll add a cowl. I was also thinking of adding a lace crochet border to the opening when I’m done. Hmmm…

I’ve done a few extra rows since these pics and I’m almost out of yarn – I bought 4 skeins and put the rest on layby because this is some luxury yarn for my standards!!

I was planning on buying some more yarn for this on Sunday but I have just had a huge blowout and my credit card is maxed! In the last three days I have bought 600gms of mohair (proposed crochet shawl or throw), 12 skeins of Patons Inca (proposed knitted cardi), 13 skeins of Cleckheaton Studio Mohair (knitted tunic pullover/dress – pattern from She Knits), and 10 skeins of Patons Soft Haze (knitted pullover). Yes I know – Thats THREE knitted garments for this beginner knitter – make that FOUR including the Lil Red Riding Hood knitted hoody my sister and I are planning to do as a KAL. I can’t wait!!!

Now I just need some wool for it – Buying yarn is good for the soul I tell ya!!!