metal and knit

Finally the finishing bag catches up a bit.

2008-07-02T23:21:00.003+10:00

I've been working away on orders and shop stock and as I finish I put them into the finishings bag. Tonight at work I started getting them sewn up. So for Handmade in the Highlands we have bootees and the beanie below. I do need to try and get one more Beanie and Bootee set done by the weekend.
I got one of the 2 premmie jackets sewn up and buttons on while I worked away. I still have the pink one to complete and then I will knit up the mint one and once section of the range is completed. I will then work on getting the 3 other shades in the newborn and 3 month sizes. Also for Handmade in the Highlands is a Crochet Jacket and I have actually had this complete since Thursday last week But kept forgetting to take a photo of it.

So the tally now stands as this since the weekends efforts that were nothing to what it should have been.

4 balls of Cobalt Blue 8 ply

3 balls Sky Blue 8 ply

3 balls Jacaranda 8 ply
2 balls Rose 8 ply

8 balls Baby Blue 4 ply

5 ball Baby Mint 3 ply

1 ball Baby Lemon 3 ply

2 balls Baby Pink 4 ply

So now its 28 done and well still alot to go. I do hope that this weekend produces more if I can.

Once upon a time there was Knit camp

2008-06-30T20:34:00.002+10:00

Come with me and youll see in a world of pure imagination. NO imagination needed It is the view from the Lodge at the Scout camp Straight over to the Nan Tien Temple and Lake Illawarra. Even better at night with the lights all twinkling.

Inside was more action busy chatting knitting and enjoying a Christmas in July opps June. Alot of fun was happening and there was Dying yarn or squares to reknit into hats or socks. SOme learnt other fancy techniques and some felted. We had trivia and well may I say table 2 really have the brains and signals to keep the others from winning. Prize was to Pick 2 items from the shop which was our friendly yarn store who hosts our weekend - CR & K Daisy Designs. They transport most of the shop for us to enjoy extened shopping.

There we plenty of people to chat with and time to meet Ravellers as well. Did I get much knitted well not really I had to battle with the fire for a fair bit and well then I seem to become keeper of the flame after that. I have 2 premmie cardis to now sew and finish off from the weekend.

Mind you on my way home was a stop to my Nephews Rugby League Match and they won even though the captain is out with his shoulder. I got home and unpacked my gear and settled down for a moment to check on some friends who normally have me sort of live in of a weekend just I dont sleep there. I get invited for dinner and well find out they didnt eat dinner the night before. It seems I leave the guys for one weekend and they forget the basic things. All was rescued with a nice roast chook dinner.

But my time off is over and I have to go back to work and get to finishing orders and sewing up stuff. I will try to remember to take some photos of the work I have finished when I get it sewn.

Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to Camp I go....

2008-06-26T21:13:00.002+10:00

Its time for me to go and bunk down at the Scout Camp and knit away be fed more than I really need and enjoy the view.

Gear is packed and ready to go Just have to put it in the car and then its off I go tomorrow and will be back on Sunday with pics and what I got done.

In the meantime I have just finished a Matinee Jacket for Handmade in the Highlands as they sold out and need some more stock. I have Crookwell to stock as well and its the main focus for camp. I even have a 5 ply jumper to knit for my Great Uncle as his wife was not able to work out the pattern.

Cya on the otherside of camp.

Under Pressure....

2008-06-19T01:03:00.002+10:00

I have finished the 1st of the 4 layettes and packaged it already to post off tomorrow. I did think about keeping it aside for show and tell on Saturday at Guild but as it is a 3 day post I think it is best to get it moving along.

I have plently to work on now. More for Country Treasures and now an added quick order for Handmade in the Highlands as her market stall is starting to pick up very well and items are needed again. I will be crocheteing a jacket and making more beanie and bootee sets to help this out.

Another sides off the needles at pace.....

2008-06-17T23:53:00.000+10:00

Busy yet again and finishing more work. I have the Heather Jacket done and sewn up as well as made a start on a int set. I can say the yarn tally is lowering as well. Before I knew it I was goign so well on the beanie and well forgot to take the ball of wool for the bootees so they are being worked on tonight.

The beanie took no time at all and well even got sewn as I took calls. Work is great for that horrible task. Time passes as I sew between calls.

I actually had woken Boss taking the jackets photo and had the chance to get this lovely action shot for you all.

Must get back to the needles and a tally later this week.

I will survive......

2008-06-15T23:53:00.003+10:00

What a busy week and then the weekend was even worse. In the past week I have barely had time to knit much and then on top of that on the weekend friends moved into a new home.

The yarn tally really didnt move that much and I have been far to busy to get it too much further along. Here is hoping this week is better and the weekend give me much needed knitting time. (If the guys read this I want a lazy day Sunday movie and afternoon tea. I might cook the evening meal though.)

4 balls of Cobalt Blue 8 ply
3 balls Sky Blue 8 ply
3 balls Jacaranda 8 ply

2 balls Rose 8 ply
6 balls Baby Blue 4 ply
4 ball Baby Mint 3 ply
1 ball Baby Lemon 3 ply

Not to bad really 127 balls to go and 23 used I hope to finish a few more balls this week and hopefully a few more garments. I know I will get a better qunaitiy done when I dont have to help driving gear from one house to another.

Saturday was WWKIP and we had public knitting in Kiama in the morning where I didnt get to knit a stitch as I had to get things organised for lunch and so I could go to Shellharbour after getting the guys who were laying the floating floor at the new house lunch. I then went on to Shellharbour but needed to get back to the guys as they needed a few things for coffee. I did get some knitting done then atleast but will look forward to knitting more this week.

I now have the knitting mapped out a little better and will focus more on the Retreat weekend to get as much as I can done. I am getting closer to having one layette completed and hope to be sewing up this week and starting the next one. I also have a 6 month Cable and Pattern Cardigan and beanie set going in sky blue to use some of the yarn up as well.

My needles click on again..........

2008-06-10T23:07:00.002+10:00

I finished the Size 4 jumper last night and got it all seamed up and ready for the holding bag. I am now tinkering thru the layette and a 6mth cardi and beanie set.

A closer view of the pattern it has. I still have size 2 and 3 to knit to complete this range for the moment.

The tally really hasnt changed and I will try to make a dent into it more this week. I have 3 more sizes in the cardigan and beanie set to make as the base stock and well need to help build the baby wear range as well. Thank goodness there is a knitting weekend at the end of the month. I will keep knitting and might even come towards the end of some shades soon.

Ill save the tally for the end of the week as it is only one extra baby blue ball worked.

21 down and I am getting there....

2008-06-09T22:22:00.002+10:00

Yes I am still knitting but had one of those finishing weeks that was even mucked up with extra training and some very busy times at work. to add to that yes I have just had 3 days off but I was busy over them as well and very little knitting time was found around winding skeins into balls. I have been working on some of the slower balls of yarn doing a baby set and well they take longer to knit through.

I am just seaming the size 4 jumper after getting enough time to knit the neck. I have to knit some bootees for some other orders as well so this week will be a knit at any free moment week.

The jumper should be done tomorrow and Ill put the photos up as well. I will keep seaming and then making bootees to get my night going.

Another one for Stock

2008-06-03T22:43:00.002+10:00

Yet again a work time photo. I finished the Motif Jacket tonight and it is a nice quick and easy join the square as you go. Nice little jacket and is perfect over a wondersuit ( baby growsuit) to dress it up and keep a little one warm.

So I am just trying to get the front of the Size 4 Jumper done and then the blue layette. Not too bad and there are 120 balls still to play with. 3 packets of yarn have not even been touched. 1 pack each of sky blue, Cobalt and Lavender contain 10 balls each and not opened, plus the 20 balls of baby pink have not been opened. Heres to a good long weekend of working along the balls.

20 down and 130 to go.....

2008-06-02T23:26:00.005+10:00

I have been able to get the matching hat for the 3mth set in rose done and will now try to get the Heather set done and the Size 4 jumper front done as well as finishing the Crochet jacket. Not too bad when I look at what I have used and what it has made so far.

4 balls of Cobalt Blue 8 ply

2 balls Rose 8 ply

3 balls Sky Blue 8 ply

3 balls Jacaranda 8 ply

4 balls Baby Blue 4 ply

3 ball Baby Mint 3 ply

1 ball Baby Lemon 3 ply

An Update for the week

2008-06-01T20:03:00.003+10:00

Ok Tally update

4 balls of Cobalt Blue 8 ply
3 balls Sky Blue 8 ply
3 balls Jacaranda 8 ply
4 balls Baby Blue 4 ply
3 ball Baby Mint 3 ply
1 ball Baby Lemon 3 ply

I count that up as 18 gone now and that leaves 132 to go.

This week so far I have finished this little 3mth jacket and am plugging along well on 3 other projects. I am going well on the size 4 jumper and the baby layette as well as a little crochet jacket. Things take time and this week I will domy best to finish more and look forward to a 3 day Queens Birthday weekend.

Back to the needles I go.

Another one bite the dust.......

2008-05-26T00:07:00.003+10:00

Lovely weather and drive to sit in the car with this view and knit. Perfect Saturday to get on with the work when it is too nice to stay inside. I drove down to Shellharbour to sit and enjoy the view as I knit after stopping to stock up on some buttons to keep me going a few more weeks yet.

I got to finish knitting the front of the Size 1 jumper and tonight got it all together and finished off. I had a good knitting day between things like viewing the property a friend has just purchased and let me say I was able to give some insight into the needs before moving begins. I should have cooked dinner but instead opted for drive to get take away and spent the evening sitting knitting and enjoying their company and the extras who called in as well.

Today was a trip to Nowra and back with my friends and I got to sit in the back of the car and knit so I can get more of the Size 4 jumper in the same pattern done but this week as the sleeves are larger I got thru most of 1 sleeve and last weeks trip to Nowra yeilded almost both sleeves for the size 1 with only a small portion that I knitted whilst watching tv after the drive.

Next in line is to finish the 3mth cardigan and the size 4 jumper while I work on the Heather layette as well. I am not sure if I will be getting much done while my friends move house unles I can knit and drive. I can drive car loads about but cannot lift much or help in otherways. I might get to do some of the initial cleaning to get it right for moving but other than that unfortuantely I will be relegated to the tea lady and food runner.

12 gone .... 138 to go .......

2008-05-24T00:50:00.004+10:00

Ok how does this add up now

4 balls of Cobalt Blue 8 ply

3 balls Sky Blue 8 ply

1 ball Jacaranda 8 ply

2 balls Baby Blue 4 ply

1 ball Baby Mint 3 ply

1 ball Baby Lemon 3 ply

Thats 12 balls all together so far and some are in use being made into things as I type.

So we have some things ready to show.

A size 2 cardigan and hat set in Cobalt from Superfine Wool Australia.

Yes I took the photos at work where the light is reasonably good and the pale desks are great backing.

A newborn Classic Cardigan again in Superfine Wool made in just a few days as well.

Now I work in the finishing bag and get the size 1 Jumper finished and the size 4 jumper moving again. Prepped another classic cardigan to start the main body part and then the Heather Baby set is ready to get going again as well and started. I see a busy needles weekend here.

Its a dogs life......

2008-05-17T19:06:00.002+10:00

This was what the day started like until the weather turned. At 9.30 am you had no idea the weather would turn after lunch and become cold wet and windy.

I had to share this we have a resident origami creator at work and last night he left us with this pack of dogs to enjoy. I had to take a photo such a dogs life it is.

Best of all my 2nd PRGE package arrived from Carly and it is full of goodies. I have a Book on Virginia where she is from and a Notebook, Some KitPicks Shadow in a lovely red shade and a bag of hersheys dark. I even have a custom made Tea ball which has a longer chain with beads longer than normal perfect balance in my pots. Thank you Carly.

I will have to get back to the big stock knitting after spending the day learning the mathematics behind basic design and started a jumper which I have to go back to one day after I get back on my feet. I have a finishing weekend planned at this stage. Heres hoping some pics soon.

3 down .....147 to go

2008-05-14T00:18:00.002+10:00

I am cruising very nicely with the task of knitting stock for Country Treasures. I have one premmie jacket done and completed, A size 2 cardigan that is in the now to be finished with bands and trims in the pile, a size 1 jumper almost to the mustsit in quiet stage and about to start a size 4 jumper to carry to the same stage in the same pattern.

So far I have chomped through 1 ball of baby and 2 balls of 8 ply and have a few in starting action on their journey from ball to stall. I have to atleast get one in each size of the range to start with and I hope to get many more weeks of good lead up knitting with weekend finishing production.

This Saturday I will be slightly strayed for a few hours while I do the Basic Design workshop with the Knitters Guild and then I will go into complete mode for whatever is in the pile. Heres to a good run down to the weekend.

Pictures to come when it is not so grey and dull.

I think I can keep knitting now......

2008-05-10T21:26:00.004+10:00

A nice day and a good knitting one at that. I set off for Shellharbour and kept busy with the yarn that actually got into my possession on Thursday after a little chasing and found that it was at the Post Office since Monday but no notice was left for me to know that had happened. So we are in full swing for making the stock for Country Treasures in Crookwell. 150 balls of yarn and so far I have knitted thru a whole one 25gram ball on a premmie jacket.

I managed to knit this in just 2 days and still did go to work and work on it between calls. The above picture shows the correct lemon shade it is. Only 25 grams of Superfine supersoft baby yarn to make it.

Now to use more and make some Toddler wear and some more baby items to get the shop stocked. I am going to enjoy heaps of DVD time till then. Lovely soft Australian wool and even better are the prices and its machine washable. I must add that the shop really gets the higher end of the shopping market visit and they love the quality and that it is handmade so as long as it sells we are all happy.

Back to my needles I go. Also Mr Bear and his special friend had a lovely reunion and loving the fact they are together again.

Mr Bear Goes to the Teddy Day Spa Clinic

2008-05-07T23:02:00.002+10:00

On Monday a very special bear came into my care to have a radical make over as his special friend loves him so much he was threadbare and a little bit worse for wear. It was agreed between the Mummy and the special friend that Mr Bear would go to the special Teddy clinic and come back all clean and looking good again.

Special clinic actually meant a new bear knitted to replace him and a disposal of the previous body so to say. By tuesday night we had a bear and a face on him ready to sew and stuff again. He has gone back to his home after 2 nights away and will greet his friend again in the morning as the new healthy and clean looking Mr Bear after what will be described to him as a spa bath and new clothes.

The much healthier and happier looking Mr Bear.

But still I am awaiting on my wool to arrive frome Superfine Wool. Must be that the size of the order has stumped them to start with. Maybe tomorrow. I cant wait to much more to get my hands into it.

I am still getting ready to swim.....

2008-05-03T18:09:00.002+10:00

Another nice Saturday after a week that took a few dips to low for most of us. I ams thinking of going into hibernation if it gets too cold. I was hoping to have a big pile of yarn to dive into this weekend but that got slightly delayed till early net week the about 9 kg of wool to stock the shop at Crookwell with so as soon as it gets here it is straight in to start stocking asap.

Last weekend was a big one with ANZAC Day and then the Stitch n Bitch Exhibition at the OLd Court House in Wollongong and a 20 years dinner and reunion for the Salvation Army Corps I have been attending for many years. I am a tad worn out and will try to catch up a little on some odds and ends that need completing this weekend after my trip to Robertson tomorrow to drop off an order.
I guess with 2 kg of baby yarn arriving and 7 kg of 8ply I will be making spending alot of time with Frank mug drinking tea and watching Dvds for a few weeks till I get ahead a little. For now its time to finish a baby jacket to post off to someone on Monday.

93rd ANZAC DAY 2008

2008-04-25T16:11:00.004+10:00

Another early rise and another year where I get all dressed up in the so dubbed smurf suit and play for a Dawn service and then a march and service. I managed to do about 10 steps of the march at the end this year. So I give you my Uniform as part of ANZAC duties and the Uniform for winter as normal. The small medal on my left side is my Generals Guard Award which is similar to a Queens Scout. For now its off to have dinner with friends.

PRGE Contest last round

2008-04-20T19:37:00.002+10:00

Ok now Carly has given me a S start so I end it off with

Soldiers Under Command - Stryper

I finalise it that way as my thoughts turn to ANZAC Day on Friday when we pause and think of those who have served or are currently serving in conflicts or on peace keeping missions.

Its a tad moist here

2008-04-19T18:43:00.003+10:00

Its a tad moist damp and windy but rather cool and great for the knitting.

Even Boss checks the outside temps before thinking of going for an adventure.

Last week I started and completed the tea cosy in no time at all and finally thismorning had decent light to take a photo on one of my 6 cup tea pots.

I had a little bit of a drama last week and had to box up the yarn I had been holding to work with for a shop and her other request was to make a baby jacket as a final piece in pink. So I am on the second front and will try to get this done very soon to post off. I hope that some yarn is in transit to me as well to start up some new baby wear for the shops new owner.

I am also on the sock making a little and working on a 1942 soldiers sock pattern that is a spiral pattern and the start of my slow workings on old war patterns. I was lucky to be gifted the yarn in a previous exchange.

So I have plenty to tinker with and Pretty as a Peacock has slightly grown and hopefully will grow more tomorrow afternoon when I normally allocate a bit of quiet time to work on it. I still have about half of the 2nd Endpaper to make so they can be worn to keep me warm now the temp is dropping. Perfect weather to knit baby shawls when the yarn arrives to work on them.

PRGE Contest

2008-04-19T00:00:00.002+10:00

Ok Kelly threw back to me and now I have a great choice of

Straight Thru the Heart - Dio

Got to love classic 80's metal. Over to you Kelly for your last go.

Prge contest line 2

2008-04-17T00:29:00.002+10:00

From my spoiler Carly I get to start with a Y so heres a ballad but a ballad with a slightly different spin on a relationship but still meaningful

You're all I need - Motley Crue

Now rules say I pass this back for another go for Carly.

PRGE contest

2008-04-13T23:29:00.002+10:00

Yet again we have a paired contest for the PRGE folk. This one we take the song title and start the tag from the last letter of the song and try to keep the same theme. So for my pal Kelly I am throwing out Youth Gone Wild - Skid Row. Gee this song brings back memories from school discos and all of my friends singing with the big yell of Skid Row in the song. Hope this gets more fun.

Can I play with Madness

2008-04-13T00:55:00.003+10:00

Opps nearly forgot Saturday sky so here is not long before its was fading into night.

Endpapers one down one to go. Maybe tomorrow Ill work on them its too hard to take them to a knitting group. Other UFOS that linger came out though.

Completed bar the sewing up another pair of bedsocks for Berrima Womens Prision. The other pair that needs finishing will be on tomorrows list, technically today but still after a sleep everything is tomorrow.

For the Shellharbour Knit n Knatters project for the Festival in the Forest I have been working on a crochet tea cosy and well it will be done really soon as it is so quick. I also have a scarf to start for them as well. Not my yarn selection the Council is supplying the yarn so it is cheap acrylic. I have a wish list now of baby yarn and yarn for liquorice alsorts as well to make next.

Peacock maybe after a few little tasks are done.