Chapter Seven up

I've got the new chapter up. I didn't have to long to finesse it since I don't altogether trust the electricity to stay on with this cyclone making its way around. Hope you like :)

The Modern Vintage-y Look

I bought these great ball of yarn from Spotlight, Moda Vera Irena. They're so soft, almost like chenille. And I wanted to try making a bag, sort of a market/carry bag. So, after cannabilising two other patterns from Ravelry, one the bottom of a bag and the other is the lace pattern from an in-the-round hat, I improvised the rest. I think it turned out pretty good.

If I did it again I'd do the gap between the handles different. I knit the stitches together instead of casting off because I thought it would be too floppy. Now it's a bit stiff which means it'll probably wear out quicker. And the vintage handles that I had didn't unscrew as they appeared to so I had to knit them on. Not difficult but definitely more fiddly.
So there's my latest project up on this wonderful Australia Day here. Hope everyone's enjoying it and our wonderful country.
Happy Knitting :)

Chapter Six is Now Up

I've just put the next chapter, Chapter Six up. Hope you like it.

Hubbie Home from New Zealand!

And he had a lovely time! Sightseeing, riding on the gondolas, seeing snow, a variety of other things I haven't quite got all of it yet but a great time was had by all!
He was a smart man too, he brought back gifts...and what great gifts they are!
If he never does anything else he has covered himself with glory in his choice of pressies that he brought me back from wonderful New Zealand. This is what he got me...

This absolutely beautiful hank of kid mohair/merino blend wool. It isn't even as itchy as I find almost anything with mohair in it! It. Is. Gorgeous!! My eldest said, "well, at least we know what to get Mum if we're in another country. Just buy her a ball of wool she could probably buy here!" He was shushed immediately and told that I'd never seen anything like this (and even if I had I'd never have had the courage to buy it!) and that I loved it!!
If that wasn't enough to give him top marks as the smartest husband on the planet, then he gave me these...

Aren't they absolutely beautiful? A deep amethyst purple. They are so soft and warm! Merino + Possum + Silk makes for a wonderful mix! They are lovely!
After these I was pretty much as chuffed as I could get. Hubbie isn't noted for his powers of perception when it comes to the likes and dislikes of those of his family (he still buys dearest daughter chocolate-covered sultanas although she hates, has always hated and will continue to hate sultanas!) so for him to have been discerning enough to chose these amazing gifts was really lovely and sweet. But he hadn't finished. He had been to New Zealand after all!

You can't go to New Zealand without buying some paua shell. They are beautiful and another lovely gift that I will treasure.
So Hubbie's home, the house is no longer quiet but that's okay and I have some new lovely wool to find a pattern to do it justice to knit it up in. Now if I could only find the circular needles I need to return to Spotlight next time I go up I'll be pleased. They're tied up with their receipt, ready to go, but guess what I did?...
...I put them in a safe place! Do you think I can find them now???
Breathe deeply, deep cleansing breaths...
Happy Knitting :)

Okay, I have actually been busy...

I have just been a little preoccupied. I have actually finished stuff.
My Auty Dot's cardigan for one.
I wish it had been lighter so she could get some wear out of it now but hopefully it'll serve for this autumn and winter. It looks and feels lovely :)

Christmas and new years were interesting. Dear Daughter and her Beloved were down from Canberra for a month off so we saw quite a bit of her. Saw him on Christmas day and in passing as I picked Madam up and dropped her back. He exemplified his status as one of the rudest persons of my aquaintance when he took a slogan I'd found, liked and put on facebook...

...and he thought it would be funny to alter it to show me the errors of my delusional beliefs

Thank you so much :(
Sometimes it doesn't seem to matter how nice you are to someone they still find it entertaining to slap you in the face and when you complain point out that you've taken it totally the wrong way. And if you get upset tell you that you're not behaving in a very christian manner.
But I digress....
While she was down Madam saw a hat I'd knitted and asked if I could knit her one. Which of course I agreed to immediately :) My hat was done with some very old acrylic that I love the colour of.

Madam decided she wanted hers in a wool I'd dyed in a range of blues and strawberry reds. It looks lovely but it's hardly the sort of thing you'd wear for more than a minute in the middle of an Australian summer! And God help her if she puts it in the wash on a normal cycle. It'd probably shrink to the size of a coin purse! But it does look sweet. Had to post it to her since it wasn't quite ready.

So Daughter and the Athiest she lives with have returned to Canberra and Hubbie has been in New Zealand for 10 days attending a family reunion . I hope he's been having fun because he jolly well needs to! He'll be home tomorrow with Eldest Boy so that'll be nice...once I've tidied the house up a bit :)
I'm trying to get a project off my queue, the Blush Vest but the first attempt ended up WAY too big. The yarn I'm using has tencel in it and has very little memory to speak of. I like the drapiness of it but I'm a little worried that it might hamper this vest actually working as it should. But we'll see.
I've also started another Celtic Tote since my brother's Fiancee admired mine and I'd love to do something nice for her. I keep getting sidetracked with the vest since with that I can read and mindlessly knit whereas the tote requires concentration to follow the chart.
So there you have it. I certainly have not been idle although I probably haven't used my time as well as I should but I've had fun. And in the end that's what I'm most interested in!
Happy Knitting :)

A new Year begins!

And here's hoping it's not too bumpy a ride! But on a plus side I've finished my first project for the year. I started the Cinnamon Grace Shawlette somewhere in December using some of the dyed yarn I'd been fooling around with. It's a well written pattern, very easy to follow and I'm really pleased with the results.

And one day I might even get brave enough to wash it carefully and then pin each and every one of these dinky little picots at the edge out. But I'm not holding my breath! That would be a lot of work!
Now I just have to find the next project to do. I've already got a wish list knit from Brother's Fiancee for a Celtic Tote but I need to find a nice coloured wool that'll felt. I'll need to think on that for a little while.
Ah well, so much to do and a brand new year to do it!
Happy Knitting :)