Thanks Carina September 3, 2008

I’ve been Awarded…

1. Recipients must pick 5 blogs they consider deserving of this award for creativity, design, interesting material, and for contributing to the blogging community in whatever language.
2. Each of the 5 selected blogs must include the name of the author and a link to his/her site to be visited by readers.
3. The recipient must show the award and indicate the name and link to the blog of the one that handed it to him/her.
4. All Award recipients must include a link to the Arte y Pico site to inform all readers about the origin of this award.

My 5 pick: Jhoanna for her most amazing softies, Concha for bloggin bi-lingually and making fantastic bags, Tina, for knitting and positive-ness, Julie for adorable cuteness, and Yasmine for magic on paper.

Yoda, finito! July 15, 2008

I am not entirely satisfied. Mainly because I am not an experienced knitter and my stitches are uneven. Also because the sleeves are very narrow, especially where they join the body, and they are way long. The edges on the front pieces (they overlap) were not very neat, so I crotcheted a row of single crotchet to neaten them a little. I was running out of time, so chose a crotchet cord for the inside ties, and two buttons from the stash for the outside, one on top of the other, for that girlie touch. Handed the finished product over to Little Miss Evelyn today. She is adorable!

Oh – I DO like that the fit of the body is long and narrow, I find that a lot of babies and childrens clothes are too wide and too short. And I like the little roll-over neckline.

Hot or Not – Lukewarm. Wouldn’t do another. But was happily surprised how quick a jumper that size is to make, so will perhaps try another pattern.

First I have to get stuck into an appliqued wallhanging for Niece Anna. She turns 1 on Saturday, and is the only one out of 5 nieces and nephews who has not received something homemade from aunty M yet. The pieces have been traced, and cut tonight. Have sent an order through a friend for some fabric glue from the shops tomorrow (between work and basket ball practice there will be no shopping time for me tomorrow) and I will get a good part of the sewing (if not all) done tomorrow so I just have to add binding friday evening. Thursday is booket out!

Scarf update July 12, 2008

The scarf is so nearly finished. I lost one of my knitting needles about a week ago after it was turned into a horse and used in this manner by the grls. So although I had only the casting off to do I had to patiently wait for the missing ‘horse’ to be found. Found it tonight. (in the bottom of my knitting bag, not as I had thought somewhere in the grls’ rooms – but I’m not telling anybody).

So all we need now is a needle with an eye big enough for the 8ply. Dont think I have one.

Modelled on the man: note the smile. He’s happy. And warm.(He doesn’t know that I have plans to borrow it tomorrow, heck I made it in grey to match my new hoodie).

Yoda update July 12, 2008

The bits and pieces are finally finished. It was really fast to make, but I have not had a lot of knitting time lately, which does not help. I have not decided if I am going to make the I-cords for the ties, first consideration is I do not know how to make I-cords, but in this instant-access world I am sure I would be able to figure it out with a little help from Mr Google. I was also considering pink satin ribbon for a girlie touch, little Shim is now an Evelyn <3

Update pic – very important note: glass of wine is somewhat distracting me from finishing those seams, and since we are coming towards the end of the grls winter school holidays there has been a little more than usual use of those glasses.

So I’ve learnt something this week. June 19, 2008

That what I thought was a knit stitch was infact a ‘twisted’ stitch. No wonder I was such a ’slow slow’ knitter. These days I’m only ’slow’.

The proof is in the pudding. And the pic:

Blah!!! Have tried 5 times now to upload a photo without any luck. I hereby give up.

Tried 3 times with Flickr – no luck, and suddenly wordpress is again agreeable.

KIP photo June 14, 2008

well nearly…

You see, we managed to get together, and we knitted. In public. But, we also chatted. A lot. So the one and only photo is of the Mads eating, and not of us knitting!

Oh - to be truthful, only I knitted, for poor Linda had made a mistake some 120 stitches ago, and not only is she knitting some sort of pattern with holes and thus ‘YO’ers and ‘k2TOG’ers, she is also knitting on small needles, and is a girl with tight tension – so she battled with unpicking whilst I knitted. 

But we had fun, and have agreed to do it again. Nest week were have invited a bunch of colleagues to meet us for morning tea, its going to be an learning/coaching opportunity for those needing a little help in the craft department. And from september onwards we will be starting some sort of regular knitting-meet up.

Heres the non-knitter not knitting, photo taken by the knitter before the knitting began:

 

Inspiration June 11, 2008

A print a day is great. Pictures, labels, lists, cards and more, free to print. And really georgeous.

One Red Robin has softies galore. And is a local gal. Yeah.

Little Cotton Rabbits is adorable. I could never knit anything like that – but boy could I cuddle one!

Be inspired and create!

A bit o’ action. June 11, 2008

So the hat has still not got its ends sewn in. But guess what – DD does not care o-n-e bit. It hangs on her bed and she loves it and there it will stay. Unless of course it is on her head for a photoshoot.

The pattern really doesn’t get a chance in that yarn. Something to learn from that I guess.

Next project then was a star shaped ball. Wanted to try the pattern using some leftover cottons, but then I ran out of yarn, and forgot to take my ball of wacky-points to the shop to match some more blues, and THEN i realised I had attached the last two points in the wrong way. So the starshaped ball is officially having a rest. The points are really fiddly, and annoying. Might have to be left for a long while before I want to go near it again.

Found some really nice thick merino wool in a perfect grey and have started a winter scarf. The merino have a very low itch factor. Very low. I think I actually might cope with it. The double rib on size 5.5mm is a breeze. I shall bring it along to WWKIP on saturday. A bunch of freinds and colleagues meeting at a local cafe in the afternoon. Pics to follow.

 

 

 

Seeking non-itchy yarn May 9, 2008

Been thinking.

Needing a scarf or two or three for this winter.

I absolutely cannot stand wool. the Itch. Wont work.

So what else is available. Just cotton??

I crochet’ a pink scarf last year. It’s still waiting for me to sew in the ends. Perhaps my ‘next’ project should be to finish that, and then head to the store for some inspiration. I’m thinking grey and a large ply, knitted in rib. Just need to get happening really.

The blue varigated hat i finished. well, nearly. Needs ends sewn in too. That must be my project for tomorrow night. BTW its way too small. Just fits DD9.

Leafy cottony hat band March 27, 2008

Leafy cottony hat band

Originally uploaded by BloggerMiM

My oh my! I do believe I see a leaf. Dare I call it a piece of LACE???? (and might I add, so freaking easier than socks!!)
Its blue. I love blue.
Its cotton. I love cotton.
Its varigated. Im not big on varigated – but its a leaf pattern. yeah. Just how excited can one be? Very.
BTW its not blocked – merely stretched so I can share the LEAVES.
Perhaps one day this crochet-ing gal will transmorph into a real knitter…
Its a band for a hat. Next challenge is picking up 80 stitches to form the top. Fancy having to pick up 80 stitches on 11 repeats. Lucky i’m nuts about numbers.