I know acrylic yarn isn't everybody's cup of tea but credit where credit's due:
Big W (in Penrith at least) has rolled back the price of Carnival Acrylic 100g balls. Earlier this year they rose from $2.97 to $3.19 (an increase of approx 7%) - yesterday they were rolled back to $2.68! That's 16% - or 29 cents less than this time last year!
The Carnival Effects range - Fair Isle, Stripes and Camouflage - continues to be $2.97 per 100g.
As far as acrylic yarn goes, the Carnival range is quite nice to knit with - some colours knit up very softly.
So let me explain - this is not this week's special - this is the new, lower price! Big W really does roll back the prices! Thanks Big W, you've made me one happy customer!
Monday 30 July 2007
Monday 23 July 2007
The World's Biggest Stash?
Yvette from Knit4Charities sent this link: check it out and may your significant others never complain about your stash again! LOL
Sunday 22 July 2007
The Choir of Hard Knocks
As I sit here reading through my emails and favourite blogs, I 'm listening to the CD from The Choir of Hard Knocks. I watched the series on the ABC last month (or was it the month before?), and saw the report about them on Sixty Minutes last Sunday.
Am I here to promote a TV show or a CD? No! It's just as I listen to this CD I can see the faces of the people that sang on it from the TV show and it reminds me why I knit. Not just 'homeless' or 'disadvantaged' - but real people with talents and abilities just like the rest of us, who've had some hard knocks that many of us have not known!
It's amazing how the meaning of the words of well-known songs change when sung by these people. For example, "This is Why We Sing" [Greg Gilpin]:
So I keep knitting - there are real people out their needing my help and, while stitching, I remember to count my blessings. There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Am I here to promote a TV show or a CD? No! It's just as I listen to this CD I can see the faces of the people that sang on it from the TV show and it reminds me why I knit. Not just 'homeless' or 'disadvantaged' - but real people with talents and abilities just like the rest of us, who've had some hard knocks that many of us have not known!
It's amazing how the meaning of the words of well-known songs change when sung by these people. For example, "This is Why We Sing" [Greg Gilpin]:
Sooth a soul
Mend a heart
Bring together lives that have been torn apart
Share the joy
Find a friend
Is a never ending gift that circles back again
This is why we sing
Why we lift our voice
Why we stand as one in harmony
This is why we sing
Why we lift our voice take my hand and sing with me
Music builds a bridge
It can tear down a wall
Music is a language
That can speak to one and all
So I keep knitting - there are real people out their needing my help and, while stitching, I remember to count my blessings. There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Friday 13 July 2007
The dreaded URTI
Not much knitting going on here - I've been laid low with URTI! I've done virtually nothing but sleep over the past few days.
I managed to drag myself out of the house to attend the knit-and-natter of some members of Knit4Charities, a meeting I can't normally attend because I work Tuesdays. However, it's school holidays so my college is also on a break. There were only five people at the gathering but those who were there enjoyed it! I don't know how I completed the one hour drive home - I was feeling pretty woozy by then.
I finally succumbed and went to the doctor's on Wednesday evening - I thought it was viral and there was nothing the doc could do; but it's bacterial and in my throat and lungs so I've been given antibiotics.
I don't know if it was good timing or bad - at least I'm still on holidays so it doesn't interfere with my classes. However, right now I should be on a train to Tamworth and then a bus to Bingara, where my parents live. Instead, I was still in bed when I should have been long gone! But don't despair - WM changed my travel date so I'll be heading north on Sunday.
Last night I did manage to complete the last 34 rows of an OCC jumper and sewed it up too! When I'm finished this post, I'll try to make some sense of the instructions for waste yarn cast-on; the stretchy cast-on I've been using is effective but a pain to do. "What is stretchy cast-on?" I hear you ask. It comes from Lynne Vogel's The Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook: cast on twice as many stitches as you need, *K2 tog, P2 tog*, rep to end of row. It gives a neat, stretchy edge but I find the K2 tog and P2 tog but be a bit trying at times, maybe my cast on is too tight!
I managed to drag myself out of the house to attend the knit-and-natter of some members of Knit4Charities, a meeting I can't normally attend because I work Tuesdays. However, it's school holidays so my college is also on a break. There were only five people at the gathering but those who were there enjoyed it! I don't know how I completed the one hour drive home - I was feeling pretty woozy by then.
I finally succumbed and went to the doctor's on Wednesday evening - I thought it was viral and there was nothing the doc could do; but it's bacterial and in my throat and lungs so I've been given antibiotics.
I don't know if it was good timing or bad - at least I'm still on holidays so it doesn't interfere with my classes. However, right now I should be on a train to Tamworth and then a bus to Bingara, where my parents live. Instead, I was still in bed when I should have been long gone! But don't despair - WM changed my travel date so I'll be heading north on Sunday.
Last night I did manage to complete the last 34 rows of an OCC jumper and sewed it up too! When I'm finished this post, I'll try to make some sense of the instructions for waste yarn cast-on; the stretchy cast-on I've been using is effective but a pain to do. "What is stretchy cast-on?" I hear you ask. It comes from Lynne Vogel's The Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook: cast on twice as many stitches as you need, *K2 tog, P2 tog*, rep to end of row. It gives a neat, stretchy edge but I find the K2 tog and P2 tog but be a bit trying at times, maybe my cast on is too tight!
Sunday 8 July 2007
Knitting weather
This morning, I was sitting outside in the warm sunshine under a clear blue sky. At noon the clouds started to build up and increased rapidly; the wind also increased. In half an hour it had cooled so much that I had to go back inside and put on a jumper/sweater ('cos that's what they're for! thanks Brenda)
Unfortunately, inside is where the computer is - and I haven't knitted a stitch since I came in three hours ago!
This morning I completed the first of my third pair of socks in four days - what was that about addiction? LOL They have all been knitted in 8ply (DK) acrylic and are destined to go to the Salvation Army to be given to the homeless. Acrylic will hopefully be more hard wearing than wool though probably not as warm. I think I'll use the leftovers from the skeins to knit hats/beanies - I'll knit the ribbing in the patterned yarn until it runs out then use plain yarn to finish the hat. I'll knit those on dpns too - I don't like seaming (although grafting/Kitchener stitch isn't so bad, now that I've got the hang of it!)
On the social front, I had the pleasure of meeting Donna and Em on Friday morning - we met for coffee during a break in Em's eisteddfod schedule. Donna had her Shetland shawl with her - it's just a beautiful in real life as it is on her blog though the Shetland yarn is not as soft as it looks! Em is a polite, well-mannered girl, a credit to her parents. Donna is friendly and outgoing; she is the founder of the Australian and NZ knitters' blog-ring and shared some stories about her blogging history that were very interesting. She seems to know everybody on the ring! LOL
Thanks, Donna, for inviting me to meet with you.
Unfortunately, inside is where the computer is - and I haven't knitted a stitch since I came in three hours ago!
This morning I completed the first of my third pair of socks in four days - what was that about addiction? LOL They have all been knitted in 8ply (DK) acrylic and are destined to go to the Salvation Army to be given to the homeless. Acrylic will hopefully be more hard wearing than wool though probably not as warm. I think I'll use the leftovers from the skeins to knit hats/beanies - I'll knit the ribbing in the patterned yarn until it runs out then use plain yarn to finish the hat. I'll knit those on dpns too - I don't like seaming (although grafting/Kitchener stitch isn't so bad, now that I've got the hang of it!)
On the social front, I had the pleasure of meeting Donna and Em on Friday morning - we met for coffee during a break in Em's eisteddfod schedule. Donna had her Shetland shawl with her - it's just a beautiful in real life as it is on her blog though the Shetland yarn is not as soft as it looks! Em is a polite, well-mannered girl, a credit to her parents. Donna is friendly and outgoing; she is the founder of the Australian and NZ knitters' blog-ring and shared some stories about her blogging history that were very interesting. She seems to know everybody on the ring! LOL
Thanks, Donna, for inviting me to meet with you.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Sock addiction!
I know - I said I would not knit socks. Why would I pay to knit something that will wear out more quickly than jumpers, scarves or hats? After all, I can buy socks for $2.99 a pair and when they wear out, buy more!
But the bug hit. I borrowed The Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook from the Guild library. I even asked for a copy for my birthday. Why would I want a sock workbook when I don't plan to knit socks? I drooled over the colours (my real passion). I knitted a pair of socks in Carnival Fair Isle Effects pastel acrylic. The hourglass heel took a couple of tries but I finally got it.
WM saw the acrylic socks and hinted that he'd like some. Off to the lys for real sock wool. $19.95 a ball! (How many pairs of socks is that at the local department/chain store?) That pair of socks is long finished and worn on Sundays (the only day he doesn't work and is therefore not in uniform!) Another pair of socks followed - finished yesterday, except for the toe grafting.
I couldn't wait, I just had to cast on another pair for a charity knitting project. After all, anyone can knit scarves or blanket squares or even beanies, it takes a little experience to knit socks (yeah, right LOL).
I told myself I'll just knit the leg then stop. The tennis started, Leyton Hewitt was playing, I'm a supportive Aussie who enjoys watching tennis, and suddenly the heel was started. Oh no, rain interrupted play - "go to bed Lynne." "Hmm, I'll just finish the heel, then I'll go." Rain ceased - Leyton returned to the court - knitting continued. Fortunately the game finished quickly - 2am is really too late for me to be going to bed, but I'm on holidays so who cares if I sleep in till 10am! I got up and knitted the foot before having a shower - now I'm off to do the toe shaping and cast on the second sock!
Addicted? Who, me?
But the bug hit. I borrowed The Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook from the Guild library. I even asked for a copy for my birthday. Why would I want a sock workbook when I don't plan to knit socks? I drooled over the colours (my real passion). I knitted a pair of socks in Carnival Fair Isle Effects pastel acrylic. The hourglass heel took a couple of tries but I finally got it.
WM saw the acrylic socks and hinted that he'd like some. Off to the lys for real sock wool. $19.95 a ball! (How many pairs of socks is that at the local department/chain store?) That pair of socks is long finished and worn on Sundays (the only day he doesn't work and is therefore not in uniform!) Another pair of socks followed - finished yesterday, except for the toe grafting.
I couldn't wait, I just had to cast on another pair for a charity knitting project. After all, anyone can knit scarves or blanket squares or even beanies, it takes a little experience to knit socks (yeah, right LOL).
I told myself I'll just knit the leg then stop. The tennis started, Leyton Hewitt was playing, I'm a supportive Aussie who enjoys watching tennis, and suddenly the heel was started. Oh no, rain interrupted play - "go to bed Lynne." "Hmm, I'll just finish the heel, then I'll go." Rain ceased - Leyton returned to the court - knitting continued. Fortunately the game finished quickly - 2am is really too late for me to be going to bed, but I'm on holidays so who cares if I sleep in till 10am! I got up and knitted the foot before having a shower - now I'm off to do the toe shaping and cast on the second sock!
Addicted? Who, me?
Sunday 1 July 2007
Fibre Fair
This morning I 'happened' to hear on the radio of a fibre fair being held today at Virginia Farm Woolworks in Annangrove. WM, DD and I packed a picnic lunch and off we went!
I didn't know what to expect and, at first, I was little disappointed; there didn't seem to be much to see. However, WM engaged the owner, Jenny Dunn, in conversation about skein winders and soon we were talking about spindles. Jenny spoke as if we knew how to use one and when it became obvious that we didn't, she demonstrated. But she went way beyond that, she gave us two spindles and some fibre and encouraged us to play. We soon learnt why they are called 'drop' spindles! LOL
I tired very quickly, one has to stand to use them and I found it to be a slow, monotonous process. However, DD and WM were having a great time (so much so that WM did too much spinning and didn't take any photos!).
I went out and sat in the sun (such as it was) and talked to Susanne, a fellow member of the BM Knitters' group and Knit4Charities. She was demonstrating spinning on a double-pedalled wheel and making it look very easy. The fibre she was using was 100% merino tops which she had dyed. Also demonstrating was Caroline, using a portable spinning wheel and working with wool straight off the sheep's back, lanolin and dirt included - this would explain the drop cloth on her knee! Caroline was wearing a beautifully knitted cable jumper in natural colours, made from wool she had spun herself.
We left at 3pm, when the fair closed - we means WM and I, DD was by this time seated at a wheel and giving spinning a try. She took to it very well and we couldn't move her. We went out to the car, had a sandwich and a cuppa (it was too cold by then to picnic outside) and finally DD joined us. She gobbled down some lunch and stayed in the car long enough to convince us to loan her some money to buy a spinning wheel (the same one she had been using - talk about 'puppy dog selling'!!) Almost an hour later, DD and WM put the wheel in the car - I don't know what they had been doing all that time (I was in the car knitting) but DD was pretty excited. She sat at that spinning wheel for four hours when we got home; she didn't produce much usable yarn but she had a lot fun and learnt quite a bit about her new 'toy'.
I can heartily recommend Jenny and her business - and am looking forward to their visit to our knitting group at our October meeting.
I didn't know what to expect and, at first, I was little disappointed; there didn't seem to be much to see. However, WM engaged the owner, Jenny Dunn, in conversation about skein winders and soon we were talking about spindles. Jenny spoke as if we knew how to use one and when it became obvious that we didn't, she demonstrated. But she went way beyond that, she gave us two spindles and some fibre and encouraged us to play. We soon learnt why they are called 'drop' spindles! LOL
I tired very quickly, one has to stand to use them and I found it to be a slow, monotonous process. However, DD and WM were having a great time (so much so that WM did too much spinning and didn't take any photos!).
I went out and sat in the sun (such as it was) and talked to Susanne, a fellow member of the BM Knitters' group and Knit4Charities. She was demonstrating spinning on a double-pedalled wheel and making it look very easy. The fibre she was using was 100% merino tops which she had dyed. Also demonstrating was Caroline, using a portable spinning wheel and working with wool straight off the sheep's back, lanolin and dirt included - this would explain the drop cloth on her knee! Caroline was wearing a beautifully knitted cable jumper in natural colours, made from wool she had spun herself.
We left at 3pm, when the fair closed - we means WM and I, DD was by this time seated at a wheel and giving spinning a try. She took to it very well and we couldn't move her. We went out to the car, had a sandwich and a cuppa (it was too cold by then to picnic outside) and finally DD joined us. She gobbled down some lunch and stayed in the car long enough to convince us to loan her some money to buy a spinning wheel (the same one she had been using - talk about 'puppy dog selling'!!) Almost an hour later, DD and WM put the wheel in the car - I don't know what they had been doing all that time (I was in the car knitting) but DD was pretty excited. She sat at that spinning wheel for four hours when we got home; she didn't produce much usable yarn but she had a lot fun and learnt quite a bit about her new 'toy'.
I can heartily recommend Jenny and her business - and am looking forward to their visit to our knitting group at our October meeting.
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