time for knitting

I will have plenty of time for knitting - I must have plenty of time for knitting. Not lace, not cables, just miles and miles of something simple! For my birthday yesterday, WM bought me the boxed set of all the Jane Austen novels on DVD, including my favourite version of "Pride and Prejudice" with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy! That's 21 hours and 10 minutes of DVD watching ahead of me!!

To keep my place when I am doing those more complicated (graphed) patterns, mum bought me a magnetic place holder.

And, just in case I get tired of knitting and Jane Austen, mum also bought this:

This wasn't really a bithday present but how could I not show you this gorgeous photo:

GS#1 nine and half weeks old modelling his cousin's new beanie (made by me)!

ANZAC Day

It's the day when Australians honour those who served in any war or conflict, including those in peace keeping roles. We especially remember those who didn't come home.

In the words of my favourite hymn sung at ANZAC Dawn Services:

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far flung battle line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!

Quilting Misadventures in Knitterland Project 1 - Chapter 3: And the border is on

This went more smoothly than the piecing!

But we did find that it's not square! Each side is a different length. It looks worse in the photo because I was not standing square to the clothesline!

This was completed on 29th March. The batting is washed but still we have found no time (or courage) to make a sandwich!

Entrelac style blanket finished

I knitted this blanket from my hand-dyed acrylic to my own design. It is so pretty I can scarcely think of giving it away! LOL

The two outside panels are done in entrelac, the pale aqua border was added to one side of each and then the centre panel was stitched to join the two outside panels together. From a distance the colours don't show up very well so here are two close ups from the centre panel.

To finish, a six row border was added to the long sides of the blanket, then six rows to the top and bottom. Finally I knitted all the way around (using my KnitPicks 150cm, 120cm, 80cm and 60cm cables) using the ends of various yarns. I could have done two more rounds but I was so sick of purling 1000+ stitches that I stopped!

eta: Details
size: 175cm (70inches) x 100cm (40 inches)
yarn: hand-painted and hand-dyed acrylic 8ply (DK) in 14 colourways (see each entrelac square) and 100g of pale aqua acrylic (thanks Leonie)
design: my own
stitches: garter stitch throughout
time taken: February 26-April 17 (approx. 7 weeks)
destination: Wrap with Love (TAFE challenge)

Happy Birthday, Darling Daughter

Twenty fours years ago, at 9am Australian Eastern Standard Time, a little ray of sunshine came into my life - one of the most wonderful things that ever happened to me.

I hope your day is wonderful; I look forward to spending it with you (and Quilting Arts TV).

I love you so much!

mysewingcircle.com

This is a new post to replace my previous one which has now been deleted. The site I mentioned was incorrect so please forgive me if I sent you on a wild goose chase. In future, I will try to remember to check the links in my post. Please accept my apologies if you tried to follow the link mentioned in the now deleted post.

So, for those of you who sew in any form, whether that be garments, softies, patchwork, quilting or some other form of sewing, I just wanted to let you know that there is a new site available called mysewingcircle.com

It is very similar in concept to Ravelry in that it is a site where you can record your projects and stash, look for patterns and meet new friends.

So far there are only a few members, so don't expect the benefits of a site which has thousands of members but the more people who know about it and the more people who join, the more useful and exciting it will become, right?

I am not affiliated with it in any way except as a brand new member (out of curiosity more than anything else). I read about it in a group on Ravelry and am simply disseminating information!

PS I am Elle Bee over there (MSC link); I didn't think never2hot2knit was appropriate!! LOL

Quilting Adventures in Knitterland a side project (a.k.a. Project 1a)

With the strips that were left over from the floor quilt (Project 1), DD began what was to have been a drawstring bag. She then realise that it was almost the right size to cover the change table that is attached to the portable cot. The change table is that most-easy-to-clean fabric - plastic; practical but oh so cold on bare bottoms in winter and 'sticky' in summer.

So, the drawstring bag became a change mat. Some ripping of seams took place to move some strips, slightly wider borders were added and a backing fabric chosen (DD and SIL love ducks). The stripped top was sewn to the flannelette backing just as one would sew a drawstring bag (with only four inches left open at the top for turning it in the right way) and voila! One change mat.

Now it just needs to be quilted (so it doesn't become misshapen in the wash) and it will be done. The quilting marks seen above have been removed - it will now be quilted diagonally between the rows of ducks on the flannelette backing.

What a lovely Easter project. DD is quite proud of herself!

Happy Easter

Jesus (whether you believe in Him or not) is the reason for this holiday!