So, I have been very quiet, spending much of my time volunteering at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival and working at the fabulous Wool Baa. mmm. I love my job!

I found out a few weeks ago that my friends are having a baby! This will the first bubs in my circle of friends and I’m very excited. I made my first pair of baby booties! I used Saartje’s very famous free booty pattern, which is quick and adorable and knitted in Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino in a beautful teal colour - very gender neutral. the buttons are little red buttons that i fished out of my big grab bag of buttons. They took me a saturday evening of Gilmore Girls and Tea

I’m also planning on knitting Zoo from Rowan. I’m going to do it in bamboo in chocolate and cream with a pale purple elephant. ELEPHANT!!! i wonder if it’s appropriate to ask that the recipients of a baby top return said baby top when the child has grown out of it…

I managed another ’saturday evening’ project this weekend, crocheting for myself Gem from Kim Hargreaves ‘Heartfelt’. I’d ordered some kidsilk night from the fabulous folks at cucumperpatch and it arrived on Friday, so I bought the kid classic to match up with it and off i went! Here is the result and I wore it all day today!

It’s VERY warm. The beads on the brim are just little pale purple seed beads. My friend said the kidsilk night made it sparkle like it had been rained  on or it was dewy, which is just the right amount of sparkle XD.

I’ve now also done Calm from this collection, in Jo Sharp’s mohair, but I’m yet to take good photos of it.

I must say that while I LOVE kim, i find i need to add more in the sleeves. I did this with calm and even then it still pulls up a bit short, so I’m tempted to knit some little ruffly cuffs in kid silk haze to wear underneath to add length - would also be useful under my cherish.

Speaking of which it is now Spring! which means it should be just right to wear Cherish soon - the problem with it is it’s too warm to wear inside, but it’s still too cold outside in Melb to wear the bolero without a coat - and the big wool is just too thick to wear a coat over! so it needs to be cool enough to wear outside, but warm enough to not need another layer - hello spring! I do love it though and want to wear it more!!

my current WIP is a jo nathan design from her Merino Deluxe DK book, though I’m working on it in Zara. mmmm Zara. photos to come… I’m also working on a beautiful baby alpaca scarf which I have a feeling i will wear CONSTANTLY when it’s finished!

Yesterday was the Melbourne Etsy sellers meet. I had a fantastic time and met some fabulous people, some of whom are on Rav, which is great, and all of whom I have favourited (or will when i dig out the business cards!) and genuinedly favourited too, I really do love everyone’s stuff. Made me feel a little inadequate and unoriginal really. I’m also now struggling with the copy cat bug! everyone’s ideas are so great it’s hard not to want to experiment with them! does anyone else have this problem? the only thing I’ve borrowed (?) - expanded upon (?) is kalliopi who makes fabulous button jewellery. I was making up a package for a raveller who loves buttons and i made some stitchmarkers with buttons instead of beads. I liked them so much I made a few sets. So inspired by, but not really a copy…

I am really excited about the next one and I must say I picked up a lot of business tips and ideas too, which is great.

Speaking of etsy there are now some ‘manly’ things on there, something I’m working on. There’s a gorgeous black and tan scarf and a reversable rib beanie. I’m also trying to make a bit of a niche for myself with knitted flower accessories, like hair clips and brooches.

I’ve been getting a lot done, but I still feel like there are things I need to finish - primarily because i either have everything i need, or i’ve actually started them. Mainly this is sewn items - including the dress I’ve actually cut out and need to put together. I cut it out in May… lol.

Anyway I will leave you with two things. The first are some little felted birdies that need a purpose… ideas are welcome. The second is a link to the most hilariously awesome thing i have ever seen on etsy made by fellow melbournian jellibat.

the best soft toy ever made...

I have had a few requests (well, 2, but i feel that any more than 1 request for this particular item is worth noting) for squids for birthdays.

My friend nett put me on to hansi singh’s adorable squid-a-licious pattern asking me to knit her one in colours of my choosing for her birthday present. She bought me the pattern and a handful of others as my own belated birthday present, so it only seemed fair!

So, I present Squidy the First!

When i mentioned this request to another Gemini/Cancer cusper i know, she too requested one for her birthday present!

and so i present (apologies for the poor photo) Squidy the Second!

it’s hard to see him, but he’s a maroon purple with green underside and green pupils. This is one of those times where i actually feel my first effort was the more successful of the two, but I do actually enjoy doing these!

I also knitted an owl (one of the other patterns I received for my birthday) for my grandmother for mother’s day (may). She loved it. I knitted it in a silk tweed in pinks. strange colour for an owl i know, but it suits him. Apparently she kept picking him up and looking at him and putting it down again.

Next - Seahorses!

Things are starting to get going at my etsy site!

I’ve purchased a showcase spot today (7th) and already someone has spotted one of my items and included it in this gorgeous purple themed treasury. She’s also listed her treasury on her blog, so in return I’m linking back to her here!

Thanks Talli - insert Streetcar Named Desire quote here

I also had my first completely random stranger sale on Friday night. Some lovely person in India has purchased one of my first listings - my beaded pinboard pins - and my latest creations - knitted flower hair clips!

I got Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Flowers a little while ago and I’ve been playing around with some left over yarn and her little patterns to create some of my favourite items yet. And they’re already becoming quite popular!

I must say though I do find Ms Epstein’s instructions a little hard to follow at times, so i sort of have to use my geometric engineering brain to work out what i’m supposed to do. The picot flowers i’ve been doing look adorable, but I’m sewing them up to make them look like that, rather than following her sewing up instructions, which make NO sense to me (any help here is MOST welcome)

I’ve also knitted a gorgeous brooch which will be listed as soon as there’s enough light to take a decent photo.

I’ve enjoyed playing around with the flowers so much that i’ve ordered her crochet flowers book too, since my crochet skills are improving all the time!

I entered sockwars this year for the first time!

I’ve been in a crafting frenzy, so i thought why not put it to a competitive use!

I finished my socks within the week, even with my mother visiting on the Mother’s Day weekend.

The pattern was quite simple and I used one of the deleted colours of the Patonyle patterned sock wool in a pretty pink/purple/blue/white/yellow combination and despite not liking yellow (it’s so overly optimistic!) I really loved the colours! (In fact, so much that I bought another 2 balls to do socks for myself before they all sold out at work, which they now have!)

So anyway… here are the socks!

I took the photo before i grafted the toe, as they were designed to fit a foot a bit shorter than mine and my toes were sort of sticking out of the end.

So while those were wistfully winging their way to Maine, I received word from my ‘assassin’ that my socks were on their way from Cleveland Ohio!

They arrived before i heard anything regarding my own victim’s socks, and they’re lovely! My assassin was also wonderful and put in a whole pile of postcards, info and MAPLE CANDY! from cleveland. I <3 MAPLE CANDY so i was very excited!

here are some photos of me opening the bag and receiving my socks.. you’ll have to forgive the picture quality, but i’d come home from work and the inbuilt camera on my computer is my grainy friend!

So thank you Sally in Cleveland, and Courtney in Maine, I hope your socks find you happy and well…

and good luck to the lucky sockknitter who is going to win a whooooole lotta tofutsies!

Having bought Heartfelt, I knitted something from it! And I LOVE it.

It’s Cherish, knitted in Rowan Big Wool (as designed) in the M/12 size in colour Smokey. It is sooooo warm and snuggly and as it gets colder here in Melbourne I’m hoping to wear it even more.

Here it’s pinned with my sewing up needle, but I have since sewn a button on it, though in my eagerness to wear it i modelled my own shawl pin for a while, which looked great!

I’m now working on Calm, which i’m knitting in Jo Sharp’s Rare Comfort Kid Mohair in colour Tranquil. How appropriate, no? I’m aiming to finish it in time to wear to work on Saturday.. so two days! but i only have the top of the sleeves, the sewing up and the small yoke to knit. Easily done!

(precursor - I apologise for not updating in AGES, but I can’t craft and type at the same time! - yet!)

Well, I can now cross one thing off my ‘things i want to learn to do in 2008′ list…

I can crochet!

I bought a book at work which I highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn (from a book) - Learn to Knit, from Patons Australia. It uses Jet, a 12 ply and Inca, a 14 ply (bulky weight yarns) so it’s quick and easy to see what you’re doing.

I bought it on a Wednesday, took it on a plane with a ball of yarn and a plastic hook and by Sunday I had made these:

The hat is made from Jet (and will be available on my etsy site as soon as I have some better pictures of it) which is an Alpaca blend so beautifully warm. I would keep it, but the style doesn’t suit me at all!

The scarf is made from a soybean/wool mix and despite being a tad rough, i love love love love it and wear it at least once a week! It goes with ALL my purple things and is super warm.

There is also a crochet scarf available on my etsy (after i made one for me!)

I splurged and bought The Happy Hooker (Debbie Stoller’s crochet book in the Stitch n Bitch series) and have the yarn for a couple of the bags from it. I’ve also favourited a pile of patterns on ravelry, including the prepster blazer, the crocheted skirt and the cold-shoulders capelet, which i have some gorgeous mohair I bought on sale i want to use up on it!

I’m also now waiting for Sensual Crochet (and Sensual Knits, Scarf Style and Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Flowers) to arrive from the UK. I’m hooked!

(boomboomching)

Chapter 3 - Crafty Lady’s life!

1. My Heartfelt pattern book arrived! It’s just beautiful. The patterns are gorgeous and it’s come with its own errata! I’m planning on doing Calm first, followed by Emily and Cherish. This will be made easier by point 2…

2. I am now working at the Wool Baa in Albert Park, Melbourne’s premiere LYS with beautiful luxury yarns, such as Rowan, Jo Sharp, Debbie Bliss. mmmmm. I’m loving it! I’m only working a few shifts a week and so will need to find other work as well, but I really enjoy it. It should pick up more as the weather gets colder, but that’s a while off yet! (there’s also a part time position going at a book store which would be a wonderful complement). And the best part? Staff discount! And it’s *ahem* hefty! Also, it is strangely satisfying enabling others (even strangers) to feed their yarn addiction, thus reducing my own yearning to buy. Plus i get to pat the pretties

3. My mother loved her knitted Odessa beanie, worked in Teal with silver beads for her to wear to the football. It was her birthday today and this was a little extra unexpected present. She rang to tell me how much she loves it and will send photos soon (or so she says)

4. I am crafting like a fiend and there are many new items up on my etsy store.

5. I’ve made some little packages for Australian Random Acts of Kindness on Ravelry and am looking forward to sending them out!

Welcome to Chapter 2 - THE COW!

I ordered this kit from sunsetfibers on etsy and it arrived on Thursday, along with some roving (yummy).

I started making it on Friday (procrastinating of course) and finished it on Saturday afternoon whilst drinking a cup of tea after the adventure of getting the spinning wheel (see chapter 1)

This is my first time needle felting and the seller provided excellent quality needles and great instructions for the cow, as well as general tips and tricks. I loved doing it. I only stabbed myself a few times (they are SHARP) and i could watch TV (didn’t look up a lot) and i found it really really calming and relaxing. There’s something lovely about violently stabbing roving and making it into shapes…

so anyway, I highly recommend the craft and I WILL be doing more of it (there’s a GORGEOUS little book I want) and here is my cow!

read on for chapter 3 - Crafty lady’s life!

So much to do, so little time, so much to tell you!

I shall break this into chapters:

Chapter 1: The Spinning Wheel.

A lovely friend and I were discussing spinning wheels and how i wanted one. She mentioned she got hers from ebay for a steal and linked me to a number of wheels listed in Victoria.  One was listed for only $35 with three days to go on the auction. So I bid. After all, as if I would win an auction for a spinning wheel for $35.

…

…

I did. Monday morning I get the email telling me I’ve won the auction. I looked around my TINY apartment and BURST out laughing. I couldn’t believe it. Where was I going to put it?! I clearly hadn’t thought this through! I honestly spent about twenty minutes laughing.

I went and picked it up on Saturday. The story goes that a butcher made it 50 years ago from instructions in a magazine. He kept it in the shop window as decoration and then the wife of the seller inquired after it and ended up buying it. She spun on it for many years, but gave it up about 25 years ago. So now it is mine!

I realise that getting a handmade wheel as a first wheel contains a few risks and may make learning more difficult, but $35!!!

I went to the Spinners Guild and bought some more roving, dyed and undyed and a selection of dyes, as well as a book - A Visual Learning book with nice big, clear pictures - on spinning (both spindle and wheel).

I need to replace the cord that’s standing in for drive tension.  Still not sure what’s best to use, but i guess i can experiment! I also need to get some sewing machine oil to oil all the moving parts, and then just have a go i guess! I can always needle felt the yarn barf (read chapter 2- coming soon!)

For those who like pretty pictures: here is the wheel in my (incredibly messy) apartment. I have since tidied the house and it is now tucked away against the wall until I need it.

read on for more adventures in Chapter 2 - THE COW!

My package from fishpond arrived today and inside were three deliciously crafty books.

Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael

Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel

and Wire Jewellery - 25 crochet and knit wire designs by Kate Pullen

I made a cup of tea, grabbed a couple of cadbury creme eggs and read my knitting porn.

I have wanted Knitting Lingerie Style for ages. AGES. It’s not only got some GORGEOUS pattens (my particular favourites are the bed jacket, the trumpet skirt, waist-cincher top and shaped lace-tee) but it also goes through the basic history of a variety of underwear items (bra, slip, corset, stockings) and the patterns showcase a lot of shaping techniques that i should learn being a shapely girl! There are some items that, while I love the notion of them, are a bit bizarre, for example, knitted underwear. Whilst they look gorgeous and i’m sure in the right yarn they would be SO sexy-feeling against the skin, knitted bras and knickers are just a bit strange! Still, this is a top notch edition to my growing knitting book collection and i’m glad to finally have it in my hot little hands.

Fitted Knits is one of those books I kept seeing around the place and getting recommended on Amazon, so when I saw it for a good price I bought it. After all, as I mentioned, I’m a shapely girl and the one ‘fitted’ item i have made so far (a vest in Katia’s lovely diana yarn) looked horrible on. It stretched across the boobs, dragging the whole item up my body and making it terribly boxy and shortening. Of course, being my first knitted item of it’s size, I couldn’t bear to frog it, and i gave it to a friend. But back to the book… after such an experience a book that a) has shaped knits to start with and b) gives a wonderful guide to making sure your knit fits you and c) has top-down patterns that can be tried on as you go is just what the doctor ordered for getting me back up to knitting clothes as opposed to accessories. I love the saturday dress, the back to school u-neck vest, the airy wrap around and the elizabeth bennet cardi. Now I just need to be able to afford the yarn!

Wire jewellery is all crochet and knit items, and as I posted previously, this is an area of jewellery making I want to get into. This book not only has a variety of projects but offers ideas for variations and advice on materials and tools. Making jewellery is quick and easy and the results are always original, but given that I am skilled with a pair of pins, I might as well put that talent to creating unique pieces and I bought this book so I would have a range of techniques to put to good use!

Also, I finished my first beaded knitted item (not jewellery!) last night, a present for someone… so more on that later!