Hey there guys 

I finally got around to making a start at one of these.  Funny thing is it isn't the same one I swatched for about a month ago, or the one I was stashing yarns (I still have the big baggie of Zhivago waiting though) for many months ago 

I am using Panda Woolbale in what I am told is a royal blue.  It is not a worsted weight, it is lighter.  That is to help cope with the fact that I am trying to make mine in the style of the 3 Hour Sweater.  Erm, yeah... clearly I have lost my mind    Well, at least it will have short sleeves then. 

It is working up quite quickly, considering.  Not sure if I can put up with what 1x1 rib looks like combined with the raglan increases though.   

I have nearly knitted my full shoulders width's worth.  Does that make sense?  If not I'm sorry, I'm over tired today.

I started one of these over a week ago, but I forgot to post here.  It is now about 3/4 done.  Ooops!  This is intended as a baby/toddler pram throw or comforter, so it will not be huge or anything.  I am hoping for a diameter of 2 metres (if I don't run out of yarn first), but if I only get 1.5m that will be fine.

I took these two pics when it was about halfway done, over 2 1/2 feet wide I'd say.



I am using assorted balls of fingering weight baby nylon I had lying around.  I am working double stranded (a bad habit/favourite technique of mine - I do it a lot) on a 5mm hook.  I am working 3 rounds of each colour combo and then I will be working one more round of each combo if I don't run out of yarn first.

Thought I'd share what I made my Dad this year.  A simple stripey scarf in the colours of his softball team, Brisbane's Redbacks.  I just love that they have a spider for a mascot    

Anyway.  I crocheted it in a stripe pattern that is completely made up along the way.  The only thing I was worried about was getting the ratio of colours as similar to their uniforms as possible.

Admittedly I have not measured it, but I'd say it is at least 5 feet long.  I used Cleckheaton Country 12 ply, that is 100% Aussie wool.  I think I went through about 5 50g balls of white, 3 of red and half a ball of black.  I really dragged my feet turning in the ends, so it took a few weeks    but then the fun part came last and took me all of about 45 minutes.

I needle felted his name on one end with scrap yarn.  I am proud of this as it is my first attempt at this sort of thing.  Not bad for a first attempt, and by someone with poor handwriting in the first place.

I know he will love it.  Seems odd that a grown man would like to wear stuff with his name on it?  But his pet peeve is people calling him Ron or Ronald.  So fixing 'Ronny' permanently to his scarf is just the sort of embellishment he'd have ordered up himself, if he'd thought of it.

I don't craft for my Dad often, but should more in the future I think.  He may well be a carrier of a crafty gene.  Once he pinched my fabric paints, and in a fit of craftiness (well, I hope it was only craftiness) he put his name on all his work shirts.  Apparently, his supervisor doesn't get his name right  

Nice fulling there gsdbooks.  I like 

OK, as promised - pics of some of the quotes that feature on the back of the project tote I was sent from thewench...



pretty cool eh? 

Well, I have now had time to give my new copy of fitted knits a good going over.  What do you all think of this...
...the split-neckline cap sleeved tee... knit (mainly) from this purty handspun (top) and coordinating yarn...

I got the handspun from the talented RecycleMicol in a previous swap and it is burning a hole in my stash (just like the pattern book I got in this swap will  )

[Thank you]

As promised, here are the pictures of the package I received from thewench


My new project tote.  How cute is this?  If ever I have a bad knitting day, this baby will remind me what I am knitting for in the first place.     I really needed another tote too.  I only had one and I was a bit worried about wearing it out too quickly, because it was also received in a swap.  Lucky it and this new one are both super strong.    Close-ups to come.


Lots of Sugar'n'Cream (not all pictured), because it is not available in Oz and I am yet to find a local substitute (I have really tried though).  I dare say I had made it quite obvious that I was after this stuff .


Chocolate stitch markers.  Yummo!!! I keep sniffing them and expecting to smell chocolate  'cos they look so darned real    These are an extra thoughful inclusion for a heap of reasons.  They fit over extra large needles (much bigger than the rest of my collection), I am rather fond of mini poly clay food and I had said not to send me any chocolate because of the hassle with customs.  So I got chocolate anyway, how sweet is that?  Oh, and did I mention I love chocolate?


A cute transfer, the likes of which I have never seen, it is fuzzy. 


Fitted Knits!  OMG, I couldn't believe it.  I could not possibly be more spoilt.  This baby was the book that was on top of my wish list, how did thewench know that?  I have no idea how, but I love it.
Thank you   I have no idea what to knit first, as there are very few designs in here I am not considering. 

I have misplaced the pic I took of the cute little Orange County magnet I got too.  That is probably OK for now, as I have overloaded you all with pictures anyhow.  I'll be back to post it up soon-ish, with more of my cute tote as well.    The back has quotes on it, and warrants a little more showing off.

Thanks again to my thoughtful swap partner for really hitting the mark here. 

OK done, so I won't bother with an in progress pic.  Here is mine.

I didn't work the decreases in row 11, mine didn't seem to need it.  But I had to work 2 extra rows at the end of the main part as I fell short on length.  I think I used a thinner yarn than Red Hart is.  It was Sean Sheep Classic BTW (and a 5.5mm hook), 100% wool from my desk drawer stash.  My yarn choice seems to have messed with my bill shape quite considerably.  It turned out to be a frill rather than a bill at first LOL.  So I reworked it so that I only increased every second stitch in row 2 of the bill, instread of every stitch.  Actually, I had to make so many changes that I have to wonder if my 'translation' was correct.  But it doesn't matter because it only took me about 2 hours total anyway. 

My bill is a little bumpy from the increases, so I need to block it.  Actually I may try to get away with ironing it instead, I don't fancy blocking something this shape or so thick.

Also I'd work a wider bill next time, mine is only 20 stitches across.  It is fine but I think it would look better just a tad bigger.

I am seriously considering working another of these triple or quadruple stranded on about an 8mm hook and fulling it.  I have a lot of this wool in my stash and it is too itchy for wearables that aren't hats.  What do you all think?

Well, OK here is my pattern shortlist (for the dress I mentioned in the post right before this one), just in case there is still some interest here.



Any thoughts?

I finally made one!  Check it out.  Something tells me ShiningStar will like this one 

What do you all think?  Obviously this is view D.  I used a cotton print, Betty Boop Red Hat Lady.  Also obvious.     The pattern was easy enough to follow.  I left off the pockets and didn't edge with bias as instructed.  I didn't have enough bias of all one colour in stash and I really wanted it to look overly simple anyhow.  I was trying to keep it all about the print here.

As for the size (it is a one size pattern remember), it's actually quite good, though more generous than I had expected.  I am a medium in the waist and a large in the hips and I felt it wrapped around me nicely (although further around than anticipated).  I think it would fit up to an XL just fine with out any mods (it would be super easy to widen at the centre line of the main skirt and waistband for larger than XL, but might not be necessary).  I would suggest for a small frame to just gather more at the sides, you wouldn't really even need to shorten the waistband unless you wanted to go extra small.  There was plenty of space around the back on mine where the ends of the band don't touch, that is why I feel there is some leeway there.  Actually, I think I'd gather more on my next one anyway.  I like a bit more poof in the skirt than this pattern gave (I want it like the picture, fair enough).  That will mean loosing some of the skirt coverage around the back, but I like it that way anyhow, I am only interested in covering my front really.  Hope all that makes sense.

I have already blogged about this, there really isn't any more info on there though.  But there is another two pictures, if ya like it enough to want more.    http://missvicki.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/apron-for-sil-finished/

Now, after all that... I am gifting this to my Boop obsessed Sister In Law.   

Thereyago, matching wrist warmers.  'Cos I like to match, you know.

I have been wearing this set everywhere, ha  still.

I received.    Check it out.

Sooo purty!
Whiskey did a super job.  She made them in my two fave dishcloth stitches and in lovely colourful candy colours too.  Both her garterlac and DW slip stitch skills surpass mine by miles, her dishcloth crown is secure.  Yup, I had a go at both of these designs for this swap too (but I was only successful with the DW)  I love them so much, thanks a bunch Whit! 

I have posted stitch detail close ups, action shots and pattern links on my blog if ya just can't get enough.
http://missvicki.wordpress.com/2007/06/21/im-so-lucky/