Schools out for Summer!

There hasn't been much knitting for the past year in Rhonda's house. I've been busy studying but now I have three months to catch up and knit some things for my grandson!

But first, Barbara had a big '0' birthday so she got a tea cozy from Wild Tea Cosies by Loani Prior. It was pretty easy and turned out really cute. I think she liked it.

And I have started EZ's Mystery Baby Blanket for Junior (that's what my son is calling him for now!) I'm making it out of cream cotton 8 ply. (this picture is pretty fuzzy - oh well, I'll try to get a good one when it's finished)

And the obligatory booties. I make three in case one gets lost. If Mum hates them, well, she will have to hate them a little longer but if she likes them then it's really nice to have a replacement. And it is easy to knit a third. These are from Debbie Bliss but I don't know which book - I copied it out of one I had from the library.

And I am catching up on novel reading, gardening (although it still looks terrible), and sleep. Hopefully I can catch up with friends too (and blogging!) Adios!

Knitting for the GrandBub and Emma

I am so excited about having a grandchild. I never imagined how happy it would make me and how complete my little wee family would feel with one on the way - I can't imagine how it will feel when he comes into the world.
In the meantime I found the perfect thing to do with all the sock yarn I have - a biggish stash - well, compared to some of my friends it's really small! But I still have sock yarn that I love. Now I can knit baby vests with the two balls that were previously destined for my feet.
This is Maisy corn fiber yarn bought in Seattle years ago.
Look at this precious ribbon from Cassidy's - with little foot prints.

Perfect for tying up the little kimono style sweater.

And another little cardi. Both are Bendi 4ply cotton - so nice to knit with. I think it will be nice to dress a new little baby in white - they can't ever wear it again once they start eating, really.

I have another project started for GrandBub and now that it is semester break I will try to work on that one too. I still have an essay and a presentation due the first week back from break so I will be busy but I need to catch up on some movies and knitting as well. Priorities!!

The picture of the presents for Emma didn't load so I'll save that for another day.

Guess who I'm knitting for.

I could not be more excited. My first grandchild! I have about 30 garments to knit before January so can't talk now - must get to all the lovely little knitting - ooo it is sooo fun. (not to mention the three essays and one oral report due in the next few weeks!!)

Renaissance ribbon.

My lovely friend Barbara went to NYcity and brought me back a little present (I get good present when dear friends go to NY!). This is 3 metres of poly-satin ribbon with knitting instructions. How cute is it?

Now I just have to find the perfect project to use it in - any suggestions?

I can't help it.

A few years ago when Nettie went to NY city she brought me back two glorious skiens of Koigu Merino sock wool - way too good and special to put in my shoes so ....
I made them extra long to go over my fingers if I want - the colour in the photo does not do it justice at all but I have a little camera that takes not-so-great photos.

And I couldn't help showing you the Tangled Yoke cardie worn by it's owner. Isn't it lovely. Don't be afraid of it - not that most knitter aren't intrepid - but just saying - it wasn't too difficult at all. And look at the results - wonderful.

Tangled Cable for a friend

About two years ago I told my two of my oldest girlfriends (oldest meaning I have known them for a long time - not that they are old) that I would knit them sweaters. This is Shirl's. She hasn't seen it. She didn't pick out the pattern. She told me the colour she would like but she didn't approve the wool - which is Bendigo. It's a big gamble because it won't fit me (way to small) if she doesn't like it.

But I like it. A lot. And it was a fun knit. I did dedicate a whole Sunday to knitting the tangled yoke. And it took the whole Sunday - I'm not a fast knitter.

I will try to get a photo of it on her as soon as I block it and give it to her. Cross your fingers and bite your toes she likes it!!

Oh, and by the way, have you seen the new stamped envelopes at the post office? Aren't they great.

Husky cap and mitts

Go Huskies! The Huskies is the name of every sporting team from the University of Washington in Seattle. People in the know call them the Dawgs! The Husky softball team (women) are the 2009 national champions. My brother gets season's tickets to the men's Husky basketball team games every year. And the most thrilling sporting event ever was the Husky football game I went to with my brother where we sat in the 101st row of an outdoor stadium called Husky Stadium. In Seattle there is Husky stuff everywhere - even the best ice cream in the world comes from a deli called Huskies and is called Husky flake!
I bought this sock wool in Seattle about 4 years ago and yes, it is the Husky colors of purple and gold. I've looked at for a really a long time but didn't want Husky socks so....

I knitted Husky mitts and a Husky hat. No one here will know anything about the UofW colors but if I wore these in Seattle everyone would instantly know that these were their favourite college football, basketball, softball, rowing, baseball, whatever, team's colors. I just like them.

You know what else I have in my stash? Seattle Mariner's colors sock wool too! And I don't want to make socks out of it either. I wonder if it will take me 4 years to decide what to knit out of it?

Study break and a cup of tea.

Life has been busy - fun, sad, up, down, in and out. Not much down time in the past few months but I feel good about most of it. Now I have a load of clothes in the washing machine and a cup of tea by my side and a blog entry to write.

I've had a day at the beach - it was lovely as usual. Everyone has a day at the beach and everyone has a great time (except the windy rainy days, of course, but even then there is knitting and reading). But my day was gorgeous and sunny and warm.
There has been some (not much - and I am slow) knitting in the past couple of months. A pair of socks knit in acrylic yarn! Not like me at all but I got this yarn on the advise of my mother on my last trip to the US and it was a good choice. It wasn't 'squeeky', it is soft and lovely.

Now, the proof will be in the wearing which I have done once. I will get this yarn again next time I am over there.

I also knit a straight garter stitch shoulder shawl. An old boyfriend's mother (Helen) who taught me to knit continental style and on a knitting machine, had a little shawl like this that just sat on her shoulders with the points just resting over her bosoms that she wore all the time, and I always wanted one. (I think I knit one when I was in my early 20's) It isn't big enough to keep your whole upper body warm but it is wonderful for my neck and shoulders (again with the shoulders!) cozy in these semi-cold nights at home. And it stays on all by itself with no pins or constant tossing over the arms and no trailing in the water in the sink when washing hands - bonus! Again acrylic (no there's not a pattern emerging - I am still a wool snob) from Lincraft.

I will make another or two for winter - especially nice for bed with a hot water bottle on the small of my back and a book in my lap.

There was another kooky scarf for Rachel (oldest son's girlfriend).

I won't say it - but again not natural fibre (I don't have anything but wool, silk, angora and cashmere in my stash now so that's it for the plastic stuff - I promise)

My little cashmere mitts that I have worn twice - how cold was it over Easter?? The only problem is they shed on my black coat! It's a sacrifice I am willing to make.

And the big project started over Easter - Shirl's sweater (the next two are going to be for moi!) Eunny Jang's Tangled Yoke. I have some trepidation about knitting this with Bengdigo Rustic even tho the colour is exactly what she wanted. But I have decided that if the cables don't work properly I will just make it into a fair isle round collar - maybe Bohus style. The wool is very loosly spun - and I don't really have enough experience to know whether it will work or not. I'll hope for the best at any rate.
Cup of tea's been drunk, blog's been wrote, washing machine has stopped spinning and books are calling. Adios amigos!

Hockney Nichols Canyon Road Pillow

Life continues to be a bit crazy and busy in my world. But I did have a lovely weekend down the coast with the girls (and their birthday presents). The Hockney Pillow was a hit, only because she is a big fan of his (not sure what he would think but he will never see it so who cares really).
(yes,they are in their pajamas - how else would you take a photo of pillows?)
We drank Hot Toddies, ate great Thai food made by our host, watched movies and talked all the way thru them. These girls are my heart friends so for me, it was just a great comfort to be in their company for two days straight.

I didn't take a very good photo of C's pillow on its own but - well, I'll show it to you anyway.

University has started and I have had four tutorials (hola chicas!) and one lecture. I'm busy already reading books for class so there hasn't been too much knitting and none to show. I'm also in the middle of another pillow - I'm addicted. Eek!

Squares and Hats

First of all - this is a very cool present my friend Eileen gave me - it's a quiver! It's old and fragile and very cool - I will put my favourite dpns in it.
I've been in a hat mood for some reason... can anyone guess why? It got cold and made me start to think about Winter. I'm not complaining because I am a winter girl. Last Fall I knit a lot of socks, this Fall will be hats.

An acrylic (yes, really! I have never knit with acrylic yarn before!) hat. It's not from a pattern - I just knit as I went. It's Lincraft yarn 'Surprise'. The proof will be in wearing. I just liked the colours.

This is Maizy - corn fiber yarn. I really love the colours. I had a vague memory of this pattern from somewhere but I just sort of put this together as well. Often my off-the-cuff patterns don't work out but a hat is not such a big committment if I have to rip, if I screw up.

On to a more important message. Corrine from Thicket is organising knitted blankets for the Victoria fire victims. I have a special motive to tell you about this project because when my son's house burnt down in the Canberra fires the wonderful quilters and crocheters of Australia made him a quilt and a crochet blanket that is still his cuddle blankie today. I really can't explain how wonderful it was to have something made with pure love to give him when everything he owned was gone.

I haven't asked Corrine if it is OK if I put her email on my blog so I am just going to say that she is asking for woolen squares and if you would like to contribute please email me and I will send you the details. rhonich at gmail dot com

Honestly, it is such an easy way to help but believe me, from one who has been there, these handmade items are treasures that people will keep forever, to remind them that the whole of the country was thinking of them. Dry goods, toilet paper, showers and soap are all very important in the immediate and all of those things were appreciated. But the thing that touched my heart deeply was the lovingly made quilt and the blanket.

Another Van Gogh

A while ago, in response to Pay It Forward, I had an idea to make a pillow out of knitted fabric that I could embroider on. I love knitting and I like embroidery. But now I absolutely adore embroidering on knitted squares.

This is the VG Starry Night pillow that I sent to Olivia. She blogged about a few weeks ago - luckily she liked it.
This is VG Sunflowers close up. It's for another friend whose birthday is tomorrow. She doesn't read blogs so I am safe posting about it here. It was great fun to make, again!
I love the whole 'painting' with fibre thing. BTW this pillow was stuffed with a towel and will look a lot better tomorrow when I buy the insert on the way to deliver it but, well, I wanted a photo before it goes to live in it's new home.

I have already started the next one and have the idea for the one after. I'm happy!

LEARN - maybe that should have been my little word!

The best thing for being sad, replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, is to learn something. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then--to learn. ~ T.H. White

I've been offered a place at the University of Canberra - eek! Never thought I would be saying "it's time for school" in my house again, but never say never, hey?

But actually going to school better be easier than enrolling in school or I am doomed already!!

On the knitting front not too much has been done as I have been busy reading Wally Lamb's new 700 odd page book. It's from the library so I only have three weeks and I haven't learned how to read and knit at the same time yet.

I just can't seem to stop with the fingerless mitts! I figured out how to knit them all on 4dpns with no sewing up (yes I am sure there are patterns out there but I didn't have one) only sewing in the ends to do. It's a bit fiddly as at several points you have to knit fingers around 3 dpns with 4 dpns, but so worth it for not having seams - well, worth it for me.

I have lots of bits of sock yarn left over so I might keep going for a while - I'm enjoying it and with the hot weather I don't want lots of yarn in my lap.

Well, back to reading..no, knitting...no, reading...no, knitting.....

Finished and ready to send.

Dawndra's mitts are now finished so I will send off the stack of knitted mitts next week to keep my son's and his friend's hands warm and toasty - hope they like them!

A mitt stack!

Fresco for a freezing girl.

These are for one of the girls. I have really enjoyed my first try at stranded knitting. Now I am looking forward to trying some more fair isle. (you have to focus on what you are doing with colour work) Another pair, in red, are already on the needles.
Pam Allen's Fresco Fair Isle Mitts in Fall 2008 Interweave Knits.

Two down, two to go.

Since I started knitting again about 4 years ago, now I have really loved to knit anything for my family and friends. I've knit sweaters for my youngest son, sweaters for friends, scarfs, shawls, socks and warsh cloths. And I loved ever stitch of it.

My oldest son has received knitted hats and scarves - all of which he has given away. Now I raised him to tell the truth gently. I always told him he didn't have to do anything he really didn't want to do. Not things like not get up for work because he stayed up too late the night before but things like if he didn't like what I cooked for dinner he didn't have to eat it. If he didn't want to do something 'everyone else' was doing he didn't have to. If he didn't like a present I gave him he didn't have to say he did. As long as he said he didn't want to do it with respect and kindness. Fine.

So, he hasn't wanted me to knit anything for him - ever. His explaination is, and fair enough, he doesn't want me to go to all that trouble making something he might not like. I appreciate that. So for him to ask me to knit him some fingerless gloves makes my heart soar. The fact that he asked me to knit some for three of his friends and his new girlfriend makes me even happier.

It's way too hot to model them. But they are going somewhere cold right now so I made them double thickness. And they are quick and fun to knit. I am so tempted to embroider something on the knuckles of the grey ones. The coloured ones are Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn and Patons Bluebell.

These grey ones are knit double strand from some wool I bought at the Trash and Treasure at Jamison years ago - very soft.

Now I am going to go thru the stash to pick yarn for two more - for the girls! I'm having fun. I'll start the next pair during the 20/20 cricket tonight (more like baseball and I like it - surprised me too!)

Cheers

Pastel Day

I really love Gardenias. They are so lush and creamy. They smell like Heaven - well, my Heaven anyway. I'm sure that when I die I will be surrounded by the smell of these lovely flowers.
This one is from the plant in a pot at my front door. I realized I need more so next paycheck budget will include two new Gardenia plants for the back door too.

Finished are some plain Jane Tofutsi socks for me! I really like the coolness of non-wool socks for this time of year in the evenings - like tonight. It is cool enough for socks and a shawl tonight and this feels better to me.

Cheers

One little word.

FOCUS

I really like the idea from Nettie and Hashi about having one little word for 2009. Focus is my word.

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - Qui-Gon.

This will be my year of focus. Focus on learning. Focus on my fitness. Focus on my surroundings. Focus on my loved ones and not on those that don't care about me. Focus on my spirituality. Focus on creativity. And especially focus on what's best for me.

Thanks Nettie, for this day of introspection and decision. It feels good and fitting for the beginning of the year.

Cheers