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