Forest Canopy is a FO

Finished it last night and blocked this morning:

Used my new lace blocking wires too.

Pattern: Forest Canopy

Yarn: Araucania 'Jewel' from Tapestry Craft

Was able to squeeze in 2 more repeats of the pattern and looking at the amount of yarn left I might have been able to do another, but wasn't game to try.

Is there anyone who is good at algebra - I need a tutor for my maths assignment. I started it at 9:30am and when I finished, the clock read just past 3pm! I missed breakfast and lunch and I still need to recheck it. I hate maths.

I have 5 health lessons to plan for, an English assignment, this maths assignment and one maths exam left for this semester.

Now I am inbetween projects they are the last hing on my mind. I think a Kiri shawl might be next or a retry of the Flared Lace smokering in Kaalund 2ply.

I won a Golden Spork!

Tink had a delurking day and I commented - don't do that very often. Which made me eligible for the Golden Spork Awards. (Didn't know that)



I won a spot in the "Crafty/Creative" category.

Thanks Tink,

I'd also like to thank.....wait, I have a list here somewhere...a speech...just let me...

Yard Work

Blogger is not playing nice again and it is taking ever so long to upload a few photos.

I have spent the last four days working my ass off in the backyard, hauling a half tonne of rubble and a tonne of gravel. I wanted to put some gravel down to level the cat run a bit and to cover the bathtub sized hole where I dislocated my ankle. To do that I needed some edging. I had some long pine logs down the side of the shed, but to get to them meant that I needed to clean that up. It took half a morning to drag them out and clean up the side.

To cut a long story short - I've gravelled and rubbled all over the yard. The edging is done, the area in front of the cat enclosure is gravelled and the side of the shed is neater. I bought a garden swing - cos I've always wanted one and that sits on the gravelled part. It is beginning to look like a home instead of a neglected paddock. I put together a trampoline for Miss A's birthday present and the garden swing. I can feel my testosterone levels rising and have even gained some bicep muscle too!

The cat run is complete. Unfortunately the first night I let them out there one of them found a weak spot and escaped. Two visits later by Securakat and the enclosure is secure again. Luckily the cat came home that night and was easily coaxed down from her tree with a can of cat food. All that I need to do today is to clear an area of gravel to put in some grass. Then that's it - not doin' anything else these holidays - except start on three assignments and prepare for another maths exam. Ooh I past my first maths exam with 91% yay.

Here's a shot of the entrance:

Can't do much about the rainwater pipe though, but I have filled in an area in front and raised the ground level so that there is not such a step over. Heaven knows I don't want to trip over again.

Below you can just see the shadecloth that I put up that nearly killed me. I had to go out of my comfort level and up one more step on the ladder to reach the highest part and I was shaking like a leaf the whole time while cable tieing 5 metres of shadecloth to the house. Had to lay down for ages afterwards, I felt so sick.

This pile of junk and the old chair ( as well as the 11 foot long pine logs ) were down this side of the shed... I wish now that I had taken some before pictures it was atrocious.




Mr Ex used it to chuck his rubbish and any old bits of scrap he didn't want down there. I have never seen it this empty before. Now the neighbours are keen to replace the fence.

You can just see the edging around the grass here it looks better in real life. After years of having Mr Ex saying that what I wanted to do was too hard, I managed to do it - with the help of two children ( dear neighbour's 12yo son was keen to help and Miss A got us drinks on request - with much bellyaching ) but it feels good to know that I can do it alone.

As a treat I have gone on a yarn ordering adventure - please someone hand me the scissors to cut up my card with.

I have something coming form Kpixie which is unfortunately stuck in customs since the 7th January, in, wait for it....Montreal. What the....? How/why is it there?! The lovely lady from Kpixie says it will either get to me or make it's way back to them, sob, I want it now. That will teach me to place an order so close to New Year's Eve.

A package from Astrid's is on it's way as well.

Ecoyarns is having a sale and I have coveted some Wild Cherry Karaoke for ages and a sale is the best time to buy isn't it?

Shawl craziness has hit here. I am still loving the Forest Canopy Shawl, have fallen in love with the following shawl patterns: Kiri, Seraphim, Spring Things, Sumac Leaf ( damn Ravelry - will people stop cueing things please?!) Leaf Lace and Angel Lace from Fibretrends and Diamond Fantasy.

The good thing about this is that I still want to knit each and everyone of them I haven't lost enthusiasm for them which is unusual for me.

No links cos blogger is really effing me off with the slow uploading of pics. I waited for half and hour and then it came up with an error and I really must go dig the side up.

First FO of 2008

I'm counting this as the first for 2008, even though I could have finished it New Year's Eve. It really needs blocking though, this is the first item where I didn't block the individual pieces and now I am regretting it.


Details:
Yarn - Neon from Bendigo - Bracken
Pattern - PT 8227 from Bendigo I modified the ribbing as they have it doubled and turned back on itself and use short rows and I didn't like that.


Stash Enhancement:
After umming and aahing for several weeks I caved and purchased:


Dream in Colour Smooshy - Dusky Aurora from Knitting Inspirations



Dream in Colour Smooshy - Gothic Rose also from Knitting Inspirations



Araucania - Ocean, from Tapestry Craft.
I would love to know how they dye this as not one strand is the same, and variations within the strand are mottled. One of my aims for this year is to clear out the shed and set up a dyeing area. I plan on getting a big table to lay the yarns on, storage for the dyes and utensils and maybe a second hand electric stove or a microwave specifically for dyeing. I have some Cascade 220 in a bright pink which I want to splatter with black and blue.


and Jewels also from Tapestry Craft


All of which I have in mind for shawls.





Like this one:

Forest Canopy Shawl, a tester for Miss A. I am loving knitting this! Not sure about the colours though but Miss A loves it.

Our cat enclosure should be done by Wednesday next week whereupon I will post pictures. The cats do not use the pet door willingly at the moment because it only goes to that square enclosure I posted about earlier. My neighbour had the idea to turn it on it's side and push it up against the cat flap enabling the cats to go outside of their own accord now. Rather than me fighting to put them into the enclosure out in the yard. I need to get some shadecloth ready too, as it gets very hot down that side in summer and they will need shade.

Uni studies are going well I received a letter commending me on my high acheivements (a Credit and a Distinction in my first 2 units) Assignments are due on the 14th of Jan so I am busy working on those. All is well there.

Can't wait to get back to work this year as I have spent way too much, need to focus on bills and debt this year as well as saving. I also want to focus on fitness too. Way overdue!

We went to the swim centre the other day and spent about 6 hours in the water- my friend encouraged me to move my arms and legs constantly, which I mostly did, by treading water the whole time. Miss A and her friend would not allow peaceful, floaty resting in the water ( I nearly fell asleep at one stage it was so nice!) that was an invitation to be splashed - today I am still stiff and cannot move easily. So more time on the treadmill is needed this year.

It has been so hot here, a heat wave last week 3 days over 40 degrees C, yesterday was close to 39 and today is supposed to be 39 degrees.That is about all I have been doing - study in the morning, try to knit the rest of the time and watch episodes of Angel. sweet.

This...

Inside






Outside (not my legs BTW)


nearly freakin' killed me!


Good news on the cat enclosure, it will be completed in a week and a half. The cat flap is now in and even if it is slightly uneven, it works and that's the main thing right?

The bad thing was that I had to cut into Asbestos. I had all the safety gear - respirator and filter rated for asbestos, complete disposable overalls to cover head to toe and safety goggles.
It was like being in a sauna suit for 3 hours! Bearing in mind today was over 30 degrees C. It took me over an hour to be able to sit up and walk again, I was stuffed.

I superglued the stanley knife to my thumb (don't ask how I did that), I siliconed half my hand, The PVC glue didn't stick to the plastic, only to me (again, don't ask). I popped a seam -lots of seams actually, in the disposable overalls, Miss A said I had holes in it everywhere and the respirator made me sound like Darth Vader. Of course, now I will worry that I didn't use enough protection and imagine that I inhaled the asbestos and will certainly die from Mesothelioma. Time will tell.

I will be disposing of the pieces of asbestos according to regulations. ie: wrapped in 220 micron? thick black plastic, taped with silver duct tape and delivered to a waste collection point. Phew!

What's the bet the cats won't use it?

Christmas was almost cancelled!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

We nearly cancelled Xmas this year as 6 days beforehand one of our cats went missing for 4 nights!

Miss A and I were very upset as it was really unusual for her to just disappear like that.
To add to our worry was that it was very stormy - the most rainfall since April this year. Our cats are never going outside again let me tell ya. Those heartbreaking
4 days were it. I am not going to lose another cat again.

I have enlisted the aid of secureakat and we have decided to enclose the whole side of the house where the 2 rainwater tanks are. We don't use this side at all and it is currently gravelled, all i want to do is move the gravel so that a strip down the middle will be grassed. Unfortunately it won't be done until end of Jan early Feb.

Have you seen the price of cat play equipment?! I intend to make a lot of it myself (any excuse to purchase a power tool) A nice man at Bunnings has cut a sheet of wood into bits so that I can glue and screw and make boxes for the cats to sleep in. Miss A will be in charge of the colour/painting part.

After a trip out today, I think the cat problem is sorted temporarily. It is actually a large puppy enclosure but with a few cat toys it's a cat enclosure. I intend to put them in here for a bit at a time so that they are not stuck inside. Maybe feed them the good tinned stuff as a treat so that they look forward to it.....cos they hate it at the moment.


Infernal human un-imprison me!


Puddy (who was on the missing cat list) realised she was locked in straight away and wouldn't stop meowing. Andy and Kitty went in together (they do not get along with Puddy very well) and they were like "ooh there's food, ooh there's water, look over here, a scratching thing, look a kitty tray, hang on ... what's this wall here? How do we get out? I want out!" Took 'em 20 minutes to work it out.

What did Father Christmas bring you? ... I was lucky to get some yarny goodness that was unwrapped many days before Xmas - Dream In Color Smooshy sock yarn in Gothic Rose and Dusky Aurora, some blocking wires in preparation for my forays into lace knitting.
Couldn't resist the Tapestry Craft sale ( ummed and ahhed for many days before committing to buy) I've ordered some Auracania yarn in Ocean and for Miss A Jewels for shawls.
What is it that I have a hankering to knit shawls?? The triangle shawl from the Knitting Olympics of 2006- I think it was - kicked my ass and that was/is a very simple M1 one st in from each end and once in the middle. Reminds me, that needs to be frogged.

Now I am not only on a yarn diet, but a money diet too. Can't wait to get back to work and earn some money or I'm gonna send myself broke!

Long time no post!

Oops, when I first started this blog I was very keen and couldn't wait to add stuff. Especially through the breakup as it was a way of letting off steam.

Life has settled down now and I lead a very boring life of work/study/sleep/raise a family etc as I am sure a lot of you do too.

This does not mean to say that I have lost the knitting bug. I still look forward to knitting time, and it still calms me down. I just knit really slowly and progress is not as fast as my kntting time is limited due to studying at uni. And the fact that I decided to take on 3!! units during my Xmas holidays. Goose!

Anyway, I am on holidays now and have settled into an acceptable studying schedule. (study in the morning/knit in the afternoon/ bugger the housework)

So I know that I owe pictures of the Shawl Collar Jacket - that was a joy to knit and I need to knit something else in the Shadow Tweed. I still need a photo of this, but I will get to it I promise.


I have been wanting to try lace knitting for a while now. Ravelry is a great place to seek out patterns and check up on yarn and I have spent several days checking out lace projects to find out how difficult they are.

So I have settled on three patterns:
Forest canopy Shawl
Diamond Fantasy Shawl or
Flower Basket Shawl

I think it will be the one that has the edging knitted as you go, if I remember correctly, that's the Diamond Fantasy. As usual any advise is greatly accepted. What is the best project for a wannabe/beginner lace knitter?

I had my heart set on a variegated blue yarn but do you think I can find something here in Oz? Nup. I was looking at the Araucania, but at around $20 a ball for a first time lace project I don't think so. I did settle on some country prints in the blue/green/purple but it has been discontinued and there is none to be found.
I know that is not laceweight but I reckon if I try lace with a more chunky yarn it will be easier for me and I really wanted a chunky shawl anyway. I can envision myself chucking the mess of fairy floss across the room if I stuffed up with a finer yarn and that would be the end of lace knitting. I should really call it lacier knitting as, you know, it isn't wuite laceweight if that makes sense.

I've even ordered a lace blocking kit from here as well as some Cascade 220 to try.
And I have some Dream in Color on it's way in Gothic Rose and Dusky Aurora from here.

I am currently kniting a vest out of Bendigo Neon which is going well so far, but very slowly and one more pair of Fetchings.

I have received some great news workwise recently: I have been made permanent! with a payrise and upgrade woohoo. (hence the spurge on blocking wires/yarn etc.)
This is amazing in itself, as people in my line of work know that to be offered permanency is a rare thing, as well as at a time when my school is closing to make way for the Super school and the department had said no permanency was to be offered at this time. So that relieves a lot of financial pressure as I know I have a job as long as I want it.

I've rearranged my knitting room - taken out my study desk, moved my stash to the small room next to my knitting room, crammed in a sofa-bed (still have both recliners in there) and added a TV. It is just a great place to sit and knit, with the fantastic natural light during this time of year.

I doubt I will post again before Christmas. But I will endeavor to update fortnightly in the future.
Merry Christmas.

Blocked, Barbecued and Blubbering

WARNING: Picture heavy post...You can tell when i'm on holidays can't ya?

The Shawl Collar Jacket in Shadow Tweed has completed fronts and back. I didn't try too hard to get the shadings to matchup. I just started knitting with the same strength of colour. Quite pleased at how the fronts do match though. Tried the 3 needle bind-off on the shoulders (again) and I just cannot get the whole wrap,pickup etc. I think I am wrapping the wrong stitch and when you go to pick them up, they are stretched across the stitch, making a little hole. It is not too noticeable.





Kitty says, "Now can I sit on it??"




After Mr Ex took our BBQ and the Webber Kettle that I had wanted, I really missed BBQ'd food, especially with the weather warming up. I took the plunge and purchased a BBQ a few weeks ago. It came in a big box with assembly instructions! Simple enough step by step instructions that were kinda easy to follow.


This lot.....











became this...






Also been adding to the garden we have...

Tomatoes






S'posed ta be Sweetcorn




Potatoes




Beans



Peas Oops about the bottom of the photo.




Cucumber





Experimental Oak Lettuce


Experimental because it was purchased to eat and we ate and then because it still has it's roots attached, I thought it might grow/turn to seed and we might get some more growing. It has picked up since being planted and is no longer wilting, so maybe it will grow seed for us. Dunno.


Miss A has gone away for the weekend (4 whole nights!!!) I hate it when she goes,I have a very hard time dealing with it, but she really wanted to go this time, it's the only time she gets with her father - he hardly contacts her any other time. Mr Ex has replaced me with another ( didn't want Miss A much at all until he got a girlfriend who could look after her for him) and she gets to go on what was our regular family holiday. After more than ten years going to the same spot for the October long weekend I now stay home alone. sniff. It kills me to send her on holidays, I was teaching her how to run the shower and how to organise stuff in the tiny shower cubicles, not put bare feet on the floor etc. and now I have to hand that over to someone that I don't know. *short pause to dry tears*
The song playing on the radio is "Big Girls Don't Cry", how appropriate.

Anyway the footy Grand Final is on today, the most footy I've watched is the last 10 mins of the preliminary finals this year. My team is in the Grand Final this year- GO THE POWER!- Really looking forward to this, I intend to sit and knit while watching the footy, and try not to cry anymore.

Tragic, I know. Luckily I have my cats to keep me company and with the fights I'm breaking up between Andy and Scrappy I won't get bored.

Oh, Mr Ex reckons he will take Scrappy next week, so then I'll be down to 3 cats. It will be better for Scrappy 'cos he can't even sleep without getting attacked. I have to wake-up several times a night to separate 'em. I've sprayed Feliway around the house so hopefully that'll help today.

Ravelry!!

I'm in, Tigerknits, add me if you wish.

After not feeling like knitting I am suddenly feeling enlivened.
Bendigo has, available for a short time, Neon (striping like Shadow Tweed/Vintage Hues but in an 8 ply) , I love it and can't wait to actually touch it. It is definitely a limted production and will not become a permanent addition (I know this because I asked/begged them to keep it)

I have picked up the Shawl Collar Jacket out of Shadow Tweed. I intitially wouldn't pick it up 'cos I thought I wouldn't be able to work out where I was up to, fortunately I found that it was only just started and just past the ribbing.

But I wanna play with Neon!

Fore!

I think that's how you spell it..
Miss A has taken a liking to golf and to encourage her we have purchased a putting thing that returns the ball if you get it in the right spot, an indoor model connected to the power point.

We needed something outside so this morning we created this...











Andy the cat loves it! Pokin' his paws in and scooping out the ball, to the dismay of Miss A.


Uni has kept me really busy these past few weeks. Boring unit I have to push myself to do. I am behind in the readings, my group of 4 people has only me contributing to it and the assignment is due in 2 weeks! I am the one sending emails and uploading to the boards, we have 3 members that I don't hear from at all this is very frustrating. I refuse to do everyone's work so I will only do my bit and if we fail then so be it.

Have not been knitting at all - it has taken me 3 months and I still haven't finished a scarf.
I have orders for Fetchings that I just cannot do - don't wanna. Need to order some size 2mm addi turbos for socks. I did cast on some lovely sock yarn, a present from Jessica but I think I need smaller needles. The fabric was just too holey for socks.

I have had Laryngitis for 2 weeks and then a slight head cold and have been feeling so drained. Thant's my excuse for not studying. So looking forward to summer.

One thing I have been obsessing over is coffee beans. I purchased a bean grinder and a plunger this week and have been brewing some nice coffee ( Have only started drinking coffee this year and now can't get enough)

Yep...

Your Theme Song is Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

"There is no pain, you are receding. A distant ship's smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves." You haven't been feeling a lot lately, and you think that's a good thing. The comfortable part is nice... but you should really work on numb.

What's Your Theme Song?

Sickness and secret projects

Urggh. What a way to spend the school holidays - sick. Miss A came down with something last Wednesday and on the weekend shared it with me. Although we did spend Friday to Wednesday curled up in bed hacking up our lungs ( and I intend to return there soon ) we managed to spend some quality time together. It was worrying - she had a fever for 3 days.

So much for seeing the new Harry Potter movie, going bowling, going to the park....

Been working on a new project, very fun and different. Will take some photos and share when I get better.

You Are Best Described By...

San Giorgio Maggiore, Twilight By Claude Monet

What Famous Work of Art Are You?

Seen better days

These curtains were made by my Mum over 30 years ago! The fabric was soo old they had started to disintegrate and some curtain rings were broken. I finally got the motivation to make some new ones.








Andy is the feline model for this shot... heaven help him if he runs up these curtains like he used to with the old ones.



I took out the small one in the middle as I wanted these to close over the door thus allaying my fear that I was secretly being spied on by the neighbours at night time (or the Boogey Man or some such creature that may be hiding out in my backyard)

Knitting Knews...

Two orders for Fetchings must be completed these holidays, funny how I couldn't stop knitting these until someone actually wanted me to make them a pair, now it's a chore to be put off until scarves are finished. Now ask me how many scarves I've made in the last 2 weeks ( the answer is 2 and a half)


Uni News...

Semester one is finished yay! Semester 2 starts on the 23rd July. School holidays are here next week and they end on the 23rd July so I have two whole weeks in which to solidly knit - that's the plan anyway.

Personal News...

Miss A goes to her Dad's for 2 whole nights - he picks her up tomorrow and will drop her back Sunday. I am still finding being parted from her very difficult. Luckily he doesn't ask her up very often. She is glad to be home too as I don't think he spends very much time with her. The girlfriend and her 3 daughters look after her more than he does. Roll on Sunday.

So what delights have I got planned for myself to tide me over?
I have Angel complete season one, Sixteen Candles, Duece Biglow 1, The Family Stone and all the Alien movies (That will go well with my new curtains cos I will wake in the night and be able to go to the loo without the monster from the movie watching me through my back door)

Oh and I have chocolate - Clinkers, Snickers Pods, Dairy Milk family block, Quatro biscuits, and Iced coffee. That should cover the five food groups ;)

Reminds me, I must set up the treadmill these holidays too.

Found It

Okay here's Miss A's Hoody...


Bendigo Rustic 12 ply in Pink Opal.


Shawl Collar Jacket in brown Shadow Tweed - the back... Go on click for the bigger picture that shows the pretty colours.



The left front...

You want pictures??

You can't have pictures!

Oohh, this morning I was motivated enough to snap some pics of Miss A's Central Park Hoodie and the back and left front of the shawl collar jacket out of Shadow Tweed, now I can't find the camera cord!!
As the camera's battery cover is split in halves and the batteries come loose, now may be a good time to think about buying a new camera - especially if I can't find the cord.

Now that my last assignment for this semester at uni is now finished ( have to submit it for assessment this Friday, so tweaking time is there) and I have only one unit left for my Cert 3 in Disability Work (lecture this week) it is much easier to breathe now. Funny that.

Life does seem good at this moment. All the crap we went through seems to have paid off.
Ahh for some prime knitting time this week.

Quickie update

Long time no blog.
Just can't seem to do anything interesting to blog about.

Miss A's CP Hoody is now almost finished with just the seaming to be done. Stuffed up the grafting on the hood and was too lazy to ungraft it and am now sorry I didn't take the time to fix it up. It has a few dodgy stitches right on top of the head!

I've taken a liking to the new Paton's Shadow Tweed and bought a whole lot when it was on special last week. I am currently making the Shawl Collar Jacket in the brown colourway, I went nuts and bought all but the orangey red colour. This yarn reminds me of the Point 5 from Colinette, it is soft but not even firmly spun so I'm wondering how well it will wear.

Another problem is that I could not for the life of me get gauge. They want 14.5 sts with 6.5mm needles and I can't get close to that with 6mm or 5.5mm so I'm doing the smaller size and 14 sts / 10cm with 6mm needles. (got 14sts with the 5.5mm too and I'm not going smaller as it will then be a too firm a fabric which I don't like)
Does that mean that I need to go down a size more when knitting the ribbing?? Hmm, will it then throw out the collar (knitted separately and sewn on later)
They want 6.50mm stocking stitch and 5.5mm ribbing so if I'm knitting my stocking stitch on 6mm needles do I then go to 5mm needles on the rib? Decisions, decisions.....It is very nice to knit with though, lovely and soft.

The teacher that I work with asked me, "Do you knit fingerless gloves?". "Why yes, I do", I replied, knowing what was coming....yep some more Fetchings, again with that lovely black alpaca. These I will knit mainly at school and still have some 'me' knitting time at home.

Not very happy today as I am sick, hit me like a brick on Friday. One minute I was feeling fine, then sneezed and within 10 minutes - seriously that is how fast this thing came on, no warning or anything!! - I thought uh oh, am I coming down with something? Just suddenly had no energy, felt dizzy etc. So Saturday was spent on the lounge knitting and feeling miserable.

Oh, I also caved and ordered some Knit Picks Needles -finally. Blame that on the fever/ PMS/ medication........