Monday, February 25, 2008

Olivia in her Red Riding Hood Coat






This is Olivia aged two.

She lives in Eaton, Ohio USA. I have been corresponding with her mother by email since before she was born.

A few weeks ago I finished this little fun fur coat for her birthday, and sent it to her with a little toy koala, you can just see it in her hands, in the picture below.

I also sent her a card with a picture of koalas on the front - which she keeps in her bed LOL!



Isn't she just a little doll?

I love to see the pics of my knits actually ON the recipient - gives me such a buzz!


And here is the birthday girl on her special day





Happy Birthday darling!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Knitting Updates


I seem unable to keep my blog updated for less than a few weeks interval!

Here's what I have been doing since the last post.















This is a very simple little baby jacket - my own little square jacket pattern - that one of these days, I must write down! The yarn is Bernat Soft Boucle which was gifted to me by dear friend Gail Bable last year. The colorway is I am afraid now discontinued - I have one skein left and I am jealously guarding it until I come across the right project for it. Isn't it the most beautiful jewel like tones? dark blue, dark green, gorgeous gold and tan, with flecks of bright blue and yellow - so beautiful, like a rainforest floor, on a wet day. And can you see how the colour pooled? Just like diamond shaped lozenges that are totally symmetrical on the fronts! The trim is in TLC Essentials that was also gifted to me by Vanessa about two years back! The two yarns just yelled at me to be combined! The hat is also a little made up pattern - which, dear reader, I also promise to write down. VW Beetle buttons by daverun on ebay.com

This little Red Sweater with a Hood is identical to one I made a year ago (Red Riding Hood) for a friend's little girl who celebrated her first birthday on Valentine's Day!

Now this one is for Vanessa's little darling Olivia, who turned two on Feb 12. Happy birthday darling! Being a little short of the readies, I couldn't post it to you in Ohio until 13th, but I know you will forgive your Aussie Grandma! Ness, if you see this, I would love a pic of Olivia wearing this if you can get one??

Next we have the same little square jacket and hat pattern again - this time in Twilleys Bobtail in cream, with Moda Vera Jazz in stripes of Coffe and Chocolate.

The buttons are little flowers made of wood. I think they are hand carved by the look of them. I have no idea where I got them from either, probably in a job lot somewhere, or more than likely off some child's garment bought in an op-shop, just for the buttons.







I finally finished a little summer sleevess jacket and sunhat (yep the same square pattern!) for dear friend Ferda in Turkey,who is expecting a little boy, Adem Ali, in March ! I didn't think the lavender, yellow, white and green was too girlie for him to wear when he is about 3 months old, do you? The button is a lavender heart to wish him love.

This and a couple of other little things for when he is first born will be winging their way to him next week Ferda, I know you can't wait!! I wish I knew why postage has to be so exorbitant to overseas from Australia. But according to my local post office, it is much more expensive from USA and UK to Australia - but why? It's not as if there are less planes going to and fro nowadays, more than ever before, so why is it so dear?


At last! I finished the Stockinette/Stocking Stitch version of the Baby Surprise Jacket started in January with the KAL on knitbabysurprise group on Yahooo.

I sewed the seams as a normal sweater this time - with the garter stitch version I usually crochet them on the outside. This was interesting to do - took a bit more concentration as the decreasing and increasing was done on 3 out of 4 rows, not every 2nd row like on the garter stitch one. I did a ribbed cuff, but a garter stitch collar and bands which looks a bit weird to me now - I tried a ribbed band however and it looked godawful. Maybe I should have done a garter stitch cuff instead.


The back view is intersting . Next time I shall not use such a fluffy yarn. This was Panda Angoretta in Mint Green, with stripes of Cleckheaton Fleur in lavender with colour flecks, which are nubbly little lumps of colour actually, hence what looks like uneven stitching on the back!

Buttons are lavender pussy cats from daverun on ebay.com






Left is another Baby Albert, knitted in Spotlight Baby 4 ply on 2.75 mm needles.

The bootie socks I invented, and I have written the pattern out - so I will post them on here soon.

This yarn is weird to knit with - so limp and floppy - that's why I had to go down to such a small size needle. It splits a bit too - so don't think I shall use it again. Very soft though, ideal for super little seamless knits for a preemie and being acrylic, very good for hospital laundries!

On the needles a chunky little knitted blanket with a scalloped edge, another Baby Albert, and a lot of donated baby things, half finished, with no patterns, that I agreed to "do something with" that have been sitting in my UFO basket, gloating! Next time!

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Attention all Knitters!


The Knit 'N' Natter Bag - now available as PATTERN ONLY - so if you can sew or have a friend who sews and can be persuaded to make this for you - hehehe ! Here's where you can buy the pattern

http://www.calicocottage.com.au/store/WsDefault.asp

Click on Accessories, then Knitting Supplies

(I couldn't get the whole link to show up here!)


Cost is $15.50 AUD PLUS postage. In Australia $ 2.50 AUD

For USA and Canada, $15.50 AUD PLUS POSTAGE $ 3.70 AUD

There are LIMITED quantities available - so don't be disappointed!!!!

My friend Judith designed this, with input from knitters from two of my charity knitting groups - so we know it is exactly what knitters want for carrying with them to their Stitch 'n' Bitch, Knit 'n' Natter meetings!!!

Thank you Judith!!!!