WIP Wednesday - Week 8

I got my phone to upload and backup.  So I'm not as stressed.  However it doesn't have any sound. I am missing calls left, right and centre!!!!

I have been invited to another knitting group, I am super excited.  I couldn't make this mornings meeting as it started at 09:00 on the other side of town and that involves major planning on my behalf, which unfortunately didn't happen.  But will make a serious attempt next week.

Well Bank Manager was really annoyed with me for stuffing up my phone, called a contact and I am to go pick up my new IPhone 4 this morning, so as much ranting and raving I got last night, he still cares enough that my phone bill is going to be huge if I have to keep phoning everyone back.  Oh wait a minute, that hurts his pocket!

My shoulder is so much better today and it is stunning weather.  I am going to fetch my phone but until then am going to sit outside in the glorious sun with Take My Time and crochet some ripples.

Oh and if my list isn't long enough, I have joined the One A Day group hosted by Gingerbread Girl (Carole)!  It starts on the 6th of September!!  Plate full or what?

Enjoy the day, and don't forget to go back to Tami Ami's and see the WIP's.

What a Day

Yesturday after posting my row goal for the week, I was a like a woman possessed.  I finished Ice Cream.  So not only did I do what I had planned to do in two days in one.  But that also left me with a sore shoulder from too much crochet and a need to get back to two needles.

I have cast on Ribby which is a pullover for Pudding.  Now to the reason for no pictures.  I am too lazy to go and fetch my camera every time I want to take pictures so I have been using my IPhone, which you can get great pictures on.

The boys were not at school today as they go to a multi-religion private school and today was Eid.  I was sitting on the couch with my coffee in one hand and reading my emails on my phone on the other and yes you guessed it fate stepped in and my phone landed up in my coffee.  It's not working so well at the moment.  I have apparently fried the bottom half of the phone.

The very sad thing is that I have taken photos of Ice Cream and Ribby on the phone and haven't been able to upload them yet.

Tomorrow for WIP Wednesday I will haul out the camera and take pictures of Ribby but I don't have any for FO Friday of Ice Cream.

We had a fantastic day off, and with another Monday tomorrow it's going to be a short and different week.

Goal Monday

I miss knitting but have too much crocheting on the go to actually justify a knitting project.  So my plan is to list how much of each of the crochet projects I either have to do to get it finished or to reach a certain point in a week.

Ice Cream - Baby Granny Stripe Blanket
26  rows of the pattern
1    row of single crochet
2    rounds of single crochet

Take My Time - Neat Ripple Stripe Blanket
26  rows of the pattern

I am putting this out there so that now I can be held to it next week Monday.  I want and need Ice Cream to be finished tomorrow in order for this to work.  Also I NEED to have it finished so that I will have a FO for Friday and it can be given as a present.

Take My Time, well I'm actually bad at letting projects fester, I have a NEED to get them done and out of the way and move on to something else.  I said that I have going to do one repeat of the 9 colours every week but I am already two weeks behind on that due to the Baby Bundles needing to be done to a deadline. 

So actually this week I should be doing 44 rows of the repeat, I just don't see that happening and don't want an epic fail on my first public goal announcement.

Year of Projects - Week 8

The only project that actually should be shown here is Take My Time, I have done 8 rows on it this week!  I have also go to the sewing stage of Red Butler. 

I have worked out this week I want to have completed 26 rows on the Take My Time and 38 rows on the Ice Cream and the 2 rounds of the border.  Cause next week I want to knit Ribby for Pudding. 

When I am knitting, I miss crochet, when I am crochet, I miss knitting, I can't win!

Have a good week everyone!

Ice Cream

I am at a crossroads, I am busy with Take My Time but also not really into to getting it done, I know it's because of the colours.  I have done 6 more rows of it this week.

The weather has been spectacular, I know that because I said that it will now get cold again!

I am also determined that one of my YOP blankets is going to be the granny stripe.  I also felt really bad about the Baby Bundle 2 Blanket being so little.  It's perfect for new borns and to have for the Snug 'n Safe but once the baby is over 3 months, it's going to be too small.  I did say I would make a bigger one.  I got out the Ice Cream colours I had left over and started a chain, to be honest I lost count as I was watching the BLUE BULLS beat the Leopards. 

I hoped and prayed that I did in multiples of 3, then to top it all off I was too lazy to go to the computer and read the pattern online, so I made it up.  Now the first row I remembered was single crochet (or double crochet in UK) then I think it was a group of 3 double crochet (treble crochet in UK) and then skip 2, and  so on and so on.  I am now pretty sure that's wrong, but I can fix it when I do the border as I have a lopsided first row of groups.  Anyway not to worry I think so far it looks STUNNING! 

I have a cunning plan, I have a few stitch patterns I would like to try out and am planning on making baby blankets with all of them first out of my left overs and then if I am happy turn them into big blankets.

The reason for all this experimentation and not committing to anything is that the RWC starts in 13 days I have my RWC blanket to start.  I am itching to knit however, so might make a pullover for Pudding while I'm waiting.  13 days is such a long time.

FO Friday - Week 7

Happy dance it's Friday!!!

Red Butler won't be shown today as the knitting is finished but I haven't sewed the ribbon band onto it yet.

BUT I still have FO's the baby bundle 2.

So now I have shared.  I am going to pop over to Tami Ami's site and see all your fantastic FO Friday's. 

See you soon. 

And have a spectacular weekend. 

Mine will not have so much Rugby but at least there is Currie Cup. 
GO BULLS!  My blood is blue!  Give it horns.

Why I don't sew

I was so excited this morning, got dressed, cleared the dining room table, and set out my beautiful cotton.  Cut out the pattern pieces, cut out the fabric, so far so easy!  Sewed up the sides of the skirt.  Added the zip, which admittdly took me two attempts as I my brain wasn't working and had the foot on the wrong way!! 

Then the waistband.  That's where the wheels fell off.  I stuffed it up so royally.  I tried then to fix it and made it worse.  I unpicked it all, tried agan and it still was shocking.  I tried it on and it was huge.  Now to explain this mistake, I didn't want the skirt so short, and as I am tall, nearly 6" I made it a size bigger to wear on my hips which I am so used to doing, in order to get anything to fit me properly.  This made the skirt the right length but too big to sit on my hips.  So I unpicked the zip, and sewed up the side and the band.  Then added elastic to the sides to pull in. 

I tried it on, and yes it fitted, but hell, did it look UGLY.  I walked into the kitchen opened the dustbin and threw it away.  Packed up the sewing machine and put it back in my cupboard.  I am giving it a time out.  I am not sure when I will release it again.  Yes I know it wasn't the machines fault, but I can't punish myself.

That means the Red Butler will have to get the beautiful ribbon sewed on by hand.  I am not going to attempt to use the machine.

WIP Wdenesday - Week 7

I went (and I was very nervous) to go scope out the Stitch 'n Bitch at my local LYS this morning.  I was really put off and landed up doing shopping.  It is all much older than me ladies, and they sit in little groups and only mingle with those little groups.  Not very condusive to new members at all.  Very intimidating.

The pottery place I emailed yesturday came back to me and said there is a heafty waiting list and she has added me to it.  I will wait for that one, but not just sit back and do nothing.

Last night I was telling the Bank Manager about my plan to get out of my box (not funk) and he said well if you don't find something, start something yourself.  That's the plan, I am going to start a 'stitch 'n bitch' and a bookclub.   Step one complete, I have a plan.

On to the knitting part of the post.  Red Butler has been flying this week, one sleeve finished and the other 95% finished.  While I was at the LYS this morning, I got the black satin ribbon to sew down the two fronts of it.  I also splurged and got a simple aline pattern for a skirt and some south african cotton to sew it.  I am so excited about that project.  I have to wash the cotton, tomorrow is going to be a sewing day.  So excited.

The Flower Skirt - that's the one I want to make.



Stunning South African made cotton


So now you have read my post, don't forget to head back to Tami Ami's blog to see more amazing WIP Wednesdays!  See you all on FO Friday.

Out of My Box

I have made a decision.  I need to meet more people.  So today was day one of my plan.  I had loads of errands to run this morning, which also took me close to a place that does ceramic painting which I used to do and loved.  So I popped in and enquired about a morning class or group.  They don't.  But I wasnt' discouraged.  I came home hopped onto the internet and found another studio, again they don't have groups or classes.  Again I wasn't discouraged.  I found a pottery studio right around the corner I didn't even know exsisted, no phone number but email address, so I sent an inquiry about the morning classes. 

I know it's not as momumental as getting a job, but please hold your thumbs I get a reply.

Tomorrow I am going to brave my local LYS Stitch 'n Bitch.  Watch this space for an update tomorrow.

My First Award

 

 

WOW Sam from Knitting Adventures gave me an award!  The versatile blogger award!!!  I am doing the happy dance.  Go check out her blog, I do daily and it's awesome.  Thank you Sam, you made my Monday so awesome.

 

 

Here’s how the award works:

 

After accepting the Versatile Blogger Award, the blogger must:

 

1. Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.

Seven Things About Me:

 

1. I LOVE Rugby and Formula
2. I LOVE Cars (thanks to my Dad who worked at BMW for 25 years)
3. I am obsessed with knitting and crocheting
4. I am PROUDLY South African
5. I bite my nails (but as an adult have managed to stop periodically)
6. I have a very high standard of living (SNOB)
7. I LOVE shopping.

 

15 newly discovered blogs I found that I’m passing this award on to

Some of these are not new but seriously good, these are the reason that I make a huge effort to blog more often.

 

Tami Amis and Other Creations

The Bored Knitter

Gingerbread Girl

An Open Book

On Being a Knitwit

A Creative Being

Cheri Quite Contrary

Kismet's Companion

Rip It Good

It's Geek to Me

It Started With Ruby

Yarn Berry

WitchyKnits4Ewe

Misadventures in Craft

Yarn Dharma

Go an check these out, I follow all of these and make sure that while I am having cup of coffee number 2 in the morning I read all of them, and yes plenty more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year of Projects - Week 7

Major Bummer, I have not picked up any of my YOP projects this entire week, alright since Monday.  Monday night I was asked to make another Baby Bundle set all in white.  So since this normally takes me 5 days, I haven't been able to do anything else.

This week also had Pudding turning 7, so we have been out and about more than normal, so less time for knitting or crocheting.

I have done 21 out of the I think 50 rows on the blanket and I have to say I'm loving it.  Much easier pattern repeat than the neat ripple pattern.  I will definitely make this chevron (ripple) again.  But am eager to make some of the others from the amazing Harmony Guides.

Baby Bundle 2 Blanket

So many FO's today but alas it's not Friday so no photos of them!  I will have a harder time waiting for Friday than you do.  Trust me, I can't buy presents until the day before, cause I can't keep them.

So I got to thinking about the blanket that needs to accomany the clothing items I have made for baby (not mine) and I thought I would get out one of my amazing Harmony guides and see what grabs my fancy.  So I am in a ripple kinda mood and I found one called peephole ripple.  Its lacy and loose, which is perfect also calls for a multiple of 10 chains plus 2.

So I chained 102 with my size 6.00mm hook (as I chain quite tight) I changed to a size 5.00mm and started,  I have to admit I fudged the first row, I know can you believe it!!  The first row.  Anyway after redoing it, I started the second using the chart not the instructions, needless to say I fudged it again!  So after looking at the amazing photo and looking at the written instructions I nailed it!

What you can't see in my picture is the yarn I am using.  It is Stylecraft Wondersoft Baby DK in a white with lilac, dark blue and light blue fleck.  It's called Jack Horner.  I had it in my stash, but when I got it out I discovered that I have two balls in one dye lot and another in a different and the third one is more blue than white!  So I have done 10 rows of the peephole and will see how many I get out of one ball.  Iam hoping that I don't need the third one.

I did the 10 rows while watching the Springboks beat the All Blacks.  The boys are back in town.  Well done Springboks we as a nation are behind you 100% for the Rugby World Cup starting on the 9th of September.  Can't wait.

FO Friday - Week 6

I love it, I wish it were mine!

Baby bundle 2 is plodding along.  The cardi is a new technique to me.  You knit the sleeves and body until armhole (body all in one) and then knit across the front and then sleeve, then back, then sleeve, then front again.  The you start decreasing for the raglan and then finally cast off.  This cardi has been lots of counting for me, the massive amount of 233 cast on stitches, then decreasing for the frills, then the raglan decreasing, I am not ready to pick up the neckline, so more counting!

I am going to start the long process of reading all your amazing FO Friday's.  So why don't you go check some more out?

SO many WIPW

It's just after 11 in the morning here and I have just finished, well I'm not going to refresh the page again reading and commenting on all the WIPW posts.  I think I need to draw the line sometime about how many I'm going to read and comment on, as it is seriously taking up lots of time, but it's an addiction, I just wanna see what everyone is doing. LOL

So since yesturday I pulled myself towards myself and have made the two sleeves for the baby bundle 2.  But because I'm doing a new pattern for me, am not brave to change it to garter stitch so yes I have done the stocking stitch, I know scardy cat.  But love it anyway.

I have also started the second bootie, which will be finished by the time I get home from fetching the boys and the oral hygienist for Monster.  To get the last of the glue off his teeth from the braces.  Which reminds me I have to leave early to organise him leaving early from class.

WIP Wednesday - Week 6

Another Baby Bundle

I have been requested to make yet another baby bundle but because it's for the same baby I had to come up with other things to make.  So here is what I am going to make.  I am really stressed about this one, as it is due for the 23rd and I haven't even finished one bootie!!!!  Been really slow on the knitting front.

I am in a garter stitch mood ever since I saw Quilatroo's snug on Ravelry, I have been besotted.  So the only request for Baby Bundle two, was it has to be in white only (Bummer, I have to stay clean).  So when you see the pictures below please see them in garter stitch, not the stitch they are in.

And since Monday when I was paid (yes already been paid for this) I have done this much.



Off you go to see other fantastic WIP Wednesdays.

Happy 7th Birthday Pudding

I am still in shock.  This morning I woke up and my 'baby' is SEVEN!  When did this happen?  He is so chuffed and so far even though he has been awake for only 3 hours, has had a blast.

I am busy choosing patterns for Baby Bundle II. So nothing to show you.  Maybe later or maybe you will have to wait until tomorrow!

Freezing Monday

Today has been awful, the weather well, today was miserable.  We had a thunderstorm and hail, in August, not December.  It's winter still and on the Highveld we don't have rain in winter only in summer.  Then once the rain and hail let up, the wind came to join in on the party and boy oh boy was it freezing.

I have remained in the lounge with the fire roaring, and snuggled up under a blanket.  Until I left to fetch the boys from school.  Stepped out the car and it started to pour!!  Oh course.  Then we came straight home to the fire and blankets, we have hardly left the lounge, we even scandalous, ate supper in front of the TV.

Moving on to more important things, I did manage to finish the body of my Red Butler and start one of the sleeves, but with the drop in of the old people came money to buy more wool for another baby bundle.  Please can it be done by the weekend.  So there goes any hope of getting Red Butler done for FO Friday.

Year of Projects - Week 6

I'm not in a good mood.  It started off with the realisation that my middle sister is not moving back.  I should have known when she didn't want anyone to know but me.  Then we went to the old people's house (Dad and Girlfriend) for lunch and when we got out the car, my two stepsisters came up and said, they are in bad moods.  I thought nothing of it, until they both ripped my head off and then started on my boys, which lead me to tell them to get knotted.  Packed my boys up and came home.  Oops forgot to feed them lunch.

I feel better now that I have ranted out my family.  I have to admit that this week I worked on a baby shower present and only yesturday afternoon managed to pick up my Red Butler again.

I love doing it and have completed over half the body.  It needs to be 62cm and last night I had done 35cm. 

I need your help,  I am new to top down and the row where you put the armhole on holders and knit the body, I get holes under the arm.  It looks dreadful, please, please, if I need to know some trick, share.  I am not sure how I am going to fix this when it's finished.

Quickie

HOORAY I finished the baby bundle blanket, but you will have to wait until FO Friday to have a picture.

The Springboks, and welcome back to the sexy, hunky, ripped bodies, I mean seasoned boks.  Even though they were finally beaten by the Wallabies.  The game was FANTASTIC.

I have had this odd feeling that I would have nothing to report tomorrow for YOP, so I am frantically knitting my Red Butler to get some decent progress made.

I actually started to resent the baby blanket I was making cause I would have rather been knitting my Red Butler.  I am loving it and can't wait for it to be finished.

FO Friday - Week 5

Baby Bundle is I say 80% completed. 

The booties and hat are not going to be blinged, my Dad's girlfriend, loves them just the way they are!  The cardi, I don't want to bling, I love the handmade mouse button that's on it and don't want to distract from that.

I have been plodding along with the blanket and I achieved my goal and then some yesturday, so this morning I went and had my nails done.  It's the little things in life!!

Thank you Northern Hempishere for giving us our Sun back.  Yesturday and today have been spectacular.  I know we have a cold front coming on Sunday but fingers crossed it's our last.  I am so over Winter.

My deadline is still Sunday and I am aiming, with the help of loads of Rugby tomorrow to have this completed tomorrow night.  I have an hour at swimming with the boys this afternoon so that will definitely help.

I will pop over to Tami Ami's site when I am back from swimming to check out all your FO Friday's.  Thanks for all the amazing comments that I get!  They rock!

Oh I must mention that even if I can't comment on your blog, I read all of them.

Baby Bundle Blanket

I finished the cardi for the Baby Bundle yesturday morning, but you will have to wait until tomorrow for that picture.  The button is so cute.

I attempted 3 times to do the blanket with the pattern I wanted to use and each time it wouldn't lie flat, it kept pulling tight like it was pleated and I couldn't afford to try and see if with blocking it would be flat, so I resigned myself to the fact that, the pattern will have to be put on hold for something else when I have more time.

I decided as I was in the swing of the ripple pattern, that I would do another one!  But was determined that it needs to grow quickly so I chained 98 with 3 turning.  Last night between cooking dinner, and going to parents night I managed to do 10 rows.  My goal today is to do 16 more rows,  I will then carry on tomorrow and Saturday morning, leaving Saturday afternoon and night for the border.    And that will be it.  Sunday sewing in all the ends.  And it can be handed over.

Thanks for all the comments and it was agreed that flowers would look cute, but again am frantic that I'm not going to have enough time.  One comment said thread ribbon.  PERFECT!  Quick and will look so cute.  I have thin white ribbon so that will be it.  I will attempt to do this today so you can see tomorrow.

WIP Wednesday - Week 5

I have been slightly off track with my knitting of the Baby Bundle, because I am worried about the blanket.  The cotton I choose didn't work with the pattern, too stiff, even though I have crocheted with it before, I think it is the combination.  So Bank Manager saw how much distress I was in and drove me to LYS to get alternative.  Now I am stressing that I won't have enough time.  I need to have it all by Sunday so that it can be gifted on Monday, as she leaves for Maternity leave.  Yes another suprise that I was given yesturday.

Here is what I have done so far, they are not FO items yet as they need something to bling them up.

Body, Right Front Side Completed

Sleeves for Cardi

I'm thinking crochet flowers for the hat and booties?

Head on over to see other WIP Wednesday's at Tami Ami's. I am.  See you on FO Friday!

Women's Day

Here is South Africa today has been a public holiday.  It's been Women's Day, a day to remember all the women who we admire.  From those who helped with the removal of apartheid, to our role models of the day. 

Today I spent it in the shops with my boys and bank manager.  Then came home and sat down to finish the knitting portion of the Baby Bundle.  I have to be honest I only managed to finish the sleeves of the cardigan, dreadful.

Yesturday however I finished the hat and booties, seems like a much more productive day yesturday than today. 

I can't seem to get the blanket pattern to be as nice as I want it, so I am searching Ravelry for square patterns to crochet.

No pictures as tomorrow is WIP Wednesday.

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY

Announcement

We are all sitting in my Dad's boma (which is an open pit that get a huge roaring fire in it to bbq or as we call it a braai) after eating potjie kos (which is like a stew but you layer the food into a big black pot, like a witches pot, then you just leave it to cook).  My Dad's girlfriend, Granny Shake Shake (not cause she shakes, but because whenever she wants someone to do something now, she tells us to shake shake) announces that one of the theatre nurses she works with is pregnant and can I make a baby bundle (blanket, booties, cardie and hat) for her.  I say yes when is she due?  Oh she is 32 weeks!  What!  I have no yarn that is suitable for babies and if I did no colours! 

So I dragged the boys who have long weekend as tomorrow is Women's Day here to the LYS.  Armed with PSP's and headphones for them, they behaved beautifully.  I actually found some pink cotton in my stash, hidden away and so I just needed two other colours to compliment it.  As the sale ended on Saturday my pickings were rather slim.  But I managed to come out with these two colours as well.

How cute are these buttons

I am going to make these patterns from the Sirdar Tiny Tots Esstentials (351) and the Snuggle Blanket from Crute Crochet for Tiny Tots by Helen Ardley.

So no progress with be made on my Red Butler or Take My Time as I need to get these done this week.  Watch this space.