RIP Kanook

Kanook was a 20 year old female Polar Bear who lived at Sea World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. She came from Tucson, Arizona to live at Polar Bear Shores in 2000.
She has been suffering from kidney failure, and Sea World decided this afternoon that the kindest thing for Kanook would be to let her go and prevent any further suffering.
We visited the park in December 2001, and if my scanner were working I would show you some gorgeous photos of her. She was a simply stunning Polar Bear. I adore all polar bears, and was very much looking forward to visiting her again this christmas, and I feel extremely sad. I think I shall send the staff a sympathy card - because if I am upset, I cannot imagine the pain they are suffering.

http://www.seaworld.com.au/visitor_info/latest_news_articles.cfm?archived=0

Look what I got in

Look what I got in the mail today!! Noro Cash Iroha!

Wendy sent me this gorgeous yarn because she gave me the privilege of test knitting Luanne - I think I got the better end of that deal! So I danced around the house a little, and stroked it alot, LOL!
And my Addi Turbos came, too! What a mail day :)
I finished Em's gloves

I used Patons Patonyle, which is identical I believe to Patons Kroy in the US, and a very old pattern that I bought off eBay.

I have also been knitting away diligently at my Everyday sleeves, however they do not seem to grow no matter how much I knit! I've been stuck around the 10-11" mark for days :(

We found out today that

We found out today that we got Emily into the High School we wanted, YAY!! I have been rather stressed about this lately, particularly in the last week or so, while waiting for the advisement letters which were posted out on Friday.
First a little background - I know many of you reading are from the US and other countries, and so I'll explain the Australian school system. There are some differences between the states (I know that QLD has one less grade than we do) but this is how NSW works.
Our kids start school in Kindergarten, at around age 5. They go to Primary School from Kindy to Year 6, around age 12. Then after year 6, they move on to High School, Year 7 up to Year 10 or Year 12. (ages 15 or 17). You can leave at Year 10, with a School Certificate, or you can stay on until Year 12, when you get the Higher School Certificate. To qualify for University, you have to have a Higher School Certificate.
So essentially, our kids attend 2 schools - Primary and High School. Our school year runs from late January to December.
In December, Em will complete Year 6, and in January, she'll begin High School. All children are automatically eligible for enrolment in the local public High School. There has been some debate in NSW at least, about the quality of the education offered in the Public School system. Our Public system is free, or at least low cost, and the syllabus for all schools, public, private or parochial, is pretty similar. Blah, blah, blah.
We wanted to enrol Emily in the local Catholic High School, although she has attended a public Primary School all her life so far.
There were 300 applicants for 180 positions. And she was successful. Yay!!
The Catholic High Schools are sort of between the Public and Private High Schools. Not free, but not as expensive as some of the private options. Alot stricter than the local High Schools I know about, which was one of the things that I liked. No makeup, no jewellery, no short skirts, etc etc etc. I *like* that!
We had to attend the information night back in February, have the paperwork filed by March, attended an interview in early April, and since then, we've waited.
We did attend the local public High School information night also, and frankly, I was unimpressed. The rpesentation was sloppy, the speakers badly prepared, the children representatives weren't even wearing their uniforms, or neatly presented.
I feel like a weight has been lifted now :)
In knitting news, I'm in the process of seaming Em's gloves, another FO soon!

So, on the way home

So, on the way home today, after tracking down an elusive mini Care Bear, we stopped at a craft store that isn't available closer to home. We browsed, I didn't see anything that I liked, But Em was having fits of ecstasy of this new novelty stuff she'd found.
Now, she has a Feathers scarf - it was what got me back into knitting. All the dancing mums were knitting with feathers, and Emily *had* to have a feathers scarf. So I knitted her one, but I held it together with a DK weight acrylic. (And a disgusting, plasticy one at that!) It was knit in stockinette, so it rolls, it feels stiff, and is generally blah. So she has a novelty scarf, but isn't overly happy with it. And anyone who is anyone at school is wearing novelty scarves! (Oh to be 11 again!)
So this is what she fell in love with.

It's an interesting texture, I guess. It's 100% polyamide, on a very fine strand, with soft plasticy sparkly bits coming off and the occasional tuft of something.

So I cast on her scarf, 25 stitches on 6mm needles, and did a few rows. I was surprised at how much I like the look of the knitted product, and it's softer than I expected it to be. I think it's harder to knit with these novelty yarns than wool. Am I the only one? So I knit a few rows of this, then go back to Everyday for a bit. Of course, she just wants to know when it will be finished.

Can you tell from the picture where else we managed to go today? ;)
mmmmmmm... Krispy Kreme... :)

What a loooong day. Nine

What a loooong day. Nine hours of sitting in a school chair does amazingly numbing things to your butt!
I am absolutely exhausted - we got home at about 10.15pm, and we have to be back there at 9am tomorrow, but we are only there for an hour and a half or so tomorrow.
I finished the first glove (It was nearly done) and got 3/4 of the second glove done, so it wasn't a totally wasted day :)
Em participated in 4 group dances, which got one 2nd, one 3rd and a Highly Commended, but more importantly they tried hard, did their best, and had a great time.
Our biggest mistake was stopping at Krispy Kreme and McDonalds on our way home. A gigantic football game had just finished in the same complex, and there were people everywhere. Em wanted McDonalds, because they were supposed to be giving away mini Care Bears with the Happy Meals. So we go through the drive through, battling crowds and traffic that I in no way expected at 9.15pm on a Saturday night. They had no Care Bears. I refused to go to Krispy Kreme - it took 45 minutes to get to McDonalds, get through the drive through and get back out to the main road! And I could see the queue at Krispy Kreme - it was out the door and around the store!!
(Krispy Kreme is relatively new here in Australia. The first store opened only around 6 months ago - we're now hooked, but there's no stores near us)
Now I have to find another McDonalds tomorrow - all for a mini Care Bear.
Oh the things Mothers do!
PS If I owe anyone an email - I'm sorry, I'm behind and hope to catch up tomorrow afternoon!

I got Katia Kids 25

I got Katia Kids 25 in the mail today - I love this book!! I want to make nearly every single item in there! Em likes it too :)

I also finally ordered Knitting On the Edge. I got it from Amazon. Overstock ships to Australia, but the shipping was even more expensive than Amazon, so the book actually worked out dearer. Of course the biggest joke was that I could get it through an Australian online bookstore, who was having a 20% off sale, and even including shipping, it was still cheaper to get it from Amazon!

Emily has a dance competition tomorrow, so I shall be sitting in a school auditorium an hour away from home for 9 hours. I shall take the new gloves I cast on for her, I think! Mind you, it'll be crowded and noisy. Maybe I'll just use the needles for poking! ;)

That's me! Couldn't you

That's me! Couldn't you tell? ;)

Found originally at Michelle's blog, seen at a few since. Great fun, and possibly slightly addictive, LOL!

Opinions wanted! I have 7 balls of Heirloom Easy Care in 8ply (22sts/4"), roughly 107yds per ball, so 750ish yards total. Is this enough to knit Em a poncho? One of those squarish numbers, with points front, back and sides. If anyone has knit a poncho, let me know. I hate knitting and knitting, and then running out of damn yarn! I'm thinking maybe just stockinette on slightly bigger than recommended needles, maybe with a lacy motif up the centre, maybe a cable. Or maybe a dropped stitch row every 4th row or so.

Anyway, my point is - do you think I have anough yarn?

I'm finishing things all over

I'm finishing things all over the place! :)

I finished her 8 rows short of what the pattern said, but my gauge was a little loose, and she was the right size - and I wouldn't have had enough of colour 5.
It's a crappy picture for showing the colours, it's in the bedroom on the floor, with bad light, but the pattern has come up lovely! It's amazing how the whole look changes with a bit of blocking.
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about the edging. Should I attempt the crochet? Or just wait til I get the edging book and knit an edging? Hmm, decisions, decisions!

Look what arrived in the

Look what arrived in the mail today!

Jo Sharp Silkroad DK from Ozeyarn. Say it after me...... yum! It feels divine. 85% wool, 10% silk and 5% Cashmere.
For the Dark Blue, which is named Serpentine, this is the planned project, from the current issue of Creative Knitting (Australian magazine).

The pink, named Paper Rose is destined to eventually one day become this, "Take me Along" from InKnitters Spring 2004.

Here are some close ups of this delicious yarn. I love the flecks in it! I was a little worried that DH would balk at the little pink bits in the Serpentine, but he is fine with it.

The ladies at the Post Office know me now. They ask what I'm knitting, and how I can possibly knit so much. I wonder what they'd think if I said "Oh I just take most of it home, admire it, then stuff it in a big box!" ;)

Perhaps I have acquisition issues.

Perhaps I have acquisition issues. I sorted my stash last week, reminding myself of what was in there, tidying up, admiring, I'm sure you all know and understand the process.
I have far more yarn than I require. Of course. Thats only natural. However, in the past week alone, I have managed to acquire and/or order the following

*21 balls of Jo Sharp DK Silkroad Tweed
* 2 Inox circs - 3.5mm and 4mm
* 6 Balls hot pink Patons Cottontop
* 8 balls Cleckheaton Daydream cotton
* 7 balls Heirloom Easy Care in a dusky pink
* 1 ball Bambi 4 ply in pink
* 1 STYK knitting tote
* 3 Addi Turbos (after I ordered the Inox) 3.75mm, 4mm and 4.5mm
* Katia Kids 25 (yes!) from eBay
* Pony Total 4mm needle - a funny looking thing! from eBay again

Do you think that I could knit all that in a week too? ;) Mind you, I'm looking at the list in print and thinking "Yeah, but it's not that bad" :)

Presenting Luanne!

Well, she's done, finished just 10 minutes ago. It's Sunday night here, and I've had a long day - trust me, you should be glad I was thoughtful enough to lop off my head! And it's winter, I was freezing, so the look on my face wasn't pleasant ;)

What a great knit - I volunteered to test knit this size, but I'm very pleased to say that I will have to go down a size next time - what an ego boost!
I recommend that you all to go grab this pattern as soon as Wendy makes it available.
I knit it in Heirloom 8 ply cotton.
Now it's back to Charlotte and Everyday - the cold weather has hit with a vengeance this weekend, I think I may be needing Everyday soon!

I think the internet is

I think the internet is not good for me.
I have always been involved in one form of craft or another - but knitting is the one I keep coming back to. I have cross stitched, made teddy bears (DH today asked if there was any chance that I could shred the bear fabric and use it to knit with - there are substantial amounts of bear fabric stached around the house ;), made porcelain dolls, sewn, and various other endeavours that have been taken up and cast aside.
But with the internet, I am now developing "me too" syndrome. Charlotte, for instance. Well, she is a little different - I am enjoying knitting her immensely, but after I saw everyone else's I *had* to have one. Thanks again, Jill! :)
The everyday cardigan. Again, I am enjoying the knit, I love the colour, but if I wasn't surfing blogs, I would never have known about it, and appreciated it.
Kerstin posted a pic of a cute little doll that she knitted - it really is cute, and now I want to knit it. Nevermind that the magazine is 2 years old and I may never find a copy, I want it. Nevermind that Em is 11 now, and while she still likes dolls right now, she is starting to outgrow them, I want it. Annie, Mary Beth and Margene are knitting with Kersti. It's gorgeous. It's by Koigu, it's gotta be good. I want it. Now, really, I don't need it, yes, it's lovely, but I have enough yarn stashed to warmly clothe my family for quite some time yet.
The problem is, that these new projects are what I want to make as soon as they arrive. And the older projects get pushed further and further back. I really should knit from the stash. Or make a bear :) Or sew a damn dance costume.
But right now I'm going surfing the blogs - and no doubt, whatever I see - I'll want it ;)

Blah, blah, blah. Didn't pick

Blah, blah, blah.
Didn't pick up Charlotte again yet, am now about halfway up the front of Luanne. Doesn't this get boring?
Anyway, in other knitting news, I finally found an Australian supplier for Addi turbo needles, so I ordered 3 of them. A 3.75mm, a 4mm and a 4.5mm, all 40" long.
So, if you're reading this, and you have used Addi Turbos, leave me a message, please! Do you like them? Should I go back and order one in every size? What do you like to use them on? What don't you like to use them on? Are they good for wool? Cotton? Fun fur? Scratching your ear? Have I wasted my money? And what's your preferred length? (Like I needed new needles anyway!!)
Any good for socks? I've never knit socks on circs, and I love my bamboo DPNS!
All opinions wanted :)

Not a great deal of

Not a great deal of knitting today - well not as much as I would've liked.
I may have mentioned that I am sewing some dance costumes for Em's dance school's end of year concert. Yeah, some. 98.
Ninety eight dance costumes by the first week of November. Well, I've actually done around 25, 5 more half done. This is having a serious impact on my knitting time. And my housework, cooking, errand and all other unimportant things. Gotta get those priorities right. But it does help pay for Em's dance lessons in a huge way, which makes more money available for knitting.
Every cloud has a Koigu lining.
Emily also competes in solos, and needs a fully sequinned leotard by August. Was supposed to be mid-July, but I got her out of that one (phew!) I've done maybe an eighth of it.
Maybe she can wear Luanne with Charlotte instead - then I'd have a good excuse to knit instead of sew ;)

I finished Luanne's back today,

I finished Luanne's back today, yay!!

I also got a couple of inches done on the front. I'm really enjoying knitting this top! Mind you, it is the depths of winter here, so I won't be wearing it anytime soon, unfortunately :(

I also got my skein of Koigu from the wonderful lads at Threadbear today. Yippee!! Now I can finish Charlotte, who is waiting very patiently beside my chair. However, I think she will languish a little longer, as I really want to finish Luanne. I also have to decide what to do about Charlotte's border. Decisions, decisions!
Along with the Koigu, I got Katia Kids book no. 29. This book has some nice things in it. I originally wanted Book 25, after seeing some of the cute tanks on Kerstin's blog awhile back. However, when I rang Threadbear, they only had book 29, and it was 25% percent off (I love a bargain ;). I think I shall still endeavour to get book 25, though. Emily has already picked out a few things she wants.
Yeah, just add it to the list baby, LOL!!
Right after learning to spin, so I can make a Twinky sweater ;)

Thankyou to everyone who commented

Thankyou to everyone who commented and sent messages yesterday. It is all very much appreciated!
My DH wanted to go visit his family for Christmas this year (1700km away in Queensland), this seems like a great idea to me!
Sunny Queensland here we come ;) A big beachy touristy holiday 1700 km away from my family is exactly what we need :)
And a visit to the Polar Bears at Seaworld, too.

I did some more of Luanne today, I'm now shaping the armholes on the back. I did have a little mathematical hiccup, but Wendy has fixed it all up for me, so onwards I go.

We put Twinky to bed last night, and all was well with the world. Not a clue was given that anything was amiss. This morning when we got her up, this was what we found in her hutch.

Hows that for a moult? Instant gratification indeed. At least I didn't get bunny hair all over the house. I almost died when I saw it. Spinning anyone?
However, Twinky was unperturbed by the whole business.

Happy Monday :)

So I finished the back

So I finished the back of Everyday. I didn't bother to take a picture. It's an expanse of stockinette, use your imagination ;)
But I took a closeup of the stitches to show you the gorgeous colour.

I love this colour!
I've been working on Luann, too. One of the other testknitters is finished, she posted over at the KR. I don't want to be the last and hold Wendy up!

Harry Potter was great, we went to the 9.20pm session, thinking that there'd be no little kids there and we'd be able to watch it without interruption. Wrong. There was a little kid on the other side of Em who didn't shut up the whole movie - and at least 5 mobile phones rang through the movie too. I hate that. Turn the bloody phone off! Or at least put it on silent if you're waiting for an urgent call, for crying out loud!
Shrek 2 opens next week. I can't wait to see that one. School holidays start July 3, but I can't take Em then, because David will get upset if we go without him ;)

I did about 2 or

I did about 2 or 3 inches of Wendy's tank in the pink yarn today, but I wasn't really happy with the stitch and pattern definition. So I swatched with the purple cotton, and I like that way better.
Frog, baby, frog!
Don't get me wrong, I really like to knit with the pink, it's lovely. The wool and the lycra give the cotton a softness and stretch that makes it nice to work with. It is a bit splitty, though.
I swatched on 3.75mm needles with the purple cotton, and got gauge straight out, so this is the yarn to use. I've only cast on, and I won't get any more done tonight, because we are about to run out the door to go see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
:)

There is a reason for

There is a reason for everything. I didn't get the yarn for Wendy's tank, because I was busy with Charlotte. She stalled last night, and this morning I recieved this -

The pink isn't co-operating with my camera. It's a much deeper pink, called Rose. That's the yarn I hope to use for Luann. It's 69.6% cotton, 30% wool, and 0.4% lycra. It has an unusual texture, the lycra seems to cause it to gather up a little, like this

It stretches out straight when I pull it, and I knitted a swatch, got gauge(!) and the swatch looks okay, not textured, so I'll give it a go. This pic is closer to the shade, but still not exactly right.

The purple is plain 100% cotton. If the pink is too textured and doesn't do justice to the pattern, I'll use the purple. I cast on in the pink, but for some unknown reason, I cast on a totally wrong number of stitches. Not off by 1 or 2, but by 22. I have no idea how that happened, but I'm about to start again :)

So here's the progress on

So here's the progress on Charlotte.
She's on row 126.

Doesn't she look gorgeous?
However, Charlotte, we have have a problem.

This is all that remains of colour 4. At this stage, I have 6 rows still to be done in colour 4. It just won't make it. :(

So I lost countless hours of sleep last night. I tossed and turned, seeking a solution. Obviously my row gauge is off. I only checked stitch gauge (which is a little under). I could *gulp* frog her again and use smaller needles. This solution is probably best, but I'm just not capable of it.

I could just do the remainder in colour 5, it'll probably be fine. Yes, but *I'd* know. And colour 4 is my favourite.

Or I could ring Threadbear and seek out an extra skein of colour 4.
Guess what I did?

I rung across the world :) I was very very very impressed that as soon as I said "Hi! I'd like to order a skein of Koigu" Rob said "Donna?"
Honest, I've only rung once before. I told my DH this, and I'm sure he thinks I'm calling in orders twice a week ;) How lucky for me that Rob only had a few lonely skeins left, and one of them was not only the right colour, but the right dyelot!! Woo Hoooooo! Obviously, I was meant to have this skein, and finish Charlotte off properly :)

I had enough for 2 more rows, so I've done up to Row 132 now, but she has to rest now until I get that extra skein. While I was on the phone, I ordered a Katia Kids book too. Why waste the opportunity?

But I was very impressed :)
Still no yarn for Wendy's tank. These people could learn a thing or two from Threadbear ;)

And today I leave you with an example of how a naughty bunny upsets her Mum.

Annie blogged on June 6

Annie blogged on June 6 about how her family are indifferent about her knitting, and how she loves knitbloggers for understanding her excitement over knitting.
My DH was looking over my blog last night. He asked which project he got me for my birthday. My birthday was all of 8 days ago, and he already can't remember which yarn he got me. How's that for indifferent? He also likes to make smartypants remarks about my eBay obsession. ;)

Has everyone been over to Mary Beth's blog and checked out her finished Charlotte? It's beautiful. Stunning. I can't wait to finish mine!

No more news. My yarn for the tank still hasn't arrived. I've ordered yarn from the USA that arrived quicker than this!

Everyday Cardi is progressing at

Everyday Cardi is progressing at a satisfactory pace.

I am a little concerned about how much yarn it's going to take though. The pattern says that the size I'm making will take 5 1/2 skeins. I'm only 15 inches up the back (need to do 21 inches) and I've already used a skein and a half. The kit included 7 skeins anyway, so it's not a big drama yet. I am on stitch gauge, but there isn't a row gauge noted.

I had hoped that my yarn for Wendy's tank would arrive today, but no luck :(
I actually ordered 2 different yarns for the tank. I really liked one, but I wasn't sure if it would work with the pattern, so I ordered some plain cotton as backup. Hmm... two lots of yarn for one pattern. How unlike me ;)

I also won 2 more eBay auctions for yarn today. I really ought to be banned from eBay. I'm running out of places to hide the stuff ;)

Am I getting boring? Do

Am I getting boring? Do I have a life? Well, we all know the answer to that one is a resounding NO! ;)

I was thinking about todays post, and took an updated Charlotte picture. Then I thought that all I ever seem to post is "Did x rows of Charlotte, did X inches of Everyday"

Boring.

Anyway, here's Charlotte

Row 100. I've done a bit more since then, and am now on Row 108. I am noticing that it is now taking 12 minutes to do a row.

In other news, I have none :) All I did was normal houseworky type stuff, and knit Charlotte. Oh, I did buy yarn on eBay. This is a habit that I really need to break. I am running out of places to store yarn. I wish I could knit it as quickly as I can buy it, LOL!!
I got extremely jealous of Kerstin. Koigu pig, indeed!! ;) Colour me green! Oh, how I would love to stand in front of a wall of Koigu. I have searched every Australian yarn store that has an online presence, and not a single one sells Koigu. Now I know I can order it anytime from Threadbear, but it's just not the same as being able to pick it up and touch it, and hold it against other colours, and drool over it. (And I am finding Koigu extremely droolworthy!).
Actually, it may be safer that Koigu isn't available in Australia. Or Lorna's Laces. Or Cascade, or Brown Sheep - or even Lion Brand for crying out loud!
If I can build the stash I have with the range that's available in Australia, imagine what I could do with all the stuff that I could get in the US.

**drool**

I never seem to get

I never seem to get a whole lot done on the weekends, when everybody is home, and we sleep in, and the days slip away before you know it.
However, I did get up to Row 91 on Charlotte, which means I am up to colour 4, and one row past where I had to rip it last time :)
I also finished the first skein of Peace Fleece on my Everyday. Maybe I got more done today than I thought!

Here's a pic of Em's Pink Fluffy Finery, all felted and finished.

I think I'll run the hat through again, it's still a little big. And here's a pic of the mittens, Celia was curious as to how small they'd become after being so huge :)

I'm quite pleased with how the fluff came out, it's just cheapy stuff from the local craft store, the most inexpensive pink stuff that they had. Before felting, it just looked average, but now its felted and compacted it looks quite cute.
Happy weekend to you all!

Charlotte is growing again! I'm

Charlotte is growing again! I'm back up to Row 72, see?

Soon I'll be back up to where I was before the traumatic ripping session ;) And I'm making a little progress on Everyday, too.

We are watching the Miss Universe pageant as I type. (I know, I know, it's a bit late - I don't know if it would even have been screened if Miss Australia hadn't won!) There was a poster of Miss Australia in yesterdays paper, which Emily snagged immediately. She is now avidly watching the broadcast.
Her new ambition is to be Miss Universe.
Last week she wanted to be a topless dancer at the Moulin Rouge.
Let's hope next week she wants to be a vet. ;)

And last of all, where does a miffed bunny hide when her feelings are hurt?

I mentioned in yesterday's blog

I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry that I ordered a new needle for Charlotte from Ozeyarn. I ordered the needle at 11.30 yesterday morning.
It was in my mailbox at 8.30am this morning.
Can you believe that? That is absolutely the best service I have ever received from any online merchant. The needle is an Inox, and is quite nice on Charlotte too :)
So I did a few rows of Charlotte, and I am up to around row 65 now, so I'm getting it back to where I had it, but now that it's lacier, and the holes are bigger, my fingernails are getting hooked, LOL!
I also did a couple of rows on Everyday, but nothing worth photographing or anything.
I have been thinking about how I am going to finish Charlotte. I don't think I want a fringe. It just seems to me that with that beautiful lace and beautiful yarn, I'd prefer her to be finished with a lacy edge.
One problem. I can't crochet. I don't even have any interest in crochet. I went through some of my knitting books, but none of the lace edges I found appealed to me. I've been looking about for the new Nicky Epstein book that is being advertised in all the US knitting mags lately, "Knitting on The Edge" 350 decorative borders. Sounds great, but it hasn't been released in Australia yet, and I hate to buy a book sight unseen.
Has anybody seen it? Opinions? I can't even find a website that is showing some of the pages inside, grrrr!

The Incredible Shrinking Charlotte

After getting up to Row 90 last night, and getting ready to add in Colour 4, I looked at Charlotte. And I looked again, and I came to the grim realisation that she looked, well, small.
That's okay, I tell myself, she'll block out bigger. Then I measured her, did some math and realised that she was small. At row 90, she was only 12" long. So I cruised some of the other blogs, and found that Mary Beth is up to row 105 and her Charlotte is 17" long.
Could you hear me crying? It is much quicker to frog Charlotte than it is to knit her.
Sandy frogged hers so cheerfully. I wasn't feeling cheerful. I ripped it and balled it all back up again. But I did immediately cast back on again. I got up to row 30 or so, and had to frog it again, but after doing nothing all day (well, not much) except knit, I'm back to row 50!

So what happened? In my infinite wisdom, I didn't swatch. I assured myself that I always knit too loose, and have to go down at least one needle size. And it's lace, so it doesn't matter if it's a bit big. Ha. Ha. Ha. I have had to go up to a 6mm needle to get gauge. I even had to go to ozeyarn to order a 40" needle, as I only have a 24". Oh, the pain ;)
Subsequently, I didn't get anything done on Everyday.
However I have volunteered, and am honoured to have been first in line to test knit Wendy's newest design, Luanne, in the 44.5" size.
Woooo Hooooooo!!
Another project! More yarn to buy!! Colour me excited :)

So today I did some

So today I did some sewing. I sew on what used to be the dining table (ha!) in our kitchen area. So I got out the overlocker, dumped the bag on the floor, and got on with my day. Later in the day, I was standing at the counter in the kitchen making my lunch when my overlocker bag started to rock.
Scare me much?

So, what was behind this mystery? Lets unmask the villian!

Too clever by half, sometimes :) Undeniably cute, but I swear that some days its like having a toddler all over again.

Charlotte!!
Got lots done on Charlotte - I'm now up to row 87. I love the way the whole look of the shawl changes as each new colour gets added in.

Only a couple of rows and I get to put the purple in. :)

Another teachers strike tomorrow so I won't get much knitting done again, but I did cast on my Everyday last night. I had gauge trouble again - when don't I?
My first swatch shrank when I washed it. I think I had the water too hot, so I did another one, and I'm getting gauge with 4.5mm needles. Pictures of that tomorrow.