Itsy bitsy, teensy weensy little bits.

They don't look like much, do they? They will become a little bear.
The good thing? These are knitting up super quickly. This picture was taken yesterday morning, when I had all good intentions of blogging.
The bad thing? They're fiddly.
Despite all that, I've knit on them all day, and I'm hoping this little bear will be finished by tomorrow.

Stash enhancement has taken place lately, but I'm accepting no responibility for any of it.

Sock yarn from The Knittery. A hank of undyed and a hank of "Sea Breeze". This purchase was Jacqueline's fault. Well, maybe not *all* her fault. Maybe she just told me how nice it was, and I succumbed. No willpower and all that!

The "Sea Breeze" is for a swap, and the undyed is for me, because I couldn't make my mind up. There's some more yarn coming from Yarns Online, too. But that's not stash enhancement either, because it's for the Exhibition.

To make up for new yarn coming in, I did finish something that should've been done long ago.

The Bloomin' Feet socks are done. Well, pretty much done. I haven't woven in ends or blocked them, but the grafting that sat here for weeks being ignored is done. My parcel will be ready to go in a week or so!

For the past few days, I've felt extremely tightly wound. No idea why, but i'm not sleeping well, and I'm stressing out more than usual. Maybe I need a holiday. (Everyone who knows me is laughing hysterically about now - it's not like I do a lot any of the time!)

Tomorrow is Stitch n Bitch, and I think it's exactly what I need. Sitting in comfortable surroundings, knitting with some of my favourite people. It's a pity I'm driving though, I think a drink or two would go down well, too!

Thank you everyone for all of Em's lovely birthday wishes. I'm way behind on my emails, so I apologise profusely and thank you this way instead.
She had a very good weekend and was spoiled thoroughly. We had a big day out on Sunday, when we went into the city and went to the markets and Emily spent all of her birthday money. (It burn holes in your pocket, you know).
We caught the train into the city, which made an excellent knitting opportunity, thankyouverymuch.

I've started a new sock for my mother in law for mothers day. When we were visiting at Christams time she was very admiring of the fact that I was knitting socks, and that deserves a pair, doesn't it?

I started them through the week, snatching a minute here and there to work on them.The yarn in Koigu, in colourway P308, a gorgeous blend of pinks and browns. I had tried a few different patterns, but the only one I was happy with in this colourway was ordinary 3 x 1 ribbing. Here is where I was at when we left on Sunday morning.

This is how much I got done by the time we got home.

Maybe I should take more train trips!
These pictures were taken on my new mobile phone. My mobile phone died most unhelpfully on Thursday morning. I still had 6 months to go on my contract, but my phone company decided that I'm a wonderful customer, and because I give them so much of David's hard earned money, they let me have a new phone and a new contract at no extra charge. That part was great!
Finding out that I'd stored all my phone numbers in the phone, and they were unrecoverable wasn't great. So if I ever had your number, Idon't have it any more. If I may need it at some point in the future, you'd better email me.
Anyway, it takes nice pictures, but the colours are wrong.

That's far more accurate!
I'm a bit worried that I've made the cuff too short, and that the colours might be a little bright, but David assures me that they're fine. She does live in Queensland, where it doesn't get terribly cold.

While we were in the city, we took Em to the Supre city store. Supre is the place to shop if you're between 13 and 16 and shaped like a twig.
The store is huge. There are 5 levels of clothing, much of whihc is in dubious taste. Em was in heaven. David was prepared.

We were in there for more than an hour. Emily left minus a nice chunk of change, and I only had to veto a few things.
They have a little bit of fashion knitwear. I don't knit an awful lot for her anymore, as she has drawers full of unworn stuff that I've knit. But they had jumpers for around $40. She kept saying "Is that worth it?"
Of course, she wanted me to say "No, I'll knit you one." $40??
Instead, I said "Totally worth it! Buy it!"
Yes, I'm a bad knit mother.

In other knitting news, I have an almost complete Tea Set.

Only a saucer to go, and that's sitting beside me on my desk right now.
That's the pitcher at the back, and the lid for the pitcher at the front. The pitcher collapses if I put the lid on it right now, but I'm hoping a good starching will help that.

Faina's scarf hasn't seen much action lately.

I've just finished the second pattern repeat, which is supposed to be the halfway mark. I think I'll have enough yarn for an extra repeat, because it's looking a little short right now.

No Twinkie shots for a while, so here's what we did today. I'm in the middle of making Emily a new long tutu. Twink helped me cut the tulle today.

Well, she thinks she's helping, I guess.

14 today, time flies.

Remember a while back I mentioned I had started a felted bag as a stash buster project?
The knitting is done.

The yarn is Nundle Woollen Mills 8ply, and they're leftovers from the "Savannah" sweater I knit.
It was my mindless knitting, whenever I had a minute I picked it up, or if I was helping emily practice or whatever, this is what I worked on.
I just sort of made it up as I went along, and kept knitting until I ran out of yarn. I'm not really sure if I like it yet, but I'll get a better idea when I've felted it.

And I've nearly finished the Creamer for my Tea Set.

Only cups and saucers to go!

Wow, I love putting pictures of my finished projects up here, you guys are far more responsive than anyone who sees these things in my real life. Excepting Ailsa who saw it last week, and my wonderful SnB group, who will see it next week.
Knitters. Most of them are the best people I know.
So while I was having David take pictures of the shawl on Sunday, I got him to take a picture of the Jo Sharp cardi, too.

I have cut off my head as a Publoc safety measure. I had a migraine, and it wasnt pretty.
I love this cardi! I do wish it was a little smaller, though. Jacqui is planning to make it, and she did some calculations, and believes there's a problem with the pattern. She's contacted Jo Sharp, and they agree that the maths is off, so beware if you plan to make it too. You might want to do the maths and make appropriate adjustments.
I'm not so put off that I want to frog it and remake it though!
It was a little cool here on Sunday, and Em was performing at the local club, where they always have the airconditioning up too high, so I wore it, and I love it. It's soft, and warm and comfortable like something you've had for years.
I've half contemplated making one in black.

Another finished project to show, too!!

Do you think she likes it?
This was a fun knit! It's the Ladybug headband from the Spring 2007 Knitscene, knit in Zara. I had an almost complete ball, and it took most of that. I'd say probably three quarters of a ball in total. It only took a couple of hours, and I used up leftovers, so it's all good.

A few people have asked what I have planned next.
I'm undecided right now. The next big project will probably be either a sweater for me, the "Heere Be Dragone" shawl, or the Shetland Shawl from A Gathering of Lace.
Before I start any of those things though, our SnB group is having an exhibition in mid-April. I have a few things that need to be done for that, so I'll get them out of the way first.
One of the things I'm working on is a Tea Set.

I'm knitting it in Bendigo 8ply (DK) cotton, which is a lighter yarn than recommended, but it'll do just fine, I don't think gauge is a huge issue here. It is knit tighter than usual to give it a little stiffness, but these need to be starched, because they are still far too floppy. That is a sugar bowl and lid, and the pitcher, with a half done lid. I have yet to knit the teacups, the saucers and the milk jug. It's very cute, but I'm not the biggest fan of knitting with cotton. I have afew other things planned for the exhibition, but I'll have to see how I go for time - the exhibition is less than four weeks away.
All sydneysiders, you are more than welcome to come to the exhibition, in fact we'd love to see you. The Courthouse is right across the road from the beach, so bring the family, have a picnic lunch, make a day of it.

Finally, we had a very pretty visitor today.

He was the prettiest little bird! He's a Red-rumped parrot. He almost blended into the grass until he turned around, and we got a glimpse of the glorious red patch on his back.

I could have sat and watched him all afternoon. I think we need a new pet bird.

Finally, the Fern Garden Stole.

Draped on the furniture.

Modelled.

Obligatory closeups.

I'm over the moon with it! Apologies for the delayin blogging about it, I had the costume to finish for yesterday morning, and I got struck down by a migraine/virus Thursday night that's still lingering on. I haven't even been knitting. I tried to work on a sock last night, and it was giving me motion sickness.

Anyway, specs.
Pattern: Fern Garden Stole from Alpaca with a Twist. I added beads to the edging, and I did two extra repeats in the body of the stole.
Needles: Inox greys, 3mm.
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr 50% Merino, 50% silk in White, about 110g.

I didn't get my Easter Show entries in on time this year, but I'll put this one in the local Campbelltown Show, I think.

A random type of post today.

Good thing number one.
A parcel from my friend Jill.

All those wonderful US knitting magazines, Peeps, and gorgeous, gorgeous sock yarn. It's a 50/50 Merino Tencel blend, from Seacoast Handpainted Yarn. Aren't the colours just the prettiest? This one is definitely for me. I think I need more feet to wear all the socks I want to knit!

I was going through the magazines, when I noticed the "Ladybug" headband in the Spring 2007 Knitscene. The yarn they used was Zara, and I just happened to have an almost full ball that was stewing inthe leftovers box. So I whipped out some needles and got to work.

I love it when I can use up leftovers. Especially on something I like! Em has laid claim to this one, though.

Good thing number 2.
The Fern Garden Stole is blocking this very minute. By tomorrow it'll be ready. Yippee!!

Bad thing number one.
Yesterday morning, I wandered up to my local Tar-jay store, to pick up a coat from the Stella McCartney range that was released just yesterday. Coincidently, Spotlight was having a 20% storewide sale, so I stopped in there first for some fabric I needed for one of Em's costumes. Had a bit of a look about, then headed on up to Target. The store opened at 9am, and I got there around 10.30.
Gone.
The coat I wanted sold out in 15 minutes. The other coat I liked was there. One of them. In a size that's now too big for me. (Can I curse Weight Watchers now?)
$199 coats, gone. Sold out in 15 minutes. Plenty of Trench coats left, but I didn't want a trench coat, I wanted a wool/cashmere coat. Apparently many of the fashionistas from the Northern and Eastern suburbs came all the way out to the 'burbs to avoid the crowds, and scooped up all the stock.
No Stella coat for me! It was more than I should have spent anyway, and David threatened me that if I spent that much on a coat, I couldn't go to the USA. I need a good coat to go to New York in winter, don't I?
No doubt I'll manage to find something else I like, and at a lower price, but I was pretty bummed.

Bad thing number 2.
Emily wants a Blythe doll for her birthday.
Bloody hell! They cost nearly as much as a Stella McCarthey coat! And are about as hard to find locally, too. Don't think that one is happening, unless I trip over a ripoff somewhere. Now I know where the Bratz dolls originated, though. I found her a mini Blythe on eBay, but even that was $30 with postage, and it's only about 15cm tall.

Now I'm off to do some cutting and sewing. A friend rang last night to ask if I could design and sew a costume for her daughter. By Saturday.
Guess what I'll be doing for the rest of the week?

Saturday Sky.
The moon forgot to go to bed.

And do you see what I see?

Edging, baby!! We're on the home stretch now!

I have good news, and I have bad news.

The good news is that I have a finished item to show you all.

The bad news is that it isn't the Fern Garden Stole.

I finished the 12 repeats the pattern called for, then I decided that It could be just a little bit longer. So it's not finished. I decided on two more repeats, and I've done one, just one more to go, then the edging.

To soften the blow, I pulled out something that should've been finished long ago, and did something about it.

It's the Jo Sharp cardi that I started before we went on holiday.
It doesn't look like much in that pic, but I'm pretty happy with it. No-one home to take a picture of me in it, but I will endeavour to fix that over the weekend.
All it needed was seaming and buttons, so I worked at the seaming on and off all week, and picked up some buttons yesterday.

It looks pretty boxy laid out like that, but there is a little bit of subtle shaping involved.

There is a small problem, though. I started knitting this at Christmas, and since then, a friend and I have joined a certain weight loss group. And I'm shrinking a little, and I think maybe I'd have been happier with the next size down. But the sizes jump by 10cm (4") each size, so I'm right in between the two sizes right now.
And after I was displeased with the sleeves in the Leaf Panel Sweater, I made these just a tad wider. I wish I'd left them be.
But I might appreciate the extra size when the weather gets cold, and I'm wearing it over something else.
Overall? I'm happy with it.

Specs: "Tweed Cardigan" from Jo Sharp "Knit 2"
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in Fleece

I really like this yarn. I knit a jumper for David in it about a year and a half ago, and it's really nice to work with, and deliciously soft to wear.

Another unfinished object I've not mentioned in a week or so is the Bloomin' feet sock. There's a good reason for that.

It's still unfinished. I'm such a slacker!

But here's something to distract you all from that.

Twinkie says Hi!!

Can't blog, busy knitting.

Fern Garden is almost finished. It's even grown since I took this picture.

Saturday

Yep, another gorgeous sunny Sydney Saturday sky.
Saturday isn't my favourite day of the week, because it tends to be one of the busiest days, driving Em here, there and everywhere. Between dancing and her social life, I think I need to install a taxi meter.

Knitting. Yes, please?
I have managed a few rows of the Fern Garden Stole.

It's growing nicely.
This stole is labeled an advanced knit, and I think I've mentioned this before, but I'm not finding it all that difficult. Essentially it's the same two rows over and over, but they move over a little in each row. That said, there have been a few little mistakes, but they're really easy to fudge if you need to, and you can't be bothered ripping back.
Here's a close up of the stitch pattern.

I'm using Zephyr 50% silk, 50% merino which is my absolute favourite lace weight yarn. It's available in Australia from Yarns Online, whom I highly recommend for your yarn fix.
And speaking of Yarns Online, a fix may have arrived yesterday. Just a little one, I'm trying to cut back on my habit!

Melody sock yarn in y-24, and the Heartstrings Sock Journal. Because there is no such thing as too much sock yarn or too many sock patterns.
I was going to knit some socks for David's Mum for Mothers Day with the Melody, but I think I want to keep it for me. Because I'm selfish. And I'm not good at sharing my toys.

But remember the sock pattern I shared? The one up there in the top right hand corner of the blog? The Zig Zag socks?
Dandy knit them! Go have a look. I'm so excited, they look wonderful!