Dumpling bag

The Cleckheaton Vintage Hues yarn I bought is a bit of a weird color mix. It's green and purple and yellow... I'm not sure I like it that much. But I decided to get some (especially on sale) to try felting with. So I'm making the Dumpling Bag from Interweave Knits (by She-knits). I've never done felting before, I'm using the wrong needles (don't have 9mm's so I'm using 6mm) and I don't know what weight of yarn I was supposed to use in the first place, but it's an experiment!


Anyway, it's simple so far (and I am entertained by how much it looks like a knitted bra at this stage!). I knit this much yesterday evening, and hope to finish it today, if the kids allow it. Then I'll see how small it gets in the wash!





It might end up being a bag for a little girl...


In any case, it's fun! I can see more of these in my future.

Oh, the pinwheel sweater has stalled. I accidentally got color 7 and 8 instead of two of the same. They're similar, but you can tell the difference on the sleeves, where one is half 8, and the other is all 7. I'm going to have to pull out a bit, and redo it after I get more number 8 on Friday. Grrr.

Converts

I'm on the second sleeve of the pinwheel sweater, which is zooming along nicely. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed knitting on this project, probably because it's worsted weight with 5.5mm needles. lol. The best thing is that I'm doing these stitches with two circulars, and it's going so well! No ladders at all! I know that some people will not think this a great achievement (and of course it's not!) but now I have a heap of dpn's I'm not sure I'll use again, and a bunch of sizes that I don't have two circulars for....

I might have converted.

I also bought a great deal of wool on Friday Night. Friday Night is where I go out and my dear hubby stays home with the kids. At the moment, Jasmine and I go out, because she won't drink out of a bottle for love or money, but that's fine. It's kind of nice Ü. Anyway, instead of sitting down with the knitting I brought, I wandered through the yarn sections of the shopping center, finding bargains. Sigh. I bought 10 balls of a creamy colored Zhivago, 6 balls of "starshine", 3 of "vintage hues" and one plain black Patonyle sock yarn. Incurable. Sigh. But I have plans to cast on about 60 things as soon as the Pinwheel sweater is finished, so I'm going to need it, really...

I went out for tea with friends the other night, and took a tiny circular with a tiny (bookmark) sock on it (because it fits into my nappybag). To my surprise, my friend Telly pulled out a pretty strip of variegated pink garter stitch, and started knitting along with me! She said she has plans to become as fast as her gran (who does continental, unlike us, so I'm not sure if it's possible) and make a blanket for her girl, Zara. Yay... another knitter!

Well, it's after 7am, and the kids are still asleep!! Don't think I have much free time left today... better do a little knitting Ü

Finally done Ü

Well, it was a relatively simple knit, but it turned out so cute! Of course, if you're being distracted by children, or trying to knit after 8pm when you're dead tired, the ruffle edge can be a bit tricky. The rest is just ribbing. The only change I made was to add an inch to the length of the body. I made the smallest pattern size, which is 6-9 months, I think, but I used DK and 4mm needles. Anyway, as you can see, it perfectly fits my nearly-4-month old baby, Jasmine, with a few more months' worth of room, so I'd say it's size 3-6 months.

I used Zhivago and blocked the pieces as per R A I N 's advice (thanks) and I was up until 1am sewing the bits together. But I started falling asleep, so I had to leave it with a mere 6 or 7 ends left to weave in. But, it's done!

I love it so much that I've already wrapped it and put it away. It's not for me, it's for Ruth, who's having a little girl in January. Hopefully it will fit her little miss just as it starts to get colder again (down here in Australia). Sob. I was a bit tempted to keep it for Jasmine.

Still, I have more Zhivago.... no. On with the pinwheel, Tam.

.........

oh, I kept finding cheap yarn yesterday! I bought about 20 more balls, I think. hehe. Maybe I'll make Jasmine a cream one for her first birthday. Ü

A bit more wool... what?

I am working on the stash... lol. But I found a local shop that sells just a bit of locally spun merino, and the green and blue was cheap. She said it was all grey, and not selling well, so they hand-dyed it in nice greens and blues and made it half-price! What sort of place makes grey merino pretty and then discounts it!?



Thanks, Willabaa.







Anyway, I've not updated much, and that's because I want to finish the Bunnyhop first. One sleeve to go! I still love it, and I wish I could keep it! But I do need to start on some Christmas knitting.

Some of the stash

Sick of my messy shelf of yarn, I tipped it all onto the bed to sort. Yikes!

Er, how did that happen? This is not even all of it... there are about 20 other balls in various project bags. My hubby came in and suggested that maybe I should knit some more things before buying more wool.

I think so.

I sorted it into wool, acrylic and mixes, and put them all in bags (because if mice found them they could build an apartment block). The shelf looks much neater.

Can't get motivated to knit for Christmas, because knitting for babies (and my own kids) is more fun. Maybe the list I made will work for Christmas 2009.

Mad Christmas rush

I got up early the other morning, since I'd just fed Jasmine and Byron has been waking up around 6am lately... but to my surprise I got 3 hours on the internet! I spent most of it browsing Ravelry and writing a list of Christmas presents to make for all the family.

Of course, I won't make many of them, especially since I can't seem to tear myself away from that soft zhivago. I've finished the back and started the front.

The only thing with the edging is that it requires concentration. So I can't do it while watching the bubs, and I can't do it while tired... that doesn't leave much time. I gave up on it tonight, after two rows, because I keep making frustrating mistakes.

Yesterday was Friday, and Friday is my night off every week. At the moment, Jasmine comes shopping with me, as she hates bottles with a passion! This time I took the pram (instead of the carrier), and she had a marvelous sleep, and then a feed (under a blanket!) while I sat in the food court in Central Square, reading my Interweave Knits magazine (and eating chocolate). Luxury, to have time off. Normally she's happy to come shopping, as long as I keep moving, so I leave my knitting home. But I do like that Interweave Knits magazine. Maybe I'll get a subscription, if I can.

Here's the progress on the Bunnyhop.

The back. I added about an inch to the length of the body, because the picture on Ravelry looks short. Hopefully it won't turn into a dress.

Can you block a project when your yarn is not wool? I don't know much about blocking. I'm guessing that if I soak it and pin it out, it won't do it any harm, anyway...