Diary of a Reformed Incompleter

As I finished the Big Bad Baby Blanket on the weekend, I wondered what became of the old Shazmina. She of the "completer/finisher" issues.



I think I left her somewhere back there. Back before the Cherry Tree Hill Forest Canopy shawl. The Seasilk Clapotis. The 8 ply socks. Before the scrumptious Earth Clapotis. And most importantly back there, way beyond the Big Bad Baby Blanket.



I was feeling, smug. And as I walked into my craft room, I was feeling all zen and enlightened, like I was the ultimate knitting machine.

And then I saw it. The cupboard. the one full of yarn and way too many UFO's to count.

And it hit me. I am making progress, but there is a very long way to go!!

And a thought. Maybe it would look lot better if all those projects were in a much bigger cupboard. Much bigger.

Some things never change!! ;)

BEWARE! I am having a Single, White, Female moment!

Lately I have found myself having a few "copying" moments. And they all involve this gorgeous creature. I can only think that subconsciously I want to "BE" her. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

First, it was my intense desire for a warm and cozy version of her first Clapotis. Which inspired the Earth Clapotis I recently completed. And now it is her second lace version that has captured my lust.

And so it goes. I am going to cast on another Clapotis for myself, using this
4 ply yarn from the knittery. It is in the Vineyard colourway and I am SERIOUSLY in love with it.

mmmmmmmm, Vineyard! This photo does not do it justice.

So this is going to be the alternate in my knitting roster. The project I do for some relief from the Voyager stole.

Or so that is what I tell myself. Because it is really all about her............

please note: I am not seriously as creepy as this post sounds. Or am I??? MWAHAHAHAHA!

How are these Apples?

I am not the type that blames her instruments for faulty workmanship. But look at the difference a quality camera makes!

This is three repeats of the "test" Voyager stole. Details are:

Size: small (co 60)
yarn: 4ply from Nundle Woollen Mills, Gardenia
3 pattern repeats


I really like this pattern. It's not too difficult (in my opinion) but is a step up from beginner lace patterns. Noice.

I am making a full size of the stole as a gift for a friend who is getting married in mid October. And this is the yarn.
2 ply silk/merino from The Knittery in the Denim colourway (blue is her favorite colour). It feels luscious. And I think it will look great in this stole pattern.


UPDATE: bugger just got thrown out of Blogger.

On another knitting related note, I thought I would ask you a question. I am looking to expand my knitting library. I have a great stash of crochet pattern and reference books but only a couple of knitting books (I dont think Jo Sharp mags count do they?).

So the question is, "If there was one knitting book you HAD to have, what would it be?"

Have a ponder on that and feel free to post suggestions!! :)

22665

That is where I am on the Ravelry list. There are 4078 people in line behind me. I dont care how many are in front because, well they are in front of me. Dammit!

And that is all I have to say about that!

I have started a test knit of the Voyager stole. I had forgotten how easy it is to make mistakes in a pattern until you memorise it. Had to unknit a few rows, but apart from that I do like the pattern. I am knitting the small size, so only had to CO 60 stitches (yay!) but it is still quite wide. I am using 4ply Retro from Nundle Woolen Mills in the Gardenia (cream) colourway. VERY undersated for me. I think that is Nora's influence. I am starting to enjoy the subtleties of colour as well as the brash.

Anywho, when I have finished a couple of repeats I will post a picture.

In other related craft news, my dear friend the Obsessive Compulsive Craftster (who still doesnt have a blog, even though I have been nagging her for ages!) has bequeathed me some crafty goodness that isnt making the trip OS. Needles and Fimo! These are the wooden needles that her enabler has made her (he made the circular needles) that are yet to have ends attached. Guess what I spent yesterday making? FUN FUN FUN!! Unfortunately, the ends I made ended up in the bin. I am a prefectionist and they were not quite what I was after.

But I will perservere.


I also inherited the charming PUSS, in boots. He has asked that I kindly refrain from dreaming about frozen kittens and to lavish all my attention on him. Princess Meena is not impressed!

Frozen Kittens & the Strange Workings of a Spinsters Mind

The other night I dreamt that I had several (around 6 ) kittens frozen in my Fridge. I had decided I was over Princess Meena, so it was time to defrost the kittens. A somewhat sensible thought. But what the heck were they doing in my freezer??

Picture a huge block of ice with cute wee little kittens that looked alot like Albert.
Gorgeous!

As they were defrosting I was freaking out that I had frozen kittens. FREAKING OUT PEOPLE! But then low and behold they were alive and surprisingly dry, and cute! And I got to cuddle all 6 of them and I was happy, although still freaking out that I had frozen them in the first place.

Weird.

The dream makes total sense when you put it in context.

I am a Spinster (and proud of it!). 37 yo, single and cat owner (I fit ALL the stereotypes!!). I would love to have kids, if I could just find a man I would like to have them with!!

I was talking to a friend about my reproductive options, and freezing eggs NOW, was an option discussed.

So you see it makes total sense!

My biggest obstacle is me. I am a hopeless romantic. I want to meet someone, love and be loved, and then think about children. I am at, what I see, as the beginning of the ladder. Girl trying to meet boy. And then there are several rungs before I get to kids.

But it is all about time. And while I honestly dont hear a biological clock ticking, I know that time waits for no womans eggs!

Alot to think about! It's is no wonder that my subconcious is mulling it over! That and because there are soo many wee little cute baby clothes that I want to knit! Ok, you knew that my weird dream had to come back to knitting!!

In Knitting related news, my knitpicks 8mm DPNS arrived. O.M.G! Talk about lethal weapons!

I also got a 60cm circular cable and 8mm ends as well! The needles a re to finish a challenge set by sista bendi (phhhht hardly a challenge!) to knit her a beanie tube for her and her fabulously long dreadlocks. Will post pictures when completed.

Cant wait until my next knitting purchase arrives in the mail, it is going to be yarnalicious!

I will survive!

This is when I know I need an enabler.

I participated in the City to Surf today. 14km's from Sydney to Bondi (hence, city to surf for non aussies). It was a great day for the City to Surf. 64,000+ of my fellow Sydneysiders joined me for what was a beautiful day for a walk!

It was not as hard as I thought it would be. That is not to say it was easy either. I walked with some friends from work. And I stress walk. We stopped at the half way point and had coffee and cake (adding at least 30mins to my time, dammit!) and then continued on. All up, including our pit stop, it took me 3hrs45mins. All in all it was a great way to spend a Sunday.

Until now.

I am sitting at home on the couch, with a pillow under my knees. And I am waiting patiently for Princess Meena to make me a cup of tea. Damn her lack of opposable thumbs!

So here is where the enabler comes in. 1. He would have been waiting for me at the end to drive me home (I had to walk to Bondi Junction, yuk!) 2. He would either be a) cooking dinner or b) getting take away. 3. He would be tending to the 4 blisters on my feet.

What a man! Wherever he is, he is an absolute gem!! I can hardly wait to meet him!!

Reality is that I will hobble out to get takeaway. And then I will reposition myself on the couch, pick up the sticks and get stuck into the Big Bad Baby Blanket.

What a fantastic day!!! Really!! :)

Are you a Stole or Shawl?

So my next finish on a deadline project is a wedding present for a good friend. She already knows what I am planning so I can post about the project.

I am planning to knit the Voyager Stole from elann.com. I am using the 2ply silk merino from The Knittery in the Denim colourway. Gorgeous Daphne is dyeing it specially for me. I hope the pattern is fun to knit because I am also planning to knit myself one!

While I was trawling the net for a pattern it hit me. I believe you are either a shawl person or a stole person. I think I am more a stole girl than a shawl girl. Although I love shawls and I have made myself the Forest Canopy shwl, I do prefer the rectangle shape. But hey, I havent knitted one yet, so lets see how I feel at the end of this project!!

And then there are the mermaid gloves. I am having soooooooooo much trouble deciding on a yarn and colour for these. Maybe subconciously I am procrastinating so that the lovely Jejune will figure out the finger bit of the pattern, knit them and then tell me what to do!!! Ok, that does sound the likely culprit of the failure to choose a yarn situation!

And yes Sadie and Lance, I will finish skully!!

So many projects, so little time......... Dammit!

And then Life gets in the way...

Ahhhh life. Seems to get in the way of the knitting. Shouldnt it be vice versa?

This week has been busy at work. One of my colleagues has gone on holidays, because she didnt have alot on. Recruitment was quiet. Funny thing (or is it Murphy's Law?) when it is quiet and she is away, I become busy doing her (apparently) non existent work. 4 resignations later, quiet. Lucky I like recruitment. Seriously!

So as for knitting, I am quietly powering away at the Big Bad Baby Blanket. I have (finally) reached halfway so it is all down hill from here. Yay! I have decided after the 11 day Clapotis effort (I still cant believe I made it so quickly!) that I can focus on a project and knock it off quickly if I REALLY want to. So I am going to try and finish it by the end of August. Emphasis on try.

Have just ordered some more yarn to make a stole for a wedding present. Will post a picture of yarn and a link to the pattern I am going to make as soon as it arrives.

At the moment I have no photos, not of any new craft anyway. So here I have for you, gentle readers, a bunch of beautiful flowers and a promise to post some pics real soon.



Ciao. For now.

Is it a Bird?!?!

Is it a plane?

No it is SUPER SHAZMINA!

So who can say they spent their Thursday night:

1. Preventing a friend from having the worst first week in a new job. EVER!


2. Preventing a historic building from (potentially) burning to the ground.


3. Leaping a crisis in a single bound?

ME, THATS WHO! (I must remember only to use my powers for good. Damn!). MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now if only I could channel my superheroness towards knitting. That would be the ULTIMATE use of my super powers!

Action Figure sold seperately. Batteries not included!

I Present to You, The Clapotis!

Clapotis
Originally uploaded by shazminabendi

Isnt she Beeeeeooooootiful??

I am excited to see how she turns out after I block her, but she is lovely all the same.

Still trying to decide what project to work on next. Yes I know Sadie and Lance, I should finish Skully. I mean after all, I only have the sleeves to go and it is knit in chunky wool so will take no time at all.

But then there is Stella. I am more likely to wear Stella in the next few months (thats enough motivation isn't it?). But then there are the Mermaid Fingerless gloves from here.

More decisions!

Eat Your Crusts!

Have you had one of those days where you let yourself go? Where you dont "do" your hair, you just let it dry naturally. And then EVERYONE comments on it, and tells you how great you look (compliments are good!) much better than you normally do (beep, beep, beep, reversing of said compliment, you look great because normally you look like shite!).

Well I am having one of those days.

Luckily I already hate people (I do work in HR after all). Generally I just giggle on the inside. The absolute innocence of those comments makes for classic comedy. Evil Shazmina often wonders what would happen if she pointed out how rude those comments are. MWAHAHAHA!

*Please note: I really don't hate people. I just have an exceptionally low tolerance for idiots. Luckily for me I am surrounded by them!

Currently I am working on some secret baby shower stuff. So cant post about that until next week. Apart from that I am dreaming about projects. And Ravelry. Thanks Bells! I want it. I want it now! And I cant have it. Bugger! PooBumWee!

And I am trying to decide on a farewell present for a friend. My lunchtime knitting companion is leaving me. And I am sad. Trying to decide what to get someone who is moving to London (via a 3 month trip through Africa). I am thinking of something from here. Too many choices though, and then there are all the things I want. Damn you Jejune for tempting me so!

And then I cant decide on what "me" project to start on next. Should I finish Skully? Should I finish Stella? Decisions, decisions. What is a girl to do??

yes. This is me, and my new do! My hair has decided to go curly, all during the last 12 months

Kindergarten Speak!

Lately I have reverted to what I call, kindergarten speak. You know the language you used to giggle at when you were saying naughty things that your Mum and Dad got cross at. Like poo, bum and wee. My current favourite roadrage phrase is "you big fat poo head!" and another classic is "a*se clown, stoopid head"

I think this language is best used when in reply to particularly childish and stupid events. It makes them seem even more ridiculous. And lets face it, we should all embrace the childish and silly from time to time.

Anywho, here is my finished Clapotis. I promise to post pictures of the Clap(otis) in all it's loveliness very soon. I still need to block it, but was to eager to wear it today.

Just to recap. 3 balls of 8 ply yarn from the Knittery in the Earth colourway. I knitted as per the pattern found here, with the exception of adding 2 extra repeats in the straight rows. I had enough yarn left to have completed a 3rd repeat. Oh, and I just realised that this project took me 11 days to complete! That is some kind of record for the Queen of the UFO!

So now I am onto my next project. It is secret squirrel stuff (until next week) as it is for a baby shower I am attending on the weekend. And no, Sadie and Lance it is not the Big Bad Baby Blanket!

ps Please excuse my spelling mistakes they were roolly rooollllly bad!

Give Me the Sock Love Meena!!!

ok, Meena is the quintessential bored housewife. She is TOTALLY unimpressed by the magnificence of my first pair of knitted socks. I mean really, what is that about?

I admit, when I finished these socks I did a little dance. One that I now like to call "the sock dance". Again, Meena was unimpressed!

But as for me, I LOVE them. Nora, queen of all that is good and knitterly in the world, sent me the pattern after a great suggestion by Rose Red to knit your first pair of socks in 8ply. Genius(es)! They have been keeping my tootsies warm for the last week. These socks have officially become the best things I have ever knitted.

Now if only there was a sock pattern for bored, unimpressed cats.............

Half Way!

So, I am just over halfway through (completed 8 body repeats) this Clap(otis)! YAY for me!!!

I am persevering and powering through. Mainly because I want to wear it while it is still cold.

I saw Rose Red's Clap(otis) again on the weekend. It is still a worthy lust object. Claudia's Hand paints mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

And I got meet some FABULOUS knitting bloggers, which I will post more about later.

Just realise that the last 3 posts (including this) have been about the Clap(otis). AND I still haven't shown you a picture of the socks!!

And so I make this promise

• to take a better, up close picture, of the Big Bad Baby Blanket (I haven't forgotten Bells!)
• to post about my socks. I just ADORE them!
• AND to tell you all about my VERY FIRST SWAP. Don't get to excited, it is with my little crafty sister & wait until you see what she wants me to make her!!

Ciao for now!

mmmmmmmmmm, Clapotis!

THE YARN arrived on Tuesday, and I was in love. I am putting it out there. This is my favourite multicolour yarn! EVER!

I love everything about it. All the colours, the way they gradually morph into the next are stunning.

I love it sooooo much that I am OBSESSIVELY knitting my Clapotis! That actually may have more to do with the cold weather we are having in Sydney and my INTENSE desire to have this Clapotis finished and wrapped around my neck.

I can not describe how wonderful this colourway is. It is so beautiful that when I showed my friend, the Obsessive Compulsive Craftster, she wanted to make herself a Clapotis out of the same yarn.

Under the circumstances I would have VIOLENTLY objected. I mean really, who wants a friend to have the exact same scarf as yourself? But the dear OCC is moving to the UK in 6 weeks for a couple of years, so deep breath, I am ok with it! And she was so in love with the yarn that after seeing it at lunch, she went back to her office and ordered 4 balls for a Clapotis and matching beanie!

OCC has been my lunchtime knitting companion for the last 18 months. I am going to miss her when she is gone, so it is nice to know that we will both be wearing the Clapotis made from Daphne's delicious Earth colourway. As long as she only wears it in the UK, 'cos I have first dibs on wearing it in the Southern Hemisphere!

My name is Shazmina, and I am a Yarnaholic!

It has been 2 days since my last yarn purchase.

I feel like my skin is crawling. I have constant thoughts of yarn, purchasing more, potential projects, I just cant stop thinking about yarn.

It is a burning need. A flaming desire, if you will. It burns from deep within, and nothing can quench it. It occupies my thoughts at work, and stops me from sleeping at night.

And then there are my friends. All they talk about is yarn. Where to get it. Who supplies it. How quickly it can be posted. They feed my addiction, and I cant break away........

And I am afraid. Afraid that when I die, my beautiful yarn will be donated to an op shop and will not be appreciated. I want to bequeath it to truly deserving friends, people who will use it to support their own addiction. When will it end????

The answer is clear (here comes the bird!). I need to embrace this addiction. I need to celebrate being a Yarnaholic! I NEED to purchase more yarn, because as we all know, She who has the most yarn WINS!!!!!!

Now where did I put that credit card?????

ok, so this yarn above I bought 2 days ago. 8ply Merino from the Knittery in the Earth Colourway. I am going to make myself a Clapotis. After seeing Rose Red's and lusting after Brownpants versions, I just had to have a big warm cuddly one myself!

ps This post is not intended to make fun of any organisation that treats addiction, it is in fact poking fun at the author.

The Big Bad Baby Blanket Post

Ok, it had to happen. I have to show you all where I am up to with this project. I am so happy with the way it is coming along. I love everything about it. The pattern is great and especially the colour choice. I mean, really people, I am just such a brilliant, gorgeous creature, I just have to share!! Mwahahahahaha!

So now do you see why I am so chuffed? It's GORGEOUS!!! And secretly, I want to keep it for myself!!

Details:

4ply Merino from The Knittery in the Coral Reef colourway.

The pattern (for SNB Volume 1) calls for 2 strands of Koigu PPPM knit together. As my Aussie knitting sista's know it is almost impossible to get that yarn over here. Sigh! (I got to fondle some on the weekend, double sigh!) Which is why I decided on 4ply merino from The Knittery. And to tell you the truth, I am really glad I am using it. This BBB Blanket is going to be lush!!

Did you know that Daphne can custom dye for you? So if there is a particular colourway you are after, for a particular wool The Knittery carries, she can make it up for you. Ahhhh, sweet Daphne. I am just positive she is as gorgeous as the beautiful colours she dyes her yarns!

So there you have it. I am a self appointed master craftswoman. Now if only I could pat myself on the back properly. Damned arms just don't reach that far!!!

I.GET.IT!

I have turned a heel on my first sock! Yay me!!! And I finally get why there is an obsession about sock knitting. Maybe it is because I am knitting with 8ply yarn on 4mm needles. Maybe it is because socks are such functional items.

I don’t know what it is, but I am really getting into it.

Admittedly I haven’t finished the first sock. And I have wondered if I would be motivated to knit sock 2.

This begs the question. Is there a place in this world for a collection of single socks?

Red Wine Tuesday

Things I know.
1. Every day is a Red Wine day. A glass a day is good for the heart. And the soul!
2. Princess Meena is a cutey! But only when she wants to be fed..........
3. Knitting is addictive.
4. Who is the only Sydney crafty type not to go to the Craft show last week, BUT who did score some crafty goodness???
5. It's me!!!!

Thanks to the lovely Obsessive Compulsive Craftster (why she doesnt have a blog I dont know??) who bought me this.

Really cute Japanese fabric with cats on it. Love it! Makes my regret at not going shrink. Slightly. Ok, not really at all!

I am going to make matching headbands for me and Princess Meena...... if I can get her to wear hers it will be a miracle!

Rebel and Breakaway!

From my previous completer/finisher issues! ;)

So a quick update of the weekend.

I made this.

It is a Hobo Bag, pattern from the Stitch and Bitch Desk Calendar. (I lurve that calendar!!) I used 4 balls of the Cleckheaton Vintage Hues (shade 1270) knitting 2 strands together. It took approx an afternoon and evening to make. A great quick knit!


I also lined it so that nothing small would fall out.

I am gifting it to a friend who is going through alot of changes in her life at the moment. New job, new man, new home. Just think, if someone took everything in your life that was stable, comfortable and safe, and then gathered them up and threw them in the air and let them fall higgledy piggledy. Well, that is her life at the moment.

Dont get me wrong, when the universe has done with all this change, her life is going to be tremendous! It is just the implementation of all this change that sucks!!

So for the rest of the day I am back to my sock. But that, gentle readers, is for another post!! :) Have a FABULOUS week!

Shazmina