Looking for an Enabler, Applications now open!

So I have been writing this post in my head for a week, and finally I am typing it into my blog.

I have been doing quite a bit of thinking since Action Man moved to the other side of Oz. Dont worry this blog is not about to turn into an anti men rant. As my friends can atest, I have handled his departure quite well. I think it is because I am getting older. Or maybe, my lack of upsetness (is that a word) is because, deep down, I knew it wasnt going to work out.

I think I know why, or at least the reason why it wasnt going where I want a relationship to go. He wasnt an enabler. I need a co-dependant relationship. Before I hear howls of "No Shazmina, you sooooo dont need that", let me explain to you where I am coming from. I like doing things for the people I care about, I like looking after them. And I want to be in a relationship with a man who knows me so well, that he does things for me too. A man that is thoughtful. And I know they are out there, I have evidence.

ENABLER 1. Mr Bells was out one day and came accross a spinning wheel and was prepared to buy it for Bells. How cool is that!

ENABLER 2. Mr BP, amongst many cool things he does for BP, bought her a yarn winder for Xmas and Subversive Cross Stitch for her birthday. And he is even thoughtful about her friends, he is a good egg that one!

AND ENABLER 3. Mr OCC, because surely this woman will, sweep this man off his feet and propose to him. You see he made her knitting needles for Xmas. I am talking searching ebay for dowel, sand them down, create tips, lacquer them AND make FIMO tops for them. He even made little Xmas puddings (with each currant an individual piece of FIMO!). BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE!
He made these.

Yes, he made CIRCULAR NEEDLES! Mr OCC took the time to think about how to make them. AND he made a pair for a couple of OCC girlfriends! What a star!! How much more of an Enabler can you get?

So when I talk about a co-dependant relationship, what I really mean is that I am looking for one of those wonderful men that is an enabler. A man that has realised he cant compete with your craft. A man that has a "If you cant beat them ,join them attitude"!

And they are out there friends, and I will find one. That is the challenge I have set myself for 2007!!

Things I Heart about Y'all!

There are so many things I like about the knitting blog community.

• When you send out a yikes/help! & you receive a calm reply instantly (thanks Nora!)
• When you check out someone's blog and post a comment, they check out your blog (thanks everyone!). Cool!
• When you tell someone how you admire their openess about life, and all that goes with it, and in return they regularly read your blog.

Which brings me to my latest craft crush. I go ever so weak at the knees for this lady. The Mighty Duchess, how I heart thee! She lives in Seattle, which is one of my favorite places! I have many fond memories of a year spent as and Resident Advisor at WSU (in Pullman, WA. GO COUGARS!) and time spent in Seattle. It is the closest place to Sydney in the world, the similarites (Space Needle/Sydney tower, the Harbour, the list goes on!!) are amazing when you think of it. It is just BEEEOOOOTIFUL!

How it all started. A few months ago I was lurking around her blog, Yarnnation, when I read a post that inspired me to stop lurking and make a comment. Duchess suffers from an anxiety disorder. She is very open about it, (& knows I am posting about it) so I am not outing her here. When I read her post, where she talked about having this disorder and how knitting helps her, I was just so taken by her strength, dignity and bravery, particularly in relation to the thoughtless comments by a very rude person (that was much nicer than what I really thought of said person).

I have another friend who also suffers from a diagnosed anxiety disorder, and when she first told me, I thought she was so brave for sharing her experiences. We have even discussed how knitting helps her when she feels her anxiety levels rising (Way to go Knitting!).

Duchess is one of those people who I truly admire. By being open about what she is going through, I believe she is helping in her own way to decrease the stigma surrounding those challenged with a mental illness/disorder. What a woman!

• Other things I heart about the Duchess is her use of the term muggles for non knitters. Truly inspired!!
• Finishing her business plan, particularly when mine has been languishing in the dim recesses of my non-knitting cupboard for a couple of months! :)
• Her patterns, her yarn..... actually pretty much everything about her!

So if you havent already, check out her blog, she is a truly gifted and inspiring member of the knitting & blogging community.

Duchess, you rock!

Bugger!

Ok, I went to post pictures of the Project I finished on the weekend and my camera ran out of batteries! unfrickenbelievable! So Here is a picture of my pet seasilk (again) and some of the 18 stitch markers I have made for my clap(otis).

I really need to work on my photography, this photo doesn't do the stitch markers justice (if I do say so myself and I do!). Again I must thank Nora for having the knitting genius to pair the clap(otis) pattern with the seasilk, it is simply brilliant combination and looks stunning. Check it out here.

I have been thinking that when I post pictures of some previously unpublished finished objects, it will look like I am a craft powerhouse. Or worse still that I have been saving them to make it look like I am a craft powerhouse. Don't be fooled kids, I am and always will be afflicted with craft ADD.

Yarnalicious!

Apologies for my extended absence, it was waaaaaay longer than I intended. But here I am, just quickly, to show you some recent purchases (got to love payday!). I was in a bit of a " I HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW!" mood on Friday, here are the results.

This arrived yesterday. 4ply Merino in Earth colourway from here. I have lusted for this for a while not sure if it will be socks or a shawl, I will keep you posted.

After seeing Nora's fabulous seasilk clapotis on BDK and getting to fondle the seasilk in person (thanks BP!), I just had to have it as well. Genius pairing of the seasilk and clap pattern by Nora, cant wait to get started! Handmaiden yarns can be founde here.

So that is my very quick update, I have some FO's to post about (including pictures), and promise to do it soon!

ps dont worry my Craft AADC status is not about to be revoked anytime soon, I have 6 projects on the go at the moment!

Cheers!

I t has been so long since my last post, a trip home to the Sunshine Coast to see the parents and then a hectic week of catch up at work have really limited my blogging time. So here is a quick update of what Ms Bendi has been up to.

1. Went to the SC for 4 days. Highlight of the trip was raiding my Mum's craft room. Ok who are we kidding there are several craft rooms in that house!! Photos to follow of the goodies I brought back. Lowlight of the trip, well it was only what I couldnt fit in my bag to bring back! Namely one dress makers dummy. DAMN!

2. I had my first Gin & Tonic (and several since!). I finally bought a bottle of gin, Bombay Sapphire to be precise. My methodology (that one is for you BP!) in selecting the gin was the colour of the bottle. I am really into blue at the moment. So here is a pic of the first G&T, cheers to you all (especially S&L, BP and Bells).


3. I have been trying to make it up to Princess Meena for leaving her for 4 days. She is being very cute, following me around since I have been back. Here is a pic of her, finally got her to sit still.



4. Finally thanks to those of you who made kind comments on my last post. I was feeling a little sheepish about acknowledging my crushes, all those teenage insecurities very briefly resurfaced (will they think I am weird etc, until I realised that I am a bit weird and I like it!) But then I thought hey, if I have a craft crush I am damn sure loads of other people do too! And you do, I heart that about you all! This whole craft community we have going really energises me! I love it! Well there I go gushing again! Stay tuned as I will be regularly unveiling those people who make me go weak at the knees with good wholesome Craft crushes!

I have a Craft Crush(es)

I have a Craft Crush! A giggly, weak at the knees crush(es) BUT it is all about the craft, not about stalking!! Ok, I actually have several and I feel the need to share, makes me feel less stalkerish!!

Number 1 craft crush is on Prudence Mapstone. A couple of years ago I had a huge fan moment, where I am embarrassed to say I fawned over Prudence, much to my friend Kel's amusement. I hovered. I watched. I waited. And then I pounced. And I said something odd and giggled like a schoolgirl. EMBARRASSMENT! But you know, I just love her. The idea of freeform in knitting and crochet, her use of colour, LOVE IT! She is a true craft goddess. I really dig the way she encourages you to just give it a go. She will always be my number 1.

Number 2 craft crush is on Nora from Black Dog Knits. Her grace and dignity under fire. Her encouragement. Her generosity. Her awesome designs. I could sooooo be her best friend! :) ok that was slightly stalkerish, but what I mean is that she reminds me so much of quite a few women I know. You know the ones. They pass no judgement, they challenge you, they applaud, they nurture, they are honest and they make you think. They are the women that have a passion to make a difference in the world AND THEY DO IT. She is Cool.

Number 3 craft crush is Bells from Bells knits. She is soooooooo damn cute, just check out her picture! She too reminds me of some of my good craftin' buddies, and I just know we would get along like a house on fire. Food. Knitting. Beer. What a woman. She has given me the final push to drink Gin and Tonics. You see I have some issues with this particular beverage, but I will overcome them! Anywho, I will be purchasing of some Bombay Sapphire and relaxing with my knitting and a G&T this weekend. I send her good vibes, she too is cool.

And of course as always, Brownpants, SadieandLance and OCC are on my craft crush list. S&L because she brought me out of the craft closet. BP because she has the passion and intelligence to achieve anything she sets her mind to. OCC keeps me sane during working hours. We meet pretty regularly at GJ's on Nth Sydney at lunchtime to knit. These women will never leave my craft crush list. They are true Craft Goddesses.

So there it is my Craft Crush list. As I am a gusher (and proud of it), and tend to be effusive in my praise,(I do tend to get excited easily!) I thought I might try to regularly introduce you to those people who make me go all giddy and weak at the knees (in a crafty way!). So stay tuned, for the next installment in Shazmina's Craft Crush file!!

Epiphany

I had a moment the other day, well actually there have been a couple lately (more on that soon!). I read in blogland that Marta from Marta's yarns had passed away. It made me sad to think that such a talented person has left the planet. And It reminded me of my visit there last year. I went to visit SadieandLance in Melbourne and that fabuluous craftster took me on a tour of all the cool shops down there.

When we arrived at Marta's yarns I was stunned. The walls were covered in brightly coloured yarn. It was so hard to know where to look first! I made my way to the 2ply yarn section at S&L suggestion, & I started picking up colours that looked good together. Marta was helping someone else, but as soon as she was free we pounced! I took over the yarn combos I had selected and we started playing. Now I have to say that I have always felt confident when it comes to colour choices, I know what I like and I know what works, for me anyway! But Marta was on a whole other level. And patient! She worked with your colour choices and made suggestions, building on what you had started, she was just lovely! She knew how to refine my choices, by changing one colour variation it changed the whole combo and it just popped!



This yarn is 3 x 2ply strands of varegated colours, which together form this beautiful combination. I bought this to make some fingerless gloves for myself. I have been looking for a pattern to use for a while, and nothing grabs me. After hearing the news about Marta's passing, I have decided that it is time to try my hand at designing a pattern myself. Kind of daunting, and part of me wants to keep the ball as is because it is sooo pretty. Finally I think it is time for this ball to transform into beautiful garment. I think even Marta would agree!

Six Weird Things About Me

Ok Bells here goes nothing! Six weird things about me. Where to start??

1. I CANNOT STAND PEAS! I just dont like the way they taste and their texture when they are mushed up in your mouth. Bleugh! Dont like baked beans either! Yuk! I will push peas around my plate rather than eat them. My non-craft moto is "Death before Peas!".
2. I like even numbers, they are my favorite. I think because they feel so round, and I love circles and swirls in design and Art. I have always enjoyed my even numbered birthdays more than the odd numbered ones. The only exception was turning 36 (only the day, not the year) I really hated that birthday!
3. I sleep flat on my back, with my arms straight by my side, palms and soles of my feet flat on the bed. I like the covers to be over me and have only recently stopped tucking them under my chin. My sister and I had bunk beds when we were younger, me on the bottom bunk and sis on the top. She used to wake in the middle of the night and think I was dead. I also sleep with my eyes partially open. I only found out when the optometrist told me the bottom of my eyeballs were dry and that is why my eyes go red. Funny no one else has ever mentioned it!?
4. I talk to myself, laugh at my own jokes, in fact I also laugh at my own farts (ONLY my own though!). I am potentially that crazy lady who lives on your block/neighbourhood! I actually like the fact that I am potentially that crazy old lady, she sounds like fun!
5. I dont kill insects. Well, the exception is cockroaches, but HELLO they are just awful!! Unless they are the Australian native bush cockroaches, I dont have a problem with them. Apart from them I am strictly a catch and release girl. Dont get me wrong, I am not a big fan of insects. I dont like to touch them and I certainly dont like them to touch me! Take Away food containers and a sheet of paper (for spiders, grasshopers, stick insects and crickets) are the tools I like to use. And I cant step on Ants, just cant. Not exactly sure why I catch and release, it may be a nod to Budhism and the potential for me to be reincarnated as an ant (more likely a stink beetle, due to my love of farts!), but I think it is just that I feel they have an important job to do (pollenating, eating other bugs), just not in my apartment! I have been known to chase an insect (with the tools of the trade) around my bedroom in the wee hours of the morning after a night on the town. A few wines and beers definately make it easier to catch the little critters!!!
6. I have one random short and curly hair (resembling the type of hair normaly found on another, more southern part of your body) that grows in my left ear. I have noticed recently that it has turned white (ok, it is actually grey, but I kid myself that grey is actually white!!)

So there you have it. Me in a nutshell! Having read other bloggers 6 weird things meme I am thinking that having OCD and related weirdness is really conducive to crafting! I heart the weird and strange! I heart that we celebrate what makes us unique!

Bring on the strange & weird! Bring it on!!

I LOVE MY MUM!

And this is why. Check out what my Mum just finished making me. Isnt she amazing!

It is a quilt pattern we bought at the Quilt and Craft Fair last year, and was lovingly made for my Birthday & Christmas. It is a design by Hot Possum, who make the most funkiest quilt patterns! Most of the Fabric is from Amy Butler's Ginger Bliss range. The edging is a chocolate brown taffetta.

I LOVE MY MUM!

A New Addiction

And it is all thanks to Brownpants! She remembered me talking about doing embroidery when I was young with my Mum. So the wonderful BP gave me Sublime Stitching for Christmas. Very thoughtful of her, giving me something to send my craft ADD into hyperdrive! And today I paid a visit to Lincraft in the city and the embroidery cotton was .68c each. 68c EACH people!!!! All the colours of the rainbow! I couldnt contain myself, 32 colours were purchased!! So now all I have to do is start something......................

Also went to Tapestry Craft, and remembered why I dont like the place. Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran $7.95 each, ridiculous! Wool Baa in Melbourne have a shop front and online store and they sell the same for $6.00 (yet another reason to move to Melbourne??). I mean I dont mind spending a bit of money on wool, but I just cant understand different prices charged for the same product. And maybe it is just me but I find the customer service a bit hit and miss in there as well. Mental note for when I open a wool/craft store, reasonable prices AND good customer service is a must.

Well I am off now to pick my first embroidery project. Maybe a lady like hanky with Beer bottles on it for Ms Brownpants??!! :)

Triangular Crochet

I thought I would give you a sneak peak at a bag I am making for Brownpants. I cant keep a secret, so she already knows a crochet bag is coming her way, but even BP hasnt seen this!



Ok, so it is a piece of the bag I am making. And yes it is a crochet triangle, I found the instructions in this really cool 70's craft encyclopedia my Mum has. 26 volumes, all crafts represented. AWESOME! My sister and I are (and possibly always will) fighting over them. The yarn is Noro Kureyon and it is my new favorite thing to crochet with. No need to attach different colours every row, this yarn works really well with crochet.

I will finish this bag. I promise BP, I really will. I have stalled as I am not sure on what colour or design to line it with. BUT as soon as it is complete I will post pics. Suggestions anyone??

Has Anyone Seen Where My Craft Mojo Went?

So here I am, blogging again, albiet briefly.

The problem is I need photos to go with blog to explain what I have been doing. The next problem is my internet connection is sooooo slow here at home that it takes forever to post and because of that I can never motivate myself to do it. AND THEN, I ususally find a few minutes at work to post, but I have been sooooo busy (Having to work at work, whats that about?) and most of my fun projects are at home so again, lack of motivation to post.
What is a girl to do??

So this is it, a list of what I am working on, I will update with photos as soon as I can.

1. Bag for Brownpants. Made from Crocheted triangles. Yep, triangles! Made from Noro Kureyon, it is beautiful. I am trying to figure out what material to line it with, so this project is on a little hiatus.

2. Shawl 1, for my Mum. Forest Canopy shawl, I have posted a pic earlier about the beginnings, and am now finishing off body to start the finishing edging. Only problem I can foresee is having enough space to block it properly. This projected was due to be completed last weekend, but unforseen circumstances (BF moving to Perth) saw me lose my craft mojo. Now if I just could find where I put it........................

3. Shawl 2, another one! This one is for a friends birthday. I have done the first 16 rows, but have put it down to complete Shawl 1.

4. Headband. I have made two of these already using the Caloromitry pattern from latest issue of knitty. I had to modify it for the yarn Iam using (Jo Sharp Desert garden Aran) and have come up with two sizes, small and medium. If you want the instructions let me know, that is only if you dont want to do the math!

5. Shawl 3. For me! A friend was abit naughty and bought me 3 skeins of Cherry Tree Hill silk merino DK in Peacock. It was for a birthday present/thanks for looking after my cats present. I was floored (and extreeeeeeemly happy). It is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL yarn I have ever possessed. It is soft and yummy and will look stunning in a shawl. In fact I think I will have enough for a Clapotis scarf as well! I have done the first 16 rows of the pattern for the Forest Canopy Shawl, but have had to put it down to complete the many presents I have started (Damn!).

6. And finally, I am yet to start this, but have to cast it on over the weekend. A Cardigan for my Mum. It is for her Birthday and is a Jo Sharp short sleeved cardigan from her Knit 2 magazine. I am using Cascade Sierra in Dusky Rose for this project,and it will look beautiful!

And finally, for those of you whom I have talked to about my 2007 venture/adventure, I am sourcing product as we speak and will have items for testing by end of January/early February.

So as you can see, even though I have not been posting, I have been reading all your wonderful blogs and I have been crafting, and plotting about craft! Mwa ha ha hahahahaha!

Ssshhhhh! Be Very Quiet!

This is about to be gifted to my good craftin' buddy OCC. Hope she likes it!

And yes Kel, I am still making you a bag, just keep changing my mind on colour and style. And yes Brownpants, you are also on my bag list, got a very funky design in mind for you. :)

I Feel Naked!

No, I really do. I didn't pack any knitting to bring to work today (Have work Christmas party tonite) and I fell very out of sorts. There is something comforting to know that you have knitting at hand if you should feel the need, and believe me I usually do!

Generally I meet OCC every lunch time at GJ's in N Syd to knit, whine about work and generally de-stress until we have to down sticks & go back to the mines. Bells, I know how you feel about the weird comments when you KIP, but we just get strange looks. I think people on the north side of the harbour bridge are too polite to talk, they just give you these quick glances and look away if you smile back. Odd bods! The only people who have ever spoken to us were a couple of Americans who just thought it was cool that we were knitting.

This week however, OCC has been away for work :( so I have been left to mope around the office. AND to top it all off I am going to miss the impromptu SNB at Brownpants's on Sunday as I will be kayaking with Action Man. :( :( It will be fun, but I hope my arms don't get too sore as I have to finish some knitting for xmas!!

I will have some more photos of goodies I have made in the next few days, cant post them until I give them to their new owners!!

My Knitting Epiphany!

So , I was driving to work today and thinking about knitting. Not a very safe thing to do, I should have been concentrating on the road (that was for the benefit of any work colleagues who may read this blog. HUGE safety culture in this organisation!). I was marvelling at my knitting skills, as I am currently knitting a lace shawl AND a cami with lace detail on the bottom (pattern courtesy of the lovely Nora). Then I remembered that it was only May 2005 that I learnt to knit.

You see I am a crocheter. Have been since I was 8. And I have sewed and embroidered etc since I can remember. My Mum was never into knitting, she does nearly every craft know to man, and is an extraordinary quilter, but not really into knitting. It was on a long Craft weekend away with some amazing girls, that I finally learned to knit. I laugh now as it took me 3 days to knit a beanie, one that I now whip up in a couple of hours!

So after driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge feeling like I was the worlds best knitter doing the "I am so great, I am so great, everyone loves me 'cos I am so great!" dance in my car (I will do live renditions , on request), I realised something. It is not that I am a super dooper fantastic knitter, I have just conquered my fear of the unknown in knitting. Where once I looked at cables and lace knitting and thought "That is so hard, I will never be able to do it", I now look at patterns and can break it down to the stitches. "Yep, I can k, p, yo, k2tog psso, I CAN do that!". Talk about an epiphany! I should write a book, or better still open a store! (nudge nudge wink wink on that one!).

I am still a committed crocheter, even though my love and appreciation of knitting has grown so much. In fact I will post some stuff I have been working on really soon.

But for now here is a picture of the Forest Canopy Shawl I am knitting. At the moment it is on straight needles (due to a lack of Bamboo circulars in my needle collection) and is about halfway done.




I am using Merino 4ply from The Knittery in the Grace colourway. The close up does not do the leaf pattern justice, it is just evidence of my poor photography!!

What the???

Well the last couple of weeks have been mad, work is out of control and it wont slow down until April 07! After all the whining about pursuing a career in HR I am beginning to wonder whether I have made the right choice! People can be so ungrateful, but that is another blog!!

So, what have I been up to? Well here goes.....
Two weeks ago, I stuffed up at work. I had a deadline for producing information for our bonus (I like to call it Yarn money!!) in February. Had 2 weeks to do it and the day before it was due I thought I should double check the instructions to make sure I hadnt missed anything before submitting the work. Realised I hadnt done a huge chunk of it (thanks to skimming over the instructions initially) so had to do it all in 24 hours! Monday night at 7.30pm I accidentally deleted everything I worked on. Called the helpdesk (in India) hysterical and nearly in tears, and they told me it would take 2 days to retrieve it (from the IT helpdesk in Malaysia) and it would be quicker to redo it. So I went home.
So on Tuesday I came in at 7am, got it all done (again) before the 3pm deadline. Submitted it for authorisation and went home.
Then on Wednesday I came in to work as normal, feeling pretty pleased with myself, opened my emails to find that there had been a system error and we had to delete our worksheets and start again! Only problem was that because I had submitted the original work, I had to wait 2 days for the helpdesk to delete the work so I could start again. Third time lucky, it was finally done by the end of the week. Until Stage 2 of the process that is!

So that week was crazy but funny, if that makes sense??

In amongst it all I went through a "I am too tired to knit" stage but have now got my craft mojo back! It is funny though, even though I was reallly busy and too tired to craft, I still made time to read my favorite blogs (Brownpants, Sadieandlance, Blackdog knits & Bels), guess I am really a bit of a blog voyeur!

ps. I have photos at home, but thought I would take a 5 minute break to tell you all what I have been up to. I really do promise to blog again very soon!
GAME ON CRAFT STARS!

I heart Jo Sharp!

So, I spent Saturday with one of my good crafting' buddies OCC and finally realised why I was having a problem with the Bendigo Mills 8ply cotton.

IT IS NOT 8 PLY PEOPLE!

It is in fact slightly bigger than 4 ply, but essentially should only be used in patterns for 4ply cotton yarn. I know this because I compared it to the Panda Regal 4ply cotton that I use for Crocheting and it was THE SAME SIZE! Is it a conspiracy?? I don't know, but the lesson is, don't buy anything from a bargain bin at a Craft fair. You have been warned!

The other reason I know that it is not 8ply is because today my beeooottiful Jo Sharp DK Cotton yarn turned up! It is the most luscious yarn I have seen, that is since my Lorna's Laces order turned up!! :)
And here it is, Jo Sharp DK Cotton in Orchid, yum! I am going to knit the Beaded Cami from Black Dog knits. Cant wait to get started!

Further updates on my progress will of course be posted soon! (Along with photos of my work in progress(es)!). :)

I Give up!

My efforts to keep up with the PROLIFIC output of Ms Brownpants have come a cropper. I am really good at starting multiple projects, but still having difficulty completing. ALTHOUGH I am channeling the completer/finisher goddess, so I have made significant progress.

I have recently cast on these two projects:

1. The Print o' the Wave Stole by Eunny Jang . I am using Lorna's Laces in Seaside (how fitting). It is a beautiful design, but may take a little while to complete (I have to pick up stitches, hundreds of the buggers!)
2. Bolero, from Jo Sharp Knit Issue 2. I am using 8 ply cotton from Bendigo Wool mills (not impressed with this yarn). Feels like it will take FOREVER.

And then there are all my UFO's to consider (updated list to be posted soon), and then there are my wish list projects (another huge list) and the Christmas presents (Biggest list yet!!).

I am also having the debate (in my head) about when it is appropriate to:

1. knit in front of new partner
2. knit something for new partner
3. demand new partner contribute to my craft budget (ok, that may take years!).

I have been seeing someone for 3 months, have told him I knit but have yet to do items 1 to 3 in his presence. Any thoughts, suggestions would be most appreciated!

And don t even get me started on knitting socks! I so want to do that, maybe next month.............................

Sister Beanie

So I am totally channeling the completer/finisher goddess these days. Or maybe I am just picking easy projects! :)
Tonite I finished the beanie for sister, and doesnt it look great. Ok, the photo is a little blurry and you get a picture of me as well, only because the beanie looks better on a head than free standing!



The pattern is by Anna, you can find it at annarella.co.uk. I used some yarn I picked up somewhere, a while ago because it was unusual colours. It is a cotton/acrylic blend, which is good because sister doesnt like wool 'cos it is scratchy. Dont worry, I have had this chat with her:
"yes poor quality wool can be itchy, but I use good quality wool. Just check my credit card receipts!". To which sister replied "You dont know my body, I know my body and I know what makes it itch!". As you may have guessed she is not a knitter!

The good thing about her aversion to wool is that I get to try different yarns out, so that I can make her things. Guess I shouldnt complain!

Rediscovering My Stash

October has been good to me. I have been on a really tight budget, due to those big bills like Car rego. Being paid monthly doesn't help either!! All these things have conspired to make me rediscover my stash, and let me tell you I have some amazing stuff! And below is just a really small part of it that has captured my attention so far!

Reading Black Dog Knits blog, caused me to remember the embroidery patterns I bought from Sublime Stitching Sadie and Lance I don't think I have paid you for them yet??). So I guess maybe I didn't buy them??!!??



Must get onto that and polish up my very rusty skills. My Mum taught me how to embroider, along with sewing, when I was a wee baby girl. I remember being 6 or 7 with my own battery operated scissors and little sewing machine, making dolls clothes with seams on the outside! Also remember cutting sisters hair with those scissors, too easy! I must get a project going with some of those patterns.

And then there is the 600g of 8ply cotton that I bought from the Bendigo Wool Mill stand at the Craft and Quilt fair in Sydney in July. I think I finally have found the project for it! Yay! I bought Jo Sharp Knit issue 2 today and it had a Bolero pattern in it, which would look great in this yarn.

AND it looks like I will have enough left over for something else as well!! Double Yay!

And finally, my one splurge for the month was some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in Seaside, how yummy is it! Well worth taking my lunch to work for 4 weeks and cutting back on coffees!!

These little babies don't have a project, yet! I was really impressed by Brown Pants shawl that she made from the LL Shepherd sock in bittersweet, so my preference would be to knit a shawl (rectangular) with them. Let me know if you have seen any rectangular lace shawl patterns anywhere, I would love to get my hands on a pattern.

So, there you have it! I can thoroughly recommend rediscovering your stash, it is just a pity that I only ever do it when funds are tight!

Mental note, look at stash once a month, even if it is just to admire how big and yummy it is!!