Little friends

These are some little friends going to Melbourne to the Women's Health West Centre. Hope they make some children smile.

Chemo caps

Some caps for the K4C donation for Wollongong in memory of Libby, Anne, Mary and Paul.

Baby jackets

These baby jackets are off to Melbourne to the Caroline Chisholm Society to donate to some new mothers who need a helping hand. The knitted jacket is very easy and knitted in one piece in garter stitch. using 3 ply yarn and 3.75 mm needles. The original pattern can be found here

http://www.knittingpatternss.com/v-neck-cardigan-for-small-baby.html

Made some modifications to keep it simple. Did not make buttonholes but finished jacket with crochet edge after sewing up sleeves with a flat woven seam on right side. Added one small flat button only to jacket and used a crochet loop from the edging as a buttonhole.Used 50 gm ball of 3 ply for jacket plus small extra amount of yarn for crochet edge.

Welcome baby girl!

Welcome to our little granddaughter Emilia.

More birthday photos

Birthdays

Family birthdays for the past few months have kept me busy making gifts for everyone and here are some of the photos. The lace wrap for my sister was probably the most difficult but the final result was worth the effort. Started with an idea to spin some fine merino wool for the wrap but after a trial decided to use a standard yarn instead. Also made a hat for William for his first birthday and a ski hat for A as well as numerous scarves for other gifts.

Busy months

Visits from family have kept the house busy recently and next week they are back again but this time we will be in the Blue Mountains staying at our weekender. It is cooling off so there will be lots of knitting done in front of the fire, in particular for a little baby grandaughter that is arriving in a few months. Meanwhile have been busy making and collecting items for the Women's Refuge Resource Centre so they can distribute them throughout NSW. A wonderful response from all the knitters and crocheters at K4C who have been sending me parcels all this month. My work room has piles of beanies, scarves, toys, rugs, ponchos and jumpers stacked almost ready to go... I've been working on ponchos and teddies as these were the two most poular items last year. Just finishing one more poncho and then I'm done.

Also made this pink poncho for little Anastastia who visited this month. What a little sweetie, always happy and smiling. Made a lovely soft scarf for her mum Natasha that she may just need next week in the mountains.

Vest for James

Might call this a cricket vest for James because I made it while watching the cricket on TV. A very simple vest with a cable detail to give it some interest, knitted in Cleckheaton Country 8 ply in navy. He needs this for that changeable Melbourne weather that can be so hot one day and then cool and raining the next. This is to fit him now (size 3 yrs) so easy to make him another one next year. Now back to the girls ponchos for the Womens Refuges collection for next month...

windfall

Have just completed my first knitting project for the new year with an 8 ply bamboo yarn that I haven't used before. Made by Sirdar, it's called Baby Bamboo and is a bamboo 80% and wool 20% blend. Easy to knit, the finish is like a cotton yarn but with a silky sheen. The colour is ecru (beige) but under light it has a silvery look and I chose this because it is a birthday present for F so she can wear it at night over a black dress, when she is playing the flute. It is a vogue knitting free pattern (www.vogueknitting.com) called a sleeveless wrap top and I adapted the pattern for 4mm needles and made it in a small size.

Found this wool at my favourite Vinnies shop last week. It was being sorted on the counter so I was able to buy the lot for 50c per ball! It will be great for some of the charity knitted items in the next few months.

Hope everyone enjoys Australia Day and manages to cope with the heat this weekend. I'm off to watch the cricket again on tv, and to do some knitting for J, in front of the fan.

The new jumper fitted perfectly and looks great and the puppets were a big hit. Managed to knit six teddies for the refuge centre.

Holidays

We flew down to Melbourne a few days before Christmas to spend a holiday with the family, and apart from a couple of very hot days, had a very enjoyable stay. Even managed to catch up with some family members that we haven't seen for years. (Hello Jill)