A girly gift

 

a little blue vest 

 

   and some new slippers for Emilia

 

 with leather soles and wadding 

 

sewn together with some strong dental floss tape

and finished at the ankle with three rows of fine hat elastic so they won't slip off busy little feet.

It's a wrap...

Finished the Mara shawl and will be wearing it as a wrap. Handy for just some cosiness around the shoulders for these Autumn evenings while sitting at the desk working. Soft and warm.

Mara

Recently found a full pack of this soft Merino yarn at Vinnies (400 gms) and after looking through various patterns, found this very popular Mara pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mara-3 

The yarn has a hand spun appearance and I am using 6mm needles so the finished item will have a good drape. Have changed the increase loop over, to knit through centre loop instead to reduce the large holes in the original pattern. These stitches are made from right and left to create a sloping stitch either side of the centre line.

 I'm not really a shawl person so will probably wear it more like this as a casual scarf/wrap. Hope mine looks as good as this.

This little female possum visited last night and as you can see she much prefers a soft apple to the beans. She is not very big, about the size of a small cat, and is quite tame.

In the pink

Some more charity knitting items including an odd ball cowl. Seemed like a good idea at the time but finishing off all those ends was a pain. The cowls are quite long so have been folded for the image. Can't stand skimpy cowls as they need to be long enough to drape well so they look good.

Although the date indicates it is Autumn here in Sydney, it is warm and sunny and the veggies are surging ahead. This is the second crop of beans this season and almost ready to pick. Fortunately they are not to the possums' taste so can be left uncovered unlike the other veggies that have to be covered in a net to foil these nocturnal visitors.

Eriskay

Recently discovered my Eriskay jumper waiting to be finished so finally knitted up the neckline and have sewn it together. http://aussieknittingthreads.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/eriskay-update.html This is made from my own  homespun from a Merino fleece from my family's property in western NSW that was sold some years ago. This was a difficult jumper to make because of the complex patterns that are formed in panels across the garment. Each row is different so requires some concentration. 

The zigzag represents the waves; the double diagonal lines are marriage lines; the diamond pattern is the home; the small mesh lines represent fishing nets; and the starfish (or snowflake) and ropes are obvious patterns.

My g.grandfather may have worn a fisherman's gansey like this as he was a lobster fisherman and ferryboat man between Ulva and the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. My g.grandmother, who was from the Isle of Skye, probably spun wool and knitted these traditional jumpers for her family. They immigrated to Australia on the same ship in 1853 with their families and were married in 1863 in Hamilton, Victoria.

Summer knits

Have been busy completing my current family history book so everything else has been pushed aside. http://amostindustriousman.blogspot.com.au/  With a short term subscription to Ancestry to access some English records from the 1700s, have tried to maximise the time needed to find the right documents. 

However have still managed to do some knitting for charity including these jumpers for older children, a cowl and some hats. Seem to have a lot of single balls of wool accumulated from Vinnies and others, so sorting them into groups of colourways for hats. Unfortunately most of the old wool is not machine wash so unsuitable for children's garments but probably okay for hats.

Christmas in our house...

It is mid summer here in Sydney and bright and sunny, so Christmas Day will probably be about 30 degrees. The family are arriving in the next few days with a late arrival flying in on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning we will wait for the other two who live nearby to arrive and will then open all our presents together and probably sing some carols at the piano. Then it's lunch outside and Christmas cheer followed by a swim in the pool for some or a siesta for others. There will be catch up calls on Skype too with several in-laws in Europe now that we are an International family. As well, of course, there will be fun and games with two small children, and lots of laughter. This Christmas may you and your family too enjoy health and happiness, and a bright and prosperous New Year.   

This lovely Christmas wreath is made from the NSW Christmas Bush that is a large spreading shrub that develops small, delicate red sepals around the seed capsules in December. Thought you might enjoy this unique Australian Christmas plant.

Leaving home...

This little group of friends are setting off from home in Sydney and travelling across the country to new homes in South Australia. The teddies have been waiting patiently for some time but now they are the ready teddies and this week were joined by three little dolls who will be making the trip with them. It is such an adventure but they are all looking forward to meeting the children and making them smile.
( K4C challenge for http://www.accare.org.au/ supporting rural families in need)

Shepherd's delight

Dusk from our treehouse in the Blue Mountains

slouchy hats

Testing some knitting patterns that might be suitable for chemo hats. The obvious requirements are that the hats must be seamless, a solid style and very soft. These hats are a change from the usual beanie type cap that is not always very flattering for the wearer and may be a better choice for some people, as they offer a fuller shape. They also provide a longer cap that gives the wearer the option of some protection for the back of the neck and the ears. Important to keep the rib band firm and not too large so it will be a good fit and not allow the hat to slip off.

The red slouchy can be found here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/f302-slouchy-hat

Modifications: 8ply/DK wool x 100 gms
Band: 1x1 ribbing using 4mm circular needles; 96 stitches increased to 120 sts for body of hat
Body: stocking stitch using 6mm circular needles for soft drape
*Note: Use smaller needles for rib for a firmer band

The burgundy slouchy can be found here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gildas-club-chemo-hat

Modifications: 8ply/DK wool x 100 gms
Band: 1x1 ribbing using 3.5mm circular needles; 96 stitches increased to 120 sts for body of hat
Body: pattern (Knit  & Purl combination) using 4.5mm circular needles

*Note: To prevent holes in the hat, increase by picking up stitch from knitted bar between stiches, not by knitting into stitch twice.

UPDATE: Have knitted a second version of this hat with a smaller band of 92 stiches on 3.5mm needles and then increased to 120 sts (K3, inc.1stitch). Think this would be more suitable for a chemo cap because of the firmer band. Other yarns may require different modifications.

a single tree -scavenger hunt photos

 

Link to Deb scavenger photo hunt

nostalgia...

This lace top from a previous era was recently found in a cupboard. Did I really wear this? How did it ever fit me? Lace crochet was certainly the look when I made this.

The recycled rug has had a makeover...

 and now looks like this although the colour is richer in reality. The width was increased by adding a section at right angles to the centre piece and has been finished with a crocheted edge. Pleased with the end result.

on the shelf - scavenger hunt photos

toy shelf

jump off shelf

history shelf

ice shelf

rock shelf

Joining Deb's scavenger hunt photos 

6pm Sunday in my garden - scavenger hunt photos

The wisteria was showing off its fabulous mauvey blues and on the table was a box of petunias all ready for the garden tomorrow. Two kookaburras came and sat on the end of the clothes line watching me and waiting for some scraps...

Joining in with Debs photo scavenger hunt.

Cakes and colonials

Spent a lovely spring afternoon with family here in Sydney, visiting Vaucluse House, an elegant colonial house that was home to William Wentworth and his family. The wisteria was in full bloom on the front verandah filling the air with a heady fragrance. Have visited the house many times but it is always a delight to return. 

Yesterday was a baking day and these two cakes are the result. The lemon cake was to take as a gift for lunch today (and it was delicious) and the fruit cake is for us. Recipes on the pages on the right. Thanks to all those who commented on my recycled rug project. Hope to finish it soon...