New knitting - SOCKS

I am kntting these for me. They are toe up, turkish cast on with a reverse heel. The slip heel stitch is on the bottom of the heel just where I need it. I have just picked up the stitches and done the first decrease row of my reverse gusset. I just hope this works out. As you can see they are very fraternal. I love it.

Bye

Christmas

Well, its been and gone.

I killed and dressed a sheep for christmas, it was going to be cooked on our spit, it was windy and the sheep was fatty and guess what .....

IT CAUGHT ON FIRE

So no roast lamb for christmas.

Lesson learnt : Do not have spit on windy day in the open
Do not use two 10kg bags of heatbeads at once

Keep smiling 'cause life is still interesting and you keep learning.

May you all have a peacfull 2006.

Blessings from the beyond to one and all.

Gift Received

This is what I got from America. Wonderful! I was gobsmacked when I received the parcel and then made totally speachless when I opened it. Wow.

Maro Lyn what a lady.

Thankyou.

Gift swap

This is a skein that I have dyed with food colours in the microwave.

I have gifted this skein to my swap partner in the US.

I hope that she likes it.

I handspun it from my xbred white sheep. The fleece was just too nice off shears not to spin.




It is two ply, not my usual navajo plying. I think it will knit up as a 8ply or 10ply ( aran)


I think that there was over 200mts in the skein.

Plenty for many things except a jumper.

The Scarf

Here is my first Modular Scarf care of Iris Schreier. I just love how the yarn knitted up. I am not a fan of garter usually but it really works for her modular knitting.

The yarn is handspun from my sheep, I used about 160metres for this scarf. over 200mt left.
What do you think?

Jayne is done

Here He is.

My version of the Jayne Cobb Hat.

I used the pattern from the 2006 pattern a day calendar March 28.

The wool is cleckheaton country in red, orange and yellow used doubled. for the earflaps I picked up 15 stiches and used 3mm needles for the last 8 rows to try to make them turn up.

I am very happy with it and have cast on the second one. I will get two from the wool.


Here is MY Darling boy modeling it.


Cunning little darling hey.



Well, that is it for now.

It is FINISHED!!!

Here it is !

In all her glory my MysteryShawl2. I know she isn't as blocked as she should be but she is blocked enough for me.

I used a mill end of 2ply merino I bought from www.knittingyarnshop.com.au except that I got to go in person. I have 1 ball left that weighs more than this shawl so I have sent it to america as my secretpal's last parcel along with a book about australian designers. I also have 2 very large millend logs of a ripe tomato red 2ply merino also. Doubled up I think it will make lovely socks.

Currently I am knitting a Jayne Cobb Hat. My new fantasy Firefly just georgous. Gotta drool over Capt. Tightpants. MMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. That butt in Trash mmmm

Ok better dry off the keyboard and go and do farmwork

knitting slowly

I knit daily, just not as much as I would like. I spin weelky, just not as much as I would like. I think about cleaning, on accasion. And clean, not as much as my family would like.

I am TRYING to get going with flylady,
my flesh is weak,
the needles speak,
so the sink goes uncleaned for another week. ( a few days really, it didn't ryme).

ALLLLLLLmost finished my mystery shawl2. I will post a photo eventualy.

Rain rain come and stay, please keep the mozzies away.

Sunday, too far away......Not

Well I am finally up to date with my farmwork. That is one BIG weight off my shoulders. Now I am also getting on top of the house with flylady's help. the kitchen is clean and the washing is on the line.

The family is happy.

I am also up to the edging on my shawl. This mystery shawl has been fantastic. I have about 1/4 of the edging done. I am doing a repeat (10 rows) everytime I stop for a cuppa. So I get about 4 done a day. My deadline is for this wednesday, as I want to wear it to my knitting group.

Just to give my hands a break from the 2ply and 4mm needles I have knitted two hats from the 2006 knitting calender. I have used my handspun doubled. Very thick. This has knitted up to a finished hat in about 4 hours. This is one Xmas present done.

Off I go to knit some more edging.

WE WON!!!!!

We, meaning my partner and self, with our business have won <> an award!

Our business is Free Range Eggs, and in our region we have a restaurant competition called The Golden Plate, and the finalists in each catagory can nominate who is their best supplier, and ALL of the Four of our restaurants became finalists and because of the fanatastic reviews that they gave on us ......
WE CAME SECOND

HIGHLY COMMENDED
BEST SUPPLIER

YES, YAY, WE DID IT, IT IS WORTH IT, ETC,ETC,ETC,

ok thats me for now.

Getting there

I am now up to clue4 on the Mystery shawl2. I changed the yarn I was using to a 2ply blue merino. It is knitting up a treat on 4mm needles. a picture later. I have just received word that my AKSP has received my parcel only 4 days from when I sent it. This is from Geelong to California USA. I have problems getting my mail within Australia in this time. How do they do it?

On the farm I am almost caught up with the processing! Now I just have to get into the Flylady routines a bit more and continue getting the house in order. I am now much better than I was 3 or 4 months ago. I usually have a clean sink and benches I just have to work more on the floor.

Off I go now to knit a bit then more eggs Today I am determined, sprained ankle and all, to do todays eggs TODAY.

Keep knitting Clare

Sad news

Just writing to say that I am no longer pregnant. The embryo died around 7-8 weeks and I am now going through the expulsion of the remains. Oh well. Better to lose it now than have a damaged child.

Mystery Shawl 2

I have just joined the Mystery Shawl2. Last night I knitted up the first clue. Here it is.

I have chosen some red 2ply merino which I have knitted double on about 3mm needles. I am quite chuffed on how this is going so far.

While watching Bathust today I intend to keep on knitting the 2nd clue. I will post when I have finished it.

I really needed to start another project right now. Like a hole in the head. Still working on the list from the previous post as well.

I am very stalled on the first decrease row of the Mariposa and just don't want to work on the jumper for youngest son but I will make myself. The little cardi is going well if slowly, just 4 rows short of the armholes and do you think I can get motivated to do it? Nup. So I start another project. Hah.

10 weeks along now and I am resigned to this being another boy. Not that I have had a ultrasound yet, but I feel that this will be a lovely little bruiser just like his big brother. Blonde, blue eyed and swarthy skinned. Looks like a surfer. With a very determined mind.

Bye, the race is almost starting.

Busy, busy

I havn't been online for a while soo here is what I have been knitting:

2 pairs baby booties from 2005 pattern a day calender
1 matching hat
1 jumper for 2(almost 3)year old
1 pair socks for 12 yo
Started Mariposa Shawl with stash wool a nice blue from Willabaa.
Started 3month sized cardigan using handspun merino, bands in pind dyed merino.

My big news is......

I am PREGNANT....... Bugger. Once more into the fray.

I am HOPING against previous results for a girl. So far myself and my partner have 4 boys.
He 2 from marriage, me 1 , us 1. Sooo, I will be knitting quite a bit of baby stuff as it is due May 2nd just in time for winter. I had just put away all the nappies, cot etc and now have to get them back out. But not until AFTER christmas.

Off to knit some more. Bye.

sorting hat

The Sorting Hat Testhttp://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=610156788038991331

HUFFLEPUFF! You scored 8% Slytherin, 20% Ravenclaw, 36% Gryffindor, and 60% Hufflepuff!

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal These patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil. Hufflepuffs are known for their loyal, hard-working, and humble demeanors.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 2% on Slytherin You scored higher than 28% on Ravenclaw You scored higher than 28% on Gryffindor You scored higher than 99% on Hufflepuff

Link: The Sorting Hat Test written by leeannslytherin on OkCupid Free Online Dating

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var sitetitle = "Ok Cupid";
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+ "The Sorting Hat Test written by + "4140860710440211853'>leeannslytherin on " + sitetitle + ""
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// show it if they probably don't have js bs
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Sorting Hat test

HUFFLEPUFF! You scored 8% Slytherin, 20% Ravenclaw, 36% Gryffindor, and 60% Hufflepuff!

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal These patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil. Hufflepuffs are known for their loyal, hard-working, and humble demeanors.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 2% on Slytherin You scored higher than 28% on Ravenclaw You scored higher than 28% on Gryffindor You scored higher than 99% on Hufflepuff

Link: The Sorting Hat Test written by leeannslytherin on OkCupid Free Online Dating Friday, August 19, 2005 Using up stash Ok, I have recently bought the new Creative Knitting and have decided to knit the Mariposa shawl. I am a chronic non user of reccommended yarns sooo.... I am using stash wool. It is a lovely denim blue colour, Willabaa merino. I am finding that my storage of wool is not very good as I am spit splicing rather often as I start each ball. Bloody moths. In 1 week I have knitted the first pattern and am now doing the first decrease. It is a bother, but I will do this. By the way, I had a gross out moment 2 weeks ago when I came home and just realised what a mess my home was. I had found several months earlier a website called flylady.com It is about cleaning and routines. I have bit the bullet and have haphazardly been following her advice. Shine your sink! Put your shoes on first thing! Anything can be done in 15mins! The emails are a bother at times but that is where the delete button is handy. I have also lost 7kilos since starting Flylady. Go figure. Off to do farm work Bye. Tuesday, August 09, 2005 Spinning a yarn or two Hello world, This is what I have been inspired to create since attending the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show. The wool tops are from a ewe that got lost in the foothills of Mt.Eccles national park, McArthur, Western District, Victoria Australia. She was a pure merino and was lost for several years. When finally found and shorn, her fleece staple was 10" long and weighed 45kg. After processing I got20kg back. This I have been spinning on and off for the last 8 years. I have made a lovely shawl for my last son, which was then given to his grandma, in hospital where it was nicked. She was very upset. I was too as it had taken me 6 months to knit. Oh well, I will just have to knit another. One day. Now I originally intended to dye this and knit a clopotis with it but..... best intentions and all, when I swatched it, no way woulld this yarn permit itself to be that pattern. Not in a pink fit. So I have decided that it will be a simple stole. moss stitch borders and a stocking stitch centre, with maybe some moss stitch "detail" in the centre. When I get the camera back I will take a photo of the sample which got made into a hat alah,, Sarah Bradbury's book. I dyed that sample with food colours mainly green and pink. It looks a bit like a bright salad. Very warm and snuggly. I think I will have a hard time giving this stole to my partner's sister. Can I call her my sister in law even though I'm not married? Anyway she is lovely and deserves a special gift. I don't think she receives many. I also treated myself to a set of Denise Interchangables. I am now trying to cast on the Mariposa shawl using stash of Willabaa wool. It is a denim blue colour and knits up lovely. The pattern is a nasty sod though. Perserverance I do request your presence. My other new project is..... wait for it...... House Cleaning and Maintenence.!! I discovered a web site called Flylady. Kept going back and reading, my house management is well non existant so I finally got depressed enough to try it. Shine your sink, she said. Just start with shining your sink. I looked. I knew there was one, we did have a cuppa not long before and I knew I got water from it. So I found it ,cleaned it, then shined it. and was amazed. I have managed to keep up this one point so far, which for me 2plus weeks of a clean kitchen is verging on miraculus. I am determined to keep it up! It being an american site was/is a shudder but desperate times call for desperate measures. And even I have met nice americans. They just don't make the news. Well of to do more farm work Oh yes I have 7 yes 7 new coloured lambs. Shining sink on the way! Clare Friday, July 22, 2005 Wednesday, July 20, 2005 My new Secret Pal has come through! OK this is what I have sent to my SP as parcelNo.3 I think I am now up to date. I just hope she likes it. I know that she received the first parcel which had some handspun samples I did for her and a 200gm ball of bendigo bouckle? in light blue. Her acknowledgment was not,, urrr what I would call happy. The last (2nd) one consisted of a knitting bag I made for her and a skein of special wool I made just for her 240mt long and needles and the pattern for a clapotis based hat. I hope that she likes it. I do try but I think that some people expect much more that others can provide. After my first SP didn't sent me anything in three months I asked for another one and got a lovely woman in America. These are what she sent me. They are the book "confessions of a knitting heretic" and a skein of cherry tree hill sock yarn. Bloody beautiful. The book is very useful and I do reccommend it. I have been to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show this past saturday and also to the Bendigo Woollenmills back room. Great place if you can get to it. At the show I bought two books and will show and tell next time. Off to do farmwork Bye Thursday, July 14, 2005 secret pal I have just received my first package from far away in America. It contains a book Confessions of a knitting heritic and a scein of cherry hill farm sock yarn. Fantastic! I love them both. I have read most of the book already. I now know that I am a combined knitter. Great! And I have balled the yarn up ready to knit myself a pair of socks. I just have to finish my darling parners' pair first. As I have just finished my first short row heels with no holes! I am rolling along towards the toes. They should be finished by friday. Yay! Except that I have allready been requested to knit more, many many more sock for him. He has even bought the yarn ready. His socks will be my travelling project. or my socks will be. Had some great finds in garage sales. A brand new coffe machine for $5 and a easeyo maker also for $5. Both work a treat! Hot chocolates for bedtime every night and the 12yo has learnt to froth his milk very nicely, thankyou. Maybe a future job as a coffee maker( dammm, I just cannot remember the proper name for this job! Bugger). Off to do the last egg collection, out into the mud and rain. Oh the life of a farmer. Great isn't it. At least I don't have to worry about the sheep getting flystruck right now. Bye from a wet Victoria. Clare Saturday, July 09, 2005 Photo's! This is my second attempt at dying. The blue was dyed in the microwave using food colours then spun and combined with white and natural wool. The single was then navajo plied. The resulting scein is 230metres long approx. I am going to send this to my AKSP in america. I hope she likes it. This is the very first scein that I dyed. It was a lost scein, meaning that I spun it 10 years ago at least. I think it is corriedale still had the lanolin in it and looked and felt like string. So I felt that I had nothing to loose by trying to dye it. After soaking it with vinegar and water then draining out most of the water I added Queen food dyes and microwaved it for 10 minutes. Took it out drained it in a colender and run cold water through it until it ran clear. Next I will try to get a photo of the finished scarf. My one and only. The yarn, after my abusing it, revealed to me a hidden side. It is now sooooo soft and fluffy! Some of the lanolin is still in residence making it a bit sticky , but when I wear the finished scarf, I am soo warm. I am now off to knit sock for my partner. Like many Australian blokes his socks must be BLACK. So I have to knit under the brightest light I can. And my eyesight is good! Just a quick word about the bombs in London. I feel shocked that it happened, but not surprised. For those caught in the explosions, all the best on recovery. Bring on the famous british stiff upper lip. and show these non sentiant creatures that sentiant beings are so much more EVOLVED. And have better ways of dealing with conflict and stress than an animal that just strikes out, even when it is being helped. Well this is my opinion. Bye. Saturday, June 25, 2005 Not knitting So far I havn't had much time for knitting. But I have been fondling my small stash and eyeing off my sliver stash for spinning. I am still working on a jumper for my 2 yo. Only the front and back from the armholes to go. I have just lost enthusiasim. I am STILL trying to get photo's up. Maybe I just am not supposed to show what I am doing. Bugger. Weelll, I am now working up to knitting my dear other half some socks. He has very large calves. He wants BLACK and he even bought me the yarn. Doesn't that just say a lot. He is a very appreciative man. I knitted a handspun jumper for him and he wears it alot. In public. Thats me done. Bye Sunday, June 12, 2005 Weeeellll, Long time no blog. Over the last weeks I have been in the wars. so to say. I have had 4 wisdom teeth removed at once and 1 molar which had shattered. I have been living in a drug induced fog for the last week. Funn. Just believe me when I tell you that I KNOW when the 4 hours is up, it is healing nicely but I have just been to bommed out to do anything but the basics. My 12 yo son is the best. So is my partner, he has stopped smoking as well!! YAYYYY. Now I shall try to post some pictures. Knitting has been slow as I have wanted to sleep more than anything. I have also been given TWO knitting machines. One is a tabletop empisal single bed. Works a treat. The second is a standalone Passap 80 twin bed. I havn't used it yet. So a whole new land has emerged for me knitwize. Still knitting by hand will allways be my preference I think. I will try to do the tag later today. Monday, May 30, 2005 knitting machines I am the proud new owner of TWO knitting machines. One is a tabletop empisal the other is a standalone 4 colour big one. Sorry I haven't opened it up yet. The small one is straining my brain enough as it is. So far I have made a toddlers hat. I have bought 5 cones of Bendigo 3 ply. 2 in hot pink, 2 in ink and 1 in bright blue. So far I have learned how to do two colours ummm, plating and striping. Looks great with one side one colour and the other another. Thanks Jennifer! I have just sent off a parcel for my Ample Knitters Secret Pal. It will take about 2 weeks to get to her in America. I hope that she isn't dissapointed as after reading about just how MUCH others put in their parcels. Oh well, two skeins of handspun fine merino and a 200gm ball of Bendigo boucle in blue and a bar of Darrell Lee chocolate. I would be happy! I am also a month behind. Life is not allways the way you would like it to be. On the needles right now Jumper for two yo, Knitted with TeaWana? yarn from NZ in blue/green variegated 8ply Hat for charity - for local school with disadvantaged children must be machine wash and sized for prepies. Pink Bendigo Classic from the stash. Using Twist and sprout pattern from the pattern a day calender. Must go and feed Chooks and collect eggs. Oha and dress and feed children. Bye Sunday, May 08, 2005 Been shopping Yesterday, after my partner and I had delivered our eggs, I went yarn shopping to the Knitters Yarn Shop. This shop handles end of run, discontinued and damaged yarns . It was great! I found several bags of sock wool, it looks like patonalye, in several colours. Two ply pure wool in cone ends, enough for a jumper, plenty of black wool for my parners black socks, 8 ply as he likes thick socks. I found it hard to choose as I liked most of what I saw. They had bought the remaining yarn from Bagabo and it is on sale too. I erge? you to go and looksee. They also have synthetics.. Their address is 1-3 lincoln st, laverton north, near the poultry chophouse. Website: www.knittingyarnshop.com.au go and see for yourself. The chooks the chooks are calling, come collect our eggs. Bye Clare Wednesday, May 04, 2005 Just finished Yesterday I started knitting a scarf with some of my handspun. It was a lost skein of crossbred white, I experimented with it dying and it worked! So, on the ferry from Queenscliffe to Sorrento I decided to knit a scarf with it. I cast on 20 odd stitches and did 8 rows seed stitch. Then I decided to change to garterstitch. after 3 rows I thought I would try to make it lacey so tried wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for each stitch. On the next row I just knitted normally dropping the extra wrap. Result stretched stitches! very lacey. I repeated this for the entire scarf, 3 row garter,1 row wrapped and ended with 8 rows seed then cast off. I used the remaining yarn to make a fringe by wrapping it around a toothpaste box. The end result is quite nice. When I work out how to post pictures I will. Bye Clare Monday, May 02, 2005 New to it Hello and welcome to my first post and blog. I live on the south coast of Victoria Australia outside the city of Geeolong. I run about thirty black and white crossbred sheep. I spin and knit with their wool. This blog will be about my sheep, wool, spinning and knitting, with accasional asides to my family and farm. I love spinning and knitting but my hands are almost at the point of being sent off to hospital for an operation as I get numb hands if I use them too much. So for me it is moderation in all my favourite pursuits. I will be selling wool from time to time if anyone is interested, possibly sheep too. OK off to work now. Got to feed the chooks then clean and process eggs before my darling man and 2yo get back from a delivery of eggs. Bye ............ Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)