Yarn Along

I've been listening to an audio book once again, while adding rows to this garter stitched cot blanket. Not my usual choice of novel, 'The Rosie Project' was a book club obligation, and one that took me awhile to warm to. It's been wildly popular, apparently, so you may not like my assessment of it. I really wanted to love it. A friend's Nana recommended it to me with such joy at a children's party, and it sounded wonderful. But I just couldn't. It is still not my kind of book. I can't put my finger on what it was exactly - the predictability, the cliched rom-com moments, the make-over? Parts were charming, as was Don, the main protagonist. Though I found elements of his character difficult to digest. I enjoyed the idea of a neurologically diverse novel, though I wondered at the accuracy on several occasions. 

There is a follow up book, but I have decided to leave it to the adoring fans and find something else to knit to. 

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What have you been reading or knitting?

Joining in with Ginny

On Ravelry here.

Yarn Along

There is a delicious chill to the mornings and evenings now. The kind of cooler weather that invites a spot of yarn shopping and the addition of a basket of yarn to the side-table in the lounge room. And the kind of weather that makes you want to lay in bed all day reading a wonderful new book - Dear Thief - one for your to-read list for sure.

I am thoroughly enjoying knitting another of my favourite cot blankets - the Purl Soho Super Easy Baby Blanket. Miles of delightful and satisfying garter stitch. Perfect for school holiday knitting while suffering from a cold, curled up on the couch with hubby, whilecatching up on some tv watching of an evening. I look forward to gifting the finished blanket to a lovely school Mum and friend expecting her fourth baby. 

After all, every baby needs their own hand knit blanket, right?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry here.

Windy Weekend

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I spent as much time as possible this weekend indoors, out of the wild winds that whirled through Brisbane, only braving the breeze long enough to fight the flapping laundry. Instead I cleaned, baked, crafted, napped and nursed the sniffles. I finished the striped garter stitch blanket I've been working. After a wool wash it will be tucked in to my hospital bag. I also finished my first ever cross stitch, Alicia Paulson's Winterwoods ABC, which I am so pleased with. I do believe I will frame it and pop it on the picture ledge above my bed. I've pulled the half finished striped scarf out of my knitting basket now, and there's a few other projects still waiting in there once it is finished. 

I'm looking forward to a few more quiet, crafty weekends before the baby arrives.

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PS.  I'm offering a free upgrade to Express Postage in Australia, on any purchase over $50 in my shop. Available until Thursday, 8 May 2014. Just leave the word 'EXPRESS' in the notes section to take advantage of this offer and ensure delivery in time for Mother's Day.

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny

The simple pleasure of making something with one's own hands. I don't think I will ever tire of it. 

I've been watching this blanket grow, stitch by stitch, row by row, colour by colour, knowing that as it does, the days we wait grow shorter. Soon there will be a new baby in our arms. A new brother or sister. A new son or daughter, with their own Mama made wool blanket. My heart leaps at the thought.

I'll be 36 weeks pregnant come Friday and my hospital bag is packed with everything except this blanket. Soon it will be folded and waiting too.

And you, what have you been reading or knitting? I've picked up another Elizabeth Taylor novel, A View of the Harbour.

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry.

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny

Oh my, what a day. I spent most of it at the hospital, waiting in the eye clinic. You might recall that last year I had surgery on both my eyes, after suddenly finding I had two detached retinas. Late yesterday I noticed I was having difficulty focusing on objects and faces a meter or two in front of me, which was a new and slightly alarming development given my history. I was told after my surgery to treat any changes in my eyes as  an urgent matter. I called an optometrist this morning, informed him I was almost 35 weeks pregnant, had had two detached retinas and two Scleral buckles and could I make an appointment for an eye check today? He advised me to go straight to the hospital. 

So I sat, and waited, and read my book until the eye drops I was given made that impossible. And I'm pleased to report that a build up of pigment in my eyes may be to blame, but there are no tears, holes or fluid behind the retina. Pregnancy could also be to blame. I was sent on my merry way with a specialist appointment in two months, pupils the size of saucers and a sense of relief.

Meanwhile, I completely enjoyed Elizabeth Taylor's, In The Summer Season (the novelist, not the actress), and am now engrossed in The Help by Kathryn Stockett. My plans for this evening involve putting my feet up, taking up my knitting and eating a slice (or two) or apple pie - while feeling grateful for my vision.

And you, what have you been reading or knitting?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry.

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny

It's school holidays in these parts, and our days have been filled with trips to the library, family days out, Easter craft, bench time spent working on custom makes, general pottering around the house, and more time for reading and crafting than usual. My cross stitch is growing, as is the baby blanket, while my pile of books from the library has grown too.

Right now my bedside table holds; Home by Beci Orpin, The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna, Family Album by Penelope Lively, The Help by Kathryn Stockett (our next book club book), A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor and my current read, In A Summer Season, also by Elizabeth Taylor. I love her subtle observations of every day life, and particularly enjoyed her first novel, At Mrs Lippencote's.

What have you been making and reading?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry.

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny

I've been a little side tracked by cross stitch this week. My 'Winterwood ABC' arrived from America and I was excited to get started. As their weather warms ours starts to cool. I've admired this pattern since I first saw it, and have seen it floating around many of my favourtie blogs in blog land. Eventually I decided to stop thinking about it and just try it. It's my first ever cross stitch, but Alicia's wonderful tutorial covers the how-to so nicely that I haven't had any trouble with it. I've been enjoying it so much that my knitting has only progressed a few rows. 

I've almost finished Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's most recent book, The Amazing Thing About the Way It Goes, then I will be looking for my next read. Any recommendations for me? What have you loved lately?

What have you been making and reading?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry.

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny




1. A new project, 2. The colours, 3. March 8th 2012

I cast on for a simple garter stitched, striped baby blanket for my dear little bump. With nine weeks to go I figured I best make a start. I'd love to have this blanket ready and waiting in my hospital bag, unlike Emerson's blanket, which I finished after she came home, as I recovered from a cesarean. I found the photo above, which is just over two years old now, and have been looking back through some of my posts of the early days with two children. Wondering about and imagining the reality of becoming a family of five, and the early days with three little ones.

I've been flicking my way through a few magazines lately - Frankie, Yen and Country Style. Yen is new to me, and I am enjoying their 'Creative Issue'. While 'Country Style' is an old favourite and always makes me want to pack up and run away to the mountains, renovate a run down country homestead, and scour flea markets for overlooked treasures. If only in my dreams.

What are you making and reading lately?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Ravelry.

Yarn Along

I have been adding rows to this stripey blanket when time allows. I'm at that point where it doesn't feel like it is growing, in spite of the many stitches I have added lately. My logical brain says it will be finished soon. However, my eyes insist that the ball of wool hasn't been getting any smaller, despite my best efforts. A knitting black hole perhaps?

 In terms of reading I am more than half way through Life of Pi for book club. I am reserving my judgments until I have read further. The reading material above was waiting with our mail upon our return from camping. A flick through Country Style always gives me the itch to rearrange the furniture and nick knacks in the house, browse the aisles of ebay for a vintage treasure, or else book myself in to a B&B in some far away country town. Those urges have been lessened this month as we have (finally) purchased curtains for the lounge and master bedroom, as well as a ceiling light and two rugs. I am pouring over the pages though as we plan our kitchen. Those two beautiful books were won in a giveaway hosted by the lovely Jodie at Ric Rac. They are very sweet looking books and I must admit I've not read I can jump puddles. I believe it is next on my list.

And you? What are you reading and knitting?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.

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Don't forget to enter my giveaway in the post below.

Yarn Along

This is my third stripey garter stitch baby blanket. I always have one on the go now and add to it here and there, between projects, or when my concentration is lacking. I have made one for a friends little boy, one for Emerson and this blanket in progress is for friends who are expecting. 

Handmade blankets seem to be my go to baby gift and I'm a bit addicted to stripes. I love the simple look of these blankets, which were inspired by the Purl Bee's 'Super Easy Baby Blanket.' I use 8ply wool and 4.5mm circular needles and cast on 100 stitches. Then I simply knit stripes using either 50 or 100 grams of wool for each stripe. These blankets also make for perfect car crafting, as I don't need a pattern and it requires more time than actual concentration. Whenever Dave is driving I throw this project into the nappy bag and try to add a few more rows. 

I have been reading 'Sister' by Rosamund Lupton. It is next months book club book. It's a lot darker than the books I generally choose myself. I find that after reading it for awhile it puts me in to a strange head space. I'm not very good at distancing myself from the characters and it's quite emotional and depressing. I shall need something a little lighter after this. 

Any suggestions?

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Joining in with Ginny's Yarn Along.

Ravelry.

My Creative Space

Although I have been mainly knitting of late, I did finish this crochet ripple cot blanket for a friend's gorgeous baby girl. It was lovely to get out the hook again. It really is so much quicker than the needles. And I do believe that every baby needs a handmade blanket.

Pattern: Lucy's Neat Ripple Pattern

Improvised border: Alternating three double crochet with one double crochet between each row

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $50 gift voucher from inHomewares.

My Creative Space

A blanket for Emerson, like this one I made for a friends baby, when I first announced my pregnancy.

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

My Creative Space

I have been knitting a few rows each evening of this baby blanket, in an attempt to have it finished before the weather warms too much. It's nice, every now and then, to have a project that requires little concentration. As I knit plans unfurl for my new crafting space, for the renovations that await and the many other changes ahead of us. 

One more colour should do it I think.

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More Creative Spaces here.

Ravelled here.