Winner's are Grinners!!!

Truly lovely to win a blog giveaway just around my birthday recently.  Gave my partner another reason to avoid buying a present (kind of joking!).

Yay for amitie girl !!!

Actually I have scored a present this year from my better half.  Front row seats to see Neil Finn this week.  That's exciting.

edit:  It was amazing - he is an incredibly talented musician- & from Split Enz to Crowded House to the Finn Brothers his music takes me through my life. 

I think that after all this winning that there should be a giveaway on this blog soon.  Hint: it may well involve fabric.  Stay tuned....

Lucky last in the Beehive!

Well it was not me...still working on handquilting the Rockets.

Karlyn has been very patient & waited a whole year for her turn in the Beehive quilt block swap.
Here is my contribution to the future quilt she is making for her daughter...

She sent so many fantastic scraps I thought I should make 2.  The first one was more successful.  The second one is a bit strange but makes up for it coz it has lots of flea market fancy & heather ross!!!

See more of Karlyn's blocks here.

I really cannot wait to see this quilt made up. 

Back to the sticks

Not one to be deterred by previous knitting misadventures,  I've cast on a new project.

A little "Lucky" from my very dog-eared copy of Pipsqueaks for a little baby I know.  Its in all seasons cotton so it can't shrink/felt.

And a cute (if blurry) photo of Willa in the knitted denim dress (Erika Knight pattern).

A Woeful Tale

Sometimes one does stupid thoughtless things.  Unfortunately last Friday arvo I did.

I was handwashing some woollen stuff & being lazy thought I would pop them into the washing machine for a rinse & a spin.  At the last minute I added Bronte's stunning pear tree cardi (since she had worn it pretty much the whole holiday!)

Alas you can imagine the rest.  Clutching at straws, I googled unfelting & came up with something about boiling & vinegar.  It doesn't work....

Perhaps I should have tried the fabric softener or hair conditioner...  
Moral of the story- never let another handknitted anything near a front loader machine!


Has anyone else a tragic tale of brain failure & wool shrinkage?  It is heartbreaking - all that time, expense & effort...gone in a spin!
At least I can knit another- actually Bronte has ordered 2 more...which I guess is wise...

Fabric stashes

suzuko koseki, originally uploaded by beeware70.

I'm a tad jealous of all the people I know who have been recently or are going soon to Japan.
It must be amazing.

Mind you I'm very appreciative of the special fabric that has come to me via these people!

Sophie Madeleine - The Knitting Song

Been away...lots of driving & some knitting...thus the song!  Enjoying Sophie's beautiful voice.

Tiny tea leaves

In amongst the business of the last month (crazy school fundraisers , gala concerts, catching up with friends to discuss fabric finds and more) I sought a bit of refuge in knitting.  Knitting is such a perfect activity to do anywhere...even when walking along the streets of Redfern. The first step was finding some irresistable pear tree wool at A Coffee and a Yarn Newtown. 

Next was deciding the pattern....tiny tea leaves leapt out at me from many places so that wasn't a hard choice!  And then knitting here there & everywhere..in the car, at school, walking to work, on the train, at choir, in bed (but not advised in the shower!)  And here is the result.

I love it!  Right down to the 3 old green buttons Bronte chose for the front.  And so much so I have started the next one!  This time with some pinkish purplish yarn I must have come across when Bronte was younger...just as well I have another younger pink -loving child!