Click-clack therapy

Wow, this year has been my most complicated yet, and also my best knitting year. I think it's actually because I've been under more pressure, I knit more, like others might go to the gym or something. So I'm now four knitted items behind in my blogging.  Here are the best snaps I have managed of the first two.

First, Stella for Baby D. 12 month size, in Patons Dreamtime 4ply I never used for her brother. Turns out the Wedgwood blue is lovely on a girl. Needed to use smaller needles on the neckline, and it's still wider than I would have liked, but cute, and it got worn a heap.

Next, a Milo for our little boy B.  22" size in Cleckheaton Perfect Day in the colourway that looks rather like a lamington.  Knitted quickly over 4 days, which was just as well, as he never wore it! I knew there was some risk of this, which is why I chose a quick project. B won't stand wool on his neck, but I was hoping a wide neck vest in really soft yarn might be okay. He was on to me though! At least it's big enough to try again next year (and we'll start with it over a skivvy).



This was the least miserable picture of him in it! Oh dear.

More to come on my spring knitting projects...

Knitting, knitting, knitting...

...has been consuming me of late.  I can't believe I didn't get into seamless knitting earlier.  Things are getting finished and worn.  I now can do magic loop, spit joins (I know, gross, but actually very good), long tail cast on, backwards loop cast on, single crochet bind off, decrease bind off and am learning to knit continental style.  Most of these terms, let alone how to do them, were foreign to me, like, two months ago.  And I have used mostly stash yarn.

Finished on the weekend:



A sunflower yellow Granny's Favourite for S.  Yarn from a failed blanket project, which left me with several seemingly unusable colours of Cleckheaton Country.  I never thought I would use this yarn by itself in a garment, but S liked it and I was keen to start something.  And it's actually really cute on her.



Sunflower buttons from my Mum.



Had enough for a full length body and middie length sleeves (5 year old length).  Great pattern again from Tikki.  I sized up a bit (23" rather than 22"chest ) so it can be worn next year

And here is my first person-sized seamless knit, a Kina which followed the doll version.  Again in leftover Cleckheaton Country.  I didn't blog this ages ago when I made it.  It is not my best, as the edges are a bit lumpy at the bottom, due to me using lots of short lengths and joining at the edges (in my pre-spit join days).  But it is fine for kindy.



Two more knits to catch up on, oh, and I am intending to do Kids Clothes Week again next week!

Cardy for Baby.

I am getting into seamless knitting this autumn, so things should actually get finished.   This is a new favourite pattern- Olearia by Tikki.  Fun to knit, quick and pretty.  It only took 3 balls of Cleckheaton Country (which I chose for the lovely strawberry colour).



Finished with the perfect old buttons handed down from my aunty- I was thrilled to have enough of them.




Baby D just turned one and is in a hurry to grow up.  She loves pretty things and was excited to wear her new cardy.  Dear girl, stay little a bit longer!

Autumn love

Hooray for cooler weather!  Despite feeling bogged down with long hours at work and study, and viruses passing back and forth through the family, I managed to get the needles out for some simple, satisfying knitting.



This scarf was a request from my husband, who wanted a multi-coloured stripy scarf with a bit of a 'Paul Smith' look.  I don't think this is anywhere near as cool as that sounds- it seems more 'clown' or 'Doctor Who' than Paul Smith, but he tells me he likes it.  At least it can be used by the kids if not him.  I'm using up yarn (Cleckheaton Country 8ply) from a frogged blanket for Mr F which just was torture to knit.  There is actually about $200 worth of brightly coloured wool to be used, so this will make only a small dent in that.  I believe there will be more colourful stripy items to come!

You look like gold to me...

I had been wanting to buy some Koigu Premium Merino for ages, and was lucky enough to get some 40% off online at Purl Soho!  In exactly the colour I wanted, despite there being only two colours left by the time I found out about the sale.  Intended for this little girl's dress found at the Purl Bee.  No urgency to make it as it won't fit Strawberry until next year, maybe not even then.  Which is great, as I cannot actually crochet yet!  The yarn does seem every bit as beautiful as the descriptions I had read, and the colour is a gorgeous orangey-red.  Just delicious!