My Creative Space and the missing re-discovered knitting

How do you know something is missing if you've completely forgotten about it?

It's been a couple of years since I last picked up the knitting sticks for actual knitting. They get more use around here as tools for pushing out seams, or for mixing up various gluey/varnishy/painty concoctions.

A few weeks ago, my SIL mentioned that she needed a new grey scarf for winter. It was the perfect project to get my knitjo back on track (I've since gifted it after forgetting to take a photo).

I went in search of my Buttontree Lane Knitting Project Bag, and found this half finished scarf inside.

I don't even remember who I was knitting this for as I've already made one in very similar tones for myself....

... and I may have already bought more yarn for the next one - whoops!

My creative space

I've got the bug

The knitting bug that is!

For some unknown reason, the knitting bug completely avoided me last year. I managed to craft right throughout the winter months, without an inkling of wanting to play with yarn. Now, here we are in Autumn, and suddenly all I want to do is just sit on the couch and knit. 

The urge first struck last Thursday night....
I knew that I had a box of leftover random balls of yarn in the garage, but I didn't know if I'd actually be able to find a matching set of knitting needles. Knitting needles are usually only used at my house to poke out corners when I'm sewing.

So now, I'm very happily ensconced in making mini scarves for my little nephews (that's the only idea I could come up with for one ball of random yarn). Let's see how long this current obsession lasts.....

Love Fridays...

Today I'm Lovin' Friday as I received an amazing package in the mail from Jess at Button Beauty.

I've had knitted washcloths on my 'I want to make' list forever.... I just never actually got around to it. Now I have these gorgeous washcloths (in my absolute favourite colours), and they're so soft and lovely.

There were also some fab vintage tea towels and hankies, a vintage pattern book, and some wonderful crafty bits and bobs that I can incorporate into my crafty creations. Thanks so much Jess.

I'm also lovin' all the updates over at Handmade Help..... so many crafty bargains for a great cause..... I just wish I could buy them all!

Check out the home of Love Fridays over here at Tinniegirl.

Just in time for.....errrrr Spring?

It's taken me quite a while but I finally finished this scarf for my little sister....... I think the weather will stay cold for a little while yet so she might actually be able to use it this year.

I think this is scarf number seven. I've lost count. One of these days, I'm actually going to sit down and tackle one of the knitting patterns that Jess sent me. Another one to add to the 'To Do' list!

Also found something interesting in the paper today.....check out this article

Am I getting old???

This is the scarf the I finished knitting Thursday night...... Mr CurlyPops wore it to work on Friday and not one person even noticed that he was wearing a lovely handknitted scarf......

Anyway, I was sitting in bed lastnight in my pyjamas at 9.30 knitting yet another scarf and watching Valentines Day on the ABC when it suddenly dawned on me...... I think I'm getting old!
I rifled through my bedside drawer to find a notepad and pencil and made a list of reasons why I think I'm getting old......

• I'm going to the hairdresser today to have some more foils put in to cover the greys
• I'm knitting in bed and loving it
• I'm watching far too many tv programs on the ABC and SBS
• I can watch the 5PM news, then the 6PM news, then the 7PM news
• I'd prefer to watch a documentary than a comedy
• I'd prefer to curl up on the couch with a dvd than go to the movies
• I'd rather go out for breakfast, than dinner
• I only wear comfortable shoes (and undies)

Maybe that last one was far too much information!

Hmmmm, time for a cup of tea and a biccie......

Waiting.....

I wait..........

I wait quite often.......

I sometimes wait for a looooooong time.......

I think I wait a lot more than the average person.......

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Now I have a portable craft to keep me company while I'm waiting......

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I could tell that all the mummas and nonnas were jealous because I was knitting while they were just waiting........

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Todays wait = 40 minutes ..... I'm not a very fast knitter.....

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Why does blogger keep removing my spacing....grrrrr

The Weekend

I went on a special shopping mission on Saturday to buy just four balls of yarn to knit another scarf.......

I picked out the plain grey, and my mum picked out the grey and brown fleck....

....but I couldn't help myself and I had to sort throught the remnant bins and search for bargains. I also bought some more pins and yet another pair of knitting needles for myself! Then of course, I received an email Saturday night letting me know that there was a 20% off sale today (just my luck).

Then at the local shopping centre, I just happened to park my car near the sewing machine shop....so I just had to go in (it was calling my name). I didn't realise that they sold fabric and haberdashery as well so I picked up a few fat quarters that were on sale for $1.50 each and some other bits and bobs.....

Then on Sunday we went for a lovely drive down to the Surf Coast to check out some holiday houses for summer. Now that I can knit, I have a car craft! Perfect for boring freeway driving (of course I wasn't driving, I was just the passenger)!

This is the beach at Breamlea....it was still beautiful even on such a dreary day.

What a lovely weekend!

A great big thankyou and some practicing

First of all, I would like to say a great big thankyou to everyone who left me a message regarding my Friday night post......

The fantastic thing is that most generous crafty peeps are already registered as organ donors and those who weren't have now signed up online. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart (and lungs). I've been laughing to myself all weekend imaging what my oxygen bottle would look like with a knitted or crocheted cover.....hilarious!

I've been practicing my knitting over the last week....I used some of the yarn that Cath sent me and I practiced changing colour, leaving the ends loose, knitting the ends in, and using 2 colours at once. It was fun to see what happened without worrying about wrecking something. I even remembered how to cast off and I didn't have to refer to the internet for help.....yippee!

I'm off to the post office now to post three little parcels.....I can't reveal anything yet. Have a happy Monday.

On My Desk......on a Wednesday

It's the aftermath of making a softie with my nine year old nephew lastnight while cooking dinner at the same time.......

The result is Jack......a funny little fellow with a moustache and rather large ears.

Please go and visit Kirsty to find more 'On My Desk' goodness.

I woke up thismorning to find my knitted scarf over on Cuteable......considering it's only the second knitted item that I've ever finished, I was rather chuffed!

Chunky Scarf

Life is slowly getting back to normal around here.......

The twins came home from hospital yesterday. We went to visit them in the afternoon and I gave my sister this scarf that I knitted for her on the weekend. My knitting is getting faster, this one only took about 4 or 5 hours in total.

I'm off to Brown Owls tonight , just the thing I need to get me back into the crafty groove!

My first completed knitting project

I finally finished my knobbly scarf lastnight.......it's my very first completed knitting project!
I've tried knitting a few times before but I've never actually finished anything, so I'm glad that I've finally made something wearable (and I'm keeping it for me).

I added tassels at both ends.....I had no idea how to do this properly so I just made it up and seemed to work ok.

My nine year old nephew was nice enough to model it for me lastnight. I think it looks exquisite with his kung fu pyjama outfit...don't you think!

Bighearted Big Cat!

I've been rambling on about knitting a bit lately, after learning how to knit at Brown Owls.
The lovely and very generous Cathy from Big Cats Emporium emailed me last week to see whether I would like some yarn that she wasn't going to use, so that I could use it for my new found knitting prowess! Isn't that amazing and kind and generous.....

Look at the haul that she sent (and in gorgeous bright colours too)! She also included some gorgeous little badges which I think I will use on a handbag. My nephew has already requested that I knit him a scarf so I think I might try the shades of blue and green for him.

I might try a skinny scarf for me with the orange and red and yellow. I've nearly finished my knobbly scarf....I just need to cast off (I wasn't listening to Aunty Pat when she was teaching that bit, so I'll have to get out the instructions), and I want to add some tassels at the ends and then I'll start on a new one.

Thankyou so much Cathy, you made my day (and saved me from the evil clutches of my shopping addictions at Spotlight)!

Woo Hoo! I can knit!

It's been an extremely busy weekend so there's been no time for any crafting.....but I did manage to squeeze in a little bit of knitting time while I was sitting on the couch late at night.

I'm about half way through my new scarf.....I like the way the yarn has different textures and is uneven widths. When I first showed Mr CurlyPops my knitting feat, he was literally lost for words........he thought all the knobbly bits were caused my my crappy knitting and he was too scared to say anything! I had to show him the yarn and explain that it's supposed to have knobbly bits!

There will be lots of babysitting in my house this week so all I'm hoping to do is to finish the scarf by the end of it. My sewing room is also the spare kids bedroom for the week so the sewing machine is going to feel very unloved by the end of it!

Knitting.....part 2

Look! It's amazing! I actually managed to knit few rows (and apart from some lumpiness at the beginning, it doesn't look so bad)!

Aunty Pat returned to Brown Owls last night to teach us knitting beginners. She taught a really easy way to cast on using our thumbs (I just hope I can remember it).

I had to really concentrate so that I didn't drop any stitches, but at least this was easier than crochet (for me anyway).......

.....and then lucky me ...... I won one of the door prizes! This gorgeous zippered clutch purse made from vintage fabric. I love the contrast of the green material with the red zipper!

Knitting

My sister and I met up with Corrie and Kiera for lunch on Friday in Williamstown. It was a lovely day so we sat outside in the sunshine and fresh air.......

Keira was wearing the beautiful pink jumper that Corrie had knitted......she looked so cute!

Corrie had also made a beautiful gift for my sisters twins (I don't have a photo at the moment), and I was finally able to give her the knitting pattern book that she won in my giveaway! I can't wait to see what she whips up with her knitting needles!

After lunch, my sister and I popped into Vinnies in Newport where I found another couple of craft / sewing books........

......and knitting needles and wool for Brown Owls tonight!

Friends!

I went out for lunch again today with some friends that I used to work with........ and I received a lovely gift all wrapped up in floral paper. When I opened it, it was this gorgeous multicoloured handknitted scarf!


The lovely knitter and I worked together for eleven and a half years.......and I had no idea that she could knit! She whipped this up for me on the weekend while sitting in front of the fire (it was very chilly in Melbourne last weekend).

We sat outside at Villa & Hut for lunch and I was lovely and toasty and warm with my new scarf around my neck. Thankyou Chrissy, I absolutely love it!