Twenty fourth

On the twenty fourth day of the year I tried on a polka dot skirt my sister gave me and when it didn't fit, I cut it up and sewed it into a hat.

I also finished my book, did some washing, listened to a podcast, picked a basket-load of plums, did lots of jobs on the farm, shared a cake and a crafter-noon with a gorgeous family, got stung by an angry bee on my nose, shared the first cucumber we have ever grown, wobbled poor Pepper's sore tooth, hung out in the caravan with one of my dearests and watched the second last episode of Parenthood, sob.

After I post this I'm going to go and work out what to wear to a wedding tomorrow, decide what book to read next, and cut my fringe/bangs.

What did you get up to today?

Wishing you kindness and peace.

xx

PS This post represents everything that is wrong with the blog a day. It's annoying the beep out of me but I can't seem to fix it. Miss Pepper was grumpy about her sore tooth and looks sad in all the photos and I can't help but think - so what? - at all the words. Ugh! Sorry. x

Twenty first

On the twenty first day of the new year I picked my sewing machine up from being serviced and made a hat.

I don't know if that sounds like such a big deal to you, but I'm a bit pleased.

You see I used to sew a lot: clothes, flags, accessories, you name it. There was a time back there that I could design, cut and sew a girl's dress in a few hours. I had sewing confidence, I had little girls who were happy to wear homemade, I had time to sew and I had a sewing machine that behaved beautifully.

But somewhere along the line all that changed. My girls started growing bigger and raising their eyebrows at my mixy-matchy creation, my baby started school and all of a sudden I found myself with less time (?!!), and then my machine started acting up. But instead of getting her serviced, I pushed her all the way to the back of my desk and forgot about her. And every now and then when I pulled her out with the idea that I'd sew something cool, the thread would keep breaking, the stitches would gather in a lump at the back and she'd make sounds like a lawn mower. So I'd give up, push her back and feel like maybe I just couldn't sew anymore. I lost the sewing way.

But these holidays the number one thing on Miss Jazzy's holiday must-do list, was learn to sew. So we chose some fabrics and a tote bag pattern and pulled out the machine, only to find she was still misbehaving. We managed to get half the bag done here and finished the rest at our friend Merrilyn's shop. The machine went to the fixer-uperer.

Which brings me to today. Today I picked up my machine, downloaded a pattern, chose the fabrics, carefully cut-out the the pieces, even more carefully followed the directions and ta-daaaaaa!!!



Of course with apple season almost upon us I had to quickly crochet a cute little apple too.

Now to make a few more to keep in a basket by the front door to try and eliminate the school morning hat scramble.

For those interested - I bought the hat pattern here and found the apple pattern here.

Wishing you great success with whatever you're making.

Lots-a-love

xx

knitted lately

In the interest of full disclosure I feel the need to tell you that I had to bribe those three girls to pose for these knitting pics for me. So involved were they in their game of cubby cooking that it was my only way. One chocolate biscuit each. They tried to raise it to two but I didn't budge. It was a one treat shoot.


First the Chunky Bear Beanie.

Knitted in the squishiest, softest wool I have ever felt.

Last year when we were in Israel, one of my instagram friends, Dria, contacted me and invited us to lunch at her family's bakery, in the community where they live. It was so gorgeous to meet properly and hug her after years of looking at the pictures of her life online.

A few weeks after we got home she posted me the wool. Five different colour ways, each one equally as divine. I'm tempted to knit them all into chunky bear beanies but I should probably play around a bit, we'll see.

Ravelled here.


Next up, a Little Scallops.  The fourth I have made. I love this pattern.

I cast this one on at The Seven Sisters Festival a few weeks back. I thought I'd knit so many stitches that weekend. I packed the boot of my car full of wool just in case. But somehow I didn't get past the band.

I think it needs a pom-pom.

Did you notice the first lost tooth? This Mama's last first, sob.

Ravelled here.


Then I made a From Norway With Love for the sister of someone who reads my blog. Her story touched my heart and I wanted to send her a bit of my love in return. Knitting feels so nurturing and I feel so grateful for that.

Ravelled here.


And then I knitted another one for us.

Miss Pepper chose the colours and while I found them a little challenging and out of my comfort zone, I love how much she loves it. I feel like it looks straight off the shelves of a chain store, but she'd probably love that too.

Ravelled here.


Another Chunky Cable Beanie for my farmer boy.

He loves this pattern, it suits him, it is the closest I have ever come to replacing his favourite Nana knitted beanie and it is warm and thick.

The last one I knitted him ended up wet left out on the tractor so many times that it is all mishapen and stretched. I've been thinking about unraveling it and knitting it up all over again. Can I do that? Will it work?

Ravelled here.

And now I'm onto this, a little cardigan. A Tikki test knit.

I wanted to make the cream the main colour, with the charcoal the stripe, but Miss Pepper had other ideas. I kinda like the way it's turning out now.

I love the fact that my smaller two don't wear a school uniform anymore and that I can wrap them up in snugly hand knits over the icy months to come. I love the fact that they have clothes that are made just for them; from the measuring of their body parts, to the choice of the pattern and yarn, all the way through to the stitches. Every stitch a little story of the time; a grey and rainy week, a Wonder Years marathon, tomatoes and quinces and apples on the stove. Cozy times.

Keep warm my friends.
And tell me, what's keeping your hands busy these April days?

Big love

xx

wool, wool, more wool & a pattern.

I guess a big part of the fun of any hobby, craft, passion or profession is putting together your kit. Researching, hunting down exactly what you want, building your stash and then maintaining it all so it is there for you any time you want or need it.

Like a cook and her ingredients, a musician and her instruments, a hunter and her knives, a runner and her shoes...like a knitter and her needles, patterns, buttons and wool.

As a knitter my idea of heaven is being able to knit whatever I am inspired to knit and having exactly what I need at hand to knit it. That means lots of needles of different sizes and lengths, wool in colours that we like to wear and enough metreage for anything from a hat right through to a women's cardigan.

I cannot believe it's been over a week and I still haven't shown you the delicious yarns I bought at the Australian Sheep and Wool show.

I loved every second of the shopping. The sheds full of stalls of colours, textures, and all sorts of wools. The different brands I'd heard of but never fondled. And the ideas and inspiration and loveliness. I found the most gorgeous 8ply merino wool at Yellow Cat (the grey and the blue above) and the Craft Circle (the green).

I bought all the wooden buttons I could find at the button stall. Gosh I adore wooden buttons. Now I just have to find the perfect patterns to show them off.

I bought Wooli, the recycled wool above, off some lovely women with a crafty shop in Brunswick street.

It's made in New Zealand using all the scraps off the factory floor; wool, alpaca, silk, cashmere, possum. It's deliciously soft and Indi has already claimed it for a loose knit cowl.

I also bought a few cheap one kilo bags of Pear Tree yarn. Gorgeous colours and just so terribly soft. But they are in their plastic bags and I don't want to take them out until it's time to cast on. And shiny plastic doesn't photograph all that well does it.

And lastly, we bought a couple of skeins of the most divine chunky sofTrope hand spun for farmer boy's beanies. 

My farmer boy wears a beanie every single day and is very particular about what he likes and what he doesn't. He spent a while choosing the colours, chatting with the spinner and then describing the pattern to me.

When we got home, I wound the first skein into a ball immediately. Then I found the largest circular needles I own (6.5) and casted on 64 stitches (the tram we used to catch from our childhood home into the city).

Then I knit, knit, knitted for a few hours and it was done. Speedy!! Gosh I love the chunky stuff.

In case you'd like to make your own Farmer Boy Beanie...

Cast on 64 stitches.
Join in the round.
Knit 2, purl 2 rib for about 20cm.

Decrease rounds.
1) Knit 2, purl 2 together. (48)
2) Knit 2, purl 1. (48)
3) Knit 2 together, purl 1. (32)
4) Knit 1, purl 1. (32)
5) Knit 2 together. (16)
6) Knit around. (16)
7) Knit 2 together. (8)
8) Thread the tail through all of the remaining 8 stitches.
Pull tight. Fasten off.
Darn in ends.

And please let me know if you make one, I'd love to see.

He loves it. He has barely taken it off since I cast off.

So that's me and my treasures.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend.
Are you?
Do you have anything exciting planned?
What are you making/baking/growing/going/reading?
Have you added to your stash lately?
Do you agree that the stash building can be just as much fun as the craft itself?

Bye! x

ps. I'm on The Country Style blog!!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!

Rainbow beanie.

The days are getting colder and wetter and I have a gazillion practical things on my to knit and crochet list. Scarves and beanies and jumpers and legwarmers and gloves and and and... But when I found a picture of this hat on pinterest, I just knew it'd have to jump the queue and take the number one spot.

Who can resist a rainbow granny beanie??

Not me! That's for sure.

I used this wonderful pattern.
I used a 4.5 hook.
I used lots of scrappy bits of yarn.
I added the ears just because I like ears on beanies.
I crocheted it last night and sewed the ends in this morning.
It makes me happy.

What's making you happy at the moment?
What sort of things jump to the top of your to do list?
What are you making?
Are you going to crochet a rainbow granny beanie?
Have you ever used a recipe/pattern/idea off pinterest?

Happy Sunday lovelies.

See ya. x

HAPPY new week!

HAPPY new week you guys!

I hope it's full of good news, good fun and lots of inspiration.
Let's not sweat the small stuff, but look bigger and higher and wider.
Let's all be fabulous!

It's going to be a sunny week here.
I'm planning lots of gardening, honey collecting and of course the preserving continues.
What have you got on?
Anything exciting?
Hope so.

Hugest thanks to my gang for indulging my ear beanie obsession.
Hopefully there's a pattern coming soon.

Lots-a-love,
Kate xx

On the first day.

On the first day of the new year my pot holders finally went up on the kitchen wall. Sorry about the shadowy photo, I'll take another one when the sun comes out.

I started a hat for Pepper that for some unknown reason is minute and will end up being a newborn gift. To this day I have yet to make a hat that fits the intended recipient.

I crocheted the base of a pot holder and then undid it as it was ridiculously enormous.

And I started it again in finer cotton and the size is looking much better so far.

I also spent the day in my jammies with my family and Steph, processed a gazillion eggs, watched a few episodes of Entourage and read and rewrote my new years' resolutions.

Here are last year's;

1. Make myself a piece of clothing. (nope!)
2. Make a quilt. (nope!)
3. Keep a visual diary. (Does this blog count?)
4. Drink more water. (Does the water in coffee count?)
5. Dance more. (Fame, Justine Clarke, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, High School Musical...hmmm)
6. Read more books. (I've read a some but mainly craft books.)
7. Make and bake lots. (YES!)

And here are this year's;

1. Make myself and wear a piece of clothing.
2. Drink more water.
3. Crochet and knit some clothing.
4. Declutter this house.
5. Read more books.
6. Spend time individually with each member of my family, mostly Bren.

Do you write resolutions?

Do you keep them?

I hope your new year is kicking off to a great start.

Love Kate

XX

Swaps.

Last June when I first started this blog, I wrote a post about some alpaca wool that I had bought and was disappointed with when I started to crochet using it. See photo below.

One of the comments I got to that post was from Jodie, who said she would love to do a swap.

I sent her the wool and so far she has knitted this hat and this winter kerchief using it.

This week I received the most amazing package from Jodie in the mail.

It contained the 2 bowls above that Jodie crocheted from wool one of her friends made using coloured scraps left over from shearing a few years ago. They are such beautiful bowls and will definitely find a special place in my collection.

It also contained the most gorgeous pile of wool, cottons and ribbon, some bought, some handmade. My wool stash is really coming along now!

Thank you so much Jodie, I am thrilled and inspired.

I have also signed up to another one of Jodie's washer swaps. I have a month to make and send a washer and a packet of seeds to my assigned swap partner.

Last night I completed my 3rd ever knitting project, an apple washer using this pattern. Please excuse the wrinkles, I haven't worked out how to block my work yet.

I hope you are having a creative day.

I made some hats.

I made some reversible sun hats for the family.

The denim for mine came from an old pair of my jeans and the floral was from my favoutire maternity skirt.

Bren's front and back came from old, worn out work pants.

Indi's denim was from the same pair of old jeans as mine and the mushroom fabric came from Spotlight a few season's ago.

Both patterns for Jazzy's came from fabric I have had for ages in my stash.

I did make one for Pepper too, but living up to her nickname The Shifter, she has shifted it somewhere and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Her's is navy with dragonflies on one side and bubushkas on the other side.

Meanwhile, the grey band is slowly growing....

Even those skeptics who kept asking if it had changed have been quiet lately.