On my mind.

The truth is, I've got so much on my mind right now that I feel like I could explode. Happy, scared, excited, protective, nervous, overwhelmed, proud, challenged, grateful, in love...it's all there.

I've always said that I'm the type of person who deals with things intensely as they happen. I discuss, I think, I workshop and process, but then after a while its done and I can move on. A bit of a roller coaster for those around me, but its it's my way and mostly it works.

Over the past few years I've found the woolly crafts incredibly helpful in the processing of emotional stuff. If my hands are busy with a hook or some needles, it helps my mind focus on the task at hand. Its almost meditative. Hands moving, head thinking.

This morning with so much emotional stuff going on and a plan to spend some time in Melbourne next week, I have my woolly crafts on my mind. Which projects I am working on, which projects have time limits, which projects I can pick up and put down and which need a bit more thought for complicated stitch patterns and colour choices. And then if I finish the projects I am in the middle of then what next and what needles and yarn do I need and patterns do I need to print out?

At breakfast this morning, Indi asked me how many projects there are in my queue before I get to her leg warmer request. There's the Tikki pattern test, Michelle's pattern test, Dad's hot water bottle cover, Tania's baby Milo and then hers. Cables are in this winter she informed me. Thank goodness its only Autumn I thought!

So what gets you through the stressful times?

And what's on your mind today?

Why don't you play along over here.

Have a fabulous weekend and the happiest of all Mothers' Days! x

Stuff I now know.

Over the last 24 hours I have learnt that my sewing with knit fabrics phobia was completely unfounded. I haven't had a chance to hem this little dress yet, but so far it has been easy peasy mageasy.

I have also learnt that it is a good thing that I am a fabric hoarder because as soon as the knit fabric sewing urge struck, I was prepared with a whole stack of thrifted knits.

I have learnt that even though I say out loud to anyone who will listen that I am not going to buy ANY yarn when I enter a shop, usually I will still buy yarn.

I have learnt how to add text to my photos in picnik, but I have yet to learn how to get my photos out of picnik and onto my desktop.

Apologies to everyone who clicked on my post this morning only to discover that it wasn't there. Apparently, when you publish a flickr photo on your blog it means it will publish a post for you then and there.

Thank you so much to everyone who emailed me to let me know. And yes, although I can somehow work this blog, I am still technologically and computerally illiterate.

I have learnt that fresh apple muffins for breakfast makes an everyday day feel like a party.

I have learnt that sometimes the simplest inventions are the most ingenious.

That little yellow thing pulls the elastic through the hem line of a garment rather than a stupid safety pin. That clever yellow thing wont catch, or open, or bend or tear your fabric. Brilliant!

I have learnt that sometimes when you ask the op shop fairies for something specific, they deliver. A stack of fancy little cards for 40cents. Hooray!

I have learnt that I must ALWAYS measure and pin.

I have learnt that you are meant to change the needle on your sewing machine and over locker after every eight hours of sewing...hmmmm I guess about three months is a bit too long.

And I have learnt that no matter how well prepared for something you are, sometimes it takes you by surprise and feels a little sad.

What have you learnt lately?

Bye bye. xx

giveaway!!!!!!!

Hello! How are things?

I am super dooper excited because I have the most wonderful giveaway for you today.

I have a hooded scarf package from the wonderful KnitKnit at Olive and me.

KnitKnit make up knitting project packages that are suitable for first time knitters and really for anybody at all who would love to knit themselves some cool accessories. If you have been wanting to learn to knit, if you know somebody else who has, if you would love to teach somebody to knit or if you've been admiring all the chunky knits in blogland and magazineland then read on because this is for you.

This giveaway Hooded Scarf Kit includes every single tool and every bit of information and even the pattern that you will need to make yourself a hooded scarf of your very own.

This package is so gorgeous and cleverly designed and if you're anything like me you'll be squealing with delight upon opening it and discovering four sausages (?) of 100% chunky wool in the most beautiful kiwi fruit colour, a pair of fat bamboo knitting needles, a funky calico bag to tote your project about in, a darning needle for the ends and the most detailed knitting lessons and patterns you have ever seen. Oh how I could have used a package like this that takes all the guess work out of knitting when I was learning last year.

One of my favourite parts of the instruction booklet is the grid of knit and purls that you cross off as you go so you don't even have to count. The very lovely Anna from KnitKnit has really thought of everything.

This is the brown paper package that it all comes in. Cute non?

Anna also very generously sent a kit for me to try out too and let me tell you I'm loving it. Chunky wool and fat needles mean quick results and that can only be a good thing, right? The package arrived yesterday morning and I cast on immediately and I couldn't stop knitting. By bedtime I had cast off the hood part and am looking for a spare moment today to cast on the scarf.

My Farmer Boy has been laughing at me though, he says after the thin wool and fine needles I've been using for months, looking at me knitting with these chunky ones makes me look like a cartoon character knitting. Everything is big!

So there you have it folks.

Leave me a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner later in the week.

While you are waiting why don't you check out the KnitKnit website and all the other project kits available and if you are from Melbourne you could visit the KnitKnit stand at the Autumn/Winter Finders Keepers market on the 26th and 27th of March.

Have fun out there. XX

On knitting.

Two nights ago I was searching the internet for crochet garment patterns when I decided it was time to learn how to knit.

Don't get me wrong, I adore crochet but I have this urge to make some everyday jumpers and cardigans for my girls and I and the crochet patterns available just seem bulky and dated.

So yesterday morning we went to the op shop for some knitting needles. There was a whole jar full of them but most of them didn't have pairs, a whole lot of them were those double ended needles and then the rest were too fine for a beginner like me. I bought the thickest needle that had a pair and the quilt above that has been named 'the quilt Mum lies and knits on while the girls are on their scooters at the skate park quilt.'

I started by knitting a beanie but got impatient with the fact that it was taking so long to get anywhere and that I can already crochet beanies. Then I found a pattern for a cross over top and started on the largest size. Because of the size of the needles I'm still not sure if it will fit Miss Pepper or an eight week old baby friend of ours.

I like the rhythm of knitting.

I like the variety of patterns available.

I like saying '...at the end of this row.'

I like how neat and uniform knitting stitches look.

I like learning a new craft.

I like that knitting is making me think.

I like the range of gorgeous knitting patterns there are out there.

I don't like how much stuff you need for knitting; end stopper thingies, row counters, circular needles, stitch holders, cable needles, needles with pairs...

I don't like how last night I found a hole in my knitting and it took me hours to undo it, put all the stitches back on the needles and then knit it all up again.

I don't like how many stitches there are to deal with at once. With crochet it is really only one stitch at a time, if you drop it, its easy to find it again.

I don't like how mysterious it all seems to a beginner. A bit overwhelming really.

I don't like how slow I am at it.

In the time that its taken to knit half a garment, I've trawled many knitting sites bookmarking patterns as I go. I feel a bit excited about the possibilities.

I hope you are enjoying whatever it is you are making at the moment.

Basket of Craft.

This is the basket that contains all the current knitting and crochet projects I am working on. There are bundles of wool piled in different places around the house, but these are the right now, can't live without, must have with me all the time items.

This basket travels with me from room to room at home and then out of the house to school assemblies, waiting rooms, friends' houses, cafes and car trips.

It contains my knitting project which is sadly at a standstill as I have run out of that beautiful wool and the shop was closed when I went to try and buy more yesterday.

Lots of crochet hooks, needles for darning in ends and scissors. I will one day soon sew up some type of lovely bag for these items to be carried in..

My granny square thing that possibly could become a laptop cover.

A partly completed beanie.

A bowl.

Some gorgeous wool that I had to buy because the shop is next to my hairdresser. I used most of another ball of this over the past 2 nights to make the skirt of a dress but unraveled it this morning when the tension was funny on one side.

And some random balls of cotton and wool that might inspire me because of the beauty of their colour or the loveliness of their texture to create something wonderful.

I am loving how portable these wool crafts are.

When I was in my twenties I drove up to Byron on holiday with my sewing machine in the boot of my car. I could not be without my craft for any period of time. Not much has changed since then but let me tell you this basket is slightly more convenient than my Bernina.

I Can Knit!

There is a shared memory in my family of a time when I was little, when after sitting quietly by myself with a book for a while I shouted 'I CAN READ!'

Well last night I had a similar life moment.

I CAN KNIT!

Thanks of course to Mrs Doily for the idea, the needles and the wool.

Thanks to Leonie for faxing me through the hat pattern.

Thanks Mr Google for putting me in touch with all the online lessons for casting on, knit stitch, purl stitch and stocking stitch.

And thanks Bren for putting up with my ignoring you all night last night and speaking the instructions to each stitch out loud over and over.

I do find knitting a bit clumsy compared to crochet and it is much harder to pick up stitches once you have pulled a section apart but I am starting to find the rhythm and I am really enjoying it.

If anyone out there has some inspiring knitting sites, ideas or patterns for beginners I'd love to check them out.