Last Friday Caitlyn spent half the day in hospital having a small operation.
She was not a happy camper for awhile, and Grandma gave me some money to buy her something - so she'd have something to look forward to when it was over.
This is what she said she wanted lol.
Frank and Fifi the frogs. I must admit, I think I will be passing Fifi onto Grandma to knit ;-)
Lachie has claimed it for the moment. Gotta be a part of everything!
Rav link
*warning, photo heavy lol*
My third handspun yarn was the same fibre as the first/second lot, which I dyed with food colouring again.
It turned out a lot better than I expected it to. I spun and plied it with a commercial yarn, into about a DK/8ply weight.
I matched it with some organic cotton to make the feather and fan shawl.
It's a very enjoyable, relaxing project.
After all the excitement and seeing everyone at Easter, on Sunday afternoon while everyone was still down at the beach, Lachie had a 2 hour nap at my sister's place while we watched Bruce Almighty and I knitted.
That photo is from last week sometime, I haven't taken another updated one yet.
Pattern: Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl
Web Link: here
My Rav Link: here
Yarn: handspun and Lion Brand Nature's Choice organic cotton
Needles: 6mm
I have no idea how many times I have sat down to do this and been distracted by something (or a child :P)
I have become fairly obsessed with the spinning wheel, and creating my own yarn. There is a fair amount of cheap thrills involved in knitting something that was made with fibre that you dyed, spun and then created something with.
First up is my very first project made with my second ever handspun. I am way too proud of something that is so ugly, but, meh. :-)
Here is the fibre, after I dyed it with food colouring:
After spinning:
Pattern: my own improvised design.
My Rav Link: here
Yarn: Approx 35g of DK/sport weight single ply yarn
Needles: 4mm (I think?)
As usual, more photos on my flickr.
I'm all done!
Pattern: Revontuli -huivi/Northern Lights
Web Link: here
My Rav Link: here
Yarn: Kauni Effektgarn 8/2
Needles: 5mm
More photos on my Rav page, or in Flickr
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, especially after all the problems I had with the yarn. Great pattern~!
Here's the top that Grandma just finished making for Caitlyn. It's very cute!
Pattern: Tropical Lily
My Rav Link: here
Web Link: here
Thanks Tikki!
I have actually been knitting in my absence though :-)
I have been working on this shawl for a few weeks, on and off. I think I am almost near the end, I only have one repeat of the chart left to do... but each row seems to take forever. I never thought I would enjoy purling 100s of stitches back but I like not having to count the purl row ;-)
Pattern: Revontuli -huivi/Northern Lights
Web Link: here
My Rav Link: here
Yarn: Kauni Effektgarn 8/2
Needles: 5mm
I found this pattern a bit hard to get my head around at first, probably because the author is from a non-english speaking background, I think. Not her fault anyway :-)
After a few repeats I didn’t really have to look at the chart anymore, so this shawl has happened rather quickly! It’s a lot of fun watching the colours play out, and I’m finding it pretty addictive.
After knitting with the 2 part balls that I have rewound, I have completed the purple section. I have noticed that the purple - instead of gradually fading to the next colour, (like the other colours have) - is plied with a light blue, creating a tweed effect that is completely different to the rest of the yarn. It appears that there is no dark blue at all, just purple that is plied to light blue, which then fades back to green.
I am pretty bummed at how the colour sequence had to turn out (no choice after removing all the knots and dodgy joins).
I’m sure I’ll be more happy with it after it’s done and blocked.
I can't believe he is 2 already! ... I really, can't... believe it.
I don't have a baby anymore :-(
Don't have much time, just a quick photo of the birthday cupcakes. It is so hot and humid here today, the icing is melting within minutes... I had to go put them in the fridge...
Thanks Lesley for your great recipe!
(no comments about my crappy icing techniques please LOL)
These photos are all from the couple of days that we spent at the Kalahari indoor waterpark/resort.
You would not believe how strange it is to be swimming and riding water slides while looking out the window and seeing snow falling.
We had a really great deal on the room that we stayed in, and it was amazing, we had an electric fireplace, and 2 bedrooms... ours had a king size bed, and ensuite with a spa, and there was a big LCD tv in the living area. (and a tv in each of the bedrooms- which I don't think were used once!)
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