The End is Nigh!

Not that end but the end of the KAL. Just read that the next issue of Yarn is confirmed for publication in March 2008. This will be issue #9, which will signal the end of the KAL once it hits the newstands. I'm really looking forward to seeing what y'all have done over the holiday period when we all (allegedly) had plenty of time to knit!



As for my shenanigans, at the moment, the sheep are purple and their grass is green and growing longer. I've knit 14 of the 16cms to reach the arm holes. Woot! Him Indoors thinks the sheep look more like Scottie dogs. What does he know?

Two steps forward, one back

I am still lurking in blogland but have been a tad quiet - mainly because I haven't made much knitting progress. I now have something to show and tell so here goes.....

The Angel Puff Scarf is ready for felting. I hope I haven't put the hazelnuts too close together!!

I ran out of time to finish the Florianne's Wedding Bag for my niece for Christmas. Her birthday is in June - I'll aim for that! Only some finishing bits'n'pieces to do.

The Swirly Girl Socks made reasonable progress until I realised the swirly pattern got lost within the dark colours. And then, I discovered a dropped stitch at least 8 rows down. So the sock got yanked off the needles for a good froggin' and a new sock was started in a lighter colourway. I have not made it to the swirl pattern yet as I decided to make the ribbing a bit longer than the pattern suggests.

I may be a tad quiet for the next couple of weeks as I will be away for work (in the WA desert) but I promise to keep knitting on the sock when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. I am

trying to work up the courage to sneak the sock onto the plane.

YARN KAL button

Courtesy of Kylie, who learnt how to do buttons especially for the KAL, I present the Yarn KAL button. Thanks Kylie! This feels like an official KAL now. Here's the html & directions to place in your blog.

Go to Template then add Page Element and paste in the html link and paste it in there (or wherever you keep your KAL links) and that should work.



This design feat is doubly impressive given that Kylie has also been caring for her 2yo daughter, Amelia, churned out lots of projects, moved house and being enormously pregnant. There's happy news on that front. Baden Nicholas William Pearse arrived 10.45am Friday 25th January, weighing 8lb and measuring 51cm. Go on over and send her your congratulations : )

I was just surfing and seeing that Yarn #3 and #5 haven't been knit from as yet. Any takers?

This is the current state of the Baby Snug - blocked and ready for the chain crochet edging. This is my first attempt to crochet anything so I'm starting on something that I hope will be simple. If it sucks badly, I'll do a wee I-cord and sew that on. Can crocheting be any worse than sewing on miles of I-cord?

Despite previous declarations, my next project is 'My Fair Baby" by Sarah Golder in Yarn Issue 4. I've made a little progress and am just about through the border of the back. I love doing stranded stuff. I find the charts really easy to read; easier than lace charts anyway! Aren't the wee sheep gorgeous? There's lots

of options as to borders but I've decide on sheep. And purple sheep at that! I'm on a yarn diet. I bought my last ball of yarn at the last Sn'nB and from now on what I've got will have to do this KAL!

Finished Object

Here is the Neckerchief, finished, and ready to be sent off to the Knitter's Project.

Yes it was cold at the beach on this day.

Post Labels

Hey folks, could you please use the labels for your patterns when post about your projects? I just thought that it would be cool if I added a labels list to one side so people will be able to jump to all the posts about a particular pattern. I've taken the unmannerly liberty of updating the posts' labels so we can easily jump to other posts on the same subject. Sorry if this annoys anyone...

The Baby Snug

Hey folks, I'm back again and raring to go. I've cast on the baby snug while I was on the road but I completely forgot Barb's advice from my post, ie that there was errata which would need to be taken into account. Only just remembered it when I checked my last post about what I was knitting. Man, I frustrate myself sometimes. OK, shall pull out and re-do. In the meantime I've settled on Paton's Bluebell for the snug and will do it in purple and green. As Taph says, good feminist colours : )

Big Red

I loved doing the Coffee Couture so much, I turned around and did it all again but bigger and redder.

It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow. 67 he'll be and finding a gift is increasingly difficult. His plunger is the 12 cup size, so I did some maths and added two extra cable patterns and cast on 100 stitches. I did an extra half a pattern repeat in length as well.

This yarn wasn't as thick as the first lot, so the cosy is a little more stretched out. After sewing the ribbing together I picked up 22 stitches along one edge leaving a little room for the handles, double ribbed for 5 rows, chucked in 3 yo button holes in the next row, then two more double rib rows and cast off in rib. This band could have been a little longer, but it will do.

I finally got to use these very cute wooden Scottish Terrier buttons again. I bought a heap of them at the Lisa Ho factory outlet in Sydney years ago and the last time I used them was on cot doona covers for the twins who turn 13 next month.


A workmate pointed out today that we could use a cosy on the plunger at work. Do you reckon I could just knit these until the end of the KAL?

Sock it to you!

Well I have finished my first project for the KAL! Amazing what happens when I rest. I have completed the 'sock topper' from Issue 8 and also a little vest!

I asked DH if he would like a matching set and the response I recieved was "Don't you dare!" Tempting isn't it. I still have a little of the wool left so though that I would see if I can find a little bootee pattern or maybe a little jumper for one of Amelia's teddies.

Amelia tries it on for size

Progress (again)

I've got my act together...reading all instructions twice, just in case.

It's the Rosehip Waistcoat by Judith Avery from Issue 2.

I'm using 2 yarns held together, one thick & one thin. I raided my stash & pulled out all the textural blues. Lots of Sean Sheep, Rowan Spray & a recycled Sari Silk.

I Frog, Therefore I Am

Knit for 10 cm (NOT inches), shape for 25 cm (NOT inches).

Coffee Couture

Coffee Couture by Megan Longhurst from Yarn 6.

MATERIALS: Just under 50g of an 8ply recycled from an op-shop jumper.

ALTERATIONS: None, but I'm tossing up about picking up some of the side stitches and making a button placket for added warmth.

It's a lovely quick knit. Perfect for last minute gifts. Not that there's anything last minute about this one - it's a 2008 Christmas gift for coffee loving friends. Oh, and I've added the pattern to Ravelry if you want to queue it.

I've got to make another of these, but larger, this week for Dad's birthday on Thursday. Will cast on tonight.

Vested Interest

Jelly Belly vest by Jenny McElhinney from Issue 1, December 2005. I call this one Coconut Ice, because that's what the yarn looks like.

SIZE: One size 12-18 months

YARN: 2 x 50g balls Nastro Four Seasons cotton/acrylic blend. It's a weird yarn. 2 chains of different colours, in this case a pinky apricot and a cream that sit flat like a tape. Knits up pretty, though, and has an interesting texture.

ALTERATIONS: Knitted in the round to the underarms, then flat so there were only the shoulder seams to sew. Also, I used the same finishing on the armholes as the neckline instead of the pattern's double rib, mostly because I was concerned about running out of yarn. As it turns out, the concerns were well founded and I have a scant 4m left.

There's another one of these on the needles which might get fininished tomorrow if I actually sit down and knit it.

Happy New Year to you all. :)