Woollen lovelies in the post...

More wool, more knitting. And some crochet too! I'm really getting into the woolly crafts. These balls are destined for lots of things, like bags, leg warmers, woolly mittens and probably something for a new little niece/nephew that is busting to pop out any time soon.

Yet again trusty Bendigo Woollen Mills has delivered. The wool took around 7 days to arrive, but I did order it over a public holiday (Cup Day). But postage is free if you spend over $30, and I bought 8 balls so easily spent over this amount. I find it great value for money (around $12 for 200 g), the product is made locally and thus is ethically and environmentally preferred by me. The range of colours is enough for most of your standard projects too. I'm happy to tout their products any time...

Jesse's jumper...

The largest knitting project I have ever attempted is now complete! A jumper perfectly too large to a little nephew of mine. Just in time (well a little early really) for his birthday. Each year as he gets older, I knit him a larger jumper. One day I will be making a jumper from grown ups at this rate... The wool is trusty Bendigo Woollen Mills. I love that you are delivered big balls of wool, in 200 g lots. Two balls was more than enough for this 3 year old's jumper, and I have a little left over for some granny squares. The colour is more blue than the photos represent, with flecks of tan, cream and coffee throughout. The pattern is from a book that I bought a number of years ago - patern's probably... I've found it to be a good basics book for baby things, and this jumper is the fourth pattern I've used from it.

This project tested my persistence. I was able to work at and complete a project that took a number of weeks rather than a few days. Usually I will give up, become bored with the knitting and move on to something quick and more instantly satisfying. So I am really stoked about this. The project also solidified skills in cables. Nothing too fancy, just a plait style pattern which is effective and adds detail to a very plain jumper.

On to the next knitting thing now... More Christmas gifties to come.

What have you been making lately?

A cozy, rosey posie...

1. Crocheted Flowers, 2. Crocheted Flower, 3. Lovely flowers crochet pattern, 4. Crocheted Flower - Carnation, 5. Crocheted 5-petal buttons, 6. Crocheted 5-petal flower button array, 7. Card with the Crocheted Flower Brooch, 8. crochet flower, 9. Super happy crochet flowers!

Where did photo one and two go? As a flickr-ignorarmus I simply could not move on my favourites list to get other images in that don't mind being shared.

Camera as still vanished in our house. One went to Canada with my mum. The other is simply gone. We took it to the beach a few weeks ago, did not use it but somehow have lost it. So I can't take photos of all the crochet flowers I've been whipping up. Three so far, in pink, red and an avocado green. Instead, enjoy the lovely florals made by others.

Aren't they clever?

Cabled creations...

Jo and Matt's Cushion #1.

Pattern: Jo Sharp, Cabled Cushion

Wool: Bendigo Wollen Mills, Rustic Sandstone 8 ply

Needles: 4 mm

Knitting has been a real passion and time consumer for me this year! And I have loved it. And my skills have grown phenominally. So much so, I can now cable! I solidified my cabling skills by knitting a cushion for my sister and her fiance. Never thought I would make cushions - surely there is too much knitting involved, they get sat on, or used as trays when eating in front of the telly. But it knitted up so well. Lovely cushion, if I can say so myself. Perfect for a Chrissie gift. Perfect for a new home. Have you ever thought of knitting a cushion?

Twinkle toes...

More socks completed. This time in luscious Pear Tree yarn. 100% merino, wimsically dyed an array of colours. Snug under my boots. Perfect for trotting around the house in. Or warming one's toes next to the fire (make that a mini bar heater).

100s & 1000s socks
Pattern: Ravelry
Wool: Pear Tree Yarn 4 ply "100s & 1000s"
Needles: 3.25 mm double pointed

Knit one, knit another...

One pair of socks are completed!

One of my goals is to improve my knitting skills. And this will take a life-time to reach the master knitter level. So why not start now? I've been setting myself some knitting challenges. Circular needles... children's garments... socks. Socks are staples in the knitting world really. But prior to now, I'd not made them. I'd enjoyed the benefits of knitted socks, care of relatives with superior knitting experience. They are more warm, more durable than purchased socks. They work perfectly under boots, or when you are having a country weekend away and need to rug up. Surely I could make some...

I found knitting on double-pointed needles a challenge. And with an injured finger from sport, all the more challenging. But it certainly was an achievable task. Not quick, but not too hard. Fiddly really. With all these needles pointing in all sorts of directions. The fella wanted a plain pattern though (that is, no pattern) which significantly reduced the amount of fussing that needed to occur. Thus although time consuming to knit, there were not too bad.

Have you ever knitted socks? What sort?

Pete's Socks
Pattern: Ravelry
Wool: Opal "Ron" 4 ply wool cotton blend
Needles: 3.25 mm double pointed set of 4, steel

Knitting on the round...

What I hope to achieve:

Where I am up to:

This project is not fun! I am finding the socks tedious! Too many needles. Too fine a ball of wool. Too slow going. At least, this was my attitude a few days ago. Yesterday I conquered the heel, and the leg it knitting up just fine. Now I'm loving my sock and keen to make its twin. This beautiful wool is called 100s and 1000s and is from the Pear Tree Yarn Shop. They were exhibiting at the Stitches and Craft Fair, and I was demonstrating with their wool while volunteering. It is so soft, made from 100% merino and knits up well. I simply couldn't resist this ball with its vivid colouring. Hurrah!