Sheep tam.

I just had to share this with you all! 

If you are a Ravelry user I am sure you have seen this tam pattern or the similar tea cosy pattern whilst lurking around the pages. A fellow spinner brought this hat along for show and tell at our last Spinners and Weavers Guild meeting. She knitted this from seven different alpaca yarns that she spun herself! All natural colours. I was in awe and just had to grab some photos for you all using my iPhone (so they are a touch grainy). If you are a fellow knitter or spinner, or just love a good quality knit, I know you will appreciate this ...

Sam xox

February beret complete.

To match my Lemon Myrtle scarf, I knitted up this beret in the same Rooster Almerino DK yarn. The pattern is called February Beret and can be found at Sock Pixie for free.

The pattern is knitted initially on DPN's, as you need to make an icord. Then a circular needle is used, changing to DPN's when needed.

I would not recommend this pattern for the beginning knitter, as the process of grafting well over 100 stitches onto the icord I found really tricky (this was only my second knitting project). Once the stitches are on and a few rows have been stitched, the whole process becomes much more enjoyable, especially when the beautiful pattern begins to emerge.

And, just to show you what a cozy hat this is to wear in winter, here is a terribly grainy pic from my phone...

Details can be found at my Ravelry account.

Sam xox

Lemon myrtle scarf.

This scarf was made using the pattern The Cream of Spinach Scarf by Larissa Brown's. In keeping with the food-themed name, I will call my version the Lemon Myrtle Scarf.

The yarn I used was Rooster AlmerinoDK in Custard. I purchased mine from The Yarn Cafe and it was shipped to Australia quickly. The pattern is brilliantly easy and stitches up a dream. I especially love the scalloped ends that the pattern creates. 

I would recommend this pattern to all knitting levels, as the pattern is disbelievingly simple to knit.

Details can be found at my Ravelry account.

Sam xox

Fast baby cardigan #2.

This little blog has been neglected of late. Real life some how got in the way. The weeks have rolled by, winter has arrived, and somehow it is almost the middle of the year (can you believe it?). I have been very busy at work lately, with my roster a bit all over the place knocking me out of routine. I made an effort this weekend to get back to my sewing machine, and with very pleasing results, but more about that another time.

For now I will show you something that has been a WIP for too long! This is the second Fast Baby Cardigan I have made. You might remember I made one of these some months back? Well this latest version, Cardigan 2.0, is for some dear friends of mine in The Neatherlands who have a baby due to arrive early July. While it will be a summer bub, it won't be too long before the cooler months arrive in the North, and the little one will need a warm woollen cardigan to keep it cozy.

I was really satisfied with Cardigan 2.0, as I managed to knit in button holes! I know, sounds obvious but the first time I knitted this pattern it was my first knitted object ever and I just assumed that button holes would be explicitly included in the pattern (they are not). Snaps covered up this error with the first cardigan, but second time round I was determined to do it properly, and I am very pleased with the result...

 I am trying to improve how I sew up my raglan sleeves, and think this one turned out ok.

 A close-up of the button holes.

If you're on Ravelry, feel free to friend me, I would love to see what you're knitting!

Sam xox

February Beret progress.

Ironic really that I am knitting the February Beret in February. I am only 1 inch away from finishing the gull lace pattern, then it is on to some basic garter stitching to finish. I am thrilled with how it is looking and am wishing summer away too quickly in order to be able to wear this.

I am using the circular needles and yarn I bought recently from The Yarn Cafe. The yarn is deliciously soft on my hands and perfect for this pattern. I also indulged in some quality circular needles that promised not to twist - and they haven't once!

To begin this pattern you have to knit up an icord. No, it's not some fancy stitch designed by Apple. I tried to 'read' how to knit an icord but I couldn't quite wrap my brain around it, so I resorted to Plan B (Youtube). This video demonstrates how to knit an icord perfectly.

I have been reflecting a bit on why I have taken to knitting so quickly and intensely in the last month, and left sewing on the back burner for a bit. I am known to my friends to be someone who takes to things quickly and strongly, but this is a little different. Life has been so very stressful of late and I feel that things are beginning to get on top of me. Homesickness is getting to me, which would be fine on its own, but it is the latest in a long series of stressors. I feel like my tank is running on empty and I can't be the perfect wife/friend/worker that I want to be. I guess none of us are perfect really. Knitting is different to sewing. It has brought me a sense of calm and quiet that I guess only a ball of wool and some needles can do.

If you want to knit one of these berets for yourself, you can find the pattern for free here (you don't need a Ravelry account to access it).

Sam xox

From 'The Yarn Cafe'.

I placed my first yarn order at The Yarn Cafe in the UK and it came within two weeks! It was really well packed and everything arrived safely. I ordered some rose wood square knitting needles, a circular needle, and enough yarn to knit up a scarf and two tams.

~ Rooster DK yarn in "Custard" ~

~ Rooster DK yarn in Cornish ~

I loved the Custard yearn so much I even arranged for The Yarn Cafe to send a little care package to Mill (two balls of Custard plus a set of circular knitting needles). We are going to do a knit-along of this pattern.

I can't speak highly enough of The Yarn Cafe. The yarn and needles are top quality and the range of products they sell are dreamy. I think this Rico Essentials Soft Marino yarn might be my next purchase...

~ Happy stitching ~

Sam xox

Knitted baby cardigan complete.

It's finished!

My first ever baby knit had the final button stitched on yesterday. This cardigan took me two weeks to make. The pattern is called "Fast Baby Cardigan" and is available on Ravelry here for free (you will need to make a Ravelry account to be able to access the pattern).

I am thrilled with the end result and I think it is the perfect size for a baby 3-6 months of age (I knitted the smallest size). As the parents are not finding out what they are having, I used a gender neutral coloured wool (Patons Dreamtime 8ply).

The only adjustment I made to the pattern was to replace the moss stitching with ribbed stitching as I like this look much better.

Next time I will definitely stitch in button holes, as the snaps were a little tricky to sew on.

I am thrilled with this result and I hope the mum-to-be will be too :-)

I think I can now add 'knitting' to my stitching repertoire!

Sam xox

Baby cardigan progress.

For years I never understood knitting. I know it sounds silly, but I just couldn't get my mind around how two needles and a ball of wool could be woven together to create something. Mill patiently tried to teach me over 6 years ago when we lived together. Full of excitement and enthusiasm I bought some acrylic wool and plastic needles and tried to knit a scarf. A simple stocking stitch scarf. It wasn't too many rows in when it all began to unravel (metaphorically speaking). Somehow I kept getting holes in my knitting. Somehow I managed to knit these holes so they didn't unravel. This was the only thing about my knitting that marvelled Mill. She was a patient teacher, but after a while we both knew it was a hopeless endeavour and we returned to our familiar habits; wool in her hand, and a quilt in mine.

Last weekend I decided to try again. I selected this pattern and gathered supplies. This week, every evening, I have sat quietly after dinner and knitted. And I've enjoyed it. I have learnt a lot from this pattern (with the assistance of a vintage Patons Woolcraft booklet, YouTube and the internet). I now know what PSSO, K2tog, M1and pick up stitch all mean. I have shaped raglan sleeves, used multiple stitch holders, learnt to use a stitch counter, knitted in stockinette stitch and moss stitch. I even did some backwards knitting, after I realised I garter stitched a row I should have been purling... Listen to how 'knitty' I speak now :-)

I ran into a bit of trouble though what I realised I had not stitched in any button holes along the way. The pattern doesn't clearly instruct you to do this, so I had assumed they would be included in the pattern somehow. I made an emergency Skype call to Mill who assured me that it was f'ine, and she suggested I sew on some push studs, and sew the buttons on decoratively instead. Plus, she said we know how wiggly little babies can be, maybe push studs will be easier for the mother?" I hope so, as I don't want to try doing this to get button holes in the cardigan post-knitting!

~ This vintage booklet has been teaching me all the basic stitches ~

Thanks Mill for giving me the trans-continental knitting lesson! Who knows, when we are finally together again we might be knitting fair isle side by side?

Sam xox

Beware: Learning in progress.

I've started knitting. Seriously knitting. Like ordering wool online, purchasing a pattern and proper needles kind of knitting. I'm nervous and excited and so very confused by some of the pattern instructions, but with my Paton's Woolcraft: How to Knit booklet beside me (and the internet) I am working it all out.

It's going well so far. I have begun knitting a baby cardigan for my friend who is due in June, which will be winter for us down here. She is not finding out the gender, so I am playing it safe and knitting in a cream/neutral coloured 100% Merino wool. It's hard to make attractive gender neutral baby gifts, I was originally going to knit something up in a dark navy, but thought better of it. I reasoned girl babies could wear navy, however I wasn't sure my friend would think this was ok, so plain creamy beige it is.

It's been fun to see a number of other bloggers out there also pick up the knitting needles for 2012 (or earlier) and creating some beautiful things.

Some knitting Etsy love...

~ Susan Bates Knitting Needles ~

~ Begin to knit ~

~ 9" Boye Needles ~

~ Vintage English bone handled tools ~

~ Circular Knitting Needle Case ~

~ Bakelite knitting needles ~

Are you on Ravelry? I have finally spent some time on this website and it is seriously amazing - a Burda Style of the knitting world (or is Burda Style a Ravelry of the sewing world?) either way, it is a great online community and has taught me quite a bit thus far. My Ravelry profile is 'hand-quilter' if you want to say hi :-)

Sam xox