Glen Isla {Test Knit}

As the weather starts to cool here in Australia we start to see the designers from Oz crank out the patterns.

I love nothing more than test knitting for Tikki and when she said she was after test knitters I again stuck my knitting needles high in the air.

This yarn has been in stash for some time.  It is an Evoke Hand Dyed Yarn which I purchased in Brisbane close to five years ago.  After the most recent of moves and the limited storage that I have here I am making a real effort to use what I have in stash before buying anything else new.

This beanie was meant to be for me.  What do you think the chances of getting it back are?

Pattern : Glen Isla by Tikki
Yarn :   Evoke Hand Dyed Yarns: Four Bags Full Merino (8ply)  Earth Mother
             Biggan Designs (8ply) Magenta for the brim
Needles :  3.5  and 4mm

 

WIP WEDNESDAY :: The next generation

I have fond memories of my mother making most of my clothes growing up.  I was of the tall, skinny variety and going clothes shopping was a nightmare (If my Mother had the skills to make my shoes I believe she would have done that too)

Visiting my Grandparents was always fun.  I would sit and watch my Grandmother create the most beautiful items and was always excited if we managed to be visiting during the final fitting of the next local Bride's head piece or veil before she walked down the isle. Sitting and watching on from the bed as she looked at herself in the mirror.  Then down to the back steps and watched as my Grandfather pressed and would often be taking up a pair of too long pants for himself or my Mum (he was a Tailor by trade)


So it comes as no surprise that I have past on the love of creating things with ones hands to my children.

This project has been nine months in the making and she is almost at the end.  Amelia has plans of entering it in the local show here next weekend.  I'm looking forward to seeing it hanging up and her feeling the sense of achievement you get when finishing a long term project.

Joining in with The Dove Nest :: Wednesday WIP linky.

{WIP} A little knitting

Where do the days and weeks go.  I have had huge intentions to sit down and blog for so long now, but it seems to be the last thing on my 'to-do' list and then it just never gets done.

I have been knitting though and I have a few things to share that have been completed of late.

Today I'm working on a jumper for Master B.  I am loving the cable that runs up where a standard seam would run and have just cast on the second arm.  I'm hoping to have it finished for him by the end of next week and have [hopefully] made it big enough to fit next year as well.

And to get me into blogging again I thought that I might join in on a few Linky's  So pop on over and see what Little White Dove is up to and join in too.


What is in your WIP pile?
Is it still cold in your part of the wrold?
What Linky's and blogs are you enjoying at the moment?

{Somewhere Over the Rainbow}

It's been a while since I have had a finished knit off of the needles. 

This was on the needles for three months and I am in love with it. 

The pattern is by Julia Stanfield (aka Just One WIP) and is called Western Hills - The Blanket and what's better, it is free. 

This is the second time I have knitted this blanket and it is quickly becoming my go-to baby gift at the moment.  It takes a little longer to finish, but the end result is worth it.  There have also been requests for one in an adult sized one, I somehow don't think that it will be on a set of knees for this winter but is certainly something to aim towards. 

The yarn in this one was a hand dyed pack that I purchased 2 years ago by Red Ridinghood Yarns, the colours are amazing. I'm currently attempting to knit from my stash, so the only thing purchased was the white from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

 

There are more knits on the needles at the moment as it has cooled down somewhat and again I remind myself that I should be more organised, mybe next year.
 
What is on your needles at the moment?
Have you been doing anything crafty?

Blue Blanket

It has been a long time between posts (I really need to do something about that don't I)  I don't know about you, but the year is screaming past at an alarming rate and I can not believe that we are only just over two months until Christmas again.

Anyway,  Whilst I have not been blogging I have been knitting.  I finished a bassinet sized blanket for a friend for her baby shower and it was very well received.  It is always nice to receive thanks for a gift that you put many hours into creating.

The pattern is Western-hills - The blanket  by Julia Stanfield.  It is a free pattern and a delight to knit up. There will be more of these and I'm thinking that the next one might be a rainbow inspired piece.

More information can be found here.

Where is the year disappearing?

I don't know about you but this year has disappeared at an alarming rate and before long it will be Christmas and we will be wrapping up another year.

The car speedometer says that I have done alot of km's in the car this year and I know that it is not lying.  Baden is attending a kinder two towns and 30km from home.  Then there is the swimming and dance lessons in town and back and forwards from Melbourne for different appointments and it feels like I am never out of the car.

I have also managed to get myself onto two committees this year.  I am scaling down next year (I know famous last words) and will stay on one.

There is knitting happening here and there and then there is the pile of material that I bought at the very beginning of winter that I had massive plans to sew things for myself that is still sitting taunting me from a to-do pile.

I would also love to get back into regular blogging.  Hi to all those that have hung around waiting for the next post to pop up in your reader.  So to kick things off I thought that I would join in with Pip's Taking Stock

Making :  An Eco Fairy for a WWFY job
Cooking :  30 second Orange cake
Drinking :  Raspberry, Strawberry and Loganberry Tea
Reading:  The End of Your Life Book Club (have a feeling it is a box of tissues read)
Wanting:  More time in my day
Looking:  At the pile of washing that needs tending too
Playing:  Connect 4 with the kids
Wasting:  To much time on Pinterest
Sewing:  A calico strip on the back of a blanket for a friend
Wishing:  That my sore neck would take a hike
Enjoying:  Listening to the kids laugh
Waiting: For Tim to come home
Liking:  My special friends that are more like family here due to our closeness
Wondering: What next year will bring
Loving: That my Mum hoped on a plane at a moments notice to come down and spend the week  
               with us so I could go into Melbourne for a few appointments and not worry about the kids  
               or being back for school collection.
Hoping:  That tomorrow's morning tea goes well
Marvelling:  That Baden has done so well with his speech this year and so many people have         
                       commented on how well he has done and how they can now understand him.
Needing:  To do grocery shopping
Smelling:  Dinner in the slow cooker
Wearing:  My bright yellow cowl
Following:  Two kids on their bikes
Noticing:  The change in the seasons just around the corner
Knowing:  I am loved
Thinking:  Of what I should be doing
Feeling:  Overwhelmed
Bookmarking:  Ideas for School Holiday Craft Program
Opening:  Bills
Giggling:  With the kids

Do you find that the year is flying by?
Do you need extra time in your day to get everything done?
What have you been making?

{my creative space} Nati

 

 

This is the one that time forgot.  I knitted it at the very end of winter last year.  Swiftly took a few photos and put it away in the wardrobe for this year.
With the sudden change of weather and winter arriving with frosty mornings I climbed to the top of the wardrobes to see what treasures had been tossed up there. 
This has been on a constant cycle of wear, wash, dry and wear of recent weeks.
I love the pattern and love the cropped look and definitely think that there needs to be another one on the needles for me soon as this one is getting so much wear.  Next time I will knit it a little longer.  I love the cropped look of this one (and Suzanne and Trinity would approve) but it doesn't do much for keeping the lower back and kidneys warm and this yarn (Patons, Wilderness - which I've been told by my local yarn store that they think that it is now discontinued) is too thick to wear with a jacket.

Off to catch up on the crafty happenings via villagevoices/my creative space

May Milo Mania {My Creative Space}

I have been so busy knitting for a showcase that I failed to blog about it. I have taken part in May Milo Mania over at Little Brown Owl's facebook page.

What is May Milo Mania you ask?
Lori came up with the idea to get as many tiKKi Milo License holders together in the month of May and have a show case of Milo's.

 

Why May?
The Milo was released by Georgie in May 2009 with over 6100 projects it is by far tiKKi's most popular pattern.

What is the Milo?
A simple seamless vest knit in the round from the top down.Designed for DK/8 ply weight yarn. in sizes newborn to size 6 it is a great pattern for someone learning to knit.
I have knitted over 20 of them myself and have held the cottage license for years and until now have only ever knitted for gifts.

 The first Milo I knitted back in 2009

If you would like a little of my knitting in your home and have a little girl who loves dressing up Dolls.  This adorable Milo is still available.  It fits Australian/American Dolls, Cabbage Patch and Baby Born, Baby Alive and dolls of similar sizes. 

Keep an eye on my facebook page Mealy and I.  I am planning on offering Custom Knit slots from time to time and knitted items from time to time. 

I'm off to enjoy a cup of Milo and check out what other crafting has been happening over at Village Voices.

That 70's Jumper {My Creative Space}

A knit for the boy.

Baden came home from Kinder a few weeks back and asked for a new woolly jumper, beanie, gloves and a scarf. He chose the colours and I set to work creating him a new jumper for winter.

The colours just scream 70's to me. But I love that this five year old boy will still wear (with pride) something that his Mum has created.

I quess I will have to make a start on a new beanie and a scarf for him next and he has already put in his next jumper order "a blue one with cables"

Pattern details can be found here

Joining in with these crafty bloggers

My Creative Space

I have been knitting here and there this week.  Tim is still recovering from Hip Reconstruction surgery.  At home I am doing all the normal things that I do + putting on some one's socks and shoes.  I think they call it love.
The weather has turned cool and both the kids have grown out of every single knitted item that they own.  Being the only knitter in the family means that I am going to be busy (and I should have started long before this, when will I learn?)

The knitting has been coming everywhere with me. Dancing and Swimming, to waiting in the park soaking up the last sun that Autumn had to offer us last week while I waited for Kinder to conclude.
I can not believe that winter is only two weeks away.  I am no where near prepared. 
Have your hands been busy?

Joining in with these busy, crafty souls

Lacey and Grey

I had huge plans of being organised in the gift giving department this year.  It may have helped if I was on top of things at the start of the year.

In October I gifted my Mum a ball of yarn for her birthday. She unwrapped it and gave it back to me for it to be knitted up (tell me that I am not the only knitter that has done this?)

So, the yarn has finally been knitted into a beanie for her.  I have another ball of this luscious yarn that will become a cowl for her. The yarn is soft and cuddly and I think that my neck and head are in need of a little of this as well.

It has finally cooled down here.  We have been very lucky to have a beautiful Autumn and it almost feels like we have skipped a season (which is a little sad, Autumn would have to be my favourite season, especially when we have a southern posting)

I have huge plans for winter and covering my family in knits.  I know that I am dreaming and that I will not get half of it done. But I am going to try and have at least on wearable item and one accessory each.

Are your needles and hook busy preparing for winter?
What is your favourite season?

bebé Piper

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the babe that came from this belly.  And what fun I had.

 I knitted her a little mohair wrap and crocheted a little headband.  Miss P was three weeks old in these photos.  She was the perfect princess and continued to sleep like this with another blanket on top of her for her Mum for another three hours after I finished taking photos of her.

Floating though the weeks...

Where oh where has the past 6 weeks gone?  I did not mean to have that long of a blogging break.

The start of the school year has been crazy.  All have settled in well.  Amelia hit Year 2 running and ready to learn.  Baden is doing a second year of Kinder to give his confidence and language a little help before the formal learning years begin.  He has developed so much in the first 6 weeks at a new Kinder that we know that we have made the right decision.

Me, I am floating through the days in an attempt to keep on top of everything. I spend many hours driving and sitting around waiting for Kinder, Dancing and Swimming to finish (the story of every Mum I am certain)  I have been attempting to utilize this time away from the house and write shopping lists, knit and have even managed to read a book (with another on the the ipad ready to read)

I hope that you are all well. Is the weather cooling down where you are?  We have had a long hot, dry Summer this year and I am looking forward to Autumn finally getting its act together and working out that it is her turn.

 
Do you have any plans for this cooler weather? 

Joining in over here for the first time in months.

Scapulae

Starting off on my handmade challenge on the right foot with the first gift of the year off of the needles.
A little Scapulae for our niece for her birthday.  I love how this looks on.  It needs just the right dress though to pull it off.  This is the size 3 and fits Amelia at 7.  There will be more of these on the needles, Amelia has already put in her request. I would not class this as a beginner knit. Some former knowledge of knitting an item all in one and a degree in tongue twist and octopus hands is a requirement.  I'm looking into getting the cottage licence for this cardigan.  More details over on Ravelry

Joining these crafty souls.

A Knitted Unicorn

 

 

 

Just before Christmas I received a message from a friend to see if I could knit a little something for her daughter.  As soon as I saw the pattern I just knew that I had to knit it as it would suit her personality and character so well. 
If you follow me on Instagram (I'm mealyandi over there too) you would have seen the sneak peaks.
It was a fun knit and something that I would not have normally done.  I can not wait to see Jodi's professional photos of Miss D in her Unicorn Beanie.
Do you craft out of your comfort zone?  Try it, you might be surprised.
I think that I may be knitting this again for a certain little girl that lives here.  She has plans in the making for next years Halloween costume I think.

Joining in with My Creative Spaces