On becoming a knitter...

For those of you who don't know, I am a self taught knitter.

We were married in December 2002 and by the January we were living in Canberra.  Being a girl who grew up in North Queensland I was a little worried at the prospect of the up coming winter.

So, with limited knowledge, I ventured into Lincraft, walked around and out I walked with a set of knitting needles and a kit for a scalf.  You got it - the 2003 Welcome to Knitting Scarf Kit from Lincraft complete with Feathers.

I went back to the self contained unit that I called home for 14 weeks and opened the packet.  Knit Knit Knit and I had a scarf.  So I went back - another kit came home and scarf #2 was complete.  What can I say, I was a newly wed, in a new town, no family, no friends and NO husband (he was on a course for 9 weeks - what a way to start married life)

The love of feathers and its softness continued - all up the first year in Canberra produced 17 scarfs.  Lets just say Everyone recieved one for Christmas.

I then found a local knitting store and purchased enough yarn to knit myself not one but two Cardigans. Sadly - or luckly, those two items still sit unfinished.  Another tick in the box for scary yarn on big needles.

Fast forward 18 months, we were now in Darwin and the heat got to me.  So much so that I left the feather yarns and found the love of knitting on 1.25mm needles, crochet cotton and beads. 

There was a requiement for a few little knits - friends and family started to reproduce and have offspring of there own and living down south the little ones required cute knits.  This saw the electicity bill go through the roof as I sat in front of it knitting.

Our next posting saw us move south and I knitted things for Amelia - bulky and thick.  I learnt how to knit on Double pointed needles.

My knitting took on a whole new level when we moved again.  This time I found a  local knitting group and there I have made friends that will be friends for life. These girls taught me skills that I never thought that I would be able to do. I pushed myself beyond any expectation that I had and enjoyed the challenge and ohh's and ahh's that I recieved on completing a garment. 

Fast forward to this year.  With the wonder that is Ravelry and the joy of being in a town that has quality knitting stores, I have been test knitting a few knits, and loving it.  I am able to get my hot little hands onto a pattern that has only been seen by a few people and wonder in the joy of moving yarn around the needle.  I have even tested and finished a garment for myself.

So, I got to a point where I thought that I knew it all.  I had the skills under my belt such as knitting in the round, knitting with double pointed needles, cables and scrary lace. I overcame my fear of stranded knitting upon completion of the colourwork workshop.

Enter Elena (AKA Anadiomena on Ravelry) and her wonderful talent and love of cables.

Lets just say that this last test knit was a challenge.  Along the way I have learnt how to read a cable pattern, throw a tension square out the window (ghhh - the square and the knitting was way out)  Increase in ways that I never thought were possible.

Tim has summed up the steps to success

Step 1: Cast on and Knit
Step 2: Swear, Curse and Cry (oh yes - there were tears)
Step 3. FROG FROG FROG
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1 to 3, Five times before asking for help

So it is finished, I LOVE it and I think that I can finally call myself a real knitter. Yes there will be another and thinking that I might even require one (there have been whisperings of an Adult version)

Pattern: Sea Princess by Elena
Yarn:  Cascade 220 from tangledyarns in MediumRose
Needles: 4mm and 3.5mm circulars

More photos after the weekend - I am at a dying workshop today and we are going camping by the seaside and am hoping to get some devine shots of Amelia in it before it gets wrapped up and gifted.

My Creative Space...

is a silent one today.

At 11am on the 11th day of November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous fighting. 

This moment in time when hostilities ceased on the Western Front has become universally associated with remembering those who have died at war.

This year, we have farwelled 6 local boys. Boys who went to war to serve there country and do there job.  Families who have lost a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle.  Friends who have lost friends.

So today - I will be crafting, but at 11am I will be at a service remembering those that we have lost over the years and praying for those families that this year have lost that someone dear to them.

Lest we Forget

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                 Sign ups close tomorrow for the Kids Christmas Craft Swap.  Check here for details.

@ my house...

today... we are resting our legs.

We took the kids for a ride down to the local market yesterday.  From our house there are paths all the way and only one road to cross.  It is a great way to get out with the kids and all get a little exercise.

The higlight was of course the milkshake from the local coffee shop.

If you are in Brisbane and on the look out for something to do.  I came across A little bird over the weekend. What a great resource for Mums and Dad (and grandparents for that matter) It is just for the Brisbane area at the moment but Melissa is hoping to extend it within the year.  Look them up - they have a facebook page too.

Lou is having a break this week, but I thought that I would still join in the fun.  What are you all up to this week.  I am in full swing with Christmas ideas and hoping to get a few things finished and there is always cleaning to be done.

My Creative Space

Becky, said that she was busy over in her creative space today.

So I thought that I would share a few things that are going on here.  I am starting to think that I have too many things on the needles - but with Christmas fast approaching I am starting to stress a little - and if I have used up all of my needles I can't start anything else - Right???  Or maybe I could buy yet another interchangable cable!

So,  This knit is getting there - I should have left it alone while Baden was sick last week - But no.  After frogging back to where I was originally up to when he got sick - I am almost back to where I would like to be.

These devine colours are calling me to create something cute for an up and coming little bub who will live in this RoBoT inspired room.

And a little purple love. 

There is also a shawl, scarf and a few beanies on the needles - oh and then there is the crochet and sewing piles.  Lets not even talk about the pile of things that need fixing. 

Best run and get something finished and get this crafting under control...  

Join in the fun.

Kids Christmas Swap 2010

Do you have children who sit by the mail box waiting for something to arrive?

Do your children get upset when you recieve something in the mail and they don't?

Do your children enjoy crafting and creating?

Then this is for them.

So this is the plan.

Imagine the joy and excitement on your little one/s face/s when a package arrives in the mail just for them.



What you will send: An Envelope (no bigger than A4 size) filled with goodies for another little child, that has a Christmas Theme.

Ideas:  Paper, Paper/Foam Shapes, Ribbon, Sticky Tape, Material, Card stock, a ready made craft kit, beads, yarn, stickers, recipe for something Christmassy....   The list could go on and on.

    Create something small to add to the parcel.  It is your choice whether this is created by your child or by yourself.

The idea is to have fun it putting this together and creating with your child.  It is not meant to cost the world - but will mean the world to both your child/ren when they are making it or when it is recieved at the other end.

Sign up's CLOSED

Ages:  12 months to 12years (although I am open to making allowances) and where possible your child will swap with someone of a similar age. 

Other Information:  I will email you with your partner/s on Monday 15th, Included will be the address/adresses that you will require (your address will not be shared with anyone else)

Parcels to be posted on or around November 27th so they arrive at the beginning of December.

For those with more than one child. Are you happy to send to individual children - I know that my two would love to recieve their own parcel in the mail.

At My House

November - how on earth did that sneak up on us.  Just a year ago I was all packed up and on the road. 

So a year on - looking back I now feel so slack that I have done nothing to the yard or garden.  We have such a tiny yarn compared to previous postings and the tree's were already established so the joy of saving every drop of water and nurturing was not there.  And after 7 moves in 7 years the garden was the last thing on my mind. 

Amelia mentioned just the other day that she missed having her Vegetable Garden.  I planted out herbs in the garden between the other plants and trees within the first week of being here.  They are doing well, but it is nothing like what we had in the garden last year.

Today, we enjoyed our first Strawberry.  Cut up and shared between the three of us, I realised the joy that the kids get out of being part of a garden and enjoying the product of our hard work.

So, after pulling out some old pots and clearing out the spiders we headed to Bunnings and made it home in time to plant out 6 more strawberry plants, a passionfruit and a tomato plant.

Fingers crossed I dont kill the things in pots - I am not a huge pot gardener - things live here if they are in the ground and sort of take care of themselves with a little water provided my the kids, the skies and myself on odd occasion.

I am going to have a break for a day or two.  I am going to get the Kids Christmas Swap organised and will be back on Wednesday or Thursday with the details.  If you are handy on the computer and know such things as making a snazzy little button I would love to hear from you. 

I also have somthing up my sleeve for Movember.  Fingers crossed I have enough hours in the days.

Playing along with Lou

Day #31 - It all comes to an end

One month of full on blogging.  How did you go.  I missed 2 days - not a bad effort.
Thankyou to all those that came to visit.  The old regulars that comment on every post and those that were new to me.

I had huge plans on visiting every blog that participated this year - Think that I managed to get down to about 60 on the list (plus the regulars that I often pop by and say hi too!) 

Today, the kids and I headed out to a market - oh my - why has it taken me until almost November to catch on that fruit and vegetables can be bought at a market literally a few kilometers up the road.  I walked away with a weeks worth of fruit and vegetables for $11.60!  That included 3 (yes people 3) punnets of strawberries - lets just say that we will be going back next weekend.

Home for a rest and then off to see DH (he lucked out and had to work today)  a few rounds around the oval and then a bbq together under the trees.

For those that were committed and did the whole entire 31 days - Well done.

and on the subject of commitment.  DH was awarded this just the other day. 

15 years of serving his country - we are all very proud of him.

Thanks must also go to tinniegirl Thanks so much for hosting and I look forward to the fun that 2011 will bring.