...my mother knitting!
My mum comes from a pretty good line of knitters- my great-aunt and grandmother were apparently both excellent at it. My mum and aunt tell me they would have hand-knitted sweaters when they growing up, made with little rows of ducks or rabbits along the bottom. And even more impressively, made without patterns! There is also my Fabulous Knitting Aunt who visits Melbourne twice a year from Hong Kong and can churn out a sweater a week, usually without a pattern too. I also remember her middle and youngest sisters in Canada being quite skilled with their knitting and crochet.
Anyway, I brought over some needles and yarn I purchased from the Southbank Market yesterday. The wool was intended as a Christmas scarf for my grandfather in Canada. The colour looked more indigo when I bought it ( hey, it was dark) but turned out to be more purples. My intention was to see if my mum thought my grandfather would wear those colours, but she decided she liked the yarn enough to knit herself a ribbed scarf and had done about 10cm by the time I left yesterday!
This is not a small thing to see my mother knit. She is not one of these knitting, baking mums. I am still holding my breath to see if she will get bored and abandon the scarf before it's finished. But momentarily, I'm pleased at having converted another person to the Fibre-Side!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Fall 2006 Interweave
Yesterday I received my Fall 06 Interweave mag, the first of my subscription. Supposedly it was sent 10 weeks ago and I have already seen the Winter edition at my local Borders. ! Has anyone else found that shipping takes this long?
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Christmas already???
My gorgeous/annoying friend Lojz reminded me last night that it's only 6.5 weeks to Christmas! (grumble...like I could care less) He so cheerfully has been counting down since there were 10 weeks to go. Anyway, I started compiling my Christmas To Knit list and have come up with-
2 Nieces(aged 10 approx)- cardigan each- 1 cardi started
Nephew (aged 6)- jumper in cotton/denim- somehow I think it won't get done
Grandfather and Brother in Northern Hemisphere- scarf or neck warmer/ turtleneck thingy- needs to be done by 1st week in December for posting.
Is this being too ambitious? The only other projects on the go are the remaining Chart 4 of Icarus and the sewing up/blocking of my cardi.
2 Nieces(aged 10 approx)- cardigan each- 1 cardi started
Nephew (aged 6)- jumper in cotton/denim- somehow I think it won't get done
Grandfather and Brother in Northern Hemisphere- scarf or neck warmer/ turtleneck thingy- needs to be done by 1st week in December for posting.
Is this being too ambitious? The only other projects on the go are the remaining Chart 4 of Icarus and the sewing up/blocking of my cardi.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
I've moved!
Hello, I've moved over here now and very happy to be joining Secret Pal 9! I had such a good time with my One Skein exchange I was keen to join another. So here are my SP9 Questionnaire Answers-
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I prefer natural fibres and finer yarns (up to 10ply). I love wool, mohair, angora one day wish to try using cashmere. I don't really knit with novelty yarns or acrylics.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently they are all sticking out of a paper bag inside a knitting bag next to my bed.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My aunt taught me to knit when I was little but I never got past doing scarves with holes in them. I started knitting "properly" at the beginning of last year when a friend persuaded me to visit a very helpful yarn store- I've been addicted ever since! I would probably class myself as an intermediate knitter
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon account, accessible if you know my full name!
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I have an amazing sense of smell and strong scents tend to overwhelm me. Quite like vanilla, baking smells, green tea or sandalwood.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I prefer a little taste of good quality chocolate rather than lots of bulk sweets. My favourite Australian brands are Haigh's (especially their dark peppermint frogs) and Koko Black. In the U.S, I love to buy Godiva chocolates.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. I plan to learn to sew one day and have signed up for embroidery lessons next year. I do make my own paper crafts.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Jazz vocals and lounge music, rock/pop. I play CDs in my DVD player at home.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My wardrobe is black with the accent colour being anything in the red family, extending to pinks, oranges, maroons, purples. Raspberry is my favourite colour. I don't really wear brown, yellow or green.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm married and live in an iddle biddle apartment. No animals right now, but I have successfully raised 2 seeing eye dogs in the past. Both were beautiful black labradors.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I don't really wear hats or mittens (it's never all that cold here). Scarves and ponchos yes.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Sweaters, scarves, lace.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Icarus shawl from Interweave Summer 06, and I'm finishing a cari with a double eyelet pattern on the sleeve and border.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like straight and circulars- prefer bamboo and caesin.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No but I want to get a yarn winder
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A few months old
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween!
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Etiquette books- vintage ones are the most entertaining!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
One day I will learn fair isle. I also hope to do intarsia if I'm not too lazy to weave all the ends in.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I've never tried knitting socks but plan to try it one day. I wear a Size 37 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
9th May- Taurus
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I prefer natural fibres and finer yarns (up to 10ply). I love wool, mohair, angora one day wish to try using cashmere. I don't really knit with novelty yarns or acrylics.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently they are all sticking out of a paper bag inside a knitting bag next to my bed.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My aunt taught me to knit when I was little but I never got past doing scarves with holes in them. I started knitting "properly" at the beginning of last year when a friend persuaded me to visit a very helpful yarn store- I've been addicted ever since! I would probably class myself as an intermediate knitter
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon account, accessible if you know my full name!
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I have an amazing sense of smell and strong scents tend to overwhelm me. Quite like vanilla, baking smells, green tea or sandalwood.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I prefer a little taste of good quality chocolate rather than lots of bulk sweets. My favourite Australian brands are Haigh's (especially their dark peppermint frogs) and Koko Black. In the U.S, I love to buy Godiva chocolates.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. I plan to learn to sew one day and have signed up for embroidery lessons next year. I do make my own paper crafts.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Jazz vocals and lounge music, rock/pop. I play CDs in my DVD player at home.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My wardrobe is black with the accent colour being anything in the red family, extending to pinks, oranges, maroons, purples. Raspberry is my favourite colour. I don't really wear brown, yellow or green.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm married and live in an iddle biddle apartment. No animals right now, but I have successfully raised 2 seeing eye dogs in the past. Both were beautiful black labradors.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I don't really wear hats or mittens (it's never all that cold here). Scarves and ponchos yes.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Sweaters, scarves, lace.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Icarus shawl from Interweave Summer 06, and I'm finishing a cari with a double eyelet pattern on the sleeve and border.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like straight and circulars- prefer bamboo and caesin.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No but I want to get a yarn winder
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A few months old
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween!
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Etiquette books- vintage ones are the most entertaining!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
One day I will learn fair isle. I also hope to do intarsia if I'm not too lazy to weave all the ends in.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I've never tried knitting socks but plan to try it one day. I wear a Size 37 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
9th May- Taurus
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