Christmas in the sunshine

Finally finished all of the Christmas gifts - so rushed I forgot to take photos of most of them, but one was a brooch that I had crocheted a while back but just hadn't organised myself to convert the crocheted item into the brooch yet:

Apart from that I have a few projects on the go - all old projects - none I have photographed yet... more soon.

Because its summer here in New Zealand I have been spending more time in the garden than knitting/crocheting, so here's a few pictures

The feijoas are in flower - looks like a good crop this year. One of my favourite fruits.

Very proud of these - my first ever almonds on my almond tree...

Bumper crop of blueberries this year...

The dreaded baby blankie

I have spent the last 4 months making a baby blanket... its not taken 4 months but has been a total Ugh! project!! I started a Debbie Bliss alphabet blanket and it quickly became apparent that trying to knit and look after a 3 year old and crazy puppy weren't a good combination, so that blanket got ripped about 2 months in. I then had the dolls to make for Christmas, and then I got a Phildar Naissance book which has some beautiful, simple knits in it and I decided that the baby blankie in there was perfect for baby George... fingers crossed his parents like red!! It has turned into a Christmas gift so red is a good colour!!

I love the heart on the blanket (and the fact its not colourwork, but sewn on afterwards with a different coloured yarn).

Now I have 4 gifts to make for my daughter's kindy teachers... hmmm what to make....?!

I'm also blocking the 2nd of the 2 shawls I knocked up on the knitting machine - this one is a proper lace pattern - looking forward to finishing it off with tassels and wearing it...

Machining away...

I finally had a bit of time to play with the machine this weekend - had great fun!!

I knocked up a lace stole in an hour - although the finishing took

about 3 hours!

I've also knit up a larger lace shawl in a lovely beige colour, but still have the finishing and blocking to do on it.

My hand-knitting has taken a bit of a bashing!! I must get on & do some more as I'm in the middle of a baby blankie and still knitting my drop stitch scarf!

The weather has gone all summer-like and so I've been getting out into the garden more - last week I made a scarecrow with my daughter - it was great fun - the best bit was stuffing the scarecrow with old newspapers and straw - Charli loved that.

Also been getting out in the garden with pup - here's a pic I took yesterday after a long walk on the beach & 3 hours gardening when he was very placid and would sit still for the camera!

One woman knitting machine

'What have I been up to the last week or so?' I hear you cry...

Well apart from hand-knitting my final doll as a Christmas pressie...

I've acquired a vintage knitting machine that I'm rather pleased with.

After a bit of grumbling to myself whilst trying to work out how to use it and the fact I couldn't use 8 ply yarns easily, I've finally got it going and on the machine is my first test swatch.

I've ordered some lovely cones of wool for machine knitting and can't wait for them to arrive so I can get going properly.

Christmas Pressies, Puppies & Sunny Springtime

I have been madly knitting up another 'Poppy' doll as a Christmas present for my niece - a pattern I love by Ysolda Teague. I kept on putting this off as I had made so many of these dolls earlier this year, and now I only have 4 days to get my big parcel with all of the Christmas and birthday gifts from New Zealand to England as my parents' birthdays late this week!! Oops - hope Dad doesn't mind!! Just finished her...

I ran out of yarn on her dress so made her a small pair of shorts for modesty!!

I have one last one of these dolls to do for a friend's daughter fro her Christmas gift and then I'm putting the pattern away for a LOOOONG time. Have certainly OD'd on this pattern!!

We had a Bank Holiday weekend this weekend for Labour Day, have had a lovely, sunny spring weekend - the whole family took Oscar pup for a walk on the beach, which was so nice.

He's started behaviour lessons & was one of the best behaved pups there - shame it didn't last after the class!!

Scarf City...

Its scarf city here!! I'm knitting up scarves as Christmas pressies as I've got no imagination or time this year to do more complicated projects - I have finished Dad's skinny scarf - just a plain rib made with Vintage Purls Sock Yarn - so soft & cosy - bit difficult to send this one off!!

Also managed to fit a quick scarf in for myself - cost all of $2 to make!! My daughter is now badgering me for a 'sparkly scarf' like Mummy's but I still have one for my niece and a doll to make so she might be in for a little wait!

I've also started knitting up squares of Vintage Purls yarns - this is going to be a LONG project - my plan is to make a beautiful bedspread for my daughter's bed - cosy but thin blanket - so with the varigated yarn I am doing plain stockinette stitch and the more solid colours I am planning on lovely lace squares all in pastel shades. My plan is to do a square after each project I complete. I've got myself off to a good start with 7 squares done this week before I do the last Christmas gift projects and then can get onto some serious Summer knits/crocheting.

Poor puppy had his operation last week to be microchipped, neutered & repair a rather large hernia on his belly - he was up every 2 hours the night of his operation with a very upset tummy - poor little thing! I felt so sorry for him - he's had lots of extra cuddles and love but I am REALLY looking forward to giving him a bath when he has his stitches out next week as he really stinks!!!!

I've been knitting up some Christmas presents - scarves - pink one for Nana Jean, grey one for my mother. I chose some really lovely Soya yarn with metallic thread through it which could take a really open knit with a simple garter stitch - have so far done 2 different colours and am making myself a lovely marine coloured scarf in the same yarn.

Am also knitting up a ribbed scarf for my Dad in lovely Vintage Purls Sock Yarn. Will be hard to part with as its so so so soft!

Spring Fever!

Naughty, naughty - not been posting as I'm too busy outdoors having fun!!

Lots of walks on the beach

with puppy who is growing up quickly!

We also had a visit from my sister-in-law, another trip to the beach to fly kites

and yet more trips to the beach to collect shells with my daughter...

So not a lot of knitting going on here!! Am still working on the drop-stitch scarf which has grown a lot...

and the alphabet blanket Debbie Bliss pattern, which I am hating as I am not concentrating fully on it & keep having to rip it back! Only 3 fifths to go!!

Back to the knitting...

Now pup is settled I've managed to get back to the knitting. I finished the Ariosa Wrap Cardi last night - I love the finished result and got lots of comments when I wore it today.

So perfect for Springtime here...

I've also been knitting a bit of the drop-stitch scarf in the most gorgeous varigated yarn from The Knittery. Looks quite complicated but is actually a very straight-forward and easy pattern.

Pet Madhouse!!

The house has turned into mayhem with the new pup - I am up at 5.30am with him! The 3 cats are none too pleased to be sharing their relaxing space with him!!

He's very persistent though!!

and very lovely when his batteries run out & he flops down asleep for a few hours! I'm trying to work out who tired who out in this photo!! Either way I got a nice hour's knitting in on my wrap cardi - almost finished should be done in the next 2 days providing pup helps out by sleeping a bit in the evenings!

Ariosa Wrap Cardi

I've started an easy lace pattern cardi since I can't concentrate too well with the puppy chewing at my knitting needles whilst I'm trying to knit and have put my mermaid socks aside for a while.

Time Waster...

I have only done a couple more rows on the socks as the puppy is such a time-waster!!

I mean, who wouldn't want to cuddle him and play with him?!

I have, however, crocheted a beautiful pink/purple baby blanket for my friend Candi who is due to have a baby girl any day now... Unusual for me to be so prepared!!

Back Home!

I have had a break from arts and crafts (didn't even take any knitting away with me!) and we had a long weekend in Raglan on the West Coast of New Zealand's North Island. Beautiful place.

We visited Bridal Veil Falls during rain and rolling thunder - it was great - although we got soaked through to the skin by the time we got back to the car!

The reason for our trip was to collect our new puppy - Oscar - here he is with my daughter - they already love each other so much as you can see!

Mermaid Socks

I've got a taste of the sock-fever and am using another Vintage Purls colourway - Limited Edition 'Bluhu'. Gorgeous marine colours. I'm making socks with a pattern that reminds me of mermaid scales - the pattern is Pomatomus by sock design diva Cookie A. I love the results so far.

I have almost finished the baby blanket for my friend - hoping to see her this week and drop it off so she can get maximum useage whilst its still winter. It was a lovely quick project - just an afternoon and evening.

Here's one of my cats - Pebbles - caught having a sleep in the bottom of the baby buggy - lucky I didn't go out with her in it!!

My Swatch

Joy of Yarn, my fave yarn store are making a 'Giant Sock of Greytown' so I have used the left-overs of my beautiful Vintage Purls yarn from the hedgerow socks to knit up a swatch to send. I love lace patterns so have tried a new lace pattern on my swatch.

I've started a collection of vintage china which I have fallen in love with - Colour Glaze (from the 1950's/60's in NZ) these 3 lovely pieces are my first aquisitions - I adore the beautiful candy colours - very chic and back in fashion. Morning tea is a bit of a ritual here in New Zealand - lots of cakes which I love baking so I wanted to have a lovely vintage set to use for tea with my friends.

My friend, Kerin, has just had a baby boy so baby blankets ahoy for the next couple of days - have a lovely soft teal and white coloured yarn. Just got to decide to knit or crochet?...