Summer Hols and Yet More Baby Knitting...

I've been very slack with the posting since Christmas - that's because its summer here and I am outdoors a lot with the puppy and my daughter enjoying the beach and the garden.

We've also been on holiday to the Coromandel which was very relaxing... Miss 3 and puppy spent hours in the back garden playing frisbee so I got on with a lot more baby knitting - these patterns are from the current Garnstudio baby patterns which are free ...

Have made a couple of baby bonnets...

and matching booties...

and a very cute Poncho which is yet to be finished with a closure and buttons (have also started making one of these in beige)...

Baby Knitting

I thought I would get in some baby knitting since I am always caught out waiting to hear if a friend/family member has had a girl or boy and then, of course, there's the time taken to decide what to make and then to make their gift. My sister-in-law is pregnant so I thought I would get ahead of the game and make a baby stash. All this lovely baby gear is making me want another one!!

These booties are from a free pattern on Ravelry - Saartje's booties - I've made a few pairs before but in Vintage Purls Sock - colour 'Scarlet Oak' purchased from Joy Of Yarn in Greytown they are by far my favourites.

This wee elephant is so cute... I knitted him in a varigated 'bella baby' yarn I picked up in a Spotlight sale - another free pattern - Ala and Ela.

This is a blankie crocheted from another baby yarn from Spotlight - I just crocheted a rectangle of double crochet and then made heaps of basic crochet squares to go around it.

I've also managed to finally wear one of my first machine knitted projects over the weekend - a shawl that doubles as a scarf so can be worn year-round. I never added the tassles that I had planned.

Happy New Year

Bit late for the New Year's wishes but better late than never!! I've given the knitting a break over Christmas/Summer break but started again in the New Year - decided to finish a top I'd started last year -Sahara by Stitch Diva Studios - I did the sleeveless one since its summer & very hot here - love the finished article! The pattern is fantastic - you can modify it at any stage to fit you perfectly.

Also knitting baby stuff like mad as I have a pregnant sister-in-law - more photos up soon with baby blankies, baby toys and am currently knitting a pair of gorgeous booties...

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.