tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122103552024-03-24T04:53:05.956+11:00The Stripey TigerAn erratically kept journal of Knitting, Handspinning and Sewing Projects.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-45110077833371312702008-08-29T12:00:00.001+10:002008-08-29T13:33:10.542+10:00Another Baby, Another HatThis time it is baby Mischka. I love the name. It's so Russian princess don't you think?? Mischka is the new bub of Freya and Jelle. She's so awake and alert but calm. In the time that I was visiting her she hardly made a squeak, just looking every where. And here's her Helix Hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdqKM6P3FI/AAAAAAAAAdA/JJtWkl0HPyE/s1600-h/mischkahatcrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdqKM6P3FI/AAAAAAAAAdA/JJtWkl0HPyE/s400/mischkahatcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239773414965632082" border="0" /></a>Oh and here's some swatches for another vest for John. Two winters ago I knit him <a href="http://thestripeytiger.blogspot.com/2006/08/vest-and-happy-wearer.html">a red vest from a Jo Sharp Pattern,</a> which I am so happy to say he wears all the time. This winter I'm going to have a go at another Jo Sharp Pattern but I doubt if he'll get to wear it till next winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdqJhODRkI/AAAAAAAAAc4/2WRTsDLCU2k/s1600-h/100_1107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdqJhODRkI/AAAAAAAAAc4/2WRTsDLCU2k/s400/100_1107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239773403237533250" border="0" /></a><br />It's going to be the Cable and Rib Vest from <a href="http://http//www.thewoolshack.com/jo_sharp.htm?action=browse&ProductID=2575">Jo Sharp's Knit - Issue Three. </a><br />I'm using a discontinued Cleckheaton Tencel and Wool blend which knits up nicely with a bit of shine and drape. Hopefully it won't be too sloppy for JT.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdr7xHypdI/AAAAAAAAAdY/hldAqODCca0/s1600-h/cable+and+rib.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SLdr7xHypdI/AAAAAAAAAdY/hldAqODCca0/s400/cable+and+rib.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239775366011332050" border="0" /></a>But JT will be way too busy to be lying around like that all day! What kind of model pose is that any way?the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-5679466023065117262008-08-15T14:30:00.004+10:002008-08-15T14:58:39.667+10:00First Jumper I ever knit.......or knitted....as my mum keeps insisting.<br /><br />I took up this tag from <a href="http://knittingandknotting.blogspot.com/2008/07/first-jumpersweater-tag-oh-horrors.html">Kate at Knitting and Knotting.</a> Behold: The first jumper I ever knit. It has never been worn! It was WAAAY too big for me and the neck was funny - there was not quite enough yarn for the collar (hence the stripe) . The arms are different sizes. It weighs about two kilos. Hilarious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHr6aqaRI/AAAAAAAAAcY/ZrU5zzFgCYY/s1600-h/100_1119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHr6aqaRI/AAAAAAAAAcY/ZrU5zzFgCYY/s400/100_1119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234598592884926738" border="0" /></a>The yarn however is (still) utterly divine. It's Australian wool from Willow Creek Yarns. I don't know if they're around anymore. My mum bought me the while lot one year at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. (In the good old days when it was still at Moore Park. ) I was a poor uni student then. It might have been around 1990.<br /><br />Mum must have really been feeling generous (which I remember with fondness & appreciation to this day) because she even bought me lovely bamboo needles in the two sizes required and the yarn and the pattern all on the same day. Not to mention probably buying me lunch and paying for me to get into the show as well!! Aren't Mums wonderful!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHsdtDsfI/AAAAAAAAAcg/IGUsMOxLjgE/s1600-h/100_1112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHsdtDsfI/AAAAAAAAAcg/IGUsMOxLjgE/s400/100_1112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234598602357322226" border="0" /></a>Can you see the shot on the pattern? It even looks frumpy on the model. But those were the days when I had an aversion to anything slightly fitted. I was at uni and it was Grunge all the way to the pub and back!<br /><br />After I dutifully knit the thing which was a mission for the new knitter. I knew I would NEVER wear it. My mum thought she might and took it home to put on the buttons but it didn't happen, it's languished in her knitting cupboard for longer than 15 years. Until I asked for it back last week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHsoiklRI/AAAAAAAAAco/PvPEH45eang/s1600-h/100_1116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHsoiklRI/AAAAAAAAAco/PvPEH45eang/s400/100_1116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234598605266130194" border="0" /></a>It looks kinda cute on Gemma tho. I'm going to frog it and make a suite of arans for the little girls I think. It's such lovely yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHtI9c86I/AAAAAAAAAcw/OcGmnR0uwzE/s1600-h/100_1113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SKUHtI9c86I/AAAAAAAAAcw/OcGmnR0uwzE/s400/100_1113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234598613968810914" border="0" /></a>It's funny to see how uneven my tension is and how SIMPLE the pattern is and to remember how scared I was about knitting it. I didn't knit anything seriously after that until more than five years later when I had babes to knit for. Still what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-39028800120863856772008-07-29T14:40:00.003+10:002008-11-13T13:48:34.267+11:00I love Denise!Oh I am soo naughty! I just did a very naughty thing! I should not be left home alone. I just went on-line and bought an <a href="http://www.knitdenise.com/products/the-organizer">new organiser</a> for my Denise Needle Set. This is what it will look like except (after much agonising) mine will be red.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SI6gShALJmI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XWdAVelhK8k/s1600-h/open_organizer_3_medium.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SI6gShALJmI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XWdAVelhK8k/s400/open_organizer_3_medium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228292457380914786" border="0" /></a><br />But? But?- I hear you ask - Why do you need an organiser when you already have the nifty Denise plastic case that the needles come in when you buy the Denise Kit? You know the answer don't you? I just wanted it!<br /><br />Well.... that and ages ago I bought the companion set with extra lengths and more connectors and end stoppers etc - Well of course the existing kit can't fit all the extra bits and they are all floating around my knitting bag BUT THE ORGANISER CAN fit them all in- oh and organise them!!!<br /><br />While I was there a whole new pink kit fell into my shopping cart. (I can't quite believe I did that!) It's partly because the whole breast cancer thing is particularly resonant with me at the moment AND they've slightly changed the needle sizes to be truly metric (not those wierd not quite right US sizes) !!! So My trusty much loved blue set is the 'OLD version' And I just couldn't resist the NEW VERSION!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SI6gS_1tvBI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/iCDmNjpc0RU/s1600-h/pink-kit-081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SI6gS_1tvBI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/iCDmNjpc0RU/s400/pink-kit-081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228292465658543122" border="0" /></a>Oh and then I had to buy a pink expansion set too and a new set of 4mm's (I use them the most).......Come on...the Aussie is doing so well against the USD that it's all practically FREE! But don't tell JT. I might be in a little trouble..... Well he started it really- he have me the first set for my birthday three years ago and I've hardly used another needle since!<br /><br />PS - Thanks so much for all your lovely comments about my Lady E Poncho. I am enjoying it so much. I've worn it nearly every day since it came off the needles. So much for blocking!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-8352123785617543762008-07-20T19:18:00.003+10:002008-11-13T13:48:34.724+11:00Coincidence?OOOh! How happy am I with this??!! It began as a Lady Eleanor stole from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931499543/">Scarf Style</a>. Look at this beautiful <a href="http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000623.html">Lady E by Fig and Plum</a>. But half way through I decided to make it into a poncho. The kind that you make by sewing together two rectangles.<br /><br />My thinking was: If the aim was to keep my shoulders warm and I wanted to be able to wear it daily rather than just on kid free evenings I would need to keep it hands-free. You know - unless you can do a keyhole loop with a scarf it's long gone with kids. I figured Lady E might end up a little too fiddly with on-the-go kidlets. So here tis....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDoPIzZbI/AAAAAAAAAb4/m3jZE5zaldQ/s1600-h/ponchocrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDoPIzZbI/AAAAAAAAAb4/m3jZE5zaldQ/s400/ponchocrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225023982473012658" border="0" /></a>And look- Holding hands and it's not falling off. (Lovely Magnolia and totally overgrown pond in the background.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDof2ffbI/AAAAAAAAAcA/OSG1gmCMl0E/s1600-h/ponchocrop5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDof2ffbI/AAAAAAAAAcA/OSG1gmCMl0E/s400/ponchocrop5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225023986959613362" border="0" /></a>And now: being a total dork in a photos (with brilliant chook shed in the background) and it's still not falling off - FABULOUS!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDn99_PKI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-aXljUAiY7g/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIMDn99_PKI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-aXljUAiY7g/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225023977864248482" border="0" /></a>Specs: 6 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Lite. Colourway #2023. US#8 Denise Circulars. Basic Instructions for the entrelac initiated: 7 diamonds across and 10 stitches wide each diamond =CO 70st if I remember correctly. Then I just kept knitting till I had a rectangle 7 diamonds x 10 half triangles. Then I picked up stitches along one side and knit the same. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDKOOrYI/AAAAAAAAAao/DW3RxN36tb4/s1600-h/ladyecrop.jpg">Here is a progress shot of it around this point</a>. Then I cast off the second rectangle and mattress stitched up the two pieces, wove in the ends and put it on! <br /><br />I haven't taken it off since. Not even for blocking. No crochet edging. No tassels. Nada. Perfect as it is! IMHO. Possible mods. Maybe one or two diamonds longer and I would have had a slightly bigger neck hole.<br /><br />So is it coincidence that in the weeks since Knitting Camp I have been blogging more than in the last 12 months and at the same time have more FOs than usual to show?the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-29280260963587833392008-07-18T17:40:00.005+10:002008-11-13T13:48:35.162+11:00Baby RoseWe have a new bub in our midst. Our lovely Berry friends Matt and Kristy have a new baby, Rose Louise. She's a week old. Here's the hat I knit her from the <a href="http://joanknits.blogspot.com/2005/11/helix-striped-cap.html">Helix Hat</a> pattern. Finished yesterday. Knit in two nights worth of TV sessions. CO 70st using 4mm addis and heirloom Cotton 8ply held double. I rave on about the pattern & etc <a href="http://thestripeytiger.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-i-knit-at-camp.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKtjygWTI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/0oIZ3e3xc2k/s1600-h/pink+hat+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKtjygWTI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/0oIZ3e3xc2k/s400/pink+hat+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224257714311420210" border="0" /></a><br />And here's Milly holding her in her hat. Look at how big my baby is compared to Rose!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKuR4_alI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tXMd66G7tXI/s1600-h/100_1003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKuR4_alI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tXMd66G7tXI/s400/100_1003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224257726686653010" border="0" /></a>And here's me holding her in her hat. She's so lovely. So tiny. So sleepy. And so not keeping me up at night!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKuiIpeaI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Pr1nvZC6OoU/s1600-h/100_0999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKuiIpeaI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Pr1nvZC6OoU/s400/100_0999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224257731047291298" border="0" /></a>Here's another finished Helix Hat. For another Berry bub on the way. Hope it's a boy!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKt8pE5zI/AAAAAAAAAbY/MS_Kh8-uWw8/s1600-h/bluehatcrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKt8pE5zI/AAAAAAAAAbY/MS_Kh8-uWw8/s400/bluehatcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224257720982759218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SIBKuiIpeaI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Pr1nvZC6OoU/s1600-h/100_0999.JPG"><br /></a>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-32950275031652299662008-07-13T16:09:00.004+10:002008-11-13T13:48:35.256+11:00Learning Spinning from the Guru!The week before last was filled with all things fibery chez stripey! Berry Spinners & Weavers hosted our Biennial two day Fibre Muster. It was a two day event with filled with workshops, competitions, stalls selling fibre & related equipment, yarn, fleece and even sheep!!<br /><br />Over the last six months in the spare time I don't have, I joined the organizing committee and volunteered to run a kids corner for visitors and coordinate activities by the local preschool. I cursed my big mouth for weeks beforehand as I tried to squeeze in time to come up with some fibrey activities for children. Of course it all came together in the end and all the visiting kids and my own kids had a great time making pompoms and spiderwebs and collages of Alpacas and Sheep with real fleece!<br /><br />Here is a gang of kids, mums and my fabulous off-sider Hennie (far left) in her own handspun alpaca poncho. See the alpaca and sheep collage in the background hanging off the stage? And see loads of spinning wheels inn the foreground and background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SHmh4iLatEI/AAAAAAAAAbI/G3WsMZKf8YQ/s1600-h/100_0934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SHmh4iLatEI/AAAAAAAAAbI/G3WsMZKf8YQ/s400/100_0934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222383235532239938" border="0" /></a>I also signed up for a two day advanced spinning workshop with our headline guest, world reknown NZ weaver and spinner <a href="http://www.annefield.co.nz/anne.html">Anne Field</a>. She wrote the <a href="http://www.annefield.co.nz/books.html#">Ashford book of Spinning</a> and others. I was very excited to meet her I even had my copy of her book autographed!<br /><br />So I'm totally converted about spinning alpaca after spinning some really really decent fleece. I spin up some totally fabulous mulberry silk (can't wait to do more of that!) and I had fun learning to woollen spin mohair! If you're a spinner and you've ever done it you'll know what I mean when I say it's like riding a bike with no hands! What fun! I'm all inspired afresh with fibery ideas as it should be when you go to an event like this!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-27773835554767779582008-07-01T19:26:00.005+10:002008-11-13T13:48:35.781+11:00What I knit at camp!So you might have heard all about our knitting camp, the workshops, the hijinx and meeting the real people behind the cyber alteregos from <a href="http://www.rubyandme.blogspot.com">Anne</a>, <a href="http://knitabulous.blogspot.com">Ailsa</a>, <a href="http://www.bellsknits.blogspot.com">Bells</a>, <a href="http://www.randomknits.net/">Donna</a>, <a href="http://www.donyale.wordpress.com">Donni</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knit1purljill">Jill</a>, <a href="http://kyliemonique.blogspot.com/">KMS</a>, <a href="http://www.iknitpaysteez.blogspot.com">Mel</a>, <a href="http://www.roseredshoes.blogspot.com">Rose Red</a>, <a href="http://www.metalknit.blogspot.com">Tianne</a>,<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/tflrae"> Rae</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Zena">Zena</a>. Phew!! Have I missed any one. I hope not all that linking was such a pain!<br /><br />So I'm not going to tell you about any of that stuff - go look at their blogs. Instead I'm going to show you what I was knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDZWLEsI/AAAAAAAAAaw/VEJikzut2c0/s1600-h/hatcrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDZWLEsI/AAAAAAAAAaw/VEJikzut2c0/s400/hatcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218687963559039682" border="0" /></a><br />This one is a no colour jog striped hat knit in the round. It's heirloom eight ply cotton held double and knit on 4mm addis. Fab technique! I've been trying to work out how to do it for ages and then one day I stumbled upon <a href="http://joanknits.blogspot.com/2005/11/helix-striped-cap.html">Helix Hat </a>patterns on Ravelry. So I wasted no time; printed out the pattern, got started and realised after a few goes that the pattern I'd downloaded was wrong. Arghh! Thought hard, thought hard, examined the knitting, thought hard some more and worked it out! I'm sure you are all cleverer than me and wouldn't have to think quite as hard to work it out. It's quite a technique! Brilliant really but way too hard to explain how it works.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDlK3pxI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Gn8h5cb5hMc/s1600-h/hadollcrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDlK3pxI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Gn8h5cb5hMc/s400/hadollcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218687966732855058" border="0" /></a>So once I got the stripes happening I got a bit carried away. As you can see - It's a little long for baby. Will have to frog back and take and inch or so out.<br /><br />The second project I've got going at the moment began as a Lady Elenor from Scarf Style. I didn't have the pattern so I cruised the web and checked out everyone's pictures. Taught myself entrelac from my Vogue Knitting Stitchionary and hey presto!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBD25O69I/AAAAAAAAAbA/O2m-gIgSFRA/s1600-h/100_0930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBD25O69I/AAAAAAAAAbA/O2m-gIgSFRA/s400/100_0930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218687971490720722" border="0" /></a>Only it's not going to be a Lady E any more. It's going to be a poncho. You know the kind where you sew two rectangles together. Not long to go now! Just check out that Noro!! It's silk garden lite. I know many people don't like it but I really a Noro Fan!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDKOOrYI/AAAAAAAAAao/DW3RxN36tb4/s1600-h/ladyecrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGyBDKOOrYI/AAAAAAAAAao/DW3RxN36tb4/s400/ladyecrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218687959499189634" border="0" /></a><br />If I had more time I'd love to spin yarn like that rather than buy it! *sigh* One day....the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-25979538274631656252008-06-29T15:56:00.004+10:002008-11-13T13:48:36.115+11:00Knitting RetreatJust back from Knitting Camp. <a href="http://thestripeytiger.blogspot.com/2007/05/retreat.html">(See last year)</a> Met so many fab gals whose blogs I had cruised. I love knitting on the web and LOVE LOVE Love the community that is Ravelry of course but Oh how good it is to meet up in person, have a few wines, a few Tim Tams and knit for almost 48 hours solid! I almost finished my 'Morphed Lady E'.<br /><br />So I'm inspired to blog and I'm even inspired to share some pix with you. Just have to get the whole camera thing up and running again soon. But in the meantime here's a couple of shots I lifted from <a href="http://www.randomknits.net/">Donna'</a>s flickr page.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGiO0_d3woI/AAAAAAAAAaY/VCO2QD1WdFA/s1600-h/menzenesknitcamp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGiO0_d3woI/AAAAAAAAAaY/VCO2QD1WdFA/s400/menzenesknitcamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217577209349784194" border="0" /></a>Zena and I knit knit knitting!! (Me on the left Zena on the right).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGiQDgtL_gI/AAAAAAAAAag/02hfJg2qZbU/s1600-h/knittinginsuncrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/SGiQDgtL_gI/AAAAAAAAAag/02hfJg2qZbU/s400/knittinginsuncrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217578558302191106" border="0" /></a><br />In this shot (L to R) <a href="http://www.bellsknits.blogspot.com/">Bells</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Zena">Zena</a>, <a href="http://www.donyale.wordpress.com/">Donni</a>, <a href="http://knitabulous.blogspot.com/">Ailsa</a> and Me all chasing the sun<br /><br /></div>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-65555154789559190422008-03-02T18:36:00.003+11:002008-11-13T13:48:36.655+11:00Lace & SewingI'm knitting a lace scarf. Just an easy one. The only lace project I've managed to actually complete has been a feather and fan scarf. I can't finish <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuespring05/PATTbranchingout.html">Branching Out</a>, it just takes too much concentration and I really think the pattern is unnecessarily complicated so I thought I'd go back to something easier and work up to something more complicated.<br /><br />So this easy little knit is the second project <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scarf-or-shawl-with-a-center-pattern">'Scarf or Shawl with centre pattern'</a> in the Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/victorian-lace-today">Check out some of the wonderful things people have made from this book on Ravelry</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZzHsJqbI/AAAAAAAAAaA/15HhFQ4W1Mw/s1600-h/100_0628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZzHsJqbI/AAAAAAAAAaA/15HhFQ4W1Mw/s400/100_0628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173045856760867250" border="0" /></a>I'm knitting it in Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in Tidepool. Here's the details in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/TheStripeyTiger/scarf-or-shawl-with-a-center-pattern">Ravelry Notebook.</a> Isn't it weird how it's pooling in such an obvious zig-zag. Well it's not actually weird when you understand how yarn is space dyed- actually it' to be expected- but you know what I mean. I'm hoping the effect will be softened slightly when I add the border. I'm sure that will be weeks from now at the pace I'm going.<br /><br />Here's my lovely Aunty Sue at her recent very special birthday breakfast with the cushion I made her for the occasion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZznsJqcI/AAAAAAAAAaI/aki3TnYERMo/s1600-h/100_0595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZznsJqcI/AAAAAAAAAaI/aki3TnYERMo/s400/100_0595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173045865350801858" border="0" /></a>It's linen, hand and machine quilted and I've sewn on vintage buttons from my collection. It was a special 'number' birthday. I won't tell you which one but If you're keen you can count the buttons and that will tell you. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZ0XsJqdI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/genMszaTt8o/s1600-h/100_0600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R8pZ0XsJqdI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/genMszaTt8o/s400/100_0600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173045878235703762" border="0" /></a>All is well here Casa Chaos I'm getting used to the swing of the year and already it's March! JT has just bought himself a massive new desktop PC so the lap top is mine all mine...insert evil cackle...now we can surf the web side by side.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-3080456459548308762008-02-22T14:12:00.003+11:002008-11-13T13:48:37.202+11:00First Day at School<div style="text-align: center;">Milly Started BIG School!!<br /></div><br />Ok - I know that it was three weeks ago now but I'm still getting used to the new routine. Here she is posing for the obligatory photos with all the family before we left on the first day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-7pA_PeI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/g1yT9I1lfso/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-7pA_PeI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/g1yT9I1lfso/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169638616611110370" border="0" /></a><br />Here she is with her bag all ready to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-8ZA_PfI/AAAAAAAAAYY/sn_suHj_80Q/s1600-h/100_0478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-8ZA_PfI/AAAAAAAAAYY/sn_suHj_80Q/s400/100_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169638629496012274" border="0" /></a>And here she is going in to the classroom for the first time. Ahhhh She's loving the whole thing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-8pA_PgI/AAAAAAAAAYg/_PcZFXi5Jqk/s1600-h/100_0488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R74-8pA_PgI/AAAAAAAAAYg/_PcZFXi5Jqk/s400/100_0488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169638633790979586" border="0" /></a>Her teacher seems just lovely and she started catching the bus in the second week which I just love to death!! If the little girls are asleep at home time I don't have to worry. I just leave them be because the bus drops off at our front gate. No more waking sleeping babies for the preschool pick up. Woo Hoo.<br /><br />I'm knitting a few small things lately photos when they look a bit better than blobs and I'm having a bit of fun playing with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/TheStripeyTiger">Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22885562@N07">Flickr</a>. I signed up some time in the middle of last year but it's taken me till now to get my head around all the features. HOW GOOD IS IT!! I think my blog will be even more neglected than before. It's taking me a while to load up things I've done and am doing because I've been too busy checking out all the patterns and galleries. Too much Fun!!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-41865446935592569242008-02-22T12:15:00.000+11:002008-11-13T13:48:37.756+11:00More Handmade Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">This was a reading pillow I made for Cousin Zoe.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DDZA_PhI/AAAAAAAAAYo/N_aqMlehkL8/s1600-h/100_0166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DDZA_PhI/AAAAAAAAAYo/N_aqMlehkL8/s400/100_0166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169643147801607698" border="0" /></a>Front:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DD5A_PiI/AAAAAAAAAYw/Ecx7rJVqH7w/s1600-h/100_0164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DD5A_PiI/AAAAAAAAAYw/Ecx7rJVqH7w/s400/100_0164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169643156391542306" border="0" /></a>Back:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DEJA_PjI/AAAAAAAAAY4/WZY1OqaWlAg/s1600-h/100_0169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DEJA_PjI/AAAAAAAAAY4/WZY1OqaWlAg/s400/100_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169643160686509618" border="0" /></a>Detail of quilted hearts:<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DEpA_PkI/AAAAAAAAAZA/-YyS86A9GEk/s1600-h/100_0170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R75DEpA_PkI/AAAAAAAAAZA/-YyS86A9GEk/s400/100_0170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169643169276444226" border="0" /></a>More detail of quilting. See that stippling around the appliqued heart? It was so easy with my new machine - now I just want to stipple everything! I picked up the free motion skills at a workshop at the local Berry Quilt Shop late last year this was my first real go at using them.<br /><br />Zoe loved it. She's in year two and is really into the pink hearts and bobbles kind of look. I was really pleased with it how it turned out considering that I made it up as I went along. It's a shame I've got so many crafts I'm interested in - I'm destined to be jack of all trades and master of none.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-50091006967904393752008-01-17T18:54:00.000+11:002008-11-13T13:48:37.991+11:00Handmade XmasHere's a few hand made chrissy pressies I made for the Cousins. Meet Cousin Arthur wearing knitted gear:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R48Ly3L4WnI/AAAAAAAAAX4/MdSEP-y9LLw/s1600-h/100_0410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R48Ly3L4WnI/AAAAAAAAAX4/MdSEP-y9LLw/s400/100_0410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156353066797652594" border="0" /></a>It is the three cornered hat from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac. I was a little worried about this hat thinking it might be a little off the wall for today's slick urban child. But No! Look how the mischevious gleam in his eye suits the jester-ish hat. Even if his mum never puts it on him again - I have the photo where he looks just great.<br /><br />Here he is again in a head scarf knit for his sister Ineke who was unwilling to model or even try on the Pressie. I just know she would have looked darling in it but so does Athur!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R48LzXL4WoI/AAAAAAAAAYA/ntsYLHxkboU/s1600-h/100_0412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R48LzXL4WoI/AAAAAAAAAYA/ntsYLHxkboU/s400/100_0412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156353075387587202" border="0" /></a>The pattern is from Interweave Knits, ages ago I think it's called Molly's Headscarf. I'll look it up when I'm offline.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEXT POST:</span></span> More Handmade Chrissy Pressiesthe stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-91432523938914584292008-01-13T20:20:00.000+11:002008-11-13T13:48:38.313+11:00Making Hay While the Sun Shines<div style="text-align: center;">It happened this week in our back paddock. Literally, not metaphorically.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4nZwnL4WlI/AAAAAAAAAXo/IRrbSorn0Fw/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4nZwnL4WlI/AAAAAAAAAXo/IRrbSorn0Fw/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154890677678004818" border="0" /></a>Blue skies - perfect for cutting and drying.<br />Overcast days later in the week; perfect for baling and stacking.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4nZw3L4WmI/AAAAAAAAAXw/OuAqwwocx_k/s1600-h/100_0346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4nZw3L4WmI/AAAAAAAAAXw/OuAqwwocx_k/s400/100_0346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154890681972972130" border="0" /></a>Milly was intrigued, as was I. I felt like we were real farmers although I didn't lift a finger. There's a deep philosophical discussion here about seizing the day & etc but after a day of 40 degree heat and an enormous and delicious wedding anniversary lunch <a href="http://www.thesilos.com/">here</a> (Just look at that view over the vinyards!) I'm just not up to it.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-53211175895883719512008-01-05T21:48:00.000+11:002008-11-13T13:48:38.943+11:00NEW YEARIt's very hot and humid here today - I'm hiding inside trying to do an interesting blog post but not having much luck. Then it suddenly came to me that if I was hot and thirsty the chooks were probably parched too! They have water in their shed but they've been ranging the garden these days and dust bathing under trees and there's no cool water dotted around for them. So I just took them a special delivery two buckets of cool water to have while they fluffed about in the dust and I swear they smiled at me!!<br /><br />Our first house type job of the year was to paint the chook shed. It's called 'red box' and its VERY RED. My idea is for it to look like a kind of mini American style barn. Just got to add the white beading and it will be pretty special!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B2d3L4WhI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ZNhtbGmdYUc/s1600-h/100_0245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B2d3L4WhI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ZNhtbGmdYUc/s400/100_0245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152248229113911826" border="0" /></a>I know, there's not been much knitting seen here for a while. There's been a reasonable amount of it but it's been too boring to show in progress. You know?? Who wants to see inch after inch of stocking stitch week after week? Well not me. I've had enough for a while. Time to embark on some now projects for 2008. But first: the un-aired FO pile is getting pretty big. Time to show you a few.<br /><br />I made a handful of one skein wonders for little friends of the kids. I've made so many now that I couldn't even be bothered to take any photos and I'll be pretty happy if I never knit another one again. Then came the design challenge of the 'Rachel Cardy'. I was thinking of knitting a pressie for the daughter of one of my friends. I asked Rachel about the OSW and she said: "Yeah I like it but it needs to be a bit longer and it needs to do up at the front..." I thought: " Woah! Eight year old girls really know what they want!! HELP!!" But what I actually said was: "Sure I can do that no worries. How about this colour?" and pulled out some Anchor Magic-line (not the self striping kind just the kind of multi print) that I got on sale for $1 a ball - she liked the colour - we were in business.<br /><br />I got started and because I've made several basic top down raglan cardigans and enough OSW's to make me puke I didn't just sound confident - I really felt confident that I could do it. I had a good idea of her size as compared to my girls and I had a couple of things already knit up in the same yarn to I knew my gauge pretty well. So it was all systems go. I had to make a decision about how to do the bask and what to use for a tie at the front.<br /><br />I went with K2P2 rib around the bottom and then picked up stitches along the two fronts and neck all in one piece. I was going to do i-cord for the tie but it looked too thick and I was a little low on yarn so I did a twisted cord. That was the perfect touch and the whole thing used exactly three balls!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B3WnL4WiI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/tINKLLhHOwM/s1600-h/rachelcardycrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B3WnL4WiI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/tINKLLhHOwM/s400/rachelcardycrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152249204071488034" border="0" /></a><br />I was so pleased to knit something straight from my brain and have it turn out EXACTLY as I pictured it. I know it's not the most complicated pattern in the world but I thought it through, worked out where to put the increases and etc AND IT WORKED!! Really Really well!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B713L4WkI/AAAAAAAAAXg/Bi3z7BUjubk/s1600-h/rachelcardycropback.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B713L4WkI/AAAAAAAAAXg/Bi3z7BUjubk/s400/rachelcardycropback.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152254138988911170" border="0" /></a><br />I was even more chuffed to see Rachel's reaction. Look she's smiling!! She likes it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B5e3L4WjI/AAAAAAAAAXY/r_xoCTxhvXY/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R4B5e3L4WjI/AAAAAAAAAXY/r_xoCTxhvXY/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152251544828664370" border="0" /></a><br />I considered it such a success that I started another for Gemma right away. Smaller - so it only used 2.5 balls . $2.50!!! I call that a bargain. Here 'tis:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R39kfXL4WdI/AAAAAAAAAWo/cTRUgJiQzSQ/s1600-h/frontcardycrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R39kfXL4WdI/AAAAAAAAAWo/cTRUgJiQzSQ/s400/frontcardycrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151946988697704914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R39ke3L4WcI/AAAAAAAAAWg/O3U2Rmpvb9A/s1600-h/bluecardycrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R39ke3L4WcI/AAAAAAAAAWg/O3U2Rmpvb9A/s400/bluecardycrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151946980107770306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Next Post: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Making hay while the sun shines, WIPS and those pesky resolutions of the New Year kind. </span><br /><br />Over and Out :-)the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-56631436129798553022007-12-22T08:45:00.001+11:002008-11-13T13:48:39.432+11:00Christmas WishesI know it's been an age since I've posted but I've found myself with five minutes up my sleeve and some decent photos so its time to wish everyone Merry Christmas! Especially Rae who is tired of 'Meeting the Brood.' Here's our tree this year. We've go the playpen around it to keep wandering hands (Bronte) from the decorations and pressies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16HkQRYI/AAAAAAAAAVg/UpXcY8ASh_w/s1600-h/treecropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16HkQRYI/AAAAAAAAAVg/UpXcY8ASh_w/s400/treecropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146547746757428610" border="0" /></a>Here's some lavender filled Christmas hearts for all the preschool teachers. I made these with my FAB new sewing machine. I've been having such fun with it. It's a dream to sew with. The Buttonhole applique stitch is FANTASTIC and I'm loving the free motion sewing too. I used both techniques on on these hearts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16XkQRZI/AAAAAAAAAVo/cFsU3Ppni0E/s1600-h/100_0096.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16XkQRZI/AAAAAAAAAVo/cFsU3Ppni0E/s400/100_0096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146547751052395922" border="0" /></a><br />And looky looky WE HAVE EGGS. Yesterday we went down to the chook shed and found our first two eggs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16nkQRaI/AAAAAAAAAVw/yTPUtM8gFfY/s1600-h/100_0139.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w16nkQRaI/AAAAAAAAAVw/yTPUtM8gFfY/s400/100_0139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146547755347363234" border="0" /></a>So the chooks are finally being useful. Just in time for Christmas. The girls are fascinated by the eggs and won't put them down. One was still warm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w17HkQRbI/AAAAAAAAAV4/KJ4X8CzFYCI/s1600-h/100_0141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/R2w17HkQRbI/AAAAAAAAAV4/KJ4X8CzFYCI/s400/100_0141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146547763937297842" border="0" /></a>We are off to Wagga Wagga to have Christmas Day with the cousins for then back to Berry in the New Year. I don't know about you but my new Year's resolutions contain something about serenity, staying put and getting organised. So Merry Christmas all and to all good night!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-20440497453893340412007-11-01T14:15:00.001+11:002008-11-13T13:48:39.941+11:00Meet the brood<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Catch up post #2 </span>- Here are the new girls.<br /><br />They came on Sunday afternoon. So even though I missed SnB there was still plenty of cackling in my weekend.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF_YIzfhI/AAAAAAAAAVI/HZ4bHGJnP_o/s1600-h/100_9836.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF_YIzfhI/AAAAAAAAAVI/HZ4bHGJnP_o/s400/100_9836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127706605851475474" border="0" /></a>Meet Jersey Caramel, Einstien, Number One, Dora and Peep Peep. They are 10 week old Isa Browns and are utterly gorgeous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF-4IzfgI/AAAAAAAAAVA/q9WAx23GjXc/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF-4IzfgI/AAAAAAAAAVA/q9WAx23GjXc/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127706597261540866" border="0" /></a>JT built the chook shed himself with a bit of help from me and the girls. We think he's an utter legend. The girls can't wait till he gets stuck into their cubby house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylGAoIzfjI/AAAAAAAAAVY/X63l3tbyO4o/s1600-h/100_9844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylGAoIzfjI/AAAAAAAAAVY/X63l3tbyO4o/s400/100_9844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127706627326311986" border="0" /></a>We'll paint it at some stage and grow a passionfruit vine up one side. What fun! We should have eggs by Christmas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF_4IzfiI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1T7lu0mv8UY/s1600-h/100_9841.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RylF_4IzfiI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1T7lu0mv8UY/s400/100_9841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127706614441410082" border="0" /></a>Milly and Gemma are entranced. They love to help feed them and change their water.<br /></div>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-74486014330804524492007-10-27T19:15:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:40.180+11:00SNB - Too far away.<span style="font-weight: bold;">CATCH UP POST #1. </span>- Not only have I been absent from the blog - I've also found it really hard to get to <a href="http://wollongongstitchnbitch.blogspot.com/">my lovely SNB</a>. I think I've only been two or three times since January. AND I MISSED IT AGAIN TODAY!!<br /><br />Since we moved house at the beginning of the year it's now an hour's drive to get there. Throw into the mix that my hubby is a doctor and is often on call on weekends. The result is that it's practically impossible to get there. It's terribly, terribly sad.<br /><br />I love seeing what everyone is knitting. I love the mix of members, from young mums to grandmas and all sorts in between. I enjoy being involved in our annual exhibition that we've held each year for the past two years. I miss being able to sit and have a coffee or a cocktail and a knit or not. This month I missed seeing <a href="http://pick-up-sticks.blogspot.com/">Ailsa's new boobs!</a><br /><br />Lately I've been thinking that I just have to let it go - stop stressing about not being able to get there and you never know maybe it will get easier at some point.<br /><br />But so it's not totally photo-less I leave you with a shot of the chook shed in progress. An update on chooks and all things garden coming soon.......<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RyQxFoIzffI/AAAAAAAAAU4/ZkRzOydlmF0/s1600-h/100_9643.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RyQxFoIzffI/AAAAAAAAAU4/ZkRzOydlmF0/s400/100_9643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126276248597921266" border="0" /></a>What good helpers he has... :-)<br /></div>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-3369557231058264242007-10-23T17:51:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:40.614+11:00Buying not BloggingYou might have noticed that there hasn't been too much action on the blogging front chez stripey. It's not that I've had nothing to blog about. Actually it's the other way around. I've got so much to blog about that I don't know where to begin. I have been knitting but it's only boring stuff so there's no photos of that for now for now. But the new garden is so demanding!<br /><br />However, I seem to have put a fair bit of my blogging energy into buying stuff....Books and other stuff....Which is worse I wonder? The spending up big or the time burning blogging??<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s400/collage1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119083665437821106" border="0" />Here's a few Jo Sharp books that I've had my eye on and a Debbie Abrahams book that had to come home from a shop near me that is closing down. <a href="http://www.randomknits.net/">Donna</a> gave me a birthday Gift Voucher at <a href="http://www.yarnsonline.com.au/">Yarns Online</a> and I sold a few things at the Berry Spinners and Weavers exhibition so I put all those $ towards the two Barbara Walker<onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"></onblur="try> beauties. Oh what Fun they are to look through!! The daffodils popped up in the new garden (months ago) and look - a curious child armed with scissors found a ball of yarn. There's a first time for everything....grrrr....<br /><br />Then there was that small purchase from The Book Depository way back in June. Cables Untangled and Inspired Cable Knits. I absolutely LOOOVE Cables Untangled. The other one is still good but just not as great as Cables Untangled.<br /><br />Then I went to a newsagent looking for Vogue Knitting - I was on the hunt for the 25th Anniversary Issue and look what I came out with......Jo Sharp's latest and Interweave Felt as well as the Vogue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RxKKEr3tCUI/AAAAAAAAAUg/JWcT8CQ_k9c/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RxKKEr3tCUI/AAAAAAAAAUg/JWcT8CQ_k9c/s400/collage1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121307539374147906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.yarnsonline.com.au/">The lovely Meaghan at Yarns Online</a> recently had a book sale and before you could say "Haven't you bought enough books lately?" These three Vogue Stitchionaries (below) were in the shopping cart and so was the Victorian Lace Today. I did plan to give it as a gift but I think it's going to have to stay with me for now!<br /><br />Spin to Knit came to me via my Berry Spinners and Weaver's book enabler! And embroidery even gets a look in -in my spending spree. So many books so little time to read them!<br /><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RxKKFL3tCVI/AAAAAAAAAUo/jmXyoZ3l9-8/s1600-h/100_9703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RxKKFL3tCVI/AAAAAAAAAUo/jmXyoZ3l9-8/s400/100_9703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121307547964082514" border="0" /></a></onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"></onblur="try><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">BUT IT DOESN"T STOP THERE. Last week I bought the<a href="http://www.bernina.com.au/products/sewing_machines/aurora_440qe"> BEST SEWING MACHINE IN THE WORLD</a>! It was SUCH a splurge. But you know it was a lifetime investment .....justify yada yada justify...... So can't stay typing gotta go sew!<br /><br />I'm hoping I can get my blogging act together more regularly. But in the mean time we are all well and very very happy here chez stripey. Stay tuned for updates on:<br /><br /></onblur="try><div style="text-align: center;"><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">Spinners and Weavers</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">My drop spindle mania</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">MY NEW SEWING MACHINE</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">New felting projects</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">new dying stuff</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">Noah's Ark</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">the vege patch</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">the chook shed,</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">the weeds!</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">new 'dress-up' sewing projects</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">my new quilting class<br />the BEST free motion sewing I've ever done<br /></onblur="try><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">my struggle with getting to snb</onblur="try><br /><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">christmas embroidery<br />the never ending one skein wonder train<br />ravelry<br /></onblur="try><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg">and much much more.......<br /><br />See I told you it was too much to blog about....<br /><br />:-)<br /></onblur="try><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"></onblur="try></div><onblur="try href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RwqjeL3tCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/rLOroD-5W8I/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"><br /><br /></onblur="try>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-84123205339828775112007-09-11T07:41:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:41.263+11:00Too much of a good thing....When I was a kid I poured myself an enormous bowl of corn flakes and put milk on them before mum could make me put some back. She went bezerk then said I had to eat it all. I sat there valiantly chewing for what seemed like an eternity. All the cornflakes went soggy and I was feeling very unwell. I can't remember if she made me actually eat the whole bowl or not but I do remember that it was more than 20 years before I ate another cornflake; soggy or otherwise.<br /><br />It's like that with the The Dreaded Olive & Silk. I have this lovely Merino and Silk blend<br />(85% /15%) that came from the now defunct Margaret Peel Fibre supplies. It's undyed Mulberry silk carded through this light and airy pale olive merino tops. I think I originally had half a kilo. I spun up about half of it and I really enjoyed the way the undyed silk popped up here and there in the resulting skeins. Then I plyed it with a plain cotton thread just for an experiment. This was all nearly two years ago.<br /><br />Then I knit it into about a dozen swatches trying to see how it would best look then I began a scarf (bottom left) didn't like it and began another scarf (top right), didn't like it either - so then I began a top down raglan for Bronte with a cable panel down the centre and two little cables down either side at the back. Ahh now I'm happy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW7LHtKwNI/AAAAAAAAATQ/DROV-_M2KT8/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW7LHtKwNI/AAAAAAAAATQ/DROV-_M2KT8/s400/collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108695152043147474" border="0" /></a>Here she is trying it on.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW6_XtKwMI/AAAAAAAAATI/z7aAIc_PCfg/s1600-h/100_9414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW6_XtKwMI/AAAAAAAAATI/z7aAIc_PCfg/s400/100_9414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108694950179684546" border="0" /></a>The length is OK but I'm going to need more for the arms. **Sigh** back to the spinning wheel to spin up another skein. Now I'm seriously over this stuff. I don't ever want to see it again. One of the ladies at my Spinners and Weavers Group wants to buy what's left. YES YES YES I say take it away!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW6ontKwLI/AAAAAAAAATA/f2Sg9-5ZkkE/s1600-h/100_9456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RuW6ontKwLI/AAAAAAAAATA/f2Sg9-5ZkkE/s400/100_9456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108694559337660594" border="0" /></a>So the skein is spun up but I just can't face the knitting - It's been languishing for a week (or two) maybe tonight I should just bite the bullet and get it done or it will be a WIP forever!!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-71629441387163557112007-08-23T19:42:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:41.916+11:00Longest Black HoleWow! Almost a month since I last made a post. Just shows how many demands five acres of garden make - So many in fact that finding the time to get online is harder and harder. There's just so many things to prune in Winter!!<br /><br />But there's HEAPS of things I haven't blogged about so I'll try to catch up a bit.<br /><br />Excitement happened in my life (more than six weeks ago!) when I exhibited in the Berry Spinners & Weavers annual Exhibition and Sale . I was excited firstly to discover that I actually had a few things to put in it! Here they are: From bottom left the baby vest from my own hand dyed handspun, then Milly's poncho, knit from my own handspun, two open felted scarves incorporating kool-aid dyed handspun and a chunky scarf also from kool-aid hand-spun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1ZkntKwKI/AAAAAAAAAS4/3qRb1ks77AI/s1600-h/100_9011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1ZkntKwKI/AAAAAAAAAS4/3qRb1ks77AI/s400/100_9011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101832438549233826" border="0" /></a><br />Then, I was excited for Milly because the ladies asked her to exhibit too. Here she is in front of her pom-pom tree. The pom-poms were made from left over handspun of mine - a great way to use it up!) She also had a few spider webs on the tree too. You know those things where you wind the yarn around two crossed paddle pop sticks. She was very proud of herself - We were all proud of her!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1Yn3tKwHI/AAAAAAAAASg/SnQNHjEsU08/s1600-h/100_9059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1Yn3tKwHI/AAAAAAAAASg/SnQNHjEsU08/s400/100_9059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831394872180850" border="0" /></a><br />Then we were all excited to go and have afternoon tea. The two dollar entry to the exhibition included afternoon tea. Check it out! It was Slice Heaven!! It must be my inner CWA* lady but I just love tea from an urn and a table full of slice!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1YontKwII/AAAAAAAAASo/tc5uYCPJZn4/s1600-h/100_9060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1YontKwII/AAAAAAAAASo/tc5uYCPJZn4/s400/100_9060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831407757082754" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of it all I was extremely excited to discover that I'd sold two things!! The blue felted scarf and the baby vest both had new homes. So now I'm a professional! Here's a shot of a tiny corner of the show. The 'Blue Wall'. Milly's poncho is right in the middle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1YpHtKwJI/AAAAAAAAASw/XaiWWtIMwxE/s1600-h/100_9057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rs1YpHtKwJI/AAAAAAAAASw/XaiWWtIMwxE/s400/100_9057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831416347017362" border="0" /></a>There are heaps of things I'm loving about living in Berry and the weekly Spinners & Weavers meetings would have to be up there on my list of faves.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* CWA - Country Women's Association. An Aussie institution - They specialise in afternoon teas, cake judging and 'good-works' throughout rural Australia. They are often made fun of by modern young things. More: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">s</span><a href="http://www.cwaa.org.au/">ee their website</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Women%27s_Association">what the big wiki</a> says. </span>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-2325877145324249372007-07-31T16:59:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:43.426+11:00Last MoveWe're in the dream house and hopefully there won't be any moves for many many years! The house is fabulous we're loving it to bits!<br /><br />I've got a huge furniture wish list and heaps of rooms that need a bit of decoration. Finally, I can do it instead of dreaming about it. There are plants to plant, plants to dig up, a kitchen to renovate, a laundry to put cupboards in, lighting to update, towel rails to put in, hall runner to find, a letter box to build, a chook shed to build, chooks to buy, a cubby to build and on and on and on..........<br /><br />The best thing about it all is there's no rush, we aren't going anywhere. Why would we? Just look at the view!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hPXWSKDI/AAAAAAAAASI/vGomr2BkGek/s1600-h/100_9302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hPXWSKDI/AAAAAAAAASI/vGomr2BkGek/s400/100_9302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093255882684377138" border="0" /></a>Then there's the great ride-on lawn mower entertainment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hO3WSKCI/AAAAAAAAASA/dvuEo6Kuq4c/s1600-h/100_9283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hO3WSKCI/AAAAAAAAASA/dvuEo6Kuq4c/s400/100_9283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093255874094442530" border="0" /></a>And the gorgeous places in the sun to sit and knit! This is my own hand spun that is becoming a top down raglan jumper with a few cable details front.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hPnWSKEI/AAAAAAAAASQ/pv6W8qhNuMM/s1600-h/100_9305.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hPnWSKEI/AAAAAAAAASQ/pv6W8qhNuMM/s400/100_9305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093255886979344450" border="0" /></a><br />.....and back for Bronte or maybe for the spinners and weavers show next year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hP3WSKFI/AAAAAAAAASY/3Qr033sdC7E/s1600-h/100_9307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rq7hP3WSKFI/AAAAAAAAASY/3Qr033sdC7E/s400/100_9307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093255891274311762" border="0" /></a>So hopefully that will be the end of the blah blah about the house and I can get back to the backlog of FOs to blog about.the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-6157515007617287012007-07-19T17:44:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:43.595+11:00Moving house has taken over my life!Well it's to be expected really isn't it?<br /><br />Here's some shots of the house early one morning when we went out there to check out what was happening. The gals were in their PJs still.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rp8XD24J2yI/AAAAAAAAARw/9nqQ85shZkM/s1600-h/100_9164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rp8XD24J2yI/AAAAAAAAARw/9nqQ85shZkM/s400/100_9164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088811458990037794" border="0" /></a>We were excited with the sun shining through the windows - so nice on a winters morning!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rp8XEW4J2zI/AAAAAAAAAR4/_Y6Kbzv13as/s1600-h/100_9169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/Rp8XEW4J2zI/AAAAAAAAAR4/_Y6Kbzv13as/s400/100_9169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088811467579972402" border="0" /></a>The truck's coming tomorrow. Who knows what's going to happen to our web access when we go tomorrow?? You might not hear from me for a while. Happy Knitting!!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-86511739471083984382007-07-14T16:20:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:43.864+11:00FINISHED!!Finished the bubby socks that I was knitting for the <a href="http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/">TDFKAL</a>. They're more or less the same size too. I knew I could do it I just needed a kick in the pants to start. So that's the dream run finished. Sorry about the crap pic! And now fabulouso readers - which pattern should I use for my first ever pair of grown up socks?? Maybe I can get a pair done for the KAL too??<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RphsN24J2vI/AAAAAAAAARY/e7UJ0uuAhb8/s1600-h/100_9247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RphsN24J2vI/AAAAAAAAARY/e7UJ0uuAhb8/s400/100_9247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086934764440115954" border="0" /></a> After all that fun the nightmare begins: Packing to move house ughh!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RphsO24J2wI/AAAAAAAAARg/UGiJZe7ic5g/s1600-h/100_9250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RphsO24J2wI/AAAAAAAAARg/UGiJZe7ic5g/s400/100_9250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086934781619985154" border="0" /></a>Boxes! Crap every where you look! It's just AWFUL!!! At least we know the end is in sight. My Mum and Dad are coming to help pack and kid wrangle on Monday. The painters at the new house will be finished on Wednesday, the cleaners come Thursday morning, the carpets get done Thursday too and late Thursday the pest people will go through. Then the moving van comes on Friday and again on Monday to finish it off. I can't wait!the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-9828054670189882032007-07-11T09:33:00.001+10:002008-11-13T13:48:44.560+11:00Sock Knitter! - Yep that's meThanks for the tips on the Blogger title field - Yes I used the preview mode and got my title in there. Thanks Teabird! And my next blog thing to do is change to Haloscan comments so I can actually reply. I just hate how you can't reply to comments in Blogger. It's infuriating - either that or change to Wordpress or something but you know I just can't face learning a new system......<br /><br />ANYWAY.... Here is MY FIRST SOCK for the <a href="http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/">Tour de France KAL</a>!!!!! Two nights knitting in front of old episodes of Law and Order (you know the ones with Chris Noth still in them) on pay TV and it's done. I'm using Elann's Sock it to Me, a swap giftee from <a href="http://fuzzyorangebear.blogspot.com/">Taryn</a>. It's an elasticised cotton, kinda boucle. I'm hoping the elastic will help them stick on little kidlets' feet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpQaifxAvyI/AAAAAAAAARA/krWkDEon1PM/s1600-h/100_9160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpQaifxAvyI/AAAAAAAAARA/krWkDEon1PM/s400/100_9160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085719059153076002" border="0" /></a>I think it turned out really well. I cheated though. I didn't kitchener stitch, I turned it inside out and did a three needle bind off. I guess I 'll tackle kitchener with each sock and one day it will suddenly click - Oh but how much does it suck! And I thought knitting a baby sock would be easier for my first sock but actually I'm thinking that they're just the same skills required and more fiddly so I'll try grown up socks next.<br /><br />Here's another FO. It's embroidery this time. A Mini Dutch Sampler in cross stitch on linen. I did it for my Mother in Law's Birthday in May. (She's originally from the Netherlands) I actually finished the embroidery for her birthday and gave it to her but took it back to stretch over acid free mat and take it to the framers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpQagvxAvxI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/gOdB0MZEsC0/s1600-h/100_9158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpQagvxAvxI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/gOdB0MZEsC0/s400/100_9158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085719029088304914" border="0" /></a>It's taken me two months to get around to stretching it and taking a photo tsk tsk. I love it. It only measures about 12cm x 16cm but there was lots of scope for adding cute little flowers and things as I went. I really enjoyed doing it - It evolved under my needle daily.<br /><br /><a href="http://thestripeytiger.blogspot.com/2005/12/mini-dutch-sampler.html">I made another like it but less involved for JT's Dutch Aunt last year</a> and finally managed to make another for JT's Mum. The patterns came from a book of Antique Dutch sampler patterns I found at the local library. All the patterns were grids in black and white and all falling to bits but some how it spoke to me.<br /><br />Like this filet crochet pattern that Sue (a new snb-er) was working on at <a href="http://www.wollongongstitchnbitch.blogspot.com">Stitch n Bitch</a> last month. Whilst I've definitely admired filet crochet, I never had the desire to rush out and start it until now. This is another vintage pattern that Sue picked up in the Netherlands when she was visiting. This pic shows one side of the pattern leaflet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpRFvPxAvzI/AAAAAAAAARI/XSmj6stQveM/s1600-h/100_9041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpRFvPxAvzI/AAAAAAAAARI/XSmj6stQveM/s400/100_9041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085766557196402482" border="0" /></a>And this shot shows the other side of the pattern crocheted up. Isn't it fantastic!. Thanks Sue for letting me take the photos and rave on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpRFvvxAv0I/AAAAAAAAARQ/Zh_-6bZRRew/s1600-h/100_9040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpRFvvxAv0I/AAAAAAAAARQ/Zh_-6bZRRew/s400/100_9040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085766565786337090" border="0" /></a>Next Post - More FO's and the second sock!! (Fingers crossed)the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12210355.post-6851733635898569642007-07-09T13:43:00.000+10:002008-11-13T13:48:45.387+11:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Many Buttons to Upload.</span><br />Why won't blogger let me type in the Title field all of a sudden??<br /><br />I joined <a href="http://daysfull.blogspot.com/">Meg</a> and <a href="http://knitseashore.typepad.com/she_knits_by_the_seashore/">Debby's</a> <a href="http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/">Tour de France knit along. </a>Head on over to the blog and have a look at all the tres amusante french puns. I decided on the big king of the mountain challenge. I'm going to knit my first pair of socks! Oh dear now I have to work out which pattern....I'm sure I can do it I just have to get started.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpGuf_xAvtI/AAAAAAAAAQc/oExXIcKbtu0/s400/polkadot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085037318994181842" border="0" /></a>Then I was admiring the very clever buttons they've designed for the KAL . I've been meaning to make a few to use as awards for <a href="http://www.internationalscarfexchange.blogspot.com/">ISE4</a>. So I opened up Illustrator and finally managed to get it together. Here is what I came up with:<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.internationalscarfexchange.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpGufvxAvsI/AAAAAAAAAQU/nE4psj3yTwE/s400/fivestarpal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085037314699214530" border="0" /></a>This one is a special award for the few pals in the scarf exchange who have gone above and beyond and really spoiled their pal. It will be awarded to the lucky few net week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.internationalscarfexchange.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpDiyvxAvrI/AAAAAAAAAQM/OmgEqXlxfng/s400/angel-button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084813340744662706" border="0" /></a>This one is for every one who successfully played by the rules. Made their blog posts on time, communicated well with their pals and sent their scarf off on time. Again it will be awarded next week.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.internationalscarfexchange.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CEyCn0LCBXY/RpDZhPxAvqI/AAAAAAAAAQE/E0Z0rLNOvwM/s400/ISE4Angelbutton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084803144492301986" border="0" /></a><br />And look at this pretty one. This is for those wonderful gals who have helped out by being an Angel for left out pals. I was pretty happy with that evening's effort. Even though I didn't get any knitting done. *sigh*</span></div></div>the stripey tigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16307299676477636158noreply@blogger.com4