Irish Crochet

Finished August's IC motif for the month, I didn't really struggle too much with this one although (as always) there is room for improvement

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To......

.....To quote Lesley Gore. Anyhow it's a major birthday for me, sorry not telling how big.


I received some beautiful presents but this has to be my favourite. It is a redgum bowl handmade by my very, very talented brother-in-law, Don. (Don previously made both myself and daughter a lace pillow stand (and put a plaque on it).


Back to this bowl, not only did Don make it by hand, he also engraved a lovely birthday message on the underside of the bowl. I just love it so much.

Crochet of the Month - August

Here is August's crochet of the month squares.

Irish Crochet

Here is my disappointing attempt at this month's IC challenge. No more said.

I knitted an "Adipose" toy for my children, whom are besotted by Dr Who.

Adipose were a race of humanoid blobs of fat. Young adipose were hand-sized marshmallow-shaped beings, composed almost entirely of fat. They had two eyes and a mouth and webbed feet/hands.

Stainless steel yarn

I discovered some absolutely gorgeous yarn, mixed with stainless steel by Habu. The SS is almost invisible but it gives body to the yarn, whether you use it for knitting (I am currently making a jacket with this with two different colours - black and a brown) or even lace (I have a white cone for lace). When the knitted garment is complete, you just "scrunch" the garmet into shape.

The yarn is available in wool and stainless steel or silk and stainless steel.

It inspired me to attempt to spin my own - I found a supplier of the steel I just now need the time to experiment.

Fingerless mittens

Here is a set of fingerless mittens I finished making today with gorgeous handspun Angora/Silk/BFL - it is so soft. I slightly altered the pattern by adding crochet to the beginning. OMG, who am I kidding - I have no idea what I was thinking of but I actually forgot the ribbing at the start thus my amendment. Pattern by Ada Troxell.

Crochet of the Month - July

Woo Hoo - I've completed seven months' worth of challenges (i.e. two crochet squares a month). Roll on December when I can finally assemble the quilt/blanket/whatever-it-will-be.

Sock KAL

I am participating in an exciting Safari Sock KAL and received my gorgeous kit today which included a cute stitch marker. I hope I can keep up with the other participants, but I certainly won't be stressing if I'm a little slower, with so many WIPs on the go at the moment I don't seem to be completing much.

New spinning wheel

Couldn't help myself, I purchased another spinning wheel. This is a Wee Peggy (from New Zealand) and it is the cutest little wheel. I just love it, however I haven't had a chance to spin on it yet. I know there won't be a problem because the previous owner looked after it extremely well and most people who have a Wee Peggy admire their wheel.

Crochet beaded bracelet

This is a bracelet I completed yesterday (very quick and easy), using lapis lazuli chips mixed with standard glass beads. I then threaded these beads onto wire and crochet one-two beads per stitch.

Bargello case

For something a little different from me - some needlework. Here is a bargello sunglass case I made using tapestry wool. This was a very easy project, all that is required is some sort of legend/map for the design.

Creative Mojo

I think my mojo has returned. I was getting frustrated with my watercolours; deep down I didn't want picture perfect yet that was what I was aiming for (if that makes any sense at all). After all, I could use my camera for picture-perfect. I think that's why I find artists such as Frida inspirational.

Anyhow, I dug out my watercolours and brushes, my creative juices are flowing again starting with an autumn watercolour of falling leaves, and also a tree.

Here is the beginning of two pieces :-

Chunky Hat

A recently completed hat thanks to http://turvid.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-pattern-anyway-chunky-hat-in-super.html using some lovely chunky wool and a not so happy model.

Handspun BFL

Here is the Blue Lagoon BFL which is plied and ready to knit with (although not sure what pattern to use as yet). The fleece was spun on my Castella wheel and plied using my Ashford Traveller with jumbo flyer.

Socks using magic loop, and Handspun BFL

Here is a photo of a pair of socks I am knitting at the one time using one needle (i.e. magic loop) - I am sharing the photo particularly for my very good friend Lyn. I want these socks to be quite long (and warm) therefore will just keep on knitting until I run out of yarn.

Here is one ply of handspun BFL "Blue Lagoon" from http://www.ewegivemetheknits.com/ - I just love the colour. When I have completed another bobbin I would like to make either socks or a shawl from this.

Spinning Wheels

I can't remember if I have shared photos of my four "babies" = here they are in order of acquisition.

"Athena"

"Eos"

"Minerva"

.. and my latest babe which I "acquired" about one month ago, and as yet is unnamed.

Crochet of the Month - June

Two more blocks from the CAL challenge. These blocks were completed fairly quickly. In total I now have 12 blocks, I'm half way there!

Handspun fabric and lurex

As part of a fun challenge in a spinning group this month was to spin fabric ! Here is some fabric I ripped into strips and then spun it with glittery thread (which I always call "lurex" - it comes from being obsessed with the 70s).

Irish Crochet - flower

Finished another motif as part of the Ravelry IC challenge. This one is fun to do and I just adore the 3D effect. I have made a 12' square using a similar motif as part of a CAL earlier this year.

Irish Crochet - Flower and Trefoil

My next attempts at IC - whilst I can see obvious mistakes, for my second/third attempt I don't think it is too bad and can only improve.

I am really enjoying this challenge group.

A snapshot of the "Big Miner"; a statue holding a pick, on display on the outskirts of Ballarat. Ballarat is a well known historical town, with gold being discovered near Ballarat in 1851.

Flower Power Wrap

Here is the Lion Brand Flower Power wrap I just completed. It's lovely, the yarn is so thick and warm and the wrap/shrug/whatever-you-want-to-call-it is perfect for when the weather gets a little chilly but not cold enough for a jacket.

Wildlife

This is an up close and dangerous (not really, through a sheet of glass) photo of a snake for the Photo Friday Challenge.

Crochet of the month - May

Here is the completed CAL for May. Two quite easy squares (which need to be blocked at the end of the year). I think the combination of all the blocks (there will be 24 by the end of the year) will make a lovely afghan quilt.

Blue

My contribution to a "blue" photography challenge. I have no idea what type of plant this is, possibly a creeper?

Handspun Angora/BFL/Silk

Here is some recently spun gorgeously soft Angora/BFL/Silk from Ixchelbunny. The first photo shows the plait and the second photo shows it spun up; not sure what I will knit from this.

I know now not to wear black when spinning something as "airy" as this, or to have a very good clothes brush.

Irish Crochet - Shamrock

Here is my first attempt at Irish Crochet thanks to a KAL I am participating in. Every month we are attempting a different motif and then we will piece together into either a sampler or extra large doily. It's a great way to learn IC>

Handspun Corriedale

This was 15+ years in the making. I purchased this gorgeous 1,6 kg of coated Corriedale that long ago and it has just taken me many, many years to complete it, albeit the majority of it was spun late last year and this year. I have had many interruptions in between including kids, other hobbies and just life.

I cabled the yarn (i.e. four ply) and now have many balls, enough to make a man's jumper.

Fingerless gloves

I recently completed knitting some fingerless gloves using homespun EL and merino. The gloves were a little large so I felted them whilst on my hands (basically by rubbing together in very warm water with lots of soap). Now they fit very nicely indeed.

Lace in Progress

This is my current lace piece and it has the most bobbins I have used to date! Very adventurous even if I do say so myself. Apart from the quantity of bobbins, it's a very easy pattern not requiring a great deal of concentration and can quite easily be done in front of the television.

Crochet of the Month - April

Here are April's crochet-along blocks. I particularly like the link square which is very unusual and completely different to what I have crochet in the past.

Camel handspun

I spun camel and plied it with merino and left natural. The camel hair I spun was gorgeous, fine and amazingly soft to touch. It feels just lovely against skin.

Building

I quite like this photo of a building reflection imposed on another building. I submitted it to a weekly challenge I occasionally participate in.

The building is in Melbourne and the sun just appeared at the right angle to cast an image on to another building.

Possum and Merino handspun

Here is Possum and Merino blen which I handspun. The possum is from New Zealand where it is a pest (don't know how such a cute think can be a pest, but apparently it is).

Spindle

Woo Hooo. I received my first spindle yesterday and isn't it just gorgeous, thanks to Mel at http://www.strandedinoz.blogspot.com/ . Spindling certainly isn't as easy as it looks, I have no problems with my wheel but this is a completely new process for me.

Hand dyed fleece

I went to a girlfriends and we dyed my Finn-X using food dye - I just LOVEEEEEEEEE this colour. Now it needs to be carded, perhaps mixed with some silk or glitz.

Crochet of the Month - March

Here are my two squares for March's CAL for the Ravelry group. I just loved doing the 3D rose, I think it is very effective (and much easier to do than expected).

Fabric crochet bowl

Using Laughing Purple's project as inspiration, I completed this crochet bowl using old sheets which were torn into 1" strips and joined together.

It now sits proudly on one of my crystal cabinets for keys etc. to be stored in.

Flowering tree

I took some close up shots of a flowering tree from our garden - it's the only "bright spark" in the garden at the moment; besides, I will use anything as an excuse to play with my DSLR.

LPs

I shared this picture before - I made quite a few of these bowls for teachers' Christmas presents last year and filled them with sweets and covered in cellophane - very effective and a reusable bowl at that. This is recycling at its best. Once you have finished with the vinyl records (or pic,l some up from the Opp Shop for cheap, where I obtained these bowls) there are many items you can make with them.

Here is a bangle I made from an LP - you can see the grooves and it's certainly a conversation piece.

Handspun yarn

Here are two balls of recently spun wool. The pink is a glorious corriedale sliver (purchased from Moseley Park) which I navajo plied. The darker is an East Fresian and Merino handspun.