'Just let me finish this row darling...'

Joy of rediscovery.

2012-02-16T14:30:00.001+13:00

My version of the Nicklas Cardigan from MillaMia.

When you work around so much yarn like I do you have to become very hardened to temptation & a sort of 'Yarn Blindness' starts setting in after a while. Like an addict you start prowling around the mill seeking new yarns, new fibres, new colours - all to feed that need of what is next, new & exciting.

Over the non existent Summer months in Hawkes Bay, I took on a small commission piece for a friend. Usually I avoid these as I barely have time to do my own knitting, or knitting for Skeinz, but in this case I was caught at an overally generous moment & agreed to knit a toddler cardigan, on the proviso that I had no fixed deadline. I was provided the pattern & as the sex of the child was undetermined, I got free reign on the colours. Merino Soft White, Navy & Lime.

Nicklas Cardigan from MillaMia.com

The pattern (from MillaMia) printed in the May 2011 issue of the Australian WW was designed for 4ply merino - so our Merino Soft fit the bill perfectly. Now Merino Soft is one of our oldest yarn ranges. NZ babies have been enveloped by its gentle caress for decades & I hadn't knitted a project in it for years. So I cast on the project in late Spring & slowing chipped away at it over the holiday months completing it last week. This is when the revelation happened. The more I worked on this, the more I kept thinking how good the yarn was to work with. How soft, great stitch definition, excellent bold colours. Where on earth had this wonder yarn being hiding?

As I have mentioned in the previous post I am doing a KAL of Ysolda Teagues Cria. I have just discovered as of today it is more of a 'Knit-alone' as opposed to 'Knit-along', as my offsiders seemed to be either slow casting on, or have cast on, ripped, sworn, cursed & are now having a wee 'time-out'.

Cria is progressing well.

Well I am pleased that my yarn epiphany to use Merino Soft's Barney Purple is now coming to fruition - I am really delighted with how it is performing as Cria is coming together & I am loving the colour more each day. Like one of my boys rediscovering a long lost toy - I am having tremendous joy rediscovering the beauty of Skeinz classical Merino Soft.

Last Image....

Hugo came with me to work the other day so I could get my picture taken for a magazine article I am featuring in soon. He loves "Mummy's knitting work", and whilst I was faffing about setting up for the photo, I snapped this - Isn't he just too cute!

New Year - New Knitting...

2012-01-19T11:49:00.000+13:00

Louis kicks off the New Year in colourful fashion.

Internet forums are a buzz with knitting resolutions for the New Year.

Knitting 12 items from the stash for 2012
Knitting at least one project for yourself.
Learn to knit in the round.
Knit for a charity.
Learn to knit!

I have tended or tried NOT to make knit-solutions, largely because I never keep them. What I do like is to have a wee bit of thought into the projects I would definitely like to complete in the year. Like - what am I going to knit for my boys in 2012? What special project do I want to tackle for me this year? I really should convert all those design scribbles down into formal patterns?

Ekkkkk! Those are sounding very much like knit-solutions!

How did that happen??

Our yard spent much time underwater!

The Spring & early Summer here has been wet - really, really, really wet - so plenty of time stuck in doors with camping holidays awash to contemplate your naval, or in my case, my knitting. At KAN:2 last year cousin Letitia & I bough copies of Ysolda Teagues - Little Red in the City.

How can you not love this ravishing creature on the cover.

This book is a master work. Firstly was the vision of her bestie Amanda on the from cover - a stunning looking redhead of voluptuous proportions, so of course being in a similar vein myself, it was instant love. But adoration aside, Ysolda has spurned traditional publishers, self producing this seminal work. She tackles the perennial problem for 90% of all knitters - how to make something fit. I have seen this problem approached by many different designers, but what sets Ysolda different is she has put herself out there, using herself as a model & created garments for herself & Amanda sharing her formula for making every design custom fit your individual body shape. Now this is something I have been doing in a much more rudimentary form for years, as I have tired of spending weeks on a project only for it to be relegated to the bottom draw because I looked like a purple yeti. No longer!

Letitia models my magenta HH at the measuring party.

So last weekend myself, Letitia & other knit buddy Jennie (Rav ID jenniekuz) got together & had a measuring party. In attendance were children & bemused husbands, who's job it was to entertain said children while tape measures were flying & jugs of Sangria consumed.

Jennie just loves her new Arizona HH

First order of business though has been to tidy up a few projects which have been dragging along over the festive season. I finally completed my Magenta Hitchhiker - started as my no brainer, talk my arse off whilst knitting project at KAN:2 & morphed in the favoured 'purse project'. It's now all done awaiting cooler climes to wear it. Also just prior to Christmas in a bout of 'I need instant gratification - now' I whipped up a bulky HH in yarn received in a swap parcel. Jennie is modelling & loved it so much it has now become her early birthday pressie!

Operation Cria - the foundation steps...

That has now meant I have now started swatching Cria. I had a selection of Skeinz yarns I was keen to try out. Once obtaining the correct gauge using Skeinz Harvest, I was erring towards New Leaf, but my heart was pining over something cerise/magenta/purple - then the epiphany hit me at work this morning - Barney! I have just started a swatch of Barney Purple in Merino Soft 4ply - a better weight overall for the short sleeved version of Cria I am planning on. So stay posted & lets pray that my Sangria goggles haven't affected my measurements!

My Flock grows....

2011-12-05T14:40:00.000+13:00

Wow! We have been busy getting penguins out to all of you who have ordered after the TV3 News appearance. Stocks of Flip are now exhausted - so to get prepared to Christmas & the premiere of a certain Penguin animated movie, we have got in stocks of friends for Flip.

Peggy has now arrived - she super sweet & super soft - totally squeezable!

Peggy just loves cuddles!

To keep Peggy company we have found Caesar. He's an Emperor Penguin with attitude & hates being left out. He has been seen mincing about the shop complaining that noone has sewn any sequins onto the jumpers as he likes to stand out in the flock! He's a little bigger & bolder & has a series of jumpers just for him! I hear he also likes to dance!

Caesar is a party Penguin, he's loves to get down & boogie!

They are available now - so still stuck on those Christmas gifts?

Limelight.

2011-11-29T08:08:00.001+13:00

Just when I thought everything had completely died away with the penguin project TV3 cropped yesterday wanting a follow up story. Huge ups to them for following the story up & here's hopefully it sparks even more Flip sales & more donations to the fund!

View the story Here.

Come Together.

2011-11-24T12:50:00.000+13:00

Mum & I travelled to Nelson for my cousins wedding.

The last month really has been a blur. All things penguin has consumed my life, throw into the mix Louis starting school (again) and more travel than I have done in 6 months all in all a very busy time.

What has been nice is that this week I have been able to take stock a little, rest, reassess & pause to prepare for the festive season ahead.

Firstly a recap on the month that was:
Penguins, penguins, penguins. I was interviewed by Google NYC a couple of weeks ago about the entire event & they challenged me to 'Google' it & have a look at what was out there. I finally plucked up the courage yesterday.

This is what I found on You Tube, great story. I knew nothing about it despite featuring in it (looking like Shamoo) - no wonder dozens of jumpers are turning up on my desk everyday! I honesty have felt a little like Alice falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. What is great now though, is that the Skeinz Penguin Rescue Fund is going great guns, with sales of the Flip Penguins & Jumpers both very strong, boosted by 20c a ball from Urban sales as well.

Catching up with the cuzzies at the Nelson wedding.

I also travelled to Nelson with Mum for my cousins wedding. Lovely to get back to that part of the world & catch up with dear friends & family - a lovely start to the festive season. The family shot up to visit the inlaws in Taupo - one of our favourite places.

The stripy Erika Knight cosy that won at the A&P Show.

I have also managed to knit - not as much as I would like, but I had a mad flurry finishing of projects to enter into the Hawkes Bay A&P Show (and penguin PJ's obviously!). I was delighted to learn that every entry won or placed, a triumph for modern knitting! I have had a swathe of samples for work to complete, but am now back to knitting for pleasure & the family.

So what's ahead? This year Dr. Phil & I have decided to re-embrace camping. We both camped as children & now that our boys are of an age where independence, discovery & no nappy's are all on the cards the timing seemed right. That's what I love about the age the boys are at now - give them a beach & they're happy! I can just see the posts in my future... 'Tales from the camp...'

Friends, Wine, Candlelight - Perfect!

What I also love about this time of year is a chance to casually get together with good friends on a regular basis, sharing meals, enjoying good company, wine, food & just appreciating what we have right on our doorstep. Joy.

Meet Flip & Peggy

2011-10-28T11:51:00.003+13:00

Peggy (in pink) & Flip (in formal attire) are the new faces of our charitable jumper drive.

Today has been very exciting as the first international jumpers arrived at Skeinz. Five parcels from the US & two from the UK. It was like Christmas opening them up & seeing the stunning jumpers inside, all made in yarns that are quite exotic to this part of the world!

Some of the recent arrivals.

I have been busy over the past few days gathering information & research about the "where to from here" with the surplus jumpers we have.

First port of call was Lyn from The Penguin Foundation at Phillip Island in Australia. She was involved with the co-ordination for the jumpers received at Phillip Island (Outside of Melbourne). She told me how the Tasmanian Rescue Team working the the Tasmanian spill in 2002 received 14,000 jumpers before they managed to get knitters to stop & back on Phillip Island, Lyn had to hire additional space to house all theirs!! Her insights were inspiring & so valuable.

We are wanting to make sure that here at Skeinz we are able to take the surplus jumpers and have them utilized within the spirit & generosity to which they are intended. Lyn had the same challenge in 2002 & the model she used is one we have chosen to adopt.

As no more penguin jumpers are required for the Rena effected penguins in Tauranga our focus has shifted to how we can use the jumpers to generate cash, to then donate back to the people working at the grass roots of the disaster.

Using the Penguin Foundation model - Skeinz is setting up a special charitable trust. Then using the power of our webstore & all of you, we have sourced from a local supplier scale sized little blue penguin toys to place in the jumpers & we will be selling these at skeinz.com with all the proceeds of the jumper being funneled back into the charitable trust. This has been so successful in Australia that The Penguin Foundation has recently donated $350,000 AUD back to a new penguin research centre, plus other research for penguins through Victoria University (Australia) for penguin clean up.

So the next challenge has been finding the best way to get donations directly back to the penguins & effected shorebirds of this disaster. As the local & national government bodies are pursuing costs against Rena's insurers, I have been researching other angles to make sure we can filter the funds directly & effectively.

NZ Forest & Bird is a NGO that has been protecting the bird life of NZ from generations. They are one of the most well respected environmental groups here in NZ & have fabric of paid & volunteer workers across the country. They have a special Bay Of Plenty Shorebird fund, which has been helping nesting shorebirds that fall in the effected area. So all monies donated to this fund go back the the birds, especially the penguins harmed by the Rena.
We have also been looking for a Little Blue Penguin specific cause - and we have approached another charitable trust who have been working with a nesting programme for the little blues. Details there are still to be confirmed & I will update when the come to hand.

Your comments have also helped us in feeling we are on the right track with this - so thank you for all your feedback. If haven't yet started a jumper, but feel happy about knitting one for it to be sold towards this cause, please by all means send them to us. For the crocheters out there a pattern has been published on Ravelry - I just need to contact the author for permission to publish.

Once we have all the details in place, the birds in stock, we will place them on skeinz.com for sale. All jumpers which have come with personal notes & cards, these will be passed onto as well. Many of you have also popped your email details - I will do my very best to email you all back in way of thanks.
Take care & I will be in touch again very soon - oh & Flip (the bird we have ordered initially) has his very own authentic little blue penguin sound - it's sooooo adorable!

Just Beautiful

2011-10-26T16:08:00.000+13:00

Waxeye on Kowhai in my friends Wellington garden.

In the middle of all the penguin madness I was actually away from home. Firstly Dr.Phil, the buys' & I went to Wellington to catch up with family & friends & laterly I have been in Gisborne with the boys' having a Spring Break whilst Dr. Phil has been away conferencing.

This years crop of cherry blossoms

I spent much of my time away chained to a computer wading through all the penguin related email - to date over 2000. All penguin updates can be found here. One of the best things about returning home is seeing my Spring time garden - so until I have more time to write a more indept post - just enjoy some lovliness of Spring.

My favourite Dublin Bay climbing Rose

Going Viral

2011-10-18T16:54:00.000+13:00

Jumper anyone?

I have just arrived home briefly & called into Skeinz to see all the pengiun jumpers for myself.
I feel really guilty as I created this media & internet 'penguin storm' & then I bugger off on holiday!
For my pennance I got nabbed whilst there & ended up being interviewed by TV3 News - I will post the link once the interview has aired tonight, I look an absolute fright - after 5 hours in the car, not a scrap of make-up except a quick last of lipgloss & poor Dr. Phil, the boys & Max all in the car wondering what on earth is taking me so long!

The TV3 Cameraman getting some set up shots for tonights news

After all this I think I need another holiday - roll on the Gisborne Wine & Food Festival & the 'Cup of World Rugby' final!

Penguin Power

2011-10-12T14:25:00.002+13:00

Thanks to Charlie - a Skeinz regular for knitting up this jumper & supplying the picture.

As you may be aware the oil spill & potential disastrous effects to wildlife & environment off the coast of Tauranga is frightening. A small number of little blue penguins have already been caught in the oil spilled to date with growing fears that more will be effected. Skeinz has been asked to help with the penguin relief by knitting small Penguin PJ’s to help protect the birds & prevent them from preening their feather & ingesting the toxic oil.

If you can help out by knitting a penguin jumper – send them to Skeinz at 5 Husheer Place, PO Box 3123, Onekawa, Napier 4142

These have come into the shop today

Penguin Jumper in 8ply - Must be 100% Wool Yarn1 pair 3.25mm , 1 pair of 3.75mm needles , 1 set of 3.25mm dpn’s or circular

Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row. Repeat this row 7 times. Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts)

Continue until work measures 15 cms.

Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain.

Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.)

Leave on needle.

Make second side the same.

Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows.

Cast off.

Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper). Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed). Flat elastic OK.

That Cup of World Rugby

2011-09-20T16:50:00.000+12:00

Louis & Hugo got me to set this up for the CoWR duration

It's really quite funny how infectious all this Rugby fervor can be. I had been so busy with all the lead up to KAN any thoughts to the impending 'Cup of World Rugby' or CoWR sort of passed me by. Now if you think I might have me events mixed up - I have to be very careful, the NZRFU & IRB have teams scouring all forms of media for people who are trying to cash in on, you know, the Cup of World Rugby - so CoWR it is.

Louis getting in his tackling practice

Napier is the host of the Canadians during their stay in NZ - in fact they are staying just down the road from me. Ahuriri is groaning with fervent fans, flags are flying in support of the three teams that are appearing here (Canada, France & Japan) & AB's flags are everywhere you look - all this CoWR fever is quite infectious.

Louis loves Rugby

It hasn't escaped the notice of Louis & Hugo. Their pre-school has had rugby themed parties & rugby is featured everywhere. Dr. Phil has gotten in on the act & has been taking the kids down to the local park to play Rugby - Louis just loves any excuse to run, run, run. Every time we see a black fern flag or they see the haka, they get all excited 'Wrugby Muuummy - Oar Blacks!' will exclaim Hugo.

The HitchHiker that has been frogged more than French!

I have to say I have now gotten the bug too. I have watched more rugby in the past 10 days than I have in years & more importantly, I have ENJOYED it! I have some rugby projects all sorted - so far a Capelet has been knocked out & the HitchHiker scarf I have on the needles are both getting plenty of knit time - the only problem is the random dropping of stitches when I leap up from the couch to cheer manically at athletic men wearing tight clothing run up & down. Seriously during the Irish game the other night I had to stop knitting & then frog back because once the excitement died down I realised my tension had been shot to shit & I had more holes than the Australian back line!

I've got Tonga & Japan up next & I am going to watch Japan against the Canadians next week - may I need to knock up something red & white for the occasion?

In the KAN

2011-09-06T15:45:00.000+12:00

It's been a little over a week since the conclusion of KAN:2 & I am just now gathering my breath. KAN:2 was nearly double the size of it's original - it was great to welcome back old friends, make new ones & for me finally meet so many that I communicate this on a professional basis in the 'flesh'.

What a cracking looking bunch!

This year saw more traders, a wider variety of fiberous wonders & more workshops. I have to say the business at the Friday traders market was brisk with many items selling out before they had a chance to be viewed by the wider public! I was one of the lucky one to snaffle the HiyaHiya Dumpling Stitch makers & case from Yarnz - seriously cute. I also indulged by passion for colour with a selection of yarn which reflected the colour palette in my wardrobe - with the exception of the muted natural tonings of the 'Slate' colourway from Fibre Alive (formally JOY) - purchased especially for Louis next prehistoric inspired Milo for next Winter. I indulged my love of deep vamperish reds from Morag at Vintage Purls - I so see a set of fingerless gloves coming on...

Many of these red skeins found there way home with me!

Merino Mania proving you can make more than socks from sock yarn.

I have also purchased far too much sock yarn - did you know I have yet to actually make a pair of socks from all this yarn!! I went for colours which I use to accessorise & have just purchased a new shawlette pattern fron NZ designer Gabriella Henry called Faultline, so I am itching to get yarn wound off & cast on.

Looking studious at Morags workshop

There is a great thread on the Ravelry Knit August Nights board called "Things I Learned at KAN:2". Make sure you check it out or contribute. What did I learn?

Well there is no such thing as wearing or owning too much orange (Thank you Dee)
I have fallen in love with my drop spindle (Thank you Frances).
Sometimes you just need a kick in the pants with your design brain - just shift your thinking 10 degrees to create something amazing (Thank you Nanette)
Face your fear & attack your knitting with scissors - even if you manage to unravel it through your steek - it is worth it all in the end! (Thank you Stella)
When it all started gets a little too overwhelming, just take a deep breath & find Win.
Polly Rocks!

Nanette showing off the design which was a revelation for me.

I just want to take a little time to thank all those who not only attended KAN:2, but the traders, tutors & KAN supporters that helped support, promote & provide encouragement for the event. I concede it is a big job, one I thoroughly enjoy. Next year is already in the pipeline - so make sure you pencil in the last weekend of August 2012 & add the KAN website into your favourites. If you want to check out more images from KAN:2 - have a look at the KAN:2 set here.

KAN:2 Countdown!

2011-08-25T11:26:00.000+12:00

Great Publicity for KAN:2!

It's 24 hours until KAN:2 gets underway - the Southern contingent of KANannites are in the air & on their way - I am madly getting all my last minute details together. We have had some great support from local media - thanks for the Napier Courier who have seen the 'coolness' in knitting & have me donning the front page of this weeks edition! Let KAN:2 Begin!

Cosy Up!

2011-08-15T14:31:00.000+12:00

Hugo gives you a good idea of the scale of the job!

Several hardy should braved the weather to get the first Napier Tree Cosy installation up on Sunday - I was sneaky & went in on the finer Saturday morning with Dr.Phil & the boys & got up the 5 in my care. I have to say my wee cosies pale in comparison to some - I hope to get back into town the first fine day & photograph all of them - they are truly amazing!

In a Spin

2011-07-24T15:26:00.000+12:00

My new Rustic Ever Afters & the last of the Silver Gotland, Swiftly spun (well at least) wound up!

Winter has finally taken a decent bite out of Hawkes Bay. It has been an eclectic mix of bitterly cold, with icy winds off the snow covered ranges or wet grey weather that just begs you to stay indoors & knit.

The completed Dorian Hitchhiker

I have managed to get a few loose ends tied up in recent weeks. The Dorian Hitchhiker scarf, which has been my lazy TV knitting is now finally finished. Done in dreamy 4ply alpaca it has already had several outings. I also have been doing a pile of samplers & swatches for Skeinz & for contract spins & have had time to knock out another pair of Ever After gauntlets for myself in rustic browns this week.

The Moondance Sampler

I am now on the homeward stretch on my Fern Shell & even have been tinkering wit a little crochet. What comes of the latter I have no idea, but I have been getting myself quite hooked up with a series of scraps & have enjoyed the change of pace away from the needles.

Crochet Anyone?

It just never ceases to amaze me that there is always someone or something to knit for. My aunt had a very significant birthday last week & I have promised her a pair of fingerless gloves in the matching yarn to her Sunday Market Shawl I knitted her last year - so I got myself a little wound up this afternoon during the gloom & wound off the last skein or silver gotland & also the bag lot of Naturally Sensation angora blend I have been collecting to knit (or it's looking now very likely - crochet) a blanket from. there is something surprisingly satisfying it setting a swift ablaze & winding off a multitude of yarn.

Sensational!

August is fast approaching & it's Knit nirvana with the Napier tree cosy installation picking up pace & of course KAN:2. I have had a little publicity around the Tree cosies & I am hoping to drum up some more for the KAN:2 Knitters Market & the remaining workshops available. If you wish to register for either of these events - make sure you drop me a line ASAP! Time to stop blogging & keep knitting!

Smile! Me, keeping one of my trees cosy.

Rapture & Raptors

2011-07-05T16:15:00.000+12:00

Louis wearing his new 'Dino Skin' jumper.

There is one fact about Louis, my oldest, which is never in doubt. Louis Loves Dinosaurs. This isn't just a passing childhood phase, its a fully blown, Cretaceous sized obsession with dinosaurs. It started three years ago when for his third birthday his Auntie "Teesha" gave him a couple of small dinosaurs books & his first dinosaur toy - a blue Parasaurophalus. I should have known I was in trouble then. Louis wasn't just content knowing that this toy was mearly a dinosaur, but had to know when & where it lived, what it was called & ever other fact he could find.
Fast forward two years & we have the Louis the paleontologist in waiting. So when the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs arena show was scheduled to hit Auckland it was a no brainer to see whether we could swing it to visit.

The WWD Utahraptors - Louis Favourite.

Preparations were vigorous. We deliberately didn't tell Louis we were going until the day before we flew out, but I get prepared by knitting him a special 'Dino Skin' jumper to wear to the show & making sure all his favourite dino shirts were laundered & packed. Once we did break the new the endless questions started:

"Will they have a Velociraptor Mummy?"

"How did they find the Dino's Mummy?"

"Will the dinosaurs talk to me Mummy?

"Can we take a Dino home Mummy?"

"Can I take ALL my Dino's Mummy?"

Louis & Hugo get prepped for WWD

Needless to say having such a powerful incentive his behaviour over the weekend was amazing & he just adored the show - on the edge of his seat the entire time. If you can manage to make it before it closes - go, it is truly spectacular!

Louis-Raptor!

I also needed some nice easy mindless knitting for the trip away & for the plane - so I took the three balls of bright Skeinz Circus Louis had selected for another 'Dino Camoflague' jumper. I whipped it up in record time & he has now dubbed it his 'Utahraptor Jumper' - did I mention earlier that this kid was obsessed?

Ooh La La!

2011-06-21T17:42:00.002+12:00

Would it be crass to give the tree tits?

This is my next installment from the tree cosy installation happening in Napier in August - it was great fun mixing up the weights of yarn, vibrant colours & switching between knitting & crochet.

Inspired by the Can Can dresses of Paris, I thought this will be a little bit of frivolity for the palm trees that grace the main street of a town where Art Deco is worshipped. If you are interested in adopting a tree & becoming part of the installation email me at Skeinz.

Hugo looks quite fetching in the impromtu crochet tam.

Also whilst I have been fiddling around with a little Crochet, I bought a learn to crochet book to sharpen up my skills. After a few whiskys on Friday night & some trashy TV, my crochet circle went from being a furniture cover, to a bag, to a hat! Not a bad result & a thoroughly entertaining journey!

Getting Cosy

2011-06-10T14:23:00.000+12:00

Christine from Creative Napier gives our tree some adoptive love.

I have been blown away with the overwhelming response I have had to Knit August Nights, I am now about 80% subscribed for the retreat & three workshops are getting close to being sold out. So if you haven't registered yet, get your skates on & register here.

It's not a Sea Anenome, but a Tree Anenome!

To make August a truly yarn occasion I have been working with Creative Napier & Napier Inner City Marketing on a special yarn based art initiative. Napiers main CBD shopping street, Emerson, has 99 mature palm trees lining the length of the street. We are hoping to encourage individuals & groups to adopt these trees & knit, crochet or felt these lovely trees a 'Tree Cosy' to help keep them warm for the final two weeks of August. Christine from Creative Napier & myself adopted the first tree making a special 'Tree Anenome' & I will also be adopting another tree & have created an Autumn inspired cosy which is on display at Skeinz.

Christine from Creative Napier & Meg from Napier Inner City Marketing dress our tree.

That means if you are travelling to KAN:2, you can adopt a tree & then be able to see your adoptive tree child & cosy during the course of the installation. If you wish to adopt a tree drop me an email at Skeinz or call into the shop, we have adoption papers & a series of discount vouchers for yarn purchases. The trees of Emerson need you!

KAN:2 - Getting Worked Up!

2011-05-18T13:34:00.001+12:00

I know I have been a little silent - I have been wanting to keep the KAN teaser up for as long as possible - but I have soooo much to blog about & annoyingly so little time! The good news is I have now finalised the workshops for KAN:2 & I am really excited to have 10 workshops confirmed across a wide variety of topics. I just have a few last details ironed out, but for those who want to get their planning in place this is where I am so far....

James in last years Persion Poppies workshop

KAN:2 - Knit August Nights

Knitters Retreat in Historic Hawkes Bay

August 26th – 28th 2011

K.A.N Registrations are now open.

Email Maree for a Registration Form

‘Merino’ registration is $130 pp
This includes: Access to exclusive Traders Market, ONE workshop, Design Spun factory Tour & Skeinz shop visit, access for free knit time at East Pier, public traders market & a KAN goodie bag.

‘Alpaca’ registration is $200 pp
This includes: Access to exclusive Traders Market, TWO workshops, Design Spun factory tour & Skeinz shop visit, access for free knit time at East Pier, public traders market & a KAN goodie bag. PLUS the KAN Retreat Dinner & Awards on Saturday Night. East Pier is a landmark Napier Eatery & will be providing a three course dinner designed especially for KAN (drinks own care).

‘Cashmere’ registration is $230 pp
This includes: Access to exclusive Traders Market, THREE workshops, access for free knit time at East Pier, public traders market & a KAN goodie bag. PLUS the KAN Retreat Dinner & Awards on Saturday Night. East Pier is a landmark Napier Eatery & will be providing a three course dinner designed especially for KAN (drinks own care).

Accomodation

KAN’s preferred accommodation provider is Harbour View Motor Lodge. Call toll free 0800 668 432 or http://www.harbourview.co.nz/ – Hosts George & Zoe.

This year I am encouraging retreat goers to arrange their own accommodation. I have a number of rooms set aside for Retreat goers at discounted rates – these are booked under ‘Maree’s Knitters’. I am setting up an accommodation thread on the Ravelry KAN group for people to arrange their own roomies, prices & room configurations will be there. If you get stuck, email me & I will help get you placed with other retreaters.

Other accommodation options within walking distance from the venue.
The Crown Hotel – 06 833 8300 or www.thecrownnapier.co.nz
Portside Inn & Backpackers – 06 833 7292
Anchorage Motor Lodge – 0800 422 266 or www.anchorage.net.nz
Bluewater Hotel – 06 835 8668 or www.bluewaterhotel.co.nz
Also check out www.holidayhomes.co.nz & enter ‘Ahuriri’ into your search.

Ahuriri is located close by to the airport. Average taxi fare is $15 there is also a Napier based Super Shuttle http://www.supershuttle.co.nz/

KAN:2 Workshops

Friday Afternoon 3pm – 5.30/6pm

Mastering Entrelac - Susan Hagedorn will be demystifying this alluring style, Entrelac is a knitting technique that creates a stunning textured plaited or diamond patterns. Entrelac can be knitted flat or in the round, often using colour or textured stitches to create different patterns and effects. This workshop will introduce the method of knitting squares and triangles in different orientations to make textured fabric. The technique can be adapted for use in garments, blankets, bags and accessories. Skills required for this Entrelac Workshop are ability to k2tog, p2tog and pick up stitches knitwise and purlwise. Ideal for advanced beginners upwards.

Getting set from the Top Down - Turn traditions on their head when you learn how to master top-down seamless set-in sleeve construction. Seen more and more, a technique that is a revelation to your knitting style once mastered. Morag McKenzie is one of NZ’s most accomplished tutors & the owner of Vintage Purls yarn boutique. This workshop is excellent for people who have started working in the round & want to expand the technique or those budding designers who want to sharpen up on the hottest design trend of the last few years. Knit a mini jersey that gives you all the skills to translate into a garment for yourself. Get the right fit and never sew in a sleeve again. Intermediate – Experienced knitters.

It’s Hip to be Square - Nanette Cormack from Yarnz works her magic with colour & translates modular quilting ideas into knitting. A great workshop if you love colour and have plenty of unused stash to transform into something wonderful. This workshop is very satisfying as the techniques are easy to learn & you can achieve a great deal in a short time. You just need to know how to knit, purl - great for beginners upwards.

Saturday Morning 10am – 12.00/12.30pm

Discover Area 51 - Nanette will give you the chance to clear out those UFO’s & help motivate you to complete them or redesign them into something new. She will help inspire & guide you around online searches & other resources. This is the perfect time to dig out those project bags gathering dust & reinvigorate them, or alternatively if you have yarn burning a hole in your stash but struggling to find an ideal pattern this is the session for you. A very relaxed low key session, knit, chat, search, brainstorm all over some coffee & cake. – Beginners upwards.

Knitting with Unspun Fibre - Why should the spinners have all the fun?! Beautiful handyed spinning fibres can be used as yarn, and the knitting can then be stabilised by felting. Learn how to prepare hand dyed top for knitting, make a project or two and take away a piece of knitting ready to felt. We will also explore knitting with silk hankies. The tutor will provide: 115g merino top, a silk hanky and full instructions and patterns for you to take away. Extra fibre will also be available for purchase. You need to bring: 10mm needles (80+cm circular if possible), darning needle, scissors. About the Tutor - By day Jessicah works in a microbiology lab, by night she hand dyes fibre and yarn in her home studio as Spinning a Yarn. She can usually be found surrounded by multiple projects in various stages of completion.

Knit to Fit - Sick & tired of starting a large project, especially for yourself, toiling away for months only to finish it & be completely disappointed by the results! This is the workshop for you, after a couple of hours here you can feel confident in: Finding patterns to suit different body types. Explore examples of what a pattern fails to tell you. How & why patterns will not fit & making the necessary adjustments so that it will!
Lyn Adell’s passion for knitwear shows in her creations. Read & see more of Lyn Adells creations here at her website. Beginners Upwards.

Saturday Afternoon 3pm – 5.30/6.00pm

Drop Spindling - Hot from Homemade in Wellington, Frances Stachl will take her very popular Drop spindling tutorial. Learn this ancient technique that will have you make yarn right before your eyes. She will be bringing some of her stunning hand crafted spindles to KAN - works of art on their own! You’ll need to book quickly for this tutorial, interest is already very hot! – All skill levels.

Seeing Double - James Herbison will take you through the technique of knitting with two strands to create a reversible contrasting fabric - a wonderful technique to master for scarves, hats, wraps, bags, anything that you would like to have fully reversible. James will challenge you to stretch the boundaries for colour & design – James is a fun vibrant tutor, the hours will fly by! – Advanced Beginners upwards.

It’s a Wrap! – Hand knitted shawls & wraps are one of the most popular accessories in fashion today. Morag McKenzie will take you through traditional shapes (e.g. triangles, squares and circles) and other constructions. Examine how to fit stitch patterns into a chosen shape and the pros and cons of each. You'll learn the skills to build your own patterns and advice on the best yarn selection, stitch patterning & finishing for your vision. Intermediate upwards.

Getting the Chop - Norwegian Steeking with Stella Lange. Imagine taking a pair of sharp pointy scissors and cutting into your hand knitting! Most hand knitting here in New Zealand is knit to shape using printed patterns as guides, but not all knitters shape their knitting that way. Many people shape their hand knitting by cutting, folding, neatening and picking up stitches. This is called Norwegian Steeking and is what we will be doing in this workshop. Yes cutting your first steek is at once exciting, scary, terrifying and full of danger – and some would say a rite of passage for any adventurous knitter. This workshop invites you to steek and finish samples using only the knitting tools you already have in your knit kit, yarn, darning needle, knitting needle, crochet hook, scissors. You will steek one knit sample and create two edges, finish one as a folded facing and the other with a knit on edging. During the class we will look at the various methods used to construct a steek and finish it in a garment, as well as ways of using steeks in general knit projects. Stella is a lecturer in Otago who is best known to Ravelers as knitfrogknit. She can be found musing away on her very entertaining blog - KAN:2 is very excited to be luring Stella so far north!

The Sunday Knitters Market

On Sunday morning (9am – 12pm) KAN will open to the public for a Sunday Knit Market. This will be extensively promoted through local media & retail outlets. We would love to have you take part. Stands are only $40 each & we provide one trestle table & a couple of chairs. Last year we saw hundreds of knitters flow through & plenty of traders going home with empty cases! Email Maree if you're interested.
I hope to have my very own KAN website up & running soon, so please bear with me if not all payment options are available immediately, but I know as many have to travel, it's good to get organized as early as possible.

KAN:2 - Knit August Nights Two

2011-03-23T13:38:00.000+13:00

Genny Stevens aka GrannyG hosts her very popular workshop at last years KAN.

I have been busy ferriting away in the background on the second Knit August Nights bespoke knitters retreat. So far it looks like there will be 8 workshops to choose from, traders galore for the private retreat traders market on Friday & the public Knitters Market on Sunday.

KAN:2

Knit August Nights 2

August 26th – 28th 2011

East Pier, Ahuriri, Napier

Join Ravelry Group ‘Knit August Nights’ or email Maree to register your interest.

Just a hint at what was available at the knitters market.

A chance to knit, learn & meet other knitterly individuals all whilst enjoying the delights of Art Deco Napier. Hosted in one of the most historic suburbs, Ahuriri, Knit August Nights is part retreat, part learning & part Winter escape. Spaces are very limited, so make sure you express your interest with Maree. So far eight workshops are planned, with a factory mill tour & a chance to shop at Skeinz – NZ largest mill factory store. All culminating it a knitters market open to the public Sunday morning. If you have items to sell at the market or wish to attend the retreat make sure you email Maree today.

KAN:2 is proud to have the support of...

Skeinz - The Natural Yarn Store

Vintage Purls - Sock yarn & premium accessories

Entangled - digital magazine (available soon)

JOY - Joy of Yarn Sock Boutique

Sir Bob?

2011-03-19T12:35:00.000+13:00

February 22nd was my fathers 69th birthday. A day to remember. A day to rejoice, unless you live in Christchurch. Unless you have been living in a cave for the past month you will be away of the devastating 6.3 magnitude aftershock that struck Christchurch on Feb. 22nd. It terrorised those who were in it & paralysed the rest of the country as we took a deep breath & anxiously waited for the dust to start settling.

The constant figurehead through this crisis has been mayor Bob Parker. Day after day, hour after hour in those first few harrowing weeks it was Bob facing up to the media furore, marshaling his troops & trying to bring news, peace & closure the best he could to his shattered city. Everyday that enduring figure of silver hair & trademark black & orange jacket met the world. His years of media training stood him in good stead, his strength, clarity & compassion bolstered us all.

So what I propose is this - a message to John Key, when you are compiling the names for the Queens Birthday honours list, put Bob at the top of the list. I know there have been many hero's during this crisis, shining examples of individuals & communities coming together, but if there is one man how shines above them all, it's Bob - or please, Sir Bob.

Deco Delights

2011-03-09T12:31:00.001+13:00

We got a great view of the airshow!

Napier hosts a world famous Art Deco festival every year. Thousands from around New Zealand & the world come to Napier to be transported back in time, a world of cutting edge style, colour & cars.

With all the upheaval in our family in February we had no plans this year for 'deco', but we got a stunning airshow clearly visible from our back deck.

The best way to show you the magic of 'deco' is pictorially - the full series of pictures can be found here - enjoy!

Just mesmerising!

Hugo's determined to 'shoot 'em down'!

Crikey - Did Hugo hit one?

Watch out below!

Deco belle's enjoying the sunshine.

This Art Deco is hot work for Max.

Vintage Deco

Friends Jill & Naomi - Just beautiful.

Perendale Paradise.

2011-02-18T08:11:00.000+13:00

Yesterday I took the boys' for a wee adventure. I had a small photography assignment to do for a friend's new digital magazine. She needed pictures of sheep. Not just any sheep mind, Perendales. As my friend is sadly city bound, I was only too eager to help. But where to find Perendales? Easy right? - Wrong!

Just Lovely Girls

It appears that the majority of woolly lovelies you see nibbling, frolicking & bleating their happy existences, are a cross breed of one variety or another, little bastards are bloody everywhere. So I donned my detective hat & called the local Elders Wool office (my Dad works for Elders in Gisborne & is well known by the locals here), which pointed me in the direction of the Doohan Brothers farm. Serious dedicated wool growers who only run Perendales - bullseye! (or should that be Rams-eye?)

Steve was a star, he has a small flock of 4 year old ewes that he brought down into his yards, which had a couple of small outside holding paddocks off the side, making it much easier to get the shots I needed. Perendales are very astute, they will look you dead in the eye & if they don't want to do something, they won't. Not adverse to being stroppy & challenging to work, but they make for great subjects to shoot - photographically that is. Just a quick note on Steve too, he's a real sheepish romantic. When I called to set the meeting up it was Feb. 14th, Valentines Day. Where was Steve? His wife had to let me know I couldn't talk to Steve, he was putting the 'Ram out to the Ewe's' - whoever said romance in NZ sheep farmers was dead.

Raw Perendale Fleece at the Mill

The boys' were entranced. "Sheeps Mummy" squealed Hugo.

"What to sheeeep dooooo?" asks Louis.
"We shear the sheep & take off all their wool so Mummy's work can then making it into yarn for Mummy's knitting"
"Oh" ponders Louis "You make Louis a jumpers from these sheep Mummy"
Oh to cute!

After a little magic in the mill - all ready for the needles

On the needles and others stuff.

I am still ploughing my way through the Ombre shrug. Now that I had the moment of clarity around my fundamental cock up in the back, I have frogged back & picked it up again & it is looking much better. I am one slipper down on the pair to warm Mum's toes this Winter - so not been completely idle - just bloody slow.
However it has been pretty rough time for Dr. Phil & I over the last three weeks. Firstly Dr. Phil lost his younger brother very suddenly & unexpectedly. It has been horrific for his parents & investigations into his death at this stage are still ongoing. Also Louis first couple of weeks at school were not the smooth transition that any of us had hoped for. So the decision has been made to return Louis to pre-school for another 6 months to help further ready him for being a big school boy. He's actually really relieved, whilst he loved 'Big Boys school', he confided in his pre-school teacher that it was 'really hard & they try to make him eat food he doesn't like' - not easy for a wee man who is the fussiest eater on the planet & the school provides the meals. That's boys' for you! I am just hoping that the family gets a gentler few months ahead -we could use the break.

An Englishman in..... Napier

2011-02-14T16:11:00.000+13:00

Dr. Phil & I were one of the lucky twenty five thousand fans that saw Sting perform his final concert of the Symphonicity world tour. The Napier Mission concert is an international event in itself & this year was no exception.

I am a HUGE Sting fan, so it was going to be hard for good old Gordan not to produce a show that I would absolutely love, but even as a bias one eyed fan, this concert was something truly special. Backed by the NZSO, Sting payed a collection of his greatest hits from his Police & solo careers. Now if you were going just to hear him trot out his Police hits, you would have been disappointed, however if you own the Fields of Gold album you would have herad stunning renditions of almost all the songs from this album, plus the back stories behind what inspired him to write them - gold, pure gold.

First Day.

2011-02-03T13:53:00.000+13:00

Louis looks so handsome in his school uniform.

Louis had his first day at 'big boys' school' this week. He was jumping out of his skin with excitement. I can't believe how quickly it has come around & I am confident my new school boy will thrive. He's had a few hiccups, like all new entrants. But when I ask him what the best part about school is he emphatically announces 'All of it!'

On the needles...

I have completed the Hitchhiker & am thrilled with the result. I am just waiting for the steamy weather here to subside so I can wear it. I am also still boxing on with teh Ombre Shrug. I have to admit I am 'losing the love' for the shrug, but I have come so far that I am going to box on & complete it. I am seriously concerned at how it will fit & am hoping that after blocking it will improve. Hoping.

I have also been doing a little bit of guest blogging, checkout my Ahuriri Ample post on Granny G's blog, in the meantime I have boys' to referee, I a fanciful notion that I might get some knitting in this afternoon.

Getting carried away.

2011-01-18T09:34:00.001+13:00

The Ombre from Sarah Hatton which was cast on during the Christmas break that has been sidelined in order to accomodate my new vice.

It has been frequently documented on this blog my tendancy to get a little carried away when I happen upon a project I love. So the new year wouldn't be complete without be developing a new knitty obsession. The object of my affection is the Hitchhiker scarf by Martina Behm. It is also my first every KAL (knit along) project.

My Hitchhiker thus far.

I was introduced by this seductive little number in one of my favourite blogs, Crafternoon Tea with GrannyG. Genny just completed one of these scarves and has been so taken with it she has started a KAL. So feeling all flush with the fresh frivolities of a new year I decided to dive right in & dug out some Regia Kaffe Fassett Design Line sock yarn that was in the stash, that was never going to make it into socks, far to bright, far to pretty to spend all it's time wallowing on my hobbit sized feet. I am about halfway through the scarf & a serious addiction is developing. How can I tell this? Well, simple, as I am knitting it I am drifting off into wild daydreams about all the other suitable yarn I have in my stash that I can knit into this pattern. What would it look like in another yarn or a different needle size? What subtle changes could I make to.... you get the picture, quite simply I get carried away!

PS: If you were wondering how the Christmas menu shaped up here it is... Started at 11.30, with coffee & whisky Christmas cake in time for the Queens speech.

No resolutions, just a quick gloat...

2011-01-04T15:56:00.000+13:00

Of course Max the Mastiff & the knitting made it to the beach too!

Sigh.... I should feel sorry for all those poor souls out there in the Northern Hemisphere that are freezing their tits/nuts off in the coldest Winter in memory, but I don't. There's a reason I live here, firstly New Zealand is the greatest little-big countries in the world & Hawkes Bay is a jewel in it.

Glorious Ocean Beach - Hawkes Bay

Being able to pack the family up & head to the beach for a day out is Gold. We have a lovely wee beach just 5 minutes walk from our house & just 20 minute drive away is one of the nicest beaches you'll find anywhere - Ocean Beach.

Hugo just loves the 'beeesch'

So with picnic, sun shade, copius amounts of sunscreen for the melanin challenged (aka Me) & an umbrella for the dog, we spend 4 delicious hours with the kids enjoying a truly classic Kiwi Summer pastime.

Louis best beachy smile.

Who needs New Years resolutions when you already have everything you'd every wish for!

Extra Emergency Knitting

2010-12-30T15:35:00.001+13:00

The Ultimate EEK Project - My first 'Posy Cosy'

As you may have read in my previous posting, I have had a busy time just prior to Christmas ferrying a sick friend to & fro from hospital. On the upside, I have learned the very valuable lesson about making sure you having some knitting about your person at all times, as you never know when you might need that additional project for 'Extra Emergency Knitting' or EEK for short.

EEK is best when it's a small project. Preferably one with very simple instructions. Lace should be avoided as your EEK will create eek! if your concentration gets diverted, especially if you are doing 'waiting room' knitting. For my EEK I had a bag of DK scraps leftover from all my Christmas gift knits, so I set out on creating an EEK project on the fly.

I only had one set of needles, 5mm straights, what I use for the felted house slippers. Doing another pair of house slippers did cross my mind, but as I was about to cast on I had an EEK Eureka moment. I thought I would take the elements of the tea cosy I had knitted for a Christmas gift & knit something to fit our 4 cup teapot at home.

So at the GP's I started a garter stitch square using two strands of DK & the 5mm needles. Starting with just two stitches I then added an extra stitch at the beginning of each row until I had 46 stitches. Reversing the process with a series of decreases at the beginning the each row & then making a second square in a contrasting colour to match.

Now time to move from the GP's to the hospital.

Once settled into an ED cubicle I then started thinking about how to embellish this tea cosy. Then I remembered the flowers I have made for a pair or Ever After gauntlets I have made for the A&P Show. They are really simple & fast to knit.

My perfect wee posy.

Using the long tail method, Cast on 112sts in a Contrast Colour. (correctected 26/04/11)

Change colour (if desired) & for the next row - Knit

Then K2 *k1, slip this back onto LH needle & pass over the next 8 sts & then knit this st again, k2* repeat the sequence 9 more times (32 sts)

Knit 24, wrap yarn (to turn for short row) knit 24

Knit 16, wrap, turn & knit 16

Knit 8, wrap, turn & knit 8

Then break the yarn & thread it up through all the remaining stitches & tug firmly to make a flower & secure.

I managed to make three of these at ED & then finished the 4th when I needed an EEK moment escaping the boys in their post Christmas revelry.

To finish the 'EEK Cosy', I just seamed the two squares across the top & then wrapped them around my teapot & joined the side seams in correspondence with the handle & spout on my pot. Affixed the flowers into a small posy on top & 'wha la', my very own EKK 'posy cosy'.

See knitting always brings the best out of a bad situation!!

The Louis Diaries Part 3

2010-12-28T14:42:00.003+13:00

Louis having a great day at the beach on Boxing Day

Catching a Bug.

You know that old saying 'Doctors make the worst patients' well I can unequivocally tell you that Surgeons are even worse again! One of our dearest friends (DF) has been very unwell just prior to Christmas, & like Dr.Phil a fellow surgeon. He had been unwell for a few weeks & after an especially busy weekend a week out from Christmas, he became very, very unwell, very quickly. His significant other called me to check in on him (she lives 4 hours away as she completes her specialist medical training), so after talking to him, making arrangements for him to see a 'real doctor' (aka GP) & offering to take him, I thought all would be well. Wrong!

After not going to said doctor, I then dispatch Dr.Phil to his house to really make sure he's OK. After much knocking & hollering, DF informs Dr.Phil that he's just too sick to come to the door & too sick to see the GP - What!?

The next day I decided to take the decisions away from all these bloody doctors & by the point of a knitting needle I collected DF & took him to the GP myself. GP promptly exclaimed 'off to hospital for you', so off to hospital we go. Now DF works at said hospital, so you can imagine how big he felt being admitted into ED & actually having to fess up to 'baby' doctors that his own self administered doctoring skills had landed him in this mess.

So where does the Louis parable fit into this story you might ask? Well after spending all day with DF in hospital & I returned home.

Louis "Where you been all day mummy?"

Me "With DF at the hospital"

Louis "Why is DF at the hospital?"

Me "He's a bit sick Louis, he's caught a nasty bug"

Louis, ponders this for a couple of seconds then says "Does DF have Praying Mantis?"

Me (trying to keep a straight face & not roll around the floor laughing) "It's not that kind of bug darling"

Louis "Oooooh, he must have Ladybug then!"

The moral of this Louis parable - don't let your Praying Mantis or Ladybug get too bad before you go to the GP!

Oh & DF is now on the mend, after bluffing his way out of ED one day, his significant other (who had arrived from out of town at by this stage) then had to call an ambulance to take him back to hospital the next day. He stayed until Christmas Eve & has been taking it very quietly every since, have being fully tongue lashed by all the women in his life about the importance of listening to all our nagging, because more than occasionally, we're right!

A Christmas Wish

2010-12-24T06:44:00.008+13:00

I even managed to get out a few Christmas cards this year - emphasis on 'A Few'

Wine in fridge: Check
Knitted gifts completed & distributed: Check

Enough food to feed 3rd world nation in fridge: Check

You've gotta love Christmas. This year I have enjoyed it especially. For the first time the boys' are both of an age that they are getting excited about the season, Louis has a list for Santa which is as long as your arm (You just have to email Santa Mummy, you have time to add that to Louis list) & Hugo is just been getting into the entire spirit of the season & if that spirit includes Star Wars, all the better.

My little Christmas Angels

This year we have Dr. Phil's Mum here, so with a hankering I have had to martyr myself in the kitchen yet again, we have now also ended up with my cousin & her family & five other friends (all gay) who were at the loose end as well. So 10 adults & 5 children in all - Excellent!

NZ's 'campest' Tea Cosy

After much conference & consumption of many bottles of wine, a menu has been constructed which has now billowed out to 7 small courses. Most require very little or no cooking & I have managed to prepare one ahead of time already, I will do another today with the vast majority of prep, so theoretically things should all be plain sailing tomorrow - theoretically....

A set of Christmas Slippers

This year I also managed to get some knitted gifts done & I have been tickled with the satisfaction I have had from making & giving these gifts. I made a couple of pairs of Slippers one for my grandmother, another for an elderly friend of my Mum's & I made NZ's 'campest' tea cosy for good friends (who were the ones that gave me the 'Really Wild Tea Cosy' book). I would like to have done some more, but time ran away from me & as always I find myself saying - "I'll have to start earlier next year" - Yeah Right!

Slippers #2

I just want to also take the time to acknowledge a milestone this month for this blog & thank you - all the poor suffering darlings who take five in their precious days to read it. The milestone: I clicked over 10,000 hits this month - 10,000!! Ten thousand times people have referred to my ranting & raving, incoherent ramblings & of course a spot of knitting. And if you were one of the ones who contributed to the 10K, especially if you kept coming back, THANK YOU!

My famous Sweet & Salty Christmas Nut Brittle

I hope I have shared my brand Buscke of crazy into your lives & from myself, Dr.Phil, Louis, Hugo, Max & felines, I hope you & your families have a very happy & safe festive season. I will be back with more of the same in the New Year, I might even make a few of those pesky NY resolution thingees - now where's my glass, I mean needles!

The Louis Diaries Part 2

2010-12-10T10:27:00.007+13:00

The Importance of Good Grooming

As you can see Louis isn't to phased about his very boyish coif.

Louis has never been one to worry about his 'looks'. Washing his hair is something he insists on doing, which consists of him submerging himself in soapy bath water without rinsing. Thank goodness the kid has a few curls, because the slightly greasy, ginger mess looks half presentable - well most of the time. Still it never ceases to amaze me how many people stop & tell me or him what 'pretty' hair he has, 'What lovely waves' or 'Such a pretty colour'.

So you can imagine my shock this morning then we were off to preschool & here he was in the back of the car craning over the seat to look in the rear vision mirror in order to preen himself. He diligently stroked & his fringe into a sort of an ordered chaos & vainly attempted to tame his errant curls into some sort of submission.

"Louis, what are you doing to your hair!?"

"I'm mooose-sing Mummy"

"Moose-sing? What do you need to 'Mousse' for?" (at this point I really should know better but just call me a sucker for punishment)

"Keep all the bugs off Mummy, bugs like Louis hair, it's pretty, but 'Mooose' makes it better"

Louis Moral #2 - Mooose keeps your hair bug free, especially when it's as pretty as his.

Craft Jammin'

2010-12-06T10:45:00.005+13:00

The atrium venue at the Hastings Opera House was excellent. I'm such a messy tart, don't look too closley at the Skeinz table with my Christmas knitting all over the place!

The busy season ramped up a notch for me this past weekend. I had the great pleasure along with all our Skeinz Crew to attend the inaugural Fruit Bowl Craft Jam in Hastings. I worked day one & it was manic! Plenty of keen eyed craft lovers were out shopping for Christmas presents with that handmade flavour. The standard of the crafts was of the highest quality, I feel lucky just escaping with a pair of earrings from my favourite jewellery designer Shelley Von Sturm. It would have been very easy to have given the credit card a good flogging!

My new Victorian Dog earrings - LOVE

I talked myself hoarse showing keen DIYers the joys of making your own felted house slippers. I think several pairs will be sprouting up all over Hawkes Bay in the coming weeks. I even managed to work on the two pairs & am doing for Christmas - it's a useful skill being able to knit & blather on all at the same time!

Suzanne being kept busy - she'll kill me as I'm always sneakily snapping her for the blog!

A Pause for Pike River

2010-11-25T15:24:00.003+13:00

Pike River Mining Chief Executive Peter Whitall

It’s exactly a month until Christmas today. New Zealand is left numb after the news yesterday that 29 families are going to be left without husbands, fathers, brothers, son & partners in the wake of the Pike River mining disaster. It seems surreal sitting here in sunny Napier, I can’t imagine the level of grief & loss that must be felt by those families. I think all of us can be accused of being a little smug in the thought that after the success rescuing the Chilean miners & the horrific devastation of the Christchurch earthquake there was no loss of life. Sticks & stones can be mended, but I don’t know what any of us can do to mend the broken hearts which are breaking all over the West Coast right now.

In any disaster there are tragedies & often unlikely heroes. With the level of loss in Pike River it’s hard to imagine what heroes there are. Watching from afar I have been struck my two figures. First is Mine boss Peter Whittall. Here has been a man, who day after day, has remained a rock, a shining beacon for the families to look to during the duration of this disaster. His professionalism & composure is inspiring, his compassion endearing & each day etched on his face was a determination to 'do right by his mates'. After he broke the news yesterday to the nation that all hope had been lost for his men, he still managed to maintain his composure. I did not. When he was finished & he embraced his own family who had been by his side throughout & he walked out to well deserved applause, I shed tears for all those men lost.

Just as Peter Whittall has been the rock for the miners families, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn has been the same pillar of strength for his shattered community. Mayor Kokshoorns ability to succinctly convey the raw emotions of his constituents, whilst providing unfailing support & praise for the rescue effort, was a rare treasure. Not once did I see him slip into the spiral of blame. I truly felt he was speaking for the people of Grey District, if Tony Kokshoorn ever decided to trade local government for a central government role, he’d have my vote.

So back in sunny Napier the week that has unfolded has left me with a refreshed perspective to enter the festive season. Life is really too short. Enjoy, relax & pause.... Oh & knit through everything.

Hoodwinked

2010-11-22T11:51:00.005+13:00

Further to my Super Chunky obsession, I worked in the shop on Friday & to fill time I started fiddling around with a cowl/hood idea. I wanted it to be: a) Simple. b) Take just 1 skein. c) Quick.

hoodwinked is what I have come up with. A big thank you to Mary from Skeinz for modelling it for me, just beautiful!

Hoodwinked
200gm Skeinz Super Chunky (Bud Burst)
15mm Needles, Wool needle to sew up.
Abbreviations: K = Knit, sts = Stitches, Kfb = Knit into the front & the back of the stitch, PM = place marker, SM = slip marker, K2tog = knit 2 stitches together, k2togtbl = Knit 2 stitches together through the back of the loop.

With 15mm needles
Cast on 12 sts
K2 rows

K5 Kfb, PM, Kfb, K5
Knit
Repeat the last two rows until you have 20sts

K to marker, SM, Kfb, K to end
Knit
Repeat last two rows until you have 30 sts

K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end
Knit
Repeat last two rows until you have 20sts

K until 2 sts before marker k2togtbl, sm, k2tog, k to end
Knit
Repeat last two rows until you have 12 sts

Cast Off leaving a long tail for sewing in.
Sew seams together picking up one loop from one side then the other (like threading a shoe lace) & pull firmly to gather the ends. Weave in loose ends.

Tip: make sure you slip the first stitch of every row, this will then give you a nice neat edge to your hood.

Working it Out

2010-11-10T14:16:00.000+13:00

Last month saw the second of our Hawkes Bay Ravelers learn to knit workshops. It was great to keep the momentum going for our enthusiastic group of beginners. This time I hosted them at home & we covered two areas - the Felted Norwegian Slippers & learning to knit in the round. As you can see, yarn, needles & tea was flowing - it's amazing how quickly 3 hours can evaporate when you are having so much fun.

Where do Babies come from - The Louis Diaries

2010-11-06T13:37:00.006+13:00

The inner workings of a four year old boys mind is a complete mystery to me. It doesn't matter how much Jo Frost I watch, fathoming the logic, reasoning & day to day processing of the Louis mind is mostly guess work. Every now & then though he comes out with little nuggets of Louis wisdom which are absolute gold. I have decided I need to start documenting these, so I am creating the 'Louis Diaries' - zen & wisdom from the 4 year old male mind.

Diary Entry #1 - Where Babies Come from.

Whilst away recently I had a chance to catch up on some magazine reading - a real treat. The NZ edition of the Aussie Woman's Weekly had the lovely article about the arrival Georgina Earl's (nee Evers-Swindell) new baby girl. The cover sported the stunning picture of the twins with the bonny new baby girl.

Louis not missing a trick sees the cover & says "Mummy, Louis wants a baby for Christmas"

Slightly shocked & a little unbalanced I replied "Sorry Lou, Mummy won't be having any more babies, especially before Christmas"

Louis, not one to be deterred, changes tack "But Mummy, I love babies, please why can't you go & get Louis a baby for Christmas?"

"Well darling you don't just go out & get a baby" & then I ask the question, lord only knows what possessed me to ask it, but it just fell out. "Louis, where do you think babies come from?"

Louis pauses for a couple of seconds, then looks me squarely in the eyes with a slightly pained look, like 'how I could ask him such a completely simple question, something that surely I must already know'

His answer "China!"

Louis Moral #1 - Everythings' made in China, including babies!!

Spring Fling

2010-11-02T13:56:00.004+13:00

The last three mornings I have been working on this as my fingers froze, but true to form Hugo (in background) & Louis seemed to be annoying immune to the cold.

Every year we take a Spring week out in Taupo, NZ's largest lake & the North Islands most famous alpine area. More importantly for us, it's just an hour forty from home, so ultra accessible when you have a couple of easily bored pre-schoolers. For the last couple of years we have rented a bach. A great alternative to a timeshare holiday as it has all the charming comforts of home along with being kiddie & pooch friendly.

This year we are in Taupo a few weeks earlier than usual. At home we have roses blooming & all the early Spring flowering is a distant memory. That is not the case in the cooler, alpine Taupo. The garden here still has flowering cherry blossoms, & a stunning display of Rhodo's, the reason for this should be obvious, a cooler alpine climate, but I have to say I have gotten soft & foolishly assumed that temperatures would be, well, more Spring-ish - Wrong, oh so very wrong. Not to be too crass, it's cold, nipple raising, witches tit, freezing faaaaaarking cold.

Max just loves the fact he's able to come away too.

Is this a sign of my impending middle age? Why is it I have become soft? Why is it just the thought of a Spring frost has me clinging to the Kent fire like a limpet? It's tragic, utterly tragic. Just as well I have a couple of sweet baby projects to keep my fingers busy - well that's when they aren't freezing off!

Mini Me

2010-10-26T10:23:00.004+13:00

One of the best things about living in Hawkes Bay is that unlike every other region in the country who has their anniversary day holiday randomly tacked onto a weekend with no special significance, here in Hawkes Bay, we have ours added to the national Labour Day weekend, so 4 glorious days to kick start Spring & soak up some sunshine.

We escaped to my family home in Gisborne (more about that in a later blog), and one of things I did do whilst I was away was to play around with my Midori pattern even more.

Drum roll please... have added a 'Mini Me' to the Midori collection, called Mini Midori.

Honestly it took me 3 hours to knit & I can see me getting oodles of wear out of it. The colour I've chosen is called Death in a Chocolate Box, available from Skeinz, I am also going to knit another one using Peacock in the Paint box. It is light & easy to wear, perfect for Spring & Autumn. Enjoy!

PS If you are wondering about bust measurements etc, I have worked off the principle of how many stitches I would need using 10mm needles to fit over my substantial arse & the rest happened organically from there!

Mini Midori Tunic
Skeinz Super Chunky 500gm apx (largest Size)
Sizes: Sm, Med, Lg, XXL
Notions: 10mm & 15mm Needles
Fronts & back both alike.

On 10mm needles
Cast on 46 (48, 50,52) sts
Knit 6 rows

Change to 15mm Needles
Work 16 rows stocking stitch.
NR: K10 k2tog tbl, knit to last 12 sts k2tog, knit to end
Purl
Repeat last two rows16 (16, 20, 24) times

Neckband
Change to 10mm needles – cast on with backwards loop 7 (8,9,10) sts, knit across these sts & Knit to end then cast on 7 (8,9,10) sts (turn work, cast on sts using backwards loop)

Knit 7 rows
(RS) k2 k2tog (k4 k2tog) repeat sequence to last few sts, k to end
Knit 3 rows
Cast off

Make Up
Join two neckbands to form shoulder. Sew side seams until to have reach length desired for underarm.

Peacock in the Paintbox from Skeinz

Midori Anyone?

2010-10-16T15:06:00.006+13:00

Hugo helps me out, as you can see, supermodel I am NOT!

For those who know me well, once I start down a path, I tend to keep going back until I have done that path to death. This months 'path' has been super chunky yarns. We have a stunning collection of these yarns in at skeinz.com, but customers have been a little daunted at what to do with them. So a couple of weeks ago I drafted the Raukumara Scarf & this week I whipped this tunic up, just to see how long it would actually take to knit an adult (and a large adult at that) project in this super chunky loveliness. I can report that the tunic took just two nights, one of those sitting at the dinner table blathering with friends & consuming a good amount of Hawkes Bay Syrah!

It really is a doddle - please forgive my shabby pattern writing, as I have warned you before, I'm not a pattern writers asshole, so if you get stuck email me

Midori Tunic
Sizes: Sm, Med, Lg, XXL
Notions: 10mm & 20mm Needles
Fronts & back both alike.

On 10mm needles
Cast on 46 (48, 50,52) sts
Knit 6 rows
Change to 20mm Needles
Work 12 rows stocking stitch.
NR: K10 k2tog tbl, knit to last 12 sts k2tog, knit to end
Purl
Repeat last two rows16 (18, 20, 22) times

Neckband
Change to 10mm needles – cast on with backwards loop 7 (8,9,10) sts, knit across these sts & Knit to end then cast on 7 (8,9,10) sts (turn work, cast on sts using backwards loop)
Knit 6 rows
(RS) k2 k2tog (k4 k2tog) repeat sequence to last few sts, k to end
Knit 3 rows
Cast off

Make Up
Join two neckbands to form shoulder. Sew side seams until to have reach length desired for underarm. If you find the tunic too ‘heavy’ & pulling at neck, sew a run of yarn along the middle ridge of the wrong side of the neck band, this will help hold it in place.

Quick Fix

2010-10-08T15:43:00.005+13:00

Raukumara Scarf

In the thread waste bin at work 150gms of this really random yarn turned up. It was a Super Chunky yarn that just 'spoke' to me. As soon as I saw it, this scarf pattern just sort of organically happened. Named after the high country mountain range which is where I lived as a child. Now if some other cleaver clogs has thought of this first (& I am sure someone has) great minds...

With 10mm Needles Cast on 12 sts

*Knit 5 rows

**Kfb of all 12 sts (24sts)

Purl

Knit

Repeat previous two rows

Purl

K2tog until end (12sts) ***

Repeat from * to *** 7 more times

K3 Cast off 6 sts K3

K3 cast on 6 sts K3 (backwards loop or Cable CO works well here)

Knit three rows

Repeat ** to *** twice

Cast off.

This yarn isn't commercially available, but using two stands of DK together or better yet some of the funky super chunky's available from Skeinz, my two personal favorites at the moment being "Death in a Chocolate Box" (pictured below) and "Bud Burst". This would make a great Christmas gift & only uses 200gm of yarn. - Enjoy!

Teddy Knows Best.

2010-09-29T16:45:00.005+13:00

For 5 days last week we had the pleasure of looking after our friends dog Ted. He's a 9 year old Bouvier de Flanders. Ted is a real gentleman, a lovely boy. He's great mates with Max, so a complete joy to have. The best part is, Ted's Dad's know me oh so well, so as a thank-you for having Teddy they bought me a book I have been coveting for such a long time - Really Wild Teas Cosies by Loani Prior. There were greats scenes of jubilation - thanks guys!

Ted (in foreground) & Max

the obsession with the slippers continues - these are the latest installment "Lellow Slippers" for Louis.

Slipper-y Slope

2010-09-27T17:53:00.002+13:00

I am prone to knit related obsessions. recently there has been the Sunday Market Shawl obsession, the Fingerless Mitts obsession & the forever ongoing Milo obsession. I now have a new obsession - Norwegian Felted House Slippers.

Like all projects I covet, it has the three elements to secure obsessive status: Simplicity, Cleaver design & the ability to be knitted quickly whilst consuming an evening glass or two (or three or four) of fine wine.

I have now completed a pair for myself, a pair for Louis are drying as I type & I have done a couple of sample slippers to show off at Skeinz. I can see these knatty slippers becoming a ideal quick Christmas gift.

Postcards from Paradise

2010-09-16T13:46:00.016+12:00

Following the whirlwind that was KAN, Dr. Phil & I coerced Nana to stay on another week & we escaped to our favourite perfect paradise, Rarotonga. We stay at Te Manava Villas in Muri Beach. Situated on this stunning lagoon, they are full self contained, perfect for us as we enjoying cooking easy relaxed meals making the most of the abundant (and cheap) local produce. A huge thank you to the Te Manava team (managed by Pacific Resort) especially the lovely Elaine, who always welcomes us back with a huge smile & infectious enthusiasm. So enjoy this selection of pictures & share a little bit of our tropical wonderland with us.

Images from Te Punanga-nui Market

We had a great room with a view...

And when you needed a change of scene you went into town.

Whale photographed whilst having a beer at Trader Jacks.

And yes, I did find time to do a little knitting!

KAN-tankerous!

2010-09-01T08:38:00.002+12:00

I have survived! All the hard work by James, myself & our wonderful workshop tutors all came together to make the inaugreal Knit August Nights a huge success.
I have now escaped to a tropical island for some R&R (also my back up plan if the entire event turned to shit!), so my post will be brief, but I thought I would post a few photo's of the event to whet your apetities for next year. If you think you would like to attend KAN:2, email me at busckem@clear.net.nz & I will add you to the mailing list. In the meantime - Kia Orana!

Through Fresh Eyes

2010-08-22T08:01:00.007+12:00

The Gangs all here.

The Hawkes Bay Knitters group, which is the local SnB group I belong to held it's first Beginners Learn to Knit Class. Pulled together by Jennie (organiser extraordinaire) we had nine will participants cast on. I designed a simple hat pattern & was delighted at how quickly the entire group were knitting & purling their way to knitted bliss.

I love in the intense concentration.

Jennie made the most amazing project bags filled with a couple of notions, Kim & Robyn made the most delicious spread & Ruby, Heather helped mentor the new knitters along. All in all a great success!

Suzanne from Skeinz proves to be a natural.

Enjoy these few snaps from the morning. If you wish to enrol for the next class email me on busckem@clear.net.nz or visit our Ravelry group & look for the knit workshop thread.

Plenty of talking to go with the knitting!

Felt Like It!

2010-08-15T08:00:00.005+12:00

I wonder when I will be able to get Louis Knitting?

Busy, busy, busy. That has been this month. KAN is now less than two weeks away, Vintage (our new yarn range) is been very well received & I have been in a spin getting a number of small projects finished.

Swatch Cushion for our new Vintage.

One of our missions at Skeinz is to bring beginners to knitting or reinvigorating lapsed knitters back to the craft. This month I am teaching at a 'learn to knit class' hosted by our HB Knitters Group & when I was devising the patterns for this I discovered that there is also a large number of kids that also wish to know how to knit.

Mitchells pencil case uses Southlander doubled with a Skeinz Original Random.

I read a wonderful article about teaching beginners. It suggested doing a felted project using knitted felt. The rationale being, as stitches got dropped, extras picked up or accidental yarn overs occurred, all would be magically vanished away during the felting process. I have spent the past week playing around with pencil cases, the quintessential kid accessory (I-pod covers are next). The first prototype is using DK yarn doubled on 8mm needles, a rectangle worked in stocking stitch, a couple of yarn overs a few row before the end & then sewn to make a pouch. This was serendipitously tossed into the washing machine & I waited. What emerged was an item that resembled a pencil case & was a firm enough fabric to resist any errant pens escaping. I gifted this to the son of one of my employers to road test & he tell me "it's the bomb!".

The overlapping flap with hidden Rasta trim. Knitted in Perendale.

Not to be upstaged by his younger brother, middle son of my employers dropped very fat (or should that be phat) hints he would like one too. Now being a vastly more socially conscience teen the message was relayed that Rasta colours we preferred. SO this time & used DK on 5.5mm needles in garter stitch. Did an overlapping fold over pouch to see whether I could get away without any closures. Luke has only had it since Friday, testing starts at school this week & hopefully it works! This will be the case pattern I will start with, so much simpler.

Hopefully Bob Marley would have been proud!

On my needles....

Knitted using Vintage doubled with a Skeinz Original Random.

I have done NOTHING with the green possum shell I started in May, looks like that will be my holiday project, so of course I started my version of a Sunday Market shawl for me. In my defense I have finished Louis 'Hot Bottle' cover which he loves & have also done a couple of swatch cushions for Vintage - so much more tactile than just a boring old swatch.

Next mission: Compile entries for the HB A&P Show knitting competition.

Vintage Swatch 'Log Cabin' Cushion. Very Harry Potter!

Vintage Revival

2010-08-05T15:13:00.002+12:00

A basketful of lovliness!

My latest yarn baby has been born!

Vintage, a new range of premium NZ wool yarn, is a range of contemporary colours that are also complementary. The long wool fibres have made a smooth textured yarn which will provide excellent stitch definition & the colour selection will entice you to come up with your own unique combinations. Available now from Skeinz, where you can take advantage of the $1 off a ball introductory offer.

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

2010-08-04T17:48:00.004+12:00

Dudley & Reg get pumped for the big game.

I popped into the local op shop round the corner, one of my favourite happy hunting grounds for vintage patterns. I just had to share these two covers. The first are two like lads off to the rugby with their hats & scarves dutifully knitted by Shirley & Esme I'm sure. I adored the second wee chap because this is such a timeless pattern. What I love, is that it has been designed for 'TV Knitting' - Classic!

Inspiration Point.

2010-07-27T13:31:00.006+12:00

Seductively Simple Sunday Market Shawl

I wish I could be one of those super organised knitters. A knitter that has their stash carefully catalogued on Ravelry. A knitter who logged future projects into an orderly queue. A knitter that dutifully completed one project before they even considered starting the next. Honestly I would - NOT!

I tried once to be like this, but I just simply don't have the chops for it. Whilst I am pretty much a 'point A' to 'point B' kinda gal there are times where inspiration with chomp you in the arse & send you off in a divergence of sorts. Sometimes it a birthday gift, or a new yarn, or both. This past few weeks it has been a combination of test driving a new pattern I have had my eye on for a special yarn I have in the stash, a birthday & a further exploration of my mitt fetish with a delish new yarn.

Not bad for a prototype!

I have been looking for a pattern to do justice to the 300gm of the utterly divine Flagstaff hand painted Alpaca I acquired in the south Island almost a year ago. I was quite set on a wrap or shrug. It needed to be something versatile. Clapotis, the Ravelry sensation from a few years back was the leading contender, until Kylie from Knit Group suggested Knit Fish's Sunday Market Shawl. A fiendishly simple yet striking concept, it instantly struck a chord with me, because as per usual, I could see how I could tweak the pattern to suit my evil desires.

My prototype was a wrap for my aunts birthday. Knitted in a fine natural silver DK, it gave me a very good idea of how the finished fabric would perform. The drape is seductive & this will only be accentuated by the supple Alpaca. I have a few design additions I am going to make for my wrap, but even if I didn't make those changes, I have to say it was hard to part with the prototype. A project I would recommend if you want some quick 'WOW' factor knitting.

'Peacock in the Parlour' by Knitsch

I also received in the past few weeks my first installment from the Knitsch yarn club. An intense Peacock semi solid, so pressing all my buttons! The base yarn (A Merino Supersock) is one I know very well, manufactured by my place of work, so I am naturally completely bias & what Tash has done with her inspiring dye job left me scrambling for the needles ASAP. For those who know me, I'm not a sock knitters asshole, honestly I suck. An affliction I have a resolution to cure this year, but not with the Peacock. This yarn was just too pretty to be stuffed on my feet & jammed into flailing footwear, it deserved to be shown off.

I have made some alterations to the Louisa Harding Fingerless Mitts pattern. By changing to 3.00mm & 3.25mm needles, adding 4 more stitches at the cast on & increasing two more rounds in the thumb & hand the mitts transitioned from DK to 4ply effortlessly. The results are wonderful, sock yarn is great as an alternative, smoother & less bulky to wear. I was also stunned to see the mitts just used 38gm of the 120gm of yarn, so I have embarked on a scarf version of the 'Sunday Market' to complete knitted peacock flock.

KAN Update
I have closed registrations (unless you do a unprecedented amount of grovelling & bribery). Accommodation placements are being sorted through & I endeavour to have a note out to all who have registered in the next few days. It's only a month away, how EXCITING!

Marvellous Mitts

2010-07-13T15:09:00.009+12:00

Louis showing off his new Tricera-Milo-Tops

I have been using these cooler Southern hemisphere nights to get Louis last Milo completed, dubbed Tricera-Milo-tops, it is a fun Milo using self striping Regia sock yarn, designed by Kaffe Fassett. Being a lighter weight yarn (6ply), I am hoping this Milo will see Louis well & truly in to the Spring. With this, the last Milo in the Boys' collection completed it is time for me to move onto my next obsession...

I was naughty a month or so ago & bought at the Interweave knits sale Knitted Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding. I already have one of her books & find her patterns simple, stylish, with just a hint of quirkiness I really like. The book was so coveted when it arrived I had to order two more copies for my cousin Letitia & knit club member Ruby. Teesh being Teesh commandeered my copy until the replacement arrived & instantly fell in love with the fingerless mitts. I too have succumbed to this mitten fever. More complex than my simple gauntlets, but such a joy to knit!

Mitts version one - gifted to Mary at work.

The first prototype were caught out by the errata (later discovered on Ravelry) that you do in fact need two balls of yarn, not the one prescribed. Also, as I have hobbit hands, I have had to make some adjustments in needle size, so now pair number two fit me perfectly.

Version Two - A Perfect Fit

Of course every self respecting gal has to have other accessories to match & I had enough Sublime Merino Silk Cashmere left to make a Twisted Knit-lace, the new obsessive scraps project de jour, easy to knit & QUICK!

My New Knit-Lace - Designed by Kerrie Allman

I just need to shake these obsessions long enough to pull finger & get my UFO (the Fern Shell) started in May completed before I lose all the cool days to wear & enjoy it. Well maybe just one more pair of Mitts, I do have two balls of Midnight Blue 'Me' Cashmere in the stash, it would be rude not too right?

Vamping it Up

2010-06-30T14:35:00.011+12:00

You practically have to be living in a bubble if you didn't realise everything Vampire was very, very hot right now. With the movie launch tomorrow of the third installment of the Twilight saga, Eclipse, I knew it was a matter of time before I got an enquiry at work about someone wanting something a little vampish.

I am not going to lie here, I am a fan. I came to the phenomenon a little later than most, only seeing the first two films this year & reading the third & fourth books this month. Once these vampires sink their teeth into you, it is a little addictive. I don't have a teenage daughter to hide my fanatical tendencies behind, but on merit I don't think I need one. The books are well written & easily suck you right in. I am a huge Jane Austen fan & I see much of her influence across the entire saga & Stephanie Meyer has been quoted in saying that each one of her novels draws upon a Austen novel for inspiration.

Bella's Famous Mittens

So where does the knitting come in you ask? Mittens initially. Namely those famous 'Bella Mittens'. Designed by Ruth Cross, she had no idea her mittens had been purchased by the production studio until just after the first Twilight film was released, then her website became inundated by requests for "Bellas Mittens". If you fancy knitting your own Bella-rific mittens, this a an excellent pattern available for free.

Alice's Wrist Warmers from New Moon

A quick Google search reveals a wealth of other Twilight inspired knits. The quirky Alice Cullen donned a pair of wrist warmers in New Moon, & another dedicated Twi-hard knitters carefully nutted out the pattern to Rosalie Cullens classic scarf.

Rosalie's Scarf

There have also been knits that have been inspired by the saga, one of my personal favourites are these Eclipse socks, combining the film & book cover imagery. From my own designs, my Ever After gauntlets could easily translate into some Twilight-ish, I knitted a pair for our nanny Coralie in Midnight Blue, very Twilight!

If you are a Ravelry member, just pop 'Twilight' into the pattern search & hold on tight at all that is on offer.

Coralies 'Twilight' Ever After Gauntlets

Am I going to the one minute past midnight screening tonight I hear you ask? Nope, this old vamper needs her beauty sleep, I'll just have to sate my blood lust with the season opener of True Blood 3 instead!

Strike While the Dino's Hot

2010-06-25T11:57:00.005+12:00

Louis, our budding Palentologist.

Louis, our 4 year old, never ceases to amaze me. He unfailing passionate obsessions often leave me wondering what is in stall for him in years to come. This week I have been coming under great pressure from him to complete his "Dino Jumper Mummy!".

A dancing Deinosuchus?

I had a motif all picked out, a cute wee purple T-Rex, so I dubbed the new project Tyranno-Milo-saurus. As I was finishing off the final rows last night Louis dug the small paper bag out with the motifs inside. I showed him the T-Rex, he also pulled out a small green crocodile (which I had bought thinking it was a dino & then realised when I got home it wasn't). He looked intensely at the jumper & announced quite emphatically, "No Mummy, that's a swamp on the dino jumper, T-Rex doesn't like swamps, better be Deinosuchus" - Eh!? What???

So the cute we croc has been elevated to ancient dinosaur status & I have another project that Louis has deemed suitable to grace his person. What do next? Start delving into the stash to find yarn that will go with a purple T-Rex of course!

Bye Bye Benson

2010-06-22T08:10:00.009+12:00

The MacBuscke house is in mourning.

Last week Benson, Maximus' father, suddenly passed away after a short illness. For those who follow this blog, you will be aware that Benson has played a big role in our lives, coming to stay frequently for doggy holidays & respite care. His gentle sunny disposition meant he fitted in seamlessly to the running of the house & the boys, Max, Dr. Phil & especially me, loved having him about. For those who are animal lovers, you will understand the almost irrational overwhelming sense of grief you feel at the loss of a pet. Madness really, I have been crying for days. Like children, pets, their innocence, just gets under your skin.

We'll miss you Benson.

Tyranno-Milo-Saurus progress to date

As the Winter deepens here I have been making the most of the shorter days & have been cranking out plenty of projects in the queue. After the success of the Steggie Milo, I have started another called Tyranno-Milo-saurus, a sort of prehistoric jungle inspired number which I have a small T-Rex motif to apply one completed. I have also had a couple of birthday presents completed & with James from J.O.Y coming to visit this weekend, I feel some socks coming on.

For those who have tried the Ever after Gauntlet pattern, I have just completed a pair for Suzanne at work using a fine Merino DK & 4mm needles & they fit her smaller hands perfectly.

Suzanne's Ever After Gauntlets

It has been a perfect project for me to do to help support New Zealand in the Ravelry World Cup - Go the All Whites!

Is there something in the air?

2010-06-08T10:04:00.009+12:00

Martin & Sarah multi tasking!

I love to get people talking, especially about knitting. This week is World Knit in Public week & today our Hawkes Bay Knitters are braving the rain & cold, sitting proud at the front of our local bakery (Heavens on Emerson Street) proudly showing off our own knitting prowess.

I too have been beating the knitting drum (with a knitting needle of course!) on local radio. The Classic Hits 89.5FM breakfast team of Martin & Sarah embarked on a scarf knitting challenge after Sarah lamented at not being able to find a good warm wool scarf. I was hastily dispatched to there aid to assist them with yarn, lessons & a challenge - who can knit the best scarf. Two weeks later Martin came out the victor & Sarah graciously auctioned her scarf on Trade Me to raise money for the SPCA. It's amazing how some so simple gets people talking about knitting & many have been inspired to pick the needles back up again after a long absence.

Max proudly wears Sarah's scarf

Complete with 'Lace' (holes) & colour work (coffee stains)

I have also been interviewed in the past couple of weeks by Genny Stevens from Crafternoon Tea with Granny G fame. Her weekly podcasts are a 'must do' for many knitters & I was thrilled to be part of her show & talk about what's been happening at Skeinz, knitting in NZ & the Knit August Nights retreat in August (see previous post for more information).

My new favourite colour - Barney Purple!

Speaking of which, registrations are getting very close to closing as capacity has almost been reached. I however can still be coerced, & to date the attendance has been very evenly spread for the workshops, which has meant I have been able to provide everyone with first choices. So at this stage it's still not too late, so email me on busckem@clear.net.nz for registration details.

My needles have been flying red hot over the long weekend. Firstly Louis LOVES his Milo, which I have dubbed, Stega-milo-saurus. It's amazing how a fickle four year old can be induced into wearing an item of clothing when you put a dinosaur motif on the front.

Louis sporting his new Stega-Milo-Saurus

I am also knitting two tunic's for little girls birthdays. It is a new pattern I have not tried, Oriental Lily by Georgie Hallum. So far I just love the cleaver construction & the ability to play around with colour. This pattern is available for free & is a must for your pattern library.

Soph's Lily - my latest WIP

Better fly, time for me to Knit in Public!

Knitterly Ever After

2010-05-24T14:40:00.009+12:00

Hugo & Louis getting down dirty in the sand pit.

As the rain falls here finally in Hawkes Bay after one of the warmest, driest Autumns on memory, I am taking the time to catch up on some knitty paper work. Progress on Knit August Nights has been steady, with only a handful of places available, if you haven't registered you might want to get a wriggle on. The traders market, now coined 'Don't get your knitters in a twist', is also starting gather some nice momentum, so if you can't attend KAN, you can at least indulge in some fibre follies at the end of the weekend.

Hugo Sporting Milo #2

I have also been keeping myself busy with my own knitting. I have now completed two Milo's for the boys with number three 50% complete. I have also cast on another project for myself in a fresh green Merino Possum that had been lurking in the stash for some time & recently saw the light of day. The latter looks like it is going to be the project that will keep me going through most of the Winter, punctuated by smaller gift & sock projects.

One of those smaller projects has been a pair of fingerless gloves, well gauntlets really, which I made for my mother in law as a Mothers day gift & then re devised in a decadent Ruby Red 10ply yarn that arrived in store at Skeinz. It's a neat little project that's quick, takes just one ball of yarn & is ideal as a stash buster or knock up an emergency gift for a special someone.

Ever After Gauntlets You will Need:
5mm needles, one ball of 8 or 10ply yarn (10ply is pictured), yarn needle to sew up.

Cast on 36 stitches
Knit three rows
Row 1 of pattern: k2tog twice (“yo, k1” 4 times, k2tog 4 times) repeat until last 8 sts, "yo, k1" four times, k2tog twice
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl

Continue working 9 sets of the pattern (or until you have reached the length desired)
Work row 1 of the pattern
Knit 3 rows then cast off.

(edited Feb 2011 for correction to pattern row)

Make up
Using mattress stitch, join the side seam from the cast off edge & sew 3cm. Bind off & rejoin the yarn 5cm from bound off point & sew to bottom (in effect leaving a 5cm thumb hole). You should have a straight edge at the top of the gauntlet & a scalloped edge at the bottom. Weave in ends & steam block if desired.

Abbreviations: K1 = Knit one stitch. K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together. yo = Yarn over (take the yarn from the back of your work through to the front & over the needle to knit.)

The pattern is written to fit an average sized ladies hand. My hands are quite large, & they still fit me well. If you wish to down size, just use 8ply yarn on a 4.5mm or 4mm needle – do not reduce the number of cast on stitches.
If you wish to make longer gauntlets, it is advised you purchase two balls of yarn.

Time to get back to more knitting, planning & insanity. Well maybe not knitting, Hugo & Louis are reinacting the WWF in the living room, it might be time to referee - ah rainy days!

Knit Steam Ahead

2010-05-08T14:04:00.008+12:00

Knit August Nights
Registrations have been flowing in thick & fast, we now have the retreat two thirds full. Thank you to everyone who has been so prompt & enthusiatic at getting on board so quickly.

For those who are yet to make up their minds, this might help, the workshop schedule for the retreat. James from JOY has done a stirling job & the biggest hurdle I think for most has been narrowing down which workshops they wish to attend!

Day One

SOCK DESIGN - Examining Different ways to construct toes, gussets, heels and tops and everything in between.
TUTOR: MORAG McKENZIE of Vintage Purls

OVERVIEW: This course looks at the various ways to construct socks and why as a designer you might choose a particular method over others. Learn the skills to design a sock from scratch or alter existing patterns to fit you well because there is no such thing as one size fits all. Although this workshop uses socks as it's focus the skills learnt are applicable to knitwear designing in general.

STARTING AND FINISHING
TUTOR: NANETTE CORMACK of YARNZ

OVERVIEW: A chance to practice different methods of casting on and off, and learning the appropriate uses for each method - a great way to actually try these methods instead of trying to follow a You Tube video!

KAFFE FASSETT’S PERSIAN POPPIES
TUTOR: JAMES HERBISON of JOY OF YARN

OVERVIEW: This workshop will be for knitters who are interested in sharpening their colour observation in design. Participants should know how to knit and purl – only the basic stocking stitch will be used in the workshop. This course inspires knitters to sharpen their observation of color by working with a range of light and dark colors in contrasting tones to create the ever popular Persian Poppies design by Kaffe Fassett. The experience gained should give knitters the confidence to use their own personal color scheme in any of their own designs in the future.

Day Two

MAKING LACE SOLID - Taking the Holes out of Lace Knitting
TUTOR: MORAG McKENZIE of Vintage Purls

OVERVIEW: Learn how to make lace stitch pattens not lace and open a whole new world of stitch pattern possibilities. Look at how best to convert existing lace patterns, learn a variety of directional increases and their best applications. Examine the differences between a standard lace pattern and its solid alternative and learn how best to incorporate them into your work.

KIWI ‘SWEET AS’ SOCK YARN BLANKIE
TUTOR: JAMES HERBISON of JOY OF YARN

OVERVIEW: A Sock Yarn Blankie is an ideal way to use up your left over sock yarn (or any left over yarn in your stash) and learn some new techniques at the same time. This class will teach you how to knit the cabled design featured on the basic block and then using an entrelac method how to knit other blocks to create the blankie. You will also be given information on other Sock Yarn Blankie patterns including the classic mitred square and swimming fish.

FEARLESS KNITTING & how gauge can become a fickle friend
TUTOR: GENNY STEVENS - GRANNY G of CRAFTERNOON TEA

OVERVIEW: How to analyse your yarn so you can understand how to get the best out of your knitting
(Looking at the yarns structure, is it z or s twist, how many plies, how strong the twist and how these factors can be best understood and utilised)
Gauge and how to use it. (Including how to work out formulas for yarn substitution in patterns) why it’s important (no two 8-plys are necessarily the same) and why you can’t sometimes trust it but by giving it a go you increase your chance of a successful garment. This includes looking at deciding end choices of desired fabric and drape of finished project.

Send me an email to busckem@clear.net.nz if you haven't got a registration form, with this great line up, KAN is a real 'must do' on this Winters knitting calendar.

A Baby is Born
I am pleased to announce that my 'baby' http://www.skeinz.com/ has arrived. Now you don't have to visit our unique factory shop in Napier to take advantage of genuine yarn bargains. Put your yarn diets aside & check out the site, I'm sure you'll find it most tempting!

K.A.N Registrations NOW OPEN

2010-04-29T11:51:00.003+12:00

Knitters Retreat in Historic Hawkes Bay
August 27th – 29th 2010

Bouught to you by Skeinz & J.O.Y

Hosted at Napiers iconic East Pier situated at the entrance of historic Port Ahuriri. Like any waterfront location Ahuriri is a vibrant village overflowing with cafes, bars, galleries, deli’s & Napier most famous landmark, the Art Deco Rothmans Building. The K.A.N venue has unimpeded views onto Hawkes Bay & sits adjacent to the Harbour View Motor Lodge.

K.A.N Registrations are now open.

‘Merino’ registration is $125 pp
This includes: Access to exclusive Traders Market, ONE workshop, Design Spun factory Tour & Skeinz shop visit, access for free knit time at East Pier, public traders market & a KAN goodie bag.

‘Alpaca’ registration is $160 pp
This includes: Everything in the ‘Merino’ package PLUS the KAN Retreat Dinner & Quiz on Saturday Night. East Pier is a landmark Napier Eatery & will be providing a three course dinner designed especially for KAN (drinks own care)

‘Cashmere’ registration is $200 pp
This includes: Access to exclusive Traders Market, TWO workshops, Design Spun factory tour & Skeinz shop visit, access for free knit time at East Pier, public traders market & a KAN goodie bag.
PLUS the KAN Retreat Dinner & Quiz on Saturday Night. East Pier is a landmark Napier Eatery & will be providing a three course dinner designed especially for KAN (drinks own care).

Email me on busckem@clear.net.nz for a full registration form. Registration will only be confirmed on receipt of payment.

Do you have knitty products to sell?
If you register as a KAN retreater you can set up shop on Friday afternoon to sell your knitty goodness to other retreaters for no additional charge. On Sunday morning (9am – 12pm) KAN will open to the public for a Sunday Knit Market. This will be extensively promoted through local media & retail outlets. We would love to have you take part. Contact me at busckem@clear.net.nz for more details.

Knit August Nights

2010-04-21T11:42:00.003+12:00

Knit August Nights
Knitters Retreat in Historic Hawkes Bay
August 27th – 29th 2010

Bought to you by Skeinz & JOY (Joy of Yarn)

Hosted at Napiers iconic East Pier situated at the entrance of historic Port Ahuriri. Like any waterfront location Ahuriri is a vibrant village overflowing with cafes, bars, galleries, deli’s & Napier most famous landmark, the Art Deco Rothmans Building. The K.A.N venue has unimpeded views onto Hawkes Bay & sits adjacent to the Harbourside Motor Lodge.

K.A.N Registration includes: workshops, knitters dinner & quiz, exclusive traders market, yarn factory tour & of course plenty of knitting.

Places to the K.A.N retreat will be extremely limited.

Expressions of interest are being taken. Email Maree at busckem@clear.net.nz

On the Run

2010-04-20T13:10:00.008+12:00

Louis on the Move

Things are on the move! I have had a good run of project completions, Dr. Phils Winter '10 socks are done already, lengthened the sleeves on the Angora Lace shrug, the Ahuriri Cushion is done & I have cast on another Milo for the boys'.

Ross (my Dad) got dragged away from work to rest with the grandchildren.

Easter time has also been family time with a holiday on the East Cape with my parents, brother & niece Nina.

The boys & Nina had a great time, ignoring the cold & splashing, swimming & just doing what kids should do, have a bloody great time!

I have also sewn the knitting germ with 4 year old Nina, she recognised the shrug as being the same pattern as the one I had knit for her & before I knew it I was busy having to knit a version for her baby doll Georgia. Now as any parent will know, & especially those with 4 year old girls, once the decision has been made at this is what she wants there is to be NO deviation from the plan. For a day & a half I had Nina checking, rechecking, cajoling, reminding & needling to make sure I get Georgia's shrug gets done before the holiday is over. I am pleased to say I made the deadline & Georgia's shoulders are now warm for the Winter!

I also cracked on got the cushion completed. Modified from a concept from Mason-Dixon Knitting, I have done a cushion in stocking stitch instead of garter, it's less yarn thirsty & the reverse would never be seen. Below is my version, it's a brilliant stash buster.

Ahuriri Cushion

Cast on 30 sts (I used 4mm needles & DK yarn)
Work in stocking stst until you have a square swatch.
Change colour – work 12 rows stst – Cast off.
*Rotate your work 90 degrees clockwise
Change colour - Pick up the sts across the cast off edge.
Work 12 Rows stst – Cast off **
Continue to work from * to ** until you have the size desired.

Back
Is worked in straight stripes of 6 rows each. I have chosen to do a two thirds/one third flap with a button closure, but you could just work from one side to the other & place a zipper instead of buttons.

A cushion this size took about 10 balls total. The nice thing is you can use smaller part balls for the stripes at the back & the smaller ‘logs’, so it is one of the best stash busters I have done in a long time.

Adjust your needle size according to your yarn weight.
I used 4mm for DK. I also recommend a 80cm circular needle once the work gets bigger, it makes it easier to work with on your lap.

What's next....

Another Milo for the boys', plus one I am doing for a gift & watch this space for a Knitter Retreat coming soon to Hawkes Bay...

Clearing Decks

2010-03-24T13:48:00.007+13:00

The first Milo for the boys'

I have been very good & knitty. The first Milo for the boys' has been completed. It is knitted in the stunning Naturally Me Merino/Cashmere 8ply. It's such a pity it is now discontinued. It was very pricey, $15ish per ball, but I lucked out & got some balls for $9 on sale. A Milo for the boys' has taken just over two balls, so $20 to knit a stunning vest. I have some more 'Me' in a rich blue & some teal Gedifra Merino leftover (I did a vest for Hugo in it last year & should have enough for a Milo). I just need to get the boys to wear them!

The yarn for the other two Milo's

My father called two nights ago, thrilled with his vest, it fitted perfectly & he was concerned it was a little to 'flash' to wear to work! I will have to get him to pose for me in it when I am up in Gizzy for Easter.

The Ahuriri Cushion is about 85% done!

I am clearing decks before I get into another Milo, I have decided to get the Ahuriri Cushion completed, Dr. Phils' annual Winter socks done (I am even doing them in the round this year!!) & I am prowling around for a project for me, ahhhhhh I love heading into a knitty time of year!

Phil's Socks worked in the round using two circular needles.

Slacker!

2010-03-17T15:28:00.008+13:00

I am a slack tart! Six weeks since my last post, six bloody weeks!!

Excuses?

Plenty.

'Last of the Summer' holiday. Been a slack tart. Had to rearrange childcare. Been a slack tart. Doing more hours at Skeinz. Been a slack tart. Turned another year older. Been a slack tart. Teaching three ladies how to knit. Been a slack tart. You get the picture.

The weather has now turned decidedly Autumnal, the boys' are engrossed in cartoons & I have decided to remove the slack from tart & get the blog updated.

Ross' Elders Vest

The positive in all of this is, I have been very busy on the knitty front, both at work & at home. The long promised vest for my dad was started on the February holiday (we were in Gisborne, so I thought I'd better work on that just to prove to him I hadn't forgotten my promise!!) and finished it yesterday in fact, just in time for this cooler weather. It is knitted from a new heather type yarn we have developed at work, using natural Southlander yarn as a base, a series of colours have been over dyed & they look great. Mine is 'Coast' on an Oatmeal base. Perfect for my dad who works as a wool buyer, visiting local farms up & down the East Coast. It is an impromptu pattern, started whilst I had a few wines on board, so of course three quarters of the way through I discovered the glaring mistake, buy hey, that's was makes it one of a kind eh?

The new Hawkes Bay Knitters Group on Ravelry has been meeting regularly & growing in size. It has been a real joy for me to have contact with such a inspiring group of women. I learn something new every time we get together. Sharing yarn, patterns & techniques has been revelation in moving my own knitting forward. One of these 'Ah Ha' moments came with the discovery of the Milo Vest by Georgie Hallam from Tikki designs. Having acquired the pattern & knitting up a newborn Milo for a friends baby, I can safely say, it's love. I have started my second Milo, as a part of a triptych for my own boys (they are of such a similar size that I am knitting them up for both of them to wear).

Maia's Milo

My next mission this Winter is to refine my sock knitting. I am a butt lazy sock knitter. I detest straight dpn's, so I have purchased books on knitting socks in the round using two long dpns, and yet I still resort back to may favourite Lipstick socks. 'Ah Ha' moment number two from the HBK group, I have one knitter accomplished with the two needle technique & another who uses the 'magic loop' technique... I think my two needle sock days could be numbered, especially with Dr Phil asking when his annual pair are next due. Time to stop blogging & restart knitting!

Slackness gone?

Difficult Days for Dog Lovers

2010-01-29T11:28:00.003+13:00

The picture of Dr. Phil & Max that appeared in Wednesdays Dominion Post

As an avid animal lover & a passionate dog owner I have found this past week to be particularly difficult. Firstly came the attack on a five year old girl in Taneatua by their friends Pit Bull terriers, dogs that were reportedly well kept & behaved, & on the same day in Wairoa, a three year old was attacked in similar circumstances.

The latter had great personal significance for us as Dr. Phil was the man tasked with putting this wee mite back together. It was heartbreaking, her facial injuries were extensive, but luckily for her, as well as Dr. Phil being the Ophthalmologist on call, he is also the only ocular plastic surgeon in the region. Usually this is the sort of surgery that he relishes, but this time it was made more poignant by the fact we have a child of a similar age & are so smitten about our dearly beloved pooch. The thought that any well cared for dog could wreck such savagery is just beyond us. I am pleased to report that she is now doing very well, the eyelid injuries look great, but the emotional scars will take longer to heal.

The icing on the cake was the canine massacre in Wellsford. I was almost sick last night when I saw what had transpired. I'm a country girl & have much more pragmatic views on these matters, but there is a right way & a wrong way to do things - this is definitely the wrong way! I whole heartidly give my full support to Bob Kerridge & his team at the SPCA it their moves to bring those responsible to justice.

It just leaves one thing to do, gather good friends around this weekend & eat, drink & be thankful for the beautiful bounty of Hawkes Bay. I might see you at Harvest HB, I'll be the one with the knitting!!

New Life, New Year

2010-01-22T13:51:00.006+13:00

Louis first Monarch Butterfly hatched this week - he was transfixed at the process of transformation. We still have two left to hatch.

It's been nice the first few weeks of this year being able to get more knitting in than what I would usually do during the Summer. Largely spurred on my the birth of some new babes in our circle of friends. First for the new year has been Alexander, born ten days ago. I haven't knitted any baby bit's for several months, so Alex's arrival saw me diving into the stash cupboard to find some inspiration.

Inspiration was found in the form of some Regia Silk Color sock yarn purchased from the delicious James Herbison's J.O.Y in Greytown about 6 months ago. The splendid blend of subtle off tones, which are gender neutral, are perfect for Alexander & also wee baby Faith, which is due any day now. I have had great fun buying some matching stretch & grow's, cluck, cluck, cluck goes this old bird!!

I used a picot edge, just for something a little different.

Knitting by the Pool

2010-01-13T14:45:00.004+13:00

Whilst I love all the hubbub of the festive season, also like the renewed mental freshness the new year brings. I have an optimism that all the tasks I set will be no problem & am motivated to get stuck in making things happen. Since returning from Gisborne I got stuck into my blanket, even taking it to my cousins to sit & knit whilst the kids escape the 30+ degree heat. I have had plenty of comments about the blanket, especially from those who want the pattern. I have adapted the Log Cabin blanket from Mason Dixon knitting, instructions can be found here on their blog, I have chosen to do mine in stocking stitch as I plan to have a backing sewn to it, however the garter stitch version on their site is a great reversible, multi purpose blanket. Well worth a look.

The most exciting thing though to happen this week was the first 'unofficial' meeting of the Hawkes Bay Knitters, formed via Ravelry. A small group of us have been knattering & we have finally got things organised to get together. In typical fashion this hardy bunch couldn't wait for the first official meeting, taking place next week, so we had a sneaky trial run over coffee yesterday. There is nothing better for the motivation than getting together with other knitters. We are all now fizzing for the next 'official' meeting & are even looking at doing some evening meetings over an intoxicating beverage or too (yipee!).

Lifes a Beach.

2010-01-04T08:59:00.006+13:00

Somehow it seems strangely appropriate that my 50th post is also the first for 'twenty - ten'. It is a great relief to be through another Christmas, to have peace restored to the household & most importantly happy children. Poor Louis acutely felt the weight of expectation that Christmas bought. He was ecstatic with all the offerings from Santa & all that was left was to pack the kids up & head to the beach.

Louis just blown over at his 'Dino Hot Wheels'

The hot holiday destination in NZ this year certainly seemed to be Gisborne. This is my home town, so I am more that used to throngs of holiday makers making a path to it's golden shores, what I wasn't prepared for were the tens of thousand festival goers who came for Rhythm & Vines. However this mattered not. My parents lived in the country & even better was my brother who lives beach front on Wainui beach.

Mum, bless her, had the boys, so I (far left) could enjoy New Years Eve with my brothers.
Now before you get visions of a grand beach palace, my brother literally lives in the worse house on a very affluent street & he loves it! He had made great preparations for the many visitors who arrived for festive season. Louis & Hugo just adored the beach & having time with their cousin Nina.

View from Stuarts Deck, pretty hard yakka really!

I managed to get some time to unwind & catch up with family & friends who I hadn't seen for a very long time. I bearly had time to knit, just a couple of panels completed on the Ahuriri blanket.

Stone the Crows!

2009-12-17T13:50:00.006+13:00

The beginnings of my Ahuriri inspired log cabin blanket.

With the days rapidly melting away before Christmas we have all being feeling the pressure to 'get things done'. Christmas is a double edged sword, it's the kick in the pants we need to get done all those little jobs we have been putting off all year, but in doing so we have a tendency to OD on stress as well as all the other festive imbibing.

Now that the cardigan is now finished, I needed a project that was low stress & required no brain power. An auto pilot project. One of my favourite magazines is The Knitter out of the UK. It is a lustrous indulgence of glossy pages & exquisite designs, a very aspiration magazine. In issue 8 I came across the regular Mason-Dixon column & they talked about log cabin knitting. Knitting blankets by starting with a central square the picking up stitches along one edge, knit length desired, cast off, turn & repeat. Perfect! I have an abundance of single & double ball samples, just the ticket for this project, so stash busting too! So far so good, I can knit, drink, watch TV, all at the same time with no stress at all - Excellent.

The weedy damp mess now replaced with smooth river stones.

With the festive knitting project sorted it is time to turn my attention to all those pre-Christmas jobs. Present shopping - Done. Christmas Day lunch menu - I need turkey. Garden tidy up - GailForce Gardening have weeded, tidied & stoned. Ahhh hopefully I can now relax a little & enjoy all the festivities of the season.

Finally Finished!

2009-12-11T16:29:00.005+13:00

It has taken 5 months, but my tie front cardigan with ruched sleeves is now finished!

The choice of using the new Waikiwi sock yarn instead of the 4ply cotton the base pattern was written for was a bit of a risk, but the swatch measured up & I plowed on.

It fits perfectly, the drape is stunning with just a hint of possum 'halo' to make it really special.

I am glad I have modified the sleeves, the original pattern (by Sian Brown) called for a plain bell sleeve, but I felt that the yarn deserved something funkier. The only devastating thing is since finishing the weather has been so warm I have no cause yet to wear it!

Peas in a Pod

2009-12-02T14:06:00.005+13:00

Louis & Luke hit the lake....

I am now finally walking pain free for the first time in over 6 months! Amazing, truly amazing. As part of the rest & recovery period the MacBuscke clan headed up to Lake Taupo for the annual Macdonald family retreat. This year we did things a little differently & rented a small holiday bach (http://www.rainbowholiday.co.nz/). Holly Cottage was excellent, fully fenced for extra safety & plenty of room, so each of the boys' could have their own room, so parents actually had a good nights sleep!

As luck would have it my cousin (and also the bridesmaid at our wedding) Karen, her husband Steve, their twins, Luke & Greer, arrived in Taupo towards the end of our stay. We were able to get our acts together & spend a long overdue day catching up. Karen & Steve's twins are just 3 months older then Louis & easily as busy.

It was nice for Louis & Luke to have time together now that they are a little older. Both are very full throttle & Karen has many of the parenting challenges I have in raising boisterous boys. It was amazing, they both clapped eyes on each other & it was love. Peas in a pod. Kindred spirits looking for mischief together. After hunting dino's, racing Hot Wheels & hitting balls it was time for a walk. Lakeside at Kuratau (southern shores of Lake Taupo) is just stunning & the day was perfect. The shot above is the boy's braving the icy alpine lake to see whether they could make it across to the other side - CUTE! (And before the PC police get on my case at a naked Louis with no hat on - he was thoroughly doused in SPF 70+ sunscreen - besides when you're that good looking all you need are your shades)

T-Rex Did It!

2009-11-10T09:27:00.005+13:00

Max, my 100Kg canine shadow, supervises T-Rex reconstruction.

I love that saying "Out of the mouths of babes", Louis has been so adorable & helpful since I have had my op. He's been busy helping Nana, getting nappies, bottles, fetching the phone. He has taken his role very seriously. He calls the my ankle "Bo-Bo Ankle" & has been very intrigued at what has happened to it. I, of course, have told him the factual details around the ankle, but hey, "Mummy has had a special Doctor who has fixed my ankle because it was still sore & not getting better" doesn't exactly capture a three and half year old imagination.

So last night the new explanations for Mummy's Bo-Bo Ankle started. He sat on his fathers lap before bed & explained to him & I that Bo-Bo's like mine are because "mummy slipped over, running too fast". Mummy run?! "floor wet Mummy, get slippy, fall over.... Oh No BIG Bo-Bo". Right, so glad I have Louis to clear these things up for me.

But not to quiet his busy mind, the mystery of my ankle obviously played on his mind overnight. This morning he saunters into the living room & after saying his good mornings he looks sincerely at me & says "T-Rex did it Mummy", did what?, "T-Rex got grumpy, went CHOMP, T-Rex make Bo-Bo ankle"

Hey who am I to argue!

Stuck on my Arse.....

2009-11-06T09:52:00.002+13:00

After almost two years of constant pain from chronic Achilles tendonosis I finally managed to get all the parental planets in alignment & underwent the chop. Weeks of planning & preparation for 45 minutes surgery & three long cuts, but I know it's all going to be worth it.

I am now day three post op, have made excellent progress on the two UFO's I have lined up to be completed in this time. I have spent far too much time enjoying the Ravelry forums, started the Christmas shopping (all done online). Yesterday I saw the ankle bandage getting a bit grubby, so a bandage sock was whipped up to keep it covered & clean - ah well why not!

Sign Me Up!

2009-10-30T14:55:00.009+13:00

I stumbled across this blog http://twentycentmixture.blogspot.com/ via Ravelry the other day & author Louise is arranging the Christmas ornament swap for NZ crafters in 2009. This is a great way of getting some stunning home crafted ornaments for your home tree. Sign up is by November 7th, so if you are interested check out Louise's wonderful blog. Follow the link http://www.flickr.com/groups/holidayornamentswap08/pool/page5/ to images from the US 2008 swap, ooh I can't wait to get started!

The Yarn Genesis

2009-10-22T15:29:00.004+13:00

Just one of the sections at the Gisborne A&P Knitting Display

When you spend a lot on time online in places like Ravelry it's easy to think that the vast majority of knitters are progressive, adventurous, fearless crafters. I am always in awe at the simple brilliance of these souls that produce beautiful garments, using stunning yarns & advanced techniques - I am frankly jealous! I would so dearly love to have the time to hone my skills & be able to focus my attention to produce a minute fraction of what I see. It is then I have to pinch myself & get back down to earth. As a busy mum with two pre-school boys' and two part time jobs, I need to be realistic at when my time will start freeing up.

Also working in the yarn industry in one of my part time roles, has meant I also get to see the other side of the 'crafty customers', the ones who aren't net savvy, have been knitting for about 60+ years & have committed to memory a slew of patterns that have not altered in generations. To me these ladies (not to be sexist - have yet to see a man yet who falls into this category) are what I like to call the "Yarn Genesis". They are the women that I learnt from as a child. Many started knitting as children or teens themselves for servicemen in WWII. They call yarn "wool", it comes in two types: Baby Knit or Double Knit, and they very rarely buy patterns as their stash of Kaiapoi, Patons, Shepherd, or Paragon leaflets are so timeless they last forever. I love these women. They drive me crazy in the shop when I try to convince them NOT to knit white for newborns, but other than that these ladies are, for me, knitting treasures.

I was so pleased to see at the Gisborne A&P Show this past week a very healthy range of entries in the home crafts hall, and the hand knits on display were stunning. There were a few new names on the cards, but by in large the names were still the same ones from my childhood. It has spurred me to think that when my time does free up, I need to keep their legacy alive & make sure I knit for these events - Just maybe not a white baby cardy!

PS I am still trucking on with the shrug - determined to get it knocked off this long weekend!

Mastiff Daycare

2009-10-16T14:49:00.005+13:00

Max (foreground) with his father Benson

When your friends get sick you all pool together. You help keep the fridge full, see if any housework needs doing, help with the kids. In our situation the later also applies to Canine children as well as human ones, so when our good friend John collapsed after bringing Benson (Max's sire) back from Massey University Vet Hospital last week, we all swung into action. Whilst John was in acute care at the local hospital, his family & friends divvied up all the jobs that needed to be done & we were only too glad to have Benson at our place for a little bit of a Mastiff sleepover.

Now I realise that having 180Kg's of slobbering, panting, shedding canines cluttering up your place isn't every ones idea of a great time, but for us it is heaven. Benson quite simply is the happiest dog in the world, and when we went through all our reproductive angst, being able to have time with him & in turn have one of his progeny was a great comfort & joy for us - it was the least we could do.

Benson has suffered with recurrent ear infections which over the years had led to much more serious secondary complications. He returned from Massey after having multiple tests, scans & surgery. His treatment regime was extensive, so we rolled up our sleeves & lavished on the poochie TLC. In ten days he's now a different dog, ears look fabulous, he's started to regain weight, I am over the moon. Max has had a great time having him here, they have been hanging together & loving their daily walks. It's been a positive experience all round & makes you feel great when you can help out such a great friend, both human & canine!

I have used the luscious Naturally Sensation Merino Angora blend

On the sticks: I am three quarters of my way through making myself a shrug to slip into on those nights we eat outside. I have sized up the shrug I have made for friends & Nina in the past, I only hope like hell it fits. Let's face it, I am more Dawn French in stature that Joanna Lumley, so am very weary of anything cropped as they do tend to accentuate my 'widest' parts. I love knitting this pattern so I thought I would take the punt & since it is primarily going to be worn at home I'm hoping the risk is going to be all worthwhile.... Fingers Crossed!

Sometimes you just have to splurge.

2009-10-05T16:03:00.004+13:00

Three Skeins of Lovliness

We have just returned from a family break in Queenstown. The action capital of New Zealand. Pinot Noir haven. Tourist mecca. With the exception of the Pinot, our break was vastly more sedate, walks with the boys', visiting some of Phils' family in Central Otago & doing a little retail therapy. For me, of course, that means hunting out yarn stores. I was restrained & only called upon the one, the Kiwi Gift in Beach Street (previously visited 6 years ago when they were in Queenstown Mall).

All the favourites were there as I remembered them, Central Otago is after all Touch Yarns country, but it was some earthy variegated Suri Alpaca that stole my heart. So soft, almost silky, the allure of this luxurious fibre caused me to lose all sensibility & before I knew it I had 3 skeins (at $40 each!!) scooped up & the Visa was whipped out. Made by Flagstff Alpaca's, I can't wait to cast this yarn on, at this stage, I think this is going to be the yarn I use for Kate Gilberts Clapotis. A special yarn for a special design.

Pass it Forward

2009-09-23T13:29:00.006+12:00

The Green Jacket was knitted for Hugo (Top) & is now on it's 3rd pass, whilst the pants were knitted for Naomi & are on their 2nd, still plenty of wear yet!

The MacBuscke clan went to a birthday party for Miss Naomi. A friends baby who turned one. A babe to whom I have knitted a number of garments & passed down many of Hugo & Louis baby knits to. I have a policy when I pass my hand knit on, love them, use them & then when you have finished with them, pass them forward to the next babe you know who would need, love & cherish them.

At Miss Naomi's party was a freshly minted wee man who pretty much snoozed through the entire proceedings. I commented to mum at how beautiful he was & she she then pulled down the coverings to reveal the delicious young chap. What I saw made me beam, as I fondled the sleeve of his jacket. "I just love hand knitted garments" said Mum "I've been lucky, Jill (Naomi's Mum) handed these down, she has a friend who knits"

The game was up, I was thrilled to meet Suzanne & let her know I was in fact the originator of these garments & found out she had a good number of pieces that had started on my needles. It was nice to let her know about the yarns I had used & for me to see how well they had worn. Especially the green Cashmere Merino jacket, still as soft and fresh as the day they came off the needles. The best part is, when her wee chap has out grown them, they will then find a new home to be loved all over again!

Knitting for Baby

2009-09-12T14:24:00.008+12:00

Yarn with Traditional ideas but a Modern Twist.

Forever Green Organic Merino take traditional idea's on colour & plays with tone to produce something refreshing & modern.

September & October is traditionally a time 'Godzone' that the birth rate spikes. I guess it is a combination of having a festive season that also coincides with Summer which brings plenty of new lives to pass at this time of year. My family is no exception with two of my cousins giving birth over the last few weeks.

It has also meant that in the shop we have been busy which clucky nana's getting busy on whipping up last minute gifts for the impending arrival(s). With today's' technology it has meant that more & more expectant parents are opting to find out the sex of their bundle of joy well in advance, great for those who like to be organized, and especially good for those clucky grannies. So as you would expect we have solid sales of Baby Yarn, in pink, blue & white for the 'undecideds'. Honestly it's enough to make me weep.

Why?

For starters, there are so many stunning infant garments available now, in a full range of fashion colours & yet, for some reason, the constraints of blue for boys', pink for girls & white for the unknowns is a hard & fast convention. Even all my powers of persuasion at the coal face can not change Nana's mind. Every now and then I might get one who will 'colour outside the lines' & try lilac, mint or lemon & if they are really going 'abstract', a pastel variegated yarn.

This morning was a classic case in point. I had the most delightful woman in who was visiting from out of town who had made a special trip to hunt us out. She knit for a local market to help supplement her pension & was always on the look out for reasonably priced yarn. "Is that the only 3ply you have?" she inquired pointing at the Baby Blue 3ply we had on sale. It turned out she only knitted 6 different patterns, all in 3ply, and only in blue, pink, lemon & white "I have tried one of those pastel mixes, but I'm not sure about them, ...too modern". Several questions later I ascertained that the patterns she were knitting could in fact be easily knitted up on 4ply (more popular, more readily available & greater likelihood of specials), she looked at me agog & exclaimed "But I have knitted that same jacket pattern in 3ply since my first son was born in 1954!"

A Colour scheme I am sure my customer this morning would never have tolerated!

A wee singlet for my cousind newborn, Fergus.

Not deterred I packed her off with a sample of our 4ply to knit up as a trial. It stunned me that for her, mothers still wanted the same colours & styles. To be fair I have a collection of vintage patterns & the styles of many are timeless classics's, but surely knitters, isn't it time that we updated the colour palette we knitted them in?

Nina's Shrug over the new capped sleeved top purchased to match.

On my completion front, I have finished my nieces Shrug. A sized down version of an adult pattern I had, knitted in the stunning Koigu 4ply Kpppm. I have bought a matching outfit that even a fussy 4 year old should love & made in a yarn that will survive machine washing from a well meaning solo Dad.

My tie front Cardy is also progressing very well, in fact I am really enjoying the knit, an excellent pattern so far, & I am hoping to get it finished when we head away at the end of next week.

Not knitted in any pastel shade, a good rich syrah red for me!

Green Machine

2009-08-31T14:13:00.006+12:00

Speights Supervises the Growth Plan

I have to confess that I am not much of a gardener. When you are so time poor, gardening was something that seemed to cease. The current garden is one that has been designed by survival. If it lives after minimal watering, weeding & tending after a vicious Summer, it gets to stay, if it doesn't, well it's dead anyway. In my first house in Gisborne, my then partner was very green fingered, and the thought of a cottage garden was quite appealing to a first time home owner. It was also helped by the fact that it was designed & planted by a professional, so was pretty low maintenance.

My First Crop

My one area of 'greenie' tendencies flourishes with vegetable gardens. I love to cook, I love to eat & I really love to cook & eat things I have grown. My father is prodigious vegetable gardener. He has multiple plots & produces enough veg across the year to feed a small African nation, even though there is just him & Mum at home. He has instilled a strong sense of the importance & pleasure of deriving food from the land. So earlier this year I might have mentioned that I had a raised garden bed built & in May Ross (my Dad) helped me get it started. The one major challenge we have had comes in the form of a 105kg K-9 who seems to think my veg plot also doubles as a mastiff bone depositary. After many weeks, tears & canine adjustments we now have a good crop of celery, parsley, salad greens & even a few brassica's survived the oversized paws.

The 'grow the Cucumber in the bag of compost' technique.

With Spring starting tomorrow; tomato's, basil, a courgette & cucumber have joined the ranks. More importantly I am going to have my first attempt at spuds. These are grown in a purpose built 'potato bag' so should be safe from 'you know who'. Ahhh I can taste the results now - Move over River Cottage the Waghorne wonder patch is well on it's way!

Meanwhile.... My niece's shrug is almost done, steady progress has been made on my tie front cardi & in return for helping out my veg patch I am going to do a work vest for Ross.

Off & Racing now....

2009-08-25T13:55:00.005+12:00

The big news in our house this week has been that Hugo took & first steps. It has been amazing to watch, he's a tall boy & has not shown much inclination to walk until this last month. I haven't been encouraging him to walk, having one racing around was enough for me, but I have to admit & I had to patch one more pair of pants with worn knees I would scream.

So there it was, in Gisborne for the weekend, his first few stumbling steps. By Monday he was walking a dozen steps or more & just a couple of days later he was walking like an office slapper after half a bottle of wine at Friday night drinks!

He's so pleased with himself. But like any great steps forward, come great risks. In a week we have knocked up an impressive list of bumps & bruises, but he still keeps smiling. The one flip side of all is walking for me is how exhausting it is for him. He has been falling asleep longer & deeper than usual, absolutely pooped by his new biped status. This week has been a great week, a week that makes all those difficult ones as a parent worthwhile.

A Fresh Start

2009-08-12T13:27:00.005+12:00

Max Enjoying the First Rays of Spring Sunshine

What a month! I have to say the first signs of spring have been very welcome in this house. The cloud of Swine Flu have meant great paranoia when the boys' got sick with nasty chesty coughs, Dr. Phil too had been under the weather & to top it all off our computer hard drive completely crapped itself, just as I sat down to do all the monthly accounts & GST!

This week however has seen glorious weather, happier boys' (and Dr. Phil), and a computer which is now on the mend, plus a brand new rig, just for me, is now at home.

The first few rows started on a new tie front cardy for me...

I have also finished a couple of projects, plus cast on a few more with yarn I have been itching to knit up for ages. Yep things are definitely on the improve.

Changes are also afoot at work. We have changed our name at the shop from 'The Knitter Factory Shop' to 'Skeinz', the shop has had a make over, freshened up with new paint, yarn display cabinets, flooring and some extra space & a new website is under construction so people outside of Hawkes Bay can get the advantage of the value that buying from a manufacturer can provide.
It's been exciting watching the transformation take place & also getting my teeth into formalising our range to stock in both the online & retail store. We have new designs to be launched for our organic Forever Green yarn, Justine from Just Jussi (http://www.justjussi.com/) has created some stunning garments, which are about to be photographed with a real live baby, a first for us - I can't wait! I will keep you posted when the new site goes live...

Completion Satisfaction PartII

2009-07-15T15:21:00.003+12:00

Lastly are these two beauties, both knitted from the same Shepherd Baby 4ply yarn. They have finished up beautifully. The jacket is from a Debbie Bliss pattern, recently published in tthe Australian Womans Weekly & the tunic dress is of my own design. I hope these knits will help our girls (both of whom are child #3) stand out in the crowd.

Completion Satisfaction

2009-07-15T14:51:00.011+12:00

The best thing about shitty cold weather is plenty of knitting gets finished!

Like the cashmere cowl I had been carrying in my purse, it has been a God send when it comes to walking the dog, I will definately do more for next Winter. It has been so unseasonably cold here. Yesterday I bundled the boys up to go and do some errands, pulled out of our place up to the parrallel street to ours & this was the stunning view I was greeted with. Usually the snow doesn't come down this low, but it were the hardy souls out surfing I couldn't get over - you can't keep a good surfer down! I have also been good & got Edies socks done, for my Mum's friend. She's almost 80, never married, worked hard all her life & is fold of a drink, so I couldn't resist posing the socks on a few spent corks (saved from my hazy days in the wine trade). I have now started a possum merino pair for myself, which I am proud to say I am almost done...

It takes a lot of good wine to make good knitting...

2009-07-01T13:50:00.006+12:00

One of my "Multi Glass Projects"

There's an old saying in the New Zealand wine industry "It takes a lot of good beer to make good wine", well having been a product of the New Zealand wine industry & self confessed knitting lush I can also confidently say it takes a lot of good wine to make good knitting!

Imbibing whilst I knit helps me to relax, lubricate & think outside of the square, especially since most of my projects are undertaken without a pattern in very much a free form style. The kicker of course is - not too much!

(Pour nice red)

I will be the first to admit if I am attempting an aran or lace pattern & have had more that two glasses - buggered every time, so these patterns are best knitted during the day (or whilst pregnant - but in my case those reproductive days I am pleased to say are over!) at night I choose those nice easy stocking or garter stitch repetitive numbers that I can knit, drink, & watch prime time tellie.

My other "Multi Glass Project" a Cashmere cowl.

To that end this winter for the first time I have multiple projects on the go, to help match the level of inebriation, I mean relaxation, I have at the time. Currently I have 4 WIP, FOUR! I have never had this much work on the go, but I have so many ideas whirring around in my head that I am struggling to keep up with what I want to get translated out on the needles (pour another glass of wine). Add to that a mini baby boom by friends & family and I am very busy indeed (glug, glug).

In an attempt to get my shit together I have started (more accurately, restarted) a project book. Keeping more detailed notes of each project just in case it is one I want to get published or have some one who would like a copy. I would like to say it is neatly typed up, in edited, print ready format, but alas it's hand written scrawlings (what the bottles empty already?) with wadges of yarn stapled randomly in next to them. Oh well is it time for a port? What on tellie now? Where's the cowl?

Knitting without limits.

2009-06-18T14:27:00.006+12:00

Max, Jim & Poppy - all will soon have their own knitted projects

Today Sophie & Poppy came to visit for lunch. Sophie anxiously picked up the needles for the first time since she Jim was small about 5 months ago wanting to knit something for Poppy. The project choice was a wrap around stocking stitch cardigan, quite ambitious for a beginner, but Sophie was not deterred. After completing the back, a few mistakes, trouble mastering when to knit, when to purl & issues with following the pattern, Poppy's project got shelved. I had also left her with a basic garter stitch tank top pattern which I had selected for her first attempt. One evening when she felt like trying again she cast on.

When I caught up with her last weekend she presented me with the tank top. She was having trouble getting Poppy to wear it as the fit was off in the front. She had run out of the aubergine yarn I had given her 3/4 of the way up the front & substituted with a novelty yarn. She felt defeated. Bugger this I thought, and armed with a pair of scissors, I freed the top from the novelty yarn & enquired about the cardigan (also started in the aubergine yarn). With back located, several cups of tea & chatting I was able to pick up the stitches & knit across the yarn from the defunct cardigan to the tank. Sophie was thrilled, reinvigorated she got going again, knowing that a successful end was in site. And what an end it was, Poppy arrived today with her tank on proudly which was finished beautifully. Sophie had embellished it with a contrasting blanket stitch around the neck, lazy daisies on the front & even a knitted ruffle!! I was blown away, but Sophie summed it all up when she said "well all I did was give it a go, what harm could it come too if I got it wrong"

BINGO! No one dies when you knit, there are really no rules, patterns are purely guidelines. To see someone like Sophie who has grasped this immediately & feel liberated when not constrained by a pattern, is inspiring. When she came wanted to add an element to her vest she borrowed a library book & nutted it out herself, learning by trial an error along the way. She even started a second tank using stocking stitch, a variegated yarn & taught herself bobbles to make it a bit more fun - Fearless!!

Now she has one completed project on the go, a second well on it's way to completion. She was utterly delighted when her 6 year old son asked her to knit him a 'spy' jumper, so she came round today to borrow a pattern book & for me to help source her some yarn, a job which is top priority tomorrow!

Basic Black Tank with Ruffled Neck
On my completion front I finished my black tank 2 days ago & have worn it for the last 2 days. Designed from scratch with all the measurements, tension swatches, and knit & measured as I went - the result is better that I anticipated, I know I will be getting plenty of wear out of this for the years to come.

Sophia's Freeform Organic Wrap
My other original design which has been developing organically for the last month was also completed, very fitting since it was using an organic yarn. It was inspired by adult designs I have seen & couldn't see why it wouldn't translate into a child's project. I just now hope it fits her, I will get her dad to take a pic & post it as soon as I get it.

Finally Dr. Phil got his new Winter overcoat today, and made mutterings that he should have bought a scarf to match - BOUGHT A SCARF!!! When I stopped spluttering in shock, he realised the error in his ways & a scarf for the dear doctor will be cast on this evening before he gets a chance to get the plastic out again - Buy a scarf indeed!

Bum Belches & Nose Poo's

2009-06-08T11:26:00.007+12:00

The biggest land mark in this house in recent days has been Louis third birthday. THREE! I am sure sometimes in my sleep deprived haze it was only yesterday he was the tiny newborn that a terrified first time mother bought home. What a three years it has been. As I have blogged before Louis lives life on full volume, life with Louis is a real roller coaster, especially in the last nine months.

However for those of you out there with hard core sub-woofing toddlers the onset of three has bought with it a mellowing, maturing and considerate Louis. A couple of months ago at my wits end I contacted the Kindy that Louis was enrolled in & in sobs down the phone asked for help. All other early childhood health avenues & had spoken to all said the same "once he gets to kindy you'll see a change", but unfortunately I couldn't wait for that magical third birthday, I need help there & then. Enter Virginia. My savior, Louis angel. An experienced kindy teacher who has owned her own centre, she now does a 'mini' kindy from home - perfect for Louis. After two months under her tutelage Louis has learned social & communication skills that has made it life vastly more peaceful. I now have a son who regularly uses pleases & thank yous, listens, follows tasks, loves & plays with his brother & is delightful in mixed company - what joy!

Keeping in theme on the needles I have three projects on the go. I am about 75% of my way through my Merino/angora black tank, I have one sock completed for a friend of my mothers (the second is about to be cast on), and today I will be finishing a wrap for my friends babes first birthday in the delicious organic Forever Green Elan Merino. So no more talking & more knitting!

Ghosts of Freindships Found.

2009-05-25T15:14:00.003+12:00

Christmas 1991 - My Cousin Karen in the white & I'm in red - I was 19

What a funny old couple of weeks it has been. I have re-established contact with three very old friends from high school (here & in the US) in the last few weeks that I haven't heard from in anywhere from eight to nineteen years... Crazy! I am usually not to bad at keeping in touch, let's face it we all get busy, but facing it has exactly what has happened, or Facebook to be more exact. In my former corporate life, when I spent hours each day in front of a computer screen, I would have been fabulous at Facebook. I would have been one of those wall writing, poking, group joining users that was always online. These days I am lucky if I can even get to check my email every day, but the miracle of Facebook & managed to get me reunited with people who have a great deal time invested in my life. It's is establishing a new chapter in my 'Facebook' & I will be very interested in seeing where it takes me.

On the knitty front I am about a third of my way through a basic black tank for me & am concocting a wrap for the daughter of one of the aforementioned old friends, I just I had more minutes in the day to get everything done.... Hmmm I need to get off Facebook & get knitting!

Knitting in Nelson

2009-05-15T14:37:00.006+12:00

It's funny what inspires you to pick up the needles & start knitting. I am currently in Nelson with Dr. Phil as he attends a conference. I haven't really been to Nelson before (a flying trip for one hour seven years ago hardly counts), so I have loved being able to explore this very beautiful city.

First priorities were to locate yarn stores. I was in luck, Creations Crafts in Hardy Street was practically spitting distance from our hotel, a small store just overflowing with equipment for most yarn & fibre crafts. Yarn wise they had all the usual suspects, but also a few nice surprises, like the Angora/Merino blend from Aslan Trends. But it was colour that trapped me, I found a boucle in rich paprika & persimmon which screamed "Scarf NOW" & a very bright 4ply blend in limes, reds, oranges & indigo's which I just couldn't resist for my kiddy knitting.

Fortunately I had all my knitting paraphernalia with me, I am whipping off to Christchurch tomorrow for the day to the Knit World knitters weekend, so I was able to scurry back to the hotel with freshly purchased yarn & promptly started casting on a quick scarf to wear at the knitters weekend tomorrow.

Get the Drop Scarf
I used Naturally Yarns Landscape Boucle (10ply, 83m, 50gm, Shade 809)

Using 6mm needles cast on 25 sts loosely

Knit 4 rows

Next: Knit twisting the yarn around the needle 3 times (like a yarn over on steroids)

Next: Knit the first 'stitch' letting the remaining 'sts' (twists) fall off the needle to produce a elongated st.

Next: Repeat the sequence to product the scarf, to the length desired. I am adding tassels, so ensure you have enough yarn remaining to do so. I have knitted two balls into the scarf & used half a ball for tassels.

Also on my yarn finding travels Dr Phil & I headed over to Richmond to do a spot of wine tasting (we're in Nelson, it'd be rude not to) & I sort out the Grape Escape centre on McShanes Road. There is the infamous Cruella's Fibre Boutique (http://www.cruellas.co.nz/). This is my kind of yarn store, zany passionate owners (with the hair styles to match the name), producing their own yarn & sumptuous colours that you just wanted to eat! Still feeling flush under the glow of Nelson's autumnal splendor & couldn't resist a DK blend of alpaca, silk, mohair & merino in a colour aptly named 'Cocoon Persimmon' - a project has yet to be assigned to this lovely yarn, but I can assure you it won't be in the stash for long. So a big thank you to Nelson for providing such wonderful inspiration

Warm as Toast

2009-05-06T14:42:00.006+12:00

Max contimplates the cooler weather...

Boy has the weather turned! After a little bit of an Indian Summer the week before last, the first few days in May have bought cold southerlies, huge swells (I live by the sea) & much needed, but very chilly rain. The bright side? Guilt free knitting weather!

We packed up Boys', Daddy & Mastiff & made an impromptu visit to Gisborne last weekend to visit my family & some friends. It was lovely to catch up, you don't need good weather to spend time with those you love. It was also nice to have extra sets of eyes on the boys' & to be able to have a good knit up.

I was stoked to get Poppy's sleeping bag finished. It was quite daunting in the end, as I was flying by the seat of my pants, no pattern & mixing two genres (weaving & knitting), what was I thinking! But the final result is one I am very pleased with, best news is it fits her & she now can be toasty warm in the cooler weather.

I also managed to knock out a pair of socks from some Merino/Alpaca/Possum thread waste that came through work. They have made a very warm luscious pair of socks, a Mothers Day present for the wonderful 'Nanny Kitty'. I also started another pair of sock for my own Mum for Mothers Day. I have one completed & the second is cast on.

Hugo Enjoying the new 'Possum' socks

It's a simple two needle pattern that I have cobbled together from various other patterns. It's quick, can easily be sized up or down & if finished well, almost indiscernible from it's 4 needle counterparts. Now I know there will be sock fanatics out there who will be scoffing at me for not knitting socks in their pure form, but honestly I just can't be arsed faffing about with all those needles. I have tried with two circulars & I have to say this method has great merit, a technique I have actually used on my tea cosies, but you can beat two needles for speed. Well that's my excuse & I'm sticking to it!

Pretty as a Poppy

2009-04-23T12:51:00.005+12:00

I had the lovely wee Miss Poppy here a couple of days ago & I was able to give her the wee shrug. Mum was organised & made sure she was wearing the dress that inspired the garment & I have to say I am thrilled, she looks gorgeous!

I have had a great week getting projects finished & new ones started, I am finishing off Poppy's sleeping bag, an amalgam of knitting & weaving & have just cast on a pair of socks in a Merino/Alpaca/Merino blend that we have just had come through the factory - delicious!

I love this time of year, because the days in general are lovely & the evenings cool, so you really feel like curling up & ripping out the sticks. The best part is when it rains, ahhh, put on a movie & knit, knit, knit. I love the Harry Potter series for this especially, as there are plenty of hand knits & I never get sick of seeing the films.

Last night we watched 'The Water Horse'. A story about the origins of the Loch Ness monster set in the early 1940's. A lovely family story, filmed in the most part in New Zealand, so filled with familiar faces. I have 'Second Hand Wedding' ready to be watched, another Kiwi film, perfect for sock knitting I feel!!

How time flies...

2009-04-16T13:13:00.003+12:00

We have just had the sunniest Easter break. Easter is a wonderful holiday here, it's Autumn, so still pretty sunny, but without the oppressive Summer heat & lovely cool nights. Easter for us also is now birthday time. Hugo was born on the 9th of April last year, so this year his birthday fell the Thursday immediately prior to the Easter break. One! I can hardly believe how quickly the year has flown by! We got together with Granny Ruth, Grandad Bill & a few friends at the local park for a picnic & a play.

Young Poppy who was there is 22 months old, the most gorgeous little girl with the biggest brown eyes & wearing the sweetest dress with orange, hot pink & purple flowers over it, she just looked edible. Now that 'Fusty' is finished, I took one look at Poppy, instantly remembered some Alpaca yarn in the stash that would match the dress & felt very compelled to design something just for Poppy. I am thrilled with the result, finished in just two days. I am now in the process of writing the pattern up to publish & when I get the Shrug to Poppy I will get pictures of her in her matching outfit, in the meantime you can enjoy my work modelled by my bruiser Hugo (he is so NOT going to be happy in future years at these pic's getting out). Enjoy!

Farewell to Fusty

2009-04-09T17:22:00.003+12:00

Fusty Cardy is finished!

I sewed the last wooden toggle on this afternoon & it's official, NO MORE FUSTY!

It's feels great to have this monkey off my back, but best of all, Dr Phil loves it, he donned it as soon as got home, so he could pose for the pic & then changed into his Winter PJ's & fusty to enjoy a quiet evening at home.

What a landmark day, it has come on Hugo's first birthday, celebrations all round. This now just leaves one question.... What to cast on next?

Colour Burst

2009-04-02T15:10:00.004+13:00

From Top Left Clockwise: Storm, Leaf, Glacier,

Cyclamen, Apple, Syrah, Peacock

It's tax time. The time of year when I really get to see whether my filing system is really up to scratch & I do all those jobs I have spent an entire year putting off. So far, I have to say, it's been pretty painless. Due in no small part I assume to the fact that I have just had a relaxing tropical holiday, so therefore in the right frame of mind to attack those clerical jobs I usually despise. Things at work are pretty exciting too, whilst I have been away the new seasons colours have finally found there way into the shop. This is the first time I have had a hand in helping select these colours, a fun & nerve wracking process all at the same time. The good news is there are loads a brights, funky vibrant colours to help shake off those recession blues. I have been very restrained by not taking any of the new colours home & casting on instantly, I am dying to do a triangle colour pattern using the Apple, Cyclamen, & Peacock. I can not however cast on another thing until Fusty Cardy is finished. I have about 5cm of the last sleeve left & then the neckband finishing - the homeward stretch, I am determined to have it done this weekend so I can start something new!

Fusty & Fine

2009-03-26T16:58:00.007+13:00

Just a quick note to say the weather did improve for the remainder of the trip. I was also very good & got plenty finished... well almost!

Fusty Cardy is onto the last sleeve, then the neck, then sewing - I will be making a concerted effort to knock it off this weekend.

I did however get a tank top for Hugo & vest for Louis done in matching yarn, twee I know, but I couldn't help myself.

Oh well back to Fusty!

Knitting in the rain...

2009-03-19T12:56:00.004+13:00

One of the things you learn about travelling is sometimes you just have to release yourself to the Universe in order to have a good time. Dr. Phil & I have snuck up to Rarotonga again for a quick break Whilst leaving the 'Super Grans' in charge of the boy's back home in Napier. The great irony about heading away for some sunshine & R&R has been that there has been very little sunshine, in fact it has rained every day of the 4 days we have been here so far. All thank you to Cyclone Ken further up the Pacific, but as we saw on this mornings news we are better off than Tonga which has an erupting volcano & 7.9 earthquakes overnight.
The best thing about all this rain is I have absolute no guilt about all the knitting I have been able to do. I am just putting the finishing touches on a tank top for Hugo & stop the presses I am going to finish Dr. Phil's fusty cardy this afternoon, well at least try to!!
The flip side of all the stormy weather is when the sun does come out it can leave you with some beautiful skies. Yesterday saw thunderstorms & heavy showers that punctuated the sunshine, it does make some entertaining horizon watching when sipping your brandy.

Last of the Summer Wine

2009-03-02T15:07:00.003+13:00

It's the second of March today, the second day of Autumn if you follow the calendar dates, a time that I often reflect over the previous season, regroup, clean up & plan what's next. February has been frenetic. We only had 5 days in the month when we did not have at least one extra guest in the house. So today I have been able to gather a few thoughts about what is to be done before Dr Phil & I head away to Rarotonga mid month, minus children, for a well earned rest.

So during my Autumnal clean up I was cleaning the coffee table & thought I would rescue it from the magazine tower that had mushroomed, teetering precariously, a real & present danger for the freshly crawling Hugo. Said magazines were scooped up & sorted & to my horror I saw how many were my 'occasional' knitting magazines. Occasional my arse, bloody dozens of them. Where had they come from, surely I haven't bought that many recently? I only subscribe to one, yet there in front of me were at least 6 different titles, from 4 different parts of the globe! Thank the tax man that I now have made knitting my 'business'. As a contractor I can at least claim back the GST (sales tax) & have them as an expense (research tool), which is just as well when you see the price of them here, the cheapest being $14 through $20, a significant investment.

Do I feel guilty, no. Should I feel guilty, no. I used to buy forest's worth of cooking, food & wine mags, now I get just one, so I have replaced one genre for another. The good news is, more forward thinking publishers, like Vikant who do Burda's Verena magazine, have now made their magazine available online in pdf format. I can now pay the subscription without the crippling overseas freight costs.... not to mention the weight on my coffee table!!

What's on the sticks this week...

I have almost finished a cabled vest for Hugo with the beautiful Italian Merino I got last month in Wellington, I knitted the same pattern for Louis in a Cashmere/Merino blend & he thrashed it so much it hasn't survived to be handed down. I also started another vest with 4 stray balls of Jo Sharp DK that was found lurking at the bottom of the remnant basket at work. Sharp is a master of beautiful tonal colours & the simple slip stitch pattern I am using gives an almost fair isle look, I have used this before in my beanies, if the vest turns out OK I will post the pattern, wish me luck!

Holding Back the Years

2009-02-21T16:02:00.007+13:00

February in Hawkes Bay, where I live, is a crazy busy time. The first weekend of the month (which this year happened to coincide with our national day, Waitangi Day) is Harvest Hawkes Bay, one of NZ's largest wine festivals, spread over 50+ wineries, over 2 days. The following weekend Napier's Church Road winery hosted the NZ leg of the Simply Red world tour (Valentines Day) & this week is the Art Deco festival, the largest of it's kind in the world, thousands of revellers have descended. They were all walking the town this morning & you would have been mistaken in thinking you have stepped out into 1931. We have had a busy house, with only 5 nights so far this month when we haven't had visitors staying & to top it all off we decided at the LYS I work at "hey lets have a massive yarn sale..."

Now you might think we were being suckers for punishment, & it was hard yakka, considering all the wine drinking, concert going & the like we were all partaking in, but we wanted to tap into the general positive buzz that infects this city at this time of year. Positive it was, over two days, Hawkes Bay knitters showed their true colours. At the opening of the sale at 9am Friday the 13th, things were very far from dark, about 30 hardcore knitters were barricading our door waiting to be let in & the 3 of us in our tiny factory shop never stopped, or had an empty store until we closed 6 hours later - AMAZING!

Saturday was much the same, but a little less hectic so it gave us a chance to actually talk to knitters, discuss yarns & share knowledge. It amazed us how many knitters were coming back to the craft. Here were women who had knitted for their own children in the 60's, 70's & 80's & now had a new generation to knit for, and as one knitter said to me, in these tough financial times she would much rather spend $20 on yarn to knit something special for her grandchild & have the garment that means something, than buying a mass produced acrylic garment that doesn't withstand the wear or tear of a busy toddler. I could agree more! I am just so excited to knitters of all ages reconnecting with their craft.

So, how did I fear after our sale? Well other than being totally knackered after two hectic days, I managed to resist the temptation not to buy half the sale stock. I got some trial batches of variegated yarns, in hot colours that would look amazing on Louis & another in sanguine cool colours for Hugo. I also finished the Hybrid Vest the day before the sale & on Valentines day it was unseasonably cold, so I was able to wear my new vest to the Simply Red concert. The vest looked great (now planning the next one, I have some DK possum/alpaca blend, so I need to resize the existing pattern for the new yarn) & we were in the second row, so close we could see Mick's ruby tooth glistening in the spotlights - FABULOUS!

Today has been too warm to don my deco-esque wrap, but it didn't stop us soaking up the atmosphere in town this morning with Maximus.

On the needles: An Aran vest for Hugo in the most delicious Italian Merino & plotting my next vest...

Knitting Though a Resession

2009-01-23T08:39:00.006+13:00

I have had a busy couple of weeks getting a couple of friends set up on their first knitting projects. It is a very exciting thing for me being able to infect others with my addiction. I have helped them select a suitable pattern (one of the greatest mistake of a beginner is that they buy a pattern that is well beyond their skill level), & in this case both have chosen to knit for their young daughters.

Paula has chosen a gorgeous jumper for Riley that has contrasting coloured ruffles & Sophie just fell in live with a ballet cardigan wrap for Poppy. Sophie has jumped in boots and all, she has a mum that is an experienced knitter who is currently staying from the UK, so having expert guidance on-site has really helped keep her motivated. Her progress so far has been amazing, she is knitting the back & we I last checked in had already knocked off 10cm of stocking stitch. Her work is incredibly neat & even for a beginner, her greatest challenge so far has been remembering that with the knit stitch you work from the front to the back & purling is from the back to the front. Sophie is loving the 'quiet' mind space that knitting is providing her, she has three small children (as does Paula) aged between 20 months - 5 years, so knitting, even as a beginner, is offering comfort in a very busy household.

I work for a yarn spinning mill & I like to do a few hours each week in the factory shop to keep in touch with knitters locally, I also look after our sales through NZ's version of E-Bay, called Trade Me. I have been stunned at how busy we have been the last few weeks, now for those in the northern hemisphere that is unusual at this time of year, as it's the middle of Summer here, temps consistently between 25 - 30+ degrees C (88 - 95F), not exactly traditional knitting weather. I believe it is all stemmed from the desire to hunker down when times are tough. Instead of taking a euphoric hit when we flex the plastic at the shops, we are getting it when we actually take the time to create something for a loved one or ourselves at home. I keep you abreast of Sophie & Paula's progress.

Knitty updates: I have finished Hugo's hand-painted pants to go with his jumper, they look fabulous (if I do say so myself) & I have made excellent progress on my hybrid vest. The yarn is delicious, it's Naturally Sensation a merino angora blend & just a delight to knit with, I will definitely be seeking it out again. One of my jobs over the next few days is to wind off a few more skeins, Dr. Phil & I are off to Wellington this weekend, minus children, so I want to make sure I have plenty to keep me going. Speaking of which, one of New Zealand premium yarn stores has just been revamped & moved into central Wellington, so look out Knit World Studio you are a high priority destination on my calendar!

New Years Knit-olutions

2009-01-06T07:33:00.007+13:00

I never make New Years resolutions, I don't smoke, I am comfortable with my weight (I wouldn't complain if I lost a few kilos), but I do like to set goals. Making a list of a series of small, medium & large tasks that are achievable & don't leave you feeling empty when you have failed to comply.
This years list includes things like: Plant a vegetable garden, get Louis settled in a great kindy, make time to rekindle old friendships.... the New Years' Knit list includes: Finish Dr Phil's fusty cardi, have more patterns published, design my first adult garment & knit something for myself. I realised that the last time I knitted something for me what whilst I was pregnant with Louis, it was 3 years ago this month, it was a free form wrap made with some vintage mohair (circa late 70's) that my mother-in-law found in a cupboard after clean out. Now usually vintage yarns are a pretty frightful affair, but this yarn was in near new condition & was a colour I loved & did wear a bit of, so the wrap was made & as well as a long lacy scarf as a thank you to the midwife that delivered Louis. I am pleased to say I still wear it frequently every winter & have had multiple intentions to knit myself more, a shrug, maybe a jacket, I have even purchased yarn, now in the stash, where I have fallen for the colour, texture or both & made sure I have purchased enough for a full size garment (minimum 15 balls). So it was no surprise then when I attended the bi-annual sale of a LYS started this week, I was lured by a dark indigo blue Merino/Angora blend at 60% off. Ten skeins were duly purchased & I thought I would have a crack at a shrug which I made a couple of times last winter for a couple of girlfriends & possibly tweak the design to include a hood, that was until I came across this design in Knitters magazine (purchased at the same time) for a vest that would be flattering to my figure, I could instantly see what I would wear with it & hey presto the yarn I purchased was the same weight required & I have more than enough. Honestly this is the first time in eons that I have felt instantly compelled to drop everything & cast on immediately, so when I have a spare 5 minutes this afternoon I will be winding a skein or two off & getting cast on - wish me luck!

In other knitty updates.... Hugo's hand painted jumper has been completed & I am just delighted in the result, this design will certainly be written up & submitted, I am now onto a pair of pants to match with the remaining yarn, will be touch & go to whether I have enough, but my calculations tell me I should just scrape in.

Dr Phil's Christmas jackpot.... By dear delightful hubby hit the jackpot this year & bought me an Ashford Knitters Loom. Very extravagant I know, but I am smitten. I have put it together & made my first project by following the instruction book to the letter & I am so happy with the results. It is so quick to create large blocks of fabric, so I am already starting to rejig a few projects which required endless row's of stoking stitch & redesigning them to be done on the loom, well done darling!