Slipper-y Slope

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

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!

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

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!

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

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...

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!