grey's fix

made me "spurlt" my coffee everywhere....



Finished Parker's hat, a little too big, but vhey, who carez...ungrateful poop that he is.....

I have shitty on the liver today, ignore me.

Hope your Mum's Day rocked!

Mine did. Except that Marty had to work until 3pm(normally it's me!), but we made the best of it. I made breaky (Banana and Bluebrry pancakes) and watched DVD's (the Emperors Club, and Mr Hollands Opus) and then we had dinner at Mum's (this time, it was my Dad's turn to go to work), but also went to visit my godmother whose birthday it was as well. (She was the recipient of the crochet Granny square scarf, which she seemed to love!). I was bestowed handmade gifts from Cubs and school and purchases from the school mothers day stall, which we given out of love and for which I will cherish. Is that cryptic or what? They are beautiful because they come from the heart of my 7yo boy, 'nuff said. But it is certainly the thought that counts. I got my mum some Lisa Souza sock yarn in the Red Hat colourway, MMMMMalabrigo in sealing wax red and the most gorgoeous leaf pendant necklace. She liked them and it's so nice to shop for another yarn lover!

Anyways, I have made some more Practically Hyperbolic washcloths, and started a winter beanie for Parker in his school colours. He asked for a plain vanilla beanie. It's in Paton's Jet (I think ths is my favourite aussie yarn) in royal blue on 5mm dpn's. The pattern is from Ann Budd's The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns. Nice book, now I don't get scared by all those tables!!! He might get a pair of mittens too. We'll see. I get bored easily. Ask my brother, he's still waiting for his beanie. Yes, I have gotten the hints.......I'm getting there, honest.

I need to refresh the gift stash of washcloths. I have almost run out, and now I have received a soap making kit from an on-line store in WA, for the nicest smelling handmilled soap. I call it "claytons" soap making, because its homemade soap without the drama of caustic soda, and all that scary chemistry stuff. You use a ground soap base instead. So watch out, if you are due a gift from me it's likely to be a handknit or crochet washcloth and handcrafted soap!

head in the clouds

• taken off my front veranda at 10am yesterday......

• taken off my front veranda at 1pm today.....

crisp, white, and misty
snuggly autumn

yeah, a day off!

Been a busy week, it has.

Had a HUGE time at a family do on Saturday arvo-night. My aunt turned 70! (Hi Aunty Diny!!) and I may have slightly over celebrated with my cousins.....so I spent Sunday horizontal....oh my.



Worked most of the week, and took Mum down to Hawthorn for a specialists appoitment on Wednesday. And shopping. Finally found The Button Shop in Malvern. Must say totally overwhelming, walked out with NOTHING. But I now know where to go for discontinued yarn...(run, don't walk for the Merino Spun loot!!) Did buy a typewriter from a fab little op shop. Actually I brought two, because it was far too hard to pass up. Both work well, one needs a new ribbon. Did finally finish Anne, while waiting for mum.

Anne, pattern by MKCarrol
1 skein of Malabrigo Worsted in PinkFrost, and 5mm hook.
It's supposed to be blocked, but I'm reluctant to do so. Nice, huh?




Whipped this little number up last night while waiting for Parker at cubs, and then watching Grand Designs on Lifestyle. Such a CUTE little cloth, it'll have a few brothers soon. This is for the gift stash, but I know who it Will be going to (hint, Shell). Oh, it's up side down!
A Practically Hyperbolic Dishcloth
990z Peaches and cream Worsted Cotton
5mm hook.

Do you like my new necklace? Gorgeous isn't it? Brought from a shop somewhere on Glrnferrie Rd in Malvern....

Oh, off to have a coffee date, see you....Housework, whathousework?

(ps, Shell your parcel arrived, with pics, thanks, thanks and thanks, will call tonight?)

Research.....

Yesterday morning, with the help of Ravelry, I came up with a small database of Aussie Yarns to substitute when a pattern calls for Aran, Worsted, Bulky or Chunky. Now it's probably been done, but I was going stash shopping and wanted some bulky and worsted yarns....like yesterday. And I knew I could get some Australian Country Spinners stock locally and in the quantities I'd need, at my LYS (God love her, my LYS lady!!! No depostit lay-by!!!). And I did.

So here we are. Australian Country Spinners yarn has (ACS) behind it, Spotlight has (SL), Kmart has (K) and Lincraft has (L), although my nearest Lincraft is 2 hours away, I'm really unsure of it's yarns these days, but you know, feel free to add your own. I also haven't bothered with 4ply or 8ply/DK/Sport, because it's not really rocket science. If a yarn has a strikethrough, it means it's been discontinued, but some yarn is still available through LYS's or Kmart or Ebay etc...(Like the Merino Spun I just layby'd at my LYS for five bucks a ball!) And I haven't include fibre type. Y'all have Ravelry for that! (Nor have I include MILLS, like Bendigo, Nundle or Wang. Kind of a given, no? This is for yarn I can get LOCALLY, like 30 min's down the road...except for Lincraft!)

(Also, there is no meterage values added (yet). But I'm not telling you how to peel a banana, but write down the total meterage for your project and then cross match it with the substitution yarn....ok, maybe I just told you about the banana....)

The RACHES table of LOCAL yarn substitutions....

(AKA, the Stash Enhancement Enabler Chart SEEC)

(Standard wieghts provided by Ravelry)

ARAN - 10PLY [8wpi] (4- medium)

Merino Supreme (ACS)
Purla (ACS)
Harmony (SL)
Fun (SL)
Wisp (SL)

WORSTED - 10PLYish [9wpi] (4- medium)

Jet (ACS)
Clinker (K)
Nurture (ACS)
Concorde (ACS)
Bamboo Cotton (SL)
Cupcake (SL)
Dashing(SL)
Hockey (SL)
Jelly (SL)
Luxor(SL)
Spell (SL)
Bamboozle (L)
Prism (L)

BULKY - 12 PLY [7wpi] (5 Bulky)

Vinatge Hues (ACS)
Inca (ACS)
Country 12ply (ACS)
Merino Spun (ACS)
Shepherd Lambswool 12ply(ACS)
Soft Haze (ACS)

Rustica (ACS)

Magnum 12ply (ACS)
Mousse (SL)
Faith (SL)
Piuma (SL)
Crave (SL)
Eleni (SL)
Twinkle (SL)
Neve (SL)
Katrine (SL)
Mandorla Printed (SL)

SUPERBULKY/CHUNKY - 14 PLY+ [5-6wpi] (6 - super bulky)

Gusto 10 (ACS)

Shadow Tweed (ACS)
Caressa Express (ACS)
Zoomy (ACS)

(umm this section is a work in progress.....)

So, it helped me yesterday. I brought Bulky wieght yarn for Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Hourglass Sweater, and for Zepher Style's Juliet (Merino Spun, sadly discontinued, and now no longer available at my LYS, as I layby'd it all!!) Bulky yarn for a crochet cloche hat (2 xMerino Spun too) and Worsted wight yarn for a Brea Bag (5 x the lovely Jet). I would have used the very squishy lucious Shepherd Lambswool 12ply instead of the Merino Spun, but the MS was at a Very Nice Price, much too good to refuse when they had enough for all my projects! I also got some more Clinker from Kmart for a crochet bolero, Mei Mei from Everyday Crochet. And some more Jet in school colours for a beanie for Parker. (Kmart have buy one ball, get the second 50% off, including marked down yarn - hence the Clinker....)

So now you can boldly go forth and stash enhance!

Yarn Spec's LINKS

Panda

Cleckheaton

Shepherd

Patons

;)

Hello!

Oh, haircut and colour today. Am now a redhead! Don't know if I'm quite happy with that.... Love to show you a pic or two, but how hard are haircut self portraits? Well my excuse anyway!

Currently (actually right now as I type) listening to The Audreys new cd, When the Flood comes. So far so bloody excellent! This is their 2nd cd, and if you don't know them, as Molly would say, do yourself a favour, go and get their first cd Between Last Night and Us, and this one. Brilliant band. (and dammit, the nearest show to us has sold out!!!)





Hmmm, what else. Much yarn stashing happening. Just some nicely priced ACS basics, Panda Heath (the meterage is HUGE!!!) and some Panda Magnum, which I know is [eek] acrylic, but is so soft and spun beautifully. Plans include a singlet top for over tee's, a crochet cloche, and a crochet bolero...maybe.

My cape pattern is from Favorite Things Pattern Design my absolute fave pattern company from Canada, the makers of The Cute Skirt (made at least 6 times in my wardrobe), and The Hip skirt amoungst other patterns. The cape is called Sweet Es Cape! I have plans for a dark grey wool cape as well.

I'm loving being back a the sewing machine making a few clothes. I have fabric for a few more tunic/smock tops, and a few more t-shirts. I've been looking for a second hand cover-stitch overlocker too, just casually, if one shows up, it was meant to be!

The Anne scarf is coming aong nicely I should have it finished by tonight-ish. I love crochet.. a LOT. There said it. I've outed myself! I also LURRVVEE Malabrigo. What's not to love? squishy squishy Malabrigo..mmmmmmmaaaallllliiiibbbrrrriiiiigggooooooo...[Over the Top? Who me?]

Ummm, got Deadwood Season one on DVD. Very. Full. On. But good, just need to watch it when the 7yo is not at home. Oh, looking forward to Season 3 of Doc Martin on DVD too (Speaking of which, do they or don't they get hitched? What do you think? I think no), and am trawling the Austar mag looking for episodes of Bad Lads Army on UKTV. Love it!

And too finish up...it's bloody COLD!!!! Snow? (above 900m) In April??? We will definatly get snow here this year. Our heating carbon footprint, I'm sorry, will be a bit significant this year, as we are struggling to keep warm, you know the expat Queenslanders that we are! Between the wood heater the gas central heating and jumpers, we will make it, but oi.....so not in Kansas Wynnum anymore Toto! (I need a pi blankie Bells!)



Oh, and I really, really, really want to make homemade cinnamon doughnuts.......