Knitting stuff

This is really just for my Secret Pal - Hi there!

You can see the questionnaire I did for SP5 here and not very much has changed except now I've been knitting for 3 months and have progressed to a new project - more baby stuff. And my foot size is a slightly awkward 42 (for shoe shopping anyway...most of the time they don't get in the way...too much). One of these days I might work up to making adult sized things. But not just yet.

Auf Wiedersehen

This week, before a weeks holiday, an exciting trip to New York and some other fun stuff is going veeerrryyy slooowwwwly. I am thinking about how after the holiday things are going to be different. Smithy will be back from Frankfurt for good, routines will change and hopefully we'll have more time to do things we really want to do rather than spending way too many Friday and Sunday evenings at airpots. I'll have less excuses not to do those things. Although I'm a bit foggy about what they might be at the moment. But very excited.

Kirst and Phil are staying with me this week, doing the final things that need to be done before moving countries, saying goodbye to friends, selling their car (to us ...Yay!). And for some reason a hell of a lot of washing?!! Anyway.

And I've realised that after a steady stream of visitors from home all year that there are no more people coming to stay on the immediate horizon. Its amazing how many people have been over, Mum, Dad, Suze, Steve's mum Lynn, Jo M, David B, and Jo S - one night only but what a great night (hopefully haven't forgotten too many). I've had my cupboards rearranged, tupperware bought (and many other implements my kitchen seemed to be lacking), taken out for dinner and been on some great trips around the place. I've also accumulated some random stuff that wouldn't fit in suitcases and A LOT of electrical conversion plugs. But now the last of the suitcases that have been a permanent feature in my flat since about May are about to be packed and I'm feeling a bit sad. But imagine that extra floor space.

Secret Pal goodies

Secret Pal goodies
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

Here is another great parcel from my lovely (not so) Secret Pal, Mary. Some lovely rowan cotton rope and a great collection of needles. Its funny how similar the colours are to the ones I've just bought for the twins. As you can see I have started to use my new needles for the jumper sleeve and they are, as advertised, speedy. And lighter than the ones I've been using.

And I love the little labels ...you read my mind Mary...I've been thinking about making some since I got a parcel from Bella Dia with her fab personalised stationary

Hand Made
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

very cool - for future projects.

Happy Birthday LSF

I never thought I'd keep this up for a year! I just had a look over entries from the beginning and it makes me feel a bit strange to think how much life has changed in a year.

I started out as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family. I know some friends are regulars and some aren't but it makes me feel more connected with home especially when I get comments or emails about things I've written. And without LSF there are people I never would have been in contact with or inspired by. I probably wouldn't have discovered knitting again or got such great ideas for quilts and other fabulous things people are making out there.

Am looking forward to seeing what happens over the following year!

Twins knitting project

Twins baby knits
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

Libby and Pete's new twins Amelia and Francesca are going to score matching contrasting (is that possible?!) beanie and jumper sets in this cotton yarn. I have chosen a simpler pattern than my first project ....a very basic boatneck jumper. And as a result I'm making huge progress with them. I had many hours on the train over the last two days on a trip up to Newcastle for work.

I even had a couple of unexpected extra hours yesterday thanks to "complete signal failure in the Darlington region". Our three hour trip took five but I was sitting near some very entertaining people who were intriged by my knitting. The husband of the middle aged Aussie couple from Melbourne volunteered, "I hope you don't mind me saying...but its very weird seeing someone your age knitting!". (I'm not sure what he thought my age was :)) As I explained the rise and rise of stitch & bitch and that such groups actually existed in London their eyes grew rounder and I felt like I was describing a strange cult. Then the BBC producer sitting opposite(on his way to some BAFTA premiere he didn't hesitate to share with us) confirmed my story, adding his sighting of the Circle Line knitters group. The woman opposite me started chatting too and revealed she is Jennie Erdal, the author of a book - Ghosting. It sounds like a good read and I was asking way too many questions about the writing process and her current novel.

I actually went to a knitting group for the first time on Saturday and had a great time meeting Pauline and co. Although it felt pretty weird knitting in the pub with my larger shandy. But it was great to put a face to a name...my first meeting of a real live blogger ...kind of weird meeting someone you know a lot about, but only for a few minutes.

Francesca's Beanie
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

I made this up on the weekend and love it...so cute... but I have a question ...the pattern says to do them on regular needles and sew it up....but could I do it on circulars and avoid the seam without any problems?

woo hoo!!

When Smithy comes back to London in a couple of weeks to live with me in domestic harmony and bliss we're going to take a week off....and today we booked flights to New York.

I'm thinking total tourist...Central Park, Empire State, Museums, eating and drinking in fabulous places and of course shopping (have to take advantage of the exchange rate).

As you can probably tell I'm a bit excited.

Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

Had a girls night out on the town with Mum and K last night - pre-theatre Italian in the West End before going to Guys and Dolls. Ewan McGegor is the big drawcard and definitely had the star presence but Jane Krakowski completely stole the show. Fab show and lots of fun.

Pinwheels

Pinwheels
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

Loobylu's month of softies theme for September - "Personal Challenge" is encouraging me to return to a project I started 2 years ago and haven't touched for almost that long. Initial progress was at a cracking pace but came to an abrupt halt when I moved to Frankfurt. But now I have the makings, a sewing machine, a little bit of time and no excuses. I think piecing together the bulk of a queen sized quilt top in a month may be a little more than a challenge but I'm going to give it a try to see how far I can get with it. A deadline may do wonders for my inertia on this.

Its a pattern from my teacher in Brisbane called tessalated pinwheels - a background of greys with highlights of pinks, plums, yellow and green (quite a bold colour combo choice for me). I think the overall effect will be quite starry.

Related to that is the challenge to NOT buy a fortune's worth of Kaffe Fasset fabric (this month at least) after buying two of his books recently. I'm so inspired by the colours and simple patterns and I have ideas for about 5 quilts bubbling away.

Baby Cardy

Baby Cardy
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

Finally, after many months of knitting and about three nights of finishing trying to put it together and hide about a million ends (I had a very productive evening last night with Super Nanny, Lost and a glass of vino) ....this is the result of my first knitting project. Ta da!!

(just don't look too closely....)

...and I thought a little baby item wouldn't take long!! Ha!! And then Mum rings to tell me how she's whipped one up in a week...how??!!!

Ends and Joins

Ends and Joins
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

I was going fine knitting away on each of the separate parts. But I got into a bit of a tangle when it came to joining up the shoulders and doing the neckband. I had to pick up stitches from the fronts and back as well as add a few in between. So far so good, but when I got round to the back I had my end from the front and then the one from the back (at the end of a row of stitches I was picking up) and I had no idea which to use. I continued on the one from the front but then had no idea what to do with this one hanging around at the back...its from a stitch and I don't know how to secure it off. Maybe I should have knitted a few stiches with both threads? NOTHING in my finishing techniques book about this tricky situation!! And Debbie (Bliss...the pattern I'm using) was no help either. Anyone know what I should do/ should have done? ie if you can make any sense of what I'm going on about at all....

knitting

I have been doing some....slowly but surely. I'm sure my secret pal is wondering by now why on earth I signed up for a knitting swap - but I will be putting the book of knitting techniques to good use tonight as I think I may be up to the finishing stage! I should have a completed baby cardy soon if all goes well.

The thing is, while I have no shortage of babies and potential babies to make things for (i think at last count it was 5 friends expecting 7 babies!) - most of them are in Brisbane. And there is not a huge demand for knitted woolly items in the tropics unfortunately. I would have to try and estimate how big they would be for that one month of the year when they wouldn't expire with heatstroke wearing it. My one friend over here expecting at the moment may have to be the lucky recipient of any creations.

a little bit Blah

Its blah weather and I'm in a blah mood on this blah Monday.

Am feeling restless and something is missing...i want something but can't quite put my finger on what. Chocolate? (always a good first option) A good book? New clothes? Exercise? (almost definitely) New job? (nope - too much effort) A new project? (already have too many) A new vice? (potentially too expensive)

Hmmm - nope doesn't seem to be be any of those. The mystery remains. Hopefully will find it/ shake it off soon. I'm also getting worried that summer is over and I haven't spent enough time outside enjoying it. Tell me there'll be a few more good weekends.

Tonight I'm going to make a little something for my neglected secret pal to send off a package before the final August deadline.

But the most exciting thing I heard today...
Congratulations to Libby and Pete - not one but TWO little girls. Welcome to the world Francesca and Amelia.

TGIF

Yep its been a pretty long week. Most of which has been spent conducting training sessions and workshops for a "major government department" - very interesting, also quite tiring. It was really hot here and as I have discovered old buildings here never have air-con. A room full of computers and people = a very sweaty workshop.

Am about to head out to Heathrow and Frankfurt for the weekend.. to watch rugby and go to a hawiian party. Must remember to take tea bag supplies for Smithy.

summer in the city

I haven't been posting so much lately...the craft side of things has been alot quieter, although I've been pottering away on a few projects, while the work side has been much busier. And we're finally having some nice sunny weather here which is very conducive to relaxing and watching the cricket as much as possible and not much else.

In a desperate effort to get off the couch I've signed up for this Nike 10km run round Hyde Park.

So now I'm off to the gym..and then home for Lost...just starting here.

frustrated swapper

Jees take your eye off the ball for two minutes and you're toast in the cut-throat world of craft swaps!!

I wandered over to the back-tack site this morning to see if the new one had been anounced yet. Not only had it been anounced but fully subsribed and closed....and thats all before the original sign up date!! bugger! Not only that but i've also missed the deadline for signing up to get on the list for advance warning to sign up for back-tack 3...and THATs not until next year!!

And I'm not sure whats happened to Month of Softies...no August theme?

Maybe I'll just have to start my own swap so I have a chance of getting in on the act.

Woohoo!

I didn't mean to leave you in suspense over the mystery of the flowers for so long (just in case you were on tenterhooks!).

I've been trying to think of an eloquent/romantic story or a funny/touching one (a la Shauny). I'd even be satisfied with mildly amusing ...but in typical style I'll just blurt it out ...

Steve and I got engaged!!

I've been waiting until I've been able to contact friends but weekends away, time zone issues and pesky work have made it a bit difficult..but I'm getting there. And I've been totally overwhelmed with all the nice things people have said. There's been laughter, tears, offers of endless supplies of bridal magazines from the girls at work and offers of help to find the best music for the evening (much appreciated).

Slovakia

the Manor House
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

We just had a very rock and roll weekend going to a wedding in Slovakia. Steve and I met up in Vienna with some other friends and had a 45 minute trip to Bratislava to rendez-vous with the rest of the gang. We only had time for a very short sightseeing walk around the city – but the little we saw was lovely. The buildings were similar to Prague with their grand facades and details.

On Saturday afternoon we hopped on a coach to head to the manor house for the wedding in a little town called Beladice. The ceremony was a civil ceremony with the town Mayor presiding and translated into English for the visitors. There were some funny lost in translation moments and a lot of formal sounding sections about contracts, health checks and legal requirements being met. Not to mention the part about Narayan choosing Henrieta from thousands of women.

Some of the local traditions were sweeping up a broken plate for luck, shots of some very interesting (strong) liqueur before dinner and all the Slovakian guests brought bunches of flowers.

We all had a great time and there was some very interesting dance moves later in the evening.

flowers

flowers
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

I'm a lucky girl - Steve sent me these flowers yesterday.

Guess why???