You got Mail!

I joined iHanna's 2012 Postcard Swap again. I did it last year when I was off work, and really enjoyed creating postcards, then finding more in the letterbox! I received some amazing postcards, in fact, three are still on my noticeboard at work, and I'm looking forward to adding to it.

This year I tried a few different techniques to make my cards. I used a combination of:

• watercolours
• mt washi tape
• fabric tape
• rub on transfers
• Black Sharpie pens

I had ready made cards that I bought in Japan years ago that have lots of space on the front. I really enjoyed creating my designs, I liked using a variety of techniques to create different looking cards. They are now flying around the world - to the USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway and South Africa!

I can't wait to get my cards and see what everyone has made!

If you want to check out more postcards, have a look at this blog post by iHanna, or this Flickr group!

FO Friday - Baudelaire knit socks

Finished my Baudelaire socks!

I started them just under a year ago, but finally got the motivation to finish them.

Pattern: Baudelaire by Cookie A from Knitty

Yarn: Araucania Ranco Solid

Needles: 2.5mm Addi Turbos circular needles

Method: Magic Loop, toe up

I do love this yarn, the colour is so beautiful, with tiny, natural looking variegation throughout, the subtle changes add real depth to the colour. It was lovely to knit with, no splitting or knots.

The pattern was fun and easy to memorise, it was fun doing lace and cable patterns together in the leg. This was my first toe-up sock, and I don't really like the shape of the toe, it is a bit pointy and rectangular, so it doesn't fit my toes very well. I prefer the rounded toe shape of cuff-down socks. But it was fun to use a different construction method, and I may try it again, but maybe starting with more cast-on stitches, which would decrease the point. 

They are also slightly big, but I wouldn't wear them under shoes anyway, they'll be house socks. Overall I'm happy with them, and I'm inspired to keep knitting socks!

Check out other FO (Finished Object!) Friday's on Tami Amis

Unwell and knitting

I'm having a sick day which is VERY unusual for me. I left work early yesterday, and was up all night feeling crap, so I stayed home today. I've spent the morning catching up with  blogs, and will now use the afternoon to knit and listen to podcasts.

I have two projects on the needles that I am actively working on.

I've picked up my Baudelaire socks again, and am now on the home stretch - they're toe-up and I've passed the heel and am now on the leg.



I am also knitting a simple drop stitch scarf using Debbie Bliss Kidsilk Haze. A friend got me a skein for my birthday, there was a sample of the scarf in the shop and the yarn came with the pattern. Such a sweet gift as she doesn't knit! This is lovely meditative knitting, except the yarn does start to irritate me after a while and makes my nose and eyes itchy!

I am...

Sculpture by the Sea

Listening to: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens on BBC iPlayer

Eating: Sausages from the BBQ


Drinking: Home made alcoholic ginger beer, so yummy


Creating: pages for my new art journal (will be blogging about this soon)

Knitting: A simple scarf

Reading: The Unreliable Life of Harry the Valet: The Great Victorian Jewel Thief by Duncan Hamilton

Enjoying: the fairly slow start to the year - I'm back at work, but it is quiet
 

2012

I'm glad to see 2012. Last year was a hard one for me, for personal reasons, and especially at the beginning of the year, I lost a lot of my passion for reading and crafting. I am determined to make this year great, so I am working through some goals to work through this year. Some of my goals are:

Running:

• train for and hopefully complete a half-marathon
• run 500km during the year

Reading:

• use Good Reads to keep lists and record my reading
• write occasional reviews of books
• read 50 books

Sewing:

• create a list of things I need, and sew then using my stash

Knitting

• work through Year of Projects
• go through all my yarn stash - designate projects for yarn, and update Ravelry

Blogging and Social Media:

• blog at least once a week
• sort out photos
• no wasting time lurking on forums - either participate or get out!
• use Ravelry, Good Reads and Google Reader to help prioritise my time, not waste it

I also have some writing, medical and organisational goals, including starting art jounaling.

It's been great to read through everyone else's goals and resolutions in blogland, I think this time of year is really positive!

Wow, 2012's first completed project!

Today has been lovely. A sleep-in, followed by sorting through my yarn stash, knitting while listening to Cast-on, drinking tea I got for Christmas, and eating leftover Christmas cake. This is how I used to spend my weekends when we lived in England, but since being in Oz I just haven't done it. I'm going to try and make knitting a priority in my life in 2012, I get so much out of it. Including wearable knits!

I bought Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in December 2004 to make Knitty's Tempting and started knitting it in early 2005. By 2006 it was a UFO, and I notice that in August 2008 I had decided I was never going to complete it, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't wear it. I queued Shalom (link to pattern PDF) by Meghan from Involving the Senses in Ravelry in October 2008, and looks like I started it in April 2009. I have never blogged or made any other record about this project. I think I started it one weekend, worked on it intensively for a week or so, then stopped.


Today, I went through my stash (one of my 2012 goals). I saw Shalom, and how little I needed to do. I finished it in 2 hours. I think the reason I stopped knitting was that I wasn't sure if there was enough yarn to make it. There definitely wasn't enough to make it full length, but I just knitted until I used all the yarn and it's a nice cropped length. It's not the most flattering garment, as it does stop right at my waist, but I think it will be great with skinny jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt.



The Shalom cardigan was on my Year of Projects list - so I can cross it off! I also did some knitting on a pair of socks, so I am going well so far.

2011 Summary

1. Penguin, 2. throw cushions, 3. Echino Handbag1, 4. BobbleBlue back, 5. Ripple on Chair, 6. AppalachiaProgress, 7. Amigurumi bunny side, 8. WIPknitbag, 9. EnvyCloseUp

I thought I’d done hardly any crafting over 2011, but  looking through my photos, I completed nine projects.  I also started some UFOs that I will try and finish in the next few months, and I may have completed some other small projects that I didn't take photos of!

My favourite project was the Echino handbag, I used it all the time, and still love the fabric. While in Japan last year, I picked up some more Echino fabric in a more neutral colour, so I’m definitely going to make another bag, more like a tote.

I also in 2011:

• took part in the Knitting and Crochet Blog week, and posted a blog post every day for a week
• ran the City to Surf (a 14km run) and raised over $700 for the Cancer Council in memory of my dad who died at the beginning of the year
• went on a fantastic trip to Fukuoka, Japan
• started a new job
• lost over 13kgs doing Weight Watchers
• attended Brown Owls (my local craft group) meetings and
• started regular Pilates classes