2011 - Eek It's Here Already!

Well I humbly apologise for not having posted since August 2010....
I am making my New Years resolution to make at least one post every month.

So whats new here....

I am back at work - I decided to go back part-time as a Contractor which suits me well. The happy medium : 20 hours a week at work provides Adult conversations and brain stimulus but I also have time to spend with the kids!

Alice is no longer a baby! She's a Toddler and is walking, she turned 1 in November
Cara is growing up even faster and is almost four!


Here are a couple of Knitting acheivements from 2010:

I won third Prize in the Hawkes Bay A&P Show for this Bulky Kids Tunic.

I completed my first Intarsia Project

I tried to learn Crochet for the edging of my first earflap hat

I dyed my own yarn

I started making Stitchmarkers

And Project Bags

I made many items this year and increased my knitting knowledge by 1000%, I made a ton of new knitting friends via Ravelry and in the HB knitting Group. I look forward to what 2011 brings.

Leggies - Free Legwarmer Pattern

Well as you know I bought some lovely hand dyed merino sock yarn from Tash at Knitsch and I decided to make some legwarmers for my youngest daughter. I tried a couple of patterns out in other yarns first but wasnt really happy with them because she's a big girl for an 8 month old and didnt fit 6 month sizing or the 1 year sizing of patterns I found. So, I decided to design my own pattern and here it is:

LEGGIES

Size: 9 Months

Yarn: fingering weight sock yarn

Needles: 3.25mm circulars, 80cm length

Abbreviations: k = Knit, p = Purl, m = Make

Pattern Instructions:

Cast on 44sts, Join and work in the round using the Magic Loop technique,

Work 8 rounds in 1x1 Twisted rib (Knit into the back of the stitch)

Then switch to stocking stitch and work 25 rounds

Next round Increase: k1, m1, k to last stitch, m1, k1  (46 sts on needles)

Then work 15 rounds in stocking stitch

Repeat increase round (48 sts)

Work a further 10 rounds in stocking stitch

Repeat increase round (50 sts)

Work a further 10 rounds in stocking stitch

Repeat increase round (52 sts)

Switch to 1x1 Twisted rib and work 8 rounds

Cast off in rib

Weave in ends.

Notes: if you want a tighter weave and slightly smaller size you should use size 3mm needles

This pattern is the intellectual property of Jennie Kuzman and is copyright protected. You may use this pattern to make items for your personal use only - not for commercial gain.

Hi my name is Jennie and I am a swap addict....

These are some of the goodies I have aquired in the last two months

Book and Yarn Round Robin:

Filatura di Crosa Maxime Sock Yarn

Knits & Pretties Light Fingering Weight Cotton

Stranded in OZ DK Merino

$10 Swap Group

June Swap

Karma Swap Group Swaps

Plymouth Happy Feet

Araucania Pomaire

Berocco Ultra Ulpaca

Koigu Sock Yarn

Project Bags

I decided to turn my hand to making some Knitting Project bags last weekend.  I had fun making these, I had made similar bags before (laundry and garment bags) so it wasn't a stretch to make ones for knitting projects.

Medium and Sock Bags

Large and Petite Bags

They are all lined with unbleached calico.

I plan on making a few more tonight as the Owl fabric I found at Spotlight is proving popular.

Knitsch Yarn Club - First installment

Well those of you who know me will realise I am no Sock knitter - I've only made ones for my children and they were by no means a "good effort". However, I do love Sock yarn for other items and I love Knitsch yarn. So When Tash decided to start a Yarn Club I couldn't help myself from signing up :D

The first Installment was received at the end of last month, I got to choose one of two colourways that she is creating each month. I chose the Semi-solid Peacock in the Parlour because I just LOVE peacock colours. Stupidly I did not take a picture before I got it caked so you can't see how truly yummy it is!

I am planning on actually making myself some socks with these, but a suitable pattern has not yet presented itself.

Stitchmarkers

I was hit with a creativity drive and went off and made some stitchmarkers...

Is it really July?

Gosh it's been a long time since I posted anything as there has been so much going on!


Alice is growing by the second and is not my little baby any more - At 8 months old she looks like a 10-12 month old.

It's been very cold here this last month, Alice sleeps in a baby sleeping bag but gets cold hands, so after a quick search on Ravelry I managed to find a cute pattern for fingerless Mitts - Sucky Thumb Mitts by Marianne Cant

The Legwarmers have worked a treat as She has mastered crawling backwards commando style and rolls to get forward, she has on many occasions got up onto all fours and rocked but she shows no inclination towards moving forward into a crawl.

I managed to finish the cardi (Sunday Brunch by Sublime Yarns)  my Nana-in-law started and I was quite pleased with the finished product considerign the pieces were all different lengths and widths

June was the month of hats, I had to make hats for three of my friends little girls:

Cara is also growing up, she is at Kindergarten three afternoons a week and is a sponge for learning at the moment, really interested in everything. Her artwork is beautiful and she really is good at puzzles.