My Creative Space

I'm still working on baby things, baby hats really ... and concentrating on learning how to knit on dpns. I'm actually loving it, the more so as it becomes easier.


This week's effort ... I started this totally cute winter's hate for a 9-12 month old.


And it's so exciting because Baby H has arrived and will be wearing hthe baby version sometime soon.

Over to kootoyoo ... lots more gorgeous creative spaces happening there.

Friday knitting pattern

I wasn’t a fan of the excesses (clothing wise) of the 80s … when everything went big: big shoulder pads, big hair, big jewellery.

But there were some things that were pretty … take a look at the pretty pin tucked blouse underneath the cardigan.


And how about this jumper? The lacy look and boat neck was all the rage during the 80s and I knitted two identical jumpers: one in pink and another in blue, which I wore all the time.


The only difference was my version had a ribbed neck, which this one does.


Have a lovely weekend guys.

My Creative Space

As happens with all “twelve steps” program, the first step involves acknowledgement and let me start today … “My name is Susan and I’m a perfectionist”.

What’s this got to do with craft and why am I sharing? Because I frogged this week’s project because I wasn’t happy with it!

I hadn’t done that much: 3 cms of rib on a baby hat for Baby H and another dozen or so rounds in two colours at three rows at a time. About 6 cms in all I guess.

But it was driving me crazy and I’d never have been able to give it away … there were spots where the knitting was really loose when I moved from one needle to the next. And I hadn’t jogged the colours when I changed from black to red and back again, and I couldn’t stand the uneveness of it.

So I started it again and it wasn’t easy. It took me hours to cast on and redo the first round … I kept getting it twisted between the four needles, and at one stage I felt like throwing it all to the ground and screaming out at the unfairness of it all. (Gee … maybe I better change that to I’m a perfectionist and I’m stubborn!) But I finally got it to work in the end and so far I’ve redone the rib and I’m very happy with it.


Now, Auntie M, before you email me telling me not to worry … it’s not you, it’s definitely me. And it’s weird because I put this level of pressure on myself and don’t judge others to the same standards. I’ve always been the same and for most things I manage to keep it under control but that little personality flaw remains with me for crafting.

Does it happen to you too? Do you drive yourself crazy with the whole perfection thing or do you focus on the experience and getting things done, and it doesn’t matter whether things aren’t perfect? Sometimes I wish I could be like that too …

Want to see what others have been up to? Visit Kirsty at kootoyoo.

What's Hot and What's Not

It’s the end of the month and time to consider how I’ve travelled this month against my New Year plans … not bad on average.

What’s been HOT

Exercise more. The stand out success for this year has exercise more. I’m nowhere near obsessive but it’s become easier as the year has passed. Yoga started back this week after a two week break and it was so nice getting back into it. And those 23 flights of stairs up and down a couple of times a week are starting to pay dividends … it’s as easy as pie now walking the three flights of stairs up from the train station and I’m running the single flight between floors at work.
Cook more. Can you believe I cooked twice this month? That’s probably two out of the four times I’ve cooked this YEAR! So embarrassing.


Spend more time with friends and family. A little more time with Miss C, less time with Mr H (who’s been cranky this month) and lots of time with friends. A nice month on the friend fronts really.

Finish 5 craft projects. Despite whingeing about not getting anything done I managed to finish two things: the cutest red pixie bonnet, and I’m working on a Manchester United cap for a certain Baby H. Auntie M is going to love it.

Renovate. Yeah whatever! But at least I’m managing to get a few things cleared out using the Reverse Finds process over at pencils and pins each Saturday. Thanks Catherine for a great idea ... having too much stuff is my major stumbling block when it comes to renovating and another year of Reverse Finds will see this hurdle overcome.

What’s NOT been Hot

EXPLORE. I can’t even remember what this means any more and I can’t wait to choose something different next year.

Travel. No travel here. Hopefully next year. I already raised the idea with Mr H about going to north America again and he was receptive … I wonder if I could arrange to visit western Canada.
So how are you going? Are you doing well against this year's plan or maybe you can't wait for next year to try better ... I'm finding myself falling more and more into the latter category.

My Creative Space

My creative space lately, unsatisfactory though it feels, has been all about this gorgeous book by Zoe Mellor.


I borrowed it from the library a couple of weeks ago and I renewed it last week.

I absolutely love it ... and this is my favourite pattern.


I made a pair in a variegated purple/blue pattern but it looks too boyish and doesn't show the gorgeous moss pattern enough.

So yesterday I went out and grabbed some red yarn and I knitted up the first slipper last night. It looks fabulous and I can't wait to finish its partner in crime tonight.

Maybe I'll even be organised enough, and my computer re-installed and next week I'll be able to share what I've been up to).

(Yesterday I found out little Baby H is due at the end of the month. A little breathing space to get my fingers flying about.)

What's your creative space full of? Are you on a mission or slow and steady? kootoyoo's the space it's happening ...

Friday knitting pattern

Here I am at the last moment uploading Friday's knitting pattern ... and this one is so sweet and girly and 1980s.


My mum knitted me something similar to this but I don't have a photo. I remember taking it with me to the UK when I visited in 1984 ... but I think this one is even prettier.


This whole book goes from pretty to prettier ... so much work in this one.


And this one is so elegant ... what self respecting woman in the 80s didn't wear metal accessories (I've got my hand up!).

My Creative Space

I feel as though I’ve hardly done anything for weeks … and judging by my pile of yarn and lack of even UFOs that’s pretty accurate.

So it’s with great embarrassment I present what I’ve managed to do so over the last fortnight on the Baby Boheme by Allegra Wermuth.

A few weeks ago I was using this yarn to make a Morris and Sons cardigan but I ended up not liking it so I frogged the thing (yee hah!) and I’m much happier with this sweet little pattern.

Feeling creative? Want to see what others have been up to? kootoyoo's the place. See ya there.

Friday knitting pattern

Sorry for being so late posting folks ... it's a terrible start to Blogtoberfest and I absolutely promise (cross my heart and hope to die) I will do better from now on.

Today's post is brought to you by the oldest Patons & Baldwin book in my collection, a men's knitting pattern book which may date form the early 1940s.


Not in the best condition (although you wouldn't know to look at it) ... the darn thing's missing its back cover and I think I picked it up before I made it a rule not to buy patterns if they weren't in good knick.

Some of the patterns scream things have changed ... although the pattern on the left above has stood the test of time. But I'm not sure how many of the fellas would be happy with this checkerboard look.


And this last example just looks too effeminate to appear on a man ... and I can't make up my mind whether it's the midriff length, the pointy collar, the clinging look of it or the way the model's standing.


Okay ... time to stop embracing the inner bitch. Usually time for a nap about the time that starts happening!

Happy Blogtoberfest to everybody, and I'm off to visit the Queen of Blogtoberdom (aka Tinniegirl) to see what else is happening.

Friday knitting pattern

Most vintage patterns in the stores are more of the same … the same colours, the same styles, the same poses. Patons, in particular, the best selling providers of patterns and yarn is guilty of this.


So I was really excited when I found two pattern books from the 1960s … stuff made with a sort of string called Tarabast.


And fortunately there was a great explanation of what tarabast is in the pattern books.


I remember this stuff … and it looks great as a bag. There were both knitted and crocheted versions in the books.


I bet lots of op shoppers have even seen versions around and never realised. I may have too.


You can even use it for hats and placemats and coasters .. who would have thought?


I like the knitted bags. Very stylish. I think the blue and white bag is my favourite.


So which is your favourite item? A bag? And which colour?

My creative space

It’s not often I feel like jumping on my bed screaming yippee because my creative space is so exciting (and I can actually say that when it’s my first week back to work after two weeks off) … but it is. Phew!

The main reasons it's been so good is because I’m knitting my first pair of socks and I’m actually getting it … thanks to the first week of a three session “how to knit socks” class at Morris & Sons in Melbourne. What the hell didn’t I get about this bit of knitting a sock?

I’m also so happy because I’m using the Moseley Park 40 Silk/40 Bamboo/20 Nylon (colour Leila) I picked up at the Bendigo Show. The colour is so pretty and I like the variation in colour it’s giving … bamboo/silk always look sparkly and the changes in colour are only adding to this.

And Tuesday I finished the pretty pink and lime hat and scarf for Baby Hannah. I still have to sew in the ends … am I alone in hating the tidying up? Yuck!


What about this gorgeous yarn (Morris and Sons Empire 8ply) I picked up for a little jacket and hat for baby Hannah … but this time for when she’s about 12 months of age and up. So far this is the hat ... unfortunately not knitted in the round because it's knit every row. Poor cousin Ms H … she’s going to be tossing my stuff into the back of the wardrobe so she gets the chance to pick her own clothes for Hannah!


I also went through my stash looking for what to use for my first quilt. I wanted something cheap (fabric wise) and easy (pattern wise) and fortunately I have loads of stuff stashed that’s cheap! I feel really nervous about my first quilt and I don’t want to mess up anything expensive.


I loved choosing the fabric in the end. Can you believe I had all of the following already in my stash and it was definitely cheap: the patterned fabric is from an 80s sheet I used in the recent FQ swap (and I love the orange and green), and the calico was only $2 per metre. The green and beige fabrics I picked up cheap at Carmel’s Discount Fabrics in Mentone at around $10 per metre. The orange gingham I got for about $2 at the op shop and I plan on using it as the binding. All I need to do is grab 2-3 oddments of orange to balance out the green. I feel pretty happy being able to make the top and bottom for a lap/single bed quilt so cheaply … it feels less daunting that way.

But I still can’t decide what pattern to make … at first I was leaning towards a simple coins quilt but the fabric just doesn't look right. For inspiration I’ve been trawling through stuff made by Patch Andi and Red Pepper Quilts … everything they do is so beautiful: colours, pattern, sewing etc. I just hope someday I’ll be as good as them. Any ideas people?

So as soon as the sock class is finished I plan on starting work on the quilt … I haven’t decided yet whether to take a beginners class or to attend the Freestyle classes at Amitie in Bentleigh on Tuesday nights. Both seem fantastic options and the advantage of Amitie is that I can work on whatever I want at my pace. Now I just need to look into getting my machine serviced … it’s way overdue and really needs it.

I can’t wait to visit you and find out what you’ve been up to … pop over to Kirsty’s at kootoyoo and add your name to the list. I’ll be around to visit soon.

What's Hot & What's Not

It’s Wednesday … I can hardly believe where the weeks go time seems to be passing so quickly. Is the same thing happening to you?

What’s Hot

Baby knitting finished. Last night I finished the scarf and hat I’ve been making for baby Hannah. I love the colour combination (although I couldn't photograph it properly) and the yarn is so soft and warm. I hope Holly likes them.


Knitting socks. I’ve learnt to knit sock on an 80cm round needle … and it’s so exciting. Isn’t it silly to feel so clever about something just about anybody could do … but I do! It's like growing up in the knitting world; a right of passage as it were. I love knowing how to do it.


Exercise. After two weeks of doing nothing more than walking I went back to Yoga yesterday and Pilates tomorrow. I feel so much better and I was happy not to have lost too much of the strength I/ve built up over the last eight months. I even managed four rather pathetic push ups last night … showing off to Mr H.

Craft groups. I’ve managed to find three amazing craft groups that I can’t choose between them. They’re all different and fit different parts of me: NCB is large and vibrant. The crafts represented are really wide and varied, and a larger group usually gets together. They’re a great group to get together and chat about anything and everything. NCB meets once a fortnight on a week night and not much crafting ever gets done (by me). Perle 8 is a smaller and quieter group who mainly knit and quilt, so it’s easier to chat with people. They meet every week on a week night and I always get some crafting done. My last group is a knitting group through Ravelry … and it’s nice to spend time just with people who knit. It’s a small group who meet once a month for lunch and I always get a little knitting done.

New shoes. I’ve been looking for a not too high heeled pair of brown shoes and on Monday I caught sight of the perfect pair at Campers. They are so soft and comfortable and have a relatively low wedge heel. They were more expensive than I wanted to pay but I’ve been looking for so long I just sucked it up.


What’s Not

Not enough time. I just have so many things I want to get done at the moment I feel as though I’m swimming against the tide.

Sore toe. I have no idea what I’ve done but the darn thing is swollen and painful. I might have to make a visit to the doctor if it doesn’t improve over the next couple of days.

Busted TV. My TV of two years went blind (no picture) and is currently with the doctor having something or other replaced. I miss my little darling and I’ll be so happy to get it back on Friday.
Overheating computer. The computer’s likely to go critical soon so I’m watching it carefully because I can’t bear to be without it. But I’m going to have to bite the bullet and once the TV’s back and hooked up I’ll drop the darn thing off on Saturday morning. I’m so sad already.

Wanna play? I bet there’s lots happening around your place as well: sick kids, crafting achieved, new car, work plans … I’d love to hear.

Friday knitting patterns

It feels like forever since I posted a knitting pattern and this book is so sweet ... a book of bazaar patterns from what must be the 1970s.


I'm not sure which one I'd rather knit first ...

I've been looking for a tea cosy pattern for ages and I don't exactly love any of these. But on the upside I can play with one of them and make them in the pretty pastel cottons I have set aside for it. All three are knit so that's good.


I quite like the giraffe ... it's in crochet. Time to learn a new skill I suppose?


And how about the gorgeous doggie sweaters ... definitely what the best dressed dog in 1973 was wearing.


Have you got a favourite?

My Creative Space

I spent the last week furiously knitting a baby hat and scarf, and then the baby booties for my aunt's first granddaugther. Baby stuff is so sweet. I just love baby stuff and how quickly it knits up.

And now I've started on a hat and scarf for the baby. I've learnt from last week and I'm going to make it a little bigger.


Hannah will be born in October to a northern hemisphere (Canadian) autumn. That means she'll get good value out of a scarf and hat and I need to make sure they'll last six months at least and maybe even the next winter as well.

Just in case you're interested, the hat pattern is the Boyfriend Hat from Ravelry. I've banged on about this hat before including posting an example a couple of days ago of a blue/green version but it really is so simple and only takes a couple of day ... the ideal project for a beginner. It's definitely a better project than the usual boring scarf.

The pattern is in blocks of ten so to make it larger all you need to do it add ten stitches at a time until you get the size you want. I've also made it in exactly the same size (100 stitiches) for an adult male (10ply yarn/4.5mm needles) and for a baby (5ply yarn/3.25 needles). This time I'm going to try it with 110 stitches/5ply yarn/3.25 needles.

Happy crafting and pop over to Kirsty's at kootoyoo for lots more craftiness.

What's Hot & What's Not

I'm glad it's the last Wednesday of the month ... I'm a little lost for what to write about the last week and looking at my plans for the year seems easier somewhow.

WHAT'S been HOT

Finish 5 Craft projects. I managed to get two things finished during the week ... the cutest baby beanie and a matching scarf for a (third?) cousin Liam who's only 8 weeks old. And don't they look cute on? I didn't really understand the size of babies--it's been such a long time since I had one--and I guessed the dimensions. It was sheer good luck I got it right but I think I'm going to make the beanie and scarf a little bigger next time.


Spend more time with friends and family. It's been a big week for spending time with family .. my mum and her brother and his family. I enjoyed that and I only wish they didn't live so far away. On the upside though I discovered a second cousin in Melbourne ... that is so exciting.

And then when I got home my mum arranged for a birthday get together and I got to see everybody, with the exception of my niece Miss T. Everybody is so grown up, getting on with their lives and doing well. I liked seeing that.

Travel more. I got to do that this last week and I really enjoyed it ... it was sad Horace wasn't there to experience it with me because I really missed him. I so wanted to go home and see him.

Cook more. I actually cooked last week. Wow! Several breakfasts and dinners too.

WHAT'S NOT been so hot

Exercise more. A week off work and a week off exercise too. I suppose I could write that off as a good thing but I feel better when I exercise and I just can't do it on my own.

Renovate. No actual renovating happening ... although I have started on the reverse finds so I'm treating the clearing out of my life as the first step towards renovating.

Find something good each day. Not a good week for this ... I'm more aware of how I let little things play on my mind and then reacted to them. Not the most impresive week.

If you want to play ... to consider your life for the last week, your day, whether you're meeting your goals? Pop your name and link in the Linky below ... I'd love to hear how you're going.

Friday knitting pattern

I was in a hurry last night looking for a vintage pattern to share when I caught sight of doll’s patterns on a cover and was even happier to see it’s costumes from around the world.


And how cute are they?

A Scotswoman in a sweet little kilt.


A Swedish and Finnish costume for the Scandinavians.


This darling little Dutch girl, who led me to start singing "I'm a little Dutch girl I don't care ..." and the rest is quite rude. Anybody else remember that rhyme from their childhood?


And what would the book be without a swagman?


My favourite is this Japanese traditional costume, complete with kimono and obi. She looks absolutely gorgeous and I love the combination of purple and green ... my favourite shades.


Which one would you make?

My Creative Space

About a week ago Miss C’s boyfriend told me it was his birthday on the Saturday (that's last Saturday) and since he’s usually wearing a hat of some kind or another every time I see him, I thought I’d make him a hat. Since it was already Sunday, I rushed to visit Morris and Sons on the Monday and picked up some of their Woollahra … an 85% wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere mix.



This is a really nice looking yarn. It comes in a range of different colours and I loved the charcoal I found, and the texture … it’s a little nubby. There's a but though … the wool is really delicate. I was pulling the yarn to secure the first stitch and it came apart in my hands. I had to yank out the whole thing and start again because I was left with about an inch of tail to sew in. And because I’m so nervous about the whole breaking yarn thing my knitting is so much looser than it normally would be.

Fittingly the hat I picked is the Boyfriend Hat from Stephanie Likes to Knit.


This has been the easiest hat to make ... it took me a tiny four days to finish it, and that included unravelling it a couple of times. And it was ready on the Friday night, wrapped and ready to give to the boyfriend on Saturday.

Here's the rub ... his hair was all done when Miss C gave him the hat that I haven't seen him wearing it since.

OK … last whinge for the day … what’s the fascination with knitting on a circular needle? I don’t get it. It may be because I’m using a 16” needle and there’s just not enough needle to grab onto securely … plus I hate having to push the stitches from the skinny bit to the actual needle. I’m sorry … but that gives me the s*#%s! Having said that though, I either love a challenge or I'm a sadist ... you guessed it, I'm knitting another one.

There’ll be lots more activity … and probably a whole lot less bitching at Kirsty’s at kootoyoo. It’s probably best to leave me alone to grumble …

Friday knitting pattern

Ages and ages ago Mairead posted about old knitting patterns with men with one foot on a rock and staring out into the horizon wearing a nice green cardigan. Look Mairead … no green jumper but a gorgeous fair isle vest from the 1940s(?), staring into the horizon ... and he’s holding a pipe!


I’ve been on the lookout forever for that green cardi wearing fella … but no joy.

I totally love this fair isle vest. So complicated … but so snazzy.

What I wonder about is that pipe. Inside the book are a couple more patterns, and most of the models are using a pipe as a prop.


And the fair else vest must have been popular because it was reprinted (that’s the “R” in R14) on the cover … but with a different guy and he’s looking very manly with a pipe too.


Is it the same pipe? Pipe smoking can’t have been that popular back then … can it?

(PS I’m a bit creeped out now.)

What’s Hot & What's Not

It's been a pretty good week for me ... lots of good things happening and lots to look forward to.

What’s Hot

Knitting. On Monday Miss C’s boyfriend mentioned it was his birthday this Saturday coming … which saw a quick trip to Morris & Sons and two balls of nubbly Aran equivalent later I’ve started the Boyfriend Hat from Ravelry. Kinda fitting don’t you think? (PS Photos tomorrow. It's looking so good.)

Lake Macquarie. Mum and I head off to Newcastle in less than a fortnight and I'm really starting to look forward to it. Questions though: any ideas for places to visit, op shops, places to eat. We're renting a car while we're there so getting around's not a problem and we're staying between Maitland and Lake Macquarie. Any and all ideas are welcome.

Soon hopefully we'll be seeing scenes like this ... beautiful sunsets on glorious water.


Photo by Gaz610 at Flickr.

Lovely crafty internet people. I’ve been getting such lovely comments from people recently and I'm loving this. Thank you everybody.

Work. Work is pretty amazing at the moment ... I hate to jinx myself but things are going pretty well and I can feel myself easing into the role.

What’s not

I’ve lost my reading mojo. I don’t know where I left it because I’d love to get it back. I miss immersing myself in another world but it’s kinda good in one way because I have a lot of other things on my plate at the moment.

The cold. Is it just me or is anybody else sick of the cold ... and the dark for that matter? It seems to have been worse this year, maybe because we're getting more rain. I don't mind the rain but travelling to and from work in the dark is getting really old, and I'm totally over wearing so many clothes every day.

How has your week been? Have wonderful things been happening to you or are there things you need to work on? I'd love to hear ...

Friday knitting pattern

The bonnets in these pattern books are a little scary looking.


Believe it, or not, this style of bonnet was popular for girls up to the early 1970s, and I remember them in glorious white acrylic with long strings with poms poms on the end. I would have loved one of them at the time but alas … yet another of the things clothes wise I never got as a child.


These are definitely something that doesn’t seem to be part of the vintage cross over going on at the moment, and I’m not so sure I’d really want to see them again.