Finished items too

Tags

candle wicking, candlewicking, embroidery, hand knitted, hand knitting, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Knitting, lambswool, stitches, Stitching, sweater

And since it was raining, I had the perfect time to finish my grey lambswool sweater.  I knitted a type of collar for it, that is open on the side, with buttons and buttonholes.  So I can wear it open, or with a brooch, or buttoned up to keep the wind out.

Grey Lambswool Sweater

I am very happy with the way in turned out, and I look forward to the coming winter next year so I can wear it.

Grey Lambswool Sweater

Grey Lambswool Sweater

 

I finished the candlewicking a little while ago.  It turned out pretty neat.  I do think I want to try something a bit bigger now, the stitching and embroidery was so much fun and I enjoyed it so much.

Stitching Santa

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Progress update.

Tags

candle wicking, candlewicking, embroidery, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, konoha no shawlette, lambswool, Shawl, shawlette, Stitching, sweater, sweater knitting

It has been a lovely hot weekend, and despite the heat and warm sunny days, I even got around to some knitting and crafting.  🙂

So just a quick update this morning of my progress:

My grey lambswool sweater is now in one piece, and it is so soft and warm.  I need to knit the neck and add a few finishing touches.

Grey Lambswool sweater – Progress

Grey Lambswool sweater – Progress

Grey Lambswool sweater – Progress

Grey Lambswool sweater – Progress

The shawlette I am working on, is as good as halfway there.  One or two more pattern repeats and I can start the decrease section.  Quick and easy, and the perfect kerchief for any winter sweater.

Shawlette progress

Shawlette progress

The best part of the weekend was to embroider on the candlewicking piece I am working on.  I just loved making all the little french knots in various thickness of threads.  Mostly using shades of blue.  Now on to the other last bit of embroidery, and then into its frame and on the wall.  🙂

Candlewicking

Candlewicking

A lovely weekend.

Tags

bath salts, cables, cape town, celtic cable, fall sweater, grey sweater, konoha no shawlette, on my needles, project bags, rain africa, rock mint, seitz museum, Shawl, shawlette, sweater, sweater knitting, travelling cables, V & A Waterfront, zeitz

 

It has been a chilly cool weekend in Johannesburg, in the midst of our very hot Spring.  I did not mind the cooler weather much, as I put it to good use to work on my grey lambswool sweater.  It is starting to look like something.  The front is done, the back needs a few more rows and the sleeves needs final shaping.  I opted to not try and knit them all as one piece, as I have not knitted a sweater like that before, and the wool does not like being tinked or frogged.  So I stuck to what I know.  🙂

Grey Sweater progress

Grey sweater progress

And finally the Konoha no Shawlette got cast on.  I’ve knitted this pattern a few years back, and gifted the shawlette to a swap buddy at the time.  I have been wanting to knit it again.  It is a lovely pattern that is easy to knit and follow.

Konoha no Shawlette

My daughter and son in law were in Cape Town during the chilly weekend, and enjoyed lovely sunny weather.  They got around to visiting the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and the V & A Waterfront amongst others.  I got this absolutely delightful bag from the museum, just the right size to fit my shawlette project.  And it is even big enough to hold a pair of straight needles.  How amazing.

Zeith Musuem of Contemporary Art Africa

And of course, no visit is complete without a trip to Rain Africa on the V & A Waterfront.  This store is one of my favourites, specially when it comes to spoiling oneself.  They have a superb range of products, and I love the bath salts they have.  The fragrances and combinations are truly amazing.  I got a great selection from my daughter and son in law, and have already put the lovely pink one to good use.  It has an amazing fragrance.

 

 

Heading for Summer

Tags

bear, bears, candle wicking, candlewicking, crochet, dog, festival, grey sweater, hand crocheted, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, handsewing, international, international festival, Knitting, Little black Dog, love summer, Miekie, miniature bear, needle booklet, sewing, Stitching, summer, sweater, vintage look bear

October is coming to a close already.  How very quickly this Spring season has passed.  It is warm and sunny here in Johannesburg, and we had good rain on the weekend.

We were really fortunately to have stunning weather during the annual International Festival at work.  Each year we host a festival for all the students from outside South Africa that study here.  They then cook a meal from their country and share with us.  The food is amazing.  Each flag represents the students from that country.

International Festival

International Festival

With the warmer weather, I have been knitting a bit less on my grey sweater.  I did still get the sleeves long enough and am now ready to get to joining them all together.  Still not being able to just not be busy, I have knitted a few dishcloths, decided to  try my hand at making a small needle book, (it needed to have the corners starched to stay flat), and sorted my mini skeins into large jars.  Each jar got a crocheted doily for its lid.

Sweater progress

Needle booklet making

Needle booklet making

Needle Book

Bottle covers

Bottle covers

And since I am still in the mood to stitch, I cut out the next mini bear.  Old Blu is already cut and ready for stitching.

Old Blu Bear

Old Blu Bear

Something I have not done for a very long time, is “candlewicking”  It is a type of embroidery.  I have opted to use a bit of colour, in shades if blue, and not stick to the traditional unbleached creamy colours.

Some stitching ideas being planned

And of course, despite all the busy crafty hustle and bustle Miekie is just relaxing and enjoying the sunny mornings in my bed.  That look simply says it all.

Miekie

Busy August month.

Tags

art pens, beading, birds, buds, chameleon pens, display, dog naps, giraffe, giraffes, hand knitting, home, knit, knits, kntting, Little black Dog, Miekie, mini garden, mini skeins, My home, nests, potted garden, sharpie paint pens, sharpie pens, Shawl, shawlette, spring, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, sweater, sweater knitting, tree, trees, weaver birds, weavers

Even though I have not been knitting as much as I really would have wanted to, I did keep pretty busy with so much else.

I did work a little bit on my grey sweater, and the sleeves are about halfway up the arm length.  🙂  I may only wear it next year for winter, as it is to late now, and the days have turned to Spring already.

I knitted this beautiful little shawlette years ago as a test knit for Naoko in Japan, and then I gifted it for a friend in Germany.  I have loved the pattern so much, I am going to re-knit it.

Sweater sleeve progress

New minis in my yarn stash

Not knitting meant I finally got around to doing some things I had been meaning to do.  Like rearrange my (ever increasing) collection of giraffes.  This is just some of them, but now they look a bit more organized.  🙂 yes there is still open spaces, you never know when one follows me home.

And I got around to making some stitch markers, some of which is for a swap buddy and friend.

Giraffes

Stitch markers in the making

Spring is definitely already here, and she arrived right on time this year.  This tree in the garden is full of tiny leaves and buds.  I got the urge to make a mini garden in a large container, and these plants look pretty happy.

Spring is here

Mini Garden

Weaver nests

The weaver birds built some nests in the big palm tree in the garden.  But it would seem they were not happy, I found two nests on the ground, and the next day the last one was totally destroyed at the end of the day when I got home.  I still see the weavers in the garden at the feeding tray, however no nests.  It may be that they do not like the stray kitty that has taken up residence in the garden too.

Something I don’t have many of is Mini Skeins.  They are becoming very popular, and proving very helpful for those colourwork items and socks.  So I splashed out and ordered some as well.  Thank you Gina at Natural Yarns for these sets of gorgeous colours from Nurturing Fibres and KarooMoon.

New minis in my yarn stash

Another thing that I am absolutely loving, is the yearly sale at the local Art Supply Store Herbert Evans.  This store is amazing, and every year during August, they have such huge discounts, I truly spoil myself.  This year I have seen stunning new art pens and paints making their debut, and I loved the discounts, as it meant I could get a few sets.  They are sold separate as well.  I also got oil paint Sharpies, as they can write on glass and ceramics.  Just what I have been looking for.

New creative ideas!!

And through it all Miekie do not really care what all the busy-ness and fuss is about, as long as she can nap on the sofa.  🙂

So what is all the fuss about. I just want to nap.

Have a great September all!!

 

 

 

 

 

The Joy of Winter :)

Tags

Bee Eater, box project bag, box project bags, cables, celtic cable, cheerful, grey, handknit, handmade, Johannesburg, johannesburg mornings, johannesburg weather, Kingfisher, knit, Knitting, linda's treehouse, project bag, project bags, sheep, south african yarn, stash, Sunshine Grows, sweater, travel, wool, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

I find winter in Johannesburg very pleasant and a joy.  It is not extremely cold, and the sun is pleasant and comforting.  I would not mind very much if we had our fair share of snow, since I do love snow.

But in Johannesburg we make the most of the pleasant winters days.  Like spending a glorious sunny cozy morning, having a cup of coffee and enjoying the stunning view of the country clubs’ lawns.  I bit dry in patches, which is to be expected in mid winter.

Winter Mornings in Johannesburg

I have been patiently knitting away at my grey sweater.  I have already reached the under the arm length, and have now cast on for the sleeves.  The progress is steady, and I am loving the way the cable insert is turning out.  I have no pattern for this, so I will need to look at the top construction as soon as the sleeves are long enough.

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

And I spoiled myself with a little bit of happy mail.  Stunning bright, cheerful yarns from Linda’s Treehouse, in Kingfisher.  I chose Bee Eater and Sunshine Grows.  I think these would be great summer wear items.  🙂  Or winter, as they are so cheerful.

New Stash Yarn

My latest find in project  bags are these Box Project bags.  They are square and deep with a zipper.  If you open them all the way, you can fold the top back and they double as a portable fabric yarn bowl.  The cute sheepies print on these were just irresistible.  I got two sizes, one for sock size projects and one for shawl size projects.

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Greetings :)

Tags

bear, bear fur, bears, cables, celtic cable, hand knitted, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, knit, knits, Knitting, miniature bear, sweater

Becky Bear is saying Hello to everyone.

She is finally all stitched and put together, and is even wearing a white glittery tutu and a pretty butterfly brooch.

The fur was a gift from my sister, and I absolutely love the way it worked for this bear. I used a bit of leather for the paw pads, and kept her as simple as possible.

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Currently on my needles is a rather big and brave project. 🙂  I decided to cast on a sweater for myself.  I have had this lovely and soft grey lambs wool in my stash for a bit, and have been wanting to knit a sweater for myself for some time now.  So finally it happened and I got started.  It is a plain sweater with not to much detail, but I am putting in a panel of Celtic cables, as I love the way they look.

Grey Sweater

Grey Sweater

Grey Sweater

2017 is going well.

Tags

fall sweater, finish project, Knitting, magic ball, mohair, mohair knitting, on my needles, Rowan summer tweed, rowan yarn, Shawl, summer knitting, Summer Tweed, sweater

2017 is going well.  I have finished the green sweater by finally adding the collar.  It is looking pretty now, and I am sure I will enjoy wearing it a lot in the coming cooler Fall days.  I am happy with the overall end result, and it feels good.

Summer Tweed Sweater

Summer Tweed Sweater

On my needles is this beauty.  A shawl in mohair and magic ball.  I am loving the mohair, and the colour is just perfect.  It is knitting up fast, and super soft.

Mohair Shawl

Mohair Shawl

Happy 2017 to all!

Tags

bear, bears, blanket, fall sweater, Frogged, handmade, handmade bear, knitting blanket, miniature bear, moss and diamond blanket, Rowan summer tweed, Summer Tweed, sweater, vintage, vintage look, vintage look bear

Happy 2017 to you all.

It has already been a pretty busy year, with 2016 WIP’s now being completed firstly before I allow any new WIP’s to make their way onto my needles and hooks.

The first one out the door for 2017 is Wilhelmina.  She is a cute vintage looking little green bear, and I am happy that I finished her during the holidays and she gets her special place now.

Handmade little vintage look bear

Handmade little vintage look bear

Handmade little vintage look bear

Handmade little vintage look bear

Then my green Rowan Summer Tweed Sweater.  We have had a very rainy weekend, and I took great advantage of it and worked on this sweater.  The drape is lovely, but I did not get good or proper tension on the yarn at all.  I don’t think this is a yarn I would use again, definitely not for a knitted item.  I’ve done the hems and even added the buttons.  It just needs the collar and then it is done.  I can still wear it in the Fall days, when we have the odd cold day.

Summer Tweed Sweater in Green Rowan

Summer Tweed Sweater in Green Rowan

Summer Tweed Sweater in Green Rowan

Summer Tweed Sweater in Green Rowan

And then on 1 Jan 2017 I made the decision to Frog!  Yes, I actually frogged this blanket I was working on.  It has now been nearly 18 months in progress, and despite the fact that I love this pattern, it is not going anywhere, at least not fast enough.  It will still be a blanket, and I hope to restart it in a pattern that I will knit up faster, and who knows, maybe even have a blanket pretty soon.

Blanket Frogged 😦

Blanket Frogged 😦

All the best to you all for 2017.

:) Watch me WIP!

Tags

blanket, cardigan, crochet, crochet blanket, granny squares, granny squares blanket, Knitting, on my needles, progress, Rowan summer tweed, Summer Tweed, sweater, wip, wips, Work in progress

Crafting have been slow and steady.

I worked on my summer tweed sweater, and the progress is good.  The back is nearly completed. I don’t have a pattern for this sweater, just an idea of what I want it to look like.  So I am sticking to my very old school knowledge and knitting the sweater in sections, as I can work it out in my mind and on paper as to how many stitches, size, length, etc.  I won’t try and get creative and knit it all in one, or such.  The yarn does not like to be frogged and reknitted.

Summer Tweed Sweater – Progress

Summer Tweed Sweater – Progress

Summer Tweed Sweater – Progress

 

The Blues Blanket is getting extra attention.  I have done the centre circles, and have for now started with 64.  It should then be a 8 x 8 squares blanket.  I may have to make more later on, if I decide I want it bigger maybe. I have done a sample square and wrote down all my notes.

Granny Square Blanket – Master Sample

Granny Square Blanket – Centres

 

Currently I am adding round two, which is a nice dark blue.

Granny Square Blanket – Round 2

Granny Square Blanket – Round 2

Granny Square Blanket – Round 2

 

We are having a heatwave here, and I have not crafted much during the weekend.  The only good time is late in the evenings, when the worst heat of the day is cooling just a little bit.