tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21904497836388490932024-03-05T15:28:28.016+11:00Georgie's Kitchen TableGeorgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-16364235397884292912009-03-02T21:18:00.007+11:002009-03-05T21:18:14.601+11:00Show & TellAs I'm sure you're aware, last weekend was the Canberra Show. And you'll also be aware that little old had a few entries in the craft section. Seven to be exact (why yes, I do enjoy a challenge!): 5 in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hand knitting</span>, 1 in the crochet and 1 in the sewing.<br /><br />We arrived at the show at around 9am, and it was all I could to do not to sprint straight to the craft <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pavilion</span>.<br /><br />I managed to play it cool for a little while. We watched the circus.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309637515497485826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2RGHWx0lQ0xX99QOcTCEHmsrU0k_HVIt1iqRQfe-AYVEA1LrhOxji9GH8XDlxRF1UL5Bs1xNe8ZU1x3TuN-XofeJIGsBfe9d03zUUB5zvRyKXtLFYf2uKOP2l2H5ZPz8F2g0y4jxuLg/s400/circus.jpg" border="0" /> We checked out the tractors (well, it is an agricultural show, after all).<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309637601342324450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfhcPMyaNxuoaJaoL2jTqVF6Yq7ZITipGnCNhWNMN3CgZmcgHlrpchNNWWgHHNotbnNeXYqCeKxOxIj0VVSDQ1oeh8tJ3fSFtFSHD_O0qOQBnLRYtL7JkJc61oKWEU9IKagqgoxHFnwA/s400/tractor.jpg" border="0" />We dropped into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Flyball</span> Central to say hello to <a href="http://www.kyliemonique.blogspot.com/">Kylie</a> and Trent. Where Trent tried very hard not to spoil the surprise for me. </p><p>And then I casually sauntered into the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pavilion</span>.</p><p>There aren't any pictures (that I'm willing to show you!) of my face when I saw the cabinets. But to stay I was stunned would be an understatement.</p><p>Here are my entries with their ribbons:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxA9hOeIamYW-9fgF0nBlcdIb4Tc4EJLWoZ903CFpKugipWBmMlSBbGSe3npgQ7Eroxa2_vrg5eP_yiiVU3QiVPYz6z8Jyj8uJJFWWNvV9FJPYefCQZSDC8tc1GybfFNHgY8qypk-CHI/s1600-h/everything.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534288617209922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxA9hOeIamYW-9fgF0nBlcdIb4Tc4EJLWoZ903CFpKugipWBmMlSBbGSe3npgQ7Eroxa2_vrg5eP_yiiVU3QiVPYz6z8Jyj8uJJFWWNvV9FJPYefCQZSDC8tc1GybfFNHgY8qypk-CHI/s400/everything.jpg" border="0" /></a> What we have here, dear reader, are three (<em>three</em>!!) firsts, two seconds, and that little green rosette in the middle there? Well that just happens to be a Champion rosette for the novice (less than 2 years) crochet!</p>Clockwise from the top right, is the <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2009/02/never-felt-better.html">felted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">entrelac</span> bag</a> (first), <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2009/03/theres-something-sweet-and-wistful.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Leisel</span></a> (first), Evangeline mitts, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Boheme</span> baby jacket, <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2008/12/oh-no-back-to-work-vest.html">U-Neck Vest</a> (second) and Mrs Perkins (she's hiding behind her second place ribbon). In the middle is my Champion <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Boteh</span> scarf. <br /><br />I coaxed Mrs Perkins out from behind the ribbon for a portrait. This is my second one - <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-best-friend-is-gentle-giraffe.html">Gracie's</a> wasn't good enough for the show, and I don't think the judges appreciate the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">aesthetic</span> qualities of drool anyway.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534294173850354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp7OXj2Koe0DvKioGrtBpHRijr92m8FJPcCYm0fvZ1T6l15vwozyAICkUQ8mg3bmMnleOMcb9UgFBJlqdqlqnJfxN-zojGsXEufgN7hP9qadZthYtVQ4Ozm_okMxoeDyALSjdfOboUuw/s400/Mrs+P.jpg" border="0" />And is my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boteh-scarf"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Boteh</span></a> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Rav</span> link), displayed in the cabinet at the Show.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMyivgvgv2SUWFU0vjfRC77Vn8i-c_yHqrr7NF2myk5zawicLrXkD0zBUc3udyLEwOUBpzXSWc8Q9D1KiKriGdNSUYMtxiOntpOfPM7IP9LpSv3kt8NgPNlGhtjhTRBgoKwirzbWZUiI/s1600-h/boteh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534285063779218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMyivgvgv2SUWFU0vjfRC77Vn8i-c_yHqrr7NF2myk5zawicLrXkD0zBUc3udyLEwOUBpzXSWc8Q9D1KiKriGdNSUYMtxiOntpOfPM7IP9LpSv3kt8NgPNlGhtjhTRBgoKwirzbWZUiI/s400/boteh.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm not a great competitor; I don't do much in the way of sport, and competition generally makes me uncomfortable. But I was thrilled beyond words that the judge thought my crochet scarf was worthy of such a prize. I'm still all goose-bumpy writing about it days later! <br /><br />I must take the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">opportunity</span> to thank <a href="http://www.quiltingmick.blogspot.com/">Quilting Mick</a> for coaching me through the pattern for this. I would never have entered the crochet without her encouragement! And I'd like to thank my Mum and Dad, and my Beloved and....(<em>cue music</em>)<br /><br />Seriously, it was great fun planning and working on my Show projects, and I'm already thinking about next year. <br /><br />And now that I've conquered the crochet, there's the cakes, and the jams, and the vegetable sculptures, and the cats, and oh, do you think I could start breeding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">chooks</span>, those ones with the fluffy feet, and ........Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-68403995562363190272009-03-01T18:53:00.007+11:002009-03-01T21:28:43.617+11:00There's something sweet and wistfulAnd so it seems that summer is officially over. Like <a href="http://www.kyliemonique.blogspot.com/">Kylie</a> though, I don't much trust Australia's understanding of our imposed calendar, and I'm pretty certain it will be a while before I need to break out the woollies (to wear, that is).<br /><br />I was a very bad KAL-er for the <a href="http://bellsknits.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-12-long-lacy-summer.html">Long Lacy Summer</a>, although I was there in spirit! I got a little tied up with deadline knits (more on that shortly) and didn't achieve my aim of knitting something in <em>actual</em> laceweight yarn.<br /><br />I do, however, have two FOs to log for the LLS, but sadly only crap-o-rama pics to go with them. In the interests of brevity, I'll spare you the typically drawn-out FO post and cut to the chase.<br /><br /><strong>1. December-January-February Baby Sweater</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308135624343393090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEzdzAHO8MehaX1dyghuby8mLU0mhubiFgBlHX618HxtO_WUEzyMEoTlcacdKRdeExp87B4vJs-EjQqzL6F6lOpWwO4IBKXRwkppsengylRkU1NZ3P0gq5hnTImlvvxrwtyRQ5WwKF_U/s400/fbs+2.jpg" border="0" /></strong><br /><strong>Pattern:</strong> FBS by E. Zimmerman, from the Knitter's Almanac<br /><br /><strong>Yarn: </strong>Lincraft cozy-wool, gifted by <a href="http://ourcrazycrazyworld.blogspot.com/">Bec</a> and hand-dyed by moi (using Gaywool acid dyes)<br /><br /><strong>Sticks:</strong> 5mm Knitpicks Options<br /><br /><strong>Mods:</strong> Being so enamoured of the top-down seamless knit, I decided I could go one better than EZ's "almost seamless baby sweater" and do the sleeves in the round as well. Instead of following the pattern as written, I put the sleeve sts on waste yarn, cast on 14 sts between the front and back (for each sleeve), knit the body in one piece, then when back to do the sleeves. I made sure to take the sleeves off on a purl row so I could cast on the sts without interrupting the pattern.<br /><br />I'm pretty happy with the result; the yarn and pattern seem to go together quite well. The gull stitch pattern went quite smoothly once I got the hang of it.<br /><br />But therein lies the problem: before I got the hang of it, I cocked it up spectacularly. Right in the front.<br /><br />See?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308135619015991602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXVbbYpxHVM_6IxTyDeI7Ou9GKoPTYyJjk5muYjYBhNE0kV0BBGnLDEV3L1ntNZ_O0FoCyudK6IEeQb14br3Jf7bQXrmAzgENM9XLEolhvZsN_NfSLgYKcecWMlOZ3F4wZv5_BzEeKE4/s400/fbs+1.jpg" border="0" />Well, even if you can't, I'm sure a show judge would. It was intended as an entry to the Canberra Show, but with that mistake, it will just be worn (with great panasche) by the Princess instead.<br /><br />It was a fun knit, though, and I might give it another crack for next year. I'll certainly file it away for future baby gifts because it finishes really nicely.<br /><br /><strong>2. Liesel</strong><br /><strong>Pattern:</strong> on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/liesel">Rav</a> and also <a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/2005/09/liesel.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Yarn:</strong> Fibreworks Lustre 8ply in colour #18<br /><br /><strong>Sticks:</strong> 4.5 mm straights<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308135630628305154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXmPNB-eNzwYroT1iSi-XY4hg7tcpYRkMOVr09KJoc8HbtjGrAar45lar7LRlsetNsrbYOJFMLG8tmkWzfmuPvSqqCP7NQWMgkksTLLdVNC_sgJu486DnPK5vfYVKLrKtDP_J8v07EeM/s400/leisel+1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>This is a really lovely and straightforward pattern; I knit it as written for 30 repeats with 4 rows garter each end..</p><p>The photo above shows it unblocked, I'm afraid; I was not clever enough to remember to take any of it blocked before I handed it over as a Show entry. I will add some shortly, though, for it bloomed beautifully.</p><p>How did it go in the Show, I hear you ask? </p><p>You'll just have to wait for that story!</p><p>And so ends my paultry contribution to the Long Lacy Summer. I'm looking forward to Bells' wrap-up sometime soon!</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-41196110311703563662009-02-23T20:40:00.011+11:002009-02-23T21:42:35.393+11:00Never felt betterI have too much of a headache to knit tonight, so please be polite and try not to act too stunned that I'm blogging twice in as many days!<br /><br />I thought I would start on that pile of FOs, with the one I'm probably most proud of.<br /><br />I have long been fascinated by entrelac, and wanted to give it a go. I am also very fond of the felted bag, and when I spotted the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felted-entrelac-clutch">Felted Entrelac Clutch</a> on Ravelry some time back, I just had to give it a go.<br /><br />The impetus to get it on the needles came from the inclusion of a new class in the knitting section of the Canberra Show craft schedule: <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">item of fulled knitting</span>. Done deal.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305929614099963746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMggdX-atFMJT-10F3g4VMP4lOdWhVjkwvIka6pmrMZSW97UU-EuqOHZ_GmvRCOKM13tuPnp7RGcKPDIBCDAy3gi41blKo13gnktwRFdK3E9Ojz7PKBPmjTwP4BkldCbiR4HF1GbiI8E/s400/clutch+after+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Pattern:</strong> Felted Entrelac Clutch by Meg White. Lets hear it for Ravelry; comments on another knitter's project page helped me navigate an error in the first stages of the pattern that would have driven me insane with frustration otherwise. </p><p><strong>Yarn:</strong> Patons Jet in three colours. Instead of using a varigated yarn, I joined the colours at the end of each row. I used nearly 3 balls of the dark brown, nearly 2 of the mid-brown, and 1 of the cream.</p><strong>Sticks:</strong> Knitpicks options 6.5 mm circ<br /><br /><strong>Felting:</strong> A good soak, and then several hours in the dryer, in a pillowcase. It took quite some time to get it to felt down to a nice tight fabric, but it's lovely and solid and firm.<br /><p>For all you felting/fulling nerds, here are the before (left) and after (right) shots, with pencil for scale:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMIJQeEF1EGz1EQ-Gs3dJOQp4ck548Vc3D73QOwPTmc5GXi9RFff73QYQVjgv1eLFoRKe7J_OWO_4P52onWkIRu0iR-qGTeUIJHWUKiQkqQKoMb-5p3XUUfTBxs2rQIZuknosbzT9YMU/s1600-h/clutch+before.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305929407545028962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMIJQeEF1EGz1EQ-Gs3dJOQp4ck548Vc3D73QOwPTmc5GXi9RFff73QYQVjgv1eLFoRKe7J_OWO_4P52onWkIRu0iR-qGTeUIJHWUKiQkqQKoMb-5p3XUUfTBxs2rQIZuknosbzT9YMU/s320/clutch+before.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLVBNibSqvKljAy-bNCMJqun3YmKrTzCUw_VRaoPzRtN6El8Da_YODfuncTh40qOBivmTkzd3QroFCpcLL0Ku1xQk5x7NyIe3UYcY8wNIX9JambKiC47Uhxaw2WhtSCti7itIA4zdjeg/s1600-h/clutch+after.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305929482110319522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 165px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLVBNibSqvKljAy-bNCMJqun3YmKrTzCUw_VRaoPzRtN6El8Da_YODfuncTh40qOBivmTkzd3QroFCpcLL0Ku1xQk5x7NyIe3UYcY8wNIX9JambKiC47Uhxaw2WhtSCti7itIA4zdjeg/s320/clutch+after.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Mods:</strong> none. I was really hesitant about following the section in the pattern between the body and the handles, when you unpick the crochet cast-on to do the top triangles, where you have far fewer stitches than I felt were needed, but I resisted the urge to pick up more stitches and went with the flow. It was, of course, the point where you get that lovely nip in at the top of the body once it felts down - clever designer! </p><p><strong>Time taken:</strong> mid-November to end December 2008. Yes, it has taken me months to blog it! </p><p><strong>What I learned:</strong> heaps! Entrelac was not very intuitive to begin with, but once I got the concept and read a couple of tutorials, it was very easy (if you're looking, <a href="http://wolfandturtle.net/Yarnpath/index.php/Yarnpath/comments/all_aboard_the_entrelac_express/">this one</a> was very helpful). Entrelac generally begins by constructing triangles, but this pattern begins with squares, so it was a leap of faith for me. </p><p>Also - my first crochet cast on. A b$tch to unpick, but a very useful technique. </p><p>I am totally in love with this bag, and can't wait to start using it as soon as I collect it after the Show next week! I'll let you know how it goes! </p><p><em>p.s. sorry about the crap-o-rama photos; the bag is of course in lockdown at Show Headquarters, and I didnt realise how awful my picks were until too late!</em><br /><br /></p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-72182772313834222042009-02-19T10:00:00.011+11:002009-02-22T20:42:54.059+11:00And so you're back from Outer SpaceBut man, those last few light-years seemed to take <span style="font-style: italic;">forever</span>, didn't they? Yes, I am still alive, although I have been sucked into a mouse-wheel of routine since I've been back at work that doesn't leave a lot of time or energy for my poor blog.<br /><br />A blog is a lot like a garden - you've got to tend it, water it, weed it, keep an eye out for pests and other icky things, plan for it, make time for it. Although I do love the *idea* of gardening, sadly I tend to just whack seedlings in the ground and leave them to fend for themselves. My blog has clearly suffered similarly. I think about it often, just don't get around to getting down and dirty with it as often as I should.<br /><br />So in no particular order, here are some recent happenings from the Kitchen Table:<br /><br />1. I have quite a number of FOs to blog. There has been a big push to get things finished for the Canberra Show (I handed them over this morning). I'll give them all their moment in the sun shortly (promise!). There are a couple of items that belong in the Long Lacy Summer too - even though it's almost over!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMu_5mp5iRws0s315wBZ1yq3seUkgrNmh9aKvyFY5sj1gvzhWvEdY8ebjR7aDbuOTuURos2-PqKpoLO-Q9EgIXN1jam3GZhOBGbNhFs-PLcej9WJxNMX9qpUnr_NB5duAoB8MQ0uXDm8/s1600-h/IMG_4506.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMu_5mp5iRws0s315wBZ1yq3seUkgrNmh9aKvyFY5sj1gvzhWvEdY8ebjR7aDbuOTuURos2-PqKpoLO-Q9EgIXN1jam3GZhOBGbNhFs-PLcej9WJxNMX9qpUnr_NB5duAoB8MQ0uXDm8/s400/IMG_4506.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305500805544411762" border="0" /></a><br />2. Spinning class went really well. The teacher's method of plying and I didn't get along, and I'll have to find my own way with that, but I did wind up with this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHQ6dqGpFt5VMZbbqdi1xms7lFlU7OuoyJZSGHVKKdWslAvBvfJDE8m422p5DoAEP0PP8QSj1jI2Kl40lTLiOFmnCPr_dBlQcRJTz5p4t1hP6qgT8kEJVgE_B0wl7e6ujFNTgG8mPY9Y/s1600-h/IMG_4504.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHQ6dqGpFt5VMZbbqdi1xms7lFlU7OuoyJZSGHVKKdWslAvBvfJDE8m422p5DoAEP0PP8QSj1jI2Kl40lTLiOFmnCPr_dBlQcRJTz5p4t1hP6qgT8kEJVgE_B0wl7e6ujFNTgG8mPY9Y/s400/IMG_4504.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305500929395573362" border="0" /></a>I was much happier with the spun singles than with the plied yarn, but I'll be working on that. Perhaps using a different plying method.<br /><br />3. Work is bearable. The first few weeks were very slow, but my line manager returned at the start of February and immediately found lots of things for me to do. (My sometime-manager doesn't really know how to handle me. I probably don't help him out as much as I should with that). So I am kept really busy, which is good.<br /><br />4. Princess Grace has settled in fabulously well to childcare. It helps (both of us!) that I go in and feed her once a day. She is growing like a weed, putting on stacks of weight. She's quite pudgy now! After languishing in her size 000 clothes for moths, she's almost out of the next size up (00) after only a couple of months. At weigh in on Thursday, she was 6915 g, and is tracking very nicely along a percentile, instead of resolutely crossing them as she was a few months ago.<br /><br />She is busily trying to crawl, and so spends much of her time like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLkIPxKc9o_K5rt1ZkDOUmMUdi9mJ_-iHakPgyoGObDnMcNG2Z0OLY49vbFQVni1Fg6keNdjl0ocHM6p769Ps6tgKBz9gqt9at1heip5ArxVpSYx3g-DiZfJ3wkjiysbnFcnth3R1CWI/s1600-h/Grace1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLkIPxKc9o_K5rt1ZkDOUmMUdi9mJ_-iHakPgyoGObDnMcNG2Z0OLY49vbFQVni1Fg6keNdjl0ocHM6p769Ps6tgKBz9gqt9at1heip5ArxVpSYx3g-DiZfJ3wkjiysbnFcnth3R1CWI/s400/Grace1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305541915677350466" border="0" /></a><br />until she tires and face-plants, at which point someone has to pick her up. Repeat, every few minutes!<br /><br />5. Pirate Jim is busy being 3-and-a-half. Which means he seems to spend every waking moment driving me crazy with frustration. I so hope 4 is better than 3. Please tell me this is true.<br /><br />6. In amongst it all, there has been some crafting. In addition to the knitting and crocheting, there has been some sewing. I was stoked to find that the fat-eighths my favourite fabric store had out at 5 for $10 were wide enough for bibs from <a href="http://chickpeastudio.typepad.com/chickpea_sewing_studio/2008/01/chickpea-infant.html">this pattern</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWwvUNO7IuuKAKbi_5s_6vEeMvfMMgCG-knwZTAszTlqQUXVzUo_Rh5XtREd07u0rhCn9KeomypqySeiDX94tU247jf7lL1nNxO0JtbZP8By2M8v1Q8-yCT8mxB91GpWcy0wHk1K74t0/s1600-h/IMG_4517.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWwvUNO7IuuKAKbi_5s_6vEeMvfMMgCG-knwZTAszTlqQUXVzUo_Rh5XtREd07u0rhCn9KeomypqySeiDX94tU247jf7lL1nNxO0JtbZP8By2M8v1Q8-yCT8mxB91GpWcy0wHk1K74t0/s400/IMG_4517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305501364428237090" border="0" /></a>Very funky Princess wear!<br /><br />And that is all I have the energy to report for now. Here's hoping it's not another 6 weeks until my next post.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-85125643483010989762009-01-10T15:34:00.010+11:002009-01-10T20:53:37.799+11:00Whatever wool be wool beApparently I don't have enough to do with my spare time. Or I'm not quite obsessed enough with just knitting. And sewing. Because when given the opportunity, I gleefully signed up for the <a href="http://www.csw.org.au/">Canberra Spinners and Weavers Guild's</a> Beginners Spinning course. <br /><br />I've done a teeny bit of spinning <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2007/10/did-you-pick-it.html">before</a>. And I've had a wheel (thanks Othlon!) for ages, but just not the time to apply myself. And being largely self-taught, I'm not confident at all. I need to get some formal teaching. This course is the perfect opportunity. <br /><br />I turned up on Thursday evening with <a href="http://cazknits.blogspot.com/">several</a> <a href="http://sproutknits.blogspot.com/">other</a> <a href="http://shadowleesknittingobsession.blogspot.com/">local</a> <a href="http://kittywiththumbs.wordpress.com/">bloggers</a> and Ravelers (big thanks to Carrie for getting us all there via Rav too!), wheel in hand, for the first session. <br /><br />Two hours, lots of treadling and a lovely supper later, I departed with my "homework":<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289591087874893842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrk1dti88cXeOyPN72dCW1gDz7QNi9gycOjSYfRWVTJV2KjMSszKaQPc8NzM-UozjBu2im4biZQVt__FoKJaY9Q26CB7YIZigJKvGzpNQgPuHcj7-LOkAv_jBy4L50e_7_zJnSc6NZ2BM/s400/fleece.jpg" border="0" />A great hunk of raw fleece that needs to be prepped for next week.</p><p>I spent a lovely (albeit greasy and dirty) couple of hours on the back today today combing.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289591218437289858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNAz2CIIXxMOuYVesFUxK1dK46BIoOeuXrmTBIyUBuPzDxAuBJQD4FRL-ZGJ6GGqUM06mr57R2qU50myn1ntUdzdmQwmVaVu_gtUZK54tJfJ8Ov4v89TE-Bga4bJS2YqaE59A1G-_zgI/s400/comb.jpg" border="0" />And wound up with what I thought was a big pile of nice combed locks (see I'm jiggy with the lingo already!). I'm about halfway through that pile of fleece.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289591291225332866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkkSR2sElmgobi4gfOOp7i-dQSESLfT3IIrIBdm6yWoLDSikZJq3P2lURTifX2Zf-TLhumzP72ivJe3-KvFlgx5hgqiAUl7rVCOyFcK21d3i_it96y1ldchEj0vQEgTQSryOt_VrdBs8/s400/combed.jpg" border="0" />Sadly, that's only about 80 g (2 3/4 oz), so I've got a big more to go (I reckon I need about 150g if its going to worth knittting when I'm done). I ran out of puff today though.</p><p>I'm resisting the urge to start spinning it. I'll be good and wait til next week. After all, I'm doing the course so I can learn stuff, not continue on with my dodge-o-rama, haphazard approach. </p><p>It's a good thing I've got lots of other projects that need to be done rather soon, so the temptation is diminished. </p><p>But roll on next Thursday! <br /><br /></p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-85146982349629322452009-01-06T13:42:00.004+11:002009-01-06T13:58:58.427+11:00Day Two: It's oh so quiet....I have to admit I'm at a bit of a loose end. I'm the only person in the house. Just me, all alone. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't have a million things to do, it's just that I don't want to really start anything because I keep expecting childcare to call.<br /><br />The plan, you see, is that I go to the centre around lunchtime to feed (nurse) the Princess; they'll call me when she wakes up from her late-morning sleep. She was going down to sleep when I left her at 8:45 this morning, and I expected the call about 1230 or so. Except it's nearly 2:00 and they haven't called! <br /><br />Yep, my phone is still working. Just called it from the landline to check.<br /><br />I raced out this morning to the supermarket - how novel, to do a week's shop entirely unfettered by little people! - and a couple of other errands, then raced home again by 11:30. I was afraid I'd get The Call in the checkout line at the supermarket, or some other place where I couldn't just grab my keys and walk out. <br /><br />But now I've been killing time at home, waiting, not wanting to start anything in case I have to leave. I've got cooking to do, sewing projects, major clearing out of cupboards, phone calls to Government departments to make. All things that can't really be abandoned instantly. Instead, I've caught on some blog reading (Bloglines had 450+ posts when I opened it, I am dreadfully behind), and I've got the cricket on the telly (in the middle of the day! Naughty!).<br /><br />Yep, phone still working.<br /><br />I'm happy, because this means Gracie has slept and eaten lunch. Otherwise I'd have been summoned ages ago. <br /><br />Looks like there's nothing else for it - I think I might just have to sit on the couch and watch the cricket and wait. Some crochet might just accidentally fall into my hands.<br /><br />How <em>nice</em> is this quiet though?Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-87649938767127684972009-01-05T20:39:00.003+11:002009-01-05T21:00:30.086+11:00Day OneThanks so much for all your wishes for today. It went.....OK. Not really well, not too bad, just OK. Gracie has crashed, she's exhausted, and I'm feeling quite drained too. I didn't sleep so well last night, worrying about how we would cope, if I am a bad mother for putting my baby in the care of others.<br /><br />I guess it was always going to be a little chaotic, today being the first day that the centre is open following the holidays. So even the kids who have been going there for months or years might be a little hesitant or fragile going back after 2 weeks in a different routine at home. <br /><br />Grace was very interested in the new environment - she loves looking at other children, and there were of course new toys. I arrived around 830, and by the time I chatted with the carers about her routine and did some paperwork, she was getting cranky and tired. I was never going to just dump her and run, I always planned to spend most of the morning there with her, so I put her down to sleep myself. <br /><br />Except that she didn't much like the different bed, in a different room, with different light, sounds and smells. So she screamed. For about 40 minutes. I couldn't even rock her to sleep, which is usually a sure-fire trick. If I haven't mentioned it before, Gracie is a champion sleeper, a great self-settler, just wrap her up and away she goes. I could count on one hand the number of times we've been unable to settle her. So it was pretty upsetting that I couldn't soothe her, on today of all days. <br /><br />I kept thinking "that's it, I'll take her home. Just home to her own bed". I was so close to walking out with her. But we hung in there, and in the end gave up on sleeping (even though she was so tired she was falling asleep between howls! She just wouldn't stay asleep), and fed her instead. <br /><br />After that she was fine (yes, arguably she was hungry in the first place, but initially she was more tired than hungry. I still get those signals wrong sometimes). I handed her over to the primary carer and she was all smiles and ready to play. I took myself off to the kitchen for a cup of tea to soothe my nerves (parents are encouraged to do this if they feel like it), and after half an hour looked in the window and she was happy and playing. <br /><br />I checked in at lunch-time and she had just woken from a sleep and finished a bottle, and was ready for lunch. <br /><br />When I picked her up this afternoon, she had only had an hour's sleep all day, and refused to settle for her afternoon sleep, but had eaten a big lunch, drunk both her bottles of milk and charmed both the carers and other kids. She was sitting in a swing chair surrounded by other children, looking for all the world like she holding court!<br /><br />So today was OK. I'm sure tomorrow will be better, and next week better again. On the up side, they have agreed to try using her cloth nappies this week. (Normal practice is to supply your own disposables.) That made me very happy!Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-19119274186317378722009-01-04T13:45:00.012+11:002009-01-04T20:27:22.738+11:00Wooooosh!The sound of 2008 rushing by and receeding into the past. It seems to have flown; it feels like just weeks ago that the Department I work for took up residence in our new building (January 08), we moved to our new house (April), Princess Grace was born (June)....she's six months old already, where did it go??<br /><br />And now, with the new year, a new phase is about to begin for us. Tomorrow the Princess has her first day at childcare. I can't even begin to describe my feelings at this event - my brain and stomach are both churning. PJ loves it there, and can't wait to go back and see his mates. But he's 3 and a half - the Princess is just 6 months old. Yes, he did start childcare at 4 and a half months, but the circumstances were somewhat different. <br /><br />This week is practice week - I don't start back at work until next week. We've been practicing giving her expressed milk in a cup a couple of times a day, and she's taken to it really well (and Beloved loves the special calm time feeding her too). I <em>hate</em> sitting there watching her drink while expressing away with the electric pump. And I know I'll hate sitting in a closed room at work expressing as well. I'll still visit her for one feed a day, but still....enough of that. I'm sure we will all adjust, and everyone will be fine.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you all! I hope you enjoyed yourself, however you chose to celebrate. We had a lovely break at my parents' home over Christmas and an equally lovely time schlepping around home these last days.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287366712852468642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2qGShdOgD1aR7w8-YC5HlM2ro1nQ4cfLgf_F80vDCgYVg1hkETczdQ3Ky2UF-JfmzoRUgSj1P7U3RV6Feepkok7RoYlQxgps4ENQGxMqXlx0K9d6KtB-UF0GLWInZAsGsC1sH_3QEoM/s400/mosaic3436307.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">I am such a doofus at the mosaic maker thingy, so sorry, no captions!</span><br /></em><br /></p><div align="center"></div>There's been lots of reviewing of 2008 and looking forward to 2009. I've got nothing much to show for 2008, in a crafting sense, unlike <a href="http://bellsknits.blogspot.com/2009/01/retrospective.html">some</a> <a href="http://kraftykuka.blogspot.com/2009/01/looking-back.html">people</a> I <a href="http://sweetp-knits.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-knitting-that-was.html">know</a>. (And that's only the handful of blogs I've caught up on today - I'm scared to see more examples of outstanding productiveness that will make me feel terribly unorganised and slack!). And I'm not quite ready to look forward yet (let me get through this week and next).<br /><br />I've got one or two little FOs to share to finish off the old year, but they're for future posts. Yes, I know I've said that before, but I promise I will share!<br /><br />In the meantime, my knitting calls. I've got a rather big deadline looming (that's for another post too), so I need to get some serious time with the sticks.<br /><br />May 2009 bring joy, peace, happiness and all good thing to your house.<br /><br />G xGeorgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-30614618855371454042008-12-22T19:30:00.007+11:002008-12-22T20:46:33.743+11:00Just dropping in....Once again the days and weeks have flown past and I have failed to keep my resolve to blog more regularly.<br /><br />I have been busily making ready for the silly season, crafting, baking, wrapping, socialising and enjoying what remains of my time at home. I am now officially finished my maternity leave, and on rec leave until January 12th. I am sad, but trying not to dwell on it too much.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Tomorrow we head off down the highway to my parents' home, where we will celebrate Christmas. PJ is beside himself with excitement, both at the prospect of a visit from the man in the red suit, and a whole week of playtime with his Grandpa. </div><div></div><br /><div>The Princess, well she's not so sure what all the fuss is about, and she's not too keen on that beard either.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282540142960897554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sIlV-TnkCwEEBow6L-f6iUNC_h_0ca5T2G5sHSlltS5temOK3sz_6gWe0kuYZX1ckWna_40b4QwZrL3Ix_OVUh4Qiez9ntm9WWrjY8nd7x-7f06cW3zD2PSfia3uXn2IR_p_fHbzptk/s320/J+%26+G+with+Santa+2008+(2039+x+2845).jpg" border="0" /></div><p>The good news is that she has been putting on weight, 350g in 3-and-a-half weeks, and is no longer falling off the bottom of the charts. She's started "solids" and is vacuuming up all manner of mushy things. Especially yoghurt!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282545778222230930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEXo-um5BUpV012Xzivmh2U2cK8j_MxR-V_S-02Cf_01Vc3HSbSFkfjYB70ELy5NGgd0xTX4Z8mtu7PN6bbV1rGK7oBzxFSDaQPPAcdyeC-bl7KaYGJsatuAslBKvJOHaBYynMvLyAEk/s320/g+eating.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>No, I do not feed her through the nose. It just looks that way.</p><p>But I really just wanted to drop by and wish everyone, near and far, a very Happy Christmas if you celebrate, and warmest Season's Greetings if you do something different. Travel safely (if you are travelling) and enjoy the time with your loved ones. You're in my thoughts and my heart.</p><p>G x</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-20378037540695986592008-12-09T16:01:00.009+11:002008-12-09T20:31:48.259+11:00My best friend is a gentle giraffeA couple of weeks ago, <a href="http://sweetp-knits.blogspot.com/">SweetP</a> shared <a href="http://sweetp-knits.blogspot.com/2008/11/princess.html">her list</a> of what her three girls will get for Christmas. The list looked like this:<br /><br /><div><ul><li>something to play with</li><li>something to share</li><li>something to read</li><li>something made by mum</li></ul><p>Like many others, I am trying to not get caught up in the consumerism and pressure of the Silly Season. I <em>love</em> this list. Although I'm already a little beyond it (I've been stashing bits and pieces since the middle of the year), next year it will be game on.</p><p>In the spirit of the list, I have committed myself to making at least one thing for each of the kids. (Well, between you and me, I've been dying to make this for the Princess for ages, and christmas was just the justifcation for a blissful hour spent at my favourite fabric store buying the pattern and choosing fabric!)</p><p>Introducing Mrs Perkins*. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277717067828337554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZYub-LpuckHCwsX9mx_1OPDWoo-qk-7CqO53a7ORwDMxJbYwzV_UASFt2332sw9sUZPe-3q3WQxsU4KBt_znPB4jN_rHv7fQyEhLhCHC1xJivruHhPLKUhsQReNidd8PAf9K9rD7KG4/s320/mrsp1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Doesnt she have the sweetest face?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277717145403181954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7m3BR2xbov5j_LZre-o0ncW2Ki5-WKrkC0d3-u8lIjtgVMWulHAKRLhCVqSg0xEipnhWP2SS-LRM4X8-cHVq2fOZ9M4VnhzUFKxfZAUHTgGzc4WZVv-lDAI52Y5PMFs9QC2_ALOjwQw/s320/mrsp2.jpg" border="0" />She's made using <a href="http://mellyandme.typepad.com/photos/designs_by_melly_me/mrs_perkins.html">this pattern</a> from <a href="http://mellyandme.typepad.com/">Melly & Me</a>. They have lots of very lovely patterns for softies (and very funky bags - shame I can't muster the courage to finish the one I've got on the go!), but this one has always tugged at my heart-strings.</p><p>She was remarkably easy to make - about an hour to sew, then about the same to stuff! And a bit of fiddling to do the finishing. But I'm terribly pleased with her. PJ has been fascinated by the process, watching all the pieces come together, and has demanded a Mrs Perkins of his own. I have other plans for him though. </p><p>I hope the Princess likes her. They're about the same size! And if she doesn't well then I'm quite happy to give Mrs Perkins cuddles. When I'm not cuddling the Princess of course. </p><p><em>* Mrs Perkins is the name given to her by Melly & Me. I'd like her to be called something else but I'm not very good at thinking up witty or clever names - any suggestions??</em></p></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-27784867099362966682008-12-05T20:06:00.008+11:002008-12-05T20:40:41.731+11:00Oh-no-Back-to-work VestI like to think that my internet diet has led to an increase in productivity in other areas of my life (efficiency dividend, anyone?), and I have a few FOs to post about to prove it.<br /><br />Here's the first: my Oh-no-back-to-work Vest. Cos I don't wanna go back to work yet. Hopefully by the time its cool enough to wear it here I will be back in the swing of work.<br /><br /><strong>Pattern:</strong> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/back-to-school-u-neck-vest">Back-to-school U-neck Vest</a> from <a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Home_Garden/Crafts_Hobbies/Needlework_Knitting/Knitting/product_info/4196024/?cf=3&rid=1429191247&i=1&keywords=fitted+knits">Fitted Knits</a>. Easy to follow, logical construction (for me), and I even remembered to check the errata. There are a few for this pattern.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276230646371776930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVWlrYBYhJdHLpawuXL3bGw_X4tVnQW6M4VVn6SdejOTH4YnV-X6goeiSn4ID25zPc3_IsseycGvO4I36dCaG-SAhOWidpwquPcnGzQv7UzksA4bkptw4zEkP7hJIzjq1_zson0A7wiU/s320/vest1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><strong>Yarn:</strong> Lincraft <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lincraft-balmoral-tweed">Balmoral Tweed</a>, 5 balls. This is a weird yarn; the label has it at worsted weight, but it's quite thin. But it blooms really nicely when washed and blocked, and I made the correct tension with no worries. And the meterage is fabulous; I bought 10 balls thinking I'd need 8 and I used less than 5. </p><p><strong>Needles:</strong> Knitpicks Options 4mm. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276232696899860306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ6LNanMgl0raK6j0U7XAQajkgIX0aagusirDlXvIx9x3Gn3pD3CG8maYBGOXLbA03RnvFzk7xWdTXPOurOFX5galLtyXSfPQwLYgwnbhsabXmaxuqr3ASCDuCnadwZTpfrpdrqcBOw4/s320/vest2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><strong>Size:</strong> 37" bust. I should probably have knit the next size up; I was a bit too hopeful about my potential for post-baby weight-loss. Possibly (hopefully!) by autumn next year both boobs and belly will be a little less....out there.</p><p><strong>Mods:</strong> Just a couple: I added 5 cm (2") length to the bottom section. I like my tops quite long, and if I did it again I would add twice that. At least. I also did a three-needle cast off at the shoulders. Why seam them when I could do that? </p><p><strong>Time taken:</strong> September 9th to November 18th 2008. There was a large break to knit the birthday jumper in there; all in all a fairly quick knit. </p><p><strong>What I learned:</strong> how great knitting in the round is. Well, <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-30-im-too-tired-to-be-clever.html">Miss M's birthday jumper </a>was the first, but this has confirmed how easy and quick it is. This was my first use of bust darts, and they make such a difference to the finished garment.</p><p>What this really did for me was boost my knitting confidence. I'm becoming more intuitive in my knitting, I now have much a feel for how the garment goes together and what different parts of it do.</p><p>And I <em>love</em> the waffle stitch bodice!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276232751909022818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFexHfKGsNFQawBCoG2UqWUzS0XHP2hiaC9QVw_03M4ZL5kE6UZDChUM0vaBy0sbROeT0M3pwelX5QxcfLB5T_uy8zgLQzJ3dKrPtzzTbVnVwrtAolgcOWP6Joa-jOSa4PT-l8ikRqUig/s320/vest3.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Apart from the *ahem* firm fit, I am totally happy with this vest and I know I'll get lots of wear out of it. </p><p>Shame that's likely to be at the office. *sigh*</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-57554157796426947902008-11-30T20:01:00.007+11:002008-11-30T21:05:01.535+11:00From his Sunday best to his Wednesday worstHow to begin.....a <a href="http://twitchyfingers.blogspot.com/2008/11/where-you-wheely-bin.html">confession</a> perhaps? Forgive me, it's been 24 days since my last post.....<br /><br />It's not that there's been a lack of activity Chez Kitchen Table - quite the contrary. But I have put myself on a little internet diet, trying to savour the last days and weeks of my maternity leave. I think it's working, because it's 8:05pm and I've just turned on the computer for the first time today to write this post. Normally I turn it on on the way from the bedroom to the kitchen to rendezvous with the teapot first thing in the morning.<br /><br />A few things have been going on, so here are some random (love the random) points.<br /><br /><strong>1.</strong> As alluded to above, my maternity leave it nearly over. I'm due back at work on December 15th, just TWO WEEKS away. To say I feel quite unsettled would possibly be understatement of the year. Childcare for the Princess doesn't begin until the new year though, so I'm taking more leave until January 12th. That gives me a week to settle her into childcare and get our feeding routine sorted out.<br /><br />One of the perks of the Public Service is that I am entitled to the very glamorously named "lactation breaks" to go the the centre and feed her, or to express. I hope to do a combination of both - go and feed her once a day and express however many more times is needed.<br /><br />I went into the office last week for a meeting about my return to work, and it was made quite clear I wouldn't be getting any projects of my own. One of the downsides of those afore-mentioned perks, and working for a group of middle-aged men with teenage or adult children, is that I obviously have to prove myself all over again, while dealing with my emotions about returning to work and continuing to breastfeed my 6 month old daughter.<br /><br />Looking forward to January. Not.<br /><br /><strong>2.</strong> As I said, lack of blogging does not signify lack of activity. Today, for example, I kicked off the Christmas baking season with the first batch of biscuits and two plum puddings, dyed, dried and skeined 200g of yarn, did the menu for next week (in which Beloved is away and Nana is visiting), cleaned up the living room three times, and the kitchen twice, fed the Princess 5 times, picked a kilogram of mulberries (it turns out we have a tree in the backyard!), put away 2 loads of washing, made lunch and dinner, bathed both kids and read several stories to PJ.<br /><br /><strong>3.</strong> There has been mucho crafting. I've got several knitted FOs to blog, several more things on the needles and I've been continuing to sew up a storm. Almost finished (and to be blogged - all in good time my pretties) is my first Softie. It is for the Princess for Christmas and I <em>love</em> it. PJ saw it and immediately wanted one of his own.<br /><br />Although I haven't taken the Handmade Pledge due to lack of time and confidence, I've got a few things on the go. The kids will each be getting something handmade, and gifts for friends will be handmade too.<br /><br /><strong>4.</strong> This internet diet. I <em>have</em> been reading blogs every few days (keeping Bloglines closed when the computer <em>is</em> on is a good way to cut down the computer kilojoules), but obviously I haven't been commenting. Or emailing. If I owe you and email, I really do apologise; I think of you all the time and I promise I do love you and care! Part of my To Do list every week is a list of emails to write. I think I've crossed off two names in the last three weeks. Please don't abandon me just yet.<br /><br />One of the upsides of returning to work (I'm taking all the upsides I can get) is that I get to spend 8 hours in front of the computer. I <em>will</em> get back into online life then.<br /><br /><strong>5.</strong> The Princess is growing! I say this with some excitement because despite being almost in the 90th percentile when she was born, she had dropped to 10th percentile at 3 months and was only putting on about 80g a month. I nearly slapped the Maternal and Child Health nurse when the first thing she said was "You should try giving her formula". A baby who sleeps 10 hours straight, who puts herself to sleep several times a day with barely a whimper, and who is happy and calm and alert and engaged for her waking hours is NOT HUNGRY and it made me furious that the first thing they think of is to give formula to a happily breast-feeding baby. Her next suggestion was that I WAKE UP in the middle of the night to feed my otherwise sleeping baby. Not doing that either, sister. The Princess has since started waking for an early-a.m. feed, but entirely of her own accord.<br /><br />So when we weighed in last week and had gained 250g for the month, so we are now tracking <strong>along</strong> a percentile instead of crossing it, I was really happy. And she's finally into the next size clothes! We are off to the paediatrician this week just to rule out any underlying cause for her slow weight gain, but I'm really not terribly concerned.<br /><br />Is this a starving baby?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274385041874447762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSrnSaV2FESAe1hVH6Y6u3h_rxJm21os5XueQgeroJhxdVOW2AJ1NYbyPSMAVloeIrkWGLAFIciozUdTYoX3Hw4bG9luJwzkp9MlgVA7FWF-qL9JVNBwQZyhiHiC5TgglTkpKehia4n4/s320/hugs.jpg" border="0" />What I am concerned about is that this nurse is advising first-time mothers, who are probably anxious and uncertain when they face issues like slow weight gain, and take what the MACH nurses say as gospel. Your baby is low on the charts, therfore she isnt getting enough food and it must be a problem with your supply, or with you in some other way. Grrrr.<br /><p>And no, I've no idea where that red hair comes from!! She's quite the strawberry blonde.</p><p>So, that's enough then. I don't pretend to be caught up; hopefully that will come soon. I also don't pretend that I'll suddenly become a super-commenter and timely emailer (at least not until January!), but be assured that I'm lurking about and you're often in my thoughts. </p><p>G xo</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-54769781070975838362008-11-06T09:14:00.006+11:002008-11-06T20:20:22.066+11:00The answer is sewing in the windPhew, after Blogtoberfest I needed to have me a little lie down!<br /><br />But it hasn't been all feet-up here at Chez Kitchen-Table. There has been crafting. Not so much knitting, but lots of sewing.<br /><br />For some bizarre reason, I cannot justify in my mind sitting down and knitting during the day. There's some ancient hind-part of my brain that feels like it's wasted time, and I should be out in the fields or milking the cow or something.<br /><br />Sewing, on the other hand, is a justifiable pursuit, as it involves moving between table, ironing board and machine, and is somehow more active than knitting. If i knit, I want to have the teev on, and that is a no-no for me during the day. The exception is when I'm feeding Grace and would otherwise be staring at the wall, since I can't knit - or sew - and feed her. Television during the day feels very lazy, passive perhaps. See Mum, you <em>did</em> have some influence!<br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />Much of the sewing has been for gifts, so I can't reveal it yet.<br /><br />But the first item was gifted on Monday, to <a href="http://ourcrazycrazyworld.blogspot.com/">Bec's</a> newly-three-year-old Charlotte, so I can show you. And in the words of <a href="http://www.roseredshoes.blogspot.com/">someone </a>much more famous than me, I'm loving myself sick over it!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265303993706896178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3-LHIAgFbvb-6zJEnKFGlsWeJGF_DiL3iTmojHXHjqvYzU7FqNy0sI3OkwL2jD_bpE4oKeAMO6pi70wjvyITX0xwyOKzBp4zfvsrXwCWsdmPyU9NvqATOsz8OQtapZ30zRmS2rmcM1A/s320/hat+and+bag.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>The hat is from <a href="http://www.kwiksew.com/">Kwik Sew </a>pattern 3079, and the bag was based on <a href="http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/10/chic-and-easy-bamboo-handled-purse.html">this tutorial</a>. Of course I made it much harder for myself because I wanted the bag to be reversible, so it's a little gumby at the side-seams. The hat is also reversible, lined in the same plain purple cotton as the bag.</p><p>The birthday girl was pretty impressed - you can see the hat on the intended noggin <a href="http://ourcrazycrazyworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/party-time.html">here</a>. </p><p>As for the other projects...all will be revealed in the fullness of time. And at the pleasure of Australia Post. </p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-75242878559056461692008-10-31T19:42:00.003+11:002008-10-31T20:02:08.042+11:00Day 31: Love Fridays!There are several reasons to love Friday this week.<br /><br />Friday is my day for hanging out with Pirate Jim. As regular readers would know, sometimes it's desperately trying and exhausting, but many days, it's good fun and exhausting. Today was Good Fun. We made lanterns and monsters from empty toilet rolls, went scuba diving in the lounge room. When the Princess and I got tired we could sit on the couch-beach with PJ told about all the under-sea things he could see. We did some other secret-squirrel crafting for an imminent birthday that I will show you later, we had a stress-free trip to the shops (shame about all the boofheads and morons who were also at the shops), we watched <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/children/play/">Playschool</a>, which has thankfully overtaken the Wiggles as PJ's favourite viewing and we read stories. <br /><br />It was a fun Friday.<br /><br />I love Friday because I'm going to cast on something new tonight after finishing the birthday jumper. I've no idea what, but it will be something that's not a pink-striped jumper!<br /><br />And I love Friday because today is the end of Blogtoberfest - and I made it! I didn't think I would there for a while, but here we are, 31st of October and 31 posts! <br /><br />I haven't got to visit nearly as many blogs as I would have liked - I'm barely keeping up with my regular reads - but I have discovered some fabulous new blogs that I will be dropping in on regularly (in an ideal world!). <br /><br />I also feel like I've got some of my blogging mojo back, after a dire few months where I felt all dried up and without inspiration. I almost certainly wont be blogging every day from here, but I've got some momentum and feel like I can find the blogginess in the everyday once again. <br /><br />I must extend a huge thankyou to <a href="http://bigcatsemporium.blogspot.com/">Bigcat</a> for dreaming up and hosting Blogtoberfest, she's done a brilliant job. Thanks too, to <a href="http://www.kyliemonique.blogspot.com/">others </a> <a href="http://bellsknits.blogspot.com/">who</a> <a href="http://www.roseredshoes.blogspot.com/">have</a> held my hand for part or all of the way. <br /><br />Now, if it's OK with you, I may just not blog for a couple of days, and knit instead!Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-35222963282774470682008-10-30T20:11:00.004+11:002008-10-30T21:00:23.762+11:00Day 30: I'm too tired to be cleverI've made it out the other side. The birthday jumper for Little Miss M is done! Sadly, it won't make it to Germany for her <em>actual</em> birthday, being that it's today, but it will make it in time for her to wear it this (northern) winter.<br /><br />It's bad form to blog a gift FO before it's gifted, but I'm low on blog-fodder. So K (M's mum), if you're reading, look away now!! It's in the mail tomorrow!<br /><br />I'm feeling particularly brain-dead this evening, so will just give you the facts rather than any of my usual witty prose.<br /><br /><strong>Pattern:</strong> I used the Tiny Top Down pattern #608 by Deb Gemmell from <a href="http://http//cabinfever.ca/">Cabin Fever</a>. My version is based on the Club Pullover (#66) from the Bouton d'Or #11 pattern book.<br /><br /><strong>Yarn:</strong> <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woollen Mills </a>Classic in soft plum, musk, rosebud and magnolia<br /><br /><strong>Sticks:</strong> Knitpicks Options 4mm for the body and standard 4mm dpns for the sleeves<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262872359939813762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-5g9m_CiANrQmgU5yme4vZLnaFrNCPrBbg0aXH7L-8IgydlQLUaedKqlsf1moHY-X3o5gdawT4Z_7fErnts8htvLnB1KrRLg_KJ3rm-mcmuNZergntX2lRcnduuyyusLHQqpi4ZVBFo/s320/mayas+jumper.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>Mods:</strong> Plenty. That's the joy of top-down construction. I had Little Miss M's measurements, and I just went from there. I muffed the stripe pattern early on - the dark in-between stripes are only supposed to be 2 rows wide, but I made the first lot 3 rows, so I just kept that up. I also added the rib polo-neck, by picking up the neck stitches and knitting the 2x2 rib up until it was long enough.<br /><br />This was my first in-the-round top-down, and I'll do it again anytime. The pattern was straightforward and so easy to follow and modify. I know I moaned about it a while back when it seemed never-ending, but that's just because I want to knit so many other things! Really, it was fast and easy, and even all those bleedin' ends only took a couple of hours to sew in.<br /><br />I'm a bit worried the sleeves will be a bit on the short side, but 4 year olds are into everything so I'm hoping slightly shorter sleeves wont get as wet/dirty/sandy/soapy/gooey.<br /><br />Otherwise I'm really happy with it.<br /><br />Finally, I can't go without wishing my gorgeous god-daughter M a very happy 4th birthday, with lots of fun. I wish I could be there to share in the fabulous cake I know K will have baked! Happy Birthday, M, from the Australian <em>heiden-tante</em>!Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-85512228656858556582008-10-29T20:12:00.005+11:002008-10-29T20:26:37.741+11:00Day 29: Desperate times........call for desperate measures. Never was a truer word spoken.<br /><br />And I hit just such times this afternoon at swimming lessons.<br /><br />Imagine the scene: PJ is happily in the pool and find a dry seat amongst all the other parents and take out my knitting (yay! 30 whole minutes knitting time!!).<br /><br />I've got a pair of <a href="http://knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTfetching.html">Fetchings</a> on the go as pool knitting. Last week I had to cast on 4 times before I got a green-lighter (yarn issues), and that took most of the half hour. This week, I have one more plain row and then the cable row.<br /><br />K4, P1 for one round.<br /><br />I reach into my knitting bag........uh-oh.<br /><br />No notions pouch.<br /><br />No cable needle.<br /><br />And 27 minutes of knitting time left!!<br /><br />A mad scrabble around my handbag didn't even yield a pen. I resisted the urge to upend the bag on the pool deck, and to mug the woman next to me for the pencil she was flagrantly using to <em>fill out a form</em>, for heaven's sake. The only thing I could find was a (thankfully, large) safety pin.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262502327970954674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKYgPnehk-9j3T7VyQvU4RHFz6JYZgyAZmCFHAEYpI1o2bPKCN2iZJOAqXALTlClD6mOm3nyoIC_AhMF7W_OHbEQs9iUMIOHuX9bC9FeqDhHzc5zbs2MST35U0eF6BEjiZF9jnJqajX8/s320/cable+pin.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Phew. Crisis averted. </p><p>What's the strangest thing you've ever used in a Desperate Crafting Situation?</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-27638798593077283532008-10-28T10:31:00.004+11:002008-10-28T22:00:33.422+11:00Day 28: I just want your extra time and your listI mentioned <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-22-random-wednesday.html">the other day</a> that I've started making a list of meal options for the week. I loves me a good list.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261983362423440690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NKK78wxQYA_7wD-Mjzky1ofY0LqjUFDWUFeRwFGuy7Px2Eu7y2Q2EOvIkj_NKfsrFi7hbJImNTuRwBFOK5ladmqpfpPPSq8ACnrt5sX0WHzNNGFPI-iuNqIQt0sHu7VY38wDoxSpS8A/s320/list.jpg" border="0" /><br />The plan is (and there's <em>always</em> a plan!) that it will make shopping easier, make deciding what to cook every evening easier, mean I have all the necessary ingredients to hand, and reduce waste. I'm a shocker for buying things on a whim then letting them rot or go off in the fridge because I don't have a plan for them.<br /><br />I've even got a dedicated notebook where I make the list, and then make a note of how the meal went afterwards. Beloved is always saying "That was great - we should have it again" and then I forget about it and we never do! So I hope this is a way of keeping track.<br /><br />Each Sunday, I sit down with a couple of magazines or recipe books, and a cup of tea, and browse through them to choose a few recipes to try for the week. Then I add a few sure-fire favourites, and make sure there is a variation of "chicken and rice" included. This is PJ's favourite, so it's essential for household harmony. <br /><br />Then I check the ingredient lists and add anything I need to the shopping list for Monday morning. <br /><br />This week's list includes:<br /><ul><li>Lemon baked chicken with couscous</li><br /><li>Vegetarian chili with brown rice</li><br /><li>Chicken stir-fry with rice</li><br /><li>Tacos</li><br /><li>BBQ - sausages, flat mushrooms and corn on the cob with salad</li></ul>It has been slightly complicated by the partial-breakdown of our fridge on the weekend. Freezer Roulette will now feature highly as I try to use up stuff that has been lurking in there. A container of unidentifiable something, which turned out to be bolognese sauce, will now be tonight's dinner.<br /><br />I'll report back on the success or otherwise of the new system!<br /><div align="center"><br />****************************************</div><div align="left"><br />I've been a bit slack with the Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word. The word for Wednesday, from page 1511, is opinion.</div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-27396287358522736132008-10-27T20:16:00.006+11:002008-10-27T20:31:57.107+11:00Day 27: This is....something Im surprised I like<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRqaVHnSJW4y1nwryU12cjU8bCvxQoMUFL5o7coyyf8r3PIAooH1qnGXelZx7-lPTJ5IKLw-UfW6hF93AlzP-CuVaIVUqWWGXMONVIbHymedUEBvNIGXqYa63-tcWU2fNG_4SePNMLgY/s1600-h/possession.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261761343422512290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 155px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRqaVHnSJW4y1nwryU12cjU8bCvxQoMUFL5o7coyyf8r3PIAooH1qnGXelZx7-lPTJ5IKLw-UfW6hF93AlzP-CuVaIVUqWWGXMONVIbHymedUEBvNIGXqYa63-tcWU2fNG_4SePNMLgY/s320/possession.gif" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">image from </span><a href="http://blog.vcu.edu/bookremarks/2005/11/possession.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">. </span></div><br /><div>I very rarely start reading a book and give up on it (although that has changed recently, life is too short to read crap!). However I tried and failed 3 or 4 times to read this book in the few years after it was published. I like to read the Booker winners, but this one was just beyond me. The best cure for insommnia I'd ever found, short of my organic chemistry textbook. (my literrary <strong>nemsis</strong>, perhpas?) I couldnt engage with the characters, didnt find any of them likeable, and found the plot just too contorted and dry.</div><br /><div></div><div>Last year, my "cube-mate" at work (with whom I shard a cubicle) insisted that I give it another go. It was his favourtest book ever, he said. Even loaned me his copy. </div><div></div><br /><div>I was enormously skeptical, but because I like G, I gave it another bash. With a huge pile of murder-mysteries on standby to help me along. </div><div></div><div>But after the first dozen or so chapters, I actually found myself engaged in the stories. Not exactly <em>liking</em> the protagonists, but interested in what happened to them.</div><div></div><br /><div>By half-way, I found it was becoming compelling, and I was looking forward to picking it up again.</div><div></div><br /><div>And in the end, found it clever and satisfying. </div><div></div><br /><div>Suprisingly.</div><div></div><br /><div>Thanks to <a href="http://threebuttons.blogspot.com/">threebuttons</a> for hosting This is.... and to <a href="http://www.earlandcookie.blogspot.com/">Earl and Cookie </a>for this week's theme!</div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-69848304821419007942008-10-26T20:11:00.005+11:002008-10-26T20:30:06.389+11:00Day 26: I think I can.....Not, not Blogtoberfest - with only 5 more days, I <em>know</em> I can do that.<br /><br />No, <strong>this</strong> is my current nemesis, the millstone around my neck, my albatross:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261388595434980946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUPEJCTFpVD2sc9trzcyJ4WeoDEVA3qgx8ImnTybYQrqRRWXEh7BoQUdQ5CrWeq0wDccAGzDlWBz9ttmAjZ7TCjjq21YQiR-OnyNhNJ157VxMypZ02dB_uZx3aJPPisFn3X5wHn8m3MQ/s320/neck+jumper.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>The deadline-knit birthday jumper for my goddaughter-niece, Little Miss M. I am so ready for it to be over, because there are about a hundred other things I want to cast on <em>right now</em>, and I can't until I Get. This. Done. It feels like it just keeps going and going and going....</p><p>The body is done. The sleeves are done. Even though I looked at PJ siting in the back of the car while we were driving yesterday, to see he had TWO dpns in his hands. Two dpns of course means that <em>one</em> has come from holding live stitches, which it clearly wasn't when he was using it as a drumstick. But the stitches were saved. (I am rubbish at picking up dropped stitches, hence the angst. Luckily I was about to be surrounded by <a href="http://www.kyliemonique.blogspot.com/">several</a> <a href="http://www.roseredshoes.blogspot.com/">other</a> <a href="http://www.besllknits.blogspot.com/">knitters</a>, so it was only momentary). <em>Note to self:</em> don't leave knitting within his reach in the car. </p><p>I'm currently picking up the neck. So a few dozen rows of 1x1 rib.</p><p>Then I just have to sew in the ends of all those stripes. Just thinking about it makes me want to weep for all the other things I <em>could</em> be knitting. </p><p>Soon.</p><p>***************************************************</p><p>And the fascinating results of yesterday's poll have option A, paper over, out in front by a country mile. </p><p>Which is my preferred - nay, essential - option. I'm with <a href="http://www.quiltingmick.blogspot.com/">quiltingmick</a>, I'll change the rolls at work if they don't go over, or other people's houses. </p><p>No compromise, no surrender!</p><p>And I'm behind on Blotoberfest Inspiration Words. How about <strong>nemesis</strong>? What's yours?</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-539221486891391102008-10-25T09:50:00.004+11:002008-10-25T10:14:08.156+11:00Day 25: Pop QuizWhich do you prefer?<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">a)</span></strong> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260857720366420434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f4rd2HwOYroFrmc_LUZEocEQvXhlNf5fZRq5944eYHFcrEUtCSL9h_VvNd3LUvp8a59_0FxngaTps0YQlkqMz7pF7PnLyZKzNz8OVfZ_Wg4RrPOWY1QtZGcWoT7XrIVN2PFXFKGjztM/s320/over.jpg" border="0" /><em>or</em><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">b)<br /></span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260857663646389794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvETJiYba82yvmdKw7eGZneJN_rFuFy22RtxweV-1BdSzkf1wsfEoEq5usgWRIFgiYjR6K0mFbglEzQZIJu5TjXZKWKE-b17w3AQzu6Hem87X0qqAew_VscspGNOKTvgIYxlgroCEIqM/s320/under.jpg" border="0" />Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-10140661401069402242008-10-24T19:49:00.006+11:002008-10-24T19:58:55.539+11:00Day 24: One Good ThingBecause some days, especially on a Friday, I need One Good Thing to hold close at the end of the day. In a day of what feels like many crappy things, when my nerves are frayed to a single quivering strand that threatens to go "ping" any second, One Good Thing makes me take a deep breath and know that I can do it all again tomorrow instead of running from the house, screaming.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260640267199135378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhserZKiMstqTXP6bC0-v0QxTrpVhxaXEuwiE3MZSZZ0_8kV1CCC3SnGeTIRMKILAPKFDJMriq303oC8l3gppIkqFDow7kliHSotUc1u0Dixe7eWZWw9wM7nHCePOMQdF3jetCULq-EeLE/s320/snail.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Today, it was finding this little guy <em>before</em> the home-grown lettuce leaves made it on to our dinner plates. </p><p>And watching PJ watching him-her (because <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snail">snails are hermaphrodites</a>) cruise over his hand and a clear plastic lid before releasing her-him back to the wild.</p><p>OK, so that's two good things. Bonus.</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-69599914415542569072008-10-23T15:52:00.006+11:002008-10-23T20:09:06.712+11:00Day 23: Raindrops on roses and stitches of knittingToday's Blogtoberfest post is brought to you by <a href="http://bellsknits.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-8-inspiration-dries-up.html">Rosered's List</a> of bloggy inspiration. If you pop over to Bell's place, you'll see she's doing a post on the same topic.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Today, it's #14: <strong>the favourite thing that I have knit</strong>. </div><div></div><br /><div>It's a tough one for me. You all know I have issues with knitting large things, and so tend to knock out small stuff, like beanies or scarves. Larger projects often make me, well, bored, and other times apprehensive. A project needs to be really engaging for me to keep on with it; otherwise I'll just pick it up less and less often until it finally makes it's way to the bottom of the knitting basket, where it has a very long holiday.</div><div></div><br /><div>That's a very long-winded way of saying I don't really have that many FOs to choose from. I've only got 10 listed on my Rav projects page, and several of those have been gifts. There are a few more listed on my (embarrassingly outdated) blog, but you'll see many of those are small stuff.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyhoo, my favourite thing. I've actually got two.</div><div></div><br /><div>1. My <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html">clappy</a></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260270656111659394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGEmwloAWUoR7GMlYujzQkoz4C4onHvMaqDmj51STfoW8A7nwQzmc5AwtoUohBZuOHILbJVFGK4ucB4pZH1ucSRQfxjRYSvnMAPwKodPaCKIpcO73g3LZ80P9JKHTWNgXQyXgeqZVtos/s320/clappy.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />It was fun to knit, it's made from custom-dyed yarn from a <a href="http://happyspider6.blogspot.com/">local yarnie</a>, so it's one-of-a-kind, I love to wear it and it looks so glam, and I always get compliments on it. <br /><br />It dead-heats in the favourite stakes with....<br /><br />2. PJ's Little Star Sweater<br /><p></p><p></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260270267309714946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVDukCjDOY0zDV0wmSJZlzUwfOuEedEa1F3AlH7AkOpnkpHDUkCMk0PsVa-olrJ4-sWF50ja-qqsiMDYU9SkFCuecX8lt1LJ9tFLAX3J9hiyio5rtTf22jm-MSPjK5jTFPb86B30Wo8o/s320/star+jumper+2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p></p><p>It seems I never blogged it as an FO, but it's from Zoe Mellor's <em>Adorable Knits for Tots</em>. It was my first crack at intarsia, and my first time knitting with cotton, and it came out a treat. And PJ just looks so darn <em>cute</em> in it! Of course it no longer fits - this was last winter. Maybe if I stopped feeding him, he might stop growing....</p><p>I always wanted to do him another one, in red, white and blue, but when he announced at the start of this winter that he wasn't going to wear jumpers, I thought I wouldn't waste my time. Maybe next year.</p><p>So those are my two fave FOs. </p><p>**********************************</p><p>The Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Friday is <strong>participation</strong>. Thanks Rosered!</p>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-36045575484722432492008-10-22T19:58:00.005+11:002008-10-22T20:34:26.026+11:00Day 22: Random WednesdayI'm struggling a bit today. So here are a few random happenings from Chez KitchenTable.<br /><br />1. Today was week 2 of Swimming Class. PJ was once again brilliant - engaged and responsive, and happy to be there. I remembered to take knitting, so got and extra 45 minutes of knitting time today. Given that I usually get about 1 to 1.5 hours a day right now, this is Worth Noting.<br /><br />2. The Princess has started waking up at 5am. Before that sometimes. Anything with a 4 as the first number does not count as morning in my book. That's still Middle of the Night. And not going back to sleep after a feed. So we are taking long morning walks so the rest of the house can sleep. Although I <em>know</em> these walks are good for me, and it's really lovely to watch the sunrise, and the Princess certainly enjoys them....well, I do rather wish she'd go back to sleeping until 6 am. But given that she has been sleeping through the night, from 730 pm til 5 am, for the last 6 weeks, I really can't complain. Not many babies start sleeping through at 8 weeks old. <br /><br />3. I had to take the Princess for some blood tests yesterday. I have a thyroid condition, and it needs to followed up with her in case she develops the same thing. PJ had to have bloods done at 3 and 6 months too. It is one of the most awful things I have ever done, holding my baby down while a stranger sticks a needle in her arm. But the techs were great and got a vein first go, and she stopped screaming a short while later. I was still shaky a couple of hours later though.<br /><br />4. We had a lovely weekend, with two couples, who are very old friends, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_Island">Kangaroo Island </a>visiting. Lots of eating, a fabulous day at the <a href="http://www.anbg.gov.au/anbg/">National Botanic Gardens </a>with a picnic lunch, eating on the deck in the sunshine, going for walks. One of the women, S, is a keen quilter and sometime knitter, so we had lots to talk about, much to everyone else's amusement. I love such visits and miss the friends very much - we would see each other several times a week when we all lived in Darwin. I think a holiday to Kangaroo Island is on the cards for next year. <br /><br />5. I have been trying to be more organised by making a list of meals for the coming week and writing my shopping list to make sure I have everything on hand to make said meals. Not rocket science, and I've done it before, but fell out of the <strong>habit</strong>. So far it's working well. On the menu for this week are such culinary delights as chicken schnitzels and steamed vegies, lamb filo scrolls, tuna and corn fritters with fresh salsa, butter chicken with rice and farfelle with bacon and peas. I'm even keeping the lists in a bound notebook so I can look over meals from previous weeks and see what was good (and tantrum-free). See - organised!<br /><br />6. My knitting continues apace (albeit a snail's pace) on the deadline gift knit that should have been finished last week. One sleeve and the neck to do, and the sewing in of about a trillion ends (it's stripey and I'm stupid for choosing that pattern!). I will post pics and details once it has been gifted. And then there's the Back-to-School vest to finish off (I'm up to splitting the front and back) and some lace to get started on! Not to mention entries for the <a href="http://www.rncas.org.au/showwebsite/site/index.php">Canberra Show</a> in February next year. I'm determined to enter several items, and at least one of crochet. Oh yes, I've started crocheting again...but I'll save that for another post I think.<br /><br />I'm afraid that's as thrilling as it gets around here right now. I'm retiring to the couch to get a decent whack of sleeve #2 of the deadline gift knit done.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-17289726096318661032008-10-21T20:00:00.007+11:002008-10-21T20:34:09.486+11:00Day 21: Desko FeverThere is a groovy weekly game played by lots of crafty blogs that I read called "On my desk", hosted by <a href="http://kootoyoo.blogspot.com/">kootoyoo</a>. I love seeing little glimpses of everyone's crafty inspirations and projects, watching the glimpses turn into wonderful creations, but I'm much to shy to play along. <br /><br />D'you think this could be why?<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV1HFwV596t7olMPzQUopXklUL_8Uk2r2QQ2Cr1fUCZ3NMOgWQUO-mnGMaBmSv5biOM3bTh-SPx3q6olWiOllm3-lWRuRcizAsWLuHOFe_WqLi4QEWSbhZbaP4O9DtrK3qJ7NTyGzI6U/s1600-h/desk+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259529864083890866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV1HFwV596t7olMPzQUopXklUL_8Uk2r2QQ2Cr1fUCZ3NMOgWQUO-mnGMaBmSv5biOM3bTh-SPx3q6olWiOllm3-lWRuRcizAsWLuHOFe_WqLi4QEWSbhZbaP4O9DtrK3qJ7NTyGzI6U/s320/desk+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> My desk, 2pm today.</div><br />I think "shambles" is generously understating the reality of my desk. I <em>long</em> to be organised and inspired, to have a desk like other people. I'm organised on the <em>inside</em>, but sadly it never seems to manifest on the <em>outside</em>. <br /><br />PJ likes to come and play while I'm on the computer, and he's as bad at cleaning up after himself as I am. The last few days my desk has been his construction site, and you can see his roller, bulldozer, trucks, racing car and workmen. Oh, and a forklift. <br /><br />There's also my diaries - yes, two, one for the desk and one for the handbag - Bendy shadecards (I <em>may</em> have bought some yarn recently - wanna make something of it?), the cutest owly quilt pattern I bought the other day, 4 different USB cables and three separate piles of filing. No one can call me unorganised when I've got three piles for my filing. <br /><br />There's also a notebook where I've started jotting down important stuff, like phone calls with government agencies, lists of things to do and what patterns I intend to make with yarn purchases. I was writing those on scrap paper, but for <strong>some</strong> reason I kept misplacing them.<br /><br />Turn 90 degrees to the left and this is what's beside my desk. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259529921507450466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2v-u0RJr2uQHwZYI9d_5Ej7EdxN45qUyTWIf79orOG4HcHHyB9zVYm6v05DJfqQHjgsDdB1JdG0qpOypQ42Ll9bPAjLFuHDVri_s_IELI3-LLreuk_P5kZETsd5SFfZl1xlNGHxLlfo/s320/desk+2.jpg" border="0" />Beloved allocated me a whole bookcase for what he very nicely calls "my things", but what is really all my crap, so I don't leave it in piles throughout the rest of the house. I'm still getting used to that system. <p>There are numerous bags of yarn - the most recent purchases - and fabric, my pattern folders, and a box of...wait...oh, look, more yarn! No, this is not the stash, this is just the customs lounge where new arrivals await processing. </p><p>Today I finally got jack of the whole debacle and spent 2 hours tidying my desk. A generous contribution to the recycling bin was made, and I even did some filing. I'm down to one pile, yay me!</p><p>Tomorrow I will tackle the bookcase. </p><p>And then Thursday - the WORLD! Mwhahahha....</p><p align="center">********************************************</p>The Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Wednesday is <strong>habit</strong>. I'm starting to wonder if PJ can actually read....Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190449783638849093.post-87377227772484715162008-10-20T20:13:00.011+11:002008-10-20T21:04:54.906+11:00Day 20: Summer lacin'I have long suffered from Lace Lust, but suffered it in conjuction with Lack of Time and Too Many Projects. For some reason, lace seems like an indulgence to me when there are other things to be knitted.<br /><br />And, I really must admit, I'm a teeny tiny bit scared of it. Not so much the charts and the complexity, but the <em>fineness</em> of laceweight yarn and the un-tink-ability of it. All those yarn overs and knit-together stitches - once it's knit, it's knit. So it's a bit scary. I'd rather not start than muff it up.<br /><br />My <a href="http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/2007/08/go-ahead-make-my-dayflower.html">first lace experience </a>was very positive and completely enjoyable, but I just haven't gotten around to more. And it was in 8ply, so avoiding the fineness issue.<br /><br />However, we must grow as knitters and crocheters, and I will <em>evade</em> the issue no longer. I have decided to join Bells in the <a href="http://bellsknits.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-12-long-lacy-summer.html">Long Lacy Summer</a>.<br /><br />I've got a few different yarn options in the stash (oh, shut UP already!); a couple of 2plys, lots of 4plys. For the most part, I haven't gotten as far as matching patterns with yarns yet, but do have a bit of a wish list.<br /><br />This malabrigo laceweight is slated for a <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTlaceribbon.html">Lace Ribbon Scarf</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO0369X2tj42tAVxloKGJkKFRt2DQuYIMpcIZZ-P8PwnB2-hOAU5OKDXZxsX-JWBhYN_wqUx1JqBd0C5ZZ6BBqHLbRGTDUGHj250jgQkjie0Z6prRTto_Lhl2Q65-u27YB4a34F2O2GE/s1600-h/IMG_3042.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259169786053183938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-T7FAevEytOTxxDsQ_qf3qN52m9EUFFYvUlgIomrEc0lmLTe6Bw8JCaJ5VIW0HFoRUHxd3hYo7rttGPTACTCiaCj2Bl_txO9VRivpFA8jlNl2G9HnbEPwhqZfLtYZ8CSHww-mtBu7uU/s320/IMG_3042.jpg" border="0" /><br />I would love to tackle a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuespring05/PATTbranchingout.html">Branching Out</a>, <a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/2005/09/liesel.html">Leisel </a>has caught my eye and I'm quite partial to the <a href="http://kknit.blogspot.com/2007/10/monteverde-scarf.html">Monteverde Scarf</a>. The <a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219">Woodland Shawl </a>is on my list, as is the <a href="http://madebymyself.blogspot.com/2006/08/haruha-scarf.html">Haruha scarf</a>, the <a href="http://stickchicky.blogspot.com/2008/06/waltz.html">Waltz</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/traveling-vines-scarf">Travelling Vines</a>. <br /><br />Hmmm, I can see a pattern here - these are all scarves or stoles! Maybe its the full-blown triangular shawl I'm afraid of.....<br /><br />So I hereby challenge myself to knit a triangular shawl this summer. Maybe a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forest-canopy-shawl">Forest Canopy</a>? It's the only one in my Ravelry queue! <br /><br />Are there any other suggestions for triangular shawls that you've loved knitting?<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div>Here's the skein I'm going to designate to this challenge:</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmsJAAGK1DvJoh5cc8JfVl8rLTTgNhv9hP5cs8N8S03MxswKLU1RVAfkba5bXt0hbMBWEcb9_wqQlOmPohlVeRztpE5I-Pm6PyPhpLYRkzPvGK0dfrEMQ140Lt19Y3-W58M6pt1d5gwg/s1600-h/IMG_3065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259162195853513490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmsJAAGK1DvJoh5cc8JfVl8rLTTgNhv9hP5cs8N8S03MxswKLU1RVAfkba5bXt0hbMBWEcb9_wqQlOmPohlVeRztpE5I-Pm6PyPhpLYRkzPvGK0dfrEMQ140Lt19Y3-W58M6pt1d5gwg/s320/IMG_3065.jpg" border="0" /></a> 110g / 990 m of Fibreworks laceweight, colour #5. Crap photo but it's deep purples and blues through to silvery mid-grey.</div><div> </div><div>Any thoughts?</div><div> </div><div>I'm nervous already!<br /><div></div></div></div></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540746821149865564noreply@blogger.com7