Woolaholics Swap

A Japanese knot bag, sock blockers, yummy chocolates, Patonnyle sock yarn, merino roving and a vintage Golden Hands book.

I received an amazingly spoiling package in the mail today! Thanks to my Mystery Swapper on Woolaholics! Thank you so much Mystery Swapper, I'll be enjoying those chocolates on the road tomorrow. The sock blockers look fantastic and I didn't have a set. And I love that book and no I didn't already have it.

There was a beautiful letter in my package too. Which showed how amazingly thoughtful my Mystery swapper had been in her search for the treats she sent me.

Cake Mix Cookies

These are very easy to make. Recipe from HERE. If these survive the night, the kids will get them in their lunch boxes tomorrow. I used a chocolate cake mix and added chocolate chips. They don't taste as nice as the Chocolate chip biscuits I make from scratch but they are a lot quicker to make.

Only a few more sleeps until we head off on holidays to Tennant Creek. Only 2200kms to get there and another 2200kms back and we should be away for 10 days all up. See why I'm mad...

Another Milestone

Micheal sitting in his high chair for the first time.

Crochet Skirt for Becky

Crochet Skirt
Waist 48cm length 24cm
Commissioned for Becky
Wool: Yarn Cafe Sienna BFL DK about 160g
Hook 4mm

I made a couple of little Dahlia flowers to decorate the drawstring. These are very simple.

Dahlias ( Australian Terms)

DC - Double crochet ( american sc)
4mm and 8 ply yarn

Make a loop with the yarn around your finger.

Round one: Crochet 12 double crochets into the loop fasten with a slip stitch to the top of the first dc then pull the tail to make it tight.

Round two: (chain 3 and dc into the top of the dc below) repeat until the round is complete. Slip sitich into first chain and fasten off.

sew in ends.

Another Enid design - Pinny

Design from Enid Gilchrist Play Clothes.
French seams at side and shoulder.
Self Bias Binding at neck and Arm holes

Enid designed this for a larger child. I redrafted the pattern using a basic block for a size 2. The back was drafted to allow an overlap for the snaps to fasten. The fabric came from my friend Wendy's mother. These sheets are so beautiful, thick cotton not like modern polyester sheets that wear so quickly. I have two single bed sheets in this pattern and they are in like new condition. I'm debating if I'll leave the pocket as is or add a little something to it?

Happy 8th Birthday Rose

Happy Birthday Rose!

Outfit for Lilly

Lilly's Croknit Skirt
Wool hand dyed by me in pink and green
My design
5mm hook and 4.5mm 40cm circular needles

I started by crocheting the bottom of the skirt in a shell and post pattern. Then knitted stitches up from the foundation chain and worked in stocking stitch. I decreased the stitches and worked a 2x2 rib. I used a sewn cast off. This only took me two evenings to work up. I like combining the two yarn crafts. I like the drape of the knit and the texture of the crochet. By combining the two crafts you get the best of both.

Peasant Top - Enid Gilchrist Design
From 3-6 years clothes for Boys and Girls
Fabric is a beautiful embroidered linen I found at a Pt Pirie Op-shop.

Drafting the pattern took longer than sewing the top. The top is cut as one piece and sewn with a side-underarm french seam on both sides. The sleeves are gathered with elastic. The neckline was finished with 1.5 inch bias strip, sewn to create a ruffle and casing for the elastic.

Enid really was a genius at making economic use of fabrics. She was producing her designs after WWII when fabric was scarce and making the most of it important. Children's clothes were often cut from Adult clothing and the instructions to some of Enid's designs reflect this thriftiness.

I need to sort through all my drafted Enid patterns and store them for easy access. I've redrafted a couple because I can't find where I put the first drafted pattern. I now have 48 Enid Magazines in my collection and there are still more I haven't got!

Dinner tonight

COLA BEEF

I got the recipe from the Crafty Mama's Forum, one of my favourite places to hang out on the web. Appleby posted the recipe.

1 roast beef, cheaper the better. - I put in 2 x 1kg topside roasts
1 can cola
1 packet dry onion soup mix

I added two sliced onions, a heap of potatoes and some carrots - just so I wouldn't have to cook veg later.

Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. Half an hour before you take it out of the crockpot mix a little corn flour in some water and stir into the liquid to thicken the gravy.

Appleby also had 1 can condensed mushroom soup but said it was optional and she never added it. So I haven't bothered either.

You Just have too...

Read this blog....

Adult Balaclava

Adult Balaclava
Wool Heirloom 12ply
4.5mm and 6mm needles

My Reluctant Model.
He looks like he should be heading off with Mawson to explore the Pole.

This Balaclava was a commissioned knit. Designed with a longer neck so it can be tucked into a shirt.

The best laid plans...

James' foot

We had planned to go the movies in Munno Parra on Thursday. Instead we spend Thursday in Pt Pirie having Xrays taken of James foot. Thankfully no break but still a painful experience.

My solution to the constant hunt for a hairbrush! I bought two new brushes in Port Pirie and this time tied them to the cupboard doors. I've threatened anyone who removes them with something nasty.

A strange season

It's been a strange winter here.
I still have tomatoes and capsicum producing! We normally lose these plants in the winter due to frost. The trees are already budding! The mulberry even has mulberries on it. The almonds are starting to flower. The raspberry canes have leaves.

The garlic is growing quickly.The broccoli, although still very tiny, is starting to form heads.

Our Mandarin tree is loaded and almost ripe. They normally don't ripen until August or September.

Fern's been out weeding around the self sown Silverbeet and Bok Choy. She likes helping out in the garden.

Fern's Art Work

Look at the expression on that little fellows face!

I love the detail in this. The way she uses the whole page. She's composing her pictures.

Inspired by our reading of James and the Giant Peach

He's such a happy Zebra.

Fern is 10. Since she was very little she has told us she wants to be an artist when she grows up. I think she may have some talent too. I will encourage her to do a business course, as well as developing her art. A good idea, in my opinion, as artists need to sell their work to eat :D

Episode 4 - Finally!

Finally done!

On my Needles
Head over Heels Hat (link)

In My Kitchen
Scones - my recipe - (link)

Sewing
Pillowcase Dresses - A really nice how to I found is on the red Instead Blog (link) There's a few patterns out there so do a google search too.
Enid Gilchrist- Inspired by Enid Blog (link)
Binding foot tutorial ( Link)

Rambles on the family

Quilting
Ride 'em cowboys - the commission quilt (Link)
Celtic knots - how to use Bias bars nice how to I found is at Carol's Quilt Cafe (Link)
I rambled off onto family stuff here....

Aprons
Emmeline (link)
Apron Evangelism philosophies on the pleasure & power of aprons (link)

Around the Net
Hugs and Kisses Blog - The Stitchers' Angel Project (link)

Australian Quilt Designers
Jan Mullen Stargazy Quilts (link) it is Mullen not Mullens as I kept saying in the podcast! Ooops sorry!



To Listen CLICK HERE

Cro Knit Shorties and soakers

DRD Croknit Soakers


Croknit soakers - small
Knitted waist and leg bands for better, softer fit.

Cro Knit Shorties - newborn/small

DRD Croknit shorties
knitted waistband for a better, softer fit.
A shell edge to the pant leg
Extra short rows at the back
hip 38cm rise 40cm inside leg 4cm

A close up - the stitching is dense making a nice thick wool fabric
Crochet soakers are not as stretchy as knitted and don't fit as long.
Their density makes them perfect for heavy wetters and nights.

I've been busy working on store items. One day I'll get around to the stocking :) I'll let you know on the blog when it will finally happen.

Art by Akiane - Music by Steven Cravis

Akiane Kramarik - Spiritual Young Artist

A new pincushion

Every sewer needs a new pincushion!

I regularly read dearfii blog, one of my favorites. Fi has had a tutorial for her pincushion published HERE on the Living Creatively Community.

A nice quick and useful project. Would make a lovely gift too.

I've added the black border to the Ride 'em Cowboy quilt. Next step is to add the appliques.

Possum and Merino Longies

Longies
Merino & Fur by Naturally Hand Knit
70% Wool and 30% Possum Fur
Knit on 5mm needles
Hip 50cm rise 45cm and inside leg 19cm

Not sure what I'm doing with these. They may end up as Michael's I do love the feel of them, they are very soft. Or they could end up in the store.

Ride 'em Cowboy!

Ride 'em Cowboy
top pieced and waiting for borders

He's such a happy little cowboy.

Pete's home! I abandoned my children and headed into my shed for a few hours of piecing bliss. This is a commission piece and is destined to be a cot quilt. The next step will be a black border, only 1 1/2 inches. Then I will jazzy things up with a little applique. No specific idea yet but, something cowboyish.

I'm going to applique and quilt at the same time. I have a nice piece of bamboo batting in the shed, just perfect for this quilt.

Small Longies

Small Longies - custom made
Wool : Hand dyed Country 12ply by Cleckheaton
Elasticated waistband and picot hem on the pant legs
Measurements: hip 44cm, rise 40cm, inside leg 17cm

This is the wool I dyed up a couple of days ago. The colour in real life is a little darker.

A Random Act Of Kindness - for me

Someone I never met thought about me.
And I received this parcel in the mail.

These books are wonderful. Full of vintage patterns for children. The oldest of them uses a basic pattern to draft the patterns yourself.

Thank you so much. I love them and they will be used and looked after. And I will Pay your kindness forward :)

More dyeing

Bruise

Landscape and Gaywool dyes
12ply country by Cleckheaton
I used a mix of dyes Wallaby by Lanscape and the blue was a Gaywool (I think)

Autumn Leaves

Landscape Dyes
pot dyed in the microwave
8ply Totem by Patons - cream
Dyes: Wallaby, Wattle and Desert Pea

I wanted to try Kettle dying but can't be bothered with the stove top. Instead I put my wool in a microsafe bowl and poured the dyes on the top, squished them through a little and nuked them for four lots of 2 minutes. Rinsed them out and ta da done!

NB Longies

Commissioned New born longies .. so, so small!
Wool - Sean Sheep Armytage
Size 14" 36cm - hip, 5" or 13cm - leg inseam and 15" or 38cm - rise
Knitted on 5mm needles.

I also dyed up the wool for a second pair in a slightly larger size. The wool is hanging from the clothes airer in front of the fire. I can't wait to get it balled up and knitted.

12ply Country by Cleckheaton 100% wool
Dyed with Gaywool dyes in the microwave.


Now it's ready for knitting!

Forgive me all. It's been a week since my last....

Blog Post!


I have been busy with Pete still away. It's been over three weeks since he left but hopefully he'll be home soon.

Just to remind myself he does sleep sometimes!

And this is what you do when your baby finally naps:

Spend some time baking and bonding with your daughter.

This recipe make a HUGE batch of cookies. And Lilly and I can testify to how yummy they are. I was planning on Anzac biscuits but had no coconut so did a google search and came up with this yummy recipe.

The podcast is on it's way. I did a little recording last night. Pete has bought me a new USB headset to improve the sound quality. Thank you to all of those listening. I get really excited when I see the number of downloads it's getting. Gives my ego a nice boost. And makes me feel like I'm contributing to the world in some other way than raising a great family.