This piece of knitting is a close up of detail on the bassinette blanket that I made for my grandson, Connor. It comes from the ruthieknits 'Berries and Cream' range. My first knits for young children in this range were for girls, and were consequently resplendently pink, red and mauve/purple. I needed to create something a little different for Connor, given that everything he would be given would be in 'boy' colours. I wanted this blanket to blend with his other stuff. Here it is, 'blueberry ice', perhaps?
The completed fabric is made with a mix of pure wool and mohair/wool/synthetic mix. All the yarns and soft and light. I used one of my favourite stitches, 'Blackberry' stitch (or 'bramble'.) The edging is crocheted.
My grandson, Sam, was cautious when I suggested knitting him a scarf. His sister's scarf was lacy and pink. Aussie blokes don't wear lacy pink scarves, especially when they're boys growing up in smaller country centres. Seeing the hesitation in his eye I laced my offer with (unsubtle) suggestions of traditional 'boy' colours. Blues, a little red, green and yellow to brighten it up. A nice tweedy, manly texture. Despite my attempts he was still suspicious, asking; "Bluuuuuue?" I cast around my mind for a more reassuring line but couldn't find one. I was reduced to; "Yeeees, mainly blues!" delivered in an even firmer tone. It was at that point I gave up the idea of adding 'purple' to the colourway. I watched his face clear. I had clinched the deal! And here it is, Sam's masculine, hand made, garter slip stitched scarf. It's knitted with suitably rugged Patons 100% wool in an 8 ply, and I understand that the additional colours have not been a problem. The proof of the pudding will be his allowing me to knit him another scarf ... when this one reaches the end of its life!
Soothing water pools are stepped along the side of PinkLizzie's house. Nestling in the pools are lush, green leaves, which in their season bear these glorious water lilies. Add to these the back verandah and it is a wonderful place to relax in, with a coffee, toward the end of the day.
It is famously claimed that chocolate raises endorphine levels in the human body. Brillat-Savarin is reported to have said;
"Good living is an act of intelligence,
by which we choose things which have
an agreeable taste rather than those
which do not."
As chocolate is delicious, I think that the eating of chocolate should be taken to be the sign of an excellent mind. In fact, I would take it further ... if eating something that tastes agreeable is an act of intelligence, and since hormonal women tend toward chocolate as if to a natural urge, the hormonal woman who eats chocolate is, in fact, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
After all, "...all true chocolate lovers know that [chocolate] is a
vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, 'nuff
said."
Winter weather in South East Queensland is often cool enough for a little cover, but not cold enough for heavier knits. I knitted this wrap last winter, so that I'd have something light to throw around my shoulders when it was chilly. My mother used it, my sister used it ... I don't recall having used it once! But that was because I was using my stripy Inca-style shawl.
I knitted this wrap in a lovely, creamy white Cleckheaton yarn, Studio Mohair. The completed fabric is one of my favourite ribs ... a slipped stitch rib. I'd really like to try this wrap with hand-made lace lining the cast on and cast off edges.
The slipped stitch rib I used is easily knitted. If you would like the instructions for either the stitch or the pattern, leave a message or email me. I'm happy to help!
These were the earrings that inspired us to begin making jewellery. They were a gift from a dear husband and cost around $75. In their original form they comprised a rose quartz bead, an amethyst bead, a tiny silver spacer and stamped sterling silver hooks.
Being a fuss-pot, I found the crooked hang of the earrings irritating. Knowing of the craft, 'beading', and being aware of a local bead supplier, I thought that I should be able to re-make the earrings so they hung properly. With some trepidation (after all, these were $75 earrings) I pulled them apart. I discovered that my earrings were strung on wire so fine, they could never hang without bending. I needed something more robust to hang the beads from. With that in mind, I visited the beading store. Several sets of headpins and the addition of Bali silver and a couple of onyx beads later, here they are.
The thing that bothers me about this experience is that my darling husband paid $75 for four beads that, if I were to be very generous, only cost the manufacturer $8. The sterling silver shepherd hooks cost around $2.50. The tiny piece of inferior wire might have been lying about the workshop. For a few dollars more, I transformed my earrings into something truly gorgeous.
Beautiful, silver semi-precious and pearl jewellery that is well made and unique, need not cost much money. A pair of earrings like these, made with whichever currently available stone I choose, will cost me no more than five to ten dollars. I hope that this information will be useful and freeing to many women. We deserve better. Reasonable prices, higher quality and greater choice. Now, they are available to us.
This piece of knitting is a close up of detail on the bassinette blanket that I made for my grandson, Connor. It comes from the ruthieknits 'Berries and Cream' range. My first knits for young children in this range were for girls, and were consequently resplendently pink, red and mauve/purple. I needed to create something a little different for Connor, given that everything he would be given would be in 'boy' colours. I wanted this blanket to blend with his other stuff. Here it is, 'blueberry ice', perhaps?
