Progress on Diamond Baby Jumper

The good thing about cold weekend days in Melbourne is that it's a good time to knit and stay warm with a nice blanket on your knees.  Here is my progress on the stone-coloured baby jumper.  Back is all done, and the front is about half done.

I have also been meaning to share some photos of some beautiful felt that I got from this Etsy store.  I'm thinking of Christmas projects already!!

 

 

New Project - Paton's Modern Classics Baby Jumper

I've cast on and started a new baby jumper.  On of my sisters-in-law in expecting a baby boy in June.  What better than to do some knitting for him?

This pattern is from Paton's Modern Classics.  Looks easy enough.  I'm using Bendigo Woolen Mills Luxury 4 ply baby wool in 'stone'.  The wool has a lovely feel.

Quilt For Mr Rights' Birthday - Finished!!

I'm pretty please with this quilt.  I like the fabrics and the hourglass blocks.

The back is a jumble of some left-overs from different projects.  I like using up my remnants to make a pretty backing.

Quilt for Mr Rights' Birthday

I've taken a small hiatus from knitting to start a new quilting project for Mr Right's birthday (which is not too far away).

I've long been ogling at Cluck Cluck Sew's hourglass tutorial.  So this is a great opportunity to try it.  I'm using Pat Barvo's Bazaar Style in Oasis palette.

The top is together, so now to make a backing and quilt it all together.

Yellow Fern Lace Jumper - done!

The yellow fern lace jumper is complete - yay!!  I've finished it off with some Czechoslovakian glass buttons I picked up at the ButtonFest last year.

 

The sleeves had to be shorter than suggested in the pattern as I simply ran out of wool.  I'm not too worried though, the pattern and colour are quite summery.

In addition we've been able to harvest some little yellow capsicums from our balcony garden - very tasty.

On the cooking front ... this weekend I couldn't go past making Julia Childs' Reine de Saba and some home-made vanilla ice-cream.

Fern Lace Baby Jumper Progress + Pannacottas

I'm making some good progress on the lemon fern lace baby jumper.  The back is completed now.

And I've made a start on the front.  Here is my little knitting "nest" on the sofa :)

I had a first attempt at pannacottas during the week.  They are easier than I expected!!  I used this recipe - so yum.  The jelly on top is made just with the fresh raspberries, water, sugar and gelatine.  Now I know what REAL raspberry jelly should taste like.  The vanilla base is made with greek yoghurt, cream and vanilla bean.  So good.

New Project - Lemon Fern Boatneck Baby Jumper

In the stash of wool I inherited from Mum there was a ball and a half of lemon baby yarn.  I know that when she was expecting me she didn't know if she was having a boy or a girl, so I can only think she invested in some lemon yarn that could suit a boy or girl.  I felt the lemon was a bit feminine, so I decided to use it in a pattern suitable for a girl.  The  boatneck fern lace sweater in Paton's Modern Classics seems just right.

The pattern calls for a 4 ply yarn.  The yarn I have I think is a 3 ply.  So I'm making it to 6 month size in terms of stitch count, but only to newborn size length.  Hopefully the whole thing will come out newborn size.

Crochet Slippers

We were having a run of hot weather in Melbourne, but this week it's turned all cold again.  The days are getting shorter (we now get up in the dark in the mornings) reminding me that winter won't be too far away.  I need slippers!  There's nothing worse than cold feet in winter.  If my feet are cold, everything else feels cold.

I found this great pattern for crochet slippers here. Pretty simple design.  Used up some more wool from the stash.

A bit slippery on our polished wood floors.  But I'll just have to remember to be careful.

Bella's Mittens Finish & Knitting Plans

My Bella's Mittens are finished.  I love the pattern - once you get into it it's really easy to follow.  They're a good size.  The only thing is that I used a 4 ply merino which is quite a bit thinner than the suggested bulky cascade 109.  As a consequence I don't think they'll be anywhere near as warm.  But probably ok for a Melbourne Autumn or Spring.  Pattern details here.

Next up.....knitting plans.  As I have my knitting mojo at the moment - they're EXTENSIVE!

First up, a baby jumper from Paton's Modern Classic Baby Knits (style 5) to use up some wool from Mum's stash.  The wool I have is only 3 ply, whereas the pattern calls for a 4 ply.  So my plan is to use the stitch count for the 3 month size and then then length of the newborn size and hopefully it will come out newborn size proportions.  We'll see. 

Once that's done, I'm looking forward to doing some knitting for a baby boy due to arrive in the family in late June.  From the same Paton's book I was thinking this little jumper.  I've bought some beautiful baby wool (luxury 4 ply) from Bendigo Woollen Mills in stone and junior navy.  I think I'll do the jumper in the stone then think about some accessories like a beannie and/or booties in the navy.

For myself I'm hunkering for some cardis for winter.  I already have some jumpers, but they both have quite narrow necks (one is a turtle neck) so trying to get them on and off is impossible to do if you don't want to look like you've been dragged through a birch bush backwards.  So I wanted some cardis to be nice enough to wear to work so that when it's a bit chilly I can put them on over whatever I'm wearing without giving myself a fluffy hair makeover.

This first pattern is from one of Mum's old pattern books.  Had my eye on the design for ages.  I've got some lovely DK weight yarn (Classic) from Bendigo Woollen Mills in "Mallard" for this.

Then lastly, I saw this cardi pattern on Ravelry - White Pine.  Took my fancy immediately.  Unfortunately the smallest size in the pattern is 34" bust, and I'm a 32.  That said, the wool I have marked out for this is is a DK weight, whereas the pattern calls for a 10 ply yarn so I'm hoping that knitting it in 8 ply will mean it will run a bit smaller than the pattern.

Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic in Dark Plum.

 "So" you say.  "All this in 2013?"  Yes.  I'm hoping so!  We'll see how I go.

Chocolate & Candied Orange Cake + Baby Helmet

I've never made candied orange before.  It's so yum!  It's basically just sugar and water then boiling slices of orange in it.  Might just be my new favourite food.  You could almost skip the chocolate cake underneath altogether and just go for the orange.  Anyways - recipe from Donna Hay Magazine December 2012 issue.

Next on the "menu" a baby helmet.  I had a little bit of wool left over from making this cardigan and saw this little helmet in a vintage baby bonnet pattern book.  It seemed like a match made in heaven.

It was a quick knit and fun to make :)