Wingham Show 2018

This time last year the Wingham show was cancelled

so I entered a few items into the Taree show at the end of the year
I also entered 4 items into this years Wingham Show
I won first and second prize in the baby shawl section
and second prize in the lap blanket section.
Most of the baby items are usually white or pastels,
But I like to make items that are a bit different.
The Second prize baby shawl was a pattern by
Frank O'Randle called mini rings of change
In my favourite yarn  Magic Light by Ice Yarn #22034
My mum likes it better than my first prize shawl.
 
For the first time I entered into the baby knitted set of three section
Also using my favourite yarn I used in the shawl above
The pattern is called Aussie Swing by Aussie Maria
The hat is a bernat pattern available here
http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/knit-baby-hat.html
It didn't win a prize but that's ok I enjoyed making it.

The first prize baby shawl is another Frank O'Randle pattern
Called Mini Galaxy of change made from scraps in my stash

Last but not least is the second prize lap blanket
It is a pattern by Joyce Lewis called Simple 10-petal afghan square
I used the scraps left over from the blanket
I entered into Taree show last year that won first prize
It is similar but quite different too

I used quite a different method to create this,
I will blog the details in my next post

Baby design jackets

I ordered some lovely ice yarn called baby design
awhile ago to take with me while we travelled.
It looks like flowers when knitted up, so it is
best knitted, as it loses the effect when crocheted.
While I was travelling around I decided to experiment
using several patterns to see the different effects.
 The first pattern is called Boronia by Aussie Maria,
it's my first top down pattern I've used and it was quick and easy

Boronia

The next I made is a paid pattern #1929
designed for snuggly baby crofter DK yarn and
I used a matching pink yarn for the sleeves and yoke.

baby crofter DK pattern #1929

Then I made a few jackets using

Yvettes garter stitch baby sweater.
The first i made using 4mm needles, the I made another
using 4.5 mm needles and as the width of the back
was 27cm and the sleeve length was 14cm,
I added an extra 10 rows to the sleeves.
We tried this one on a 1 year old and it fitted fine,
although it was a bit short, like a shrug or bolero,
(which would be due to the fact I'm using different
Needles and yarn to the pattern!)
Another couple of inches would be perfect,
but I'm not sure how to add length to it.
I prefer the 4.5mm version to the 4mm.
I basically used garter stitch for the solid colour
and stocking stitch for the flower section, except for the back section.
For the sleeves I started from where the yarn changed from mid pink to darker pink.

4mm back

The next I made another jacket using 2 sections of the flowers joined together. Hope you enjoy the pics.

4mm front

  

4.5mm front

4.5mm back

4.5 mm sleeve & back before adding extra rows

4.5mm sleeve

double flower section back

double flower section front

more dancing baby crochet

We have been travelling through the red centre and while I had little or no phone coverage
I made a cute little crochet jacket in ice yarn dancing baby #24560
Blue camel and white shades using baby boy cardi pattern,
it has star stitch which I haven't done before

With the remaining last ball, I decided to make another miniGalaxy by Frank O'Randle by adding matching scraps from my stash.
I think I spent more time working out the colours than it took to make!
EDIT: 9/10/17 I won first prize
                       
I used scraps of:
White for rounds 1-4, 27 & 28, 34 & 35
Beige for rounds 5 to 7, 36 to 38
Brown for round 8 & 39
Light blue for rounds 9 to 12 & 29
Med blue for rounds 13 to 15, 30 to 32
Dark blue for rounds 16 & 17 & 33
& 1 ball of Dancing baby for rounds 18 to 26

In my last Post I posted 2 mini galaxy of change blankets, I really enjoy making this pattern
 and I have already started another rainbow blanket with red in the centre this time.

Crochet and travelling

In mid May we packed our household up and hit the road to travel Australia again.
We are now North of the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland
We are escaping the Southern winter and have been enjoying
the lovely warm days that are 10-15 deg warmer than NSW.
We've just visited Bowen where the big mango is and
also where Baz Luhrmann shot the movie Australia.
My crocheting has slowed down as there is more humidity here.
I'm hoping I can overcome that by switching to making squares
rather than crocheting with a growing blanket on my lap.
The last few months I've been enjoying making blankets by
Designer Frank O'Randle and using my ice yarn.
I've made a pink and white set using magic light ice yarn shade #22021
The blanket is Rings of change by Frank O'Randle
I've Stretched it further by adding matching white and dark pink yarn.
The jacket is another magic sweater with a matching crochet beanie.
This set was given to the charity "knitting for northern rivers needy" in Coraki NSW

I decided To try another Frank O'Randle pattern called mini galaxy of change,
I had to learn new stitches, thank goodness for YouTube.
It's become my new favourite, the first I made was with Ice Yarn Dancing Baby
In white camel and blue, shade # 24560 with a 4.5mm hook, the 1st ball ran out 3/4 around round 22
And the 2nd ball finished at end of round 31,
then I used complementary shades from white to dark blue to finish.
This was also gifted to the knit 4 northern rivers needy charity

Next I made another using rainbow colours which I think looks very effective

Baby jacket in Team colours

I mentioned in my previous post the team baby blanket I made,
I've now finished another magic sweater, this one made in team colours.
Its really all just a bit of lighthearted fun for me.
It's funny, I was thinking "what if its a girl" because of the blue
and then when I found out it was a girl, I then decided to make the jacket.
I've never made items in team colours for a baby before, so it was good
to put my thinking cap on to design and make something a little bit different.
I decided to make a matching beanie, my inspiration was from the pattern
shadow stripes hat by p2designs, instead of the purl I used either blue or black.

  

Magic Sweaters

younger

I'm really enjoying making these little jackets with this pattern,
the only downside is that it only has one size.
I said in my previous post that I wanted to make one that will grow with the baby and fit for longer.
I was thinking with the sleeves folded up with the fronts overlapped when it's slightly too big, as in the first pic.
 So I decided to add a shell edging to the body and sleeve edges.

older

Its Panda Magnum soft prints. it was a lovely yarn to work with.
It took up most of the 100gm ball, not much leftover at all.
I have had a few people ask me about the pattern, there is a typo and I will explain the folding in the pattern photos.
None of this will make sense unless you have the same pattern.
photo #3 shows the jacket folded in half with the turning ends meeting in the middle. photo #4 you take the turning end on the right side from the middle and spin it up and to the right. Do the same with the left side and it will look like photo #5. Now take the blue section at the top and fold it down to the blue strip at the bottom for photo #6. You will have from left to right, pink which is the starting chain, 2 folded sections followed by another pink starting chain section with starting chain edge behind your work, the short sides at the left and right are the turning edges.
Now for the Typo, on page 2, Top of Back,
the pattern says:
Round 1. Ch2, dc in each chain across 9 including chain with 8 dc together)
it should read:
Ch2, dc in each chain across (including chain with 8 dc together)
hope this helps those who have had trouble

Magic Light Ice Yarn & Magic Sweater

I've been enjoying crocheting with the Magic Light by Ice yarn from Turkey, I have powered through three balls and started on the fourth (and last!) ball. I'm finding it interesting seeing how it looks using different patterns. A friend recently showed me a baby jacket pattern and one she had finished, it was so lovely that I purchased the pattern too. The pattern is called Magic Sweater by Tessie S, here is the link for ravelry and I believe its on Craftsy too. No kickbacks for me, I'm just a happy customer and people are interested in the pattern. I've made two of them so far, the top picture shows the first one

I made using just the Magic Light yarn #22034 and the second picture shows alternating rows of Magic Light with a solid pink yarn and I added a little crochet flower clasp. Magic light is a self striping yarn, I didn't want the yellow on the front so I cut it when it came to that colour and used them around the edging. It's a quick and easy pattern and I really enjoyed making it. I was making them for this months Knit 4 charity recipients and I have received a few requests from friends with babies to make them some. So for US$3 it really is good value for a lovely pattern, I'd love to have a few sizes, but I'm hoping it will fit them as they grow. I'm planning to make another one with cuffs that can be worn folded back then unfolded when they are older.

Square and Ripple Team Colours

I have made this pattern twice before, see my earlier post here
When I caught up with a friend after I got back from our trip,
I offered to make a baby blanket for his first Grandchild
which is due in September.
He suggested NRL (Rugby League) Cronulla Sharks team colours.

 

So the colours are pale/sky blue, black and white, although I live in the Cronulla/Sutherland territory, I barrack for St George, go the red and white.



I had trouble getting my head around making a baby blanket with BLACK.
Luckily my friend Di gave me the encouragement I needed and I got there in the end.
When I asked "what if it's a girl?" she replied "it will just have to like football!"
It took me quite a long time to choose which pattern to use, I wanted something special.
I must admit I wasn't feeling much love for this blanket until I did the last black round and it started to all come together.
I changed the pattern slightly by using a small white square in the centre of the filling in rows.
I left the first one in black as a feature, then I wanted them to blend into the background more on the
following rows.The pattern is called square and ripple and can be found here on  ravelry
Here are some progress shots.

Not too sure yet

My star blankets

I have been busy as ever making lots of  crochet blankets.
However I've been keeping them under wraps as I wanted
To surprise my knit 4 charity friends at our confab
We spent a great weekend beginning of August at Maroochydore,
Queensland. Hubby and I incorporated it into our 12 month
Around Australia trip which we began in mid July.
The larger navy blankets were the start of my obsession
They are based on the Blue Star by Kathy Blakely
published in Herrschners Blue ribbon afghans
The yellow centre I will enter into next years show

The cream centred blanket I have donated to a charity in Northern NSW.

I made quite a few smaller ones for a group called
Little Wonder that  is through RPA (Royal Prince Alfred) hospital in Sydney.
They required 55cm blankets for the babies
I had so much fun making them, even though they are based on the same pattern,
playing with colours kept it interesting.
NOTE: This post was significantly delayed due to computer and internet issues,
it's not easy when you are travelling around Australia

Wool Purchase Excuses

I had a comment from Dorothy on my 
Baby Beanie post about the cost of the 
Sirdar Baby Crofter wool. I totally agree
with her, it took  me about an hour to 
finally take the plunge and part with my 
money. I could have bought 4 balls of 
ordinary acrylic for the same price!
I have a good friend who says to me
 "don't feel guilty for spending money
on yourself" she tells me I work hard 
for my money & whats the point if I 
can't enjoy it. 
Here are some of the reasons 
I thought of why I should "afford" it.
I have allergies and can't use a lot of makeup $$$
I stopped dying my hair in 2006 $$
The last time we ate out was April for Hubbies birthday $$$
I walk 2.5 km and catch either 2 trains or a train and a bus to get to work...save on petrol $$$
The girls at work buy a couple of cups of coffee a day @ $4 each,
 I have bought about 3 in 10 months $$
I take my lunch to work, sandwiches cost about $8 where I work $$$$
we also save on electricity by using washing machine after 10pm & using oven mainly on weekends 
I have also lost 16kg (35lb or 2.5 st) and no longer take Blood Pressure  medication, they say you should have little rewards along the way when you reach weight loss milestones. 
I really  enjoyed knitting with this wool, it is so soft and I really don't feel guilty, so much so that I went back and bought some more! It took less than an hour the second time, but I still lingered!  
Some great news is that the sales team at my work were given gift vouchers by our manager to give to people who help their business and they all put their heads together and gave them to the office staff. I ended up with $90 worth. So I have decided to spend some on me, I have bought 4 crochet hooks off the internet and I will be comparing them and will post soon. 
PS I don't have any affiliations, no brown paper bags or kickbacks from the Sirdar company, I just love this wool. Do you have any excuses you tell yourself when you purchase wool and you only have about another 100 balls at home?

Baby Beanies

I have been busy making baby beanies, I have a friends cute
Grand daughter to make beanies for. They are going
to the snow in a few weeks and she asked if I could make
some with earflaps. I made the crochet ones first using the
Lil' Darlin' hat pattern. Then I found some lovely
Sirdar Baby Crofter in 8ply at the local yarn shop, the
colourway is called Tilly, pink, cream with some red
 and I knitted my first beanie in the round.
I must say this was nearly the undoing of me.
I struggled with joining after cast on. The pattern said to
use 2 circular needles. It was no help to me, I couldn't work
out how that could be achieved. I decided to rib one row
before joining and that made a huge difference.
I then decided to use 4 circulars and I still had trouble,
getting them all mixed up. I eventually
(accidentally mind you) ended up with 2 circulars
and worked out a method that worked for me.
I still had trouble in the last few rows with the stitches
slipping of the needles. I'm going to the
Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair next week, so I should
be able to find some stoppers for the ends.

I love the Baby Crofter, I went back and bought the
Nessie Colourway, lovely mauve, blue and green.
That's a china doll modelling for me.
This will be for charity and I might make a matching
jacket, I just have to find a suitable pattern for this wool.

The beanie pattern is so easy, for a 3 month old,
CO 72 sts, 8 rows rib, then stocking stitch
until it measures 12.5cm, then decrease rows are:

k7, knit 2 tog to end
k6, knit 2 tog to end
k5, knit 2 tog to end
k4, knit 2 tog to end
k3, knit 2 tog to end
k2, knit 2 tog to end
k1, knit 2 tog to end
knit 2 tog,
draw the wool through the remaining 8 stitches, fasten off.
I added the earflaps then crocheted the curly ties.

The next pattern I made was the Shadow Stripes Hat
in yellow. I chose not to make the top knot and
decided to crochet 3 little squiggly tails on top.

I have just cast on the sleeves of a baby cardigan
that I hope will be suitable for the Baby Crofter
wool, I'm using Panda Baby Lustre 8 ply in lovely pale
blue/mauve tones, I will show pics when I am finished.

Show and Tell Week 29

No squares this week,
I finished DHs jumper,
I now have a callous on my left thumb
I also started (and finished) a little
round yoke baby matinee jacket
(and I now also have a split on
both my index fingers)
It is in 4 ply on 3.25 mm needles
The body is knitted all in one to
the armholes then sleeves added
and the yoke is then completed.
The only sewing is the sleeve seams
and I just have to get some buttons.
This pattern is the same as a jacket
I was given when my son was born
almost 21 years ago.
Just over a week until his birthday, obviously his was a nice shade of blue.