New design tuesday - Evie

Evie has just been published! Hurrah, she went from zero to hero in no time flat, to think I really fought myself when I designed the pattern, I just didn't think it would work, but then I made it and realized that it has a weird je ne sais quoi. Here is the Ravelry link, or my website link.

Details: Worked in the round at first and then divided and worked flat to give the lovely wing effect to the sleeves Evie is a fun knit for an intermediate knitter. 

If you can work in the round and work lace from a chart or written instructions then you will find knitting Evie a piece of cake!

$7.50 NZ

Sizes
58 (64, 66, 70) chest (4, 6, 8, 10) years
(64, 68, 70) waist (12, 14, 16) years
(Child measurements)

Yarn
Forever green Élan Organic Merino
167 m (182 yd) = 50 g (1.76 oz)
465 (546, 628, 708, 868, 946) m
507 (597, 686, 774, 949, 1035) yd

Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino is a good substitute, however the Forever green is easily available from the ever wonderful people at www.skeinz.com.

You could also work it in cotton - Knitwytch from Ravelry made a stunning one in jade coloured Bendigo cotton 8ply.

Buttons etc
4 snaps or 1 metre of 1 inch wide silk ribbon
Needles
3.25 mm circular 50 cm (20 in)
4 mm circular (any length 50 cm. (20 in) or over).
(Or size needed to achieve gauge)

Accessories
4 st markers
Stitch holders or scrap yarn

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.

In life news, my photography class ended today. It was a little sad, we have learnt about one another through our images and the class has taught me so much, I never use auto any more. I can work fully in manual mode and I can make the camera give me photos that are so much closer to what I want. We have decided to set up a Facebook group so that we can continue sharing our thoughts and ideas and the awesome venues that have been discovered.

Flash is fine, still head down bum up studying like crazy and doing well. We keep telling him that "C"s get degrees, but he has decided he likes "A"s and "B"s better, can't blame him for that.

Frasier  - hmmm, he is being a bit of a hooligan at present, basically keeping the neighborhood cats in line, pity the neighbors don't see it that way "la, la la"...He came home late last night, soaking wet (down one side) with his collar missing and a gash on his leg...I hate to think.

Free Friday - made it!!

Hi to all of you too! The winner this week is number 4, thats Natalie, I'll gift the pattern to you via Ravelry, I do hope you like it, its a lot of fun and a quick knit.

I haven't got anything new to show you right now, things are just percolating through the process.

This weeks giveaway is "Riverstone" an old favourite, revamped a while back to make the neck smaller. The construction of this sweater is different to the norm and a lot of fun.

To win this  pattern please just say "Hi" in the comments.

Housekeeping:

- please include your Ravelry name or your email address (you can space it out to avoid spambots)- I will gift the pattern via Ravelry, if you do not belong to Rav I will email the .pdf to you- winner (s) are drawn sometime on Friday, this means "Friday afternoon/evening New Zealand time"- the winner (s) are chosen by random number generator (I use this one)- you may enter even if you have won before

Free Friday - Cosseted

Or the one where I am really, really late!

This week's winner is number 2 - that's Deb, I'll gift it to you via Ravelry.

I'm late because I really wanted photos of this weeks sweater on a child, and it took me until midnight last night to get those photos! I took them yesterday evening, however I wanted to socialize with family rather than process photos, and when I returned to my computer I remembered that I was halfway through turning 50 year old negatives into photos for my Grandmother, so I had to finish that first...

I love this one of my Mum on a donkey at the seaside!

This weeks giveaway in the "Cosseted" e-book containing the patterns for Cosset and Cossimo, the boy/girl versions of this quick knit vest / t-shirt. I have included a photo tutorial for dip dyeing the sweater if you so desire.

This sweater is worked in super chunky yarn using one size of needle only, it really does fly off the needles!

To win this  pattern please just say "Hi" in the comments.

Housekeeping:

- please include your Ravelry name or your email address (you can space it out to avoid spambots)- I will gift the pattern via Ravelry, if you do not belong to Rav I will email the .pdf to you- winner (s) are drawn sometime on Friday, this means "Friday afternoon/evening New Zealand time"- the winner (s) are chosen by random number generator (I use this one)- you may enter even if you have won before

New design tuesday - Cosseted

Cosseted is the name of the e-book containing the patterns for Cosset and Cossimo (the boy version) it is available now from Ravelry and the website.

I'm just waiting until we see Cody again so that I can get some good photos of Cossimo in action!

The pattern has full instructions, and photo tutorials for dip-dyeing and provisional cast on.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with this pattern, I think Aria is next in line!

Free Friday - getting into the swing of things

Happy Friday everybody! The winner this week is number 2...which would be me...so I've taken myself out, so number 2 is missmuffetnz, I'll gift the .pdf to you via Ravelry!

Thanks for the birthday wishes and the street food memories, Sasiquoi we saw squid on a stick at the lantern festival!

This week has passed so quickly, due to the long weekend and the craziness at work, I am so looking forward to relaxing over the weekend and enjoying the last rays of summer. I'm also going to spend a lot of the weekend working on new size charts and making a Plum Blossom myself, I'm going to try and incorporate these beautiful buttons into the cardi. I don't usually like fimo (craft clay) buttons, but Nicola has changed my mind, Buttons by Benji are original, high quality, well finished buttons which can go through the washing machine (yaay!) once again this is not a paid endorsement, but work like this deserves recognition!

My parents have been on holiday in the south island, and I came home today to a gift from my Mum, it is a stunning "Piece flag" from Koko for Beedance  made using upcycled wool blankets appliquéd with NZ native birds. Perfect!

And finally, these coasters arrived,easy, simple perspex from this cool as design store - Vanilla we had bought Christmas presents and our new mailbox from them, then Flash saw these coasters and decided they were just the thing to finish off our lounge (he is a detail guy)

Just a small sample of the wealth of talent in New Zealand!

This week's free pattern is Cherub

Actual chest measurement (child) 
40.5 (43, 48, 50.5, 57.5, 62.5, 66.25, 70) cm 
16 (17, 19, 20, 22.75, 24.5, 26, 27.5)” 
Yarn: Skeinz “Prism” organic DK 104 metres (113.7 yards) per 50g (1.76 ounce) ball (www.skeinz.com) 
2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) balls main colour (MC) 
1 ball contrast colour (CC) 
Buttons: (cardigan only) your preference, either just one at the neck, or 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) 
Needles: circular needles 1 x 3.25 mm ( 2 for cardigan) length immaterial as used straight throughout. 1 x 4mm ( 2 for cardigan) (or size to achieve gauge) 
Accessories: darning needle, pins for positioning buttons, 2 st markers, 3 st holders or scrap yarn. 
Gauge: 22 sts x 26 rows = 10cm over stocking st using larger needles.

The wings are worked in intarsia, which is charted. 
This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.

To win this  pattern please just say "Hi" and tell me of any plans you have this weekend

Housekeeping:

- please include your Ravelry name or your email address (can space it out to avoid spambots)- I will gift the pattern via Ravelry, if you do not belong to Rav I will email the .pdf to you- winner (s) are drawn sometime on Friday, this means "Friday afternoon/evening New Zealand time"- the winner (s) are chosen by random number generator (I use this one)- you may enter even if you have won before

New design tuesday - Cosset

So, there are 3 patterns nearing the end of the process towards publishing right now...Aria, Evie and Cosset, however Cosset has dome a u-turn on me!

When I first asked for testers a few people asked about a "boy" version, and I agreed that this was an idea worth pursuing, then a very nice test knitter (who has a boy) gave me some great tips on how to make it more acceptable.

I have done away with the yarn overs, replacing them with a kfb, which means a little less give at the neck, resulting in the requirement to cast on provisionally, but thats not a biggie, we then scoot through the yoke, turning the work inside out after casting off the armholes, thus the yoke is worked in reverse stst without having to purl once - magic!

After working for a while in stst the garment is finished with a wide band of reverse stst and a sewn cast off to reduce the tendency to curl.

I've almost finished my version, which I'll try out on Cody, then its onto the ladies' version...this may take some thinking, I'm not keen on short row shaping using such heavy yarn...ah I know it will work itself out!

I'll leave you with a pic of the moldboard I used when I created the Plum blossom cardi, with the cardi photo added later, its a fun way to play around with ideas and colourways.

Free Friday (yes I know its sunday!)

Sorry everyone, I was waylaid by life - Flash was away wed/thurs night, then friday night we went to a dinner party, so I had no time for blogging (the ice cream making jag was wed/thurs nights so that can't be to blame...really...)

This weekend is a long one in NZ, with Waitangi Day (NZ National Day) being on monday this year (it is always February 6 - which  coincides nicely with my birthday, so I always have the day off!) and we like to celebrate, so yesterday Flash and I spent the day out at the Lantern festival where we enjoyed the Dragon dances, lanterns and queued for yummy chicken satay and coconut rice (my favourite street food), Art Gallery and basically roaming Auckland city enjoying the bustle, ending up at the Mexican Cafe for dinner (don't tell Blaise).

I love the Lantern festival - held every year in Albert park, but I don't trust the safety of my camera in the crowds, so used my iPhone to get this shot - can't wait until Cody is old enough to play in one of these hamster balls!

So, the number generator chose "7" that's Whatu, I'll gift the .pdf to you on Rav.

This week's pattern (choice inspired by the festival) is Plum Blossom, 

here are the specs:

Plum blossom is a simple button up cardigan 

with sweet embroidery to delight every little girl. 
The garment is worked in one piece to underarms and the gently puffed sleeves are picked up at the armhole and worked from the top down. 
The only seams to sew are the sleeve seams. 
Full charts for duplicate st and instructions for embellishments included.

Actual chest measurement (child) 
40.5 (43, 45.5, 48, 50.5, 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, 66.25, 70) cm/16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21.75, 22.75, 23.5, 24.5, 26, 27.5)”

Yarn: Sublime Organic Merino Wool DK 
113 yards (103 meters) per 50 grams/1.76 ounces 100% Organic Merino 
2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8) balls 
4 ply (fingering) weight yarn: small amount in pale pink for blossoms. 
DK weight yarn: small amount in brown and rose pink for branches and buds.

Buttons: 4 (4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8, 8) 12mm (1/2’) buttons to coordinate with main yarn 
2 buttons that coordinate with yarn used as blossoms

Needles: 3.25mm/US3 60cm/24” or longer circular needle 
2 4mm/US6 circular needles

Accessories: darning needle, 3 stitch holders (or scrap yarn), crochet hook size E/4 3.5mm

To win this  pattern please tell me your favourite street food or street food experience

Housekeeping:

- please include your Ravelry name or your email address (can space it out to avoid spambots)- I will gift the pattern via Ravelry, if you do not belong to Rav I will email the .pdf to you- winner (s) are drawn sometime on Friday, this means "Friday afternoon/evening New Zealand time"- the winner (s) are chosen by random number generator (I use this one)- you may enter even if you have won before