Just Jussi

Free Friday - it's baa-aack!

2012-01-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

Oh I love fridays!!

This week I will be giving away a copy of the Riverstone pattern, a quick knit in chunky yarn, and different enough to keep you interested.

Just tell me why your current knitting project (...your main one, it's always fun to see what other people are knitting) is and I'll choose the winner at random next Friday, until them keep safe and well!

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - tangents.

2012-01-23T23:33:00.000-08:00

As is so often the case, I was happily knitting away at some samples for a trunk show which should be up and running this autumn, and my mind wandered, I wasn't trying to think of a new design, but one came to me, and then when I sketched a rough draft of it the ideas started flowing so thick and fast that I barely recall the original thought...

Here are the components of one of these tangents...a chunky weight body, with dk sleeves , I'm still experimenting with the section where the sleeves meet, I have a couple of options and I like both of them, hence another tangent, another twig growing off the branch of the original thought.

The 3 days on, 4 days off thing at work is working well, except for the fact that I cannot seem to get ANYTHING done when I get home from work, except for the usual cook dinner and sort out the housework, I have started freezing small meals so that I can manage to get some knitting done on my work evenings, as I am finding it exceptionally frustrating. I don't feel complete unless I have done a bit of knitting every day, so I am going to have to work on my schedule to make sure I can fit it in to my day.

Flash and I have both started out on new learning adventures...his is much larger than mine, he is backing up his wealth of experience as a GM, by studying for his PG Dip bus...the "bit of paper" he needs to prove that he can do his job, so he is very busy studying and working full-time, and I am starting "camera and composition" classes so that I can finally use my camera in manual mode most of the time and give you all much better photos!

You know, despite the rocky start, I feel this is going to be a very good year!

A New Year

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, that absence was a wee bit longer than I expected it to be! Christmas time is summer holiday time in New Zealand, half the nation seems to go camping and Auckland empties out, making it easy to get into favourite cafes and restaurants!

We had various extended family come to stay while I was on leave from my paid job, so I didn't manage to get much knitting work done, but I did manage to get some thinking done and came up with a couple of plans for myself and combined they become the Great Christmas box quest 2012, which is a big flash way of saying that I plan to knit at least one item a month to be placed in my Christmas gift box, to ensure that I do not have that crazy moment 2 days before Christmas when I decide that I must knit all.the.things for my family, which always ends in despair and a feeling of failure. This year I am planning for success.

The planning has also spilled over to JustJussi, at the end of last year my employer allowed me to reorganize my work hours from 10-2 Mon-Fri to 8-5 Wed/Thurs/Fri. I am so much happier at my day job as I feel I can do my job so much better with full days, and JustJussi is benefitting from 2 full days a week. The proof of the experiment will be evident this year, which should be much more productive than the last.

So, today is my first day back, I have my list, first the social stuff, Facebook, the blog, checking out what everyone has been up to over the past few weeks, next writing the pattern for a wee submission and then tackling the list on the whiteboard...checking the progress of tech edits, test knits and ideas in progress.

In family news.
Here is a wee snap of Gordon and I, 4 of our girls (Charlotte is holidaying in Wellington) Holly's husband Nick, and Maria's baby Cody, taken at my Grandmother's 90th birthday this past weekend, youngest daughter Blaise is the redhead sitting at the front, she turns 21 this week, so it's a big week in our family!

Happy 2012, it's going to be a fabulous year!

What a Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

it's 26/12/11 here, and Christmas was lovely despite the fact that we weren't all together.

The girls, their husbands/partners/child came with Gordon and I to see my parents and grandparents for the great pressie swap - which went well for all involved, I was given some beautiful blue glass circs and 2 sets of needles from The turn of the century store, which are just lovely.

I'm going to be quick, basically because Holly is here and I just want to hang out with her and Nick before they go back to Christchurch...the reason I didn't post on friday was that Chch was hit with more earthquakes and the airport closed...luckily their flight was booked for 8.20 pm, and the airport reopened in time for their flight to come and and get them, the got to Auckland around midnight thankfully.
So, on friday I was not in any fit state to blog or think, I just wanted my girl safe.

Free friday will be back in a couple of weeks, we have visitors and holidays so I'm trying to take the pressure off myself.

And as for the winners? all of you my dears, all of you lovely people who said 'Hi" and brightened my day will get a copy of Katie Snowflake via Ravelry.

Merry christmas and Happy New Year!

Free Friday - 9 more sleeps!

2011-12-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

As someone said on Twitter "are children torturing insomniacs when they how many more sleeps until Christmas?"

I'm not an insomniac thankfully, so I'm happy to count sleeps, and I'm sleeping well because I am doing so much at present, today I started work at 7.30, was home and 5 and made 4 jars of strawberry jam (homegrown organic strawberries) and 3 jars of salsa (not homegrown anything...yet) and dinner.

This week the contest was won by jennyR - looks like you could do with it too...with a new baby! I'll send it via Rav.

This weeks giveaway is my brand new pattern, Katie Snowflake! I love this one and I hope you will too.
Once again, just say "Hi" in the comments, I'm all thought out at the moment!

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - tuesday again so soon??

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

My new work/life is going well, I am enjoying my job again and feeling like I can actually make a difference to people's lives. The weekends are spent relaxing and doing weekend stuff instead of fretting about the JustJussi work that needs to be done, and then on monday/tuesday I get to do what I love.

This weekend we bought some wooden trays from one of our favourite cafes - these trays are currently being used as partitions in the cafe, which is in an old warehouse but were previously used to dry wine gums, jelly snakes and other lollies at the Cadbury factory nearby. They are awesome - no nails, screws or glue are used to make them as they are food grade, they just needed a scrub to get rid of the candy drips and they are good as new for using as serving trays.

I used one to make a driving course for Cody to play with, loaded it with different textures, roads, water, fields and forest. I'm really happy with it and he ran straight to it and played with it all evening, so we are all happy!

Here he is locked into his seat - when a small person eats strawberries in this manner they have to be restrained, lest carnage be wrought upon the soft furnishings!

I released my Katie Snowflake pattern yesterday, go and have a look at this gorgeous version by Sbub on Ravelry, the colour is just amazing and her daughter is the sweetest thing!

Aria, Evie and Cosset are all coming along well - we will have a entire wardrobe of knits for bigger kids before too long!

Free Friday - relaxing

2011-12-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight I have a glass of Prosseco and am relaxing, not like last week.

I love the ideas you came back with, the one from Knitrageous already has my daughter busy making these cookies for the family!

I've made baubles and candy cane ponies, and I may make some button trees too, so cute!

Henry was won by #2 thats McKnittey - I'll send the pattern via Rav.

Back to the relaxing, work was crazy (good crazy) and I'm tired, so we will go out to dinner and curl up with a movie.

Have a great weekend everybody, and this week you can win The baby basics set just by saying "Hi" in the comments!

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - a little love

2011-12-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

I'm rushing to get this post done - our internet is dodgy again, so I'm going to have to contact the ISP, go through all of their silly steps (because no matter how often this happens, they blame our equipment first!) and then wait for them to fix it, so i'm using my iPhone as a wireless hotspot, however the 3G is dodgy too so I'm not sure how long I will have!

Cosset is finished, and I love her. I used the Skeinz chunky single, which is an absolute dream to knit, and am now knitting another in Lambs pride bulky, it would look great in Cascade Magnum, Debbie Bliss Como, or Blue Sky Alpacas bulky.

The pattern is simple, a child who can knit in the round can knit her own sweater in a day or two. The sweater has a straight neckline, which sits nicely on the collarbones, short sleeves which are big enough to fit a long sleeved t shirt under, but not gapey and a sweet ribbon tie.

The pattern has been written, I'll probably put it up for testing on the weekend - when I am sure my internet is working.

My yarn order from Janette's arrived within a week of ordering, they have great service, and great prices on the yarns that I can't get locally.

These are for samples for a trunk show, I wanted antique-y colours which would work together as a collection, and I'm very happy with these.

That's my christmas holiday plan, sit outside on the deck under the sunshade and knit teeny baby samples!

Free Friday - rushing

2011-12-01T22:48:00.000-08:00

I'm making this quick because I am totally knackered and will probably be asleep by 9pm!

Thanks for all your comments, noodles are slightly more divisive than I thought they would be :-)

Last weeks winner is Rachel (xmasangels) I'll send the .pdf through to you on Rav.

This has been my first week at work with the changes to my hours. I enjoyed having a "proper" weekend, then 2 days of JustJussi work, and 3 days of paid work. I feel like everyone is getting more from me, which is great, I'm happy at work and happy at home.

I do feel like I am rushing a lot more though, but I think that is more indicative of the season rather than anything else, the garden needs me in the evenings, friends and family are more social than usual and then there are the presents and food prep required for Christmas, this year we have all the girls for Christmas dinner (which is so exciting) and then Gordon's brother and niece will be with us for a few days too!

I am still knitting balls, a shawl and socks, but I just saw these on Ravelry Candy Cane ponies they are awesome!

This weeks questions is : Tell us about a quick, cute Christmas (Holiday) idea you have found online - any craft is fine, I just love making little things for my kids to put on their Christmas trees, making memories for their families in the future.

This weeks prize is Henry - a chunky, ribbed and cabled sweater which is easy and quick to knit.

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - doing ALL the things!

2011-11-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

I'm loving my new hours (don't remind of this tomorrow when I start at 8 and finish close to 5...) I'm feeling so efficient as I managed to get my "to do now" list done, as well as my "to do soon" and I'm working on 3 other lists which each refer to a separate project and which I know will take some time to accomplish.

I've got 2 test knits on the go: Aria and Evie, and another in the pipeline (though this one may go straight to tech editing due to Christmas rushing up so fast!) and ideas filling pages of my notebooks, a new style sheet completed and I've already re-written 6 older patterns, which were designed in Publisher and are so time consuming to update to my new layout as they can't be cut and pasted.

I have even managed to make a start on my Christmas knitting, I've decided to restrict myself to baubles this year, they take less than an hour to make, so I can make one every evening until the big day. I think that is the secret of success, achieving small goals often!

Free Friday - trivial

2011-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

I thought I had better hurry up and get this blog post done, before my internet dies again. My internet is like a sick child, the moment it sees a Dr it is right as rain and proving you a liar, then it has you up at 3 am again with a fever. I harassed my ISP on twitter today, because I never get any luck by phoning and I had a nice call back, so hopefully something will happen soon.

Today was a big day for me at work, it was my last day working my current hours, my request to change my hours from 10-2 5 days a week to 8-4.30 3 days a week has been approved and the outcomes are great...much higher job satisfaction, more money and now I have 2 entire days to dedicate to JustJussi, instead on a couple of hours either side of my work day, because even though I work 10-2, I arrive early, or stay late, plus driving and parking etc, so my 4 hours work cost me upwards of 6 hours per day. I'm looking forward to those 2 days so much, the last time I had a full day on JustJussi I came up with Katie, Aria, Evie and another design, imagine what I can accomplish with 2 days a week!

Back to the contest, thanks to everyone who entered last week, I loved reading your pet stories, we are so lucky to have these animals in our lives. I'll send the .pdfs out via Ravelry.

This week's question is very trivial, I was thinking about what to make for dinner - Charlotte and I (and all of the girls) love noodles, so I wanted to make Bami Goreng, but Flash does not like noodles, and it's a friday, so I want us all to be able to relax and have a nice, enjoyable evening eating a dinner we all enjoy. I have made Chicken parmigiana instead and will serve it with pesto spaghetti...and thats what gets me! My husband loves spaghetti and dislikes all other noodles, whether Japanese, Chinese, Hungarian or Thai...whereas I love Asian style noodles (especially wide rice noodles) but find pasta hard going sometimes (but I do like it) and it's not even that he has a pedestrian palate...he enjoys almost every cuisine he has tried, and spends a lot of time in Asia eating everything except noodles!

So my question is:

Do you like or loathe noodles...and WHY!?

The prize this week is a copy of my Plum Blossom cardigan - I love this sweater, it is girly with being frilly!

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - organic lemon

2011-11-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite yarns o f. a l l. t i m e. is The Forever Green ElanOrganic merino from Skeinz. This yarn is soft and so, so cushy. It blooms like nothing you have ever seen before and although it is technically a sport weight, it behaves and gets the gauge of a DK when knitted with 4mm needles. The colour I have used here is the Asana yellow, and although it looks a bit crunchy granola in these photos, I assure you that it isn't.

I have just finished knitting my "Evie" and am so happy with it I just had to show you (even though I haven't quite finished..I'm trying to decide wether I want buttons or big silk ribbon bows to close the sleeves a bit.

this one is for girls size 4 to 16 years, it will be fitted at just below the waist and the poncho style sleeves grow out of the waist, these can be left open or closed with buttons or bows either way they drape beautifully and finish just below the elbow, giving your girl plenty of room to move without her sleeves getting in the way. The lace insert and picot edging give a feminine touch without too much fanfare.

Testing for Evie will get underway soon.

Speaking of which...if you want to test Aria, I'm still signing knitters up over on the Just Jussi forum on Ravelry.

The other pattern in the works is that Missoni inspired top I mentioned a while back, now that everything else is out of the way I can get started! Although I do have some Danger crafts monsters, and some Christmas baubles to finish too!

Free Friday - Frasier giveaway!

2011-11-17T23:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the ideas for Christmas knitting - next year I am going to be SO organised! (maybe)
The winner is number 7, that's Jan! I'll gift the pattern to you via Ravelry.

This week Frasier turned 5, so to celebrate I'm having a free friday free for all! The first 10 comments will each get a "Baby Basics" e-book.

So tell me about your pet, or a childhood pet, what they mean to you, how they make your life better.

Frasier is anxious and highly strung (just like his Mum), he is intense, focused and a slave to his self imposed routines, I swear if he was a human he would be Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. He is also loyal, affectionate and loving on his terms.

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- you may enter even if you have won before

Also, a quick reminder - my first newsletter went out this week, to coincide with the Cherub pattern release, please join up so that you can keep up with the latest releases (and get special subscriber only offers!) I will only send newsletters when I have something important to say, not on a regular basis so you don't have to worry about me clogging your inbox. The sign up box is on the right.

New design tuesday - from one extreme to the other

2011-11-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

When I had finished the Aria sweater I wasn't sure...it just seemed too easy, too simple, I didn't think people would like it, especially the tweenies it was designed for.

I was wrong.

Every little girl who has seen it has loved it, and my model loved it and told me why. "It isn't fussy, it doesn't pull up, it doesn't get in the way, it doesn't have sleeves, it fits over my head, it has a pocket"

So I will be writing the pattern up and sending it into the process, I'm thinking 1 to 12 years, as it fits across the years quite well. My model is a skinny 8 year old with a 6-7 year old chest measurement, wearing the 6 year old size as a tunic, whereas a 6 year old could wear it to mid thigh with leggings, versatile!

From technicolour glory to french vanilla delight.

I wasn't going to try this idea out, these poncho style tops are very trendy this summer in NZ, but I like the idea of a winter/spring version in wool. The bottom band is very fitted and then the front and back separate and increase to create the wings, which will then be fastened. I'm so glad I decided to go ahead with the idea, I love the simplicity of it and I know it will look lovely with a long sleeved t and jeans or over a dress.

Free Friday - Christmas knitting

2011-11-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

thanks to everyone for your entries last week, I think those who have knitted an Aviatrix understand why I am so proud of that little pattern, and now those who haven't have a better understanding too, especially thanks to Jan!

Our random number generated this week is "5" that's Saim24 I'll gift the pattern to you via Ravelry.

Thursday I managed to finish this:

and yesterday I was at the dentist for 5 hours, getting my mercury fillings removed, and the little chips in my front teeth sorted, I do not remember much of it thank goodness, and then I slept on and off until today, so yesterday was not a good day to post to the blog :-)

The pattern giveaway this week is Riverstone, a firm favorite and revamped this year to narrow the wide neckline.

This week's question is not designed to frighten...more to encourage!

Are you knitting gifts these holidays?? What are you knitting? Who for and why?

I'll start...I would like to think I will knit gifts this year, however that is highly unlikely to happen, so I would like to try and knit this Christmas Deer from Loly Fuertes. If I do not manage to do that then I will try really hard to get at least 5 of these whipped up for the girls (I make them a tree decoration every year) Mochimochi land snowmen

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday - a riot of colour

2011-11-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

Some days pass with a flurry of ideas, sometimes I have the yarn here ready (less times than I wish though...I'm not really making any inroads into the stash...) but often I have to order it in...and wait until it arrives (never very long...it's always here within the week, even from the UK and US)

This week I started a garment with some stash yarn, knowing that I would need more and luckily the extra arrived before I had finished what I had on hand, so I had no down time while waiting for my other yarn to arrive (and I'm glad that it took a bit longer than expected because now that it is here I don't want to blog, or garden or edit, cook or walk. I just want to knit)

The tunic dress is another useful item for 2-10 year olds, easy to pop on over leggings and a polyprop or skivvy, the pocket gives it a wee edge and can be adorned with intarsia, bobbles or buttons as you see fit.

As you can see it is not quite finished, so when I have finished blogging, and had a walk, I will take it up again and finish it.

I have promised myself that when I have finished the tunic dress and written the pattern up nicely and asked for test knitters, when I have reviewed the cherub tech edit and when I have come up with a nice lace insert pattern for another wee frippery in the wings, then and only then will I be allowed to start working with this yummy Poems sock yarn from Wisdom yarns. I love it, the yarn is similar to Noro kureyon sock, but with longer colour changes and the colourways do not jar with my sensibilities the way Noro yarns sometimes do ( I have never been one to be completely "at one" with the Noro)

I've already tested some ideas using silk garden sock, a simple tank top in a simple lacey stripe, somewhat Missoni inspired and structurally basic so that the yarn is the star. I just can't wait to get going!!

Free Friday - have you knitted an aviatrix??

2011-11-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

And the winner is number 3 - Curlyde, I'll gift the pattern on Rav.

This week's free pattern is the sweet Nikau hoodie and pants, this pattern has recently been re-written (so if you have purchased a copy in the past and haven't got the update let me know)

So back to that Aviatrix, have you knitted one? If you haven't, you really should. I get asked so often why I have posted this pattern for free, and the reason is always the same - because it is too much fun to charge for!

There are always people who don't see the attraction, yes it is pretty boring when flat, but put it on a child and bam! instant cute.

So have you? tell me about it, will you knit one? or won't you? tell me why ( it's the short rows isn't it...believe me, they are easy once you get the hang of them)

Housekeeping:

New design tuesday

2011-10-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my trip down south, Mum and I had a lovely time at the fete and then tiki touring (see link for definition) our way back to Christchurch via Oxford and Birdlings flat.
Holly and Nick are back in their house and it's looking great, the builders managed to preserve the antique ceiling roses in every room, so the house looks modern and funky, but with a nod to it's history as well.

It was lovely to have a break away, and I've spent the past 2 days back home working madly to make up the time!

The Cherub pattern has gone to the tech editor

Katie Snowflake is still in testing mode, but I did manage to get some sweet photos yesterday.

I had my children young, so I did all of the kindy committee, school board of trustees, Plunket fundraiser stuff years ago, and when we moved the last time the girls were almost finished high school or were at Uni, so I didn't have the opportunity to meet people with young children. The upshot is that while I am designing for babies and children, I don't get to see many on a regular basis, though we are getting to spend a bit more time with Cody now that he is older.

Charlotte has a number of friends with young children, and we seem to have to come to an arrangement...they love having their children's photos taken and are enthusiastic when I ask to borrow their kids, in return I provide them with a flash drive of photos and prints of the best shots, which they prefer to "shopping mall" photos which tend to be boring and pricey.

So, yesterday 4 yr old B helped me out with Katie Snowflake, she was an excellent model, took direction well and maintained her demeanor, the only snag we ran into was with the hood, B had lovely pigtails, which unfortunately distorted the hood quite dramatically...however, I know 4 year old girls well enough to know that asking her to take her pigtails out would have resulted in a meltdown and we all wanted to avoid that!

here is my favorite shot

and one of their Mum's favorites

I'm waiting impatiently for some yarn to arrive so that I can get started on another design for 4-12 year old girls, and in the meantime I'm knitting some cool stripes, I'll give you a peek next week!

Don't forget to enter the free friday contest!

Free Friday - favourite storage tip

2011-10-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

first things first - this week's winner is Ballatrina (will gift the pattern to you on Rav)

We all like to find a comfy spot and surround ourselves with our favourite things when knitting...they all sound like bliss to me!
This weeks pattern is The garter stitch plain and simple e-book, this contains 8 simple garter st patterns for babies 0- 2 years.

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

ok, this weeks question...(since it is spring here and time for me to tidy up my studio again)
"what is your cutest/favourite/coolest storage idea for anything craft related e.g. needles, dpns, yarn, ribbons, st markers etc.?"

New design tuesday

2011-10-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

Very early tomorrow morning my Mama and I are off on an adventure of epic proportions (if only in terms of shopping) we are flying to the South Island, staying in the beautiful Hanmer Springs and spending a day at the Culverden fete which sounds very exciting (and very good for Christmas presents for those who are difficult to buy for), then we get to spend a day catching up with Holly, now that they are finally back in their house (can't wait to see it!)

So I am rushing around washing and tidying, trying to get things organised before I leave (CAT FOOD!) touching up my (grey) roots (do you know I started going grey at 19 and now 2 of my girls have greys at 20 and 22, apparently my great grandmother was fully grey by 30!) anyway...and sewing ribbons onto my floppy sunhat, oops and packing.

Due to past experience I am only taking my Pimpelliese shawlette to work on (as I don't think I'll get much knitting done) and will hope to find some nice yarns at the fete or in Christchurch.

I've just finished a button up version of Katie Snowflake in Malabrigo Rios (this yarn is in my top 5 all time lovely yarns) and I'm really happy with how the longer armholes look, and the lace pattern still looks great even in the multicoloured yarn.

The sweater is still in the testing phase, as is the Cherub (almost done) it will be ready soon!

Have a great week everyone!

Free Friday - favourite place to knit

2011-10-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

this weeks winner is number 1...that's MrsFife! Hilarious given your comment, but here is proof! I'll gift the pattern to you via Ravelry.

I haven't tried all of the yarns you guys mentioned, there are some I am definitely going to look out for in future.

This weeks pattern is Big Love! the new release, a hoodie with a small amount of fairisle which is suitable for boys and girls. The photos are on the previous post.

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

ok, this weeks question...
"when you have the chance to sit down and knit, where is your favourite place to do so?"

When I finish this post I am curling up on the sofa in my studio, I can see the garden and the sun is starting to come around this side of the house, it's comfy, theres a windowsill to perch my tea on but mostly I will be sitting there because...someone else is sitting on my chair!

New design tuesday - new pattern

2011-10-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

The Big Love hoodie is now out in the world

and if you use the code "lovable" (without the quotation marks) you can buy it for 1/3 off the usual price, so that $5.00 NZ or around $4.02 US dollars. Make sure you enter the coupon code when the screen asks you to choose your payment option.

A link to the pattern will then arrive automagically in your email inbox.

4 sizes from 3 months to 2 years, oversized hoodie.

Sizes 3, 6, 12 mths, 2 years ~ 40.5 (43, 48, 50) cm

Garment chest measures: 47 (51, 54, 58) cm

How could you resist that smile??

Test knitting Katie Snowflake

2011-10-15T21:36:00.001-07:00

please pop over here if you wish to help me out with testing this new design

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/just-jussi/topics/1868063

Free Friday - favourite yarn?

2011-10-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

this weeks winner is number 3...that's cguard! I'll gift the pattern to you via Ravelry.

Thanks for the great tips everybody, it's amazing how much knowledge you can pick up from other knitters.

This weeks pattern is Henry it is one of my favourites as it it SO quick to knit, and the neckline makes me feel clever. Henry is suitable for boys and girls.

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

ok, this weeks question...
"if you could only knit with one yarn for the rest of your life, which yarn would you choose?"

I don't mind if the answer is specific e.g. Malabrigo Rios (my current yarn amore) or "worsted wool" just give me an answer and tell me a little bit about why you choose that yarn.

New design tuesday - designs for bigger little people

2011-10-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

I've been giving some thought to children lately, namely 4 - 12 year olds and the dearth of knitting patterns suitable to the sensibilities of the young people I know.

Frills and bows and ribbons definitely have their place, especially with the 4-8 year old girls however this is a reasonably conservative age group, in a "fitting in with peers" type way, e.g. we would not think of rainbow striped tights as conservative, but your 10 year old is convinced that she will have no friends unless you buy them for her. Sometimes we have to conform before we can learn to be non-conformist.

So, I thought "what attributes do the clothes of a child need"?
they must fit - nothing worse than looking like you are wearing your sister's handmedowns
they must be comfortable - not itchy, nothing to pull up or down
they must free the body to run and jump and climb
they must be the wearer's definition of cool
layers are good

to this end here is the initial protoype of my Katie Snowflake hooded vest, there are definitely things that need changing...the armholes are not deep enough, the hood needs a better edge and the rib needs a change, either to 2x2 rib or twisted rib, but thats pretty much it! I love how this turned out ( the zombie baby is wearing the 4 year old size) the lace pattern is so easy to remember and makes you feel clever, and the vest meets all of my criteria. This version has a chunky zip, but there will be a button up version as well...for the zipper phobic.

the next vest in the works is named Cosset, it's a little love.

Free Friday - and the winners are...

2011-10-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, what lovely comments, you are all so sweet. I'm glad you like the look of this set, I really enjoy knitting them myself as winding down-time knitting.

I used a random number generator to choose, and the winners are 3, 8 and 6

thats Saim24, Charlotte and Kelly, I'll gift the pattern via Ravelry so it won't clog up your inboxes!

So, this is the new Free Friday, every week I will ask a question, if you want to win the pattern of the week you leave an answer and the following friday I'll draw a name at random, even if you have won before.

Next weeks pattern is Little Plum blossom cardigan (here is the Ravelry link)

so tell me...what is your favourite knitting technique? something that makes you feel clever or makes your finished garment more polished, something that makes you want to do the happy dance (even if you only dance on the inside) for beginners it may be learning to decrease, for others learning to knit with beads gives them a thrill, for myself at the moment it is learning new ways to incorporate sleeves, I love the way the sleeves are worked in the Plum Blossom, it's super easy once you know how!

So, come on then tell us all - so that we can all learn more together!

New design tuesday - Baby basics contest!

2011-10-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

My Baby Basics e-book is now available from Ravelry and my website, I love being able to provide such an easy set for new and experienced knitters alike. Complex designs are well and good (very well and good!) but there are times when you find a design which contains all of the elements you require, with no tricks.

I made garments like these when Holly was a baby, because I was unexperienced but knew what I wanted, something that was easy on, kept baby's body warm and didn't have sleeves. I had completely forgotten about them until I saw a photo of her as a 6 week old wearing one...and snap, bang the collection threw itself together.

However the problem with a collection "throwing itself together" is that sometimes you make mistakes, and I made a big one (this is why we have tech editors and test knitters - all of whom are worth their weight in merino) I used the wrong number as the stitch gauge when writing up the patterns...I have a feeling it is because I used another pattern as a template (now I have a dedicated template with NO numbers on it!) however the problem was discovered and remedied quickly and the sizes are spot on now.

I love the look of the buttons facing forward to secure the garment, but you can use i-cord ties or ribbons if you wish. I also like the idea of working them up in lightweight cotton or bamboo yarns as beach cover ups for when it gets a bit breezy.

The price of the e-book is $15.00 NZ, which currently equates to around $11.30 US
The set covers sizes 0 - 4 yrs

I have 3 copies to give away, please leave a comment saying WHY you would like to win, with your Ravelry name (if you have one) if you aren't on Ravelry make sure you leave a name - anonymous isn't going to win!

Winners will be drawn at random this friday.

New Design tuesday - the one where we get back on track

2011-09-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm home now, whilst in Christchurch we stayed close to our motel where Holly and Nick are also staying while their home is being repaired (they have paid extra to have their renovation plans implemented at the same time as the earthquake repairs - it is already looking amazing!)

Holly already knits (though I was amazed, impressed and proud of the stash she has managed to accumulate) and Mum taught me, but I haven't seen her knit in years, as we sat and knitted Holly handed her some needles and 2 colours of cotton and she commenced making dishcloths...we returned late friday night, Mum and Harry went away early saturday morning, returned today, and apparently she has been knitting all weekend!

We did go out for a drive on our last day there, and managed to find Knitworld is still open!

Knit World
189 Peterborough Street
Christchurch
8013

Telephone: 03 379 2300
Fax: 03 377 6884

they asked me to help spread the word that they are alive and kicking (so I don't think they will mind me pinching the map from their website) and full to bursting with beautiful yarn, the entrance is currently around the back, so if you are in the area please go and visit them.

Whilst there I found this beautiful Misti alpaca...bit of a mystery that it is made for Naturally NZ, but I put the local yarn detectives onto the case and they figured that Misti produce yarns for loads of companies, but their name is so good it stays on the yarn!

The lichen-ey green is handpaint lace and the beiges is Tonos carnaval - a sock weight which will become a scarf/shawlette for Holly. They are scrumptious!

The Cherub pattern is ready for testing, so I'll be asking for volunteers soon.

The Big Love pattern is almost out of testing, I received my first photo today and Oh My what a cutie, and the Mum says the sizing is spot on - which is always a relief, no matter how long I do this!

The baby basics have been tech edited, and are ready to go...I just need to have a spare hour at home to do that...so probably this weekend.

The one where I'm late and in another city

2011-09-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling a bit lately, a few plane rides around the place, a lot of sitting and waiting in airports. Trips I had planned months in advance.

Today I suddenly found myself on a plane to Christchurch, thankfully with my Mum by my side as we threw everything aside to be with my eldest daughter Holly and her husband, because there are times when a girl needs her Mum, and that girl's Mum needs HER Mum!

While we are here on our unexpected trip we will have a wee look around at this tortured city, see for ourselves the destruction wrought by the 1000s of earthquakes and aftershocks it has suffered.

And in October we will back, for our next planned trip! Ah life, to paraphrase Blackadder..."it's a twisty turny thing"

The one when I post on a wednesday...

2011-09-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

because on Tuesday I was fretting so much about going to a new dentist that I couldn't think straight, let alone blog.

I went this evening, they were perfectly lovely and helpful and understanding, the dentist gave me a hug when I left, I think everything is going to be ok!

While I was waiting (nervously) I finished off the cardiganised version of a new little sweater, it's a vision I have had for ages...just a bright, simple sweater with intarsia angel (or fairy, butterfly, dragonfly) wings, I have played around with the wings and now have them where I like them. The sweater has a modified drop sleeve construction and simple crew neck, the mistake rib hems give it a wee twist - but nothing too busy, I just wanted bright, plain and simple goodness, the working name was "Pax" but it is now called "Cherub" of course.

Here is a terrible photo, but it gives you the idea, I'm knitting few more because I have a lovely photo idea, which should be possible soon, weather permitting.

Have a great week, it's getting warmer here so we are spending more time outdooors, finally starting to get some work done around the place, and the spring flowers are in bloom which brings joy to my heart, nothing like a drift of freesias to tell you summer is on it's way!

New Design Tuesday - too tired to knit!

2011-09-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

and too tired to blog if the truth be told!

Two full on weekends will do that to you, I spent this past weekend in Wellington with my Mama, we dined at Pravda and Logan Brown, shopped at Iko Iko, the Frank Kitts markets, Te Papa, and loads of other places whose names escape me... then attended The World of Wearable Arts show - amazing!

Yesterday I took an annual leave day off work to recover, and spent it doing Just Jussi work (which really isn't work at all) the Baby Basics pattern is basically ready to go, the Big Love sweaters are complete, as is the pattern, but I've decided on a bit more testing for it before it goes to the tech editor.

I re-wrote the Yoga socks pattern, tidied my yarn storage and did last months accounts, now I am at a bit of a loose end...I have plenty of designs to be going on with, but I'm too tired to start. I think I will go and sit on the couch with my Christmas knitting (I'm making Pimpelliese scarves for all of the women in the family...hopefully my sock yarn stash will benefit from reduction!) it is one of those lovely patterns like Baktus...where you increase until you have used 1/2 your yarn and then decrease (hopefully having just enough yarn to cast off)

And just because I like to spur myself onwards by blogging:

new designs:

- Katie snowflake - a dolman sleeved, lace and fairisle cardi for girls
- Pax - a good plain sweater with a touch of intarsia...

have a great week!

New Design tuesday - the one where I knit in public

2011-08-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went to Knit August Nights 2 (aka KAN2), I left Auckland at lunchtime on friday and arrived in sunny Ahuriri 1 1/2 hrs later. The venue was great, and only 20 steps from my room in the neighbouring motel overlooking the boardwalk and gently lapping tide.

Being a shy soul I was a bit worried as to wether I would have the gumption to talk to people, but I just kept telling myself "they're not strangers, they're knitters!" and I managed to get along fine. I met loads of Ravelry friends, and made new ones and really enjoyed my weekend.

There was quite a bit of stash enhancement (that's what marketplaces are for!) and I bought some puppy snips for myself and Holly (yours are bright green Holls!). The classes were all enjoyable and educational, the scariest one by far was Morag's steeking class...

we started with a tube, ran a contrast thread down the centre of a column of sts, and whip stitched the edges

the we CUT!

and learnt 2 ways to finish the cut edges, on the left is a picked up edge and an the right is a tubular edge which encompassed the entire edge.

This was such a liberating class, everyone enjoyed themselves and walked out a little taller than when they walked in!

I will definitely be back for KAN3.

Not much design work for me this past week, and not to much in the coming week either, as I'm away to Wellington with Mum on friday, for the Wearable Art Awards.

I have almost finished the Big Love sweaters, the sleeves needed a bit of tweaking, and I have a nice idea for an autumn hoodie for girls, but apart from that I'm knitting some things that have patterns or don't need patterns.

While at KAN I made this teddy sweater for a promotion Flash is running

yes, it is a strange shaped little bear, I hope this fits him properly, and yes I will never knit a teddy sweater again!

I'm working on a little shawlette for myself, the pattern is Pimpelliese, very pretty all in garter st with a knitted in lace edge. I'm using the sugar cane yarn from Aracaunia. I'll post a picture when I have worked a bit more of it.

New design tuesday - the one where I finish something!

2011-08-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

The new website is up!

I haven't migrated the "help" pages over, there are so many great tutorials available on Youtube these days that I felt mine were redundant, and they were taking up space...so I ditched them.

I've got some cool wee movie type photo album things (technical term) on the pattern pages, so I have been able to reduce the number of pictures on those pages, unfortunately I can't link from these photo album thingys so the baby pattern page is still quite overloaded...c'est la vie!

The website still needs tweaking, but it is simple and it works (and I can update it!) so I'm very happy.

We spent some of the weekend in the garden finally, the raspberry and strawberry beds needed an overhaul before they start coming back to life, and not before time because look at what burst into bloom

and I bought this one (before it flowered) because I knew how divine it would make the house smell, and I wasn't disappointed.

As for knitting, today I am finishing my "knitting homework" making the swatches I will need for my steeking class at KAN2 I am bursting with excitement at the idea of spending 2.5 days surrounded by knitters, knitting, yarn and wine! I'm also swatching for a teddy bear sweater... which was previously on the list of "thing I will never knit" along with rugby bootees and a toilet roll cover. My dear husband made the request for a teddy who will be exploring Russia and wearing the company logo, so how could I decline?

The Baby Basics test knit is coming along well, there have been some lovely FOs so far

The Big Love revamp is almost done, then that will go for testing too...so many cute little sweaters lying around the place I think it's time to borrow some babies and have a photoshoot!

New (website) design tuesday

2011-08-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't knitted for 3 days, not a stitch instead I have been building a new website, using new software and learning a lot in the process (we'll forget about the swear words - they weren't new) I finally have it to the stage where it is bare bones finished and all of the links are in place, now I have to pretty it up and publish it. I'm quite scared about the publishing bit, I've used Frontpage for so long that I know all of it's quirks, and it is all set up to publish easily. I suppose I shouldn't be so scared given that I haven't even looked at that part of the manual yet!

Plum blossom will no longer show herself on these new design pages as she is now out in the world and doing swimmingly.

Baby Basics are still in testing - I have seen a few finished projects and they are looking good despite my earlier mishaps.

Big Love - still knitting, thats the knitting I should have been doing while not website building over the past few days...but I was too braindead!

I'll let you know when the new site is up, it's a lot tidier than the last one ( although I still can't corral the baby patterns into looking neat) and smaller, I've thought about what is really necessary and what is just taking up space.

Have a great week, I'll be back sooner if I manage to finish something!

New design tuesday - test knit frenzy

2011-08-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

There has been test knit gold this past week, the Plum Blossom cardigan pattern is as close to complete as a pattern can get, my test knitters are a lovely industrious bunch and we have some finished objects to share.

I'll link to the first 3 as they are modelled on real little people.

Sarah's version is a beautiful shade of blue from our friends at Skeinz

and Marrianne chose a delightful shade of green, once again from Skeinz

Suzie's uses a Moda Dea yarn in another pretty blue

I will shamelessly exhibit Polly's photos though, as there are no little people in them, and they show the sweater with short sleeves (meaning that it in the small size it is a one skein project using the nommy Madeleine Tosh DK)

The test knitters caught a couple of issues, wrist width and buttonholes, which I have ironed out, so now the pattern is, well, ready to go.

I had considered running my first KAL along with the launch of this pattern, however given the palaver I have made of hosting a test knit myself this week I've decided to give the KAL a miss, I will however set up a thread in the Just Jussi forum on Ravelry in case anyone needs help or wants to share their progress.

So, go get it! I've discounted the pattern by 50% until friday midnight my time only, tell your friends!

Plum Blossom Cardigan

Now, that palaver I was telling you about...you see I've had the flu for weeks now, everytime I get almost better I get sick again, anyway I got it into my head to run a test knit on the Just Jussi forum for the baby basics. Long story short I cocked up the gauge, when I finally figured out what I had done at least one person had finished! (they are fast these kiwi test knitters!) So I re-wrote the errant sections and hopefully all will be well from here on in. I still can't figure out wether a tech edit first, then a test knit, then tech edit check is best, or a test knit, then tech edit. I'm starting to err on the side of the former...I hate embarrassing myself in front my testers!

I do like having the test knit on my own forum though, and will continue to work this way, my testers are always such lovely people and I feel I can get to know them better when I am not clogging up a testing forum.

The Big Love sweaters are coming along nicely, I'm knitting them in colourways for boys and girls and having loads of fun doing it, and thats all I have for now, with this dreaded 'flu I have realised that it is best to keep my head away from calculating patterns for the time being, save myself a lot of hassles in the long run (and save myself lots of red faces in front of test knitters!)

In other news I have taught myself enough about how to use Freeway to be dangerous, the laptop where my website currently resides is almost dead, which means that there will be no way of updating the website in the near future, so I have forced myself to upskill enough to build a replacement...and I'm actually quite happy with how it is coming along, I'll show you guys in a few weeks.

Until then, stay warm , stay safe and tell your social media network about the Plum Blossom!

New design tuesday - Baby basics test knit

2011-08-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years I have had a tremendous amount of help from test knitters from the various groups on Ravelry, now I have decided that it is time for my test knitters to have a place in the Just Jussi forum group.

The inaugural test knit in the group is for the Baby Basics, whether you are a beginner knitter or very experienced there is a style for you.

I can't offer yarn or payment, but I can offer the "good" copy of the pattern once it is test knitted and tech edited, and my everlasting thanks and admiration, your name will show on the project page as a test knitter as well.

I do have to keep the test knit in one place, and Ravelry is the best place for me to do that - the forum is here please feel free to join in and volunteer, the "rules" are there as well, but I try to keep these to a minimum so that everyone can join in and share in the fun.

So come over, the smallest sizes take 1 skein of DK and a day to make, what are you waiting for?!

New design tuesday - Baby basics

2011-07-26T01:47:00.000-07:00

round up of designs in progress

Plum Blossom - in test knit stage, some have already finished (and looking stunning!) I'm thinking my first KAL may be in order for this design... maybe

New Nikau - now re-named "Big Love" being re-knit for a DK weight, now that original Nikau has been re-written, but otherwise left alone and is now back on sale.

My Baby basics collection has grown

clockwise from top left we have the "not a fleece vest" (currently being re-knitted to work with the others) the hooded popover, the shawl collar popover and the ultra basic popover. I do love this little collection!

I gave the Grellow cardi (yeah it's beautiful but never going to work as a design) to one of Flash's employees whose wife has just given birth to a darling baby girl, the Mum is Japanese and loved the style.

Last time I was up helping Mum clear out my Uncle's place I brought home a packet of old negatives...last night I scanned one and worked with it in Photoshop Elements...I was amazed that I could bring this 80 year old film back to life myself (I was about to take them to a restorer) this will save me so much money I could almost buy the full version of Photoshop! and it's so exciting to see the photos come to life in my hands.

this one is of my Great Grampie, I have to check with Mum to find out if the wriggling baby is her or my Uncle. Love the handknitted vest my Grampie is wearing. The photo is low res here (is 6400 dpi on my screen) as I couldnt upload the larger res, but I can make out the stitch pattern on the vest from the photo I have on my computer.

I have 40 of these negatives to work on, so it will take a wee while, but I'm hoping to make a large book with blank pages opposite the photo pages and will ask my Gran to write her memories of each photo, before they are lost forever.

Lambs make us happy

2011-07-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

Today Flash and I decided to take a leisurely Sunday drive to Kaiaua, home of some of the best fish and chips in the country (I suggest the Snapper and a scoop of chips - I'm a purist)

Along the way, we saw numerous lambs and a Mama sheep in the throws of delivery, and then we happened upon this charming sight.

6 Mama sheep and their brand new babies (see the umbilical cords still dangling) being rescued from a soggy paddock by their Farmer owner, he was having to cross them over the main road, with the help of his wife and an elderly heading dog. See the campervan in the top picture, bet they were enjoying the goings on as much as we were.

Love (1000)

New Design tuesday - it should be

2011-07-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

The Plum blossom cardigan is jumping it's final hurdles towards publishing...test knitting is in progress and I can't wait to see what colourways the lovely knitters come up with.

New Nikau has been written, the charts have been made, I should send it off for tech editing asap and worry about the photos at a later date.

The baby basics are almost done, you have seen the popover, the hooded popover, the v-neck pop over, the leggies and the not a fleece vest, I'm just working on a hat and then they will be ready for the writing, editing, knitting process.

here is another "not a fleece vest" in progress using Noro silkgarden DK

(in the overexposed colorway ;-P) - the smallest size (0-3) months uses 1 skein! the solid colour edging helps pull the colour together so that the pooling is not so disturbing to the eye.

Winter here is Auckland is turning into a bit of a giggle..we had some rain last week, but it really has not been very cold, I haven't worn a coat yet. I light a fire every day, because I like it, but we could make do with snuggle blankets while sitting on the couch.

My garden is terribly confused...the strawberry garden is flowering again, I pull them off as soon as I see them, thats not where the plant's energy should be going right now, and it breaks my heart to see the new baby ducklings...they really don't stand a chance.

Frasier stalks the ducklings, but wouldn't know what to do with one if he touched it, he has no kill instinct at all that boy, luckily the Mama duck yells at him so he keeps his distance.

here he is skulking off after being squawked at again!

I know winter will arrive eventually..August and September do tend to be grey and rainy, but you never can tell and I would love this weather to continue!

edited to add: here is the finished vest...the colours in the toggles photo are the most true.

New design tuesday - winning!

2011-07-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

Firstly we have some winners, it was so hard to decide there were a lot of great names, so I got the family involved once I had chosen a short list, the children are both reserved and shy looking, so choosing the perfect name was a mission, but then it suddenly became clear...

the Little Girl is Emmy (just like my Great Grandmother Emmy, who was very much a lady)

the Little Boy is Pip

the winners are Connie and Stitchpunk, I'll contact you on Ravelry for your addresses.

the bird (Flick) and teddy (Gomez) are already named but thanks to those who offered!

thank you to everyone who entered, it was a lot of fun, and now that the kiddies have been named we will start having regular contests again, I'll keep you posted, but it will likely be on Fridays (NZ time) as before.

The baby basics are coming along well, this week I made a Faux fleece vest...just like a polar fleece one but made of lovely wool worked at a slightly tighter tension than normal, so that it keeps the wearer really snug. The i-cord cast on is continued around the edges and armholes and the vest does up with a chunky zip or buttons.

This is the 3 month size, it used 1 50g skein of DK weight yarn!

and some teeny little leggies (could also be sleevies!)

In other news...my camera bag arrived today! On my travels I have experienced numerous people having their camera bags stolen, and in every case the bag was obviously a camera bag, so it was vital to me to find a bag which looked just like a handbag. I looked at dozens of bags, many just weren't my style at all, some were definitely my style but the price was out of the ballpark and eventually I found the Ginger by Epiphanie...love the look of this bag, but it was not to be - the Ginger won't be back in stock until later this year. I ummed and aaahhed and finally decided on the Clover in turquoise...not usually my kind of thing, but I realised the colour will help to keep the bag safe when I'm travelling and it does a girl good to mix it up every now and then. It arrived today (5 days from US to NZ) and I love it...it is well padded, huge (fits camera, 3 lenses, camera bits and bobs, knitting, ipad, and the usual handbag stuff) easy on the shoulder and best of all...looks nothing like a camera bag!

No design tuesday...CONTEST!

2011-07-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

(yes, we are still waiting for baby Sydney's family to get better, crossing my fingers for tomorrow!)

Now for the contest...my new little paperdoll and her brother need names, so your job is to name one or other or both of them.

First in with the chosen name

wins (girls name winner gets to choose the yarn they prefer) and no debate will be entered into...

I decide which names I like!

The winner(s) will receive:

- 5 of my patterns (of their choice) my ebooks each count as 1 pattern

- 1 skein of Wollemeise twin in either the Indisch Rot or Grashupfer colourway (1st winner chooses)

to enter:

leave a comment on this blog entry...easy as!

winners will be chosen next tuesday 12/07/2011

New design tuesday - invisible baby

2011-06-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

today's post was supposed to be the one with the baby photos...unfortunately baby's Nana is unwell so they couldn't come today, but hopefully tomorrow we will spend the afternoon playing dress ups and get some lovely shots of baby Sydney with her older twin sisters.

hold tight until then, another post tomorrow (cos the knitting around here? boring)

For those playing along at home

2011-06-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

A 7x5' postcard printable for your kiddies to cut out and create clothes for.

(right click, save image to desktop, then print)

I'm having a day of in lieu today, to make up for all of the extra time I have attended training sessions, so I am making a coconut loaf, tidying up my computer files and knitting popovers!

New Design...Wednesday?

2011-06-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

My trip to Sydney was fantastic, the weather was bright and warm, as were my much missed friends and I enjoyed the shopping as much as ever. I must get there more often, must make it a priority.

In knitting news, theres not much...the popover tops are tearing off the needles, but are variations on a theme, today it is a hooded version, but I'll show you the line up next week.

This week I've been playing with a new pattern template, thanks to my cute new logo...I wanted something that would work well for paper dolls and the results are so sweet I can't wait to get the printed patterns out there... and it won't be too long now. The whole logo thing was fraught...I didn't want cutesie cute...but market research kept coming back that cute sells...and if that means more people who aren't online knit my patterns then cute is what they get.

In other news, Christchurch keeps right on shaking, if you are in the liquefaction zone, or even the shaky areas, I think you are terribly brave. The ash cloud keeps getting bigger, so I'm lucky my trip passed without incident...as Holly (my girl in Chch) says "if another big one hits we can't even fly out!" so lets just hope the earth takes it easy on them.

New design tuesday

2011-06-14T02:48:00.000-07:00

This week I have been making popover tops like they are going out of fashion, I'm loving this wee design, and am experimenting with various necklines and pockets. I like the idea of starting with something very simple, then extending it with simple techniques.

It has been once of those weeks where a lot is happening...but none of it has actually happened so I can't share it yet, I am doing a spot of rebranding and can't wait to share the artwork with you - so cute! I can share this with you though, check it out for some great colour schemes Kuler

The Chilean volcano as given me a fright this week, GrannyG , Westiechick and I are flying off to Sydney this thursday to meet up with the locals for WWKIP day, Jetstar and Qantas have cancelled their flights, but thankfully good old AirNZ is flying below the ash cloud, so the trip takes a bit longer but at least we will get there! I can't wait to visit my old haunts and show them to my friends...Kinokuniya, Kuletos, Pentimento, Berkelouw books , Campos, Newtown Thai, a pot of chai at Corelli's... is "a coffee and a yarn" still open? I heard good things about it.

As far as actual knitting goes, I'm working on a no brain needed Gap-tastic cowl in an ice blue wool single and loving it, just keep going around and around until it is the right size, then cast off - simple! I think I may make another one for my KIP knitting, I know from much past experience that i cannot knit and talk without making mistakes!

In family news Christchurch gave it's resident another big shake up this week...a 5.6 followed an hour later by a 6.3, Nick was at home and is fine, the second one knocked him off his feet, but luckily he was in the garden, last time he was in the shower and was thrown into the air! Holly had left work a little while after the first shake, and was on a busy road surrounded by trucks when the second one hit, it sounded terrifying, she said it was like trying to drive a car on a bouncy castle, the trucks were lurching into her lane and it was all she could do not to crash into them, luckily a friend lives nearby so she took some time out for a cup of tea and a chat to settle her nerves. I do worry about them, they like the rest of the people in Chch are very brave to just keep going.

see you next week, hope you have a fun WWKIP day if you didn't celebrate it on the 11th!

New design tuesday - basics

2011-06-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Everyone has to start somewhere...and I have been thinking about that quite a lot since my eldest daughter started knitting again with a passion, Holly is a totally fearless knitter, she makes what she wants without thinking too much about the scary bits, however for the more timid out there I felt that a few easy pieces with a bit of "wow" factor would be just the ticket, fast enough to actually get made and good looking enough to spur the knitter on to more complex additions to a simple framework in which they have already found success.

This wee popover is worked in 2 pieces, yes you need to work shoulder seams...but what an easy introduction to 3 needle bind off and the explanation for why this is necessary will enhance a new knitters knowledge of knitwear construction. I'm currently working on a cowl necked version with a front pocket, who knows what will be next (certainly not me!)

Grellow...stalled (it's life story really!)

Nikau...stalled waiting for me to feel like sitting in front of the imac for a sustained period of time...

Plum Blossom...stalled waiting for me to take photos...

as for me... I'm happy as Larry getting these ideas out of my head and into wool, but I know I have to face that pattern paperwork soon, such is life.

New design tuesday - no new design...

2011-05-31T00:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your kind words and emails regarding my Uncle's passing, and Blaise's message to him. We have decided to get a wooden box made, it will be called "Uncle Richard's Christmas box" and we will all put books in and take books out, keeping his memory with us always and involving little ones who will never know him.

Plum Blossom is fully edited. Now I am waiting on some artwork and a decent photograph of the sweater on a very small person, so it may be a bit longer before that pattern is for sale. I think I may make a matching Poppy hat for the photograph.

Grellow - written, not graded

Nikau re-write completed, now to put it into the template, tech edit, photographs...

and I am still working on the world's sweetest onesie in my spare time, unfortunately spare time has been very lacking around here lately, Flash is very busy with work and Mel has moved into the spare room (that's the room with the revolving door!) as she has been promoted to a great job here.

My plans for the next few months are quite simple, please my dear family could you note these down and ensure your own health, wealth and wellbeing during the short periods of time when I am off enjoying myself, and now that I have totally jinxed myself...here are the plans.

WWKIP day around 18/06/11 Sydney, Australia sightings at my favourite haunts...Kinokuniya, Campos, Chinta Ria, The Lindt cafe (my secret shame) and any place with a good mojito. I will be in very good company, it will be a veritable movable feast of comedy, knitting and food.

Knit August Nights (KAN) 26/08/11 for a few days...hanging out with my favourite Kiwi knitters and making new friends (eating lots and finding Napier's best mojitos)

and in September WOW World of Wearable Art...the last time I attended this it was the last show in Nelson...this year my Mama and I are off by ourselves to indulge in Wellington...supper at Pravda and dinner at...ssshhhh...Logan Brown. I can't wait.

It is so nice to have lovely things to look forward to...they make the here and now more bearable, and I'm glad I bit the bullet and decided to make the sacrifices needed...too often as Mums we put ourselves at the back of the queue, but if Mummy ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

In Memoriam

2011-05-26T03:22:00.000-07:00

today we attended my Uncle's funeral, it went as well as these things can go, we gave him a good send off as they say.

My darling Blaise bravely delivered a few words

"I didn’t know my Uncle very well. Like most people i’ve met, his life before it intersected with mine never really came up in conversation, we had little comfortable conversations about stories and poetry. I said i’d come up and help with the shop when I got some time, but things got in the way and we remained comfortable strangers. It’s hard, because although I didn’t speak to my uncle very much, his impact upon my life has been huge. It was a quiet influence with a box of books that he brought down for christmas each year. My sisters and I waited for it all year, and even though there were three of us, and then five, with five years between the youngest and eldest, that box was always strangely perfect. I looked forward to it all year, the build up to christmas for me wasn’t trying to find the wrapped presents in wardrobes or hot water cupboards, it was trying to guess what Uncle Richard would bring next. What book would he pull from the box this year and say “I think you’ll really like this one”.

The amount of love and attention that goes into creating a package of books that will grow with you was lost on me until recently. I never thought about how he could’ve put them together so perfectly, how much time goes into catering to that many kids, but every year he opened my eyes a little wider, made me see a little clearer, and gave me my own little world to escape into when the troubles which come with growing up were too much. He’s in every one of those books, now. Everytime I spend a day in bed, reading, every splintered poem by E.E. Cummings, everytime Robyn Hide makes me cry he’s still there saying “I knew you’d like it”. My love of words, my need to create those paper universes, come from his care of the worlds he shared. And I wish i’d said it before, I wish i’d seen the impact he’d had and let him know that I couldn’t have been me without him. He left his mark on me, he taught me that love doesn’t need a life story to be born, sometimes it’s quiet like a grateful smile, or the turning of a page"

New design Tuesday - round up

2011-05-24T01:49:00.000-07:00

Today I'm just going to catch you up on where the current designs stand...there hasn't been much knitting this week, my Uncle passed away on Thursday after a brave battle.

My parents, sister and I came to NZ in 1972, my Uncle arrived in 1986 and my grandparents about 12 years later, my sister now lives back in England, my grandparents are quite elderly and my Uncle never married or had children so everything has fallen to Mum to organize, and as always she is doing a stellar job.

Today I emailed Blaise with a link to a macaron recipe I knew she would like, and said that we have to make them soon, she replied "as soon as the crazy has calmed" and my reply "haven't you learnt yet Blaise? The crazy never ends, you just have to learn to ride the waves"

My way of riding those waves is to knit:

- Grellow...actually we are almost friends again, the sleeves are on and I'll be finished this evening

- Nikau revisited...very happy with these, need to write the pattern, found 2 beautiful babes for the photos

- plum blossom...still waiting for me to correct the spelling and punctuation...

- and a newie...Torrent...simple, bright, useful...more info soon!

Have a great week, we will be saying goodbye to my Uncle The best way we know how...with words and memories, hanging out as a family, making to most of each other.

Secrets revealed

2011-05-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

10 Secrets of the Laidback knitters has been published, so I can finally show you some of the secrets I have been keeping from you.

The Prospero Hoodie (size 4 years shown here) is a relatively easy knit hoodie, worked in the round in a nice stretchy textured rib with a nice little cable up the sides for interest.

The Princess Garden skirt is even easier than the hoodie, sure there is some lace, but it's a teeny tiny bit!
and you can add as many flowers as your Princess' heart desires.

(sizes, yarn details at Ravelry - just click the links)

The book itself is just lovely, there are lots of fabulous patterns and the stories, anecdotes and commentary are magical, it is a knitting book which you can sit down and just read, or dip into from time to time and it's just like being at a wonderful knitting group - the noisy ones, the ones with loads of good advice, the quiet ones, the ones who gossip and tell racy stories, it's all good!

New design tuesday - working

2011-05-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

I like it when a detour suddenly becomes the right road, when meandering (and let's face it...avoidance) leads us back to the path.

I took an idea that I liked with that Grellow, and turned it into something that I am only just starting to like again, it's a fair few weeks away from being finished at this rate, so I decided to turn my energy into improving something I like very much, the Nikau sweater...the pattern needed updating (I am so much better at writing patterns now) the yarn didn't work for most people and the motif wasn't doing it for me.

Here is a photo of the old Nikau and the New Nikau (top)

Not too much difference overall...everything has changed, but everything has remained the same.

the yarn is thicker (took me 2 days to knit...with plenty of breaks, and work) but still organic, the motif much more clearly defined, and the hood....SO much easier, so much easier.

and a few options for those who aren't so much into Nikau palms...this will look lovely when blocked, there is a polar bear motif to come and there will be a funnel neck option as well...for those who like hats more than hoods.

The Plum blossom cardigan has been revised by the Tech editor, now I have to make my changes and send it back to her...not too much longer.

New design Tuesday - Nikau revisited.

2011-05-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

We all love this...it's the Nikau hoodie, one of my first designs, which I used to sell as a garment and one I translated straight from knitting machine to hand knitting.

The problems is that this sweater is knitted in a fine 3 ply organic merino yarn, which is difficult to obtain outside New Zealand, so many people substituted other "3 ply" yarns which often ended up being closer to a DK weight...so the sweater ended up huge.

I've decided to re-write the pattern using a commonly available yarn weight, and simplifying some of the needlessly complicated sections of the pattern e.g. there will no longer be short row shaping of the hood, and the cable pattern has been extended so there will be a variety of 3 to choose from.

As always there is the process...the paper, the notes, the cryptic comments in the margins... what did I mean by that??

I'm still using an organic merino for the improved version, but it is easily interchangeable with standard yarns such as Dale Baby Ull and Filatura Di Crosa Baby Zarina.

The Grellow (working title) is still in timeout. I am not at all happy with it, at least the time I have spent knitting it has resulted in many, many project ideas...and some creative use of language.

New design tuesday - old design tuesday!

2011-05-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this incarnation will be the last for the Grellow (working title) I completely ripped the Koigu one!

This is how I work, I refine and change elements that aren't working, I get ideas along the way and suddenly the reason I came up with the pattern in the first place (3 colour slip st) has disappeared from the design altogether!

I'm knitting this version with Wollemeise, initially I thought the yarn maybe too firm for babywear, however it knits up beautifully and gives real bounce to the stitch patterns, and even though I have only been knitting Grellows for weeks, I have been frantically sketching whilst doing so, and now have an entire e-books worth of 4ply (fingering) weight designs ready to take their place in the line up...hopefully the process will not be as torturous as this has been.

Who knows what will be here next tuesday...maybe I will have finished...maybe I will decide to add a hood...c'est la vie!

New design Tuesday - the one where I distract you with a jellyfish

2011-04-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the jellyfish of the title...it is really an adult sized Aviatrix ( I used the largest size worsted pattern instructions, but used a bulky weight yarn) with built in scarf, here it is blocking. The combo actually looks really good on, I should get a photo when Blaise comes to pick it up on Thursday. I started it on friday and finished it yesterday, it was good mindless knitting for the stolen moments I was able to grab.

I did not accomplish anything like the amount of knitting I had optimistically hoped this long weekend, in fact very little knitting was done at all, however there was lots of family time, and couple time which more than made up for it. Charlotte's birthday tea was combined with Easter sunday, so most of the family gathered around at our house for a big Indian feast, I love preparing, cooking and eating Indian food, so leap at any chance to go all out!

The Grellow (working title) cardigan has grown a little, I am onto the slip moss st bodice now (this is the newborn size) I love, love, love the i-cord cast on...it is neat, tidy, clever and strong enough to prevent rolling, did I tell you I loved it already? I have tweaked almost every aspect of this cardigan, but will wait until it is almost finished to decide if it needs ties or buttons, ties are nice, but buttons are convenient for parents...we will see.
I also love how this yarn works with the stitch patter, I have found these short colour change yarns ( I have used Koigu KPPM and Shibui sock in this one) respond very will to slip st patterning, it reduces the appearance of pooling, even if it is achieved by one pooling colour being layered on top of another pooling colour!

More distractions... I have a couple of patterns in a soon to be released book "10 secrets of The Laidback Knitters" - you can read more about the book here, or on the Facebook page and even attend book signings if you are the United States - so exciting! I can't wait to see it.

New design tuesday - Grellow update

2011-04-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

So, I'm happy with how the Grellow (working title) turned out, I have some minor adjustments to make but overall the fit is nice (firmer in the bodice, slightly looser for the rest of the body) the 3 colour slip patterns are fun and easy to learn and the stripes give a bit of relief where more slip st may have pushed the cardigan over the edge. I was thinking that the neckband needs to come down ever so slightly, and I'll use an i-cord cast on, instead of applied i-cord

for my 2nd attempt I am trying a handpainted, multicoloured yarn instead of 3 different colours, it will still have a contrast piped edge (don't worry the green is just there as a border between the 3 swatches I have to knit) I'm thinking either an earthy brown or deep rose pink. When I come to write the pattern up I will include instructions for both versions. I have a fun hat taking shape in my head too...we'll see if I can manage to make that a reality before the next big thing takes over...

and speaking of which, you may remember this:

My Sakura sweater is about to be reincarnated into something which is simple to knit, this one looked a lot easier than it was, it had a complicated chain stripe which looked nice but threw the intarsia right off.

Easter long weekend looms before us , so I feel positive that progress will be made on this before next Tuesday.

Update: The Baby Plum Blossom sweater pattern is with the Tech editor, then it may go through another test knitter or two to ensure the best results, the wait will be worth it!

New design tuesday-Grellow

2011-04-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

The working name of this design is "Grellow" only because those are the colours I am using while I (im)patiently wait for some Wollemeise to arrive so that I can knit a saturated colour version. I have been swatching slip stitch patterns for a while and really like this 3 colour variant, I have used a light grey, lemon and grammar grey (although the colours are askew in the photo) and will knit the body of the jacket in this st pattern.

This is the way I tend to work...swatch, sketch, knit (and write copious notes all of the way through) when I have finished the body part of this jacket I will make a decision about a border of sorts, because I will probably knit the bodice in a 3 colour seed st pattern and will need some definition, and then there are the buttonbands and hems to sort out, I hold an image of the finished garment in my head...now to match reality with imagination.

Mister Man!

2011-03-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

he's here! all 20 sizes of him.

I'm actually pretty proud of this pattern, the vest is simple - "v" neck, no body shaping - but the stitch pattern looks amazing with handpainted yarns, the shoulders sit nicely with no overhang, the back neck is snug and the stitch pattern is both charted and written.

Ebony is my favourite colourway from Fleece Artist, the browns and deep blue/greys remind me of rusting steel plate, the kind of thing you see on modern buildings, I like the broodiness of it.

Plum blossom pain

2011-03-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

So I was writing the pattern for the Plum blossom cardigan, and I wasn't happy. It took me a while to realize that the problem was the yarn. I used a hand painted sport weight in 2 coloursto knit the original, and while I love it to pieces I realized that there was no point in offering a design which knitters had no chance of recreating exactly.

I am re-knitting the pattern using Sublime organic merino and only 1 colour (apart from the embroidery) it's a faster knit and the Sublime yarn is available in the heather colourways which suit the design. I also dropped the neckline a little and tweaked some minor details. Let's see how it progresses!

finishing up

2011-03-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Like my friend Ailsa I decided to spend some time just knitting accessories, nothing too taxing on my poor sick brain (unlike Ailsa I chose particularly simple projects - that woman is a lace legend)

Blaise's hats:

Ysolda Teague's "Verity"

homage to a hat seen online - couldn't get off the couch to buy new yarn, so used what I had - Lambs pride in Charcoal.

Panda hat - made up on the needles, better with the brim tucked under (need to get a photo of that!)

Socks for Flash (Ravelry is keeping me honest, the last socks I knitted for him were finished more than 2 years ago)

he has huuuuuge feet, so I always have to augment the 100g ball with contrast colours at heel and toe, this time I decided to make this the contrast the feature of the socks, so I have a lovely Koigu kpppm in a camo colourway and Patonyle in a dark donkey grey. I'm knitting the socks as 1 sock on 2 circs but knitting 2 at a time (my brain was too addled to work 2 socks on 2 circs) I knit the rib on one sock first, then on the other sock, and continue in this way alternating between them as each component is finished so that at the end I have 2 finished socks! I will immediately cast on another pair when these are finished, I have some lovely Subeam St Ives in a heathered cocoa colourway which will suit the remaining Koigu.

The sock pattern I use has evolved over the years, I worked a 4 x 2 rib pattern in this one, which extends down the top of the foot, this works best for a business sock as it stays up (and the contrast parts are hidden by his shoes!)

My infinity scarf from the previous post, you can't see the sparkles in the photos - but they are there!

The Mister Man pattern is not far away now, boy has that been a long time coming! and I'm still working away at the Plum blossom, I've had a change of heart about the child's size, have decided to work it in a DK weight yarn now...just waiting for the yummy yarn to arrive.

In family news: Holly and Nick (and a bunch of friends) have had to dig their driveway up in order to lay a new water main, as the old one kept bursting for earthquake related reasons. Nick has had to email EQNZ as their house was assessed as "no structural damage" when it actually has demonstrable structural damage - the assessor wouldn't look at the photos they took after the September quake which show the difference between then and now, which is extremely distressing for them. I do worry about them - this was supposed to be the time of their lives - newlyweds with a lovely old house to renovate, Holly was about to retrain as a teacher as it is much more family friendly than winemaking, and they were planning to start a family. The retraining has been put off for a year due to intakes being cancelled and as for the baby - it's not a sensible option in light of the instability in the land and their lives. I know they will be fine, and there are many people much worse off, I just want them to have a nice life, they are good kids, they deserve it.

where was I?

2011-03-12T22:56:00.000-08:00

blogging will resume in earnest shortly, however I have a chest infection and horrid cold currently so have exiled myself to the couch where I am happy with the knitting, ipad, remote, water and tissues oh and a very heavy cat.

The world is a sad place right now, you all know why - and knitting has really helped me to stay calm and centred, I have managed to knit 4 hats and 1/2 a pair of socks while I have been couchbound and expect to be knitting the same sorts of mindless things for the coming week as illness and math are not happy bedfellows.

Please where ever you are in the world - look after one another and stay safe x x

I'll leave you with a photo of my cheery pixie in one of her new hats (and my new scarf)

the hat is a panda hat - made up on the spot as I knitted, she is now tucking the brim under which looks loads better than here. The scarf is the Infinity scarf from KnitPurl Hunter just perfect in Dream in Color "Starry"

Catch up 2

2011-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Today marks a week since the tragic events in Christchurch, today at 12.51pm we will have 2 minutes silence as a nation, if you are overseas you can check your local time here and maybe observe the 2 minutes with us.

I'm having a bit of a down day today, the shock of what has happened has finally hit me (you know - when your head has known for a week, but your subconscious suddenly catches up and you cant stop crying)

Holly is coming up for a few days, I can't wait to see her, I won't want her to leave, but all we can do is support her and Nick and be here for them.

As a family we have made donations to the usual agencies - but have decided to put most of our resources into this fantastic community organisation: The Rangiora express they are cooking hot meals for the people of the eastern suburbs and flying them in by helicopter - they are awesome.

The Civil defence website continues to be a useful source of information.

and the Student volunteer army is beyond awesome - this is the future face of NZ? fantastic!

thank you for the comments and emails, our family is fine, but if you can find a way to help out - please do so, this is going to be a long haul for the people of Christchurch.

catch up

2011-02-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

just a wee catch up about the family in Chch.

Holly got her meds before she expired from the pain of a sore back (skiing injury) and abdominal surgery, her painkillers had been very carefully balanced and timed prior to the quake, but after the quake the pharmacist wouldn't fill her (hospital issued) prescription, luckily her Aunt in law is a GP and she told them which emergency pharmacy to go to, to ensure Holly maintained her pain relief schedule.

Power has been restored to their home, water and sewage are a long way off (in the Mayor's words the sewerage system is "munted") but they can get water from nearby, visit family and friends for laundry and showers, and my darling Flash has organised a Portaloo so poor Holly doesn't have to worry so much about her hygiene (yes they are letting their close neighbours use it)

They have discovered their very own "water feature" it's bubbling out of a crack in their driveway, I hate to think what has caused it, but it's not causing any damage!

Holls is determined to stay put, I admire her spirit, but I also want to drag her home to Auckland, where she can be safe (surrounded by upwards of 40 dormant volcanoes...)

Love and thoughts to all in Christchurch, or with family and friends there, if you need help just ask - we are all sitting here ready, willing and able.

What matters...

2011-02-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

is that my darling girl Holly, her husband Nick, their extended family and friends (and the cats) are alive

Holly was in hospital when the earthquake struck, and caused more damage than anyone thought possible

I spoke with Nick, my Mum got hold of Holly, they couldn't reach one another.

Finally Nick made it to the hospital, it took them 5 hours to drive the 9kms from the hospital to home, a distance usually travelled in 20 minutes.

All the while they were worried, the destruction was incomprehensible, Holly had very little pain relief, they didn't know if their home would be standing when they reached it, or if their cats would have become terrified and run away, their gas light moved to empty and no petrol stations were open.

In Auckland my family gathered in our lounge and just watched the events unfold, horrific scenes and so much trauma and death. I knew more than Holly and Nick, I knew that their suburb was close to the epicentre, that most of it was subject to the foul liquefaction and sewage spills.

Thankfully they made it home safely and their home was spared, even spared the liquefaction, everything in the house was on the floor - including their wardrobes, and they have no power, water or sewage, but they have family down there helping them, and the offer of flights to stay with us for as long as they need to, we are so lucky they have been spared.

We are still having lots of communication problems, and that will continue, the infrastructure has been annihilated in many areas, but we are so blessed to know that they are safe, others are not so lucky.

New Zealand is a small, sparsely populated 1st world nation in the South Pacific, comprised of 3 islands - North, South and Stewart Island. I live in Auckland (see map) the largest city at over 1 million people, Christchurch is NZ's 3rd largest city and is in the South Island.

If you need information or wish to help please go here

it's the small things...

2011-02-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm not a girly girl like my friend Ailsa the style goddess, I know bugger all about fashion rules and shoes (I do love shoes - but I buy what I like, not what's in fashion), or what order moisturiser, primer, and that concentrated eye gunk go on before the makeup, generally I just rock up to a makeup counter in the department store once a year and say "halp"

But I do like my handbags.

Last year I bought the Monroe from Namaste, I love my Monroe - it is red, it fits the ipad as well as tons of other "essentials"and it is comfortable as well as stylish. Unfortunately whilst in Chile I was on the receiving end of many jokes due to the size of my handbag (I still don't think it is THAT big) and although I am a grown up in my (early) 40s, I am still subject to the odd effects of peer pressure.

Luckily Namaste make the Bitty Bag, it is all style on the outside and fun on the inside, black and simple outside, flouro hedgehog print nylon inside!

it doesn't fit the ipad, but then that doesn't go everywhere with me anyway, and it does fit a sock-in-progress (essential) it's the perfect bag when I don't actually want to make a statement, because sometimes I just want to fit in... except for the knitting thing - they can always spot me because for some reason not everyone is doing it!

(ps, dear Namaste people, I took your photos, but not your bandwidth - hope you don't mind)

Please help

2011-02-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

My friend Julia is offering up a fabulous prize in order to raise some funds to make life a little less harsh for a family with a terminally ill 4 year old daughter.

Julia has offered to send the prize anywhere in the world for free, entries into the competition are $5.00 NZ (that's 3.80 US or 2.40 UK) each and you can pay buy Paypal (just click "make a payment" and enter Julia's email address) the more entries you have the better your chance of winning.

Please check out Julia's blog here

Prize: (in Julia's words - picture on her blog)
A handmade swift, carefully handcrafted by my husband. For more details on how to use/assemble see here

Yarn -
2 x 50gms balls of Noro Kureyon, 100% wool, colour no 124 – Reds, purples and pinks.

2 x 100gms skeins of Jolly Jumbuck 4ply/fingering on the Zeus base (60% merino, 20% cashmere, 20% nylon) – colourway ‘Ancient Mariner’

1 x 100gms skein of Touch 4ply/fingering Pure NZ merino – in a lovely pastel combination of pink, purple, yellow, green and blue

2 sets of professionally made (not by me) stitch markers. These come in a beautifully made stitch marker holder.

A Work in Progress bag

Postage anywhere in the world

My island home

2011-02-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

23 years ago when Holly was a toddler, I bought my first house.

I was very young, didn't have much money and didn't want to move out of Auckland, but buying a house meant security for the 2 of us and I was determined.

During the 1980s house prices boomed, I bought at the height of the market so the little money I did have would not stretch far. I had a choice between a brand new box in nappy(diaper) valley West Auckland or a cottage on Waiheke, believe me the choice was not a hard one and one I have never regretted!

Waiheke has a 35 minute ferry to Auckland, which meant a commute was possible, it was safe, child friendly community and we loved living there. Life progressed as it does, there were more of us, then less of us and the girls and I grew and changed. Eventually it became evident that Waiheke was not the place for us any longer - we needed a bigger house, and to live somewhere a little less laidback.

In an ideal world we would have bought a house on the mainland and kept the old house as a bach (holiday home) but since when has the world been ideal? I haven't returned often to Waiheke in the intervening years but it has always been a part of my heart.

Flash and I visited the island on Saturday, I was feeling nostalgic and recent events in our family had left me wanting to show him why I am the person I am and think the things I do.

We caught the ferry 35 minutes + waiting, then a bus to Rocky Bay 30 minutes + waiting and walked for 30 minutes uphill to the old house, now he understands how it must have been for me, getting 3 small children ready and walking to the bus down gravel roads at sun-up winter and summer, and even though when I had a car life was so much easier, I still never saw the house during the daylight during the week commuting to Auckland everyday, but we were protected from the weather!

I think Flash now understands my frustration with and seeming harshness towards our 21 yr old (step)daughter who has recently moved back home with her baby while she saves to move into an apartment, we gave her a very good car 4 or 5 months ago and she had money from an inheritance, but still has not attempted to get her restricted licence. My decision not to chauffeur her and her baby to work or the train (she starts work at 7.30am) when he is away means that she has to leave home at 6am for a 30 minute walk to the train, my reasoning is that the inconvenience will be an incentive for her to get her licence and drive herself. My experience of living where I did taught me that hardship makes you a stronger, more resilient person, soon our daughter will move into a place of her own and will need to do her own housework, cook her own meals and pay her own bills - she will need to be resilient, and we are not doing our job if we do not encourage her independence.

Anyway, enough of that...life is not always sunshine and lollipops with such a large family!
The other reason for visiting the island was to walk the sculpture trail called Headland it is a stunning walk - through bush, across farmland around the clifftops above Matitia bay, the sculptures are often arresting, vibrant and exciting and the walk is pretty strenuous, we were glad we thought to pack lots of water and I was very grateful for the umbrella which shielded me from the worst of the late afternoon sun.

Flash found a friend

and I found one of my kids favourite haunts

we walked, talked and plotted firstly camping there and eventually buying a section or cottage (it's on the 5 year plan...well at least if it is on the plan it's more of a reality!), ate great food and had a fantastic, adventure filled day, the kind of day we hope to have more of in the future.

Renaissance woman

2011-01-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

today I bring you:

2 sweaters with patterns being written

this is the "Plum blossoms in the morning mist" cardigan, it is the Mummy of the "Plum blossom at twilight" baby cardigan. I knitted a size 12...it is too big for Blaise, but she is going through an '80s retro phase and likes her sweaters oversized. I'm getting the cardi back this weekend for some photos of me in it, as it fits me snugly which is how I like it best as it shows up the waist and armhole shaping.

1 bag of yarn frantically being swatched and 1 test garment on the needles

1 tea cosy in the process of being knitted for the above-mentioned Blaise who has moved in with her boyfriend Joe, who has a house in Grey Lynn, they are both writers and students so everything has to be a little funky!

1 finished garment, which I have slightly mentioned previously, which I think is very cool, I'll get photos on the weekend, and write up the pattern - then I'll let you tell me what you think!

It is high summer here in Auckland, very hot, often humid and the vegie garden is churning out the surplus produce so we are eating tomatoes by the bucket load and I feel a canned salsa making session coming on. I have to show you my tomatoes as I am so in love with them, these are Japanese Black Krim tomatoes and they are divine!

these are stock standard Roma's from last year's saved seed - great for bottling!

and the strawberries have dwindled to almost nothing, but this patch was giving us a punnet a day for almost 2 months! I made enough strawberry jam to get the extended family through the year!
next year it will be twice the size, there is nothing as good as sun warmed organic strawberries!

I've also made 10 kgs of assorted scented washing powder, and 60 soy wax melts in sweet cinnamon (my house smells just like Pentimento in King street did when we lived in Sydney) sandalwood and pink grapefruit. I used this tutorial to make the melts and bought g.e free soy wax from a Trademe supplier.

Just like knitting, I didn't make or grow these things just to save money - but to gain satisfaction of making them, and knowing where all of the ingredients came from, I worked out it was cheaper to get the best organic essential oil and soy wax I could find and make melts for my home and gifts for friends and family throughout the year, than it was to buy 2 packets of High street brand melts, and that my laundry detergent smells just the way Flash likes it (Sandalwood) and doesn't leave white marks on our clothes like supermarket detergents. Our garden is all organic, the only spray we use is garlic (truly disgusting smelling but effective) and if something doesn't work we just learn and move on.

I'm enjoying having the time to do all of these things, the long summer evenings seem so much more productive, I'm hoping I can find a way to extend that feeling into winter.

Laundry tips

2011-01-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

this is a page from my website, however I felt it may be useful to reproduce it here as the recipes and tips are useful to more than just people wanting to wash baby clothes, they don't stay babies for long and you can't keep having them!

Caring for woolens is not difficult, follow these steps to get a good result every time.

1: never ever rub at a stain, this may cause felting and pilling, instead spray the stain with white vinegar mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with warm water or mix a little wool wash with warm water and spread over the stain. and leave for an hour before washing.

2: to wash: fill a basin with handwarm water, add detergent as per directions, place your garment in the water, keep it submerged and gently press down repeatedly until it stays under the water by itself. Leave to soak for an hour or so, then press the water through the garment to get rid of any remaining grime, lift out of water squeeze well but don't wring, let the water out of the basin and fill again with clear water to rinse., repeat the previous actions until the water runs clear.

Let the water out and gently press the garment to remove excess water, place in a dry towel, roll it up and press hard to remove more water ( I stand on mine!) remove the garment and place on a dry towel or sweater dryer out of the sun to dry.

3: use lavender, peppermint, pennyroyal essential oil in your detergent, alone or in combination with other oils to deter moths.

4: don't stress! there is nothing stressful about leaving something to soak for an hour or two - go off and play with baby, read a book, have a sleep!

Recipes:

Liquid Woolwash

Ingredients:

4 cups soap flakes , 4 cups boiling water, 1/2 cup methylated spirits, 1.5 Tablespoons of lavender, eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil.

Method:

mix soap flakes and boiling water (you can use a food processor) then add the meths and oil. Pour into a large glass jar, this will set to a jellylike consistency. Use by adding 1 T to a basin of warm water, soak the garment and rinse in clean water.

Powder laundry detergent

Ingredients: 1/2 cup washing soda (crush before use) 1 cup grated soap, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2T essential oil of your choice.

Method:

Mix all ingredients together, place in a large jar, dissolve 1T in warm water for small loads, 2T for larger loads, rinse in clean water.

The wedding photos

2011-01-09T01:15:00.000-08:00

Holly + Nick: The photos from Delphine Photography on Vimeo.

The song is "First day of my life" by The Bright Eyes - the best man got the song wrong and the newlyweds were on the dance floor awaiting their first dance as man and wife and our ears were assaulted by "bright eyes...burning like fire" ...iphone to the rescue! this song makes me cry like nothing else, when we watched it with my Uncle today he asked me if I would like a roll of toilet paper!

The second song is the one Holly walked down the aisle to...unconventional - like the happy couple, I can't remember the name of it (I'll Shazam it and post it later) but really it's all about the last line.

It is difficult deciding which of these we will get printed, the one of our nuclear family for sure, the one of 4 generations of Mums and daughters, absolutely and the one of the entire Turner/Wiffen family with add-ons of course! but which to choose of Holly and Nick...I'll try to narrow it down.

In knitting news - I managed to get the remainder of the yarn needed to finish the woman's version of the plum blossom cardigan, it will be finished this week I hope!!!

Looking forward

2011-01-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

This New Year I made no resolutions, I drank champagne and watched the fireworks and just enjoyed the end of 2010.

The year did end well, Holly's wedding was everything I ever wished for her and more, Christmas was noisy, fun and festive and the sadness of Blaise leaving home for good was tempered with the work of making her bedroom into my new workroom.

I'm so excited to have this new space, the entire time we have lived in this house (4 yrs now) I have shared the upstairs lounge, firstly with Flash as an office space, then when Maria moved out and Flash turned her room into his office, as a den/ workroom so that Flash could watch TV while I worked, now that I have this decent sized space all to myself we finally get a nice clutter free upstairs lounge and a door can be closed on work at the end of the day (that's what I'm telling myself...)

I scrubbed and filled, sanded and undercoated and finally painted the room a lovely blue my furniture was already white, beech and cream - so I felt it was important for the room to have a colour, it is cool without being cold, an enveloping colour, a sanctuary. I finished it off with floor length charcoal slub satin drapes which add a touch of glamour to an otherwise useful space.

I haven't "worked" in this room yet, it was only finished yesterday, but today I sat on the couch looking out on the 9 frantically flowering gardenias who love the dappled sun outside the window in one direction, and the pool and crazy summer vegie garden on the other side, while I sat and watched and thought about what I want to say and do this year, while I sipped vanilla mint tea out of a pretty cup and breathed the scent of a green tea mint candle (you get the theme here?) I tore fabric into strips, knotted them and then rolled them into balls, the first cushion I made using fabric strips knitted up on large needles turned out so good I've decided to make more, and I have this pink lining fabric from Trelise Cooper's workroom sale that I have wanted to use for ages, the print is so pretty, but quite frankly the fabric is rubbish, it crushes and snags on everything, so I bit the bullet and repurposed it. I'll run a strand of dk weight cotton with the fabric, cast on 60 sts and knit until the fabric runs out, then I'll add another end of the dk and knit the back. I love how the knots work themselves to the front of the fabric, it's rustic and tactile, the smoothness of the silk and the unfinished look of the fraying knots. The other ball is strips of blue tulle to be worked the same way.

As for the things I want to do and say...for a start lots more designs should be percolating through now that most of the crazy is over, this year needs to be one of consolidation, of settling in and nesting, enjoying friends and family, and home.

What are your dreams for this new year, this new decade? or are you carefree as Frasier, only dreaming of birds!

The wedding video!

2010-12-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

Delphine rocks!

Holly + Nick : Wedding in Stop Motion from Delphine Photography on Vimeo.

absence

2010-12-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't been knitting much...or blogging much...and here is the reason why

this has taken up a lot of my thinking and doing time, hours spent on the phone reassuring the bride to be (about the details - not about the groom! he is perfect) and finally a trip to Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand for the entire family which required the co ordinating skills of a sergeant major.

Holly is the first of our 5 girls to marry, the wedding was a credit to her and Nick's style and imagination, I can't wait to see the rest of the photos, the photographer trialled a very cool new technique and I'll post the link to the results when they are up.

We are home now, leaving the newly weds to settle into married life, they are leaving for a 3 week skiing tour of Japan on New Years Eve, we will miss them at Christmas - but have my sister and Maisie and Mackenzie from England here to keep us busy...hopefully I have a chance to get some design stuff out of the way before the big day...at least I have all of the presents bought and wrapped, and the food pretty much under control!

(thank you for the lovely comments about the Blurb book...looks like a few of you have taken up the idea...it really is easy and so effective...one day I will create a book containing all of my designs to pass on to family as well, and yes the Owen Bartlett plate is special...that's another trip I have to make...so much to do!!)

Nom - the book

2010-11-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

When children leave home the thing they miss (apart from their parents, clean dishes and free hot water) is food, comfort food, Mum's food.

and when they come home whether it is for Sunday dinner or for a week they ask for certain foods to be made for them...in our house it is chicken and red sauce, macaroni cheese, chili or simply "pie" and at Christmas time they request the bonanza - stained glass cookies, stuffing, candy cane cupcakes and roast red onions.

Last year I decided I would turn my collection of handwritten recipes into a book for them, but last year passed, and this year threatened to disappear just as quickly - luckily I was able to put lots of the recipes and photos together during my downtime in Chile, so when I came home I just threw it into a Blurb template, ordered 6 copies et voila! here theyare less than a week later! I called it "Nom" because that's the word the kids have used for the past 10 years, the cover is a photo I took in Paris and it was written by "your Mum"

I had so much fun putting it together, as it will never be published I used photos from supermarket websites with abandon e.g. "this is the can the good coconut milk comes in" and pictures of cute bentos to make it more fun. The background is quad ruled, and the photos look like they have been stuck on with sticky tape, I scanned yellowing recipes out of my handwritten recipe book and included them as photos as well.

I am packaging them up with cute measuring cups, various tea towels and oven mitts for each daughter, and the most precious tea towel of all is going to my little baker Blaise.

It's a lovely linen towel, hand printed with GrannyG's scone recipe (the best scones ever!) the perfect present for the baker with everything (available on Granny's website) I know she will use it to tuck over a basket of hot scones when visiting friends, rather than for drying dishes, it's much too lovely for that!

Chile redux

2010-11-17T10:53:00.001-08:00

with the Presidential guard in Santiago - the sunglasses were necessary in this place of tears

making empanadas at Los Lingues

my vineyard? Vino Bello restaurant Santa Cruz

with Senora Maria-Georgina Canales the master hat maker in Lolol, my plaiting was so good she offered me a job!

Santa Cruz winery - scenery seems reminiscent of Otago

Vinovino Panpan restaurant - the pile of rubble was a bread oven prior to the earthquake

The cellar at Haras de Pirque - the final dinner

I do not know where to begin, we arrived home last week and I am just getting my head together.

Ok...25 years ago I saw a movie calling "Missing" starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, it documented a father's journey to dicover the fate of his journalist son who has gone missing in the aftermath of a bloody coup in a Latin American country - Chile is not mentioned by name, but somehow everyone knew that the country in the movie was based on Pinochet's Chile. The movie affected me deeply, affecting my political beliefs and giving me a certain wariness of South America in general.

When Flash told me we were going to Chile I was initially incomfortable, however some quick research assured me that we would be safe on this adventure. I have told you before that these exotic and luxurious trips that I am lucky enough to take part in are arranged by Flash as a customer reward, so we travel with the same group of people each time, the company isn't about to put anyone in danger so I relaxed a little, and my investigations on the internet eased my mind further.

The flight direct from Auckland to Santiago was a painless 10.5 hours, followed by an hour by bus to Santa Cruz, a country town of 19,000 people surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Santa Cruz was a laidback intorduction to life Chilean style and a good place to practice our kindergarten Spanish, the people were quiet, polite and friendly, but being blonde blue eyed and tall, people stared wherever we went, which was disconcerting - I suppose it is good to placed in the position of a minority for a change.

As always on these trips we were submerged in amazing places, beautiful food, wonderful wine. Chile's topography is very similar to NZ, often I would look up and think I was in Central Otago.

6 teams competed in the blending and label design contest - we won!

We had a fantastic time, we relaxed, walked, talked and explored. I have lovely Aracaunia yarn to play with. I'll let the photos talk for me, my head is not just full of Chile, but also the upcoming wedding and getting my head around my transfer from PC to Mac - a good choice, but a seriously steep learning curve! the results will be worth it though as you will see.

Existential angst

2010-10-27T23:27:00.000-07:00

Blaise is in the process of leaving home, she has been leaving for over a year now...spending more and more of the week living with her boyfriend in Grey Lynn, a place more salubrious to the needs of an evolving writer/neuroscientist than the leafy suburbs we call home.

In the past few weeks the plans have become more concrete, the conversations more intense "you will be ok won't you Mum?" "I'll visit a lot, and I'll come to sunday lunch/dinner"

I think I will...I know I will get more work done without my little girl to chat with in the afternoons, and I know that I have done a great job with her, she studies, works and goes out with her friends, she bakes and dresses with passion, she knows how to cut a tomato into a waterlily and is in love with her vintage kitchenaid.

My but it is quiet here though...while she is here I can hear the rest of the girls with their tv and music and chatter, but when I am here alone it's just a big, quiet house.

So, this is a new chapter, I know my work as a Mum will never be finished but I'm not the Mum of stories and bandaids, hair brushing, clean your teeth and get your jamas on, leave your sister alone, let's get the water play toys out, making playdough...any more.

Now I'm the Mum of stove buyers, wedding planners, job seekers, overseas adventurers, even the StepMum of a Mum.

Its time for some changes, it's time for me to look at who I am, when being "a Mum" has been my main identity for the past 24 years, and it's time for me and Flash. I have a lot of thinking to do, there is a lovely large downstairs room which will be available soon...french doors could easily be installed leading straight out to the back sundeck...I could paint it duck egg blue and fill it with my white furniture, my shelves of books and stores of yarn...I could have a little group of beginner knitters visit me for lessons in my large sunny room looking out onto the deck bloomimg with gardenias....

I could follow in the footsteps of my friends and visit Rhinebeck next year, sitting on the porch of a white frame hotel knitting with dear friends...Flash and I could drive the east coast of the USA and into Canada...there are a lot of plans to be made, a lot of work to do, a lot of dreams to dream, a lot of designs filling my head and a little more time to work on them.

Free Friday

2010-10-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

I am evangelical in my approach to spreading the word about Ravelry the only way I can describe it is as a "Facebook for knitters" but it is so much more than that.

Ravelry brings knitters and crocheters (almost a million members so far) together to talk, help and provide information to one another, if you wonder if the mistake is with you or the pattern ask someone, if you don't know where to get something, how to perform a technique or what size a 3 month old baby's foot is...ask someone! The site is free, the advertising is minimal and mostly by indie designers and yarn dyers and the tone is inclusive with a governing motto of "be excellent to one another"

I have a little group on Ravelry, there people can ask questions about the patterns, request help, give me feedback on designs and enter contests - every friday I give away a free pattern to the first person who replies to my post (friday being anytime from 12.01am friday NZ time to 11.59pm friday Boston USA time (chosen as it is where the Ravelry batcave is)

click here to join my wee group, and get ready for the next Free Friday!

Twilight Plum blossom*

2010-10-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

I've told you about my lackadasical design style before, it's an organic, evolving thing...oh yes I can get stuck in, work like billy-o and produce designs in short order, but I prefer to let things flow.

I have been the former for the past month or so, and while I was working on a set commission, my brain was overflowing with ideas, this one just had to come out first - with a string of friends expecting daughters this cardi was inevitable. The moment I sent the last parcel off to my delightful employers I set to finding the perfect yarn...then realising I had the perfect yarn, and I could dye it to the perfect colour.

The yarn is a sportweight merino/silk, the caridgan is plain jane round neck, set in sleeves (with a twist, they are knitted from the top down, with the sts being picked up around the armhole, then a bit of short row shaping and it's done, easy peasy and very fulfilling. The embellishments are embroidered and crocheted, but once again simple-as.

The blossom branch needs to be slightly larger, that's easily fixed, the fact Blaise wants me to knit one for...not so easy in sportweight...we will see, Christmas is coming.

I have a job for you Ravellers - if you think this pattern should be available for sale let me know on this thread in the JustJussi group. If I do decide to offer it for sale, the charts will be larger with each size.

*no vampire connection at all!

Riverstone update!

2010-10-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

another re-written pattern, I have altered the neckline so the shoulders are no longer split and buttoned, instead there is 1 button at the back (which also looks good as the front) so the neckline is narrower, and tips are given to make it even narrower if required.

The rest of the pattern is the same, however the instructions have been clarified and the gauge has change to worsted - this one is knitted in Fleece Artist Africa in the Peridot colourway (love 1000)

In other news, I have found a wonderful new Tech editor and can't wait to start working with her, I'm exploring printing hardcopies of my patterns for sale in LYSs (just waiting for proofs to arrive - exciting!) and have just completed a commision for an Australian yarn company...and summer is definitely on the way! life is good.

Catch up time

2010-10-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Less posting generally means lot's of working around here.

Flash has been in China all week, so I have been staying up until 2 am getting things done - and the results have been fantastic! I have almost finished the 12 designs I promised an Australian company, and theres a lot more to come from that partnership.

next project is to look at the idea of self-publishing hard copies of my patterns to wholesale to yarn shops, but I'm trying not to think about that yet, I still have my current job to finish!

The Free Friday promotion over at Ravelry is going well! join my group and if you are the first person to reply to my post each friday, you win a free copy of that weeks pattern - easy!

The 50% off promotion wraps up today at 23.59 USA Eastern Daylight time, and I'll start thinking of how next to use this fantastic Ravelry tool

The Rhinebeck Aviatrix contest seems to have run away with itself, the number of people queueing and downloading the pattern has increased substantially - and remember we have agreed that the Aviatrix wearer does NOT have to be a baby!

Roaring Meg pattern owners will have received a note from me saying that the pattern has been updated, don't worry! the numbers haven't changed, but the instructions and layout are improved...it's one of those things about pattern writing - as with all things...you get better with practice.

The next pattern to receive this treatment will be Riverstone, I've improved the neckline and will give another neckline option - you will get a note from me when it is updated.

here is a teaser!

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Where's GrannyG?

2010-09-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

Rhinebeck

Nirvana for knitters, I had planned to go this year - we were going to start off at Rhinebeck, then mosey around New York and Boston for a few days before our holiday in Chile was due to begin.

Then the earthquake struck and our trip to Chile was cancelled
Then Pop passed away suddenly...so last minute flights and hotel rooms in a booked out city had to be paid for...and we thought...we won't need the spending money for Chile and the trip to Rhinebeck so we will use it on all of the associated expenses.
Then the Chile trip was back on...now sans trip to the USA...due to budgetary constraints...dang! but we will try for next year.

In the meantime I will live vicariously through GrannyG my friend Genny who is going to Rhinebeck (with bells on) this year.

I am holding a contest (this from the Just Jussi Ravelry group)

Last year I heard from so many people telling me that they saw cute wee babes all cosy and warm wearing their Aviatrix helmets at Rhinebeck, which gave me the germ of an idea…then Genny told me that she was attending this year…and kindly agreed to help me turn the idea into a reality.

If you haven’t knitted an Aviatrix yet, you have plenty of time left before the fibre event of the year, hurry up- it will only take you a couple of hours and then you will be in to win!

New Zealand’s very own podcasting celebrity knitter, the voice behind ”Crafternoon tea”, spinner, weaver and all around National Treasure is going to Rhinebeck this year and she wants to cuddle your babies.

Find GrannyG at Rhinebeck, get a photo of Granny, yourself and your Aviatrix wearing baby, and post it on this thread to go in the draw for $50.00 US to spend in the online yarn store of your choice.

The contest will be drawn a week after the end of the festiavl to give you time to get your photo posted here, the winner will be drawn by random number generator and will receive the voucher by email (I will PM the winner to request their email address)

GrannyG will be easy to find at the Ravelry meetup - just listen for the kiwi accent! and she gives more clues on how to find her in this weeks podcast.
there you have it - easy as pie, please share this with your Rhinebeck attending friends - the more people we have chasing GrannyG the better! You do have to be a member of Ravelry, and post your photo into the "Rhinebeck" thread on the "Just Jussi" group.

Aviatrix pattern available for free on Ravelry

Sale 2.0

2010-09-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm still coming to grips with the new promotional tools we have been given on Ravelry, a couple of days ago I told you about a little 2 for 1 sale I was having, well all of that has changed! - until 1 October 2010 everything in my pattern store (that's EVERYTHING including e-books) is reduced by 50%!

The discount is added in the shopping cart prior to checkout - so, go wild!

In knitting news - not much to report, I am busy writing patterns and knitting samples for a yarn company - so nothing to show I'm afraid, 11 down, 4 to go at present, then I may get a wee break to knit up a couple of the ideas in my head, that's the good thing about being head down, bum up knitting like crazy - heaps of time to think and dream up new ideas!

Sale!

2010-09-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

I'm having a "2 for 1" sale until 23 September (NZ time) over at Ravelry

buy my new Henry pullover pattern and Ember (jacket/sweater/swing coat) pattern and get 50% off - yep 2 patterns for $5.00 US, just add the patterns to your basket and the reduction will be added automagically.

Ember (more info)

Henry (more info)

(edited: links fixed)

Henry

2010-09-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

A bright spot in an otherwise dark week has been the release of my Henry pattern (only on Ravelry at present) this great sweater knits up quickly in worsted/ aran weight yarn, has minimal shaping but uses rib and cable to give a great fit. It's nice to design something a bit more tweenage boy friendly, although it is just as nice on girls (think horseriding and hiking)

Last week has us visitng my Grandad in hospital after a massive heart attack and now follow up complications mean that he is back there for a while...Flash has the 'flu...and Holly and Nick live in Christchurch...they came through the initial quake on saturday morning intact and started feeling survivor guilt very quickly as their house was fine, yet the in-laws (Nick's parents) house has a huge crack running through it, the driveway ended up in the road and the backyard disappeared - they have no power and no water.

Yesterday morning's 5.1 aftershock was literally under Holly's street - and now Holly and Nick have no chimneys, and were sleeping in the dining room to stay safe. I feel so bad for them, they say it is the aftershocks that are doing them in - the lack of sleep and the constant state of alertness is taking it's toll.

It's the big things - the old buildings being demolished, the shattered lives of friends and relatives and the little things - the lists that need to be made for insurance - for wedding dress fabric bought and paid for but still at the shop - which may no longer exist, the cats who have started peeing in the house out of fear.

I sent a big box of love yesterday - cookies baked by Blaise, treats, things to do and watch and enjoy, things to take their mind off the neverending aftershocks and relax for a moment, and wool...of course.

My friends in Christchurch our love and thoughts are with you.

and the winner is...

2010-08-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to think of names and enter, there were so many fantastic ideas, the thoughts and feelings attached to the word brought up so many emotions and further ideas.
I made a (long) short list which I then checked on Ravelry to see if there were any duplicates, unfortunately losing some more names in the process, 6 of us then sat and brainstormed and yelled and laughed at one another for a couple of hours until we had a result.

* suddenexpression with "Mr Man"!

I'm definitely going to use this method of naming my patterns in the future - so keep an eye out and come back and try again.

here is a photo of the cover of the pattern - and this is why the name worked so well...a percentage of sales from this pattern will be donated to the Movember campaign (this is a link to last year's campaign - the next starts up in September) - raising funds for prostate cancer research, see how we put a wee mo' on Cody? (don't worry, the other photos of him are au natural) the name just seemed right, we had a consensus.

I'm not sure when the pattern will be launched - it still needs a bit of tweaking - but it won't be long.

*please email me with your email address justine@justjussi.com

Contest!

2010-07-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished writing this pattern in 20 sizes!!! yes it will fit your new baby right through to his Big Daddy!

To celebrate I have decided to run a contest - the prize being 1 skein of the extremely nummy Fleece Artist Somoko in the Ebony colourway which I used on both of the vests in the photo.

What do you have to do??

Come up with a name for this vest pattern - something memorable, catchy, geeky whatever - I will know it when I see it, if more than one person comes up with the same winning name there will be a draw.

Winner will be announced in 2 weeks time - by which time the tech editing will be finished and the pattern will be ready to go!

Leave your answer in the comments section with your email address or blog address, or include your Ravelry id.

Specs: fingering weight yarn, simple 4 row cable pattern, v-neck, sleeveless, designed for use with handpainted yarns - to make the most of the colour changes.

Grace

2010-07-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

The past 2 weeks have been difficult ones for our family.

My Father-in-law Les (Pop) passed away last monday.

Flash was in Wellington on one of his regular business trips and had planned to fly to Dunedin and spend a night catching up with his Dad on the Wednesday as he had a meeting there on thursday.

Flash couldn't get an earlier flight to Dunedin, the first flight they could get him on was the one he was booked on, there was a brass band convention and hairdresser and netball competitions in Dunedin - the flights and hotels were heavily booked - I felt terrible that I couldn't be with my husband and that he couldn't be where he needed to be, but eventually we managed to find ways to get everyone there and find them places to stay.

Dunedin is cold, Mosgiel - where Pop lived and was buried is even colder.
I couldn't find a decent hat to wear to the cemetary and decided that knitting one was the best idea, I chose the Grace beret pattern I had made for Blaise, and paired it with Naturally Harmony 10ply wool in charcoal. I worked the first few rows the night before my flight, then while waiting for flights and to keep my hands busy while we sat in Pop's kitchen and talked about what needed to be done, while Flash wrote the words that needed saying, while we had an extended breakfast as family members arrived and were appraised of plans (thank you so much to the staff at Nectar in Princes st who were kind and lovely and made great coffee and food.)

I tinked and re-knitted rows that had gone off course and an hour before the service I put it on my head and called it done, Flash loved it, I loved it.

Pop has died peacefully in his sleep, at his home of 52 years. He was seen off with a fantastic service put together by his 3 children, over a hundred people attended to celebrate his long and active life, when you have to go you can't ask for much better can you?

Knitting the Grace beret had kept me graceful during times when I wanted to react to comments made in grief, when I needed something to concentrate on, counting to do in order to keep tears at bay, something concrete to hang on to, to keep me centred for Flash and the girls.

Unfortunately it didn't stop me from catching cold! so since I have been home I have spent my quiet (Flash is returning today after settling his Dad's affairs) evenings knitting on my versions of Shelley Kang's Sock yarn blanket it's another one of the baby blankets I am knitting to get a head start on the flood of grandchildren we expect in the next 10 years - and I'm glad I got a head start because Flash's son Michael let slip that his partner is 5 weeks pregnant - so here we go again!

I love this blankie, it is so addictive because each square is complete, so you get lot's of finishing success. I am making this one 8 squares by 8 squares - perfect size for a cot - so thats 15 rows of little mitred squares - and I'm a 1/4 done after 2 nights! I'm using the pinker shades of my sample dyed organic merino superwash, and bits and pieces of DK from other projects. I don't know if I will ever have the patience to knit this in 4 ply - but it would be a great way to use up the box full of sock yarn ends I have...we will see.

Work in progress

2010-07-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

I have no "baby in knits" photo for you yet, so you will have to make do with another wip - my studio.

I'm in a lucky position - the combination of living in a big family home which now contains a small family and having a darling husband who is happy to give up most of our upstairs lounge for my knitting pleasure (note the TV and Lazyboy - my concession to his comfort) so that we can still be together while I am working - when we moved in we shared this room as an office, but when the girls started moving out he took over one of their rooms as an office, and he does monopolise the garage - so technically he still has much more room than I do!

this is where I actually draw and design the garments - looking out over the hillside of kauri forest

we still have loads to do in here...the lighting is shocking (the replacements are stacked behind the couch for...one day) the "things that cover the tops of the curtains" need to be ripped out so that shutters can be fitted, and the whole thing re-painted and re-carpeted, we have chosen a new white couch to replace the chairs, and a coffee table (for crafternoon teas!) which is waiting to be whitewashed...time, time, time!

the view from my desk

the units full of yarn...

I love that this room is so light, I love the fireplace which warms it up so quickly and I love the way the view of the bush changes every day.

the other desk where the rest of the work is done

and Frasier's bed

it is comfortable, easy-going and friendly (and when Blaise moves out - and her room becomes a home theatre...this room will be mine all mine!)

Expanding

2010-06-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

Our large family is now larger!

Flash's youngest daughter Maria delivered Cody on friday 11 June.

here is a peek, excuse the quality, it was dark and we didn't want to frighten him with a flash.

Hopefully I will be able to get some photos of him dressed in wool soon!

oops sorry for the edit - found some more photos:
Cody with Grandad (otherwise known as Big Daddy!) and Cody's father

sweet baby

Ember

2010-05-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

so that pattern which I designed in a frenzy 2 days before being admitted to hospital and leaving my poor test knitters unattended (they pulled together and did me proud!) is now for sale on Ravelry and my ETSY page (where you can also purchase a cottage licence if you so desire)

I tried to stay away from licences in the past, however the custom knitting contingent is large and well organised - so after a few emails I have relented.
The cottage licence style I have decided to run with is very simple - no follow ups, nothing more to pay, and a lifetime of use and looks like this:

- you have a lifetime license to use the pattern/ebook to produce garments for sale, so long as they are handmade and not commercially produced (i.e. not made by outworkers or in a factory)

- you will never have to pay any additional charges or fees in relation to this license

- this license is for garments only – you may not sell the patterns.

- you may use my name when you sell these garments (e.g. “as designed by Justine Turner of JustJussi”) or not at your discretion, however the garments are not to be marketed as your own design

- this license also gives you the right to produce garments for sale (under these same conditions) using any of my previously published patterns (published prior to 01 May 2010) that you purchase or download – yes even the free ones!
Who knows what I will be doing in the next few years, I am not interested in chasing licensees with a multitude of rules - I sum this up as a "play nice" ethic.

Anyway - back to my darling Ember - very quick, not absolutely simple - but once you have knitted one and understand the construction they become addictive - I made my latest one in 4 hours! The pattern works well with the Aviatrix hat - with it's garter ridges, so leftover yarn can be put to good use. I used Cleckheaton Folklore which is a thick/thin yarn which knits up as a bulky - however it is listed on Rav as a super bulky - which I just don't agree with, I got the same gauge with Cleckheaton kaleidoscope and Malabrigo worsted which are both singles yarns and work beautifully with this design.

Thank you to everyone who commented and emailed me about my illness, I'm on the mend and determined not to let it happen again, sometimes we just have to slow down and listen to our bodies (ok, I have to slow down and lsiten!) I'm back at work, and oh so lucky that I work part time, I couldn't have managed otherwise. Flash and Blaise are doing most of the housework, I just pop dinner into the crockpot while I am active in the morning, so that I can just fall into my chair and knit or read when I get home in the afternoon - the daggy old crockpot is an absolute lifesaver!

Baby update: due on saturday 5th June - saw Maria yesterday, she looks as though if you poked her she would pop! unfortunately his head is still not engaged - so I ordered her to squat while watching tv and to take lots of long walks, here's hoping this child arrives this week as Grandad is off to China next monday!

Notes from the couch

2010-05-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

well I didn't think I would find myself here again

but the comedy of errors played themselves out again - uti - fixed? hmmm not quite fixed...back for more antibiotics, busy GP forgets the repeat, I get sick of the script not being ready every time I turn up at the practice, I wait a few more days, get the repeat...too late...take it anyway, feel ok carry on, get a fever...think hmmmm must be getting the flu, I'll wait till Monday see my GP...sunday night end up in A&E wracked with pain and fever...play the A&E guessing game, discuss my history, ignore their disdain when I tell them most of my investigations have been carried out by a private specialist (to take pressure off the public system !!) confirm to them that I do actually know what I am talking about when it applies to MY kidneys and finally get a little respect.

I was constantly confused with another pyelonephritis patient on the ward, picked up for a chest x-ray..."a what?" "why?" when told I was going for a CT, picked up for a CT when told I was going for an ultrasound. I learnt damn quickly to speak out loud even though I was weaker than water - "what is that?" and always "why? why?why?" my veins collapsed everywhere from the prehistoric Gentamyacin, 8 hrly Augmentin (apparently my bug was some form of Enterococcus - not a usual UTI bug) injections ("please slow down") and 4 hrly bloods (bless the darling phlebotomist who stuck bandaids with red crosses over my one good vein - so it wouldn't get mangled) The nursing staff were caring but completely overrun.

Anyway, I'm home now - with my lovely family, being nursed and served nourishing food. I had a new little treat in the wings just before I was admitted, it is being test knitted at present but here is a photo:

Ember

Housekeeping

2010-05-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

thank you for the lovely comments and emails re: my previous post, sometimes I wonder if I am in the right line of work - and after the post and talking with a friend I realise that it is my ability to fall apart after a meeting like this that makes me able to be responsive and caring, so I'll stick at it.

If you follow my Ravelry activity the way I follow some of yours you will have noticed a flurry of FO's recently, hats for Blaise started last winter, socks for my Dad for last Christmas...I have undertaken never to have more than 2 wips (one more difficult for home, one easy for spare moments) and madly finished everything I have - now I just have to apply the same discipline to my pattern writing (I have 4 waiting to be transcribed, 2 waiting to be tested and 5 which have had the basic worked out and need knitting) I had a basket full of wips and it felt so good to actually finish them!

I have just about finished the little hoodie for TJ (the name we have given the Grandson to be as we are pretty sure the parents are going to name him after his father) on my needles and then hopefully I can get back to working on my stuff, as he now has a blanket, a multitude of hats, long socks, soakers, longies, singlets, 2 sweaters and 2 cardis, I'll wait to see what he looks like and what colours suit him before I knit any more.

Lastly, I have been receiving a lot of emails recently from home based knitters wanting to buy cottage licences for my patterns, this is something I have mostly stayed away from in the past - my Dolly Mixture e-book allows purchasers to sell the garments they make with those patterns, but for the rest of my patterns I have always worked on a case by case basis.

I have decided to make the "Garter stitch plain and simple" e-book available with a one off lifetime licence to those home based knitters who knit for profit. $30 US and 30 only available at my ETSY store.

I am not going to provide licences for sale retroactively for any of my other previously published patterns - knitters who have already requested permission will keep it, and I will continue to grant permission to those who take the time to email and ask me.

(as you can see this post was never going to be about REAL housekeeping - I try to keep that to a minimum!)

Retreat

2010-05-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

I don't usually write about my day job - there is the Dooce factor for a start, but also that my blogging life is wrapped up with my knitting life, my day job doesn't belong here. I work for the government, I love my job, my direct employers are kind, sensible people and my paramount boss is exceptional, thoughtful and takes no nonsense. I go to work, I do my job well, they pay me - it works.

Today I was very glad to come home and go to work at my designing job, today I walked out of the office and burst into tears, I cried all the way home, while I made tea, while I found stashed chocolate (Green and Black's "white" and I don't care that it isn't "real" chocolate - it tastes good and is full of vanilla seeds - that's good enough) and while I pulled out my knitting and settled into my armchair with Frasier snuggling in my lap.

I found comfort in these touchstones, modern day talismans and potions, we knitters all do - we find a way to work a little calm back into out lives with the rhythm of our needles.

I met a woman who was very sad today, she had very good reason, I talked to her quietly and smoothed her road as best I could. I wanted to bring her home and put her by the fire, feed her and help her feel safe again, but I couldn't - and I just have to trust that the others linking in to help her are moved the same way.

I am SO making this

2010-04-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

a friend from Twitter pointed me to this site and suggested I may want to explore the idea (for my own use only of course) I can see now that it would be a long term project - but could easily sit in the knitting bag for dr visits and other "waiting" I love the juxtaposition of industrial utility, mohair luxury and handmade cosiness.

Flash is involved in the lighting industry, so that side is taken care of - now to find the right yarn, I'm thinking a blend of kidsilk haze and ...something else...any ideas???

Share the love

2010-04-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

Here in New Zealand (yep the land of sheep and wool) it can sometimes be difficult to get your hands on the good stuff, I have met a couple of inspiring women recently who can help;

Michelle of Mishi Yarns has leapt feet first into a wonderful adventure - she has opened a wonderful shop in Ellerslie selling predominantly New Zealand made yarns, displayed in mouthwatering fashion! Once her head has stopped spinning from the wool fumes she will be organising classes and events. Please visit and let her know how welcome she is.

Polly of Little Country Wools has brought the range of scrumptiousness that is Malabrigo to our long deprived shores, she is utterly charming to deal with, will answer any questions you have and help with colour selection.

then there are the other creative types;

Louise constantly inspires and bewilders me (in a good way!) she just has SO much energy, her latest baby Maeve will be making her entrance on May 1, please visit and show her your support - Maeve magazine promises to be a stunner!

If you can't or just won't knit then Julia and the team of Coco Kids will custom knit garments for your wee darlings, they design themselves and also have permission to knit some well loved favourites (including my Roaring Meg and Aviatrix hat - every newborn needs one of those hats - it makes a baby look like a baby!)

Right - now that's you lot distracted! I'm off to finish the 3rd sleeve option for this little Hooper sweater.

Have you seen the kids?

2010-04-13T01:57:00.000-07:00

Flash had a "significant" birthday recently and all of the girls came to celebrate with us (actually they spent a lot of time helping out, serving drinks and cleaning up) we had a wonderful time and finally managed to get a snapshot of the entire family (yes I know Michael is missing but I figured we could photoshop him in later)

So, you probably need to be re-introduced

from Left to right , Flash's girls through to mine, with running commentary of current status:

Melanie - managing a womenswear store in Welly

Maria - 7 months pregnant with the first grandchild, working in a research lab

Blaise - (all together "awwwww") 2nd year at Uni

Charlotte - studying business and improving her fishing technique

Holly - making wine and planning her wedding

I'm so proud of them all - time goes fast - cherish every moment.

And in knitting news? I'm going out of my head trying to make a small allover fairisle pattern stay tidy during tapered sleeve increases. I have tried all of the big names in knitting and cannot find a workable answer...seems everyone just accepts that somewhere along the way the pattern is going to go a little wonky and the best you can do is keep the area of wonkiness as small as possible. I have spent almost 2 days trying to make it perfect and am about ready to declare defeat. I'll keep you posted with my solution.

time to breathe

2010-04-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

the past year has gone by in a bit of a blur, I have felt so unwell for most of it and I don't funtion well in that state.

Since my operation I have felt "normal" again, felt like my old self and the brain is once again firing on all cylinders - amazing the difference having that ovary removed has made - my system is no longer being poisoned on a daily basis.

I also have so much more energy! I can work much longer now, and am no longer making the silly mistakes I had been constantly making up until recently, I feel I can trust my brain again!

While I have been recuperating I have been finishing my WIPs - here is Flash's sweater-vest which I started almost a year ago and have finally finished! I have no photos of him wearing it yet, and will knit a newborn version in the same colours for him and his Grandson-to-be to wear together, then there will be gorgeous photos and a pattern in a multitude of sizes from newborn to great big man! link to Ravelry page here (anyone can view)

This weekend Flash and I went away for a mini-trip - 3 days in New Plymouth, about 5.5 hrs drive south of Auckland, we visited the glow worm caves at Waitomo and even saw an angora rabbit being shorn!

Petite Purls - Spring issue

2010-03-14T19:17:00.001-07:00

I kept this one a secret didn't I!

When I first saw Brandy and Allegra's online magazine startup "Petite Purls" last year, I was very impressed by their organisational abilities, drive and passion, and when they sent out a call for green patterns I had just the right project incubating.

Here it is - The Tea party frock, knitted in Forever Green Elan organic yarn, wonderfully soft, soft organic wool spun and dyed with plant dyes in New Zealand and available from Knitworld in NZ and by (fast, efficient and friendly!) mail order from Mel Clark at South Seas knitting for those of you based elsewhere in the world.

The top is based on the fluffy party dresses of the 1950's - frothy layers of chiffon and bright silk sashes - too restricting for today's little girl so a cute practical option was in order. The rippled skirt is a quick knit in the round, the garter st top has simple shaping with angel sleeves and a square neck and the sash with it's embroidered daisies sets the garment off simply.

The Forever Green yarn works up nicely - but the real magic comes when you block the garment after knitting I have never seen a yarn bloom so beautifully - it is absolutely luscious- to get the full effect handwash your newly knitted garment in warm water with some woolwash, then squeeze excess water out by wrapping in a towel (and standing on it!) pat into shape on a blocking board, and finally pin in strategic places to ensure crisp seamlines.

I am sure you will either have access to lazy daisy instructions either from a basic needlecrafts book or online - here are some links:

a video on youtube

on a crochet background

diagram

thanks to Brandy, Allegra and Joan for their enthusiasm and support - well done!

Soda pop

2010-03-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

I've been working away on a group of sweaters for boys and girls - concentrating on the tweenagers but still in sizes 0-10yrs.

There are some chunky sweaters, a couple of fine ribs and some in between, all simple lines and structures so they can be put aside and worked on when time permits.

This design is a special favourite, I love this fairisle, it's quick, easy to memorise and striking, I'm waiting for some yummy yarn to arrive so that I can tweak the design a little more, I think you will love the final effect.

It's still hot and humid in Auckland, but some of the leaves on the liquidamber outside are just starting to turn, Autumn won't be long - the start of good knitting weather!

Boys

2010-02-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

Boys are a subject I have little knowledge of - having given birth to 3 girls, and raised 5 girls - the only boys I had contact with are those of my friends, and my nephew who is bright, thoughtful and so bouncy he would make Tigger tired!

Now that we know that Maria's baby is almost certainly going to be a boy, I have invested more time in thinking about designing for boys - I know from talking to Mums of boys that their tastes (in general!!!) tend more to the conservative, that society conforms boys just as it does girls.

I'm all for flouting conformity, but sometimes a little guy just needs a warm sweater to throw on - so here we go:

sweater one:

loving the rib pattern (it's my favourite) loving the funnel neck big time, not loving the stocking stitch on the edges of the raglans, not sure what to do here as the rib makes things messy...will keep trying.

I have a few more ideas on the same theme, let's see where they take me!

Here's a gratuitous photo of Frasier - he is my favourite boy, I haven't included Flash because he's a man not a boy (there is a difference)