Brick Pattern Baby Blanket

The pattern for this blanket comes from the Barbara Walker Treasury. It's also found as a very popular dishcloth pattern in the USA, known as the "ballband" dishcloth. A search of Ravelry will show an awesome range of colour combinations and examples which are inspirational.

I've made a couple of dishcloths and use them in my kitchen as oven mitt/pot holder type things. And I've made a couple of blankets before. But this blanket was special and I took months to decide on the size (small to fit a baby capsule), the yarn (Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton) and the colours.

I've got a million ideas for colours and can't wait to make more.

Cabled Loop Neck Scarf

Having seen Miss Marple sporting a bow tie neck scarf, and recalling my mother's 1940s pattern, I've created my own version using squared off ends and incorporating cabling for effect.

I'm finding it utterly addictive because it's a one evening, one ball sort of project. And I'm going to be doing some major stash busting this year using this design (and variations).

The pattern has been drafted and just needs a test knit. Dragging my feet on this bit, unfortunately. Just need to focus and get the pattern finalised.

Update Oct, 2011: uploaded the PDF of the pattern to my Ravelry store, so it's available for free here.

Yarnbombing 101

Been thinking about doing some more yarnbombing and getting some projects going in the near future, maybe for the upcoming Beaufort Street Festival on 27th Nov, 2010. And I've been thinking (probably too much) 'cause I jotted down some notes, which are the start of Yarnbombing 101.

Yarnbombing planning and guidelines:


1. Should not be a health or safety risk

2. Plan yarnbombing item to suit location and target; reference to a locality or event

3. Reccy the location for appropriate targets; measure and photograph for later reference

4. Consider the yarnbomb's colours: is there a corporate sponsorship element to be considered; is there a colour theme of an event/locality that could be referenced?

5. If yarnbomb is to be located at low height, keep in mind the dog pee factor

6. Is there tourism potential, ie The Tag’s Travels – pics of it at different sites

7. Tagging the yarnbomb is optional: laminate tag for durability, if desired; a message or quote could be added for whimsy or could be the sole purpose of the yarnbomb, ie, to deliver a message/theme

8. Sustainability:

• can the yarnbomb item have a second life? ie. can it be a useful item: mobile phone holder, scarf, hat, beanie, headband, cowl, pair of wrist warmers, cuffs, blanket, toy, flower? (Perhaps no balaclavas!) Can homeless folk get some use out of it?
• consider using upcycled yarn from repurposed knitted items, or get into decluttering and trash that yarn stash!

9. Aim to draw smiles, whether joyful, humorous or wry, and remember that art is not what it looks like but what it does for you.

Recycled Ralph Lauren Knitwear

It was the pink mohair that drew my attention in the op shop the other day. It was the colour I was looking for, not the fact it was a Ralph Lauren polo neck. I can't bear clothing that touches my neck.

I had other intentions for this piece of designer wear. It was destined to be upcycled into fingerless gloves.

The piece was $6, and while that wouldn't normally sound expensive, I'm on an abnormally tight budget which means I'm mindful of every mouthful of food I get and every time I use electricity.

Nevertheless the jumper came home with me. I unpicked the seams that night - that's the first time I've unravelled something that someone else had knit - and I now have a small basket of 53% mohair/47% acrylic yarn. It's currently being converted into fingerless gloves, destined to be gifts for my nieces.

The FGs look sort of bumpy and un-neat, but that's mohair for you. I've washed them in hot water so they're not going to change their look or shrink, but it's the light fluffiness that makes them almost weightless and comfortably warm.

I'm happy with my op shop find!

Icarus Shawl

This was the first shawl I knitted which incorporated some lace in the design. It's based on the Icarus shawl, designed by Miriam Felton.

The yarn is a soft spun cashmere with a single strand of silver running through it that's barely noticeable, but its subtlety is what makes it special.

The yarn is from http://www.colourmart.com/ which is the most extraordinarily superb place for buying yarn.

I don't have a place to block my shawls, ie a large floor area, so the washing line method had to be invented. I weighted the point of the triangle and despite it looking very crude as far as blocking methods go, it worked.

It's a case, once again, of "work with what you have".

Yarnbombing Rockingham

Thought I'd do my first yarnbombing installation on the Rockingham foreshore park this weekend. I didn't want to create yarn graffiti that could be used only once, and I didn't want to sew any seams. The blue/grey lighting bollards seemed to be a perfect target for a stripy sock thing, to keep them warm, of course, for the coming winter.

I measured up, didn't swatch (never do as I don't mind making mistakes, as long as I learn from them) and ended up with this acrylic bollard sock which should stand up to some rough and tumble for a little while. This one was done using the long tail cast on method for stretchiness, but with only 80sts and knit in a 2x2 rib, it was a bit of a snug fit. Next time I'll co 92 sts.

I've added a luggage tag which is a bit too big for my liking. Will have to refine that idea further. Anyway, it says "Life is empty without passion" on one side, and "I knit; therefore I am" (with apologies to Descartes). I've mentioned ravelry.com as being a site for obsessive knitter type people, but I haven't signed off as the creator of the bollard sock (yet) - might change my mind later.

Anyway, my idea of yarnbombing is that it should not harm the environment, it should be enough to raise a little smile (as opposed to a smirk, preferably), it should be re-usable, fun to do and on occasion, be aesthetically pleasing or at least quirky. I aimed for the re-usable category for this first one.

Update: three days later - it's gone :(