Progress report

Remember a few weeks back when I injured my hand playing netball and couldn't really knit for too long. That's healed. Well this week, I twisted my ankle really badly so I can't walk! Great. Does anybody realise how difficult it is to have 2 young children and not being able to walk! My husband and I don't have any family who live nearby either (parents and siblings are in Switzerland, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore & Australia). I don't have the luxury of a nanny either. Thankfully, hubby could work from home and has been a godsend. *Mwah* astral kisses your way!

But he had to go back to work today and thankfully I'm feeling a lot better. The ankle is the size of a plum and in a lovely shade of purple. I did consider doing a self potrait Tuesday but decided against it! Hubby said it was way too gross.

However, I have had a lot of time to knit, including some time in A&E waiting for an x-ray. After all the horror stories on waiting times, I was seen and sent home in less than 45 minutes. So I got approximately 2 rows completed on Clapotis (second time around). I'm still on the increase rows. It's got the slight feeling of been there, done that. So am slightly unmotivated with it.

However, more progress has been made on my shrug. I have completed the back, one sleeve and I have started the second sleeve. Had to fudge the pattern slightly as my row gauge was slightly out. We'll have to see how it turns out. I'm hoping to complete this soon as I have loads of new projects which I want to start. More about that soon.

Barbie dolls

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved barbie dolls. But having 2 sisters and a mum who hates spending money on junk, we had to share the dolls and make clothes and furniture for the dolls. If my mum hasn't thrown it away yet, there is a box in KL, Malaysia with 3 bedraggled barbie dolls, clothes and furniture. Maybe I should get it shipped to me here... hmmm..... now there's an idea.

Well this brings me to what I was going to blog about. Japanese craft books on clothes making for Barbie dolls. The ISBN of this book is 4579109821. This has to be my favourite book. The dresses in it are just gorgeous. If only it was life size, I would wear them. (No not make them as I haven't even managed to make any for my barbie doll - sorry not mine, my daughter's). These dresses are sized for silkstone dolls which have slightly different dimensions to regular Barbie dolls.

Retro Knit & Crochet

I just wanted to share some pictures from a Japanese knit/crochet craft book from the late 70's which I just love. There some examples which I must have worn as child of the 70's. Apologies, it doesn't have a cover or an ISBN number. I'd like to make the little red/pink dress on the left. Just fab!
Crochet swimwear - I just love it! Maybe by next summer, there'll be an FO on this blog on crochet swimwear.
Next up is a crochet beach cover up/ hoodie. I have actually completed the one on the right. So here are some pics on my effort. Doesn't Keira look cute modelling it! I started this in February when I was in Malaysia visiting my parents and decieded to check out the LYS. This is knitted in Gedifra cotton in cream and red. This is my first crochet project in a long time.

Completed projects from Rowan Babies

Truth be told - I really only picked my knitting needles again (after an 18 year break) when I found out I was pregnant. So three years ago, I started knitting again. Most of my projects tended to be stuff for the children. Sweaters, hats, scarves and toys - so far. Knitting for the kids is brilliant for me - short attention span, fast completion time. (Although, one or two projects have stalled).

This is one of my first "big" knits. Raglan sweater from Debbie Bliss The Baby Knits Book. It was super easy to knit and super quick too. If I remember correctly, it was in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran. ( I know, it's not technically from Rowan Babies!!). It's being modeled by Keira, although I knitted it for her elder brother.

She has been super patient modelling all the different knitted items today. This next knit is from Rowan Babies. It's Relish and knitted in Rowan Wool Cotton in shade 951 Tender. This was completed about a year ago when she was only a little baby.

The next picture is another poncho, Dapple, again from Rowan Babies. It's knitted in All Seasons Cotton in a lilac colour. Apologies, I have forgotten the shade and number. It's knitted in the 2 -3 year old size, hence it's looking a bit big. But that's the great thing about poncho's. Now that the weather is changing, it will be perfect!

Next up is Streamer, also from Rowan Babies. It's knitted in 4-ply soft. The only problem with knitting in 4-ply soft is that it does take a long time to knit. But as the name suggests, it is lovely and soft.

Lastly for today, this is Husky in Rowan Big Wool inRascal. I do love knitting children's knits in Big Wool. It took absolutely no time at all. (Even for me, and I take forever with most items).

Here ends my little promotion of Rowan Babies. I do knit from other publications apart from Rowan, honest.

Going slow on the knitting

I have had to go slow on the knitting. If anyone recalls, I started playing netball in a competitive netball league (this doesn't mean I'm good, I just run around like a headless chicken), well I got a slight injury on my little finger on my right hand. The knuckle is swollen and is slightly bruised. I have to say I got away lightly as my teammate has a bad strain on her ankle. She is immoble and is on crutches. She has 16 month old twins and and a three year old! OMG!!

I'm going on a break for a few days on the knitting. But I will try and photograph and detail some of my completed projects, more Japanese craft books and sort out my yarn stash. I have a feeling i'm going to have to liberate some of them.

I'm still knitting

I visited Loop last week. It's a fairly new yarn store in Islington. They have an amazing amount of fantastic yarn. I didn't buy any yarn but I did buy the new Rebecca magazine no 30 and a Rebecca special (30 designs using GGH Soft kid). There are so many fabulous knits which I want to try. (When I have the time!!!)I have decided to knit design 25, a shrug with long sleeves. I'm knitting it in Jaeger Mohair in grey. It's been an easy knit and the back is almost completed. Just two sleeves and and some ribbing and it's done. Here's the first progress shot.

RIP Clapotis

There is no photo to this post because I have had to rip (RIP) back Clapotis all the way to nothing (NOTHING!!!!) because I miscalculated somewhere along the way. When I dropped stitches, it just didn't match up to the little holes. Arrggghhh!!!!! I was on the start of my fifth ball when I realised this. I am a complete doofus!!!! AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

Just think of the hours wasted!

On a good note, I have decided to bite the bullet and try my hand at sock knitting. I have to say, on the whole I am getting the hang of four needle knitting. Unfortunately, I can't post any pictures because it's my hubbies birthday prezzie (just in case he is looking at this blog.)

Going forward, this blog may also contain some details about how my netball team is doing. My friend and I decided to start a netball team and play competitively in a local league. We have had a lot of fun recruiting members (from 3 team players only to having to reject 27 others because we were over subscribed). We now have a fully committed team of 15 players. Our first match starts on Monday 5 September. I'll let you have progres reports.