Frugal and/or Free - Release the Moths

Date: Saturday 22 November
Place: St Vincent de Paul op-shop, Gungahlin
Object: Brand new Oroton wallet (kanagroo leather, buttery soft)
Investment: $9
Notes: Replaces the $3 op-shop wallet which I've had exactly a year

Also on I Op Therefore I Am - ACT.

Stylin' yarn

Interesting article in the November 2008 Country Style (the magazine formerly known as Australian Country Style) on Katherine Wood and Burrawool .

I haven't tried Burrawool, but KMS has and she loves it . I'm trying to curb my desire for this yarn but it fits so well with the Boodle Development Policy (local, indie, chemical free, only comes in natural white, black or grey etc...) that it's hard. If we just happen to be driving through Robertson at any time, it will mean I was meant to have some of this fibre.

Country Style is available at the Dickson , Tuggeranong and Woden branches of the ACT Public Libraries. And you can still buy it in the shops if you're so inclined.

Seven Things Week 64

IN (60)
4 Tupperware containers (garage sales - total spend $3)
1 cotton blanket (gift TSS)
1 saucepan ($10 at Salvos half price sale)
46 balls yarn - Patons Jet at $3 a ball and some Bendigo 8ply from Vinnies. All of this is destined for Mum's charity knitting, but it will live here for a while first, so I thought it best to count it in.
2 chairs (free Second-hand Sunday)
1 CD (gift TSS)
1 extendable arm ($2 fete)
1 hat for the races ($10 Vinnies)
1 lipstick (gift TSS)
2 prs reading specs (new - I can see, I can see!)

OUT (5)
4 placemats - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 table runner - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (5)
1 TTWC
1 scarf
2 sarongs (from the sheet TSS gave me last week)

TOTALS
IN 60
OUT 5
NETT OUT -55
SIAA 4

Seven Things Week 63

IN (80)
1 bra - gift from Mum
57 balls of yarn - gift for charity stash via TSS
2 jumpers for unravelling - gift for charity stash via TSS
2 circular knitting needles - came with the charity yarn
1 suitcase - it's what the yarn came in
1 sheet - gift from TSS
1 bag spinning fibre - EGMTK fibre club
15 balls yarn from a Ravelry destash, but it matches yarn in boodle and now I'll be able to make four garments (sometime) instead of stashing lovely yarn indefinitely.

OUT (30)
4 bras - BIN/GIFTS & DONATIONS
11 knitting patterns - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 jumper - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 cardboard boxes - RECYCLING (yes, I have a hoard of cardboard boxes which I keep thinking I'll use but which I never do - these were too big to be useful so I dropped them off to the local paper recyclers, there are more to come once the (mostly) documents that have been dumped in them are decanted and filed.)
6 hair dyes - BIN (don't really want out of date chemicals near my head - bought on sale more than 3 years ago and not a single one ever used)
3 big Australia Post boxes- GIFTS & DONATIONS

SIAA (1)
1 beanie

TOTALS
IN 80
OUT 30
Nett OUT -50
SIAA 1

Maintain the Rage!

No fancy pants Robbie Burns titles today - no time to be waylaid by his poetry.

TSS has blogged about our little trip to OPH for The Dismissal tour.

The Dismissal was 33 years ago yesterday and remains an enduring memory of my childhood. I was in 4th class at a Canberra public primary school and remember the feeling of anticipation, dread, grief and anger that emanated from teachers and other adults. It was a confusing and exciting day for a 9 year old.

Because TSS needs more of an understanding of Australian history, because I'm a history and politics junkie, and because the Old Flame is a good sport, we arrived at OPH and paid the family rate of $5 entry between us (ha!) instead of $2 each.

We got to re-enact the journey of the day throughout Old Parliament House. The House of Reps, the Senate, the Cabinet Room, the Prime Minister's Office, the Press Gallery etc.

The Old Flame as Sir John Kerr

I was seriously thrilled to actually to be in those places, particularly the House of Representatives - the people's house.

But I was more thrilled to do this -

Knitting the the Senate, in the public galleries of which I was made to surrender my knitting - I was only 8 or 9 at the time.

TSS & I knitting in the House of Representatives. I deliberately took green knitting.

And triumphant with the (replica) mace topped with a TTWC which TSS knitted during the tour.

At least four guides told me that knitting was forbidden in Parliament House. Yeah, I know. If you live long enough, you win!

The liquid fire of strong desire I've pour'd it in each bosom

Has everyone see this book - am I the last to know about a fabulous offering from and Australian designer and blogger? Doesn't matter - it's now top of my wish list.

Seven Things Week 62

An odd week with a holiday on Tuesday and something on every other night - not a lot of time to concentrate on divestment, but a little progress was made.


IN (5)
1 uncut sewing pattern 50c @ Aussie Junk.
2 tops - hand-me-downs from Mum
1 pr jeans - $3.50 at Vinnies
1 pr pantihose - $2.50 at Vinnies


OUT (20)
16 balls and cones of wool. There was more than 16 x 50g equivalents in this lot, but it came down to weighing and doing the sums or actually getting it out the door. GIFTS & DONATIONS 3 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr stockings - BIN


SIAA
Nothing finished this week.


TOTALS
IN 5
OUT 20
NETT OUT 15
SIAA 0

My tocher's the bargain ye wad buy

Knitting accessory at Aussie Junk, Mitchell.




There was a box of about 36 of these yarn holders at Aussie Junk in Mitchell on Tuesday morning if anyone's interested. Sorry, forgot to ask a price, but that tends to change from person to person anyway.

Simply cannot believe it's THAT time of the year again - we're picking and choosing our subscriptions and pre-paying to save a bomb.

New this coming year will be a seat at the Brumbies home matches. My Old Flame has been a ticket holder for years, and I'm a bit partial to a game of footy, coming from an ecumenical sporting family where, although AFL is the family creed, we are just as happy at Union, League or soccer. Now that I think of it, the first rugger match I ever attended was in 1983 to watch the Old Flame play. He remembers it was a bitterly cold day, I remember his thighs - funny how people remember the same event differently. ;)

Film will be taken care of by the ANU Film Group again ($60 for movies March-November. TSS is about to calculate exactly what we spent per movie this year, but it's about $1.75) but we don't pay that until February.

On the performing arts side, we're renewing for The Song Company - only three concerts in Canberra, but such bliss!

And on last night we attended the 2009 season launch for the Canberra Theatre. Yes, it really was a year ago we attended the last one . I was pretty uninspired by this year's line up, but next year - here are my picks:

• Bell Shakespeare Company's all women version of The Taming of the Shrew and
• Sydney Theatre Company's production of Elling, which was so eloquently and enthusiastically presented to us by Pamela Rabe.
  
  

The minimum number of shows for a sub is four, so I'll just hope the budget is able to sustain these choices at the time.

A braw new naig wi' the tail o' a rottan

Yesterday we toddled out to Thoroughbred Park for the Melbourne Cup Day meeting* because even though I'm not a gambler

1. I enjoy our cultural traditions
   
2. the Old Flame enjoys the races and a flutter (it's where my dour Scots Presbyterian heritage runs up against his riotous Irish Catholic one) and
   
3. because free entry to the race meetings is a perk of our rather expensive membership.

One of the traditions of The Race in Melbourne, is champagne and chicken partaken of in the carpark. We honoured the tradition by consuming an Asian inspired mango, noodle salad with mint, basil and bean shoots and honey soy marinated chicken in the members' outdoor seating area. The couple opposite us suggested that at $7 for a scant steak sandwich from the Lions stall, we had the right idea. We did buy a couple of glasses of champers, though.

There were horses; bookies; women in skimpy clothes, ridiculous hats, fake tan and, later, sunburn; men in suits with silly shoes and ties; champagne and knitting.

I bet what I could afford to lose which was $5 each way on a nag that came in 19th out of 21 but still came home much better off than most in attendance. insert smug Reformed look here

Actually, I overspent the $20 budget by $1.50. A round of champagne for 3 cost $16.50.

We were kindly and generously befriended early in the day by a woman who invited us to share her table in the members' bar. She's a horse owner and also "owns" her table for the year. As there is a ballot for unowned tables for major meetings like this one and seats are $50 a pop, it's a fortunate person who gets bottom real estate in the airconditioned comfort of the members' bar. Our new friend's table was right on the finish line so we had a grand view of the local races as well as the telecasts of the Flemington carnival and other interstate runs.

And we got home in time to enjoy a bit of gardening.

*We get the day off in Canberra because our local Labor Government wanted to shaft the Federal Howard Liberal Government for introducing industrial legislation that made our union picnic day illegal and the majority of Commonwealth public servants work in Canberra, making it one fewer productive days for the Federal Government. It may or may not change back now that Kev runs the national show and if when that legislation is repealed or amended. hint, hint Kev

But we hae meat, and we can eat

Tomorrow is Melbourne Cup Day. In Canberra this marks the start of the Christmas party season.

I approach Christmas with mixed feelings. Celebrations will be different this year. We'll be starting new traditions which is lovely, and farwelling old ones which is sad.

Some things don't change, though, and that will be the menu Chez Taph. Traditional baked meal (ham, pork and turkey with as many veg as can fit on a plate) and Christmas pudding for afters with an alternative of fruit sorbet for the gluten and/or dairy intolerant among us.

Apologies if this is too soon for some of you (or too late), but I bought our Christmas turkey and joint of pork today. I feel more organised now.

Seven Things Week 61

IN (5)
2 vintage Patons patterns ($1, garage sale)
1 Alice Starmore knitting book ($3, garage sale)
1 Two Fat Ladies cook book (20c, garage sale)
1 ball vintage Patonyle. (gift from TSS)


OUT (18)
6 balls yarn (returned to K-Mart because they charged me full price on them, not the reduced price)
12 balls yarn GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (2)
2 TTWC s

TOTALS
IN 5
OUT 18
NETT OUT 13
SIAA 2

Which, by degrees, slips round her neck

We saw Children of the Silk Road on the big screen the other night - a good story, an OK film.

Jonathon Rhys Myers was fine in Bend it Like Beckham, not so much in this film. He did have an interesting wardrobe. The whole second half of the very long film, he wore a double rib scarf knitted at quite a tight tension. I kept trying to work out if it looked more like Cleckheaton Country Silk or Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran Tweed which was a little distracting.

I'd rather like it to be the Silk Road Tweed. In fact I'd rather like to make one in the Silk Road Tweed - damn, nothing in boodle.

And hands the rustic stranger up to fame

There are many reasons for loving vintage knitting patterns. Last weekend's haul brought an unexpected delight.

Oh Aussie children of the 70s and 80s, do you recognise this male knitwear model from a Patons pattern from the very late 1960s?

Do yourself a favour, try imaging a large Akubra hat on him.

Yup, Ian "Molly" Meldrum . Hoot+

For more vintage pattern fun, read Chocolatetrudi's stories here and here.

An' I maun guide it cannie

Two garage sales last weekend yielded gold.

Five vintage Patons patterns - two for my collection, the rest for mates (20c each) , Alice Starmore's Knitting Patterns of the British Islands ($3 - best price on Abebooks $45 + postage from NZ!), a pear for TSS's collection ($1) and Two Fat Ladies Ride Again (20c).

Not a bad haul of $5.20.

Seven Things Week 60

Ah well, there' always next week.

IN (76)
73 balls of yarn - OOPS
1 digitial set top box
1 book - review copy from publisher (more of that later)
1 rice/project bag - GIFT

OUT (1)
1 ball yarn

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (4)
4 beanies

TOTALS

IN 76

OUT 1
NET OUT - 75
SIAA 4

And makes him quite forget his labour and his toil

Sometimes my work life and personal life intersect.


It may have been disconcerting for some people at a professional seminar last Friday, to see TSS sit down in the row in front of me in the last session of the day, casually extend an arm over the back of the seat, remove the TTWC from my hands and proceed to knit.

It certainly amused my old colleague sitting next to me, particularly when I photographed it.

Might weel awauk desire

There was a little yarn accident on Saturday.


The Old Flame and I had to pop into K-Mart to get a digital set top box (cheaper than getting the outside aerial and wiring fixed). We got to within a few metres of the security gate when I spotted it - a trolley half-full of yarn and a sign indicating all balls 10c. I may have leapt like a cheetah on her prey at that moment.

Seconds later, as the balls were flying and I was muttering "wool, ack, ick" the Old Flame caught up with me, took one look and declared he would get a basket. He brought the basket, left again, and returned with a trolley and helped me sort through the piles for the wool. He has a good hand and could tell the wool from the ack without looking at the ball bands.

Time lost all meaning as the yarn frenzy escalated, so not only did I not question what happened next, I immediately complied.

A heavily accented voice murmured urgently in my ear, "Quick, you come with me!" and the woman who belonged to the voice tugged my arm. The Old Flame said "Go, I'll find you" and the next thing I know I'm chasing after the sprinting woman. It did occur to me that this was perhaps a little odd, but by then we were near her destination - the partially denuded faux-Feathers/Ostrich section of the yarn aisle where she began thrusting the garishly printed stuff into my arms. Turns out that although it was marked 70c a ball, the register was charging 10c. She'd already bought 50 balls and was going back for more, but having witnessed the onset of my yarn frenzy, was generously sharing. It took a little while to assure her that as grateful as I was, the yarn was all hers.

The Old Flame found me in the yarn aisle assaying for the Patons Jet and Cleckheaton Vintage Hues (all $3 a ball). Not as cheap as others had got it for on the other side of town, but roughly half price and cheap enough for socks for the Jean Colvin Hospital. Some of the yarn was out of reach so my Old Flame found a large metal trolley, climbed up on it and began tossing down balls of yarn.

Here he is grabbing the last of the Vintage Hues.


And that is how I came to buy 73 balls of yarn this week, more than half of it balls of pure wool for 10c a ball, and how our relationship survived its first yarn frenzy and the post-frenzy gleeful giggles every time I looked at the trolley. I know it wasn't a pretty sight.

Whose hearts the tide of kindness warms

I also like smart, funny, kind people.

My project bag of choice is the cotton rice bag - they work for me on lots of levels (thrifty, green, washable, good size etc...). A colleague saw me knitting from one the other day and offered to give me his; which was kind.


One arrived today, with this note -


I guess the reference to this year's Booker winner is reasonable for one librarian to another, but it's still smart and made me smile. I'm 45th out of 99 on the request list for this book in the ACT Public Libraries - more copies on order, so that should change pretty quickly.

'Bout vines, an' wines, an' drucken Bacchus

I do so love a good sport and an extrovert. This is Maureen who helped us at a tasting at Doonkuna wines. She saw me take a photo of the beanie on a bottle of champagne we'd just tasted, and immediately whipped the hat off the bottle shoved it onto her head and posed for a photo.

A group of us hired a mini-van and did the Murrumbateman Moving Feast a couple of weeks ago. I lost count of the number of wineries (5?), plus the wine show tasting. It was a damp day, and cool without being cold - lovely for trundling around the countryside sipping wine and eating. Doonkuna was our first stop at about 10.15 - and this the first and last beanie completed. Another was begun and knitted on, but food and wine took precedence.

We ended up having a revolting cassoulet at Dionysus Wines for lunch but made up for it with a couple of desserts - dark chocolate cheesecake and lemon tart. Pick of the day was the lemon tart at the friendliest winery - Mackellar Ridge. They also had free brewed coffee for the designated drivers (like the Old Flame).

And this is pretty much my idea of heaven -I'm knitting in the wine cellar at the Helm Winery, and my Old Flame's nearby (he took the picture). The only thing missing is the fur children.

Seven Things Week 59

When one has 61 ins and it's only Sunday, one knows one will be pushing it up hill with a stick for the rest of the week. And so one did. I'm not too bothered at this stage, just as long as the trend does not continue.


IN (66)
50 wine glasses - 11 gifts with purchase and 39 from Aussie Junk ($10). Disposable plastic wine glasses are vile - on so many levels. This little lot means we have enough on hand for summer parties, bbqs etc. without resorting to the awful plastic or having to wash up half way through or hiring glasses.
2 reusable bottles with stoppers - 1 gift from TSS, 1 op shop purchase - for summer bottling
2 prs trousers - $2 Vinnies
1 vintage Patons pattern - $1 Vinnies
5 stationery trays - free c/- the Old Flame
2 prs knitting needles - SALVOS
1 reel knitting-in elastic - gift from TSS
1 costume for party this weekend - Vinnies
1 DVD player. This came home a couple of weeks ago and I forgot about it. Ooops. Secondhand.
1 cd with Musica Viva 2009 subscription brochure

OUT (30)
24 balls yarn - GIFTS & DONATIONS
6 sets technical notes - RECYCLING

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (3)
2 TTWCs
1 blanket piece

TOTALS

IN 66
OUT 30
NETT OUT - 36
SIAA 3

Where Infamy with sad Repentance dwells

A trip to Goulburn on Saturday night for a family function was made complete by a sighting of Todd Carney at the Soldiers Club. Glad to see they had him locked up.

I am my mammny's ae bairn

More Canberra stencil art. These are on another low retaining wall, this time behind the Salvos shop at Jamieson. The wee foetus has been there a while but the capsule is new.

Without a penny in my purse, To buy a meal to me

Completely impossible to chat, enjoy hospitality, absorb an exhibition and take photos at the same time - I'm completely in awe of those who manage it.


The Old Flame is getting into the culturvorian spirit. He took me for a cup of tea prior to TSS's exhibition opening - free tasting at T2 in the Canberra Centre!


Then on to the opening. The crapicity of the photos is, perhaps, due to the constant wee wee jiggle of excitement.

TSS with TTWC at the opening (that's a VIP talking in centre shot).

The Old Flame checks out my favourite, the Kaleidoscope House.

And here's my favourite "accessory", the Macgregor's wee Westie.

Seven Things Week 58

It rather looks like I'm not trying. Not quite true. I'm spending a fair bit of time dealing with Dad's accumulation of papers and realia. It takes a lot of emotional energy - far more than dealing with my own stuff. I have to be fair to everyone involved, negotiate with the rest of the family, find places for things to go and then physically remove them. I'm just starting on his library. As I gave him most of the books in it, and it is quite extensive, and as he insisted on a dedication for every book, I'm reliving birthdays, Christmases and Fathers' Days and it's fucking tough. So if I don't have the wherewithall at home to do more than create garter stitch scarves in garish colours and worry about not finding seven things of my own to dispose of, you'll just have to bear with me.

IN (3)
1 Tupperware container - new, I had a little accident at a Tupperware party a couple of weeks ago
2 knitting magazines - newsagency on a low day when VK was in stock. I'm only human.

OUT (10)
1 pr jeans - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 coffee measure, broken - BIN
8 balls yarn - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (4)
2 TTWCs
2 scarves

TOTALS

IN 3
OUT 10
Nett out 7
SIAA 4

owre the wee bit cup an' platie

I have my invitation to the opening of the year and I even have a period-appropriate ensemble to wear (as opposed to a theme-appropriate ensemble - no one needs to see me in a mini!) and I'm doing the wee wee jiggle in anticipation.

Should a blast. I'm really looking forward to seeing TSS's collection in a new light particularly my favourite, the Kaleidoscope House.

If you're in Canberra anytime between now and 26 January - get thee to Canberra Museum and Gallery for The Shopping Sherpa's exhibition of modern dolls' houses.

What once was a butterfly, gay in life's beam

This stencil art is low down on a small retaining wall at my suburb's shops.

It makes me glad to see it there.

glory is the sodger's prize

I'd know it was Spring even if I didn't feel the heat or see the pretty flowers or experience the wrath of a ferret wanting to be alpha female in the household.

I'd know it because all kinds of culturvorian activities are beginning. My in-box is chokka with invitations to launches, openings and events.

Having spent the winter watchng movies at the ANU Film Group, and pretty much nothing else, it's time to start documenting the life of a cheapskate culture whore again.

Through professional connections, we attended a fantastic curator-lead private view if the Australian War Memorial's Icon to Archive exhibition. The exhibition is excellent, but having a tour led by someone who has such a passion and knowledge of the collection makes it much more enjoyable and meaningful. The exhibition finishes this Sunday - highly recommended.

Then on Thursday we took in Beating the Retreat & 1812 Overture at the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

This is RMC's 40th anniversary of inviting the public to the Beat Retreat. A couple of hours spent in the warmish spring evening at RMC watching an ancient military ceremony in a picturesque setting, then listening to an excellent band play interpretations of classical and popular music culminating in Tchiakovsky's 1812 Overture with real cannon fire at the end and a fireworks display for a gold coin donation that goes to a local charity. Not completely culturevorian, because we cheated and supported the RMC preschool by purchasing a spam and egg roll and soft drink each instead of bringing a picnic meal. Total cost for dinner for two and concert $12.

And there was knitting.

Seven Things Week 57

Yes, I'm late, but we had a very busy weekend and not much chance to use the internet.

OK, so we managed a trip to the Bookfair last weekend afterall but I didn't disgrace myself - promise. I have to amend an earlier post. The Old Flame was not a Bookfair virgin, he is very, very experienced - I misunderstood.

IN (15)
1 pr jeans Salvos
3 prs needles Salvos
7 knitting pattern books Lifeline
1 home waxing kit bought retail - it felt very strange to buy retail
1 souvenir whisky jug - I bought it at Vinnies Dickson for Dad last year and he adored it. He didn't drink spirits, but this jug had our family name on it, and he proudly sat it with his other commemorative/souvenir drinks stuff.
2 tops, Vinnies half price sale

OUT (23)
10 books - BOOKCROSSING
1 pr jeans - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 sets plastic tweezers - RECYCLING
1 plastic fork - RECYCLING
1 plastic spoon - RECYCLING
1 plastic knife - RECYCLING
1 pr trousers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 broken wine glasses - BIN
1 melon baller - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 lace scarf - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (2)
1 hot-water bottle cosy
1 beanie

TOTALS
IN 15
OUT 23
NETT OUT 8
SIAA 2

She talks o' rank and fashion

My Old Flame knows that the quickest way to a woman's heart is through the chest cavity and failing that, knit-related anything. See what appeared in my in-box this morning. Now, if we could just teach that model to knit...

And gallant Sir Robert, deep-read in old wines

Ah, a weekend when our only responsibilities were the fur children - frankly much easier to tend than our human dependents and we can lock them outside when they get really annoying.

It was pretty cruisy. No knitting, but we did manage a trip to the Lifeline Bookfair (the Old Flame, although a keen reader and bargain hunter, was a Bookfair virgin), where I bought very, very little - four vintage patterns for the collection and three knitting books.


James Norbury's Traditional Knitting Patterns: from Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Italy and Other European Countries - fantastic stitch dictionary. Too good to leave behind at $4.
I tried to resist This Woolcraft one but it was $3 and I was powerless against the siren call of the Alice Starmore's "Marina". There's other interesting patterns too - a Kaffe Fasset tapestry design and some Debbie Bliss deliciousness among others. See - gorgeous - had to have that chubby little baby!

I love the vibe at the Bookfair craft book tables. It's never cut-throat as I'm informed the Sci-Fi/Fantasy tables are. Like craft communities everywhere, there is generosity, good humour and helpfulness. This time there was a quilter, an embroiderer, a crocheter and a couple of knitters - we happily passed each other books - making recommendations, laughing at the eighties knits and generally having as good a time as you can without needles.

There was also a little cleaning out up at Mum's. A year of the Seven Things Challenge is good preparation for the sad task of clearing out Dad's stuff. It's still not easy, but I'm having no way near the hideous time my brother is. He'd like to keep our childhood home as a museum. With everyone's permission, we tackled a small portion of Under The House.

Dad had dug out Under The House, concreted it and put in electric light and power outlets. It became his workshop and family storage space. It is the size of half a decent sized three bedroom home and it's absolutely chokka. Dad rarely disposed of anything but at least he was pretty neat. OF and I dealt with the wine (my brother doesn't drink) and some of the toys, games, luggage and obvious "outs" such as the plastic meat trays, ice cream and yoghurt containers kept for seed propagation. I also reclaimed my drill bit set that Dad confiscated because they "were too good for a woman".

Here's the wine that (a) won't fit in my wine cupboard and (b) is probably a bit previous now and we'll be lucky to get 1 in 4 bottles worth drinking. Cheers, Dad.


I'm researching how to make red wine vinegar - does anyone have a gallon jug with a spigot and/or some vinegar mother?

I canna say but ye strunt rarely, owre gauze and lace

Lace - still don't love it. I can do it, I comprehend it, people I love and admire go crazy for it, it's just - I don't feel it.

Lace does not fill me with the joy and satisfaction that a good Aran pattern does.

I am prepared for eviction from the blogdom.

This pattern is Liesel by Mary Joy Gumayagay . I call it the Red Tape scarf because it is a tape yarn the exact colour as the red tape I still find tying up files in some archival collections. The yarn, South West Trading Company Oasis Solid soy silk, was a charitable donation. It was knitted in response to a request for items for a breast cancer charity exhibition and sale but got side-tracked and didn't get it to my bespoke blocker quickly enough.

It's pretty and looks lovely on the freshly blossoming crab apple. I'll hang on to it for the next charitable request/raffle prize etc.

Your darkest terrors may be vain, Your brightest hopes may fail

Abby by Amy Singer from the latest Knitty in vintage Villawool Suriaplagas - 80% alpaca, 20% nylon - as soft and light and warm as down.

I winged it with this one. There's been trouble with cowls trying to strangle me before, as what little neck I have is well padded so I wanted the finished item to be shorter than the 16" of the pattern and greater in circumference. Having only one ball of yarn which was a bit thicker than the laceweight recommended, I chose a 4.5mm needle instead of a 4mm.

Checking for gauge didn't worry me. This was such a quickie it was as easy to knit it as to trouble with a tension square and there wasn't yarn enough to spare anyway.

I underestimated the thickness of the yarn and overestimated the thickness of my neck. The dratted thing swims and it hasn't even blocked it yet. And no, it can't be unravelled and reknitted because the brushed alpaca sticks like the proverbial to a blanket.

Ah well, can't win 'em all and it's still warm and softer than a baby's bum.

Seven Things Week 56

Back on track. Well, sort of. This week was helped by the fact I couldn't and can't get to the Lifeline Bookfair. Another Holy Day of Obligation on the bargain shopper's calendar, I couldn't go due to staffing shortages at work.


IN (6)
3 balls Cleckheaton Studio Mohair - Vinnies $4
1 bag fibre from the gorgeous Mandie - fibre club
1 set stitch markers, ditto
1 magazine - subscription

OUT (57)
20 vintage knitting patterns - destashed via Rav and the blog
7 books - BOOKCROSSING
4 books - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 Tupperware containers -GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 ball sock yarn - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr socks - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 cordless drill -GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bolt fabric - GIFTS & DONATIONS
6 magazines - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 DVDs - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 top - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr trousers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 coathangers - RECYCLING
1 vest - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 cushion - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 watch - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 clothes horses - BIN

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (4)
2 TTWCS
1 pr socks
1 cowlette

TOTALS

IN 6

OUT 57

NET OUT 51

SIAA 4

And stockings and pumps to put on my stumps

Socks for the Old Flame which I am calling Snow Gum.


Opal 6ply donated by the Happy Spider, knitted on 3.25mm Knit Picks dpns (also a gift from Spidey as it happens - I'm converted to these needles, btw, they do make the knitting quicker and lighter).

Basic 56 stitch recipe but with foot done over 60 stitches. The heel is slip stitched on the purl row, slipping the same stitch each time. I rather like the effect.

Seven Things Week 55

IN (2)
1 pr waterproof trousers for next ski season $5 -Vinnies.
1 knitting pattern $1 -Salvos.

OUT (7)
7 books - BOOKCROSSING

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT
nothing finished this week

TOTALS

IN 2

OUT 7
NETT OUT 5
SIAA 0

But when, alas! he multiplies himself

It has come to this, a vintage knitting pattern destash.

Check out my flickr set for what's available. Vintage pattern books are$4, $2 or $1 each plus postage. There are also 3 issues of Spin-Off which are $5 each.

All patterns sold as is. These are vintage patterns. There are signs of use. Some have been hole punched.

If you see something you want, please email me with the name of the image, eg. Patons 123, and your address so I can check what postage will be. Generally, a single pattern within Australia will be $1.10 but if you want more than one pattern, that will change.

Direct credit into my nominated bank account only.

peggysmum AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

Seven Things Week 54

These are the weeks that happen to collectors. Salvos stores in Wagga Wagga and Canberra gave up knitting patterns that fitted the collection development plan and generous people gave me yarn.

IN (49)
33 vintage knitting patterns - Salvos Wagga Wagga and Mitchell
12 balls wool - gift
1 pyrex dish - Salvos Mitchell
1 Tupperware container - Salvos Mitchell
2 prs trackie daks - gift

OUT (43)
2 dresses - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 prs trousers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 blouses - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 vest - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 bras - BIN
2 coats - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 pairs boots - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 prs jeans - GIFTS & DONATIONS
17 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 rubbish bin - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pyrex dish - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 basket - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pkt bias binding - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 pieces fabric - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 DVD - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (1)
1 Time Thief Watch Cap - pathetic, I know.

TOTALS

IN 49
OUT 43
NETT OUT -6
SIAA 1

(No) Knitting on the Road

The forward momentum in my body has finally ceased, I'm caught up with the washing and the ironing and the house is almost liveable again.

From Thursday night until late Sunday night there was a lot of travelling (I lost count of how many times I drove the GDE but despite good intentions and excellent preparation, circumstances conspired for there to be very little knitting.

Thursday night 60k round trip to drop things off, see friends and buy stuff for Friday.
KNITTING: 0

Friday drove to Wagga Wagga, that fabulous inland city, to collect Mum who'd been in Leeton for a week with her sister. Aunty Marj had business to do in Wagga so instead of a 10 hour round trip to get Mum, it was only 6 hours. No trip to Wagga is complete without a tour of the shops d'op and lunch with Kate. Had a lovely couple of hours with Kate and the charming Tilly (cannot believe she's already a year old). Much knitterly chat, a very yummy lunch (thanks Kate) and a couple of rounds of a sock and it was off to collect Mum. Our designated meeting place, St V de P in Peter Street. There was nothing to buy at Vinnies because Kate had already bagged 15 balls of Cleckheaton 5ply for $8 that morning. It's at my house now awaiting a custom over-dye by Spidey, because not many of us can wear lemon. I'd already bought 18 vintage knitting patterns at the Salvos. Not enough time to visit Faye's new shop, unfortunately, despite the pull of the Jo Sharp motherload that is there.
KNITTING: maybe 4 rounds of a 6ply sock (224 stitches)

Back to Canberra Friday night with just enough time to drop and settle Mum and race over the other side of town to collect the Old Flame, drop stuff off 3/4 the way back to my place and then to the pictures, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at ANU Film Group - loved it, completely OTT, favourite quotation (John Hurt as Prof. Oxley): "How much of human life is lost in waiting?"
KNITTING: 0

Saturday was a long sleep-in, light op-shopping (more vintage patterns and some Tupperware), groceries, ferrying people about and preparing for Sunday.
KNITTING: Cast on 2 TTWCs and knitted 12 rounds in double rib (1232 stitches)

Sunday - rose at 3am, shower, dress, load car, buy fabulous egg and bacon rolls at the G-Spot food caravan in Gungahlin and board bus for 4.15am departure for the snow. Eat egg and bacon roll (known as a Complete Bastard if you want to order one), snuggle up to the Old Flame, sleep until Jindabyne.

Arrive Bullocks Flat, decant self and gear for the day, catch Skitube to Perisher. Help set up finishing line for Kosciusko Tour , cook second breakfast

(that's porridge with fresh chopped strawberries and toasted coconut cooked over a spirit stove) looking at this view.

Absolutely fabulous day. The first racer came in under 56 minutes, the last took about 3 hours. Weather was perfect. Sunny, not much wind and the threatening storm held off until much later in the day. Didn't even need to wear my gloves, which was good, because I was taking photographs of the racers as they crossed the finish line.

Skitube to Blue Cow for the presentations and a very late lunch. This was really the only chance to knit of the day - pity I'd left the knitting on the bus at Bullock's Flat.

Skitube back to Bullocks Flat, back on the bus, snuggle up to the Old Flame, sleep from Jindabyne to Canberra.
KNITTING: 0

Unpack car, reload my car, home by 9.30. Explode contents of bags over living room and realise I've left current socks in progress on dresser at OF's.
KNITTING: 0

Who'd have thought a long weekend of virtually no knitting could be so enjoyable!

TOTAL KNITTING 1456 stitches

Freebies

Up for grabs are two x 2-for-one movie deals for the Dendy in Canberra.

Welcome to the Sticks valid from 4/09 until then end of the run

and Caramel valid from 25/09 until end of run

Please email me with your choice of film if you want one of these.
Peggysmum AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk.

Perspex*

Conversation with the Old Flame a few weeks ago-

OF (removing his elastic-sided boots): I'm going to have to get rid of these boots.

TAPH: Really? Why?

OF: They've stretched and are a bit too loose.

TAPH: Can't you take them into RM Williams' and have them fixed?

OF: I could ... or ...

TAPH: Or?

OF (smiling winsomely): Or I could wear thicker socks.

TAPH: Ahh (realisation dawns). Well there goes the 5ply stash.

Simple Socks by Sarah Golder, Yarn issue 5, Jan. 2007 in recycled 5ply crepe, knitted on 2.75mm dpns.

*Perspex - twice as thick (socks & me) and just as see-through (old joke)

Seven Things Week 53

Not so good this week, but not as bad as it would once have been. Would have made it but time defeated me when it came to getting rid of some books.

IN (32)
1 new summer top - SALVOS
2 Tupperware containers - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 Pyrex casserole - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 cone 5ply crepe - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 book - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 bag spinning fibre (110g) - YMCA GARAGE SALE
11 vintage Patons & Villawool patterns - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 reel knitting-in elastic - YMCA GARAGE SALE
1 knitting mag - SUBSCRIPTION
2 Tupperware containers - AUSSIE JUNK
(total spend $22)

OUT (23)
1 decorative tin - GIFTS & DONATIONS
18 vintage & other knitting patterns - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 scarf - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 mug - BROKEN

SIAA (2)
1 TTWC
1 pr socks

TOTALS
IN 32
OUT 23
NETT OUT -9
SIAA 2