SOCKSY

Tickets to Cheech & Chong - $200. Socks knitted by the woman you love - priceless. Someone had a little pout that he didn't get socks for his birthday this year. The situation was remedied by these babies.

Knitted in Bendigo Woollen Mills 5ply Colonial, they took 12 days of mostly monogamous knitting. The pattern is Sarah Golder's Simple Socks (Rav link) from Yarn, issue 5.


Here they were off to the opening of the National Library of Australia's Treasures Gallery - a Preview last Thursday.


And here they were finished off over a bottle of Cabernet Merlot on Sunday night.

Because the yarn is pure wool, I knitted a strand of fuzzy nylon through the entire heel and foot.

The reason the heel in this looks different - I ran out of the dark brown fuzzy nylon and had to use a grey. No one else will notice and if they do, they can knit socks.

Little socks, maaaaan

I don't knit during live theatre performances or these would have been finished at the Cheech & Chong gig at the Royal Theatre in Canberra last night. Nor was I paying $150 (for an unspecified charity) to meet the fellas afterwards, so you'll have to make do with sock posed on speaker box.

Mim Felton's Baby to Toddler socks pattern in Patons Dreamtime 4ply on 2.5mm needles.

The Beanies are Back

I'm taking the bus to work more often at the moment - it's something I do when schedules permit - so more beanies for Stasia's Soup Kitchen clients are likely in the next little while.

This is my standard hat in Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 12 ply, colour Azure. Such a joy to knit with.

Bootee Call

We have a few babies due (or just joined us) in my work and friend circles.

Mim Felton's Baby to Toddler socks in Patons Dreamtime 4ply on 2.5mm needles. About 6-9 mos size.

The only modification to the pattern was to continue the ribbing down the foot for a bit more grip.

Easter Sunday Evening

Books, bloke, knitting, dark chocolate and booze (and from the shake on this photo, a little too much of the latter) - and there was another day off to follow.

Lovely.

Easter Saturday Lunch & Knitting

Finished Object: a pair of baby socks over a leisurely and lovely lunch at the Poacher's Pantry.

Long weekend, great weather, great food, entertaining knitting. Bliss.

Easter Lilies

I know you will appreciate these.

Filet crochet pillowshams in a lily pattern made by the Old Flames' maternal grandmother.


The Old Flame's mother had a clean out of the linen cupboard and thought I might like these. She remembers them being on her mother's bed over pink encased pillows.

They are lovely, special pieces which are about to go on the bed. She couldn't have chosen a better gift.

they'll none of 'em be missed

I write lists so I don't have to remember things.

Now I've lost the bloody list.

Have a creme filled Easter. :)

Unprepared

The things one has in one's hot little mitts when one doesn't have a spindle handy! And I love the possum/merino blend yarn.

Thank you all for your condolences on Nanna's passing. The funeral in Wagga was small without fuss - she would have approved. I'm very glad I won't have to delivery any more eulogies for grandparents.

Knit on, Nan

My Nanna, that yarn stealing 90 year old, left us today at 5pm.

We were prepared for her going, although we didn't know when.

My mother, her youngest daughter, got to see her and spend time with her just a couple of weeks ago and was content. My brother saw her only yesterday. He is probably the most surprised of all of us.

I was close to Nanna for a very long time.

When Dad was sent to Vietnam, Mum and I lived with them on the farm at Jerilderie. A few years later they sold the farm and came to live in Canberra to be near us and I saw her most weeks after that.

She helped teach me to knit and to do fancy work (embroidery) and for a few years, there, I was her yarn supplier for blanket squares which I sewed together for the Red Cross - she really hated sewing up.

We made dolls' clothes together, first for my dolls and then for hers. When Mum and Dad started going away for the winter, I'd come down from Sydney every couple of weeks to see she was alright.

She was a hard woman and a generous one. Once her mind was fixed on something there was nothing you could do to change it.

She made the best boiled fruit cakes and Christmas puddings and the worst savoury mince.

Her life was a hard one but mine is the richer for having her as a grandmother.

Knit on, Dot.

What he said.

And he did a photo shoot on his desk at work and brought it all home on the bus.

And I'm pretty sure it's not stash if I don't buy it myself.

Wow, what a great list compiled by a slew of women with great taste. I'm checking out the library's DVD holdings, because a swing through a couple of DVD shops last night failed to find a few of those titles and the prices on some of the others were heart-stopping.

I'm feeling much better than I was, thank you - back at work this week and largely functional.

Chicken Soup for the Eyes

That allergic thing really sucked.

What sucked the most was the inability to do anything for days but sit on the couch and stare into space or sleep. I was too ill to knit much (what, lift my arms?), couldn't wear my glasses so reading was out, daytime TV is nothing to stay home for and I had no talking books at my disposal.

What I need is an emergency sick day pack of DVDs, tissues and teabags. But what DVDs? I used to have a video tape of the Laurence Olivier in Pride and Prejudice for such occasions, but it's long dead or lost. What's your DVD version of chicken soup?

On a roll - a Summer Roll

The Old Flame's parents' good china is a discontinued pattern by Johnson Bros. called Summer Chintz. They like to get extra pieces when they can.

The Old Flame purchased four cups and saucers at Vinnies recently. I was dead chuffed to get a dinner setting for four (less 2 cups and 2 soup bowls) plus a rectangular sandwich plate and milk jug at Salvos Phillip this afternoon.

reprinted from I Op Therefore I Am ACT

Take the last train to Snotsville

It's official, I'm allergic to the Riverina and have returned with a raging case of allergic rhinitis. You don't need all the details but my nose is so swollen and sore I can't wear my glasses. Computer time is limited to how long I can squint at the screen; which is not all that long.

Nanna's happy and wonderfully cared for in the Narrandera Nursing Home. Thank you all for your good wishes.

When we got there Saturday she and my aunt were sitting in the courtyard knitting. We sat for a while, three generations of us, knitting.

Nan is not asleep. She is working out how to steal my yarn. The geranium coloured yarn in front of her was, momentarily, my aunt's but Nan decided she like it better than the pale blue and that the pattern was boring anyway. She really liked the Naturally Aspire I was knitting into brioche stitch scarf. I had to move it from her reach.

(details on Ravelry)

There were sheep on the road - been a while since I've seen that.

Somewhere on the "short cut" between Leeton and Ardlethan that added an hour to the journey home.

There was op-shopping in Temora, Young and Yass. Total haul 2 pieces Tupperware ($1.50), 2 pairs new swimmers ($4), 3 blouses ($8), and 2 balls old Patonyle ($2).

Salvos shop in Young

And there was more dealing with Nanna's stuff. Several more cartons of dolls have now found appreciative homes, books have been delivered to Lifeline and clothes to various op-shops and the Old Flame scored a pressure cooker for his putative still.

Manana

Or actually, sometime next week.

Mum and I are off to the Riverina for the weekend to visit Nanna. She had a heart attack on Christmas Eve which made her fall and break her hip. She's pulled through it all and we're seeing her in her new home in Narrandera for the first time.

Oh, and there may be a little light op-shopping on the way home. Monday is a public holiday in the ACT but not in encircling NSW.

We're not all hooligans

I was knitting at the bus interchange this evening. Knitting and waiting for the free bus to the stadium to watch the Socceroos lose in a lacklustre fashion to Kuwait.

The woman on the bench next to me asked what I was knitting, fondled the spare balls of Jet and marvelled over stitchmarker bling and told me about how her late mother was a knitter and how nice it was to see someone younger (than her late mother) knitting.

The bus for the stadium came. My neighbour let out a huge sigh and said "Thank heaven the stadium bus is here, now all these hooligans will leave!"

I smiled and said, gently, that I was leaving on that bus too. She blushed and replied "You? But I thought with the knitting and everything...."

"We're not all hooligans", I assured her.

Mind you, I think I like the sound of hooligan knitters.

Footy Knits

The Brumbies lost very badly indeed to the Western Force on Saturday night. The scoreline should have been worse, but Matt Giteau didn't kick very well for the Force. Doesn't bode well for next year when he comes back to Canberra.



There was knitting, naturally. Finished the TTWC that TSS and I started at Twilight the other night and started another Inca beret from scraps. This photo was taken seconds before I realised why it didn't feel quite right - I'd forgotten to change needle size for the body of the beret. Bugger. It's in the frog pond now.

I also spotted this rather nice jumper causally slung around the shoulders of a bloke a few rows in front of us. Interesting columns effect pattern with a garter stitch shawl collar.

Knit Flicks

I thought we'd get a knit free experience on Friday night with a double bill of Body of Lies and
Towelhead but this was not so.

Body of Lies was completely knit free. It was also very violent, with quite explicit images of torture, but it wasn't gratuitously so. Tightly scripted, it was a very good film, despite the lack of knitting content.

Towelhead was more disturbing because the abuse was more personal and more within my imagination. The Old Flame and I agreed that a read of the book the film was based on would be a worthwhile excercise. Uncomfortable viewing. There is one scene in which a minor character is observed knitting.

Flick Knits - Twilight

Oh Lord, where to start? The film is mostly laughable - an entire theatre can't be wrong. There were a couple of tense, engrossing bits, but largely it was laughable ... and long.

The Old Flame found the clause in the ANU Film Group membership rules that allows members to take up to two under 16 guests for nothing to any film, even those marked "No Guests". E, my just-turned-14 niece, is a twerd (Twilight nerd, how could you not know that!?) so was beyond excited to attend with us. OK, there was squealing involved and it wasn't only her father pleased to have someone else listen to endless chatter about Twilight - she's been banned from speaking of it at home.

This was her third showing of the film, although, she assures me, the book is much, much better. And that's exactly why I took her - she's finally reading. Her whole life I've been trying to get her to read. Her twin sister is never without a book, but E has resisted despite all the gifts of books to tempt her. She valued the book as an object but just wasn't all that interested in what lay between the covers. Now she's reading with appetite and we are all overjoyed.


TSS contributed to our first TTWC of the year but that wasn't the only knitting that night. The knit count in the film was pretty high - between 8 and 12 different items, including some lovely cabled mittens worn by Bella (our heroine) and a sweet lacy scarf worn by Rosalie (picks on TSS's blog). No-one was actually caught in the act of knitting and there were no knitting references. Crochet also featured a couple of times.

A quick Rav search showed several copycat patterns and lots and lots of tribute ones (there's even a Twilight sock club).

Here's some of the copycat patterns for you - I've provided non-Ravely links where I can. The prices are US dollars.

Bella's Mittens
Snoweviolet has created a pattern for these (Rav link) $5; as has Beth Galantino (Rav link) $6. Both must be purchased.


Rosalie's Scarf
Shigella has created a pattern for this and there's a crochet version, too. Although, I admit, I had a different idea of the scarf myself. Free.

And one by Beth Galantino (Rav link). $4.


Alice's Scarf
A fine version with free pattern by Craft with Kater Tater.

Seven Things Week 78

In an episode of Absolutely Fabulous, Edina once said (against type, I admit). "I don't want more choice, I just want better things."

This is where I leave Seven Things, maybe just for now or maybe for good - dunno yet. All I know is it's been a good experience. Difficult but, but good; one that has matured my ideas about consumption, particularly my own, and improved my self-knowledge and self-acceptance.

It has also prepared me for the unbelievably difficult task of dealing with the family's stuff. For the next few months I'll be concentrating on clearing Mum's decks, so crafting time won't increase in any significant way until at least the middle of the year and most likely later. And there's still stuff here that is earmarked for disposal but is waiting for the appropriate home. I'm never going to have a sparse, clutter-free living space - it's just not who I am - but I am now better able to assess what I bring in to my home and what I retain, and why.

IN (23)
7 lots of Tupperware (YMCA garage sale $5 the bag)
4 vintage knitting patterns (YMCA garage sale)
1 roll knitting in elastic (YMCA garage sale)
1 thimble (YMCA garage sale)
1 lot yarn (Vinnies $2.50)
1 knitting magazine (subscription)
1 lot spinning fibre (subscription)
1 WPI tool (gift with subscription)
5 beanies worth yarn (purchase by proxy - thank you Old Flame)
1 book (off loaded by TSS, but I do want to read it - ta)

OUT (149)
5 skirts - women's refuge
18 tops - women's refuge
7 prs trousers - women's refuge
5 dresses - women's refuge
3 jackets - women's refuge
1 cardigan
6 prs undies - bin
52 balls yarn - gifts & donations
52 books - Lifeline

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (2)
1 beret
1 neckwarmer

TOTALS

IN 23
OUT 149

NETT 126
SIAA 2

Flick Knits

The movie year has begun. ANU Film Group started up again last week.

Ill health (create a shared history - give your loved one food poisoning for your very first St Valentine's Day together!) kept us from attending Quantum of Solace on the first night but I reckon the knit quotient in that is fairly low anyway.

There was no knitting to discover in Burn After Reading, either, which we took in on Friday night. Coen brothers through and through. Incandescent performance from Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton shone. Not so much Brad Pitt - wrong side of ham.

A freebie to the preview of a new NZ flick, Dean Spanley, netted a much more likely bunch of knits. Two garter stitch scarves (Bryan Brown's looked the more interesting of the two, if any garter stitch scarf could be called interesting), and a black capelet which I would love to have seen more of. There was also a fine fisherman's rib jumper. Definitely one for the pause treatment when the DVD comes out.

The movie was lovely. It's odd, quirky even, but Sam Neil does a fantastic job, as does the ever-divine Peter O'Toole. As frail as O'Toole obviously is, he still has IT. Bryan Brown played his usual character, and Jeremy Northam held it all together quite well. It's a story about loss and grief and while not completely successful, is worth a watch.

Seven Things - Week 77

Not a very productive week. Busy, but not productive.

In 0

Out 0

SIAA 0

Roadkill for Good Causes

Over on her blog, Making Good Use is keeping track of roadkill money - cash she finds in the street etc. It got me thinking about stuff we overlook or throw away everyday that can be put to good use, either for ourselves or for others.

The Old Flame and I collect aluminium cans which are sold to support a local community group. My nieces and nephew collect them to supplement their pocket money as their father and I did before them. There's not a huge amount of money in it, but it's an activity with lots of social positives, including cleaning up the neighbourhood and increasing recycling. It also teaches the kids that you have to work for money - although they do tend to delegate a lot of the actual collecting and crushing of cans to we adults. Managers in the making, I fear.

While we give the cans to the community group, they don't get the ring pulls. The ring pulls are made of titanium and can be recycled to make artificial limbs for the victims of land mines. We were a bit dubious when we heard this (and it did have a touch of the jumpers for penguins about it) but we are assured by an acquaintance (and I know her mother, so she wouldn't make it up) that she can ensure the ring pulls get to a local contact. About 36,000 ring pulls are needed for a single limb. That's lot of aluminium cans, but it doesn't take that long to remove them, and again, lots of positive benefits.

Postage stamps are something I've saved for charity all my adult life. The Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union in NSW is my preferred outlet, but often Rotary groups sell used stamps to raise funds for their projects as well. Stamps should be clipped or ripped with a few millimetres of space around the edge of the stamp. All stamps are welcome and I can provide contact details for the PWMU if anyone wants it, otherwise a call to your local Rotary group will probably put you in touch with a non-religious outlet.

Wine Corks from Taph Towers and associated abodes are donated to the Girl Guides who make cork boards from them to raise funds for their activities.

Clear plastic mailers. You know the clear plastic that magazines and other publications come posted in these days? Great as knitting pattern holders, I also use them for picking up the dog mess on walks. I get a few at home, but at work we get lots and at least one extra use of them is better than just throwing them in the bin as soon as the mail is opened.

Any one else have outlets for roadkill of this kind?

Too tired to blog, but not too tired to waste time on stupid memes

The Name Game meme

1. YOUR REAL NAME: ah, now, that would be telling

2. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (father and mother's middle names): Ian Elaine or for a woman Elaine Ian

3. NASCAR NAME (first name of your father's dad; mother's dad): Charles Clarence or for a woman Elizabeth Dorothy

4. STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): Bucant

5. DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Ferret (ok, so the ferret is my least favourite animal - but it's a fantastic detective name).

6. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, town where you were born): Maree Butterworth

7. SUPERHERO NAME (second fav color, fav drink, add 'the' to the beginning): The Blue Vodka

8. FLY NAME (first two letters of your first name, last two letters of your last name): Anan

9. ROCK STAR NAME (current pet's name, current street name): Peggy Collings

10. PORN NAME (first pet, street you grew up on): Ginger Sunny-Glee

11. GANGSTA NAME (first three letters of your real name, plus izzle): Antizzle

12. GOTH NAME (black, and the name of one of your pets): Black Rose

13. STRIPPER NAME (favorite perfume, favorite candy): Chanel Nougat

ETA - Certainly play along if you want to - I just don't do the whole tagging thing.

Seven Things Week 76

IN (19)
4 prs trousers - OP SHOP
4 shirts - OP SHOP
1 necklace - OP SHOP
1 suit- OP SHOP
1 pr hiking boots- OP SHOP
1 pr Birkenstocks- OP SHOP
4 vintage knitting patterns - OP SHOP
2 lots wool - bloody Cassidy's sale
1 set Tupperware - GIFT

OUT (75)
72 sets knitting needles - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 plate - BROKEN
1 stitch marker - LOST
1 book


SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (3)
3 berets

So 9 cowls and 3 berets in a fortnight - comfort knitting. Loving Patons Inca, right now. It's a big quick knit, without being too chunky, and has enough wool and alpaca in the blend for a good hand feel when knitting. It's a loosely plied yarn and others have commented on the splittiness of it, but with a blunter needle (using Denise Interchangeables ATM), not bad at all.

The cowl is Snuggle Cowl, by Elspeth Kursh AKA Wry Punster. The pattern isn't on the blog, though, only on Ravelry - sorry non Ravellers.

The beret pattern is my own - will write it up, eventually

Not blocked yet, but soon.

Seven Things Week 75

IN (13)
1 coin purse - gift
3 lots of wool - gift
4 pieces of Tupperware - gifts
1 set magnets - gifts
1 book
3 sets undies - retail, even I don't buy my knickers second hand.

OUT (14)
1 skirt - GIFTS & DONATIONS
7 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr yoga pants - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr undies - BIN
1 book - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 phone charger - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 display bottles - recycling

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (6)
6 cowls

TOTALS
IN 13
OUT 14
NETT OUT 1
SIAA 6

At the Clinic

Waiting room 1, 10.30am

Technician spies knitting and incredulously: Knitting?! Already?!
Taph, shaking head, slow smile forming: Still.

Waiting room 2, 10.55am
Elderly Polish woman smiling in recognition: something complete unintelligble (to me) in Polish, then clearly intelligible - You're not looking.
Taph: *shrugs* It's just easy stuff.

Waiting room 2, 11.00
Taph demonstrates by shoving the half-finished cowl over head: A scarf that doesn't flap.
Elderly Polish woman: *smiles approvingly*

Waiting room 2, 11.00-11.15
General discussion about charity knitting, socks for cancer patients, hats for Stasia, generally how wonderful Stasia is and the 4 large bags of wool the woman opposite is working her way through as cancer caps.

Waiting room 2, 11.30
Elderly Polish woman's daughter: Mum still knits. She's 94.
Taph: That's fantastic - what does she knit?
Elderly Polish woman's daughter: Beautiful socks, on really small needles.
Taph: I want to be her!

Waiting room 2, 11.50
Newly arrived woman: Now I want to knit - do you have a spare?
Taph: Yup. Hands over spare TTWC.

Waiting room 2. 12.10
Newly arrived woman gets called and hands back TTWC: Now I know what to bring to these days - I can't concentrate on puzzles.

Waiting room 2. 12.15
Late middle aged couple enter.
Him: I've never seen needles that short.
Taph: Demonstrates Denise interchangeables. Also good as a garotte!
Him: Ah, you've been waiting a while then.

Examination room. 12.30
Technician 2: Just pop into this gown, I'll be back in a minute.

Examination room. 12.35
Technician 2: OK, you're right to go - whoa! (spying knitting) - you don't like to waste time do you?
Taph: Do I have time to waste?
Technician 2: You're all clear - at least another 40 years.
Taph: Hope I've got enough stash for that.

Everyone. Please check your breasts regularly.

Summer lovin'

Each year the Friends of the Australian National Botanical Gardens arrange a series of concerts in the gardens during summer. This year there were musical interludes each Saturday and Sunday evening in January.

For a gold coin donation you get to sit under a canopy of eucalypts for a couple of hours and listen to some fine jazz, blues or swing music, depending on the evening. It's hugely popular, even with the local fauna.

The Old Flame and I managed to get to the last two, taking a picnic of hummus, bread, wine and knitting.

Although on this particular night, I'm not sure who was enjoying the evening more.

Tupperwhore

sb lovecraft asked in the comments for more information about the Tupperware Collection Development Policy. Everyone else can look away now.

Mon was the first to use the term Tupperwhore to me, and it is so apt.

I was in my early 30s before I attended my first Tupperware Party. I was a Tupper-naysayer and only attended as a favour to the hostess on the understanding that I didn't have to buy anything if I kept my opinions to myself. It was expensive and plastic and my mother and grandmother used it - enough for a proto-greenie, feminist, frugal woman to justify avoidance. I admit to being scornful. Jan, I know exactly how you feel.

That first party, though, had me hooked. Not the embarrasing games (at which I excelled BTW - this girl knows her chocolate!), the dinky giveaways or the how-to-microwave-a-blackforest-cake-while-shaving-your-legs-and-whipping-up-a-couple-of-pinnies-in-your-pearls activities. It was one product that did it.

Rock n' Serve
I could cook in bulk, freeze in the Rock 'n' Serve, microwave the Rock 'n' Serve, and bung the Rock 'n' Serve in the dishwasher. And if anything went wrong with them, ever, Tuppeware would replace it - free. Sold! - I bought a set.

But it remained a secret and shameful, passion - not least because I was buying plastic! One evening I admitted this shame to a new friend who taught eco-living at TAFE. She led me gently by the hand to her kitchen and opened the cupboard - TUPPERWARE! She explained that it was a single purchase of highly durable and reusable storage containers and she recommended them to her students.

10 years on, I still use those original sets which is more than I can say for any of the cheaper containers I've acquired.

So, the collection development policy.

What I collect:

• Rock 'n' Serve (natch), or any container I can freeze.
• Storage containers, pantry and fridge - I don't really care about uniformity in the cupboard, any colour or size is fine, but when the seals need replacing, I prefer black seals. I prefer the square or oval containers as they often stack and always take up less space than the round versions.
• FridgeSmart items - these things really do keep fruit and veg much fresher. I took the vegie crisper out of the fridge when I got my first couple of these.
• preferably used items. I'll pay up to $6 for a piece of prize Tupperware (like a Rock 'n' Serve).

What I don't collect:

• Round containers
• Novelty/single use items
• Items with too many pieces - bits get lost and/or take up valuable storage space
• Items with sticky out handles - again a storage issue.
• Items with limited guarantees - defeats the whole point

There are exceptions:
This is a "vintage" chicken keeper. It's big and bulky and novelty, but it was a gift at Christmas from the Old Flame, and I love it. There's room in every collection for the sentimental and kooky, and I'll manufacture a use of it quite soon.

And, sb lovecraft, if you get that spare parts manual - I'd love a gander.

Faith - a - faith - a - faith - a

I'm not the only one who has had incredulous comments about knitting in the current heatwave.

But I have faith. Winter will come and I have 5.5 cowls since last Wednesday to prove it.

And the Brumbies will replicate their 28-14 win over the Hurricanes in a trial match last Friday in the actual season.

Another act of faith.

Seven Things Week 74

Yes, I do have a problem with yarn. I accept that. I now just have to keep away from temptation.

I also have a problem with Tupperware and a SO who gives me secondhand and broken Tupperware (which is usally replaceable free of charge) the same way other girls get given bunches of flowers. I prefer the Tupperware.

There is a Tuppeware Collection Development Policy (sort of). I usually don't buy round storage containers because they take up too much room. I try not to buy the novelty stuff, although I adore the chicken keeper the Old Flame bought me at Christmas.

On the up side, more crafting this week. I made things instead of prowling the house for things to get rid of and it felt REALLY good. As they are all potential outs, it's a bonus activity.

I suspect, however, that seven things will end for me soon.

IN (17)
1 shirt $2 Vinnies
2 pieces Tupperware - Gift
14 lots yarn - Cassidy's sale

OUT (12)
2 prs jeans
1 dress
9 videos

SIAA (4)
3 cowls
1 scarf

TOTALS
IN 17
OUT 12
NETT OUT -3
SIAA 4

Seven Things Week 73

IN (20)
2 tops OP SHOPS total $8
5 pieces Tupperware OP SHOPS/AUSSIE JUNK $8
1 cd OP SHOP
9 lots of wool GIFTS & BOODLE BY PROXY
2 knitting mags OP SHOP
1 knitting book GIFT

OUT (94)
79 books - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 nebuliser - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 face maskS - BIN
2 maps - RECYCLING
2 framed prints - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 timber picture frame - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 computer monitor - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 internet camera - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 kichen scale - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 peak flow meter - BIN
1 knitting book - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 tv router thing - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT - bugger all

TOTALS

IN 20
OUT 94
NETT OUT 74
SIAA 0

De ja vu

Remember the lovely Rosie?



Rosie tore her cruchet ligament because she forgets that she is almost 9 and insists on haring around with the younger dogs. She had an operation on Wednesday to fix it. She came home last night and is doing fine but missing her pack - Peggy and Lochie won't see her for a couple of days, just to give her some unassisted healing time.



Luckily Dr Jim (now on a Taph-funded holiday), doesn't charge as much as Dr. Bill. for the same operation.


Prepare for a pattern destash early next week or sometime before the credit card bill comes in.

Seven Things Week 72

Hmm, this whole tidy thing is seriously cutting into crafting time. And I'm still waiting to see a tidy house!

IN (13)
2 tops - gift
2 skirts - gift
1 Tupperware container - Aussie Junk $0
1 small glass vase - Aussie Junk $0
3 cds - Vinnies $1 each and perfect for annoying teenagers in the car (Welsh Male Voice Choirs and Brass Bands anyone?)
1 cosmetics bag (I've lost one but can't count it out just yet)
1 pr Croqs - gift
2 sets knitting needles (Knitpicks interchangeables in the nickel tipped and the harmonies - bliss) - Ravelry destash purchase.

OUT (12)
1 cricket bail. Have no idea of its significance but it's been kicking around for years and came down with my from Sydney - BIN
6 prs shoe stretcher things - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 prs shoes - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr jeans - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 dress - GIFTS & DONATIONS


SIAA (1)
1 Fabric 'phone sock and again with the mending.

TOTALS

In 13
Out 12
Nett Out -1
SIAA 1

Carnival is Over

So it's back to work and it's been full-tilt since 2 Jan. This is going to be a challenging year work-wise.

It doesn't meant there's been no relaxation. Saturday before last we spent the evening enjoying a barbecue by Lake Burley Griffin, quaffing a bottle of bubbly and relaxing. There may have been knitting. Doesn't get a whole lot better.

There was a special family celebration last Saturday (alas, no knitting) and I anticipate some knitting at another special celebration this Saturday.

Happy New Year to you all - hope your 2009 is an adventure.

Seven Things Week 71

IN (15)
3 pieces of Tupperware - SECOND HAND
12 balls Patons Jet - CASSIDY'S SALE

OUT (39)
5 curtain rods - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 curtain rod battens - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 curtain rod finials - GIFTS & DONATIONS
12 screws - GIFTS & DONATIONS
6 buttons - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pattern book - RAVELRY DESTASH
3 balls yarn - RAVELRY SOS
4 plastic containers - RECYCLING

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (0)

But lots of mending.

TOTALS
IN 15
OUT 39
NETT OUT 24
SIAA 0

Seven Things Week 70

Wasn't at home to do any disposal this week so I'm calling it another amnesty and starting again from now - the first full week of the New Year.

I was considering taking a break but the Old Flame is joining in 7-things for a while, so I guess I'll keep him company.

Resolutions etc. - to keep up 7-things, at least in spirit, and to create a new habit - tidiness. This year's mantra is

"Put it way, not down"

Seven Things Week 69

It's amnesty week here at Taph Towers.

I'm tired, I'm over it and it's Christmas week. And there may have been an accident involving Lincraft and bargain Australian Country Spinners $5 yarn packs.

Seven Things will return in the New Year.

Control or How I Plan to Do More in the Time Available Without Actually Cloning

A little while ago I spreadsheeted (not really a word) the birthday knitting for next year to try and keep me focussed (stop laughing). Then I realised that all my craftiness needs to be time-managed so to try and shoehorn a bit more in, I have added sewing projects as well.

INTELLECTUAL ARRANGEMENT

My column headings are

• :date due:
• :craft type:
• :portability: (because time at home and awake and able to concentrate on craft = about an hour a day but I can usually squeeze another hour or two in by having portable projects with me at all times)
• :recipient:
• :item:
• :materials (what to use and if I had to acquire anything else):
• :date to be given:
• :notes: (I find it useful to record if I need to blog the project and on which blog - helps me remember to take photos etc)

PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT - KNITTING

In the madness of the days before Christmas I needed to feel in control of something so I invested 3 hours uploading (newly acquired) boodle to Ravelry, searching for and queuing patterns, annotating both the queue and the stash record with the pattern info and printing out the patterns. Another few hours here and there were invested in gathering together yarn, pattern, needles and notions and popping them all into project bags (this is where having waaaaay too many needles etc. comes in really handy). I attached a tag to each project bag with a sample of yarn. The tag lists pattern information, due date etc. and contents of bag. Bags were then divided into portable and home projects with some of the portables stashed in a box in the boot of my car. On the sewing list is extra project bags!

PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT - SEWING.


Fabric and notions stored with pattern (or at least the scrap of paper with my idea sketched on) and either put in a bag with a label, or pinned to the garment with a label with details of date due, notions and work needed. If I haven't finished something, or it's something I can do in stages, I leave a note of where I'm up to. Trust me, you can sew on several buttons between putting dinner on and turing the chops.

I'll let you know how it all works, but at least I feel organised and potentially super-productive.

Do you have a favourite craft organisation or time-management tip?

Seasons Greetings

From Taph and the Old Flame.

Seven Things Week 68

IN (16)
1 pr socks - gift
1 set stitchmarkers - gift
2 lots of smellies - gifts
1 Tupperware container - Salvos
2 sets knitting needles - Vinnies/Salvos
3 vintage knitting patterns - Aussie Junk
1 set car mats - gift
4 balls wool - Vinnies
1 ball winder - Aussie Junk
2 biscuit cutters - retail

OUT (33)
1 set car mats - bin
2 plastic containers - bin
7 assorted bottles & jars - recycling
2 posters - recycling
1 pr sunglasses - bin
9 swimwear pieces - gifts & donations
4 prs shorts
5 singlet tops
1 blouse

SIAA (0)
not a solitary thing finished but I'm still on track with next year's birthday gifts.

TOTALS
IN 16
OUT 33
NETT OUT 17
SIAA 0

New kid on the blog

My Old Flame has started his own blog called The Old Flame and is contributing to I Op Therefore I am ACT.

Warning - may contain explicit bloke content.

And for those of you who read the Christmas present post, he assures me that it's BUYING socks that's the no-no - "hand knitted socks are completely different" (which is a relief for next year).

Funny ha-ha or funny in my head?

I passed a couple of Fitness First employees handing out membership flyers etc. yesterday.

The bloke turned to his female companion and whined "I hope we sit down soon, my legs are sore."

I was tempted to demand he drop and give me five for such a complaint (why yes, I have done boot camp).

Funny ha-ha or just funny in my head.

Seven Things Week 67

IN (10)
1 set glasses (Vinnies & Salvos yielded a set of the tasting glasses from the Murrumbatemen Moveable Feast to add to our collection)
1 pr Halex knitting needles ($2 Vinnies)
1 hand winding mobile 'phone charger ($5 garage sale)
2 shirts - fabric and sewing a gift from Mum, buttons and finishing my own
1 shirt - Salvos
2 knitting magazines
2 Tupperware containers

OUT (36)
1 polar fleece jacket - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 set wine charms (another set) - GIFTS & DONATIONS
12 buttons (on two shirts) - SIAA
1 hand towel - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 soap - GIFTS & DONATIONS
20 clamps - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SIAA (3)
1 camera cosy
1 beret
1 scarf

TOTALS

IN 10
OUT 36
NETT OUT 26
SIAA 3

Camera Cosy

The digital camera accompanies me most days - you just never know when you'll need to chronicle the day with an image. Although there is a good case that came with the camera, it's too bulky in the handbag. Most of the time the camera gets chucked in unprotected.

Now I have this. It's based on the 'phone sock made in February and the method of working it out was really scientific. I compared the camera to the phone. The camera is roughly one third larger than the phone. For the phone sock, I used a 5ply wool on 3.75mm needles over 32 stitches. 1/3 of 32 is almost 11. 32 + 11 is 43, but need multiples of for for double rib, so the magic cast on number was 44. I grabbed some 5ply crepe (vintage Patons Treasure - 60% wool, 40% nylon) and knitted in double rib for 46 rows (measuring against the camera as I went) and magicked a three-needle cast off.

The result was a not brilliant. The yarn was a little thinner than that used in the phone sock so tension was a bit loose, the sock was both a bit wide and a bit long. The camera did not fit snugly.
As it took less than 2 hours to knit, I cast on another one on 3.25mm needles over 40 stitches and 40 rows and 2 hours later I'm much happier with the result.

For the record, the camera - an Olympus something or other, is 10cm long x 6cm wide x 2.8cm deep. The sock is 11.5 cm long and 4.5cm wide.

Seven Things Week 66

Looking around this week there are really only two big lots of clutter in the house left to attend to. Books and knitting stuff.

Books will be interesting. I am still going through Dad's library, so I suspect that I'll be BookCrossing my own collection and ingesting his at the same time. The aim is for no nett gain and perhaps a little nett loss with that one.

The uncluttering sites and books are not at all helpful here. They are invariably written by heartless wretches and nowhere can I see discussion about how significant objects actually are. No, they are not people. It's my Dad's book, not my Dad. But Dad valued these objects and some of them have a great deal of significance for a lot of reasons. One thing I have found during 66 weeks of 7-things is that it is immensely important to acknowledge the significance of things in one's life and that you must be truly ready to let it go or regret will gnaw away at you.

So I do what I've done with 7-things. I do the easy stuff first.

Ephemera, journals and duplicates all go first. I find loving homes wherever possible, knowing that the material will be respected. At last resort is the Lifeline box.

Next I tackle the subjects that have little meaning for me or other members of the family. Again, donation to people who do see meaning and value in the topic is the preferred method of disposal. I am stymied sometimes by members of the family who are emotionally unable to accept even the books that they want. At the moment I'm indulging their feelings but Mum's patience is wearing thin and she wants the room for other things. It's tempting to box and wrap them and put them under the Christmas tree.

Yarn is a bit difficult. The Old Flame and I were discussing our respective stashes (my knitting/spinning stuff and his skiing stuff) recently and agreed that mine's a little different because I'm stashing snow as well as skis. It's summer now, time for a thaw. Perhaps when the weather gets a little warmer.

IN (10)
1 mp3 player -$10 for a new 2g mp3 player
1 set videos - gift
1 top - $5 Salvos
1 skirt - $12.50 Vinnies (a leetle pricey, but it's lovely and will be my birthday outfit for this year)
1 sofa - gift
2 prs socks - new
2 polar fleece jackets - they were Dad's but they are good quality and they fit so I'm hanging on to them.
1 vase - Secret Santa gift

OUT (77)
1 butter dish - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bag - GIFTS & DONATIONS
11 books - GIFTS & DONATIONS
5 bags beading bits - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bag yarn - GIFTS & DONATIONS
8 sets knitting needles - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 plastic containers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 knitting patterns - gifts & donations - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 bathroom accessories - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bag hair accessories - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 soft toy - GIFTS & DONATIONS
5 pieces of fabric - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 drink bottle - RECYCLING
7 storage jars - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 glass - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 prs trousers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 skirt - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 doylies - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 tops - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 tallboy - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 mirror set - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 sofa - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 clothes hangers - RECYCLING
2 picture frames - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr boots - BIN
4 sets spectacles - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 pr socks - BIN
1 set wine charms - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SIAA (2)
1 neck warmer
1 proto-type camera cosy

TOTALS
in 10
out 77
nett out 67
SIAA 2

Industrial action

I'm as addicted to wool and yarn as I used to be to nicotine.

The two things are not unrelated. Knitting helped me give up smoking. Certainly one is much healthier than the other and the social benefits of, say, the charity hats, far greater than chucking cigarette butts on the ground. Economically, I'm sure cigarette sales exceed yarn sales but wouldn't it be fabulous if the opposite were true?

It is then, surely, reasonable to have the odd break during the day to feed my addiction in the same way the smokers in the workplace take time out for a smoke.

I wonder if I can get it into our next workplace agreement?

Prepared

Long ago I decided that knitting Christmas gifts was not going to happen.

1. Bad time of year for anything except washcloths (although I did that for the volunteers at work a few years ago)
2. Too many to knit for with a single deadline.
3. Christmas gifts are, to me, generally less personal than birthday gifts.

So I go the commercial route for Christmas and the hand-made for birthdays.

In an idle moment* last week I compiled a list of who would be getting knitted love next year for their birthdays, when their birthdays were, an idea of what I thought I'd make them and what was in stash to support it. Eeeep! January-April there are 8 birthdays with 13 knitted pieces planned. May-Dec, 3 birthdays with 5 knitted pieces planned. Quick revision of number of pieces reduced the Jan-April figure to 11 knitted pieces, but half the birthdays and 6 knitted pieces fall within 8 days in April!. Knitting is now timetabled until then end of July. There is not much room for slippage until the 27th of April (and I'm behind this week already) and there's at least 3 other projects due by the end of January.

In play, also, are developing pattern ideas, two exhibition pieces, incidental gifts, probable special requests and/or commissions, market stall items, baby stuff, projects for me or for fun and charity creations.

Lucky I enjoy knitting, huh?


* ok, I was in a meeting and in need of diversion. If I can't knit, I can at least think about knitting

More scarves

Playing a little bit of catch up on the FOs. These scarves were finished months ago, but the photography never happened.

Scrap-busting side-to-side scarves for the gift basket - these will probably go to the nieces for their birthday in February.

Blue Monday - variety of yarns, some held in multiple strands over 120 stitches on 8mm needles with a self fringe.


Ruby Tuesday - variety of yarns, some held double or quadruple over 130 stitches on 8mm needles with a self fringe.

This scarf is a variation on the Prismatic Scarf by Huan-Hua Chye (Rav link). I managed to bugger up the pattern but loved the reverse side so much I just kept going. Maybe one day I'll do it again properly, but probably not. I used 8mm needles over 24 stitches and a full 300g of yarn.

One of the most gorgeous features of the pattern is the knitted on i-cord edge - so neat.

The yarn is Moda Vera Mandorla Printed (Rav link) - a wool/ack blend that is divinely squooshy and great to knit. Can't remember how I came by it, but I'm so glad I kept it.


It tones nicely with my blue beret from last winter and should be a bit of a boost next year when the late winter "I'm so sick of my black overcoat" blues set in.

Frugal and/or Free - What's sauce for the goose

DATE: 19 November 2009
SOURCE: Salvos, Tuggeranong
OBJECT: Corningware Saucepan with liquid measurements on the inside
INVESTMENT: $10
NOTES: I had to be talked into this one. I know it's gorgeous, in mint condition and suitable for both normal people and southpaws, but its original price was $20. I would not have paid that. As it was, all bric-a-brac was half price and the Voice of Frugal Reason insisted I bring it home. I love it.


Also on I Op Therefore I Am - ACT.