Happy New Year

I love New Year. Shrugging off the old year and starting a brand spanking new one, full of hope and possibilty. I don't make New Years resolutions, but this year I am setting goals at the start of each month for things I want to achieve for that month. My first goals for January are knitting related. 2012 was not a great year for knitting achievements, and I'm blaming the following two culprits. Endless rows of stocking stitch does not a happy knitter make ;P

Lady Kina

Simple Spring Swing Cardigan

Both of these cardigans are for Mum, and I'm rather ashamed to say that the Lady Kina has been on the needles exactly two years today! The Simple Spring Swing Cardigan has been finished a while, but I have to frog and reknit the button bands. The bands are tight, as I didn't pick up quite enough stitches, and this makes the bottom corners of the cardigan turn upwards. Of course, I'll also have to frog the row around the neck, as it was the last to be knit :\. The frogging and knitting in total is 15 rows...but you'd think I have to start from the beginning, it just feels like such an effort. Getting these two off the needles is my goal for January.

Other knitting projects are for the first half of this year are...

...finding the perfect pattern for this gorgeous wool that was a birthday gift from Mum last year. I have been  marking candidates on Ravelry.

Frogging this cardigan...

Ms Greenjeans

I knit it in Cascade 220 Heathers (Celery), and while I love how it turned out, I have never worn it. It just isn't me! So I have decided that instead of having perfectly good wool sitting around, off to the frog pond it goes. It's going to be re-knit as the Hampton Cardigan, a pattern I have adored ever since I bought the book :)

Country Fete

Mum and I went to a country fete today. About half hours drive from home, it was held at the community hall which is surrounded by farm land. Mum's parents and grandparents came from this area, so it holds a lot childhood memories for her.

The fete was packed...a farmer had moved his cows from the paddock  closest to the hall, so that it could be used for parking, (I know they were cows, because we had to be careful not to step in what they left behind ;p)

There were many things to look at and buy, my favourite being a stall selling vintage embroideries and china. I bought a couple of centerpieces. I thought they were a bargain at $5 a piece.

  Ziggy's tail...he was determined to be in every shot ;)

Detail...the work is just beautiful!

The back is just as neat as the front!

The thread on this one is a little the worse for wear in a few places, but I have always loved these Crinoline Ladies, so home with me she came...

I also bought some plants...

Begonias, Lavender, and one determined Tabby!

Dwarf Dahlia...sans Tabby.

They've Multiplied!

The hexagon population has exploded over the last day or two...they're addictive little things once you get started on them. I purchased some solid yellow fabric on Saturday, and have cut enough pieces for the patches that I need. I bought 4 metres of fabric, and I would like to do the borders in one piece.

Fabric, paper templates and basted hexagons.

 While Lucy rambled this afternoon, I took my tin of goodies out to the back verandah and sat down to baste...

...I have found a new way to hold the paper template in place...

...small bulldog clips hold it perfectly. No need for pins, I just finger press the fabric edges over and baste away.

Enough to keep me busy for a while ;)

Hexagon Love

 Back in the early '80s, my high school textile & design teacher introduced us to English paper piecing. We were each given a cardboard hexagon template, shown how to make the paper pieces and cut the fabric using the same template with a small seam allowance added. I made two patchwork cushions, ever so carefully hand stitched, and my Mum still uses them to this day. They have faded, but the tiny stitches have held up to use and an untold amount of washing.Fast forward 31 years, and the hexagon bug has bitten once again :D...although, this time my templates are more durable than that little cardboard one.

Piecing on the go...housed in a cute biscuit tin my much loved Nan
gave me many years ago.

I am making a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt, with a white background and solid yellow..I would normally go for pink, but for some reason yellow is the colour that appeals for this project. The hexagon measures 3" across (1½" edges).

My EQ plan!

For the flowers, I'm using 1930's reproduction fabrics, which I have been collecting over the years.

I love that it is portable...I can sit and stitch while I wait for the washing to finish, or while Lucy is having a ramble...

I love how whip stitch moves along so quickly, even though the stitches are tiny. Before I know it, a flower is  finished!

 

One other thing I have discovered is that old issues of Frankie magazine make the best paper pieces. The pages are just the right weight...and they look rather pretty on the back :)

The Obsession Begins In Earnest

A much anticipated parcel finally arrived today. A sweet selection of 1930's reproduction prints...

 ...and a book I have coveted for so long...

I have admired the Jane A. Stickle quilt, both the original, and the many baby Jane's I have seen. So, now it is my turn. I have an ever growing collection of 1800's reproduction fabrics just waiting for such a project. 

Spring, Storms, Sewing and Rainbow Lorikeets

 

The rainbow lorikeets were uncharacteristically quite in the trees outside my kitchen window. They are usually swooping about, chirping noisily, and difficult to photograph. This one sat there almost motionless for quite a while, making the odd noise, waiting for replies.

Spring has well and truly arrived. The May Bush is in full bloom, it's tiny blossoms delicately scattering tiny petals.

We were on standby for severe thunderstorms yesterday afternoon. The storm arrived around 4pm...but thankfully we were spared too much of her wildness. It has been very warm this morning, there are more storms forecast for this afternoon, and the clouds are building up.

Another Japanese knot bag, this time in a sweet green and navy acorn/floral print. The lining is gingham, green and white.

Butter Wouldn't Melt In Her Mouth

I'm making new knitting/crochet project bags for my Etsy shop, and my self-appointed overseer takes a very keen interest in the entire process. She even has her favourite crochet blanket set up at the back of my sewing machine for when she needs a break from her duties.

Japanese Knot Bag in progress using gorgeous 19th century repro fabrics.

Mind you, her role is strictly supervising, she's not a 'paws on' gal.

"Back to work hoomin!"