Girls Christmas Craft

This morning I got together with my girls, my sister and her daughter to do Christmas craft. I had seen this lovely decoration and knew I wanted to make one. So we all made one each!

There were a few pricked fingers, tears, knots in thread, dropped needles and other frustrations, but it was all worth it to see the girls proudly hang the little cuties on the tree. 

Lovely! Thanks Plushka. 

Gingerbread House

This year I have made the gingerbread house again, I love making them every year.

I think I enjoy the getting together with other people to make it too. This year I got together with some other Mums from school and we had a great night.

Another year of Christmas Craft

I'm continuing with the craft that I didn't get a chance to finish last year.

I always enjoy following a pattern and cross stitch is easy and mindless to follow. I'm about half way through.

What are you making for Christmas this year?

Entrelac

Have you tried this?

I'm loving it!

Now that I get how it works, I don't even need to look at the pattern (except for the triangles at each end!).

A long year

I have had a long absence from my blog and wow what a year it has been.

I have been busy teaching, studying at uni, moving house and all the other things that come with being a wife and mother.

There hasn't been much craft going on sadly. It has been hard to get a balance between trying to get into the teaching scene here and trying to upgrade my qualification to meet the four year minimum required.

I did complete this blanket for my niece and loved every minute of it.

I hope to get back into my blog, I have missed it and am looking forward to creating more, now that uni is finished and school is soon to be!

Debbie Bliss Snowflake Cushion

Just before Christmas, I think it might have been the week before, I decided to knit the Snowflake Cushion from Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 2010.

I knitted the red and cream version and I really enjoyed it. I always have trouble with fair isle, but I think I just need to keep practicing to get it right.

We have had such a wet Summer in Sydney, so wet that I haven't been able to block it, as it has rained almost every day and it would not have dried. But the sun was out yesterday and today, so I seized the opportunity to do it!

As usual, I used a smaller needle size. The pattern called for 3.75 and 4, but I always use 3 and 3.75. It is knitted all in one piece, wraps around the cushion inner and buttons closed.

The only part I am a little disappointed in is the top stars. There are little gaps where the red meets the cream. You are supposed to wrap the yarn to stop this happening, but it didn't work for me.

I am really happy with the rest of the pattern though.

I know it is February, but I think I might just pop this on the couch for a little while, rather than putting it away for next winter!





Another Blanket

I enjoyed my baby blanket so much, that I have decided to start on another blanket.
I still have some Stylecraft Special DK left from my Granny Stripe blanket and decided to use that up on a Granny Square Blanket.

I have always steered away from the Granny Square. I don't really like the bags or scarves made out of them.They always seem to be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole! (pardon the pun) However, lately I have seen some lovely blankets and thought I would give it a try.

It does seem a little crazy to be working on a blanket in the middle of the Australian summer, but we have had a very mild one with lots of rain so far.

I had a good look through this book to find some ideas about fancy squares, but decided to go with a basic Granny Square simply because I want an easy pattern that I don't have to think about.

I'm really glad that I found this great pack of Stylecraft Special DK. It really is great for projects and the colour selection is wonderful. Really bright and cheerful. I bought it from here.



Baby Boy's Blanket

As you probably know, we do a lot of pink here. Sometimes purple, but mostly pink. I know that this may change on the future as my girls grow bigger, but at the moment, it's pink most of the time.
However, there is a new cousin arriving soon and this one may like blue better. So after a short enjoyable trip away from pink, here is the finished blanket.

I really enjoyed working with the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, but it was a little splitty sometimes. I don't know if that was due to the way I crochet or just this yarn.

I'm really happy with the simple stripes and the final blue border finishes it nicely.





It is rows of triple with a single border. Lovely.

Beginning of 2012



I have had a little break from my blog while I was busy up to Christmas and enjoying a quiet holiday after.

I didn't really get the things done that I wanted to for the Christmas challenge, but I did do other things.

I made a gingerbread house with a group of mums from the girls school. I was happy to be invited along to join in to their group.

I also knitted a pillow for christmas from the Debbie Bliss magazine. It is lovely but not photographed yet.

I am working on a cross stitch with Christmas words on it. I'm about half way through it now. It has been a while since I have done a cross stitch and I really enjoy following along with the pattern and having a project to work on in front of the TV.



We went to the Carols in the domain with a few families. The girls loved the fireworks the most.

Lastly I am crocheting a blanket for my new nephew who is arriving some time next month.

I chose two colours of the Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino and it is lovely.

I am looking forward to this year, I have enrolled in a uni course so I can teach here in NSW. Hopefully I can complete the papers this year and be teaching next year. My three year NZ degree is not enough to meet the four year requirement.

Happy New Year to all of you.