Lemons and Lady bugs..

I made this little outfit up last night for a birthday present for a special little girl in Bryns life. His Best friend, she tuns four 2 days before Bryn.

I was planning on doing a top in this style, the came across this fabric at spotlight, alread Shirred, clearly it was ment to be :D

The outfit came together quite quickly and I am really happy with the result, I hope it is like by the recipients. The birthday girls mum know very much what she does and doesnt like :D

well hello Harry

Just a quickie tonight. I just want to share this picture with you of a current project. Inspiration hit at a most fortuate time.... I had just cast off the last strip of my Lizard ridge (pictures soon)

I am loving this...

And I best show you what it will be....

can you see it forming yet?

Soaker September..

So a bit delayed here, but september was a bit of a soaker marathon for me.....

My "something for Mum" swap

This is what I received for my end of the Nappycino 'something for mum' swap.

I love it.

Its a 'sock box'. A little project bag, the perfect size for a sock project, or any project that only takes 100gms I would pressume (inc nb woolies :D)

The colour anf fabric is totally me!! and I dont have a small preject bag, even though I tend to take a small project with me where ever I go :D

Thank you swapper !!!

Some things heading out today.....

I will share mrore once the recipents have these :D

Middle Out Woolies - the pattern

NOTE: This pattern is a free pattern for personal use but is not to be sold or used to produce any item for monetry exchange!

Can be found on Ravelry here

So about the pattern.
This pattern is knit from the middle out, firstly we knit from the crotch up then from the legs down.

The sizes are
Small - 30cm waist and rise
medium - 40cm waist and rise
large - 50cm waist and rise
extra large - 60cm waist and rise

The pattern is avaliable with the following variations..
Waist - elastic, and rib
Legs / style - soaker, shorties and longies

Needs
4.5mm circs in 40cm and 30cm
4mm circs in 40cm and 30cm (needed only for ribbed waist and soaker)
Tapestry needle
Stitch holders, stitch holders and stitch markers
Crochet hook

100-200 grams of wool dependent on size and style chosen
non roll or button hole elastic for elastic waists
also a set of digital kitchen scales to weigh wool used would be great

Skills
knit
purl
seed/garter stitch where applicable
decreasing
increasing
short rows
kitchener stitch
crochet provisional cast on

Gauge
20 stitches and 26 rows to 4 inches/10cms

abbreviations:
PMY: place marker on yarn:
there will be four of these placed. they serve to marke the 4 sections when you recapture the stitches from the provisional cast on and split it for the legs and crotch.
Place a removable stitch marker OR piece of scrap yarn onto your working yarn and then continue as instructed keeping marker between the 2 stitches
PMN: place standard stitch marker on needle

CAST ON AND CROTCH
Using contrasting scrap yarn, and the crochet provisional cast on [92-112-132-152] stitches.

Ensuring no twists in the cast on, changing to main colour, begin working in round, in stockingette stitch unless otherwise stated.

ROW1: k1, PMY, PMN, k12, PMY, PMN, k[34-44-54-64], PMY, PMN, k12, PMY, PMN, k[17-22-27-32], PMN. This becomes the start and finish of the rows, there will remain [16-21-27-31] stitches not knit for this round, that is correct.

ROW2 (all even rows): knit till end, slipping all markers on needles.

ROW3: k[17-22-27-32] slip marker, k2tog, k8, sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[34-44-54-64], slip marker, k2tog, k8, sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[17-22-27-32]

ROW5: k[17-22-27-32] slip marker, k2tog, k6 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[34-44-54-64], slip marker, k2tog, k6 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[17-22-27-32]

ROW7: k[17-22-27-32] slip marker, k2tog, k4 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[34-44-54-64], slip marker, k2tog, k4 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[17-22-27-32]

ROW9: k[17-22-27-32] slip marker, k2tog, k2 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[34-44-54-64], slip marker, k2tog, k2 sl1, k1, psso, slip marker, k[17-22-27-32]

ROW11: k[17-22-27-32] remove marker, k2tog, place marker(centre front), sl1, k1, psso, remove marker, k[34-44-54-64], remove marker, k2tog, place marker(centre back), sl1, k1, psso, remove marker, k[17-22-27-32] leave the marker inplace that has indicated the start and finish of rows, this will continue to be same for the entire body.

leaving [72-92-112-132] stitches.


BODY
This section will knit to the where we start the waist.

All sizes have 5 rows where the shaping is worked. decreases across the front and short rows across the back, I have not written any detail regarding shortrow methods but instead will allow you to just do your own.
The centre front/back markers are not essential but handy when doing shaping to check where you are up to, back more so.

ok lets go..

work [1-2-3-4] rounds

First shaping round:
k[6-9-12-15], k2tog, k[20-24-28-32] sl1,k1, psso, k[29-39-48-58], turn p[10-14-16-20], turn, k to end


work [3-5-7-9] rounds

Second shaping round:
k[6-9-12-15], k2tog, k[18-22-26-30] sl1,k1, psso, k[34-45-56-68], turn p[20-26-32-40], turn, k to end

work [3-5-7-9] rounds

Third shaping round:
k[6-9-12-15], k2tog, k[16-20-24-28] sl1,k1, psso, k[39-52-65-78], turn p[30-40-50-60], turn, k to end

work [3-5-7-9] rounds

Forth shaping round:
k[6-9-12-15], k2tog, k[14-18-22-26] sl1,k1, psso, k[34-45-56-68], turn p[20-26-32-40], turn, k to end

work [3-5-7-9] rounds

Fifth shaping round:
k[6-9-12-15], k2tog, k[12-16-20-24] sl1,k1, psso, k[29-39-48-58], turn p[10-14-16-20], turn, k to end

work [2-3-4-5] rounds


WAIST BAND

ELASTIC WAIST

knit 8 rows
purl 1 row
knit 8 rows

Bind off loosly and whip stitch the band closed, leaving a 1 inch section open for insterting elastic of your choosing.

Alternativily, and my prefered method. when completing the last row, stop 4 stitches prior to the end of the row, cast off 8 stitches, kitchener stitch the lives stitches of the waist band to the inside of the body, This gives a much stetchier finish.

RIB WAIST

for sizes medium and Extra large only
k2tog,k[39-59], k2tog, k to end

change down needle size to 4.0mm or appropriate size

for all sizes.
row 1: *k2,p2* repeat to end

repeat row 1, 4 times

row 9: *k2, yfwd, k2tog* repeat to end

Repeat row 1, 5 more times.

bind off in your prefered stretchy method, double yarn or sewn bind off work well

using your prefered method, create a cord [60-70-80-90] cm long and weave through the waist band


FINISHING THE CROTCH

looking between the start and finish of the provisional cast on, you will see the end of your yarn (not the waste yarn) is looped through the first stitch, pull it out.

the stitches need to captured in 4 different lots, so recapture the stitches grouping them as such

place The 13 stitches between and including the yarn marked stitches(markers were placed in the first row) which are at the centre back of the body on a stitch holder, the 13 at the front on working needles. (both these lots will become gusset stitches)

place the remaining [33-43-53-63] stitches either side (these will become the leg stitches later) on seperate holders (placing them on waste yarn works best).

Working with the 13 stitches (front gusset stitches) on the working needles, join yarn and work 5 rows in stockingette stitch, begining and ending with purl rows

taking the 13 stithces from the back gusset, using kitchener stitch, join these together, end yarn.

LEGS

SOAKER

Place the held stitches from one side onto a 30cm circular or DPNs in size 4mm. pick up 5 stitches along the side of the gusset, placing a stitch marker after the first 3, this will become the start and finish of your rounds.

work 1 row in stocking stitch.

row 2: k2,p2 to end

repeat row 2 another 11 times

cast off loosly

repeat for second leg.

SHORTIES

Place the held stitches from one side onto a 30cm circular or DPNs in size. pick up 6 stitches along the side of the gusset, placing a stitch marker after the first 3, this will become the start and finish of your rounds.

work in stocking stitch continue till the work measures [5-8-11-14]cm (or personal deisred length of shorties less aprox 3cm)

Begin cuff.

cuff row 1 - k1 *p1, k1* to end
cuff row 2 - *p1, k1* to end

repeat rows 1 and 2, 4 times

cast of loosely.


LONGIES

Place the held stitches from one side onto a 30cm circular or DPNs in size. pick up 6 stitches along the side of the gusset, placing a stitch marker after the first 3, this will become the start and finish of your rounds.

work in stocking stitch continue till the work measures [15-20-25-30]cm (or personal desired length of shorties less aprox 3cm)

Begin cuff.

cuff row 1 - k1 *p1, k1* to end
cuff row 2 - *p1, k1* to end

repeat rows 1 and 2, 4 times

cast of loosely.


FINISHING

run in all threads, add elasstic and cording where needed and wash,block and lanolise.

the sorting of the stash....

Just so happens to be more then just an afternoons sorting, This has been a 2week ongoing project, and I am about half way there... this is what I ahve sorted so far...

This is the poor little shelves holding my nb/small stash... so shelf by shelf I have...

NEWBORN STUFF

first 2 rows, front and back. All lotus AIOs, some normal PUL some minkee and some poly print AIOs

Third row back is home made fitteds

Third row front, is XS bubblebubs

fourth row back, is snappiable fitteds

fourth row front, is lotus fitteds

Fifth row back, is all swaddlebees fitteds

fifth row front, is mostly Kissaluvs with some cuddlebuns on the bottom

There are about 15 -20 more fitteds to be sorted through and about another 20-30 aios to be done aswell

Ok this middle shelf is a mix

Left is mixed small prefolds, and some fitteds

middle is small covers

Right is nb covers

I am sure I have another Doz or so dyed flats to dig out and some more small PUL and wool covers too...

on the very bottom of the right is a few woolies that went astray, I havent actually gotten to the small woolies box yet.

SMALLS

First row, front and back is Bubblebubs

second row back and front, is just assorted AIOS, mostly minkee

the rest, assorted fitteds

I still have a good 30 odd nappies missing here from memory lol

MEDIUMS

This is all I have come aross so far for the mediums... All my nappies are still in several removal cartons, being there is only a handful of smalls and NBs left to account for, the rest are mediums. So I could barely hazzrd a guess how many are in there, DOZENS of lotus aios I know lol, a few Fuzzibuns, some ittis.... oh god it will be like Xmas time again... as for larges.... there are none, Bryn never got into larges

I broke my cardinal rule.

Through all my crafting years I have always kept multiple projects.... 3-4 sewing, 2-3 knitting etc...

BUT.. always only 1 quilt ALWAYS, I have always stuck to this rule, for 12 years of quilting, untill now...

Firstly is my 'Tropical Cycone' quilt which is sitting shamefully in the cupboard. I am not sharing another pic of that till its done!

Secondly.. I have always wanted to do a Desden plate quilt, very much not my usual style, I am definately not a traditional quilter, so I felt doing such an old, mature pattern, required 'older', more sophisticated fabrics then I would usually use. Ihave collected these fabrics over the last few months.

I am working slowly on this, its more the secondry project atm, something for me to refresh myself with when i get bored with the bold, yet chucky simplicity of the next preject.

This quilt will go on our bed, I have NEVER had a quilt for my own bed before, hmmmm....

Thirdly.. Bryns quilt for his 'big boy' bed going in his 'big boy' room. I really want to get this finished asap, cos we are starting his new room in the upcoming weeks, and I want this quilt ready to go straight onto it.

its made with a charm pack and jelly roll, from matching collections, and will also have bright contrasting hand dyes,

above is the pic (albeit sideways, how do you fix that in blogger) of some of the prints matched with thier hand dyes.

and above is the first few blocks, these are big block they will be 12iches square finished, I am not used to working with such large blocks...

I am thinking I will use thinnish (1 inch maybe) black sashing between the blocks with corner stones from the left over hand dyed,

there will be 40 blocks all up, so as long as i am happy with them all, I will probably make the quilt with 6 X 6 blocks in the body, then a black border and a block in each corner of the border as a corner stone there.... and i would love to do something diferent for the binding this time too.. thinking maybe some lil triangles all the way around, then i can get a theme going and make some bunting to go on the curtains or something..... ohh I will make it up as I go.. tis my way...

This one is for you Mel...

Firstly
omg 2 food posts... whats the go...

Pics for mel who asked about lunch sandwich ideas and reminded me of my brushetta addiction, now I have been eating it almost daily....

Last nights Dinner...

... was so devine I had share...

Thai beef salad of our own design, Craig (aka DH) made the dressing, I did the rest.

There is a tonne of dressing left and it will keep indefinately so I can see this dish coming up often... mega quick cheat dish..