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Category: Crafts

Craft projects of mine

  • Na Craga

    It’s finished! I dragged the Snook out for a photoshoot this morning. There’s a slight visible line from my drying rack across the front, but I’ve already steamed it out for Show delivery. The light was too nice not to go for the photographs right away.

    Na Craga (Finished!)

    As I said on Ravelry, I kinda feel like crying a little bit, like when I finished my first half-marathon. This WAS a marathon. Getting to the finish line is just such a relief. Regardless of whether it wins anything, I think this may be the knitting project that I am most proud of. Thanks to all you guys for your great comments, advice, and encouragement.

    More photos are on my Ravelry project page and on Flickr.

    The pattern is “Na Craga” from Alice Starmore’s Aran Knitting. Unfortunately the book is out-of-print and used copies sell for hundreds of dollars. Luckily a kind Raveler was willing to share hers with me so I could knit it.

    I ended up using 19 skeins of Naturally Harmony 10ply. The last skein (used for the collar) is a different dye lot, but I can’t spot the difference at all. The twisted ribbing was done on 4.5mm needles, with the body and sleeves being done on 5mm. It took me nearly four months to do the actual knitting, and then the sewing up took another two weeks. It’s being entered in the 2009 Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts Competition in class #119 (Aran Knitting). I’ll update if/when it wins a prize!

  • Fun with the Muggles

    I took Na Craga in to work today (since I’m hoping to finish it off at the Stitch & Bitch tonight). I was showing it off to a couple people in the office.

    Co-worker: How long have you been knitting for?
    Me: Oh, five or six years. This jumper’s taken me about four months.
    Her: Can you purl too?
    Me: Yeah. I can purl too.

  • Granny Square Blanket

    I have half a dozen big balls of pastel cotton that really need to become a granny square blanket for my brother’s upcoming new baby…

  • Nearly done…

    Only two more seams to go on Na Craga! I’m hoping to finish it by Thursday night so I can give it one more wet block before I drop it off at the Show on Saturday.

    Na Craga (ALMOST DONE!)

    UNINTERESTED CAT IS UNINTERESTED BY YOUR CATALOG POSES.

  • WWKIP Day

    Sally is doing a FANTASTIC job organising this year’s WWKIP Day in Sydney. I’ll be doing an order for T-shirts and swag from the Cafepress store in a month or so, so let me know if you want to combine shipping.

  • How to Clean Your Sewing Machine

    How to clean your sewing machine. I really need to do that.

  • Get Excited and Make Things

    Don’t “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Get Excited and Make Things!

  • Absinthe

    I thought I was over my sock knitting addiction… until I saw Absinthe. And I even have the perfect yarn! (MUST. NOT. CAST-ON until Show jumper is finished!) Also, I covet those shoes. Does anybody know what brand they are?

    Edited to add: They’re Dansko Marcelles. Now I just have to figure out how to get a pair.

  • Inner City Guild Meeting

    Birthday cupcakes from Fiona!

    Today was my first meeting as Convenor of the Knitting Guild’s Inner City Group, and it was also our first meeting at our new location in Customs House Library. I was stressing out a little bit beforehand, but I shouldn’t have worried. It was one of our best meetings ever. Everyone was in such a good mood! We had 31 people in attendance (plus Rae’s adorable baby Zara), and several of those were brand new members. Our new meeting format worked well, and folks seemed to appreciate our aim of finishing off the business quickly so we could just knit and chat.

    Of course, the best part was that Fiona made me special cupcakes for my birthday! And then she made the whole group sing to me. It was very sweet. Thanks, Fee! Kate also brought a cake, and I made a Spanish tortilla. (I used these two sites for tortilla recipe guidance. Flipping that thing on my own was, like, the scariest culinary feat I’ve ever attempted. It came out really good though!) Thanks to everybody who came to the meeting, and to my fellow officers Rosemary and Geraldine for all their help. I’m looking forward to next month!

  • Mending

    I’m all about the short links today! I guess it was those two mammoth posts from yesterday. My next topic: mending. I’ve got socks that need darned and jeans that need patched.