Guest appearance

Sorry about the unexplained absence - it feel like i'm making guest appearances in huge parts of my life at the moment.

But i'm great! The new job is fantastic. It just takes up a huge chunk of my word quota for the day. By the time I've given another chunk to JD ('where's the beer?', 'thanks for cooking/vacuuming/washing the clothes...') there's not much left for this here blog...

But there has been craft - see:

Another one from Subversive Crossstitch

The knitting's been a bit patchy though - there's a shawl, some socks and some baby bits and pieces I finished quite a while ago now, but failed to photograph before they went to live at their new homes. After that there was nothing for a while: I was floating in the black whole of knitting nothingness.

And then the idea for perfect knitting escapism struck:


Return to what you know.


And get some Christmas knitting done at the same time.

Poor neglected blog.

So this is a pretty neglected blog lately, sorry about that. Turns out being a lady of leisure for a week keeps you busier than I thought - there's all sorts of coffee dates, brunch dates, lunch dates and dinner dates to go to. Not to mention the hairdresser, who tried not to gag too obviously when she realised I hadn't been in for 11 months (she had a baby!)

All good things must come to an end though, work starts again bright and early tomorrow. My lady of leasure-ing has turned into domestic servant-ing to get all the clothes washed, ironed and packed (I'm away for my first three days - gotta love that deep end). And to prepare my new work bag (a present from old work - how lovely!):


Mmmmm....Leo Monk. Go take a look.

There has been some knitting action:


Of all the pairs of fetchings I've made (there are many unblogged) these are the first ones I've kept (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, in 'eggplant' I believe). I love them! Although I ended up having to block them to stop the palm part from rolling in all the time. And after I wore them a bit I realised I really should take more care sewing in the ends. I'm so lazy.

There's been more knitting too, but that has to wait until next week, it's all baby surprise stuff. And socks. Boring socks. I'll show you when they're done, they won't sustain interest across two posts. SNORE.

Now in a shameless effort to distract you from the lack of interesting content in this post, let me prove, once and for all, that you can unwittingly spend $100 on buttons:


Tada!

Cinderella Beanie

So I figured out what to do with that wonderful Mmmmmmmalabrigo from Leah:


A greenery hat.

Looks alright, hey? Pretty colour. Pretty cables.

Too bad it failed the fundamental beanie test.

It doesn't fit.

It's very sad.

I blocked the crap out of it but it's just not meant to be. Not for me anyway, I'm the ugly step-sister in this fairy tale. I have pledged to carry it with me where-ever I go until it meets its Cinderella. It's the least I can do for those lovely cables.

Pattern: Greenery Hat, from Lilith Parker's Lair of Lunacy

Yarn: Malabrigo, in Emerald Blue (137). About half a skein. Yes, I could make another. But I haven't finished grieving. And my fingers haven't recovered from those cables.

Needles: 4mm Addi Circulars in magic loop. I reckon if I did it in 4.5mm it would be snug. Alas, I didn't.

All has not been bad bad news and mourning attire around here though. In the last week, in order of excitement value, I have:

1. Gotten a new job. An excellent job.

2. Paid off my HECS debt (student loans). Funnily enough I got this piece of mail the day I was offered the job - what a fricken day!

3. Purchased a fabulous pair of slu*ty red shoes in celebration of points 1 & 2. What shoes would beat new job and less debt in excitement value you ask? Why, these ones:


I reckon that about makes up for the beanie.

Righto then, that was a bit of an unplanned blog holiday.

There's a few FOs I've got lined up for a bit of show and tell, but before I get to any of that you've gotta check this out:

Goodies (Greaties?) from a swap with Leah. I love this bag. Seriously, how clever is she! I think this pattern involves some sort of rediculous number of purl together stitches that makes my fingers hurt just thinking about it.


There were heaps and heaps of goodies in the package too (too many to photograph). The tape measure will be particularly useful, I must have been abusive to tape measures in a former life because despite owning several of them I can never find one. So this is handy Leah, very handy. And the cards and badges are too cute! And funny, cause I DO knit socks. Hahahahaha. Ahem.

And check this out:


Mmmmmmmmalibrigo! This stuff really is gorgeous. I'm not sure this
photo does the colours justice but it's got beautiful depth. And so soft! It's like the fairy floss of yarn. I'm thinking it will become a beanie. When I find the right pattern (any suggestions?)


And this I love. A tape measure brooch - could there be anything more brilliant? I think this classifies as modern art. Some sort of statement about social obsessiveness with women's size and weight. OK so I may be overthinking that one. Brilliant though.

There were all sort of other goodies too, chocolate coffee beans (gone), a CD (now playing) and some very odd little things called Moon Pie (which are not meant to be microwaved JD.)

Righto, better leave it there, my bag and I are off to Monday afternoon cocktails (isn't everyone?) I'll have some FOs real soon :)

PS. One more thing, I celebrated knit in public day at a coffee shop with Nora, Jane and Sharon (who will all give you an account of our meeting on their blogs). It was lovely to meet you all. Except for you Shaz. Not that you're not great too, but I already knew you.

bitsy (where is my mind)

Heya Peeps

So it's been a while! Sorry about that, life kind of got in the way.

I'm a bit exhausted and don't really know where to start. I spent last week in Vietnam and have been travelling for work pretty much since I landed. So please excuse me.

Just so you're not entirely bored, here's some stuff I prepared earlier:

Little zippered purses made from scraps for some swaps!


Fabric covered buttons converted in to hair accessories


And some gift tags/book marks (you pick!).


I have some FOs to share and a wonderful swap package from Leah to show you all, but I'll save that for next time :)

In the name of Glove.

Glove is in the air.

Well at least it has been lately thanks to a couple of swaps.

This pair of fetchings went to the lovely applehead (in exchange for this wonderful package.)

In Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran #611. I love this colour.

Then All my Gloving, I did send to you.

Artyarns Supermerino #130 (less than 2 skeins)
in a combination of this and this pattern with some modifications.

And lastly a birthday present for a wonderful friend.

Noro Silk Garden 228 *I think* (less than 2 skeins)
magic looped on 3mm circulars in pretty much this pattern.

After all, All you need is Glove.

You have no idea how difficult it was to find appropriate links when you google these songs!

PS I'm out of swap buddies now so speak up if your interested :) I'm looking for any chance to use let me put my glove into you (ewww, I know! The real lyrics are actually worse: let me cut your cake with my knife!? Really people!)

It's time

I was having a conversation with one of my non-crafty friends about six months ago and somehow the topic of quilting came up. She was telling me about her mum's quilting and asked if I was interested.

"Nah, not really" I said "It's kind of like porcelain figurines. I might 'get it' when i'm older."

I thought about it after she left. I admire quilters a lot. I think it's a wonderful skill, creative and useful. So why no interest in doing it? Perhaps it's my inability to sew in a straight line? Or cut out even two shapes that resemble each? Or maybe it just seems like a lot of work and i'm lazy.


Or maybe there just hasn't been the right reason? Lots of quilts seem to be made for a purpose. A wedding. A birth. Lace shawls seem to have become the default wedding gift, so I guess that leaves births. My good friends aren't having babies yet, so I'll deal with quilting when they do, I thought.

Seems the time has come. (This is just so exciting I still get a bit emotional when I think about it.)

So in a joint operation materials have been purchased (first photo is for the front, second is for the back).

Wish me luck peeps. This should be interesting.

And the blog love just keeps rolling in

Craft bloggers are really looking out for me at the moment! If totally surprising yarn generosity wasn't enough, witness the glories that graced my mailbox today from the wonderful applehead:


Check it out dudes! What loot! The first time I saw marianne make one of these scarves I just adored it, and now I have my own! Huzzah! But her cleverness doesn't end anywhere near there, that music sheet is a hand-made notebook - very soon to become my 'knitting notes book' in an attempt to ameliorate my constant forgetfulness about where I was up to. There's also a wonderful postcard and magnet from marianne's 'small people' series. You should all go and check them out, they're so full of character, it's quite amazing. Some gorgeous gift tags round things out. Jealous very much?


I particularly love the colours of the scarf, chocolate browns and bright blues just work so wonderfully together, it's my second favourite colour combination (the first being blood red and lime green). I'm developing a bit of a button fetish at the moment and the one on this scarf is doing funny things to me. It's just gorgeous (don't trust the crappily lit photography). Awesome job Marianne! I love it all!

There's some knitting to report too. More specifically i'm back on the lace bandwagon. This is my first 'lace' lace and I must say I'm loving it. It's coming out pretty quickly and the yarn is D.I.V.I.N.E (seasilk).


Double points if you can guess the pattern.

Top Score if you can find the extra random stitch I picked up on the last row...

Oh no you did not

Holy Crap Madge! I'm speechless.

Bits and pieces

Wow people, thanks so much for all the pomatomus love! It was definitely worth it in the end.

I've felt like a bit of a break from knitting since I finished them so i've been doing some needlework. It's so fast and satisfying in comparason. JD kinda likes it too, we've been making up little crossstitch patterns based on movie lines and song lyrics. I'm going to make myself a 'where is my mind?' plaque to put up at work (the pixies have been touring). It seems appropriate at the moment.

The options are pretty endless though, I made this crossstitch for a wonderful friend for her birthday. She's a bit of a Grates fan.


On a side note, I don't believe you've met Zeus? Our third (and final) cat. She's opens doors and can almost turn a key. I kid you not.

Anyway, I was enjoying the cross stitch so much I decided to give embroidery a go (dum-da-dum-dum).


It's not going too badly. It looks a bit amateurish, but it's a first-born so hopefully you can excuse me. I splashed out on some $10 vests and the plan is to spiff them up a bit with some embroidery once my skills improve a bit. We'll see how that goes...

And because it seems that I am a masochist when it comes to knitting deadlines, I've been making a pair of gloves for a visiting friend


They're a belated birthday present so I said I'd have them done before she leaves. Which is tomorrow.

Looks like it's back to the knitting after all.

At last

Well it's taken me a while (and three season of the west wing) but the poms are done. Ta da:


And I love them! They're like a big warm hug for your feet. And a well timed hug at that, it's just starting to cool down in this part of the world (which also means less natural light, so sorry if the photos are a bit crappy). The clap has made a couple of appearances lately too. God I love this thing. If you haven't made one, do it! Do it now! You won't regret it.


But I digress. Much as I love these socks finished they were a total pain in the patchanga to knit. The pattern was awesome, and the yarn (merino cashmere in forest moss) was lovely and soft (cashmere will do that), but, well, they were a process. The first pair I started I frogged because I just wasn't handling such teeny-tiny double points. These pair were made magic loop, two at once. I wasn't risking the dreaded second sock syndrome. Anyway, I think most of the problem was the needles, which were awful. Awful. They were bamboo circulars and the clasp was not smooth at all. Can someone please save my sanity and tell me where I can get 2.25mm and 2.75mm Addis or something similar? Is there some knittery secret I'm not in on? I've tried all of the usual aussie distributors and none of them seem to have these sizes. Someone please save me from the horror of crappy circular needles.

I shouldn't get too carried away though. In the end it was all worth it. What I really, really love about them is they make my new favourite shoes fit real good ($15, target, bargain.) And I don't know if you can see it in these photos, but they've knit up in a subtle light green/dark green diagonal stripe which I think is wicked.


Cool, no?

Loose ends

I've been flap, flap, flapping around the house this week trying to tick things off the craft to do list. I knew things were a bit out of control when I was sitting at work being stressed about coming home :) But now:

• Loose ends have been woven in:

• Glue has been applied (with a paintbrush of course):

• Things have been hung in their new homes (this is what you see when you walk in the front door. Well, this and cats.)

• And the last of the birthday brooches have been made and sent!

The universe obviously felt I deserved congratulating for all that ticking off (we won't mention the poms) because I got a little surprise in the mail:


Yarn pirate. Oh how I have coveted thee. Well the lovely Melissa must be my fairy-yarn-mother (or something) cause we're having a little sock yarn swap and this is what she sent me. I often drool over the yummy yarn on US knitblogs (koigu, socks that rock, yarntini, sundara yarn and yarn pirate are all on the shortlist) so I'm super psyched to have some of my own. Thanks so much Melissa, excellent choice. And I must have been extra good, because look what else I got - gorgeous little hand made coasters.

• Oh, and your parcel's in the mail Melissa.

Tick.

Ed: I know I said it in the last post, but the cross-stitch pattern is from Subversive cross stitch and there's instructions for the framed fabric at purl bee. Oh, and the brooch pattern is from mollychicken. Didn't want it looking like I was taking credit for other people's ideas!

Worms

Worms. I have the craft equivalent of worms. I just can't sit still on anything.

It's not such a bad thing though I guess. It means I've been fiddling with a new craft: a bit of subversive cross stitch (an inspired birthday present from JD).


I'm enjoying this an unreasonable amount, it feels hilariously risque to be cross-stitching naughty words. Juvenile, but hilarious.

I've been sewing together strips of left over fabric to turn into little gifts for some swaps i'm doing at the moment. This is of course a distraction from what i'm actually supposed to be making. Procrastinating? Me?


I've been cleaning out my fabric box too. I'm a terrible hoarder when it comes to fabric. There's something about not being able to look at it in it's little folded piles that makes me reluctant to actually use it. Well, that and the fact that my sewing ability is actually so craptastic it seems like a waste. But there is a resolution to this little problem. One that involves no sewing. One that means I can still ogle the pretty fabric.


I'm well in to the foot on the pomatomus too, but I don't think you need another photo of that. Hopefully if everyone crosses their fingers I'll have them finished this week.

That is if I can sit still for long enough...

Badcaul socks

I'm very jealous of people that seem to be able to match a sock yarn with it's perfect pattern.

Cases In Point.
And some more.

So when the badcaul socks started to look like this it was a bit, um. No. I don't think so...


The pretty little cables were obscured by the darkness (ha, that sounds quite profound doesn't it?). To be honest this yarn wasn't at all what I was expecting (colinette jitterbug in jewel). There's much more dark blue and maroon than I thought there would be. A bit too school uniform for my liking. I guess that's what happens when you buy yarn off the internet though.

Things were soon rectified, however.


Ahh...that's much better (do you see that? Toe up! Magic loop! Two at once!)

Speaking of yarn off the internet, I've been doing some serious salivating over this stuff.

Anyone got any recommendations for the rejected badcaul yarn? I'm up to the heel on the poms, so it looks like i'll need to cast on another pair of socks to maintain the trifecta.

ED: Holy Crap! Cookies shop's open! I adore these sock patterns. Huzzah! This makes me seriously happy. Is that sad?

You won!

Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes ya'll, you know how to make a gal feel spesh!

If you wanted a brooch, you got it. Send me your address and it's on its way mybrownpants(at)gmail(dot)com.


Happy International Women's day too everyone. It's a good excuse to think about how much things have changed for some and how much is left to be done.

Link to card template - Thanks Applehead!

Birthday giveaway!

So it's my birthday today (yay!)

Since I can't celebrate in real life with most of you, how about a blog giveaway?

The patterns for the brooches are from Mollychicken, tutorials here and here.

This is a special shout-out to any lurkers out there. I'd love to 'meet' you :)

1. Greens and reds


2. Or maybe Blue for you?


3. Pink and green


4. Pinks and brown


5. A bit of everything (I have two of these)


Please speak up if you want one of these, I'll post international no worries :) I'll be so embarrassed and depressed if no one wants a brooch, and we can't have that on my birthday!

I'm off to eat birthday dinner and open presents.

EDITED: Yay, all the brooches have been rehomed! Thanks so much for sharing the birthday love!
p.s. did I get spoilt!

Swimming in a sea of socks

If socks were food I'd be eating pretty well at the moment.

For entree we'd have some freshly frogged pomatomus. Whilst one may prefer them in a more advanced phase, sometimes they are much sweeter after a trip to the frog pond*. There's always the chance that they'll spontaneously multiply, which is a real treat. The subtle tonal striping forms the signature mark of this dish.


For mains we'd have some charming Baudelaire. The sophisticated colour compliments the difficulty with which the dish is prepared. The standout feature the utilisation of the Turkish cast on, a brilliant device that isn't half as complicated as one may first think.



For desert one could not go past the jitterbug jewel, which has now become the embryonic stages of badcaul. Oh come on! All the cool kids are doing it.


I need some knitting viagra so I can actually finish the job on some of this stuff.