All smiles!

Look what my secret pal sent me!!! It's so cool! I've knitted everyone socks, except for myself, so now I have some beautiful alpaca yarn (I really like the colour too!) and a cool pattern (I can't decide which one to do, i like all the variations) AND bamboo dpn's. I love bamboo needles = ). And, I got a lovely letter as well.

THANK YOU SECRET PAL! I LOVE MY GIFT : ) !!!!!!!!!

In other cool knitting news, Rob and I went to a stitch n bitch meet, and had a great time, neither of us can wait until the next one.

And, I finished Graham's tangerine socks! The 2 socks on 2 circ's method was brilliant, I'll definitely do that again.

I've nearly finished the cabled baby coat, and I'm still in love with the yarn - it's so soft!

Dr Who scarf, i'm just doing 'between' things, so no major leaps forward there. Must say, I really like continental knitting (must have ago at pearling too though!). I'm a bit perplexed about increasing/decreasing etc in continental though, not that I've even tried though.

And now......
NEW PROJECT!! hooray!!!!
I'm going to make the Nouveau shawl for Graham's SIL, I thought I've knit all these things for the baby, it would be nice to do something for her too. So, I have the pattern, the yarn and a hook, so now, time to get going.

ooooooh! Gorgeous yarn for Nouveau. 

Crochet shawl- Jo Sharp's "Nouveau" 

Graham's tangerine socks 

Goodies for me! From SP4 

NEWS!

Well, there IS a lot of news! I had an interview last Friday, and on Monday I found out that I got the job!! And, my last exam was on Tuesday, and our graduation is this Friday - HOORAY! So I graduate Friday, and start my new job Monday. I'm so excited the job is really, really excellent!

G gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers as a combines Valentine's day / Congrat's on the job celebration. They are so lovely, and make the house look and smell wonderful. I gave him a limmited edition cigar, and a gorgeous asian card (i hope that all those characters say something nice!!). He loved the cigar, and showed me an ad that says "This Valenetines day, cigars are roses for men".

Thomas is under the weather - he has a rotten throat infection, but seems to be getting better.

In knitting news, everthing is coming along, the socks are waiting for another ball of wool, then i can do the heel flap and turn the heel. After diverting all my attention to the socks, I'm now concentrating on the baby coat, I've just added the pocket lining (it hurt my brain figuring out what was goin on there!), and i'm doing a bit of the dr who scarf most days, just to keep it going.

I got the K1 mag yesterday, there's a few things out of that i would like to do, AND i bought Jo Sharp's 'Village' pattern book. I really want to crochet 2 Nouveau shawls (one for me and one for G's SIL who is having a baby), and I think the Teahouse sweater (no pattern) would be perfect for G (who STILL thinks that he doesn't like jumpers - grrrr - he's just so wrong). I also want to knit: Cosmopolitan, Plaza, Uptown (coat), Biscotti and Nougat. And the others are really nice too.

So many patterns, so little time.

plodding on with Dr Who scarf 

baby coat and tangerine socks 

Giving teddy a bath. 

It's Thomas! 

xoxoxoxo 

allo cocky 

2 socks on 2 circs  

2 socks on 2 circs

I'm doing it!!! Go me! And thanks Sheron!

Yes, I got the addi turbo circs, I found some wool, I made some beaded stitch markers (4 for me and 4 for Mum), and now I'm knitting the ribbing of Graham's new bright orange (tangerine Jo Sharp DK) socks. I know it would be better to have something with a bit of nylon in it, but oh well, I really wanted to start. It's not as hard as I imagined, it's just so easy to get into a tangle.

I've been diligently knitting a bit of everything, I don't want to miss the boat with the baby gear. And I want the Dr Who scarf to be finished in a reasonable time.

I've been thinking of what sort of thing to get my secret pal, I have a couple of ideas for some non-knitting things, but this DEFINITELY warrants a trip to the WoolBaa, at the very least, to get some inspiration.

New things!! 

Dr Who scarf.. but the colours don't look like this. 

Cabled baby coat 

Project update....

I'm working on Graham's Dr Who scarf, it's going to be about 10 km long (check it out... http://www.brimelow.thinkhost.com/scarf/photos4.html it's looooong). To make the 1000's of rows of garter stitch a little more interesting, I'm doing continental knitting, which I figured out from the knittinghelp.com site (excellent). And with the Russian joins there wont be any ends to sew in - hooray!

Also on the go is the Debbie Bliss cabled coat (there's a pic of it in the book here on an old post), in pale blue baby cashmerino. I am so in love with this wool, it's amazingly soft. It reminds me of those talc puffs my Nanna used to have (wonder if anyone knows what I'm talking about...nevermind). Anyway, I've got a few more centimeters of the back left to do, but it's really hard to do in this heat. Then there's the sleeves...and the fronts... and the pockets.

The Jaeger baby stuff is pretty much finished, but not 100% so no pics till it's done. I just have to make twisted cord for the booties (G calls them the baby moon boots), and sew on a button and make a button loop for the cardi.

BIG excitement!!! My new addi turbo circs have arrived... and they are saying "Kaaate go and buy some sock wool.....lets knit socks". But I REALLY ought to finish the baby thing first. This whole 2 socks on 2 circs thing is just revolutionary and I want to do it!

Other good news, Thomas' childcare centre is just the bees knees. The kinder teacher is BrIlLiAnT!! She's lovely, Thomas adores her already, after just 3 days. She's planning on making it an educational year, and setting everything up kinda like school.

I have 3 weeks left of my course. Hoorah!!

Graham is going wonderfully in his new job, he's very clever.

And the rotten news... my stupid car needs new tyres. The hot water service blew up (just got replaced a few hours ago). I just got an email from the spinning ppl, and term 1 classes start on Feb 6 (not happy! why did they not a/ tell me sooner or b/ put it on there website!!!), so with such short notice, I doubt that I'll be able to do it. And... and... and... well that's all.

Now lets see about some pics!

Secret Pal 4 Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Hmmm perhaps a bit. I don't use acrylic at all, and I hate those feathers/fluff type novelty yarns. I don't know exactly what Red Heart and Lion Brand yarns are like, as they are not available in Australia. I once knitted Thomas a jumper out of some cheap Panda wool (100% wool), and it has not lasted very well (all matted and yuck), so I do stick to Jo Sharp etc - they just seem to wear better.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I desperately want to learn to spin, and I'm going to take a class this term. I'm waiting for them to announce the dates so I can enroll. I can crochet a little, but I stick to knitting - I like it better.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

None whatsoever.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I was taught when I was 8 or so. But I've really gotten into it since my son was born (he's 4).

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Spicy/Oriental.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

The answer is, I'm on a diet.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I like sewing, embroidery, cooking, ummmm knitting, knitting, knitting.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Yes, computer plays MP3s. I'm pretty open minded with music (not really into top 40 type stuff though). I listen to JJJ on the radio, and I love Aimee Mann.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

I like happy colours, in knitting, I try to steer away from dark colours like black and navy.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live with my beautiful son (Thomas), and my wonderful and handsome SO (Graham) - Thomas' father and I are divorced. They are the best two people in the world. No pets, but I'd love to have a dog.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Hmm, I'm trying to just take each day as it comes.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Cashmerino is the nicest thing I've knit with, but what an extravagance!!! I really like Jo Sharp DK, Jaeger merino, I just like wool.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

feathers/'ostrich' etc. YUK. And acrylic.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Textured knitting, patterns and cable. I just ordered some new needles, and I can't wait to knit 2 socks on 2 circs.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

At the moment, baby clothes... not for me!! Grahams brother and his wife are expecting.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Cabled baby coat from Debbie Bliss' baby knits book (this is the baby cashmerino one), and a Dr Who scarf for Graham (jo sharp).

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I'd like one, I think they are handy. My mum used to knit and crochet them for me when I was in primary school. I guess it's a bit sentimental.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I've only ever used straight and dpns, but I just ordered some addi turbo circs last night. Hurry up Mr Postman!

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo = YES!! Aluminum = yeah ok. Plastic = nooooooooooooooooooo! Although having said that, I'd love to see what Denise interchangeables are like.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Yep!

22. How did you learn to knit?

My nanna taught me, and still helps me when I run into trouble. But now I show her things too!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

hehehe i have an embroidery waiting to be finished. It's been waiting a very long time.... lets see about 20 years.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I like elephants. A baby elephant would make a great pet =)

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My favorite what? Haven't been on holiday for years.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Wool and nice knitting needles. No knick-knacks.

New Projects...

Well, as you can see from the pic below, I've whipped up an Irish Hiking Scarf from the knit-along. I started it with some cream acrylic that I found in my mum's stash, but it was sooo horrible! I had knit about 20cm and it was stiff as a board - literally. So I frogged that, and bought some 12 ply heirloom wool. I've never used that brand, but it seems ok. And it's way better than mark 1 - that stuff was acrylic, but beyond that, I have no idea what it was.

So, that's done, it only really took a week. Now I'm onto a cable baby coat in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - it's such gorgeous wool!! Really expensive, but ever so soft. We don't know if it's a boy or girl, but I'm doing it in a pale blue. I really think that white is just too impractical.

Also, I'm knitting a Dr Who scarf for Graham........AND...........I'm knitting it by doing continental knitting! I figured it out from the knitting help site, and I used her double cast on too. And 'Russian joining' every colour change so I don't have a zillion ends to sew in later. I'm using Jo Sharp DK for this scarf, and I'm happy to be back on my bamboo needles, instead of those yuk old metal ones I used for my Irish Hiking Scarf.

Even though I have these two very cool new projects, my mind is wandering to what I want to do next.....

* French market bag from http://www.knitty.com/ - it'd be a great knitting bag
* 2 socks on 2 circulars.... I REALLY must get some circ needles, the addi turbos
* Nordic sweetheart hat from http://www.sheeweknits.com/ for me
* the spinning class!!!!!
*a mini Dr Who scarf for Thomas

Kate's Irish Hiking Scarf