Noro Poncho

A few weeks back the family and I went on our annual pilgrimage down to the South Coast.

On the way during a pit stop at Berry, I checked out Sew And Tell on the main street. It was the first time I had been in there .

I stood drooling over the extensive range of Noro Yarns, Pattern Books and heaps of other knitting books as well.

I bought 2 books; The Twisted Sisters Sock Work Book by Lynne Vogel and Felt Wee Folk - Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor. One of my goals this year is to make a pair of socks for my Man.

For what seem like an eternity to DH "Treasure" and the kids, I eventually bought some Noro Blossom No 6. The mix of colours is like sweet candy and motivated me to make a Poncho for myself (minus the tassels this time).

The pattern I used was "Butterfly Poncho" from Kinky Knits by The Rare Yarn Company. I like this pattern as it is quick and easy for me to do.

Wool Box

Katie drew me a picture to put on the Ravelry profile spot.

I thought it was quite cute.

Noro Rainbow Scarf

I still haven't finished my cardie but I've done a scarf instead. I bought some Noro silk garden Col 87 at Penrith a few weeks back. It was the last 2 balls left in this colour. I also found some size 6 knitting needles (I think they're bamboo?) in an opp shop for $1. So I knitted up this scarf. I really enjoyed watching the colours emerge.

Katie and I went to the Blue Mountians Knitter's Guild on Saturday afternoon. We had a great time even thought it was pouring down rain all afternoon. I met up with a friend from play group who told me about the knitting guild last year at play group. She helped me finish my scarf by sewing up the loose ends. I also met Kate from Blue Mountians Knits whose was the first knitting blog I stumbled over a month ago when I was googling the Blue Mountians Knitter's Guild.

Hopefully I'll be back next month, but with small kids I'll have to see what happens.

Even the caterpillars wear jumpers in the Blue Mountians

I was at a friend's house the other day and saw this caterpillar on the ghost gum tree. It was like it had a very furry mohair jumper on. I have no idea of what the species is but just imagine what the butterfly might look like!

The Rainbow Pony

AAArrrrhhh! What happens when you leave things to the last minute? My favourite toy shop is closed. S***!... Deep breathe, don't panic!

I have a close friend's daughter's christening on Sunday and she asked me to be her daughter's Godmother - and because I was sick with a light case of shingles just before Christmas, which wiped me out (lucky I had the kids stuff sorted well before then..), I thought I'd get her pressy after christmas.

I went to Leura, to Toys That Teach. I didn't expect the shop to be closed! I wanted to get her a Folkmanis puppet. They are such beautiful toys. I'm realy into toys that get kids to use their imagination. These puppets are great for that and they double up as a cuddly toy as well. That will hopefully get years of play mileage out of it and not become another fluffy dust collector. Oh well, she is only one - there is always next birthday...

So I thought I'd make her a horse - a girly pink one with a rainbow mane (I love rainbows). I enjoy making felt toys. I had a lot of fun last year making felt toys for Katie's school fare. I went to Katoomba Knitting & Needlecraft Shop and got some pink felt & purple felt.I was drawn to the bargain basket where there was this pinkish mohair looking up at me. I was realy drawn to the colour - looking harder at the ball, it has a blueish purple through it as well (Its Naturally Mohair plus, shade 27) . I thought, poncho. It was $6 a ball there were 3 left. But I still have a cardie to finish first. So I got it any way. I can start a list of things to knit.

I got the horse finished. I hope she likes it. I would have prefered to use wool felt but I couldn't find any at the few shops I went to.

I left it too close to her birthday. I'm not sure how it will wear I have a bad feeling that it is going to pill easily - I hope not. Its the first time I've made a toy using synthetic felt.

Katie's Mouse

Katie's been busy. Her green mouse didn't work out to plan, so she started again with white synthetic wool. She sewed the square up and stuffed it, cut out ears from felt and then crocheted a pink tail.

She was quite happy with her results and spent the rest of the afternoon jumping on the trampoline with her mouse. I'm amazed it stayed white!

"In through the front door, dance around the back, peep through the window and off jumps Jack"

We went to Spotlight where my daughter bought some wool with her Christmas money. The Yarn Bee wool was on sale for $1.99 a ball so she picked the colours that she liked. Now she has her own little stash. She also picked up some 4mm & 10mm needles.

She learned to knit at school last year and made a seal (it was meant to be a mouse). Although Katie has a habit of adding on stitches, I think she is doing well for a 7 year old.

She is so excited with her stash and is getting stuck in to making a mouse. I asked what else she plans to knit. She want to make scarves and clothes for her dolls and also a scarf for her cousin who is in the same class as her at school. They are very close friends.

I love the fact that she wants to knit and not just sit in front of the TV this school hoildays.

I'm still working on the back of my cardie. Its a slow process with a teething 7 month old and I can't seem to tear myself away from the computer (knitting blog sites) much to my partner's disgust with my new found hobby. He has become a blog widower. ;)

It was such a lovely morning this morning we sat under the turpentine trees in the back yard and knitted away.