HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Australian Dawn Chorus

Australian Dawn Chorus

Enjoy this wonderful video of Dawn breaking in Australia with all the birds gradually waking up.

Happy 90th Birthday!

Wangaratta Woollen Mills (now Australian Country Spinners) has been processing wool for 90 years - and still makes hand knitting and crochet yarn in Australia - NOT overseas!

Recently ABC Landline did video coverage  on this enterprising Aussie company - go  to http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/75448906 and fast forward to 39.41 to see what it is all about!

Congratulations Australian Country Spinners!!!

CLICKING HELPS!

Just a request to readers of my blog - are there still any here???

You see these little ads on the left hand side, and underneath, this posting?? If you click on them, you earn me a few cents for each click.....when the clicks mount up to $100 - Google AdSense sends me the money  - this helps me to buy the yarn to help me make warm clothing and blankets for Homeless and Needy people in Queensland.

I just recently received some money from AdSense - but it took four years for the amount to reach the target of $100 !!!

So if any of the ads appeal to you - or the subject matter is something you are interested in finding out more about, PLEASE click away!!!!

Most of the knitting and crochet you see on this blog has been made for some less fortunate than I am - and I know you want to help me keep doing this - all it costs you is a click of the mouse - so please, do this for all the Homeless and Needy people in our state....

Thank you in advance.....

Homeless man with  Dog

This makes me so HOPPING MAD!!! What about you?

I don't know if I am being paranoid and overly sensitive but here's what happened to me . A woman I don't know at all contacted me on Facebook asking me to make a preemie beanie and pair of booties for her niece who was born at a very tiny 5lb 7oz

I said I would be happy to do that and told her the price would be $10

She wrote back and told me a sad story of how she realised $10 'wasn't very much' BUT she  was very poor, her wedding was on November 30th, she had a lot of bills, didn't know if she would have enough money yada  yada  yada......

I wrote this back

The things I make are one offs and works of creative art. I have to pay for the materials used. Check out my facebook page and look at the pictures of my work - it isn't the fact that $10 isn't much - but that you think my work is not worth paying for - go and buy something from Target and see how much they charge for a mass produced article. If I could afford to give them to you for nothing, I wouldn't be putting a price on them, would I ?

 

Well, she replied - a blistering message, calling me stingy, and unfeeling, that I was 'up myself'' that she never criticised my work (did I say she did?) and that I could stick the hat and booties where the sun doesn't shine......( well not in so many words , but you get my drift)

 

This sort of thing makes so angry - I had another woman last year ask me if I would make a Queen Size Wool Eater Blanket in pure wool - when I told her it would cost her over $200 ( I was not charging the full price) she was so astounded, she said she thought it would be about $20.00 !!!!! Twenty  dollars????????? for a Queen size blanket with about 10 or more kilos of yarn  in it????

 

Where do people get this mad idea that knitting and crochet is worth nothing??

 

I am so mad at this idiotic woman I could SPIT!!!

 

Rant over - back to some nice soothing knitting and cup of lemon and ginger tea......

 

 

How's this for a Knitted CHAIR ????

 I met this wonderful, hugely talented, woman a few months back... she is a designer of the most beautiful things in the world! Here is a lovely profile of her and her work https://www.handmadeincountry.com.au/artisans/profile/gail-grunske/

Just a few weeks ago, I was knitting and chatting with a group of like minded ladies here in Toowoomba, when Gail brought out this magnificent work of art for 'show and tell'

It is a chair - just an ordinary aluminium and plastic cane type outdoor chair - but look what Gail has done to it!

How gorgeous is that?? And what fun !!!

Does it give you ideas of how to tart up your tired old outdoor furniture??? It did me!!

To see more of Gail's amazing work with textiles and yarn - go here
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gail-Grunske-Designs/255236614612568

Gail is very involved with Community Arts and Crafts in Crow's Nest, Queensland not far from Toowooomba, where she has her studio.

Have another look - don't you just wish you'd thought of it ?

 

Another Saffron Baby

Gorgeous little Baby sweater - the pattern by Elena Nodel, is available on Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saffron-baby

The bigger version, Saffron, for older girls, is from the Spice Girls collection also by Elena Nodel, and is also available on Ravelry - the best site in the world for knitters and crocheters, ever!

Here's the pretty Saffron Baby - this time in Watermelon pink - I found the perfect button too - and it was the last one of these I had....just made for this little sweater!

 

Wow - Another Round Ripple!!!! And a thread crochet set to match!

I love the Round Ripple Baby Afghan - I have lost count of how many I have done! This one is lovely - I bought some gorgeous anonymous (NO LABEL) mill end yarn from Knitters Paradise Store on ebay.com - my favourite place to buy inexpensive American yarns - it is a lovely super soft Boucle with ombre colourways - this one shades beautifully from pale blue to white and is stunning to use!

I also used an ordinary white DK and - the last of my pale blue Angoretta *sob* - tragic that this lovely acrylic yarn has been discontinued for so many years - I do try to acquire it whenever it appears on ebay but that is not happening lately.....

Such a gorgeous combination of textures!

To match, I made a little thread outfit in DMC Splendida in a delightful smoky pale blue.

 

 

The pattern for the little jacket was adapted from the Round Yoke Baby Sweater by Marumin Crochet - available on Ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/my-basic-round-yoke-baby-sweater---canesu-redondo-basico-cr001

 

I continued using the stitch pattern for the yoke in the body section, left off the sleeves, as this is for a summer baby boy and only did a little scallop round the bottom edge and at the yoke. A little roundhat with a brim to keep the sun off and a pair of basic Mary Jane shoes completed the outfit.... not TOO girly I hope - any way, the recipient loved the set..







 

Another crochet set

Made another round ripple blanket and a crochet jacket to go  with it - I was sent some beautiful yarn from a friend in Newfoundland - thank you Patsy!! It is Baby Luv Georga and it is so soft and cuddly... in a pretty pale green... I combined it with some Caron
Simply Soft in a variegated pastel shade that complimented the green beautifully!



 

The round ripple is still a favourite of mine for a quick and easy baby blanket - it is always well received and always impresses non crocheters who think it is so clever of me... and who am I to disillusion them ?

 

 

 

The little jacket is Rindy's Crochet jacket - a good standby for a quick baby gift..

 

The sweet little buttons are from Spikecraft on ebay.com. au - I can highly recommend this seller's buttons - a lovely lady too!!!

 

Patsy if you see this - I had just enough of that pretty green Baby Luv yarn left to make the jacket - used every last scrap!!!

By the way - this little set is for sale - contact me.....

Meadowsweet with matching blankie

I just finished this adorable little Preemie set - in the most gorgeous Watermelon pink.....

The pattern is available on Ravelry - free!! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meadowsweet-cardigan

I used the 24 row stitch pattern in the body of the Meadowsweet Cardie and created the baby blanket to match...

I used a smaller needle - 3.5 mm on the baby cardie - then for the blanket I used a 4 mm needle


Here's how I made the blanket

Cast on 107 Stitches ( 95 stitches of pattern, the same as the baby cardie body stitches, plus 12 stitches for the border - 6 stitches each side of the pattern)

Knit 12 rows ( 6 garter ridges)

Commence pattern:

Knit 6, pattern over 95 stitches exactly as for the body of the Meadowsweet Cardie, Knit 6

Repeat for 9 of the 24 row pattern repeats, keeping the first and last 6 sts in garter stitch.

Knit across for 12 rows - cast/bind off. Voila!!

 

 

 

 

I Pledge Handmade - do you>

Crochet Set

 
 
 
 

This little set was originally made for a friend's newborn grand daughter.. however it ended up being donated to charity.... to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy..

The pattern for the jacket is Rindy's Crochet Baby Jacket,, the blanket is the old stand by Round Ripple Baby Blanket. Both are available on Ravelry.....

It is one of my favourite blankets to make...

Wool Eater # 7 Pink Symphony

Made yet another Wool Eater blanket - this one was in a variety of pinks, made to raise funds for the Huntingtons Disease High Tea held on September 8th for Huntington's Awareness week....

It was part of many items donated to be raffled - my daughter who helped us by doing all the tables and serving the food, actually won it!!

I love how this beautiful blanket looks as good on the reverse side as it does on the front!

This is the front

 

 

And here is the back!

 

More Knitting and Crochet

 

Pretty little Butterfly Baby Cardie very easy to do , seen here in pink and below, in yellow...


It is a free pattern available here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butterfly-baby-2

 The Baby Beanie with flower is very quick and easy to make! However I made this for a new born but the mother said it didn't fit - so I think I would add an extra increase row next time

Find the pattern here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-beanie-with-flower-2

 

 Four Ribbed Yoke Babysweaters are shown here - I was recently honoured by being made moderator of the Babysweaters group on Yahoo. For my first activity , I organised a Knit a Long - and we made the Ribbed Yoke Baby Sweater, designed by one of the members, Sally... it is a top down baby sweater, and very easy with the delightful bonus (to me ) of no seaming!

 

 The pink and the blue shown here are made with the wrong sides of the yoke as the right side - I prefer this to the yoke as required in the pattern and shown in the pale pink and variegated versions below.

 

Help Huntington's Disease Queensland

I have become involved with Huntington's Disease Queensland and am trying to raise funds for this very worthy cause.

Huntington's Disease Awareness Week is to be held this year from September 2nd - 9th

My friend Jaime Colley ( who has Huntington's but no symptoms as yet, but whose mother at aged 50 cannot speak, walk or look after herself because she has Huntington's) and I are trying to raise funds to aid sufferer's, carers, and families of people with Huntington's.

We have planned a Sumptuous High Tea to be held at the Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba on Sunday September 8th from 2pm - 4 pm. To receive an invitation please contact me at No1grandma@gmail.com, or Jaime Colley at hdac131@outlook.com

Tickets are $40 per head - scrumptious goodies, cakes, sandwiches, pastries, tea and coffee are supplied - there will be a lucky door prize, lots of great raffles, and fun auctions will be held too - come prepared to have a lot of laughs! Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are available for sale at the bar too....

In order to help Jaime and I to pay for this High Tea - although we have been very fortunate to have some very generous people donate their goods and service, there are still some items we have to pay for - I have donated a beautiful crocheted throw rug - approximately a king single bed size - as part of a multi draw raffle -

Prizes in this raffle are:


 1st Prize- $350.00 package or 20% off wedding package gift certificate by Curless Photography  Toowoomba

2nd Prize- $250 Beautiful Blanket (Snuggle Throw) Lavender, Cream, Pale Green by Yvette O’Brien

3rd Prize- $50 gift card from Grand Central Shopping Centre, Toowoomba

Here is a picture of the blanket valued at $250

We are also in need of goods and services to raffle and auction at the High Tea - anything from a gift voucher for Coles to a discount off a Hot Air Balloon Flight ( we are always optimistic!) will be welcome - if you think you can help us, with anything at all, please email me on No1grandma@gmail.com - I shall be donating quite a few hand made items too - my felted slippers for men and women are in great demand - so there will a couple of pairs of those for sure - maybe even another gorgeous blanket, and a sweater or shawl.......

More on this later....

And the Winner Is!

The Winner of the Raffled Wool Eater Blanket, held in July  was......drrrrum roll!!!!!!!!

VALERIE CONNOLLY of Towoomba!!!

Congratulations Valerie!'
Thank you to all the lovely people who bought tickets - we raised $234 towards help and support for Sufferers and Families of Huntington's Disease in Queensland.......

Been A Very Busy Knitter and Crocheter !!!

This is my new favourite baby sweater pattern!
Saffron Baby by Elena Nodel - available for sale on Ravelry

Just so cute - seamless because top down - a cheeky little ruflle and one button closure - or you could use ribbon ties...

Isn't it just adorable???

 

 This little beauty is Meadowsweet - a free pattern on Ravelry - also top down - this is such a quick little sweater and very satisfying!! No seams at all if  you do the sleeves on dpns or two circulars or you could use Magic Loop although I am not a fan of this method for some reason...

To learn how to do small circumferences on two circulars go to www.knittinghelp.com  and click on Advanced Techniques to watch a video - this is how I learned - this site is fantastic for learning different techniques - I can highly recommend it and I do - often!

 

Another Baby Kina - with Moda Vera Jazz trim around the bottom (pattern available for sale on Ravelry)

  and sweet little hat ( my design ) to match and oh joy, I made little booties to match too!

 Aren't they cute? I made these for my friend Rana's new baby girl, Abigail Grace

Here's the full set - looking oh so delectable - like strawberry ice cream......

 And an old favourite - the Ribbed Yoke Baby Sweater

 Gorgeous little booties - Crochet Mary Janes - pattern also available on Ravelry - Mary Jane Booties by Caroline Christmas - from a book of crochet booties from Annie's Attic -  Annie's Attic #8740501, Precious Baby Booties

 Another standby favourite of mine - the Garter Yoke Cardi - free on Ravelry and top down, therefore seamless! - sleeves done on two circulars or dpns.

A few more Teddies for outback aboriginal kids - I make little sweaters in indigenous colours  which are well loved - the teddies go to little kids who are being taken into care for whatever reason....

The kind people of Toowoomba rallied round and donated the teddies - which I washed and sanitised before dressing them..... Aren't they adorable? I think this makes about 50 I've dressed so far - I lost count - but I have about 20 something still to go...I just had to have a rest from all that red, yellow and black......

 

 This blanket is  Baby's Quick Ripple which I made to fit a king single bed - or to use as a snuggle throw - it is part of a multi draw raffle to raise funds for Huntington's Disease Queensland.

Tickets are $2.00 each!!! The three prizes are: $350 Photographic bundle from Curless Photography, Toowoomba, the blanket pictured here, and a $50 voucher from Grand Central Shopping Centre, Toowoomba.

The raffle will be drawn 31st August - proceeds will go towards another Fund Raiser - a Sumptuous High Tea at Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba,  on September 8th - between 2- 4 pm - but more on this later!

 

 The three child's sweaters pictured here are based on a pattern called Texo Pullover - available for sale on Ravelry USD $5.00

 

The original pattern has a kangaroo pouch pocket which I left off because I needed to make just plain and simple pullovers for aboriginal children in outback areas. This pattern is great - it is top down and seamless and comes in several sizes - can also be made bigger by changing to a chunkier yarn and bigger needles.....

 Looks good in boy colours - I made boy sweaters because the demand was greater for boys in this size - 4- 6 years old

Next time I shall make it for girls - and might even make it with the kangaroo pouch pocket, too!! You never know......

 

And I made these fingerless gloves as a gift to raise funds for the Toowoomba Scouts

More to come - lots of pics to upload yet!

 

Cast On, Baby!!!

More outback teddies!

A few more teddies for outback kids - have a lot more to make sweaters for though!!

RAFFLE FOR HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE

Tickets are selling, much slower than I had hoped - but they ARE selling!! Huntington's is a HORRIBLE disease, it is hereditary and incurable, and a sufferer's children have a 50% chance of contracting the disease too....

By raffling this blanket that I donated to the cause, we hope to raise some funds to help us create awareness of Huntington's in the general public. Once people are more aware of the disease and the ravages it makes on families of sufferer's then there is more chance of obtaining proper funding from Government sources...

So here's the deal - tickets are $1.00 - the blanket is a generous double bed size (seen here on a Queen size bed) . The raffle will be drawn on July 1st - so you have a little over 3 weeks to get your money in!

You can pay by money order, cheque or cash (if you live in Toowoomba, that is) or email me for bank details for direct deposit transfer, or send money via Pay Pal - No1grandma@gmail.com
It is open to both Australian and overseas residents - I will personally pay for postage if you live outside Australia and you win!! Email me at No1grandma@gmail.com if you want more information too!

PLEASE - just $1.00 for a ticket is not much to find for such a worthy cause....it is very close to my heart right now, as I have a young friend in her twenties who has it, her mother has all symptoms and at the age of 50 , cannot speak, walk, feed herself, or look after herself and is in fulltime care. My young friend has three young children who stand a 50% chance of  inheriting it too. If you can spare one dollar - then please contact me... and you just might win this lovely hand made blanket for $1.00!!