Tilted Duster

Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan from Interweave Fall 07
3 balls Bendigo Woollen Mills Rustic 12ply in Delta

This was a gift for my Mum for Christmas last year. Overall, It turned out to be a very nice fitting cardigan. Things went relatively smoothly until I nearly ran out of yarn. I realised that I would need to lengthen everything and forgot to buy enough to compensate. I was able to make the sleeves 5 cm longer but was forced I made the length according to the pattern becasue I had barely had enough to sew everything together. I just managed to get away with three balls of yarn. A wee bit shorter than I imagined, but it looks pretty good. Mum is pretty chuffed with it so I am happy too.

Etsy!

I only just recently discovered Etsy; the wonder sweeping the D.I.Y. world. Unfortunately, I now spend an illegal amount of time browsing the numerous sellers wares. It is like a giant, colourful, online, craft market and I love that.

I was lucky enough to recieve some beautiful handmade copper earrings from my brothers. They are from susanmariedesigns.

It's got me longing to open a store of my own!

Christmas Day

I hope you had an excellent Christmas. I sure did. An excellent day was had for all. Lots of laughter, food and presents.

Totally and utterly spolit.

last-minute problems

Hi all, and thank you for all your lovely comments left about my two new sweaters. It always really nice to when someone leaves a friendly comment!

I am running into some technical difficulties with my Tilted Duster. Firstly, I was knitting away and I thought I was simply speeding along. I had already finished the back, fronts and sleeves and believed that I'd get it done last weekend. Oh how wrong I was; the skirt took me forever. I only just finished it 5 minutes ago actually.

Secondly, I somehow messed up my calculations for the amount of yarn I needed (yardage to meter conversions I suspect!) and the skirt ended up being a little shorter than written. Hopefully I have got a small amount leftover from the sleeves under my bed somewhere.

I am trying not to stress too much because I don't think that knitting would be as quite as exciting without all the drama that comes with it.

Oh well. At least the buttons are pretty.

UPDATE! I completed the Tilted Duster today because I found some leftover yarn! hooray! I will write an FO post when I give my mum her present on Christmas Day.

Christmas Knitting

As the school term finally draws to an end this Friday, I decided to get underway with my plans for some knitted gifts for family and friends. As it is summer in Australia this time of year, I find it difficult to come up with knitted gifts because are they are generally for cold weather, although where I live, it doesn't hurt to have a couple of extra scarves.

So far, I am planning to knit 2 Elisa's nest totes and a Tilted Duster from Interweave Fall 07. Being the super organized person I am (not really), I have already bought the yarn:

Some more Moda Vera Bamboo/cotton for the string totes.

My progress on the Tilted duster. The back has been completed. I am knitting with 12ply Rustic in a steely blue/grey called Delta from the Bendigo Woollen Mills.

What are your plans for knitted gifts this year?