Aussie Maria

Yarn Along

2012-02-01T10:44:00.000+11:00

I have been a lurker on Ginny’s blog Small Things for a little while

And have really enjoyed reading other bloggers posts about what they are reading and what they are crafting.

I feel the time is right to join in and share my reading and crafting habits combined

I chose this book in a last minute dash at the airport

Or rather I think this book chose me!!

Was 1/4 read through while waiting in the airport and before we hit full altitude

btw – The author also wrote another book I thoroughly enjoyed – The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

The project is another Southern Star (size unpublished and with mods)

Camel Grannies

2012-01-28T09:40:00.000+11:00

You just never know where you will spot Grannies

Courtesy of The Daily Telegraph

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1226255272205?page=3

BTW - It's Tamworth's Country Music Festival

Am I crazy ……

2012-01-25T11:06:00.001+11:00

A bit of background first

It is mid-summer here

Well by the calender anyway

Our normal temps at this time of year are somewhere between 30-40C

But so far this summer, mid 20’s have been the norm

Now, I know that for a lot of you in the Northern Hemisphere this is very warm

But for us, it’s not cold, but it’s not warm either

But the humidity is super-high!!!

Old saying in Australia ….. if it’s not a drought, it’s a flood

While we are not flooding (me, personally) there has been a lot of rain this summer

So back to the crazy!

I had a urge to make ….

I had a need to make …..

I really wanted to make …..

A BEANIE!!!!!

But that’s plain crazy at this time of year

So what should I do?

I’m sure I heard you ALL yell

MAKE IT!!!

So I did

Button Tab Hat – check my Ravelry page for more info

Yarn is Cleckheaton Paintbox

BTW pity they are taking some of their operation of shore and some Australians losing their jobs, makes me re-think my support

Mods – Instead of casting off 10st, I joined in the round and knit the first 10 and last 10 stitches together. I also worked 15cm before decrease, so that I could pull the beanie down over the ears if needed.

Next time I would leave a long tail before casting on to sew the button on with, just means it is anchored a bit more

Love it!!

N.B. – This post is written via Windows Live Writer. See how this works. Fingers crossed

Aussie Hero Quilts

2012-01-23T10:58:00.000+11:00

I have been reading a blog of a wonderful lady, Jan, who creates beautiful quilts.

Hope over here and see what new venture she has started on

Especially if you quilt or sew

http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/

Photo from her blog

Google+

2012-01-22T10:26:00.003+11:00

Hi everyone

Quick query

When I came back to blogland, Blogger was offering to transfer? (I think thats it) or whatever, to Google+

Anyone tried it?

Where have I been ...

2012-01-20T08:18:00.001+11:00

Thank you to those who are still popping into my little blog and saying Hi. It has meant a lot to me.

N.B - I have fixed up my last post about my Round Ripple, if you were unable to read it

As you may now guess, I have finally got all the gadgets I need to blog again.

One small gift led to quite a few little gadgets :-)

Now during my voluntary internet break, I did have a holiday

N.B. - These photos are all taken with an iPhone or an iPad, our camera went MIA on this holiday with all the best photos on it :-(

Here are some clues to where I went -

** It involved a 6 hour flight on Christmas Eve night

** I arrived 20 hours before I left - ie Christmas Eve morning

** A 5 hour wait at an open-air airport

** Then a 45 minute flight on this

A very short 5-10 minute drive

Then a ride on this

A greeting by this guy :-) - Tangaroa

Then a short toddle off to these views - this is only a partial view

It was so hard to capture the colours

Unless you have a wham-bam camera and can fiddle with it

The colours were even more extraordinary when there was cloud cover - the change was amazing

Our bungalow - another view

Another view from the web

If you look at the large island, follow it on the right till it hooks

See that tiny, weeny island just off there - yep, that's where we were

So...... would you like to know where this is???

Well, if you look on a globe or a world map you would not be able to find it

This map is the best I could find. It is from the Resort's website

I have so much more to tell

But I will save that for another time

Fwd: Ripples

2012-01-17T15:06:00.001+11:00

Fwd: Ripples, originally uploaded by Aussie Maria.

I am trying a new way to write this post, until I get some necessary add-ons

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed the lack of crochet ripples, even though I really love the look of them.

I have had trouble with my starting rows, and even though I worked the pattern out ...... Eventually, that first row bothered me greatly. It just was not right. So I ignored ripples and admired them from afar.

Btw I found out since that I really don't like going back and forth. I am crazier than that, round and round is my thing

I have had a pattern sitting in my Ravelry queue for forever, and last November The time was right to give it a go - A Very Special gift was required

So .............

Until

2012-01-17T09:53:00.001+11:00

I get my computer up and running or work out how to do this, Here is a post for you http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiemaria/6710775875/

Hello

2012-01-08T13:37:00.001+11:00

Well I am sort of back. Thank you to those still hanging around Hope you all had a wonderful and happy holiday season Still trying to work out some new toys But here is a glimpse of where I disappeared to for a little chilling out Sorry no glimpse it's not working Hopefully soon

Hi

2011-12-01T18:47:00.001+11:00

Still here, but no Internet access Then a holiday! So likely no contact till New Year Missing my Internet friends Have a wonderful and safe Christmas

Santa and Christmas

2011-11-14T10:46:00.000+11:00

Before the mad rush of Christmas (and Thanksgiving) start

I thought this might be a gentle reminder

It's from this book - The Book of Santa Claus

It has beautiful old pictures of Santa

I have always loved books

Especially childrens books

And so slowly, but surely, a collection of children's Christmas books are piling up here

Anyone else have some that they love

I would love to add them to my, at the moment, tiny collection

Someday, there will be a grandchild that Grandma (me) can read them too

Just thought I would share ......

2011-11-10T10:32:00.002+11:00

...that I just spent 10-15 minutes walking home in the rain!!

and no, I haven't lost my mind

or I don't think I have

....???????

It's just with temps in the 30's for quite a few days

And humidity in the very high 90's

And a body that is continually on over-heat now days

I was thoroughly enjoying a very light and gentle bit of rain falling on me

And to top it all off

A gentleman offered to share his umbrella for the short distance we were on the same path

Who said chivalry was dead!

Southern Star Pattern Update

2011-11-08T08:54:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone

I am totally amazed at the response to my little pattern.

I hope those that try it like it

I have already had a feedback, via Ravelry, which pointed out that the lace pattern is a little off balance.

I have just now changed both the PDF file and my post to hopefully rebalance it

Thank you to everyone who is going to try it and to those who have left comments

Here are a couple more I worked up

This one is in 8ply/DK in the smallest size and is unblocked

This one is in 8ply/DK (more sportweight) in cotton worked in the larger size

This shows the unbalance of the lace

Gosh this yarn is so soft and wonderfully drapey

Its Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton in 8ply

Perfect for our summers

Southern Star Pattern - Free

2011-11-07T10:38:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone

In my last post there was a little cardi I sold.

Well it was my own pattern/design!!

And I had a request on Ravelry from a fellow Knit 4 Charity member to share the pattern.

So I have tried writing it out.

I would love feedback, but please be kind, I have never done anything remotely like this before.

My inspiration has come from -

Australian Vintage Baby Patterns
Beautiful soft Australian wool and cotton in such lovely colours - amazing how trendy old vintage patterns become when worked in more modern colours. In particular those from Bendigo Woollen Mills
Our Australian climate
A need for a quick, but easy knit to make for various charities, and any friends or acquaintance's children too

So I wanted a top-down, that way the length could be adjusted per individual
Seamless - sewing up of garments is not a problem for me, but I do love the smooth, clean lines in baby/toddler knits
Adaptability - (is that a word?) as in plain, lacy, a mix etc
Sleeveless/cap cardi - I get quite warm now-a-days (hormones!!!), but sometimes I get a bit cool on my back and top of my shoulders
A thinner, light-weight yarn (sportweight)

Ok, does this not sound like the perfect pattern for me - YES!!!

I just don't know how to up-scale.

So if anyone can point me in the right direction to adjust the pattern for toddlers, children and adults, please let me know :-)

I decided to share this pattern for free, as I frequently use a lot of free patterns from the web and Ravelry

Please, please, please share photos of any projects that you make with this pattern.

I would love to see what you do with it

Ravelry link here

Suppose I better put the pattern here
That's if you have read this far :-)

SOUTHERN STAR

Designed by Maria Thomas (2011)

Worked in one-piece from the top-down, totally seamless, only the ends to stitch in

Sizes– 3-6 (6-9) months

Finished Measurements – Chest ; Length from underarm to hem ; Length from back neck to hem

Yarn – Bendigo Classic 5ply (sportweight); Bendigo Cotton 8ply

Needle – 3.75mm

Misc – buttons

Gauge - ??sts to ?? rows = 10cm in Stocking Stitch – will need to work this out

Terms – yfwd = yarn forward; kfb = knit front & back; bo = stretchy bind off; co = cast off

Cap-Sleeve Cardigan Instructions

CO 69 (73)st

Knit 4 rows

Next row (wrong side)K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K2 (1), kfb, *K2 (1), kfb* rep to last 5 sts, K5 ... 89(105)st

Row 1 – K7, *yfwd, K2 tog, K6*, rep from *-* to last 10 sts, yfwd, K2tog, Knit to end

Row 2 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 3 – K6, *(yfwd, K2 tog) twice, K4* rep to last 3sts, Knit

Row 4 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 5 - As Row 1

Row 6 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 7 – as Row 1

Row 8 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9, 10, 11 - Knit

Row 12 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K2 (3), kfb *K4 (5), kfb*, repeat *-* to last 7 sts, K7 ... 105 (121)sts

Row 13 – as Row 1

Row 14 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 15 - as Row 3

Row 16 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 17 - as Row 1

Row 18 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 19 – as Row 1

Row 20 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 21, 22, 23 – Knit

Row 24 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K3, kfb, *K5 (6), kfb* to last 7 (8) sts, K7 (8) ... 121 (137)

Row 25 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 26 – as Row 1 row

Row 27 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 28 row – as Row 3

Row 29 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 30 – as Row 1

Row 31 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 32 – as Row 1

Row 33, 34, 35 row – Knit

Row 36 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K14(18), bo 27 (28)sts, K30 (36) (total of 31 (37) for back), bo 27 (28)sts, K17 (21) (total of 18 (22) for front)

Row 37 – K18 (22), co 12, K31 (37), co 12, K18 (22)sts

Row 38 – K4 (5), kfb, *K1 (2), kfb*, repeat *-* to last 6 sts, Knit 121 (137)sts

Row 39, 40 – Knit

Continue in stocking stitch, keeping 4 st garter border to 7 (9)cm or length required, finishing on purl row

**Row 1, 2, 3, 4 Row – Knit

Row 5 (RS) – K7, *yfwd, K2 tog, K6*, rep from *-* to last 10 sts, yfwd, K2tog, Knit to end

Row 6 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 7 – K6, *(yfwd, K2 tog) twice, K4* rep to last 3sts, Knit

Row 8 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9 row – as Row 5

Row 10 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11 – as Row 5

Row 12 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4**

Repeat **-** once

Knit 6 rows

Cast off on right side

If you would prefer a PDF version click here

P.S. Amendments to pattern in Red

Projects

2011-11-01T09:41:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone

You may have noticed my lack of projects over the last couple/few/lots of months.

Well I have been crafting

Just felt that my posts were getting a bit b-l-a-h

But today I felt like sharing a few of my favourites with you

All have been Ravelled here

Borrowed the baby to see size and fit, as I sort of designed it.

Her Mum loved it, so bought it from me :-)

By the way, you may have noticed a new button at the top of my side Bar

"Made It" - Made For Little Ones

Well that goes directly to a little shop I opened

I'm hoping I might be able to sell a few projects

At least enough to help pay for the ever-rising costs of posting away my charity items

Fingers crossed for me please

And you thought there was no crochet ......

I really wanted to make this pattern (old memories), but had so much trouble with the starting chain - no give and so very small.

Then I tried foundation dc/sc - that gave me the little bit of stretch and width I wanted.

Don't know why it took me ??? times to work that out :-)

And for those in Australia

Hope the horses are lucky for you today!!!!

Stewing

2011-10-25T08:46:00.001+11:00

I have had an idea stewing in the background for a while using Elaine from Down Cloverlaine's patterns.

She has a few new patterns out lately - which, by the way, she shares for free.

When I saw them, I knew immediately that I would be knitting two of them

Koala Cloth - details here

Baby Joey - details here

As for the idea - well, it needs a bit more stewing

Almost Wordless Weekend

2011-10-11T10:03:00.000+11:00

Hunter Valley Chocolates

which is right in front of Petersens Wines (Champagne of course)

Accommodation - The Carriages

Wildlife

Choir Boys

Thirsty Merc

Meatloaf

(from the big screens)

By the time Meatloaf came on stage it was dark and very, very wet - as in the rain had set in

So my poor little camera had a very hard time taking this shot (the best of about 20!)

Field Wonderful

2011-10-01T10:51:00.000+10:00

Well Allison, from Field Wonderful, certainly made me feel wonderful, when I received these beautiful goodies in the mail from a recent give-away that she ran

I have never used this yarn before and it feels wonderful

And thank you so much for the little packet - any guesses what's in it?

I must say Allison, you must have a little ESP going

As these particular items have been on my mind of late, searching, searching, searching

Very, very handy for me

P.S - Just noticed that it is Canadian Yarn - my very first and goes well with my fascination with Canada and north - very happy :-))

Thank you for the lovely parcel, Allison

And this lot is off to Brisbane for K4C (sidebar) COTM - PIPA

Many of these projects you will already have seen, others have been stockpiling to make the postage worthwhile, especially as it just went up 20%

Got to love making preemie outfits, its a fantastic stash-buster!

PS - Glad you liked the Anzac Slice recipe like I did :-)

Old but not quite vintage

2011-09-26T09:04:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone

Anyone know what exactly makes things vintage?

I have always taken them to be roughly over 30 years old???

Anyway, I would like to share with you something I started all-but 29 years ago

And I also finished it well within a year

Must have had some time up my sleeve back then :-)

Don't know how - as hubby frequently was away for work and three babes under 13 months!!!

Oh, that's it - hubby was away :-)

Anyway, back to what I want to show you

For anyone who is interested here are the meanings -

A = Australian Flag

B = Brolga

C = Cockatoo

D = Dusky Hopping Mouse

E = Echnida

F = Flannel Flower

G = Goanna

H = Honeyeater

I = Ibis

J = Jabiru

K = Koala

L = Lorikeet

M = Magpie

N = Numbat

O = Orchid (native)

P = Platypus

Q = Quokka

R = Rosella

S = Swan (Black native)

T = Tawny Frogmouth Owl

U = Urchin

V = Violet (native)

W = Wallaby

X = Xtraordinary Lizard (Frilled Neck)

Y = Yabby

Z = Zebra Finch

Bye for now

mmmmmm

2011-09-22T08:02:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone

I don't usually share recipes, but just thought you might like this one, which I found here

This was just after it came out of the oven and before it was found :-)

Anzac Slice

1 cup SR flour

1 cup coconut

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of crushed nuts (I used dried fruit instead)

125g melted butter

1 tbsp golden syrup

1 egg

Preheat oven 180C and grease a slice tin

Mix all ingredients together.

Press into slice tin and bake until golden (about 15-20 mins)

Could not be simplier

Hope someone else enjoys this too

PS - SR Flour is Self Raising Flour - Self-rising (or self-raising) flour is sold premixed with chemical leavening agents, usually baking powder
Golden syrup is a pale treacle. It has an appearance similar to honey, and is often used as a substitute for people who do not eat honey. It can also be used as a substitute for corn syrup.
Molasses or dark treacle has a richer colour than golden syrup, and a stronger, slightly bitter flavour

Hope this helps Barbara

Quick Hi

2011-09-14T08:51:00.000+10:00

Just dropped in to say a quick Hi

Just keeping an eye on these little angels ;-) for a short time

Rescue puppies who my D3 named Ginny & Frankie

Cross Jack Russell/Chihuahua puppies

Only 6 weeks old

Quick photo taken with my phone, sorry for the quality

Yes they do sleep a lot

But boy, they go crazy when awake

Old is New Again

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone

Well it seems that a couple of you already had the same idea as me and dug out your old patterns.

Pat from Hooks and Books reworked the lovely little Hug Me Tight. And boy does it look cute!

Jane from Papillion Gold had already beat me to it. She has a lovely little 'Puss' project which got swamped by the big He-man jumper she made :-)

Jenny from Justjen has worked a vintage pattern for gloves. And then worked another beautiful cable pair.

Here is another vintage pattern

Which I think is very cute

Sleeveless Hug-Me-Tight

Details here

From this pattern book

And if you thought I was not crocheting :-)

Well I have had some granny squares hanging around for mmm..... well a very long time

And I went looking to make something practical with them, just not a blanket, and it would be for a charity

So ..... I loosely used this pattern and got this

Yep, unblocked. It's an acrylic, so I don't like to touch it too much. Probably explains why it was sitting there for so long

And to end this post with a weird question - anyone else enjoy 'Wild Boys' last night?

Nice to see "Australian" history for a change

Oh and did I mention Gourmet Farmer Series 2 has started - Thursday nights SBS

Thoroughly enjoyed Series 1. Missed the first show of Series 2. But I'm hooked again :-)

Hope the sun is shining where you are

Unless you would prefer it to rain - gently though please :-)

Old is New Project

2011-08-31T08:58:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone

It seems a few of you are lucky owners of some of these precious Heirlooms of our Past.

Me, well there was a LARGE group of families who all seemed to being having girls, so we just kept passing our child's 'best' clothing around n around n around

Funny that I never kept anything, especially as I love "old things" :-)

Just thought you might like an update on my "Old is New" project

The completed set is from Patons 1283 Heirloom 4ply Collection

The yarn is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Cleckheaton Bamboo 4ply

So soft, lovely sheen and such beautiful drape (which I hope you can see below)

Details here

From Patons R30 Favourite Designs For Babies

I have decided to set myself a little challenge

To complete at least one pattern from each of my vintage pattern books

As you will see, I will be picking the baby patterns, mainly because they are so quick and oh so cute

Anyone else feel up to the challenge of digging around in your old patterns and completing one, or two, or .......?

No rules, anything goes

Ok, sorry - one rule

Please blog about it so that I can see your lovely projects

And find those lovely old pattern books

And just another quickie here

This lot is off to Tassie

To be made up with other squares into blankets for "Betty's City Kitchen"

This is a challenge on Knit 4 Charities A-Long

New or Old, Old or New

2011-08-25T09:36:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone

This post will have to have a few photos to explain the story.

Recently I have wanted to do some lace knitting, but only small projects, what better than baby items. There is always a charity that can use them throughout the year. So I thought I would build up my stocks and be ready for them.

And for the crocheteers that visit, well I have been trying to work those beautiful lace baby clothes, but for some reason I struggle with the first few rows. The sizing seems way off no matter what yarn or hook I try. But I will soldier on, as there is one pattern in particular that I want to make, for sentimental reasons :-) It was a gift for my babies, and I loved it.

So saw this pattern book and thought "that's a good start"

And yes, it does have one very cute crochet jacket too, if I can master the starting size issue.

Decided that this pattern would be a good intro back into the world of lace and babies - well it has been 30 years :-)

I would like to share with you a little something I have a LARGE love of - old patterns and clothing.

So using this Heirloom pattern reminded me to have a look for a particular old pattern book I was after.

Ended up buying 4 of them :-)

This was the one I was after

For this pattern, as I made 2 of them, one for each first/second born :-)

And then I spotted this :-)

Funny how some things just keep popping back in to grab your attention

Also spotted this, which I remember making, but just can't remember who for, lots of water under the bridge.

And no, I have NEVER had this pattern book. But I have had a few Patons Pattern Books!!

I am curious as to how some of these patterns were ever knitted. The photos I have shown you are quite large and clear compared to a lot of the patterns in the other books. It would be guess work, or just loving a pattern name as to which to knit

There are a couple of crochet patterns too, if anyone is interested in having a look-see

Crochet Toddler Fashion

2011-08-17T09:35:00.001+10:00

"Up-to-the-minute play suit (top, pants and sun bonnet) in easy Granny Squares" c1971

And there is more where that came from :-)

Well I did laugh when I saw it too

But then I made this

I thought this idea might work well with children of various ages for charity

Details here

And the pattern is here where you can see one that is in action and way drapeyier(?) than mine