FO: Red Woof Bib

RED WOOF BIB

History Wanted some mindless knitting…so picked a garter stitch bib I was actually looking at a sewed bib when i thought of making a knitted one… I have my eye on the petal bib from “one skien” book. But I am not sure if i can start on a complex one.. so decided a garter stitch bib. No cheating here, this bib was made before by pledge

Yarn: Some generic cotton yarn in DK weight/8 ply
Needles: 3.5mm circulars
Others: Tapestry needle, some buttons and some crochet thread (for embroidery)
Gauge: 10S X 11R in a 1 inch square.
Size: 6.5″ x 5.5″ without the handles.
Pattern: Inspired from “Baby Bib O’ Love” from Mason-Dixon Knitting Book. I didnt have the pattern so made up one.
Notes:
I loved the Maxon Dixon bib the moment i saw as it looked so simple…. but i didnt have the book; i thought if i can’t make a garter stitch bib… and here it is.

I initially casted on 50 stitches, looked too big for a baby so reduced it to 40. But 45 would have been good. Continued on garter for sometime, included some shaping at the neck, knitted the ties which turned out to be uneven, did a wonky button hole, used up my handmade buttons, tried some experimental embroidery and here it is.. the bib is finally finished. By the way the ties are 6 stitches and 10 would have been a nicer number.

The “Woof” is not my idea; there is a “Meow” also. Have a look Jessie’s bibs (Rav Link).
The yarn looked and was hard during knitting but somehow the bib is very soft. By the way i even made the buttons used on the bib…i still have some square ones left.

If i make it again;
No shaping at neck
No uneven ties
No wonky button hole
No nutty embroidery
and ofcourse wider ties.

Learnt:
Cable cast on

Time:
Took a few days…

Easter Weekend: Melbourne

I dont want write about my last minute planning and the gruelling 12 hour jouney by bus from Sydney to Melbourne. So its mostly pictures with a little writeup.

Saturday, Melbourne welcomed us with a cold morning (it was so cold that my teeth were chattering indoors) and some hotair balloons.

Before we hit the Great Ocean Road

Couldn’t go the Bells Beach as there was a international surfing competetion going on, but spent some time with the Koala’s and wandering around in a Rain Forest.

Once we reached the Apostles we decided to take a ride on the Helicopter.

Some shots from up and above

Then we walked to the view point to see the sun hit Apostles

Then checked out some more rock formations before heading back to the city
Oven Bake ( Coz its like a wood fired pizza oven )

The London Bridge formation was a long rocky walkway into the sea with two archways formed by erosion. In 1990 the first archway collapsed and it was renamed London Arch.

There is a funny story tagged (There are different flavours of the same story)
Part 1
Some tourists saw the rocks falling and the archway collapsing. Fortunately there werent anybody on the collapsed part but two persons were stranded on the island. The tourists called the emergency number saying “The London Bridge is falling down” and the emergency guys thought some teenagers are having some fun. Its only after some repeated calls that they sent police.
Part 2
Due to the unavailability of the emergency helicopters they asked a news channel helicopter from Melbourne to get the couple out. Ultimately the two were rescued, but not before it had turned into a media circus. The two stranded young people strangely had nothing to say to the cameras. As it turned out, the “pair” were not actually an official couple, but were married to other people and had been out on a little tryst of their own, not quite anticipating the national media coverage.
Allegedly the man was in a bit of hot water since his boss was watching the news and he had called in sick that day. What’s even more interesting is that the man’s wife was also watching the news, and was no doubt curious about his female companion.

We reached at about 8 in the evening and i slept most of the journey. Next day we hit the road to check the city.

Day Shots of Melbourne

Federation Square; Street Art (Melbourne is very arty and crafty); Exhibition Hall; Trams; Markets; West Gate Bridge; City; Yarra River; Melbourne’s Eiffel (kidding!!!!); Autumn; Autumn again; Bridge aross Yarra
We didnt have time to check the Fitzory and the Royal Botanical Gardens; Also go around the MCG and Rod Laver Arena (despite being cricket and tennis fan)

Night Shots of Melbourne

Flinders street station at night

Eiffel at night (Again kidding!!!!) Its a tower above a arts centre.

Stars at Fed square
After which we headed back to the station to catch bus back to Sydney.

Hope you all enjoyed the tour on the Great Ocean Road and Melbourne

Pledge and Catching up

I was catching up on some of the podcast episodes that i missed listening to… It made me think if i became a bit more impatient compared to my uni days.

I picked up the hook during some of the worst days at office. Running towards the deadlines set by somebody, i almost forgot how the days passed. Sitting in stark white light, staring at computer screens, raking the brain why something is not working the way it is supposed to be; i sometimes dont know how the day passed. When the so said project is done within the said time, there is nothing concrete to see; nothing to feel and nothing to show off… nothing to remind you of all the hardwork.

I really wanted something thats creative, not monotonous;
I wanted to see a concrete result at the end of all the work i put in;
Where i enjoy the process of creating;
Where i can standback and feel the pride of finishing something;
I want the receiver to enjoy what i created;
Thats is why i went back to crochet.. taught myself knitting.. took up spinning;

Now as i looked at the heap of WIPs i have, the thought crosses my mind “Have i become so impatient to finish something i started !!!!!!!”. I want to see the FO but somehow couldn’t get back to pick the project.
I know about the satisfaction of seeing a FO and i try to feel it by taking some small projects and finishing them quickly. Though i crib, no doubt crafting keeps me sane.

I pledge not to start another project until i complete the projects on my side bar.

Now that i took the pledge; let me catch up with things……
I know its been sometime since i posted something. The weather here is changing and day by day its becoming colder and colder and i am becoming lazier. I am not a morning person and the cold weather makes it difficult for me to wake up in the mornings.
There are some small projects going on my needles… But large ones are sleeping at the end of my knitting bag and i am about to frog a WIP cardigan so that i can make something different (i am not sure if the yarn can take anymore of the frogging as its the second time i am frogging).
On the other side i am taking some sewing classes; will be going to some casual language classes soon; did a quick tour to Melbourne this Easter weekend (A picturesque post will be up soon).

FO: Mocassins 4 Olga

MOCASSINS 4 OLGA

History I was knitting some booties when Olga asked me if i can make her a pair in her size. She is just learning to knit and she knits in english style…. I tried to steer her towards the continental but she thinks english is easy
I felt that knitting will make floppy slippers so looked up for crocheted ones.
Yarn: Patons Inca (2.25 balls)
Hook: 5mm
Others: Stitch Markers and Tapestry needle (to weave in the ends)
Gauge: Almost as per the pattern
Size: To fit Olga’s Feet
Pattern: Crocheted Mocassin by UmmeYusuf. There are lot more cute patterns by her so pop into her blog.
Notes:
They turned out perfect… dont be fooled by the wonky mocassins in the photo.. I had to take the snap before i gave them to Olga and i was in a hurry. By the way Olga is a carer who accompanies a lady to the knitting group i attend. They are a perfect fit and she loved them.

I did make a few changes to the pattern. I changed the way the sole is constructed to give it a bit shape. I finished off the mocassin with a contrasting yarn (even the fringe). I added a tab at the sole end for practical purposes.

The yarn is bulky weight so i used only one strand. I got the yarn at a thrift store.

If i make it again;
Will make it in solid colors. I will also use a piece of commercial felt underneath the sole so that the yarn on the sole will not wear off.

Learnt:
Nothing much

Time:
Worked on it for two days…a day for each one.