no knitting doen yesterday as I was busy helping daughter pack up her home so they could move to Whanganui. Was a big day, two hour drive there and back, husband said I should have stayed the night but the dog had eaten something disgusting and was in toxic shock (again!) so I was worried about him. After an early morning $75 dash to the vet, he was fine but I still wanted to be home 'just in case'.
Housework this morning, apply for more jobs - someone has to employ me!!!! - then I'll settle down to knit this wee hoodie for the grandy.
Raining and cold here, lovely to have the rain :)
Happy knitting!

kiwimade64 - 2013-04-06 10:50:00

Hi Ladies, I'M BACK lol

EQC repairs were completed in 2 weeks not the 6 that we were told. ( I couldn't see how it was gonna take 6 weeks)
They finished on the Thursday before Easter and we are taking things slow putting the house back in order as there are some changes we want to make ie hanging the tv on the wall and looking for the right DVD/Bookcase to put beneath it. I have quite an extensive dvd collection that our exsisting dvd stands just couldn't hold so i want one big unit that they can all go into. Some lovely trader on here is making me one to my specs so I'm very excited about that lol
I've got paintings i bought in Hong Kong and Thailand that are being framed so they can hang on the walls too.
So many things to do that can be done now so we are in no hurry to move everthing back in.
I can't fault the painting and decorating firm enough, they did extra work for us and we have kept their business card for future work.

Edited by whiskey13 at 11:58 am, Sat 6 Apr

whiskey13 - 2013-04-06 11:56:00

Welcome back whiskey.. You have been busy. It must be nice to be getting things back to normal.

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262243534.jpg

Ta-Da Frisken is finished... He took 3 weeks 5 days... And Im pleased with him. Im sure B1anca will love him.

Now I need some lunch, Ive been working hard and have earnt it lol...

popeye333 - 2013-04-06 12:02:00

Most impressive Popeye.
Glad your home is finally getting sorted Whiskey, it is really great when you get a tradie that does a bit extra - well worth hanging onto. Had my kitchen completely revamped over the holidays and had great workmen who I will happily use again if necessary. Been flat out knitting baby things and have quite a pile awaiting buttons, now knitting slippers have a great pattern for felted slippers and realise that if I don't get them done the good weather will have gone and they take rather a long time to dry once felted.
Happy knitting everyone

jayemtoo - 2013-04-06 12:46:00

have been doing a bit of knitting lately. Have had surgery so have to take things so easy so this means more time to knit. My great neice and nephews are going to be nice and warm this winter and I have even found time to start a short sleeve cardigan for me. +

campbellmum - 2013-04-06 16:13:00

Morning Everyone.
It was good to finally finish Frisken yesterday. Have started on the lolly girl, done her legs and a bit of the body anyway.

We went to town and I picked up my Tablet, have charged it, so now have to figure out how to connect it p to the internet etc. Im hoping I can fluke it lol like I did with the e-reader.
Gotta do a bit od housework this morning. Have been norty and focussing on my projects. So I feel the need to spruce things up a little.

I see deramores has 15% off all double knitting .... ohh well Im sure that special will come around again.

Heck a sparrow just flew into the window.. must have a hard head hes taken off again. lol

Have a good day everyone.

popeye333 - 2013-04-07 08:20:00

another bloody mouse has moved in and has taken up residence in the laundry so the mouse trap is out and loaded with crunchy peanut butter. Have begun to clean the laundry, it's well overdue so the mouse kinda is doing me a favour. I always know when there is a mouse as the dog goes nuts. I suppose JRs are bred for ratting etc so he is true to form!
Finished the back and left front of the wee hoodie I'm knitting. The wool is 50% wool, 50% nylon so should be hard wearing. It's variegated in colour which daughter loves :), bright blues, red, yellow and green. This is the first lot of wool/yarn from Deramores I have bought and so far so good.
Happy knitting!

Edited by kiwimade64 at 9:55 am, Sun 7 Apr

kiwimade64 - 2013-04-07 09:53:00

Wow the mice are early... They come inside for the warmth.. We have had a few crickets.. icky things. I prefer mice lol.. Bob the cat just sits and talks to the crickets. I have to stun them and put them down the toilet or out the window lol
Up to the upper body of the lolly girl.

Tried to connect the tablet this morning.. Didn't try hard enough lol.. it wasn't charged enough so will try again later or tomorrow.

popeye333 - 2013-04-07 12:17:00

we've had the maize across the road cut and always get mice when this is done. They have also been coming inside as they are thirsty and drink the dog's water... and nibble on his biscuits and then decide to stay.
The day has turned into a lovely fine autum day, I should be outside...

kiwimade64 - 2013-04-07 12:45:00

Hi all... Another lovely day today. With a cool start. Ive even got slippers on and long sleeves. I love the cool even tho I take blood thinners.

I finished the main body bit of Miss Sweetie the lolly girl before lunch so that's the biggest part done.

Hope everyone is well.

popeye333 - 2013-04-08 12:22:00

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well. Nice to have you back whiskey, we are slowly unpacking, rearranging and updating a few things in our house also. Got a bit more done at the weekend, it's quite nice to be able to take our time.
Have been doing a bit of knitting, and some crochet, but nothing to show at the moment.
Popeye you're going well with your latest project.
It's sunny and warm here today but was very cold over the weekend, I had to go and buy some slippers as had thrown the old ones out. Am not looking forward to winter at all.
Has anyone heard from thecritic? I hope she's doing ok, haven't seen her about for a while, although not in here that often these days.

Take care all, and happy crafting xo

maible - 2013-04-08 16:03:00

popeye - great job on Frisken. He looks great.

Finished the first fingerless glove on Saturday night. Very happy with how it turned out. Will put a pic up when finished the second one.

Yesterday went to a crochet class. We were meant to come home with a finished hat but I think there were too many in the class and not enough one-on-one help. However, I was able to follow the instructions and finish it when I got home. Just have to cast off. My eyes were closing and had to take myself off to bed. Will do that tonight and then start my second glove.

pats3 - 2013-04-08 18:26:00

Here is the crochet hat I made at the workshop yesterday.

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262638016.jpg

pats3 - 2013-04-08 20:49:00

pats3 wrote:

Here is the crochet hat I made at the workshop yesterday.

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262638016.jpg[/
quote]

Well done pats3 - that's awesome :)

maible - 2013-04-08 21:03:00

pats3 wrote:

Here is the crochet hat I made at the workshop yesterday.

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262638016.jpg[/
quote]

Well done!!!! I am still working on mine, pulled undone a few times but will get there in the end

katie381 - 2013-04-08 22:20:00

katie381 wrote:

Well done!!!! I am still working on mine, pulled undone a few times but will get there in the end

Yep, I know you will.

pats3 - 2013-04-08 22:25:00

well done ladies! so much fun learning a new skill :)

kiwimade64 - 2013-04-09 07:47:00

Love the Hat Pats... I love hats...

Managed to finish sweeties body part and 1.5 shoes yesterday. So was a productive day yesterday.

Have a few things to do up the road this morning, and we have St Johns coming to service the Alarm today. But will knit inbetween hopefully.

two years since mum died today. Im still kicking myself that I let her do the crochet for me and I never learnt the fancy stuff from her lol

Have a good day all

popeye333 - 2013-04-09 08:36:00

Hi all,
I do like that hat pattern pats, and the colour, what yarn did you use? Looking forward to seeing yours too katie.
It doesn't seem like 2 years since your mum died popeye, time passes so quickly. It was 6 years on Sunday since my dad died, and next month will be 4 years since my mum died. Those years have gone by so very fast.
It's cold and damp here today - perfect for knitting ;) Had to undo the jacket I'm knitting for my g-niece last night - well back to the armholes anyway, grrr (it's knitted top down all in one piece, so no seams yay). Had been making good progress the last few days too darn it.
Darn cats bought in a live mouse at around 2 am and were chasing it up and down the hallway - had to wake hubby up to deal with it. Can cope with dead ones but not when they're running around....
Will probably need a nap later, took me ages to get back to sleep.

Have a lovely day people xoxox

maible - 2013-04-09 09:18:00

The time has flown by Maible... Im sure the older you get the shorter the years are.
I don't mind mice, not keen on crickets tho.. I figure Id feel a mouse if it was on the bed, but not bugs or spiders.
My boycat Bob is snoozing on my bed, hes decided the garage is too cold now. So hes on the bed paw over his nose.
I must remember to throw something on the bed before I sit and read, cos Ive got a black top on and hes white and ginger.
Why he cant sleep at the foot of the bed where the cat cover is on there I don't know lol. Woudlnt be without him tho

popeye333 - 2013-04-09 12:24:00

Can definitely relate to all that popeye. Our 3 cats are on our bed. One is under the throw, the other two are snuggled against him on top lol. Dogs are all in the lounge with me, none of them want to be outside today.

maible - 2013-04-09 14:40:00

Hi Ladies Here is my hat

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262755393.jpg
Hope it works as have not done this before
Hope everyone is busy on this cold day, making the needles click.

katie381 - 2013-04-09 16:01:00

katie381 wrote:

Hi Ladies Here is my hat

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262755393.jpg
Hope it works as have not done this before
Hope everyone is busy on this cold day, making the needles click.

Well done Katie. Love the colour. Cant wait for it to get a bit cooler so I can bring my hats out

popeye333 - 2013-04-09 16:21:00

Love your hat katie, awesome colour - well done to you and pats. Yes, have been clicking away on the needles here today (and had a quick nap as well lol).

maible - 2013-04-09 17:23:00

Thanks Ladies

katie381 - 2013-04-09 18:30:00

Knew you would get it finished Katie. Looks great. Did you think there were too many in the class? I felt, because of the numbers, we didn't get enough one-on-one. I don't know if you noticed or not but one girl at our table had a reasonable amount of one-on-one but in the end decided she couldn't concentrate and went home !!

Maible it was a double knit yarn but I can't remember what it was as I left the label at the shop.

I agree popeye - the older you get the shorter the years are, lol.

Have got the heat pump on tonight as it's quite cold here. Never got a start on my second fingerless glove last night but might get a start on it tonight all going well.

pats3 - 2013-04-09 20:06:00

Pats3 the class was too big and the ability was too varied I think it was a bit hard to get the hat done in the time frame with the amount of people, we had one lady who really struggled I felt sorry for her and tried to help.
We have our heatpump on also, bit different from Auck weather. The wool we used was Passioknit Australian wool .

katie381 - 2013-04-09 20:57:00

Well I'm at the other end of the country and I've got the heatpump on too, had it on this morning briefly as I did the last two or three mornings. I think I'm getting soft in my old age. Mind you, I always have cold feet so there have been several times in the last few weeks that I've taken a hot water bottle to bed with me (Sean Connery had prior engagements so couldn't make it!) I have just finished a rather cute (well I think so) baby blanket for beanies for babies. I hope the recipient appreciates the amount of effort that goes into these things. I will take a pic and upload it in a minute. Have to switch back to the old desktop comp as I haven't figured out how to deal with photos on this new laptop

kuaka - 2013-04-09 21:55:00

Okay, let's see if this works:

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/262810656.jpg

should be a pic of the baby blanket I have just crocheted. I'm quite chuffed with it myself. What do you think?

Well I don't know why, but I had to edit that link twice before it came up properly - seems to be working now.

Edited by kuaka at 10:08 pm, Tue 9 Apr

kuaka - 2013-04-09 22:06:00

Wow that's gorgeous kuaka. Is the pattern a free download by any chance. If not, can you tell me the name of it please.

pats3 - 2013-04-09 22:44:00

if you google "yarn-eater blanket" (I think that's what it was called) it's available on ravelry as a free download

kuaka - 2013-04-10 00:14:00

Beautiful Blanket Kuaka

katie381 - 2013-04-10 07:51:00

Hi everyone :)
kuaka I love your blanket, will get that pattern and have a go at it myself I think.
Have had the heat pump on here the last couple of nights also and have my snuggly slippers on this morning, toes still feel cold though.
Have been struggling with my knitting this week, my hands are very stiff and sore but will keep at it. Had to undo some more of the jacket last night - it's not the pattern, it's just me making silly mistakes, am a bit tired and not concentrating properly.
Hope you all have a lovely day, take care xo

maible - 2013-04-10 08:29:00

Morning all... Kuaka that is a beautifull blanket.. well done.

No heating on here yet. Well its cool if I have slippers on. I don't this morning tho. Its a couple of degrees warmer today.

Im not sure where the beanies etc go to. But Mum and I used to send stuff to middleMore hospital for the premmies etc. But sadly we stopped. The daughter of a lovely trader I met on here works at Middle more and she said that the staff went through the items taking stuff home for themselves and friends. so the items weren't going to the people they were meant to.

Medical centres or even Plunket would probably be a better place to take them. And it stays in your area that way too.

I hit my target of finishing the shoes, and doing both arms yesterday. I started an ankle band, so now its the bits and pieces to do and the skirt of course.

Have a productive day everyone

popeye333 - 2013-04-10 08:54:00

popeye - I often wonder if that's the case. Sometimes I think I must be a bit crazy doing all this work and just giving it away, but then I do enjoy it. I'd be quite upset if I thought that the stuff that's donated doesn't find it's way to the intended recipients

kuaka - 2013-04-10 08:58:00

kuaka wrote:

popeye - I often wonder if that's the case. Sometimes I think I must be a bit crazy doing all this work and just giving it away, but then I do enjoy it. I'd be quite upset if I thought that the stuff that's donated doesn't find it's way to the intended recipients

I think the same a you but enjoy the thrill of send stuff to BFB knowing it goes to a good cause. My kids tell me I should be saving it until they have kids!!! Yea right Beautiful day here Enjoy everyone Popeye looking forward to seeing your next project.

katie381 - 2013-04-10 09:59:00

kuaka wrote:

popeye - I often wonder if that's the case. Sometimes I think I must be a bit crazy doing all this work and just giving it away, but then I do enjoy it. I'd be quite upset if I thought that the stuff that's donated doesn't find it's way to the intended recipients

It certainly opened our eyes Kuaka. Saddening really to think that people who needed the stuff weren't getting it.
Used to enjoy making the wee hats etc.

Just don't have the time now lol..

popeye333 - 2013-04-10 12:26:00

Kuaka - the blanket is beautiful I do hope it gets to the people it is meant for after all that work. I have 12 beanies here and was going to give them to Queen Mary hospital in Dunedin as I have done before but after what I have just read I am not so sure.I am not saying that this has happened in Dunedin. I may give them to our local Plunket nurse but a few of them are for prem babies. It is so sad that this has happened. It is actually theft.

ffloss - 2013-04-10 14:42:00

Your right Fflos it is theft... and worse I think cos its the staff stealing it. And I trust implicity the people who told me that it was going on.

I think Plunket will be the better way. Kinda cuts out a lot of middlemen in a way.

popeye333 - 2013-04-10 15:57:00

Well I'm definitely having second (and third) thoughts about continuing with the charity knitting. It has crossed my mind before that it was a possibility, and hubby had mentioned to me that there was no guarantee that it would actually get to those who need it, but I always think you have to trust people until you know for sure that your trust is misplaced. I suppose people who are basically honest find it difficult to believe that people would steal from a charity. We know it happens, but don't want to believe it.

kuaka - 2013-04-10 18:21:00

The blanket is just lovely. Sometimes I think if you want to donate just ask in your local area through the likes of kindies and preschools or even shcools if they can reccomend someone in need. Shame some spoil such kind acts of generosity.

kiwicarol - 2013-04-10 18:32:00

kuaka - I couldn't find it on Ravelry but I think I've found it on another site. Because I am a real novice at crochet, can you tell me if the instructions are for American or English crochet as I understand they are somewhat different. I can't tell whether the site I found is English or American !

pats3 - 2013-04-10 18:39:00

sorry pats3 - it's definitely on ravelry, but it's called "wool-eater blanket" not yarn-eater. It's in UK terms. Not sure if that helps you or not. It's basically only chains and what I know as double trebles, but they are mostly worked around the post of the previous one. If you are used to US terms I'm not sure what they are called, but it will be different. It was quite fun to do.

kuaka - 2013-04-10 20:11:00

Thanks for that kuaka. I have now found it on Ravelry and as it happened it came back as the same site I found before. I will just get out my old crochet book and go from there as I think that is UK. Mind you, don't know when I'll be able to do it as I have so many projects to get done - knitting and cross-stitch!

pats3 - 2013-04-10 20:48:00

I love the blanket kuaka, what a really neat pattern! I have been knitting and crocheting for 40 years and still learn something new, am going to check out the pattern... damit... I'm like pats3, so many things to create and so little time!

Edited by kiwimade64 at 7:22 am, Thu 11 Apr

kiwimade64 - 2013-04-11 07:21:00

Charity donations do not seem to go to those in real need. After the earthquakes much was sent to Christchurch for those in need. The school 2 of my grandchildren go to were given thermals by a firm, and were handed out to the students. My grandchildren's parents were certainly not 'in need' and I feel they could have gone to someone who needed them more. The same with our church who handed out jerseys for toddlers, my young granddaughter was given one and it went to the charity clothing bin..... It is better to personally donate to a family you know are in need, even if you wish to remain anonymous, leave it in the letterbox or on the doorstep.

nannymaid - 2013-04-11 08:28:00

Morning all.

I hope I haven't upset anyone saying about the premmie clothes etc. I was stunned when we were told. Mum and I used to do heaps. But it was always in the back of the mind that it might not get to where it was meant to. but when we were told it just confirmed what we had wondered.

If I ever get sick of doing the toys I will do some beanies and singlets for the plunked here.

Shopping this morning. They have beef on special. Its been soo long since we had a roast Im going to blow the budget and get a small piece lol..

I sat and knitted while watching tv last night, instead of reading. And did most of the shocking pink hair lol...

Have a good day all

popeye333 - 2013-04-11 08:36:00

I think nannymaid is quite right, and I'm going to put my charity knitting on hold for a while and do some for me instead. Winter is coming and I'm working on a sleeveless tunic for myself, I've done the back and started the front, so while I'm doing that I will have a re-think about the blankets and beanies.

kuaka - 2013-04-11 08:43:00

I've always wondered about the charity knitting too. Now that I know what has happened I am very unsure if I want to continue knitting for beanies for babies. I've given up knitting adult stuff cos it takes too long, doesn't grow fast enough and I run out of patience too quickly. I love knitting jerseys and beanies :'(

whiskey13 - 2013-04-11 09:59:00

Forgot to add that I took my knitting into work and everyone reckons I should sell it on trademe

whiskey13 - 2013-04-11 10:00:00