Restless night - but the wind has dropped and all fires are under control - closest is 16kms away - sorting wool today and another thing I thought of in the wee small hours I have a box of cards and paintings the grandees have made for me over the years - that's now in the box with the photos
Hers is the river I am pinning my hopes on - we would call it a muddy old creek over home -our dog is the little black staffy - the water is so murky you can hardly see him
http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/full/300794013.jpg

gerry64 - 2014-01-20 10:54:00

Morning ladies. Thinking of you in aussie gerry64
Im struggling to get a tension swatch done on Tania's cardi. Ive been so busy, I haven't even finished that yet.
Saturday was spend out on the "ponderosa" (as my family call it) fixing a fence that came down in the Sept wild winds. And Sunday was spend weeding, giving the grapevine a haircut and making banoffee tarts for dessert after tea. Which was the last of the corned beef we got from John's sister.
Johns over on the coast this week so I can have meatloaf for tea yum yum lol.

whiskey13 - 2014-01-20 11:50:00

well I done it I bought the machine . now wait and see whats happen next .

carolev - 2014-01-20 13:01:00

What machine Carole? A quilting one? Cant remember.

Glad all is well Gerry.

You will get the knitting done Whiskey. Tania will just have to wait lol

Funny how we don't make things we like to eat, cos our men don't like it. Thankfully theres a lot MrP does like that I don't. so I make my fave things then lol

Just have to sew the hat up and put the button on it. And that's a set done.

Will do some crochet squares next, then my hooded scarf

Raining but no wind

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 13:09:00

wahooooo carole, you won't know yourself! Hope you got a good trade in for your old machine!

Thinking of you gerry64, hope things are going your way!

Am having giggle at 'ponderosa', we call our place that too lol. Guess it shows our age!

Would love to know what the Furry One was dreaming about earlier - his little legs were going like crazy and lots of little barks all in his sleep.

have finished the corner to my cross stitch, so that's two done! This time no unpicking. A little bit of back stitching on the border to do and then I'll start the border down the right hand side to the middle. The more stitching I get done, the better it looks. Am quite chuffed.

happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 14:15:00

did not use any to trade as I am going to start teaching poor people to sew using all my machines

carolev - 2014-01-20 15:15:00

A lovely idea Carole... People need to be taught sewing as well as knitting ,perhaps crochet and proper cooking and preserving.
Wouldn't be as much of a throw away society if we taught people to re-use and make themselves.
Love it when the stitch comes together Kiwimade. when it starts to look like something not just the stitches.

Ive finished the hat so that's a wee outfit for next door.

Am back to the crochet now. Have the ends to sew in one and Ill have 10 done. So much for my plans of 2 a day hahaha. Ill catch up this week tho.

Roast flutterbied chicken for tea, Yummmmm

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 16:06:00

hope all our knitters in Wellington and surrounding areas aren't too shaken up! Text son and he is OK, but did say the shake was a 'real doozy mum'.

I've been using that 'magic knot' on my peggy squares and omg the difference it makes :) No more sewing in ends except for the one when I finish... just awesome. I need to buy a main colour - seems crazy when I'm trying to reduce my stash lol but it needs one colour to combine everything. In the meantime, I just plod away in the evenings and can blat out a few while watching TV.

happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 17:35:00

Magic Knot? do tell Kiwimade?

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 17:49:00

Well Ill be Blowed... What a brilliant idea.. Will be doing that from now on too.
I can see how it would save heaps of time when doing peggy squares in various colours.
Dam there's some clever people out there.

Just had a tu-tu with some wool. Brilliant...

Edited by popeye333 at 6:22 pm, Mon 20 Jan

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 18:09:00

yep, pretty clever huh? I just love it and use it all the time now. Perfect for these little peggy squares when I'm chopping and changing wool/yarn!

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 18:22:00

Yeah that's why I googled after you said about it. Cos Ive got four changes in my squares.
Over time it would even save wool

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 18:24:00

not just wool, time too.

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 18:26:00

kiwimade64 wrote:

yep, pretty clever huh? I just love it and use it all the time now. Perfect for these little peggy squares when I'm chopping and changing wool/yarn!

Silly question Kiwimade. But can you email me? I think I finally found the notifier on my email which went missing ages ago. And I don't have any others online lol

popeye333 - 2014-01-20 18:26:00

I'm also addicted to the magic knot now - there seems to be something new to learn regarding knitting all the time, whatever did we do before facebook and youtube!!

jayemtoo - 2014-01-20 20:21:00

popeye... you have mail!

I know jayemtoo, I guess we learned from others but it was difficult for me as Mum didn't knit and my grandmother who taught me, lived in the South Island. I kinda had to wing it for a very long time!

Edited by kiwimade64 at 9:21 pm, Mon 20 Jan

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 21:18:00

I had been doing a similar knot ...well more like a reef knot, right over left then left over right but didn't realise how strong it was and was weaving ends in. I have now done 2 changes using the magic knot and am very pleased with it. :) I am heading to Te-Atatu Peninsula for the day tomorrow so might not pop in here.
Just realised that my brother will be driving so I can take my knitting :)

grandmasue1 - 2014-01-20 21:20:00

jayemtoo wrote:

I'm also addicted to the magic knot now - there seems to be something new to learn regarding knitting all the time, whatever did we do before facebook and youtube!!

I taught CaroleV how to turn corners on her 10 stitch blanket on Skype.
Mind you she in turn figured out why mine wasn't sitting flat.

grandmasue1 - 2014-01-20 21:22:00

What's a magic knot?
How wide is the river, I can't see the other side of it Gerry?

armin59 - 2014-01-20 21:25:00

here you go armin :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nq_7EXTWHE

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-20 21:47:00

morning girls. had a night where I coun't sleep so sat there knitting till 2am
guess it's excitement about my new machine coming at 9am. when things get into your head it keeps me awake raining here but we need it,.

carolev - 2014-01-21 07:25:00

morning ladies :) very exciting carole! I love new 'gadgets', I bet you spend the whole day (and more) with scrap fabric experimenting with the stitches lol. I know I'd be doing that lol.

Raining here now too. Was raining in the paddock across the road and not here for a while but the rain has finally crossed the road. Wonder if it looked both ways lol.

Have a trade to post today and made another sale last night so things are moving on the trade side of things. Having MrK's SCUBA gear sold gives us a bit more space in the spare room too.

Will stitch today and crochet for a bit too. Seems a good day to plod away with things.

happy knitting :) (or sewing lol)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-21 07:50:00

Weather wasn't as bad yesterday as we had expected, but it was good to stay home and get a few chores done instead of trekking out to the boat - the work on the boat would be so much easier if we didn't have to keep travelling to and fro, but not really possible 'cos wet glue and pussy cat aren't a good mix! Not sure what the weather will do today, it's very thundery looking in the distance but blue sky above us. Still have some chores to do, and have to do the final shop before we cast off, and I've just received the wireless modem which I bought on here a week ago last Sunday. I paid the same evening and the payment would have been received immediately as we're both with the ASB. Sent my address that night and then Thursday afternoon I get an email asking for my physical address as it's coming by courier. Arrived this morning. Think it's a bit slow, but it will be good to get it working (if it does!!!) so I don't have to sit at the desk all the time to use the laptop.

Going to do some sewing today - I have to put the final straps and click-things on the mizzen sail cover, and fingers crossed it fits. Bit of guesswork as the sail isn't on the boom and I tried to remember how big it is. Knowing my luck it won't fit properly. Too bad.

I've sorted out some more knitting to take away with me, I'm determined not to spend the whole of my holiday with a paintbrush in my hand, and I'm also determined not to run out of wool while I'm away.

I've had a look at the magic knot and it looks amazing. I tried it but obviously didn't get it quite right, so I'm going to do it a couple of times with the video playing in front of me. That way I can't go wrong, and once I've done it a couple of times I should be able to remember it.

Have a great day everyone. Happy knitting/sewing/stitching.

kuaka - 2014-01-21 08:30:00

Morning Everyone.
Raining and warm here. the house is finally cooling down from being shut up over night. 73% humidity .. yuck.
Thanks for the email Kiwimade. Its not working. so I might email them and ask if they have stopped doing it.

Love the magic knot. It took me a few goes to get it right. But saves soo much sewing in on ends on the peggy squares. Just figuring out how long to make it is taking a bit of work. too short and I cant get to where I want the colour to change lol.
But It sure is clever.

Ohh Carole I bet your getting excited... Bet we don't see much of you today lol.

Fingers crossed for the Sail Kuaka...

Feeling a bit off today , so will just have a quiet one.

Have a good day everyone

popeye333 - 2014-01-21 08:53:00

I had the video running while I tried it kuaka and that worked for me. You can stop and start it or go back if the tutor is going too fast.

Hope that sail fits kuaka!

About to have a cuppa and do some stitching.

happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-21 09:42:00

Lovely here this morning -still smoky but only 22 deg -the cats on his electric blanket -only supposed to get to 32 so that's good -very envious of you kuaka sailing away somewhere -miss the smell of the sea-
Sorted all my wool yesterday -some of it I look at and can only wonder what I thought I was going to make out of it
Carole what is the secret for keeping the blanket flat -mine certainly isn't
Armin -there is about another metre of ankle deep water to the other edge where that girl is standing -is only a creek I reckon

gerry64 - 2014-01-21 11:52:00

I wish Id known about the magic knot years ago lol. Thinking of all the sewing in. Even just in the toys lol.

Glad things have eased over there Gerry. The river looks like a handy place when hot.
I know what you mean about looking at your wool wondering what you were thinking when you got it. I have two lots of chunky wool which Ive had for ages, cos it was cheap at spotlight. Finally I know what thickness they are and have needles and patterns to use it now.
But the peggy squares are being done first.

Grrr.. My face is burning away and my fingers are freezing.. dam homones lol

popeye333 - 2014-01-21 12:36:00

when I come home popeye will enjoy participating in your yarn swap - mind you one lot of horse poo green with orange fleck really might struggle to find itself another home

gerry64 - 2014-01-21 13:11:00

Have just been to craft group at Knit World Christchurch. The shop is being renovated and repaired for 6 months and we had nowhere to go on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I rang the Public Library which is two blocks down Peterborough St and asked if they could accommodate us. Yay, the nice lady said yes, fantastic now we can keep going. Or at least the others can because I will probably get called into relieve at school. Come and join us if you want.

armin59 - 2014-01-21 13:38:00

Lol Gerry... interesting colour description, perhaps you could Gumtree it before you leave. And get something nicer here.

Great News Armin. We don't have anything like that here. Sometimes its nice to have a knit and natter. And maybe with demonstrations.
I only group I know of is at the rest home.

Right back to my hook now

popeye333 - 2014-01-21 13:45:00

well I been playing with my new toy . it cuts the cotton off so no ends lieing around, very quite and so smooth. love it and I only made 1 dress so far

carolev - 2014-01-21 13:52:00

I used to sew in factories Carole. Many years ago before they started the Chinese imports.
I was the first to trial the auto cut off and stop machine just out in the factory. It had a sensor light that when you got to the end of the fabric it reversed and cut off. Was fantastic.
I could put over 60 pockets on in an hour. No one else got the machine till I left lol.
Loved sewing in factories. they trialled me on all the machines. the one here was a jeans factory. I learnt to do everything -except put the fly in and the dome on.
Only machine I didn't like was the twin needles. I kept going cross eyed lol. yet on the elasticator with 5 needles I was fine. Was the only person who liked using the blind hemmer too.
I miss those days

popeye333 - 2014-01-21 16:06:00

I worked in a sewing factory too but I was the end of line inspector then I deliver them to Auckland , was the good old days , this new machine dose every thing with a beep or a bell. if you try to sew without lowing the foot a bell rings, it plugs into the PC , well good morning girls. got a lot done on blanket only 2 sides to go and I will be finished done 12 rounds then, nice day here so far , I am going to start up knitting and sewing classes for ladies.

carolev - 2014-01-22 06:35:00

morning :) wow wow wow carole, the machine sounds awesome. And knitting and sewing classes are a great idea.

Our daughter posted a pic on her FB page yesterday of a wee jacket she had sewed Maddy, a bit wobbly with the sewing but she's learning! Am quite chuffed she is learning to sew. I'll take down some of my sewing bits and bobs for her next week on our way to Wellington. She's loving it and is wondering why she didn't learn years ago! lmaooo.... it was the perfect 'I told you so' moment! Son commented after her pic asking if it was a hint for "Mum to sew clothes for Maddy''.... ommgggg did she bite lol. The two of them get on so well and banter back and forth all the time.

Have a trade to send off today, garden to weed - the rain has been great for the plants but has encouraged the weeds to grow too and maybe some stitching or knitting/crochet later.

happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-22 07:53:00

Morning everyone.
Oh Carole it sounds wonderfull. I love that your starting classes. I used to teach Thai girls how to cook Kiwi food. It was fun.
I started them on the most important ting.. Pav lol... Didn't tell them till the following week its one of the things people can muck up the most.

Lol Kiwimade at your son and Daughter sparring. Good when they have a relationship like that.I must ring my bro, I keep thinking to do it and get side tracked.
I spent a couple of hours late yesterday winding wool. Those 400 gram Rosies Wools from the warehouse are like birds nests. I work from the inside of the ball.
I got sick of the tangles so decided to rewind it all in one session and get it sorted. All done and no waste.
Taking MrP back to the drs, the meds have not helped his rash as all. Only thing they have done is put his sugar up soo high that the tester cannot read them so they are in the 30's.
Ill start my scarf, so I can take it with me. I don't want to be taking crochet when I have to change the colours.

Have a good Day everyone

popeye333 - 2014-01-22 08:35:00

Good Morning from a relatively cool Bathurst - only 29 -had a good look at my awful greenish wool last night - I obviously bought it as it is made in the Shetland Islands so sat last night and knitted four beanies - will take them to the homeless shelter -they are always asking for warm clothes in the winter -I still have 12 balls left so might do some fingerless gloves - it is soft wool could find a simple sock pattern

gerry64 - 2014-01-22 13:17:00

That's a nice Idea Gerry re the beanies. Im sure they will be very much appreciated.

Dr still not 100% sure whats up with MrP's rash. Hes done bloods. Once they are in we will know if he will have to go into hospital so they can check all his meds and if they are making him react. only thing that has changed is the increases of insulin. I still recon that's what it is..
Time will tell.

Its muggy, and I have sinus.. I'm a bundle of joy today lol

popeye333 - 2014-01-22 15:38:00

Great Carole re your new machine and that your daughter is getting into sewing Kiwimade. I used to sew for sister's children but once they turned into teenagers they got too fussy - somehow an aunts ideas of what is good to wear isn't a teenagers lol. Now prefer knitting and the nieces are more than happy for their little ones to wear my knitting and as they are still pre schoolers they aren't too fussy yet,

Off for a few days tomorrow so knitting all sorted, computer bag sorted and ready for the laptop, food and supplies all sorted. Tomorrow I'll start thinking about what clothes I need - got my priorities right I think :)

Hope they get Mr P's rash diagnosed Popeye rashes can be so difficult to find just what causes them at times.

jayemtoo - 2014-01-22 20:53:00

morning girls, got washing on beds made getting ready for sewing. hope MR P will be ok not nice with high sugars, the days are getting shorter again getting up to lights on. got to a corner on blanket so just 2 sides to go.

carolev - 2014-01-23 06:24:00

morning ladies :) I'm off outside in a few minutes, the wind is playing havoc with my garden and I need to stake up the delphiniums and dahlias.

A few days away sounds lovely jayemtoo, and yep, looking at your list, I would say you have your priorities right lol.

Hope MrP gets sorted popeye, he must be getting pretty frustrated by now.

I guess we won't see carole in here much today lol, she'll be having fun with her new machine. Not that I blame her, I would be doing the same!

Happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-23 08:20:00

Morning everyone..
Yeah MrP is getting frustrated but he said this morning Mark the dr is onto it. Nice that hes feeling happy with the dr.
Yup I reckon Carole will be hiding in that sewing room, every so often there will be a wee giggle when shes discovered something new lol
Jayem I agree you have things in the right order. Have a nice time

Thankfully my head / sinus is a lot clearer. Yesterday was the worst Ive had it in ages.

MrP is going to stay home this morning incase the plumber comes to check the toilet.
Ill nip up and get the few groceries we need. Getting minimum today, incase we have trips to the hospital.
Have done 24 squares on the blanket now. And about 10 inches on the scarf.
Well ill get moving.. have a good day all

popeye333 - 2014-01-23 08:40:00

holy moly it's windy out there, and not even a nice warm wind either. The garden feels like it hasn't had rain for months even though we had a couple of days rain. Didn't make any difference.

Stitching this afternoon :)

happy knitting.

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-23 12:07:00

Hi guys.Just giving you an update.
I got a phone call from the papanui police yesterday, saying they had just recieved a box of lost and found items from Northlands mall and my wallet was in it.
Someone had picked it up and handed it in but customer service NEVER contacted me, because they were too lazy to check their computer to match my discription of the wallet with what was handed in.
I spend $120 replacing bank cards and drivers licence (needed a new birth certificate before i could do so, $26) all because of a person who "couldn't be bothered" to do their job.
So much for customer "service".
Absolutely NOTHING was missing out of it, but still i would have thought at that time of year they would have made some form of effort to find the owner.
Anyway, thanks for all your kind words. I do have my wallet back.
Now to email the Mall Manager and lay a complaint as per police suggestion.

whiskey13 - 2014-01-23 12:23:00

meant to add popeye, your sinus' sound like me the other day... just awful... took all day even with antihistimines, nasal spray and good old vicks!

Wow whiskey, I would be pretty peeved too at that! Amazing though nothing was taken.

kiwimade64 - 2014-01-23 12:40:00

Oh that's good news Whiskey, well that you have it back.. So you have mums photo?
Tad slack on the workers end.. And Id be laying a complaint too. If they had done their job you wouldn't be out of pocket. but also the principle too, they should be doing their job properly.

Have sorted my patterns this morning, got a couple of extra clear files. So is much easier to find them now

Windy here too...Im about to put something with sleeves on

popeye333 - 2014-01-23 12:42:00

another cool morning - yay -
You would think the mall would hand wallets straight to the police if they didn't want to handle it themselves -
Gave the rest of my yuk green wool to a couple of old ladies - twins actually 83years of age that have never lived apart - they are going to knit it up for the homeless -they tell me they love knitting but cant afford to buy wool anymore since they had an aircon fitted - which would be right -so I shall share my stash of rejects

gerry64 - 2014-01-23 12:44:00

kiwimade64 wrote:

meant to add popeye, your sinus' sound like me the other day... just awful... took all day even with antihistimines, nasal spray and good old vicks!

Wow whiskey, I would be pretty peeved too at that! Amazing though nothing was taken.

Yeah it was horrible. I remembered I had some antihistamines from when I had hives. so took one of those. Will take them for a couple of days and hopefully it will go away lol

popeye333 - 2014-01-23 12:52:00

gerry64 wrote:

another cool morning - yay -
You would think the mall would hand wallets straight to the police if they didn't want to handle it themselves -
Gave the rest of my yuk green wool to a couple of old ladies - twins actually 83years of age that have never lived apart - they are going to knit it up for the homeless -they tell me they love knitting but cant afford to buy wool anymore since they had an aircon fitted - which would be right -so I shall share my stash of rejects

What Part of Aussie are you in Gerry?
Nice Idea giving the wool to the twins. I often get bags of rewound wool from the oppy and take it up to the rest home for their knitting group.

We have twins here that are 105 I think it is this year. they live apart. Both in their own homes and still going strong.

popeye333 - 2014-01-23 12:55:00

been sewing had a great time also did some more knitting

carolev - 2014-01-23 18:44:00

Glad you have had a good day Carole.

My day seems to have whizzed by.

The only thing I have achieved craft wise is one Peggy square and I've weighed and counted how many squares I will get out of the wool to make the Peggy square blanket. Its going to be close, but if I have to I can crochet it together with white rather than the red, cos white will be easier to match.

Right I better get off here and fill our pill containers then back to the needles.
Have a good night all

popeye333 - 2014-01-23 18:59:00