Knitting projects

I've finally finished the 12-pointed knitted ball (pattern here) that was sent around a while ago. I followed the pattern to the letter, even though I questioned one step. I don't think my points are as pointy as the picture on the pattern (so if any of you try it, put another four rows of plain in before the final decrease). *sigh* My points are rounder than they should be, and what with my choice of coloured yarn, they look like breasts. Great!

So, behold the Booby-Ball.

The other knitting project I've had on the go was the baby jumper made from lovely soft bamboo/cotton yarn. It's lovely to knit with, however as always I hated sewing it up. Well, my high school friend's baby has arrived - a boy called Henry - and so I've had incentive to finish the damn thing. All done, packed and posted :) Phew.


Last night I started a pair of glittens for me. Yay for warm fingers, but being able to turn pages in rehearsals :)

We won't mention the socks I'm knitting...

Recent activities in Gondwanaland

I hosted another small group last week, with just Princessi Rosie, Eleri, Viv and myself in attendance. I think we ate just about enough for the entire group, what with all the yummy pasta salad (mmm, avocadoes and cherry tomatoes) and apple crumble we consumed.

After rolling into the lounge room to stitch, Princess Viv "show-and-tell"ed her recent creations:
The Christmas tree with corny advent jokes.

Christmas stockings for Princess Viv's mini prince and princesses, with hand felted designs on them

And a lovely shimmery set of wings, modelled here by the Eleri-fairy (couldn't help it!! Sorry).

Then Princess Viv studiously worked on her Christmas wall hanging, cutting out the backing and laying out the applique stars for ironing on.

Princess Eleri unfortunately had to come straight from work, so was without stitching for the evening. Luckily Princess Rosie had a job for her and set her to work starting to knit stripy triangles to make into a scarf for her brother.

Meanwhile brave Princess Rosie overcame her fears and sewed in the zipper on Prince Brian's sweater. I've sent her some photos for a blog entry all of its own.

I'd hurt my back that morning so I wasn't really up for much stitching, so I just sat around and helped Princess Rosie use my ancient sewing machine. I did show off the dresses I'd made for my girls to wear to their grandfather's 70th birthday party.

Stitching at the House on the Hill

Right, no extra-fancy formatting this time! (stoopid formatting - gah!)

Stitchery was held at my place last week, and we were a full contingent bar Princess Eleri, who was sadly missed :( Hopefully she will be in attendance next week.

For the regal supper we consumed quiche, pasta salad, and pasta-salad-minus-the-pasta for the non-wheaten-types. Princess Rosie provided a bottle of wine at Prince Brian's insistence (we don't mind, thanks Prince Brian!), and at Princess Viv's request, Princess Kate had baked a Lumberjack cake for dessert. It was served with fresh ripe yummy strawberries.

Prince Bron arrived home unexpectedly early from choir rehearsal, and the well trained lad proceeded to make hot drinks for us all. Much hilarity ensued when he asked Princess Rebecca "And how do you like your chai?"...

We're all going well on our projects:

Honorary Feline Princess Lillian finished pinning her quilt sandwich together and decided that it was time to curl up and relax for the rest of the evening.

I think it passed the comfort test :)

Princess Bek started reading the Quilting Bible to decide how to proceed with the cat cot quilt she's making for her colleague's soon-to-arrive baby. It's made donated from scraps, including cat hair generously donated by HFP Lill.

Princessi 2Cs and Rosie worked hard on their knitting projects: Princess Rosie has very nearly finished the simian jumper with the extra-long sleeves and a (metric) bazillion stitches per row. It is so heavy and warm!

Princess 2Cs was knitting a wrap from snuggly soft warm wool. It starts at a point at the back and then separates into two parts to go over the shoulders.

Princess Emily continued working on her sheepie quilt - I don't think this square is a zombie though! Princess Jocelyn supervised ;)

Princess Alana industriously worked away at her jumper for Prince Ed. The back is complete and she is now about half-way through the front. Yay! It should be ready for next winter at this rate!

Poor Princess Viv the injured sat enthroned in the arm chair and continued knitting her jumper. It's for herself! A lovely soft and thick wool, great for getting through faster. She's also finished the back and is a good way through the front - ready to wear next winter as well.

Princess Kate decided that using her sewing machine was way too noisy for the number of people in her cosy lounge room, so kept working on her knitting instead. Her yarn was coming close to running out, so she started on the ribbing - but then did as much ribbing as was needed and still had plenty of yarn left. So after the Princessi had departed that night, she pulled out all the ribbing she'd knitted that evening and continued knitting the sock in the pattern.

This afternoon I finished the socks!! I completed the ribbing with what yarn I had left (with about 6cm of yarn left after casting off - perfect!), and when I compared it to the first sock, I saw that the second sock is only about three rows shorter.


Everyone, make sure you're seated...

I'm leaving it like that, with one sock three rows longer than the other. Shocking, I know :P