Knitting a jumper and making roman blinds

I know, I know, I know!!! I have more than enough projects on the go but I guess there's always a little time do do a few more.

A while ago Andrew had asked me to knit him a jumper and we'd seen some wool and pattern that we both liked but it was going to be quiet expensive and as I already have enough projects on the go we decided to leave it for now. Well.... on one of my regular shopping trips to Spotlight I saw that wool was on special so I decided to have a look. At 40% off I couldn't resist that kind of sale and brought the wool and pattern. I haven't knitted for a while and am enjoying picking up the needles again. So far I've knitted the back and part of the front. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of winter but that is going to be a big ask even for me!

My other new project is making Roman blinds for Andrew's house. I've never made them before so this will be a big challenge and hopefully one I wont mess up!
Somehow this pile of material is going to turn into 5 Roman Blinds!

Sewing up blankets for Chicks with Sticks

Just before Christmas last year I was thinking about things that I could volunteer to do in the community. I looked at a lot of different things such as dog walking for elderly people, helping deliver meals on wheels, providing administrative support for different organisation, and driving people to appointments. There were so many things that I would have been qualified to do and would have loved doing but everything required someone who was really able to guarantee that they would be able to take a person to an appointment, walk their dog or deliver meals. I felt that with my various illnesses I was not able to guarantee that I would always be available when required.
A few weeks after thinking that there really wasn't something that I could do a lady posted a request on a cafe website that I use asking for people to sew knitted squares into blankets.

I felt excited as this was something I could do and it was a way of doing some kind of volunteer work for the community.

I sent an email to the lady offering to sew up the knitted squares into blankets. My offer was accepted and I was given two huge garbage bags full of knitted squares. Some squares are big and some are small. The squares were to be sewn into a size to fit on the top of a single bed.

The lady was a member of a group called 'Chicks with Sticks' which knit blankets and sets of hats, gloves and scarves for homeless people and people in nursing homes. The group meets every week but as I work I haven't been to a meeting yet.

Chicks with Sticks website:
http://www.freewebs.com/chickswithstickseasternsuburbs/index.htm

I've now made four blankets from the larger squares. I tried to sew the squares together but have found that it was easier and neater to crochet the edges together and then crochet around the edge of the blankets to finish them off.

I'm enjoying making the blankets knowing that they will be used by people who need them and am so pleased that I have found some kind of volunteer work that I can do from home.

Putting together the smaller squares will be more of a challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with them.

Three little 'Settler girl' cardigan's finished

Yesterday I finished knitting Olivia's cardigan to match Sarah and Hannah's. I've never knitted the same pattern three times in a row and have really enjoyed knitting these cardigans for my great nieces.

As I still have Sarah and Hannah's cardigans here from the exhibition I decided to take a photo of all three together. I think the girls will look really cute in their matching cardigans.


The pattern is called 'Settler girl motif' and is one of my favourite patterns. I've knitted this pattern for different little girls over the years so with these three cardigans finished I've now knitted it 7 times.

I've enjoyed knitting the cardigans for the girls and hope they enjoy wearing them.

A Cowboy Cardigan & A Basket of Wool

I've just finished knitting this cardigan for Lachlan last week. I started the cardigan about 12 months ago just after Lachlan was born so it was good to finally finish it and send it up to him. It's taken so long I just hope it still fits him!

This cardigan is the only thing I have knitted for quite a few years now so it has been nice to get back into knitting again.

I now have started to knit a cardigan each for Sarah, Hannah and Olivia. The pattern I am knitting is called the 'Settler - Doll motif'. I think the patterns really cute so I hope the girls will like it as well.

At moment there's a big basket full of the wool ready to knit the girl's cardigans. My aim is to make sure it doesn't take me another 12 months to finish these ones.

I have started knitting the cardigans and have nearly finished the back on Sarah's so at least one of them is well on the way.

Jumpers, jumpers and more jumpers

Knitting has been a hobby since I was a little girl. My mother taught me to knit and I remember my first efforts at knitting a scarf.

One of my first jumpers was a bulky knit jumper in a blue/gray color that I knitted for myself. It was knitted on really big needles and all in stocking stitch. There was no shaping for the armhole or on the sleeves and there were no bands but it was really warm and comfortable.

Most of my knitting has been for family members and mostly for babies and children. I knitted a full layette for Megan and Jacinta before they were born and lots of jumpers as they grew up. I also knitted a fairisle sleeveless vest for Jonathon when he was a little boy and only a few jumpers for Philip as he used to complain that they were 'too itchy'.

I've always enjoyed knitting jumpers with bright colors and patterns. I used to knit jumpers for a shop and on order from friends as well as sold quite a few at a market stall. My favourite and probably the hardest jumper I have ever knitted would have to be the red jumper with peacocks in the top photo.

I don't know how many jumpers I've knitted over the years but I think I can remember most of them.