Lotus Spring Cardi - Ta-dah!

Ok I can't remember if I even mentioned I was knitting this one...but I did....so here it is......Ta dah.....

The plan was to crochet some bright coloured flowers and add them to the front panels, however, I did not have any bright coloured wool to use so I opted for the lamb buttons instead .......

and just one little flower on the bottom........... 

What do you think? I am pretty pleased with it......

And No...I did not block it this time...I was far too impatient to get it finished. 

The wool is from Bendigo Woollen Mills (link in my sidebar) - Luxury 8ply in Lotus 322, it was extremely squishy and soft and most lovely to knit with. Used about 2/3 of the ball. 

The pattern is FREE from Playmouth Yarn (click here to find it) and was very easy to follow. Knitted from the neck down it is a great pattern for beginners. Too easy! I think this particular little cardigan has limitless possibilities for decorations too. 

The flower: made up on the spot. Ch3, join (sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc,hdc,sc) in to circle 5 times with a slipstitch between each. Sew button in centre. 

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxo

Dream a little dream........

.......Of Eucalyptus and leaves...... I so love the smell of the bush when the rains have just stopped and the leaves are all emitting such a gorgeous clean smell. Although the winter season is finally leaving us behind and the smells are more of wattle now. 

This project was started at the tail end of Winter, the beginning of Spring when the smell of Eucalyptus was strong in the air. And how could I resist buying some yummy yarn which was aptly named Eucalyptus in colour? 

I chose a pattern that once on the go would be easy to knit as a sideline project and not too quick to finish so I would always have something to do. The wool is 5ply so very fine and while I do so love the feel of the wool I am a little unhappy with my choice of an all in one knit as the round needles are not so friendly on my hands. This has come as a bit of a shock to me as when I was younger, round needles were my absolute favourite. Its just that my hands are finding it hard to hold the tension. stiff joints you know? Ah well, considering that, I am still chugging along with it and my daughter tells me she cannot see a thing wrong. I of course CAN........but imperfection seems to be the norm lately round here. LOL 

I am up to the sleeves now and in the process of trying to decide what to knit next. I know I chose a few projects earlier but I don't have the pattern yet for one of them and I keep looking at all this wool and thinking to myself......You really need to learn to choose the pattern first woman! BEFORE you buy the wool!  Really you do! Ha Ha!

Now that would be the sensible way to do it! But who ever said I was sensible? Hmmmm

Hugs and smoochies all! 

Have a beautiful day!

X O X 

Daisy Melon - a little Ta-dah......

I finally got around to putting the finishing touches on my Daisy Melon cardigan. I probably should have pulled back the flower and remade it as the cotton used was a bit iffy but I was a bit over it so did not bother. 

I kind of like the wonky look of it anyway so am keeping it for a sample unless one of my friends claims it in a hurry. The pattern was easy to follow and I learned something new. "How to make I-cords". In all my years of knitting I have never come across them in a pattern I have used. Such a simple, effective idea! 

Next time also, I think I will sew the stem further in so it pulls the fronts overlapping. Hindsight is a wonderful thing hey? LOL Overall, not bad for a little project made from two small balls of gifted wool and scraps!!!!! 

Ashlee creates........

My oldest daughter Ashlee has entered a competition online and would be most grateful if you could take the time to vote for her dress. She designed the dress herself, made the pattern and sewed it using fabrics from Spotlight who are hosting the competition. She also made the flowers for the wreath headband that she is wearing. Its a little hard to see the fabric in the picture but it is very Christmassy indeed. 

The competition is hosted on Facebook, so anyone with an account can enter and/or vote. If you would like to vote for Ashlee you just need to click the vote button and your vote will be registered. For some reason on some browsers, it won't work. In that case, click on the "like" button first and then vote. Too easy! 

Here is the link to the page.....   Spotlight competition.

We would be most grateful if you could find it in your heart to vote for our beautiful creative girl! 

Much love, hugs and smoochies xoxoxox

Pattern pinching.......LOL

I forgot to mention, that my bargain shopping at the school fair the other day, also found me buying a rather old looking baby blanket which had a few marks on it and even some fraying in the border. Cost = again only $1. 

Now why would I buy this I wonder? Well, I remembered that frogged purple and white child's jumper that is sitting in my craft room surrounded by plenty of left over wool and immediately thought.....ooooh....I can make this for my next one a day project. 

I just need to copy the pattern and I'm sorted. So after two washes.... yes, it took a bit of elbow work to get it clean. I found a lovely babies blankie underneath which I will give away once I have mended it and am finished with my pattern pinching! 

The blanket while looking quite nice is made from a yucky acrylic yarn. Not as soft as I would prefer for a baby,  but would be a nice lap rug for an older toddler or child. It has a few random white squares at one end. So I can just imagine the frustration at running out of the pink wool. It must have been a join as you go project as one would have thought the white squares could have been placed strategically so they looked like they belonged???? Who knows? Someone obviously put a lot of love and effort into this blanket so I will make sure it gets plenty more love in its lifetime! 

What creations are you planning for this week? 

Love and Light

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox

Score...........

I should probably stay away from second hand books for a while. I mean really, I am getting quite a stash happening and am not sure I will ever be able to use them all. 

Of course though, whilst visiting the local school fair, I could not help but notice these lovelies piled amongst the old toys and books. And I mean REALLY would you leave them there when they were only $1 each and the two hard cover books were brand spanking new inside like they had never even been read? 

No? Me either! The one on the left is one I have wanted to buy for a while but never got around to buying, so I was pretty chuffed to find it there to say the least. The middle one is full of lacy loveliness. With loads of lace collars and edging ideas. My fingers are itching with excitement! 

The last book was purchased with the thought of me finally getting around to trying embroidery. Well Im not sure when I will find the time but I am hoping to get around to it ONE DAY! If not there are plenty of other needlework things to do in there. :-) 

I also bought this cook book as it has loads of yummy sweet recipes and even a few interesting food ones. I have been planning for ages to have a go at making one of those altered books but thus far have not had the heart to do it. 

I am such a book lover that the thought of tearing out pages, covering them with glue and such, kind of puts me off. However, I am all for the idea of having a book that is FULLY useful. I have so many recipe books that go largely unused and numerous favourite recipes on pieces of paper or online that I would love to put together in ONE book. So its going to happen eventually, as soon as I get my head around it. And of course find a spare 100 hours or so. :-)

My knitting and crochet projects are coming along well this week. There has been knitting in the car, even though I said I would not do that again. My first One a Day project is almost complete and I have been working on the little Melon Daisy cardigan too. Will try and do a picture update soon. 

What have you been up to this week? 

Hugs and smoochies all xoxoxox

Love Karisma

Tuesday Tally No. 8

Hello my lovelies! 

I can't believe its Tuesday already! Well, actually I can, its been such a busy week and now instead of presenting you with my big Ta-dah, which was the plan, I am once again giving a little update as my "blanket" (insert cheeky smiley face)  and  myself did not really have much time for each other this week. 

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments last week. I honestly did not think that many of you thought I was making a blanket! I have to admit though that I can see why you did. My daughter was quite horrified with the fact that it is not a blanket after all as she also thought it was a lovely blanket but she is not so sure about one wearing it! Ewww mum! 

This project, much like my life this year has not always gone as planned. First, I could not get the wool I wanted, then the colours were not working the way I wanted. Of course when I got to the joining stage I realised this "blanket" was not as long as I thought it was going to be! This was the first thing that really irked me! I was hoping it would reach down below my knees and I probably should have made an extra row of squares. But then I realised that the picture in my book has in fact cut off the bottom of the models legs so I have made it right anyway.  I have to admit to wondering whether it would pull down once the rows at the bottom were added. It did not!!! Oh well. I made it myself and I shall wear it with pride! (or with a whole lot of love anyway! :-)) 

Have you guessed what it is yet? Im sure some of you are just thinking OMG she is NOT going to wear that is she? LOL   But as I have often been likened to a tree with my choice of clothing colours, I most certainly am! Its not a jacket, or a poncho, but it is an item of clothing! And if it turns out half decent, I might just make another one in a longer style with less colours! :-) 

Hopefully by next week I will have finished off all the edging and can take some pictures for you! For now, go on over to Gingerbread girls house and see what everyone else is up to!  

Have a wonderful craft filled week. Take care!

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox