I've noticed just how much I rely on the car. Today I walked and caught the tram into the city with the girls for a doctor's appointment and then rode my bike to visit my sister...I'm shattered.
Much as I love living in the leafy green suburbs (where not even a coffee is walking distance) today would have been much easier if I lived in Fitzroy.
This map is from an old street directory picked up at the Camberwell market yesterday - so good!
It was far too fiddly really but I am chuffed with the result.
If you're a die hard you might remember I was trying to fashion myself a bracelet like this. It's been on the backburner for a good long time but certainly not forgotten.
OK so I may not have quite hit the mark but I am quite pleased with my crafty take on the theme.
I just crocheted chains of embroidery floss into chains & then attached all the separate chains to a very nifty bit of hardware I purchased at a beading supply shop.
As an aside... If you are a die hard. Thanks a million...for putting up with the drivel & offering support & encouragement when I have a "win". You're tops.
I'm calling it my beach skirt. I plan to flog it over summer. I'll sling it on over bathers when we are down the beach or at the pool.
The skirt is a really pretty shape & suits my little waist/big bum shape nicely. I did make a few modifications ... I've added press studs (snaps) instead of the tie up waistband. Perhaps that's what has taken it from party to beach...but I'm pretty chuffed with it regardless.
Absolutely everything used in the making of the pony skirt came from the op shop. Feeling pretty good about that!
It's just one of the many beautifully presented quick & easy projects in Sew La Tea Do.
WOW... lots & lots of you are pretty excited about hyperbolic crochet. Maybe you're keen to have a crack yourself? Good on you I say...
Hyperbolic crochet is all about maths! You can find out all about the formula here.
I do not have a maths brain. What I read was blah, blah, blah, blah CHAIN blah, blah blah, blah SINGLE (AU double) blah, blah, blah, blah.
What I did...
CH 2 6DC (US single) into the 2nd chain from the hook.
Then I just spiralled (out of control) 2DC (US single) into each DC (US single) repeat ...... for 2 balls of yarn. It's probably not mathematically correct but it gave the desired result. My finished hot pink number fits into my cupped hands.
Further very valuable info...
Last night I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Sew La Tea Do by Pip Lincolne. The event was fabulous, the book is fabulous & actually Pip is quite fabulous. I was thrilled to be included.
I was further thrilled when Gemma Jones told me that The Melbourne Reef is being exhibited in Upwey! I'm so totally going along to see it. They are even hosting workshops.
It will probably come as no surprise to you to know that I'm an obsessive kind of person.
I run because I made a rule. I'm a creature of habit when it comes to food & I have the same pretty drink. The recent switch to Zubrowka (the original bison grass vodka) has meant I'm enjoying it more. A bit dangerous really.
It stands to reason that our children would also have inherited a few of my obsessive qualities.
When the kids were small I wasn't much about the making of things. There were no supplies in the house. No elastic or buttons or zips or even a selection of threads. I'd packed the machine away & only dragged it out for emergencies of the obsessive kind. I made a Melody costume for the biggest when she thought she was a mermaid. I refashioned a pinny when Madeline was the go. I made running repairs to the hot pink flowergirl dress (worn by all three) & one year I made them & all their mates Puffles when they were Club Penguin mad.
One freezing June morning when the little guy was three I fashioned him a loin cloth so that he could be Tarzan. It was made using an old suede waistcoat from the dress up box & the top of a pair of red tights. The total make time would have been around ten minutes.
I found the loin cloth last night when I was doing a bit of reluctant cleaning upstairs.
I remembered that tiny (but strangely muscular) little frame leaping about the furniture, springing from sofa back to floor and crouching and stalking me around the house.
It's good to be a maker...even a speedy, fakey only in case of emergency kind.
The week out was good for my soul but not so good for the crafting.
& I've got a little confession for you...
The taking of photos has been zapping all my creative energy. I'm trying really hard...failing lots...and maybe getting better at the snapping (but still terrible at chatting to random people & taking photos in the street).
It's good to be back but I expect it'll be sporadic until the kids go back to school.
The kids have athletics today so I won't be around. I'm prepared though, I've been slowly working away on this crochet piece during swimming lessons & music lessons. It just stays in the car & when I get half an hour here & there I've got something to keep me busy.
Lovely space from last week right here.
Have a good day today everyone. I'll catch you next week.
Just as expected I like the back more than the front. I'm aching for lack of a mini clover iron & think I need to get in touch with the pigeon to get my seams looking the goods.
My original plan was to leave the edges raw. Apart from the fact that I love raw edges the quilt is an irregular shape & I frankly wouldn't have the foggiest on how to bind such a thing. I'm not entirely sure that my partner is going to get behind the rawness. So...do I forge ahead with the original plan or rethink*? Maybe I'll just go on as planned...post...& promise to replace with something a little more conventional if she hates it.
*if you say "rethink" then please point me to a tutorial for binding an irregular shaped quilt...thanks muchly.
Edit: You might want to show Pip what you're making.
This is the result of my speed crafting session yesterday. I was lucky enough to be gifted some Liberty recently. I know, I know - pea green you should be. Stylish cuff to be worn to work, out to lunch or out on the town...
& if the mood for hand piecing strikes - you're good to go.
I wonder if maybe you could wear it inside out & fix your arthritic wrists too?
The "worst" house in the best street. It's a very posh street in Canterbury & all the other houses are quite beautifully kept. I love this place.
I'm feeling heartily sick of myself & kootoyoo in general.
I feel I need a distraction & with the kids on holidays for the next couple of weeks I think it's the perfect opportunity to down the craft tools & pick up the camera. I'm noticing stuff (& hopefully I'll have the camera ready when I do).
Not all the good stuff can be clicked mind you ... on Saturday morning the kids & I actually saw the end of a rainbow. This has never happened to me before - it was magical & amazing. I shan't be sacrificing these noticings digging around in my bag for the camera.
If you feel like noticing some stuff right along with me...feel free. I'd love to have some company.
It's just absolutely freezing in Melbourne at the moment and increasingly difficult to drag myself out of bed in the 5s to run.
I am enjoying playing around with blanketing & yarn. Today I've been doing a bit of blanket tattooing (more on that later) which has been terrific fun.
I've also been thinking lots about this bolt of classic Melbourne grey (which I'm guessing is Doctor's Flannel), picked up at the Camberwell Market a couple of weeks ago. Of course, I don't know anything about Doctor's Flannel except that the softie queens use it so it must be good stuff.
A request from my sister in law & a bit of inspiration from a vintage afghan book around at Auntie Pat's & I'm off again.
I'm using op shop/thrifted yarn. It's not gorgeously soft but by gosh it's "mothproofed" - it must be good (not mother as I originally read it - thanks Tammy).
Check out the vintage price!
Look who was making something "vintage" last week. It made me think of my next doors from when I was growing up.
Don't forget to pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.
How It seems that the mulberry granny shrug has inspired a few of you to have a crack yourself. That's super exciting & exactly why this patch of web space exists. Over the weekend Lara & I have worked together to present to you the whole box & dice for the granny shrug enthusiast.
There's something for everyone. This is the master class...for lovely folk who like to follow a pattern, or maybe you need the visual (like me) or perhaps you'd like to watch a dinky video.
If you know how to make a granny square then you know how to make this shrug. Just crochet yourself a couple of lovely granny hexagons.
You can just skip over the "instructions" & make the granny exactly as you always do. Maybe you slip across to the next chain space...ripper knock yourself out. There is no "right" way to make it.
You'll just end up with a lovely curly hexagon...good, that's great...exactly what we want. Just keep checking your sizing after each round to decide when you're done.
Mine have been 9 rounds (in the Wilderness) but depending on your tension & hook size yours might be 8 or 10 or more. Keep folding the curly hex in on itself until you're confident that the fit will be right for you.
the pattern My very favourite crocheter is Lara. She's one of the reasons I picked up the hook in the first place. She likes to be good at stuff & works hard to make sure she gets things right. Well, guess what? She's written a fabulous, fabulous pattern (it might not have posted yet...be patient) for you to print & keep. And spared you all from my effort at a written explanation. Thank you Lara, you're the very best & it was lovely to share the making of the how to with you.
& the video Just so you know it was really hard to crochet standing up stradling a tripod & keeping (or trying) the crochet in the frame.
Australian/UK terminology
Yarn You've got a HUGE amount of flexibility here. You want to achieve a good deal of chunkiness & you'll just adjust your number of rounds accordingly so pick something that suits your style. I did make the suggestion the other day to use stash yarns crocheted together to make up the chunky style yourself.
I used Patons "Wilderness" 14ply. I like it...A LOT. It's a blend so purists might like to check out other options but I think it's just the perfect yarn for the job. Here's why... (& where to buy too).
OR you can have a go with 2 balls of 8 ply held together or whatever else takes your fancy. You'll just adjust your number of rounds according to tension & fit. Go nuts. Lara's using two strands of 12ply & is very happy with the result.
Hook I'd say 15mm. I'm really happy with the result I'm getting with the 15mm hook. You need it to be loose so that you get a nice drape with the finished "fabric". We're not going for sturdy here folks...we want the pretty drape.
Making Up I switched to a 2.65mm hook & just used double crochet up the centre back seam.
Then I doubled along the top sleeve seams & single crocheted along the back of the neck opening to give extra strength.
Again if you know how to do it your own way...do that. It will be great.
What, haven't had enough? Here's the steak knife! A round by round for the visual learner. How to make a granny shrugView more presentations from kootoyoo.
Other Stuff There's a flickr group. If you make a shrug we'd love to have it added to the group.
HAC class? There have been a couple of requests for a HAC class for the shrug. If you still think you need it or would like to make it up with a bunch of other girls over tea & biscuits, I'd be happy to run it over two evenings. If you're keen please email me kootoyooATgmailDOTcom & if we get enough interest we'll go ahead.
Stuff I'm getting paid for, stuff I'm doing for pleasure, cooking, knitting, sewing, stitching & hooking too. It's out of control.
Just because I have the attention span of a hyper 2 year old I borrowed this Crop-O-Dile from Cathy. I've said it before & I'll say it again. Scrap bookers have the best tools ever! This thing is amazing. Don't get too close to me or you may find yourself with a few holes punched in you!
Good stuff comes in small black boxes lined with velvet doesn't it? Well, let me tell you the thing inside this box is just about the best thing in the whole wide world. It's made by one of the cleverest people I know. It's beautiful but you'll have to come back tomorrow to see it. I promise it will be worth the click.
Don't forget to pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.
Sure, there's an odd mix of shops & businesses. I confess I've only been into the Aquarium once but it is nice to know that if I decide I do want a goldfish I don't need to go to Shoppo. That place gives me a giant headache. I hate Coles & Safeway too. So many aisles, so many bulging shelves and yet only 2 choices of flour???
Wai & Rita are the Friendly Grocers. Their supermarket has only three aisles but the range is fabulous. Choices for everything. They carry a good range of organic bits and pieces and have plenty to cater for the Gluten Free too. When my babe's were tiny I used to leave the capsule at the counter with Wai & Rita while I buzzed up & down the aisle and now Wai lets the kids scan the shopping.
Clem owns the fruitshop just as his dad did before him & probably just as his sons will after him. There's always a happy mix of organic & non. They are always up for a chat & always offer to carry your shopping to your car.
A few years ago the butcher was taken over by Ralph & Anna. I'm "Kirst" at their place. They sell organic & biodynamic meats & we chat happily about the run and the kids. If Dave is working I can be assured of hearing about how terribly the Hawks are playing & whether or not Clarko should be sacked. I'm not really a follower of the Footy but he knows The Date is. He never forgets to ask about the run, the kids or The Date's handicap.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.
All this loveliness & the added bonus of supporting my own community.
I'm a suburban local & I wouldn't have it any other way.
PS: Yesterday's soup was fabulous! The little guy said that each mouthful was just like a little corn explosion in his mouth. Too much Masterchef?
