yarning in the wind

It's. Really. Windy. Outside.

Joining in with Ginny for her Yarn Along: reading Bob Graham picture books, they have so, sooo much heart! and great urban characters and dogs! In his bio, Bob says he likes the sound of dog's ears flapping. When I read his stories to my youngins, I always get the feeling I would like to be this author's friend! I also feel the stories are set in my neighbourhood.
On the yarn side of life, plodding away at Hitch!! Still!
And also crocheting some samples for a session with the Class 5 children, who are just learning how to crochet. Big thick 16ply wool with 6mm crochet hooks.

See a Sami face peeking out next to a lovely card from Lori (snail mail! yay!)

 I also had an inspiration to alter a cardigan I never wore simply because it was a bit gapey with the snap closures and also a bit short, and my kidneys just have to be warm! So! I sewed up the front to make it a pullover and picked up stitches along the rib bottom to add a garter stitch bottom! It's a bit of an experiment, and I'm also going to throw in some short rows at the back so as to get it longer at the back. The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mill Rustic 8ply in charcoal.

And we are madly all listening to The Mae Trio's new CD! Gorgeous young women from Castlemaine. Delicious harmonies, songs so fresh and full of heart and gentle humour.

Needles and Hooks and the Launch of a Local

In Class 5 in Steiner/Waldorf schools in Australia, the children start crochet. (Rudolf Steiner actually indicated that it should begin in Class 2, but in Australia, we knit English style, with the yarn held in the right hand. If you knit European style, with the yarn held in the left, transitioning to crochet is much easier. Therefore, in Australia, we wait until Class 5) After years of knitting, they are ready for a new challenge, and in my experience they really love it!
They often make a bag, and in my daughter's case, a backpack for school. My daughter then decided to make a little one for her little brother! Sweet!
I've started another one in rainbow colours. Double crochet all the way with 16ply wool and a 7mm crochet hook.

 We have had busy hands around here, having launched a project involving sixteen 11/12 year olds and twenty-three skeins of Peace Fleece . we are making a blanket for a beloved teacher of six years, but sssshhhh, it's a secret.

 There's a bit of fair isle, intarsia and one colour patterns. Lovely!

And on my needles is a special cowl just for me me me!!!

The pattern is the Dovetail Cowl by Carina Spencer, and I'm knitting it with some divine yarn from Tanis Fibre Arts 

Orange Label Cashmere Silk and Merino

Worsted weight

Colour: Sand (It's very silver, with a tiny but very strong speck of yellow occasionally)

And finally, I am very, very  excited to have in my possession the newly released US edition of Melbourne writer Anna Branford's most splendid book, Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot!!!
What I like about the illustrator for this edition, Elanna Allen, is the fact that there are loads of knitted stitches in her drawings!

Here's Anna herself with the delightful little tome in hand!

Congratulations Anna!!

May many many American children enjoy discovering your delicious little free thinker, Violet!

Folk bag!!

Finally I have finished my darling nine year old girl's birthday bag! Using 16 ply pure wool, which the children in Class 5 use for their crochet projects, I started with a circle, then kinda curled it up to make a great big bag! Add a flap, some lined straps (so they don't stretch to billy-o), a flower to cover up the messy crochet improvising and some light denim lining with a zippered gingham , and you have a FABULOUS FOLK BAG!! Ready for school! ravelled here
Hooray!

{this moment}

 

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

inspired by SouleMama 

on the needles

In Class 5 in the Steiner/Waldorf school the children learn to crochet. I haven't crocheted since I was nine! There is something strangely addictive about the quickly growing piece. My Class 5 girl noted that crochet sparked an unprecedented fervent passion for Craft among the boys in her class! With 16 ply (bulky) wool, it doesn't take terribly long to see result and the freedom to shape and add things onto your work at whim must be exciting for the children.
I'm making a school backpack for my chicken number 2, who desperately wanted one after seeing her sister's creation.

 

 

Ravelled here

On the knitting needles I have Vitamin D, by Heidi Kirrmaier, using the splendid and lushy Madelinetosh Pashmina in the Cloak colourway, which is a dark graphite/black with oh so subtle lilac wash through it. I am so loving this fun pattern, yet can't wait to get it off the needles and onto my back!!

Woolly Comfort

To ward off the post-holiday blue funk, I have headed straight to the crochet bag, making flowers like a maniac, a bit like one might attack a packet of tim-tams on a cold lonely winter night! But how very much more rewarding!
I have finally finished embellishing Little Chicken's knitted winter hairband with a luscious flower, which pleased her very much. And knitted a few more "just in case" flowers. I have also repaired a poor jumper, a gorgeous hand-knitted red op shop score with a too-tight neck. I cut the knitting!!! An ungodly act, which I have hopefully reseemed myself for by crocheting intensely around the whole neckline to repaitr. I will see how long this lasts!