Thanks but never again

I started this knitted dress for my daughter over a year ago and it's been an on-again, off-again love affair. During the process, I've discovered I'm a very slow knitter or perhaps an unmotivated knitter. But when my poppet kept growing taller and taller and taller, I thought I'd better get my proverbial skates on and finish the dress before she outgrew it!

There were only three balls of this delicious yarn in my stash and seeing as how they are hand dyed, I wouldn't be able to get another ball to match. So I took the project with me on our Easter holidays to Blanchetown and knit away furiously by the river, being watched bemusedly by our friends who are definitely not craftily minded. Funnily enough, the blokes got quite excited when I got to casting off and queued up to watch me knit the final stitch!

Suffice to say, I'll not attempt such a large knitted garment again. I'm a fast crocheter but a slow knitter. I've enjoyed the process but being short on time, I'm always happier with a quick finish project! On Ravelry here.

With only three weeks to go till my second Lollipop Market stall, I thought some vintage style boys hats would be a nice addition to the Silly Gilly stock. Here's the first test run, made from courdroy and lined with a cotton. This is a super cute hat made with a pattern by Butterfly Tree. Fully reversible and quick to make. And I've got to say, my poppet doesn't make a very good boy impersonator!

Little bits...

Mr Silly Gilly went on a lovely 2 week trip to the UK to attend a friends' wedding. I had the option to tag along but the thought of a 18+ hour flight with an emotional 4.5yr old just didn't twirl my tassels.

He brought home some lovely loot for me including this book. So much information that is just as useful now as it was back in 1941. Ideas on how to spend your pennies thriftily and make your own accessories. How to repurpose worn out clothes, hats and suits. Ideas for hats. Making your own undies.

I've also been making slow progress knitting my daughter's Rainbow Dress. It's been tricky learning the increases and shaping required for the bodice but apparently now it might be straight sailing as I am now up to just making the straight skirt. Who knows, I might even get it finished before winter ends!!

Sunshine on a rainy day

A very early progress pic of the Rainbow Dress I'm currently knitting for my daughter. The yarn I'm using is Gradient Dyed Four Bags Full Merino. As a rainbow fan, I'm in love with how the colours are so gradually changing as I work. Hopefully I can make some speedier progress on it. I'm a slower knitter than I am a crocheter. Maybe she'll be able to wear it before she's 16....

And just wanted to share with you a sweet corner of my studio from this afternoon. My favourite winter flowers, Paperwhites (Narcissus) and my favourite little donkey friend for the corner. The perfume is so strong from these flowers. They always make me smile.

Have a happy week everyone! May there be many sunshiny winter days for you this week.

I don't understand???

Can someone please explain why????

Tieing up loose ends

Continuing the major clean out, destash and finishing WIP binge of late. I attend a felting and knitting class during the week which has the divine option of a free creche for my little poppet to attend whilst I get my dose of craftiness and adult company during the week.

This class has prompted me to start knitting a hat for my daughter whichI will felt in the washing machine or full it if I want to be completely technical. Here it is two thirds of the way through. I found the yarn at the op shop for 50 cents which makes the project even more delicious! And here's a tip for beginner knitters who haven't used double pointed needles before.... I put little rubber bands on the ends of my needles so that the stitches won't slip off. It stops me worrying about dropping all those stitches!

The test sewers Gingerbread House kits got off in the post yesterday express mail. That is a relief as now I can sit back with that project on the back burner for a little while. That is until I hear how tricky or not my instructions are!!

Don't forget I have lots of vintage sewing patterns and some modern ones finishing their auctions on Ebay tonight, including the one below for a very vintage bathing suit. Click here if you would like to have a gander. More to be listed soon over the next week or so. Just have to be a good seller and check all the pieces are in the pattern envelopes.

Click Clack

I've been working on my daughter's castle bag and fingerpuppets and spent a nice part of Friday afternoon sitting in the backyard starting my project whilst my daughter played outside.

As usual I had my fluffy companion Ella right under my feet, the sun was shining through the trees and I was using some lovely cheap but cheerful coloured yarn.

And Saturday morning's garage sale haul was a doozie too. This time the biggest find was for my MIL Robyn. Robyn's just taken up smocking to add to her already amazing repertoire of skills. I found a Sally Stanley Smocking Machine for the bargain basement price of $10!! Considering they go on Ebay for over $100 I was pretty happy with that find!

And I also picked up these curtains. Please tell me what you think. Got these for $3. They are vintage 50's - 60's and in okay condition. I'm just not convinced that the print is nice enough to be pretty without looking like a circus tent with wedding bouquets all over it?? What do you think?

Hanging with the new peeps...

I've been finding time to knit little finger puppet people for my daughter to play with and use with her dolls house. Here are the first three that have been created with another on the way. The pattern is from Jean Greenhowe's Bazaar Knits. I also aim to make a little rabbit for the 'peeps' to have as company.... found the pattern here.

It really makes me giggle when I see myself knitting - I am such an awkward and hesitant knitter. But if the results are quick and easy like our new peeps above, I'll have a go at most anything!!