More Project Bags

I made more Project Bags for Unwind 2016 (in Dunedin) and Wool Feast 2016 (In Christchurch).

Dimensions: (Approx Length, Height, Depth)
Box Bag: 8.5"x 4" x 4.5"  or 22cm x 10cm x 11.5cm
Notion Bag: (at the back - Width, Height) 7-9" x 5" x 2"  or 18-23cm x 12.5cm x 5cm
It is narrower at the base than at the top
Kit Bag: (Approx Height, Width) 15.25" x 13"  or 38.5cm x 33cm

Dr Who

Chairman Mao

Knitting in Grey

Shuttle Blueprint

Vintage London Map

Old Photo of Women Knitters

Exterminate and Robots

Fairisle Knitting

Old Photo of Women Knitters

Icelandic Knits

EEG Waves

Retro Children in Space and Old Medical

Hello Kitty

Willow Pattern (Dr Who) Kit Bag

Green and Pink Toile Kit Bag

Letter to my cousin

I made some project bags and some kit bags to sell at Unwind. I then figure I can use the proceeds to buy things. It is a fun game.

 There were 3 different fabrics used on the Box Bags

 And then I used this fabric "Frida's Garden" in 2 colour ways for the Kit Bags.

 Some of the photos aren't great quality but you get the idea.

We had 120 people at Unwind this year - slowly it grows.
I did 2 classes - the first was Double Knitting - which creates a great double-sided fabric. It is slow to work so I wouldn't do a lot of it - but I am planning a specific project.

 The second class was a demonstration of dyeing using plant/natural dyes. Some gorgeous colours.

 We also have a Swap Shop where you can bring along yarns you don;t want and swap for something else. Here is my haul!

 I bought these great tags...

 And now for the yarn. Most of my buys have specific projects in mind. The Silver Lining is made from a mix of fleeces from outlying places - this one is Stewart Island and Arapawa Island(in the Marlborough Sounds) and is destined for a sweater. The Zealana Air is a lace-weight - 25g of 40% cashmere, 40% possum and 20% silk!!! I think that will be some fingerless mitts - I have a pattern that thinks it can be achieved with just 25g. The cheerful red is a 50/50 silk/merino that is to be a stripe in a sweater with the main colour being dark blue.

 I bought the 2 blues from Vintage Purls - this is also where I work! I am thinking of combining with the natural colour and maybe another and using them for a design.

 The yarns above are from Outlaw Yarns - a sport-weight that is 45%Polwarth, 45% Alpaca and 10% possum. We don't get a lot of sport weight yarns made in NZ and these were lovely colours. I have had a pattern for mitts, that need a lot of colours of sport-weight yarn, for years so pleased to be able to make them now.

There was a special deal on Zauberball - so I bought 3 - the turquoise one will be a gift and the other 2 I will use for my Double Knitting project.

And, finally, we had a group photo of a recent KAL. A group of us had been making Enchanted Mesa; a Stephen West pattern. It is a pretty wacky pattern but fun. Well some didn't think so - ask Alaine. She made the one on Fiona (next to me) but then gave it to her so she wouldn't have to see it again!!!!!

The 2014 Great Mid Winter Swap

Yes - it is that time again. All the secret squirrel projects came out of hiding, gifted to happy recipients and drooled over by the rest of us. And lots of ideas for future projects.
I made a 4 colour version of The Koru Cowl, using hand-dyed yarn, for Kirstine/Kiwiknit.

 The colours were a bit 'out there' - I'm still not 100% sure about them.

My gift was wrapped in gold paper which then revealed this cute tin.

And inside:

The cutest and warmest of mitts. The maker modelled them for me.

And just in case I needed extra help there were some buttons:

Gosh - we all say that it isn't a competition but I think I need to step my act up next year…..

You can see more photos here (kindly posted by Angela)
2014 Mid Winter Swap

Why did the chicken cross the road?

 To get this - a coat for hens that don't have their full quota of feathers.  The SPCA in Auckland rescues hens from battery cages and they are often missing some of their feathers so the coats are to keep them warm until their feathers grow back. I used scraps from an earlier crocheted cowl - hence the very stylish colour-block coat. Bet the other hens will be jealous.

 And I finally finished this - Britannic. It fits perfectly.

 And another pair of Birdie's Mitts for a friend.

You can never have too many mitts either

 First up are my Kellie Fingerless Gloves which I made for wearing under my leather 'rigger' gloves. I now have a casual job at the local port counting logs prior to loading. It is an outside, work-in-all-weather type job so I figured I would need something to keep my warm in winter. I used a fine possum/merino yarn, doubled to get the equivalent of a fingering weight, and knit them on 2mm needles so they would be very dense.

 And then something a little more delicate: Miss Havisham, a Vintage Purls pattern and using Vintage Purls yarn. Added detail included beads and a little over-embroidery. I won't be wearing these on the wharf.

F

Marching on

 And here we have Rebel Jacket No.2 - also referred to as my Sgt Pepper Jacket.

 The first one I made was in red, cream and grey - so this is a little more subdued.
The 3 darker colours are from the Mill Shop in Milton. They are a 50/50 alpaca/merino mix.
And the lighter mustard highlight colour is from Skeinz - a blend of various yarns.
All were an economical  buy which was a good bonus.
Also the buttons were sourced from our local Shop on Carroll; an Op Shop which recycles buttons from old clothing among other things. Also making it more economical.
The jacket is supposed to be made from a worsted/aran weight yarn and I used DK and made a size smaller - fortunately it seems to have worked out.

Easter is a time for finishing...

 First up in the finishing stakes is another Zuzu's Petals - this one for me. I fell in love with this particular Zauberball (Sphinx) - gorgeous shades of teal/green/browns - perfect. I put it on to take the photo and didn't want to take it off - so there it stays for the day. Cosy neck - yay!

And this is the Tutu Tea Cosy - it is for a charity auction. It seems a bit odd…….