Month: September 2007

Socktober

Looks like October will be sock knitting month for me. I have joined a couple of knit-alongs, both of which are socks-related. The first is Socktoberfest, “a month-long celebration of socks”, hosted by Lolly. I joined Socktoberfest for the first time last year, thinking that I’d give sock knitting a go, just for fun. At the time I had knitted a pair of socks, but I wasn’t really into sock knitting. And during that month I didn’t even finish a single pair of socks. Doesn’t sound like a success story, you’d say? But what resulted after last year’s Socktoberfest, was that I was suddenly addicted to knitting socks. Sure, I’m not the fastest sock knitter around, but somehow it just feels strange if I don’t have a sock on the needles. I don’t know what it is about sock knitting — if I just want socks I could buy them for two bucks a pair. But perhaps it’s the comfort a pair of handknitted socks give, perhaps it’s the portableness of the project that I can work on anywhere, or perhaps it’s just the lure of the yummy sock yarns 🙂 So in celebration of the celebration that started my love of sock knitting, I’m participating in Socktoberfest again!

The other knit-along is the Southern Summer of Socks that Bells and Rose Red are hosting. It’s “simply as a fun, relaxed way to knit through your sock yarn stash” during the southern hemisphere’s summer (although it’s open to participants from anywhere in the world). So it’s not only for October, it runs until March next year. At the end of it they’ll have contests with categories such as “Best first sock”, or “Most socks”, etc. Sounds interesting!

I have a line up of socks that I’d like to knit, but that’s for later. To begin with I’d just like to finish the two socks that are already on the needles.

And I’ve ordered some Knit Picks circular needles from Donni (psst, she’s currently running a contest to win a free Knit Picks Options set!), for magic looping. I’m good to go!

Handknit socks

My handknit socks so far. Looking forward to adding more to my collection 🙂

I love parcels

You might remember that a while back I joined the Scrap Swap that TuttiFruiti and RedHeaded Snip It organised. Well look what I got!

Scrap swap parcel

A big thank you to my swap partner Kristine. These arrived early last week, apologies for my lateness in posting about them! The fabrics are so lovely, lots of gorgeous florals, and in generous cuts too. I don’t have many florals in my stash, so I’m very excited to get these! She also included some japanese print and linen which she knows I love. Thank you so much Kristine! If you haven’t come across her already, Kristine designs a children clothing line under her label Townmouse, which is just to die for. She also makes these gorgeous creche bags!

And these gorgeous cards arrived from blogless Shireen. A lovely surprise. I love them! I love the way she put those pretty paper into such lovely designs. Thank you so much, Shireen!

Card by Shireen

Card by Shireen

Card by Shireen

Card by Shireen

A Yarn’s Progress

Velvet plum Jitterbug

In the skein…

Fiberlicious!

Winding…

Winding...

by hand. No, I didn’t think I’d have the patience either…

Yarn cake

To a ball, and then to this.

WIP

The yarn is Colinette Jitterbug in velvet plum that I bought at the Sydney craft fair back in June (from Sarah Durrant). I’m knitting it up into these socks (pattern from Knitty). So far so good!

Coasters

I’m slowly catching up with my blog reading. Gosh, you guys have been busy! But I’m secretly enjoying having lots of posts to read. Heheh, does that sound so dorky? Oh well, a gal needs her crafty blog fix!

I’m just dropping in for a shameless plug. These coasters are now on my little shop. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Coasters!

Have a lovely weekend!

And we’re back

Well I had an unintended break from the internet for the past two weeks. And I wasn’t even on holidays! Long story short, we had to replace our credit card after someone stole our credit card details online, and while we were waiting for the replacement to arrive, our internet provider company tried to charge us for the monthly bill and discovered that the credit card is no longer valid, and so they disconnected us. Boohoo.

Anyway all is fixed now, but it was a very long two weeks for me 🙁 Just felt so disconnected from the outside world! And I missed reading the blogs so much! I think I even had withdrawal symptoms. Hi my name is Claudine and I’m an internetaholic. It has been twelve days since my last internet fix. Now I can’t wait to catch up with what you all have been up to.

On the positive side, while I was away from the internet I managed to do some spring cleaning and decluttering, and some knitting and sewing as well. On the sewing front, I’ve been in coasters mood lately, and managed to sew up quite a few. I’ll put these in my little shop tomorrow, if you like them!

Coasters, coasters, coasters

I also made this apron for mummy’s little helper. Annette has been very keen to ‘help’ me when I’m cooking, so I thought I’d make an apron for her so she can look the part. I think it would be good as a crafting or painting smock as well.

Apron for Annette

The pocket is made of some cute japanese fabrics that I won through Sarah London‘s giveaway. These ones feature little red riding hood and little bo peep. Thanks, Sarah, they’re SO adorable!

The flowers embroidery pattern is from a japanese book, ISBN 4834724212.

Close up

Mummy's little helper

Anyway I’m off to catch up on some blog reading. Bloglines tells me that I have 1240 unread posts! Eek! I’ll see how I go 🙂