KAL Update

Hi everyone

Ok for all those who were guessing as to what the KAL could be and as confused as I was too

Here is Day 3's knitting

Now I don't know about you

But I am completely confused by this

And remember, I do knit a few of these style squares

Which I mostly can figure out the process as I knit

Admittedly I do have a picture of what I am knitting

Maybe that's where I'm coming undone

Now Day 4 just came through

So I immediately started knitting

This has got me completely intrigued

And about four rows in

A logical thought happened - you know light-bulb moment

Let's see if it is as obvious to others now

Let me know what your guess is now?

Mystery KAL

Hi everyone

Knit4Charities are having a Mystery KAL (Knit A Long)

These squares are for a November charity for babies

Volunteers are sewing all donated squares together to make blankets

Here is a photo of the first days instructions

Day 2's progress

Any ideas as to what the picture will be?

I don't!!

If you would like to know more about the group here is there website and the Yahoo group link.

The more the merrier.

So what did I do last Sunday?

Well I had these

which were a bit worn

a few little holes

not much good as shorts because of where the holes were too high up

so I turned it into this

I'm not much of a seamstress

Frequently take short cuts

Make do will do

Perfection not required

And more importantly this was only required for house-wear

Bring on the warm weather

Did I mention that last Wednesday it was 25C!!!!!

Pity it went back to 17C the next day

Baby Feet Cloth

Baby Feet Cloth, originally uploaded by Aussie Maria.

Nope, not for charity this time

This one is for D3's matron of honour

Pattern can be found here

Edited - I am now a so clever, I can predict tomorrows post
I have 2 comments on this post, which is scheduled to post tomorrow, Wednesday !!!!
What happened there????

Queen Anne Lace Scarf

This was the first version of this scarf I saw at Frualbertssons Blog.
BTW have a look around her blog.  She works some exquisite crochet.

She has since worked it a few times, but that first time it played with my head.

So pretty, feminine, lacy.

But I'm sure way too hard for me to do!!

Look at the work involved.

But it would not leave my head and I started to see a few other versions.

So I went looking on Ravelry.

After much difficulty (for some reason it does not come up on the search) and lots of linking I found it!!!!  Here is the link

But I must hold out!!!

I must work on the blanket!!!
Not another WIP!!!

Aren't I a Good Girl!!!

So on Monday I printed the pattern

I went stash-diving and came up with something I have been wanting to use for a while

So I lined it all up

And left it there

And worked on the blanket

So then on Tuesday morning

what did I see

This over on Flickr

Bethel had worked her own version of the pattern

And a very pretty version too!!!!

Oh my Bethel ☺

So what's a girl to do????

(Ok no comments about not being a girl any more ☺ )

Of course I did what had to be done

So I picked up the pattern and the yarn and the hook yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon

and started this

and by early Tuesday night

It was Done!!!!!

Oh my

What was I worried about

Love the pattern

Love the yarn

Love the scarf

This works for me

I don't have a real need for a scarf

But a fashion statement

To show-off my work

Oh this works beautifully

And BTW the scarf is unblocked as I loved the frilly-ness of it that way and did not want to lose that

I will definitely be re-working this lovely pattern

Ok details

Pattern - tick, link above

Yarn is from The Yarn Cafe http://www.theyarncafe.com.au/

Evoke Australian WoolOrganics Merino Wool 8ply/DK - 208m/100g

Colourway - Violet

Hook - 5mm

Full Length - 194cm/76.5in

Striped Smock Top - 12 months

Striped Smock Top - 12 months, originally uploaded by Aussie Maria.

Hi everyone
Another "little" project for an upcoming charity.

This pattern is lovely and found here
So quick, simple and not much thinking involved - right up my alley ☺

This is the 12 months size.
Worked in 8 ply yarn with 3.75mm & 4.5mm needles.
Only took me 2 days and if you totalled up working time, probably an afternoon.
Not to gauge, as you can see by the ruler - it should be 22.5" so 11-3/4" on ruler.
Only modification was to add 4 stitches under-arm instead of 2

I loved this pattern so much I am already working on the 18 months size now as it would be great for comparison.
But that is not a problem as it will still fit a baby.

You can so easily play with this pattern.
Work a lovely lace pattern through it .

Definitely on my "easy baby item" list.

Just wish I had a baby to try it on

P.S. - Don't you love the Stats page in Blogger in Draft
And now we have spell check
And also a Define/Translate??????
And a Location button too!!!!!

Australian Bread

Hi everyone

While browsing through one of my cook books the other day, I came across a recipe which I had not used for many, many years.  It was a favourite when camping.  And I have been making my own bread lately, so I thought I would give it a whirl last night to go with the soup I had cooking.  So I reduced the recipe to make a small loaf just for two.

This is only about 1/4 size of a normal loaf.

Crusty crust and bready style inside

We loved adding sultanas and using for a dessert like scones

Yummy with lots of butter or jam, honey, etc, etc etc

We use to make this in a heavy cast-iron camp oven (huge lidded cast iron pot)

Put in the coals of a fire

And eaten warm in about 1/2 hour

Damper was traditionally made with only flour and water (ingredients readily available to swaggies and settlers out bush) and cooked directly in the coals of a campfire.  More info can be found here

Damper recipes are endless

Add what you like

Make it a sweet, savoury or just plain

Here is a basic recipe

DAMPER

4 cups self-raising flour

1 tsp salt

100g butter, cubed

2 cups milk

Mix flour and salt together

Rub the butter through with your fingertips

Add almost all the milk and mix to soft dough, adding rest of the milk if required

At this stage add any options you would like

Knead lightly on floured board and shape into round form

Bake in a hot oven for 25-30 minutes

Yummo eaten warm

Another use for damper is a bowl for a warm dip

The damper top is cut off about 1/3 of the way down

Inside scooped/cut out, retain and cut into dippy size pieces

Mix dip (spinach/cream cheese is one of my favourites) and place in damper bowl

Heat the damper bowl and the pieces cut out in oven till warm

Break pieces off the side of damper and use to dip

No cleaning up as bowl and dip get eaten!!!!

Cake

Hi everyone

Got a tip-off from Foxs Lane the other day for a recipe

Which she found here

Knew I had to try it

Two of my favourites

Apples & Cake!!!!!!!!

Have to say it was yummo!!!!!

I halved the recipe as it seemed quite large

And there is only hubby and I to eat it

I did as the reviewers suggested and cooked it at 160C for an hour

 

Well sometimes I do share with daughters and their partners ☺

A quick photo before the last spoonfuls are gone

(broken up a bit with the apples)

And I was good

Please note

NO Ice-cream or cream

But oh they would definitely have gone down well with this while it was still warm

Such a simple, quick recipe

Definitely on my must do again, and again, and again

Souths Blanket rework

Hi everyone

Those who have been around for a while

You may remember this

Did not quite fit D2's requirements (it was a surprise remember)

So I got it back off her last night

Started to undo the border

My poor arms were aching after the three rounds of colour

I then remembered something I had bought, but had not yet used

Wondered if it would work with wool I was undoing

Gave it a whirl

and before you know it

a job that could have been difficult and sad (the undoing part)

became such fun I had to remember to stop

Why did I not know about yarn winders before

Not that I did a lot of unpicking

So now the Souths Blanket looks like this

Will keep you updated

Culture

Some weird things may be seen around here soon

On and off

Such as this??????

10 hours and overnight in the fridge and I had this

So I whipped up this for brekkie

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

mmmmmm

So quick, so easy and so very yummy

I don't think the 1 litre will last long

Abagail Sweater

Abagail Sweater, originally uploaded by Aussie Maria.

As we have a couple of baby items needed for upcoming charities, I decided to play around with a few.

This one is called "Abagail Sweater" and my version can be found here on Ravelry with a link to the original pattern.

A quick knit on 2 needles.
Worked it in 3 ply yarn.
Changed the pattern so that there is 4 rows of the lace and 4 rows of stocking stitch.
And best of all - no seams!!

I prefer the texture and weave of knitting when it comes to garments. It also uses less yarn. That way I can make it go further.

P.S - My Ravelry name is "AussieMaria"

Bye for now

Attacked!!!

Lookee what I found very early yesterday morning!!!!!!!

and this

I'm guessing it was the local Cockatoo's

They must have liked the look of the parsley

But not the taste ☺

Lucky I had moved my lettuce and rosemary down low the day before to catch the rain

So hubby whipped this up as a temporary deterrent

We hope  ☺

Happy

Somehow I missed it yesterday, so to all those who are behind us in time

HAPPY

LUCKY

FRIDAY

13TH!!!!

Was my lucky number, and then to confirm D3 was born on the 13th!!!

Have a great weekend

Pots of ....

Hi everyone

Haven't been feeling like writing anything lately, sorry.

Even this is a forced struggle.  No reason for it.

But I have loved the time to go blog-surfing.

Dangerous I know, but interesting, fun, brain-stirring and enticing.

Now totally off on another land.

Ever since I have been an adult I have had a 1/4-1/2 acre block of land to play with gardening.

Love to potter in, don't like doing a lot of work in.

So most of them were set up to take care of themselves with a little input from me and hubby, and they worked well.  Did a lot of composting and mulching, so you never knew where plants would pop up.  But I always figured if they were able to sprout and grow there, then something must be working right ☺

Now for the last 2-1/2 years we have been living in an apartment.  I deliberately did not take any cuttings from my last home, as we just were not sure where and how long we would be anywhere.

Well it got the better of me and I nearly went mad, but I got this little plant, way back here, which tided me over.  Not anymore!!

I am not a grower of plants in pots, much prefer to plant them in the ground.

So what you see next is a HUGE experiment for me.

Three different types of tomatos and a teeny-tiny blueberry

L-R:  Mixed bowl of Lettuce, Rosemary, Italian Parsley, Garlic Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Chives and a Parsley which I have had growing/surviving for about 2 years

Not too bad so far.

Even though its August, we have had a few dinners with OUR lettuce!!!!

these photos, cause I was playing with macro on a simple camera

Bye for now and have a great weekend - hope its warm for those in Oz

P.S.  August winds are here - cold

The Garden Bell - Circle of Friends

For no reason except that I love it and thought others who read my blog may too

Pop over to The Garden Bell and check out her new blanket "Circle of Friends"

I love the colours, the pattern, the whole kit and kaboodle

It just seems to be singing to me and making me smile

Thanks Kate, I needed that today on a rainy, overcast, but perfect to crochet day

Ummm....

Hi everyone

Yes, I am still here, just did not seem to have much to say or show.

I have been crocheting, just no photos

Firstly, there was a Mystery CAL with Knit4Charities side-shoot

It was in autumn tones and unfortunately what I had was variegated and the patterns did not show

So no photos

One very kind member is sewing all these little beauties together for one of this months charities

I have been working on a BIG project

But I let this one go slowly as there was no ruch

Started it in March and need to finish it by the end of this month

Last rounds are being done

So a photo post will come shortly

But not till after it has been gifted

So, I have been a little lost

As the above project will be the last of the BIG projects (to my knowledge)

Been wandering around blogging and ravelry land

Looking for inspiration

Lots there

But I keep looking at BIG projects (blankets, afghans etc)

And for now I only need little projects

So feeling a bit lost in the creativity department

But only last night, D2 made a mention about her blanket

and how she wishes for some changes

So I now have some re-working to do there

Which will keep me busy

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend

Spring is coming - they are now showing in the nurseries

Really must keep trying to grow them

Bye for now