Aussie Maria Pattern - Boronia

Hi everyone

Although it has been a very long time since my last cardigan pattern was released, I have about a zillion half started / half worked out patterns sitting on my computer which just need finishing touches and final reworks

A friend enquired if a new one was on the horizon and I thought ....... just do it ....... get one finished.

So I relooked at all of them and .......

I totally reworked one and changed it (read simplify here) :-)

So here is Boronia on Ravelry or Boronia on Etsy

This is the Newborn, long sleeve version using Bendigo Woollen Mills 4ply Luxury

And this is the 6 month, short sleeve version using Bendigo Woollen Mills Stellar in the beautiful colour, Tanzanite (pity its no longer available)

Love, love, love this!!!!

One written pattern, but using different weights of yarn and different size needles to create the sizing.

A photo of the 3 month, 5 ply version to follow

Just in time for this months Knit4Charity's donations - Women's Life Centre (NSW) who are after clothing for newborns to 6 months.

Somethings don't change

Sorry for the intermittent posts.  

Despite my idea of trying to get back to posting at least once a week-ten days, life seems to be passing by at breakneck speed, and now its over three weeks.

So I'll check my photos to see what I have been up to ...

A few pairs of these for my Made For Little Ones Shop

These pair of booties as a challenge from my local Knit4Charity Knit&Natter from this pattern ....

and, for the first time, really disliked making booties.

Project was too fussy and difficult to seam up for me to enjoy

And started this .... 

... for a new grandchild due early next year.

My fourth!!!!!  (vbg)

Yarn, of course, is Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Cotton

This blanket has a very long way to travel.

Close to a mile for every stitch

Hope you are all having a great week and are prepared for Santa :-)

My patterns

Not too sure if anyone is stilling dropping in around here :-) - me included  :-(

Time is just flying by

And I now find it difficult to write a post

The ones in my head are great

But then when I go to write, I feel that its not worthwhile typing   :-(

 

BUT..... 

 

I just noticed that my Southern Star pattern has 98 projects from Ravellers!!!!

and Aussie Swing is at 42!!!!

 

Both patterns have links in my sidebar, if your interested

 

Just thought I had to say something

VBG

 

So donations are being made to Knit 4 Charities on a regular basis with sales of Aussie Swing

 

I am so chuffed

VBG

Made For Little Ones

Hi everyone

Or anyone who may still be reading  :-)

 

I know, very long time with no blog posts

 

My reasons (excuses if you prefer) are -

 

 

• Charity knitting for Knit 4 Charites
• Gorgeous grandchildren, who are total time-wasters (Love It)  :-)
• orders for my little online shop "Made For Little Ones"
• everyday life   :-(

 

 

Now, my little shop has another online presence - Facebook. 
Look for "Made For Little Ones" or click on the link.

So, if your on Facebook, pop on over and have a little look. 
Maybe even "Like" my page and enter the competition giveaway

 

 

 

 

I'm getting ready for summer with some delicious home-made all-natural ice creams & gelato's.  Having a lot of fun experimenting.

 

Here is my first test - Strawberry & Nut Gelato  - mmmmmm

 Sorry, no photo, my computer is not co-operating
You'll have to take my word that is WAS absolutely delicious

 

Aussie Swing modified

A chance question from a member of Knit4Charities

 

A Granddaughter too big for Mummy's favourite cardigan

 

Lots and lots of thinking and pondering

 

And here it is .......

 

 

An Aussie Swing Jumper

 

 

Totally reversible

Although I prefer the look of the buttons at the front

 

Can't wait to see Granddaughter in it

 

Details here

 

Of course its Bendigo Woollen Mills yarn. 

A mix of wool and cotton in 4ply

But from the back room

And I love it!!!

Just wish this was available online :-(

 

Knit 4 Charities Web Store

I would like to share a link with you for a group I belong to

Volunteers from round Australia, and a few overseas

Who knit, crochet, sew ...... absolutely any crafts

All crafting materials are supplied by the volunteers

And their projects are donated to charities within Australia

Occasionally, in special times, we support overseas charities too.

The group has a web store to help raise a small amount of money to offset a little of the postage costs.

Once a month a draw is held, and a few lucky donators receive a Australian Post Pak

These Post Paks come in very handy, sending our donations around Australia

Pop on over and have a look

BTW - the charity is not-for-profit

http://knit4charities.webs.com/apps/webstore/products

Aussie Swing Pattern - Baby / Toddler Cardigan

My new pattern   :-)

My ripple version

Yarn - Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton in Honeydew & Wild Lavender

And another interpretation

My holey version

Yarn - Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton in Pomegranate

Still being test knitted

Details here - http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AussieMaria/side-swing-test

Will definitely be my go-to for Knit 4 Charity througout the year

Very simple, with just a little brain-wave needed   :-)

Perfect for me  ;-)

Yarn Shop Video

This link was shared on Knit 4 Charities group

And I just had to share it

Just wish our shops were like this one

Have a wonderful weekeend

Knit 4 Charities–June donations

Sorry, a short and quick post
The dreaded flu has struck
Even knitting and crochet have slowed dreadfully
And I’m really keen on a large crochet project, but yet to buy the wool
There may be another request shortly which would be very urgent

So June’s donation is for ‘Care for Street Kids’ on the South Coast of NSW

One Scrappy Cowl, two Knit 4 Charity Pattern Beanies, and a Knit 4 Charity Pattern Fingerless Gloves
All links above are to my Ravelry pages
All made from Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply

K4C May Charity of the Month

so I sent these items off for The Footpath Library

A granny square blanket

Birthday Cowl (Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic)

Plain thick garter stitch cowl

Surreybelle Scarf

The nights and mornings have been chilly for Sydney

So I’m glad these will be of use to someone who may not have a home

Hope all is well in your section of the world 

April’s Charities of the Month

H-e-l-l-o
This are the items that I sent off to the Australian Inland Missions collector

For some strange reason it is rotated 
2 x Milo’s (top of photo) ; 1 x Hexagon Baby Jacket; 1 x Southern Star

To Sydney Homeless Connect Day collector
Sorry no group photo as I forgot because I was trying to stuff it in the post-pak, but it included some scarves and …..
Granny Square Vest
 Surreybelle Scarf
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AussieMaria/first-project-fingerless-mitts
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AussieMaria/bow-knot-scarf

Chullora Chullo

One day it was there

and the next it had disappeared!!!!

The last post that is.  Only found it had disappeared because I wanted to edit

What is going on ?????????????

 

It went something like this

 

Sorry for not posting so often

But the needles have been busy with lots and lots of projects

Knit 4 Charities this month has two I want to contribute to – Australian Inland Mission and Sydney Homeless Connect Day.

Plus a lot of challenges that I would love to contribute to, but just don’t know if I will get time.  And nothing in the appropriate in the project drawer

Family and friends have had requests too – Yippee!!!

A selection of their projects below.  More can be viewed on Ravelry – AussieMaria

 

48 hours notice for a gift for a special little girl’s 1st birthday

Pattern - is my mix of 1,001 patterns

Yarn – Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply Poseiden & Sequest

 

A request from SIL (a new motorcyclist) who feels the cold

Pattern – Snuggles by Drops Design

Yarn – Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply Raven

 

Two little supporters (6 months on left, 2 years on right) of a local League team for a friend of DD3

Pattern – Little Hoodlum

Yarn – Heirloom Easy Care 8ply Green, Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply Raven & Almond

The reason I love top-down knits – the one on the right was 5cm too short.  Very quickly remedied 

 

And for hubby’s cousin’s little girl

Pattern – Twinkle

Yarn – Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply Celery

 

Bye for now

Fingers crossed it stays put 

Long time no hear ……

K4C COTM

That time again
This month I am supporting NSW Women’s Refuge
The co-ordinator/collector is a fellow blogger Aussie Knitting Threads

and

And I just managed to squeeze the Pimpeleisee Scarf/Shawl in

And just so you know – No, I am not a speed crafter/knitter/crocheter
I do like having a variety of patterns to work
So I make them up and store them away for the right charity
Since I have supported this one before, I did have a little stock-pile
But note to myself – next year, make items for 4+ year olds
Not as many crafters for the LARGER sizes 

Knit4Charities COTM

For February I chose to donate to Wallsend Aged Care Facility

Here is what I have sent

25cm squares to be made by the coordinator into blankets

(Used up all the bits and pieces of yarn I had laying around)

and can you guess what the little things beside it are???

Yep, they are these very cool slippers/socks

Dzonba – The Himalayan Slippers

I was dubious about the pattern, but decided to give it ago, as I was sure there was some charity that could use them

And I have fallen in love with them

Very simple pattern

And on only 2 needles – except for the bind off (which is so easy)

I did a 3-needle and stretchy bind-off

Think I found out what all the hulla-ballo is in blogland about hand-made socks

Totally surprised me

Need a pair for ME!!!!!!

And yes I have knitted a pair of socks with DPN’s

But with 8ply/dk yarn and totally hated them

Did not fit properly and I hated the feel

Yep, that’s right – cheap acrylic yarn

P.S – one of the other charities for February is C.A.R.S. (Chris' Animal Rescue Support)., Dorothy of Hooks ‘n’ Grannies, is the coordinator for this one

If you read Dorothy’s blog, you will know how important something like this charity is

So I just will have to send something for this one too – very soon

Projects

Hi everyone

You may have noticed my lack of projects over the last couple/few/lots of months.

Well I have been crafting

Just felt that my posts were getting a bit b-l-a-h

But today I felt like sharing a few of my favourites with you

All have been Ravelled here

Borrowed the baby to see size and fit, as I sort of designed it.

Her Mum loved it, so bought it from me  :-)

By the way, you may have noticed a new button at the top of my side Bar

"Made It" - Made For Little Ones

Well that goes directly to a little shop I opened

I'm hoping I might be able to sell a few projects

At least enough to help pay for the ever-rising costs of posting away my charity items

Fingers crossed for me please

And you thought there was no crochet ......

I really wanted to make this pattern (old memories), but had so much trouble with the starting chain - no give and so very small.

Then I tried foundation dc/sc - that gave me the little bit of stretch and width I wanted.

Don't know why it took me ??? times to work that out   :-)

And for those in Australia

Hope the horses are lucky for you today!!!!

Field Wonderful

Well Allison, from Field Wonderful, certainly made me feel wonderful, when I received these beautiful goodies in the mail from a recent give-away that she ran

I have never used this yarn before and it feels wonderful

And thank you so much for the little packet - any guesses what's in it?

I must say Allison, you must have a little ESP going

As these particular items have been on my mind of late, searching, searching, searching

Very, very handy for me

P.S - Just noticed that it is Canadian Yarn - my very first and goes well with my fascination with Canada and north - very happy  :-))

Thank you for the lovely parcel, Allison

And this lot is off to Brisbane for K4C (sidebar) COTM - PIPA

Many of these projects you will already have seen, others have been stockpiling to make the postage worthwhile, especially as it just went up 20%

Got to love making preemie outfits, its a fantastic stash-buster!

PS - Glad you liked the Anzac Slice recipe like I did  :-)

Old is New Project

Hi everyone

It seems a few of you are lucky owners of some of these precious Heirlooms of our Past.

Me, well there was a LARGE group of families who all seemed to being having girls, so we just kept passing our child's 'best' clothing around n around n around

Funny that I never kept anything, especially as I love "old things"  :-)

Just thought you might like an update on my "Old is New" project

The completed set is from Patons 1283 Heirloom 4ply Collection

The yarn is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Cleckheaton Bamboo 4ply

So soft, lovely sheen and such beautiful drape (which I hope you can see below)

Details here

From Patons R30 Favourite Designs For Babies

I have decided to set myself a little challenge

To complete at least one pattern from each of my vintage pattern books

As you will see, I will be picking the baby patterns, mainly because they are so quick and oh so cute

Anyone else feel up to the challenge of digging around in your old patterns and completing one, or two, or .......?

No rules, anything goes

Ok, sorry - one rule

Please blog about it so that I can see your lovely projects

And find those lovely old pattern books

And just another quickie here

This lot is off to Tassie

To be made up with other squares into blankets for "Betty's City Kitchen"

This is a challenge on Knit 4 Charities A-Long

Random Little Projects

Hi everyone

Not much going on so I thought I would show you some little projects I have finished lately

Preemie Baby Set

Details here - just used gifted unknown yarn

and this

5 hour baby sweater with beanie to match

Details here

and last but by no means least

Giraffe Cloth

Details here

Oh and I forgot to take photos of 2 baby pram blankets that were crocheted and sent off to Bright Futures for a K4C Challenge

Happy Crafting