A happy 2 years blogging!

It's been a whole 2 years since I first started blogging and although I haven't blogged nearly as much as I wanted, nor knitted as much as I would have loved to - I'm still pleased to see I've got some staying power and made some knittery friends along the way. ;-)

So today seems a good time to say "look how far I've come" - from knitting scarves and beanies, I've gone to baby clothes and now I am knitting adult projects too:

The Smoothie DK Cardi No. 9

• Pattern from the Patons Smoothie DK book.

• Started mid-Feb 2009 and finished end of July 2009 - 6 months!! (but that includes 2 full frogging episodes - does that mean I knitted it 3 times??)

• 5 balls of DK Smoothie acrylic yarn in Blue 1089 by Patons = a NZD30 cardi

A really easy lace pattern for a beginner but continuing the lace pattern while increasing and decreasing for the shape was difficult. I spent ages not understanding why my gauge was out either until I figured out I wasn't putting the yarn forward - see in the picture above - the left-hand side is yarn up, over and then to the front!! Right-hand side is the correct lace pattern.

Complaints: unfortunately there are a few. As I said in my last post, there's some trouble with the neckline stretching. I don't like the button spacing either - unless I managed to miscount my rows (mmm likely) they are not spaced right and button-hole 2 is miles away from 1. The arm holes are also a bit tighter than I thought - but there's not much i can do about that!

Best bits: I'm very happy with my neckline and sleeve cuffs - picking up stitches is not something I seem to worry about. The lace pattern - which was easy and really graphic looking - not so "pretty". And it's not too heavy - I guess that's the benefit of an acrylic yarn.

Wow - finishing a whole garment is pretty cool and I really learnt a lot and my skill level has certainly improved. Am dead keen to have a bit of rekkie around my stash and line up some new but smaller projects for the rest of this year - there are a few new bubbs on the horizon so a few wee knits needed.

Oh yeah and I've got that other adult knit to show you - 2 years, 2 cardis - what an effort :)

DK Smoothie Cardi

I spent this afternoon looking for buttons for my DK Smoothie cardi but I have to admit to myself there's a big problem with it.

The neckline is too loose and any button that fits, looks too small and they don't hold it tight enough so the neckline just keeps stretching across my shoulders. It's also quite weighty fabric so that doesn't help.

I think I will have to either try a clasp instead of a button and/or sew some tape/binding along the neckline.

mmm... I'll put a photo up and maybe you can give me some suggestions.

I HEART Mt Ruapehu!

Good morning Central Plateau - I'm coming skiin'!

I bought only the essential supplies for a weekend down the mountain ... Caffe La'ffare coffee, gingernuts and mulled wine mix (yes a pre-mix cos although homemade does taste best - I just want to sit after a day on the hill, not stand in the kitchen) ...

and I took a great new knitting project to start once my legs are too sore from skiing all day.

I started the collared cardi from She Knits by Cleckheaton.

The weather gods were with me everyday and the runs like K Road never looked so quiet - the joys of midweek skiing.

CH joined me for a couple of days and we headed up top of Whakapapa - here we on the West Ridge looking at Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Right behind us we could see all the way to Taranaki it was such a clear day.

I had some brillant time all to myself and got loads of knitting in - starting and finishing the collared cardi. I also finished the DK Smoothie cardi - yes that's 2 adult projects finished by moi and I'm keen to get some photos up to show you.

It's so wrong, but so right...

Donuts, deep-fried spanish donuts, crusted with sugar and cinnamon and then dipped in rich, thick chocolate ...

Should be illegal, but thank god it's not - yip I had another round of Churros con Chocolate at El Faro in Elliot Stables. What a hard week.

(photos a bit blurry from my BB sorry but I think you get the general idea!)

3 Needle Cast-off

The good thing about having 3 days on the couch means you get a lot of knitting done. And I am so pleased to say the bulk of the cardi is finished with just the neckband and cuffs to knit and the small matter of sewing up the seams. Talking about seams ...

I learnt a new technique today - with thanks to knitting help - the 3 needle cast-off.

It leaves such a neat edge, far better that I could ever sew. It's great - no more crooked shoulder seams! Just wish there was something similar for side seams. Righto - onto that neckband - eek my neck shaping was not that hot .... I blame Dr Phil this morning!

on the couch ...

I'm having a day on the couch with a bit of the lurgy. It's a good time to get some knitting done ... but although so far all I've done is catch-up on blogs. You are a crafty lot out there!

I'm thinking of picking up my blanket ... some mindless garter stitch to watch a DVD with.

Hope you are having a chilled Saturday too.

Happy Milestone Birthdays

Two friends celebrated milestone birthdays this month - Stu had his 40th and Mer had her 30th ... Mer spent hers on Greek Island so I couldn't make her a cake but Stu got a truck cake - on the basis his nickname is 'Big Rig'. 

The day before I baked a load of cake - 4 x the recipe, making 2 large flat cakes and 4 loaves - to give me enough cake to sculpt with. I baked banana cake because my recipe stays moist and firm - not all crumbly and hopefully be easier to ice.

The next day was sculpting day - also known as the "why did I agree to this??!!" day for several hours. Putting it together in my head seemed easy but assembling it and keeping it all balanced in reality was hard as the cake was really too heavy.

After a lot of skewers it worked out really well and was all iced up with plenty of time before the party. I'm happy with the result and didn't really want it cut up!! Although the red icing was slightly on the pink side and I couldn't actually pipe any text on the cake, cheating with jaffas -  it looked like a truck and tasted like banana cake! Mission completed!