The Snow Queen has arrived

I finally finished my Snow Queen. This was one of those projects where I regretted it coming to an end because it was such a joy to knit.



Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 2 ply in Almond. 1200 yds

Needle Size: 2.25mm (1), 2.75mm (2), 3.25mm (3)

Finished size: 104cm (41")



There are a lot of nupps in this shawl. I had never made nupps before and had said that that was one of the new techniques I wanted to learn this year. Well I can now say that I have conquered nupps and that there is nothing to be afraid of!






Now go and get the pattern and get knitting. You know you want to....

A family affair

This past weekend Bruce, my mother and I all submitted hand made items to the Ballan Craft and Quilt Fair.

My mother submitted these cute mice based on Alan Dart's Tales of Yore pattern.


And this beaded teddy bear.


She got a Highly Recommended for both submissions.

Bruce entered this lovely cross stitch and got a third prize.


I entered three shawls and won three prizes!

I got a first prize for my Dark Star shawl.


Second for my Panama shawl.


And third for my Silvester shawl.

Wips and more wips

All I seem to do these days is cast on. I have nothing else to show. So I thought if I air all my wips I might be able to organise myself sufficiently to get something finished.

So here is the list.

I'm still busy with my Snow Queen. Only 10 rows to go to complete Chart F and then there is only one more chart to go. I am enjoying every stitch of this shawl - even the nupps!

I have also started my March Personal Sock Club project. I am knitting the Luminare socks with Ms Gusset's hand dyed sock yarn but unfortunately the label is lost so I don't know the colourway.



Next on the list is another pair of Dzonba slippers using left over yarn. The yarn is Ripples Crafts Hand Dyed sock yarn in Primrose.



And finally I have started the Farmer's Market Cardigan for my mother. The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply, colourway Ghost and is sheer heaven so work with - it just slips through your fingers. I have promised to knit my mother 2 cardigans while she is visiting me. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew. It also means that all the other projects will not be getting a great deal of attention over the coming weeks.

I have been knitting

I did do a bit of knitting while I was on holiday. I seemed to have started quite a number of projects the last few weeks but I have managed to complete a few. And here they are.

First I made a vintage hand towel. I first saw this towel on Bells' blog and just knew I had to knit it. I knitted this one for a lovely friend in Perth.


And then I knitted a second one for myself.



I also knitted a pair of Mountain Form Slippers for my mother.



These were all really easy knits and very suitable holiday knitting.

Since returning home I have also knitted a Keyhole scarf for a gift. I couldn't make up my mind what I was going to knit for this gift except that I wanted it to be appropriate for the recipient. After much stalking and searching I settled on this pattern and decided that it would be a perfect match for a skein of Ridgy Didge Handnspun Yarn.



And I think the two have worked well together.



I have also cast on another couple of projects but they are being neglected at the moment while I focus my attention on my Snow Queen.

Sun, sea and sand

I had a wonderful time in Perth. The weather was great, even the few days of 40+ were manageable. And what helped was the fact that we went swimming on this beach almost every day.



And yes most days the beach was that empty.

We were also fortunate enough to be around for the sculpture exhibition at Cottesloe Beach. Here is a small sample of what was on offer.



I thought it was a wonderful setting for a show.





I loved every minute of the holiday and was happy that my mother arrived during our stay there. Now we are all home and settling down for a long visit. Some knitting did take place but more of that in the next post.