The Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show

I spent a lovely day on Friday at the show. Unfortunately it wasn't all day because we had to leave early afternoon. It was great to see so many Ravellers there.

There were lots of sheep.



And heaps of fleece:



I always like to start the show with the competition entries. And this year I was particularly keen because I know one of the entrants. Recognise anything Val? They were a bit hard to photograph because they are all behind glass.





I've seen this scarf before!



I met ms gusset from Ravelry with her wonderful display of hand dyed sock yarn.




I feasted my eyes on all the colourful fibre.



I indulged in a little stash enhancement with sock yarn from Ewe Give Me the Knits



and some laceweight from Glenora. The dark plum skein is Alpaca and silk and the blue one is pure silk.



Before heading home we also made a quick trip to the Bendigo Woollen Mills. The shop was packed but I did get to meet Jacki (Jackik71) and Sam (pattymelon). And I bought some of the new Luxury yarn (very, very soft) to knit this.



A good day indeed!

Juno Regina revisited

Remember sometime ago I started Juno and frogged it? Well I have cast on again. This time I am using Naturally Dawn 2 ply lace. This is a lovely 50/50 silk/wool blend and seems perfect for something as regal as Juno.



I have reached the point of the two row repeat for the next 42". So this project will become my holiday knitting in August. We are going on a bit of a road trip and this project seems the appropriate travelling partner.





I have completed the next square in the Summer Squares project, the Violin. This one is knitted in cotton and is part of my blanket project. It can also be part of a Quartet to form a shawl. I'm very tempted to do this but I fear it will have to wait a while.





I have started on the second jumper for my friend's granddaughter. She wants me to knit this pattern. And I am knitting the jumper in Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8 ply in Cherry Red.

I think this will become my "resting" project while I am knitting the edging for my Golden Eye shawl. I frogged my extra border repeat because I realised that I would definitely not have enough yarn left for the border. Now its time to knuckle down and get that edging done.

FO: Seamless Kimono

I've have finished the first of the two jumpers a friend has asked me to knit for her granddaughter. This is the seamless kimono.



Have I mentioned before how much I love seamless knitting. No seaming = bliss. I knitted this with Bendigo Woollen Mills alpaca. This is the second time I have knitted with this alpaca and I have to say that it is a delight to work with. In fact I like it so much that I am seriously thinking of getting some for myself to knit myself a Tangled Yoke cardigan.




I have finished the border for my Summer Squares Golden Eye shawl but would like to add one more repeat. I fear that I might not have quite enough yarn to do so. The people over on the Summer Squares group have been exceedingly helpful by calculating my yardage and other helpful suggestions. I've decided to take the risk and add one more border repeat before doing the edging. I will put in a lifeline just in case I run out of yarn and need to rip back.



I have completed the third Summer Square. This is the Dulcimer knitted in Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply cotton and will form part of my blanket.

Bits and pieces

I needed a quick gift for a two year old so I knitted Ellie the Elefante.



This pattern only takes a few hours to knit. I had to make up my own ears because my crochet skills are really rather pathetic.

I've completed my second Summer Square, the Double Bass.



This square will form part of my blanket. It is knit in Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply cotton in Snow.

A friend turned up the other day with a bag of yarn and a pleading expression and of course I caved in and agreed to knit two jumpers for her granddaughter. She supplied one pattern but left it up to me to find a pattern for the Bendigo Woollen Mills Alpaca. I've started Jacki Kelly's Seamless Kimono for a three year old.



This pattern knits up really quickly. And as I have said before, I'm hooked on seamless knitting.

Frogged...again

Yesterday I frogged Juno. I had been knitting along happily, enjoying the yarn and the pattern. But when I completed chart 4 and got ready to settle in for the long haul of a 2 row repeat for 42", I finally paid heed to that incessant little voice in the back of my mind. I pinned out the scarf and had to face the fact that the yarn and pattern just didn't go.



This is the second time I have frogged this yarn. First time round was for the Featherweight cardi were things just didn't feel right either. I really love the colour of this yarn and I like the feel of it. I don't want it to languish back in my stash again so please, any pattern suggestions to help me out here?

I've completed a second Golden Eye square for the Summer Squares project. This square was knit in Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply cotton using 4.5 mm needles. This square measures 35 x 35 cm and will form part of the blanket I intend to knit.

FO: Featherweight Cardigan

The Featherweight Cardigan is finished.



It's impossible to take decent photos these days. Everyday seems to be dull and overcast. But at least you'll get an idea of the cardi. I knitted this with Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 3 ply in Deep Pink on 3.5mm circular needles. My only modification was to knit the cuffs and border in moss stitch (seed stitch to some of you) instead of a K1, P1 rib.

I'm hooked on seamless cardigans. Only a few ends to weave in at the end and that's it!

Mary has led me into temptation. I've succumbed and I've joined Summer Squares.



Here is my first square. This is knitted in The Knittery 2 ply merino in Lavender (sadly no longer exists) with 3.5mm needles. My square measures 30 x 30 cm and will probably become a shawl. I have also started on a square in cotton which will become a blanket but more of that later.

Turning Primroses into Dragonflies

I finished these socks this week and ever since I've been battling to get a decent photo. I think it must be the time of year.



The yarn is Primroses and the pattern is Dragonfly Socks. It's been a while since I've knitted cuff-down socks and I must confess I'm out of the habit. I think I might becoming a toe-up addict! Its a very easy pattern and the yarn is great to work with.

Before I went to Cairns I also manged to finish the Seamless Baby Kimono. It was going to be a traveling project but it knitted up so quickly that I finished it before we left. I used 4.00 mm circular needles and Spotlight Basics Merino. The only modifications I made was to add a little icord collar and I made icord ties rather than garter stitch ties. Its a terrific pattern.