Looking for a ball winder

My mum is looking to borrow / hire a ball winder for a week or so. She has decided she doesn't like a couple of her current projects and wants to start again for various reasons.

Does anyone know where we could get our hands on one without having to buy it?

She estimates she has 12 large balls to re-wind and she really doesn't want to do it by hand.

My Scarf is finished!

Ok so it doesn't look much in that photo as my hubby pointed out, so we went and got my dressmaking doll and she posed for us. I used 2 balls 50g of Moda-Dea Wild (100% Nylon). Not bad for my first project I think. The rows vary between 28 and 33 stitches - I cast on 30 to start with.


So now I just have to wait for cooler days to wear it! My next project - a baby blanket and no I'm not pregnant I'm just getting organised because everyone tells me they take for ever to knit, I'm also going to start a pair of socks at some stage.

squidpod

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=40714.0
cute!
looks very Japanese somehow.
michelle

Noro silk garden on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Noro-Knitting-Yarn-Wool-Silk-Kid-Mohair-Silk-Garden_W0QQitemZ170072787469QQihZ007QQcategoryZ36599QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

good price i think
michelle

A slight "slip-up"...

Lupinbunny Battles the Velvet Ribbon
Originally uploaded by indienial.

Intolerable Cruelty is finished, so no more really painful gags about intolerable stockinette (may I just repeat— 24 inches!) or my misguided attempt at setting a deadline...

I have to say it, I love this skirt. I love it. It's a great pattern, very original, surprisingly quick to knit (ahem), and most importantly, it's somehow flattering. A flattering knitted skirt is something I thought I would never see... But, as I found out this morning, you REALLY need to wear something under it.

I modelled it for the Stitch'n'Bitch girls on Monday and they're not the kind of girls to hold back normally... but either everyone had an attack of the "polites" or maybe they were just mesmerised by the pink and yellow undies I had on.

whoops
Originally uploaded by indienial.

The lowdown:
YARN: I used the specified SWTC bamboo yarn, which is soft and slippery enough to make the skirt hang really nicely— I couldn't find a "perfect" substitute for it, as either cotton or wool will not have the same flattering drape.

TIME: It took about two and a half weeks of knitting time, and then sat in my WIP basket for about a month before I gathered the courage to start the crochet loops.

MODS: In the end, I decided that crocheting with the bamboo yarn was a task way beyond my limited skill set and cheated by finger-knitting the chain for the corset-y loops and then sewing it into place. I also did away with the two YOs at the bottom of the back panel, because I didn't like the holes they made.

OTHER: The pattern specifies that it is to be worn below the waist, and the top of the skirt is quite loose. In retrospect, I'd probably improve the fit by making the waist of the skirt a bit smaller and keeping the hip measurements the same (hey, I have child bearing hips, I'm sure a lot of you can relate!). But that's definitely a personal choice, and I figure it's always better to have a little extra room around the waist than to have something too tight.

One more pic for luck:

Fear the rear
Originally uploaded by indienial.

Thanks to Ashley and knitty.com for a fantastic pattern. Next step: working out how to sew in a lining...

Jo Sharp sale at The Knittery

20-30% off
http://www.theknittery.com/c/24753/1/jo-sharp-yarns-clearance.html

Michelle

I miss living in NYC

I would love to go and see this exhibition.
http://www.madmuseum.org/site/c.drKLI1PIIqE/b.1506945/k.3AD7/Radical_Lace__Subversive_Knitting.htm

michelle

The Birds

good use of knit and crochet

http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com/2007/01/popular-culture-on-wing.html

hmm, wonder how to do Vertigo?
michelle

i love the tree sweater.

this would entertain me to no end.
http://erika.fisherking.org/?page_id=271
Michelle

Merino Madness in Canberra

hmm, maybe I need a business trip
http://need2knit.blogspot.com/2007/01/merino-madness-announcement.html
michelle

Hook, line and .... sunk.*

I finished knitting Intolerable Cruelty on December 21, 2006. That's 24 inches of between 196 and 464 stitches (what with the ruffle and all).

I sewed in all the ends, hemmed the waistband, and tried it on. Normally, this is where the story goes wrong. But no!! Not this time! It looked fantastic! Who ever would have thought you could wear a knitted skirt and NOT look like an elephant, especially if your rear is a quite well-endowed? It's definitely the most flattering thing I have ever knit, and I know I will get a lot of wear out of it.

So what's the problem? That small word.... "I finished knitting". Unfortunately, the pattern also calls for a very small amount of crochet— loops to put the corset ribbons through. And for some reason, this is a real chore for me. I forgot my crochet hook when I was on holiday so I couldn't do it then, and by the time I got home, it seemed like life just sucked all my motivation to crochet right out the window. Someone please start harassing me, otherwise I fear the skirt will languish in the WIP basket until 2008!


* Alternative titles for this post:
The ole' hook and chain
Not hooked on crochet
No way, crochet!

(I am bad pun central today. Sorry!)

american parcel forwarding

for anyone desperate for a knitpicks fix, might i suggest elektra's buying service?

only $3.00 plus the cost of forwarding your parcel. only forwrading service to not require a subscription.

http://tiedupwithstring.bravehost.com/

pirates KAL

for anyone interested,
I have always liked this pattern.

arggh.

http://wecallthempirates.wordpress.com/2007/01/06/arrgh/

michelle

suggestions?

$50 gift certificate to the Wool Shack....what should I get?
I could get one gorgeous ball of wool and make one sock!

Michelle

Crocheting an afghan

yes, the beginning of the year makes me feel ambitious. and this cool weather...ahhh. I want to start a crocheted afghan for myself, something I can drape over me in the winter. I want to do this seemingly simple pattern:

http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2006/11/vintage_vertica.html

beautiful. ok, what cheap yarn can I use for this that comes in a myriad of colours? That you can get at Spotlight? Any Patons yarns fall into this category? I'll look through my stash but I only have one or two colours. takes a 5mm knitting needle or size H crochet hook?

This whole thought will dissipate when the weather returns to normal summer heat, but right now, sounds like fun.

any knitting/crocheting 'resolutions' for the new year?
I don't make resolutions per se, but I would like to start the following projects this year.

1. above afghan
2. sweater for oldest son
3. sweater for youngest son
4. sweater for me.


hope to see you all on Monday.
Michelle

past Christmas, I know.

But somehow I thought of Clementine.

http://knitandplenty.typepad.com/knit_and_plenty/2006/12/hark_the_handsp.html

see you all on Monday. I should be finished with my niece's Stuffie by then. I'll bring it in. And I hope to begin the short-row heel of my socks without wraps....yikes!
michelle

kool-aid

don't suppose anyone has a couple of packs of kool-aid lying about that i can buy off them? i'm coming a couple of packs short for a dying project, and noone has good prices/ flavour choices on ebay right at this very nansecond (wait a week? hell no! i'm too impatient).

am after pinky/ purple colours - one pacl of pink lemonade, strawberry, black cherry or grape (need two packs in total); or one of the above and two of watermelon (i think. is watermelon very similar to cherry?)

A Sale, Jan 1-5

Who keeps New Year resolutions anyway? Break that stash ban with our Resolution Breaker sale!

Get 15% off from today, 1st January 2007 until 5th January 2007.


Happy Kniting!


--
www.purlyarns.com.au


just in case someone was interested.
Michelle