This Week on the Farm

It's been wet and cold in the Wimmera all week!  I think today is the first time I have seen the sun for days.

What's on the Needles:

Have just finished finished clue 3 of Magia Shawl KAL by Laura Nelkin.  Knitting with Skein Merino Silk Lace, which is 50% Merino and 50% Silk.  To get the gauge required I had to go to 4mm needle which is giving a very open Lace.  Clue 4 arrives on Tuesday.  This was an easy week, last week I was still knitting on the Tuesday and only finished clue 2 one hour before clue 3 arrived.

Knitting with some handspun yarn for the first time.  Knitting a beanie for David so when he is outside working he can wear it.  It's called Fisher and the pattern is by Lindsey Felice via Ravelry.  This yarn is my second lot of spinning that I did.  The fleece was purchased from Mosley Park.

Bendigo cotton - Knitting youngest grandson a hat.  Have completed ear flaps.


Goals
My goal for July is to complete a UFO whilst starting Xmas gifts for the 7 grandchildren.  I have heaps of cotton 10 ply so I am knitting a face washer for each child.  My aim over the next few months is to Make a bag that I will embroider their name and a item on.  I will use this as a Xmas stocking which can become a laundry bag that they can hand on the back of their door and put their dirty clothes in it.  In the bag will be an embroidered bag, a knitted face washer, some Goats Milk soap and a pair of sock and if lucky I might even get a pair of pajamas made.  That's 7 of each that I
need to do.  Big challenge.

Spinning
Have just finished washing my 3 ply humbug yarn and it's currently drying. Should be about a 10 ply.  Love the feel it is so soft.  Now I can start some alpaca roving that I purchased a fair while ago.

Listening
 Marly Birds podcast.

Reading:
I have been reading ply magazine, great magazine and I would recommend it to all interested in spinning.  This magazines focus is twist.  I have also just commenced Yarn Works by W J Johnson.  This is a complete guide on how to spin, dye and knit your own yarns which is written to inspire both new and experienced spinners and dyers.

New items
I had read about square knitting needles.  David was heading to Melbourne for work so I sent him to Morris and Sons.  I ordered some needles for both double pointed and also interchangeable.  Knit pro brand.  I'm amazed they fit nicely into your hand, assist with smoother stitches and are great to use.  I think I'm converted.

The Alpaca Girls.
Bianca, Fleur, Helena and Celine have all confirmed as being pregnant.  Hopefully this time they will all hold.  Honest has been mated and we are waiting on confirmation if she has also been successful this time.  Bianca is due on 12/9/2014 followed by Fleur towards November/December.  Helena and Celine are not due till April & May next year.

Fleece - Shearing was last October.   The yarn is currently being processed hopefully it won't be long before it comes back.  3ply, 5ply and 8ply.  Natural yarns.

Have a great week everyone
Take Care

This month we have been really busy.  We have sent our fleece to be processed into natural colored yarn. Our new website is nearly completed.

This weekend I have been busy washing and processing Alpaca fleece ready for spinning.  Attended our local dawn service on Friday and then spent the rest of the weekend out in the yard planting our Lilly Pilly's that hopefully will grow into a hedge.

Have commenced building our chook yard, although someone made a comment they thought we were building a room on the garage.

There were an amazing group of 36 ladies this weekend that walked 50km each in two days.  They raised $25,000 to be split between 3 charities associated with our local community.  They had beautiful weather and walked through the areas at the bottom of the grampians that were recently burnt in the bush fires.

Spinning Course

I have volunteered to instruct a Finishing session for the Inner City Knitters Guild in July. 

I have been knitting for over 30 years now. Lace Patterns, Cable Patterns, etc I can do most of it.  Shhhh dont tell anyone but I never knew about blocking until I attended my first meeting at the Inner City Group and someone mentioned that they had blocked something.  Had no idea what they were talking about, so home I went to hunt the internet.  What was this new idea that they were talking about!  Where did I buy it from!  I was never taught nor told about blocking and to sew a jumper or cardigan together, that was easy just sew over the seam methond.  Bulky as!

I have been researching for ages and have heaps of notes so now my aim over the next 6 weeks is to try all the things that I have reseached to see what I believe is the best for me.  This will also allow me to have a total teaching package ready for July.

This week I will be doing Wet Blocking and Matress Seams.  Will post my progress as I go along so stay tuned.

Tomorrow I am starting a learn to spin class at the Spinners and Weavers.  Its a 6 week course which is great.  Cant wait.  I attended a 3 hour session about two months ago and enjoyed that.  Will also update this on a weekly basis.

Easter Activities

Great day yesterday spent with Family and friends. Have started knitting jumper for Grand Daughter Akeisha. Heading to Nowra to have dinner with friends from Victoria who have moved there. Then tomorrow having lunch with friends from Sydney at Holiday House at Sussex Inlet.

Finished Olearia Cardigan for granddaughter Courtney Paige. Just need to block now. Also nearly finished cardigan for Christine, again just need to block and sew up. Have tried mattress stitch now though great to do and so quick. Cook book from the Royal Easter show arrived today; as if I really need to be pigging out on those yummy treats.

Saturday 24th March

Busy day yesterday. Caught bus to city, went to visit Morris and Sons. Then Customs House for my first meeting as Secretary with the Knitters Guild. 3.30 to the Rugby where we watched Warratahs Win. Fantastic game nice and close. Still don't understand some of the rules though. Best weather, the sky was blue the sun was shining.

Socks for Grand Children

Knitting Socks for Grand Daughters.  Hard to guess what size, trial and error I think
Will add picture this evening