Yarnplanner's Blog

A quick FO

yarnplanner — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:03:09 +0000

I have been trying to improve the quality of my finished objects. I’m quite pleased with this one, a skirt I can wear to work.
It will be better when I give it an iron.

Another FO

yarnplanner — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:30:14 +0000

This little one is a bit more recent. While at SIT, I bought this Kristen Doran embroidery pattern because it was just so darn cute. Then my boy asked me to make him a robot. I’m fairly sure he wanted it to be made of metal and have flashing lights but this is what he got.

He is so sweet he didn’t show a hint of disappointment. He is even good enough to take it to bed with him every now and again.

The Urban Troubadour

yarnplanner — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:30:46 +0000

I really am so behind in my blogging, you can expect to see a flurry of FO’s, which I need to catch up on. The first is the Urban Troubadour. I loved this pattern from the first time I saw it and just had to make one. Working from the chart was much easier than I thought, except for the cream and brown section in the middle. All the other stripes have a pattern to them (which you can chant in your head as you go). But this section is a 28 stitch repeat which, line by line had no discernable pattern.

It is knitted with Bendigo Woollen Mills 5 ply classic in a range of colours on 4mm needles and even though I got guage, it is just a bit snug around my shoulders. I would definitely knit this again with a few modifications and make it just a bit bigger. Still, It is perfect for chilly Brisbane mornings and I love it.

A new tack

yarnplanner — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:51:00 +0000

My blogging has been absolutely woeful of late and I’m pretty embarrassed about it. But I’ve decided to try something new and blog from my phone. The idea is to make it a bit more immediate and to use the proximity of the camera to its advantage.

So here goes.

A recent FO. For my boy of course. A simple play mat panel, with pockets for cars (and parachutes and soldiers and planes and helicopters) on the back and ties so it can be all wrapped up and carried about. Like all mothers of four year old boys I am always trying to find ways to keep him busy and happy, particularly when we are out and about.

Easy Gift Giving

yarnplanner — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:37:18 +0000

I’ve had an idea for a kid’s present going around in my head and finally had the chance to give it a go. The two children of the lovely Donna have their birthdays close together and rather than giving more toys, I took the opportunity to try to get my idea together.

A while ago I bought some hamburger shaped bento boxes from an import store that was closing down. I can’t quite remember how many I bought but there are a few. They were cheap but lovely quality.

So I decided I needed to make a bag for the bento boxes to sit in which looked a bit like a paper bag from a well known fast food outlet. I made them out of a linen/ cotton blend fabric and just made it up as I went along.

I ended up with this:

Gryff was the guinea pig but he loves his as much as the two lovely kids did today. The bento boxes are not ideal for lunches as they don’t fit a sandwich easily but they are great for snacks and the kids like pulling them apart to see what is in the different layers.

The whole process was fun. It was easy and quick and I think the kids really like them. Watch out if your child is likely to get a present from me any time soon….

Noro Striped Scarf

yarnplanner — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 08:34:26 +0000

This scarf is a really long time coming. I think I started it in May of last year. It was a really long, boring knit. One that made me question, on more than one occassion what possessed me to start it. One that made me beg (the much more level headed) Donna to ‘intervene’ if I ever suggested I would start another such ill-conceived project ever again. Still, I love all 7 foot of it and now it is done, I’m pretty pleased it is mine.
The pattern (such that it is) is on Ravelry and the yarn is Noro Yuzen. 4.5mm bamboo needles.

SIT Name Badge Swap

yarnplanner — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:01:44 +0000

Because I’m going to Sew It Together this year and because it was such fun last year, I am participating in the name badge swap (and anything else I can find time for). I was relieved though, when I was assigned someone with a short name!

Now that I know she has received it, I can reveal the name badge I made for Sandy.

I’m glad she likes it. This sort of crafting does not come easily because I just don’t think I’m creative enough but I did enjoy making it. Thanks to Donna for providing the backing fabric and template plastic (what a great resource she is!)
I’m looking forward to meeting Sandy and all of the other wonderful girls coming to Sydney at the end of March for Sew It Together. I think there are still a few spots vacant if you want to come!

Special

yarnplanner — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:12:31 +0000

I have a whole host of blog posts in my head that I just have not found the time to get down but this one couldn’t wait any longer.
When my mother ‘remodelled’ her sewing space recently she found that her existing sewing table didn’t quite fit the plans. My Mum (hi Mum!) needs things to fit and so the sewing table became reluctantly redundant. Except that this is no ordinary sewing table. This has to have been with my Mum for as many years as I have. She can’t quite remember if it was bought for her by her father or by my father but it was a LONG time ago. And it really doesn’t matter to me. Both these men were important to me so, ergo, this sewing table is too. Of course, my Mum is the one that has kept this table with her and used it for all these years and that is the most important thing of all.

It is just beautiful. More beautiful since she restained it and brought it back to its real former glory but it works so beautifully for me. A bit longer than my nephews desk that I was using before, it allows me to comfortably access my machine and overlocker and the drawers are just perfect for sewing things.

Very shallow and wide so that you can see everything at a glance.

A special shelf for threads but I keep mine where I can see them so I need to find a good use for it.

Of course I love it, I love sitting at it and I love that it has history. History that can’t be remade.

I’m back – again!

yarnplanner — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 05:58:20 +0000

I know I’ve said it before but I really am back this time. Back in the saddle, back in a routine (well soon…) and you know, back.

I have heaps of things to show you but one of the reasons I feel so… back… is that my little boy starts Kindergarten next week. 5 days a fortnight and an extra day with my Mum (thanks Mum). So to get him ready, I have been labelling uniforms (with the fabric I had printed by Spoonflower, with his name on it) and making a set of sheets (with sheet fabric and the fabric I had printed by Spoonflower). I let him choose the print fabric and between rockets and robots, he chose the robots.

In that little pack is a fitted sheet, a top sheet (with robot and name fabric) and a little pillow to which I added some raw edge applique robots.

It took me ages but was heaps of fun. He loves them.

Sorry about the crap photos, they were taken with my phone. I can’t find the lead for our camera!

More soon – I promise.

An amazing gift

yarnplanner — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:43:56 +0000

We’re off on holiday for a week today which is sorely needed in this house. We haven’t had a proper week away for well over a year and with broken collar bones (little boy), broken bathrooms (house) and broken sanity (me), it has been far too long.

Anyway, I couldn’t leave without showing you the most amazing gift from the very talented Donna. You may have seen this post of hers and been amazed at her talent and creativity. You might also have thought “I wonder if she would trade my first born for just a little one of those?” Well I didn’t have to – the lovely Donna made me one of my own and for no good reason, gave it to me as a gift. How wonderful is that? She says it is because I sourced a few Golden Books for her and stood by her side during a particularly awkward demonstration at a craft show (I’ll let her tell that story if need be) but those small gestures did not add up to this:

It is so perfect, the little ladybug and the ship and the cat peeking on the edge of the wing.
Thank you Donna