And now for something completely different...

I have crocheted a garment. The last time I crocheted a garment was twenty odd years ago. I picked up some crochet cotton on special for $1 each for two balls. I fell in love with a pattern for a cardi which needed far more cotton than I had so after trying to get some more (fruitless) I decided to make a vest. I had hoped for enough cotton to do a bit of a ruffle but had to make do with treble bands. Still I am pretty pleased with this for $2 (I didn't even have to pay for the button which came from a clothing label tag).

It's too darn hot

We've had a run of hot weather. It's been over 30 degrees for over a week. On Thursday it was the school swimming carnival. I was judging which meant standing at the end of the pool in the sun for all of my duty on a day which was over 40 degrees. But I am still knitting...and crocheting. I have taken up the hook for the first time to make a garment for over twenty years. In the mean time crochet has become more attractive (although some of the patterns I am itching to make are from back in the dim dark ages when I last crocheted to make something as opposed to teaching my daughter to crochet for her Textiles Major Project last year).

I have finished the funky baby blanket and I'm now working on a cotton top (knitted), a lacy coverup (crocheted) and a shawl (knitted). A top in a viscose/linen mix is taking a long time to decide on - thought I had the stitch sorted but after most of a ball's knitting it's back to the drawing board again. I'm desperate to get into something to finish quickly (I want something for me: NOW!). I think the knitted top or the crochet are the likeliest candidates.

Present Projects

washcloths made from cotton, and bamboo/wool blend

Mercerized cotton bookmarks

I have finished three washcloths for my staff and half a dozen bookmarks for my book group. Paddington Bear is knitted but not sewn up or stuffed (and I still have to do his clothes) so I have done some of my Christmas knitting but whether it's all going to be completed in time is another story. So much for working my stash down though most of the stuff I have been working on I have had to go out and buy yarn specially. Only the bookmarks marked some knitting down and at just over 100m it was hardly significant!

Crocheted and knitted bookmarks