criss cross set

ok ok..so you are all asking where the orange and black set is.....why haven't I finished ?? well ...I got another design inspiration and well.... I hate to admit it but....I put the orange set to the side:) ..sorry!!!
I think the following explanation should suffice though??
I saw an outfit for sale at a local op shop and loved the use of denim tones with over stitching,Ok ..not enough to buy it, but enough to inspire a new creation 5 minutes after I got home...sorry orange set..I WILL complete you!

I used an 8 ply acrylic blend for this set,despite the fact soo many designers seem to call acrylic the cheap or worse option..I beg to differ.. I find they can go into the washing machine and drier time and time again, they dry in record time, unlike heavier wools...and if you wash in wool wash, they soften beautifully. Acrylic is BRILL for the allergy babies , as I was to find out with my daughter, who had head to toe eczema as a baby. I like some of the bamboo and cornsilk yarns on the market currently, but the price is still prohibitive for many of us, and the colours on offer so far, as less than exciting for those of us obsessed by the bright colours.

I decided to go for a more neutral look, so either gender could wear it.It was NOT an easy decision, mind you. I had to cover my wool shelves, asI swear the the orange and pink tones were screaming 'use me, i'm gorgeous'..''scrap the neutral look''
It sure took alot of will power and averting of eyeballs.! BUt the results below tell you who won!

It is made to fit a child of approx 6-9 months of age. I used 8 ply (double knitting ) yarn in a very simple garter stitch .
I decided to leave the shaping out of it as much as possible, so this design would be suitable for a new knitter.
hope you like it..comments welcome!

a montage of design ideas..

Here is a slide show I used to have on My space..it shows some of the projects I have done in the last year. Enjoy!

..and for those of you who do not know..I LOVE needlepoint!!! These are some of the designs I have made up in the last year or so.

New project! gotta love the orange !!!!

I've just come from the spotlight wool clearance bins..drool drool...4 large bags later (I am NOT kidding) and hardly able to fit out of the stores doors... I left , dreaming up new colour combinations and styles... I swear the clouds were balls of wool by the time I got home!!
I think I stopped for a cup of chai for all of 5 minutes, before my lounge rom was covered in needles, graph paper and patterns for inspiration ..BUT do you think I could decide what to make??? 4 hours went by and I was left with no project and empty needles.( In my defense, I'd like to add that it is NOT an easy choice when looking at 18 different wools , 32 colour combinations!)
However...I did finally get inspiration after eating an orange, of all things and now find myself knitting again! PHEW! ..thank you fruit gods! I knew I'd find a sign...you would have thought that eating an orange could change the course of history??

This is a wee challenge I have set myself. I want to see how many babies items I can squeeze out of 6 balls of Patons Powder Puff orange wool.For the challenge I have allowed myself 2 balls of Black to add some contrast.
So whats the hope... I am trying for a blanket, 2 sets of pants, jacket, hat and frill edged jumper/star front vest ...or something equally cool.
I'll post the progress each night.

Here is night 1. The start of the baby blanket.


This yarn is fantastically soft!! It also goes for miles...I have done this much and still have loads left. My hopes to knit all the items I mentioned for my challenge, might just happen! Guiness book of records, here I come!!! ;)



this is the reverse side of the blanket..both look equally funky! If I have enough yarn left over, I will probably add some detailing around the borders. The fact I can use both sides is great, So i'll be sure to add a border with that in mind.It just means picking up stitches a little closer to the edges, so the bulk does not show on one side.
Back to the needles...spot you tomorrow , Goal, one finished blanket, I'll be starting the next item..a pair of striped pants, s6 months.

Just in time for Halloween

This one was inspired by all the pirate and halloween imagry out there at the moment. I couldn't help thinking '' why is it only the boys items that have skull and cross bones but not the girls ones. This is my protest against this!!
I have designed a skull and cross bones suitable for a wee lass, breaking the boyish theme by adding a heart for lips in pink..and using a pretty lace edging to soften the overall look.



I used 8 ply wool for this design. It was knitted up on 8mm needles and was very quick. I added the lace band after the body was completed and sewn together, this meant I could do a knit the lace border in one stretch. The skull was half intarsia and half embroidered. I tend to knit the larger parts, and embroider smaller patches, as I find the embroidered parts sit better and look more professional . Call me crazy, but I love the embroidery process!!

newborn baby dress

This was designed for a friend in USA. It is part of my new collection.I love the pink and lime stripes soo much, I had to make a whole range out of it!! I have a baby blanket to post on here soon...that is truley gorgeous!

I wanted to make a dress that could be worn all year round.One that would suit tights, long skeeved tops, jeans and even just baby shoes in hotter climates. It is a very easy design, double knitting ,no fancy shaping, so easy for a beginner.

I used 100% acrylic yarn in an 8 ply weight.(double knitting). spotlight again was my choice of supplier, as I like the colour range and prices just can't be beat!

This pattern was very simple to create.It is basically a no shaping 2 piece design. I completed this in an evening.

twin boys!

Cool..I have volunteered to knit a jumper and cardigan set for twin boys, born to a wonderful teacher at the local Special Needs school. I worried it might be a conflict of interest to volunteer my knitting services,as I am a board of trustee member there, and it might not have looked good to pay myself,as such!
All is well though, everyone agreed it was a good idea..so armed with that knowledge, I set off to find some wool at Spotlight.

My only request from fellow Board members... make it really FUNKY and BRIGHT.

Here are the colours I picked.





I decided against the purple and yellow in the end.
I chose a soft 8 ply acrylic , mainly as I like this for little babies..not only because the colours on offer are fantastic, but they wash and dry in record time.I have found you can wash this in the washing machine and even put it in the clothes drier! Now thats what I call a 'mum' friendly product!


this was the first one i started..I decided to use the tattoo image from an older childs pattern I had,and the sleeve pattern from my husbands jacket.I find inspiration in the every day things around me.

This is the sleeve pattern I mentioned using on a jacket I made for my husband. It is an easy repeated pattern, with no wool tangles!



here is the red one coming to life. I really like the contrast against the other.



completed...one BRIGHT and FUNKY jumper in red! I can't decide which I like better...green or red, cardy or jumper?



hmm..not sure if I like this plain...but almost completed! Now to decide where to add some embroidery.


YEs the converse shoe is necessary in the photo..it was where I got my colour inspiration from! I never do things the usual way!


I decided to add some knitting embroidery..it looked too plain next to the other one! I like the contrast against the backgroud...maybe next time Id add a more random set of designs.


Here they are completed..they came up beautifully in the acrylic I was asked to use. :)
When I figure out how to scan an image, I will add a multiple births article from newspaper..why? .... my finished garments were shown on the babies!!


Here are the twin babes wearing my creations!! Apparently they get worn to death! It is good to see they have lasted a few months more than I anticipated!

frilly jacket with striped sleeves

This is one I am currently working on for my daughters xmas present. I am still thinking about whether to add lace cuffs in black..and knitting cord ties...hmm decisions decisions.. all to be revealed soon.