please explain

in NZ,a "scarfie" is a Dunedin university student (Dunedin is the South Island's second largest city... close enough to Antarctica) kids come from all over NZ for the student lifestyle, cheap flats, lots of beer and rugby. Scarfies is also an NZ cult movie.
Flash grew up in Mosgiel, just outside Dunedin...ok, so he has never been to uni...but well...oh close enough!

scarfie

finished!

the Short row rib scarf for Flash in Noro Iro, 2 skeins. I am really happy with this, it is such a good pattern, easy, but a big step up from garter stitch.
Work as instructions, no changes, but just knit until I was almost out of yarn. This will look smart tucked into his black overcoat. I hate trying to photograph scarves...

snake man!

Today Flash, Blaise and I went for a hike at La Perouse, we needed the fresh air

not a terribly long or strenuous hike, we walked about 6 km, over two hours, but had a great time, clambering over rocks and dodging waves...until we rounded a corner and there was a naked man sunbaking.."oops sorry" said I...why ? I don't know...just the shock I suppose! The thing about being new in a city...is that you don't know where the nudie beaches are...well now we know...as Blaise said "I'm just looking down following your shoes!" We then walked across the not nudie beach, up the hill to one of my favourite aussies... the Snake Man...

( I didn't notice the woman freaking out when I took the photo!)

he is a guy who has a show every sunday, and educates the general public about snakes and lizards,( I come from NZ remember...no snakes...nope not one, not even in the zoo) I love snakes, from the snake man I have learnt: carry an elastic bandage every time you go near the bush ( I have one in my backpack always), not to put my hand near a Goanna ( big aussi lizard), to identify 5 of the most dangerous snakes, to check before I jump over a log or rock in the bush, and many other things. The first book I bought when we hit these red shores was "Don't die in the bush" my family are hikers from way back, but, heck there nothing compared with the frisson of knowing that you could just meet something deadly while going for a walk.

This is a goanna, the native australians ( and probably a few other people) eat them, when they bite they don't let go. (note the python escaping from his box in the background)

As for knitting content, Imogen's sleeve was finished today, one more to go and the blocking begins, some sockage - getting closer to that total for Holly, (who phoned today and told me that she had just bought some Opal wool, some 3mm dpns,and was making socks for Blaise) Flash's scarf is finished, and is blocking, all will be well for his visit home on friday.

"Home, home, where I wanted to go" The Message , Coldplay.

something to dip

Today I was supposed to go to Wollongong, but the fates conspired against me, and I spent a lot of quality time with 2 food poisoning victims, and the washing machine. I drove to Broadway and picked up "Machine knitting monthly" ( much improved) and spent the day washing and working on the black lace cardi ( now named: Imogen) By late this afternoon I figured the bug had bypassed me, and decided it was time to cook, Flash of the (usually) cast iron stomach, asked for bread and dips so here we are:


Dukkah, before blender

In a medium pan toast 1/2 cup whole almonds, when crunchy, 1/4 cup add sunflower seeds, toast for a minute or so, then 2 T coriander seed, 2 t cumin seed, 2 T sesame seed, toast for another minute. Take off the heat, leave to cool for 2 minutes, then add 1/4 t each paprika, pepper and salt if desired.Stir ( this ensures the ground spices are toasted but not burnt. Leave to cool then blend to your liking ( we like it chunky)

We are using garlic flavoured avocado oil, dunk bread in oil, then dukkah...yummy.

Capsicum dip, prior to blender once again.

2 whole red capsicums cut into slices, 8 roma tomatoes quartered, 1chilli de-seeded, 8 cloves of garlic, pour olive oil over and bake for a few hours at a med-low heat, stir occasionally, cool, then blend to your liking.

Et Voila! little bread loaves, and dips...wheres the pinot gris?

back...

after suffering for a week at the hands of Telstra...I am now back, and faster than ever...it was worth the torture...kinda, maybe. I just don't understand how such a large organisation can undereducate it's staff so badly...I applied to migrate by dial-up to broadband ( take all of my details with me) and 10 weeks later, i get an email saying my username is now "gwissen" and my email is going to gwissens inbox ( bad spelling of Flash's name)so i asked them to at least forward my email from my old address...so they forwarded gwissen's email to my old email address which I can't get...confused? The self-install kit went to the local post office (opening hours exactly match my work hours) addressed to G Wissen ( who doesn't exist)...

Anyway, enough of that, there is so much more but you guys don't need torturing too, and the up side is that the broadband is all fine now, and I can listen to knitcast and the "Llama, llama, duck " song...oh joy, thanks M-H.
I am planning another foray to Wollongong SnB this saturday, they are wonderful, friendly people, and I get to talk knitting machines with Donni, to this end I have started a lace wrap cardi for myself (gasp) but with all of my work dramas, have only managed to finish the back...don't think it will be finished in time for saturday...and I haven't forgotten that I promised to post a pattern for the ruffly lace scarf.

string theory

hmmm...so the cable guy called me this a.m. and said they are switching the cable (this building where broadband doesn't work) and my dial-up will no longer work...have to wait until the broadband modem arrives...ok, fine, so I quickly blog from work to say "see you soon" get home, and not only does my dial-up work, but it is working at twice its normal speed...weird, but I'm not complaining.

all spare hours in the past few days have been spent on this endeavour...the pattern will be here tomorrow (cable willing) but here is a teaser.

anyone who says that machine knitting is a. easy, b. a facsimile of the real thing, c. relaxing has NEVER been near one, my swearing this weekend was legend, I made more noise than the boy watching the Bledisloe Cup.

the good news and the bad news

the bad news is: I can't blog at present...

the good news is: I can't blog at present - because they have just upgraded our cables and are sending me a broadband modem

see you soon!

The Noro made me do it...

Flash is off home to Auckland soon, (lucky bugger)taking some customers to a Bledisloe Cup game at Eden Park, rugby is not my thing (I'm just not a team player) but I thought I would make him a styley scarf, so he doesn't have to wear a nasty acrylic one. Magknits short row scarf ( like the one I made myself) in Noro Iro colour 47.

Made a knitting needle case for Holly, will give it to her later this year when she comes over for the holidays, (or the "Holly-days" as they were known when she was younger)I have been making a care package for her, hopefully by the time she goes back to Uni I will have finished 5 pairs of wool socks, and a couple of pairs of mittens and gloves. The outside is some chambray from Trelise Cooper's 2003 collection, the inside is red flannel (I like the idea of keeping the needles cosy) and some novelty wine bottle fabric ( for the degree in wine science) the (over-exposed- as is every photo taken in this terrarium we call an apartment) white patches are calico printed with quotes: "wine is bottled poetry", "I like making a peice of string into something I can wear" and the knitting mermaid of course.

everytime I make one of these I learn more and more about what to change for next time!

Maisie

is a week old, so I thought a photo update was in order

Revealed!

Kitten mittens

Version One (for medium women’s hands 1 thumb gusset)

Yarn: either 1 ball Noro silkgarden (you will have related but not twin mitts)
Or 2 balls Noro silkgarden ( fraternal twins)
You will not get identical mitts, but that is part of the charm. Silk Garden has a reputation of being rough, but once you have washed it , you will see that it softens beautifully.

Needles: 1 set 3.25 dpns
1 set 4.5 dpns

Darning needle for sewing up
Knitting-in elastic (optional)
2 st markers

Gauge 18 sts x 28 rows on 4.5 needles

(do not fret too much about the gauge, silk garden has thick bits and thin bits, my tension ranged)

Important: if you note ( like I did, that, say, your wristband needed only 14 rows to match it's brother, because the length of Noro was very thick, thats fine, don't stick slavishly to my pattern, I don't, and the pattern is not exact. ( you could call this a "don't flame me" disclaimer!) try them on often while you are knitting.

Medium fit (Blaise’s hand is 20cm long, 17.5 cm around)

- With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 32 sts and work 16 rows K1P1 rib, use knitting – in elastic if desired, I like to use it for a snugger fit.
- Next row stst 4.5 mm needles. Knit 1 row, include 4 sts evenly 36sts
- Work 2 rows
- Thumb gusset, arrange sts on needles as shown in diagram.
- For R hand mitten K9, K18, K2, place marker, inc 1 st, K2, inc 1 st, place marker knit to end. (for L hand mitten K7, place marker, inc 1 st, K2, inc 1 st, place marker knit to end.)
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K to marker, place sts on holder, cast on 2 sts, check there are 36 sts. Knit to end of row.
- Knit 22 rows straight.
- Decrease:
K 4 K2tog (to end)
K 4 rows
K3 K2tog (to end)
K 3 rows
K 2 K2tog (to end)
K 2 rows
K 1 K2tog (to end)
K 1 row
K2tog (to end) 6 sts rem, cut yarn, thread through loops, pull tight,
Fasten on wrong side.
- Thumb
- Slip sts off holder onto 4.5 needle
- Pick up and knit 2 sts
- Pick up and knit 2 sts opposite holder sts, place marker, knit 2 sts
- Pick up and knit 2 sts
- Knit 6 rounds
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 3 rounds
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 2 rows
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 1 row
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 1 row
- 6 sts rem, break off yarn, draw yarn through sts, pull tight, and fasten off on wrong side.

Weave in ends, pull on and cuddle.

Blaise’s mittens were slightly felted, less than 5 minutes in a hot soapy wash, then a turn in the dryer, be vigilant, better to under - felt.

Version Two (for slightly bigger hands, better thumb fit with 2 gussets)

- With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 32 sts and work 20 rows K1P1 rib, use knitting – in elastic if desired, I like to use it for a snugger fit.
- Next row stst 4.5 mm needles. Knit 1 row, include 4 sts evenly 36sts
- Work 2 rows
- Thumb gusset, arrange sts on needles as shown in diagram 2
(PICTURE)
- For R hand mitten K9, K18, K2, place marker, inc 1 st, inc 1 st,inc 1 st place marker knit to end. (for L hand mitten K7, place marker, inc 1 st, , inc 1 st, place marker knit to end.)
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K to 1 st marker, knit 6 sts in smooth waste yarn, knit to end.(keep the markers on)
- K 1 row
- K to marker, ssk, K to last 2 sts before next marker, K2tog,slip marker, K to end.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, ssk, K to last 2 sts before next marker, K2tog,slip marker, K to end.
- K 2 rows
- K to 1 st before ,slip marker off, ssk, K to last 1 st before next marker,slip marker off K2tog , K to end
- K 13 rows OR try the mitten on, you need to knit to a point 5 cms below the tip of your tallest finger. (lengthen , shorten here)
- The top shaping takes 5 cm.
- Decrease:
K 4 K2tog (to end)
K 4 rows
K3 K2tog (to end)
K 3 rows
K 2 K2tog (to end)
K 2 rows
K 1 K2tog (to end)
K 1 row
K2tog (to end) 6 sts rem, cut yarn, thread through loops, pull tight,
Fasten on wrong side.
-Thumb
- carefully remove smooth yarn , pick up 6sts below, 6 sts above, placing a marker between the 3rd and 4th st on the top sts, arrange on 3 needles.
- K 1st row, picking up a st at each end and knitting it together with the next st on the needle ( to close the hole that would otherwise form)
- K 9 rows
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog,slip marker, K2tog, K to end
- K 6 rows (vary length here)
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog,slip marker, K2tog, K to end
- K 1 row
- cut yarn, draw through sts and pull tight, bind off.

A mitten is really just a short sock with no heel, these are very basic instructions, use them as a guide to create your own custom- size mittens.

What the.....?

This is bollocks...this known paedophile, this deviant sexual predator bastard...was recently sentenced to 320 hours of CROCHET, for molesting a 7 year old child. I am lost for words.

a long way from home...

is how I feel right now, meet Maisie, my brand new neice born at 10 am NZ time, the family have already played the "who does she look like" game without me, and the consensus is a resounding "Blaise" ( who is a bit peeved that she is no longer the "baby girl" - she needn't worry,I don't think Nana will stop calling her that anytime soon)

Anyway, isn't she a wee doll
Nana, buy a digital camera already!