Girls Own Stitching Club

Hi all, well winter had almost come to Perth - well our version of winter anyway. Last night the low  Sunday night was forecast to be 8 degrees & all highs for the next few days around 18-19. Today they are saying 22-24 highs for the next week and 8-11 lows. Winter just does not want to come to Perth, not bone jarring, lots of layers, teeth chattering winter anyway.

 

In celebration of it almost being winter here, the last two days I have worn a scarf to work anyway. I think I am hoping to entice Jack Frost to make a visit to our big sandy state. I knitted a new scarf in March (wishful thinking) but didn't share it so here it is. The close up pic is better for actual colour.

Have you seen the new Girls Own Stitching Club that Bronwyn Hayes from Red Brolly is hosting on her blog? I love Bronwyn's designs and along side patterns from mags or that I buy, I do many of the freebies she generously gives out so am ín like Flynn' with this one too.

I like the old world charm of the flower design and the thought of learning a few new stitches along the way. It helps to pick up hints & tips from one of the best stitchers in the business.

Here's my version of the first design;

The nice muted colours are really tickling my fancy as was the chance to use this background fabric. It is a gorgeous subtle floral in a soft kakhi green hue.

 

The club only started on 25th April with this design & there is 8 more to go so plenty of time to join in now. At the end we will have a lovely stitchery quilt to show for our lessons also. To check it out and download the free pattern, go to the Red Brolly blog post.

 

 

It's thanks to mum for the above phrases like ín like Flynn' and 'tickled my fancy'. I find this year as Mothers Day approaches I am really missing my mum & my Aunty, both of my strong maternal figures (& Brutus of course, he always gave the best Mothers Day gifts - thanks again to mum for buying them for him to give!). I've even been dreaming about them - yes Brutus too but he was with mum so where he needs to be now.

On a brighter note - Happy Mothers Day to all my dear friends out there who are mums, and/or are celebrating with your mums and deserve a good spoiling! Big smooch from me. xx

 

 

 

I'm off now to get my hair cut. Cooler weather & twice a week in the pool means shorter hair so easier to dry & less dribbles down my neck as I drive home wrapped in a towel & wearing sheepskin slippers at 7.45pm. It's a sight to behold! Maybe I'll have a chat to Hun-bun and ask him if he has any pocket money left & should I pick up a Mothers Day gift for me while I'm at the shops...

Happy stitching
Tracee xx

Try The Purple Gorilla!

Alas! My stitching mojo has abandoned me again, just when I am getting so behind on the SKOW stitch a long. My avoidance issues of the needleturn applique are rearing their heads again now that I am at the flower block that has tiny shapes which I am not good at.

Never mind, I went back to my first love - knitting. I haven't been able to knit much for the last few years due to a pulled tendon in my elbow. A couple of rows & the pain would always start. A new baby coming in June & the start of winter was a nice prompt to get me to try again after such a long break.

First up was a pair of pink Mary-Jane Booties with a flower on top - every girl needs at least one pair in her life time.

I managed that with not too much pain so decided on a baby hoodie and matching booties in a gorgeous bright multi colour bamboo / wool blend called Layette by Bella Baby from Spotlight. It was nice to get it down to $2.00 a ball too. A pretty wooden flower button & it was done.

It's hard to see the hoodie properly lying down & not having any newborns on hand to model it was into the sewing room & on to my soft toy shelf to look for a suitable baby size model. Try the purple gorilla I thought!

'He's no supermodel muma' said Brun.

'No, not purple with orange, pink & red muma' said Hun-bun.

'Sweet' said Purple Gorilla! Gorilla does look a bit like he is about to enter the ring in a bout with Rocky Balboa. First Hood up....

Now hood down....

Unfortunately Gorilla's feet were too big for the booties.

This was a nice, simple pattern, easy to do while watching footy. The hoodie pattern came from a US Creative Knitting magazine & the booties from my favourite 20 To Make Knitted Baby Booties by Val Pierce.

Also this week while watching the voice on Monday & Tuesday I finally gave one of the scarfs a try that Peg & Shez have been wowing us with. Your right Shez, there is a lot of unravelling of the yarn & lots of pulling, plucking & unwinding too.  I used the coffee & cream colour scheme & used a ball of wool called Honeycomb from Spotlight. It's lovely snuggly & soft.

Happy knitting

Tracee xx Little Brun xx Hun-bun xx