knit n bitch

Retreat Knitting Results

This is what happens when you have 2 days solid of pure unadulterated knitting.  I only actually tackled the Erika Knight Cardi, and got quite far really, all things considered.  As an extra (and a bit of a change) I also polished off a baby bolero from the new book One Skein.  I made it with Rowan All Seasons Cotton, and it was just over one ball, as the meterage wasn't quite as generous as the Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton that the pattern recommended.  Still, it's cute, and unisex too, in case of another blue one!

 

 

Over too soon!

Well, it went WAY too quickly, but it was bliss (apart from a slightly un-comfy sofa).  From 2pm on Friday the knitting marathon began, as well as the eating, the reading of gossip mags (you gotta love Hello!) and the watching of many movies.

Souvlaki and chips was Friday night's nosh (take out), and after a late night and early rise, the knitting began again!

At about 2pm on Saturday afternoon, we heard a knock on the door and were greeted by a very lovely lady who enquired "are you the IV Knit Along girls?"....."errrr....yes" we said!  Turns out she was a mobile masseur and we all got a 20 min neck and shoulder massage, courtesy of Marge, who, unfortunately, was in Canberra for her mum & dad's 50th Wedding anniversary.  She was DEFINITELY there in spirit, bless 'er!

Saturday night Robynne cooked us a very special spicey Kedgeree from a Nigella cook book (soooo yummy Rob) and this was followed by Raspberry Ice Cream made by Moi!

Other chocolatey nibbles were had in between and brekkie on Sunday morning was Eggs Florentine, cooked by Gayle!

So you see, we all had a fab time, ate too much, knit too much and watched too much TV.....Jealous??  You should be!

A few piccy's for you and I will post tomorrow to show you my knitting results (just in case you dont believe we actually knit)

   

Thank You!!

Thank you ladies for your Knitting Retreat help!  I have decided to compromise and will be taking two projects.  One is my ongoing cap sleeve top from Vogue Knitting Spring 2006 (see piccy for the progress so far) and the other is a cardi from the Erika Knight book Baby Bloom.  I plan to knit it in the Debbie Bliss Cathay (been meaning to use this yarn for ages) and I have chosen the Rose Pink.  Some of you may already know that I am in the very early stages of my third pregnancy, so I thought that if I started a maternity cardi now, then by the time I have a bump, it will be finished!  It's also something that looks like it can be worn without a bump too!

 

So that's all for now.  Thanks to all of you who helped me make up my mind and so sorry that I now have to leave you and go pack for a weekend of debauchery!

THOUGHTS PLEASE (ASAP!)

As you all know (coz I gloatingly shoved it in your face), this weekend is the IV's Knitting Retreat.  I have a knitting dilemma which I am hoping you lot can help me with.

Do I:-

A) take along several projects so that I can chop and change to suit my feelings at the time?

B) take one project and really make headway with it over the weekend!

If it were you facing this quandry, what would you do?  Please post your responses, as we arrive at our palace of knitting sin on Friday!

Thanking you muchly!

Knitting Retreat!

A week tomorrow, the IV's (minus Marge) will be heading off for our bi-annual knitting retreat!  We are staying by the beach in Seashells Apartments where the view is just gorgeous.  Lots of knitting planned for the weekend, along with yummy food, and the theme this time is Doris Day!  Old movies, good friends, great food, spectaular view.....what more could a woman want?  Jealous?  YOU SHOULD BE!!!

Tea Cup - She Did Finish!

Many, MANY moons ago, the IV girls embarked on a Tea Cup Knit along.  Whilst many of us fell by the wayside, Marge stuggled on like a tropper, despite having preggers brain, followed by baby brain and sleepless nights!  I feel it's my duty to post her completed tea cup on my blog, as I am that proud that she's FINALLY finished and will be able to knit something that she enjoys at last!  Well done Madge!

Marshmallow Madness!

Tonight is the last IV knit along prior to Marge popping her second child out (assuming that it's not really late).  I have been promising for AGEEEES to make some marshmallow hearts from the Donna Hay Kids magazine, so last night I whipped up some sugar, glucose and other such stimulants, set a nice big slab of sticky pink stuff overnight, then turned them out this morning and cut into hearts.  I also made a pair of baby feet to celebrate the occasion of Marge's impending birth (which she almost certainly doesn't want to be reminded of).  Now listen, I am no Donna Hay (I dont have a team of stylist making sure my marshmallows are perfect) and I'm certainly no Martha Stewart (although what I would do for her cash and craft time), but I am quite happy wtih my first attempt!

The Fruits of my Labour

The projects I took along to our knitting retreat were on the small side, as that's all I really have on the go at the moment (give or take), plus I figured it meant I could chop and change and have something new to do every few hours.  Here's the list:-

  Pinky (albeit a naked Pinky).  She's a Dot Pebble's kit and I've just got to get her dressed!

    I have adapted this Debbie Bliss Tunic to a stripey version without the embroidery, and I am knitting it in Rowan Cotton Glace.  I managed to finish the back on the retreat!

I got this far with yet another cup cake hat, which was a request from my nephew Tom.  He's having a chocolate cupcake.

  I also dabbled with a bit of crochet, using the Debbie Bliss Maya.  You have just got to try this yarn!  It looks particularly stunning in crochet, as the variegated colours are dotted all over, plus the colour palate is just YUMMY!

I think that just about covers all the work I did when we were away.  Not bad in between eating, looking after small person (please note that 'eating' came top of the list) and watching musicals!

Inside Retreat 2005

I promised photos, and here they are!  So good was the weekend, that we are planning a Summer one....coz we just can't get enough of each other!

  Naughty nibbles!

Nicole furiously knitting, Robynne conked out on the sofa (it's very tiring all that knitting!)

4 weeks to go till Marge pops!

You just gotta love a girl with such funky PJ's!

My boy in a bag...this was Nicoles idea, and he's having fun!

View DAY!

View NIGHT (ish)

Will post the achievements of my weekend of knitting once I recover from the Mango Daquiris that Nicole tried to get me drunk on!

IV Surprises!

At our IV knitting retreat (the annual gathering of knitting mates) I presented the girls with a bag of goodies....take a look at the array of exciting mini-silly things!

  Cute Japanese flat tin (for keeping knitting tools in!)

  Groovy plastic Needle Sizer, from The Big Yarn.

  The divine felt doughnut, handcrafted by Sewdorky!

  A miniature cake tin (two girlies got stars, two got hearts!).

  Rosebud Salve, from Sassy Priscilla.

They also got a Wool Shack button mirror, some Jelly Belly gourmet beans and a fabric covered A5 notebook.