Machine Knitting

I have spent the last month or so learning how to use a knitting Machine. I always thought using a machine to knit was easy and not worth the same as knitting by hand but I have had to rethink this. I have found learning to use the machine quite hard. You get the thing nearly finished and it all falls off the needles and it is very hard to get it back on. I have packed it all up and have had Wayne put it out in the shed but after calming down again I have tried it again. Over the last few days I have managed to make some thing more constructive than a hat. I have packed it away for the Christmas break because I have things to finish and the knitting machine can waste a day so easily.

January 2014

2013 was a very bad year for me . It was found that I had a problem with my liver and started treatment in January the  21 . Exactly a year ago. the treatment involved an injection once a week and 24 tablets a day. I am also taking 18 other tables a day for my back pain and heart problem and a couple of vitamins. I was determined that this would work and so far it looks like it has but I will not be in remission until June when I have a biopsy, scan and blood tests. This is why I have not updated this blog much last year. I have been busy doing lots of different crafts because I needed something to keep my mind busy.

Over the last year I have knitted -

Made from Lace yarn form Knit picks sent for my birthday from a Ravelry birthday swap. 

scarf knitted from the Qiviuk below which was given to my for my 50th from Helen.

Lovely Qiviuk wool .

My spinning 

I have also crocheted a bit ---

In June I turned 50 and brought a rigid heddle loom , then I brought a 4 shaft table loom

rag rug made from crochet cotton as the warp and 1/2 inch strips of quilting fabric I had dyed a few years ago.  

Test weave made from perle cotton as the weft and the warp is made from a cone of yarn brought at a fibre sale.

Above weaving finished.

Sock yarn as the warp and weft 

 I am still learning how to weave but over this year I hope to get better at it.

Free patterns will continue from next month.

Slippers

here are the fantastic slippers finished. I picked up the stitches around the top to make a cuff so they will stay on feet better. I found this pattern free at school house press but it has since been removed, message me if you would like the pattern.

Slippers

I found this pattern on the school house press site. They are called a footlet I am planning on making a band around the top( ankle ) this will make them stay on my feet better I think. The chart and pattern was very easy to follow. Now that I have made one pair I am planning on using the pattern to make more with my designs on the top of the foot.

Hats for Dylan

We spent the last week in Port Lincoln. Our youngest son Dylan had an op on his heel. He plays Aussie rules football which causes heel spurs to form . He just needed a bit of company and some help with getting around. I was not able to do much but I did knit several hats for him and his fiance. 

 As you can see the hat fits quite well on Dylan's head, he was very happy with all of them. I now have an order for another one.

The trip home is long and a bit boring but wattle is all out in flower. The parking bays were very pretty because we have had a bit of rain this winter.

Side to Side jumper

 I had this yarn I brought as a bag of 18 balls cheap. I didn't then know what to make out of it so it sat in my craft room for over a year waiting. I need a jacket to wear to quilting and such , I searched the patterns on Ravelry and found a side to side jacket that would look better out of coloured yarn but it was the right weight and I had plenty to make it so here is what I have made so far. It a very easy pattern to follow and because its thick yarn it knits up fast and the short rows mean you are only knitting a few stitches each row.

you start with a chain cast on for the left side and then cast on for the sleeve and again for the back . very interesting to knit because you are knitting the whole jacket at once.I have a link below if you are interested in having a go your self.

Side to Side jacket