What to knit for teenagers nowadays?

Our weather is getting colder and we have had 2 weeks of winter-ish rain and temperatures. Now that the socks are finished and the possibility of more Oscars and Carolines to be made,
have been looking to knit something for DS and DD who are now fashion conscious teenagers. I'd like to make something practical for washing without looking too fuddy-duddy. Have been thinking of designs with a bit of 'tude that won't end up at www.youknitwhat.blogspot.com.
(I think I have a simple slim fit cable sweater in mind for DS.)
Even our dog needs a new jumper!

How Many Knitting Needles, Crafts and WIPs do you have?

Time has flown!
Have been digging out all my known stash points...yes, only known coz I'm sure I have some places I've forgotten about...
I'm a Clutterbug.. no doubt about that, yes! And an undeniable craft junkie.
Managed to find
1) 1 unfinished cross- stitch project (abandoned when long sightedness set in).
2) Ribbon embroidery books and kits (and remembered that I was also fascinated with stumpwork too but thankfully no stumpwork kits...phew!)
3) 1 unfinished candle wicking cushion and a book of candle winking patterns.
4) loads of cross stitch kits
5) Beads - lots and lots of beads!
6) have to add my newly acquired craft - jewelry findings and making kit
7) Crochet cotton and books
8) Tatting shuttles and books
9) plus 3 knitting WIPs
10) 3 knitting patterns in design stage.
11) Lots of novelty buttons for knitting projects.
12) 1 beaded tassle making kit
13) 2 stashes of roving and linen flax (and 1 spinning wheel!)

Amidst all this, did a count of my needles...Not as bad as I thought, although have found 8 pairs of 3.25mm, 6 pairs of 2.75mm, 5 pairs of 3.75mm and another 5 of 4mm.....hmmmm, sure don't remember buying that many! 53 pairs in total - not counting DPNs.

Have sorted out stuff to donate to the local op shop/Diabetes Foundation and I should be able to rope DD into doing the cross stitch and beading projects with me. Nothing really worth ebaying unfortunately.

After this 'spring' cleaning session, I'd like to put it out there to my fellow knitters/bloggers:-
Sahara, Cindy, Ruth, Celia, Franklin and anyone who pops in for a read
How Many
1) Knitting Needles
2 Crafts
and
3) WIPs do you have?

Woes of a Blog Reader...

a quick post here to say I've been busy reading reading all my fav bloggers and winding up not posting on mine! Ah, typical!
Hope to catch with some photos of a finished LB Magic Stripes Bright Spring Pattern sock, a WIP toe up sock with Regatta and ( I've finally decided on the name Oscar!) putting Oscar together!

I've had some bad news too - Caroline is missing! Posted her on 1st of Feb to Houston and she has well and truly gone AWOL.
So whoever you are out there, you just nicked my gift to my niece! Shame on you...
Anyone know a good knitter's curse?

Ooops! Tagged again!

Popped in to update the blog... have finished my first Lion Brand Magic Stripes socks in Bright Spring pattern. Had adjusted the sock pattern to fit my mum's feet and now I have enough leftover for at least one more sock! maybe another pair of socks with solid colour for the feet?
I decided to look up a toe up sock pattern on the web and found a fantastic one at Wise Needle. Working up to the heel using the Lion Brand Regatta now. This colorway is much more pleasant although the yarn feels thinner than BSP.
I was just catching up with reading all my fav blogs and I saw I've just been tagged!
(Hi Cindy! :))
5 things in my refrigerator...hmmmm...
1) Milk - a definite must. With 2 teens, we chug down 10 litres per week. And we always love our freshly grounded coffee (Vanilla blended with Colombian.....beautiful aroma!) after dinner.
2) Butter - I really dread the day when I have to adhere to a strict diet for medical reasons.
Just can't give up my basics like beautiful golden butter!
3) Choy Sum and Egg Noodles - I keep this handy for whenever we've feeling a bit stumped for dinner options. Instead of soup noodles, I make a lovely dry noodle sauce (no, not just soy sauce) and with a 10 min walk down to the local Chinese BBQ shop for char siu or siu yoke or soy sauce chicken or roast duck, this makes such a great alternative.
4) Golden Delicious Apples - always handy to have as a snack
5) Been outvoted here - DS and DD says Ice Cream! (for obvious reasons!)
let's tag..... Trish, Celia and Ruth!

Lion Brand Magic Stripes socks......

progress on my first pair of socks ... it isn't going too badly and I kinda like the fact that it's a nice small project that I can lug around quite discreetly.
Had to frog the first go as it was shaping up far too wide. Decreased the number of stitches recommended at the start from 56 to 44 and sorta 'winged' it as the sock grew.
I must say that I'm dying to try a toe up sock now as I know I will have yarn leftover when I finish this - it will annoy me like crazy. May use it as a trim for something....or hmmmm .... a premmie hat....

Mobie.......

Found one more beaded project I completed. However, this photo has come out really dark. Mobie is knitted in a Rowan Chenille dark grape (the extra ball went into making Mimi) and has taught me one other thing... there aren't nice beads made especially for knitting that you can string without stress!
I was determined to string the beautiful clear crystals, black and golds I had. I had envisioned an evening top with a beaded border of scrolls..... hence Mobie was born.
Why the name Mobie? The scrolls I had graphed looked fantastic on paper but looked like a row of whales knitted up!!
Still quite nice as evening wear for a summer nite - the chenille is nice and soft on bare skin.
(wasn't anticipating my WIPs catching up with blog posting.... need to hurry this along to get to my current projects...!)

Tagged! by Gobbledeygook

I thought too hard about these. I could have warbled on and on for some of these categories...Here goes....!

Four jobs you've had in your life:
1. Auditor for Hong Leong Finance
2. Accountant (treasury)for Hong Leong Finance
3. Accountant (financial markets) for National Australia Bank.
4. Accountant for a private investment company.

*Four movies you could watch over and over: (far too few! will try and categorise)
1. Good Comedies
2. Indiana Jones trilogy
3. Indie movies
4. Most thrillers
5. Most animated movies such as Aladdin, Bug's Life and Ice Age.
...some honorable mentions of the spooky/gory kind (genre generally avoided)- Jacobs Ladder, Siesta, Sixth Sense.

*Four TV shows you watch regularly: (Currently?)
1. Supernatural
2. House
3. Law and Order - Criminal Intent
4. Amazing Race

*Four places you've lived:
1. Malaysia
2. Australia

*Four places you've been on vacation:
1. Grampians and Wilsons Promontory, Australia
2. Marianna and Orlando, Florida
3. New York
4. USA West coast - San Diego to San Francisco and as far in as Grand Canyon

*Four websites you visit daily:
1. Knitter's Review (of course)!
2. all my email accounts
3. Bulldog forum
4. eBay/yahoo

*Four of my favorite foods:
Again, too narrow for a foodie like me! I enjoy food far too much to try and limit this....aaarghhh
1. Trotter's in sweet black vinegar
2. Rare to Medium rare steak
3. anything but fast food - gourmet, home made, as long as it's well prepared.
4. Every dish I have ever eaten! yum yum yum

*Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. New York (for a 6 mth holiday)
2. Wongarra, Vic, Australia.
3. Warrandyte, Vic, Australia.
4. to visit the Alps and Scandinavian countries.


....now who could I tag?

Back to school...

Kids start school tomorrow for 6 weeks before the Commonwealth Games. In a way, I'm a little anxious.... I'm hoping that this year will be the time I make my sea change.

I'm a reverse mum. Most women start working when their babies are going back to school. I have no insecurities about my babies and find that there is too much fuss about the need for bonding at an early age. It's funny and I can't tell you why but they KNEW I was their mum and I was theirs right from the word go. Sure, you don't get it right all the time but I always had my eye on them and yet distant as well. I'm not in the least bit maternal (not touchy-feely) if compared to my peers. In fact, some might think me harsh but we have always taught our 2 that this is our life together, so let's get on with it.
I went back to working fulltime when my babies were young. I owe all to my mum and sisters who thankfully are likeminded and helped me out then. When my babies started creche, we had them at a centre close to my work. Every morning, they would travel with mum and dad to work and they went to 'school'. This centre was only 5 mins from my place of work and near medical centres .... I could zip over in a blink if anything was wrong. I wouldn't be in my right mind anyway rushing in peak traffic if they were at a creche near home - worrying about them and fuming at the traffic!

I figured that as babies and young children, the needs of my littlelies were simple. Eat, sleep, bathe, ABCs, nursery rhymes,... Again, so thankful that they were good bubs too. Starting sleeping thru the nite around 5 to 6 weeks. I could have set a clock to DS - he was on time for just about everything.... fell asleep by himself for his bedtimes, whinged only every 4 hrs for his feed and heck, he even arrived smack on his due date. DD was almost the same except that she would pout and cry more... part of being a girl, I guess. DH and I tease her alot too..

2 years ago, I realised that I needed to make that step that I had anticipated all this time. My babies are fast becoming impressionable teenagers. We joke and talk alot about all sorts of things and I do feel I need to be there if they need help with schoolwork as it's getting harder now and a sounding board for the social situations/difficulties that they encounter. We often talk about life. I'm glad that they are willing to chat with mum... no matter how daggy or goofy they think I am!

So where does this leave me now?.... the decision to leave my highpowered (haha!) job to be fulltime chaffeur, tutor and task master....
(and hopefully fulltime designing knitwear as well! much to the dismay of DH as he knows what I'm leaving behind and it's a real tough competitive world in craft and fashion... I must have some fun!)
There is still a large part of me that wants to try juggling everything....but age and health are against me. Am constantly reminded that I'm not Supergirl but I revel being immersed in activity. Could I ever sit back and take it easy? I think not...

Not wanting this to be a non-knitting related post, here's a pic of my first attempt at a sock which I started while watching the Aust Open 2006 tennis. Small enough not to jab myself and the people sitting on either side of me, Am also glad I learned the magic loop technique for this!

Mimi - Dressy Lace Bag

Mimi is done in Rowan's Chenille. Being a very dark grape color, it doesn't lend itself to be photographed very well. I was curious how a lacey knitted handbag would hold up with the minimum essentials : purse, phone, lipstick, eyeliner, etc etc.
Unfortunately not very well.
Very pretty to look at (lace design is Frost Flowers from Barb Walker's Knitting Treasury), this was made using yarn leftovers from another beaded top (to be featured next). I lined the inside with white cotton material to bring out the pattern. The bag can't take too much weight - will sag and stretch.

A sleeveless dressy bolero pattern for DD

Knitted for DD to wear on top of the spaghetti strap flowergirl dress just in case in got a bit chilly. Again, I raided what was left of my baby wool stash - a white 8ply yarn that had multicandy colored colour blobs and a baby white wool. Alternated these 2 in the main body using wave stitch. The hem edge was knitted as well to give it a bit of interest. The white satin ribbon is not secured firmly - this is have a bit of 'give' as DD grows and if she wanted to lace it instead of a straight forward tie.
During this period, I 'flushed' out alot of my stash by selling some on ebay and donating some to the op shops. I've long come to terms with the fact that none of my family or friends knit or are as craft obsessed as I am. But it was really depressing to hear from op shops didn't want yarn because "no one knits any more"........:( wah! all alone in knitting exile!

Time out... for a bit of fun!

this is what keeps me on my toes at home - ol' Lard Butt who is 11 months old and I figure probably 80lbs by now. (Almost as heavy as my DD!)
He's not real happy about the sweater/jumper I knitted him! He definitely wasn't happy about the fairy wings I tried to put on him to make him my "bulliebee"!

Oooooooo, BITE ME!

ok... what next??

I don't think these are in order as I press on with past projects to try and catch up with what I am working on now.

I remember looking at the fashion tops at the local shops and wondering 'hmmm, I wonder how hard it is to knit that?'.
As I can't wear wool directly on skin, I purchased some 4 ply cotton (Regal) and fancy Faux Fur to attempt this. Did have some trouble with the neckline as cotton does not have the same 'grip' as wool when it comes to ribbing. Improvised with some elastic.
It turned out very Chrismassy - sort of like a vampy Mrs Claus! (if there is such a thing!)

hooked on beading after Carnival...

Immediately after Carnival, just had to 'bead' some more! Brought out some baby wool from the 'stash' and shopped for some glass beads in the same color - lilac and yellow.
I think I'll call this one Sherbet. Meant for DD, she has since outgrown it too ...sniff!
The hems and edges were done with alternating lilac and yellow beads and I carried thru the diamond theme on the yellow border with a smaller diamond config 2 lilac+2 yellow beads on the main lilac body.
This did get the need of more beading out of my system... well at least til the next time!

Heralding the New 2006 Year with an original called Carnival.....

Heralding the New 2006 Year with an original design .......
This is one of my first attempts that I was truly happy with. Knitted around 2000/2001, I had intended this sweater as a long sweater/jumper for my daughter and she has been able to wear it for quite some time. A bit tight for me but it could be a half sleeve length top for a size 8 adult.
Cleckheaton had started following the synthetic trend then with this line of fancy yarns and this was a particular colorway combination that I liked. The line has since discontinued which is a pity! As I was finishing the garment, I felt that it lacked something so I dug up some red wool leftovers and strung large black beads. Crocheted the hems and collar and voila! A Carmen Miranda effect! with clicking beads like castanets when you wear it! Designing and knitting this one was fun!

Men's Sweater in Cotton

With the Lumberjack Sweater too warm for our winter, I decided to knit DH one in cotton and found this pattern very 'soothing' especially after having at least 20 small balls of yarn per row for the Lumberjack.
This is done in wool from an Annabelle Fox book but I 'converted' by using Rowan natural cotton. Quite a smart looking garment and thank goodness, it has got a few more wears from DH than the lumberjack!

I think this was the last garment I knitted from a pattern. Probably around 1998.
I knitted quite a few others in between each of these here- baby garments and presents. I wanted to tackle another mind boggling pattern and had taken to experimenting out of endless swatching frustration - trying to find substitute yarns for Patricia Roberts patterns.

This point marks the start of my journey into designing - quite a few hits and misses but nevertheless, all designed and made by myself.
At the very start, I never took any notes and after 2 years, I realised I couldn't remember how I 'solved knitting problems' I encountered along the way. I DO take notes now but I am a very impatient knitter - would rather knit than write - and I can't read my own writing most of the time :).
For some, what I do can be tedious. I always wish that I have more time to knit and ponder on more patterns and stitches. AND to write down my patterns more systematically and clearly!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To all family, friends, and fellow bloggers,

Wishing you all the best for a safe 2006!

The "Love" Sweater

My first sweater for DH in 1983...ok, ok, it looks really daggy but this was the '80s - everyone had BIG hair, lycra, skinny leather ties...OMG! is that what we wore then? a whole lot skinnier too...
A men's pattern from Anny Blatt, I changed it from the original murky brown colorway and wool to 100% cotton (again the brand of the cotton escapes me.....)

MY VK cat jumper/sweater

This is Mummy's version of the VK pattern. :)!
I can't remember what brand yarn I used for this but it wasn't Rowan.
Much softer and less scratchy. A blue tweed for the main body and bright mohair ornage for the cat.... luckily it doesn't glow in the dark!

The Lumberjack Sweater

I made this for DH. Truly a labour of love (of knitting! :)). A Rowan kit I had spied at Sunspun and just HAD to have!
Found out soon enough that it was not for the fainthearted. This sweater took me 8 years to finish! DH teased me all throughout... 'where's this gorgeous sweater you're making for me?'... ' you know, you'll never finish it..'
I love fine yarn work and this was either going to nurture my love for fine yarn knitting OR kill it. Luckily, I'm still knitting!
When I had proclaimed that lo and behold, the garment was finished! , DH wore it ONCE to tell me it was too WARM. Admittedly, in my moment of knitting inspiration, I had not taken into account that our Melbourne winter wasn't cold enough.
Hence it sits, waiting in my wardrobe to be worn and loved...
maybe I can convince my son to wear it once he fits into it...hmmmm!

A Patricia Roberts gansey

This photo has come out quite dark. It's dark purple sections are wonderful cables as in trad aran work
and the arms and midriff have simple but effective color contrast work in plain stk st with beige.
Again another lovely Patricia Roberts favourite that I knitted- both son and daughter wore this in the late 90's. Had to substitute with Rowan Yarns tweed in fine ply. By this time, I did become more cluey in subsituting and was very pleased how this turned out. I think this was circa 1998?