The Little Rascals - Separated!

It's ok, they're all still talking - but they like to stand-alone these days too.

It's gone from this:

To this:

After listening, reading and responding to many of the people who've knit one of the patterns from my The Little Rascals e-book I decided I would tackle the job of splitting the pattern up. I actually updated it on Ravelry about a fortnight ago, but now when people purchase the pattern they are able to download all the options they'd like. Want to open up the full version with the Watermellish charts and everything? It's still there! But just want to knit a Young Einstein, Little Hoodlum or Hotshot - well you can also download each of those individually too :)

And now you can buy each pattern individually too, though it's a much better buy to buy the whole e-book.

I've got a VERY busy June planned with knitting and designing - watch this space!

A new toy

...or tool I should say. I've been photographing my kids for years now modelling my knitting, but last time I took Penny to shoot some photos of my new girls pattern (more about that another day) I was soooo frustrated. It's hard to tell a 5 year old to move slowly so that the photos aren't blurry, but the straw that broke the camels back was when it's batteries died on me (they'd been recharged especially for the shoot) and I ended up taking photos on my iphone, which ended up better than my actual camera anyway.

So with young children that I rarely photographed (unless it was to model some knitting *blush*) and new patterns waiting for me to write them up we decided it was time to invest in a real camera. And I think everyone I know will be sick of hearing me say it - but I love it.

I wanted to get a few shots of David in his new jersey today. He's quick these days now that he's walking, always keen to get into mischief. But taking photos of a moving object is a piece of cake now.

These are a few of my personal favourites today:

But this one I had to giggle at - I think this is my photo of the day!

This one fits so perfectly with the name and meaning of this pattern currently in development and close to testing. Greyson - son of the grey-haired man.

Little Winifred

I can't believe it's been over 2 weeks since I blogged. I feel like I blog all the time, but I'm guessing that most of those posts are in my head and don't actually make it to my blog.

And then I sat at the computer and thought I'd blog...but had a complete mental block as to what to type. I mean, I've got a few things on the go at the moment, but I'll blog about them more another day.

But I remembered my sister Sarah aka Sezza and how she has recently released a gorgeous new pattern, called Little Winifred. Very current, very practical and from the comments on Rav, very flattering and simple.

And she wrote a gorgeous blog entry about it here too.

Poplar

Introducing my latest series of patterns - The Poplar Collection

It includes a simply written scarf pattern - in 4ply/fingering weight, 8 ply/DK and 10ply/worsted weight

A blanket pattern in 3 sizes - Dolly, Baby (good for strollers and bassinets) and Throw (fits a baby cot or great for a throw in your living room) which knits up quickly in double stranded 8ply/DK

And a quick and easy dishcloth pattern, that also handily doubles as a gauge swatch for the blanket, also knitted in double stranded 8ply/DK

The blurb from the pattern:

"When looking at the result of the lace used in this pattern it reminded me of rows of tall narrow trees, similar to the borders of Poplars often used as farm windbreaks across New Zealand.

This pattern is quick and simple, producing a beautiful looking item. With a very easy to memorise pattern I hope it will become a one you love to knit, wear and use."

With this series of patterns I was aiming for something simple to follow, easy to knit, practical and yet something that others would oooh and aaah over.

The pattern bundle is for sale both via here (see the right hand column and click the link) and on Ravelry for the introductory price of $4USD. Each pattern is stand-alone and can be printed out independently of the others.

These patterns are also license free - which means that you can knit any of them for sale if you'd like. If you'd like me to add you to my list of knitters here on my blog for these patterns then please just let me know your details via email and I'll add you in. I often have people ask me if I could knit them items they see here or for details of custom knitters. If you are knitting for sale all I ask is that you credit it back to my pattern.

Thank you to all those involved in these patterns - to my fabulous testers, Kristen, Shelley, Casey, Margaret, Rachel, Vicki, Adriana, Lynley, Nikki, Emma, Rachel and Kylie. You can see their amazing projects if you click here.

And these photographs were taken by Rachael Brown Photography, she's just amazing isn't she?

Happy Knitting!

xx

J

A Sneak Peek of What's Next and 200th Entry!

I should be waiting really...till the release I suppose which isn't far away now. But my photographer friend Rachael sent me a couple of photos of one of the scarves I sent her for to take pics of and I think she's done an amazing job! And my blog is telling me I've written 199 blog posts and so it's just begging me to write a 200th one! So here it is

On the 1st of May (which is just tomorrow!) I'm going to be releasing my next collection of patterns called 'Poplar' - it includes blankets in various sizes, scarves in various weight yarns and a dishcloth pattern that I think is really quick and looks nice.

While I'm at it - my sister Sarah has released more patterns since I posted last about her Zipped Up.

Her newest pattern is called Tango Tank and is a free pattern that has been published in the latest Petite Purls. How cute is my neice Amelia!

And she's also released her Bella Mia pattern too a lovely sweater that is written in both 4ply/fingering weight and 10ply/worsted weight.

Both very cute and practical!

Right, I'll be back tomorrow!

xx

J

Yarn - it's not just for knitting...

Or crocheting, no yarn has many uses, including keeping kids occupied during the school holidays

My son Timothy was driving me a bit bonkers one day during the holidays. We were outside and I was doing one of my favourite things whilst in the back-yard (since having children anyway)...hanging out the washing. When Timothy gets in one of his funks he seems to get upset about everything and can't manage to walk properly, let alone bike without falling off it, climb the steps of the trampoline - well, you get the idea.

So, this one day, as I was hanging out the washing and Timothy was having a hard time I came across a ball of yarn in the bottom of my washing trolley. Doesn't everyone?

And I passed it to my 3 year old son, pointed to the swing frame and suggested he make a bear trap.

I can't recommend it enough! Oh the peace! The silence! The concentration on his face as he constructed his web like trap. And the trap itself - well he and his older sister had plenty of fun in it till I gave them both a pair of scissors a couple of days later and they created quite a pile of yarn for a bird to maybe use to make it's nest.

Stash Diving

It's taken on a whole new meaning now that David's really getting into everything!

This is my knitting bag, behind one of the chairs in our lounge. He's just discovered it and has decided he likes diving in...unfortunately he can't get himself out afterwards!

At 14 months, he's walking and communicating and just generally getting into mischief. He's also outgrowing everything, so I've recently commissioned some people to knit him some winter clothes - because I'm crazy busy with patterns and knitting samples and prototypes at the moment. But about that another day - just had to share this. You'll just have to imagine the sound effects that accompanied it.

Zipped Up

I've been meaning to post this for ages - but my clever little sister, otherwise known as Sarah Ronchetti, has delved into the world of pattern designing (and spectacularly at that for I know she has plenty more due to be released over the next couple of months).

Her first to hit Ravelry is Zipped Up, it's a lovely little vest with an optional cable detail. I've knitted it as well (though my yarn smacks of something David Bain would've worn) so I'll show you some of her FO pics. The models - my nephew James and my biggest fella - Timothy.

Sarah's pattern is well written and easy to follow. On top of that, for those a bit nervous about the zip, it has a link to a fabulous zip sewing in tutorial and I must admit it's a really nice way to finish a knitted garment - and not difficult at all! Nice to be able to add that to the list of skills I have now too. Go on, whip one up this weekend!

Sarah has a blog too - you should pop over HERE and see what she posts over there, she's got plenty more lovely patterns to share as they are released along with

977

I had a quick look today and realised there are a few fo's knitted up using one of my patterns these days! 977 looking at Rav (and that doesn't include those that have tested my next couple of patterns either...but more about that shortly)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To everyone that has bought and then knitted one (or more) of my patterns thanks so much, there's nothing like seeing some of the fabulous garments knitted from something I worked on.

So the stats at the moment sit like this:
Little Hoodlum - 357 projects
Hotshot - 333 projects
Young Einstein - 190 projects
Teacher's Pet - 71 projects
And PupPup's Mini Hotshot For Teddies - 26 projects (and this was developed by Christine Jeffery and she has other fabulous patterns too, I definitely need to knit a few more of her moebius patterns this winter)

I'm hoping to have a few more patterns to add to my collection shortly, I'm aiming for the 1st of May release for one collection just in time for winter. But I'll have more about that soon.

Thanks again and happy knitting!

Lucky Me

Today, when I was putting the kids in the car after the school pick up a little old lady was calling something to me from her nearby garden. I went over to her and she said 'I was hoping to see your baby', indicating to the now empty buggy. Now normally, I'm more than happy to show off my children, but this afternoon's pick up had conflicted with David's sleeping and so he was not the most cheerful. So I told her I'd already popped him in the car.

'I had a baby' she said, and proceeded to tell me about her only baby, a baby which while she was pregnant with it was discovered she was sick, needed treatment and had radiation, resulting in her child who is has lived in an IHC residence for a long time by the sounds of it.
'How many children have you got there?' she said, peering through her elderly eyes at my people mover.
'3, a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old'

This is normally where I get the stock standard comment 'You must have your hands full!'
Instead, she said 'Aren't you lucky!' to which it was easy to reply 'Yes, I am'
'And they'll all be such good friends, what a lovely age gap'
She continued to tell me how she couldn't have any more children after her son, there were tears in her eyes. It made me realise just how lucky I am.

She was standing holding a rake, she'd just been doing work in her immaculate garden. I complimented it and told her she reminded me of my grandmother, who spends a lot of time thinking about her garden and not as much time as she'd like working in it now she's getting older. I mentioned how it must be gardens that keep people so young.
She said to me, 'Well, how old do you think I am?'
Now, this is a tricky question isn't it!
So I replied, 'Well, my grandma is 92, and you must be younger than that'
And she smiled and proudly said 'Oh no I'm not! I'm 96'

Anyway, we had a few more wee snippets of conversation, and then I realised that the kids were in a hot stuffy car and I really should take them home. But I couldn't help but think what a lovely old lady and yes, how lucky am I to have 3 quite wonderful children.
And I'm going to try and park there again, just so next time she can check out my 'baby' (who is 1 now!) and I can say hello and admire her garden a bit more.
And next time someone says 'You must have your hands full!' I'd love to be able to respond with something positive like 'I wouldn't change a thing', because I wouldn't.