Hyena In Petticoats

Blogging in the iPhone age....

2012-01-04T19:36:00.001+10:30

The cat and I are just trying to figure out how to post from the phone... Please forgive us while we work out what we are doing....

easy does it.

2011-11-25T13:21:00.002+10:30

Slow going, around here.

I took an all-too-short trip to the place of my birth to bury my Grandmother high up on a hill with a view to the sea.

Since I've been back my homebody instincts have kicked in with full force, and I find myself in most of my spare hours curled up on the couch, embracing lethargy and a bit of a dark turn of mind... (thanks, Gillian Welch).

However, there is knitting, so at least my slothdom is still productive.

I joined the Madelinetosh Sweater Club this year - boy is it expensive, but when a huge bag of soft smoothy cashmere blend yarn comes through the mailbox, it really doesn't seem to matter that I'm scraping together the monthly payments!

I've just cast on for a Tinder - like most contemporary knitters I have a fan girl crush on Jared Flood - oh, the man who knits! If only real boys understood the appeal - they'd be fighting girls off with a stick!

Anyway - a few links to follow to keep you entertained:

Listening:

Gilian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest

Jordie Lane - Blood Thinner

Reading:

When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris

I've also got some stuff going on at Pinterest, if that's your kind of thing.....

Have a great weekend, sweet peas. xxx

Wooly business...

2011-11-06T15:12:00.003+10:30

There's a couple of things happening on the internets that I wanted to share -

The inimitable Kate Davies, of Needled, is the co-founder of a movement in the UK to change clothing and manufacturing classifications of wool products - similar in intent to the Australian Woolmark licensing system, the goal is to change labelling, product descriptions, and labelling to accurately describe to true wool content of products for sale - a noble goal indeed....

I quote from Kate's blog below the aims of 'Wovember' - the month of November devoted to raising awareness and support for wool production and labelling:

(photo credit)

WOVEMBER is about:

* recognising that WOOL is a premium textile which comes from an actual sheep, and that – as such – the terms WOOL, WOOLLY and WOOLLEN should only be applied to real WOOL and not, for instance, to polyester or viscose.

* celebrating the important heritage and contemporary value of WOOL through our 100% WOOL stories, blog posts, pictures, textiles, and garments.

* educating and informing the wider public of the wondrous qualities of WOOL.

* creatively pushing the idea that the word WOOL should refer to sheep’s WOOL only.

* reconnecting the idea of WOOL to the animals and people involved in its creation and manufacture.

* campaigning for a clarification of trading standards to prevent further misuse of the term WOOL.

I encourage everyone to visit the Wovember site to participate and learn some more....

As for the knitting side of things, my lovely and awesome vintage loving friend Tasha has just launched Vintage Knitting College - an ongoing series of posts about knitting vintage patterns, with techniques tips and tricks, all clearly laid out with gorgeous photographs and clear instructions....

This is an ongoing project, and you can find the first post of the series here - getting started with Stranded Knitting!

I'm about to embark om my first colour work project myself, so I'm glad that Tasha will be there to hold my hand along the way....

Sadly, I am a little hungover today, so it's basic knitting, trashy tv and cups of tea for me!

I hope your weekend is a little more spirited than mine!

xxxx

10 months

2011-10-26T15:42:00.000+10:30

That's how long it's been since I last posted. Whoops. Is anyone still out there?

Lets ease back in slowly, shall we? How about some photographs of my new veggie patch?

The last almost-year has been productive - the back yard prior to this looked like a long abandoned trailer park in the boondocks - there is still a whiff of white trash out there, but I am winning - one little seedling at a time.

I'm all about the urban farm these days - I have preserving plans in my future, and with a successful batch of passata and one of rosemary syrup under my belt, there is more to come. There has also been plenty of knitting, ukulele playing, and a bit of sewing - plenty to share. Stay tuned, old friends.....

xxxxxx

Diggers Club

Soulemama's Passata

Rosemary Gin Lemonade slushies

Because Shula told me to:

2011-01-16T20:42:00.003+10:30

A new feed for you to follow: I've started posting my everyday photographs here:

Hyena In Petticoats on Tumblr

Do pop in for a visit - I do wish my photo app would publish direct to blogger, but alas. There you have it.

xxxx

Favourites 06/01/11

2011-01-06T23:50:00.002+10:30

xxx

Nanette: thanks for letting me steal your idea - it's lovely to see you too. The garden is looking a treat, by the way.

Shula: I'm still tracking down your Christmas present - it seems the people at the shop don't know what happened. Sheesh. So much for spontaneous gestures.....xxx

Easing back in...

2011-01-05T12:13:00.003+10:30

Something funny happens when you start a blog. After a little while, you start an internal dialogue to your blog. You start to think about things in terms of how they would look in a photo or essay, and you get a wee bit manic about photographing everything.

Something funny also happens when you stop blogging so much. The internal dialogue stills, the photos become less and less, you start to realise that you are actually living moments, rather than documenting them....

What I want is some kind of middle ground - I began this blog as a way to document the process of making things, and now it has become something else......

So I'm easing myself in with some photographs. Because in this long, long hiatus of mine, the only thing that has been constant is the pictures.

These photographs are from my latest, and most satisfying iPhone app - Instagram - it's a phone and a feed all in one, so if you're a sucker for an app, you can follow me - I'm hyenainpetticoats on there as well.....

I figure if the pictures come first, the words will follow.

xxxx

*********************

ps: I'm stealing an idea from Nan at Rummage, and I'll start responding to comments down here - so keep an eye out....

Renee: I'm gad I'm not the only one sneaking in a ciggie or two - American Spirit! I haven't seen those in years!

Leslie: I'm glad you liked Heath Cullen - I should try and get more music into my posts..... there's an idea! xx

2010

2011-01-02T23:54:00.002+10:30

Boy, was that a long year. Frankly, I'm glad to see the back of it. Here's to a better one to come, eh?

Right now, I'm welcoming in the New Year with a cup of tea, an illicit cigarette (I gave up a few months ago), and a bit of Heath Cullen & The 45. I have plans, my friends, big plans. Most of them are still inside my head, but there'll be action in the next day or two.....

No resolutions as such, I'm not that kind of person, but I hope to live a more considered, engaged, and interactive life this year. I've seen a little too much of the inside of my house, if you know what I mean. I'm not sure where this poor old neglected blog fits in, but I'll come up with something. You'll see.

Happy New Years, dears. Love to all.

Leah xxx

Steeking - a lesson in knitting violence....

2010-11-03T11:39:00.004+10:30

For the unititiated, the steek is a terrifying thing. The basic idea is that you knit a jumper, pour all your love and devotion into getting it just right, and just when it's almost finished, when the end is in sight and all you have to think about is the damn neck finishing, you take a pair of scissors and make the one, truly irreversible craft act: you cut your jumper in half right up the front in order to make a cardigan.

Sounds brutal, eh?

There are actually a million ways you can use a steek, but for basic intents and purposes, we're going to look at simple cardigan conversion here, which is where you'll want to begin if you're even remotely terrified of cutting your knitting in two.

Right. Step one. Knit a jumper. I'm serious. Knit a full jumper, minus the neck borders.

The one thing you can do to prepare for a steeked cardigan is to add a section of about 8 stitches to the centre front to accommodate the cutting and curling over of the cut fabric. If you're working in a pattern, mark these stitches as separate, and keep them in plain stockinette all the way up the front, simply knitting them away and pretending they don't exist as far as the pattern is concerned. This will provide you with a 'channel' up the front in order to do your cutting. I also use this as a handy place to change yarns, add in new balls, and change colours when knitting stripes - this part of the knitting will not be visible in the finished piece, so you can hide all kinds of shit in there. No one will ever know.

When your jumper is finished (bar the neck borders), lay it out flat, and find the absolute centre front stitch. Run a line of basting up that centre stitch in a bright colour, like so:

Now, you want to run the jumper through the sewing machine to secure the stitches on either side of your basting thread. Using the smallest stitch you can, and a loose tension, sew a line of stitching up either side of the basting line. This can be a stitch or so away from the line, and though it pays to keep it as straight as you can, you don't need to be crazy finicky about it.

Once you've done the stitching, it should look like this:

Now here's the part where fortification is necessary. Whisky works well, just don't drink too much, or you won't cut straight. Deep breaths are recommended, but don't panic. This part is easy, you just haven't done it before.

Now what you want to do is cut along the basting line, up the middle of the channel created by the two lines of machine stitching.

I leave the basting in as a guide, because it's not always easy to see the machine stitches. Make your cut, all the way to the top.

Now sit down, and have another whisky, and contemplate your cardigan:

Once you've recovered, take a look at the cut edge - it should curl slightly to the inside. This will provide a little selvedge for you to sew down later - you want to keep the little curl there, which is why you cast on the extra stitches for the steek in the first place:

To knit up your button band, you want to pick up stitches a few rows in from the edge - if your cardigan has an all over pattern, start picking up at the edge of the pattern, letting the plain stitches of the steek curl to the inside. If you've knit a plain cardigan like me, look to your ribbing at the bottom for a guide, or simply choose a row a couple of rows in and pick up your stitches along that:

Now you can knit up your borders in whatever style you wish - garter stitch, ribbing, whatever. This is also where I stopped taking photos, but you're almost there!

All you have to do once you've knit the borders is turn the work to the inside, neaten up the edges of the steek by tucking any stray threads in, and stitch the selvedge down using a herringbone stitch or similar. Make sure your stitching doesn't show on the front, and then you're ready to block. Finished!

Obviously these are pretty basic instructions - I recommend doing a bit of research if you're planning fancy colourwork, or steeked armholes and the like. The instructions will do for most purposes though - I'm on my sixth or so steeked cardi now, and have never had a problem.

That's it! If you need to know anything else, or if parts of this don't make sense because it's late and I've been drinking some of that whisky, please email me and I'll sort it out.

More to come - I've been busy these last few days!

xxxx

these paws have been keeping me company.....

2010-10-16T16:01:00.003+10:30

Wow. It's been a month since I last posted, and I want to take a minute to thank all of you who wrote comments with advice about dealing with arm pains, Carpal Tunnel, and RSI - I haven't had the chance to write back to many of you personally, but your advice has been very helpful - thanks so much....

The better part of the last three weeks have been spent in a stupor - I finally got a diagnosis after a series of blood tests which showed up a critical Vitamin D deficiency - so I've been off work, and pretty much all other activities, and spending a good amount of couch time, sleeping, and watching practically every episode of 30 Rock I could get my hands on!

It's been pretty brutal actually - in addition to the pain in my arms, I've been struggling with an overwhelming exhaustion that only really made itself clear to me when the pain in my arms started to subside - suddenly I realised that I have been living in a fog for god knows how long, and slowly coming out of that fog is nothing short of a revelation.....

So, after a steady diet of massive doses of vitamin supplements, enforced rest, and at least ten minutes lying out in the sun every day (on doctors orders! ), I am finally feeling remotely human again. And no small part of that is finally being able to knit and sew again.

There's nothing like having your favourite thing in the world taken away from you to make you realise how important this stuff is. This whole time, my whole life actually, I thought that my creative side was a choice, that I chose to make things, to study art, to paint and draw and sew and knit because they were things I enjoyed doing. But after not being able to use my arms for a relatively short period of time, I have realised that this is not a choice. I make things because I have to. Because I would go crazy if I didn't. Because this is what I do.

I have no doubt that if I'd had to go another week without my hands, I would have turned homicidal, no question. Its an interesting perspective to have on something that most other people see as a hobby, no?

I have more to say on this topic, but that's a whole post in itself.

With every day of vitamins I gain some more energy, so I'm hoping that that energy will also flow down into the blog, and perhaps I will finally be able to make my presence felt here a little more than I have been.

And in that spirit, I finally took the photos of that steeking tutorial I've been promising for months now. Woo! Anything that combines knitting and single malt is a good thing in my book....

And perhaps, if all goes well, I'll even have photos of the six or so jumpers that I have knitted this year.... amazing.

More to come, sweet peas - I promise. Thanks for sticking around while I lost my shit. I really appreciate it.

xxxx

Thanks!

2010-09-16T22:08:00.002+09:30

A big thank you to everyone who helped out with my tea problem - you'd think I'd have learned to use the internet by now, but apparently not. All I had to do was Google the damn tea. Ahem.

But I also wanted to let my fellow Mac users know that I've found a brilliant new feed reader - it's called NetNewsWire and it rocks. It looks just like the Mail application on your Mac, and works like a dream. No more Google Reader for me!

And after some happy news, some sad news.

I have my mother's hands, and they are hands I'm damn proud of. I've taught my hands to make lots of different things over the years, and they're always busy, and they've never let me down.

But now, my hands have turned against me. I'm not sure what it is - maybe Carpal Tunnel? Anyway, both arms and hands are in a silly amount of pain, and I'm off the knitting, the sewing, and the ukulele playing for the indeterminable future. I've also quit smoking, just for good measure.

So expect lots of book reviews from me in the future, cause I won't be making anything any time soon. The three jumpers I have on the needles will have to wait, as well as the embroidery for my favourite band.

I have, however, bought a loom off ebay, so perhaps weaving is the answer? Less stressful on the hands, or so they say.

I'll keep you posted, and in the meantime, I will try my best not to stab anyone out of sheer boredom. Wish me luck.

xxxxx

a plea....

2010-09-14T23:23:00.002+09:30

Funny how being on holidays makes the blogging mojo come back - I've taken five days off work, and suddenly I have the time to devote to this space again - it's lovely.

I've also managed to catch up on all the laundry, including all the hand knits. A sure sign of a knitters' house would have to be a lounge room floor covered in towels and flat jumpers, shawls pinned out all over the place, and one stern lady keeping an eagle eye on the cat.....!

Anyway - on to the pleading part of this post.

It has come to my attention that I am perilously close to running out of my favourite tea. I was sent this in a swap parcel from Sweden once - it's strawberry, passionfruit and rhubarb black tea with rose petals in it. It's bloody marvellous.

Now, according to my Google Analytics, (which I haven't read in ages, by the way - who knew people were still reading this???) there are people in Sweden who read this blog.

I am hoping I can bribe one of you - or anyone else who has access to this tea - to please send me some? I can send you Tim Tams, or Vegemite, or Fruit Tingles, or any other weird Aussie delicacy!

Please?

Okay - pleading over...

Back to normal transmission - I want to thank everyone who came over and bought some yarn from my shop today.

The cool thing about being on Ravelry, is that you can see where that yarn goes, and what people make out of it:

Gillian Welch + Natural:

Jeanette Winterson + Debbie Harry:

(I actually own this set - a gorgeous Rav friend knitted them for me, and they're REVERSIBLE. Amazing.)

Georgia O'Keefe:

Debbie Harry:

A big thankyou to all the lovely knitters who have made something from my yarn - it makes me feel inordinately proud.

So, two days of holidays left - perhaps you'll even see me again tomorrow?

xxx

Miracles - and an update....

2010-09-13T19:45:00.004+09:30

Turns out miracles do happen.

I would have preferred for our first female Prime Minister to be voted in on a landslide victory, but hey - beggars can't be choosers....

Here's hoping the next three years mark a rare period of Politicians Keeping Their Shit Together. Fingers crossed.

But away from politics, there's a wee shop update going up tomorrow at noon:

The update is scheduled for Tues 14th September at 12 midday here in Australia. (ACST)

That translates to Mon 13th September at 10.30pm EDT and 7.30pm PDT in the States….

If you need to find the right time where you live, please go here: World Time Converter

You can see a preview of the coming yarns in my shop now….all the prices are in Australian dollars.

Hyena In Petticoats @ BigCartel

I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Once this update is sold and posted, I will be putting in an order for more yarn, and embarking on a new adventure - self striping! I look forward to having some stripy goodness ready for you all very soon…. Now that the weather is warming up here, the dyeing process becomes a million times easier - perhaps the next update will be a more timely one.....

Now, I just have to figure out how to wind a skein twenty feet long........ ha.

xxxx

ps: I see that Bloglines is closing down - does anyone have any other Feed Reader ideas? I'm a little stressed out that I'm going to lose all my blogs, and I've already decided that I hate Google reader..... help! xxx

pre-election favourites....

2010-08-20T21:30:00.003+09:30

It's a big day for we Aussies tomorrow, and I've been calming my nerves with some Flickr pretties.....

I hope we manage to make the right choice.

I highly recommend that everyone who has to vote tomorrow visits Below The Line to figure out the best way to vote exactly the way you want to........

I'll be holding my breath all day - hoping like hell that the fair city of Melbourne votes a Green into the House of Representatives, and that my beautiful country will finally vote in a woman as its Prime Minister. A unmarried woman with no religious leanings and no children?

Miracles can happen. Even for us Atheists.

Wish us luck.

xxxx

Dyeing up a storm....

2010-08-05T17:16:00.004+09:30

The latest batch of yarn is nearly ready.....

I've been dyeing this batch slowly over the last couple of months, and there are just a couple of errant skeins to photograph, and it will be ready for the shop....

All of these skeins are 80/10/10 merino cashmere nylon in sock weight. The yarn is so soft and gorgeous - it actually hurts to sell it.... I think if I had it my way I would just knit exclusively from this base. Forever. yum.

Anyway - once I get my shit together, I'll be listing these for sale, and then in the next batch I'm hoping to do sport and worsted weight too - sweater amounts - woot!

Stay tuned - when I set an update time, I'll post it here well in advance.....

xxxxx

This Bicycle Life

2010-07-20T23:19:00.006+09:30

With the demise of my poor shitbox of a car, I have started riding my bicycle to work.

The ride is a pretty good one - along the river, over the footbridge near the Brewery..... Despite the fact that I am usually wheezing by this point due to a lifetime of no exercise and too many cigarettes.....

Please note the plethora of wooly garments - my riding outfit is hilarious - I must share it with you one day..... I look like some combination of homeless person and crazy cat lady with maybe a dash of Mary Poppins? (I bet that's just the basket on the front - I'm probably dreaming.....)

In other news, these boys played at the pub over the weekend:

The Wilson Pickers

I don't know if I ever mentioned on here that I book the bands for the pub where I work, and it's a hard job, managing expectations and nurturing young musos, and trying hard to stick with the vision you have of the kind of music you want to see and hear - and some days it's a real pain in the arse.

There are managers and booking agents and publicists and unorganised ego-trippers and people you don't want to let down because the music isn't quite what you want, but you know they're a good band anyway.

There are terrible bands with awful demos and wonderful people you'd love to book, but you'll never get them cause the venue is too small or you can't charge the right price.

There are broken amps and missing mike leads and door bitches to organise and promo and print and radio and posters and set times and noise restrictions and double booking fuckups.......

But then you'll have a magic gig - the kind where you get a minute to stop between picking up the glasses and wiping the tables, and watch a mob of boys up on stage working magic with bits of wood and pieces of string - singing their hearts out in a way that is so timeless and so classic that you can't help but know all the words after five minutes because you know they exist inside you somewhere already.....

A magic gig, where it all comes together in that perfect way, and you forget about the calendar and the emails and the MySpace page and whoeverthehellisonnextweekend and you get that moment to just stop and listen...

Brilliant. Bloody mother fucking brilliant. I love it.

xxx

frock + tux.

2010-07-17T02:05:00.002+09:30

I'm snowed under a pile of silks, tuxedo shirts, cummerbunds and stockings right now....

It's the Mid-Winter Ball at work tomorrow night, and I'm busy altering and adding to a bunch of options for an outfit - the only rules are that the louder, uglier and sillier, the better.

Wish me luck.

xxx

Favourites on a Friday Afternoon...

2010-07-02T14:48:00.003+09:30

1. monday, 2. far far away 2 strip quilt, 3. nine., 4. Duaflex, 5. 5, 6. Tour de Fleece, 7. what i look like when I knit, 8. Janeice's Retirement Gift close, 9. Untitled, 10. hotels with swimming pools

I'm really feeling the need for some sunshine today - thankfully there are cute people in the Northern Hemisphere that take photos for me to look longingly at whilst freezing my bum off inside my own house......

Fortunately, for we knitters, there is a solution at hand: more yarn, of course!

This here is Unspun Icelandic - supposedly the warmest wool ever, and I have acquired enough to knit myself a full length jumpsuit. Heh! Might need to dig out the 70's knitting patterns for that one!

No seriously - I'm thinking perhaps this:

It's the Plain & Simple Pullover - but I'm thinking mine will need long sleeves.......

I also caved to the pressure of the yarn gods last week and bought these:

It's Goldenrod Crab Spider from Sanguine Gryphon - merino cashmere nylon, and eye searingly bright - just how I like it. I already have a pair of socks knit in this colourway, so I'm contemplating a short-sleeved cardigan thing, or maybe a shawly-type number perhaps?

Of course, this is all conjecture - I have to get some of those damn grey projects off the needles first!

In other news - there is a Vintage Bike Restoration Project going on around here - the decision not to renew the rego on my old shitbox of a car has let me to embrace the bicycle revolution (revolution- ha) - and I've turned into a massive bike dork - more to come on that when I can get my arse in gear to take some pictures.

That's it for now - stay warm, friends......

xxxx

Startitis in Grey and Blue.

2010-06-21T20:51:00.002+09:30

I seem to have a dose of Startitis - and the winter seems to be affecting my colour sense - not only do I have three grey projects on the go and another one planned, I am sitting here wearing an outfit that consists of 5 different shades of gray.

So I went looking for bright shit on Flickr to put some zing into the day:

Much better. And just for good measure, I bought some of that yellow yarn up there, so expect eye-searing projects in the future.....

I've had dye pots on the go this week with a new base - merino/cashmere/nylon sock yarn, which is 460 yards of smooshy, warm and soft goodness.....

I still have to photograph everything ready for sale, but here's a sneak peek:

Amelia Earhart:

Holly Golightly:

Germaine Greer:

I'm predicting a shop update in the next couple of weeks, but the yarn is taking forever to dry in the cold weather, so it might be a bit longer....

For all you Rav Heads out there - I have a Ravelry group now for updates and stash pimping:

Hyena In Petticoats on Ravelry

Drop in and say hello, won't you?

More to come - I promise - the new financial year resolution is to be a better blogger, and to take more photos of shit. Especially shit I have finished making. Must employ a minion.

xxxx

sigh.

2010-06-01T21:40:00.006+09:30

I'm not usually the type to get an uncontrollable crush on a dress, but there's a first time for everything I suppose:

images from Mociun, where you can buy it for me, um I mean, well - whatever.

Anyone got a spare $500AUD I can borrow?

Hm. Didn't think so.

xxx

Steeking and Oats....

2010-04-18T19:09:00.002+09:30

What more would you want to do with a Sunday?

The cardigan is coming along nicely - I'm knitting the hood right now, which is boring, but I can see it taking shape, which is also kind of amazing - I never knew that a hood was just the neck knit up all the way over your head - I thought there was some fancy shaping thing you had to do, but no!

Once again, a crafting fear proven to be far bigger in my head than real life. So often things are easier once you actually try them......

And the oats?

My first bowl of the season. Topped with that fancy golden syrup you buy that comes in the pretty old-worldy tin. It costs about three times as much, so luckily, it's tasty as well as pretty. Something not all expensive things can say, I imagine.

Before I go - a wee thanks for all the get-better wishes; all is well again around here, and I'm down to one hanky again. Before, I was having to wash and dry them halfway through the day. This from a woman who collects vintage linens, and has so many damn hankies she had to sew a bag to keep them all in. yup. Not pretty.

I hope you're all having a similarly restorative Sunday,

xxx

Autumn.

2010-04-14T21:11:00.003+09:30

Come the middling season, and the first cold snap of the year so far, and I have arrived to the party true to form by sprouting a cold.

Now most people would collapse into bed in a snotty, watery mess, and indeed I have done, but being sick is one of those paradoxes that only knitters would understand.

See, when I'm home sick, I get to put on my favourite Crazy Cat Lady outfit:

Which consists of old cozy grandpa pyjamas, hand knitted socks, shawl and cardigan, and favourite soft old tshirt. It is imperative that none of these things shall match the other. A hat is also optional. I get to sit outside, tea in hand, hanky in the other, and watch the cat try to stalk lizards.

But above all of these things, I get lots of time to knit.

So knit I have done, accompanied by the first few episodes of United States of Tara, endless cups of tea, and the now non-limping cat, who has valiantly survived a week of antibiotics and missing claws.

nice.

I feel like shit, but it's good to have an up side, no?

xxxx

Favourites at 2.41am......

2010-04-10T02:44:00.001+09:30

1. free fruit, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled, 4. (i think i love you), 5. /|\, 6. 03-31-2010, 7. Untitled, 8. parrot tulip, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled

Meh.

2010-04-08T18:56:00.003+09:30

I'm feeling a bit crap today, so I've pulled out all the moping-around-the-house-in-a-grump cures......

There are biscuits in the oven, and I've been winding yarn:

It's Madelinetosh Vintage- the most beautiful sweater yarn known to man. So in addition to the jumper I am already knitting, I cast on this:

Which will eventually become this......

(image stolen from the Madelinetosh website - you can visit the link above for the free pattern)

I don't usually cast on a project in the colour stated in the pattern, but who can resist that green?

So, my friends, I'm off to curl up with the cat (who is missing two claws after a near miss with a car today), and a cup of tea.

I may well eat peanut and choc chip biscuits for dinner. We'll see.

Love to all. xxx

Sunday.

2010-03-28T15:58:00.003+10:30

It's raining here, which feels like nothing short of a miracle. It's Sunday, and despite the rain, balmy and warm, which is cause for celebration in itself....

The windows have been flung open, the house has been tidied in a rudimentary manner, The Man is off to see his kids for the day, and I am Making Things.

I have dye pots on the stove:

Some nongs waiting for faces and outfits:

Some yarn on the winder:

waiting its turn to be knit:

I'm even wearing a apron, for christsakes!

It's been so long since I had a full day - a day of making and pottering and listening to new albums, and flitting from one project to the next...

So today, I plan to get some custom orders out the door, and some things finished for myself. Small goals, but worthy ones. Hell, I may even manage to cook something.

Happy Sunday, dears.

xxxx

And the winner is......

2010-03-22T12:19:00.004+10:30

*edited to say - I've fixed the Madelinetosh link - sorry!*

Wow - 148 comments!

I want to say a big thank you to everyone to stopped by to congratulate me on my three years of blogging. The comments are the best part, no? I love hearing from all you people - whether you live just up the road or a thousand miles away. The internet makes the rest of the world so accessible, and I find it comforting to know that even though we are all so far away, we can gather on one small page in all the internets, and have an impromptu party....

And without further ado, my friend the Random Number Generator has chosen My Open Roads as the winner!

I wish I had enough yarn to send you all a skein, and hopefully one day I'll be able to dye enough to make that possible! In the meantime though, please keep dropping by, my beautiful friends, it's lovely to see you....

Leah xx

And because no post is complete without a picture, my birthday present to myself arrived this morning, a day early:

It's Madelinetosh Vintage in Turquoise - gorgeous, right? Now I just have to figure out what to knit with it!

Three Years.

2010-03-17T19:05:00.003+10:30

It's hard to believe that it's been that long since I started blogging.....

I remember when I first started, and hearing about other bloggers celebrating the two or three or even five year anniversaries, and thinking it was such a good milestone - to be creative, and share your creations for such a long time.....

I know I'm not around these parts as much as I used to be - full time work has taken care of that, but this space still serves the purpose I set it up to be. A space for documenting the things I have made, my learning process, sharing information with other makers of all persuasions, and involving myself in a community that has provided me with so much.

Through this space I have gone from being a scrappy, irrereverent maker of random things, to an educated, considered crafter in my own right. I've learnt skills that were in serious risk of dying out altogether, and in doing so, I have forged a deep connection with the art of taking something raw, and with two hands and two sticks, or a needle and thread, or a pair of scissors, turning that raw thing into something practical and beautiful.

What a pleasure it's been.

So in return, I offer up a gift to my fellow crafty mavens - a kit with all the ingredients to knit a pair of socks, to keep your toes warm and your hands busy......

There's a skein of my own hand dyed sock yarn in 'Amelia Earhart' - a bright turquoise blue overdyed in shades of black, plus a set of two circular needles in the right size for socks, as well as a set of stitch markers made by my beautiful friend Anneli, whose markers can't be beat.....

So friends, all you have to do is leave a comment, and I'll pick a name out of the hat in a few days or so.......

Thanks so much for sharing the last three years with me, and here's to the next three - hopefully I'll have my own yarn shop by then, and you can all drop by for supplies!

Cheers,

Leah xxx

*by the way - you're not beholden to knit socks, by any means - make whatever you like!!*

Road Trip.

2010-03-10T19:13:00.003+10:30

I've just returned from the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Victoria - the phone died along the way, but the photos I did take are below:

I'm loving my new iPhone app - Hipstamatic - it takes photos like a little old plastic camera. Lots of fun!

I have other exploits to share - namely a thigh high sock and a steeking tutorial, but I'm still on holidays, so forgive me for faffing about a little longer.....

xxx

ps: it's my three-year blog birthday soon - maybe a giveaway is in order?

Favourites 24/02/10 (tattoos)

2010-02-25T00:47:00.002+10:30

I am fighting an overwhelming urge to get a whole lot of crazy tats......

1. polaroid*love, 2. This is f****** tattoing, 3. flint tattoo close, 4. Caslon suicide note tattoo, 5. coincidence marks, 6. Henry Darger Wrist Cuff, 7. Masterpiece, 8. SPT 7-16-09, 9. When the bows met!, 10. Untitled

Warm.

2010-02-09T20:21:00.003+10:30

Tart

Ruby Woo

Tomato Frog

It's been a red kind of week.

It's still hot as a bastard over here in South Australia - I keep looking at the photos of the snowstorms in the US and kind of wishing I was there - though I'm sure if I was I'd so cold I'd want to die.......

The crazy heat over here keeps the dangers of Summer in the front of your mind, and I want to take a minute to note that it's been a year since Black Saturday - let's hope we manage to get through this Summer without any horror or devastation.......

I still miss the old girl, and I still forget that I'll never sleep in that house ever again.

In an effort to not leave this post on such a sad note, I want to report that the cardigan is finished, and as usual, I need to take some damn photos. She's pretty though, and worth the effort!

The Tart up there is on the needles right now - another cardigan in the making. Now that I've figured out how to cut my knitting in half, I'm all scissor happy - I even modified the current pattern so I would have to do it, which shows how much I despise purling..... ugh.

Now maybe I need just a little bit of snow? Just so I can try out my new woolies?

Take care out there, sweethearts...... xxxx

*Just a small apology - turns out all my comments have been going straight to my spam folder, and I've been missing a lot of you.... I'm going to try and rectify this, but if I haven't been in touch, I'm really sorry! *

The Messy Part....

2010-01-28T20:34:00.003+10:30

Poor thing.

It was almost finished - speed knitted in about a week, almost through the process of being a Real Jumper.....

Then I cut the poor thing in half.

Steeking done, stitches picked up all over the place, live stitches waiting patiently to be dealt with..... she looks like a hot mess, no?

Cardigans are born in a complicated way, friends......

Finished pics to come soon, hopefully.....

xxx

ps:
Welcome back, Shu - I missed you.......xxx

Favourites 22/01/10

2010-01-22T16:06:00.002+10:30

1. Bird Conversation, 2. Happy Wedding dear Twiggy&Brad, 3. the observer, 4. Untitled, 5. mad as a cut snake, 6. doll parts, 7. Untitled, 8. King D, 9. the letting go, 10. Giant Dwarf // Update Tomorrow

Finished.

2010-01-19T21:43:00.003+10:30

I was talking to my sister the other day, and she was lamenting the fact that I never post photos of my finished projects, which is something that I truly am terrible at doing.... Mostly because of the difficulties in taking photos of your own self without looking either a) like you're a truly egotistical knobhead, or b) like a headless/armless wonky person who can't stand up straight, pulling a stupid expression like you just smelled something truly hideous.....

Anyway, after much ado, I roped The Man into documentation duty, and here are the results from this project:

I knit the sleeves extra long so I can pull them over my hands. The cast on rows were done in a contrasting colour, which add just a tiny bit of interest....

The body of the jumper has raglan shaping, and a wide boat neck.

Of course, the cat loves it. It's made out of stupidly rare and luxurious German yarn, after all.....

And finally, photoshoot mostly over; a typical night in the Hyena Household:

Wearing the completed jumper whilst knitting the sleeve of the next......

There we are. Finished.

xxxx

And so it begins....

2010-01-13T23:43:00.003+10:30

A new year, eh?

Before we get onto that - the last thing from 2009 to share - Christmas presents!

It was a quiet one for me this year - just me, my sister and her darling family, all of who are heavily entrenched in the handmade....

This year, my sister sewed the motherlode for me:

An incredible patchwork quilt, plus a new knitting bag, and a GIANT pincushion - all made with her own two hands..... She is one clever lady.....

Of course, the cat, (who can sniff out Irish linen from fifty feet, only plays with the high end wool when I'm knitting, and has snaffled not only a mohair blanket, but a vintage quilt for her basket), gave the quilt the Puzz seal of approval:

Now she insists that we sit with it on the couch at night, so she can snuggle under it, purring her head off like a madman. I never met a cat with such snobby taste in textiles!

As for the new year - I've taken delivery of a couple of parcels that form part of my plans for the next few weeks..

First up, eight skeins of Cascade 200 Heathers, for a winter cardigan, in which I will learn how to steek... (eek!)

I cast on for the cardigan two days ago, and after quite a bit of this:

in front of this:

I've finished the body up to the underarms, and have cast on for the sleeves. I'm hoping this will be a quick knit, so I can get some warm things put away for the Winter to come....

And yes, I know it's crazy to be planning winter clothes in the midst of our third heatwave this year, but I'm sure you all know that I am crazy by now!

And I was going to leave this post there, but just as I was typing this, the cat and I saw this out the loungeroom window:

Can you see our little friend there in the middle? No? Here's a close up:

Yup - a fox. In the middle of the big city. Does that mean I'm in for a crafty new year?

ha ha - sorry.....xxx

Favourites 03/01/10

2010-01-03T15:32:00.002+10:30

********

I'm feeling a little poorly today - so I'm back in my pyjamas, and about to make a pot of tea and retire to the couch for the afternoon....

Looking at these photographs makes me feel better though - perhaps the one resolution I may make this year is to learn to use my camera better?

Have a good weekend, lovelies.... xxx

2009

2009-12-31T12:46:00.003+10:30

There was knitting.

A cat.

The Farm burnt down.

I sewed.

And learnt how to dye yarn.

And how to knit jumpers.

And socks.

I was published for the first time.

I drank lots of tea.

And ate lots of eggs.

There were two heatwaves.

I shaved my head.

And then it grew back.

And right at the very end - a new nephew.

A good year, and a sad year, and like all the others, almost over.

Happy New Year everyone - see you on the other side.

xxx

'twas the Season......

2009-12-30T23:04:00.003+10:30

Yep. Christmas has come and gone, and tomorrow is the last day of the year, which has taken me by complete surprise. What have I been doing? Sleepwalking?

Anyway, the last couple of weeks have been full to the brim, with a new baby just in time for Christmas:

No, he's not mine - Fergus Patrick belongs to my sister, and has already got the hang of talking to his Aunties on Skype - kids these days, eh?

Christmas Actual was spent in Victoria with my other sister & her mad, wonderful children - I managed to resuscitate a half drowned duck, eat half my body weight in food, watch numerous chapters of Bear in The Big Blue House (riveting stuff, a timeless classic), and plow my way through nine of those goddamn Sookie Stackhouse books...... all in all, a successful journey, me thinks...

Which brings me to the knitting.

Thank Fuck For Knitting.

When one has to catch a plane for an hour and a half, then a bus for twenty minutes, then wait for the train, then sit on said train for four hours before being unceremoniously ejected in the small-town train station of one's youth, and then repeat said process in reverse on the way home, adding in a five hour wait in Melbourne, plus a delayed plane, well, lets just say there was a LOT of this:

And for those of you who are also catching planes, trains and automobiles around this time of year, I have this to say to you - the Grand Revelation of 2009:

Knitters of Australia - You May Now Knit On The Plane.

That's right - the laws have changed - no more sneaking the needles on in your pencil case, sneaking furtive looks over your shoulder to see where the damn stewardess is lest she wrest your fragile link to sanity whilst travelling out of your hands - no more half frowny looks from fellow passengers as they try to decide whether you reallycouldstabsomeoneintheneckwiththose.........

I am now ready to entertain the possibillity of international travel. Fabulous.

Rant over. I leave you with my new annual tradition - the silly Christmas Portrait. Cheers.

xxxx

A little something...

2009-12-03T19:30:00.000+10:30

a work in progress.....

xx

On the Impossibility of Taking Photos of Oneself......

2009-12-02T23:48:00.003+10:30

I got some amazing socks in the mail this week, knitted for me by a beautiful Ravelry friend, and do you think I can do them justice?

Obviously not. You'll have to take my word for it. The simple fact that someone I have never met would take the time to knit me an incredible pair of socks just blows my mind. Thanks Lisa. I love them.

I'm also making progress on the Jumper In The Works:

See my Incredible Flying Arm? Yep.

It's only an arm at this point - it has yet to find a mate, and join the body, but I'm planning a long trek home for Christmas, so there should be more to show when I get back.....

Next time, I may have to bribe The Man to humour me and take some decent damn photos.

I'm still neglecting the blog, as you can see - still trying to get used to this full-time work business..... Being a lazy student had some perks - unlimited blogging and sewing time, faffing about pretending to be learned and interesting.... sigh.....

Anyways - it's nice to be able to pay the bills for once. That is, when I'm not blowing the phone bill money on things like this:

ahem.

It's from Sanguine Gryphon - in case you need to spend your 'sensible money' too.......

'til next time dears.... xxx

Favourites.

2009-11-23T11:52:00.003+10:30

1. Topnotcher bonnet, 2. anniversary pullover, 3. so, 4. the bride and her beer, 5. the beautiful sleep (far), 6. insanely bright red-orange loafers, 7. Tyler my Tyler., 8. Z, 9. #2, 10. Untitled, 11. Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin - We're Different Farn, 12. DSC_0004_3, 13. Home :: By Ari and Pip, 14. my new red Fryes, 15. The Knitting Factory, 16. Tiger, 17. Untitled, 18. Untitled

Away.

2009-11-18T01:07:00.003+10:30

I'm going to be busy this week - these two genius children are coming to visit:

I plan to spend the time wisely, getting as many cuddles in as I can.

See you on the other side,

Leah xx

(Leonie - I stole your photo. Sorry!)

It's Official.

2009-11-12T18:51:00.002+10:30

The heat has taken hold.

We've moved the bed into the loungeroom - the only room in the house with air conditioning.

I held out for as long as I could, but now I'm going to hide in here until it's all over. If you don't here from me in a week, send out the search party!

Time for another gin and tonic, I think.....

xxx

When all else fails.....

2009-11-10T23:20:00.002+10:30

When there is a heatwave, in Spring no less, and you are forced to endure overnight temperatures of 30 degrees (as I type at 11.21pm)......

There really is nothing else to be done. Gin is the only solution.

I am terrified of the Summer we are about to have. For those of you who live in the bush - good luck, and please, please - do your clearing now. Let's not see last Summer repeat itself.

xxxx

2009-11-05T18:17:00.004+10:30

Today has been a comedy of errors - I went to work to meet someone who didn't show up, drove to my favourite second hand shop to find it closed, came home and found the cat with a grass seed wedged in her eye, and had to take her to the vet taped inside a cardboard box because we don't have one of those cat box thingys.

By the time we made it to the vet, she'd somehow gotten it out, and we paid the vet $60 to look in her eye in a perfunctory manner and pronounce her cured.

Sheesh.

I have a dye pot on the stove which I can just tell is going to turn out crap.

Thank god for knitting and the Tivo. I shall retire to the couch now, and spend the rest of my ridiculous day off with the winking cat and the rest of my jumper, perhaps accompanied by some Monarch of The Glen, or NCIS, or Medium, or something equally as unchallenging, and ponder whether I feel brave enough to attempt to cook some dinner.

I may burn the house down yet - stay tuned.

xxxx

Morning....

2009-11-04T14:35:00.002+10:30

This photograph is from Sunday, but since it looks exactly the same here this morning, I figured you wouldn't mind.

The only difference, is that today I burnt the toast, set the smoke alarm off, and scared the shit out of the cat.

Proof perhaps, that sometimes a picture doesn't tell a thousand words? Happy Wednesday!

xxxx

Cool Change.

2009-11-02T20:24:00.003+10:30

It's been hot here - too hot to knit, which after a long, satisfyingly chilly winter, is a wee bit depressing....

But today, after a long, hot afternoon, a cool change rolled in, allowing me the chance to cast on for my new project.

It's Wollmeise sock yarn - incredibly hard to get your hands on, but lovely yarn - the colours are amazing. I've been fortunate enough to find someone who was willing to do a trade for some of my hand dyed yarn, and now the balls have been wound, and dinner ordered - I'm ready for a night on the couch with some trashy telly, The Man, and an impossible amount of stitches on tiny needles.......

Also on the needles is a pair of crazy striped socks:

You've gotta love Noro - it's a pain to knit with, the yarn is a little rough, but it washes up beautifully, and who can say no to insane colour changes like that?

Have you noticed the trend yet? Yes, I'm still knitting away - nary a sewing project in sight, but I promise I haven't gone completely over to the dark side - I bought some linen yesterday, and something gorgeous came in the mail from Ink and Spindle the other day:

So all is not lost!

In the meantime though, I'll be back on here a little more often now - I'm getting used to the new work routine, and have graduated past the falling asleep on the couch after work phase.... the poor neglected blog is well overdue for some love....

More to come!

Leah xx

* a small footnote - thanks so much to everyone who bought yarn in my shop update - the shop is looking a little bare right now, but I'm dyeing more as we speak. It shouldn't be too long! xxx

Update.

2009-09-23T15:07:00.003+09:30

Finally, after weeks of dyeing wool in the middle of the night, I have come up with a Shop update......

The update will go live at 8.30 am Australian Central Standard Time on Sunday, Sept 27.

For our American friends, this is 7pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Saturday, Sept 26 - I hope to see you all there!

****

In other news, time is of the essence around here - or more precisely, the lack of time...

I've gone full-time at the bartending job, as well as taking on a whole new role at the pub (booking the bands! ha!) - so by the time I make it home it's all I can do to fall on the couch, knit a bit, and stare at the television. Depressing, but true.

I'm sure the routine will even itself out soon, but for now, I'm exhausted. Which means the blog will continue to suffer, I'm afraid.

I desperately miss my blogging community, and I hope to pick it up again sooner rather than later - but for now, the boring life stuff has to come first. blech.

The flip side of this is that I've almost completed my first knitted jumper. I'll take some photos and show you when it's done - I'm inordinately proud.

Take care sweet peas,

Leah xxx

Farewell to Winter.

2009-09-01T22:04:00.003+09:30

For a person who works with yarn, the end of Winter is a bittersweet thing.

Part of the reason I started knitting in the first place was to keep my poor bones warm - being a skinny bitch has it's disadvantages, you see, and poor circulation leads to frozen toes and chilly kidneys - all of which I sought to soothe through the wrapping of woolen things around the body......

And now, having accumulated rather a massive stash over winter, my knitting projects are finally coming to fruition:

This is the beginning of my First. Ever. Jumper.

I am being guided through it by the pithy and hilarious Elizabeth Zimmermann, queen of the Basic Instruction and the Freedom to Improvise - just my kind of thing.....

I should share with you my hilarious project sketch:

If I can make this, then it really is true - miracles can happen.

And it'll probably be done just in time for our summer heatwave - in which case I will insist on wearing it, inside, with the air conditioning on.

Just because.

Just because achievements, however small, should be rewarded.

Now - anyone have an ideas as to what one should knit out of 1740 yards of chartruese lace weight?

nope. me neither.

xxxxxxx

Introducing:

2009-08-29T17:04:00.003+09:30

The latest ladies to grace my Les Femmes yarn collection:

First up, Georgia O'Keefe:

Georgia O'Keefe superwash sock yarn - 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 450 yds, 100g.

Georgia O'Keefe silky lace - 55% silk, 45% superwash wool, approx 1020 yds, 100g.

and to follow, close behind:

Germaine Greer:

Germaine Greer superwash sock yarn - 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 450 yds, 100g.

Germaine Greer silky lace - 55% silk, 45% superwash wool, approx 1020 yds, 100g.

These are the first two colourways of my official yarn collection. After a long process of dyeing and experimentation and trying out different bases, I am finally ready to be dyeing for a shop update.

The yarns are named after women I admire - women who have shown colour, determination and flair in their life's work; something to which I aspire to pay homage to.

The name Hyena In Petticoats is a clear marker in the beginning of that tradition - by choosing this name for my blog and my business, I set in motion a personal journey of consideration.

In the beginning with Mary Wollstonecraft:, and later with other women who's work speaks to my sensibilities - my craft journey follows a path that many women have tread before me, in all genres of craft and endeavour.

Making things by hand is a meditative task for me - I feel connected to the women who came before me, who hand crafted things out of necessity and frugality, who lovingly constructed useful and beautiful things for their homes and families.

These craftspeople left a legacy for the future; the work of their hands lives on, and it is my hope to leave such a legacy myself. I create yarns for unknown makers, but the colourways are named after our rather more famous examples - who paved a path for women like me to be able to do exactly as they pleased, with no real thought to whether or not it is appropriate, proper or decent to be throwing yarn and fabric around in such a manner.

It is my small thankyou - to be born free and female, thanks to the hard work of others.

There will be more colourways to come - stay tuned.

xxxxxx

Results.

2009-08-23T13:45:00.002+09:30

These pictures were taken at night, but I think you get the idea.....

All colours get the Puzz seal of approval.

A couple of the colours need a return trip to the dye pot before I can call them done, but for now, I'm happy.

I hope you're all having a good weekend....

xxx

Alchemy.

2009-08-19T18:25:00.003+09:30

There is an ancient process going on in my kitchen today.

A transmutation of raw materials.

The manipulation of basic tools.

The steam of productivity.

Results tomorrow.

xxxxx

Silence.

2009-07-30T03:48:00.001+09:30

luz interior, originally uploaded by irana.

I know I am seriously off the radar right now.

I'm not dead, or sick, or pregnant.

The computer is broken, and in the repair shop, and I have access to The Man's laptop for abut ten minutes a day. sigh.

I'll be back soon. I have a lot to share, and plenty of time to knit with no internet in the house.

I miss you all - more to come......

Leah xxxx

(ps: someone talk me out of getting a tattoo just like that one up here? )

Pandemic.

2009-07-03T14:56:00.002+09:30

I don't know which particular strain of 'flu we've had at Casa Hyena this week, but whatever it is, it's taken both me and The Man through a hellish fever, chills and aches and swimming vision - three days in bed later and I'm only just coming up for air.

I've seen more than enough daytime television to last me the rest of my life, but the plus side is that I've had plenty of time to knit.

I'm so damn close to finishing my first PAIR of socks I can feel victory in the air:

This photo is of the first one, but I'm that far done on the second now - just the toe decreases to go - how exciting!

I even wrote out the pattern as I went (not that it's very hard), so I can share it with anyone who might be interested. I want to write a few patterns that are good for beginners - something more interesting than plain socks, but not too complicated either - these ones fit the bill just right.

Perfect sick day knitting.

Give me a few more days to get some exuberance back, and I'll have more to share..... in the meantime, fellow Aussies, don't let the winter get you down....

love to all

xxx

Wow.

2009-06-24T23:29:00.002+09:30

So first of all, I want to say thankyou to everyone who commented on my last post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, your feedback, and your support for this crazy new venture of mine.

I sat down at the sewing machine tonight, just to do some mending that I've been putting off, and it finally felt right again. So it wont be long before I have some more sewing to share with you all.

In the meantime though - progress is being made on the dyeing front - I have a few colourways I am happy with, and the colours are getting brighter and clearer by the day - all in the name of experimentation and risk taking!

I intend to share the things I am learning as I go, to stay tuned for the fist post in the series - Undyed Yarn.

To tide you over though, here's some eye candy:

Now that I've discovered the best spot in my house for photographing the yarn - nothing can stop me!

Knitting Needles, 1930s/50s

2009-06-20T18:16:00.002+09:30

Knitting Needles, 1930s/50s, originally uploaded by galessa's plastics.

Ok, so here's the deal.

I have been wholly kidnapped by the knitting community.
I am powerless to resist - Ravelry has been stealing my time, yarn stash and postage runs, and suddenly all I can think about is wool, socks, cowls, jumpers, sheep and fibre. Perhaps it's the beginning of a new obsession, but I'm sure my sewing machine will not be neglected for too long!

In the meantime though, there are new projects afoot at Casa Hyena - namely the huge batch of undyed yarn I am slowly skeining by hand, and the array of Landscape dyes I have at my diposal....

Hand dyeing yarn is a mysterious business - full of trial and error and unexpected colour combinations - a journey which I am excited to be embarking on.

So what I'm trying to say is this - I feel as though I am starting at the beginning again - like the day I first looked at a sewing blog and started thinking about collecting some fabric, wondering if one day I would be able to sew a straight seam or construct something to fit any type of standard. Now, two years on, I have learnt so much from all my readers, met some amazing people, and made things I never would have though my two hands could create. All because of you. Yes, you - sitting there at your computer, poised to post a comment or feedback - I could never have done it without you. THANKYOU. From the bottom of my heart.

So now, I'm asking for your help once again. As I document the process involved in learning how to dye - I need some advice. Anything, everything. Books to read, places to buy fibre, dyeing techniques. Please tell me what you think, what you know, what you suggest...... all of it is useful, and all of it will help me as I jump in the deep end of a process and art form I know nothing about......

I have given myself this big batch of yarn to work out some kind of process, and to give myself the space to learn. I hope that some of you will buy some yarn from me, but what I wish for the most is that you will all help me to get there - to achieve a level at which I can make something I am truly proud of. We've done it together once, surely we can do it again?

This is probably the longest post I've written in the last year. An open letter to say thankyou to my community, and to re-engage on a new level.... if my latest foray into a new medium doesn't work, you can all expect skeins of sock yarn in your mail packages!

Thanks so much - let's get this show on the road, shall we?

all my love,

Leah xxx

Possibilities....

2009-06-18T18:11:00.005+09:30

There are a lot of things around my house at the moment that are on the way to becoming other things:

a big order of undyed yarn, slowly being wound into skeins:

Some divine Sanguine Gryphon sock yarn on it's way to being a pair of socks:

and my skein of Mae West hand dyed:

has found a new home, travelling through the hands of another, to end up like this:

divine, no?

You can find the pattern on Ravelry here...

I love seeing finished projects made from my yarn - thanks Kirsten!

Otherwise, there is knitting and tea drinking and battening of the hatches going on here - Winter is settling in, and my motivations are lower and my activities more limited - I haven't sewn anything in weeks!

I'm trying to relax into the ebb and flow of blog writing, trying not to feel too bad about being a little silent around these parts lately - I know the urge to share will return, once I have something to show from my busy hands...

In the meantime, I hope you are all warm and cosy, and thanks for dropping in, even though I'm not always at home.....

I'll have more hand dyed yarn to share soon, and perhaps a sock pattern for you too!

cheers,

xxxx

Staying in with the Puzz...

2009-06-02T16:07:00.002+09:30

This is pretty much what life looks like in our house at the moment......

When I knit, I have to give her a cheapy ball of acrylic to play with, or else all hell breaks loose.

She may also start posting on this blog on my behalf:

Things are still on the quiet side around here - work has been kicking my ass lately, and the projects I am working on are all knitting related, which for me, takes time. Hopefully I'll have some finished objects to share soon.

In the meantime though, the shop still has some goodies in it - I messed up the link on my update post the other day, so if you haven't popped in, please do! I've put in an order for a wholesale amount of undyed sock yarn, so god help me if you guys don't buy it - I'll be knitting socks for the rest of my life!

I've been naming my colourways after fabulous women -

there's Patti Smith:

Debbie Harry:

and Mae West still available:

Who can resist the idea of Patti Smith socks? Not me!

xxxxx

Shop Update!

2009-05-29T15:58:00.004+09:30

Just a small post to let you all know that my shop is now open again, and restocked with some new goodies......

There's a whole bunch of hand dyed yarn, and a slew of vintage craft books up for grabs.

And if you all pop on over and buy something, I promise I'll use the money to put in a BIG order of undyed yarn, so I can keep dyeing and selling - I'm so obsessed with coming up with new colours - hopefully you'll like them too.

Cheers!

Leah xxx

Free stuff!

2009-05-27T01:51:00.007+09:30

My divine Sister, who I love with all my heart, is having a couple of giveaways on her blog.....

To win a gorgeous pair of custom made pants;

or a brilliant remnant pack of fabric scraps;

Visit her blog here! (you'll need to scroll down a bit to find the giveaways)

Leonie is new to blogging, and deserves some love, plus a big shout out from her baby sister (that'd be me), so please pay her a visit and say hello - she's a talented lady in her own right, and can kit you out in a pair of custom made pants in the fabrics of your choice like nobody's business...... All we need to do is teach Mum how to use the internet, and we'd be a force to be reckoned with, no?

xxxxxx

Winter.

2009-05-26T16:06:00.002+09:30

I know it's not officially Winter just yet, but judging by the way that the knitting has taken over my WHOLE LIFE, it's safe to say that the colder weather has gotten to me.

It's all about wool at the moment, to the detriment of all other things. Dyeing, knitting and Ravelry are consuming all of my creative juices, but hopefully soon I'll have some finished objects to share, and then the blog will get some love....

Pictured above: cable socks, moss ribbed socks, Crisp vest in progress, and some hand dyed yarn from the latest batch.

I'm still searching for the elusive perfect undyed sock yarn. Wish me luck.

xxxxx

Hand Dyed.

2009-05-22T15:39:00.003+09:30

From left: worsted weight merino 3ply; 100% merino fingering weight 1 ply; and cashmerino sock weight.

My first cohesive dye batch - I'm pleased with the colours, though I still have so much to learn. Dyeing wool is such a different process, handling the dyes works differently, and there's such a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants element to this - mostly I'm throwing things into a pot, crossing my fingers, and hoping for the best!

The premier supplier for acid dyes in Australia, KraftKolour, was situated in Whittlesea, Victoria, and burnt down in the bushfires. I hear they are well on the way to reestablishing their business, but for the moment stocks are low all over the place. Once they are up and running again, I urge any of you dyeing folk out there to make a purchase - it takes a lot to build up a business again after such a huge loss - I'm sure they could do with all the help they can get!

I'm planning on dyeing more yarn soon - I have another few skeins in the mail at the moment - I'm trying to find the perfect undyed sock yarn so I can buy a wholesale lot and dye for sale. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them - I was a huge fan of The Knittery, but alas, they've closed down!

It seems mad to be in Australia, the land of divine quality merino wool, and to be buying said merino from the States or Hong Kong, or whatever. Local suppliers, please stand up!

More to come after the weekend - I need to shake off a cold, and serve beers to the masses this weekend, but the second sock is well on the way, and maybe even a pattern too!

Cheers, m'dears,

xxxxx

P.S: for all you Ravelry geeks out there like me, you can find me here: Hyena In Petticoats on Ravelry

And Now For World Domination.....

2009-05-20T20:12:00.002+09:30

They say if you can knit a sock, you can knit anything.

How about if you dye the yarn yourself,

Then knit a sock out of it?

I've got to admit - I had some huge help on this one - and the finished product is more than a bit spazz - look at those ladders! And those clumsy joins! (and the red bits where I thought I'd experiment with stranded knitting along the way?)

Nevertheless, it is a finished sock, and I am inordinately proud. So much so that I've cast on the next one and even written a new pattern for it. They won't match, but I don't care in the slightest.

I've also been experimenting with dyeing some yarn, which is rather satisfying - in fact, I'm writing this whilst waiting for the timer to go off on a blue batch I have simmering....

The mustard above is my favourite so far, and there have been some blues:

And stay tuned for some red, greens and more blues, which are drying on the rack. The blue above will be in the shop update (whenever it happens), and if I can bear to part with it, some of the others will be too.

But for now, the timer just went on the stove. Better go and rescue it before it felts!

Cheers, m'dears....

xxxx

Favourites.

2009-05-13T12:54:00.002+09:30

1. sweet sleep, 2. sick day bench monday :: 8, 3. happy together, 4. luz interior, 5. new day, new socks, 6. Untitled, 7. Cleveland Roller Club at Skateland - Cleveland, Ohio, 8. blanket folded, 9. Untitled, 10. DSC_0001, 11. Untitled, 12. in the bath, 13. diana at baby matilda's party, 14. lovely fresh bread, 15. light olive sock yarn, 16. spectacular spectacular

No, I'm not dead. Although I've been absent for ages, it's not due to me breaking a hip in a fall and suffocating to death under the craft supplies, though the time will come. ( I have it under good authority that when this finally happens, Shula will come and dig me out, pop me in her refrigerated van, and take me back home to Victoria. Do blogs count as Wills? )

The women I work for have been taking their holidays, one after the other, which means the beer pouring gets put higher on the schedule than anything else in this household. Including taking the rubbish out. sigh. Only ten days to go and then I'm back to normal again....!

Anyways, I've been knitting like a woman possessed, and soon I will have a whole sock to share, as well as a shop update I've been tinkering away at - I'll let you know when it's all ready. I will be quiet for a bit longer though - the precious days off are slipping by fast in a haze of administrivia....... I'll be back once I've finished one of the 12 projects on the needles!

Leah xxx

A Storm in a Handknitted Sock....

2009-04-15T19:26:00.003+09:30

I am swearing my head off over this one:

I found this sock pattern on the inside of the label for my yarn, and thought I'd give it a shot. I've done the leg, but now it's time to divide for the heel and knit the heel flap and I can't figure it out....

I thought perhaps the knitting geniuses of the Internets may be able to help. If anyone can clarify these instructions for me, I'd be forever indebted. In fact, I may even send you a gift if your instructions are the ones that help me see the light....!

Here's a scan of the pattern - you can click through to Flickr if you need to see it larger:

I've already divided the stitches in preparation for the heel flap, and I knit along merrily for 10 rows (which I have subsequently ripped out) and then I got to the bit about the 'held' stitches, which didn't make any sense.......

Help? Please?

Apologies to all who find knitting tedious, and I promise I'll have some more exciting eye candy soon...!

Thanks in advance,

Leah xxx

*edited to add: A big thankyou goes out to Jacqueline who has been more than helpful - in fact, writing out a full set of new instructions for me to follow! Bless the Internets and all those who call it home - and thanks to everyone else who replied offering help - genuises, all of you...... xxxx *

Easter Favourites...

2009-04-10T02:35:00.001+09:30

1. before, 2. lola in da hood, 3. Patching the Quilt, 4. what's for dinner mum?, 5. eggshells, 6. Untitled, 7. bench? squint. close enough., 8. robinseggs

Have a beautiful weekend....

xxx

Patchwork Knitting Roll...

2009-04-07T16:27:00.003+09:30

Another finished project to share - I swear I'm knocking things off my list at a rate of knots over here, must be the Winter crafting kicking in....

This one is made from a scrap of quilt from the Big Box of Staggering Genius.....

I just laid out the patchwork scrap on a piece of wool felt, and quilted through the layers, then folded one end over to make a pocket:

A bit of bias tape around three edges, and a pocket is born.....

A wee bit of cotton tape and with a badge on the end forms the closure:

Then rolled up, stuffed in the handbag ( a gorgeous new one gifted to me for my birthday, no less), and the cross over to Knitter In Public is complete.

Quick and satisfying, I tells ya.

****

Today I'm sewing up a storm - a Winter skirt out of a yummy grey wool with pockets and a waist sash; a pair of slippers out of the arms of a cashmere jumper (!) tutorial soon(!) ; and a bit more knitting to ensure that I am the woman with the biggest handwarmer collection in the Southern Hemisphere..... heh!

It's also Easter Week, which means that our hardworking pub staff get our only true day off for the year - Good Friday means a closed bar, and all our tips money for the year spent on having gorgeous food cooked for us, plenty of booze and boardgames, and general faffing about with no beers to pour or whisky tasters to explain or drunken people to toss out onto the street. Lovely.

Happy Easter all - whether that means Church or Springtime or the onset of Winter or dancing naked around a bonfire in the backyard, I hope you all have a lovely week.

Leah xxx

Adventures in Fibre and Sticks.

2009-04-04T14:02:00.002+10:30

It's that knitting time of year again. The onset of the cooler weather means I am craving wool and yarns and layers and layers of things - even though it's still not quite cold enough to justify - but the time will come - and this year I am determined to be prepared.

I've been riding my bike to work at least twice a week, and I don't plan to stop in the winter. So, a bicycle ensemble ensued:

The basket was a birthday present from The Man - it neatly clips to the front handlebars - and to go with it, a beanie knitted from some handspun from my local Spinners and Weavers Guild, and a pair of bright mustard hand warmers - from Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn - as you can probably tell, I am too impatient to block - I usually just do it when my knitted things need their first wash!

Next up is a moss stitch cowl:

I wanted to make something as crazy and bulky as Yokoo, but I wasn't quite brave enough, so I stopped short of knitting all the yarn I bought into it. But this way I might have enough to make some matching hand warmers, so being chicken shit pays off in it's own way!
The yarn here is some super bulky naff acrylic they sell at Lincraft - I hatehatehatehateHATE acrylic yarns, but this was soft enough, and I wanted a quick fix, so......

But the real progress in the knitting department has come in the shape, well, the vaguely identifiable shape of.....

a sock!

This has got to be the ugliest sock in the known universe. You can't see the toe in this photo for a very good reason. Nonetheless, it is a sock. The first I've ever made. And I have GRAND plans for a billion of them.

Some of you commented on this photo from my favourites the other day, and I hereby make it my life mission to own a sock drawer like that. One day.

In the meantime, I've gotten a wee bit ambitious, and have cast on for a pair of these, in those yarns down there:

I bet I cave halfway down the first leg. meh.

I hope you're having a gorgeous Saturday.....

xxxx

Daily Goodness....

2009-03-31T15:24:00.002+10:30

I have been taking it easy lately - perhaps the notion of the Birthday Week got to me, and I've decided to extend it to the month. Or maybe the Autumn is just starting to sink in, and I'm leaning towards inside and cosiness.

Whatever the reason may be, there have been eggs:

and the Saturday papers:

(how cute is that girl on the cover of the A2? I love her little cheek dots...)

Some sewing with some antique lace gifted to me by a friend:

and patching old with old - my new garage sale quilt is getting some feedsack love - those feedsacks come courtesy of the Big Box of Staggering Genius......

And finally - I have spent many cups of tea browsing through the Mikes' book - Now that the book has been officially launched, I can share a bit more of it with you:

The layout is cute as a button -

with a page for each contributor showcasing some very sweet little bits and bobs:

and my quilted backgammon board has come up a treat:

There's a Flickr group up and running, so if you do make a project from the book, please post your photos of it here - we'd love to see what gets made - that's the best part!

I hope you're all having a lazy, relaxing week too.....

xxxx

Favourites.

2009-03-30T18:04:00.001+10:30

I have Autumn on the brain, today.

1. naturally dyed eggs, 2. Northbridge Stripes, 3. sunday stash #10, 4. number 29, 5. earlier that morning, 6. I I I, 7. weaving cloth, 8. in league with matchbox stuffers, 9. kitchen, 10. sock yarn salad, 11. FGR: Gettin freaky with the geeky., 12. Well, what do you keep in your sock drawer?

Earth Hour

2009-03-28T04:36:00.002+10:30

We'll be doing this tomorrow - at work and at home...... I'd love it if you all did the same!

xxxx

More goodies....

2009-03-26T14:34:00.003+10:30

A big thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes - I've had a very good few days, filled with yummy food, flowers, and messages from friends and loved ones all over.... I'm a lucky girl indeed.....

The birthday week ( I always insist on having a whole week of birthday benefits!) was made even more exciting by the arrival of this little beauty in the mail yesterday:

I can't even tell you how exciting it is to hold this lovely book in my hands - the layout is gorgeous, and the projects are all fantastic - I feel extremely privileged to have a pattern inside, in the amazing company of many of my favourite Aussie crafters....

Our crafty Queen Pip has done a wonderful job, so grab yourselves a copy and make her rich and famous!

I'll be sure to share my project with you once the book has made its way out into the world, and if you do happen to make something from my pattern, please send me a photo - I'd love to see it!

I'm off to iron my new party dress - I'm being taken out for another birthday dinner by some lovely girls, wearing a handmade dress, no less! I'll be sure to post some photos of it soon, along with my other winter wardrobe creations....

until then,

Leah xxx

A good day....

2009-03-23T13:02:00.004+10:30

It's been a good day, so far.....

Woken up by a delivery man with an armful of divine orchids for my birthday:

We have an amazing flower wholesaler just down the street, and I'm always dropping loaded comments about the exorbitant benefits regular flower buying gives to a relationship; so far such comments have fallen on cheekily deaf ears, but apparently birthdays are a big exception!

This week has also bought some other goodies my way - all declared birthday presents as they've made their way through the door:

A 'Hairy Lady' teatowel and decals by the wonderful Camila Engman in association with the equally wonderful Third Drawer Down - they told me there is only FOUR of the Hairy Ladies left - so if you want one, now is the time.....

earlier this week, this magic parcel arrived:

Full of unspeakably beautiful things - a hand printed linen scarf, a leather cuff, and a wee soap in the shape of a cow - all from the amazing hands of
Kirsten - thanks so much Kirsten - I love it all!

and last but not least, a trp to a garage sale yesterday yielded some seriously good stuff:

I got some brilliant vintage fabric, a huge bag of red buttons, and one of those magical vintage comforter quilts - the kind that make you feel like you're six years old again, wrapped tight in the soft cushiony goodness with a cup of milo.... the best!

it's also won favour with another member of the family:

She has fine taste in quilts, I must say - seems I am training her well.......

Well, that's it for me today - I'm off to spend the first day of my Thirties eating spicy cold noodles, pottering about, and retiring in the afternoon for a whisky or two at my favourite local....

Have a beautiful day, my sweets.....

xxxx

marking the time....

2009-03-16T17:06:00.002+10:30

This is a post to mark time, today - a celebration first, of my second blog anniversary. Two years of writing and sharing and making and posting - I remember thinking when I first started that if I could get to two years I would feel accomplished - now it has happened without me even thinking about it. Thanks so much to all of you who have been dropping in and reading during this time - my life is much richer for the benefits blogging has brought to it - new friends and likeminded souls, emails chock full of knitting patterns, surprise parcels in the mail, google analytics full of new visitors.... it's a satisfying thing for me to have created something that purely brings me pleasure.

I am celebrating by marking a different kind of time - the turn of the seasons - I am dragging out the patterns and fabrics for Autumn, knitting like crazy and plotting some warmer wear:

I'm trying to use as much from my existing stash as possible - remnants of linens, warm cottons and knits, wools and such. I may have to splash out on some charcoal wool fabric though. I have a picture in my head of my new winter skirt that won't be held to reason or thriftiness. ha!

The piles are looking inviting though - I'm hoping to make at least one cold weather item a week - that way I should be well prepared when the cold really starts to bite...

The third way I am marking time this coming week is my 30th birthday - it's on the 23rd of March, a week from today, and though it isn't causing the kind of insane crisis inducing paranoia women's magazines would have you believe, I am feeling a little reflective. It's a strange thing to suddenly realise you're supposed to be a grown-up. I swear I wake up some mornings and still feel about twelve. And I get up and look in the mirror, and realise I had exactly the same haircut when I turned twenty:

Heh heh - see how I just slipped that in? The Greatest Shave day went extremely well - with us raising about four thousand dollars (we still haven't done a final count) for leukaemia research.

A big thankyou to all of you who sponsored me - your generosity was amazing to see, and appreciated all the more because I know we've all been pooling our extra resources into the bushfire relief effort lately. Thanks so, so much.

My head is a little cold, and it is a bit of a shock to go from So Much Hair to so little, but I am getting used to it already. Stay tuned for some crazy dye jobs and mad haircuts as I suddenly realise I'm thirty and fall into a crisis inducing paranoia causing me to desperately try to reclaim my lost youth....... ha! Either that, or I'll manage to master the art of the Knitted Hat. Rather more likely!

Keep warm and well my friends, and to those in the Northern Hemisphere - enjoy the sun, we're sending it your way.....

xxxx

The Hair.

2009-03-12T18:26:00.002+10:30

My hair. Five years in the making, is on borrowed time.

On Saturday, myself and a whole bunch of others at the pub where I work are participating in the World's Greatest Shave to raise money for research into Leukaemia and other blood-related disorders.

Here's the spiel:

Your favourite bar staff are taking part in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave 2009. Please BE BRAVE and sponsor your brave bald bar staff! The funds we raise will help the Leukaemia Foundation to provide practical care and support to patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. Donations can be made via the website or pop in for a cold one and donate your loose change.

I know we've been through a major fundraising effort in the past few weeks for the Bushfire Relief Fund, but if you have any cash to spare for the cause, I'd love it if you'd sponsor me. You can donate by visiting out team website here:

Wheatsheaf Hotel Greatest Shave Team Page.... just click on "Leah" and you can make a donation from there.

Otherwise, if you're in Adelaide, you're welcome to pop down to The Wheaty (39 George St Thebarton) on Saturday at 4pm to see me lose the locks. eep!

I'll be sure to post many pictures of the shaved head in the next week or so.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Leah xxxx

away for a bit....

2009-03-04T22:57:00.001+10:30

Back Soon, originally uploaded by redcrayon.

I'm off for a quick family visit for a few days......

See you all on the return side!

xxxx

Favourites.

2009-02-24T18:09:00.002+10:30

Some divine photographs from Flickr to soothe the soul - seems I have a home and hearth theme this week - I'm feeling very homebody at the moment.

I want to send out a big thankyou to everyone who has commented lately, dropped in to say hello, and offered their thoughts after the bushfires.

It's been a rough time for us Aussies lately, but a time when all the things that are important to us are put into sharp relief. I am grateful to be part of such a loving community, and hearing stories of good people, banding together to help, give what they can, and create something new for the ravaged communities makes me feel better amidst all the stories of loss.

In my own little home, restash packs have been made, scarves have been knitted, and $150 raised from my shop to donate to the Red Cross. Thanks again to those of you who made purchases, your parcels are on the way, and your money will be put to good use.

I'll be back to the regular light hearted programming soon, but first I have a house that needs a drastic spring clean, and a pile and a half of Nongs to make. So, my friends, I'll be seeing you on the other side.

Lots of love and thanks to you all.

Leah xxxx

Handmade Help.

2009-02-17T15:24:00.002+10:30

Today I have listed two hand knitted scarves in my Shop:

Remember; 100% of all profits in February will be donated to Bushfire relief programs.

I've also been doing some crafting about the place, making some things to be sent directly to victims.....

some restash packs in progress:

They contain a handmade pincushion, some fabric pieces, a tape measure, seam ripper and some pins.

I'm also knitting a few things to send over as well:

If it seems trivial or silly to be sending craft supplies and hand knitted scarves at a time when so many basic things are needed, I'd like to direct you to this post by Soosz - so very well said, and articulate in a way I'm having trouble with at the moment.

In the comments, a reference is made to an open letter (written by Liz Tilley, a survivor of the 2003 firestorm in Canberra) on the ABC website on how to help - the whole letter is worth reading; especially if you're looking for a tangible, practical way to help, but I'd like to reference one paragraph here that pertains to us, and how crafters can make a difference:

"Make something. Some of our most treasured items are the ones that were made, with love, by complete strangers. The quilt that was one of the hundreds that arrived from all over Australia, the hand-knitted rugs that my children like to snuggle under in winter. If you make jewellery, make a few pairs of earrings or a necklace. If you make toys, make something for the children who have lost theirs. If you knit, make a winter scarf. If you sew, make some table placemats or a beautiful table runner. If you're an artist, paint a picture or frame a drawing.

I still find it incredibly moving that people cared enough to put time and love into making something that has now become a new family treasure for us."

Surely that's motivation for all of us?

xxxxx

Handmade Help

Australian Red Cross

Wildlife Victoria

From This:

2009-02-11T18:55:00.004+10:30

To This:

Only her poor chimneys left. Even in her destruction, she is still a majestic old girl.

I am feeling unspeakably sad right now, and I feel a long way from home and the people I love - luckily for me I have only a house to mourn; there are so, so many others who have lost so much, so I encourage everyone to help out in whatever way they can - whether with a few dollars or a handmade item or a fundraising auction.

For those of you looking to help, there are plenty of options and efforts outlined over on Pip's blog, (see the side bar for plenty of links), and Coles have said that they will donate their entire Friday profit to the Bushfire Appeal - so please save your grocery shopping until then.

If you're overseas, I recommend donating to the Red Cross - they accept credit card payments if you'd like to help out.

I have also decided to donate 100% of my profits from my Shop in February to the relief effort, so any support would be brilliant.

It's hard to put this topic down at the moment - I'm sure at some point we will be back to the knitting and sewing, but for now this is all I can think about. So tonight, I'm breaking out the yarn stash to do some knitting for Handmade Help, and hoping that we can hear some positive news very soon.

Thanks for listening and helping, all of you.

xxxx

mourning.

2009-02-09T09:28:00.007+10:30

My love and thoughts are devoted today to those affected by the bushfires in Victoria...

Those of us who remember Ash Wednesday or Black Friday know how deeply ingrained the bushfire fear is; especially in those of us who have lived in the bush - the horror of people and animals and beloved houses trapped in the flames.

And today I bid farewell to a grand old dame of a house that holds a huge chunk of my heart in her now charred and burnt rooms:

Roslyn Farm - a 150 year old farmhouse in the Cathedral Ranges - holiday and weekend and every-spare-minute destination for myself and many, many other friends for the last ten years - in the case of my dear friend Tom, since he was a baby.

I will miss this house desperately. She was my retirement plan.

But the loss of this house is nothing compared to all the lives lost in the last two days - thoughts and sympathy to all of those affected - hang in there, friends.

xxxxx

*edited to add: I just want to add that I am not in Victoria, and therefore not in any danger, and all my loved ones are safe and sound - my expatriate guilt is huge today, and I'm simply mourning for my home state and those who have been affected..... thanks so much for your concern.... xxx

If you would like to donate to the bushfire relief you can call:

Red Cross Appeal 1800 811 700 (or online at their website)
Salvation Army 137 258

Otherwise donations of money can be made at Commonwealth Banks and Bunnings centres. Cheers.

Don't Mention The Heatwave....

2009-02-04T19:24:00.003+10:30

Needless to say, I have been locked in a small room with only the air conditioner, the cat, and Season One and Two of Veronica Mars for the past week. We were all literally climbing the walls:

It's still stinking hot over here in Adelaide, but I have finally come out of my hole, opened the doors and windows, and sacrificed myself to the perils of Global Warming, but believe me, a relocation to Canada is still not out of the question....

Paradoxically, in the midst of the hellish haze of nightmare temperatures, this arrived in the mail from Uruguay:

divine, no?

So I spent most of the heatwave knitting - knitting so much I thought my hands might drop off:

There are some moss stitch scarves and handwarmers which will find their way into the shop once the ends have been woven in.....

Plus a first on two accounts; following a pattern, and doing cables! The pattern for this magical scarf is via here; this Lady Havartine post being the inspiration for my own attempt.... it still needs to be blocked and finished off, which will hopefully fix up the wonkyness of my knitting!

Another heatwave project done and dusted:

A pile of vintage quilt blocks included in the Big Box of Staggering Genius were sewn together, backed, batted and machine quilted....

and the finished quilt has now become a firm favourite with one member of the family:

She loves it. Will not get off it.

So, apart from the climatic confusion of knitting and quilting in the dead heat of Summer, I feel I have accomplished some things in my absence - let's see if I can keep it up and get those other straggling projects done and dusted!

I hope those of you in the Southern Hemisphere are keeping cool, and those of you in the Northern are staying snug and warm - puts a new spin on 'polar opposites' don't you think?

Cheers, m'dears....

Leah xxx

Shop Update!

2009-01-21T16:54:00.002+10:30

Just letting you all know that I have updated my Shop with some new goodies:

There are some new mix packs, some kimono and yukata pieces, some fabulous vintage barkcloth, and some other goodies, so feel free to pop in for a look....

The shop has a new look too, to match the blog, so I'm feeling updated and on top of things today!

I hope you can find something you like.....

Leah xxx

Wiksten Tulip skirt.

2009-01-20T19:47:00.004+10:30

My first finished clothing project for the year. It's the Wiksten Tulip Skirt from the first issue of Stitch Magazine....

I wore the skirt all day, and typically forgot to take a photo of it until it was dark - hence the night time photos - sorry!

I love this skirt - it's amazingly comfortable, and easy to make, once you get the pattern pieces traced off and organised.... I'm thinking of making another in some fancier fabrics, with in seam pockets on the sides - I'm picky about pockets in my skirts and dresses.....

Anyway, if you're thinking about making this pattern - do it! Thanks so much to Jenny for sharing....I'm so pleased to have a little bit of Jenny-genius in my wardrobe.....

xxx

Published!

2009-01-17T02:09:00.006+10:30

The word is out - this little book will be released on the 25th of March:

Here's the back cover view:

(click the photos to make them bigger..)

I'm so looking forward to seeing a pattern I made in print! I'm dying to share my project with you, but we'll all have to wait until the book comes out.....I am in fabulous company as well - lots of my favourite Aussie blog girls are represented as well......

Thanks so much to Pip for making this happen! You can pre order a copy here if you so desire......

Lets find out about......

2009-01-13T16:00:00.002+10:30

Whilst op shopping the other day, I had one of those moments. You know the ones - where you idly pick up something out of vague interest, and then suddenly realise that what you're holding in your hand is pure genius - surely a gift from the thrift gods themselves......

These books are from the early sixties, and have the most fabulous illustrations - I love the ones about the seasons best:

The illustrations themselves are enough to make me irrationally excited about this find, but the best part is yet to come:

At the back of each book, there is a record inside! Love it. And the records are colour coded to the cover of the book. A million types of fabulous. All for 50 cents each.

Ahhhh - this is why I spend so much of my life trawling through racks of mouldy smelling polyester chain store castoffs - those moments when you find something so perfect, so untouched, so reminiscent of another time. All for fifty cents.

It's stupidly hot here today - too hot for sewing, although I have a million things to get moving on, but instead I'm contemplating the couch, some iced tea and some Grey's Anatomy..... and maybe some surfing of all those snowy American blogs...!

'til next time, dears.... xxxx

Hm.

2009-01-08T18:21:00.003+10:30

After a grumpy start to the year, and much listless moping about, I'm back on board.

Still not feeling terribly wordy, so it's all about photos for me for today:

Two divine packages in the mail over Christmas:

From Fliss - thankyou!

and from Sarah - thankyou!

My One Quit block for November - a house as requested........

and in the post as we speak.....

A thrifted basket for the knitting:

and a gorgeous 1950's ledger book:

A bit of op shopping never fails to lift the spirits..... I have another gorgeous find to share, but it's a post all of it's own.... perhaps tomorrow?

Otherwise, it Nong-making-a-rama over here right now - lots of wholesale orders to finish, and hopefully, finally, some spare ones left over to put in the shop!

Speaking of the shop, I'm hoping to re-stock the shop with new items very soon - I've been VERY slack at keeping it updated and changing the stock around, so I'm having a sale - all fabrics down to $5 AUD a metre, with the exception of the medium weight cotton drills, which are down to $10 a metre.... I really want to clear out this stock so I can do a major update, so now's the time to get some cheap fabrics......

Cool. It's good to be back.

xxx

2008

2008-12-29T15:12:00.003+10:30

Some of my favourite photos from the year. Seems I have been productive after all.....

Two days left - what will you be doing?

A Break...

2008-12-28T11:51:00.002+10:30

I have been away.

(knitting at the train station.....waiting)

I have been traveling, by car, plane, bus, train, tram and feet - to my family and back again.

There has been food, naps on the couch, excited kiddies with new toys, the re-establishing of connections and the realisation of old ones coming to an end.

I'm going to take a wee break, just for now - to clean out the studio, see in the new year, re fold the fabric collection, and prepare to start again.

( a secret wip)

*-*

Before I go, I want to send out a massive thank you. To every commenter, every visitor. To every other person who keeps a blog and stops in to say hello. For all the inspiration and motivation and big belly laughs and sympathetic tears.

For every gift in the mail, for every 'I thought you might like this' email, for every link shared, every magazine article, every swap, every opportunity, every Nong bought or sold on my behalf.

Thanks so much.

I'm gearing up for a big year in 2009. I hope to see all of you there.

In the meantime - have a wonderful break, whatever you may be doing.

Cheers,

Leah xxxx

Bits

2008-12-18T18:38:00.003+10:30

and pieces around the house...... I've had a chilled out, crafty, biscuit-eating and tea-drinking day......

A bit of tea in a handmade cup - isn't it gorgeous?

We have a ceramics and glass sale at the pub every year with local artists - there's always a teacup after my heart in there somewhere.....

A bit of last minute Christmas crafting for a special little person:

And three little beauties:

kokeshi:

mini teacup:

and folk tin toy:

All from the Big Box of Staggering Genius.

I've been spoilt today.....

xxx

Finally......

2008-12-17T23:14:00.005+10:30

Some crafting to show.....

I posted a sneak peek of this on Flickr last week:

it's a tea towel for a swap I organised a little while ago:

Basically I had this pile of gorgeous plain linen tea towels that I bought ages ago - intending to screen print them. *ahem*

After about twenty gazillion years of NOT screen printing them, I sent them off to a whole lot of crafty ladies to decorate. The recipients are a secret, so we can post about them without spoiling the surprise. So here's my big reveal:

It's gocco printed, with an embroidered speech bubble, and patchwork bias binding. In the beginning, I had a different idea, but once I drew my recipient, I knew this would be perfect....

But honestly, I had So Much Drama making this bloody thing. The Gocco print didn't work as well as I wanted it to, which I then decided was cool - you know, in a distressed, Arty kind of way.... then the disappearing pen didn't entirely disappear when I washed it. Then I scorched it with the iron. Washed it again. Then when I hung it out to dry some colour ran onto it from something else. So I washed it again. Bloody hell.

But it's survived. I hope she likes it!

You can see some other works in progress here:

Alison at 6.5 Stitches

Nanette at Rummage, and here, and here, and here

and Fliss from Udder here.....

I'm so looking forward to seeing them all come together.....

Otherwise, there has been some unseasonal crafting going on around here - quilting and knitting in Summer? weird. It has been strangely cool here though, which is a nice contrast to last year!

This is the first white quilt square for my One Quilt. I'm trying to mirror the quilting patterns used in the coloured squares - we'll see. I'm not convinced.

And some very simple handwarmers for a friend who rides a bike - cashmerino sock yarn - yum. I'm going to dye them once finished in food colouring. Noice.

That's about it for me today - I hope you're all surviving the silly season okay - not too far to go now, and we can all have a bit of a holiday..... thank god!

See you soon....

xxxxx

The Big Box of Staggering Genius.

2008-12-13T02:35:00.003+10:30

This week, the most astounding thing arrived in the mail.

For those of you who may be unaware, Shula is moving house. As a result, a purge of gargantuan proportions is taking place. Shushu is having a destash. 'oh, I'm throwing together a box for you', she says......'The box is in the mail', she says......

This does not even describe it.

SIXTEEN KILOGRAMS.

Sixteen kilograms of the most generous, wonderful, amazing things. The kind of things crafters dream about. And all just because. I hear on the grapevine there were uteloads more that made it out to other crafters, too.

wow.

I can't even begin to know where to start cataloguing this box of brilliance, so I'm taking it a step at a time......

First up: the most terrifying job in the world:

Hand washing quilt blocks that are older than you are. Nay, Older than Any Person You Even Know.

But my, they held up well:

I only lost one to colour bleed, and one other to fraying....

And now they are on their way:

Finally, to completion....

I am still in awe of this gift. Thank you. xxx

There's a girl who made me bitter / want to pay some other girl / to just walk up to her and hit her.......

2008-12-11T20:46:00.004+10:30

Today's post title courtesy of Of Montreal.... that line always makes me laugh....

I've been quiet lately, and it's probably going to continue, as I get things done behind the scenes, prepare to visit my family over Christmas, and wind things up for the end of the year.... I have a couple of things to share tomorrow, after I've spent a stitchy night on the couch tonight - it's raining outside in that early summer way, perfect for a bit of trashy tv and some lap-friendly projects....

In the meantime, here's some photographs from my camera, uploaded today - just random stuff, textures and bits around the house, but perfect for the mood of this gloomy, reflective day.....

And for those of you who are stockpiling for Winter on the other side of the world:

Whip Up's guide to the best free knitting patterns on the web...... enjoy....

xxxx

Favourites 5/12/08

2008-12-05T16:28:00.001+10:30

1. new favorite, 2. tree, 3. new print - they smoke so beautiful on film, 4. Very Special Scarves, 5. she is cosmos = awesome fabric, 6. Untitled, 7. Untitled, 8. entrelac scarf, 9. Untitled, 10. A Grey Buck

One Quilt - in progress

2008-11-27T18:15:00.002+10:30

Some more progress on my blocks for One Quilt....

The latest block is courtesy of Nanette, the master of the wonky log cabin..... I love the way she makes her blocks - completely random and free form.....

I'm hand quilting the blocks - I'm using a quilt as you go method that means I can quilt each block individually before I sew them all together - this makes everything FAR more manageable.... I'll try and post a tutorial once I get to the piecing stage, but for now, all I have to do is sandwich the batting between the block and a sqaure of backing fabric, baste and then quilt away - perfect for couch potato telly watching.....

Each square is taking on its own personality - the shape of the piecing is really accented by the stitching, and I've got to say, the texture of hand quilting is so unique and lovely - I'm all for doing whatever you can on the machine, but if you can devote the time, the hand work is well worth the effort...

There's something so satisfying about the methodical stitching, learning the technique, getting the stitches closer and closer together - even the callouses on the ends of my fingers are satisfying!

Now all I have to do is come up with some designs for the alternating white squares....eeek!

xxxx

This Week in the World....

2008-11-19T23:22:00.003+10:30

I've been loving the images on Pictures of The Week lately......

There's something moving about seeing the world captured in silent moments....

The pause before something huge happens....

The frankly bizarre things we humans get up to....

And how similar we all are - in the end....

Hop on over and have a look......

breathe in, breathe out.

2008-11-17T13:41:00.003+10:30

I'm having a quiet day today. Some silence and hand quilting is in order.

I have some things to show you, but I haven't taken any photos. Hopefully the above gorgeousness will compensate.

A few things to have a look at:

The Great Slumber.

Lady Havartine.

Stitchpoint - cross stitch alphabet generator.

Circus Museum.

Happy Monday, everyone....

xxxx

Apologies to Vermeer......

2008-11-06T22:17:00.002+10:30

Apologies to Vermeer, originally uploaded by ~Misty~.

And apologies from me, too - my emails have gotten out of hand. I've been really shit at replying to comments lately, and we've hit breaking point in the old inbox.

So I deleted everything for a fresh start.

I love and appreciate all your comments and emails, and if I haven't gotten back to you, I'm really sorry..... please accept this as your personal thanks. Sometimes the real life/blog life ratio gets out of whack, and I've been so busy lately that the blog has been losing ground. But deleting my inbox always makes me feel better. And today I spring cleaned the filing cabinet and threw away ten years' worth of defunct paperwork, so it's a fresh start all 'round.

There. That feels better. Thanks, guys.

xxxxx

* Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I've put a bit in the side bar over there where you can click to download a pdf of my pincushion tutorial..... The pdf was made for me by a lovely and generous reader; Tara Johnson. Making pdfs and things is one of those areas where I'm completely useless, so thanks Tara! You did a brilliant job! xxx *

Crazy Cat Lady strikes again.....

2008-11-05T22:45:00.002+10:30

Nothing like a bit of knitting with the Puzz....

Mmmmmmm......... malabrigo......

I know I always thought this yarn was good enough to eat - seems I'm in good company.....

********** end cute puzz pictures ****************

I've been going double time on the Nongs in the last week or so:

This gang are heading to their new homes as we speak.....

I've had the chance to try out some new designs:

And some old favourites:

I'm hoping I can make enough that I have some left over from my Christmas and Wholesale orders - then I can finally put some in my shop!

For now though, it's enough to be able to finally show some craft on the blog - I don't even know how long it's been since I actually photographed something I made!

I'm heading to the Craft and Quilt Show tomorrow - so expect to see some fabric goodness in the next couple of days.....

'til then, my friends,

xxx

Wahoo!

2008-11-05T19:38:00.001+10:30

Obama's Acceptance Speech, originally uploaded by Calmar.

Oh - I'm so pleased. I've spent the day at the pub, working, huddled around the tiny tv that we put on the bar when the cricket and the footy is on, with the regulars, watching the world change before our very eyes.

It's a good day today. History has been made, and I feel very lucky to have witnessed it, even from across the globe in a front bar in Australia.

Here's to the future, friends.....

xxxx

A Clarification.....

2008-11-04T18:51:00.002+10:30

And here I was, thinking I could distill a long post into a few words!

In regards to my previous post, I have a few more points to make: *

1. I really hope Obama wins. The picture I included in the last post was to affirm my personal preference. Despite the fact that I really hope Obama wins, what is more important to me is that people vote, no matter what preference they have. I come from a country that has compulsory voting for all citizens, something I am VERY firmly in favour of. No matter who wins, it's good to know that they won through a true majority vote.

2. Even though I am Australian, I have been following the election avidly, as I imagine many international people are. The fate of America has far reaching consequences, and Australia is no exception. Thus, I wanted to send some well-wishes to my American friends who are facing making a decision, not only for their own country, but for the international community.

3. I couldn't care less whether the people who read and comment on this blog are Republican, Democrat, Loyalist, Royalist, Atheist, Agnostic, Protestant, Catholic, Seperatist or Somnambulist. All are welcome, and all are free to comment. I think it's a good thing for people to know however, that I am an idealistic, liberal, left wing feminist. I support pro-choice and gay marriage. The prospect of having the first black President of the US is exciting to me, and in my opinion, way overdue. If you can accept all this about me, and we can still be friends, all the better! If not, please wander off to another realm of the internets without comment or attack. I will extend the same courtesy to you.

I still extend my Good Luck and well-wishes to all my American friends, no matter what side of the argument, and hope you all choose to vote tomorrow if you haven't done so already. And lets all hold our collective breaths until that result comes in. I feel a historic moment coming on. I'm not usually so verbose about political matters, but this is A Big One.

Thanks for reading, and I hope I've avoided sounding like a snotty so and so.

Cheers,

Leah xxxx

*I say all this, not because my last post caused an hoo-haa, but to avoid a potential hoo-haa situation.

Good Luck.....

2008-11-03T18:49:00.002+10:30

Obama Profile Silhouette Pattern, originally uploaded by devinross.

I just want to say good luck to our American Friends......

Here's hoping for a good result on Tuesday.

xxx