The Witch Learns to Stitch

I've moved

2007-07-09T13:33:00.000+10:00

I've decided I've had enough of blogger, you can now find my blog here http://witchymama.wordpress.com/

I have an Etsy site

2007-07-07T18:13:00.001+10:00

well I finally did it, I opened an Etsy site selling handspun yarn. Go check it out and buy something hehehe

2007-07-07T09:46:00.001+10:00

acryic yarn, not just squeaky

2007-06-21T13:10:00.000+10:00

my friend Sarah posted this on her blog and I thought I would share it with anyone who reads mine

http://sheepofadifferentcolor.blogspot.com/2007/06/so-you-knit-with-acrylic-yarn.html

more bordom

2007-05-31T12:13:00.000+10:00

You Are 40% Left Brained, 60% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Your Brain is 67% Female, 33% Male

Your brain leans female
You think with your heart, not your head
Sweet and considerate, you are a giver
But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

You Belong in the UK

Blimey!
A little proper, a little saucy.
You're so witty and charming...
No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

A public thankyou

2007-05-30T17:57:00.000+10:00

I would like to publicly thank the people who have sponsored Shannon for the MS Readathon, so far he has raised $126 to help people suffering with MS. If anyone else was interested you can find his sponsorship page here

2007-05-28T08:13:00.000+10:00

ok I have been tagged by Welsh Millie and Jackie

The rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog those 7 facts as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven other people and list their names on your blog. Then you leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I am easily addicted to things, and when I do get addicted to things they completely take over my life, but as soon as I find something new I will loose interest in the old addiction very quickly, to date it has been dolling, then scrapbooking, and now knitting.

2. I have brown hair and eyes and tanned skin and often get asked if I am half cast (part aboriginal) but I am not. I am about an 8th Indian though.

3. I have really big feet, I prefer to wear heels to hide that fact but I also have a roll in my foot which means if I wear heels one side of the heel wears down faster and I end up walking funny.

4. I drive a '94 Toyota Camry Vienta which I currently love, but I think that may be due to the fact that our old car was an '89 Ford Fairlane that would stall at the drop of a hat.

5. I often feel guilty about spending money on myself and feel that I should be spending it on my kids even though they have what they need, this means that I will go for months without buying myselve something that I really need (like skin care, clothes or shoes), and I will not buy something unless what I did have is falling apart.

6. I am currently studying to become a teacher aide, and the school that I am doing my vocational placement in is a Catholic school so I don't reveal to much about my life to them as I don't think they would approve hehehe.

7. I have a thing for the colour blue, I don't know why it is, but I always seem to be surrounded by blue things.

now for who I tag

Eck
Shannon
Weirdlings
Saphire
Ann-Marie
Kellibus
Beaunoze

oooo goodie

2007-05-24T11:44:00.000+10:00

here is my newest toy. Its an Ashford Traveller from the 70's that I got off eBay for $130. It is missing a drive band and break band but I have improvised with some shop twine and it seems to be doing the job for now. Talk about a nice Mummies Day present.

this is the first yarn I have spun with it, its a 2 ply using the light blue roving from the previous post.

And I have joined my first a-long. We have to spin our own yarn to make a shawl.

some good 'ol boring fun

2007-05-20T19:31:00.001+10:00

lots of fiber

2007-04-21T11:33:00.000+10:00

well I have lots of new things yay!!!

forst is some roving I discovered at the markets at The Channon, this woman was seeing tons of it and I picked up 2 lots of about 3oz each for $14 all up.

I dyed up the blue faced Leicester with some of the KoolAid that Orghlaith sent me. For some reason the photo comes out very brown, it is actually a deap red/maroon with light pink though it, I used the cherry, grape and pink lemonade I think.

I made some socks for Rohan using the generic toe up pattern. They took me about 3 days for make due to the size and I think they turned out rather well myself.

And the best of all? I plyed some of the Garden Dream roving, and it has come up fantastic, I started doing a 2 ply but it was thinner then I wanted, so I changed to a navajo ply and it is a sock-think sock yarn, I have 52 yards of it but I still have another single to ply as well as what looks like 17 tons of roving to spin LMAO. I took a close up with a 3mm/size 3 needle next to it. I was going to put a coin next to it but then thought only Aussies would be able to get an idea of size from that LMAO.

bored

2007-03-31T09:21:00.000+10:00

so I am really bored, foud this on Jackie's blog so thought I would have a go...

It’s been alleged that if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, figure out whether you’ve got a life or not, and post it."

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
() Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
() Airplane
() The Princess Bride
() AnchorMan
() Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
() The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
() Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
(X ) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
()13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
(X) Robots
() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
() KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
(X) King Kong
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
(X) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
(X)The Ring
()The Ring 2
( )Surviving Christmas
(X) Flubber
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
(X) From Hell
(X) Hellboy
(X ) Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child’s Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
(X) Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
() The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number SlevIn
() Ocean’s Eleven
() Ocean’s Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
() Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(X) Curious George
(X) Independence Day
() Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(X) E.T
(X) Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(X) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She’s All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
(X)The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
(X) X-Men
() X-2
() X3
() Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
(X) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
() Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid (favourite cartoon movie ever hehehe)
() Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
(X) Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
() Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
() Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
() Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
() Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
() Highlander
( X) Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
( ) Three
() The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
() Club Dread
(X) Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
(X) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld
() Kill Bill Vol. 1
() Kill Bill Vol. 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
() Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
() Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
() The Matrix
() The Matrix: Reloaded
() The Matrix: Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal

LMAO I only got 68 (think I may have counted wrong), but I do know for a fact that I have seen more then 85 films, as this didn't list all the kids movies I have seen plus my favourite movies like Donnie Darko or 1 hour photo.

mmmmm yummy

2007-03-23T15:46:00.000+10:00

lookie what I have in my hot little hands

it is so soft and I started spinning some up and it is spinning so fine (which is what I wanted). Even Rohan commented on how soft it is, he wanted to cuddle it in bed LMAO.

Speaking of Rohan, I took him to the dr this morning, he has a middle ear infection................and tonsilitis................and a chest infection. That boy sure doesn't do illness in halves.

first finished yarns

2007-03-20T11:22:00.000+10:00

well I had the corriedale and merino singles sitting in my knitting basket forever, there was not much of them so I was never going to get much once they were plyed, I decided to try the navajo plying method and I have to say I am rather happy with the end results, here are the two corriedale yarns (the merino is still hanging up to dry...

**Update**
here is the merino

ARGGGGGGGG

2007-03-18T17:04:00.000+10:00

Well I have been working on the Tendrils pattern for the last few days-week it was going along slowly but well, no mistakes or anything. Well I thought today that my stash (yes I now officially have a stash LMAO) was starting to look messy so thought I would tidy it up, I pulled everything out of the basket and sorted through it started to put it all back neatly only to discover that I had dropped about 10 stitches from the Tendrils OMG I sat there for half an hour trying to pick them all up but it just wasn't happening, so **sob** I ended up frogging it. I am so upset. I am thinking I might just make some socks, those ones that Cookie are selling are nice, I particularly like Millicent and the German stocking one.

I am up to the foot on my snakes on a sock, I'm nearing the end!

Oh and I got some fibre from the That Spinning Place Etsy store. There was some other fibre that I want to get but I need to use Garry's credit card and can't do that right now grrrr (the other one didn't need a card as its an Aussie seller hehehehe harharhar). I can't wait till it arrives and I can start spinning it up.

Anyways, have to go cook some dinner for the hungry monsters...

needle help

2007-03-11T08:09:00.000+10:00

I bought some bamboo straight needles the other day from lincraft, I love the dpn's that Orghlaith sent me, they are so easy to work with, so figured I would love straights, only problem is that the dpn's seem to have some sort of finish on them to make them smooth and help the yarn slip along it, but the straights just look like they have been sanded and thats it (which is probably true seeing as they only cost me 99c).

Does anyone know how I could get them to feel smooth, would some wood stain or something like that work, or is it more complicated then that? I'm not worried about wreaking them seeing as they were so cheap.

gifts and half finished objects

2007-03-05T09:09:00.000+10:00

the other week I got a lovely parcel from Orghlaith full to the brim with beautiful gifts. I have been meaning to take some pictures, and I have to apologise (particulary to Orghlaith) about the wait but we need to get new batteries for the camera, the pictures today were taken with my old camera so the colours and quality are not as good.

first she sent some undyed knit picks merino lace weight with some kool aid for dying, I dyed it with the black cherry flavour, I was hoping for a solid colour but I think that I had too much wool for the pot so it has come out with different shades of pink, I do like it though. I am thinking of making this wrap from Knitty with it, but if anyone can suggest something better I am all ears.

next was some knitpicks sock yarn and some bamboo dpns (these have actually made me go out and buy some bamboo straights LMAO). I am making Snakes on a Sock with it. I am nearly finished with the heel.

Next is some metal knit picks dpns, the yarn on them in the pictures is something I happened across the other day at the shops, but I think I am going to have to frog it as it is looking a little big even though I have guage correct.

And last is some other kinds of sock yarn and some needle protector things. I'm not too sure what to do with this yarn, still tossing around ideas in my head lol. Oh and there was some green tea which I havn't gotten around to drinking yet, I'm bad lol.

Now to finished projects (well half finished), I completed the purple sock I was working on, it fits so nicely, I have alot of issues with the cuff but after 3-4 attempts I found a cast off method that actually allowed me to get my foot into it. I havn't started the second sock yet, I was thinking I would finish the SOAS one first then do the other purple then do the other snake.

Spindles and Roving and knitting sons

2007-02-09T11:31:00.000+10:00

well the spindle I bought off Etsy arrived yesterday along with 3 kinds of roving, Corriedale (blue and green), Blue Faced Leicester (undyed) and Merino (the hand dyed blue). I started spinning the merino last night and I am quite happy with it so far

And here is Rohan playing with some needles and yarn, just had to throw it in for the cutness factor

sock photos

2007-02-09T11:26:00.000+10:00

here are the promised photos of my sock yarn and sock in progress from the other day

And this is what it looks like today, not much differnt but there is a few more rows on there, its getting there....slowly....

Yay I got a book

2007-02-07T18:09:00.000+10:00

well we were in the book store today and I thought I would look at what they had in the way of knitting books. So I am looking through all the craft books, all I could find were some books with patterns that looked like they were direct from the 80's (not my sorta thing), and a couple of books that I would have liked except for the fact that they were $60+, then just as we were about to leave I was digging around behind some other books and found Stitch & Bitch, so I snatched it up hehehe, I now own my first ever knitting book...

attack of the hedgehog

2007-02-04T15:09:00.000+10:00

well I have given into the pressure. I am knitting socks (pictures to come). I guess I am enjoying it, it is challenging though lol.
An article on Knitty says that using double pointed needles feels "like you've got an unruly hedgehog in your hands", well all I can say is that my hedgehog likes to bite, I think it may have rabies.

I will probably add some pictures of the toe of my sock tonight if I get a chance...

Chunky Tweed Cardigan

2006-10-30T11:22:00.002+10:00

Well it is finished, I just need to get some buttons for it but I will get them on Thursday. You can tell which side I seamed first as the seam looks really bulky, but other then that I think I did pretty good for a first real garment hehehe. Doesn't Winnie look so smart in his cardigan and matching hat?

this is the bad seam on the left sleeve

and this the is good seam on the right sleeve

And if you were wondering the pattern for both the cardigan and the hat are from Baby Bloom by Erika Knight, I am now working on a cardigan for myself from the same book (I am so tempted to buy this book, I only have it on loan from the library).

And thankyou to AlyshaJane for the advice on the Rustica scarf, I still havn't gotten around to sewing in those ends though lol, atleast I have alot of time, wont be wearing it until April at the earliest, unless something goes totally coo coo and we get snow in Brisbane in Summer LMAO

Hats and Sweaters and Lime....oh my

2006-10-11T22:25:00.000+10:00

Ok well I finished the Pixie hat, I decided I would leave off the ties, but still did the pompom (which I did this morning at Playgroup haha). It looks so cute, will have to take a picture of it. And best of all I have tons of the yarn left over so I am starting to work on a little matching sweater, ooo its going to be an adorable set.

And OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! Lime from Lime & Violet comment on my blog ***deep breaths Natasha deep breaths*** and she was so sweet too hehehe, LMAO can you tell I have a bit of a thing for Lime & Violet?

I think I am addicted

2006-10-11T00:02:00.000+10:00

well I have nearly finished the hat (re: Pixie Hat), I need to do the pompom and am starting to think I might not do the icords to attatch to the ears as it will be for a newborn and may pose a strangulation thread and I am sure the lovely mummy to be would hate me for ever if that happened.

I have also started on the scarf that Shannon picked out the wool for, he actually did pretty good and chose a nice navy 100% wool yarn, this is after I had to talk him out of a pink mohair blend LMAO, he is such a boy isn't he? I am doing it in a 2x2 ribbing with some garter stitch at either end and a fringe, and I have to say I hate ribbing, but I am very proud of the fact that my stitches are so nice, normally when I knit I end up with tiny holes in the finished fabric but with this and the hat I can only see the holes if I hold it up to the light, YAY I am improoving, the yarn isn't shiny like in the picture, its 12am so had to use the flash, it is a dull navy (although I wouldn't mind something that looked like the photo LMAO...

Pixie Hat

2006-10-10T11:05:00.001+10:00

This is one days work, I still need to do this hem thing around it in a different colour, and add some icord ties and a pompom on top, but I have to say I am so proud lol, it is the first time that I have ever gotten the fabric to look even, usually it looks all holey.
It is so very tiny though, it is ment to be newborn size but having had babies who are gigantic I wouldn't know how small a real newborn head was LMAO. But doesn't Dr. Monkey look very smart in it?

Pattern is from Baby Bloom by Erika Knight, I borrowed the book from the library and I have loved it so much that I am thinking I might even go and buy it hehehe...

Dilemma of the poor knitter

2006-10-09T09:07:00.000+10:00

I have a problem, I really think it is the same problem that caused me to get uninspired to scrap, I have no money. I look at all these beautiful yarns and would love to own them, but the projects that I would like to do with them require 8/9/10+ balls which means I am going to be having to spend $80+ on them, and I wont even spend that much on clothing lol. I really need to go win lotto or something hehehe...

To fringe or not to fringe

2006-10-08T21:03:00.000+10:00

The other week K-mart had a 15% off all yarns sale, so of course I couldn't resist, I got 2 balls of Patons Caressa 8 ply (I made some bed socks with that), and put 10 balls of Panda Rustica on layby and was planning to make a shawl out of it.

Anyway I got the layby on Friday and was so excited, I got home and after I had done what I needed to I was right into the yarn, ready to make a swatch. Only to discover that I thought it would make a horrible shawl! I really didn't like it at all. But I decided to try again, and started a scarf, didn't like it at first but as it got longer I liked it more and more. It sort of looks a bit like the brick work on buildings where they have randomly made some bricks larger or poking out more then others, and even though the whole thing is done in garter stitch, it looks like I have just randomly knitted and purled, its really crazy lol.

Anyway, 2 days later it is done, but I have a dilemma, to fringe or not to fringe? What do you think? Forgive the bad bathroom photo, it like 9pm and Garry is busy and I am impatient LMAO...