Bluebell Romance

I love knitting with Patons Bluebell yarn, and I love the fact that it has been around for so long. I picked up this pattern booklet at an Op shop a few months ago and was taken with the vest on the front cover. I have purchased a packet of Bluebell in red and have decided to make this for myself as my next project. Last night I even knitted a tension gauge, so I'm hoping that this one will fit me. I'm looking forward to knitting with lace stitches as a change from the stocking stitch of the past two projects.

Haltermelon

Just as planned I finished Nina's Haltermelon top just in time for a hot and humid Christmas Eve day lunch.

This is such a cute pattern. I made size 2 for my 18 month old daughter. She is petite around the chest so it is a bit big on her at the moment but she will grow into it in no time. In the meantime I have knitted an i-cord to go through the eyelets so that I can gather it with a bow.

I also picked up the stitches along the neckline and knitted a trim to match the one on the bottom edge. I wasn’t happy with the watermelon seeds that I embroidered (I didn’t like that i couldn’t get them to be a uniform size unless they were going in the same direction - though mind you, I am not an accomplished embroiderer), or the ones that I knitted and sewed on, so I found some small matte black buttons instead.

I found this video on YouTube to help me with the cast on: Purling in a Long-tail Cast-On

Market Vintage

A couple of weekends ago I ventured out on a 30 degree hot morning to the Glenbrook Growers Market. It wasn't the ideal conditions for organic fruit and veg, but I did manage to pick up a Mon Tricot stitch encyclopedia and a very vintage Patons Fair Isle book. Both for the bargain price of $1.50!

That afternoon at the monthly Guild meeting I also picked up a few more treasures from the Seventies thanks to our convener Merrin, who had cleaned out her Mum's garage.