Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Weekly Wanderings and Knitting









All my Posts lately revolve around my little wanderings with Flynn or knitting........and I'm afraid this week's Post will be no different. 

We are still working on the weekend thing but we are getting into a nice little weekday rhythm. The days I have with just Flynn are broken up into a day at home pottering around and catching up on a million loads of washing and the other day we go on a little adventure -  a bit of sightseeing combined with exercise. Not that it's made an ounce of difference to my waistline mind you, but it does do wonders for restoring the soul. It's a little ritual I look forward to every week. It's nice to be able to linger longer, take some photos and spend some special time with my baby. He's rolling over now. I know! We all went a bit ballistic when he did it - telling him how clever he was and what a big boy he is now. Yep, next he'll be backpacking around Europe. 

Anyway, today we spent time walking around the Hobart Waterfront. I love looking at the boats, looking at the names of the boats and watching the hive of activity that occurs on the boats. It was grey and the sea was a bit angry but contrary to how it looks, the wind was hot.

The other thing I did today was finish Eleanor's Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi by sewing the buttons on. 



I made myself a little challenge at the beginning of the year to knit all the kids a jumper this year. That would be 5 jumpers in total. Now some people would probably start off with the smallest person in the family - a faster knit that would provide the motivation to go onto the larger sizes. But I decided to do the reverse. I like to do the hard work first and be rewarded at the end. When I knitted the Boys some snakes last year I lost motivation and ran out of puff by the third one and it ended up half the size of the others. This is OK on a snake but I didn't want to get to the fifth jumper with anyone's midriff exposed so I decided to do Eleanor's first and then finish with Flynn's. The only problem with this is that I ended up losing motivation because of the enormity of the job - at size 12, this was by far the biggest project I've done. So I went on a little frolic of my own, knitting myself some smaller projects - the scarf and then a hat - before finally being guilted back to the task at hand.



But it is finally done and we have one very happy 8 year old. It is the beautiful Tiny Tea Leaves Pattern by Melissa LaBarre and it was a joy to knit even though it took me forever. It is the perfect Cardi for Tasmania as it can be pretty much worn in Autumn and Spring and with a long sleeved top underneath in Winter. I used Cascade Superwash in the Seafoam colourway. Eleanor chose the colour - her favourite - and I think it's just lovely. I love the ruching detail around the neckline, it's pretty but not frilly. It looks OK at the moment after blocking but I may do a row of crochet around the neckline to avoid it stretching too much and I think it provides a nice edge too. I followed the pattern for the most part, except I added 3 buttons instead of 2, I didn't do any decreases on the sleeves and made the sleeves elbow length as per Eleanor's request. I really wanted some pretty wooden buttons but she wouldn't have a bar of it - just plain old boring ones. Ravelry notes here.



And now onto some jumpers for the Boys and the joy that comes from losing oneself in Ravelry searching for the perfect pattern and a trip to the yarn store for some yummy new yarn.



27 comments :

  1. Hi Mel, love your pictures of the Hobart Waterfront. I too love wandering around there, it always kind of reminds me of home (Shetland Isles). I love your Tiny Tea Leaves - it looks beautiful on your little girl. Interesting that you made a size 12 and it looks like a perfect fit. I must get to grips with this whole sizing thing, I recently made a Tiny Tea Leaves (Madeline Tosh) for Vaila (age 7) in a size 8. It fits, but sadly probably only for this autumn/winter. Will have to hand down to Katie (age 3) sooner than I had hoped :) Good excuse to knit another one soon. Cheers, Lou x

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    1. I started off making the size 10 as she will be in 9 this year but then read that the sizes were different in the US and that a US size 12 is a AUS size 10 so I continued with the 12 thinking it would at least last a few years. Still unsure about the sizing but glad I did the 12 anyway as it wouldn't want to be any smaller. Madelintosh is very much on my wishlist for the next knit. Mel x

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  2. This is such a pretty knit. The colour really suits Eleanor too. She must have a good sense of what suits her which is quite rare in a girl so young. I think it was a great idea to knit hers first too as often the baby gets most things first.

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  3. Soooo pretty and I love the colour - Eleanor looks like she's loving it too x Jane

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  4. OOh Mel, what a pretty girl, and what a beautiful cardi!

    The weather looks beautiful, by the way ...

    Love Claire xxx

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  5. Beautiful pictures and wanderings. Eleanor looks so pretty in her cardi, you've done such a neat job of stitching it! Happy yarn and pattern hunting!

    Sarah x

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  6. Mel such gorgeous adventures you and Flynn are having! Those fishing shots are just divine and I LOVE your daughters cardi...you are such the talented knitter and I envy anyone who can knit (self confessed failed knitter I am!) Have a lovely week ahead xx

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  7. I love the cardi, the colour is just so pretty. I can't knit. My mum tried to teach me. So I just place "orders" with her now. xo

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  8. Gosh you live in a beautiful part of the world. And your TTL is gorgeous. What a lovely colour. Your Eleanor looks gorgeous in it. Some navy blue yarn arrived here today so I can make Lola a school cardi. Hmm, not sure when that's gonna happen but it's getting cooler so I better think quick!

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  9. Beautiful cartigan. You knitting looks so neat and perfect. The color is great too. It is so nice to get out and walk I love it too. Thanks for the pictures it lets me see your part of the world.

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  10. Gorgeous images. Is that eagle wearing a wig?! Loving your knitting too. Such a beautiful colour and it looks so sweet on your daughter. I have printed out the TTL pattern and it is next on my list, I think. I have been teasing myself by looking at it, as I promised myself I would finish the blanket I am knitting first. I understand about Ravelry though! :)

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  11. Thanks Christina :-D Yes, it does look like a wig - funny isn't it? Oh, you will whip a TTL up in no time in your little one's size x

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  12. I'm not surprised she's happy ... it's gorgeous.

    I seem to have mislaid my knitting mojo at the moment, which is not to say I'm not knitting, I'm just not knitting much.

    Loved the Hobart waterfront pics :D

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  13. Hello Mel, found your blog via Gillian at Tales from a happy house. Thought I'd come and say hello!

    That cardigan is beautiful, I love the colour and the detail around the neckline. I've never tried knitting clothing, too scared for it to go wrong!

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  14. Wow, that seafoam is such a beautiful colour, and what a gorgeous pattern : its on my wish list of things that I must knit... Really interesting to hear your comments on sizing. I've had some similar problems with Pickles patterns coming up too small, so its good to hear I'm not alone. Lovely Blog x

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  15. Love your photos today and that little cardy is fab! :) x

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  16. Your photos are really, really good. Love the shot of those glass things (jars? lanterns?) hanging up. And Eleanor's cardigan is beautiful, as is she. Such long hair! The shade of blue you've chosen suits her really well.

    Gillian x

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  17. what a fantastic post (again!) i loved having a peek at your waterfront, and was going to talk about the lobster, my favorite food, until i saw your girl eleanor in her new sweater. mel, they are both gorgeous. it looks so pretty on her and she is such a beauty, oh my. sending hugs xxx lori

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  18. Your tea leaves sweater turned out lovely. The colour is gorgeous! So soft and pretty.

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  19. I just think you are so clever knowing how to knit let alone whipping up this gorgeous top
    - and it suits her perfectly
    x

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  20. Love the one of the fisher-dude and his catch! Your knitting is lovely as well xx

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  21. You are such a clever minx, Mel. Truly. I am sooo impressed. Eleanor looks divine in it. J x

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  22. Mel, the jumper really is astoundingly good and I would love to wear such a thing. The colour is perfect. Your photos are also great as usual, i quite fancy popping by and eating one of those lobsters!

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  23. Mel you did a beautiful job of that cardigan for Eleanor, love the colour and it looks perfect on her. You are so clever Mel. xx

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  24. Oh wow! Missed this. It's gorgeous xx lucky girl to have such a clever mum! X

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