The History of Knitting

I have been searching the net for the history of Scottish knitting as my Great Great Grandparents come to Australia from Scotland in the 1870's to a Shale Mining town in the NSW Southern Highlands called "Joadja Creek" which is now a Ghost town, in the last few years the area has been sold off and made into acreages, but the town itself was bought and is now open I think by bookings on weekends. It is the most lovely place to visit, where the remains of homes still are, my family lived in the bark huts, they are even featured on the front cover of a book about Joadja Creek written by Leonie Knapman, sitting in front of their bark hut, which is very special to me. This is my mothers side of the family.

While searching Scottish Knitting History, I have seen some really beautiful fine knitting done by the women and girls in their villages, they knitted constantly, even while walking. I am getting all inspired to start something in 2ply and very lacy. But that will have to wait until after I do a bit more stash reduction before the Knitters Guild May sale, then I will concentrate on knitting for me.

I just did a Google search this morning of "History of Knitting" and in Wikipedia came up a very interesting read. Go check it out, at the end it even mentions about the popularity now of knitting, knitting blogs and knitalongs such as Kate Gilbert's "Clapotis" and the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics with over 4000 knitters, when there were only 2,400 athletes.

Well everyone we are down in print and making history. Go Knitters!

SEx...what a day

We had a pretty good time on our bus trip last saturday, a week has already gone by.

I did pretty well I only got one pattern book over what I had on my list. I bought some 3mm circulars in 60cm & 80cm, some Ivore 3mm straight needles in two lengths, (I am not a long needle person) for a shawl I want to knit. I got a Cleckheaton Pattern Book no. 942book that Donna had and I like, I bought Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tween yarn for the Sunrise Circle jacket and the extra pattern book was a Cleckheaton book with some lovely patterns. I then got to 3mm circulars x 40cm at my LYS. I was so pleased with myself for not going over the top, which could have been done very easily.

We had morning tea at Robertson in a lovely little shop which had nice candles and things plus lovely cakes. I had 1/2 a piece of "spice of life" slice and a hot chocolate which come in a pot not a mug, it was huge. Tianne still has some of her slice in front of her, the mug I got was a round as the plate the slice come on.




Here are some ladies walking back to the bus after spending a fair bit of time in Robertson checking out all the lovely shops, yarn stores included.







We went onto Bowral and visited Wool Addiction, it was extremely addictive, they have a room with lounges to sit around and chat or knit, a room for coffee, tea and biscuits, then 3 rooms of some really lovely yarns for all yarn tastes, the staff were wonderful and friendly.

Look what I done for my Mum

Mum rang me Sunday morning, she has taken up lawn bowls, and she had a knitted fingerless glove another lady made to wear while playing bowls to protect her hands from sunburn, and you guessed it Mum wanted me to work out the pattern and make her some. My mum is very capable of doing this herself, after all she taught me to knit.

I wrote down a few notes, and Sunday afternoon after doing some work around the yard, I sat down and worked out what to knit, and here are the finished things.














This is what Mum brought down and showed me. I think I got pretty close or even exactly the pattern.(see below). That is my Mum in the background beside my thumb.


These are some other things I have been knitting (see previous post), this is a part of my Stash Reduction Kick I am on at the moment. Now I can get back to the baby jumper I was doing, OMG, I had two things on the needles at once, and you know what, when I finished the gloves tonight, I cast on for a pattern square I am doing (but that is a secret).

I had a great day on my SEx trip on Saturday, more to come later.


A few feathers yarn scarfs, they look pretty good.

These scarfs below were in a book I bought at Knitting Camp last year, it is too late and two many wines and a beer in the night to remember the name and as my study is above my son's bedroom I had better not go sliding too much around on my chair, it won't make for a very happy boy, otherwise I would get up and walk to the next room and check out the name of the book. They are knitted sideways with mohair and train track yarn, pretty nice effect. All this stash reduction I am doing at the moment is for the Annual Kiama Knitters Guild Exhibition and Sale in May.


I have joined the "Stashalong" knitalong starting 1 April. That will help me to reduce some stash and not buy anymore yarn for a month minimum up to however many months I can cope with it. I am going to try for 3 months, but I will just start with a month at a time. I have enough yarn to keep my going for years probably, and I just got more on the weekend for a jumper I want to make myself this winter, more on that next post or so.

Boy wine and beer don't really mix well do they, I had better get myself ready for bed. Nite all.

Still knitting

I have been very busy lately, I am knitting even though I haven't taken photos yet.

I am on my stash reduction kick at the moment, trying to make floor space in the yarn room (study, sewing room etc room). I have knitted 4 pairs of bootees reducing my baby yarn draw by a few balls...yahoo. Even better I have reduced my feathers yarn by about 6 balls....phew....this is tiresome work... with about 6 scarfs. I am now knitting a sweet little baby jumper in a light mauve 3ply 100% wool (Australian Heirloom Wool), it is pretty plain knitting with a lacey yoke, I have done the back and am on the front, I can't wait to get the front and sleeves done so I can get to the lacey yoke bit.

Last night after a few hours knitting, I decided that I would clean up all the patterns I have printed off the net, I bought some bright green and dark purple folders last week to put them in. I think I sorted them in some type of order that I will remember: Ladies knitting in one, Childrens in another, odds and ends, instructions on how to do specific things in another and my favourite folder is for socks, hats, scarfs and rugs. So another bit of stuff off the floor cleaned up. You know what this will mean, more floor to sweep each day, bugger there is always a down side to doing some things isn't there. And when do I think I will have time to do anymore cleaning. I think I have it down to the bare minimum now, but it works OK for me, I just have to train other inhabitants to clean up after themselves then I will be much better off.

This saturday I am off on my annual SEx trip with the local Knitter Guild, this year we are going to the Southern Highlands, one of my favourite places, especially in Autumn as they have all the lovely trees that turn the most beautiful colours in Autumn, although I think it will be a bit early for that, I was on a ride up there last Saturday afternoon/evening and they hadn't changed colours yet, a few more weeks or so. We are visiting about 5 yarns stores, one of the stores had an article on it in the latest Creative Knitting magazine. I am going to try and be very good though, as I am on a STASH REDUCTION kick, not an enhancement kick at the moment.

A beautiful gift from a beautiful person

Look what turned up at my place yesterday. I was having a "I'm really over it" kind of day yesterday, I think I must be coming done with something or all the stress over the last three weeks is catching up to me.



Thank you so so so much Jussi, they are the best thing, they made me cry (happy tears), I was just so overwhelmed by the thoughtfullness of this gift. I am still looking at the flower and dyed yarn, it still brings a smile and peaceful feeling to me. I am getting teary eyed typing this.
And Blaise is getting a nice hat in return. Thank you both of you, you are wonderful people.



They fit perfectly on my small feet. I can now just look at them when ever I want, I will cherish them and take really good care of them.

They have pride of place on the coffee table at the moment, I think I will leave them there a while, just to enjoy them and have that wonderful feeling of knowing how they came to be with me.

Things are looking up, DH has a casual job in same field as old job, after 3 months hopefully it will be permanent, we get to stay in the house a bit longer (for ever hopefully), #2 son has got a casual job bartendering, he is still after the apprentice mechanic job, but at 22 years old he attracts adult wages, but he isn't giving up. #1 son has had his second treatment of Inflimax (spelling), and he is feeling pretty good and looking healthier, I have some wonderful people looking out for me, so all in all, life is looking up, for now. Just wish this tight feeling in my head would go away.

Stash Enhancement & SNB

I have been a naughty girl, I have been shopping on ebay again, bad, bad girl.
I got some Cleckheaton Firefly yarn, I would like to knit a poncho for goddaughters sister.



I also have been on Yarns Online and bought some Lamb's Pride Worsted yarn and I have knitted the Coronet beanie from Knitty.com, damn it I just remembered I didn't take photos and I have sent it off to warm the head of its intended owner. See my brain is mush lately. I was so pleased with it, I think Sharon took a photo at SNB on Saturday, so I will have to wait and see if she posts it. I also got two skeins of Wildfoote Sock yarn and a Kacha, which is the best thing and boy is it getting a workout.

I knitted two scarfs for a friend for her stall as samples, the wool was really nice to knit. And now I am on my stash reduction knitting, I have done four pairs of bootees, which I will sell at the Knitters Guild May sale and exhibition.

I had a great time at SNB on Saturday, with Jussi, Donna, Donni, Sharon, Becky, and all the others who were there. Check out this doll that (Sorry I forget her name) this girl is making, and now knitting accessories for her, she is gorgeous.
We missed you Ailsa and Lee-Anne.












Here is the Olympic Gold Medal winners, me with my clap, Sharon with her clap, and Donni with her beautiful little cardigan.

Here we are at SNB on Saturday:














And lastly, here are "The Three Claps" by Donni, Sharon and me.