Another Summer Knit

10:21 PM knitting , MiddleMiss 0 Comments

I was planning a post on the gift knitting I've been doing lately but the photos are still on the camera which I don't have with me right now, so I thought instead I would show the cute summer top I made for MiddleMiss (way back in December!)


You may remember I blogged about it's start way back here.


The pattern is Hine by Kelly Brooker (one of my favourite fellow Kiwi designers) and is written for DK, Worsted and Aran weight yarn.  Of course I wanted to do it in fingering which meant tweaking the pattern to suit!  (Why can't I just follow a pattern!?)

It's the details that make this top so nice.  A neat button band that required cute buttons (I purposefully chose different ones as I think it adds character) and a simple lace pattern on the short sleeves.


And, yes, MiddleMiss approved!  She often chooses to wear it still and because it's wool (Vintage Purls sock yarn) I know it'll keep her warm even if the weather isn't.

PS. For more knitterly details and info on the mods I made to suit fingering yarn check out my project page.

Oh, the Excitment!

7:09 PM BigMiss , My Designs , Petite Purls 0 Comments

It's finally released and I can show you my latest design!



I had the privilege of being included in the latest (Spring 2012) issue of Petite Purls - my first ever published design!


For it, I designed a lacy top-down, raglan style cardigan.  I wanted to keep it modern with a low v-neck, large rib bands and a shorter, cropped length in the body.


In my usual style, the construction starts in an unusual manner. The lace yoke/border is started with a provisional cast on and worked in both directions across the back neck. Short rows are used to provide shaping. Stitches are then picked up along the border edge and the body is worked down from there.

It’s not really as complicated as it sounds!

It's sized for 2-10 years, is worked in fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern for FREE right here on Petite Purls!

Don't forget to check out my other designs!

And for those that are on Ravelry, here's the pattern page.  Please link your projects as I'd love to see them!

ANZAC Day

8:19 PM baking 0 Comments

Kids in the Kitchen

4:59 PM baking , BigMiss , cooking , holidays 0 Comments

BigMiss has been doing a lot of baking and cooking for me lately.  So much so that I can't remember the last time it was actually me doing the baking! 

She has a really good kid's recipe book that has clear step by step illustrated instructions and just does it all herself.  (The other day she told me she was going to do some baking and I wasn't allowed to know what she was making or come in the kitchen - and I totally trusted her!)

Do Boys Ever Grow Up?

5:35 PM travel 0 Comments

Last month J and I had a kid-free weekend in Rotorua with some friends.  And as two of them were Canadian and had never been there, a visit to the Luge was in order...






And, no, this is not the sort of thing you're supposed to do on the luge, but boys will be boys (or so I'm told!)

There was supposed to be a ride on that we were going to but it was cancelled the day before we left.  As everything had been organised and accomodation paid for, we just went anyway, but the guys still needed their adrenaline fix!  (They also did Planet Bike which is a fantastic mountain biking outfit.)

A Little Summer Fun

5:10 PM family , girls 0 Comments

I was uploading the camera to the computer and was reminded again of some of the fun stuff we got up to over Summer...

BigMiss went to her first real trail ride and had great fun on the kid's track.


We went to the Castlepoint Beach Races.




Plus the great holiday around the Coromandel and Northland.

And now summer is really, truly over.