Show and Tell

Little vest for littlest Monkey, made using my homespun, dyed with food colouring. It's my second version, I've written down what I did, but I still think it needs some changes if I were to make it again. It's made in the round from the bottom up, there is no seaming at the end. If anyone is interested I'll try and put up the pattern, it's a size four, and the gauge is bulky.

Meanwhile my obsession with eco dying continues:

Iron Bark

Eucalyptus Cinerea

There's Always So Much Knitting To Be Done By Everyone

As you can see, as soon as I weave in the ends my organic coloured cotton top is finished. It was looking too long as I was knitting, so I shortened it a little, and now I'm concerned it is going to be too short because the label says it will shrink. I knitted it with bigger needles/looser gauge than recommended and I didn't do a proper swatch. I have never blocked. The lace edges definitely need blocking, but this is cotton, and it is going to shrink. Help! Any knitting people care to offer me some advice?

On the plus side I like the way the colours look, one row each colour, the gentle gradation reminds me of lizard skin.


Here is the beginning of a little vest I am knitting for my newest nephew. I am knitting on circular needles so I won't have any seams to sew up when I'm finished. It is also knitted from the organic cotton, only it is with the recommended needle size this time. Still didn't swatch though. Babies grow and this will fit at some time or other so I figured I could get away with it. The pattern is a free one from the lion brand website, I haven't linked it because you have to sign up to access the free patterns.

Next on my list is a white cotton baby hat, something classic, and unisex.
Or perhaps I will use this, I bought one ball to use as an accent on something and I was sent the wrong colour. I was kindly sent the correct colour and allowed to keep this. Do you think one 50g/100m ball would be enough for a baby hat? And which do you think would be more to H&B's taste?


Then I am planning to do some knitting for my monkeys, this ankylosaurus from Patons Dinosaurs,
and these little vegetables from Jean Greenhowe's Little Dumpling Dolls, Part Two - The Village Men.

Then, I have plans to knit the short sleeve version of this for myself, with this silk/viscose blend:

And that is only the half of it.

Where do I find the time you ask?

I have a secret, you should see my house.

PS. The title should be sung to the tune of a children's song, that can be frequently heard on Play School, can you guess the word substitution?

Shameless Bragging and a Finished Object!

When I first saw this picture I assumed husband drew it at Boy Monkey's request. I have had to draw many a toy car replica, anyway turns out Boy Monkey did it all by himself, while husband and I were sleeping in. Pretty damn good isn't it?
Notice anything odd about this picture? No, not that the beds aren't made.
See? No rungs on the bunk.
We had to remove the second (and final) rung three days ago, because my littlest Monkey who turned 21mths this week could still climb up, sans bottom rung. The three Monkeys all share a bedroom which can be quite a challenge at times, littlest Monkey getting into Boy Monkey's bed somewhat hinders the process of Boy Monkey getting to sleep.


Anyway, here's some craft. A finished object, yay! It is made from my homespun wool. Look at the buttons! See that lovely clean white wool? That is the same dirty brown stuff that was on my niddy noddy in this post.