Thank you to everyone for all the birthday wishes 🙂
I hd a lovely day, most of which I spent on the lounge, in front of the TV, knitting. Not a single item of housework was done, not a single dance costume was sewn. 🙂
I got some lovely gifts from DH and Em. “Folk Socks” by Nancy Bush and some Twinkletoes sock yarn.

I think the colours are Blue Lilacs and Baby Crocus. I also received the Rob Thomas CD, a National Geographic DVD about Polar Bears, new slippers and some dark chocolate. I love Dark Chocolate. I got all excited when I heard the US was bringing out Dark Chocolate M&M’s for Star Wars. When our special edition Star Wars M&M’s came out, I raced to the supermarket, but all we got were plain old crispy M&M’s in a new package. Ripped off! (The only M&M’s we get are plain, peanut and crispy)
Anyway, I had a lovely day. 🙂
Em made me a birthday card.

And as you can see, I finished the Dolly dress. Nada made a good observation when she compared it to knitting with styrofoam. One more to go, thanks heavens they’re reasonably quick!
So today was back to the sewing grind. This is what Twinkie does every single time I lay out fabric to cut.

I’m sure she thinks she’s helping. She has nearly lost one of her ears before, coming up close to see what I am doing, and laying her ears on the cutting line. Luckily I’ve learnt to pay close attention 😉

I finished Giraffe’s sleeves – Hooray!

I think I’ll have enough yarn, but the neck may not be as long as the original. The back weighs 146g. I have 180g of yarn left, so I should be okay. Mind you, that is weighing swatches too. I may get that desperate! I found an online store that still has some in the right colour, but a different dyelot. Once I have finished the front, I’ll have a look at how much yarn I have left, then decide if I have enough, or if I need to get one more ball.
It’s my birthday tomorrow, so DH and Em are taking me out for dinner tonight. A big night out – Lonestar Steakhouse 😉
We’re going tonight, because on Mondays kids eat free. And I can get a reasonably priced steak and prawns, and a yummy, yummy hot fudge brownie. And no dishes! Hoo-freakin-ray!

I’ve decided to knit something a little different than usual. Emily’s school has a fete every year, and they are asking for craft donations. I thought that I could do something cheap and easy. Isn’t that always a guarantee that whatever you decide on will be anything but cheap and easy? 😉

This is what I’m doing. I have this craft brochure from years back.

I have since discovered that Craftlon is no longer being made. However, there is a substitute available called Knitlon. Good enough! I don’t know if this stuff is available outside of Australia. It’s a nylon strip around an inch wide. My Grandma used to use it to cover coat hangers and for Toilet Dolls and all that fete/craft stall stuff. You just knit it like yarn. This pattern calls for a much smaller needle than usual. It would normally require around a 5mm needle, but I’m using a 2.5mm. I don’t find it particularly pleasant to knit with.

And I could not find the 9 1/2″ dolls anywhere in Australia, so I had to order them from the US. Because I couldn’t see if they were exactly what I wanted, I only ordered two. Now, of course I wish I’d ordered more. Although by the time I finish one dress, I may wish I’d only ordered one 😉
Why didn’t I just knit some washcloths? At least I will have contributed to the fete in some way, and won’t have to feel guilty.

Twinkie is always comfy, because she carries her own little chin cushion around wherever she goes. 😉

A bit of knitting happening!

Giraffe’s sleeves are growing. I’m up to the shoulder cap shaping. At this stage, I have 2 full balls and 2 not-quite-full balls. I still have to do the sleeve shaping, and I need three balls for the front, then I need to do the neckband. I’m still not sure I’m going to make it. At this stage of a project, I usually start knitting furiously, just so I can work out if I’m wasting my time or not!

The Dublin Bay sock is slowly growing, too. The colours are pooling, as you can see here, but I can live with that 🙂
I’ve been trying to spin, but I really don’t think I’m cut out for it. Twinkie had a go, though 😉

If anyone has tried to email me, but had trouble, I’ve got a new email address.
My ISP hasn’t acknowledged that there is a problem, let alone fixed it, so I’ve succumbed and got a Gmail account. You can now contact me at randomknits at gmail dot com.
Now the official bits are over 🙂
I finished the bootees that go with the little baby hat 🙂

Now I have to wait for people to have these babies! One of the mums from Em’s dance studio is due in a few weeks, and DH’s cousin is not far behind.
And I started a new pair of socks! Using the gorgeous “Purple Club” Lorna’s Laces that Jill sent me, I’ve started some Dublin Bay socks, a free sock pattern courtesy of Ryan from Mossy Cottage Knits, who is also the host of the Dulaan Project. Which reminds me that I had really better send off all those hats and mittens!)
I love this sock pattern, and as you can see it’s going very well 😉

I’ve done 2 whole rows. 🙂
Giraffe is going very well, also. I’m nearly up to armhole shaping on the back. Look at the pic in the last entry and add a few inches.
Happy Wednesday!