happenings

in just over a week I'm heading off to Thailand for a much needed break - some eating, drinking and general relaxing is in order.  I'm pretty excited about it, as you can imagine!

We plan to do a fair bit of getting around, and the people I'm travelling with suggested a lightweight zippered sling bag would be really handy, so I spent the afternoon making this out of bits and pieces I had in my stash.

I'd forgotten how much I simultaneously love and hate sewing!

Something a simple a sewing a zip into a lined bag befuddles me each and every time I do it.  Do the right sides of both the lining and the outer face each other?  Where do I sew up til, so I can still flip it inside out?  and it goes on...

but I managed to get this little bag done with minimal re-dos, so I'm fairly pleased.  The outer fabric is so pretty, and the size has turned out just what I was after.

Knitting-wise, I have finished two more baby knits this week, bringing me to a total of 3 for 2011 so far.  Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a photo of #2 before I gave it to the Mum, but this is #3

It's Pebble, knit up in some Pear Tree 8ply I grabbed at Bendigo a couple of years ago.  The colourway is quite predictably named "Camo".  Such a great little pattern, this is!  simple, yet I imagine very practical, with buttons at both the shoulder and down one side therefore eliminating the need to put the garment over the babies' head.

I think vests are really, really useful for babies, too.  The keep little bodies warm, without too much bulk on the arms, and can be perfect for those in-between days and afternoons.

So, with a feeling of piety at how many baby knits I've managed to date, I celebrated and cast on Stellar for myself - squeeeeeeeeeee!

it's not very interesting yet, just miles of stocking stitch on a circular needle, but here's a taste of the colour

You can also check out the designer's blog for her prototype knit for Stellar - it's a bit different, due to yarn choice and sizing, but I think it's rather lovely too.