Inspector Gadgets!

Hey!  Who remembers that clumsy little techno animated dude on TV called Inspector Gadget?

C'mon....sure you do!  You're probably humming the show's catchy little tune right now!  Da, da, da, da, daaa...Inspector Gadget....Da, da, da, da, da, da, daaaa...

I sure remember him - gadgets and devices for every ocassion - half of which he could never get to work quite right.....  Inspector Gadget is a comical glimpse of what happens when you get over gadgetized!  But can one ever have too many gadgets?

We live in a world full of amazing gadgetry.  All kinds of stuff that promises to make our lives easier.  And in all fairness, most of these little techno bits do.

So, I just added two little gadgets to my growing collection of knitting accessories!  Sure I coulda lived without them, but why should I?

For years I've blocked out scarves, shawls and shawlettes on my loungeroom floor using a zillion sewing pins.  My blocking board is simply a  4ft x 6ft x 1.25ins thick piece of memory foam.  The more pins I use, the better the end result....but heaven help the bare-footed chick who forgets the blocking board as she runs across the loungeroom!  Ooooweeeee!

Last week I finished knitting the Checkerboard Lace Scarf by Whitney Van Nes for my sister for her birthday.  I knitted it with Smooshy Starry in the In Vino Veritas colorway.  I washed and blocked it in the usual way, but the scarf was so long, and I just couldn't get straight sides no matter how hard I tried.  And to make matters worse, in some spots it was blocked at 7.75ins wide and in others 7.5ins and 8ins!  Ach je!

I finally bought some blocking wires and T pins!! 

Yay for blocking wires and T pins!  Why have I been struggling all these years with sewing pins??  Argh!!  Why didn't anybody take me off to one side and smack me up the head with my own knitting?  You girls know who I'm talking about!!

Needless to say, I love my new blocking gadget.

Look Mum, no sewing pins!

Since I was in the gadget buying department, why stop at one gadget?  Who wants a half full drawer of gadgets? 

I didn't have to look too far....heh!  As soon as I spied this awesome little gadget, I knew it was coming home with me too.  I am now the proud owner of a yardage meter!  Whoot!  This will be so amazingly useful when I skein up my handspun yarn.

So now I'm smug.  Smug with my gadgets.  And they do make my life that little bit easier.

Models at Last

Finally I've written up the pattern for the Little Vesta and Little Vesta 2 I knit for my nieces Jaycee Mae (5yr) and Karlia (7yr).

The hold-ups were that I knit these vests for their birthdays and had to wait for their special days to pass, and then I wanted photos of them wearing their vests.

And now I have photos:

Jaycee Mae in Little Vesta

Karlia in Little Vesta 2

The patterns are now published in Ravelry.  Yeah!

Gathering of Sticks and String

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!

Last evening at The Bloomin Bog a wee group of friends gathered for an S&B, a BBQ and a Canada Day celebration.  The binding yarn thread - friendship, a love of knitting, and all things to do with sticks and string!

The weather was perfect - a wonderful sunny 20C, no humidity, and a gentle breeze.  Even the bities had a day off [nodding upwards and giving thanks!]

Amidst the pouring of wine, the clicking of needles and the laughter of women-folk (barr Deb's brilliant man-slave, Dan), the BBQ sizzled and the aroma of wonderful salads, sausages and steak filled the air.  Mmmm......BBQ...... 

Following the culinary delights that only a pot luck and BBQ could offer, our group of 15 wandered down to the back yard where we set up to knit and nibble on donuts and these cute little sheep (made from cherry chip cake, sprinkles and liccorice)!  They were good!

As the fire subsided Dan braved the super hot flames and embers and made us all marshmallow smores graham cracker thingies.  They were good too!  I believe there may be videographic evidence of me eating my first one ever.  Let's hope that never sees the light of day Rebecca [chuckle].

Around 9pm we figured it was time to start a fire for our fireworks. Ably led by Barb and Erinkate [Girl Guide Extraordinaire and Scout Leader], and a candle flame from Laurie, a crackling fire warmed the air. The smell of fire soon brought out my fire-bug Nick and his never-ending supply of wood.  Our sweet little fire grew into a rip roaring bon-fire.

Right at dusk we let the firecrackers rip. A zinger here and there, a coupla rockets, some awesome fountains, a comet or two and a screamer. Wish I’d thought of sparklers.....:-(

We were missing a few friendly faces – peeps with previous engagements. Wish you could have all been here. But one friendly face in particular was absent, and she shoulda been there since the party was her brain-child – Kat we really missed you!

Thank you everyone for your part in making yesterday’s gathering a wonderful event!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!