Karen Knits

Stashampions

missburrill — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:05:40 +0000

I have been looking on Ravelry for a stash knitting group to join. There are plenty but none of them seemed quite right for me. Some seemed more interested In seeing who could knit the most yards/kilometres/miles while others want to knit HUGE projects. Yes they will knit the stash but not in a way I want to. I looked at some patterns and saw some that are fun and small. They won’t use a lot of stash yarn but they will help use some of it up.

An idea formed and I found a random website which specialised in generating catchy names. This website which I forgot to bookmark suggested Stashampions so I decided that was a perfect group name.

If you have a spare couple of minutes say hello in the Stashampions group on Ravelry. Our May KAL is a nice and small Twilight Apple Pouch.

I wonder how some stores survive…..

missburrill — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:59:25 +0000

I live on the northside of Brisbane and have been looking at buying a new sewing machine. I love my 20 year old machine but I’m ready to upgrade. The Singer 160 at $499 is gorgeous. It is limited edition styled like the original machines. The other sewing machine I like is the Brother NV-600 at $999. It’s targeted at quilters and has alot more features.

There’s a shop near home which stocks the Singer 160. I went there last year for a test drive. I had to sew on paper without thread. That’s ok but I wasn’t allowed to touch the paper! The woman said that when I sew I shouldn’t touch the fabric! My friends were surprised and said you HAVE to touch the fabric when sewing!

After that experience you think I would never return. I was at the shopping centre (they have a really good yum cha restaurant) and wandered in. DING DONG I set off their sensor. Two women were huddled round a sewing machine. They glanced at me then decided to ignore me. Straight after me an older gentleman walked in setting off the sensor. They leapt up, asking how they could help him. Turned out they didn’t stock what he was after. I walked over…..

Me: Excuse me.
Woman: Yes?
Me: Is there a reason you ignored me when I walked in?
W: Um, I didn’t know you’d come in.
Me: I set off the doorbell and you looked at me. You leapt up to serve that gentleman.
W: Um….

Me: I’d heard the service here was a joke and you’ve confirmed it. I know why people say to avoid your store.
W: We’re doing training.
Me: You need to do some customer service training.

I walked out head held high leaving them open mouthed.

wonder how they survive. The staff at my local quilt store had heard many similar stories and do not recommend that anyone shop there.

Fabric Cutting Fail

missburrill — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:39:35 +0000

The back of my knee length Pippa dress (Butterick 5710) consists of two pieces. I’ll insert a zip and sew a seam. Should be straight forward however look at this. The pattern wasn’t sitting flat when I cut the first piece. The side seam is missing some fabric.

Mr talked me out of throwing it under the lawn mower – something about possibly breaking the lawn mower. I’ve decided I will sew on. Worst case scenario is I have to buy more fabric and remake the outer layer. Mid-level disaster will be inserting a feature panel each side out of the green and gold fabric. Best scenario will be it’s fine.

I should own up and admit I was pinning and cutting on the tiles. I really should use the table.

Birthday Eve

missburrill — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:09:27 +0000

Tonight is my birthday eve and it’s one of my most boring ones. I normally enjoy my birthday eve and farewell my old age. It makes my birthday more than just one day of celebration.

I guess looking at it from a broader perspective it’s not a completely sucky eve. I received flowers today from Mr. We’re drinking 18 year old wine which a friend gave me. We put the movie Cleaner on which I chose by name and it was good.

Besides the flowers I know I’m receiving socks. Mr and I went for a run the other day and I complained about not having any good socks for running. I then told Mr that if he hadn’t bought me anything the could buy me socks. Last night we went shopping and I got to choose some pairs.

Tomorrow night we’re seeing the musical South Pacific then staying in the city. I saw South Pacific in 2010 in New York City. It’s one of my favourite musicals plus it’s set in the Solomon Islands which is a country I lived in for six months.

Maybe tonight needs to be boring because we’re having such a special night tomorrow. We haven’t made dinner reservations but have a few ideas on where to go. I need to stop sitting round thinking my birthday eve is boring and choose a pretty dress to wear to the theatre tomorrow night.

Cheers everyone!

Getting ready to sew

missburrill — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:20:37 +0000

My fiance proposed at 12:12 on 12/12/12. We’re thinking 11/12/13 at 14:15 would be good time to get married. 09:10 is an option but I’d be up early getting my hair and make up done. After looking online at wedding dresses I am thinking about sewing my own. I really need to make a few items first to see if I am really up to the challenge.

My friend Anita is getting married later this month. I was planning to wear my pale pink lace dress but then I was told I need my shoulders covered in the Synagogue. I could knit a shawl but decide I would make a new dress. I am not in the bridal party but I am a civil witness so will be slightly on display. I recently went dress pattern shopping with my friend Rebecca. Patterns were half price so I bought these five.

I am making B5710 in the shorter length for Anita’s wedding.

I consulted the bride and her request was no black, white or purple so I decided to make green. The darker green is the dress, the green with gold trim will be a feature hiding behind the cowl neck and the pale green the lining. Throw in a $10 voucher from Spotlight and the fabric cost me $26.36. I did buy a little more than I need but always good to have extra. I still need to buy the invisible zip and maybe the shoulder pads the pattern recommends.

So far I have started cutting out the paper pattern. I cut all sizes then fold the pattern to my size. Not the best idea but it works for me. I need to measure myself and get out my dressmaking dummy.

2012 in review

missburrill — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:00:43 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Cladonia Shawl – Attempt 1

missburrill — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 10:29:17 +0000

I used to search Ravelry with a focus on free patterns. I would ignore patterns because I didn’t want to pay for them. Then one day I couldn’t find the right pattern so I included patterns that I could purchase online. I guess when I visit my LYS I can hold and look in a pattern book. See if I like how it’s written. An e-book or pattern? That’s a leap of faith. One day my search brought me to the Cladonia shawl pattern. I knew it was the one so happily bought it. I wanted to use my yarn from Claudia’s Handpainted Yarns. I cast it on and knitted a few rows. I wasn’t quite sure it was the right yarn/pattern combo but knitted on a little more. Eventually I stopped unhappy with the colour pooling. The yarn is purple however my phone always makes it look blue.

I have decided I will attempt Cladonia again, I just need to try with different yarns.

Back to the blog

missburrill — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 22:45:18 +0000

I’m back! I don’t have an exciting excuse for not posting but after my friend Lenka R asked what was happening with my blog I knew I had to return. I have started a new job in town. I commute 40 minutes each way by train. At first the train ride was an adventure then it became tedious. After a while I realised I should relax and enjoy myself. Sometimes I knit, other times I read. One thing I’ve noticed is when I knit I often have an empty seat beside me for the whole journey. I’m courteous – I use circular needles and keep my elbows tucked in but people just stay away!

Today is day two of a long weekend. Yesterday I decided I would check out a couple of craft stores – Lincraft and Spotlight. I was getting ready to go and thought of Annie from knitting group. Phoned her up and yes, she was keen for a spontaneous adventure. First stop was Lincraft at Toombul which had selected yarns 50% off. I was tempted by the yarns but maintained my yarn diet. I did find a gorgeous Vogue pattern (V8804) for a jacket. When I make it I will only do the lower pockets. There was also a book sale and I bought Knit Noel and Holly Jolly Christmas Quilting. Each book is hardcover and was $7.99. I could have bought 3 books for $20 but neither of us could find a third book we really wanted. Annie bought 21 balls of yarn.

The Lincraft lady recommended a deli in the shopping centre. Really good fresh food and a big thank you to Annie for buying my sandwich and drink. It was her thank you to me for taking her on a shopping trip.

Next stop was Spotlight at Everton Park. It’s ALOT bigger than Lincraft. Most of the yarns were full priced but Annie did pick up two balls for her crochet ripple blanket. I looked at the Christmas fabrics and bought 5 fat quarters. They were $3.99 each.

My Hurricane Hat

missburrill — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:20:51 +0000

One of my groups on Ravelry decided to have a Knit-ALong (KAL) to keep away the hurricane season. A few of us chose to knit the Hurricane Hat.

I liked the pattern so I went stash diving and used some Lion Amazing.

The end result was a bit more colourful than I anticipated……

I enjoyed knitting the pattern. It was well written and has so far kept the hurricanes away!

The green room is not green

missburrill — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:11:24 +0000

Yesterday I had an adventure at the Brisbane Southbank. I caught the train in and stopped for a quick Yum Cha lunch at The Bamboo Basket. Polite staff, excellent menu and the food was cooked to order. I then walked to the 612 ABC studio where I was put in the green room and asked if I could cast off. I said yes and was given a rather long scarf to cast off.

The green room is a waiting room with tea, coffee and water. There’s a muted tv tuned to ABC24 and a speaker plays the 612 radio broadcast.

I then sat in a corner of the studio where I casted on a new charity scarf. Kelly Higgins-Devine did her show. When she wasn’t on air she happily chatted. I was briefly interviewed twice which was fun. The first time was about the 3 skeins of Royal Wedding yarn I spent over $110 on including postage. Next was my trip to Atlanta for Stitches South and the rowdy knitters at the PJ party.

I had a great time and was made to feel welcome. If anyone else in Brisbane has the chance to visit the 612 Knit Pit I recommend they do it!