YAY! i got my haircut, ala Alice Cullen..... here's a pic
Monday, 9 February 2009
Saturday, 7 February 2009
a fresh start
Ok dudes, I'm gonna try this again....
A recap for those that have been out of the loop:
I'm back at Uni full time, completing my BSocSci degree majoring in Psychology and IR&HRM, and I have almost finished a paper called Raranga Whakairo in which I learned the process of making Kete Whakairo... more on that later.
I attend a Stitch and Bitch group at Iguana in Hamilton (all welcome btw, we meet 5.30-7.30 every Tuesday. Message me and I'll make sure you're added to the drinks and nibbles list).
I have an etsy shop in which I sell handmade crochet earrings, handpainted rovings, sock yarn, handspun yarn and in the future I am considering selling Kete Whakairo.
I've taken up spinning and crocheting, among my other crap.
I'm currently OBSESSED with the Twilight saga books, and movie... seriously. Teh orhsome.
I think that's it. I'll post more as I think of it.
I'm currently meant to be writing an essay about Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, a well renowned weaver in the Maori fiber arts. She's a really interesting person, maybe I'll post the essay when it's been marked. I really should be writing that now actually, but I'm procrastinating.
Here's some of the weaving I've been doing with Harakeke. Harakeke is known as "flax" in NZ but it's actually quite different from the true flax plant used overseas. Maori have been weaving it for generations and I'm currently learning about what it's used for, the significance of it and such.
The first project our class made was called a Waikawa. It's pretty much a slap up basket, made when you need to carry something in a hurry. You don't need to really do all that much to prepare the fiber for it, not even soften the blade by hapine if you don't want to. Here's one I prepared earlier ..... Note that there are gaps in the weave. This is because the Harakeke has not been boiled or hapine so it creates a lot of shrinkage. If you don't boil or hapine the harakeke can be quite difficult to work with and will rot a lot quicker than if you prepare it properly but for this project you're not meant to be too fussy.
This is the first one I made and you're meant to give the first of each thing you make away. I have given this to my Mum in law, and I'm planning on making one for my mum when I'm down there with some harakeke she has growing on her property. I've also made one for myself and the one I handed in for assessment, my nephew has requested. They're quite sturdy and would be good for putting toys in. I've got my onions and kumara in my one.
Here's some Kete Whakairo that I've woven:
The one I'm weaving in this picture (taken by Keith) was my first ever Kete Whakairo. You weave these inside out then flip them when they're finished, because of how they're closed.
Here's the completed product! Note the handles which are made from muka, the fiber found in some varieties of harakeke. They actually have an extraction factory for this near Foxton, so I hear, and back in the day they used to export it overseas. I'm gifting this to Tina, so she has some Taonga for herself. The blue is dyed with Teri dyes (also my supplier for my wool dyeing so that makes it easy). You can see that it's a bit wonky in the edge but that's kinda what your first project tends to be about.
This is the second Kete I wove. It's dyed with Rit Dyes in Wine. It's a Patikitiki design, and it's woven in takitahi (one by one).
Here's a design which is also Patikitiki but it's got 5 takitahi rows followed by a takirua row (two by two). If you squint your eyes you can kinda see the pattern (looks a bit like pink fish all over it). I dyed this with Dylons, and the colours don't contrast as much as I'd like. I'm told that this is a product of working with Dylons but I don't mind experimenting a bit, considering budget restraints (dylon costs $4 vs Rit that costs $20).
Here's the one I'm weaving at the moment. I've left it to dry out until I get back to it, because if you leave it damp for too long it can weaken the fiber and also get mouldy... yum. A chick in the first year class had hers go mouldy and it was pretty unpleasant smelling to weave with. I'm sure it probably wouldn't have been so bad once it dried out, but still, if you can avoid it, you may as well. It's got a couple of "design features" (or as my lecturer calls them Moko, but they are not mistakes, no no no.....) but it's coming along nicely. This was some leftover random red dyes from somewhere that was at school. The pattern is one of the Niho Taniwha (taniwha teeth) patterns.
All of the patterns come from Mick Pendergrast's book called Raranga Whakairo. There's also a great website and blog written by Ali Brown (alibrown.co.nz) which goes further into weaving etc. It's a really great resource. If you're interested in weaving there are an incredible amount of books available at the public libraries. There are also a whole crapload of workshops going on which are usually advertised in the community education part of the newspaper. The University of Waikato runs a few papers, and I'd recommend taking them if you don't have someone to show you first hand, because they go into further depth than a two day course could.
Anywho, for those of you who are interested, I'm having a sale at my etsy store mentioned above. Here's the announcement:
Kay, well I'm not sure I'm going to make this a truly regular thing but I'm gonna try... We'll see how uni goes when I'm back to full time and working three jobs hahaha - see ya
A recap for those that have been out of the loop:
I'm back at Uni full time, completing my BSocSci degree majoring in Psychology and IR&HRM, and I have almost finished a paper called Raranga Whakairo in which I learned the process of making Kete Whakairo... more on that later.
I attend a Stitch and Bitch group at Iguana in Hamilton (all welcome btw, we meet 5.30-7.30 every Tuesday. Message me and I'll make sure you're added to the drinks and nibbles list).
I have an etsy shop in which I sell handmade crochet earrings, handpainted rovings, sock yarn, handspun yarn and in the future I am considering selling Kete Whakairo.
I've taken up spinning and crocheting, among my other crap.
I'm currently OBSESSED with the Twilight saga books, and movie... seriously. Teh orhsome.
I think that's it. I'll post more as I think of it.
I'm currently meant to be writing an essay about Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, a well renowned weaver in the Maori fiber arts. She's a really interesting person, maybe I'll post the essay when it's been marked. I really should be writing that now actually, but I'm procrastinating.
Here's some of the weaving I've been doing with Harakeke. Harakeke is known as "flax" in NZ but it's actually quite different from the true flax plant used overseas. Maori have been weaving it for generations and I'm currently learning about what it's used for, the significance of it and such.
The first project our class made was called a Waikawa. It's pretty much a slap up basket, made when you need to carry something in a hurry. You don't need to really do all that much to prepare the fiber for it, not even soften the blade by hapine if you don't want to. Here's one I prepared earlier ..... Note that there are gaps in the weave. This is because the Harakeke has not been boiled or hapine so it creates a lot of shrinkage. If you don't boil or hapine the harakeke can be quite difficult to work with and will rot a lot quicker than if you prepare it properly but for this project you're not meant to be too fussy.
This is the first one I made and you're meant to give the first of each thing you make away. I have given this to my Mum in law, and I'm planning on making one for my mum when I'm down there with some harakeke she has growing on her property. I've also made one for myself and the one I handed in for assessment, my nephew has requested. They're quite sturdy and would be good for putting toys in. I've got my onions and kumara in my one.
Here's some Kete Whakairo that I've woven:
The one I'm weaving in this picture (taken by Keith) was my first ever Kete Whakairo. You weave these inside out then flip them when they're finished, because of how they're closed.
Here's the completed product! Note the handles which are made from muka, the fiber found in some varieties of harakeke. They actually have an extraction factory for this near Foxton, so I hear, and back in the day they used to export it overseas. I'm gifting this to Tina, so she has some Taonga for herself. The blue is dyed with Teri dyes (also my supplier for my wool dyeing so that makes it easy). You can see that it's a bit wonky in the edge but that's kinda what your first project tends to be about.
This is the second Kete I wove. It's dyed with Rit Dyes in Wine. It's a Patikitiki design, and it's woven in takitahi (one by one).
Here's a design which is also Patikitiki but it's got 5 takitahi rows followed by a takirua row (two by two). If you squint your eyes you can kinda see the pattern (looks a bit like pink fish all over it). I dyed this with Dylons, and the colours don't contrast as much as I'd like. I'm told that this is a product of working with Dylons but I don't mind experimenting a bit, considering budget restraints (dylon costs $4 vs Rit that costs $20).
Here's the one I'm weaving at the moment. I've left it to dry out until I get back to it, because if you leave it damp for too long it can weaken the fiber and also get mouldy... yum. A chick in the first year class had hers go mouldy and it was pretty unpleasant smelling to weave with. I'm sure it probably wouldn't have been so bad once it dried out, but still, if you can avoid it, you may as well. It's got a couple of "design features" (or as my lecturer calls them Moko, but they are not mistakes, no no no.....) but it's coming along nicely. This was some leftover random red dyes from somewhere that was at school. The pattern is one of the Niho Taniwha (taniwha teeth) patterns.
All of the patterns come from Mick Pendergrast's book called Raranga Whakairo. There's also a great website and blog written by Ali Brown (alibrown.co.nz) which goes further into weaving etc. It's a really great resource. If you're interested in weaving there are an incredible amount of books available at the public libraries. There are also a whole crapload of workshops going on which are usually advertised in the community education part of the newspaper. The University of Waikato runs a few papers, and I'd recommend taking them if you don't have someone to show you first hand, because they go into further depth than a two day course could.
Anywho, for those of you who are interested, I'm having a sale at my etsy store mentioned above. Here's the announcement:
SALE SALE SALE!!!!!
I need to clear some space for new stock so…. a sale is in order!
Use code Ravelry/half in the checkout for buy one, second item half price.
Use code Ravelry/free in the checkout for buy two, get one free.
I popped this up on Ravelry and Plurk in various places but there ya go again.... I really need to sell some stuff.... please?
Kay, well I'm not sure I'm going to make this a truly regular thing but I'm gonna try... We'll see how uni goes when I'm back to full time and working three jobs hahaha - see ya
Monday, 19 November 2007
February Baby Sweater
This is me after my friend's wedding on Saturday.
I knitted two February Baby Sweaters, one in pink:
And one in green and blue - cute huh!
Thursday, 8 November 2007
New Hair
I got a hair cut and colour! I got it done at a training salon, and it only cost $45! Amazing! And I was there for over 2 hours being pampered! So, I know my mum wants to see, here ya go mum. This is the best one of the colour but ew, double chin. Time to go on a diet... Next week.
Monday, 22 October 2007
yeah, I know...
First of all, here's some FOs:
A little jersey I started forever go, and really had only the hood to do! Cute huh!
And the little hood, awwwwww:
Also for mum, i have also been working on this for you, i'm actually almost finished the front but oh well....
It's Isabella from Knitty.
This is the Baby Surplice Jacket from Vogue sometime last year. I got a compliment already from Ravelry, man i love that thing. If you're on there I'm under nanacindynz.
Here's a scary thought - My RSI is getting so bad that I have given up knitting for a WHOLE WEEK! I just don't know what to do with myself. I think that's why i'm posting. Oh well, there'll be more by the end of the week, I'll let ya'll know how I go.
A little jersey I started forever go, and really had only the hood to do! Cute huh!
And the little hood, awwwwww:
Also for mum, i have also been working on this for you, i'm actually almost finished the front but oh well....
It's Isabella from Knitty.
This is the Baby Surplice Jacket from Vogue sometime last year. I got a compliment already from Ravelry, man i love that thing. If you're on there I'm under nanacindynz.
Here's a scary thought - My RSI is getting so bad that I have given up knitting for a WHOLE WEEK! I just don't know what to do with myself. I think that's why i'm posting. Oh well, there'll be more by the end of the week, I'll let ya'll know how I go.
Saturday, 8 September 2007
More Knitting Less Blogging
Hiya family! If someone isn't my family and is reading this then leave a comment, because I don't believe in you (apart from Jeannie from the knitting shop haha).
I finished my monkey socks in Socks That Rock's Sherbert colourway. I couldn't find a picture when I was looking at how they wore, so here's one for those of you who have not yet been introduced to the glory of Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock yarn:
I was disappointed that they rubbed up a little, but that's really the nature of the merino yarn they use. Definitely not as bad as the Merino et Soie I used for Keith's sweater.
We went for a visit to Mum's a couple of weeks ago, and her and I dyed some yarn with Ashford dyes that we bought from the Kairanga Craft Cottage, which is just down the road from Mum and Dad's place. Here's how mine came out, using rust, blue and yellow with a little black food colouring for the navy colour:
I don't think I'll use these dyes again, I prefer the food colourings etc that I was using mostly because they're food safe and I don't have to worry too much if I get them on my skin, although I did get some funny looks when I was out later on that day.
On the way back from Mum's I stopped into The Wool Company in Utiku and picked up this gorgeous yarn! It's in the Gems colourway, and people, I utterly endorse this wool. It is so soft and the colours are beautiful and very reasonably priced too. They do have an online website, and I recommend taking a look. The yarn seems of very good quality; I've worn the hat a few times, including to bed a couple of times (poor Keith) and this is how it looks:
I also go a great bargain at the Spotlight end of season sale this year. Cleckheaton Country Silk in 8 ply. It's lovely and soft to work with too, but I'll wait until I've worn and washed to to see how it wears. I am knitting an overshirt in it:
I've almost finished the front, see:
I also put an order in for the Interweave socks compilation book and also the new Cat Bordhi Book about knitting socks which I have heard so much about on the podcasts these last couple of weeks. It should be here in a few weeks I hope. I decided I would have to make some stitch markers from the sounds of things they are essential for making these. I went to buy some beads from Spotlight, but they only had ugly plastic ones, so I decided to do a Leona and make some out of fimo. They actually look pretty cool I think.
I finished my monkey socks in Socks That Rock's Sherbert colourway. I couldn't find a picture when I was looking at how they wore, so here's one for those of you who have not yet been introduced to the glory of Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock yarn:
I was disappointed that they rubbed up a little, but that's really the nature of the merino yarn they use. Definitely not as bad as the Merino et Soie I used for Keith's sweater.
We went for a visit to Mum's a couple of weeks ago, and her and I dyed some yarn with Ashford dyes that we bought from the Kairanga Craft Cottage, which is just down the road from Mum and Dad's place. Here's how mine came out, using rust, blue and yellow with a little black food colouring for the navy colour:
I don't think I'll use these dyes again, I prefer the food colourings etc that I was using mostly because they're food safe and I don't have to worry too much if I get them on my skin, although I did get some funny looks when I was out later on that day.
On the way back from Mum's I stopped into The Wool Company in Utiku and picked up this gorgeous yarn! It's in the Gems colourway, and people, I utterly endorse this wool. It is so soft and the colours are beautiful and very reasonably priced too. They do have an online website, and I recommend taking a look. The yarn seems of very good quality; I've worn the hat a few times, including to bed a couple of times (poor Keith) and this is how it looks:
I also go a great bargain at the Spotlight end of season sale this year. Cleckheaton Country Silk in 8 ply. It's lovely and soft to work with too, but I'll wait until I've worn and washed to to see how it wears. I am knitting an overshirt in it:
I've almost finished the front, see:
I also put an order in for the Interweave socks compilation book and also the new Cat Bordhi Book about knitting socks which I have heard so much about on the podcasts these last couple of weeks. It should be here in a few weeks I hope. I decided I would have to make some stitch markers from the sounds of things they are essential for making these. I went to buy some beads from Spotlight, but they only had ugly plastic ones, so I decided to do a Leona and make some out of fimo. They actually look pretty cool I think.
Monday, 6 August 2007
A knitted Poo...
Keith wanted me to knit him this:
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/03/happy_poo_amigurumi_pattern.html
unfortunately it's crochet, which I don't do. I searched and searched last night on the internet, giving up finally at about 8pm.
I got this text this morning from keith, at uni:
You know its hard to look cool when you open up your laptop to calm a group of students, demanding to see your new flash animation, and what_s the first thing they see? A sissy wool background and instructions on how to knit a bl**dy poo. Be kind, rewind - in this case log out.
Dude, he had me in tears with that one lol....
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/03/happy_poo_amigurumi_pattern.html
unfortunately it's crochet, which I don't do. I searched and searched last night on the internet, giving up finally at about 8pm.
I got this text this morning from keith, at uni:
You know its hard to look cool when you open up your laptop to calm a group of students, demanding to see your new flash animation, and what_s the first thing they see? A sissy wool background and instructions on how to knit a bl**dy poo. Be kind, rewind - in this case log out.
Dude, he had me in tears with that one lol....
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