By Vintage Grrl, on July 4th, 2010
Well, my plan was 1800m of suri alpaca laceweight. Unfortunately when I was prepping yesterday, the particular fleece I had been working with was not working with me. So the Suri is out for this challenge.
 I do, however, have approximately 360g of lovely Angorino from Ixchel in the “Cap’n Jack Bunny” colourway (photo courtesy of Ixchel). So this will be spun as laceweight, and the challenge is to spin all 360g of it during the TdF.
I will post pictures at the end of each spinning day to show my progress.
By Vintage Grrl, on July 3rd, 2010
If you love vintage and retro fashion, then you should already be following Tart Deco!
If you haven’t found her yet, then go check her out now, as she’s having a brilliant giveaway!!
So get gussied up and get your entry in!
By Vintage Grrl, on July 2nd, 2010
Well.. my shawl is…
I’m a little chuffed, to be honest.
This is the June cover for the Knitters’ Guild NSW newsletter.
It really is an honour to have my work spotlighted like this.
By Vintage Grrl, on July 1st, 2010
So I didn’t quite make every day… 8 days missed, but some days had 2 posts.. 
What did I find out about myself by really trying to blog every day? That I am totally boring at the moment! But that’s ok  I know it’s a passing thing, because I have so much planned!
By Vintage Grrl, on June 29th, 2010
I’m so busy at the moment! I’m about to start an event called “Tour de Fleece”. Essentially you set a spinning goal, and during they days that the Tour de France is cycled, you spin. There are a couple of days that are ‘rest’ days, so these days you’re not allowed to spin. To prepare for this, I have to finish off what’s on the wheel, and prep some fleece to spin.
My goal is 1800m of 2ply laceweight Suri Alapca.
Ambitious.. no?
By Vintage Grrl, on June 26th, 2010
Today’s post is all about my hands… or at least things that are going to adorn that area.
In the last week I have been very fortunate to receive some gifts that will allow me to make my hands pretty.
 My friend Violet Le Beaux most graciously made me a set of custom false nails. She is very talented, and I can’t wait until I get to wear them! They’re black, silver, red and white so they will pretty much go with anything. I just love them! Now to get myself some good glue.
I also finally got my Mother’s Day present from my husband & son. It’s been on layby for a few months, but I’ve been looking for it for years. I have always found it hard to find a style of watch (that isn’t antique) that suits me. It had to be oval, silver and a fairly low profile. Thank goodness I found this watch, as I was starting to get a bit over using my phone as a watch all the time. What I love is that it will look good with any ‘era’ of clothing too. Dressed up, or dressed down.
 And then there’s something I’m making for myself. Pretty fingerless mitts. I’ve been meaning to make myself a new pair for this year, and as I’m making them in gorgeous Knitabulous Fifty Fifty, they’ll be suitable to wear well into Spring! The pattern is “Veyla” by Ysolda Teague. She’s a very talented designer,and I just LOVE her stuff! I’m just about 1/2 way through the first lace cuff, and it’s a delightful knit so far.
By Vintage Grrl, on June 24th, 2010
By Vintage Grrl, on June 23rd, 2010
I love making soup in winter. It’s warming, nourishing, and great comfort food for if you get a little blue during the colder months.
I have a few tried and testeds that I generally make at least once a year, and then I enjoy experimenting with flavours and textures as well.
I’d love to share recipes, but I don’t really measure anything. But I can tell you what I put in them.
Yesterday was Potato & Bacon soup and Roast Vege with Cauliflower soup.
Potato & Bacon Soup
- Bacon Bones
- Leek
- Potato
- Cabbage
- Brussel Sprouts
- Swede
- Parsnip
Chop everything (except bacon bones) into small chunks, and with a glub of oil (yes, that’s a technical measurement .. LOL), saute the leek and cabbage until soft, then add everything else and stir until heated through. Add enough water, or vege stock to cover and add bacon bones. Cook until the meat starts falling off the bones. Remove bones, whiz with a wand beater/mixer. Add seasoning to taste. You can add condensed milk if you like your soup creamy.
Roast Vege & Cauliflower Soup
- Pumpkin
- Kumera
- Swede
- Parsnip
- Leek or onion
- Potato
- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Celery
- I added bacon bones to this as well, but it’s totally optional.
Chop celery, carrot, parsnip & swede, and some vege stock and start cooking in a pot. Chop Pumpkin, Kumera, Leek/Onion and Potato and roast in the oven.
Once roast veges are done, add to pot along with chopped cauliflower. Season to taste and enjoy.
By Vintage Grrl, on June 20th, 2010
I love aprons!
Really, I do. I have a few, too. All of which I wear, and all of which I’ve made. Half, bib and pinafores, they all have a use and some are better than others for certain jobs.Pina
 Pinafore Apron Pinafore aprons (or pinnies) are good for just about everything except hostessing. I love pinnies for doing housework, baking and crafting in. Like a pretty “protect-all” for your clothes. As these tend to be ‘workhorse’ aprons, I prefer to re-purpose my husband’s old business shirts after the collar has gone, than buy pretty new fabric. I do, however use
some pretty bias to edge the apron and pockets.
 Bib Apron Bib aprons are also good for the above, but have the added bonus of being able to be a little more ‘dressy’. Great for serving up food at a dinner party.
 Half Apron Half aprons are not fantasic clothes protectors, but they are great as extra pockets, as hand wipes, and good for light housework, they can also be really pretty. I made a great little joey pouch for holding pegs when putting up/getting down laundry.
Unfortunately, like hats, gloves and a number of other things, aprons are now more of a ‘kitsch’ item, than something we don on a daily basis. But I love them, and will continue to make them and wear them, and soon will do a tutorial on how to turn a business shirt into a pinny.
By Vintage Grrl, on June 19th, 2010
I’m not a garment knitter, I have friends who are garment knitters though.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about what and why I’m knitting. I enjoy the process of knitting, which is why I always have multiple projects on the go, but with this comes missing out on frequent finished items, and the elation of wearing something that I’ve knit myself.
Currently, I have a wrap, a shawl, socks and a scarf on the needles. All are “small” projects, each have their own ease and challenges, but none offer truly mindless “TV” knitting.
So yes, I’ve cast on a new project… AND it’s a cardigan! Yes! An actual GARMENT! It’s not my first, I have knit one before (although it wasn’t a complete long term success), but it’s my first since that one. It’s a top down, seamless, raglan, stocking stitch cardigan. Blissful, mindless knitting, even if I’m not using a pattern.
For me, this also means that there’ll be moments where I’ll be more enthused to knit something that has more of a challenge. Lo and behold, I have just the small projects that can satisfy those moments!
At the end of the cardigan, I should have also finished my scarf and shawl.
But I’m really knitting this cardigan to give myself a hug. When I was younger I had a turtleneck pullover that was oversized, warm and perfect for pulling on when I needed extra warmth and comfort. I haven’t had another piece of clothing that has been the same for me since I was about 17. So I wanted a warm, comfy, slightly oversized (but still a little shaped) cardigan that I could pull around me and wrap myself in at those times where I needed a bit of extra warmth and comfort. A nice wooly, comfy hug for myself.
And let’s face it… it’s not like I didn’t already have the yarn to do it… Haha!!
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