Thursday, June 27, 2013

suzy hausfrau | top five hats for 2013 | colourwork

Back with another 'top five' list. Today it's my pick of the top five hats that use colour work or fair isle. You can see where I'm going with this can't you? There's just too many hats to have one top five list right? So here is my colour work list, along with some suggested yarn. I'll be back with my 'top five hats for blokes' next week.

Enjoy!

suzy hausfrau's top five hats 2013

1. Asheboro Hat by Mandy Powers in Quince and Co Osprey


2. Becot by Julie Hoover in Jones & Vandermeer Happy Mink. This one's a bit of a cheat, it's not really colour work but by using two different yarns (one variegated and one solid) it sort of looks like it!


3. Ring a Roses Beanie by Sandra jager in MillaMia


4. Starflower Flake pattern by Thea Eschliaman also in MillaMia


4. From Norway with love by Anna & Heidi Pickles in Quince and Co Lark


5. Cheesehead by Julia Mueller in Quince and Co Finch








Tuesday, June 25, 2013

suzy hausfrau podcast | episode #01 | millamia


Welcome to the first episode of the suzy hausfrau podcast series. Today's podcast episode features an interview with Katarina Rosén, who is one of the founders of MillaMia. MillaMia is a knitwear design and yarn company that is heavily influenced by the Scandinavian heritage of it's designers, Katarina and her sister Helene.

Check out this episode!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

seven | shibui knits sock


seven

seven patterns inspired by shibui knits sock yarn
...seven patterns to take this yarn beyond socks.

1. Transition gloves by Kerin Dimeler (knit)
2. Lace ribbon scarf by Veronik Avery (knit)
3. Marelle scarf by Melanie Berg (knit)
4. Pillow Case crochet dress (crochet)
5. Adrift by Carol Feller (knit)
6. Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang (knit)
7. Claudia Scarf by Rebecca Jackson (crochet)



I have picked these colours for my first (can you believe it) Stripe Study Shawl.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Pssssttt

Just in case you forgot...

Tomorrow.

Quince and co will be available in the online store.

The first episode of the 'suzy hausfrau podcast' will be available for download from the blog.

Just in case,
suzy xoxo

ps: the Sydney fair was amazing. Here is one of my Instagram shots from the week.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

seven | quince and co osprey

seven

seven designs for the amazing Quince and Co Ospreyhttp://www.suzyhausfrau.com.au/collections/osprey*

1. Idlewood by Cecily Glowik McDonald (knit)
2. Cara by Gudrun Johnston (knit)
3. Avery by MelissaLaBarre (knit)
4. Sidewalk Shawl by Kimberley K McAindin (crochet)
5. Glaciarie by Helene Vincent (knit)
6. Yeti by Svetlaba Volkova (knit)
7. One Skein Bunny by Deb Richey (crochet)

*available from suzy hausfrau Tuesday 18 June 2013

Friday, June 14, 2013

WWKIP 2013 | guest blogger | jane


This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size! 

So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger jane, who is enthusiastically returning to the knitting scene. Click on the 'read more' link below.


First up, do you knit or crochet or both?

I only knit these days, but in my previous life I did do a little bit of crocheting – the most basic though. Taking some lessons in crocheting is on the list of things to do. I love the way it seems to grow so much faster!

Tell us about how old you were when you learnt and who taught you.

My mother taught me to knit when I was probably about 8. She was very frustrated though because I let the needle go, put the yarn around, and picked up the needle again. I knitted like this until 18 months ago when a ‘no weight bearing broken ankle’ kept me on the lounge for six weeks and I persevered and now knit the correct way! Not satisfied though, I want to have a go at knitting continental as well.

Tell us about what project/(s) you have on the go right now.

I have a few on the go at the moment. Panoramic Stole, by Hannah Fettig in BC Garn Silkbloom Fino which is my ‘anywhere’ knitting project. I carry it in my bag ready for any opportunity to sneak a row or two in. Of an evening I am knitting Hayward by Julie Hoover in Mad Tosh Light – a boxy and stocking stitch jumper; and then at home with no distractions I am just finishing up a Georgie Hallam cardigan using BC Garn Semilla for a one year old which is great because it is challenging me in different and new ways of doing things.


Tell us about the project that you hold most dear. 

Four years ago I knitted my first thing after 20 years – a Debbie Abrahams blanket. I picked the easiest called Building Blocks and knitted my way through a terrible period filled with grief. I couldn’t believe how therapeutic it was, how rewarding it was, and how life saving it was. Knitting then became my new best friend and remains so today. I have no doubt it will always now be such a major part of my life, and can’t imagine ever sitting down with my cup of tea, coffee or wine without automatically reaching out for the ‘project’!




We never stop learning or perfecting our craft. Tell me what is on your 'to learn or conquer' list.

Knitting a cardigan/sweater for me top down! I purchased Hannah Fettig’s featherweight pattern and yarn in September 2012, followed by Kirsten Johnstone’s Raiun pattern and yarn in December 2012. I have the patterns, I have the yarns, but I always manage to find something else to knit first. I will, however, conquer this and hopefully end up with garments I love as much as I do these two patterns in the pictures. The other is to knit beautiful perfectly even stocking stitch which is why I made myself learn to throw the yarn properly in the hope it would help. Still hoping!

Just because we want to rid ourselves of some guilt…
How many UFOs have you got in your cupboard? 

I have been thinking about this. It is embarrassing. I have three garments that need to be sewn up, and I have the three work in progress ones I mentioned above. And if I was really honest, I am sure I could find a couple more unfinished projects lurking in the back of the cupboard.




Could you open a yarn store with your stash?

I could definitely open a display of yarns for people to see! I love my yarns, and I cannot help myself from adding more and more to the stash. I have this terrible habit of thinking things will run out so best buy now while it is there. I also have a tendency to pick safe colours but am really liking the beautiful colours available, particularly with linens and cottons, and starting to step out of my comfort zone. I just wish my needles could work as fast as my imagination and my Paypal account.

and because we're curious
Are you a year round or seasonal knitter/crocheter?

I am definitely a year round knitter. I knit with the cottons, and more recently, linen in the summer. And then I knit with the winter weights in winter.

Do you have a favourite fibre or yarn that you like to work with?

I don’t think I have a favourite as such, but I am particularly finicky about the ‘feel’ and content of yarns so that is the factor that decides me on which yarns to use. I try to choose yarns with a nice drape. I don’t like yarns that grow or have any roughness to them. I love Shibui Staccato, Tosh Light, and my lastest stash addition, though not knitted with yet, is the Malabrigo which feels nice and soft. When I was a teenager living in Canberra I loved knitting French patterns with Angora and am when I see old photos am surprised at what I actually knitted and finished. Unfortunately living in Sydney the beautiful worsted weights and arans are too heavy for me except knitted into a scarf. I am really looking forward to adding some Quince & Co to my stash as I find I spend far too much time looking on line when I could be knitting.




What will you be doing for World Wide Knit in Public Day this year?

I am not sure – spreading the word by sitting somewhere in public with my needles. I love that knitting has made a massive comeback. I just taught my daughter in law to knit and my three week old first grandchild is wearing the very easy garter stitch cardigan she made while pregnant – mistakes and all! I thought it was great that she wanted knits for the baby, so I am one happy new Granma with lots of projects in that queue as well to do!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

WWKIP 2013 | guest blogger | phoenixgirl

This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size! 

So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger the lovely phoenix girl. Click on the 'read more' link below.



First up, do you knit or crochet or both?

I knit and crochet, and switch between the two depending on whim. 

Tell us about how old you were when you learnt and who taught you.

My mum is a superb maker; she knits, crochets and tats beautifully, but I learnt little off her beyond knit and purl because she was around to make anything I wanted when I was growing up. She lives overseas, so that bespoke service is logistically more challenging these days.
I knitted on and off during university – only long, straight things, mind. When my sister started knitting about six years ago, I thought I’d go along for the ride. 
I was hooked, and since then, YouTube and books have been my main teachers. I’m very partial to Japanese crochet books; I find the diagrams’ economy and concision infinitely appealing. 

Tell us about what project/(s) you have on the go right now.

There’s a granny-square blanket I have going for a dear friend, which I’ve promised will reach her before her unborn children turn 21; a knitted cardigan in Habu yarn that needs a left front; my long-suffering public-transport-knitted Paris cardigan in Holst garn. Being winter, there’s always a scarf and a hat on the go. 


Tell us about the project that you hold most dear. 

May I be greedy and nominate a few? 
I do have a soft spot for Kate Gilbert’s Clapotis, because that was the first thing I made when I started knitting in earnest. I adore scarves, never mind the weather.
My daughter’s cardigans: I still get a thrill every time she wears one. There will come a day when homemade anything is beyond naff, so I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
And my newish Noro Taiyo sock-yarn scarf, because it’s one I made up and put together quickly during the February heatwave.

We never stop learning or perfecting our craft. Tell me what is on your 'to learn or conquer' list.

Steeks. 
And some space and time to make up some of the ideas I have and get them down on paper.




Just because we want to rid ourselves of some guilt…
How many UFOs have you got in your cupboard? 


More than I care to admit, so I won’t look because it’ll take away the pleasure of starting something new just because I felt like it!
I seem to have a complex about sleeves, so there are at least two armless projects at the moment.

Could you open a yarn store with your stash?

A micro-store, maybe.

…and because we're curious
Are you a year round or seasonal knitter/crocheter?


Yes to both. Come school-fete time, I’m usually found with a crochet hook in hand.

Do you have a favourite fibre or yarn that you like to work with?

Merino wool and silk blends. I like the inherent materiality in Noro, Holst, Shetland, Habu/Avril yarns. I have this little cone of Habu Pafu Shinkuro that I want to ply with some stainless steel and see what happens.



What will you be doing for World Wide Knit in Public Day this year?

Definitely knitting. See you around on a Melbourne tram; I’ll be the one with the needles.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

WWKIP 2013 | guest blogger | mespetitselefants

This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size!

So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger my dear friend, Danielle from mespetitselefants. Click on the 'read more' link below.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

WWKIP 2013 | guest blogger | bells knits

This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size! 

So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger the inspirational bellsknits. Click on the 'read more' link below.

Monday, June 10, 2013

WWKIP 2013 | guest blogger | heathercairns

This is the week that knitters take to the streets, to create a spectacle and take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). As well as hosting two WWKIP events this week, one in Canberra and the other in Sydney, I am honoured to be interviewing five wonderful ladies on my blog. Asking them about their knitting (or crochet) journey and all of their knitting secrets, including UFOs and stash size! 



So sit back, maybe with a cup of tea and enjoy today's guest blogger the gorgeous (& extremely productive) heathercairns. Click on the 'read more' link below.

World Wide Knit in Public Day

WWKIP Canberra it's a wrap!


So much fun knitting in public yesterday with like minded Canberrans at the Handmade Market. We had over 150 people join in and managed to turn some heads, which is what this is all about.

You can read about the Canberra event here in today's Canberra times. Such an awesome piece and so-Canberra...it's hard to escape politics it seems, even when you're knitting!

But my WWKIP festivities aren't over yet, don't forget I'm hosting another event in Sydney at the Craft & Quilt Fair next Saturday 15th of June at 2pm. You can get the details of this free event here. Maybe the PM would like to come along to that one?




Tuesday, June 4, 2013

yarn tasting SYDNEY


yarn tasting SYDNEY

The ultimate yarn tasting event.
Four courses of yarn, with matching wines and light refreshments.


Each yarn will be presented in turn and a generous sample provided for you to knit (or crochet) with during the evening, along with special discounts on these yarns and lucky door prizes.
This event is limited to 25 attendees.
Details:
Thursday 13th June
6-8pm
Thomas Room
UTS Function Centre
Level 7
235 Jones St (Building 10)
Ultimo
Book your spot by clicking here.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

seven | malabrigo arroya



seven
seven patterns inspired by the superb Malabrigo Arroyo

1. Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes (knit)
2. Still light tunic by Veera Valimaki (knit)
3. Piped petals cardigan by Linda Permann (crochet)
4. Ruby Tuesday by Ewa Durasiewicz (knit)
5. Sundry by Jennifer Dassau (knit)
6. Little Ancolie by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne (knit)
7. Claudia Scarf by Rebecca Jackson (crochet)


 

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