Wool on Sunday...

It was a while ago now that I joined a number of donated crocheted squares into blankets of varying sizes. I left the neatening of ends and crocheting around the edges to 'another day' and went on to other projects.

A few days ago I decided that the needy will be wanting those blankets, so it was time to get that finishing done. So now the 'pile' of blankets all have some sort of edging.

But neatening of all the ends still awaits me 🙄. But a couple of sessions will see 8 blankets ready to hand over to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy. 

Most of the 8 blankets in the photo were made by joining crocheted squares with black yarn donated by Susan...many thanks Susan! 

But there's a bit of a story about the yarn that I used for the edgings. Three weeks  ago I noticed on EBay a lot of 590 g of black acrylic yarn being auctioned. The starting bid was $3. After a couple of days I decided to put in a bid and then forgot all about it. Then I got an email from EBay saying I'd won...$3. I took the photo after I'd used one of the big 200g balls for the edgings. In a little twist, despite the description of the yarn being acrylic, it was actually wool. 

( I sent the vendor a bit more money via PayPal as the costs involved with selling on EBay would mean she would have made very little) 

My next project for K4BN will be turning 3 bags of knitted squares into blankets.

Linking this post to the Rainbow Hare blog. This week Janine has posted photos of her lacy crocheted squares blanket, all laid out and looking beautiful. 

Friday Night with Friends...

The first Friday of the month when bloggers from all around the world work on projects and then share/show and tell, via a blog post. Thank you to Cheryll for organizing this monthly event.

There hadn't been much crafting going on around here in the last 3 weeks and earlier in the evening, I didn't think I would have enough 'get up and go' to do some last night. But by 8.30 I found that 'mojo' and worked on that poor neglected cushion cover that I had started back in December. 

The last photo I had shown of it was taken at Sunday Stitchers on January 18...still lots to do at that stage, as hardly any centres had been stitched in.

In the first week of working in the election office, I stitched in my lunch break, filling in the squares in the middle of the hexies. But after that first week, it got too busy to stitch at work, and at night, I was too tired. 

Last night I finished the sewing in the triangles on the 4 side edges, so only have the corner triangles to do. 

Now those white centres 'jar' the senses a bit don't they? 

That's because they are only meant as a background...

These sweet little hand dyed lace motifs will be stitched in place...

The lace comes from an Ebayer called Wattleinspireyou. This lady, Robyn Everson, 'rescues' old/vintage lace (lots of old tablecloths only suitable for cutting up) and unpicks the motifs and sells them to crafters. Sometimes they are sold as is, in the white and off white, but sometimes, the motifs are dyed...and the colours are gorgeous.before I retired, I bought a number of lots from Wattleinspireyou and they have been very useful. Robyn's Ebay site is here.

DH and I have our first full weekend off in 3 weeks now so there is a good chance I will get that lace stitched on and maybe even start assembling the cushion cover...yes I know I have to catch up on neglected housework! Lol. But stitching is 'food for my soul'! Lol

My name is Maria and I am an Ebay addict...

It was DH who first bought something on Ebay. This was about 3 years ago now, and I thought I might have a little look. I remember I decided to use DH's account to bid on some knitting yarn which I/he won! I think I bought one other thing around that time and then didn't look at Ebay again for ages. A year later I decided to get my own Ebay account and started looking more seriously at what was on offer. Hmmm.... to a 'stash builder' Ebay was like an Aladdin's Cave!!!! A fat quarter here, 1/2 metre there, 10 balls of Patons fashion Mohair, 12ply, 8ply, baby yarn,... it's a real treasurehouse! Then I discovered a lady who sold lace trims, another who sold sewing and patchwork patterns, out of print books, dvds etc, but it was the variety of knitting yarns that drove me to bid and buy! I guess I was hooked!!! lol

 These 2 bags contain my mohair Ebay treasures

Behind this wardrobe door is more of my stashes (yeah...fabrics and yarns)

I knew I may be starting to have a problem when the surly mail contractor said to my neighbour who was graciously signing for one of my Ebay parcels as I was at work, 'This woman (he meant me!) gets so many parcels, I reckon she sends stuff to herself'! Well!!!

But I can assure you I don't just collect, I do use my Ebay treasures. Below is an 'Ebay Throw' knitted entirely with lovely mohair yarns bought on Ebay. I always check what the value of the yarns is and factor in postage. I don't bid beyond a certain point...well sometimes if I really lust after a particular yarn. There is a seller on Ebay (who lives in the next suburb from me) who calls herself  'achronicyarnaholic'. Her real name is Rose and I tell you, she's a real temptress... the yarns she has for sale are incredible. She states on her site that she has bought all these yarns for her own use over the years and now she is downsizing...yeah right. She's been selling for quite a while and must have a warehouse sized shed in her backyard!!! She obviously has a bigger stash than me and I reckon if my stash was all knitted up it would cover my suburb!!!

The 'Ebay Throw'

I know I have plenty of yarn to keep making my throws, not only as gifts but also for charities to raffle or to give to someone in need. So there will be lots more 'Ebay Throws' to come. But it's not just yarns and fabrics I've bought. We had a wedding to go to in October this year and it was a masquerade theme...DH and I needed masks and Ebay was where we got them from. He had a Zorro type and I had a lovely purple and black one. For that same wedding my older daughter bought her dress, shoes, handbag and mask on Ebay; it was all colour co-ordinated and she looked beautiful! I don't think I'd do that though. Too risky buying a dress as sizes can vary so much!

My younger daughter always admired our hallstand and we searched unsuccessfully in stacks of shops looking for one we could buy her for her birthday. DH found a few that 'fitted the bill' on Ebay; one of which he won. She loved it! When the grandkids come, guess where I'm buying the equipment for their visits? Yep Ebay.

I've sort of banned myself from buying yarn on Ebay now but I will certainly enjoy knitting up the yarns I have, especially the gorgeous mohairs. But gee it's hard. I keep thinking, 'what if I miss a really lovely bargain???? Be strong Maria!!! lol