There’s a new blog in town, about Op Shopping in Melbourne. It is a collaborative blog which means there is input about great Op Shop finds from a variety of bloggers, as they share their experiences of op shopping in and around Melbourne. An excellent feature is the handy locality listing down the right hand side of their page, which is probably the most comprehensive I’ve seen – it includes opening days and hours of a long list of stores.

Op shopping is becoming popular amongst crafters, who like to find bits and pieces, fabrics, yarns and oddments to create with. There are toys for the kids, and occasionally you will find that perfect piece of clothing, and designer labels are not uncommon.

My dad always liked trash and treasures and brick-a-brack shops, and I think I’ve developed a love of hunting for treasure. I find it fun and relaxing! (Thanks dad!) I have a love for all things vintage, and reclaiming and recycling is becoming quite popular, and of course there’s always the fact that you’re helping the charities of Melbourne.

Do pay a visit to this totally fun and interesting site, and perhaps find a treasure yourself

All about our August Meet-Up !

Wow. The meet-up today went BEYOND my wildest expectations. Never could I have possibly imagined a more lovely, wonderful, crochet fanatical and yarn obsessed bunch !

We were going to have a formal “show and tell” but all that went to mud as we all arrived and started admiring everyone’s projects, yarn and crochet books in a frenzy of conversation, oooohing and aaaahing.

When I almost didn’t think it could get any better, Lyndy offered to give spinning lessons to whomever was interested (that includes me!) and she even offered to look over my old wheel. (Thank you Lyndy!!!!!!!)

I could have stayed late into the evening, except that my hubby called my mobile and said “where are you?” LOL.

For the record, the attendees were:

Shellymoo (Michelle)
Laughing Purple (Sharon)
Lyndymb (Lyndy)
Laughing Peacock (Daphne)
Dawniedear (Dawn)
Cat’s Rockin Crochet (Cathy)
Angieburn (Angie)
IgglePiggle (Jacqui)
Stramenda (Cristina)
Trischa and Nen had intended to come along but had to cancel.

All in all it was an amazing success, and when I originally started this group to meet other crocheters in Victoria (as at the time I knew no-one else who had a crochet interest), I could not have imagined I would meet such wonderful, enthusiastic and talented people.

Thank you to everyone who came, shared, and laughed with us, and a special thanks to Cathy for organising the Swap, and for picking up my sale items from Ferntree Gully and bringing them to the meet for me. (I really was not aware that no one else had bought anything LOL). (Thank you Yarnplay67 (Michelle) for your wonderful items and generosity – I hope you can attend next time). Thanks also to Sharon, who today became our unofficial treasurer LOL.

I look forward to our next meet-up, which the ladies from the Eastern side of Victoria will be arranging.

Thanks again everyone, you are all unique, fun, talented, generous, amazing!

I have just discovered that dyeing yarn is addictive and very satisfying so much fun !

Yarn has to be 100% wool to take this simple dye, which is just basic food colouring (a leftover packet from many moons ago), water and vinegar.

First you wet the wool. Then fill a small saucepan with a few centimeters of water and add about three quarters of a cup of vinegar (I had 100 grams of wool) and place the wool inside, then sprinkle various colours on different areas of the wool, and press down gently with a spoon so the dye goes through to the bottom – do not mix up the colours. Then I brought it to the boil, and let it gently simmer for 20 minutes with a lid on. To my surprise the dye set so well, the water poured out clear ! Squeeze it gently, and hang it on a hook to dry.

Here is what it looked like after drying. I used all the food colours I had, red, green, blue, yellow.

And here it is after rolling into a ball, and starting a lacey shell scarf:

Next time I think I will use less colours. There’s too many here for my liking, but I still think its nice.

I will post a picture of the finished scarf soon

Today I wanted to go into an op shop but it was closed. So I went into a yarn / sewing store and asked about sewing lessons (since I just bought a sewing machine). I explained that I totally know how to use the machine (I used to use my mum’s old Singer), and I can make basic things like bags etc.

She said five 2 hour lessons will cost $200. And she starts with how to sew straight, how to sew a curve, how to sit at the machine type stuff. In fact the entire first lessons focus soley on that.

I then mentioned I want to make a very basic pinafore for my little daughter and she said, “Oh, that would take 10 lessons”.

I told my mum, and she said something like, “Do you know how much fabric you can buy with $400????? Do you know how many ready made pinafores you can buy with $400???? Do you know how much YARN you could buy with $400 !! I’ll teach you how to make a pinafore ! ” (Mum offered also to teach me how to follow sewing patterns.)

Love you mum )