Wee Little Things

Some time Friday night I decided that I wanted to make something for my niece Mabel's baptism today. This was a fairly stupid idea given we had guests, I knew that I had a date with Beth Saturday arvo and tickets to the movies for last night (Gran Torino, great film, go see). The project then had, by necessity to be small. I have always loved Saartje's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijnand decided they were small enough and managable enough for the time available.

I started a pair in the yarn that I used for my Tyro socks using the stated needle size and the largest sizing and found that the resulting bootie was adorable but tiny. I also felt that whilst cool and funky, the colourway may not actually be to my sister-in-laws taste. I cast that bootie aside (vowing to make it a twin at a later date) and started a second pair yesterday morning.

This pair are made in Artyarns Ultramerino 4 (colour 127) on 3mm needles. I have also sized them up a little, casting on 43 sts and adjusting accordingly. They now seem about the ideal size for an abundant 4 month old. I also stole a great idea from Susan and made longer straps to be used as ties rather than buttons (which, whilst adorable, strike me as a little too much fuss when working with an infant).

Heartlands

I think this may have become obsessive. I have gone from shawl-less to owning three in as many months. I love them so much that they live on the backs of my lounge suite. I have turned the loungeroom into the den of an 80 year old woman. All it needs is doilies and plastic flowers!

So bad has the issue become that I have ordered Lace Style, Wrap Style and Knitting Lace Triangles. I bought lace weight yarn on Sunday. LACE WEIGHT!!!! This has gone too far I tell you. Too far by half. I mean how many shawls does one woman need?

Anyway, for the record, this one is Heartland Lace Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark knit with Knitpicks Gloss in the Pumpkin colourway. The yarn is a silk-merino blend and is just lovely on the hand. If you can get hold of some I would highly recommend it. Mine was generously gifted to me by Sam. The design is gorgeous, complex and geometric and I enjoyed every moment of knitting it.

Ugly yet strangely compelling

I am not sure what anyone was thinking here. What was Knitpicks thinking when they made this colourway (Meadow Multi)? What was I thinking when I bought it? What was someone thinking on Ravelry when they favourited the project? What are all the other people who buy it thinking?

The thing is that this colourway is really quite ugly but in another way it is compelling and attractive. It is the strangest combination of colours, and even the shades of the colours used are a bit odd. Together there is no obvious blending but also no great contrast.

I can't tell you what any of us were thinking but there is just something about these socks that I rather like.

The Stitches and Craft Show

Melbourne Showgrounds, Thursday the 12th, Sam and I, fun for all.

Giant knitting needles.

Selvedge greatness from Jodie

The knitting competition items.

What do you do when the muse leaves home?

I have actually finished a number of projects, been plenty of places and have a number of things I could tell you all about. Sometimes I have even thought about blogging these things. But putting the actually words together seems to have eluded me entirely. Any ability I have had to make a coherent and even moderately entertaining post apparently went to Mexico and refused to catch a flight home. For the sake of looking like I am still alive, let's go through the finished objects....

Pattern: Made up by me. for the record, cast on 10 sts, knit 5 rows then do one drop stitch row, finish with fringing.
Yarn: Monster Knits Bulky Corriedale Handspun (Bluefish Colourway) - 1 skein
Needles: 10 mm
Comments: Duncan is very taken by this. He picked the yarn from stash and it knit up very quickly.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: The Knittery Merino Cashmere Sock (Gold) - 1 skein plus about 10m kindly donated by Tania
Needles: 4.5 mm
Comments: This is just beautiful. The yarn is soft and fluid and the pattern was entertaining and fun. The nupps confounded me for a moment but once I got all loosey goosey on them they behaved better.


Pattern: Hope by Jennie Pakula
Yarn: Panda Heath - a little under 5 balls
Needles: 4 mm
Comments: I have modified this make a casual jumper. I joined after the lace yoke and omitted the shaping. The bottom and sleeve hems are just rolled.


Pattern: Tyro by Huan-Hua Chye
Yarn: Babylonglegs Sock Yarn (Gothika) - 1 skein
Needles: 2.5 mm
Comments: I did this top down with a traditional heel flap and a modified, grafted star toe like that on Fargyles. The colour of these is stunning. Somehow I got over-excited on the heel flap and it a smidge too long which affects the fit somewhat. I could care less, they still look pretty cool.