Third time lucky

In 2007 I bought some Malabrigo yarn while visiting Seattle (it was called Grape something). I loved it. And I still do. I wish I had more.



About 4 years ago I knit a vest - a pretty plain vest. I only wore it three times because it was too short and too wide. So about 3 years ago I frogged it. And I knit another vest, open front and long. I hated it. So about one year ago I frogged it. Now, what happens to yarn that has been knit and frogged twice. Yuk and Yikes. But I love this yarn so I tried again. This is the most forgiving yarn I have ever held in my hands.

I knit the Big Woolly Jumper from The Gentle Art of Knitting by Jane Brocket. I would make a link to it from Ravelry but I can't find it on there.



I absolutely love the fact that I will get to wear it heaps over the next few months. And today is cold enough that since I put it on to take the photo I haven't wanted to take it off. It is soooo soft. If you ever get the chance to knit with it - take it.

I had a trip to Sydney a month ago and of course I went to Morris & Sons and I bought some sock yarn (like I need more sock yarn!!). I fell in love with the Alexandria cowl which is a Morris & Sons pattern and bought the exact yarn that they made the model out of - I almost never do that. I love it and it comes a very close second to my big woolly jumper for my favourite knit for this winter.



Now I have some beautiful red angora (sheds bad!!) I bought on the same 2007 trip that I will be knitting next. It also needs to be frogged from some crazy idea I had that it would be good as a poncho. I will find the perfect pattern, I know I will - I'm on a roll. In the meantime there are socks to knit.

What have I been doing?

I've been finishing a blanket for a 60th birthday present this weekend. It's finished and I must remember to take a photo of it! It is so nice it's a good thing I love the person it is going to because it is so hard to let go of something that has taken a lot of time to complete. But I do love her and I'm really happy to give it to her. I know that it will get some ooos and aahs but no one but me will know how much effort it took! (well, and you if you are a knitter or crocheter)

I've been cooking healthy and interesting. I have been experimenting with low cal and tasty (no sugar, little salt). It's hard but I'm getting there



I knit a ski hat for my nephew - so far I haven't heard if he likes it?



I knit a shark hat for my grandson. I know his mumma will like it!



I've knit a baby sweater - buttons not sewn on yet, two hats, and almost finished with a pair of socks - I guess that's pretty good for the past month of Biggest Loser and Dr Who.

One Two Three Four

Tell me that you love me more.
I don't feel like talking - I just feel like knitting. I feel like showing you my beautiful hydrangeas, how my dog likes to sleep, my new scarf which is the most beautiful purple malabrigo sock yarn (colour doesn't work so well on my little point and shoot), a hat before it is blocked, mitts for my daughter in law and one sock for my grandson - now back to the knitting.

The Fifth Day of Christmas

I'm sitting here alone, in my living room, Christmas tree lights blinking and stormy clouds outside my window. I miss my family, some of whom are in the states right now. I look forward to having Christmas with them in the coming years here, where it's warm and lovely on the day. My son, right now, is wrapped up in a winter coat and hat when all he wants is to grab his surfboard and head out for some waves after present opening on Christmas Day. My grandson knows who Santa Claus is for the first time and doesn't especially like him. He has a 'Gaga' (that's his name for me and now it's stuck) who lives in the computer. I long to give him a cuddle and hold him on my lap while I read the Night Before Christmas to him.

I don't really care about Christmas. I like it enough but it's awfully forced for too much liking. To me it is a day to spend with my sons - only one this year but he'll do - and eat good food, special food, that we wouldn't have the rest of the year. It is a time to talk to family and old friends. It is some time away from work and school to reflect on life and get some of those 'Isn't it a Shame' (I didn't have more time) things done. It's my time to go to galleries and exhibitions, movies and out for lunches.

I am sentimental over old Christmas years. I miss my Dad and other good friends and family memebers who have passed away - Dad loved Christmas for the same reasons as I like it - food and family. But as lonely as I feel, as sad as I am that I only get to Skype with my family, I also feel incredibly lucky in my life. I have health, safety, love, freedom, hot water and a toilet, hope, money, food, my eyes, the internet, quiet, independence, books, a creative mind, music, yarn and an open mind. Lucky. I will not take any of these things for granted in the future. I will revel in the fact that I can have a shower every day, go for a walk with no fear, drink clean water, read Salmon Rushdie and speak my mind. I will pay attention and be merry. I will drink a glass of eggnog and toast my good fortune.

Knitting, but not Today

Last night I stayed up late and finished a beautiful (I hope) shawl knit with beautiful Malibrigo (I know) sock yarn. Today I was going to soak it and block it but I just didn't get to it. Anyone who has knit lace knows that if I post a photo now it will just look like a purple lump of tangled wool. The blocking deserves attention so it will have to wait until next weekend.

Last week I finished one of two socks knit out of left-over stash yarn. I used the Bendigo 4 ply for another project and had bits of three balls left-over so my brother will get a pair of socks. These aren't a Christmas present, just socks. But who wants to post a picture of one sock?

I am also madly crocheting away on the big blanket for my friend's 60th coming up in February. I love the way it looks and it is about 2/3rds finished. I'll be very proud of it when it is done and will absolutely post a picture when it is.

Lots of knitting but no photos.

Today I made some more aprons. I got the pattern from Sweetwater's Simple Home book. I really love this book and plan to make more projects from it.



These are late Birthday presents for two friends in the states. I hope they like them. They were a lot of fun to sew. I have turned my study desk into the sewing table for December and January until uni starts again. I have a couple of projects ready and I also will be sewing some pants for myself.



A couple of weeks ago I sewed a shirt for myself and when I went to trim a seam I cut a huge hole right in the front. I'm not sure how to save it - I was so disgusted I just folded it up and stuck it in a plastic bag to look at later.

I am so looking forward to sewing and knitting with abandon over the next couple of months. I am taking 3 weeks off over Christmas but I am not giving myself any sort of list of things to get done in that time. I always feel so guilty when I don't accomplish all I said I would. I will make a list each morning of things I would LIKE to do on the day, but they will just be suggestions. I'll just see how I go.

Finished and lovely

These are Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks. The wool is Socks That Rock and I love it. These socks were an absolute delight to knit and my ball of wool lasted only until the very last stitch. I can't believe that there was exactly the right amount of wool for these socks.

When I got this book I made a promise - well, more like a suggestion to myself that I would knit every sock in the book. I have knit 6 of the 25 in the three years I have owned it. And now I've gone and bought another sock book because I just can't help myself. The Knitter's Book of Socks by Clara Parkes and I will have to knit every one of them too. Lots of socks to look forward to this summer.

Fire Trucks, Star Wars and Baseball

My Grandson is waayy into Fire Trucks at the moment. Everything in his little world stops cold at the sound of a siren. It's hard to find Fire Truck fabric.



Grandson was introduced to Star Wars by his Star Wars crazy father so ... Thanks Sarah Bradberry for the design, our little Storm Trooper has a Bendigo Cotton cap for winter. BTW he isn't 2 yet and loves the Wookie.




I am a huge baseball fan. One of the only ones I know here in Australia - well, one of the only girls I know. My mother is a big fan too so we Skype about it sometimes. I buy a subscription to mlb.com every year to watch games on my computer. I don't watch too much tv so this is a great time for knitting, crochet etc. And I always have a World Series (I know - it is the worst title for a final since really, it's only the US and one Canadian team in the league although there are mostly players from other countries) project - usually socks. These are Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks. I'm such a fan of lace patterned socks that are easy but look spectacular. This is a good pattern.


I always worry about running out of wool so I either buy too much or knit short socks. This is a very old ball of Socks that Rock bought 5 years ago in the states so there is no chance of getting more. So I knit part of one, break the yarn, knit part of another, and continue until I run out of wool. This is probably not the most efficient way to do it but at least I will run out of wool at the same spot on both socks if I do. I have some lovely purple sock yarn just in case.



Yesterday's game was the most exciting games I can remember ever watching. Today will be the last game of the year and I won't get those socks done - I have housework to fit in between innings and pitcher changes so I won't have solid knitting time. But I am so excited about this game today - Go Cards.