What I made, by Sharon

  As mentioned last post, I've been making matchy matchy sock for my dressing gown. I knew they fit, because I've been trying them on as I go (as an aside, I got to knit the toes three times: the first time they were too short, the second time I managed to turn them 45 degrees. Third time was the charm)   So when I finally finished them, and sewed in ALL the ends I felt very confident that I would be happy with them. And then I put them on with their matchy matchy dressing gown pal and started laughing: I kind of haven't stopped. I knew they might be terribly matchy, but I didn't expect the sum effect to be hilarious! All in all they completed "outfit" is both comfortable and comforting. A win all around . Oh look, both cats have snuck into this photo

After finishing the dressing gown, I decided to make matching knee high socks. I often wear handknitted knee highs around the house, they are so warm and comfortable. I decided to use this pattern from Knitty, although I  changed the hight, the stitch count, the yarn weight, the rate of decreases and the needle size. Also, I decided to change the heel to an afterthought heel to make it replaceable, because walking around on my carpets wears through the heels of my indoor socks through. Unfortunately, after I put in the first heel last night I realised that the afterthought heel pulled the whole sock down in a way that a heel flap and gusset doesn't, so it was too shortt. I'm going to have to do some rethinking and frogging to make it work - perhaps the Crystal heel (also from Knitty) and moving the heel down two stripes? I don't like to frog immediately, I like to think and plan before I rip, so last night instead of knitting I pulled out the darning pile...

As I have said a number of times, I love knitting stocking stitch in the round. The simple joy of knitting around and around and around satisfies something basic for me. So, when I decided to make a knee length cardigan I converted it into the round. When I was done with the knitting I used this   Kate Davies tutorial to reinforce the steek. Then I cut it, and used her "steek sandwich" idea to ensure a nice, covered edge. This is particularly important for this pattern, because you can see the inside of the facing, particularly on the hood. I loved using this technique, rather than knitting backwards and forwards, which all the turning and purling. The edging done this way is so very neat. The only thing I would have done differently is I could have knit the hood in the round and steeked that too, but being that this is only the second time I've steeked I didn't think about that until after I had knit it. All in all I am incredibly happy with...

Every year, coming up to what we call Bendigo, but what is officially titled the Australian Sheep and Wool Show I consider not going. I say thing thing like "I have all the yarn I need" or "I'm feeling skint" and this year I just feel tired. Even though lovely people had offered me lifts up and back and even a bed for Friday night I just wasn't feeling it. I've just got back from a month overseas, I bought a crazy amount of yarn at Woolfest and I'm just tired. I'm also training for a half marathon, so I have to fit running into my schedule somewhere. So, by Monday night I had decided I wasn't going. But, when Robyn was leaving Richmond knitters she mentioned she would be driving up, leaving at 9ish and coming back at fourish. Perfect. I got to go to the show without getting up early, and come back the same day. I was relatively restrained with my shopping, which is good, because the stash box is pretty chockers. I bought 4 skeins ...

I've made a number of changes to the simple cardigan pattern I am using as my dressing gown pattern. I replaced the garter edging with ribbing on the sleeves and a sewn hem on the bottom. On my old dressing gown the garter sleeves used to get caught up in the spinning wheel. I'm replacing the built in garter front bands with an applied edge, because I found that the old ones flipped under and I wanted a more structured edge. Probably the most significant difference though is that I knit it in the round and am steeking it.  Last night I finished the arms and body. Today I am off to do a 1 0 km fun run , and then  when I get home - after a shower - I'll sew down the bottom hem, and get going on that steak.

My friend Bee had a birthday party on Saturday night. She is a good friend, as well as being my massage therapist and therefore the reason I can still knit. She is also the most crafty non-knitter I know and she makes the best presents. For example, for Leon's birthday she sewed him a "bad" tie. So, for her birthday I wanted to craft her something. I decided to make hair clips for her. I found this tutorial , which said I needed a hot glue gun. I own lots of crafting equipment, including a staple gun, but I've never had cause to buy and use a hot glue gun. It was really fun! The tutorial was great and I was really happy with the result, turning this pile of stuff  into these super cute bows.I see more hot glue gunning in my future.

While I was travelling the June Cookie a Sock club shipment happened. The patterns were emailed and are classic Cookie A. The yarns beautiful, from Plucky Knitter Yarns, a Merino / Cashmere / Nylon blend, in a stunning blue. I knit one of the pattern already for Leon, and now, when I am considering what to knit next I DON'T WANT TO KNIT THE OTHER PATTERN. Or rather, I don't want  knit it right now. I feel like I have enough socks, for the moment. I want to be knitting socks for Leon and my father and Raph (a friend who is having a birthday soon) or knee high socks, and I don't think this pattern can be converted to make it manly. Now, for most people this wouldn’t be a big deal, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea of leaving it. Just not knitting it now. On the other hand I'm the boss of my knitting and I'll knit what I want and at the moment that seems to be big, warm jumpers. Not really surprising, given the weather. During all...

A long time ago, when I was a new knitter, I decided I wanted to knit a dressing gown. Something to throw on over pyjamas, or to wear around the house when I was lounging. I had in mind exactly what I wanted. Something long and hooded and a little bit wrappy. I searched long and hard and finally found a pattern. Now, this was before I joined Ravelry, which was almost exactly four years ago, so I was hunting around the web. I found this: from Knitting Pure and Simple . At the time they didn't do digital downloads, and they actually had to mail the pattern to me. The perfect, perfect pattern. While I was knitting it wasn't the best time in y life. I was living alone, and it felt like all my friends where either pregnant or overseas and I was sick. Not terribly sick, just a horrid cough and I felt tired and alone. All that couch time meant I finished it in three weeks, which at the time really surprised me. When I finished it it was exactly right. I wish I had a photo of it ...