What I made, by Sharon

In the end I solved the problem of how to do the colours on Raph's cowl by realising that, it I knit it to the prescribed 52 centimeters in the yarn I was using, it would be utterly ridiculous. I stopped after I had done one stripe in each colour, and it's still pretty strange. Leon was kind enough to model it for me.  I don't really know what to say about this project. It was a fun simple knit. i think the Milorrachy tweed colours look really good together, but it does look a bit like a ruff. Still, it will definitly keep Raph's ears and neck warm while he walks the dogs, it's still winter, and his birthday is next week. I'll try to get some pictures modeled by him when I give it to him on him birthday next week.

After I finished my Bousta Beanie , I  decided to make Sunberry Socklettes , out of Jameison and Smith left over from the beanie.I knew it wouldn't be too ma tchy, b ecause I finished the light grey from the hat, but I have been wondering for a while how Jameison would wear for socks. Unfortunately this pattern was weird. This the toe as written: POINTY. NIPPLY. WIERD. I ripped it back 8 rows, and kitchenered it. When it came time to finish the second sock, I gathered the stitches, and got a better result, but I had sewn in the end of the first one and, despite looking really hard for it I couldn't find an end to unpick it.   I reversed the direction of the stripes on the ankle, and the colours on the second heel. I wasn't very happy with these wile was working om them, but they fit snugly, unlike many of the sneaker liners I have made recently. The Jamieson and Smith yarn feels good on the feet, and hopefully the colourwork on the heels will help t...

On Saturday afternoon I finished the Endless Rainbow for Rachey - it was far from endless, and took me two not very intense knitting weeks: I then prepared my next knitting project, a Bousta Beanie from left over Jameison and Smith. The only problem was, because of some work excitement on Friday, I completely failed to print out the pattern. Knowing I was going to a bar on Saturday night, and not knowing the lighting situation, I wanted to knit from a paper pattern:  While considering the problem I skeined up the yarn for the Millers Daughter, which i imagine I will start some time next week: This all lead me to a problem: What can I knit that will work no matter the lighting, won't impact on my ability to chat and won't stop me casting on a hat tomorrow? So I pulled out my only ongoing wip - my good old sock yarn blanket, and got to it.   I did four squares, which is probably more that I have done this year!

It's funny, I've been knitting Endless Rainbow for nearly two weeks, and I haven't really talked about it very much. It might be because this is a project with all the feels. Here's the story: You may remember my friend Rachey from such adventures as going to Israel.   She is not very well. She is suffering from heart failure. She's actually doing quite well - driving and seeing friends and living her best life, in the situation. She said the other day that she wants to scream when people say "get well soon" to her, because, well, that's not how heart failure works, I guess. I think people say that to her because they want her to get well soon , they wish she would get well soon. I know I can't make her better. I can only be here, and be her friend, but I can't do much else. Except knit. And, while the power of wool and silk might not make her heart better, maybe it will make her heart feel better, if just for a moment. And I've kn...

Leon’s Ardmore socks are going well. I predict they will be done by tomorrow afternoon. The Wollmeise yarn I ordered for my next project hasn’t arrived yet. I’ve got a tracking number, but it’s not working, so I have no idea when it is going to arrive. I ordered it two weeks ago, which I thought would be plenty of time. I guess this is an argument for having a stash, rather than buying as you go. I think I’ll make Rachey an Endless Rainbow shawl. She was browsing the internet at Christmas, and asked for one, sort of as a joke, sort of seriously. I’m not sure if she’s a shawl wearing kind of person, so I’ve been hesitant, but I may as well make it. I’ve got this beautiful yarn for the contrast colour and picked up some wool/silk from Wool Baa yesterday. I was nervous about the yarn bleeding  prewashed it just to be s ure. And I didn't retry the skien. just before I chucked it in the washer to spin dry I thought "hmm, should I tie this in a knot? Nah, sh...

By this stage our trip was nearly done.We spent our last day in breweries (no surprise there) I did accidentally stumble across a yarn shop near Carmel Market. it was narrow and crowded and much of the yarn was acrylic, but there was some beautiful cottons, which I did not purchase, because I didn't have anything in mind to knit with cotton.  There was only one major thing left - the actual physical trip home. this was a 12 hour flight, followed by a 10 hour stop in Bangkok airport and then an eight hour flight. I have to say, I'm not good at sleeping on planes. So, I cast on another Martina Behm pattern - this time Miss Winkle , for Rachey in the most wonderful Hello Kitty Pink.This pattern was quite simple, and I was glad, because I got very little sleep, but I did knit, knit knit, and got it cast off before landing back in Melbourne. Obviously, it still needs a good blocking. So there it is, my holiday. I knit two shawls and two pai...