What I made, by Sharon

 This is the Rockland crewneck , and I loved knitting it. It was soothing, and came out with me to lots of places (like camping  and running ). The yarn was absolutely wonderful. I love the way it looks, on my spunky husband and I love the way it feels. There were some oddities in the pattern, which I have gone into in my Ravelry post, and won't repeat here. One thing I'm really starting to notice is fonts and font colour. The colour on this pattern is a dark grey, which I couldn't read in bad light - and I knit at not one, but two pubs with insufficient lighting. Anyway, the results are great. I used Drover and Classer yarn, who dyes on Bellevue Park  merino. You might remember I made a dress with that yarn last year, and it is so soft, the stitches melt into each other. As I got near the collar, I started to worry that I was going to run out of yarn. I should have had plenty, but my last ball was getting thin. I looked on Ravelry and no-one had any in stash. I looked ...

On the 25th of May I started a Pressed Flowers Hat, as a swatch for my Pressed Flowers Cardigan . I knit the cardigan though the first three weeks of June. I couldn't declare is officially finished, because I made polymer clay buttons and I wanted to do shank buttons, rather than ones with holes. I went to my local bead shop. who didn't have any. I ordered some online, and accidentally ordered dolls shanks! I eventually got the right size: I also made matching hair slides, a broach and a shawl pin. Here's our attempt at a picture that shows all of these being worn:  And why did I need a shawl pin? Because, even before I finished the cardigan, I knew I wanted to keep knitting this pattern.  So I made the matching shawl : This was a very addictive knit, made even more so because I dyed both background colours myself.  It's particularly strange because,while the motif is very pretty and very fun to knit, but there are many problems with these patterns. The designer does n...

This jumper is very pretty, but it was a pain in the arse to knit. The colourwork is all non-repeating and I had to look at every single stitch on the tiny chart. Most of the knitting on this was done sitting at the dining table.  The finished jumper is delightful  - the yarn is Purl Box Oyster Yarns Maven DK  and it's a merino, silk and yak mix. Quite stunning. I love the way the colours came out, it feels like a sunset.  I even (accidentally) made matchy flower earrings! I was a bit surprised that it was cool enough in late December to wear this for a full evening - the story is we had 7 people booked for trivia on Wednesday night. We were going somewhere different, since our normal trivia had finished for the year. And then Monday night's knit night ended up being a bit of a COVID spreader event and we ended up with three of us at trivia, some sick friends and some who were waiting to see. It all felt a bit like 2021. I didn't go to knitting on Monday night -...

Not my second cabled jumper ever, obviously, but my second in this current cable obsession. (the first is here ). I love this one too - it's warm and cosy, although I though it would be a bit longer - it sort of rides up a little. It might settle over time. I knit it  to pattern (it's the excitingly named Sweater Number 20 ), except I reduced the stitches for the cuffs and bottom band so that the cables would flow into the ribbing without interruption.  And I love it. The only odd thing is I've worn it out a couple of times and no one has commented on it. I'm used to getting compliments, or at least comments on new jumpers! Maybe my friends have spoilt me! Anyway, it's comfortable, warm and very squishy. Everything I was aiming for. 

  While I was knitting Luna's jumper, I decided I wanted one for myself too. But in in black- in a pink fade. I had four skeins of pink yarn with no purpose in mind, and some fluffy angora that I  bought not enough of for another project. The jumper came out really wearable: in fact, I'm wearing it as I write this. It's comfortable, warm but not too warm and it came out exactly the length I wanted. It was a fun knit, pink fluff is always a good time, and having just knit it, I knew the style and fit. I don't think I've ever knit the same thing twice in a row, but I was such a fun and soothing knit that I really enjoyed both times. And as a bonus, here's a picture of Luna wearing hers: A really  satisfying and successful pair of projects.

 I finished Luna's jumper last week, and now I just need to send it to it's recipient. It looks a little short to me, but it's aligned with the model jumper she sent me, and also I used a full 200 grams (1400 metres) of yarn and had very little left. This is why I normally only post modelled photos!  While I was knitting this, I decided I wanted one for myself, using a fade and some fluff that I had bought for something else and not sued. In the past I would have resisted knitting the same thing back-to-back, but now I rather like it, it feels very soothing. Also, mine (as mentioned) is a light pinkish super fluffy fade, rather than the more restrained black I knit for Luna!

I've been so busy (and having so much fun) that I haven't had a chance to post about my finished Scotch Mist jumper. I was obsessed with knitting a cream cable jumper - which I have some concerns about, given my lifestyle (my lifestyle involving lots of red wine, coffee, chocolate and various other grubby-making activities.) But the heart wants what  the heart wants, so I took the risk.The yarn is Fairfield Finns yarn, and it's from Bacchus Marsh, so very local to me. It still smells a little like sheep, which is something I find quite delightful.  Thea Coleman's pattern worked out perfectly, although I made some changes, including the gauge. I also knit the sleeves with ribbing instead of the reverse stocking stitch the pattern called for - there is just no context in this design for reverse stocking stitch.  I took it to Bendigo last weekend and wore it quite a lot, and it is still unstained! Here it is, in action with Kris and Katie on the way home. My favo...

I started Leon's Humulus  at the beginning of a two week beer festival, with yarn I bought that very day . I finished it two weeks later, 2 days after the end of the festival. It was a very satisfying knit, from start to finish. When I say "start" I mean at the bottom, because I flipped this jumper so I could knit all the simple, plain stocking stitch while drinking at pubs and fancy beer events. When I say "finish" I mean completely changing the neckline, since boat neck is not to Leon's liking. I ended up freestyling it, it turned out I needed 30 stitches less than the pattern wanted, and a lot more ribbing besides.  I felt very satisfied that I got my planning right, after my near disaster on my last trip. We are heading off to Queensland for ten days to do some hiking and then go to a beer festival, and I'm hoping that I planned this one effectively as I planned the Good Beer Week knitting. I've cast on the Rainbow Party Cardi , and I'll be ...

It's been a lovely weekend. For the first time this summer it's warm, but not stupidly hot and not raining. Generally speaking it was quiet weekend, without any exciting plans (or photos!). On Saturday I went to the gym and then cleaned the house - I told you it was a thrill a minute around here! Then I finished the jumper I was knitting for charity. This jumper was quite the drama. I started it from a Drops pattern, but then the pattern was weird, so I used Elizabeth Zimmermann's raglan formula . I thought I was making a 6 year old jumper, but it's more like a ten year old. Still, it will keep some child far away warm, which I guess that's the point. I also made Willow a cat toy - it's delightful to have a younger cat who plays with toys. She loves to pick them up and carry them around in her mouth, so I thought the shape of this would be good. She seemed to ignore it, but when we woke up this morning it had moved from the living room and was on the bed, so sh...

In 2018 I knit Joji's Boxy jumper.  Then in 2021 I frogged it, because it was grey, and looking tired. Last year I saw her Lace and Fade Boxy pattern. I realised I could knit it from stash and then I got obsessed with knitting it. I cast on on Christmas eve, and finished on the second of January - the fact that I knit this giant jumper in ten days is testament to what a fun knit it is. Also, that it was four full days of cricket this year!  I love it. I love that it is light and just a little bit warm, perfect for a Melbourne summer night.  I love how it looks different depending whats underneath - some of these photos have a black dress under, and some a pink t-shirt and it looks totally different.  I loved knitting it - 10 rows of easy lace, lots of stocking stitch, so fun. The only thing I changed from the pattern is I brought the neckline up a bit and used ribbing rather than a curled edge, because I thought the original was a bit sloppy. I also knit the s...

 I have often admired knitters who have multiple projects on the go at the same time - something simple for when they are out and about, something more complicated for at home. I've tried it before, but it has always done my head in. Well, last week I cast on Astragal , a stranded hat and I thought it would be better not to try to knit a charted pattern on a busy weekend, so I also cast on a charity jumper. End result: at the end of the week i have a very attractive colourwork hat for Elise, and a stripy  jumper for a three year old, and 200 grams less 8 ply leftovers in the stash -box. Very satisfying all around.  

My weekend started with How to Make Gravy, an annual concert that Paul Kelly puts on  at the Myer Music Bowl (an outdoor venue). This year Elise came too. The weather was good - we've had so much rain, but it was a clear, beautiful night. Leon wore, and I finally got photos of his latest jumper - Glennan by Kate Davies. I love it. It's one of the best fitting jumpers I have ever made him.  On Saturday I went to the gym and then got ready for the Richmond Knitters Christmas Dinner.  This is another annual tradition, and this year was so good. We did the ornament exchange - I made an ornament, which went home with Chris. Dani dyed us a Christmas colour and this year she outdid herself - this knits up with rainbow stripes divided by a black star-filled sky. Phenomenal.    Then on Sunday I went for a run -- and I do have to tell you about it every-time, since I'm running not-even once a week! We cleaned the house and then I lay on the couch and read a book. So...