What I made, by Sharon

Should I be thinking up catchier titles for my posts? Nah, at least they are descriptive, right?
On Friday I got my Purl Box delivery - some Fluff, for a Diaphanous Raglan, some more Fluff, probably for a v-neck cardigan and a random skein of sock yarn in the colourway Catharsis, because it's pretty. I've apparently made a sudden about turn. Before everything had to be teal. Now all must be pink.

I'm going to hold the Fluff on the left with a very light grey / pink 4 ply, which I think I will dye myself, so i did some experimenting with dying some minis on the weekend. What I learnt is that, up to a point I can just make my dye stock lighter, but I really do need to buy some gentler pinks.


I also discovered that Wangaratta Woolen Mills now sells undyed yarn, including a heavy 4 ply on the cone. I see one of those wending it's way to me quite soon. I figure a cardigan for me, a jumper for Leon, a couple of pairs of socks, some minis for my sock blanket... it will be used u…

I like to keep a tidy stash. All the yarn I have is on my Ravelry stash page. I carefully (obsessively?) track my yardage. This started when I first counted in 2013. Generally it's easy - I buy yarn, put it on Raveley, sooner or later knit it, put the project on Ravelry. Done. But what happens when there is a small amount of yarn left? Too much to say the ball is finished? Say, 20 grams from a 50 gram ball? I had a few small balls hanging about. there was some knit Picks Pallete that I dyed for Sleeve Island and didn't need, a half ball of Holst Garn Super-Soft left over from Still Light and I just knew that the leftovers from Noah's baby jumper would end up sitting around forever.

A couple of months ago I found this hat pattern -Fits The Whole Fam. Hold 3 strands of fingering yarn together, knit on 5mm needles and off you go:

I used my favourite cast on for 1 x 1 rib (Alternating Cable,  ) and really enjoyed knitting this. I'm going to donate it to KOGO, my knitting cha…

The ups - the balcony is nearly finished, our heater got put back in on Thursday and we hear the scaffolding is coming down next week!

The gym reopened this week, and we are going out to dinner to celebrate Leon's 40th tonight.

Australia has COVID under control.

The downs - Melbourne is doing poorly and there is a fair chance we will be locking down again soon.

And through it all there is:

Knitting - I started Sorrel last week, and should get the yoke done by tomorrow. It's knit with mohair held together with a BFL, silk and cashmere sock yarn. It feels amazing. i just want to hold it on my lap and stroke it.

Reading - I'm reading The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone, by Charity Norman. It's a novel about a trans-woman who comes out in her 50s, but it's also a very well written family drama. It's an easy but heartfelt read.

Leon and I are listening to Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End Of the Lane.

 It's a re-listen for me, but I don't remember anything about it…

And what a weekend it was! On Friday I cast on not one, but two projects. I cast on for the Sorrel jumper and  I started the Yarn Harlot's socks from her Patreon. I also went to a bar on Friday night, when I hung my Joji box bag from a hook, and knit straight out of it. It was fabulous - the bag and seeing Elise. Being in a bar was weird and uncomfortable, since we are escalating in the Covid situation. Boo.


I didn't take a picture when we were out, but it also works hanging from my desk. Love it!

On Saturday I bought some yarn from the Purl Box update. More on that when it arrives, but be assured it was mainly mohair!

On Saturday night Elise brought her tea-pot, so I finally finished the spout! Yay for finishing!
Then on Sunday we borrowed my parents car and drove to Ballarat to see Leon's parents. I knit on the socks - the Yarn Harlot's class takes us down to the heel, so I've got a little way to go, but I'm quite happy with my progress. 

Now onwards into the week…

You may remember what feels like months ago I dyed some lilac yarn, because I was worried that the mother of the baby I was knitting for might be weird about gendered colours? Well, she posted a picture of Noah in a lilac lace hat, so I guess it would have been fine! And, now that I'm writing this, I realise I should have knit something in black and white. "Dear old Collingwood forever". Maybe I'll do that for when he gets out of hospital in September. 

I had trouble with wee Envelope again. This time I could not pick up the stitches for the body nicely, and ended up doing them on the inside, which is fine, but not nearly as cute as doing them on the outside. 
The hat is just a simple 80 stitch hat, starting with some garter to match the jumper, and ending with i-Cord, because I think that's cute.
It's modelled here by my smaller bear model, and it's quite tight, which is good, since Noah is tiny - he was born at 6 months and 1 day. If I was the praying type…

My balcony is currently being rendered and painted, which means that they have wrapped the windows in plastic, and we can only open the bedroom windows, not the living room or study windows. It will be done in a couple of weeks, and meanwhile I'm practicing gratitude. I am grateful to have a safe, comfortable house, and the resources to do these necessary building repairs and still be able to afford boutique chocolates and yarn. Also, I'll be very grateful when they reinstall the heater and let me on my balcony!

At least I have the dual comforts of knitting and reading:

In reading this week, I'm reading the last of my NetGalley requests, (Im)perfectly Happyby Sharina Harris. It's a book about four black women, who are friends from college. Now in their early 30s, they have made compromises, and are seeking to follow their dreams. It's a great concept, but there are some weaknesses. 

It's told in alternating first person chapters. With four main characters it might…