Birkin - the story of a jumper

Early this year, my knitting group The Richmond Knitters, decided to do a knit-a-long, for the Australian Sheep and Wool Show (also know as Bendigo). We debated different patterns, settling for the lovely Birkin. I found some "local" yarn for the body - I'm not sure where it was made, but it is sold by the lovely Ixchel Bunny in the Yarra Valley. I was using left-overs for all the contrast colours. I thought the yellow / green might be a bit much, and I wished that the red was pink, but I went ahead.

Before I bought the yarn, it was clear that Bendigo wasn't going to go ahead this year. A few of the Richmond Knitters were already knitting theirs and I had rather fallen in love with the pattern, so I went ahead.

I'm really happy with how it came out. The colours worked better than I could have hoped.

I knit a larger than I usually would size (large for the yoke, and then kind of medium for the body). I added the leaf motive on the sleeves and around the bottom. I knit the sleeves quite long for me, and the body slightly longer than the pattern. This is unusual, as I am quite short.

We took the photos today in the courtyard / lightwell of our building, to acknowledge that we are in Stage 3 lockdown.

Still, this jumper makes me feel connected to my knitting friends. There is a small chance that by mid-July we will be back in Stage 2, which means we could all meet up in Bendigo at the time of the show. The show won't happen, but hanging out with the Richmond Knitters is the main point for me (and shopping, but I've done quite enough of that). Even if that can't happen, it will keep me warm and snug through what is a rather difficult time.

Comments

Geogradiant MKAL Part 1 - that was unexpected (spoilers)

Stephen West released the first MKAL clue on Thursday night. I started knitting it without looking at spoilers. When I got up on Friday he had sent through an "alternative" clue one. I then went and had a look at the spoiler thread to try to work out what was going on. Which was that some people thought the pattern looked like a "German hate symbol". I knit on anyway, since I was half-way through. Then he took down the original clue, replacing it with a mitred square in garter stitch. The Ravelry forums and Instagram are a complete shit-show, even though Rav is being moderated. It's been a bit disheartening, having something that is usually quite light and fun weighed down with all this. I admire Stephen's quick and sensitive response to this drama. I also feel that anything can look like anything if you squint. To me this looks like a Celtic knot. I think mine is pretty, and I'll knit on through all crises.

Linky Wednesday - 3/2024

It's been a bit of a week. Because of my hand , I can't really knit, so I'm doing some charity crocheting: It's quite fun, but also I'm halfway through a shrug for myself, and I'd rather be knitting. Oh well, we can't always get what we want! In reading, I'm reading Stargazy Pie , the next Victoria Goddard. This is a comedy of manners and lots of things happen. I can't say I feel deeply about any of them, but that's not the point. It's fun. I'm listening to Elin Hilderbrand's The Five-Star Weekend . It's got a lot of characters, and it took me while to get into it, but now I'm invested. Women's fiction at it's finest. Next up is a review book Tidelines by Sarah Sasson. Great cover. It's Australian, and you know how I love a local book (although I think it's set, or at least starts in Sydney). It's described as a coming of age novel, and I love those too, so it sounds like a winner. I just re-read t

Linky Wednesday - the one with the pause

In meditation it's said that the pause between the in breath and the out breath is a gap, a space to rest. Well, I'm in that in-between space for reading, listening and knitting. This is a random photo of a highlight of my week - I filled up my lolly jar. These are just supermarket party mix. During the lockdowns, we sources a great pick-and-mix delivery service, but at some point they started sending from the UK, which is a bit silly. Rachey messaged me a new one she found, and I impulsed purchased a kilo of mixed lollies, and then she sent me a link to the biggest lolly shop in Melbourne, which also delivers sweets by the kilogram, so i think I'm sorted for the rest of the year! In reading I've just finished The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham . It's the second last book in the Summer of Mystery, and I have to admit, having now read nine Margery Allingham books, that they are OK. I wouldn't have read them if they were not connected to this club, but on

What I made, by Sharon

Search This Blog