Swatching for an old friend

When I was 24 I lived with a flatmate for a year. We met because she had put an ad for a flatmate in the local paper - that's how old this story is. We had a riotous time. There was drinking and boys and late nights, heartbreak and a cat called Matey, and I have no photos of that time at all.

After a year and a half I packed up and went overseas, and Luna has been on a variety of adventures herself, including becoming a midwife, moving to Tasmania and living a rather eclectic life. She moved back to Melbourne a couple of years ago and at Christmas a bunch of us from "the old days" met up for a drink and a catch-up. She asked if I would knit her a black jumper, and I'm pretty sure I said no. A couple of months ago she messaged me and somehow we ended up planning this jumper. She sent the jumper she wants the handknit to look like - it's kind of stiff and made of mohair or fake mohair.

We decided on Zealana Air, and she ordered it. It arrived earlier this week and I've swatched carefully, because this one does have to be a specific size.

Zealana Air held double is luxury in all senses of the word. It's soft and floaty and warm and a very expensive way to do things. It's also knit in 4.5mm needles, so once I get started this should be a quick knit.

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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 - the one with the drama

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What I made, by Sharon

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