Started knitting a cardigan yesterday, am really pleased with it so far.
I've taken this week off work, am not due to go back until Wednesday, of course it's been raining all week. Managed to get out for lunch with a good friend. Was supposed to be a picnic, but the weather didn't permit. Instead we had lots of tea, very lovely sandwiches and Cinnamon Apple Scrolls.
I had taken the week off to get ready for my husband's birthday tomorrow but he decided he didn't want a party - not that the weather would have permitted it. Instead we will go out for dinner and maybe go somewhere tomorrow, seeing as soccer is off.
Finished the second pair of socks from the book tonight, the fit is much better. The pattern was pretty much identical to the first, apart from the length. Being used to elasticated thin socks they don't quite feel right on, think some knitting elastic in the band will help for next time. I have set a little table up along side of a tub chair I bought at a garage sale a few years back, it's now my favourite place to eat breakfast and get some reading done each morning. Below is some of the books I want to get through, finished Save yesterday and started Stainless today. The orange book is The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean Auel, the latest book in the Earth's Children series, am halfway through that. Above it is White Magic by Lucy Cavendish again partway through. The ratty book on top of it is The Five Peppers and how they Grew, probably my favourite childhood book, I've decided to read it again. Under Stainless is How to be Comfy, I am sure I have Spotless around here somewhere too. The little blue book is called Meeting Fairies, I too am partway through it, I feel guided to only read it outdoors and have not been able to get out enough lately. I've tried reading it inside but the words are so blurry but are very clear outside. Went to Spotlight yesterday with my husband in tow, can't remember the last time he came into there with me - probably was when I worked at another branch and he got a temporary job there as well, quite a few years back. Found a good use for him while I took a quick look around, he stood on the line at the cutting counter, until he got bored and tried ringing me to come back - he didn't realise I was behind him. Bought 4 metres of purple velveteen for my Redingote, was supposed to start cutting it out today but didn't get to it.
Yesterday my Mum came over wanting to know if she had lent me a bag, she was a little upset it was lost so I offered to help her look. She said the last time she had it was when she went away a few weekends ago and it contained her fabrics and unfinished quilts, I was feeling bad for her. Questioned whether it might have been left behind, she was sure she put it in the car and that she would have been called. Again she made emphasis on what was packed in the bag, I asked if someone had the bag if they would know it was hers by recognising the quilts -- that's when she told me that all the fabric and quilts were in her sewing room. At that point I got a little frustrated, I've no idea why :S. As I passed the rarely used downstairs bathroom I asked if anyone had checked the shower, heading in and pulling the door open. That's when we all broke down in hysterics, because there was a pile of things stacked in the shower, under a coat was the illusive and empty bag, apparently they where hidden there when they moved rooms around.
I've been up to good in the sewing room, tidying and clearing out. I can see carpet and no longer have to walk by squirreling my foot into the mess, hoping I hit floor without breaking anything. Yep I'm that tidy, and have taught the kids well - if I ask them to put anything into my sewing room they know that the floor just inside the door is the perfect place for whatever it is, no matter how big it is. What I've found in there, lots of surprises - clothing in garbage bags, apparently I asked my son to tidy the loungeroom and there was clean laundry in there, I had wondered why I had lost much of my clothing. Right now I can't get in there, my daughter has taken over and is watching a DVD, this is what I can hear from there right now. This is my favourite version of HMS Pinafore, by the Australian company ESSGEE, so sad I missed out on seeing it on stage - had a new baby that I wouldn't leave with a sitter. That was 16 years ago, I had seen their version of Pirates of Penzance several times, the last the most memorable because as I made my way to my seat I put my hand to my stomach and thought 'I'm pregnant' and then had to wait 2 weeks for me to be pregnant enough to show up when tested. The first test I took a day or so after had the doctor telling me I was "slightly pregnant". What a nice memory to have.
Anyway back to the subject of this post, I finally finished a pair of socks. I'm both delighted and disappointed, they knitted up quick and easily, the longest part was finishing up the toes, they were waiting til I either bought or found a sewing needle. I am happy to say that I found one last night, yay for tidying. The delight part is that they are warm but the disappointment is that they are too loose and keep slipping around my foot and sagging. They are knitted in a thickish acrylic yarn, Moda Vera 'Ella' from Spotlight, it's lovely and soft, I'd say about a 12 ply equivalent. I've already started another pair in the same yarn, sticking to 5mm needles this time, the others were done in both 5 and 5.5 mm. The patterns are from Learn to Knit Socks, a book that I will use again and again for sure, there are 26 different designs from babies to adults in varying size yarn.
The pictures below show my version in pink, the last image shows the sag, next time I keep to the smaller needles or add knitting elastic.
Like I said these were quick and easy to knit up, I am not a fantastically quick knitter, I knit in front of the tv which adds time. I've only completed one pair of socks before, for my Dad's birthday a couple of years back, I gave myself only a week to knit those up out of a wool silk blend yarn that I spun myself. The image below is my only other complete sock, it's from a purchased sock yarn (from Lincraft) and was easy to knit up, the fine thread took a while, it has the opposite problem from my latest foray, it's too tight, I made the foot too short and is the reason why I didn't get around to do the other. One day.
Yesterday I found a better patten for the coat I am planning on making at Spotlight (I only went there for interfacing, I swear) it's New Look 6920, the longer version.
It looks more like my vision, needs some gathering though. I also found some purple velvet, not quite the tone that I hoped, will keep looking for that. I know the fabric exists because we sell cushion covers in it at work. Will get the fabric next weekend, have a coupon for 25% off.
Had a little insomnia last night, didn't help that I sat up watching a dvd and knitting until 2.30, after trying to sleep I got up at 4, did a little more knitting in front of the tv before falling asleep until 7am. It was pouring outside and when I looked outside I was greeted by this sight.
We only purchased this cover just before Christmas, the water just pooled in the middle caving the frame in. The only way I could think to drain it was to stab the canvas. Bought it from Bunnings, it was touted as a carport but could you imagine what would happen to the car if that had collapsed on to it? Our car looks bad enough with it's paintwork problems, wouldn't want a caved in roof as well. Hope we still have the docket. It's not like we expected it to last forever but would have liked more than 2 weeks life out of it.
It's not all bad, it's only a canvas cover and not a major investment. Edit we will be getting a full refund
Christmas Crafting
Each year I swear I am going to start my next years Christmas crafting right after Christmas, this year I have actually done it. Started knitting one of the stockings, it's knitting up quite quickly for me, since taking the picture last night it's grown another 6 cms. Faster, more experienced knitters would knock it out in no time. It's larger than I expected, not at all bad for $1.
I have been on a journey for a number of years, discovering, getting to know and learning to care for myself.
It's been a spiritual, wonderful, sometimes scary journey. I am no longer just daughter, mother and wife, always trying to be what is expected, no now I am still all of those things plus much, much more.
This is my journey....... my heart.... my soul.
It looks more like my vision, needs some gathering though. I also found some purple velvet, not quite the tone that I hoped, will keep looking for that. I know the fabric exists because we sell cushion covers in it at work. Will get the fabric next weekend, have a coupon for 25% off.
