My birthday is in a couple of weeks, but Jill got in early. Look what she made for me! A Polar Bear!

Every time there is a gift giving occasion, DH and Em ask me what I want. I always say that I’d like a polar bear. Hasn’t happened yet. Until now 🙂
Thankyou, Jill, he’s gorgeous!
I have started a new sweater, Giraffe from Knitty. I’m using the Angora Supreme the pattern calls for, which has been discontinued by Cleckheaton. I started a sweater with this yarn early last year, but couldn’t get gauge, so I frogged it, and hid the yarn away. This time, my gauge is pretty good, and the sweater is going quickly.
I’ve done the second of four decreases on the back.

I’m off to find somewhere special for my polar bear to live. 🙂

My cousin passed away yesterday (13 May) after a long battle with Breast Cancer.
I have 36 cousins on that side of the family, and we weren’t close, in fact I haven’t seen her in quite a long time. She was older than me, and in our family, the cousins are in pretty much 2 generations. She was part of the older generation, I was part of the younger.
In any case, she passed away yesterday after a very long and painful battle with this devastating disease.
She leaves behind 3 children. An 18 year old, a 6 year old and a baby girl of 2. I’m glad she is at peace, finally, but I’m so sad for her parents, her husband and her children. While her pain and suffering may be at an end, her family’s pain will live on for a long time. As will the pain and sadness we all feel.
You know that it can strike anyone, no one is immune, we had our own battle with cancer that my husband thankfully survived. But nothing makes it easier, and if there is I could wish only one thing for the world, it would be a cure for cancers of all types.

Here are the Bearfoot socks 🙂

Specs:
Mountain Colors Bearfoor yarn, colour “Crazy Woman”. The pattern is Purl Lace Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks.
I love the Bearfoot, and I can see many more socks made of this in my future. It’s a nice soft, thick yarn, and the resulting socks are warm and comfy.
The hat is done, too 🙂
After the red garter bit, you change colour, and before the stocking stitch part, there is a small rib portion to help the hat fit better. How clever! When the hat is complete, the rib part is hidden behind the band.

But I finished the hat not half an hour ago.

I’m pleased with it 🙂 I used all the ends from the start to attach the i-cord edging. Now I’m going to do the matching bootees. I seem to be on a small project kick right now.
Em is always working on her flexibility. She’s pretty good, but she’d like to learn acrobatics. There isn’t anywhere close by us that I can find, so she just stretches at dance class and at home.
She is now able to put her feet either side of her head. I hurt just watching 🙂

I’ve started a new baby set, and it’s fun 🙂

I liked this one, because I think it’s good for a boy or a girl.
First you knit a little triangle.

Then you add four more little triangles.

Then you have…

a mess! What a nice bunch of ends to weave in 🙂
Seriously though, it’s good fun, and nice and quick. It’s from Cleckheaton “Little Babies” pattern book. (Number 425)

There’s a cute little bear set in there that I love, too 🙂
And I finally finished my Bearfoot socks. Pics tomorrow when there’s light.

I have been intending to point out that Sarah has begun an Australian online knitting mag, called Southern Cross Knitting. The first issue went live last week, so if you haven’t seen it yet, go on over and have a look! 🙂
If anyone had trouble getting to my site over the weekend, it’s because you’re still coming through the old URL. My website used to piggyback onto DH’s URL, but now I have my own. He was playing with his site on the weekend, and it went down for a while, so the redirection for my site went with it. My URL is now http://www.randomknits.net/. The redirection generally works, but you may like to update your links. If you wish to update your bloglines subscription, the new one is

As I said, the old URL usually works, but you might like to update with the new one 🙂