Way back in the days, over 3 years ago when I started this blog, I used to blog every day, or close to it.
What the hell did I talk about?!? Did I log on and say “I did 10 rows of my scarf today”?
Some days it’s hard to find something to blog about. Especially when you’re knitting stocking stitch socks in self striping yarn.
But they’re growing.

Not exactly exciting breakthroughs, but they’re 6ply yarn, so at least they’re relatively quick. The only other thing I have on the needles is the Cocoon Lace scarf. Mind you, that’s growing, too.

The colour in that pic is pretty accurate on my monitor.
This is a pretty easy pattern to follow. It’s a 12 row repeat, which is fairly easy to memorise. I did get a little bored with the same old, same old though, so I pulled out the provisional cast on and did the edging, just for kicks.

(This pic is too pink.)
All this repetitive knitting is starting to get the better of me, and I can feel a bout of startitis creeping up!
Tapestry Craft in Sydney is having Nicky Epstein book signing on Friday afternoon, but it doesn’t start until 3.30pm, which of course is the worst time of day for me, and I can’t attend.
But Ozknitter took pity on me! She saw Nicky at the Melbourne Stitches and Craft show last week, and kindly offered to pick up a copy of the book and have Nicky sign it for me.



I haven’t had a really good look at it yet, but a quick flick through looks gorgeous. Thank you, Ozknitter!
And finally, I was walking past Em’s bedroom the other day and spotted Roxie. I had to go fetch the camera.

She looks like she’s recovering from a hard night out!

Third time lucky? For the third Saturday in a row, I have a finished project to show.

The Twisted Flower socks are done. I love them! Here’s a few more angles.


Specs:
Pattern: Cookie A’s “Twisted Flower Socks”
Yarn: Louet Gems Merino Fingering in “Eggplant” from The Loopy Ewe
Needles: 2.5mm on the leg, 2.25mm on the foot.
And one more shot, on the sock blockers.

My sock blockers came from Natty Yarns, btw.
I loved knitting this pattern. It’s complicated enough to need some thought, but not too hard to follow in front of the TV at night.
I really loved the yarn. It’s not available here in Australia, and it’s the first time I’ve used it, but it certainly won’t be the last. The label claims that it’s machine washable and dryable, and it’s a lovely springy yarn to knit with. I was a bit ticked when I found a knot in the first skein, but the second skein was fine. There was plenty of yardage in the skein, too. These socks are a little longer than I normally knit, and I still had a little yarn left over.
Overall? A+ for both pattern and yarn.
Saturday sky this morning.

Saturday sky 10 minutes ago.

In other news, Twinkie got a parcel this week.

She was pretty excited, and wanted to open it straight away.

But customs had checked it out, and were a bit heavy handed with the tape, so I had to help. She waited kind of patiently while I opened it for her.

Then she spotted what was inside.

Then she got really excited, and demanded that I open the packets for her.


Thank you to Kimberly and her furkids, Twinkie is very appreciative!

I’m behind.
Behind in my blogging, behind in my email, behind in my housework.
Behind in my knitting.
Not that there’s an actual due date for the knitting, or a timetable I’m trying to stick to, I just feel like I’m not getting any done. Well, not enough.
Since i finished Fifi last week, there has been some knitting. The Cocoon Lace Scarf has seen some action.

It’s slow moving. I’m trying to have some faith in the blocking process, because right now it doesn’t look like much.

And I finally picked up the second Twisted flower sock. It’s coming along nicely.

However, I found that with the Twisted Flower sock, and the lace scarf, I don’t have any “mindless” carry along knitting. So I started some socks for David.

Let’s be innovative and call these “The Green Stripey Socks”. I thought they might be a little on the bright side, but David likes them.
I’m trying to prepare the family for New York winter days! New socks, new gloves, new hats. So I think I’ll be on little knits for a while.
I’m feeling a little stressed this week. All my sewing duties are catching up to me, and I’m behind on that too, So now I have to try to catch up on those!
Em’s knee is still giving her problems, so we’re trying Bowen Therapy. (Hence the need for mindless knitting for the waiting room). She had her first treatment yesterday afternoon, and swears there’s a discernible difference already, but she’s ticked off and whining that the therapist has asked her not to dance at all until her next appointment on Saturday. Of course, the whining isn’t helping my stress levels.
Anyone want to come meet me for a coffee?!?

For the second Saturday in a row, I present a Finished Project. (Don’t get used to it 😉

Fifi is finished!
What a fantastic knit. Loved knitting it, love wearing it.
Specs:
Pattern: “Fifi” from French Girl Knits
Size: 33.5″
Yarn: Rowan Calmer, in Chiffon, less than 4 balls
Needles: KnitPicks Options, 4mm. The pattern recommends 29″ circs, but I knit the second smallest size, on 32″ circs with no problems.
Pattern modifications: Minor. I made it 30cm long in the side seam. The original in the pattern was 24cm long, but I don’t think anyone needs to see that much of my flesh!
There is the option of short row shaping in the best area for more shapely busts than mine, but obviously I don’t need it. I did decrease a tiny bit in the sides once I got past the boobage area. In the ribbing at each sides, I decreased 3 stitches. Here’s a pic.

Barely noticeable, especially when I’m wearing it. So when I was at the very centre of the sides, instead of K2, P2 ribbing, it became K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2. It doesn’t make a huge difference, just made it a little bit snugger.
Overall, it’s another winner, I think!

I can’t help myself. I’m a gadget whore, an accessories whore. And a yarn whore, but you all knew that.
I got a new knitting bag.

A Jordana Paige Bella bag, from Yarns Online. Do I like it? I love it.
I already have a Jordana Paige satchel, but as soon as I saw the Bella, I wanted it. I love my satchel, too, but I like this one even better. It’s nice and soft and lightweight. And I find that sometimes the satchel is bigger than I’d like. Here’s how the two compare size-wise.

Side by side.

The Bella in front of the satchel. They actually don’t look too different in this picture, do they? This one shows the difference better.

It’s definitely smaller than the satchel.
Smaller, but not small. As soon as it arrived I tossed Fifi in there.

As you can see, Fifi fits nicely, and there’s some room to spare. I doubt that you’d get in a whole sweater, sleeves and all, but you might. But if I’m working on a sweater, I’m not usually carrying the whole thing around anyway. Generally I only carry the pieces I’m working on.
Here’s how it looks without Fifi in it.

The centre pocket/divider is soft, and gives easily when you stuff your project in.

A better picture of the divider. You can also see the little zip pocket and credit card slots. On the other side, little gadget pockets.

(Apologies for the bad flash pics, I forgot to take pictures of this bit in daylight.)
Cute, but not altogether useful for me. The scissors and needles are about the only things I’d carry in there. I guess you could add a crochet hook and DPNS. Just a note, if you use straights, you couldn’t store those in there. The bag isn’t tall enough.

As you can see. Doesn’t worry me, I rarely use straights.
Overall, I give it a 10 out of 10.
Fifi? This close to done. Here’s a sneak peek.

Update on Em’s leg, as requested. It’s doing better, but she’s still on restricted dance moves. She’s got a comp this weekend, but there’s no way she’ll be able to do all her dances. If she’s doing better, maybe she’ll do some. She of course, keeps insisting she’s fine, and would dance anyway, no matter how many times she’s told she’ll only make it worse!
Lets finish on a high note.

Always makes me smile! (Well, except when she’s playing destructo bunny!).