Look at Olivia!

It’s kind of funny how I go off on colour jaunts. Usually it’s pink and/or purple. Right now, guess which colour I seem to be obsessed with?
I started some Wussypillow mitts.

(Spud & Chloe Fine in Red Hot)
I finished the Jitterbug socks for Calico & Ivy

(Colinette Jitterbug in Vatican Pie)
I started a Honey Cowl for Calico & Ivy

(Debbie Bliss Andes 08 Red)
and Olivia’s sill plugging away, interminably

(Rowan Felted Tweed in Rage)
Red, anyone? (The not-red diversion hat is finished and blocking)

Olivia.
Olivia, olivia, olivia. You’re making me crazy. Double moss stitch and acres of stockinette on 3.25mm needles will do that.

I have a back, two fronts and am maybe halfway up the sleeves. If I’m feeling optimistic. I’ve been knitting sleeves for days, and it doesn’t change. The end feels no closer than it did a week ago.
So I took a detour down another road. A Road to China Light. Squish factor +100.

The colour is Carnelian – a little browner than I’d hoped, but still gorgeous. From The Loopy Ewe, in the process of becoming a Frukttradgard Hat.
Take *that*, Olivia!

Remember a year or so ago I became an Aunty again? Isaac had his first birthday last month! Fortuitously, Calico & Ivy had just gotten in some Rowan Wool Cotton in the new 4ply, which just begged to become a baby cardi.
I cruised Ravelry, looking for a good pattern to use, then pulled out my pattern books. (Of which there are somewhat more than a few).
Is it just me that does that now? There’s shelves and shelves of pattern books in this house. But do I pull them out? Hell no, I just go to the almighty Ravelry!
I’d narrowed the field a bit, but then I found a cardi in a pattern book I’d bought and never used. (Another bad habit!).
The Little Stripey Sports Club cardi by Sublime. Perfect!

Specs:
Pattern: Little Stripey Sports Club Cardi from Sublime #641, The Third Irresistibly Sublime 4ply Baby Book
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton 4ply, one ball each in Marine, Paper and White.
Needles: 2.25mm & 2.75mm Addi turbos.
Mods: None!

Love it. Love the yarn, love the finished project! The dark blue (marine) did run a little when I blocked the cardi, but nothing too dramatic. It certainly didn’t ruin the white.
I love stripey cardi’s for little boys. Lots of baby boys I’ve had the pleasure of knowing have been given stripey handknits. I might try and do it in girly shades when a baby girl next joins the party!
The buttons came from Calico & Ivy too, and were absolutely perfect.

Now I just need a picture of him actually wearing it!
This mornings mail carried a little bit of awesome, too.

My first Dyakcraft needles! I’d heard via Ravelry that although they weren’t making this colour (Wisteria) any more, they had some orphan pairs at the studio. So last Thursday I called up Linda, and we worked out what she had and what I wanted, and here they are! Beautiful pink needles, in 3.5mm, 3.75mm, 4mm and 4.5mm. I didn’t bother to go any bigger than that, because it’s rare that I knit with anything heavier than a worsted weight. Besides, there might just be a full set of the metal needles in one of the new colours on order for me. And maybe a set of the wood, too.
Maybe.
(And having said that, I’m about to cast on for something that requires 8mm needles. Apparently I like to prove myself wrong!)

Wow, look! Cobwebs! Dust! Yeah, yeah, I know. Lets just carry on, shall we?
I finished knitting Ella. I actually finished knitting Ella way back around April 12. So, a little over six weeks ago. And I was so glad to see the back of those bloody ruffles. They just went on. And on. Aaannnnnd on. If you were following me on twitter at the time, you were probably just as sick of hearing about the ruffles as I was sick of knitting them. But finish them I did, then I folded Ella up and put her aside until I had some time to block her.
And there she sat, folded, waiting.
Then, earlier this week another Raveller sent me a message saying they’d like to see pictures of me wearing it. And I figured it was time to do something, so I threw her in the bath.
And finally, she’s done. Excellent timing, really, seeing as it’s starting to get quite wintery in old Sydney town!

Am I happy with it? Um, maybe. I’m hoping it will grow on me. I think that going for the super ruffly ruffles was a mistake. They’re a little *too* ruffly. And that’s aside from the fact that they took forever. Have I made that clear yet?
Specs:
Pattern: The Ella coat by Nora Bellows
Yarn: Shepherds Wool Worsted by Stonehedge Fiber Mills in Granite and Raspberry, with a little Tilli Tomas bling thrown in for good measure.
Needles: 5mm Addi Turbo clicks
Mods: None.
Thoughts: I was really honoured when Melissa contacted me and asked me to be a part of this knitalong. I got to choose the colours, and they sent me the yarn and off we went. The yarn is divine. I’ve heard it pills, and only time will tell, but it’s gorgeous to knit with. Soft and squishy, and knits up into a lush fabric. When you block it, it blooms beautifully.

The pattern? Fabulous. Especially when you check in with the Noni blog to get all the tips that Nora imparted each week. All the tweaks and tips she gave helped tremendously to get the perfect coat for you. There were lots of options on the blog that weren’t mentioned in the pattern. Having said that, if you just followed the pattern you’d still get a fabulous coat. But the tips offered some excellent alternatives.
It was great fun to see what colours and styles every one else in the knitalong had chosen, I don’t think there were any to coats the same.

For closures, I went with big hooks and eyes that I found on eBay. I only got three, and four or five probably would’ve been better. The only thing I’d change, apart from the ruffles? (And there is zero chance I’m ripping them back and starting again!) I’d like pockets. But maybe I’ll just knit a pair of matching gloves!
Thanks so much to Melissa and Nora for asking me to join in the fun!
PS. Guess who’s knitting a hat for her Beau?