happy 2012!

Happy new year! may you work less and play more in 2012!

We sweltered in glorious 40degC+ scorching heat over the holidays, and being a sensible person, i took this time to knit =p. luckily, this week we tipped back towards the wintery weather (thanks melbs). i was very grateful to have this scarf...just in time for january (!?).

this wool is from avril in kyoto, and it is the most vibrant, orangiest, orange colour. this pic doesn't quite show off the brightness of this gorgeous yarn. thanks mum for sharing knitting secrets and expertise.

The pattern comes from this awesome book, which contains clear instructions and photos for the knitting newbies. Godsend!

Below is the last of the 2011 softies, the ever reliable miss polly pattern for dr k's newest family member. this sweet 1930s style fabric is from Patchwork By Sea in RADelaide.

we've been spring-cleaning a bit around here, and happened upon elmo's old teddy. look at the love in this little guy...

i hope all the softies going out there become this battered and worn out.

knit purl knit purl

three weeks ago, despite being the last gasp of winter, s and i took a beginners knitting class with the lovely pauline at popcraft. since then, we have become completely fanatical and have even taken to knitting in bed (circular needles are the go for this!). poor elmo comes home late to a sheepish knitter on the couch - needles and yarn in hand, knitting away (or tinking, as elmo likes to call it).

the spoils thus far:
moss stitch using a gorgeous felty wool from japan. a bit short at ~1.3m, but very toasty.
a rib knit scarf at 1.5m for elmo with some lovelies from morris and sons (how have i never known you before mr morris?)
the third is in progress, and since we're heading towards spring/summer, this scarf is knitted with a 100% cotton yarn using smooth sand and nubby sand (on the reverse) stitches.
on top of learning something new, my favourite bit about all this? i showed my grandma my projects and she immediately took the needles in hand and proceeded to knit and purl like a demon. all this time i never knew. she even gave me some of her old needles that she had brought with her on the boat when she braved the trip between hong kong and australia. a wonderful wonderful present.

winter woollies

after the last few sunny days, i've decided that being a winter person is not the go. there are small green buds emerging on the tree outside our bedroom window, even the tree is impatient for spring.

so, as we brace for a week of cold and windy melbs weather, i was dismayed to find moths had chewed on a few of my favourite woolies! eek!

how's this for a potential fix: woolfiller is a dutch company that sells felting kits to mend mothball munched holes in your loved woolies.

ingenious!
and no, i wish this was one of my repaired items, this is an example from the woolfiller website - don't you love the splashes of colour on the grey cardie?