lockdown 3.4

day four of lockdown number three saw me eating wayyyyyy too much chocolate brownie. baking was a bad idea folks, i still have no self control despite my best efforts to build better habits the last month and a half...

in order to rid the household of it quicker, i threw a wee piece into the lunchbox i packed for ag to take to kinder today.



not at all upset to send him off to kinder today, after he had last week off with a cold.
though it did feel a bit odd with my brain firmly in lockdown mode.

in the hour or so break i had while he was at kinder, and before ej woke from his nap, i got busy in our front yard.



this is what i call my 'stick fence'. i started it in march of last year, lockdown 1.0 using long straight sticks that we found on our daily walks.
it's definitely a long term project as we have a looooooong front fence (especially as our next door neighbour has mentioned if i feel like continuing along her property line too, she wouldn't be opposed... we'll see!) but it's nice to be able to make progress when i can!

speaking of progress, the last week i've been working on a relatively quick knit, a nappy cover!



i knitted a bunch of these in the smaller 2 sizes before ej was born, and used them constantly with terry towelling flats for months and months, and then just stopped. i don't even remember why to be honest, but when i tried to get back into the swing of cloth nappies, the covers were all too small for my growing bub and it's taken me this long to get around to knitting any more...
thankfully i know they don't take too long to knit, and once i get a couple off the needles, i'll be able to start getting some cloth onto ej's bum once again.
can't wait, as the cost of nappies at the checkout, and the full rubbish bin at the end of the fortnight are both really starting to get to me!

do you have any long term garden beautification projects too? what are your go-to lunchbox snacks?
what was the favourite part of your day today?

nicole talks knitting - episode 7

and then another few months went by...

but now there's a new video up on my youtube channel and you can watch below if you'd like! grocery girls video podcast finished headband vanilla soaker quince and co - lark great ocean road mill - eva brownwyn pattern music by https://www.bensound.com/

what are you working on at the moment? what are your favourite knitting podcasts to watch?

nicole talks knitting - episode 6.

so it's been a while since my last video... a casual six and a half months actually...

anywho, watch along to catch up a small amount, more to come in the future hopefully!



my milo vest

milo pattern by tikkiknits

my take heart hats

take heart hat pattern by fiona alice

garter ear flap hat by purl soho

alfie's bobble jumper

heidi's queensland beach headband

my queensland beach headbands

queensland beach headband pattern by fiona alice

memory blanket pattern by tikkiknits

music by https://www.bensound.com/

what are you working on at the moment?

taking stock. the catch up edition.

whoa mumma! it's been a while... great plans to blog once a week were completely thwarted by busy life stuff!
anywho, in attempt to get you all caught up on the last few months, i thought i'd go through pip's taking stock list.
here goes!








Making : tiny weeny knitted jumpers for the wool gathering annual retreat next month. and a shawl. and a kid's jumper i started on new years eve and still haven't finished... oops!

Cooking : dinner. every night. i'm stuck in all sorts of ruts right now, but the days stop for no woman! we still need to eat dinner, and even though takeaway is super tempting... our budget (and waistlines for that matter) strongly favour the home cooked meals!

Drinking : a whole lot of tea... i started the year wanting to cut back on my coke consumption, because they really add no benefit to anyone's health or wellbeing... and boy did i start strong, only one in january! then i decided to do feb fast for added sugars in february, and only fell off the wagon once or twice, and then march hit and boy did i indulge! time to cut back again now though! need to keep reminding myself just how terrible that brown, fizzy, sweet rubbish is for me.
so yep, tea. drinking lots of tea!

Reading : a book on homesteading that caught my eye at the library a couple of weeks ago... it's on the bench and i read a couple of pages while i'm waiting for things to cook or while ag is happy playing... so about 6 pages in total ha ha!

Next read : see above picture ^
we recently moved into a house we purchased at the end of last year! and in the unpacking process, i've made myself quite the reading pile! i'm not entirely sure where to start, but i know not bringing my phone or laptop to bed with me at night is probably the best place to start! such terrible habits i'm in with them both!

Wanting : to do all the things... looking around our beautiful lounge room, there are still quite a few bits and pieces that need work... the doors and trim still need painting, there are piles of boxes speaking to me from just inside the study door. oh well, they can wait a little longer!

Looking : forward to being completely settled in... one day ha ha!

Playing : a lot with blocks these days, and with rocks in the front yard, and at the park. toddler life is full on, but full of play!

Deciding : on designs for the laundry cupboard/linen press. need to make the best use of the space we have, without spending a small fortune. can not wait to have some functional storage in there!

Wishing : time didn't go so darn quickly! the days fly by sometimes and i wish they would just slow down ha ha!

Enjoying : having an 18 month old. he is just so cute and so busy all the time, and the discoveries he makes about his world just make me stop and slow down and discover with him. it's amazing!

Waiting : for this sleeping through the night thing to kick in... anytime now with consistency would be just fine ha ha

Liking : getting back to blogging for a second. i've written so many posts in my head, it feels nice to finally get one out!

Wondering : if i can keep some consistency with it...

Loving : having our own space to do anything we want with! it's nice to be able to do exactly as we please!

Pondering : garden options. and ways to connect with my neighbours and new immediate community.

Considering : doing a spot of baking this afternoon. i wonder if my biscuit recipe would go ok gluten-less... we will see!

Buying : a single skein of yarn. my first for the year! i'm trying to use as much from my stash as i can, but a project i have in mind (not from my knitting plans for the year, mind you) calls for a contrast colour, the likes of which i just did not own... soon i will though and i'm hoping to cast on right away! maybe i can share my progress with you soon!

Watching : 'santa clarita diet' on netflix. it is SO funny! and a bit gory at times ha ha. but mostly hilarious. i love drew barrymore, and timothy olyphant is so spunky. i love his portrayal of his character too as i'm pretty sure the last thing i saw him in was 'deadwood' and his character in that was SO different!
i've also been rewatching 'parks and rec' because it is the best! i love all of the characters so much, they're all so great!

Next watch : maybe a rewatch of 30 rock? if i can find it on a streaming service. stan or netflix, please hook a lady up!

Hoping : that i can get this blog post, and a little knitting done before nap time is over...

Marvelling : at how quickly a cup of tea disappears ha ha!

Cringing : at my complete lack of self control when it comes to chocolate. i just need to stop buying it!

Needing : to do some yoga. i don't know why i always put it off when my body loves it so!

Questioning : when i'm going to find time to give myself a little manicure. my nails are all different shapes and sizes at the moment ha ha!

Smelling : vinegar and bicarb. toilet cleaning day! always a job i put off, but so nice when it's done!

Wearing : jeans, sleeve-less tee, handknit socks.

Following : ag around and tidying up after him. well sometimes any way... sometimes i just let him run riot and clean up when he's asleep ha ha! trying to teach him to tidy up after himself, it's not going well...

Worrying : about my favourite boots... i took them to have the heels fixed this morning and i'm going to be without them a week! i miss them already!

Noticing : the birds. i thought i wouldn't see or hear as many birds now we're living in town, but there's still quite a few around... especially at 5am!

Knowing : well trying to get to know my limits a little more... trying not to pack too much into one day and knowing when to stop... like here. i think i'll stop right here!
time is running short and my knitting is calling to me!

what have you been up to the last few months? any tips on where to start in my reading pile? or what to watch next?

nicole talks knitting. episode 5.

recorded a couple of weeks ago now, but what more perfect time to share this video about my knitting plans for this coming year.



2018 knitting plans, ravelry queue
fluorite sock pattern
fly with me vest project

music by https://www.bensound.com/

are you a planner? what have you got planned for the new year, crafty or otherwise?

well hatted.

over the winter months, i knitted a lot. A LOT!
as well as working slowly on socks, and a few commission pieces, i also knit up a whole load of baby hats...



this baby hat to be specific...
i knit 12 of them!



three of them were in newborn size, for three new babes that came into the world over those wintery months, and the remaining nine, were knit in the kid size... for nine (not so little) newly-minted one year olds!



even having knitted up so many of these hats, i still love the pattern! it's so easy and looks so cute on little heads.

i'm even contemplating knitting myself one!

probably my favourite part of having knitting so many though, is the small, but sizeable dent it's made in my dk and aran scraps. huzzah!



i got a wee bit creative with the wrapping of them too.
since having a baby, i've come to realise just how much goes into the packaging of gifts! so much stuff!! that will all most likely just end up in the bin!
hence my low-packaging gift wrapping. the leaves can be composted, and the string or ribbon was all repurposed from my stash of collected bits and bobs. hopefully they might be reused by the recipients, but if not, at least i know they've had a couple of uses before being binned!

nicole talks knitting. episode 4.

with a bit of baby free time this morning, i managed to record another episode for my knitting vodcast...



walkerville socks
my walkerville socks wool gathering new to me kal
scrappy socks with afterthought heels
tarndie polwarth
circus tonic handmade
how to do a russian join

what are you working on at the moment? are you a fan of sewing in ends?

nicole talks knitting. episode 3.

episode 3 of my knitting video series is now up on youtube!



in it i talk about what's on my needles at the moment, and below are some links to most everything i chat about.

fly with me vest
homeward bound kal
new to me kal
wool gathering retreat
tarndie polwarth yarn
circus tonic handmade
tough love sock yarn
walkerville socks

what are you knitting at the moment?

nicole talks knitting. episode 2.

found a wee bit of time yesterday afternoon so put together another episode of my knitting vlog!
i'm finding them quite fun to make, now i've got the hard parts down pat...
now to work on improving the lighting and such... and maybe stop saying 'um' so much... it will all come together eventually i'm sure!



it's over on youtube here and below are a few links to things i talked about.

garter ear flap hat
whisky bay woollens homeward bound kal
walkerville socks

tell me what you think? do you watch other knitters on youtube? who are your favourites?

nicole talks knitting.

in the last taking stock post i wrote up, i mentioned wanting to start a v-log but not being sure about the logistics...

well it's taken me the better part of a day, but the first episode is now up on youtube!

it's all about what i'm knitting at the moment... and i'm hoping to maybe pop one up every couple of weeks. will see how that goes he he!

pour yourself a cup of tea (if you're into tea that is!) and have a watch!



what do you think? are you a knitting vodcast watcher? what are your favourite ones to watch?

sock tales.

my lofty, knitting-a-pair-of-socks-a-month goal is really not being met at the moment. i am SO behind!!

the problems started with this pair...



cast on in the car on the way to wool gathering in may, they languished as i worked on more enticing projects (a cardigan! as yet, unphotographed oops!) and didn't get finished until the start of july!

i then cast on these ones for my mother in law, thinking they would be quick as she was only after a pair of ankle socks...



i got this far before realising there would most definitely not be enough wool...
ever the perfectionist, i started again, this time with contrasting pink toes (yep, that's them above) and to make myself feel better, cast on ANOTHER pair to try and make myself feel better before i ripped out all that work i'd done...



these new ones are coming along nicely, and the little bit of lacework in the panel is quite compelling to knit... but i can't help but feel a little impatient as we're at the end of august and neither my JUNE or JULY socks are completed!
going to knuckle down on them for the next couple of days and see if i can't make good progress on both pairs before the month is through!
and then maybe get started on august's socks too...

wish me luck!

taking stock.

now feels like a good time to touch base and take stock. here goes!

Making : progress on my knitting list. slowly.

Cooking : quite a few dinners as to plan. one or two indiscretions. but mostly to plan!

Drinking : water. well trying.

Reading : into some things a little too much. need to lighten up a little!

Trawling : is a word that reminds me of fishing.

Wanting : to get a v-log started i think... it feels like it might be a nice thing to do. but the logistics involved are kind of making me shudder.

Looking : around at toys on the floor. ag sure has mastered pulling EVERYTHING out. thankfully he's starting to learn to put things away again. kind of he he.

Deciding : what to do with the rest of the evening. more blogging, or a bit more knitting?

Wishing : for the usual, more hours in the day... would get a bit more sleep and a bit more knitting done he he.

Enjoying : having an 11 month old. except for the biting. i could do without that.

Waiting : to see what happens tomorrow... some things might be on their way to changing, but then again, maybe not. tomorrow should reveal a little.

Liking : that i got to spend a few hours today with some pals. meeting halfway is a nice place to meet.

Wondering : why my mouse key has just become so unresponsive... you don't realise how much you use something like that until it stops working well.

Loving : having the fire lit every night. so cosy!

Pondering : a capsule wardrobe type thing. reducing, refining and filling in the gaps. less brain power required on the daily sounds like a good thing to me!

Listening : to podcasts in the car. they make solo drives so much easier!

Considering : what needs to be done tomorrow... and what i can get away with not doing to fit in more knitting time!

Buying : groceries. but only once a fortnight. it's kind of wonderful.

Watching : the handmaids tale on sbs on demand. bit late on the bandwagon but thoroughly enjoying it. in a terrified way...

Hoping : i can avoid any game of thrones spoilers until tomorrow.

Marvelling : at the passage of time. how is august nearly done already? didn't winter just begin??

Cringing : at how much darning there is to do... i need to have a darning week i think. no knitting, just duplicate stitch and hole mending!

Needing : to pick up a book from the library.

Questioning : how i've neglected to share so many knitting projects over here lately! lots of things have been coming off the needles (like those socks on my feet in the background up there...) but their stories have yet to be told. i need to get to catching up!

Smelling : the hyacinth bulbs that have popped up. they were gifted to me last year and i replanted them in a pot and promptly forgot about them. such a lovely surprise!

Wearing : pyjama pants. so comfy.

Noticing : the days getting longer. it's wonderful.

Knowing : i need to create a few regularities to my days... yoga, drinking more water, more outside time and heck, even blogging! a little bit every day will no doubt make for a happier me!

Admiring : kate's beautiful socks. maybe some colourwork socks are in my future... definitely something i haven't tackled in my sock adventures this year!

Opening : that box of candle-making goodies! super excited to get busy making some beautiful candles!

Closing : the arms on my glasses, as i take them off for the night. they're filthy (all the time now thanks to baby sausage fingers) and it's easier to see without them!

Feeling : like i need to give my hair a good wash. and by wash, i mean rinse. i've gone off using shampoo as my scalp has been most unhappy when i have used it and would you know, i haven't even missed it! my hair has been happy without it!

Dreaming : about a yarny road trip, a la julie at wool on wheels. wouldn't it be nice?!

Hearing : a possum on the roof, so loud!! cheeky things have been going to town on the mandarin tree, hope they leave some for us.

Celebrating : turning 29 last week. officially in my 30th year and not quite sure what to think about it he he.

Pretending : like my baby won't be one next month. how quickly has this year flown! gollllllly!

Embracing : simplicity. well trying anyway he he.

what have you been up to lately? keen to take stock too?

taking stock.

and just like that, it's nearly been a month between drinks! despite having blogging on the mind, i've been neglecting to actually sit down, with my laptop and get to typing. and then of course, the longer it went, the harder it seemed to get back to it.
but i just couldn't let it go any longer!

a little taking stock action, as a means to catch y'all up on where we're at, and to get me back in the game he he!

Making : lots of things, since i last posted, there's been a couple of milos off the needles, and a cardigan for myself. not a lot of sock knitting though so i'm running a bit behind on my pair of socks a month plan...

Cooking : some pretty terribly boring meals to be honest. even a truly terrible one. off my game in more than one area apparently he he!

Drinking : too much soft drinks. back on that bandwagon unfortunately. time for some cold-turkey time.

Reading : blog posts! for the first time in a while, my blog reader is empty! tempted to add a few new blogs to the reel... any recommendations?

Trawling : the real estate app. my heart loves a fixer-upper.

Wanting : to get motivated, set up some routines... my brain is instantly rebelling against any boundaries i give myself at the moment though. good on ya brain.

Looking : around at my trashed lounge room. how does a 9 month old make so much mess? he's not even crawling yet!! Deciding : what to do with the afternoon. need to go op-shopping for some curtains for ag's room and have some friends i want to catch up with too. can we do it all? we shall see he he!

Wishing : time would just slow down a bit! we're midway through june already!

Enjoying : baby giggles. how can you not?

Waiting : for said giggly baby to wake up. hopefully after a bit more of this post gets written he he.

Liking : this chilly weather. the fire is going, we can rug up in woollies, so cosy!

Wondering : what we should have for dinner. probably need to add grocery shopping to that list of things i want to do this afternoon!

Loving : re-watching game of thrones before the new season starts next month. i do it every year as my memory is terrible!

Pondering : lunch options. vegemite and avocado on toast is on high rotation at the moment.

Listening : to a kookaburra outside.

Considering : a wee road trip tomorrow.

Buying : things to keep us cozy. hopefully some curtains to keep the warmth in for ag's bedroom. and a door snake to keep the drafts out from the front door!

Watching : the fifth season of orange is the new black. taking it a lot slower than in previous years... hard to binge watch shows with a baby around!

Hoping : the kookaburra doesn't wake the baby. little ag is not a happy chappy when he gets woken up from naps!

Marvelling : at just how quickly the days disappear. what have i even got done today?

Cringing : at my inability to get my shit together some days.

Needing : to clean the oven. it's terrible!

Questioning : what it means to be feminine...

Smelling : not much at all. blissful when you're thinking about poo many many hours of the day.

Wearing : my new cardigan constantly. oh and handknit socks. all day every day.

Noticing : birds. specifically rosellas on my drive home this morning. they were hiding all over the place!

Knowing : that things will work out eventually.

Thinking : about bulk shopping. what we could use and such.

Opening : the fire door to put more wood on.

Closing : some of the 8 trillion tabs open on my phone.

Feeling : the cold a lot more already this winter. last winter i was pregnant, and although it seemed cold at the time, maybe it kept me cosier than i realised!

Celebrating : my little bro getting a new job. well we did over the weekend anyway he he.

Pretending : i haven't deleted a couple of these prompts... it might have happened, oops!

thanks pip for the little list to get me back into this blogging lark! now to keep it up!

a tale of two socks.

around this time last year, i was talking to a friend and together we were trying to figure out a problem she had come up against while sock knitting. she wanted to keep her pretty yarn for the instep and upper portion of the sock, and use a plain, contrast colour for the sole as well as the heel and toe.
after a bit of brainstorming, we came up with a solution!

fast forward a year, and i've knitted myself a pair too to test our theory.



these are my two-toned vanilla socks. quite the success i think.

i used this vanilla sock pattern as my basis (as i have for almost every pair of socks so far this year... it's a great pattern!) and went from there!



the basic premise i used was to begin the socks, knit the toes in the round as per the pattern, and then when it came to knitting the body of the foot of the sock, i split my stitches into sole and instep stitches. i knit the sole first using the same yarn as the toe, backwards and forwards, slipping the first stitch of every row. i continued knitting backwards and forwards, completing the gusset increases and then the heel, before moving back to the instep stitches.
using my fancy yarn and the instep stitches i had on hold from the toe, i began working backwards and forwards again, to create the instep but instead of slipping the first stitch of each row, this time i picked up the slipped stitch from the sole in the corresponding row, and knitted (or purled) it together with the first stitch of my instep row, using an ssk decrease or a p2tog.
once i'd knitted the full instep and had picked up all of the stitches along the sides of the sole and heel, i went back to working in the round, continuing to work with my fancy yarn.
i decided to do a contrast ribbing section too



they were a little slow going for me, though i think that was all to do with my mind!
i think i was a bit scared of them not working, and having to pull them out.
i had a stern talking to myself though, it's only knitting, not brain surgery! it's ok to make mistakes when they're so easy to fix! and look how well they've turned out?!

they're aaaaaalmost perfect... unfortunately, they're a wee bit big on my feet. damn!
not to worry though, i'm sure there's someone out there with bigger feet than me he he.

what do you think? would you give these a go?

creatively...

as promised last week, i thought i'd share a little about what i've been up to creatively in recent times...

this month's socks are well and truly off the needles.



i cast them on on the first day of march, and finished them up in a little over two weeks.
another pair of vanilla socks, but this time, they're for me!

i also played around a little with some dyeing...



little droppers of food colouring, onto pre-soaked alpaca yarn, allowed to dry and then rinsed, before casting on...



the shawl project i was working on in this post, was ripped and cast on again. i wasn't loving the cream colouring at all, and i'd made a couple of mistakes in the edging when i wasn't concentrating properly...
i truly love it now, and it is finished and blocking as i type. hoping it will be dry tomorrow and the weather cool enough to give it a great first outing!

and because i couldn't possibly have the needles languishing...



i cast on a milo! it's been a while between knits of this ol' fave and i'm knitting it up in rowan wool cotton, picked up on sale from sunspun a couple of weeks ago now. it's very enjoyable to knit with but i've got quite the decision to make as to which cable pattern to choose!

i'm hoping to get the milo finished up by the end of the month, so i can get started on my april socks! now if only i could choose what they'll be...

do you have a favourite sock pattern? which milo cable pattern would you choose?

taking stock.

Making : lots of things, in the kitchen and craft-wise too. maybe i'll have to share a bit of creativity next week...

Cooking : quite a bit, there's bread proving on the bench, i've all the makings for a stock, and some thoughts on what to cook to accompany the asian style pork belly we've got planned for dinner are ticking away in my brain.

Drinking : a hot chocolate. treating myself while i sit and type in the relative calm of NOT home.

Reading : actual books! would you believe it? i've just finished 'fight like a girl' which was quite thought provoking and eye opening and stimulating. and i'm just about to start on 'big little lies' after being recommended it by a friend.

Trawling : facebook a bit too often... i think i talked about this last 'taking stock' too, but haven't done a thing about it. deleting the app now!

Wanting : a few more hours sleep. i think this will definitely be my default for the next few years he he.

Looking : at instagram a little less these days, that might change now i've deleted the facebook app though! hopefully not though, it's nice to check in and out without feeling like i need to see every single post which was my default for an embarrassingly long time.

Deciding : on some big picture things at the moment. work-wise, life-wise, it's all up in the air... that would normally terrify me but i'm dealing with the unknown better than i would've thought.

Wishing : people could be a little kinder to one another. it would sure solve a lot of heartache on a global scale don't you think?

Enjoying : not having to stress about money too much at the moment. and letting go of the stress when it crops up...

Waiting : for some images to load. one thing that is not great about country life, internet speed.

Liking : that even though the internet is a bit slow, there's lots to look at while i wait. bees buzzing, birds chirping. the complaints list about this country life is a short one, that's for sure

Wondering : if i know someone local that has a tomato machine i could borrow for a couple of days... i have a hankering to get busy saucing some of the mountains of tomatoes we have around us, but don't think i have the patience to sieve them by hand like i did last year!

Loving : how the skein of wool i dyed last week is knitting up. what a tease, i'll show you more next week he he.

Pondering : what kind of socks to cast on next month... my plan to knit through my sock yarn stash by the end of the year is well on track, cranking out a pair a month!

Listening : to the birds, some sweet cafe tunes, the traffic, people's conversations and low down in the background, the ocean. bliss.

Considering : my plans for the rest of the day. i know what needs doing... but i'll be flexible and roll with what the day brings i think.

Buying : well bought... i broke the yarn buying drought when my fave yarn shop was having a sale. looking forward to picking it up this week! now, no more purchasing! at least until the end of the year. i have my eye on one of these. the perfect antidote to christmas craziness, knitting 15g of sock wool a day! crazy stripy christmas socks for the family he he.

Watching : quite a lot of netflix... we just hooked it up to our playstation, and it's super easy to watch now. we've done 'the crown' and now working our way through 'iron fist' at a rapid pace.

Hoping : for a good week!

Marvelling : at how well one can function having not gotten more than 4 hours sleep at a time for months!

Cringing : at the number of flies currently buzzing around me... they're mighty sticky today!

Needing : to stop eating so many sweets... unlikely to happen in my sleep deprived state though, think it's the only thing keeping me going he he.

Questioning : everything. a lot. there are a few issues lately i've been vacillating wildly on. think it's driving poor bb spare.

Smelling : something delicious being whipped up in the kitchen in this cafe, might need to be off soon to make some lunch!

Wearing : this! who says you can't wear handknits in the warmer months?

Noticing : how distinctly uncomfortable i was in the city last week. we were there for a couple of hours while ben went in to chat to his boss. so many people, so much hustle. just not for me anymore.

Knowing : we're in the right place for us right now. yep. it is known.

Thinking : i've been sitting for too long! my coccyx lets me know these days... boo!

Admiring : parents everywhere. making it work on the daily. it's hard work and i feel like i've got it super easy! feeling lucky!

Getting : excited to catch up with some folks i haven't seen in a while later in the week.

Bookmarking : airbnb places. hoping for a little getaway soon...

Disliking : these flies. seriously! shoo!

Opening : packets of seeds. time to get some winter seeds into pots and on their way!

Closing : the doors and windows, and then opening them again, and then closing them again. the weather has been more than a little mercurial...

Feeling : ready to pop back home and see my fellas. it's good to have a bit of time out, but equally good to chat and play.

Celebrating : easter soon i guess... looking forward to some nice family times for sure! and maybe even some catch ups with friends who are like family. my fingers are crossed!

Pretending : i'm not interested in the new seasons of terrible reality shows that have started recently... for the most part, i've convinced myself... fake it til you make it right?

Embracing : my hair at the moment. it's crazy... curly and frizzy some days, smooth and sleek on others, and the greys, well they seem to be taking over he he. definitely other things to think about at the moment, but i'm hoping to maybe do something drastic soon. we shall see!

what have you been up to lately? care to 'take stock' too? there's a blank list over on pip's post if you want to join in!

progress report.

seeing as how we are EXACTLY halfway through the month, i thought i'd best write up a little update on how my february plans were coming along...



the socks for my brother are done!
i was tossing up whether to put them aside for the month of february to focus on my knit-a-long projects, but they were SO close to being done it didn't feel right to leave them... so i powered through them instead!
i got to give them to him over the weekend and naturally couldn't wait to snap a picture of them on. they even fit quite well thankfully!
the fit calculation on the pattern is second to none, both pairs have yielded supremely well-fitted socks.

might have to knit myself up a pair sooner rather than later...

but before i do, there are a couple of other projects i need to be working on...



including this pair of socks!
they're knitting up quite a bit slower than i'd anticipated, particularly after zooming through the aforementioned pair for my bro... 2 and a half weeks thank you very much!
the twisted rib is definitely a bit time consuming, but i am LOVING the way the yarn is knitting up, it is gorgeous and just. so. lush!
plus, the finished product will be really well fitted on the leg with all that ribbing too!

project number two is coming along a wee bit quicker though...



and it's almost a complete opposite of the socks. where the socks are tight and firm, this shawl is open and drapey. it's lovely to have two contrasting projects on the go simultaneously to be honest.

i'm up to the slow growing part of shawl knitting though... where you have so many stitches it takes QUITE a while to get a row done, but i'm trying to get a good few rows done every day to keep it ticking over. and it's certainly coming along nicely!

i'm not sure how i feel about the colour however, not sure i'm really a cream girl... it might just end up in the dye pot. we'll see!

are you knitting-a-long in the kanga kiwi kal too?

kanga kiwi kal.

before i get into the full details of what i'm planning to cast on for the kanga kiwi kal (an awesome knit-a-long organised by the fab folks over at wool gathering) i guess i'd better share what's been on my needles recently...



the pair of socks i started for bb before ag was born are finally done! i cast them on using this vanilla sock pattern, hoping they'd be the perfect project for my sleep-deprived, hormone-addled brain and they certainly were!

i won't lie though, i'm incredibly pleased to see the back of them as they were getting a wee bit monotonous... not that i was sick of the gorgeous yarn, or the pattern for that matter as the very next thing i cast on was ANOTHER pair of the same socks!



this pair is for my little brother, promised to him in his christmas card...
i got him to take a gander at my sock yarn stash to see what took his fancy, and he chose a cake of dream in color everlasting heavy 9ply sock in 'morning glory' which reminds me a little bit of a mermaids tail.
it's a beautiful colour and is knitting up like a dream... and i've been fairly committed to getting them done a lot quicker than his jumper, they've only been on the needles for a couple of weeks!
i've been knitting on them pretty exclusively as i was hoping to get them done by the first of february to give my attention wholly and solely to my knit-a-long projects... that obviously hasn't quite come off... but i do still have today to knit as much as i can, before casting on for my two planned projects starts tomorrow!

speaking of which... perhaps i should share my plans!



this gorgeous skein of miss click clack is destined to become a pair of jozi socks. i think the pattern will show off the variegated yarn splendidly, and i can't wait to get them on my feet!

and because i don't seem to know my own limitations... i've chosen a second project for the knit-a-long too!



this sumptuous ball of soft and squishy alpaca is going to be knit up into a textured shawl.

both projects are for little ol' me and i am champing at the bit to get started on each of them after quite a few months of relatively simple knitting.

wish me luck!!

are you joining in with the kanga kiwi kal too?
there are some great prizes up for grabs and the rules are super simple; your project (or projects!) must feature an australian or new zealand yarn AND pattern and be started and completed in the month of february. easy! won't you come and join in the fun?

stash diving.

one of my 2017 goals, is to knit through my stash of sock yarn.
over the weekend just gone, i thought i'd better dig it all out of my stash, currently housed in the bottom layer of my fancy secondhand ikea trolley, to get a handle on just what i'd set myself up for for the year...



um, well that'd be seven pairs of socks just there! i most certainly have my work cut out for me!
particularly when this isn't taking into account...



all of the leftover bits and bobs from other projects! not quite enough to make a pair of socks by themselves... but together, they're sure to make some splendid scrappy, stripy socks. and no doubt more than just one pair!

i think this lot will have me well and truly set up for knitting for the ENTIRE year! a strange feeling, knowing i really don't need to buy any yarn... though truth be told, it would seem that i haven't NEEDED to buy any for a while. this is only the fingering-weight sock yarns, you'd better believe there's quite a few other areas to my stash. oh my!

a pair a month, not too much to ask right?

around here.

current happenings...

i hit up one of the many vintage bazaars in town yesterday with my mother in law and picked up some much needed summer-y and breastfeeding friendly pre-loved clothes. including this beautiful french chiffon number. i'm in love!

the reading pile beside the bed doesn't seem to be getting any smaller, but certainly has a theme... simple living and food abounds!

a wee bit of sewing has been happening... some cushion covers that i had been meaning to make, for oh, close to an eternity have FINALLY come to fruition! the patchwork one was put together at the craft sessions circa 2013, and the ink and spindle piece was from then too i think. both were backed with some calico i had in my stash (some perhaps bought for this purpose, or maybe leftover from the wedding bags? and one piece was actually used as wrapping for a christmas gift i received the year before last) and finished with buttons from my button box. the button on the right worked perfectly with my patchwork cover, with an imprinted leaf, very similar to the one i block-printed and used as my starting piece.
the perfect stash busting project!

there's also been a little bit of picking for breakfasts from the garden... i got fed up with sharing the blueberries with the birds (and by sharing i mean, never getting any) and netted the living daylights out of the bush. while i was at it, the strawberry plants next door got a covering too and i've been enjoying the spoils for breakfast every few days for the last week or so. and the raspberries, well *touches all the wooden surfaces* the birds haven't cottoned onto their location yet... so nice to know EXACTLY where my berries are coming from!

and a fair bit of progress has been made on these socks for bb. the heels are both turned and i feel like i'm on the homestretch! i'm getting a wee bit weary with them, but i'm also grateful for the slow and simple nature of them. i always know what i'm doing when i pick them up!

and that about sums it up... well there's the normal life stuff too, catching up with friends, eating, sleeping, keeping the house looking nice and ALL of the baby goings on, snuggles and crying and giggles and dirty nappies.
it's a happy, messy and tiring time he he.

ps. i'm hoping to make tuesday my blogging day every week. check back next tuesday and every following tuesday for different bits and pieces; greenery updates, crafting, probably baby toes every now and again, and maybe, when i'm feeling brave enough, a birth story...