As Promised.....

The Rose Ribbons Shawl is done and dusted. Another lovely Evelyn Clark design from her book "Knitting lace Triangles". The book is a bit of a bugger to get in Australia but well worth the effort as a learning exercise. In it Ms Clark goes through the complete design process for this particular style of shawls as well as including a number of pattern suggestions.

This is "nearly" as the book prescribes. It went a little askew when I got a little carried away and did the flower beginning and then two repeats of the flower lace instead of one. I then continued on as prescribed but decided that I had enough yarn for an extra round of double repeats of the flower and the leaf lace. I finished it with the first six rows of flower lace and transition 1. The edging is two rows longer than suggested just to get the lighter tone on the cast off edge.

This is a lovely shawl and I am very pleased with the end result. The Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 (ED colourway) is again not the softest of yarns but forgivable for the great colour changes. If you are after a soft-as-silk shawl stick to something else. If you love the subtle gradient changes then go the Kauni.

Oh, and I would like you to note from the last photo that I do not have the 37 chins indicated in the first.

Marriage and the art of the school holidays

Today is my parent's 46th wedding anniversary. That is not a typo - forty-six! That is one hell of an effort any way you look at it. I have been married 13 years. Jas and I have been together now for 17. Most of those years have been marvelous, but I think any married person will tell you that there are times that aren't so great too. There are times that you could easily pack your bags and walk away without a moments thought, yet you don't.

I have seen my parents marriage and take it as an example. I know there were times that were less than great. I know that there were times when either one of them could have walked away. I also know that they hung on despite this and they have had many great and happy times together in that 46 years. Making a commitment to stay with one person forever isn't an easy one.

Jason and I married young, or at least what is considered young these days. I was 24 and he was 22. I sometimes say that we are still together as much through good luck as good management. What I mean by that is that we are both quite different people to who we were as young adults. Thankfully the changes have been positive (or at least bearable) and we still love the person that the other has become. In many ways it could have easily gone the other way.

On a less serious topic it is school holidays. Oh how I love school holidays. I know that some parents dread it but I love the casual, relaxed nature of a school holidays spent at home. I love the lack of time constraints and the lack of pressure (and I confess, the lack of work). Currently the kids are still in their jammies. Bevo is on the computer completing a very important Scooby Doo related photo collage and the two youngest ones are entertained with a cubby made from the couch, the coffee table and two blankets. They probably should be dressed but where's the hurry? We aren't going anywhere.

I also love that the holidays is a chance to tackle some of those bigger jobs that seem to much trouble for the weekends. So far I have sorted all the boys clothes, taking the too small to a friends house and shuffling the rest down a boy. I love that my kids are so unconcerned about these things that they are excited to receive "new" clothes from their bigger brothers. I also finally tackled the bathroom cupboard in our ensuite. I am sure that I haven't organised that since we renovated nearly 5 years ago! The knitting stuff in the lounge also got a going over. Needles back where they belong and all that jazz.

I have also got a little knitting done in the hols.

Pattern: Omo Scarf by Lucia Tedesco
Yarn: Cashmere 8ply from Ebay
Needles: 5mm
Comments: I just love this scarf. The pattern is beautifully textured without being fussy and easily remembered being just two rows.

Pattern: Hannah by Blake Ehrlich
Yarn: Cleckheaton Merino Supreme
Needles: 6mm
Comments: This is my new hash hat. I need to have my hair ponied to run and my old headband had lost it's elasticity. The only mod I made was to add about 3cm to the hat as I wanted it further down my ears. This thing whipped up so quickly. Even with pulling all the decreases to make it a little larger, it still only took about 3 hours.

Work continues on my Rose Ribbon Shawl. I anticipate an end very shortly.

Where to start?

I finally think I am fully back in the land of the living. At least I am finally getting up to posting an update of sorts.

The school holidays are here and I am enjoying a relaxing day at home with the kids. No pressure for any of us. Just bumming around doing whatever we want. Bevan only got dressed because I needed him to pop to the shops for some bread for lunch. Failing that I am convinced he would still be in his jammies. I did a little housework and have just been pottering besides.

I have been doing some knitting since last I posted, although I must confess, not a whole lot. Most of this stems from falling down the stairs (think from 1st floor to ground) and tearing a rotator cuff muscle in my shoulder. For a few weeks there knitting was just a touch to painful. Luckily though it was/is my left shoulder and although it is a long way from "right" I can knit pretty easily now. Ballet however is a whole other question.

The finished objects...

Pattern: Children's Hooded Tunic #232 by Diane Soucy
Yarn: Luxury 8ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills in Brick
Needles: 4.5mm
Comments: This is the new yarn from BWM and I cannot rave enough about it! It is soft and fluffy, knits beautifully and goes through the machine without an eye flutter. In my opinion it is far superior to any of their other yarns. An absolute winner.

Pattern: Edna Rose by me.
Yarn: Jo Sharp DK Silkroad Tweed in Berry
Needles: 4mm
Comments: I modified this to make a slouchy hat rather than a beanie style as the pattern was originally written. I cast on 100sts for the rib and then did an increase row of k4, kfb before commencing the pattern. In reality I probably picked the wrong combo of yarn and pattern for this but the end result isn't bad. If I was to do another (and I might), I would use a lighter yarn and switch to 4.5mm needles for the body of the hat.

My current WIP is a Rose Ribbon Shawl by Evelyn Clark in Kauni (EP colourway). It is great fun and running along. Pictures will come when it is finished. I also have to start another hoodie for Duncan as his is getting a little small and he loves it so much. I have some navy and white Luxury to knit him a "Geelong" hoodie. Should get onto that but the lace does becon....

I have been a little quiet.

Those that know me personally know that it has been a rough week.

Tuesday I watched two marvelous people bury their eldest son. He was 22 years old, in his third year of university, had a beautiful and loving girlfriend and a loving and supportive family. For days now I have known that I had to write about it but it is so hard.

Rhys was one of my students, a number of years ago granted, that as many others have touched my life and changed it. One of the lovely things about being a secondary school teacher is that you watch kids grow into amazing adults. The special ones keep in touch, a process now made much easier through sites like Facebook. Some send text messages, others email, others send messages through younger siblings. My life is enriched by many of these young people. Not just the "good" ones (of which Rhys was one) but also the naughty ones who overcome their issues to finish high school and move on in life. I have cried with them and I have laughed with them.

Rhys died because he was living as he believed was right. A young lady was involved in an argument with her boyfriend early on a Sunday morning in the street. Rhys and a friend asked her if she needed any help. Her boyfrind turned around and punched him. He fell and cracked the back of his head on the concrete. He never woke up.

His mum told me that he was responsive in his coma. At times during the time he spent in hospital he would show signs that he could hear them. She said he looked perfect. He lasted nearly a week before he gave in.

The funeral was massive. With the team mates from his football and cricket teams, his uni mates, his high school mates, family friends and others he has touched, there were hundreds in attendance. So much as it shouldn't have to be, the service was a lovely record of a very special and stupidly short life. The messages were the same. Rhys was passionate and loving in everything he did.

I had to watch my kids hurting. It isn't fair that people so young should suffere such loss. It isn't fair that the world should suffer such loss.

This whole episode is just so pointless and has ruined so many lives. Rhys' family will have the rest of their lives to come to terms with all this as will his mates. Adding to that the boy responsible is now facing manslaughter charges. I am sure life will never be the same for him and his family either. I also can't help but feel for the poor girl who must feel some responsibility in this whole mess. Stupid shit caused by angry beer.

Regardless, wherever Rhys is I hope he realises how much he was loved and how special he was. There better be sport and I am sure if there are others he has already made some new mates.

Someday we'll find it...

The Rainbow Collection that is!!


I think Rohan might have a rainbow problem!

The kids have all wanted scarves and being the obliging mother that I am I have happily knit them all up.

Bevan's...

Duncan's...


Rohan then decides that he needs one too. Exploration uncovered that he wanted it be like Bevan's, but stars not diamonds, and rainbow! I got the scarf done after a few false starts and then the child wanted a matching hat and matching "gloves" (always ask a 4 year old clarifying questions because it turned out he really wanted mittens).

Now Rohan is (nearly) head to toe rainbow! I wonder if I have enough yarn left for socks?

PS: The yarn is Susanne's House of Wool in Rainbow. The scarf and hat are my creations, the mittens are Basic Cuff-Up Mittens by Patti Pierce Stone The diamond scarf was from a lion brand email and is knit in Shepherd Colour 4 Me. Duncan's scarf was my creation in Monster Knits Corriedale (blue fish colourway).

I love Jila Mints!

Not just because they are tasty. Not just because they are sugarfree. Not just because they are made here in Ballarat by a family owned company. Not just because that family all went to the school I teach at.

But also because the awesome (recyclable) tin that they come in makes a great handbag knitting kit!


All the bits and bobs you might need on the run! Markers, darning needles, a tape measure and a little blade for trimming ends. Truly my best idea this week. All the necessities and fits in the handbag with no trouble at all.

And just to prove that I have also been knitting.....

The flower basket shawl from Evelyn Clark in the Yarn Cafe Sock Club yarn from Yarn Collective. Small but lovely.

The Problem with Big Projects

The problem with big projects is that it can effectively seem to the outside world that you have given up the art of knitting to pursue a professional tiddly wink career. Whilst I have long thought myself a shithot tiddlly-winker, I have in actuality been knitting, all be it on large projects.

One is finally finished! Okay I confess that the actual knitting was finished some time ago (at least a week or two) but given my great love of seaming, it had been waiting patiently for a bit. It is amazing how you can convince yourself that it is imperative that you get other things done first and besides "It isn't even winter yet".

Well I finished last night which was ideal timing given that winter seems to have arrived today (brrrr, it was 4 degrees this morning) and I got to wear it to the market and out shopping.

Pattern: Climbing Vines Pullover by Joëlle Meier Rioux
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Old Sage (5 skeins)
Needles: 4mm for rib, 5mm for body.
Comments: I have lengthened the sleeves by about 5 cms after the increases, they just seemed to short for a heavy jumper. I also had no hope of stopping the lace work where the pattern dictated and making a front the same length as the front. Had I of thought about it I would not have done the yarn overs that have resulted in a holey type arrangement at the top.

There was one source of help for my seamaphobia, Knitting Daily sent out links to vertical and horizontal seaming tutorials. I highly recommend them if you are a fellow sufferer.

By the way, a quick Public Service Announcement. Jason took my photos for me as he often does (bless his little heart). However, being a bloke, he was so involved in the technical aspects of the photography that this happened:

Sweetheart, surely even you can see the bunching, the unsightly rolls and the bad posture! PSA: Men might take technically good photos but they are crap at telling you you look terrible!