It takes a lot of good wine to make good knitting...

One of my "Multi Glass Projects"

There's an old saying in the New Zealand wine industry "It takes a lot of good beer to make good wine", well having been a product of the New Zealand wine industry & self confessed knitting lush I can also confidently say it takes a lot of good wine to make good knitting!

Imbibing whilst I knit helps me to relax, lubricate & think outside of the square, especially since most of my projects are undertaken without a pattern in very much a free form style. The kicker of course is - not too much!

(Pour nice red)

I will be the first to admit if I am attempting an aran or lace pattern & have had more that two glasses - buggered every time, so these patterns are best knitted during the day (or whilst pregnant - but in my case those reproductive days I am pleased to say are over!) at night I choose those nice easy stocking or garter stitch repetitive numbers that I can knit, drink, & watch prime time tellie.

My other "Multi Glass Project" a Cashmere cowl.

To that end this winter for the first time I have multiple projects on the go, to help match the level of inebriation, I mean relaxation, I have at the time. Currently I have 4 WIP, FOUR! I have never had this much work on the go, but I have so many ideas whirring around in my head that I am struggling to keep up with what I want to get translated out on the needles (pour another glass of wine). Add to that a mini baby boom by friends & family and I am very busy indeed (glug, glug).

In an attempt to get my shit together I have started (more accurately, restarted) a project book. Keeping more detailed notes of each project just in case it is one I want to get published or have some one who would like a copy. I would like to say it is neatly typed up, in edited, print ready format, but alas it's hand written scrawlings (what the bottles empty already?) with wadges of yarn stapled randomly in next to them. Oh well is it time for a port? What on tellie now? Where's the cowl?

Knitting without limits.

Max, Jim & Poppy - all will soon have their own knitted projects

Today Sophie & Poppy came to visit for lunch. Sophie anxiously picked up the needles for the first time since she Jim was small about 5 months ago wanting to knit something for Poppy. The project choice was a wrap around stocking stitch cardigan, quite ambitious for a beginner, but Sophie was not deterred. After completing the back, a few mistakes, trouble mastering when to knit, when to purl & issues with following the pattern, Poppy's project got shelved. I had also left her with a basic garter stitch tank top pattern which I had selected for her first attempt. One evening when she felt like trying again she cast on.



When I caught up with her last weekend she presented me with the tank top. She was having trouble getting Poppy to wear it as the fit was off in the front. She had run out of the aubergine yarn I had given her 3/4 of the way up the front & substituted with a novelty yarn. She felt defeated. Bugger this I thought, and armed with a pair of scissors, I freed the top from the novelty yarn & enquired about the cardigan (also started in the aubergine yarn). With back located, several cups of tea & chatting I was able to pick up the stitches & knit across the yarn from the defunct cardigan to the tank. Sophie was thrilled, reinvigorated she got going again, knowing that a successful end was in site. And what an end it was, Poppy arrived today with her tank on proudly which was finished beautifully. Sophie had embellished it with a contrasting blanket stitch around the neck, lazy daisies on the front & even a knitted ruffle!! I was blown away, but Sophie summed it all up when she said "well all I did was give it a go, what harm could it come too if I got it wrong"

BINGO! No one dies when you knit, there are really no rules, patterns are purely guidelines. To see someone like Sophie who has grasped this immediately & feel liberated when not constrained by a pattern, is inspiring. When she came wanted to add an element to her vest she borrowed a library book & nutted it out herself, learning by trial an error along the way. She even started a second tank using stocking stitch, a variegated yarn & taught herself bobbles to make it a bit more fun - Fearless!!

Now she has one completed project on the go, a second well on it's way to completion. She was utterly delighted when her 6 year old son asked her to knit him a 'spy' jumper, so she came round today to borrow a pattern book & for me to help source her some yarn, a job which is top priority tomorrow!


Basic Black Tank with Ruffled Neck
On my completion front I finished my black tank 2 days ago & have worn it for the last 2 days. Designed from scratch with all the measurements, tension swatches, and knit & measured as I went - the result is better that I anticipated, I know I will be getting plenty of wear out of this for the years to come.

Sophia's Freeform Organic Wrap
My other original design which has been developing organically for the last month was also completed, very fitting since it was using an organic yarn. It was inspired by adult designs I have seen & couldn't see why it wouldn't translate into a child's project. I just now hope it fits her, I will get her dad to take a pic & post it as soon as I get it.

Finally Dr. Phil got his new Winter overcoat today, and made mutterings that he should have bought a scarf to match - BOUGHT A SCARF!!! When I stopped spluttering in shock, he realised the error in his ways & a scarf for the dear doctor will be cast on this evening before he gets a chance to get the plastic out again - Buy a scarf indeed!

Bum Belches & Nose Poo's

The biggest land mark in this house in recent days has been Louis third birthday. THREE! I am sure sometimes in my sleep deprived haze it was only yesterday he was the tiny newborn that a terrified first time mother bought home. What a three years it has been. As I have blogged before Louis lives life on full volume, life with Louis is a real roller coaster, especially in the last nine months.

However for those of you out there with hard core sub-woofing toddlers the onset of three has bought with it a mellowing, maturing and considerate Louis. A couple of months ago at my wits end I contacted the Kindy that Louis was enrolled in & in sobs down the phone asked for help. All other early childhood health avenues & had spoken to all said the same "once he gets to kindy you'll see a change", but unfortunately I couldn't wait for that magical third birthday, I need help there & then. Enter Virginia. My savior, Louis angel. An experienced kindy teacher who has owned her own centre, she now does a 'mini' kindy from home - perfect for Louis. After two months under her tutelage Louis has learned social & communication skills that has made it life vastly more peaceful. I now have a son who regularly uses pleases & thank yous, listens, follows tasks, loves & plays with his brother & is delightful in mixed company - what joy!

Keeping in theme on the needles I have three projects on the go. I am about 75% of my way through my Merino/angora black tank, I have one sock completed for a friend of my mothers (the second is about to be cast on), and today I will be finishing a wrap for my friends babes first birthday in the delicious organic Forever Green Elan Merino. So no more talking & more knitting!

Ghosts of Freindships Found.

Christmas 1991 - My Cousin Karen in the white & I'm in red - I was 19

What a funny old couple of weeks it has been. I have re-established contact with three very old friends from high school (here & in the US) in the last few weeks that I haven't heard from in anywhere from eight to nineteen years... Crazy! I am usually not to bad at keeping in touch, let's face it we all get busy, but facing it has exactly what has happened, or Facebook to be more exact. In my former corporate life, when I spent hours each day in front of a computer screen, I would have been fabulous at Facebook. I would have been one of those wall writing, poking, group joining users that was always online. These days I am lucky if I can even get to check my email every day, but the miracle of Facebook & managed to get me reunited with people who have a great deal time invested in my life. It's is establishing a new chapter in my 'Facebook' & I will be very interested in seeing where it takes me.

On the knitty front I am about a third of my way through a basic black tank for me & am concocting a wrap for the daughter of one of the aforementioned old friends, I just I had more minutes in the day to get everything done.... Hmmm I need to get off Facebook & get knitting!

Knitting in Nelson

It's funny what inspires you to pick up the needles & start knitting. I am currently in Nelson with Dr. Phil as he attends a conference. I haven't really been to Nelson before (a flying trip for one hour seven years ago hardly counts), so I have loved being able to explore this very beautiful city.

First priorities were to locate yarn stores. I was in luck, Creations Crafts in Hardy Street was practically spitting distance from our hotel, a small store just overflowing with equipment for most yarn & fibre crafts. Yarn wise they had all the usual suspects, but also a few nice surprises, like the Angora/Merino blend from Aslan Trends. But it was colour that trapped me, I found a boucle in rich paprika & persimmon which screamed "Scarf NOW" & a very bright 4ply blend in limes, reds, oranges & indigo's which I just couldn't resist for my kiddy knitting.

Fortunately I had all my knitting paraphernalia with me, I am whipping off to Christchurch tomorrow for the day to the Knit World knitters weekend, so I was able to scurry back to the hotel with freshly purchased yarn & promptly started casting on a quick scarf to wear at the knitters weekend tomorrow.

Get the Drop Scarf
I used Naturally Yarns Landscape Boucle (10ply, 83m, 50gm, Shade 809)

Using 6mm needles cast on 25 sts loosely

Knit 4 rows

Next: Knit twisting the yarn around the needle 3 times (like a yarn over on steroids)

Next: Knit the first 'stitch' letting the remaining 'sts' (twists) fall off the needle to produce a elongated st.

Next: Repeat the sequence to product the scarf, to the length desired. I am adding tassels, so ensure you have enough yarn remaining to do so. I have knitted two balls into the scarf & used half a ball for tassels.

Also on my yarn finding travels Dr Phil & I headed over to Richmond to do a spot of wine tasting (we're in Nelson, it'd be rude not to) & I sort out the Grape Escape centre on McShanes Road. There is the infamous Cruella's Fibre Boutique (http://www.cruellas.co.nz/). This is my kind of yarn store, zany passionate owners (with the hair styles to match the name), producing their own yarn & sumptuous colours that you just wanted to eat! Still feeling flush under the glow of Nelson's autumnal splendor & couldn't resist a DK blend of alpaca, silk, mohair & merino in a colour aptly named 'Cocoon Persimmon' - a project has yet to be assigned to this lovely yarn, but I can assure you it won't be in the stash for long. So a big thank you to Nelson for providing such wonderful inspiration

Warm as Toast

Max contimplates the cooler weather...

Boy has the weather turned! After a little bit of an Indian Summer the week before last, the first few days in May have bought cold southerlies, huge swells (I live by the sea) & much needed, but very chilly rain. The bright side? Guilt free knitting weather!

We packed up Boys', Daddy & Mastiff & made an impromptu visit to Gisborne last weekend to visit my family & some friends. It was lovely to catch up, you don't need good weather to spend time with those you love. It was also nice to have extra sets of eyes on the boys' & to be able to have a good knit up.

I was stoked to get Poppy's sleeping bag finished. It was quite daunting in the end, as I was flying by the seat of my pants, no pattern & mixing two genres (weaving & knitting), what was I thinking! But the final result is one I am very pleased with, best news is it fits her & she now can be toasty warm in the cooler weather.

I also managed to knock out a pair of socks from some Merino/Alpaca/Possum thread waste that came through work. They have made a very warm luscious pair of socks, a Mothers Day present for the wonderful 'Nanny Kitty'. I also started another pair of sock for my own Mum for Mothers Day. I have one completed & the second is cast on.

Hugo Enjoying the new 'Possum' socks

It's a simple two needle pattern that I have cobbled together from various other patterns. It's quick, can easily be sized up or down & if finished well, almost indiscernible from it's 4 needle counterparts. Now I know there will be sock fanatics out there who will be scoffing at me for not knitting socks in their pure form, but honestly I just can't be arsed faffing about with all those needles. I have tried with two circulars & I have to say this method has great merit, a technique I have actually used on my tea cosies, but you can beat two needles for speed. Well that's my excuse & I'm sticking to it!

Pretty as a Poppy

I had the lovely wee Miss Poppy here a couple of days ago & I was able to give her the wee shrug. Mum was organised & made sure she was wearing the dress that inspired the garment & I have to say I am thrilled, she looks gorgeous!

I have had a great week getting projects finished & new ones started, I am finishing off Poppy's sleeping bag, an amalgam of knitting & weaving & have just cast on a pair of socks in a Merino/Alpaca/Merino blend that we have just had come through the factory - delicious!

I love this time of year, because the days in general are lovely & the evenings cool, so you really feel like curling up & ripping out the sticks. The best part is when it rains, ahhh, put on a movie & knit, knit, knit. I love the Harry Potter series for this especially, as there are plenty of hand knits & I never get sick of seeing the films.

Last night we watched 'The Water Horse'. A story about the origins of the Loch Ness monster set in the early 1940's. A lovely family story, filmed in the most part in New Zealand, so filled with familiar faces. I have 'Second Hand Wedding' ready to be watched, another Kiwi film, perfect for sock knitting I feel!!