Picture this: The Op Art blanket is blocking. I finished knitting the final stripe of six hundred plus stitches, which in turn used no less than two 50g balls on Thursday evening. The ends were sewn in this morning. It has been machine washed on a fancy woollens cycle and is currently harnessed between 4 strong blocking wires effectively making it square. It looks awesome. I’m not talking about the knitting, my meaning is to the optical pattern which has suddenly come to life in my knitting.

Despite having begun a pair of socks in a weak moment a few weeks ago, and desperately wanting to cast on Golden Wheat; my thoughts this morning returned to my Winter set.

I entered my personal yarn store and spent a good amount of time accessing and deciding on yarn and in turn patterns to make up my winter set. I must say I was a little inspired by Katie’s recent cardigan, in the pink and grey stripes. It reminds me of my fav fleecy dress which I wore throughout grade one and two. It’s a colour combination which still speaks to me today. It’s pink, it’s grey, it’s the best of both worlds!

I was determined to knit something a little chunkier, something a little faster, my attention span for projects is a maximum of four weeks as proven by my recent projects. Ideally, I would like my winter set complete in under two weeks; that’s do-able.

Without further a do, my winter set for 2012 will consist of Veera’s ‘shimmer in blue’ cowl and ‘here and there’ cabled hat and ‘Dashing’ mitts from Knitty for my hands (Veera hasn’t designed any mitts as yet). I have chosen a selection of yarns which I hope will complement each other and not look dreadfully ‘matchy matchy’, just cool and considered, thanks Louisa for the tip!

After making my pattern decisions, I purchased them and they downloaded immediately. I wound my yarn from skeins to balls and I cast on. Is there anything better than that? Perhaps downloading an entire book to my new kindle in under 10 seconds flat, that was pretty shocking. Technology has made me feel very powerful this week, I’m excited and a little afraid.

I’m on my last stripe for my sisters Op Art baby blanket. The very last stripe, I kind of think I can get there now. I have loved knitting the Op Art blanket again (the first one was for my sister-in-laws baby), but I won’t lie to you, I wish it had gone faster. The very nature of the illusion, beginning in the centre, the rapid growth and then nothing… just the constant knitting and something that doesn’t look bigger than a hand towel!

So here we are on the long weekend and it’s still not finished, I was hoping to cast on ‘Golden Wheat’ perhaps today. It would have been a nice little reward for a job well done. But alas I’m still defiant, the blanket must be done first!

The baby shower was yesterday, a month early; I never intended to have the blanket ready this early, so instead I gifted some bootees I made some time ago. Saartje’s with ladybird closures. They were received with squeals of delight, I was very pleased and relieved with that.

The feeling I got from the room of 30 or so women, was that my sis would be having a boy. I have no idea how they’ve come to that conclusion, although there were many different theories circulating.

My sisters husband is a mad Yoda fan, so at some point I may have to knit a baby a Yoda wrap, and my fav umbilical hat. If my knitting dreams catch up with reality that is.

I was knitting away on the Op Art blanket yesterday, having managed to get a fair bit done (unblocked the width is about 41cm) and there’s a lot more to go. When my hands got a bit achy I switched to spinning for a while, but sadly it didn’t keep my interest.

This morning I did the only thing I could do. I cast on another project. I casted on some socks.

Sock yarn is guilt-free, so it makes sense that sock projects should be guilt-free too.

I had signed up to some Craftsy classes over Christmas when they were going cheap. I thoroughly enjoyed Stefanie Japel’s ‘Fit Your Knits’ class and got a tremendous amount of knowledge and practical tips for future jumper knitting. I also purchased at the same time, Donna Druchunas’ Knit Sock Workshop. The workshop features two patterns, one of which I’ve been wanting to make for a few months. Enter the diversion project, ‘Ladies Lace Socks’.

Very early this morning I attempted to do the Turkish figure 8 cast-on as described in the class. After my first successful attempt of casting on with this method, I went back to ‘Judy’s Magic Cast on’ and it was perfect and effortless. Why would you try/do anything else? Give credit where credit is due, that woman is a genius…

I have now completed my very first ‘swirl toe’, which I’m quite taken with and I’ve completed one lace repeat.

Guess it’s time to head back to the blanket now, fair’s fair.

The Op Art blanket is underway… this is going to take a while. If I’m realistic about it, I’m looking at a good 4 weeks of knitting this baby (if not more), But. I get these super unrealistic ideas come weekend time, that if I knit solidly I could be almost done by the end of the weekend. In my experience of me, this is never the case. The weather is rubbish or should I say positively wet, because in actual fact deep down every knitter out there is secretly rejoicing in a weekend where venturing outside is utter madness. My only other hope for this weekend is that my husband comes home with some dinner, I’m feeling that lazy and lux at the same time.

I’ve had a rather busy work week, I’ve actually been quite busy for some time. I am loving work, and this week I love my boss just a little more. Can’t tell you why, but I really feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, I am where I am supposed to be. Is there anything better than that?

Apologies for another crappy indoor winter photo. I am going to have to get some photography tuition from Damian. I’ve had a really inspiring week, life-drawing classes anyone?

There’s a lot to be caught up with this weekend, I have no less than a dozen pieces of knitwear to wash and de-pill, I only wish I had done the washing during the week, because with this weather…

This wet weather we’ve been having in Melbourne town has been the perfect excuse to stay at home for some indoor activities. I was the kid at primary school who was more than happy to be confined to the classroom at lunchtime when things got wet. How sad?!

Some knitting got done today and I completed Sharon’s stripy socks (for me). I loved learning how to do the afterthought heel (it’s just another toe!) brilliant! I took some progress photos of the transformation.

I am super happy with how they’ve turned out and they’re a great fit. If you plan to knit this one, I would recommend using a variegated yarn such as Noro to disguise the double stripe that you get when adding in the afterthought heel. If I made it again, I’d also add in more rows for the leg, I get cold ankles.

It’s been two whole weeks since I’ve bought yarn or fibre, now all of a sudden I’m discovering new amazing fibre clubs and awesome online yarn stores with super cheap yarn, bah! I’ve held strong inspite of this and have ordered my depiller…

I’m thinking about sending this flyer around to the local yarn and fibre stores nearby. Clearly I cannot be trusted to refrain from purchasing yarn upon entering a yarn store. Buying yarn and fibre is good in small doses, but lately I’ve lost a bit of self-control. I’m not going to name names or make any assertions but I know what my weak-spot(s) are when it comes to stash enhancement. Oh yes, there are several, and when they work together they equal YARN PURCHASE.

1. New Yarn – This is a biggy. I like to experience new things, experiencing new yarn gives me so much joy in a safe and comforting way. I don’t need to jump out of a plane to give me an adrenaline rush, just give me some yarn I haven’t seen before.

2. Limited Edition Yarn – Hello Wollmeise. This also includes souvenir and birthday yarn. It’s my one and only chance to purchase this yarn, I may never see it again, if I don’t buy it now I’ll miss out and I’ll be poking myself with dpns wishing I had.

3. My Favourite Colours Yarn – Pinks, greens, purples and blues; you know who you are and you clearly know who I am, because you’re singing out to me as I enter a yarn store.

There are other lamer buying points: I need a pick-me-up, I deserve to buy yarn, it’s Friday, it’s Saturday hooray, oooh it’s soft…

If you are a yarn store, or thinking of opening one up, there is your recipe to make me beholden to you. Feel free to disregard my trigger points after all I have my own yarn store at home, I’m not that desperate to buy, much.

I’m going to try very hard to not purchase any yarn or fibre until the Bendigo Show. That’s less than three months away. Wish me luck.

I’ve been ill this last week, it only lasted a few days, but one of those days was my birthday. I don’t recall the last time I’ve been unwell on my birthday, it was a bit of a bummer really. I’m acutely aware though how lucky I am otherwise in my life, my family and my friends so I’ll get over the disappointment of being pukey on my birthday, a temporary state of being.

I have been thoroughly spoiled by everyone in my birthday week/month, I feel quite special, but a little taken aback by the gifts bestowed. Knitters do give the most thoughtful gifts (as do husbands).

Last night was my final birthday celebration for the year when my sisters and their partners came over to share in cupcakes and pizza. One of my sisters surprised me with this large vase (and she’s not a knitter).

It was lovely to catch up with my sisters on the eve of a new niece/nephew arriving into our lives. It was good to see the baby bump, (oh my god it’s really happening) I feel inspired to knit for my sister’s baby, it needs to be clothed in wool, it is a winter baby after all. I hope to cast on the Op Art blanket this week (instead of just talking about it).