Author: Sonia Knits

Still knitting grey

| Sonia Knits

This morning I cast-off the last of my Beanie commitments for 2024. Four grey double-brimmed beanies (triple, if you count the fold-up) is more than enough for one season I think. Fortunately now that the weather is fining up a little, the desire to knit beanies for gifts has lessened, as has the demand.

The final charcoal beanie (which is for our friend Tim) is currently blocking, so just imagine the last beanie pictured here, twice. I have got modelled photos of the first three beanies on their recipients, but I’m going to wait until I have the fourth portrait to show them all to you at once. I’ve really enjoyed handing over the beanies to the first three recipients, they’ve all been very well received so far.

This weekend, I was really hoping to have a new garment cast-on, but I thought it would be best to get back to my Calm Down Cardigan, that I’ve hardly begun (from way back in April). Sadly, it’s also grey, which really is not a joyful colour to knit for months on end. I just really want the finished thing, because I’ll get so much wear out of it. The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Rustic, in the identical colour of the Bendigo Classic beanies. An unfortunate coincidence, but isn’t it lovely?

I’m very happy to get back to my projects and plans after this unplanned diversion into beanie knitting. Perhaps next weekend I’ll give myself permission to start something new.

The Beanie Queue

| Sonia Knits

I don’t knit a lot for others, so when I do, you can bet it means a lot to me.

This winter I knit my brother a beanie, I can’t believe it’s his first one from me. He absolutely loves it, and I’m stoked.

I saw a friend who I felt definitely needed one of my beanies; she was cooking in the kitchen whilst wearing a store-bought beanie. Knitters don’t let friends wear store-bought beanies! I twisted her arm to ‘allow’ me to knit her one.

Then over the Sheep Show weekend, another friend saw me knitting my brother’s beanie and wanted one too. He was pretty envious and pretty upfront about asking for one. Of course I said yes, … but there’s a queue.

After the Bendigo weekend the woolliest weekend of the year, I found I needed to buy new yarn for this beanie queue! Both Thi and Tim wanted a charcoal coloured hat, and believe it or not, I didn’t have spare ‘beanie’ yarn in my stash for that. Sure I had a jumpers worth of charcoal yarn, but I wasn’t going to sacrifice a large project for a couple of hats.

I placed an order with Bendigo Woollen Mills, for a selection of yarns that I thought could work.

I bought two balls of their Classic 8 ply in Charcoal, which is great, because that’s the colour both Thi and Tim selected. Bendigo ‘Classic’ is a crepe-plied yarn. I’ve never been a fan of crepe yarns, but my opinion changed once I cast-on for Thi’s beanie.

The texture of the crepe is really ‘nice’ to knit. It’s a well-structured yarn, but still soft and not scratchy. And Bendigo Woollen Mills has an extensive colour range in ‘Classic’ much more so than their Luxury range. Why have I not noticed this before? I’m now looking at their colour card in a completely new way. Deep Rose I’m looking at you.

Whilst I had cast-on for Thi’s beanie… I got an invite to an older colleague’s retirement lunch. I knew this colleague was retiring, but I wasn’t aware of exactly when. So the order of the queue has changed once again. Damian at this rate may get a new beanie in time for next winter.

With the short deadline, it turns out I can knit Petite Knit’s Oslo hat in 2 weekend days.

This is Richard’s beanie in Luxury 8 ply in Blue Denim, it has been cast off and is currently blocking. I hope he likes it and thinks of me and my Bendigo adventures when he wears it. In the time that I’ve worked with him (12.5 years), he indulged me, by listening to my stories from the sheep show weekends with great interest, what a guy.

Crochet Mojo

| Sonia Knits

My crochet mojo is back baby!

I’ve recently picked up my Nimue blanket (designed by Shelley Husband) once again. Completing the centre square ‘Avalon’ and getting back to the 24 Caltha squares that lay around it’s perimeter.

This Saturday, I took a class with the designer of this blanket at Sunspun. I took along my Avalon block to the ‘Sit and Crochet’ which was held in the morning to show Shelley. It was great to spend some time with Shelley, chatting and laughing along until we got to the serious stuff in the afternoon. Sunspun is my local yarn store, but I don’t get there very often. It is such a nice welcoming space, the owner Virginia is lovely and some of my friends also work there.

The class I took was ‘Granny Square Academy 2’. Having made all of the squares in Granny Square Academy 1, I thought this class would be fun. I was not wrong. It did take a little brain power, but there were lots of laughs along the way!

I really enjoyed making the 2 squares Shelley selected for us to undertake. ‘Invisible Jesse’ is really cool and 3D, one of my favourite squares ever. I’m now all inspired to finish my Nimue blanket, but there’s still loads to go.

Meanwhile, I’ve knit my brother a beanie. I’ve never knit him one before, I don’t think it will be the last one either. I’ve also cast-on a DK weight pair of socks for Damian, which are working up super fast. I think I’ve finally gotten to the bottom of the fit issues for Damian’s socks, with a 3 inch heel flap, the first sock fits him like a glove.

I now have more ‘orders’ for more beanies from other friends (I’m also inclined to make the Oslo hat for Damian). Damian has selected the yarn for his 2nd pair of DK socks, surprisingly pink and green! And I’m thinking about picking up that cardigan I started a few months ago. And I’m thinking about my next sweater cast-on… so many things 🙂

Bendigo 2024!

| Sonia Knits

I’m home, exhausted and I’m wondering how my time in Bendigo went so fast. It must mean I had a really great time.

I won a prize in the Woolcraft competition! It was for my Paul Klee Sweater pictured above. Competition was really tough this year and I feel very fortunate to have been awarded a third in the Sweater category for 4ply.

The displays of work were beautiful, and I think the best ever in terms of how items were presented.

This year, the Richmond Knitters made garments and accessories from the Pressed Flowers patterns by Amy Christophers. Wearing them altogether, certainly got a lot of attention. It made the weekend super fun too.

We saw the Woolcraft Fashion parade on Saturday morning, it was amazing. We visited the sheep, and even saw a baby lamb on it’s birthday! This is my older sis in the 3rd photo above.

Here are my Bendigo purchases for 2024… the shopping list was thrown out for day 2 at the show. I found it too limiting, by the things I needed, rather than the things that sang to me. So I had a very joyous time, by the looks of things. Now to dream of all the things I can make with these. If you would like to check out all the specifics, I’ve added them to my Ravelry page. And that’s it for another year of the Sheep Show.

Painting Bricks Sweater

| Sonia Knits

It’s finished! My super fun Stephen West sweater was finished in time to be entered into the Woolcraft competition at the 2024 Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo. Which begins today (I’m writing this in advance).

The main colour has been hand-dyed by Danni of Half-baked Hand dyed, with the contrast colours from my 2023 Advent Calender, by Vanessa of My Creative Garage. From the one time I’ve popped the sweater on for the photoshoot, I can tell you it’s lovely to wear. The colours are just so joyful. The folded neck band is a winner, not to mention the squishy slip-stitch rows.

It was a fun knit, I would highly recommend Stephen West’s patterns for their clarity and interest.

But all of these ends, are on me! I have a bad habit of waiting to the end to sew them in, except for blankets for some reason.

I’ll be back to let you know how my Woolcraft entries went, and to show you my haul from the show!

5 Sleeps to the Bendigo Sheep Show!

| Sonia Knits

I’m sorry I haven’t posted in such a long time. Apparently when you enter into Woolcraft competitions, you’re supposed to be a bit secretive about your makes until the judging has occurred. That’s no fun! I’m not even sure if that applies to blogs, is a judge reading my blog right now?! I highly doubt it.

I can confirm three sweaters and a pair of socks have been entered into the Woolcraft competition! My second pair of socks have missed out, because well, that was a pipe dream.

Since completing my entries, my intentions have moved to my Nimue crochet blanket by Shelley Husband, that has darkened my living room basket for 2 years, 2.5 years! If you recall, I stopped working on this when I realised I’d bitten off more than I could chew, by also working on my Hand Spinning Certificate at the same time.

I’m actually really enjoying making this once again. No deadlines, no homework, no competitions (definitely can’t be entered into any show, because it’s cotton).

I haven’t forgotten about my ‘Cast-on a sweater a month’ goal. I’m hoping to recommence those shenanigans in August. I’ve got a blanket to finish and there seems to be a few people in my life who need beanies right now. It’s very chilly in Melbourne, and sadly the forecast for Bendigo weekend is cold and wet.

I’ll be back on Friday, with my latest completed sweater (when the judging is over!)

changing the Goal Posts

| Sonia Knits

The Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo is just 6 weeks away! I’m super excited this year as every year; it’s like Christmas for Knitters and Spinners. My husband and I go up to stay a few days beforehand to make it into a mini getaway.

The show itself seems to be getting bigger and better every year. In the last number of years my Knitting group (the Richmond knitters) have attended the Women of Wool luncheon, and we’ve hosted a special Saturday Night dinner. We also have a knit-along for a sweater/accessory and wear it to the show, see my Pressed Flowers Pullover below, squee. We hang out together and buy lots of yarn and fibre, and encourage others to do the same, it’s great!

This year though, I’m adding something to the usual repertoire that is Bendigo. I’m going to enter the Woolcraft competition! Whilst I don’t like to be be judged on something that is my hobby and obsession, I’m doing this for fun, and surely the judges won’t make horrible comments. I’ve enjoyed seeing my friends enter the competition for many years, and I think it’s time I had a go. I’ve knit a couple of things recently, that I’ve kind of thought of entering… so they haven’t been worn. But after the show I’ll be able to wear them, so I can prove I’m a product knitter over a process knitter after all. Or rather I can be both.

I’ve filled in my entry form and paid the fees… for 5 items, 5! 3 of the items are finished, but 2 of the items are WIPS. They are my stretch goal 🙂 My deadline is in 3 weeks; before everything needs to be popped in the post to get there in time.

So, I’m changing the Goal Posts I’ve set myself of casting-on a garment per month. For now anyway. I’m going to finish the 2 WIPS I need for the Show competition instead!

And here’s my Pressed Flowers Pullover on this rainy long weekend in Melbourne. I’ll be wearing it to Bendigo so if you see me there, come say hi.

May Wrap up

| Sonia Knits

It seems I have fallen off the blogging wagon, I’ve only been knitting my Pressed Flowers pullover and it’s taken f-o-r-e-v-e-r. I do love it though, but mosaic knitting takes twice the time it seems.

Can you believe we’re nearly half-way through the year?

We had a belated birthday (for me) and a combined birthday celebration (a niece and a sister) with my family a few weeks ago. I was gifted this Amigurumi sheep by my sweet niece who’s 12! I was completely blown away by her talent for such a young age. It took her 2 weeks to make, and it’s perfect. I’m in love.

Last weekend, I was stuck on sleeve island for my Pressed Flowers pullover, and I needed to do something other than knit the sleeve for a day but without starting something new… so I did some spinning. I have 200 grams of this beautiful merino fibre from Cat & Sparrow, which I picked up at the Sheep Show last year.

Finally this past Friday night, my Pressed Flowers pullover was cast-off and ends were sewn in. Now to block and take some photos, yay! Next time, I promise.

On Saturday I attended the annual Handknitters market in Coburg and had a wonderful time. It feels like a very long time since I’ve indulged in a yarny event and I might have bought more than I intended. All sock yarn, so that doesn’t count now does it?

A cast-on pause in May

| Sonia Knits

Last week I made the decision to not cast on a new sweater in May. The excitement of casting on with reckless abandon, has taken a pause… but only for May! I currently have 3 sweater/cardigan WIPs, and I feel as though that is the most I can cope with at one time.

I’ve been working solidly on my March Sweater, the Pressed Flowers pullover, and I hope to finish it up this month as well as make some good progress on my other 2 WIPs.

I’m now on the rib of the body of my sweater and I’ve divvied up the gradient yarn in 2 for my sleeves; I really hope I have enough, eek…

I’ve also cast-on for some Stephen West socks, Painting Honeycombs, which I’ve been wanting to knit since they were released last year. Using some stash yarn in Patons Patonyle fluro orange, and some mini skeins from advent calendars and left-overs. My friend Jade gifted me this gorgeous honey bee stitch marker, how perfect.

Whilst I was away in Daylesford, a sneaky purchase was made from my favourite self-striping hand dyer Danni of Half-baked hand dyed.

Isn’t it gorgeous… it was sitting by my Painting Bricks sweater WIP when it arrived, and I think it’s a perfect match.

I’m looking forward to getting lots done this month, so the excitement of a new cast-on returns for June.