Little Monster

June 23, 2013 | Sonia Knits

It was Marilyn’s 1st birthday party today. I finally got to hand over her monster pants and they were a real hit! Sadly the matching cardigan I made was a little snug… I tried to adjust a 10ply pattern to suit the 8ply yarn I used in the pants. Sadly it’s a ‘slim’ fit.’ Oh well,’ I said. ‘Your next kid can wear it’. It was a bit disappointing to me and no doubt the parents. The pants only took a week to knit, the cardigan 2 weeks…

I’ll just have to make her another cardigan. But first, Still light, I can’t forget about you.

It was funny watching Marilyn crawling around with her little monster bottom. I can highly recommend this as a fun knit.

‘Winter is coming’

May 19, 2013 | Sonia Knits

This is what I keep hearing. Sadly there are no winter-sets to speak of, let alone finished objects, I’m looking at you Still Light, oh heavens how I’ve tried. So what do you blog about when there is nothing to show?

The Latte Baby coat got some handsome buttons last week…

Purl has been extra snuggly now that it’s cold and I’m taking full advantage of that.

I finally watched the last episode of Downton Abbey season 3 whilst finishing up some spinning. Oh my word and I thought Game of Thrones was tragic. Thankfully my real life isn’t as dramatic as that, touch wood.

These 2 bobbins are now ready to ply after they’ve rested for a day or so.

Very little spinning has taken place this year as keen observers will have noticed. I can’t blame the kitten for everything, it’s just a matter of time (in my defence Purl is currently sleeping on my hands as I type). This fibre comes from 2 Bendigos ago. They are EGMTK beastie blends with merino, bamboo and silk. I can’t wait to see them plied, as I imagined them 2 years ago.

As well as winter coming, so is Bendigo Show… and possibly a blip in the yarn diet. Whilst I still haven’t purchased any yarn since NY, this came into my possession this week, who says you can’t receive gifts outside your birthday month?

Thank you Teopea! It was a very sweet surprise.

Back to knitting, if I have the heart to wake Purl up…

A change of mindset

April 7, 2013April 7, 2013 | Sonia Knits

Now going on a yarn and fibre buying hiatus is not going to be a great hardship for me. In fact it’s going to be a pleasure. On the odd occasion that I swear off yarn buying, my mind switches over from needing/wanting all the beautiful things to seeing/playing/using delicious yarn. It’s a good feeling. It’s winter and this little squirrel is going to be feasting on the acorns she’s been collecting.

I’m pressing forward with my Still light, despite hearing the news of Louisa’s woes with hers. I’m fairly sure I won’t have the same issues. I haven’t made anything too large for myself for a long while, only things on the small side…

Here’s where I’m at with it, only 3/4 to go!

And because I love sharing photos of Purl, here she is in her tunnel. Yes, our house is a kitten wonderland.

A FO

March 31, 2013March 31, 2013 | Sonia Knits

It’s good to be home and back down to earth, the jet-lag got me this week and indeed is still kicking my butt.

The yarn shopping has been unpacked and packed into and around the yarn shelf. Yep, I can’t ignore it any longer, I need to go on a yarn diet, or as I prefer to say, shop the stash. I honestly believe my yarn stash is the best yarn store a girl can have. It only has awesome yarn in it.

I think Purl is happy to have us home as well. She was a few kilos heavier when we got back, but I think she’s already worked it off. As my MIL said, she’s not going to be a big cat. She must have force fed her?! Her whole bag of treats are gone…

I was so exhausted on the flight back, I didnt even pull out the knitting, not once on the 20 plus hour journey. Instead I watched a stack of movies, which was enjoyable and killed a lot of time.

My socks are finally finished and I’m very happy with them. I’ve just received a shipping notice for the next installment of the Cookie A club. Looks like I can manage to knit one pair of socks per package, and bake one batch of cookies, I’m ok with that!

Taking stock

January 27, 2013 | Sonia Knits

An unexpected benefit of being a kitten owner, is discovering yarn stash I forgot I had!

With each day Purl is getting craftier, but so am I. She is climbing higher, trickier obstacles, and this is without having her kitten play gym (it’s on order). This has called for at least the next level of stash shelf to be bagged up in zip locks. Whilst it makes me a bit sad as it likens my yarn shelf to a yarn store that is wrapped in plastic, I know it’s for the best. Amazingly, you can also get more onto a shelf if it’s bagged up, another plus.

I found some treasures from my time in San Francisco. Some Drops alpaca, purchased after taking a lace knitting class at Greenwich Yarn and some Mountain Colours Barefoot in a delicious red. It has also meant I’m ‘doing away’ with some more yarn. If it’s not ziplock worthy, then it’s not worth keeping.

The most important thing I learnt this week was, apparently the secret to getting cuddles from Purl, is to totally ignore her. Thanks for the tip Damian.

Presents for everyone (except Damian)

January 16, 2013January 16, 2013 | Sonia Knits

A parcel arrived for me today, I was momentarily unsure what it was, my squishy packages don’t normally come in boxes. Nevertheless, I thought I’d wait to open it with Purl, so that she could share my excitement. And she didn’t disappoint.

The yarn is some delicious Vesper sock yarn from a recent update, I forgot I’d also ordered the solids for the co-ordinating heel and toes. This is one of the last frivolous buys purchased before I became a parent. I won’t lie, there’s more on the way. Pass me some ziplocks.

Pretty

January 13, 2013 | Sonia Knits

I bet you were never expecting to see a photo of a kitty cat on my blog! Nor was I. I’ve crossed over. I’m now a knitter with a kitten… She’s lovely…hb hb b. my. Sorry that was her, doing some typing.

Back to what I was saying, she’s ghhnn hhubkngentle

Wants
Attention

I need some name ideas please.

Hope to return to a knitting schedule soon.

Knitting is comfort

January 9, 2013January 9, 2013 | Sonia Knits

We’ve had some extremely hot weather lately, then this morning as I headed for the door it started raining. Unconsciously I grabbed my knitting bag to take with me to work. I don’t know why? I don’t knit at work, not even at lunchtimes. But somehow the rain made me do it.

So I went with it. If there was a blackout or if I got stuck in a lift, I’d be prepared totally! I’m an optimist too. Unfortunately none of those things occurred today.

I have some pitiful progress shots for you. Firstly my new Lacey socks… did I mention they have bobbles on the cuffs, lots of the little b&$!@r)$. Once I pass these it should be smooth sailing.

And here’s my Still Light so far. I haven’t gone gang busters on it yet. Without Louisa around what’s the hurry?! I’ll get cracking on it soon though, because it will be very unfun if she gets too far ahead of me!

I was bored

January 7, 2013January 7, 2013 | Sonia Knits

I’ve cast on another project.

I needed to.

Reasons why:
Plain and Simple top: stocking stitch
Vesper socks: stocking stitch
Still Light tunic: stocking stitch

I know you’ll understand.

Whilst I was pondering that other sock club yesterday, I came across a sock designer I hadn’t seen before, and was immediately attracted to a couple of her patterns. The designer’s name is Star Athena (I’m sure she’s an astrologist?!) and the socks that said ‘knit me, I’m yours’ was Anna Jarvis socks. Cute huh?

Sunday arvo, I wound up some sock yarn Ursula dyed for me. I was her first real order, and I’m claiming it when she’s rich and famous. Hurry up and open an etsy store already!

Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of mindless knitting, but it seems I have piles of it and needed a break. I feel happy and content that I’ve liberated my knitting. Spontaneous cast on is fun, I’ll face the consequences later…