Dear blog readers,

I’m still here. It’s been a hell-of-a-month. For those that don’t know me in real life or haven’t heard, we had to let our cat, Purl go a few weeks ago. It’s the first time I can write those words without cracking up into tears. She meant a lot to me.

So, what have I been doing?

Not a lot of anything. Making plans, making changes, cherishing my family and friends.

A girly weekend to Hepburn Springs came at a most opportune time. And as promised over and over again, I took along my 20-year-old hexagon patchwork and apart from some Vanilla socks for car knitting, I took nothing else.

For the uninitiated I should let you know the scope of my hexagon patchwork quilt project. It began as my big idea for a project between my school break from high school to uni. It is a very large quilt, spanning the size of a queen bed, to the floor. There are 40 patches by 46 rows of patches. That’s 1840 patches. Each of the patches have been sewn into rows except for the last 6 rows. I’m up to sewing my 12th row. Here’s where you come in: I need you to keep tabs on me.

I recalled that sewing a row, not taking that long. By my memory estimation, I would say 2-3 hours tops. This estimation was seriously revised by the end of the weekend. Having arrived in Hepburn I began sewing where I left off (however long ago) at half-way between row 7 and 8. I optimistically brought along the whole project, all the rows including the last 6 that hadn’t been sewn together. This was quickly revised to a goal of having 15 rows sewn over the course of the weekend. Leaving on Sunday afternoon I was nearing toward the end of row 10. I think. I have since sewn row 11 to 10. And now I’m starting a new separate section, sewing rows 12 to 13. The plan is to sew about 4 rows together, then attach it to the larger piece as I go. Sewing directly to the larger piece for the next 42 seams, is not my idea of fun.

So there you have it. A row a week, that’s do-able. Perhaps this quilt or quilt top (let’s not get ahead of ourselves) will be ready for it’s 21st party this summer.

I don’t know. I’m having doubts already.

1. Is it going to come up too thick to be a wrapped scarf? Probably. I cast on the alternative, not a tube, but the rolling stocking stitch design as per the pattern. I really, really, didn’t like how it looked carrying the yarn up the side and the wonky side stitches. As suspected, hence why the tube.

2. Am I really going to wear it, and love it? I don’t think so.

3. Why am I knitting this? I don’t know. Boo.

4. Will it work for something else? Something for a sweet niece? Nah, any garment would be too thick and warm for anyone.

Up for destash, 5 balls each of Cleckheaton Angora Supreme in soft pink and mauve, only slightly knit. PM me on ravelry for details.

I love making clothes for little people in 8ply and above. This was a super fast knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. It is for my new nephew and it’s the very first garment I’ve made him. This is a sure-fire way of getting my project tally up for the year!

I’ve had a bit of a cold this week, so unfortunately I can’t present him with it this very instant. Be assured though I will grace you with modelled photos when I do see him again.

The cute buttons are from Buttonmania. When I saw them, I knew they were it! Paddington Bear buttons is what I thought. They’re adorable. The last four buttons they had, it was meant to be.

In between the madness of knitting along with Ysolda’s Follow your Arrow knit along, I managed last week to finish knitting my Featherweight cardigan by Hannah Fettig.

I’m pretty pleased with it, and it didn’t take decades to knit. Although the 3.5 inch collar nearly did kill me, I had fair warning from Sharon and Kate about that. It’s just as well I didn’t rib it.

The Patonyle feels amazing on and I know it will last forever and ever. So long as Purl doesn’t get her claws into it. Special thanks to Damian for some lovely photos of my FO. Happy Anniversary D, I still feel very lucky to be married to you (despite my worried face below!).

I’m knitting on my 5th and final clue for Ysolda’s shawl. It’s another B clue! Somehow I ended up choosing ‘B’ all the way along, I just happen to prefer the B clues, I wonder what that says about me?!

5B is a knitted-on edging and it’s taking some time. I’m praying for some knitting fairies to work on it whilst I sleep.

I taught Lily how to spin on her Castella wheel today. It was exciting! She is the first youngster I’ve taught to spin on a wheel and she took to it very well. I hope I’ve inspired her as much as she has inspired me. I got home and all I could think about was spinning.

I’m finishing off the second bobbin of Gotland roving hand painted by the Thylacine. It’s a coarse fibre, I’m looking forward to getting it off my bobbins actually, but maybe when it’s plied it might make a good winter sock yarn?

If I keep up the enthusiasm maybe, perhaps, I’ll make a dent in my fibre stash. That would be a good thing with just 6 months to go before the Bendigo Show, just saying.

Hooray, I’ve just completed the knitting of my first clue in the mystery knit-along. I’m super happy with it so far. It does lead me to wonder just how the next 2 possible options will work in with the first 2 options seeing as though they are vastly different constructions.

Now for some ‘recreational’ knitting until the next clue is released…

I got to spend some quality time with my new nephew yesterday, just one week and one day old. At one point he opened his eyes wide and looked straight into mine and my heart melted.

Some photos to show off my nephew and my lovely husband’s photography (and the blanket):

With the temperature rising outside, I’m finding it a real challenge to knit him a jumper right now. But some socks I think would come in handy, he gets cold feet just like his aunty.

If you haven’t heard, I’ve succumbed to joining the Follow Your Arrow mystery KAL by Ysolda. More on that after the first clue is released tomorrow or the next day (oz time).

You know how I was worried about not getting my sister’s baby crochet blanket finished in time for the arrival of her first baby?

Well, I need not have worried. He arrived yesterday, 1 week and 1 day late.

I’ve held off knitting him any other garments and things, I’m inspired to knit for babies by spending time with them (hello Marilyn) rather than the concept of just knitting for a baby, if that makes sense. It is also Summer you know.

I’m thinking Baby Sophisticate, Milo, Baby Vertebrae, Latte Hoody…

Pretty cute huh? Gratuitous crochet blanket/baby photos next weekend 🙂