I have been promising myself to knit a colleague some fingerless mitts for at least a year now, or at least since last winter. You see, she lives a fair way out, and it’s much colder out there. This is all the inspiration a knitter needs to spring to action.

They were super quick to whip up, but as I was knitting, I was getting mitt envy, from myself and from Damian. Yes, Damian wants another pair of mitts with half fingers. Oh and they have to be hand-spun. It’s a good thing they are speedy, because I absolutely hate having to sew up all the gaps between the fingers. I could do without that.

Back to knitting, this long-weekend isn’t over yet.

This long weekend has been long anticipated, well ever since the last long weekend. Sadly in Victoria, there won’t be another public holiday until Cup Day in November and then it’s only a long weekend if you take the Monday off.

I finished knitting my Minestrone socks for the Stranded in Oz sock club on Thursday night. It’s kind of a modified version. I had little patience with the twisted stitches, so I kind of gave up on them after the first 2 repeats. Nevertheless I’m still happy with them; they don’t look as awesome as they would have looked had I persisted, but I’m glad I switched course. I knit for fun dammit!

The Little Dipper Yarns KAL began this week, so I’ll be casting-on for my first colour affection at some point this weekend. But before I do that I’m hoping to pump out some fingerless gloves for an appreciative work colleague. I could get them done in a day right? I also need to cast-on for Marilyn’s Tulip cardigan, knit a hot-water bottle cover for me (because everyone has made one lately). Cast-on my honey cowl, because I’m dying for another cowl accessory to wear to work and I’m generally cold. Cold I am, thankfully the heating at home has been repaired.

So if you need me, I’ll be knitting.

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.