Gidget's Socks

On a rainy day, knit socks

2012-01-11T15:57:00.002+11:00

The weather is wild today, so I focussed on finishing 'Buttercup's Folly' while watching tennis. The second isn't blocked yet, but they're just what I had in mind. Bright, silly, girly. I had fun writing up the pattern draft too and it's off to a worthy volunteer test knitter.

Which is good, because I have a second design already in mind! The chosen yarn is peeking out of the project bag I sewed up on Mrs Higgins. Just don't look too closely at those seams! (Papa's a bit worried - I mended his pants on Mrs Higgins!)

Just in the nick of time, my fabric order also arrived from Spoonflower. I see some productive time with Mrs Higgins ahead.

A Luverly Bunch of Coconuts

2012-01-04T16:49:00.003+11:00

Pardon the inadvertent advertisement here, but lately I've been a little addicted to this particular brand of coconut water.

Partly, of course, because it's in a really cool container! Then I made a discovery. If you take off the label and take out the internal juice box... you can put a ball of yarn inside.

And due to the nifty hole already supplied for the straw...

Yes, my house is about to be overrun with yarn coconuts!

I've also finished designing a sock!

It's a lattice design with tiny 'wildflowers' worked into the lattice, the heels and the toes. It's called 'Buttercup's Folly' and is worked in yarn from Christina Marie Potter (a fingering yarn in the Amy Pond colourway - she does brilliant geek yarns).

I had a certain Scot trying to nose his way into photos, so there's lots of cropping going on. It is a pretty bright yarn and I wanted a flippery, summery design to go with it. Now I'm thinking of writing it up as a 'proper design'. What do you think? Well, okay, I have the second sock to go...

A Good Start to 2012... and Mrs Higgins's Sewing Machine

2012-01-02T15:03:00.004+11:00

2012 started hot, but well. We went antiquing. Knowing there was a long drive, I grabbed some yarn, some needles, and a vague idea about a couple of stitch patterns and through the traffic, put all that together. It's still in progress, but this just might be my first real sock design. And yes, it's very, very girly. I can't fight my nature.

While antiquing, I found this little fellow and since the stall owner was really nice and kept reducing the price for me, he had to come home with me.

He's Wembley Ware, incidentally. Those lettuce leaves have the most gorgeous sheen.

And then I got very excited. Under this unprepossessing case?

My first sewing machine! It was an absolute bargain and it works like a dream. Not to mention... how pretty is it?

It has had only one previous, careful owner, a Mrs Higgins. She purchased the machine from the Myer Emporium in 1959. We know, because the receipt is still tucked into the original accessories tin.

So, I now have Mrs Higgins's sewing machine. I have to admit, I gulped a little as we threaded her and gave her her first test run (recalling previous driving lessons, Mum crying 'take your foot off the accelerator!' and 'would you pick up your lead foot' as the fabric churned through). This is like a whole new awesome avenue for activity. As though I have time to get bored...

Mind, I have sewn before. I know the basics. I just hadn't found my machine. Mrs Higgins's machine is emphatically my machine.

The rest of the time, my parents chased me away from every vintage mix master I located, even the pink one! Though they did make it up to me, since they'd sneakily picked up a bakelite cookie press, which they gave me at dinner.

And I think Mum might be softening on the topic of vintage mix masters since I pointed out that they are smaller and more compact.

Sneak Peek at 2012

2011-12-31T17:09:00.004+11:00

These aren't the best photos, particularly since the knitting is still on the needles and it's too hot to really bother for long messing about with pins. However, it is the start of 'The Doctor's Wife' sampler shawl and so far, it's going according to plan. Well, aside from that glitch a few rows back... shhhhhhh...

Anyway, sorry for the apologies and bad photos, but I couldn't resist putting some photos up to mark the end of 2011.

Those boxes even out when properly stretched - the pins weren't quite doing the job and I was a little worried about stitches falling off the other end. The 'Sexy Edging' (it takes a cue from the Tilting TARDIS cowl and its use of the tilting ladders pattern, though I played about with it some more) is looking a bit off kilter here too, but I still smile when I look at the little lights on top of the TARDISes. I love that I'm currently measuring the shawl in TARDISes (10 along the short edge). It should become a valid form of measurement.

'The Doctor's Wife' is one of my all time favourite episodes. One day, the ideas of the sampler shawl and 'The Doctor's Wife' snapped together in my head and I had the basic idea. I've got most of the patterns roughed out already, but oh, there's such a lot of knitting and math to be done!

I also have a soft spot for 'The Doctor's Wife' since I gave a paper a few years ago in the UK about the TARDIS, arguing she's alive and female, much more powerful than the Doctor (she sees everything in time and space), and that she is his ultimate, if you like, companion - cough, 'wife.'

Anyway, time to start New Year's Eve prep. We're having a Pushing Daisies marathon. Fingers crossed for 2012 being a great year.

Figgy Pudding

2011-12-22T10:28:00.005+11:00

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is playing in a loop in my head. This may or may not be a good thing.

However, it did enable me to sprint through my Miss Marple socks! They're done! In record time for me. I got a little obsessed, you see.

They're from Cookie A.'s knit. sock. love. as you may know by now. I took a photo last night, but the colour of the yarn came out a little dull, so this morning, I braved heading out with a camera, new socks and a wet Scot. The Vintage Purls 'Oneirology' now shows its pretty colours.

And I love the way the lace winds around as it leads into the heel.

As the Scot and I walked last night, we ran into the parcel delivery van. The guy rushed out with a parcel. "But we don't live here!" I protested. "I know. (Rattles off my address) I recognised you." That should probably concern me more than it does, particularly since he has on occasion caught me in my pjs.

Nonetheless, it meant I got to carry a lovely squashy parcel home that contained my Knitsch and some very cool presents care of my favourite Honorary Ninja Sheep. Isn't the Knitsch thoroughly gorgeous? There is 'Beatrice', because between having seen Much Ado on stage earlier this year, now having it downloaded safely to my computer, and looking forward to Joss Whedon's film... I'm all about Much Ado and Beatrice has always been one of my favourite Shakespearean characters. She's just too cool. She's the best friend you'd love to have.

The 'Deep Thought' is destined for Doctor Who socks. It's more 10th Doctor TARDIS. Speaking of which, I did finish my TARDIS snowflake garland and I couldn't be happier with it.

I especially like the way this snow flake turned out. [Note: Oh, I did adapt the snowflakes from ones I saw online, but do you think I can find those particular snowflakes again? If I do, I'll definitely link back again!]

So, everyone, have a great Christmas! I don't go in for retrospectives or new year's resolutions. I will only say, 2011 as a year didn't quite work for me. There was great stuff afoot, too! But things just went a little haywire. I won't mind changing calendars all that much.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-17T10:24:00.003+11:00

Last night I went to see Neil Gaiman and Tom Stoppard. The night before I was at a Christmas party. This morning, I'm armed with coffee and aspirin and thinking about 'The Great Clean-up' that I have to achieve today before visitors come rolling in tomorrow.

Incidentally, last night was brilliant. I swear, Neil Gaiman is one of the few authors who can threaten to send in the hounds on his audience and his audience would let him. And he talked about 'The Doctor's Wife,' which made me peculiarly happy.

As an added bonus, on the train, I knitted up the cuff of my second Pointelle sock. I decided to actively participate in The Southern Summer of Socks this time around. It wouldn't have anything to do with the Knitsch on offer. No siree. However, it did mean I dug out my half started Pointelle sock (from Cookie A's Knit Sock Love) in Vintage Purl's 'Oneirology'. I started ages and ages ago and things went badly wrong. I looked at it, I squished it - it really is the softest, loveliest yarn. I ripped right back. I started again, full of purpose. I went wrong again. I took a breath. I ripped right back again. I started again, full of more purpose. I went wrong again...

But, well, the curse lifted. I sensibly stuck a large post-it note on the chart so I wouldn't start reading the wrong row and look, I ended up with a sock already!

I have no idea why I required all those false starts. Once I was settled in with the post-it note, the sock flew. In the background, you can also see my first finished Chick Flick sock. Hey, who said I had to finish a proper pair? Well, I think one of the moderators on the Southern Summer of Socks might have said something about that... (whistles to herself).

The designing is going well too and I'm hoping to start showing some photos, because, let's face it, I'm going to be a while at it and I might as well show it off in the meantime.

Just like Wee Davie is showing off his new coat. It's by Made by De. Yes, it is summer, hence, this is a cooling coat. Dampened down with water, it holds in the cool for hot Scots. Hot Scots who today have to have a bath in the middle of 'The Great Clean-up'. Yes, this means I'll probably have a muddy Scot rampaging over newly cleaned floors. I'll have to think this plan out some more...

I've also put aside for a short while the plans to decorate with many TARDIS snowflakes.

This is my slightly - ahem, very - dodgy first attempt at replicating this awesome snowflake. I had been cutting out Star Wars snowflakes to insert in Christmas cards for various friends, but I'm more a Doctor Who girl. Problem is, there aren't as many templates out there for Doctor Who. Which is outrageous.

I've also been making my new favourite holiday snack - white chocolate popcorn with sprinkles.

Ah, 'tis the season. Okay, I think one more coffee then I really will start 'The Great Clean-up'. Or I'll just keep watching my current favourite seasonal clip... A muppet, a Scot in a Christmas sweater, and a pipe. What more do I need?

All I Want For Christmas...

2011-12-02T14:24:00.003+11:00

... is a scruffy Scot in a Christmas sweater.

Well, I sort of got it right? Wee Davie is now sporting a Christmas collar.

As an added bonus, it looks knitted, but it's really cotton fabric. I do love a Scot in a Christmas sweater...

Okay, back to business, I am back on track with my attempts to whittle down the WIPS. These socks were barely a cuff when I left off. Now, thanks to some necessary recuperation on the home front, they are rapidly growing into possibly my most girliest socks yet, whipped from Knitabulously pink yarn. They're from The Joy of Sox, details to come when I'm finished. The intricate design is fiddly, but they are truly a sock confectionery. I can't wait to dance to sugar plums in these socks...

... maybe with the scruffy Scot in a Christmas sweater.

A Healthy Post

2011-11-29T12:00:00.002+11:00

Okay, so we don't really have Thanksgiving in Australia.

I still love the concept. Perhaps because I love pumpkin and yams. So, when Thanksgiving whirled around last week and I happened to have the day off, I decided to make a Thanksgiving feast and prepared a marathon of Thanksgiving episodes (Buffy, Chuck, Gilmore Girls...). I made roast turkey drumsticks with roasted pumpkin and potatoes and then whipped up a salad, which I've dubbed "Romancing the Salad".

It was incredibly good.

You just steam up some quinoa. I used a mix of about 1 part red to 2-3 parts white to give it a bit of extra colour. Let that cool. Whip up a dressing of the juice of one blood orange, a splash of olive oil, a little trickle of balsamic vinegar (I don't measure... it makes life more exciting!), salt, pepper, and one garlic clove minced up. When the quinoa is cool, add a couple of chopped up qukes (I madly love qukes!), half a chopped spring onion (I actually cooked it a bit with the quinoa to make it mild), a small handful of pine nuts, a small handful of chopped up parsley and a good handful of dried cranberries. Then add the dressing. The salad will just soak it up and give you lots of shininess. I added the left over turkey the next day and... oh yes! This is the stuff!

"It is a sham. But it's a sham with yams. It's a yam sham."

Household Madness

2011-11-24T15:34:00.002+11:00

I spotted Gigi earlier today: "I laid an egg! It's THIS big!"

Meanwhile, if you have a dog in the bush, what do you have in your hand?

I like him. He says okie dokie.

2011-11-20T12:50:00.002+11:00

Remember that I was waxing lyrical about Socktopus? Well, I won a copy! It is everything I hoped for. It includes one of my favourite patterns, 'Rumpled!' Doesn't hurt that it's named after a fairy tale character, either.

But that's not the best bit. The best bit is the bit I wasn't expecting. There are Supernatural themed socks in this book.

I mean, how cool is that? All in all, this is a sock book from which I must spontaneously knit all the socks! There's not a better review than that.

In the meantime, I've started on something I've been wanting to do for ages. I've started designing my own pattern! Okay, that's still a bit ambitious, since I've only got my first swatch sorted, but I'm excited. I've been pouring over stitch patterns, sometimes while eating mousse.

(Yes, I have a weakness for tinned mandarin slices. Jamie Oliver once said they are the exception to the rule and I agree with him completely.) And I do have a first swatch. Here's a peak.

Okay, that wasn't an informative peak, but you can see that there is knitting. I picked up some Vintage Purl lace that is in a gorgeous TARDIS blue, so you know in which direction my mind began to tick. The design was half in my head before I'd put the yarn down. I thought 'can I do this?' Then I thought 'why not?' Since then, my mind has been buzzing with design ideas and I've already learned heaps. It's all kind of fun. And if it doesn't work out in the end, so what?

Red Booties

2011-11-14T22:01:00.003+11:00

Whenever I hear that a little girl is going to be born now, I whip up a concoction of red yarn and buttons. Because every girl needs to start life with red footwear, correct? After all, even Cinderella's slippers are made of red velvet (do yourself a favour and catch D'Aulnoy's Finette Cendron, which is far more fun than the Perrault or the Grimms versions).

I haven't actually blocked these yet, but they looked so dang cute sitting on the book I was working from today, that I snapped a quick photo. It's been quite mad of late and knitting booties has been quick and gratifying. They're Saartje's Bootees again (and I can easily believe there are 11000 pairs of these bootees and counting), this time in Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 'Sunrise'.

I do have something peculating away. It's a big, exciting project for me and a steep learning curve is definitely involved. Now that all the upcoming tiny toes are taken care of, I'm all focus!

Snuck In

2011-11-05T12:04:00.003+11:00

I was grading papers. I was trying to reorganise long neglected, half-written manuscript chapters.

I was knitting bootees.

Well, I wanted to gift these next week, so it made sense. And I'd always wanted to try out Saartja's Bootees. So I found some Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury, some vintage buttons and had "Feeling Froggy."

We were in two minds about the buttons, but they grew on me. Just a bit frog-like is kind of cute, right? The second bootee has slightly wonky straps, but I'm hoping a little wash and block will sort that out.

They are kind of adorable. Bootees always are, aren't they?

Sneaking towards the stash...

2011-11-03T13:01:00.002+11:00

Finished! I bound off the Through the Loops Mystery Socks. Shhhh... don't look here. These are totally 2011 Mystery Socks. They're definitely not 2010...

I've called them my 'Grapiness' socks, because Knitabulous's 'Purple Palace' is fully of grape-y goodness. Cute, aren't they? I admit, the cables on the cuffs were a pain, but they are just worth it. And having tackled a few cabled socks inbetween, the second sock definitely went much faster.

I'm on a mission to try to clear WIPs, so I'm trying very hard not to sneak back to the stash and pick something new and pretty. See how my willpower is holding out???

Okay, back to grading papers. I've got a chorizo and baked egg dish cooking for lunch, which will hopefully see me through an afternoon of avid reading.

Come along, Ponds!

2011-10-28T11:51:00.003+11:00

The Ponds are done! Dusted! In glorious green goodness!

Wee Davie approved, even though he thought I should be much more interested in kicking his ball than taking silly sock photos.

Finding my final sock blocked and ready, I took a break from grading to do the photo shoot. It's so nice and sunny and the grass sets off the gorgeousness of the yarn. Seriously, I love Sokkusu!

So, these are from the Knit Love Sock Club 2011: 'Fiyero' (think Wicked), in LFB Sokkusu. I repurposed them for a Doctor Who reference, of course. Like Wicked, but love Doctor Who.

And don't they look great by the burgeoning vegetable patch?

I love these socks. Springy, incredibly green - you want to dive into the depth of this colour - and comfy. The pattern is intricate and I admit, towards the end of the second sock, I was growing impatient, but it's just adorable. These socks make you feel clever. I like socks that make you feel clever.

Speaking of Doctor Who, I've been reading The Brilliant Book 2012. Neil Gaiman has been adding some facts about the Corsair that make me want to read/see/hear a plethora of Corsair stories! Please!

Last night I also crossed off one of my ambitions. I popped off to see QI Live. There was such a friendly, fun atmosphere in the theatre and I can listen to Stephen Fry merrily ramble forever! Alan Davies was also most silly. The world truly needs a little more silliness. I just wish the guy in front hadn't perched his sunglasses on top of his head...

A Helping Hand

2011-10-26T15:14:00.003+11:00

I'm a big fan of Socktopus. She ran the sweetest, most friendly little shop in London once upon a time. I'm in her Knit Love Sock Club at the moment and although I am way behind, I'll have those green socks to show you soon! She has a book newly out. I'm just waiting for my copy. And her yarn...

Her yarn...

Her yarn is good enough to eat apparently.

Honestly, I was just taking my 'Vintage' Sokkusu outside to photograph so I could show you how gorgeous the yarn is. The wee one was busy playing with his basketball, but spontaneously ran over and tried to eat it. I'm pleased to report that it survived and will be knitted up into some awfully cute socks... just as soon as I have time.

Why am I telling you how much I love Alice's work? Well, at the moment, she's taking care of a tiny pup who has had a rough start in life. It's so nice to follow her blog and see the pup looking happier and happier each post. So, as if this wasn't enough, Alice has started fundraising for Hong Kong Dog Rescue (with some really generous encouragement in the form of give aways, but, really, we are doing it for the dogs!). I read her blog post and got a little teary, so I wanted to pass along the word in my own small way. It's such a great idea and I hope she reaches her goal really soon!

A Little Getaway

2011-10-13T19:43:00.003+11:00

Earlier this week, I was relaxing. It was wonderful. I visited The River Song for the first time.

One afternoon, Mum and I invaded, armed with a picnic basket of gluten free cupcakes and old-fashioned soda pops. We sat on the back stairs and knitted. The birds sang. The breeze blew.

I realised that sitting on the back steps is one of my favourite things in the world. I have since been daydreaming of kitchen sinks and shiny taps. The River Song has never had a modern kitchen. There have never been benches and overhead cupboards. It is as it was in the 20s, complete with broom cupboard. Apparently the real estate people thought this was a negative selling point. My heart sang. A whole kitchen to play with! And no built-ins will sully my kitchen. I have magnificent plans for a cosy, 20s inspired kitchen. If only Agas were cheaper...

I also heard some more family stories while I was away. I have a great great aunt Dora who has totally stolen my heart. She never wed. When I asked my grandfather about this, he burst out laughing. "Her older sister died after having three children and her husband, Jack, turned up at the house asking for another sister. Dora sent him packing." Who could not love her for that? I'm finding a copy of her picture to put up - we single ladies have to stick together! As I then pointed to my great great grandmother Caroline, my grandfather gave another chuckle. "Oh, she held the purse strings in that marriage! She kept it all in a billy can under her bed. He [being my great great grandfather] did what she told him. He didn't get the bacon." I smiled contentedly.

I'm not really someone who sees her ancestors in herself. I think we make our own lives. But I love a good family story and I'm coming to love the relatives I never had a chance to meet.

I'd also love a little more knitting time, but I'm crimping what I can. I'm more than half way through another pair of socks and Wee Davie has already given his approval to the first sock.

Farewell Lulu

2011-10-11T14:49:00.004+11:00

Sigh...

I wish I could stop writing these posts.

Rest in peace, Lulu. You were very young and very nutty and we'll all miss you. Especially Fifi, to whom you were a most excellent fluffy, feather duvet.

I've been feeling like an absolutely dreadful hen mother. The day before I nipped away for a quick trip, Lulu was looking rather sad and lethargic, though as you'll see from the photo above, the day before that, everyone had been happily pottering about the yard as normal. That's Lulu on the step, all white and black. The only clue is that Lulu's comb was a little dull, but it had been since I'd had her, so that hadn't tipped me off to something more serious. Then the day I left, my neighbour pointed out that she really wasn't looking good and I had to agree. I tried a few quick tricks and remedies, but alas, after I left, she rapidly deteriorated and was gone the following day. I suspect she had a respiratory problem - her breathing apparently sounded awful on her final day. Last week, there was a lot of wet, damp weather and although they have dry places to hang out, it may have been too much for her. At least, that's my assumption. It was so very, very quick.

My grandfather did reassure me that these things happen and there's not much to be done. The remaining girls are all looking happy and healthy.

So I'll leave you with - in hindsight - a rather pensive photo of the lovely Lulu, one that made me smile when I took it because she was posing!

Mothers Look Away

2011-10-01T15:27:00.005+10:00

Well, actually, I only need one mother to look away. So while she's doing that, let me share with you an image of two carrots cuddling...

Yes, in fact, it is weird in my vegetable patch. But I figure weird in a good way.

I finished Mum's birthday socks! I've been calling them 'sparkly legwarmers' for the last month, but she has caught on that I'm knitting socks. I don't think she's caught on as to which socks I'm knitting.

That's me this morning, desperately knitting so I have enough days to block the final sock before I wrap them up. I'm eating a chocolate chip blondie, but not just any chocolate chip blondie. These are seriously healthy. Don't believe me? Look at the recipe. And don't be cynical or you'll miss out on the most amazing, chewy, taste explosion.

Anyway, although one sock is still unblocked, this is how they turned out.

The pattern is Vintage Purls, "Nightingale." Staggering wow factor, right? They're knitted up in purple Malabrigo sock and pink yarn from The Yarn Cafe, now Evoke Yarns.

These socks were made for some serious, sassy walkin'!

They are a bit loose on me. That's intentional. Mum and I aren't the same size. There is some guesswork going on here, but fingers crossed.

After all, I could almost decide not to gift them, they're that comfortable!

Bath Day and River Song

2011-09-23T11:19:00.004+10:00

Wee Davie had a bath this morning.

What is so adorable about a puppy having a bath? They look so danged cute. I think it's a plot on their part. Because inevitably, at some point during the bath, you're cooing at the winsome, soppy puppy, all distracted, and that's when they pounce - and run away.

So, yes, he's running around the back yard now with soap suds still adorning his behind.

In other news, this week, I bought a house!

This is my front door - sort of. I'm not moving into the house yet - this is part of a more convoluted, longer term plot. However, I do have a house! And I do have a plot!

It feels very grown up having a house and a mortgage. Since I'd been joking that I'd grow up to be River Song and since my house is coincidentally trimmed in TARDIS blue, it's been dubbed 'The River Song'. It's gorgeous. I like my plot.

To celebrate my new house, I had a yarn margarita. It's the Black Sea colourway and a gorgeous deep teal that is impossible to photograph. It will become beautiful socks in which I will some day patter about The River Song.

And just because, one more picture of Wee Davie having his bath.

Update from the Hen House

2011-09-11T13:02:00.002+10:00

I'm getting eggs again! Okay, for a short while a few weeks ago, Cosette was laying. But then she got broody. She is still quite broody. She's not sitting on an egg, though. I've tried to explain to her that to be properly broody, she should at least be sitting on an egg. She's having none of it.

In the meantime, Gigi started laying and then, lo and behold, Fifi, whom we considered retired, started to lay her little white eggs. Except... I think she feels competition from Gigi, since she's laying strangely 'long' eggs...

Fifi is still making herself cosy at night between her feather duvets, namely Lulu and Gigi. The smallest hen is, naturally, queen of the coop. Although she had competition from Wee Davie for pancakes this morning. Watching the two vie for pancakes is priceless.

I'm knitting a present, so I can't show any work in progress and it means that I've slowed down on my Fiyero sock progress too. But isn't it pretty? I pulled it out and realised it rather nicely matched my hoop.

I'm still pretty lousy at hooping. I can get some tricks, but I still send the hoop spinning across the room at regular intervals. And then I get an attack of giggles. And then the hoop goes spinning off across the room again! Or across the yard, if I'm practising at home. I'm just worried I'll have to pop next door and shamefacedly ask for my hoop back...

Wee Davie, of course, doesn't consider hooping should get in the way of his soccer practice. So I'm spinning a hoop over my head and he kicks the ball over to my feet, then waits expectantly for me to kick it back. The spinning hoop means nothing to him.

"Dear teacher, my hoop practice was interrupted by my dog."

Playing

2011-08-31T13:03:00.003+10:00

Wee Davie is currently running around the room with a rattling ball. He is having the time of his life chasing it, batting it, carrying it. He's playing. Playing is great.

Why do we so often give up play as adults? We all know how important playing is.

These last couple of days, I've been playing.

I've been playing dress-up 1920s style with my new hat, knitted by my friend S (seriously, how adorable is this hat? I feel like I'm in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel when I put it on!).

I've been putting on my bright blue shoes and striding about, clippity clop.

And I've gone to my first hoop dance class. It takes place in a dance studio and those mirrors are terrifying! But can I confess I was always a little envious of the girls doing rhythmic gymnastics? I couldn't do gymnastics. Tuck and roll? Impossible. Cartwheels? Not likely. But hooping doesn't necessarily involve all those gymnastics, just the cool stuff that I really wanted to do, like twirling hoops and skipping through them. I kind of stunk at my first class, but that's okay. It was the first class and at least I got the hoop moving. And I bought a sparkly green hoop to make myself look good while I stink at hooping! It was kind of fun carrying it home on the train. You do get the funniest looks.

I was just trying to convince Wee Davie to jump through the hoop, but he's not convinced. He's more a ball guy.

And then there were two!

2011-08-28T16:13:00.004+10:00

My Bingley is now ready to visit Pemberley! These are my favourite socks ever to knit. I adore them. It's been a wrench finishing them off. I may now have to frame them.

Just a quick reminder, they're knitted in Knit It Up Vivacious in the "Bingley" colourway to Kristi Schueler's Netherfield pattern. The yarn is super smooshy and a gorgeous golden shade. The pattern is filled with cute little details that can be a bit fiddly, but are definitely worth the effort. The match of names was serendipity.

Yesterday, I'd just started on the final leg and was frowning a bit at the yarn remaining. It looked like it'd be touch and go. After some nice, healthy tacos for dinner, I sat down to watch one of my favourite films, Hatari!, and then, as the ball of yarn steadily dwindled, I just kept on knitting, convinced that if I stopped, I would run out of yarn.

Just after midnight, an old Bing Crosby and Bob Hope film on the television, I was done.

And I had this left over:

Yep, don't know what I was worried about!

Heel!

2011-08-25T08:43:00.003+10:00

Look, S! I did it! I did the second heel of my Netherfield sock all by myself! For those who didn't know, I made an awful mess of the first heel some time ago and S kindly fixed it all and knitted through the heel so I'd actually finish the first sock. Okay, that was... ah... years ago. I've learned a lot since then. So last night, in a spurt of determination...

A finished heel!

Now all I have to do is keep the sock away from the monster under my desk, who is known to do this to the socks I'm wearing:

Watch out for the Vashta Nerada!

2011-08-21T19:55:00.003+10:00

It's all done! Dubbed 'Spoilers!' this is my scarf version of the 'Tilting Tardis Cowl' by Marilyn Phillippi. It's knitted up in Needle Food's 'Dining In Denim.' Oh, how I miss Needle Food! Well, maybe my bank account doesn't...

In fact, I started this off when Shelley and I first traveled about New Zealand, by bus and horse, and visited Needle Food herself. It was a wee few rows of TARDISes at that point.

It grew extremely slowly. But recently, I had a few long flights...

And it grew! It grew across two hemispheres, in fact! And now it's finished and I'm feeling very, very satisfied with it. It's frankly gorgeous.

I'm making a conscious attempt now to get the WIPs whipped into order. In part, this is an effort to counter impulses for yarn margaritas. Remember those stressful days when I'd reach for a yarn margarita? Well, I'm putting aside for something special now, so I have to restrain those impulses. Plus, it feels rather good finishing off projects. Right?

Do You Think I Missed Someone?

2011-08-19T13:38:00.003+10:00

Yes, some days, I just walked around Italian cities taking pictures of dogs.

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

2011-08-17T20:16:00.004+10:00

I think this little photo essay says it all. I was in Italy. I was working. There may have been chocolate gelato smudges on graded essays.

Best ever tip? Look at the pistachio. If it's bright green, forget it. If it's got a brownish hue... that is the right stuff! Trust me. I speak from experience.

While I was in London...

2011-08-14T17:51:00.004+10:00

I love London. I'd actually forgotten how much I love London. I'm not particularly fond these days of Charing Cross Road and the craziness of Piccadilly Circus, but I still love walking along the river at night.

My trip to London coincided, oddly enough, with Knit Nation. Yes, I got to go to Knit Nation! I didn't have a lot of time up my sleeve, but I had a blast. I hit the market on the preview night - you should have seen the line to get in! It snaked away as far as the eye could see... literally.

But I was running into a major problem. I had to get from the marketplace back into the West End to see a certain play. So...

I ninja'd the Knit Nation marketplace!

I headed straight in, knowing what I wanted. I was the first person to buy yarn at the Socktopus stand, because I had already decided upon a skein of Fontainebleau. And since Ysolda was there... how could I not pick up a copy of Little Red in the City and have it signed? Happily, I got to her table before everyone else had crowded in (they were distracted by the Wollmeise... seriously, it was scary in that corner of the market!) and she was really lovely.

You can spot the polka dot shoes from
Irregular Choice - they were on sale, so they don't count, right?

I also picked up the greatest sock pattern in time and space and on impulse, a project bag made out of Doctor Who fabric, before dashing out, making the woman on the door laugh that I was heading in the wrong direction.

Well, you know, I was seeing the Doctor and Donna in Much Ado that night! I gave a little teaser last time, but seriously, it was amazing. Catherine Tate is a fantastic Beatrice. She speaks Shakespeare's lines so as to make them sound completely contemporary and there is great humour and pathos in her Beatrice. You want Beatrice as a friend. And David Tennant and physical comedy! Brilliant! He looked like he was having the time of his life and when Benedick is told that Beatrice regards him as a fool... for the first time, I really thought, 'you know, there really is something to that barb...' I won't even mention the Madonna thing.

There are some things that just can't be put in writing.

Seriously.

The next day I went to Cookie A's 'Oddball Stitches' class which was terrific, although I ran completely late, couldn't find my way into the building, and then ended up with cold porridge from Prêt. Hmmmm...

But I did enjoy making all sorts of bobbles! I love bobbles.

Later I met my friends and I hit the Doctor Who Experience, which is very kitschy and extremely fun. We got to travel in the TARDIS! And gaze in awe at the 10th Doctor's suit and coat. And I picked up a mug that you might spot later in this post.

After that, we ran into the West End again to see Priscilla. Front row! Back in the Palace! I was a complete musical theatre geek when I lived in the UK and on weekends, I'd be in the theatres. Very often, it would be the Palace, because I was especially a Les Mis geek and we knew where the cheap tickets were, so this was a 'slightly' different experience to those nights and matinees of watching urchins and doomed revolutionaries. In fact, I did joke that I'd seen a lot of men in tights over those couple of days! (Hint about the Madonna thing, there.)

It was a whirlwind, but wow, what a time!

It's been a whirlwind since, but I have been sneaking in the odd cup of tea and knitting a row or two of TARDISes...

I think I'll be finished very soon.

A Great Day in London

2011-08-07T20:00:00.003+10:00

I recently had an absolutely brilliant day in London.

It was sunny!

I went to Little Venice, my favourite place in London.

I had breakfast there at Raoul's Cafe, my favourite cafe in London.

I stopped to say hello to a squirrel in Hyde Park.

And after a little window shopping on Regent Street and a little actual shopping in Carnaby Street, I went to the theatre with some friends.

If only you could see my big grin right now!

And then I went back to the pub where I was staying and flopped on the bed in exhaustion!

(Note: At the moment, it's really busy, so I can't write much, but I couldn't resist some teasers!)

Raindrops on Snowdrops

2011-07-03T11:09:00.003+10:00

It is entirely possible I built up the aforementioned 'The Plan' a bit too much. But it made me smile. Remember my Bingley socks? Remember how a certain Artificially Mythic nagged me into starting the second sock after I finished the first in... ah... January? Well, yesterday I noticed that the snowdrops were out and recalled that I was at just about the same place on the Bingley socks when they had a photoshoot around just this time in... ah.... oops, 2009. So... I recreated the shot with the second sock! It's not exactly the same. I can probably totally recreate the shot in the next couple of days, but I'm not 100% sure I'll get the chance, as much will be happening, so... in the meantime... I give you...

Second Bingley in progress in the snowdrops!

I'm much more confident this sock around. The great thing about projects like this is that you can see how you've grown as a knitter by how you approach the second sock. In the meantime, I've tackled more difficult patterns that have helped me to understand the knitting logic of this pattern - a logic I loved, but found challenging first time around. Now those tricky 'ktog with 4th st to right's just slip off the needle with ease.

The only thing? I'm going to really really miss these socks when they're done. I love these socks. These socks have awesome memories of Chatsworth and Lyme Hall knitted into them, not to mention the perfect fusion of Bingley yarn to Netherfield pattern. Somewhere, I do have the Jane Bennett yarn and I might have to dig it out for a matching shawlette to make me feel better about missing Bingley.

Later

In fact, mid-post, I went and trawled through stash for Jane and ran outside to take a photo of her by the snowdrops, which is slightly blurry, because my neighbours started to look at me weird for taking a photo of a hank of yarn in the garden in the rain...

Which shawlette? You have only a couple of days to give me suggestions! She must be cast on in a couple of weeks time. It's a good luck thing.

Geek Dinner and TV Night

2011-07-02T21:23:00.002+10:00

Tonight I'm stealing away for myself! I made one of my favourite soups for dinner and have now dubbed it Destiny Soup, since I was watching SGU and knitting for a bit while eating it.

The soup is inspired by one I saw ages ago and can't find now. It's the sort of soup that makes you feel super virtuous, because of all the greens. Greens that, I might add, come from my garden. You just chop up some red onion, garlic, carrot, celery and red pepper, fry them off a bit, add lots of stock (I usually cut it with a bit of water), a handful or two of brown lentils, plenty of chopped up greens (there's silverbeet, perpetual spinach and another one whose name I don't recall in there), some thyme, cayenne pepper and chilli, a bit of salt, and I like it with lashings of cracked pepper.

I was so happy with that, I thought I'd treat myself to an episode or two of Firefly. This was the perfect opportunity to try out a couple of ideas I'd seen. One is an icecream made from frozen bananas and cocoa powder (you just whizz them up until smooth - my whizzing machine was a little off colour, so it didn't come out quite as well in terms of appearance), the other is whipped coconut milk. As I had some fresh strawberries on hand, this was dying to be a sundae... so...

Kaylee's Serenity Sundae! And it was fantastic. I have to stay relatively dairy free, so this was a pretty great way to get away with a sundae.

On the other hand, Wee Davie's dinner tonight smelled of feet. This didn't seem to bother him. In fact, I think he enjoyed it all the more for the fact that it smelled like feet.

Okay, I'm off to watched Warehouse 13 and knit some more. I have a plan tomorrow.

Old Magazines and Puppies

2011-06-30T13:54:00.004+10:00

I couldn't resist this 1916 copy of The Modern Priscilla. Look at the expression on the lady's face - that is one knitter you don't mess with!

I also couldn't resist some 1917 and 1918 editions of La Femme Chez Elle.

I asked the wee one if he'd like to be a cover dog. Once he discovered that chasing balls wasn't involved, this was his response.

Skates, Socks and Soup

2011-06-27T15:54:00.004+10:00

I'm stealing away a few minutes to blog. It's craziness here. But I did sneak off yesterday. At the beginning of the year, I swore I wouldn't let work take over my life and that I'd start doing things I loved again. I love ice skating, for example. It is ridiculous that I don't go more often. Earlier this year, I went with a friend and had a great time, even though my right foot wiggled and wobbled and I kept falling on my proverbial butt.

Then we kept trying to make a time to go, but work got in the way. I just put an end to that. There was an ice hockey match yesterday and we agreed that this time, we'd make it. Furthermore, we would skate beforehand. I just had to sort out that wobbly ankle. So I did something I've always wanted to do. I got my own skates! (You are missing my massive grin.)

They're actually hockey skates. I know - part of me longed for elegant white boots too, but the hockey skates offer much more support for wobbly ankles. And guess what? Before long, I was zipping like I did years ago! Zipping and dodging kamikaze children on zimmer frames. However, even at my advanced age, there is just something cool about leaving the rink with your own skates.

The ice hockey was brilliant. I was a bit 'meh' the first two periods, but the final period... wow. The winning goal with just 2 seconds to spare! My companion actually squealed. Right in my ear. It was very funny. And who couldn't love a sport that plays real rock music real loud? And puts naughty players in a penalty box?

A certain pal and I also made time for a Knit 'n' Skype at the end of last week. I was working on the green sock. Pal peered down at sock and observed: "What happened to your Bingleys? You finished one... YEARS ago." Oh, okay. So next day, bright and late morningish, I cast on the second Bingley. See, Artificially Mythic. Don't say I don't listen to you!

And to keep me going today? I whipped up this soup, which combines Nigella Lawson's White Bean Mash with a rich, tomato soup, filled with meatballs. I cheated and used frozen meatballs!

Dead easy. The soup is simply an onion and stick of celery chopped up and sweated down. Then you add a can of chopped tomatoes, a cup or so of stock, peas, 2 crushed garlic cloves, fresh thyme, pepper and meatballs. The mash is a can of white beans, drained, heated up with a dash of lemon juice, 2 crushed garlic cloves, salt, pepper and lashings of olive oil, all pureed. I admit, I could have been prettier in terms of dobbing in the mash, but it tasted great!

Okay, back to the madness!

Shoes and Old Knitting Content

2011-06-18T16:05:00.005+10:00

It's been busy, so I've really only been able to sneak a row or two of actual knitting in. That means, either old knitting content or simply no blog post at all. And there were a few things I wanted to show.

Like these:

I found my perfect fairy tale boots! I had to bring in the FBI, but they were tracked down, paid for and delivered. Wee Davie made a beeline for the box, as though he knew they contained very gorgeous boots. I unpacked them in awe... and half a house away from the pup's teeth.

And no, I haven't advanced more than a row on those gloves, but one day, they will be beautiful gloves. And they made me feel better about the knitting content of this post.

In the meantime, the Charmed Wrap is wearing well. The yarn, Bendigo Woollen Mills Silky, has a lovely aura now and is washing up well. I love how the sleeves cover your fingers on cold days.

And yes, I mostly decided to show the wear of the Charmed Wrap so that I could sneak in a word about how much I like my new nail polish. It's now all chipped and awful from various things I've been doing, but for one day, it looked quite nice.

I've mostly been busy in meetings and at home on the computer, because it's that time of year when academics are tortured by tying up one semester, preparing for the next and planning for the following year. This process has been exasperated by something I'll be blogging next month. But for now, when I look under the desk, this is usually what I see:

It's that toy or one of his disco balls and inevitably involves an hour playing fetch while typing with one hand.

Still, he is cute with his disco balls! (I'm trying to keep the 12 year old boy at bay.) I did make him some new cookies - carrot and peanut butter in the shape of shoes. These are a great success.

Fabric Stashing

2011-06-10T10:24:00.002+10:00

Sometimes, you see fabric design that is just... awesome.

Tula Pink is my new favourite fabric designer for her Prince Charming collection. I could frame this fabric and stare at it all day long. And it pays off, because wrapped subtly in the design are some magical creatures.

I think I will frame some. Or make pillows. Something to gaze at in wonder.

Like yesterday's lunch - look away vegetarians (I've also made sure my hens are out of eyesight).

Isn't that pretty? I had some grading I wasn't looking forward to, so I thought a special lunch might cheer me up. I was inspired by this chicken here, but I don't own a skillet. It didn't matter. Even Wee Davie bounced enthusiastically. And I have left overs!

A Little Crafty Time Travelling

2011-06-08T14:19:00.002+10:00

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, for some reason, it's my Edwardian shawls that are getting the most use. So I figured... what's the harm in collecting a few more Edwardian magazines? It's rather fun to time travel.

I mean, seriously, this 1906 The Modern Priscilla - look at that lace dress! That is a stunning lace dress.

And there's a beautiful shawl. I just have to copy it off for Mum's clever fingers.

Most fun of all, perhaps, are the advertisements. And you thought botox and anti-wrinkle mumbo-gumbo was new. Don't you love the sound of Rinkelout? Come on, that's clever. Just say it out loud! And it's absolutely harmless. Not to mention ads for perfect busts!

It's funny how far back this type of thing goes. There's a 17th century tale by Basile, 'The Old Woman Who was Skinned.' Two ugly old crones attempt to make themselves youthful in order to sleep with the king. One of the old women smooths out all her wrinkles by tying her skin in a knot. Ouch. The other is tricked into skinning herself to look young. Double ouch.

The advertisements also rather amuse me in terms of their bluntness regarding 'fat people'. There's even the old 'before and after' in the add for 'Fat Folks'. Oh dear...

There is sooooo much to knit

2011-06-05T16:59:00.002+10:00

You have those moments as a knitter, don't you? There are so many great patterns (I won't mention the 21 currently sitting in my Ravelry cart waiting for me to weaken). There is so much pretty yarn. But only one pair of hands.

That stops you short.

One pair of hands for all those patterns and all that yarn???

Not to mention that people keep expecting that pair of hands to be engaged in other stuff, like filling in paperwork, writing, reading, doing dishes, playing ball with wee dogs, making dinner planting seeds for Romanesco broccoli and such.

Still, I am relaxing my urge to wrangle WIPs, because I really did want to start some of the club projects while the clubs were running. So, I did get a start on Fiyero from Knit Love Sock Club 2011. It's been out for a while, so I won't put the spoiler on here. Besides, I'm still a few rows from the first repeat. But oh my it's pretty! The cables are fiddly, but it's gorgeous. The green! Alice dyes fantastic yarn!

And I am making progress on my Vintage Purls Summer Sock Club installment of Betelgeuse (technically, I started when the club was running and that's good enough for me). It's almost impossible to get the right photo of it, though. I'll keep working on that. (Incidentally, you can see it sitting upon some of my current work... this would be the fun part of my work rather than the non fun, almost always paperwork related part of my work - namely, Italo Calvino's fairy tale collection.)

And because somehow fingering weight yarn just doesn't cut it on cold nights when you want something warm and snuggly in your hands while you watch Doctor Who, I finally started my Raggedy Doctor scarf in Malabrigo Ravelry Red. It's Amy Pond's scarf from 'The Pandorica Opens.' Amy has had some fairly wicked scarves. I won't do her short skirts, but I can do her scarves! Which is why I just got my hands on Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns because I wanted Frost Flowers in hard copy in order to recreate the 'Vincent and the Doctor' scarf. I'm resisting, however, casting it on, since I'm still beavering away at my other TARDIS inspired scarf (the blue one... I'm not even counting this red cabled beauty).

Because I wanted a pom pom, I knitted a hat

2011-06-02T15:43:00.003+10:00

I had a craving for a pom pom. A big, fluffy pom pom on a hat. So I knitted an Early Morning Beret by Hannah Fettig in Cascade 220 robin egg blue and added a big brown pom pom out of some Biggan that I had on hand (I also cast on and knit a row in the brown, which kind of brings it all together).

It is the most marvelous, simple beret pattern! Just floppy enough, just cosy enough. It was perfect to knit onto my fluffy pom pom. Because the hat is, of course, all about the pom pom.

We had some really frosty nights, so I also whipped up some of my favourite soup. Mum was asking about the recipe, so I promised to post it. It's inspired by a soup Prêt did a while ago - a sausage casserole soup - but I've since discovered that as I've adapted it, it's become remarkably like their Spanish Chorizo and Butterbean Soup. Great minds and all. Anyway, here goes...

Lightly fry one thinly sliced red onion, one chopped stick of celery and one chopped carrot in olive oil. Add chicken stock, a can of chopped tomatoes, three cooked and chopped up chorizo sausages, a chopped up capsicum (I like using the yellow), chopped up zucchini (optional - I just had some to hand), and a can of either cannelloni beans or chick peas (I like the cannelloni beans best, but ran out the other day and chick peas don't do too badly). Sprinkle in a bit of chilli and paprika. Done! I like it with sour cream (Tofutti in my case - dairy free and all). I sort of live on this soup from time to time. This soup and the chilli beef soup, which is a Prêt recipe if you google it (I couldn't get a recipe link).

Feathers and Silk

2011-05-24T20:51:00.002+10:00

Wee Davie just picked up his biscuit, looked outside, and hurriedly backtracked. It's wet and cold out there. In fact, earlier I went to check on the hens and found little Fifi snuggled down between Lulu and Cosette, presumably using them as big feathery duvets!

In rain and cold, my new silk still arrived. It's from Dye For Yarn, who has the most beautiful colours and the most amazing names for the yarn. My silk is 'Trapped in a Night's Wish'. It actually looks more purple than it photographs.

It is destined, with luck, to turn into this. This time, I'm going to be a little more careful about size!

Too tired to try on new cardigan

2011-05-17T21:23:00.002+10:00

This morning, I got up early. Wee Davie looked over, yawned, stretched a bit. I stumbled about the kitchen, getting his breakfast. Kibble in the bowl, I looked over and...

Wee Davie had gone back to bed.

Where he stayed.

Right up until I was ready to leave.

I think that's really, really unfair.

Still, tonight I finished sewing up my new cotton sweater. I made it too big. Just a bit. I'll live. But I love the pattern - it's cute and clever. I knitted it up in 'Robin Egg Blue,' Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. The pattern is 'Kira' by Cecily Glowik MacDonald.

I added a couple of vintage buttons. The cute little wings deserve vintage buttons.

Okay, I think maybe an early night is in order.

My Friend Who Likes Star Wars Had a Baby

2011-05-14T12:47:00.004+10:00

Yes, I'm afraid that my friend, who likes Star Wars, having a baby did absolutely mean that I had to dress his baby up as Yoda. Young Jedi, he is. Wear Yoda hat, he must.

Thus was born the awesome Yoda Layette that I hinted at a couple of posts ago. All knitted out of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury, a ball each of Bracken and Mink. There's the:

Yoda Baby Bottle Cozy
You Seek Yoda Hat
Baby Yoda Sweater

I chuckled. A little dark force in me, there was. But honestly, how sweet is that bottle cozy? It is complete with hooded robe.

And yes, incidentally, I do have one of these bags too.

Bow Ties Are Cool and So Is Hamlet

2011-05-06T19:57:00.002+10:00

Sometimes, on the spur of the moment, you put a knitting project into action. Sometimes the results are brilliant. Sometimes...

I was reading a book - a dry, academic-type book. I was having trouble focusing, so I thought I'd knit something as I read. I thought I'd knit a bow tie for Wee Davie. You see, I was being seriously tempted by these Silly Buddy's bow ties for dogs. Because, you know, bow ties are cool.

But I was being good. I wasn't going to be tempted. I had spare yarn. I could knit him a bow tie.

So I read up on mimesis and the multi-diegetic and intertextual and knitted a little bow tie. I popped it on the wee one's collar.

But do you think he wanted his photo taken? Of course not. After all, he had his interesting cube that makes crinkly sounds (and helps the RSPCA).

The only way to take a photo of his nice knitted bow tie was to try to hold the cube high enough. Of course, that meant you couldn't see him at all - only his jaws, clamped around the cube. And even then... he's black. He's kind of difficult to photograph at the best of times.

By which point the bow tie looked more like a bow... oops. I realised something about then. Scottish terriers can't really show off bow ties because they have little necks, long muzzles and long beards. Even if the knitted bow tie is a failure, at least I haven't given into temptation and been disappointed! Oh, okay, I'm still looking a little longingly at those bow ties. I promise, no coats other than strictly functional ones though! I will not dress up my dog... hand on heart. I will not do this or this or this to him, even though the thought makes me chuckle.

Artificially Mythic than revealed our response to her recent stash enhancement, The Yarn Hamlet. I'd recommend going to her post first, because it has continued. Today I offered up:

Hamlet:
I did love novelty yarn once.

Ophelia:
Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

Hamlet:
You should not have believ'd me, for alpaca cannot so
inoculate our old acrylics but we shall relish of it. I lov'd it not.

Ophelia:
I was the more deceiv'd.

Hamlet:
Get thee to a LYS, why woulds't thou be a breeder of
eyelash yarn scarves?

I blame a certain DrK who made a comment about acrylic yarn and has also contributed to our Yarn Hamlet in other quarters.

Really, we must be stopped.

Someone has to be responsible

2011-05-01T15:04:00.002+10:00

Okay, time to confess. Who has been sneaking over and giving my hens wire cutters? At first they settled for cheekily flying over the fence. Now they're somehow managing to break through the fence. There they are, out on the back lawn, heading to the vegetable patch... again.

It's like a scene from Chicken Run.

Maybe they got hold of the DVD?

I've been off the grid the last week or two. Not for a fun reason. Oh, I wish it had been for a fun reason! But no. The only fun part has been pottering around all day in pjs with a genuine excuse as to why I can't lift more than a pair of knitting needles or a comic book. In fact, earlier, I tried to lift three novels... not a good idea. I hear it gets better, though.

While I've been away from home, the hens - those rascally hens - have been sunning themselves.

And Wee Davie turned one! He celebrated with a big bone. He is now refining his mature, thoughtful expression and plans to write odes to his bone.

And I did do some knitting. Some of it I can't show you yet, but it's truly awesome. Some of it isn't finished yet, but when I watch Doctor Who for the second time this weekend, I plan to get closer to finishing it. Incidentally, now that I've had one of those big birthdays, I think it's time I become as amazing as River Song.

But I'm also starting, at last, to do something about the yarn clubs piling up! I pinched the sock yarn from the second installment of Vintage Purls' summer sock club to knit the final pattern, because I've never knitted gloves and this pattern made me want desperately to knit gloves, and the blue...

Oh the blue...

The blue is incredible.

You should see this blue in real life.

Yes, yes, so far, I'm still on the iCord. But, it is a start.

Rainbows and Booties

2011-04-10T10:46:00.002+10:00

I had a birthday. It was a big birthday. It was such a big birthday, it needed rainbow cupcakes.

Making the rainbow cupcakes was half the fun. It is very cool to have multiple bowls of brightly coloured cake mix. How good all that food colouring actually is for you is another question that need not be considered when making rainbow cupcakes for your birthday.

Look at the cute cupcakes! I did put icing on them. I scraped the icing off a bit later. It was purported to be the best icing in the world, but since I had to dairy and gluten-free it, it was probably my fault it wasn't the best icing in the world. Usually, I can adapt. Not this time. And the violet came out too grey-ish. You can't have grey icing on these cupcakes... although, I guess... rainbows do come out in grey clouds?

Oh, but look what the rainbows are like inside! My mother's first reaction? "I need sunglasses - I think I've been blinded." Ha. She should have been expected that my rainbow cupcakes would be anything but subtle! (Excuse me a moment - my puppy is trying to pull my jeans off... just a minute... there, go chase your squirrels.)

And, in preparation for a birthday due in a month or two, I knitted up some bright red booties out of some Bendigo Woollen Mills' Luxury (in 'Fire') I unearthed in their sale room. I love red booties! When I began knitting, I spotted the odd red bootie and fell in love with the concept. It's never too young to learn about the power of red shoes.

The pattern is Julia Noskova's 'First Step Baby Booties'. I fell in love with their steampunkiness. The pattern is pretty easy, too. It only took me a couple of nights to whip these up and I wasn't working that hard at it. I added little brass buttons with roses on them.

I think they're adorable.

I Can Knit Pockets!

2011-04-03T11:22:00.003+10:00

Look at that! It's a pocket! It's a pocket in my new cardigan. Pockets are easy! I've aced pockets! Well, simple pockets, at least.

In other news, I've also used up a good percentage of the world's exclamation marks.

However, in all seriousness, there was something akin to the magic of turning one's first heel in discovering the secret of the knitted in pocket. And who doesn't love having pockets in their clothing? It also felt wonderful having a knitting day. I met most of my immediate deadlines in a series of late nights at the computer, so I gave myself most of the weekend to knit. It's felt good to be producing stitches again. Plus, I've been able to catch up on some SGU and Warehouse 13. I had a little moment earlier when I realised Claudia was wearing a Les Mis T-shirt. I was once a Les Mis geek. This was fantastic.

Last night, though, I devastated my puppy. I didn't put any tomato in Wee Davie's dinner. Consequently, at around 9pm, he came running in, skiddling along the mat, a green tomato from the garden in his mouth. Message received. Tomato is still a must for the pup's dinner... or he'll just go and get his own tomato.

But it's so adorable walking him in the late afternoon now. It's like walking two pups. Wee Davie and his shadow.

Sating the Need for Robin Egg Blue

2011-03-27T16:16:00.003+11:00

I have a small problem. I have colour cravings.

This is why I have a pink house with an extraordinarily pink hallway. It's why my bedroom is bright yellow with scarlet pimpernels painted all around it.

I don't really mind my colour cravings.

But I've never before craved a shade of blue.

That changed, as I may have mentioned. The camera doesn't quite pick it up, but that shade of blue in the brown and cranberry tartan? It pops. Seriously. It's gorgeous and is going to be a new winter skirt. There's a dress there, too, in the check homespun. Gee, Mum's going to be busy...

And you can spot the corner of a pattern: Cecily Glowik MacDonald's Kira. I have my Cotton Fleece in Robin Egg Blue and I'm rolling. These pockets will soon turn into a sweet cardigan.

Speaking of colour, last night we made a simple tomato sauce for the spaghetti. These tomatoes? All from the garden! The thyme too. Best tomato sauce ever. Wee Davie wolfed it down in one of his funnier 'Tramp' moments.

Yesterday was laundry day and I think the pup was trying to help. Only, the blankets in his hamper were already clean.

Never mind.

A New Charm

2011-03-24T21:18:00.003+11:00

Once upon a time, I knitted Mary Jane Mucklestone's Charm Wrap. I loved my Charm Wrap. It was cosy, practical, and I could wear it with everything, particularly jeans on a chilly day. The fit was perfection. It looked great.

But after five years of heavy wear, my Charm Wrap didn't look quite so charming. My Charm Wrap looked matted and hairy and a bit like Wee Davie after he's been rolling around in the mud outside.

As you know if you've read earlier entries, I searched and searched for the pattern, because, of course, I'd forgotten what the pattern was called. When I discovered the name - cue short lived Eureka moment - I realised I couldn't get hold of the pattern again. Until - cue long lived Eureka moment - Knitscene released its 2005 issues on CD. There was the Charm Wrap pattern. I ordered some Bendigo Woollen Mills Silky in Jade and set to work.

The new Charm Wrap! Just as, if not more, gorgeous. The colour is glorious and the Silky is a dream to knit up. Ah, it feels so good having my Charm Wrap again!

I think part of my love for the Charm Wrap is related to my love of Edwardian fashion.

Okay, these are actually images from a 1916 fashion magazine, so not strictly Edwardian, but I can't locate my Edwardian magazines right now and the fashion is on the same lines. Drape, lace, elongation.

If only I could get away with really big puffed sleeves too! Edwardian fashion makes me long for the world of Anne of Green Gables. I loved that book and sympathise entirely with Anne's longing for puffed sleeves. I lovd that she isn't a good girl and doesn't always even try to be a good girl. Sometimes she delights in being bad. Plus, of course, she has red hair. Oh, how I wanted to have red hair!

The New Gang in Town

2011-03-19T11:56:00.002+11:00

Can you spot Coco and Fifi in the above picture? They're hiding. There's new chickens about.

The new chickens aren't sure why I'm chasing them with a small, silver box.

Yes, I expanded my flock! I don't know why, but grieving for Lola, it suddenly felt right. Coco and Fifi were so quiet and sad. Of course, now they're extremely nervous and in hiding...

Coco tried three times this morning to escape, each time running right into Wee Davie who thought it was all a new game. I've had to clip her wing to add insult to injury.

I will try to get better photos of the new girls later when they're more settled. There's the brown hen, Gigi, a double laced Barnevelder, who I caught devouring tomatoes. Okay, check - Gigi likes tomatoes. There's two of the light Sussex variety. One is called Lulu, the other won't stop long enough for me to decide on a name! They remind me of Snow White - all white, black and red. Gorgeous, large and flighty. Just like Lola.

I think Lola had something to do with the choice.

They won't replace her - no one can replace Lola and Mimi, but it feels good to have a proper group of hens in the back yard making all sorts of chicken noises. And who knows? Maybe I'll start getting eggs again. Ahem - Coco and Fifi, that was directed at you.

I swear there will be knitting content again soon! I've got lots of wonderful new yarn to show off (ah... well, not lots, but...) and I have been doing the odd row. It's just been a bit crazy on campus. Earning the monicker of the most overworked in the department has its funny side, but there are some nights I'd just like to sit down and knit!

Lola, La-la-la-la-Lola

2011-03-17T09:39:00.002+11:00

Today I play the Kinks' 'Lola' in honour of one dignified, flighty little hen who went with as much pizazz as she lived her life.

Can you say a chicken can leave this world with pizazz?

You can if it's Lola!

She made it quite clear that she was going to go last night and when I asked if she knew I loved her, she nodded (yes, I did ask a chicken that question and yes, she did actually nod... I'm not exaggerating). I said goodbye as she sleepily winked and she only gave me a slightly irritated look when I tried to sneak back, as if to say 'we said goodbye, it's my time now.'

I'll really miss you, Lola.

Lola who would strut the best ever silly walks, who would always insist on eating sunflower seeds from my hand and then selectively put some down on the ground for later, who would create a mess at the feed bin as she searched for her favourite seeds, who would yip and look haughty if I tried to pick her up. Lola.

At the risk of making anyone cry, the hardest thing was going out this morning to find Fifi trying to wake her up. My little brown hen looks so sad, but Coco is there with her and they're having sunflower seeds in Lola's honour.

Craving Tiffany Blue

2011-03-03T17:54:00.003+11:00

I'm writing a bloody talk. It's about blood and fairy tales. Actually, it's more like I'm thinking about writing a bloody talk, because, really, there hasn't been much writing today.

I just returned from a walk with Wee Davie. I love that my dog high fives people in the streets. Really. They hold out their hand and up he jumps to high five them. I love my dog.

(No, Mum, I didn't just buy him a new collar.)

I've become obsessed with Tiffany Blue as a colour. I am seeking out yarn, eyeshadow, fabric...

I went ice skating. Furthermore, I went 80s ice skating. I relived my misspent youth of roller skating to 'Let's Hear It For the Boy' and 'What a Feeling'. I loved it.

I got some cute buttons.

About cookies and haircuts and even some knitting

2011-02-20T11:58:00.003+11:00

(Warning: Spoilers for Vintage Purl and Knit Love clubs ahead.)

Today is wet and stormy, making it perfect for this kind of activity.

I made some cream cheese cookies from this recipe, adapting them slightly with my flour mix (potato, corn and white rice flours), a soy cream cheese alternative and less sugar. They still came out fluffy and delicious, though by now they are a bit heavy, so perfect for dunking in tea. Tea that I usually drink a bit stronger than shown. In fact, the other day, I was really amused to find these mugs printed with colours corresponding to the different strengths of tea. Back in my temping days, I instigated the practice of pinning a paint chart over the tea tray, matching everyone's favourite brew to the camels, beiges and lattes. Apparently, one of those charts is still in use, more than a decade later!

I also made Wee Davie a second batch of Best of Breed Dog Biscuits. Now there's only one left and I'll be baking another batch. He adores them.

Speaking of whom, here he is, having just had a hair cut. (He's busy eating a bone.)

We've had a rough few days. I was really afraid that we were losing Lola, my flighty, snobbish hen. She is rallying, though. Fingers crossed. She still manages to look miffed at me for fussing over her.

And after a broken needle incident, I'm back on track with the Charm Wrap. I'm nearly up to the sleeves and am already trying to decide on new projects. I'm really tempted to try Sylvi, but I'm hitting yarn issues. I was planning to use Bendigo Woollen Mills, but the colour I want - Mallard - doesn't come in the 12 ply. I am planning to use their Luxury in 'Ghost' for the Bandha Hoodie as part of a deliberate choice to add different colours to my wardrobe. Perhaps not oddly, given that my head is always turned by bright, pretty colours, greys and browns and other neutrals are in short supply.

But I really need to catch up on some sock club knitting. I figure most everyone has the yarn by now, but I've got my parcels from the Knit Love Club and Vintage Purl Summer Club.

Isn't it odd that the colours are on a theme? Lovely, squishy goodness!

I seriously need more knitting time.

Christmas presents are worth waiting for!

2011-02-06T16:24:00.002+11:00

Isn't she lovely? One of my BKFFs was a little longer sending off my Christmas present, but I didn't mind a bit. She's gorgeous and silky and light in a Yarntopia silk and merino blend (the shawl, not my BKFF... although, I guess you could call her all those things too!). And those colours! Thank you, BKFF!

I would have taken more dramatic, wonderful action shots of my shawl, but not far away, this was happening:

Soggy puppy and shawl wouldn't have mixed! Incidentally, spot the apple crop behind Wee Davie and the shawl? I'm hoping for big things this year!

I've also discovered the tomato growing trick. Pop them in the chicken coop!

This is the biggest tomato I've ever grown (I'm really resisting the temptation to exaggerate and say it's as big as a pumpkin... but of course it is!):

Yes, it's still green, but since I don't trust the chickens or the local possums, I'm photographing my giant tomato while I can!

Okay, we're off to make homemade tater tots (slightly healthier, since they're baked in the oven). We went to the local market this morning (a kind of 'backyard garden' market where local residents often bring their crops etc) and found some wonderful tomatoes and squashes and a big lime tree that we cheerfully walked home.

Purple, nurple, wurple...

2011-01-28T10:33:00.002+11:00

Shhhh... I'm not here. You can tell when I've got edits to do. I avoid them.

But I'll give myself 5 minutes of procrastination to share with you this pizza.

I cribbed it from this recipe. One of my BKFFs came over for a research day, so we shared. Mind, I think I could have eaten it solo, it was that good. Black beans aren't common here, so I had to search them out, but... seriously, yum. As we were working, BKFF suddenly called a halt, sniffed: "I smell pizza." We immediately went to the kitchen and served big slices to ourselves... then almost immediately went back for seconds. There is no more pizza. BKFF assured me I had to take the photo: "it's definitely bloggable."

Oddly enough, after our research day, I logged onto Twitter and Wil Wheaton had just tweeted a recipe he tried for dinner, black bean and tomato quinoa (who said following actors was a waste of time?). Since I bought up all the cans of black beans I could find, this is next on my list.

Is it also procrastination or sensible planning to work on your professional wardrobe? Particularly if, say, you have exciting places to be later in the year? I picked up this cardigan and the tights on sale. I then found this fabric, which will turn into a skirt. I'm just so pleased with the colours.

Yes, I'm not exactly a wear black and grey kind of girl! I'm not sure about the tights yet... but the skirt is definitely going to work with that cardigan.

Then it struck me that this blog post is in shades of purple - counting the purple tinge of the black beans - so I can share one of my most favourite QI moments.

Chocolate Paws

2011-01-25T09:54:00.002+11:00

In celebration of returning my nose to the grindstone, so to speak, I set aside a few minutes in the evening to finish redecorating Wee Davie's room (aka the laundry).

It has been a scary room for a very long time. It was the last room we needed to repaint, but since it was filled with odds and ends and the previous paint job was flaking quite a lot, we'd naturally put it off. Over Christmas, however, Papa came armed with a tin of mint green paint and the determination to give Wee Davie a place to sleep that wouldn't terrify him with its insipid pinkness (I like pink... just not that pink).

Last night, I finished off the job. What does a mint green paint job require? Chocolate paws.

No, I didn't paint them on. I cheated. The colour isn't quite right in this photo, but you get the idea.

Incidentally, I can finally show you some knitting I did over Christmas, inspired by tales of incredible snow falls. It was snowing on friends of mine. Obviously, they required mittens.

Plus, I'd been dying to knit up Barbara Gregory's Ringo & Elwood. (I will add that if I had to pick a Beatle, it'd be Ringo. He had the greatest sense of humour. But I am more a Rolling Stones kind of woman.) A little Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply (in Cream and Delphinium Blue) later, and I had snow critters!

This is just the most amazingly cute design. Look at how those thumbs are tails! And it's all reversible! I couldn't decide between critters, so I did one of each. That seemed perfectly reasonable.

There were also other hands requiring mittens, but these hands needed the fingers to be free, so I adapted sublimialrabbit's Bella's Mittens to fingerless, as many have done before me. Only, I stopped the cabling a few rows early and added a couple of rows of moss stitch and the entire mitten, knitted in a finer weight (Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 8ply in Cream), turned out much more elegant.

The mittens finally made it - and before the snow stopped for good!

Okay, nose back to grindstone...

Things To Do With Cookie Cutters

2011-01-20T13:47:00.003+11:00

I have a weakness for cookie cutters. I've been coveting Old River Road cookie cutters. One day I shall have some.

In the meantime, I've been breaking out my usual collection.

I tried out a new gluten free cookie mix and made my own coloured sugar to sprinkle on top. Mossy teapots. There's none left.

I also tried out a recipe for peanut butter cookies for a certain wee individual.

Then I tried out needle felting for the first time. And earned my first needle felting wound. They aren't kidding when they say the needles are sharp! I've been meaning to try needle felting for ages, but when I discovered that you can needle felt using cookie cutter shapes... I had to stop 'meaning to'. This is my first attempt.

He's a little fluffy, but I love the way the colours mixed. It's a great way to use the fibre samples from some of the boxes I picked up in the past, too. Hmmm... spinning. That's the other thing I've been meaning to get the knack of.

Incidentally, the henna worked out a treat. I didn't get a great deal of colour, although, oddly, once again, chestnut colour turned my hair darker rather than lighter. I'm not sure what's with that. It left my hair wonderfully soft though. The scent does linger, but I used Lush henna and it doesn't smell bad. It also washed out fairly easily. Most importantly, it didn't leave my scalp raw and painful like commercial dyes do, and still evened out the colour as I wanted.

As a final note, am I just weird, or do you sometimes look down at your cutting board and think 'huh, that looks almost like a picture from a cooking blog.' I did today while chopping up everything for my noodles and tofu.

It just looked so pretty!

Who Can Resist Pom Poms?

2011-01-18T15:20:00.002+11:00

My hat from last post (details included) is all done. Although someone did mention similarities between the colourway and a certain 10th Doctor, I stayed with my initial decision to think of my hat as 'Flora', inspired by Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm, one of my favourites.

Flora inherited, however, from her father a strong will and from her mother a slender ankle.

Which explains why I've photographed this brilliant hat with my head in a book. At least, that's my story.

It is a brilliant hat. The design is kooky and clever and it has a great vintage feel to it. And I don't think I'll ever stop loving to knit hats out of Malabrigo worsted. They come out in one skein and are all soft and squidgy. Everything you could wish for, in fact.

Alas, it's a little too warm for hats. Today I'm getting about in a turban of cling wrap. I'm trying out henna. It was less messy than anticipated in terms of process. I do, however, have continued doubts about my application, so we shall see at roughly 6pm! I may have remarkable red streaks in all the wrong places. I may also need to wear my hat despite the weather.

Sunshine

2011-01-15T11:29:00.003+11:00

Actually, sunshine and humidity. It's never a good mix. I've been avoiding posting for a few days, because as some may have noticed, in Queensland in particular, things weren't good. I grew up in Brisbane. My family is in Brisbane and up around Toowoomba. It was a nervous few days. I was doing things like making Duck-in-the-Hole Toast to calm the nerves, which weren't at all helped by the coverage, which didn't appear to distinguish between genuine threat and some of the minor 'it always floods there' situations. So in the end, I turned off the coverage. But I still had my Duck-in-the-Hole Toast.

Not that I was too worried. I grew up with stories about the 1974 floods. Whenever we looked at property, Mum's first questions would be about flood risk. Brisbane is a river city. Rivers flood. So while our house is very close to the river, it's also high. The people who built it over a hundred years ago thought about flooding and situated it above conceivable flood waters. Thank you to those builders!

There's still some really awful stories - and some that make you cry because, gee, people are great most of the time. Of course it means a bit more to you, personally, when you're looking at places you know - places you've had coffee, driven through on countless visits to your grandparents etc. I know there's really terrible floods in other parts of the world where the loss of life has been more widespread, but these were places I grew up in.

Still, the water has receded, our fingers are crossed for other towns that are facing further flooding, and we hope the clean up goes well.

Wee Davie decided to donate a little to the RSPCA. He'd like to think that if he got caught in a flood, someone would think to provide him with a dry spot to sit and some dinner. And possibly a red ball to play with.

In the midst of all that, though, I had been working on a Cookie A. sock. I'm out a stitch. No matter how many times I think I've fixed it, that dratted stitch goes missing again. This is going to involve frogging. I don't feel up to frogging yet, so I cast on a hat.

It's going to turn into Corina Spencer's Toorie, which means a pom pom on your tam in Scots. I saw the hat and couldn't resist. Even in this humidity. And I'm currently massively in love with the Malabrigo I'm knitting it with (Charrua). This is going to be a great hat. Although, maybe not in this weather...

A Gluten Free Digression

2011-01-10T13:27:00.003+11:00

I'm on holiday. But lazing. I like holidays at home sometimes. I have adventures planned later in the year, but for now, catching up on little things helps.

One of the things I've been doing is catching up on gluten free blogs. I'm trying not to be a bore about the whole gluten free thing, although, since I'm also dairy intolerant (apart from a cheat once in a while) and am increasingly going vegetarian (seriously, I think once you start cutting foods out, it becomes a masochistic habit), it sometimes gets tricky. Cafes where I live aren't very helpful. They will usually offer you the choice of one salad and maybe if you're lucky, a soup. Sometimes they just look puzzled and you sigh and order a soy chai latte and go home to eat. Things are better in other places. Although seriously, everything gluten free in the sweet department seems to involve chocolate. Yes, at times, you do get sick of chocolate. Moan over.

When my parents visited for Christmas, though, Mum realised that she was feeling better sharing my gluten free diet and she's thinking gluten might be one of her problems. When I tell her what I'm eating, she often asks how I've made it, and since she may very well go gluten free herself, my standard "actually... I'm not sure... I was just throwing things in" might not go down as well. I won't post heaps of recipes, but the odd one or two so that she knows where to find them.

First, Mum, here are some chick pea patties!

Very simple. Drain a can of chick peas and add one potato (chopped and boiled till ready to mash), one spring onion (chopped), about 2 tablespoons of quinoa flour (or until you get a good patty consistency - you can add more at the end if you need to), one egg, two garlic cloves (chopped), a generous shake of paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Mash up with your food processor of choice. At the end, add a generous scoop of flax seeds and stir in. Heat a mix of sunflower and sesame oils in a pan and dollop the mixture in, making patties. Brown on both sides. Can be served with chilli jam, which is delicious.

Needless to say, this is just a rough guide! I'm still very bad at noting the quantities I use. I have also become a little obsessed with popovers since discovering this great recipe at Ginger Lemon Girl. I'm now on the search for the perfect popover pan (I used a muffin pan and they were delicious, but I know they can be even better in the proper pan) and on that search I did not find this pan that would be ideal for Firefly parties. Let's see how long I manage to hold out.

In the meantime, and since I lack any knitting ready to show, here are some shots of Wee Davie, who has spent the last few days 'flopping'.

The Tale of One Sock

2011-01-06T15:37:00.003+11:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a yarn called Bingley is simply made for a sock called Netherfield.

Which is how this sock came to be cast on, as I sat among the daffodils at Lyme Park.

It was very postmodern of my ball of Bingley to try to roll into the lake a few times. After all, it was the lake his best friend famously dunked himself in, thoroughly dampening his shirt to the delight of millions.

I've been living with this sock for a while. It's called 'Bingley's Visit to Pemberley' using Kristi Schueler's pattern in Knit It Up's Bingley. It's a pattern I love. The yarn is brilliant. So why did I just cast off only the first sock, years later??

Well, mostly, my mind melted while doing a short row heel from the toe up. One of my BKFFs had to step in and wrangle with the heel during a lecture I was giving (yes, imagine me happily babbling about English Literature while keeping one nervous eye on the progress of my sock heel down in the front row!). But by that stage, my knitting confidence was far gone and I hid the sock away in its little sack...

When lo and behold, after having wrestled with another couple of difficult patterns, I came back to 'Bingley's Visit to Pemberley' and I finally understood what I was doing and shook my head at my previous self, setting off again with gusto. And I cast it off! And such a pretty cast off, too.

Okay, I know. There's still the second sock. Part of me thinks another visit to Lyme Park would provide the necessary motivation, but I'm not sure I can sneak that in this year... there are other adventures afoot.

However, despite how long it took to knit this one sock, this one sock represents a great deal of knitting growth and I'm very proud of it. I'll be prouder if I don't end up posting the next heel off to BKFF with a plea for mercy. Hmmmm...

In the meantime, I have to fathom what to do with a bowl of blackberries from the garden (tart blackberries, I might add).

It's all about ribbons...

2011-01-05T15:31:00.001+11:00

Pompapig1
Originally uploaded by gidgetknits

Leave your Madame de Pompapig to her toilette, and look what happens.

And a Merry 2011

2011-01-01T22:33:00.003+11:00

Happy New Year
from
Madame de Pompapig

What? You don't knit pigs on New Year's?

Madame de Pompapig comes from the fabulous Knitting Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec ('Pigs with Wigs') and is knitted up in Cleckheaton Country.

She is inspired by the Austrian tradition of giving pigs for luck at New Year's - I decided to knit my own luck! She is also inspired by Mrs Future, a fantastic pig from The Vacillations of Poppy Carew by Mary Wesley, one of my favourite books. It's not really a book about pigs. There's a pig farmer in it though. I always liked that pig farmer.

And with that glorious beehive, she's also a little inspired by Madame de Pompadour, hence her name.

I think she's rather wonderful.

Welcome 2011.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:14:00.004+11:00

Why shouldn't you get into the Christmas spirit in the bedroom (oh, stop giggling in the back there)? Mum made me up some wonderful Christmas pillow cases, including these natty owls. If you look closely, the brown on the owls? It's in a knit pattern! Perfect.

Alas, Lola has the pox. I discovered this a few days ago. I have been doing much research, but apparently you just wait it out and keep an eye on the pox victims. So far, she seems fine. In fact, the other evening, she became an escapee and flew onto the coop roof (say that quickly five times). She eventually decided to go back inside through the little window you can see there - possibly having realised that Wee Davie was waiting below with his ball.

Wee Davie has become obsessed with playing ball. Whenever you step outside, the ball magically rolls to your feet. If you don't kick it immediately, he puts his little paw up on it and tells you to kick it... just in case you've forgotten the deal. Yesterday Mum and I were hula hooping in the back yard and mid-hula, a ball would land at our feet and the hoop would clatter to the ground. Oh, okay, the hoop did spend more time on the ground than around our waists, but it was fun! (Yes, I did get inspired by Ysolda's efforts in snowy Edinburgh, so when I saw a hoop - while buying a soccer ball for the pup - I couldn't resist trying it out.)

We went shopping for Christmas food. Mum thought I was joking when I said I didn't really care as long as I had cereal!

Actually, I didn't buy all this yesterday... just the Cookie Bitez. One of the oddest things about going gluten free is that you develop random, ridiculous cravings for food you never ate when you could eat everything. Lately, I've been craving silly, childish cereal. Fortunately, they've started releasing gluten-free options and... I've gone a little nutty.

More sensibly, there is finally more progress on the Netherfield sock. Watch this space. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a brilliant, incredible Christmas (or holiday of some sort)!

It's Getting To Be A Lot Like Christmas

2010-12-21T11:29:00.003+11:00

While I was trying to come up with clever things to say about glass slippers and magic mirrors, Christmas snuck up on me.

Christmas, of course, in part means there's lots of Christmas Specials on television - specials from To the Manor Born and One Foot in the Grave, for example. These are excellent knitting programmes. So I whipped off the second Strider sock and they're done and they're beautiful! I've already mentioned the details on the blog (they're also here on Ravelry), but... wow. I love this pattern! There's a couple of little errors in the pattern (also noted on Ravelry), but once you get the gist of the pattern, they're dead easy to spot. Unfortunately, photography just doesn't do them justice. They're three-dimensional socks. They must be seen in all three dimensions. So, thank you again BKFF, who is currently, I believe, bopping around Wellington!

And today, more sock inspiration... although I am trying to promise myself to finish off my Netherfield socks, particularly now that I've successfully finished this toe-up pair (yes, I've been knitting the Netherfield socks since I was sitting in the sun at Lyme Park patiently waiting for Mr Darcy to come out of the lake in his wet shirt... it never happened, which I think jinxed the socks). Aside from that digression... who doesn't love a new Cookie A. book? The photography is to die for! So are Lissajous, now handily available in the book. And I also picked up cards from one of my favourite Etsy artists, The Mincing Mockingbird, because there were finally cards of the print, Moments When My Eyes Go Vacant. I seriously love the print.

Since it's Christmas, there have been treats, like little tiny macaroons (the passionfruit ones are best!), and SFX Magazine's Doctor Who issue.

So, I guess it's time to finish up now and get a little more written about the cat's boots so that I can enjoy a guilt-free Christmas. I'll leave you with merry wishes and a little pup who has also found things to like about Christmas.

Taking a Writer's Block Break

2010-12-09T16:21:00.003+11:00

It's not really writer's block. It's more 'I'm tired of revising this article and while I know perfectly well what I have to do, I can't quite make myself just tap away until it's done' block. So I've been doing lots of useful things, filling out paperwork, updating a bibliography, wrapping a few presents, doing a load of laundry...

But it still isn't getting the revisions finished.

On the bright side, a parcel arrived today, travelling far from snowy places.

I love a parcel that is wrapped with care! We used to have a fabric store that would wrap the fabric in printed brown paper and string and I never wanted to open the parcel afterward. Strangely, one of the sales assistants told us most people preferred their purchases in a paper bag. They didn't like waiting the extra minute or two. I could never understand that. One of the reasons I love shopping through Etsy is that many of the sellers are amazing in terms of how they package up your purchases. But before I lose myself in this parcel-obsessed-tangent, inside today's parcel...

Who doesn't need more project bags?

This also made me giggle. But then, so do Bendigo Woollen Mills' big balls of yarn. I am twelve.

With no knitting

2010-12-05T15:35:00.003+11:00

I admit it. I've been a bad knitter. I'm working on my second socks and I just broke the tip of the needle on my new Charm Wrap. Everything knitting related is going very slow.

But more cheerfully, my new favourite earrings arrived.

Okay, how many people have clicked and realised what they reference? Need a clue? Seek out the source. I think they're pretty cunnin'.

Then Vintage Purl was a just a bit inconsiderate and went and named a lace yarn "Kingdom of Aragon". As if that wasn't going to be finding its way into my stash...

Beautiful, isn't it?

The silly season has, of course, inspired more than a little silliness around here. After a chat to one of my BKFFs, this... ah... happened...

Me: It's a screwdriver.
Wee Davie: It's sonic.
Me: Yeah, I know.

Wee Davie: Allons-y!

Well, a little silliness is a good thing.

Nature - with socks and collars

2010-11-28T19:07:00.004+11:00

I finished a sock! Okay, it's just the one sock, but this is a tricky sock pattern! This is the Sole Mates kit that BKFF gave me. There's a couple of errors in the pattern and I haven't quite worked them out, but while some find such things frustrating, I'm increasingly delighting in the things I learn from these opportunities... and let's face it, what oak leaf ever looks perfect? The sock is still utterly amazing (and I did write up my notes in progress on Ravelry). It gets bonus points for surviving Wee Davie, who discovered the ball of yarn in reach and consequently began to toss it about the room and wrap it around the stereo.

Aren't those cables a thing of beauty?

Speaking of Wee Davie, however, his wardrobe has expanded.

Is it bad that I'm having a ball dressing him in different collars? I haven't yet started to colour coordinate him with my own outfits, but I suspect this is merely a matter of time.

And finally, they aren't pretty, but I improvised chilli chocolate and pumpkin swirl cupcakes (there's a couple of recipes that I bounced off here and here). The catch was... the chilli chocolate mix was far too thick and sort of 'plonked' in the middle of the cupcake. For all that, however, they're delicious and I'm about to wander off, make a cup of tea, and eat one while I watch Bones and think about that second sock.

Presto! I have a laptop again!

2010-11-22T17:49:00.003+11:00

Today has not been productive. At least, not as productive as I'd have liked.

However, it has ended well. My package from ThinkGeek arrived super fast, bringing with it a very neat iPad case with keyboard. Seriously, this is brilliant. I love my iPad, but the other night, I realised I did miss having a laptop to work on in bed (because the best writing does get done in bed). I don't mind the onscreen keyboard, but it's not really useful when you're writing more than an email. ThinkGeek came to the rescue. This case allows you to slant the iPad perfectly and the keyboard is synched and has iPad specific keys. The whole acts like a laptop AND iPad, but is still lighter than the MacBook Air! How amazing is that?

I also tossed a Crayon pen on my order, because, seriously, I love a pen that looks like a crayon! I had hoped for a yellow one, but they only had red and black.

In the photo, you can also see that I finished one Mystery Sock. And that I've added to my collection of vintage needlework magazines. This is a 1918 French magazine and I was sold on the cover featuring the spinner, but also on the fact that the magazine includes the original transfers of the embroidery designs.

Okay, now I'm going to reheat my pumpkin lasagna (one of my new favourites - this is the second time I've made it and it's delicious - I just add a little nutmeg and only put the 'fake cheese' on top) and convince myself that I can revise this article.

Big Bang Theory Tangerine Chicken

2010-11-17T18:17:00.003+11:00

It's a working supper. I've dubbed it 'Big Bang Theory Tangerine Chicken'. I saw 'The Tangerine Factor' the other night and have been obsessed with Sheldon's dinner choice ever since! Fittingly, this is not really tangerine chicken. If you're not familiar with the episode, Sheldon is convinced the restaurant is using oranges, not tangerines, so, since tangerines aren't in season and it's apt... this is really orange chicken.

I've never posted a recipe before, but I want to remember how I put this together, so here goes! Just keep in mind, I riffed off a few online, orange chicken recipes that I found (like here and here) and I've never been very good with precise measurements (you'll notice that!). I can't guarantee results, but you'll get the idea at least.

4 chicken thighs
Corn flour for dusting
Sesame oil
Sunflower oil

1 teaspoon orange rind finely grated
Juice of one orange
Splash of soy sauce
Splash of rice wine vinegar
Finely grated fresh ginger - about 1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon chili paste
1/2 teaspoon raw sugar

1 carrot, sliced
1 stick of celery, sliced
1 spring onion, sliced
1/2 cup of peas
Handful of chopped raw cashews (oops, forgot to add them on the original post!)

It's pretty self-evident and I'd encourage tasting as you go along to be sure the flavours work. You cut up the chicken thighs and dust them in the corn flour before pan frying them in the mix of sesame and sunflower oils. Meanwhile, mix together the sauce ingredients. When the chicken is browned, add the vegetables. Once everything's cooked, add the sauce. Serve with jasmine rice.

It's delicious! I'm having a little cold, pink grapefruit sago pudding with cream later for dessert. I don't often order take-out, particularly since going gluten free, but I love recreating take-out food. I do a killer sweet and sour pork (add a little vinegar to sweet chili sauce and it's so much nicer than the bought sauce). I think it's my grandmother's side coming out in me. She'd always leave a restaurant, go home and attempt to recreate the dishes, adding her own individual spin. She also never ever measured anything or followed a recipe properly. Like grandmother, like granddaughter.

Incidentally, I just got my copy of Cooking for Geeks and it's brilliant! Naturally, it encourages experimentation too.

In the meantime, Wee Davie is enjoying his new haircut. He's much cooler these days. In both senses of the word.

And I couldn't resist casting on my second Charm Wrap now that I finally have the pattern again (I found the CD of the magazine at Tangled Yarns - and on sale!). I'm trying out Bendigo Woollen Mills Silk Supreme in Jade and so far... loving the yarn! The colour is glorious, the stitch definition is brilliant, and I like the touch.

The other day, though, I woke up with this vision of a hooded cardigan in bright yellow with white clouds and big buttons. I think I've found a pattern option to make it happen and Silk Supreme comes in a gorgeous lemon.

Does anyone else wake up with visions of knitwear?

That's What Friends Are For

2010-11-09T16:02:00.002+11:00

Best Knitting Friends Forever - BKFFs - are those who, when they get their latest Sole Mates package, take one look at it and declare that it's meant for you. And they give it to you. And it is meant for you. You love it.

Thank you.

Oh, and that little stitching project? All done! I used the Mochimochi pattern, 'Forest Friends.' Once I have a little more time, I'll divvy up the images and patchwork them into a bag, I think. That's the current plan. It may change.

Sunny Day

2010-11-06T11:01:00.004+11:00

The hens are out sun bathing.

The puppy is entertained.

I love my latest vintage find. Butterflies and bullets. Genius.

And what's this? I'm doing something other than knitting?

Actually, I do a lot of other things than knitting. Most of us do. Lately I've been grading a lot of papers (and resisting the urge to smear them with peanut butter in order to tempt certain wee ones into unspeakable acts of vandalism). I've been rewriting CFPs and taking in grant applications and writing references and all sorts of fiddly stuff that shouldn't take a lot of time, but inevitably does. I've been gathering books together on filking. For research that I keep telling myself I can really get into next week. I've been finishing off books I've been meaning to finish off for ages. Like Byatt's The Children's Book. Her editor should have been meaner. I've been trying to shake this 'flu, which has so far been resoundingly unsuccessful. I've made lemon sago puddings and basil and cheese scones and sweet potato muffins to convince myself to feel better. And I've been doing some other stuff that I can't really talk about.

So it's nice to stop and look at the sunny day and think, 'I should grab Wee Davie's lead and go for a walk and afterwards, maybe I'll pick another handful of broad beans for dinner and check on the progress of the first mulberry crop.'

I love mulberries. They remind me of the tree we had in the back yard when I was growing up. Mum remembers trying to get the mulberry stains off the floor.

Now, about that lead...

Well, first maybe I'll change out of my pyjamas...

Something Silky

2010-11-01T10:52:00.003+11:00

Lemsip: check
Warm sweater: check
Puppy walked: check

Now I just need tea and sympathy! Why do I always catch the flu when I'm marking papers?

Still, I nipped out to smell the roses, so to speak, and snap a quick couple of shots of my finished scarf. I'm rather proud that I knocked over one of my Knitabulous-startis projects so quickly! On the other hand, the Summer Shimmer Scarf (The Purl Bee) is an awfully quick knit and in Knitabulous' Fifty-Fifty ("Persimmon") comes out fabulously light and silky. I did add an extra 10 stitches for further width, but otherwise, here she is:

While taking these shots, there was an energetic puppy at my feet, begging me to kick his ball.

Don't worry, as soon as I stashed the camera in my pocket and wrapped the scarf back around my neck, I kicked a few balls for him. He's looking terribly shaggy. I'm just about to look into his first hair cut. It's very difficult to tell he's a scottie right now...

Snails and Puppydog Tails

2010-10-17T16:36:00.003+11:00

To balance the Knitabulous Startitis, here's some Spacefrog FO-is. That doesn't quite work, does it? Nonetheless, my "Yellow Crayon" socks in "Primary Colours" Spacefrog colourway are all done. Just your usual vanilla socks with the star toe. I'm really enjoying the star toe - that little swirl to finish off the sock really makes my day.

The name is a Buffy reference: "First day of kindergarten you cried 'cause you broke the yellow crayon and you were too afraid to tell anyone. You've come pretty far, ending the world... not a terrific notion. But the thing is, yeah. I love you. I loved crayon-breaking Willow and I love scary, veiny Willy. So if I'm going out, it's here. You wanna kill the world, you start with me."

I always thought Xander had some of the most amazing speeches in Buffy. I also loved his speech to Dawn: "They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie, to be the one who isn't chosen. To live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night. I see you working here today. You're not special. You're extraordinary."

In the meantime, my extraordinary puppy has developed a passion for crunching snails. Yes, you're right. "Ewwwww." At night, he comes bouncing inside, tail wagging, jaw crunching. I haven't a clue how to put a halt to the snail homicides occurring in my garden.

Knitabulous-startitis

2010-10-08T10:41:00.004+11:00

I came down with a serious case of Knitabulous-startitis last week.

It all began when I found these cute Chainmaille earrings from Unkamengifts on the same day I spotted "Persimmon" in Knitabulous' Fifty-Fifty. These were made for each other, don't you think?

And I'd been long wanting to knit up a bright and breezy Summer Shimmer Scarf (The Purl Bee).

Plus, the yarn was a perfect to inaugurate the use of my new project bag from Good To Be Girl. The knitting witch just reminded me so much of Nanny Ogg.

But that started something.

I then cast on Melanie Gibbons' 'Chick Flick' socks from The Joy of Sox, one of my very favourite sock books. I just love looking at this book. It makes me love socks all over again. I cast on in Knitabulous Softsock in 'Sari Pink'. Girlie socks, definitely.

Then I remembered... Through the Loops does a mystery sock in October and last year I didn't get to do it because work was a nightmare. Work is still a nightmare at this time of year, but, one, I loved last year's sock so felt bitter disappointment, and two, work is always going to be a nightmare at this time of year. So, I'm sure the following image doesn't really give a thing away - other than the sock being top down - here is the mystery sock being started in Knitabulous's Merino Sock in 'Purple Palace'.

And before you think it, the last two were stash busting efforts! I felt quite proud of myself at that point... until I noticed the number of WIPs I suddenly have.

Oh well. Last night I was trying to get some writing done. Hellboy was on TV. I sat and stared at my computer screen. Then I got up and made pumpkin pie cupcakes with maple frosting.

Oh my. They are awesome.

They are so awesome that after a late breakfast, I had an early morning tea.

There's just one catch. I invented the recipe with one eye on Hellboy saving kittens and one hand grabbing whatever spices etc I thought would make the cupcakes interesting.

I might try to recreate it today. Because, seriously, if I do say so myself (and I do), these cupcakes are mouth-meltingly good.

The Perfect Saturday Afternoon

2010-10-03T11:35:00.004+11:00

It was one of those perfect, sunny, Saturday afternoons. Mum was flying home in the evening, so we celebrated her upcoming birthday a bit early.

With cupcakes.

I tried out the Cherry Bomb Cupcakes from Cupcake Bakeshop. We nipped off to the supermarket for the ingredients and then the baking began. My BKFF tried these just a day or two ago and assured me they are 'the most awesome cupcakes ever'. I'd initially been intrigued since, yes, they're gluten free! Plus, chocolate and chilli, one of my all time favourite flavour combinations. You just can't get better.

After the initial bit of baking, I popped in the cherries and they were already looking scrumptious.

They have a meringue frosting. BKFF hadn't tried the meringue frosting, so I take this opportunity to assure BKFF that it is worth the bother. Since I was on a roll, I adjusted the colour of the frosting a little bit...

A pink and brown cupcake simply tastes better!

Mum's verdict? Best birthday cupcake in the world. This is something. Mum doesn't like meringue. Mum asked what the light, fluffy frosting was. "Meringue." "No." "Yes." "No." "Yes." "But it's not sweet and icky." "No."

Afterwards, we sat on the back steps with cups of coffee, occasionally getting up to play ball with Wee Davie. Mum had earlier devised a clever new aspect of the hen - yes, we acknowledge this - mansion. She put up a little fence and we can use the coop door as the gate to the new coop extension, as well as to the mansion itself. So now the hens can pop in and out and scratch in their old haunts without fear of Wee Davie invading (although he has been testing out the structural soundness of the mansion and fence with his ball).

Only, as I was photographing the cleverness of the multi-purpose door, Wee Davie thought there was something lacking in the photo...

Him.

Life is better with a big pink ball

2010-09-30T15:16:00.003+10:00

Last night Wee Davie had a bright pink ball to play with. This was the best present EVER. I mean, 'in the history of the world' ever. And I thought, as I stood at the door watching him running and jumping and panting and running and jumping all over again with his ball...

Oh, if it only took a big pink ball to make me feel that happy. How good would life be, then?

Mind, it's not exactly bad. I finished 'A Country Walk with Mr Beaumaris' (aka Arabella by Beautia Dew) in Cascade 220 and this is the best fitting sweater EVER. Perhaps not quite 'in the history of the world' ever, but close enough! Apart from the extra inch I should have knitted at the bottom. I already added an extra inch, but as my very clever mother reminded me, I seem to have been blessed with a long torso and she has to add two inches to every dress she makes me, which drives her slightly insane.

I think the colour and the design simply compliment each other. The neckline is perfect too, which is unusual with me. I also have narrow shoulders. Aunts who once made my one and only off the shoulder dress cursed me for weeks.

The success of this sweater made me very conscious of knitting sweaters that fit and flatter. At which point, I pulled on my very favourite knitted cardigan and looked sadly at the matted yarn and general wear on the lace. This is the cardigan that has always fitted well. That feels good. That looks good... or at least did till the yarn gave up the ghost, so to speak. Problem was... I'd lost the pattern and this was before I knew about Ravelry. I thought all I had was this photo to memorialise the best cardigan pattern EVER.

But then, as I was looking through my photos, I unearthed a photo of the cardigan in progress and there, underneath the knitting, was the pattern. I zoomed in excitedly. It was the Charm Wrap by Mary Jane Mucklestone. I Ravelled it. It was indeed a free Knitting Daily pattern once... several years ago. It's no longer available online. Now I just have to figure out how to find a copy. Is it really bad form to ask one of the people who have knitted it if they still have a copy? It is from a magazine, but it was offered free and that's how I found it, until I lost the file during various laptop upgrades. Hmmmm...

In the meantime, the hens have new digs! Mum and I put this up in an afternoon without the aid of the incredibly helpful instructions (I'm being ironic about the helpfulness of the instructions - there was a diagram of what the house should look like with a lot of arrows and letters that were all scrambled up), but with a surfeit of screws, all in the wrong sizes. Nonetheless, and despite a nesting box lid that doesn't quite fit yet, it's up and it looks good. The hens can now watch Wee Davie going rather nutty over his pink ball from the comfort and security of their new coop.

Tea and Mice

2010-09-26T13:26:00.004+10:00

Want some tea? While I wish I could claim this was one of my own FOs, in fact, it's one of Mum's... but I swear the tea does taste better now the pot is so cosy! It's a fantastic little pattern by Debi Berkin.

Oh, and the little cups come from Mie Kongo Studio.

Where did all the yarn in New Zealand go?

2010-09-18T16:18:00.003+10:00

Oops.

It's not counted as stash, though, if Needle Food is closing, is it? Yes, I know I only recently had a splurge there (evidence here), but, keeping in mind some of it is for my partner in crime and mother... Needle Food's closing. Which is unbelievably sad for us, though we all wish Michelle well on new adventures. And the yarn has a story to tell. It survived the great Christchurch earthquake!

That does sound a little glib, but our concern has been heartfelt for those hurt and rebuilding... and those just getting through the aftershocks and tremors. I experienced my first earthquake in Melbourne. I thought someone was rolling wheelie bins down the drive way. It doesn't quite have the same impact. I'm grateful for that.

Oh, and yes, you might spot a little Vintage Purl there. The dark one was called Clansman and I was just ordering my copy of I Shall Wear Midnight, so it seemed apt. I love Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series. I want my own wee free men! (Although, arguably, I've just taken my own wee free man for a walk and he's now curled up for a pre-dinner nap.)

Incidentally, I couldn't resist this project bag on the same principle.

Now, if I could just get my kitchen sink to look like this and have another article revised and sent off this weekend, I'd be a very happy girl. In the meantime, I'd better go and scare the parrots away from the hens.

My Pretty Cunnin' Puppy

2010-09-16T20:49:00.002+10:00

We are big enough now to jump up on the sofa. Now, no knitting is safe! So I took a bit of revenge, Firefly style.

I put him in a Jayne hat, whipping up Heather Hill's Sweet Baby Jayne pattern in three shades of Cascade 220. Oddly, there are quite a number of cats sporting such cunnin' hats and some people even put them on babies, but few on dogs. Perhaps the canines all felt a bit like Wee Davie about the whole thing. As you can see... he doesn't really feel the need for a cunnin' hat. And he's more of a Star Wars fan anyway. Seriously. Whenever I play with my lightsaber app, he comes running to sit at my feet. He's fascinated by the swishing noise and the burst of theme music. I've promised him that I'll play him the films. We might make a weekend of it.

Nonetheless, it is a pretty cunnin' hat.

It was a fun diversion while knitting away at sleeves.

Puppies and Knitting

2010-09-13T16:11:00.002+10:00

Isn't this little bag of nice smelling 'stuff' for dogs cute? I picked it up from rocstar on Made It. I'm trying to cut down on the chemicals in Wee Davie's system, so we're trying a few of the more natural flea prevention options. He just had a little spritz and seems pretty happy with the result. I'm very happy. He's one great smelling dog now! You can also see in the bottom of the picture a quick preview of the front of my "Country Walk with Mr Beaumaris" sweater. I'm currently strolling through sleeveland, but I love the way the smocking has turned out on the front. The Cascade 220 is really working with the rustic feel of the pattern and the yellow becomes beautifully golden in sunlight.

Speaking of yarn...

Why does Wee Davie look so shame-faced here? Actually, not because of what he did last night, though he ought to have looked embarrassed and guilty. I was knitting a sleeve and spotted from the corner of my eye, Wee Davie reach up to the sofa. I didn't mind him. I'd organised everything so it was all out of reach... I thought.

Except, I hadn't. Because I then spotted a blue thread disappearing through the back door. After being wound several times around the apple tree (Wee Davie's form of a maypole dance, I believe), this is what I 'rescued'. Ah well. At least I'd finished the project I was using the yarn for...

One of the most amazing things about having a dog and trotting through the streets with him is how many people start to talk to you... and stop to introduce their dogs to your dog. I did not realise the extent of the secret community of 'dog people'. They're everywhere! And they smile and coo and it's lovely.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of adding another couple of chickens to my household. I need a good laying pair, but I'd also like some pretty chickens. Any suggestions?

Raxacoricofallapatorius!

2010-09-09T16:13:00.002+10:00

I have so nailed that pronunciation! I gave a paper earlier this week at a certain convention. It was a paper on Doctor Who and Raxacoricofallapatorius fell perfectly from my lips, garnering much applause! I'm shameless.

I may have given the paper as an excuse to wear bright red shoes, but that's another story.

In light of that achievement and in light of the fact that I have spent the past week coughing like a cranky duck, I spent a little time today finishing off a fun project.

It's Penwiper's Exfoliate! Knitted Dalek Wash Cloth in Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton. It's a terrific, quick knit. I think I'll need more little daleks to fight dirt around the house.

Particularly since the arrival of this one:

See that puppy? I have learned something. Having a puppy means never wearing two slippers at the same time.

Egg!

2010-09-01T17:16:00.002+10:00

I wondered what all that noise was from the hens this afternoon...

Fifi is back in the egg-production business! You can see the proud, first egg for the year (yes, the year... my hens are against exploitation) resting on my newly knitted dish cloth. I was inspired by 1funkyknitwit, remembering I had some orange Peaches and Cream cotton left.

Wee Davie has just been in the coop. He's starting to get along with the hens. As in, he chases after them and they try to shake him off. So far, though, they're pretty happy together, so this might work.

And I'm off to World Con tomorrow! Tonight, I'm planning to rest a sore throat (nearly lost my voice in class) and watch Eureka while getting up to mischief in respect to another dish cloth...

Kissing Dragons and Other Stuff

2010-08-28T10:37:00.002+10:00

There are days when you feel life is actually pretty good. You just saw Joss Whedon give a keynote the night before...

That kind of thing.

There were Jayne Hats in the audience! That always warms a heart. I need to make a Jayne Hat. Do you think Wee Davie would wear one? He'd look pretty cunnin'.

And Joss Whedon was funny and friendly and everyone enjoyed being there to listen to him.

There is also knitting. I've almost finished the back of my 'Country Walk with Mr Beaumaris' sweater. It's Arabella by Beautia Dew in Cascade and I'm enjoying the rusticity of it. Plus I named it after one of my favourite Georgette Heyer novels, fittingly, Arabella (my absolute favourite is These Old Shades).

In between, Wee Davie has been spoilt with new chew toys. It's difficult leaving him to go to work and for some reason, he just doesn't understand that I have to go to work so I can afford his chew toys. He was gifted a dragon. He loves the dragon...

Ah... a lot...

A real lot...

Ummm... this is getting embarrassing and weird.

So, ah, quickly changing the topic, I've also started a stash of Vintage Purls lace - Ione, Lady of the Night and H2 Oh! And oh indeed. It's really soft and squishy! Now I just have to match shawl patterns...

Maybe while I walk Wee Davie.

The Cows Have Gone and Put Their Coats On

2010-08-15T11:47:00.003+10:00

You know I'd begun to think my latest sweater project was jinxed. First the burn mark, then sewing the pieces together in all the wrong places. But it's done! I took out the needle and scissors, put all to rights, knitted on the neck band and...

Oh, that's ugly, I thought. Big, bulky, and ugly.

Huh.

Oh well, I might as well try it on, right?

Oh!

It's good. It feels like you're getting a hug from a big old sheep. The ribbing really brings it in around the hips and wrists so that the bulkiness elsewhere actually looks attractive. The wide neckline makes it perfect and slouchy to wear with your pyjama pants on a cold, wet day like today. Yes, I like it! It's my 'at home sweater'. My 'I need a comfy sweater' sweater. Intentions panned out! I like my sweater.

Details? It's named "Cows Have All Gone Running Home To Put Their Coats On" after one of my favourite Marmalade songs (got to love a band called The Marmalade). It's Edie from Kim Hargreaves' Precious. All knitted up in BWM's Luxury 10ply, Blue Denim. I'm not saying it wasn't a chore sometimes knitting all this up, but it's comfy!!!

Our little household is, meanwhile, still in mourning for Mimi. Yes, I have laughed at the strangeness of grieving for a chicken, but she was a grand hen and everyday, you'd see her about, pecking and scratching and generally throwing her weight around. Well, at least, until the last few months, when she'd been quiet, tired and, I think, in pain generally. She's buried now in her favourite spot under the plum tree. Coco, her best buddy, is still getting used to not having her about and sleeping arrangements have altered to the despair of Lola and Fifi, now sharing their hen house because I don't want Coco to be alone.

While sorting all that out, Wee Davie has been up to all sorts of new tricks.

He's off to the vet tomorrow - shhhhhhh. Just a check up and such. He's so funny. He has developed this wonderful snuffling noise as he wags his tail and tries to eat my slippers. I think I might nickname him Snuffles, which would only be appropriate... his grandsire, believe it or not, was called 'Grim'. Yes, grandson of the Grim! Harry Potter geekery kicks right in.

Anyway, I have some secret work to catch up on...

We Love You Mimi

2010-08-12T13:39:00.002+10:00

Sniff. Yes, it's one of those blog posts. We lost Mimi last night. She'd been sick for months and nothing seemed to work to perk her up. She slept a great deal, didn't run and greedily gobble up any food she could find and was never really herself. Today I thought it odd she hadn't popped out with the other hens to have some sunflower seeds, and that Coco had hurriedly gone to join the little hens, and then I checked their house, suspecting...

She looked peaceful.

Poor Mimi. She will be missed.

Jinx

2010-08-10T15:51:00.004+10:00

First the burn, then last night...

I was watching Kingdom and sewing up the sweater (ah, yes, I'm being a terrible non-perfectionist and not worrying about the burn mark - it's on the back, my hair will cover it, and I planned to wear the sweater at home anyway - plus, I really think it's fading... honest...). I felt very good. Ready to knit the neckband, in fact.

Ummm...

Then I noticed two sleeves are sewn together. The back and front are sewn together, too. What kind of mutant form can possibly wear my sweater with it like that?? I felt like I'd just produced one of those joke sweaters in sitcoms with the four arms and no neck.

I mean, you look at it - you can see how easy it would be to mix up the pieces. The sleeves are really really wide.

This was Wee Davie's opinion.

We're about to go for another walk. I'll deal with the sweater later tonight.

The Burnt Bits

2010-08-09T09:09:00.003+10:00

Yes, when one of these fluffy little creatures comes into your life, you expect things to change. You expect some destruction.

I'd just cast off the final piece of my Edie sweater and was feeling very pleased. I noted that Wee Davie was happily napping in his bed and thought... oh, I can nip off for two seconds to press these pieces without shutting the door to the dining room. I set up the iron, was just starting to press the back, when I turned and there was Wee Davie, making a beeline for the basket of freshly laundered clothes at my feet. I raced to wrangle him, sorted him in mere seconds, and then turned back to the ironing board...

Yes, I'd left the iron ON the piece of knitting.

I never do that.

I did that.

There was a brown mark.

Perhaps it's gunge? I thought hopefully. That's it, my perfectly clean iron just had a fit of brown gunge. Because, you know, that's better than the alternative. I'll wash it. It'll be fine.

Yes, I was kidding myself.

Even now, I look at it in certain lights and, really, I can't hardly see the brown burn.

Of course, if I take a photo...

You can see the burn, can't you?

But rather than cry or throw a tantrum, I laughed as Wee Davie set about attacking his squeaky cow and picked up my Tilting Tenths and finished the second one off. So, here they are! A mash-up of the Tilting TARDIS Cowl and Black Rose, although the latter was not specifically consulted - I just remembered what it looked like, in Black Trillium Tenth Doctor. And if you can't tell they're Doctor Who inspired, I despair of you.

Knit, knit, knit

2010-08-01T18:56:00.003+10:00

Wee Davie: Hmmm... I think I could do this blogging thing.
Me: Really? How's your spelling?
Wee Davie: What's that? Blogging involves chewing, right?

It's a wet Sunday night and I have a puppy napping on my lap. If my knitting were in reach, this would be perfect!

There's not a great deal of knitting action happening, although my BKFF and I were happily sock knitting on the train when we went to see Stephen Fry yesterday. We had seats in the centre, second row! And Stephen Fry was brilliant. He's one of the best storytellers. Of course, we did sit there beforehand checking Twitter for updates! And we checked later. He went well over the scheduled time, as we discovered. We didn't notice, we didn't care. He left me with an urge to break out my Waugh, Wilde and Wodehouse again. Although I actually have to read Through the Looking Glass for class on Wednesday.

But for now, I have to order yet another ball of yarn for my sweater... half a sleeve to go and I've plum run out. Wonder if there's anything from the Twist Collective I could also buy yarn for...

All you need is the Force

2010-07-29T18:52:00.004+10:00

My Knit It Up cinema sock club for Star Wars arrived - spoilers ahead!

But first... my life now.

I'm still in sleeveland, so to speak, but this is the final sleeve and in between puppy business and work, I am getting the odd row done. Tonight's Big Bang Theory marathon may help out! Wee Davie is growing every day and finding new tricks to play - like splashing all the water out of his bowl and leaving damp little pawprints through the house. This is him in quiet repose after having just pushed a box - 1m x .5m - around the floor, which was really very funny. He then leapt upon it and attacked it thoroughly. It duly submitted.

Well, you don't mess with Wee Davie.

So, now, sock club goodies. First off - how can you not love this bag?

And Yoda for the yarn!! A scarf of Jedi wisdom I'm thinking. Yeeees.

Puppy Meets Knitting

2010-07-25T11:26:00.004+10:00

At the moment I'm typing with one hand - the other is serving as a puppy pillow. But we're settling in well and I even managed a little more on the final sleeve of Edie. Wee Davie is a bit wary of the knitting, as you can see. I have a feeling this sweater is going to be a bit big, but that's okay - it's meant to be generous.

What Will Happen To The Yarn Now?

2010-07-23T20:21:00.003+10:00

Meet Wee Davie, a 3 month old Scottish Terrier with a very wet nose who arrived in his new home today. He likes to fight fearsome cabbage leaves and watch dishes being washed. We still have to talk about the knitting!

Weekend socks

2010-07-11T15:47:00.004+10:00

Well, I didn't say they were matching socks! I finished one 'The Yellow Crayon' sock, in Spacefrog's 'Primary Colours' - just a vanilla sock, but with an added star toe. I also finished one 'Tilting Tenth' sock in Black Trillium's 'Tenth Doctor' - this was a sock design a certain Middle Earth adventurer and I came up with on the bus. The pattern is a mash up of the Tilting TARDIS cowl with Blackrose, although I didn't actually read the Blackrose pattern - I just had an idea of how it looked and used that as the basis. The sock finishes in a star toe, which is apt, because, yes, there's a definite theme to the sock! It's Doctor Who all the way.

Last weekend I finished a couple of spontaneous little gift concoctions using Hoot! and some left over orange BWM Luxury. If I do say so myself, they're awfully cute and the addition of a bit of twig from the plum tree really sets them off!

And today I did my best impersonation of the crazy chicken lady next door. The boys were playing football and, of course, one of the balls went over the fence, startling the hens. One of the boys came to ask for the ball back and got the stern, but kind 'don't do it again - you're upsetting the hens' lecture. Which as soon as I shut the door, sent me into giggles. Yes, definitely the crazy chicken lady! But the boys have been good about not kicking the ball so hard, so the hens have been having a lovely afternoon during which the sky has not fallen down.

Speaking of which, I'm off to weed the vegetable patch. I've just ordered some soy bean seeds, which thanks to wagamama in Christchurch, I've learned are delicious with just a sprinkle of sea salt.

And Coco has now popped up to the back door to ask when I'm going to come out and weed so she can help with the digging. I'm off!

The Ram They Call Jayne... oh, and yarn

2010-07-07T10:30:00.004+10:00

I believe someone mentioned the Ram They Call Jayne? Jayne heard about this and wanted in on the blogging. He stowed aboard while we were knitting our way to Queenstown by bus - we hopped off for a five minute coffee stop and when I got back on the bus, there he was, already checking out my scarf-in-progress. Personally, I think he needs a nice bright hat with a pom pom on top (this will all make sense if you've seen Firefly... if not, I'm currently babbling incoherently), but in the meantime, he's been hanging out with yarn skeins from New Zealand.

I couldn't go on adventures without collecting up yarn. Right? I bought some Touch at the Arts Centre, Christchurch, first. Look at that spritz of yellow in the top skein!

In Dunedin, I picked up this great pink and black from Knitsch.

Then, while we were riding our horses through Lothlorien and getting our toes wet in the river by Rivendell, I managed to win a free skein of yarn from Needle Food! I very excitedly emailed Michelle to say that we were just about to be back in Christchurch, so Michelle was really sweet and invited us over to pillage her yarn supply (did I say pillage?) and choose my skein. Do you know how much fun it is to meet one of your very favourite dyers?

I picked a skein of "Chocolate Fish." I'm absolutely not responsible for those other four skeins. Believe me, it took real effort to reduce my little pile of pillaged yarn back down to four. And Michelle is a terrible enabler! Really! Which is a good thing... I mean, look at these colours!

And if you have been here, you know Michelle had some very special yarn. Oddly enough, I'd won my skein ordering 'Dining in Denim' for my TARDIS inspired scarf and happened to have it with me (next post, there will be some 'knitting in action' action). We walked through the door... and Doctor Who was on Michelle's TV! Then she brandished a couple of skeins of a certain new blue that... well... wow. I resisted. I resisted. I resisted through two countries and several emails telling Michelle about how I was resisting. Then I stopped resisting... which made Michelle laugh, because she knew resistance was futile. It's TARDIS Blue. Seriously.

To Middle Earth and Back

2010-07-03T11:45:00.006+10:00

Yes, the previous post was a teaser composed in a delusional, jetlagged state and filled with little in-jokes...

Like ninja sheep...

You didn't know the Remarkables were really ninja sheep, did you? (And Margaritas weren't even involved at that point.)

But, in fact, I did sneak off to Middle Earth last month. And I had company. I wonder how many people have rumbled what company I had? Needle Food did... Anyway, we wanted to ride horses in Middle Earth. And we did. (Later note: we went with Dart Stables, who were fantastic.)

There, in fact, is Sam, one of the Lord of the Rings horses. I'm on the horse whose ear you can just see. He's called Bryan and he likes to sit in twiggy bushes relieving certain itches.

Seriously.

It's very comical.

If you aren't sitting on top of him in the middle of a bush.

A couple of days before, I was riding the most gigantic horse in existence through Lothlórien. Okay, maybe not the most gigantic horse, but he had once ridden with the barbarians in Hercules and I have it on good authority that it was highly hilarious watching me trying to mount.

What did we do other than ride? We ate pizza and Mexican food, we walked a lot, we knitted (I knitted a lot of TARDISes, but more on that next post), we went on the Trans-Alpine train, a gondola in Queenstown, to visit albatrosses in Dunedin, and we discovered that playing David Bowie songs to a muted Star Trek film on TV is really, really brilliant. And something about Cotechino sandwiches that should probably stay between us.

But look at these views! It snowed in Queenstown when we were there!!!

And on our way to Rivendell...

And I learned that I love taking photographs of ducks. I have a camera half filled with duck photos.

Terror - and zen-like calm

2010-07-01T11:01:00.001+10:00

Snowy ninja sheep
Originally uploaded by gidgetknits

I've been on an adventure.

Doctor Hoots

2010-06-18T11:42:00.005+10:00

All done! One pair of Doctor Hoots mittens (Owlie Owl Mittens) in Needle Food's 'Fire in the Kitchen!' and Spud & Chloe cream. To be totally honest, the red did run slightly on the second mitten - I left it to soak just a bit too long. Oops. But it's not bad and let's face it, you mix cream and red, you have to be prepared for the odd run. The mittens are too big, really, for me, but I love the expression on the owls and most mittens fall off my hands in any case, so I don't mind. And in case you were wondering, the name was inspired by this piece of fantastic art.

Speaking of Doctor Who (you'd know that if you clicked the link), I was winding up some Needle Food 'Dining in Denim' ready for a Tilting TARDIS project, when it stuck me how gorgeous it looked next to the Malabrigo Sauterne. It reminds me of the colours in the Van Gogh episode of Doctor Who, which is gorgeous on many levels. I now have an obsession with The Starry Night all over again. I had my impressionist phase in my late teens. I'd spend hours at the art gallery, chatting to the security guards and haunting the cafe. I love the cafes at art galleries - there are some brilliant cafes at the Louvre, though I don't recommend the loos... which are hidden in some very odd places in the panelling. Alain de Botton starts The Consolations of Philosophy talking about looking for chocolate milk in a museum cafe, which made me feel a little less odd about my love of cafes in art galleries and museums.

I'm still in the spirit of overhauling old overcoats, too. This is a wool and cashmere duffel coat that has been all over Europe. It's cosy, but the toggles were all loose, the shoulder pads (which I'd always hated) were askew, and it needed TLC. I took out the needle and thread, got rid of the shoulder pads, mended toggles, and added some knitted bows to the pockets. Yes, I'm on a knitted bow kick. But they're just so darned cute!

HD Knitting

2010-06-13T14:01:00.005+10:00

Does Legolas the elf braid his own hair? I'm not convinced. It's tricky. I've been trying out what is, in effect, a herringbone braid, but it takes nimble fingerwork to achieve on your own hair. Here's an early attempt.

Towards the bottom there, you're starting to see the actual effect as it should look. I'll just keep practising.

But as I was braiding, I was thinking about how this little everyday activity feels so much like what I do in my knitting. I'm searching for pattern definition, whether in a braid or in my stitches.

So it made me think about HD knitting: high definition knitting. I've got a couple of projects on the go that are all about finding the pleasure in HD.

There's my Doctor Hoots (nearly there!). The palm pattern pops in the alternating cream and red in a way that I didn't really expect as I first started out. (And you can see one of my stitch holders from the Needle Foodies sock club being put to good use there.) I won't even mention how the owl eyes pop - although, I've just found an error in my second Hoots that I'm biting my lip over at the moment. Can I get away with the quick fix of a duplicate stitch or should I tink back? We'll see.

And then, because, yes, I have given into my craving for scarf satisfaction, I began a scarf in Woolen Mill St Yarns's Aragorn, using My So-Called Scarf. I'm not entirely sure how long I'll manage to make this scarf...

Still, the stitch is amazing with variegated yarn. This is my true ideal of HD knitting. It's got texture, form, and each shade of the yarn pops. True HD knitting. I'm sold.

Walkin' in the Rain

2010-06-11T14:46:00.003+10:00

This is what happens to your jaffa and coffee macaroons when you get a bit too enthusiastic about walking home in the rain. They're just a little squished, though, and they'll still go really well with a cup of choc mint rooibus from T2.

At the moment, I'm still looking at how pretty they are.

I did nearly get caught by a cyclist as I was walking along, under my bright pink umbrella, singing far too loudly. Yes, I'm afraid I am one of those people. I was singing along to She & Him on the iPod, not so much hitting the notes as making a really good attempt to find them through experimentation. But it was very wet and there was no one else on the street... I thought.

So now I'm quietly drying off and thinking about what knitting I should take on my next adventure. I have yarn now for a Tilting TARDISes project, but I am still musing over the other selections. I've realised I have a scarf craving. This is not a craving suggested by all the scarves I already own. On the bright side, if I'm ever locked in a tower, I should have enough scarves to make an escape rope.

There's Always An Errant Knit Stitch

2010-06-06T12:28:00.002+10:00

It's hard to see, right? But it's there. Deep in the rib. A mischievous knit stitch that is in totally the wrong place.

And you know what? I'm not going to rip or tink or frog back to it. I'm going to leave it there. It thinks it's funny... well, it can just stay!

I probably leave perfectionists in a state of horror, but I like the little hand knitted quirks. I've learned to embrace the imperfection and love the imperfection. That and my knitting mojo has been off of late.

But right now, I'm off to the supermarket to buy more treats for sad little chickens. Incidentally, has anyone else noticed that there has been a remarkable amount of chicken action in Doctor Who of late? Huh... maybe it's just me...

A Splash of Pink

2010-06-02T11:18:00.002+10:00

There's a dearth of really, really, honest pink yarn out there. I fulfilled my desire with this little bundle from Little Red Bicycle. So, so soft and... yes, absolutely pink.

Unashamedly.

I did have to really, really want this yarn. There was a conspiracy against my paying for it. But with patience and good humour from the seller, we got there!

Should I Bake Brownies?

2010-05-31T14:14:00.002+10:00

Shhh... I'm not here. I'm writing a presentation I have to give tomorrow. I'm also thinking about whether or not baking brownies right now would be good to do...

I sense a late night coming up.

But, I am feeling kind of space age on the home front. After the Death By Coffee of my beloved MacBook, I'm re-Mac'd. I'm even wireless now. And I have an iPad! I know. I've been reading all those grumbly columns and comments online about how no one really needs an iPad.

Yes they do. At least... I do.

It's small, light, and carries all my music, lets me go online, I can read books and research papers, do some document editing, and learn to play drums from Animal (the Muppet). Yes, I discovered apps. Apps are fun. Although I really stink at playing drums. That's slightly embarrassing.

So the iPad does everything I need to do on the run that I used to lug the MacBook about for. Now, the MacBook wasn't extraordinarily heavy... but it was kind of heavy. And then the power adapter on its own was massive. The iPad has a dinky little adapter. And you feel kind of sci-fi tapping away at your screen.

And on display in the above photo - along with my new TARDIS usb hub (I was on a roll) - my new Toast! Or, as I like to call them, "Dr Rush is Toast". Knitted up in a custom colorway of Dr Rush that I mentioned in this blog earlier. They're great. Easy to wear, roll up, roll down... something so amazing simple that gives such pleasure! And warmth. It's been getting chilly.

Now... to brownie or not to brownie...

Saturday Night

2010-05-23T15:35:00.005+10:00

Cupcakes! I adapted, being gluten and dairy free and all, a recipe I found via Angry Chicken. It's my current favourite recipe. Light, fluffy cupcakes every time with little specks of vanilla through them. All I do is use gluten free SR flour instead of the usual flour and soy milk instead of... well, cow milk. I was busy working on revisions and, having been watching 'Amy's Choice' (Doctor Who - that is my dream house) repeatedly, had a sudden urge to get up from the computer to make cupcakes and fresh pots of tea. I could have decorated the cupcakes, it's true, but it was cold, I was trailing my 'Girly Stig' (my shawl that I was wrapped up in), and the cupcakes were warm and steaming... so I started eating them while typing.

I've also finished one half of my Doctor Hoots mittens (Owlie Mittens) in Needle Food's 'Kitchen's on Fire!' and Spud & Chloe in cream. Isn't that the cutest owl? Still a bit damp from blocking in the photo below and, to be honest, big for my hand... but look at that owl! I'm casting on the second mitten tonight while watching 'Vampires of Venice,' which my hens assure me should be entitled 'Hens of Venice.' If you watch, you will see why.