The first of the Christmas presents

I've been furiously knitting away on a number of Christmas gifts, justifying it to the Knit Widower in the name of thriftiness, but secretly to get in as much legit knitting as possible. The KW has tried to institute a new household rule. The only successful one we have ever had is a recent one - whoever finds the dirty nappy changes the dirty nappy. The proposed new rule - 50%. That's right, the KW is demanding that he get exactly the same amount of time spent on him as knitting. Hah! Am currently pioneering cuddling while knitting, which with dpns is a dangerous game.

Anyway, here are a couple of snaps of Christmas gifts hot off the needles. Recipients will only be named when there is no chance they may use the internet.

First up - Aunty Norma's Elm Row in Sundara Silky Fingering Merino Winter Skies. Lovely, lovely, lovely.


Knit concurrently with another Shetland Triangle. I love this pattern. I added an extra repeat, but after blocking it I think I really could have easily added another. Still I wanted the triangle to be small enough for a light summer shawl and then be able to bundled up to use as a scarf in winter. The triangle is another Sundara SFM, this time in crimson.


More Christmas presents to follow....

FOs - despite the weather!

I wondered where Squeak was this morning. Usually she is in residence at the end of the bed, complaining loudly should anyone dare to disturb her. So, where's the supreme ruler of the household to be found when not on her royal bed? Yup - you guessed it.


Its another wet, rattly day here, so the swallows have had to do background duty for the Shetland Triangle. All the coverting of the pattern didnt go to waste, and yes Madge, there are other yarns than Sundara (although am thinking of her for a second one!).



As for the Wriggler, well 'B' day is tomorrow, 5 June. According to Mum we all arrived on time, which for a couple of my siblings is probably their only experience of punctuality. On my fourth loo visit at about 4am this morning I had a numerology moment and thought that the Squeeze was born on the 15 (1+5 = 6) and I'm on the 24 (2+4 = 6), so obviously the baby will be born on 6 June. Regardless, the Wriggler will have to come out soon as theres not really enough room for both of us in this body. Will keep you posted.

Caterpillar to butterfly

When my Mum saw my aunt's Orchid Lace scarf she remarked, rather enviously, that she'd like one too. I though one Orchid Lace grafting fiasco per year was more than enough. I'd been eyeing off the Shetland Triangle for some time, and while the idea of making a triangular lace scarf was a little daunting, this just flew off my needles!

I found some 4 ply sock yarn called Roses from The Knittery in the stash that was just a little too fine a gauge to my liking for socks, yet it was just right for this. When the Triangle came off the needles it reminded of a tiny manta ray, or those shrinked chip wrappers that were so popular in the mid 1980s. Small, perfectly formed, yet so wrong. (Yes - that is my belly poking in on the bottom edge of the photo. Oh, and some snagless stickmarkers that had just arrived from The Wool Shack sitting in the middle.)


Enter blocking! I really like how the slightly variegated colour shows up in the lace, however I should have either gone up a needle size or knitted a more relaxed gauge as blocking has included some bouts of wrestling and cussing.


Its been pouring here the last couple of days. Once the Triangle has dried, and theres a little more light, I'll post the FO.