Educating Mr Wriggly and a squid for Bosco Johnston

It occurred to me the other day that nearly every baby I know is a boy. For example, of the 15 babies at mother's group, only four are girls. Taking this personal observation and broadening it in the most unscientific way I can only conclude that 2008 is year of the boy, and hence Sydney's man drought is being solved even if it will take 20 or so years. This is a heavy burden. Mr Wriggly needs to be sensitive, thoughtful, manly and know which is the business end of a mop. To this end I've been demonstrating the use of many household cleaning implements to him and carefully explaining the link between men, housework and happy marital relations. The washing up scrubber is a favourite which can only bode well for the future.

Mr Wriggly has made some new friends, boys natch. He, Karl Marx and Leo Trotsky-Tolstoy (well what did you expect with all that fight the power saluting going on?) have all been hanging in the local park indulging in pants-free-kicking-time. Exhibit one - a bottomless photo.


In keeping with 2008 being Year of the Boy, Mr Wriggly is awaiting news of the birth of his friend Bosco Johnston. I've been making a present for Bosco, something every boy needs, a giant squid of course. Here are a couple of progress shots. Its touch and go who is going to arrive first - squiddy or Bosco.



Just heard - Bosco has landed! Congrats Simon and Mel!

Edited to add Bosco's Giant Squid.

Stash enhancement

A rainy day, a sleepy baby and new stash enhancements! Heaven!

Hot from the mailman this morning, Sundara Sock Cerulean Seas and


Sundara Sock Deadly Nightshade.


They are joining their other stables mates, Sundara Silk Lace Granite Falls and Sundara Sock Midnight Meadows.





I cant wait to use these babies!

I've been nominated!

Disco Knitter has nominated me for one of these:


She actually did it a while ago, but I have only just (touch wood and any other available lucky object) emerged from a three week round of getting up hourly to every two hours as Lloyd has been having such noisy REM sleep its been waking me up. We are talking sleep screeching here. Yup screeching while sleeping. I cant imagine what sort of dreams the poor boy is having.

So without further ado, here are my nominations:

Knitdevil - what's not to love? Music, cool craft and 'tude. Also her hilarious blog comments and invaluable advice about blocking and the trickiness of gauge. Love ya Madge!

Bells - probably her billionth nomination. I love her honesty, flower photos and prodigious knitting output. And Southern Summer of Socks

Rose Red - also probably her billionth nomination. Shoes, fabulousness and knitting. And also Southern Summer of Socks.

Random Knits - another billionth. Love her friendliness, encouragement, fantastic range of knitting and her bunny.

Kgirlknits - combining The Pixies, The Breeders, Bowie and knitting. And roller derby! Heaven!

Knitting on the Chaise Lounge - cool, arcane and with a picture of Paul Newman looking totally gorgeous.

And finally, a new blog discovery Not Drowning, Mothering. How can you not love a blog that uses such immortal phrases as "but of course, no amount of praline will stop your arse from itching" and reveal the sneaking schadenfreude of your coolest friends announcing the impending arrival of a sprog. Makes me laugh loudly enough to wake Lloyd every time. And in finding those highlights, I've just managed to wake my boy up.

Carmen Miranda

For years my sole associations with Carmen Miranda have been fruit, frills and, for some reason, the dastardly United Fruit Company. Then along came Loani Prior's Wild Tea Cosies, and I knew that I had to make Carmen! During Lloyd's long cold 2am feeds when he was a new born, I mentally sorted through my stash, hoping to be able to create something gorgeous out of ill concieved purchases of novelty yarn. And surely enough, Loani's inspiration lead me to whip up Carmen. Who thought knitting and crocheting fruit could be so much fun!

When bloggers meet, and a master of the art of cuteness

Recently I met with the Disco Knitter. This was my first ever meet up with a knit blogger. Imagine - lunch, adult conversation and knit talk!! Twas heaven! And Inigo provided a great role model for Lloyd by scarfing down beans and broccoli like they were chunks of chocolate. And Ms Disco Knitter has promised to introduce me to a whole new craft experience with a visit to Spotlight at Granville in the near future. Am saving up for the trip.

On the home front, things are well although Mr Wriggly has adopted a rigourous nightime schedule of waking or stirring every two hours. Its a killer, so its lucky he is looking extra cute at the moment. See exhibit one below. At the moment every night is an adventure. Its enough to make me knit fruit. And on that tantilising note, you'll have to wait for news of my next FO.

The biggest FO since 1988

Presenting the biggest FO since 1988! Yes, that was the last time I knitted a cardigan. Now twenty years later, I've managed to complete another. Knitters, I present to you Evie!


Evie was a most instructive garment. I overcame my fear of armholes, pockets and button holes. I learnt to keep a simple pattern. And after I'd sewn her up, I learnt that I should have measured myself before I started knitted! But on the positive front, it was nice to learn that Kim Hargreaves' sizing is generous despite her use of waif-like models. As you can see, Evie is about two sizes too big for me. Luckily though, she is just about the right size for my Mum.... I can sense a Christmas present coming on...


The garment was completed courtesty of: a road trip to Byron Bay (in total about 20 hours of knitting), a road trip to Canberra (about 6 hours of knitting), the final two seasons of Arrested Development, Season Three of Shameless, Season Four oF Entourage and Seasons Three and Four of The Wire. (Yes, I am a teev addict.)

By popular demand...

...and because I have no knit fodder, here is a photo of Mr Wriggly looking only slightly stunned.



And another of my two boys. Awwww.....



BTW 1 - subscribed to Thicket's email list last week and got a lovely package with some sample yarns in it. I hadnt seen Jo Sharp's Silk Georgette in Devon before. It is beautiful. I'm now on the hunt for a worthy project. Anyone have any suggestions?

BTW 2 - I had a live sighting of Sixandahalfstiches beautiful grey Lady February Sweater. I had recently faved it in Ravelry and was so excited to it in real life!