Another Ishbel...

I finally found the motivation to block Mum's Ishbel.  Her birthday was 3 weeks ago now.  Whoops, sorry Mum!  I'm really happy with this one.  I love this pattern - it can be made in various sizes and looks great as a scarf or shawl.  The yarn was one I purchased from another knitters destash and it was just perfect for this project :) 
I love how shawls look like a crumpled mess straight off the needles:

and then they bloom when blocked:

I'm sure this won't be the last Ishbel I do.  Next on the blocking boards is my Brangian :)

Clutter and 'stuff'...

I often wish I was a tidier person.  I dream of a house where everything has its place and the bench, table tops and other surfaces are clear of clutter and 'stuff'.  Where you can walk into and through a room without tripping over something and sit down on the couch without first having to clear a space.   In this dream house, behind the cupboard doors everything is neat and tidy.  In reality my current cupboards are stuffed to the brim and produce an avalanche of 'stuff' every time the doors are opened. 

My craft cupboard, in particular is a disgrace.  Since the arrival of my gorgeous son, I've had the task of clearing out a whole room of 'stuff' and condensing it in to one cupboards worth.  Not an easy task let me tell you.  Now, don't get me wrong.  My stash, in the main part, is neatly sorted in to ziplock bags.  That these bags can be found in every drawer, shelf and available space around the house is irrelevant.  I have containers to keep my buttons stored in by colour and size.  I have various needle rolls, folders and cases to keep my needles and hooks in.  I have a big folder to house all my printed patterns.   And occasionally, I put it all in the right place.  Honestly, I do! 

I admit whilst I dream about a neat and tidy house, I am not inclined to put in the effort to make it happen.  I clean, I tidy and I scrub.  I pick up toys, I fold washing and I vacuum.  But I don't enjoy it and I don't think I ever will.  With two kids 3 and under and a house that's almost too small I think I'll be happily co-existing with all the excess 'stuff' for many years to come.  I figure there is more to life than constant cleaning and tidying.  Besides, a little bit of clutter is what makes a house a home, isn't it?  ,

Feeling the shawl love...

I'm going through another shawl loving stage.  Having recently cast off another (yes, I think this is number 5!) Ishbel I am addicted again.  This latest one was knitted for my mum whose birthday it was a few weeks ago :)  It actually still needs to be blocked so I'll post a picture once I've done that.   Hmm, really should get on to it! 

On the needles now I have a Brangian.  This pattern is written by Bronwyn Parry and I've been meaning to purchase and knit it ever since it was released.  It is a great pattern, written very well and I am really enjoying seeing the shawl come together.  I'm knitting it in a 4ly I hand dyed myself.  I'm having a lot of trouble getting an accurate photo of the colour, but here's a photo of it straight out of the dye pot. 

It is a very subtle variation of colours and I'm really liking how it's knitting up so far.  Hope to have some finished photos for you soon :)

Sunshine or snow?

I'm not quite sure what has happened to Spring.  I don't think the weather man knows either.  With sunshine one minute and snow threatening the next, I suppose it's just another typical Tasmanian day!  It is very chilly and wet today.  There is snow on the mountain , cold winds and lots of rain with odd moments of sun trying to break through.  I have the heater blasting, warm toes and cups of tea aplenty! 

Yesterday, I spent the day dyeing yarn down at a friends place.  With the dye pots bubbling and the children playing or sleeping happily, we looked out the window and there was a beautiful snow storm.  Big flakes falling and settling on the ground and cars.  I love watching snow falling.  There is something so magical and peaceful about it.  I wonder if I would like it so much if we lived with it all winter.  Having spent a winter in Germany when I was younger, I got a taste of continuous snow and minus temperatures and I must admit the taste was enough for my liking!  I like the excitement of occassional snow much more :)  I only wish I'd thought to take a photo yesterday before the rain came and washed it all away. 

As a knitter, I am grateful I live in a cooler climate!  I prefer moderate temperatures to the scorching heat.  Towards the end of winter however, I do look forward to summer where the weather is warmer and the days are longer.  So, what do you prefer?  Sunshine or snow? 

Playing with colour...

The dyeing bug has hit me again!  After a day at a friends place last week experimenting with colours I can't stop thinking about new colourways and getting them on to yarn.  Luckily I have plenty of undyed yarn here to keep me busy!  I love the whole process.  Dreaming up what colours to use, mixing them up, experimenting with different shades and testing them on the yarn.  Then, just going for it and seeing what eventuates!  There is nothing scientific about my dyeing method.  Anything but actually.  The best thing is, even if it does not turn out exactly how I planned, I usually still love the end result.  And if I don't, it's simple.  Back in the dye pot it goes! 

Here are some of my recent dye ups. 

Now, I just have to decide what I am going to knit with them all! 

The beginning....

Well, it's official.  This is my first blog post ever!  I am excited to be starting this new adventure but must admit it is all a bit daunting!  It took me so long just to get my profile and page set up, I'm wondering whether I am computer savvy enough to work all this out!  For now, I'm just going to go with it and learn along the way.

It is a gorgeous Spring day here today, the sun is out, washing is drying on the line outside and I have done enough tidying to justify some knitting this afternoon :)  So, now I just need to decide - shawl or sunhat?