12 in 12 January Update

No clothes purchased.  None, nil, nada...  Doing the happy dance of thrift!

I've been looking as usual, but nothing has presented itself as worthy.

I have made myself a shawl as a layering piece for at home in winter, so while it is new it is exempt as it's handmade and totally from stash.

There has also been more disposal of clothing.  I cannot believe there is still stuff I don't wear or don't like in the wardrobe, but it there is.

I'd been holding on to a couple of pairs of three-quarter length jeans for a while but wasn't wearing them because I didn't really like them on.  I have one pair that just keeps being worn and washed and worn again and really need two pairs for summer.  Problem is, I've not found another pair I like as much  so had a bit of a rethink about why I like to wear denim cut offs - they are cooler than jeans but just as durable and work with my tee shirts and tops. So now my long eschewed knee-length denim skirt is back in rotation and the unloved trews have gone back to the op shop.

And while I was at it, some unflattering tops and a couple of sentimentally kept kilts left the house as well.

The black tee-shirts are starting to show definite signs of wear, though.  They will last this warm season, but not another.  Some have already migrated from the suitable for work pile, to the at home only pile.

Knit Focus is back

The cosy production is back on track.  This set is for the cosy fund raiser.

More free patterns by Paulina Chin for her Speedy Cabled Cowl and matching beret.  Here and here on Ravelry.

Knitted in Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Wool from stash.  I love this richly coloured single.

Modifications were needed.  Both patterns stipulate being knitted flat and frankly but it's far simpler to just knit them in the round.  So I did.  I also added a cable repeat to each of the items.  The beret would be a beanie otherwise, and the cowl would be a little skimpy, too. 

I have two and a bit balls of the Freedom wool left and am tempted to knit the beret again with 4 cable repeats before decrease for extra slouch (and maybe keep the beret because I really love this yarn).

Neapolitan Arroyo

This shawl was going to be for the cosy project (knitting cosy things for work fund-raising raffle), but I like it too much - so it's mine.

In Patons Jet, it is the colours of neapolitan icecream.  It won't show the "love sprinkles" from the sheddy Jack Russell, and is light and warm across my back and shoulders.  TOF doesn't feel the cold, so layers are an important aspect of maintaining our relationship - I wear them and don't complain at him about the cold so much.

Arroyo is a free pattern 'on the designers' blog and on Ravelry and knits up quickly for normal, non-lace challenged people (not me, obviously).  The short rows in garter stitch are totally addictive.

The Jet is totally stash.  Despite it being one of my favourite yarns, most of the Jet stash has gone to some charity knitters.  A few balls survived the cull and I'm very glad they did.

Sew and Sew

Mix tip shop bargain, with Tupperware obsession and sewing notions and you get a very happy op shopper.

This large sized, two tiered Tupperware craft organiser is about the size of a large slice container.  We picked it up at Tiny's Green Shed on Sunday for about $1.50.  I say about because we had 3 things in the bundle for $3.  I've never seen one like it before.  I several of the small kind, but this one is a really good size.

It's already full of mending notions.  Every op shopper needs a decent hand mending kit at the very least.

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ABC Radio National rebroadcast a program about yarn bombing from its now defunct Artworks program.

The broadcast date was 25 December so you may have missed it.

Anyway, it's worth a listen.

I don't partake of yarn bombing myself (there isn't enough time to knit "proper" things in nice yarn let alone bother with tags in crap yarn, because who would bother using good yarn for that?) but when I have encountered it in the wild, so to speak, it has delighted me.

ABC Radio National has rejigged a LOT of programs this week.  Old favourites have gone for good and been replace by new programs.  Unfortuantely, the new programs aren't available on iTunes yet and the old ones are really hard to find on the ABC website.  I'm a wee bit frustrated that I'm not getting my RN book and arts fix via my preferred medium this week.

Also, photo pinched from RN website.

Settling in for a clatter

of keys, that is.

Well, in my case it was cursing at the keyboard of my Android, but that's not very picturesque.

At high noon today, 3 imaginary friends sat down for a cuppa and a natter.

Cindy2paw and Janette came up with the idea of enjoying a simultaneous cup of the new, limited edition Twinings Australian Afternoon Tea.  They graciously let me crash the tea party.

We all brewed up a cup of KRudd's blend, took a bite of something sweet and used email to have a chat.

My tea brewed and served in a mug with a dash of soy milk, I shoved down my greedy gob nibbled a slice of the last of the Christmas cakes.

The tea was very pleasant - a blend of Russian Caravan (my second favourite Twinings tea after Queen Mary), Orange Pekoe (third favourite Twinings tea) and Irish Breakfast (my go-to for a good strong brew).  It had strength and depth of flavour with a dry finish.  Definitely will be buying some. Confession time, I used a free sample we got with a weekend newspaper.

I gave up trying to knit - my hands were too occupied with keying and noshing.  There was even some tea left in my mug 45 minutes after we began, so busy was I chatting with Janette and Cindy.

It was thoroughly enjoyable and not long enough - maybe we'll Skype it next time. Note to self.  Learn how to use Skype.

Wonky photos courtesy of Blogger, which will recognise a cropped image but restores original orientation.

Jammy

Op Shopping opportunities on a public holiday are limited, but we managed to get to both the Canberra tip shops today.

Bargains at both, some for us, some for gifts*.

Best buys of the day that we are keeping was a current (6 months to run) Entertainment Book with only the restaurant card and 3 of the vouchers missing.

and my longed for jam kettle.

It's aluminium so I can't use it for anything but jam.  Condiments containing vinegar will pit the aluminum, so no chutneys or sauces, but it will do until we can afford a copper preserving pan.  When that happens, I can die a happy and fulfilled preserver (shut up - you have a holy grail, too!).

These two items, as well as a few items chucked in (Tupperware wine goblet for our ever-expanding set, china noodle bowl for winter soups and stews at work and a souvenir placemat as a joke gift for a colleague) came to $10.

Speaking of tip shop finds, did you see what Misfits Vintage found at her tip shop recently? Pigeon pair to this find at Tiny's at Mugga Mugga a few years back.

*gifts of op-shopped items go to the cogniscenti only.