Ear Warms

Podcasts are one of my very favourite forms of distraction.

Mostly I listen on my 'phone, often to drown out conversations or other unedifying noises, so earbuds are essential  kit.  Being able to lay hands on the earbuds in a hurry is often the best form of protection the public has.

For a wee while I was using a lipstick case to carry the earbuds around in.  I already owned it and the hard sides were protective, but it also took up a lot of hand bag real estate and was always right down the very bottom, causing dangerous seconds of delay in plugging in.

I toyed with the idea of sewing a little case but it all seemed fiddly and there are no small remants in the fabric stash anymore.  I could have bought a small soft bag at an op shop for a couple of dollars, but it seemed unnecessary even at that price when I have skillz and yarn.

So I knitted one.

This first one was a bit drapey and a smidge too wide and not being quite long enough.  It's great for  memory sticks, though.

I've been using version 1.1 for my earbuds for a week and am loving it.

It is 6 cm high and 7.5cm wide.  Design features include an i-cord loop to fasten it to a tab in my bag for easy access, and moss stitch for cushiness.  I opted for a stocking stitch envelope style flap for contrast and because the decreases in moss stitch were a bit messy.

This is pouch two of version 1.1 (very minor tweaking) .

Version 1.2 is currently in the testing phase. This sample was knitted recently, and the test knit is on the needles right now.

Each pouch gobbles up about 7g of 4ply/sock weight/fingering weight yarn and the buttons are all from stash.

The blue buttons were rescued from a pair of TOF's discarded underpants and the maroon were decorative features on a pair of knickers I bought last year.  I snipped the buttons off before they were worn.  

Excuse me while I go shine my halo of frugalness.

Celebration of Wool Day at the Old Bus Depot Markets

One of the Holy Days of Obligation on my fibre calendar, I haven’t missed a Celebration of Wool Day in years.

We were at the venue last week for the annual Snow Sports ACT sale, where I snapped the socks in progress with the Wool Day postcard.

I’ll be there bright and early on Sunday morning and this year I’ll have an audio recorder in tow.

If you see me on Sunday, please say hi and maybe say a few words for the recorder – I’m expanding my horizons with a spot of podcasting.

12 in 12 - uncle

This was just one challenge too many this year.  I'm calling it quits so I can replace dead basics including shoes, tops and trousers for work and clothes for next summer.  Most of my most of my summer tops had to be discarded at the end of the season.  They were scruffy beyond redemption.

Then there is a need for a reasonable summer wardrobe for a family celebration trip to Singapore in mid-summer.  I couldn't find 2 days worth of clothing for a work trip to Brisbane in last March let alone 8 days in the humidity of Singapore.

Fortunately the fabric stash can sustain several coordinating tops plus a few dresses for evening.  Operation Singapore Sling begins in late June.  I bought a heap of black linen to make trousers.

The 12 items challenge has been great to focus my taste and tailor it to my shape and colour preferences and I continue to apply those lessons.