Ch-ch-ch-changes

Time, of late, has not been my own. The little time that has been mine has been limited or with a different focus. It shouldn't be such a suprise, then, that my approach to knitting is going to have to change along with everything else in my life.

The only thing new I've started in 3 weeks is a washcloth for Old Flame's mother's birthday, and that's pretty much out of necessity rather than desire for the project itself (although the colours are very pretty and if you go ask Spidey , she might show you which of these limited edition cottons she has left).

Other projects on the needles are not portable. I'm rarely in one place for long enough to settle into the large projects (dividing time between work, Mum's and Old Flame's) and none of those places are conducive to concentrating on lace or aran knitting even if I was prepared to heft the bits along with all the other luggage.

However, a knitter has her needs and those needs must be met. I need pretty things, dammit. Pretty things I can conquer without feeling like a complete idiot.

I need a beret to keep my head warm on morning walks with the dogs, thick socks to go under hiking boots, and a suitable project to knit when Dexter comes on free to air next month.

So I'm thinking this beret in some Annie Gregg handspun I bought last year in Tarcutta, a retake of the Thuja socks in some Caressa DK (maybe) and this balaclava in Debbie Bliss DK silk for the Dexter project because he wears a silk mask sometimes.

Unfortuantely, I also have to knit this into about 6 metres trim for a Christmas in July outfit. OK, so I don't have to, but the yarn was a swap (and therefore free), as opposed to $17.95 a metre for the maribou feather trim.

(photo stolen from AmandaJ)

And is this a good time to mention that I want to reduce my boodle by two-thirds by the end of 2009? It's not that I have too much, you understand, just that I want to have less. Stop that laughing right now or you'll be struck off the potential recipient list.

TTWC 2007.67

The last of the Patons Ariel (such a strange yarn) is getting it on with some Wendy 12 ply. There will probably be one more of this colour combination.

This week the the first stirrings of boredom with the Time Thief Watch Cap were felt. Maybe it's because I've not had a chance to knit much else for a fortnight, or because I'll be away soon and the need for time thief knitting will not be as great. There won't be red lights to knit at, meetings to tolerate etc. There will be walking, though, and I had intended to knit these on walks along the beach (shut up and leave my pathetic fantasies alone).

Maybe it's time for some other pattern development but I love the all-terrain charity aspect of the TTWC.

Speaking of patterns. Thank you for your lovely comments about the Mary Ann. I didn't keep detailed, or any, notes while I was knitting her although I have a vague memory of aiming for certain dimensions. After I've done the matinee jacket pattern (this week), I'll "read" the Mary Ann and write her up.

In Cook from the Cupboard news - I've been reasonably faithful. There was an incident at SnB with an Espresso Brownie ($3.95), but apart from that, total fidelity. There have been no posts because this week was a post-menstrual flesh fest that may have offended my vegetarian friends.

In a moment of panic, I realised there was less than a week's worth of rolled oats in the jar and no stewed fruit in the freezer and no, rolled oats and raspberry jam are not a great combination. Aren't you pleased I save you from that discovery for yourself? The hope was to make it through without buying more oats or fruit to stew. The discovery of two small boxes way in the back of the cupboard of Kellogs Just Right, which is largely rolled oats with some nice fruit and nuts thrown in, saved the day. Perfect - breakfasts should be easily taken care of for the next couple of weeks and porridge made from Just Right is rather decadent. A little bowl of luxury to start the day.

TSS made me a lovely gift of home-made hummus which I will enjoy with carrot sticks and a glass of wine before dinner this week. More luxury.

Other stocks which are low or non-existent now: soy milk, eggs, bread. This is the point where I wish that the neighbours with chooks were amenable to swaps and I'm desperately hoping that one of the supermarket chains has the preferred soy milk (Sanitarium light) on special in the next week or so.