All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

My mother's cousin is with us for a couple of weeks. He's more like a younger brother to Mum than a cousin, having spent a lot of time at their house when they were kids. I like him a lot - much, much more than my other uncles.

He spent 10 days with us in South West Rocks last year and was with us the day we hit the motherload of handknits for the entire North coast at a Vinnies in Laurieton - on a half price sale!

It wasn't a pretty sight that day - he had to make several trips to the car for us and he spent the next week watching us unpick and unravel the very many jumpers we had found.

He must have been paying attention, though, because he arrived on Tuesday with two suitcases. One of his clothes and one of beautiful hand-knitted woollen jumpers from op-shops in his little Queensland town. Mum doesn't know whether to laugh or cry but I'm just so proud!

Snow Bunnies and other atrocities

If one has to fall in love, it might as well be with a skier.

Apart from the wonderful possibilities for creating and bestowing knitted gifts, there are the ski trips.


As well as hours of car passenger knitting (2 TTWCs - there would have been a third but the dark and deep brown yarn in small lengths defeated me on our return journey), there is après ski time. I ski not and with my crappy ankle it’s probably not a sport I'll be taking up soon – maybe next year. I do, however, have a prodigous talent for apres ski. Always go with one’s strengths!

Although our trip last Sunday did not go completely to plan, I managed a walk in the snow around Smiggin Holes/Perisher Blue for an hour and then retreated to the pub for a few hours of knitting and people watching. I promise to be more adventurous, use the snow shoes next time and actually take some photos.


The first of Mum's "Whinger" socks was finished in the hotel and the second started. So BORED by it. Really, I need more of distraction when knitting these socks than people watching.

Some of our party returned at lunch time and joined me in the hotel for the afternoon. There was hot chocolate drinking, collective noun creating and a merry game of spot the hideous beanie.

Now I know about people in glass houses etc. but we just couldn't help it. I must have missed the memo about leaving good taste at the entrance to the National Park!

Among the contenders for most revolting head wear were the baby poo yellow felted gnome hat (which beautifully coordinated with the Buchanan tartan scarf sported by the hat wearer’s partner and which I strongly suspect to be a set) and the acrylic fake Mohawk (no pics, sorry, but I’m so going to next time!). The winner, despite the stiff competition, was the result of an unholy union between Big Bird, a toilet mat and spray-on tan. Seriously, this thing was safety orange and that particular type of squeaky “plush” nylon that appeared in bathrooms in the 1970s. It was a helmet shape and worn by someone who may have been a snow bunny years ago and who had spent far too long in the snow without sunscreen.

And the collective noun? Well what would you call a group of snow bunnies? We thought, perhaps, a Hilton, but eventually agreed on a flurry of snow bunnies.


The Old Flame managed to Kinnear the only other knitter in the place. She was sitting behind us and we exchanged knitterly pleasantries to the amusement of some of my party. She was knitting a scarf of burgundy coloured boucle yarn on sparkly plastic needles. It probably wasn’t the first Smiggins SnB, but it was the only one that day.

Seven Things Week 46

Stuff of Dad's seems to be creeping into my house. Mum is clearing some things, but only the cluttery bits (2 cartons of scrap paper and old envelopes anyone?) - none of us is ready for the other kind of clearing yet. But in the last little while I've been bringing the odd thing home. The hat I made him for his Trans Siberian Railway trip so I could wear to the snow last week, an overnight bag I use each weekend and a pair of new socks to wear under my snow boots.

In the course of moving things around, though, I found a suitcase full of manchester I thought I'd already dealt with well before this challenge was begun. I bought all of it for my "glory box" about a million years ago. Bit of a problem working in the manchester department of David Jones'. I remember buying all of it and the fantasies each played a part in. I was going to have a sunny yellow kitchen, a tasteful bathroom in grey, rose pink and maroon, and crisp white table linen with black and grey silk napkins. Ah, the 80s. Anyway, I've salvaged some of it and rehomed others. I glimpse the beginning of the stuff problem - I loved all of these things so much that I never used them, because if I had, the fantasy would be gone.

IN (6)
1 overnight bag - DAD's
1 beanie - DAD's
1 pair of socks - DAD's
1 calico shopping bag - CONFERENCE GIFT
2 vests - OP SHOP ($1 each. 1 for wearing and a black handknitted one for unravelling)


OUT (50)
4 lipsticks - BIN
1 key ring - BIN
1 TTWC - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 books - BOOKCROSSING
10 face washers - GIFTS & DONATIONS
12 napkins - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 doylies - GIFTS & DONATIONS
8 napkin rings - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 egg cups - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bedspread - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 prs undies - BIN

SIAA (5)
4 TTWCs
1 Mrs Claus costume including 164" trim knitted in that hideous eyelash yarn, AND removing double sewn lace from the petticoat, taking it up 4" and resewing the lace. Remind me again how wonderful it is to DIY.

TOTALS

IN 6
OUT 50
NETT OUT 44
SIAA 5

Progress

Finally something off the needles - even if it's only some beanies for the soup kitchen.

TTWC 2008.054 vintage Jet

This is vintage Patons Jet - the old crepe kind. Despite the murky early 70s colours (it's dun-brown with dull green bits of ... what? not contrast and I hesitate to say highlights - dunno, bits will have to do). The yarn is a delight to knit with. Divine crepe producing the smoothest, evenest fabric. So love it.

TTWC 2008.055-56 hanspun wool

There were two of these TTWCs knitted in the car to Perisher and back on Sunday. The first was borrowed in the car park at Smiggins Holes by one of our party and retained. It's such a joy when someone likes an item enough to keep it - made my day. This is handspun wool in its natural colour. Mostly creamy white with some darker bits. So beautiful to knit with and very warm. Must make a drop off run to Stasia's soon.

There was another TTWC in the handspun but no photo. It looks just like these if you really need to see it.

And speaking of snow, the other item off the needles this week and finished is the 164 inches of ostrich yarn trim for my Mrs Claus outfit. I have to say it turned out quite well and is probably the only legitimate use for this hideous yarn. I used a little under 14 balls of Moda Vera Jazz held double throughout to make 5 pieces of trim. It's all sewn on the dress and the hat has a tassel. There was a pom pom but it collapsed and shed all over my dining table. NOT a pretty sight.

Seven Things Week 45

I'm just not knitting as much as I used to. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that there's less time to do it. There will be some catching up on Sunday when I spend the whole day "apres" skiing while the OF leads a tour. There will be snowy scenery, a warm fire, hot chocolate, a good book and much knitting. Bliss.

IN (17)
14 vintage knitting patterns courtesy of Kate who turned up with a fruit box full - great fun to sift through.
1 book - GIFT (forgot this from 3 weeks ago - just found it in a project bag, oops)
1 pr snow pants - had to buy new. No one gets rid of old large sized ski pants apparently
1 waterproof jacket - ditto

OUT (28)
2 coin purses
1 skirt - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 book - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 sets soaps - GIFTS & DONATIONS
19 lanyards. Another "gunna" craft project down the reality tubes. - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 balloon whisk - rusted - BIN
1 blender - broken - BIN
1 basket - mouldy - BIN

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (1)
1 TTWC

TOTALS

IN 17
OUT 28
NETT OUT 11
SIAA 1

The honesty's too much

There are stages of intimacy in all relationships, right? There are points at which one takes a risk and reveals something more intimate than before - something really private, personal and important - something upon which the direction of the relationship might depend.


We reached one of those points this morning.


Old Flame saw the extent of my stash! He paled a little but took it well.

Seven Things Week 44

It was a bad week for hosiery Chez Taph, culminating in a freezing and frantic Thursday morning when I discovered there were no more black opaque tights in the drawer. Quel catastrophe! Luckily my stash of new tights is still quite large and a pair was quickly decanted, rinsed and ready for wear the next day. There is definitely an argument for having stocks of basics bought cheaply. Same goes for undies, basic black t-shirts and shoe laces.

IN (0)
See that - 0. I haven't done 0 before. It's fantastic!

OUT (10)
5 prs stockings/pantyhose - BIN.
2 sets measuring spoons - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 tea strainer - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 vest - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 jumper - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SIAA (0)
Nothing finished, darn it, but I'm oh so close to finishing the bloody eyelash trim.

TOTALS

IN 0
OUT 10
NETT OUT 10
SIAA 0

You would even say it glows

The Blue Beret got its first outing last night and very welcome it was too.

It was cold, wet & windy last night. The maximum daytime temperature was 12 degrees and it was considerably less than that and blowy and pissing down with rain by 4.30pm when we rocked up to Canberra Stadium to sell red noses.

The aim was to sell 10,000 noses and raise $20,000 for SIDS and Kids and in the process set the world record for the most red noses in one spot.

Due to the effin awful inclement weather, the attendance at the match was less than stellar; only 9,109 to be exact. Thirty volunteers sold 5433 noses and raised more than $10,500 and probably set a world record. I think we'll call it a success.

Oh, and the Raiders lost to the Sharks 24 to 36. The umpiring was pretty bloody awful, but they were outclassed by the Sharks early on and never really got back. Pity really, and because OF's parents decided not to go to the match we had their BRILLIANT members' seats for the second half. See that, right on the 50m line (centre of the pitch), 3 rows back. I could even see Ricky Stuart's bald patch really well through the sleet. Did I mention it was cold?

Status symbol

The Old Flame is quite chuffed at adding the term Honorary Bloke Status (HBS) to the blogosphere.

I think we need a new one for him now - CPS - Craft Pimp Status.

He was at a two day course this week. The only person excited to be there, and who stayed awake, was a woman crocheting a rug. She's doing a crochet course and had heard of SnB but didn't know anything else about it. He happily filled her in and sent her the group details.

See - Craft Pimp.

Seven Things Week 43

I think a corner may have been turned and its only taken 43 long weeks!


I just don't want stuff at the moment. I popped into the newsagents at lunchtime during the week, took a look at all that glossy paper and walked out again. Just couldn't do it. Not even the knitting mags attracted me. I've cancelled a couple of subs lately and am not renewing others. Right now the only renewals will be Interweave Knits and Yarn.


I'm sure this is partly a reaction to having to deal with all of Dad's stuff as well, but whatever works, right?


IN (4)
1 pair snow boots (OP SHOP)
2 jumpers (OP SHOP)
1 pr point protectors (GIFT)

OUT (48)
2 hankies GIFTS & DONATIONS
23 balls yarn GIFTS & DONATIONS
20 prs knitting needles GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 washcloths GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 beret GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (3)
2 berets
1 washcloth

TOTALS
IN 4
OUT 48
NETT OUT 44
SIAA 3

Making a blue*

It is apparent that I am not only mathematically challenged but a ridiculously pie-eyed optimist (or someone who stubbornly refuses to see the evidence in front of her).

The pattern for the Rollin' Beret clearly states that the hat requires 123 m of yarn. The ball band for the Dale of Norway Ara clearly states that each 50g ball consists of 50 m of yarn.

Anyone of moderate intelligence and basic mathematical ability would have worked out before they started knitting that they were going to be short. I worked it out when I had almost finished the first ball and was in a committed relationship with the project.

There was still some denim blue recycled 12 ply left, so I started the whole slip-stitch extension method again with hope in my heart and an eye on the end of the ball. The good news is the recycled 12 ply in the denim colour is all used up. It ran out of about 15 rows too soon.

I tried knitting faster with the remainder of the Ara, because everyone knows if you knit faster you'll finish before you run out of yarn. I got to the end of the ball faster - 6 tiny, decrease-6-stitches-in-every-round, rounds short.

This disappointment happened just before we left SnB last night. By the time I reached home I was prepared to chuck the lot in the bin and lie down and weep. The frugal self prevailed, though and I finished the bloody thing off with a very small amount of recycled 12 ply crepe wool in navy. Not quite what I'd planned, but not wasteful either.

*for non-Australian's "to make a blue" is to make a mistake. Not to be confused with "having a blue" which is an argument/fight.

Sock Monster

I am a selfish, selfish daughter who doesn't love her mother.

Originally Mum said that the two pairs of woollen socks I'd knitted her were enough. Now that she's refusing to go away for winter, she thinks she might need some more socks - NOW!

That's not how she expressed it. What she said was how lovely these faux-isle socks are,


just perfect for chilly mornings at the gym and lovely as bedsocks as well - not too hot - and isn't it a shame that she doesn't have other colours and didn't she buy some sock yarn in Nundle last year?

This yarn, as it happens.

The irony of her wanting me to knit fine yarn on tiny needles into bedsocks for her is not lost on me.

Knitting Pretty

One of the resolutions this year was to “Knit the Pretties”. These FOs definitely count.

The Rollin’ Beret (pattern by Woolly Wormhead) came up beautifully but far too small. I can only wear it as a misshapen beanie so it’s blocked and in the box for charity. It was such a pleasure to knit though. Don’t you love it when you just have to stop every now and then and exclaim over how pretty your knitting is?


I “stretched” the 70g of the gorgeous 2ply hand dyed, hand spun wool by slip stitching every second row of the body of the beret with some recycled denim coloured 12 ply crepe that was leftover from TTWCs. The slip stitching also created a thicker and warmer fabric - bonus. There was enough of the hand spun left for a fun i-cord embellishment and now it’s all used up.

The washcloth for Old Flame’s mum is finished, too, and with 10 days to spare. Loving the colours, Spidey. The lacy pattern is a little obscured by the variegated yarn but it also opens it up and makes it a bit more girly than a garter stitch pattern. I love that the colours are girly version of the Canberra Raides colours, a team that Old Flame's mum and dad are passionate supporters of.

I’ve started another beret using some Dale of Norway Ara that was part of a prize from Yarn magazine. The colours are variegated purpley-blues and I just want to sink into that deep indigo and dream. A commercially spun thick and thin single, it’s squishily gorgeous to knit and I bet it will pill like a bugger. Doesn’t matter - it’s a hat, not a jumper. Hopefully this one will fit, but if it doesn’t someone will get the joy of wearing it and it’s another completed project and two more balls of yarn towards the stash reduction goal.

This won’t be the last time the pattern is used, either. There’s 270g of Waratah Fibres hand spun Wensleydale blend that is crying out to be the hat and mitten set I need for the ski season (please snow soon, OF’s first cross-country tour is this Sunday!). There’s a pattern in the most recent Spin-Off for lined mittens which looks just the ticket. More pretties, more stash reduction. Woot!

Seven Things Week 42

IN (4)
1 top - SALVOS ($6)
1 skirt - SALVOS ($6)
1 magazine - SUBSCRIPTION
1 skein yarn - GIFT


OUT (235)
7 decorative & jewellry boxes - GIFTS & DONATIONS
152 balls yarn - SOLD. Yep, sold 'em at ACT Textiles member Bring & Buy sale. That's 152 balls of novelty yarn gone from my house. WHACKO!!!!!
8 balls yarn - GIFTS & DONATIONS
12 books - GIFTS & DONATIONS/BOOK CROSSING
1 blankie - GIFTS & DONATIONS
4 hankies - GIFTS & DONATIONS
48 knitting mags/patterns - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 ring binders - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (1)
1 TTWC

Bit slack on this - too busy disposing of stuff and mending. Can I count mending as SIAA?
I'm seriously down on whoever decided that overlocking elastic to the waistbands of sports pants, then flat-locking them down was a good thing. 2 pairs of the things needed the elastic changing and dammit it took a couple of hours per item to remove the old elastic before I could resew and thread new stuff! Still, that's 2 things renewed rather than chucked and replaced with new.

TOTALS

IN 4

OUT 235

NETT OUT 231

SIAA 1

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.

About a boy

Discussion with the Old Flame during the week (truncated and interpreted version) -

OF: So it's the Australia v. Ireland match on telly this Saturday night. We usually go to "Mad Wobbly's" [sic] to watch it. You could accept HBS (Honorary Bloke Status) for the evening with my mates or go to the ANU Film Group with TSS.

TAPH: Um, TSS and I don't actually want to see "No Country for Old Men" and I enjoy rugby. Does accepting HBS preclude quiet and discreet knitting? I can bring my own beer. You'd better check with the blokes.

....

OF: The blokes grant you HBS for the evening.

Note, no mention of knitting. Not sure that the blokes realise that Old Flame's girlfriend is a knitting nanna - yet.

Wonder if I can choose which bloke I'll be? Franklin, perhaps?

Seven Things Week 41

Happy WWKIP Day to all of you - couldn't get involved this year as I'd hoped, but I knit in public every day anyway.

IN (2)
1 ceramic olive dish - GIFT
1 costume's worth of fabric and yarn

OUT (11)
5 prs bed socks - GIFTS & DONATIONS
3 wash cloths - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 shirt - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 circular needle - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 hankie - GIFTS & DONATIONS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (3)
3 TTWC

TOTALS

IN 2

OUT 11
(yay - back in the black) NETT OUT 9

SIAA 3

Making beanies by the dashboard light

What does a knitter do when there's just an hour and a bit between appointments but to go home would take about the same time and be wasteful of petrol?

Park by Lake Burley Griffin, watch the outline of the black swans against the charcoal waters, gaze over at the pretty lights playing on the water on the opposite bank and knit a beanie.

There are far worse ways of spending a little time on a Thursday evening before catching up with a very old friend from Sydney at a community function and enjoying the generous (and yummy) hospitality of that community.

Seven Things Week 40

Decided to keep this up or I'd be hiding some major "ins". There has been a little op-shop therapy, and some DVD buying for buying's sake but not too much and there is still some very beautiful hand-spun at Vinnies Phillip if anyone's interested.


IN (32)
4 DVDs
1 tea towel - GIFT
1 table cloth - GIFT
3 sets knitting needles - GIFT
5 vintage knitting patterns - GIFT
2 TTWCs worth yarn - SALVOS (what, you think op-shopping ceased because Dad did? There's been a LOT of running around to do - some of in the vicinity of op-shops and you know it's against my religion to pass and open op-shop without a visit)
2 jumpers - VINNIES
8 tops - SALVOS
6 balls alpaca knitting yarn - SALVOS ($3 - heh, heh, heh. I know I wasn't buying any more yarn, but seriously - vintage pure alpaca knitting yarn - you'd have done it too)

OUT (9)
1 set chopsticks - BIN
2 books - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 bracelet - BIN
2 Calorimetries - GIFTS & DONATIONS
2 balls wool - GIFTS & DONATIONS
1 scarf - GIFTS & DONATIONS


SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (4)
2 Calorimetries
1 pr socks
1 scarf

TOTALS

IN 32

OUT 9

NETT OUT -21
SIAA 4

Life goes on

I've been hearing Dad say "Life goes on, Princess" all week. It does, but yesterday more than 300 family and friends gathered to honour his life.

It was bigger than Ben Hur and everyone involved did him proud.

And there was knitting. Mum had a bedsock in progress tucked into her handbag just in case (her urge to knit during the entire service was very strong) and one of my nieces carried her last piece of knitting in her hand with her hankie for comfort and because she finished it the last time she saw Poppy.

There has, of course, been knitting all week. We both knitted at the hospital with him before he died and Mum has "knitted her way to heaven" (her words) since and has made eight or nine more pairs of bedsocks.

I've made the girls calorimetries to match their school uniforms and a spare one for whoever needs one next. Socks have been finished, scarves have been finished and there are only 3 or 4 WIPs hanging around. Grief and stress are great for startitis - I don't recommend the cure.

Family and friends have rallied around and the Old Flame has been amazing, giving me strength, support, normality and chocolate as necessary.

The support from you all has been wonderful. Each night I've come home from a day of organisation, preparation and negotiation and been heartened by messages, emails, flowers and gifts. Thank you, you wonderful community of women.