Socks etc

 

My Bachelor of Arts is completed! I'm still waiting for my final results, but very confident that I have passed my last three subjects. It's been a hectic few months, with many hours spent studying and writing essays, but also lots of knitting, because I find knitting very useful as a way of dealing with stress (and also to spend an hour or so before bed not looking at a screen).

I finished the two pairs of socks pictured above - they were gifts for friends, and both of them loved their socks, always nice to hear!

Next I made a pair of fingerless gloves (the pair I made in 2017 was getting a bit worn). These are the Cafe au Lait Mitts, a free pattern on Ravelry. I adjusted it a bit to do the palm side in stocking stitch. The yarn is Lionbrand Feels Like Alpaca from Spotlight - so soft!

Next I used the yarn I bought in Japan to make a hat:

This is the Crème Brûlée Cable Knit Hat, another free pattern from Ravelry. I really like the pattern - this hat is a bit tight for me, so I've donated it to my son. I may knit another one for myself.

When the hat was finished and I was looking for my next knitting project, I realised I could make some socks with all of the leftover DK sock yarn from Heathermaid that I have collected in the last few years. I used all of the blue/green/purple yarn to make this pair of socks:

I've now started on another pair with all of the red/orange/yellow yarn. Stay tuned!

Dragon Scale Gloves

Another small project done. I love things that can be whipped up quickly and done while watching tv or listening to an audiobook or podcast.
On one of my crochet groups on Facebook, someone showed a pair of dragon scale gloves they had made. I liked the look of them and searched on Ravelry for a pattern. Found one by The Yarnivore UK here, grabbed a Caron Cotton Cake from my stash, and got going!



So here they are. I love how they look, but have found that they are not very practical - I can't do computer work wearing them, as they are too bulky. So they have been donated to my youngest son who likes them, and I will continue to wear the 'crazy, beautiful mittens' I knitted two years ago.

Straightforward mitts and more

My husband asked if I could make some fingerless gloves for him, so last week I spent most of my free time on this pair, so he could wear them before winter ends here!



I used Scheepjes Stonewashed yarn (cotton/acrylic) that was gifted to me in the Netherlands, and a free Ravelry pattern by Mone Drager: Straightforward Mitts. The pattern is well written, easy to follow, and I love the effect of the twisted rib!



I've also done a bit of crochet, to keep up my newfound skills:



Spotlight had a yarn sale, so I stocked up on cotton in sea colours - I'm planning to make something like this baby blanket (might be a bit ambitious...)



I've also bought a large crochet hook and dug up my t-shirt yarn:



This could become a bathroom mat... I'm enjoying making it, and actually finding it very useful, because the thick yarn makes it easy to see how the stitches are formed.
To be continued!

Achievements

Another pair of fingerless gloves finished! These are for me - I get really cold hands when I'm sitting still and working on a computer, so needed a pair to use at work. The owl gloves I made last year are very cute but a bit too bright for the office, so I decided to use the black yarn that was left over from the Dalek gloves to knit a new pair. I started on Friday and my goal was to finish them before the end of the Easter long weekend - which I did! The pattern, by Teresa Cole, is called 'crazy, beautiful mittens', you can buy it here.



The Sydney Temperature Scarf is growing - the first three months of 2017 are now done. I think it's going to be a very orange scarf as most days the temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius!



I've also made a new pair of felted slippers - the pair I made in July 2016 was quite worn out, and they are so comfy!



And finally, today I achieved another goal - something completely different. In October last year I started running, as a way to deal with the stress of having to move twice in a short time - first in Brisbane, and six weeks later from Brisbane to Sydney. My goal when I started was to be able to run five kilometres (approx. 3.1 miles) - and today I did it!



It took more than six months as I struggled with various injuries (Achilles tendinitis, shin splint, adductor issues), but in the end I got there! I felt so happy and proud this afternoon - and as I walked home the universe rewarded me with this gorgeous sunset:



:-)

Dragon Paws and gymnastics

It's been more than three weeks since I last posted here - my new job has taken up a lot of my time and most of my energy! I haven't done any sewing or quilting during this time, but I have knitted something: these Dragon's Paws Gloves for my dragon-loving middle son (pattern by Holly Stone available on Ravelry). They're not very warm but should be sufficient for a Sydney winter.



Yesterday my eldest son competed in the New South Wales State Championships and, just like last year in Queensland, became the State Champion on pommel horse in his age level (8 Under 14)!



He also won silver on parallel bars, bronze on rings and vault, and came second overall. In May he will represent New South Wales at the National Championships - we're both looking forward to another trip to Melbourne, and to seeing our gymnastics friends from Queensland there again!

EXTERMIKNIT!

When I saw the pattern for these Dalek Gloves on Etsy, I just knew I had to make them for my youngest son, who is a big fan of Doctor Who (I've made him a Tardis bow tie and a Doctor Who Cushion before).



It was my first project on four needles and a bit of a struggle at first...



But I managed it. There are a few mistakes, but luckily the recipient doesn't mind at all ;-)



Now that I have mastered knitting on four needles I may try to make some socks...



Meanwhile the Sydney Temperature Scarf is growing - I have finished February, which saw the first (and so far the only) day with a maximum temperature below 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) - the yellow row.

Hoot hoot!

Look what I have made! I found the pattern for these adorable owl wrist warmers here, on a Dutch knitting blog, as I thought it would be easier to have my first project that is a little more complicated than a simple scarf in my first language. I love them, they are so cute and warm, perfect for winter nights in a cold Queenslander house!



And here is my Wimbledon scarf - made while watching the tennis at night, finished during the men's final on Sunday! Well, Monday actually - it was past midnight! It's funny - having grown up in the Netherlands, I associate Wimbledon with summer afternoons and now I watch it at night in winter...



I have fallen in love with knitting all over again - I did a lot of knitting when I was in high school and then again when I was expecting my first baby. Here is one of the little jumpers I made for Hugo:



Then I started sewing, next I discovered quilting, and the rest is history... I did bring my knitting needles when we moved to Australia in 2007, and have made a few half-hearted attempts at knitting since then, but this is the first time I have finished something. And I am not done yet - here is my next project:



It is the Josephine Shawl I found on Ravelry. I have made a profile there (actually I discovered that I already had a profile since 2013 - although I can't remember why I made it then) - if you are on Ravelry too, let's be friends!

However, I haven't abandoned quilting - I even thought of a new quilt design while knitting and will start on it this week!