Shoe Money

Reading a Knitting the Blues post (and the associated amusing comments) about a knitting book going for over US$600 (I'm guessing that's something like A$900) on Ebay, I was at first sure that whoever won it had put a typo in their bid... I found it astounding! especially considering I've never heard of the designer... and didn't find the cover in any way appealing!

I suppose that something is worth what people are willing to pay for it, and I think this is yet another good example of shoe money. "Shoe Money?" (I hear you ask) "What on earth does she mean??"

Shoe money is a term which I think Maggie Alderson coined- the theory is that the perception of price depends on what the item in question is.. So, for example, for some people, $200 spent on shoes is no where near as expensive as $200 spent on domestic appliances (and in my friend Sarah C's case, the exact inverse would appear to apply to her boyfriend!).

I keep on finding instances where this theory applies. Only the other day I managed to spend $120 on some Sheridan towels on the spur of the moment (actually, about 2 minutes to decide!). Well, they were 30% off and it was exactly the shade of deep olive green I was looking for to contrast the orange walls in the bathroom- that probably sounds gross but if you saw the 70's floral orange/yellow/green curtain in there you'd understand. However, I have spent at least a month umming and ahhhing over buying (for about $140) a Polar A3 heart monitor to assist with my gym and running training. Sigh! Shoe money.

In honor of writing a brief comment about shoes, please refer my divinely soft Helmut Lang boots below (a bargain buy if ever I have had one!!).

The felted tweed cardi part 1

This cardi/wrap/shrug is my first attempt at knitting without a pattern. The idea is very closely based on something I saw and tried on in Scanlan and Theodore- but it wasn't quite right... So hence I am making something (which will hopefully turn out perfect!) myself.

The yarn was kindly donated by mum on our little trip out to Sunspun the other week- it's Rowan Felted tweed in a lovely turquoise blue- this picture is the closest I could get to real life on my screen (the joys of digital cameras, lighting and screen colours- so frustrating in showing off yarn to it's full potential!).

I sat up until the wee hours one night knitting two tension squares (K1P1 rib and stocking stitch), measuring and calculating and then writing a clear outline of rows and stitches so that I could keep track of what I am doing. Good thing too- I've already found some mistakes and made some changes.

The shaping is pretty simple- all rectangular. After the experience of knitting a chunky 20ply slubby cardigan wrap make out of simple rectangles and shaping (from a pattern from Marta's Yarns) I feel much more confident about the likely success of such simple pieces.

Also you will note in the photo the black needles: another gorgeous gift from my friend Al- Ebony Holz & Stein needles with iridescent glass ends- a PERFECT match to the wooll and DIVINE to knit with! Maybe I can do one or two more rows before going to sleep...

Illusion Cushions

Last Friday I took advantage of the Sunspun sale and Mum's presencein Melbourne to buy some Jo Sharp 8ply for cushions for the Lounge room. I have an idea about knitting three illusion cushions- so appearing striped but with a large leaf pattern in the illusion (similar to the leaves on the new Ikea curtains). A project with a little more planning to go before I pick up the needles...

the beginning

After much encouragement from a very good friend, I think I've started a blog. I only think I have at this stage- I'm a bit bamboozled by all the settings stuff and not entirely sure what all the jargon means. I suppose I will figure it out.

Setting up the blog tonight has taken precedence over a few other things I would have loved to have got stuck into:

• the knitting needle roll I am going to sew for mum - bought the fabric on the weekend, with my aforementioned very good friend's input, from Patchwork on Central at the corner of Wattletree and Burke Rds in Malvern. Divine lolly shop of colours. Was hard to restrict myself to picking colours and patterns that mum would like!
• doing a few more rows on the In The Bag bag I am knitting- a lovely gift from (once again) aformentioned very good friend when she came to visit last week.

Well, time to try to post this to see if it has worked!