reflecting; discovering; sharing;

I usually get all introspective and navel gazey around the end of December, when my birthday hits, one year closes, and a fresh, clean one to starts. Now though, with my son’s birthday arriving in the middle of the year, I have a new milestone to pause at, and I have found in recent weeks that I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the 12 months that have just passed.

What a year it has been. So much I have learnt and discovered.

I feel like I am not so much celebrating C’s first birthday, but rather, celebrating our first year as a family. We have all grown so much in this time, in ways that we had no idea we might; discovering new things about ourselves and about each other; learning and re-learning essential things about Life. This won’t stop here, at the end of one year. It is a journey that will continue for years to come.

My viewpoint and perspective on life has shifted. This is a wonderful and good thing in so many ways. Aged 37, I feel like I have only just discovered what love really is, how immense, and strong and pure it can be. It is such a joy to experience, something I had no idea I would discover in becoming a parent.

But along with that I have also discovered new kinds of sadness and pain, just as strong and vivid. My understanding of who we are as a society, a culture, is changing and my understanding of what is important to me is being revised constantly. I am exploring and testing new (to me) ways of thinking about the world around me, especially the things that make me sad. Hopefully in time I'll find ways that diminish these kinds of feelings.

But I don’t want to end this post on a down note. Because the year that has just passed has been wonderful. It has been a joyful and rewarding adventure. Like any truly wonderful adventure, what makes it so good is not so much where I’ve been (in a house that’s too small), or what I’ve been doing (too many loads of laundry and wiping a dirty bottom, time and time again), but who I shared the adventure with.

My men. My special men. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.

Realisations

1. The BSJ was going to be too small.

I've frogged it. I want to try again, but need to use a bulkier yarn.

2. My son needs a cardigan that's big enough. Now.

I've cast on for Sid [Ravelry Link]. I've been wanting to knit this for ages, so have been looking for something to substitute for Rowan Big Wool (too pricey and too pilly). I picked up what seems like a huge quantity of Naturally NZ Harmony DK in dark brown, and am knitting 4 strands together on 15mm needles. Fast moving. Sleeves done in a few hours and now I'm casting on the back and fronts on a wonderfully fun sparkly Addi circular.


3. Knitting is all about the tools.

BSJ

New train knitting project. Ahh, the bliss of miles of mindless garter stitch. Just need to remember to increase/decrease at the appropriate moments.

This is such an iconic project, I'm so pleased to be finally knitting one, despite the fact that I'm not knitting it in someone's lovely handspun (The yarn is Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, leftovers from this jumper).

I'm already intrigued by the shaping and find myself wondering what Elizabeth was thinking, how she envisioned the shape, how the first one was created (I must find some time to re-read the Opinionated Knitter). I'm already looking forward to casting off and folding it into shape. Hopefully it will fit C, because we really need some more warm winter knits and he's been growing so fast.

Cuteness

Before I discovered crafty blog land on the internet, cute little surprises in the mail were few and far between. They're certainly not daily surprises by any stretch of the imagination, but they do happen every now and then.

This cute little surprise was from the Amitie Blog VIP club. Accompanied by a bit of a competition with the potential for more little surprises. If you're an Australian blogger and you feel your mailbox could do with some added bonuses, visit their blog to find out more.

While you go do that, I'll continue pondering what to make with this sweet Japanese fabric. I'm thinking something for C's room- the decor hasn't been particularly altered from when it was a study/craft/spare room. A couple of new cushion covers might be sweet- One Girl's been making some lovely ones, and the red in the prints will tie in nicely with the other red things in there.

Does my bathroom look big in this?

We're in love with mirrors right now. I think everyone should have more mirrors. (Yes Sooz, go tell D I said so). They're brilliant.

Brilliantly cheap. Brilliantly easy to install. Brilliantly good at covering up really crappy bits of wall. Brilliant at adding light and space. Brilliant at providing storage when they come with hinges and handles and shelving to go with them (thankyou very much Ikea). Brilliant at coordinating with everything else in the room. So brilliant in fact that when we get our vanity (although I must admit after several months waiting for the manufacturer to get their *ahem* act together I feel like this is a bit more if than when) we're going to stick some more mirror on the wall (with yet another tube of silicone) for the splashback.

With the mirrors (and some other lovely chrome bits) installed the to do list is finally getting shorter. All that remains is installing the vanity and toilet (I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to an upstairs loo), some touch up painting and one last bit of skirting, some carpentry work and painting around the window, new light fittings and patching up the ceiling where the old light and fan are. And then a very good clean. Feels like we're nearly there. Which is good because we really need to get started on the Kitchen.

Another dimension

Red and orange shimmering together- the yarns for this cap were meant to be together, and this pattern was perfect for combining them. Hopefully C won't always be so resistant to wearing it (Do you think he knows that he looks like a Helmet Head?). I originaly contemplated knitting the bottom half in one yarn, and the top half in the other, but I thought the two row stripes would better camouflage any variation in gauge and handling between the two. I was amazed as it progressed, how close the colours were, and how subtle the stripes became. Perfect.



I finished the cap this week aided by a new addition to my commuting knitting tools: Podcasts. I've only listened to a couple so far, but have downloaded some samples including Cast on, Ready Set Knit, She Knits, Stash and Burn, and the fabulous boys from Y Knit (I laughed out loud a couple of times as I listened to their chat with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee on the way home tonight. Oh my poor fellow commuters: Not only is she knitting, but she's laughing to herself as well. Clearly a Crazy...). Please let me know if you have any other podcast suggestions.



The Vital Statistics:
Pattern: http://grosblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/sweet-baby-cap/
Yarn: Some 5ply crepe wool, beautifully dyed by Sooz, with some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Needles: 3.75mm Addi Turbos long circular
Comments: Striped this time, as per the pattern. I twisted the yarns together as I carried them up the rows. I was a bit worried about whether I was pulling too tight, or leving them too loose, but it seemed to turn out OK. I followed the smallest size pattern, but with the heavier weight yarn and larger gauge it fits perfectly. It's so satisfying when a project works so well. Makes you cast on for the next project as soon as possible (ie, last night- a BSJ is now on the needles)
On Ravelry

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Well, we still don't have a vanity (yet....) but we do have mirrors on the wall. And storage space, and towel rails, and robe hooks, and a permanent shower rail, and even a bit of skirting along the floor. More photos hopefully tomorrow if I manage to do better with the exposure than I did today. In the meantime I'll continue freaking out about being able to see what I really look like when I'm walking down the street (having never had access to a full length mirror with reverse angle option at home before).

Red Orange

With the Autumnal socks complete I had to quickly cast on my next commuting project last week. On account of C's need for a larger hat, my love of this pattern, and the fact that I had two oddments of perfectly colour coordinating yarns with similar and appropriate weight, I chose to knit another Sweet Baby Cap. The colours were what really drove me towards this project. Something rich and warming to knit on cold winter mornings (and evenings). They make me think of tomato soup, or pizza with char grilled red capsicums. Nourishing, warming stuff.

Two colours, in two row stripes, don't make for ideal commuter knitting. I find myself pulling a tangled bundle from the bag and trying to make some resemblance of order from it, much to the (I am sure) bemused entertainment of my fellow passengers.

The yarns are a near perfect match in weight and colour, resulting in very subtle striping. They're about a 5ply weight (sport weight? I don't know- I can never remember how US yarn terminology equates to the old fashioned English terms I grew up with), so knitting up at a larger tension/gauge than the pattern calls for. I'm following the smallest size (with larger needles) and it seems to be coming out as a good size for C- a little bit of room, but not too much. Some frogging will need to happen to adjust the fit of the crown though, which is fine- gives me some more lead time to figure out what to cast on next.

My love of knitting on the train.

I have to admit, one of the highlights of returning to work has been the regular opportunity to knit on the train. I find it strangely satisfying on a number of levels. I like that I'm doing something constructive with the time that might otherwise be lost, and which so many other commuters seem to be content to waste. I like planning my commute a little ahead of time, making sure that I know what's coming up in the pattern, and that any bits that require elbow room and concentration are done the night before, in preparation for the creating to be done the next day. I like that I'm knitting in public, defying people's expectations of who knits what, when and where, and of how easy/hard it must be to actually make anything of any quality by hand. I like that it means I actually make progress on little projects that have been lingering for way to long, and that could be put to immediate use. Like these socks, already keeping my tootsies warm around the house on these cold winter mornings.

The Vital Statistics:
Pattern: Nautilus Socks by Anna Bell
Yarn: Fleece Artist merino sock yarn in Origin
Needles: Addi turbo long circular in a size that I can't recall
Comments on the finished product: Great pattern, great yarn, but completely inconsistent tension, hence the variation in the way the colours stripe and spiral, and the slightly different lengths. But they still feel lovely to wear, were pleasing to knit, and keep my feet wonderfully cosy as all good socks should. It's so satisfying to have finally finished these.

Bits of this and that

I have been getting back into the swing of a new weekly rythmn. It seems to be working OK. C's getting used to one sleep per day, which today he couldn't wait for until after lunch. Picture me driving home from playgroup trying to keep him awake by pulling his socks off and winding the window down, without success. First time ever I've been able to transfer him from the car to the cot without him rousing at all. He must have been pooped, poor lad.

In craft related business I have been finishing off some stitching and some socks, starting a new baby cap, and dreaming of some more sewing, inspired by a book that I won a while back, which got waylaid in the mail. I have also been struggling to find time to take photographs in daylight, so expect some catch up blogging about all of the above when I do.

In the absence of time to take photographs in daylight I present you above with a page of favorites. Always interesting to look back at my favorites, and see what patterns emerge. Some wonderful Favorite Love moments in there that I see. Striped toddler clothes. Draped grey collars. Splashes of green amongst the mottled greys. I didn't realise I was having such a grey time of late. It doesn't seem to relate to my mood, which is happier, relaxed and more fulfilled than I think I've ever felt. I'm really cherishing the good things in my life, which makes it easier to let the not-so-good things go.

1. Untitled, 2. Untitled, 3. treeshadow, 4. the game, 5. Texture: Maple Syrup Samples, 6. doilies, 7. Untitled, 8. all I got was green hands, 9. tonight ii, 10. muddy mud, 11. linen + cotton stripes, 12. swing coat, 13. summer prints COLLECTION part I, 14. quilt back, 15. Pistachio Torte / Chez Panisse Desserts, 16. brown star moleskine, 17. BSJ #2, 18. paper crane jacket, 19. CRAL Alley Cat : objectif N°3, 20. Untitled, 21. 3b I MacroMay, 22. ~, 23. spoons (mostly), 24. Untitled, 25. texture on black, 26. making, 27. "my new hat rocks! yeah baby!!": ZED 69.365, 28. patience, 29. squuuiiiigggllleeesss, 30. Piccola 70, 31. The road from Geelong, 32. steppin' out, 33. Button Brigade, 34. norm 69, 35. inspiration board, 36. flower tank

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