Sockmonster

The Ties that Bind - Knitting community

Hi

Just a quick post to show you a little thing I have been doing over the past couple of days.

I have been knitting a couple of squares for a fellow blogger in the US who's BIL was killed in a really senseless car accident.  His name was John and he was Kerstin's BIL and husband to Becky.  I have never commented on Kerstins blog but regularly read it and felt moved to contribute to let these people know that love and humanity can restore ones faith in the human race.  I have knitted a cabled square from the Harmony Guide Aran Knitting book that shows how intertwined we become and another regular patterned square (rice stitch) that shows the consistency with which we can support one another - all a bit deep sorry!

Kerstins friend Annie suggested a blanket for one of Johns charitys and possible one for his wife to show how the community - virtual or otherwise - can care.

So that is the long and the short - they are posted tomorrow and I hope they get there.  You can find out more on Kerstin and Annies blogs if you'd like to know more, or may be contribute from such a long way away geographically but just around the corner electronically.

I owe you some pics

Hi everyone - I owe you some pictures

Rogue - Sleeves are a bit further along probably around 35 pattern rows up the cables.  But here is the rest - hoping to overcome my fear of doing something wrong on the right front on the weekend whilst away with some very talented knitters for the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show

I also went away over the past weekend with some dear friends of mine for a mutual friends 40th birthday - 9 gaggling girls off for the weekend and we chatted, slept, walked, ate and marketed our way through the weekend.  We stayed at the most divine set up I have ever seen and can HIGHLY recommend it to anyone looking for a restful time away.  I'm sure this place would look different in different seasons but we had a magic mid winter getaway - go look at it it's called The Potager and run by Jayne a lovely lady and very gracious host.

So next weekend we are staying at Barnard House and anticipate another lovely weekend except that I will be run off my legs by day at the sheep show with my Sockmonsters stall and lots of lovely scrummy sock yarn to sell.  So I hope to see some of you there.  I'm anticipating it will be a lovely place to unwind at the end of the day.

Some pics now:

Fronts and back knit back and forth on a circular needle

throat cable detail on left side

Side cable detail (you can just see it - mid picture)

Rogue update and olive process

Rogue is progressing well but I have hit a bit of a wall on the right front of the cardiganised Rogue.

I have joined the second front and am about ot do the cabling up the side but I'm not sure what row of the chart I'm on.  I just probably need to sit and think about it quietly for a while but do you think I've had a quiet moment to do that so I started the sleeves instead.  I'm up to Row 18 of the Sleeve chart and always love to look at the progress of those Celtic cables - I am really enjoying knitting this and am really going to enjoy wearing it.

For the stats I did a small hem facing and am cardiganising it.

Typepad doesn't want to download pics at the moment so I'll try again tomorrow.

Olives are all harvested and off to be processed in Lara - apparently we have over 100 litres of olive oil.  We were so stuffed afterwards.  We only have a small grove but hope to expand it eventually.

Oh I am aching all over!

Well all day today I have been picking olives from our small plot of 100 trees.  My hands are hot and puffy and my back and legs are stiff as.  The worst thing about all of this is there is a repeat performance as we only picked 40 of them and they are all supposed to be harvested by tomorrow night!!!  Not very good news for knitting.

The Grove!

Life is very busy with lots of activities for this and the next three weekends including the Bendigo Sheep and wool Show in mid July.  I won't be selling the Lornas as they have decided because I don't have a retail store or dedicated online store that they won't be supplying me for the time being - we are still friends but it does mean my foray into Lornas Laces has been all to brief.

Meantime I have had a rush of blood and done lots of stash enhancement egged on by some blogging friends.  The Simply Stunning Collection by Heirloom Knitting was added although I haven't had a chance to drool yet as its still at GG's place.  Next was some Dale of Norway patterns and a few balls of their Teflon coated Hauk for the snow.

Next on the list was this Soft Cotton by Lana Grossafrom my lovely German sockwool supplier Connie.  In Pink and Brown for Em on 7mm needles - thats what I like!  I'll be doing the pattern below and the body will be in the chocolate colour and the sleeves, number (2 she wants) and trim in the pale pink.

This should be pretty easy and straightoforward although the bottom of the sleeves is in reib and she wants stocking stitch with a slightly bell sleeve.

Next on the list was some yarn I have been waiting to purchase for the last 12 months - Rowan Felted Tweed.  Cucumberpatch has an online store but this purchase was through her Ebay store.  It was FREE SHIPPING to Australia which I think is a BIG deal.  I got 8 balls of Whisper and 8 of Herb and would love to make Salina and I have some ideas for the Whisper involving Lace.

This deserves a BIG picture as it makes me REALLY HAPPY!!! this yarn.

I'll leave the knitting content for tomorrow if I can lift my fingers to type.  Rogue is coming along well and I have discovered that Alison and I are doing the exact same thing at the same time - Rogue in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran tweed in Dusk!! HAve a lovely weekend and to all those involved in KNit In at Fed Square today hope you had a good one!

Happy knitting