This blog has re-opened elsewhere.

A lot has happened in the last few months, and I feel rejuvenated from the break.
Please join the party over here!

Another day made.

I had seen this meme popping up on a few knitblogs around the place, and thought it was such a sweet idea. It has been a great way of introducing me to new bloggers and kindred spirits. So, who's ready for a few more?

First off, thanks so much to the barefoot rooster for nominating me! Her blog oozes warmth and creativity, and makes me want to get a dog.

Kgirlknits. Kylie--a fellow Australian--is generous, articulate, and pretty darn cluey. Also, she worked hellish retail shifts the thought of which make me feel faint, and lived to tell the tale.

By Elin. Elin is a total cutie. I found her blog through ravelry, after spying on some of her seriously gorgeous projects. I mean come on! Another Aussie too. Props.

Pieces of string too small to save. Gwen Erin is a real sweetheart, and was my first real blog-buddy. She dyes and spins, and makes me want to learn too.

Knit and tonic. Wendy is awesome. Her tales of knitting and urban humiliation crack me up every time. The woman has a gift.

Rainy day goods. Mary-Heather has a great sense of style, and I find myself wanting to make everything she does. Also, her taste in specs totally rocks.

Knitting school dropout. Melissa is the hippest, coolest knitter I've never met. She rocks my boat. And she designed the awesome Stella's hat. What more do you need?

Berlin's whimsy. Amber is so wise and thoughtful, an absolute inspiration. And her lunches look amazing!

Mary Jane, Midge and Mink. Mary Jane designs the most wonderful fair-isle projects and makes it look easy. Such a treat.

Coiled. Kat is a real artist. She lives with such exuberance and generosity, and her son Felix is such a cutie.

Guys, thanks so much for doing what you do. Yay for knitblogs! We've got something good going on here, we really do.

Rock the halls!

First, a confession that may well alienate anyone reading this: I am a bit of a grinch when it comes to Christmas music. I'm not talking about nativity-themed choral stuff, I love traditional carols to bits. What bugs me is the music they play at work all day long (Ahh, retail...): it's music someone decided was Christmassy but seems to be mostly about snow, Santa or the frustrations of long-distance romance. Having never personally experienced any of those things, I may be the world's biggest cynic but they leave me uninspired.

Being an obsessive mix-tape maker, I decided to make a rocking holiday mix of my own. Now, only two of these songs have any Christmas content whatsoever, and my sister the traditionalist will bemoan the lack of bells and children's voices. But these are my gems, the songs that are constantly making me embarass myself on public transport by grinning like a loon and twitching in time. There's a good deal of giddy, dance-inducing folk music here and a few songs more subtle and spare. But they all inspire that rare unselfconscious pleasure that I associate with the best of the season, that handshake of the human and the divine. And so, at the risk of outstaying my welcome (did I just mention religion? What was I thinking?), how about a little giveaway?

I am turning 26 next Wednesday (is 26 still mid-twenties, or late-twenties? I have no idea), and I feel like celebrating. Whoever would like some lovely sock yarn and a copy of said mix-tape, leave a comment on this post with a suggestion of what I should be when I grow up. Comment as many times as you like between now and Christmas and then I'll make up a package to send to my favourite commenter in the new year.

Rockin' the tree.

Yarn: less than 20g sock-weight yarn.
Needles: set of 4 US size 2/2.75mm DPNs
Gauge: 15st and 20 rows to 2"/5cm

You'll also need a little bit of polyfill stuffing.

Using figure-8, CO 9 st (5st on one needle and 4 on the other).
K all sts, splitting over 3 needles.
Knit one round even.

Increase round: [M1, K1] around.
Work 3 rounds even, then another increase round. (36st)
Work 6 rounds even, then another increase round. (72st)
Work 12 rounds even, then begin decreases.

Decrease round: [K2tog] around.
Work 6 rounds even, then another decrease round. (36st)
Work 3 rounds even, then stuff bauble.
Work another decrease round, then one round even.

Cut yarn and thread through live stitches, pulling to tighten.
Make a loop at top of bauble and secure with yarn end.

Home stretch.

This has been my big Christmas project of 2007, a secret throw rug for the boyfriend. I started knitting in October, fresh from the birthday rush and glowingly optimistic about the worthiness of the handknit gift.

I am still a big believer in the worthiness of the handknit gift, don't get me wrong. I have always loved to give, and pride myself on giving good presents. I think knitting for someone involves so much thought and consideration about the recipient that it can't help but be a great gift--and great for the relationship if all that effort is appreciated.

That said, there are things that I dread about this project. I have done most of the knitting now, and am on the home stretch: only two more sets of chevron repeats, border, blocking, and somewhere in there the weaving in of ends. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger (or so I've heard), and when I finish the weaving-in-ends of this project I will surely be a much stronger person than when I began it.

And when it's all done, it'll seem simple: if he likes it I will be a very happy girl.

Yo-yo heaven.

Is it just me, or is that pretty cute?
I love these little suckers, they take only a smidgen of yarn and the same amount of time. Oh, and a bobby pin (the one pictured is 2 and a half inches long). Yo-yo measures about 5cm/2" wide all puckered up.

Instructions are given for both fingering and sport-weight yarn.
Needles: set of 4 4mm/US size 6 double-pointed

[Both kinds of yarn:]
CO 9st; split evenly over 3 needles.
Knit one round.
Increase round: [M1, K1] around.
Next 3 rounds: Knit.
Work another increase round.
Next 6 rounds: Knit.

[Fingering weight only:]
Work another increase round.
Next 3 rounds: Knit.



[Both kinds of yarn:]
Cut yarn, leaving a tail around 30cm/12" long. Thread yarn through each live stitch and slip it off the needle. Pull tight. You will be forming a puckered donut-type shape.

Thread yarn tail through CO sts to tighten loop on base of yo-yo. Push bobby pin through base and secure with yarn tail. Weave in ends!

Disconnected.

I spent the week without the internet due to technical difficulties. At first I was embarassed to admit how much I missed it, as there are unflattering stereotypes attached to people with pale skin and spectacles who are addicted to the internet.

But as the week went on I missed it less, and there were no fits of rage, no twitches or shaky hands: the only withdrawal symptom was a sneaking suspicion that I might've been missing out on something.



But I still had the knitting.
I knit on some Christmas projects, wrote a few limericks, and found a jar for my buttons.
How was everyone else's week?