Off the Map

It was an eventful Christmas. There were piles of gifts knitted,  embroidered, sewn and exchanged, with only one project not making it to the finish line. The aim was to take this 25 grams of two ply, semi woolen, roughly worsted weight Polwarth

and turn it into a simple,  garter stitch cosy for a glass tea pot. Unfortunately,  that pretty little skein was about 5 metres too short, so it's back to the spinning wheel.

Or it would be,  if I wasn't utterly absorbed by THIS:

Note: decide width BEFORE warping.

My new 60cm (24 inch) Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom. I scored some sale bin merino/angora on our weekend trip down the coast, which I am using as the weft for some alpaca/silk/merino warp which was stagnating in the stash. I don't use purple. Note to self: do not buy purple.

With three feet of scarf appearing in just a few hours, I am currently in weave ALL the things mode. Once the novelty passes,  it's back to the wheel for me.

(Christmas was lovely. I cooked a good dinner for lovely people, the kids were spoiled and the day was blissfully cool.)

Can't sleep, WIPs will eat me!

The bag came along nicely,  though it awaits finishing until the intended recipient leaves the house! I neglected to take any photos of its semi-complete state, so please imagine a red and white boxy bag. Exciting stuff.

In the meantime,  I've washed, carded and spun about 50 grams of a beautiful Polwarth fleece I picked up at the fabulous Petlins when I took the husband to purchase the loom (which I do not know about, although he needed my help to purchase it)(I do know about it)(it mocks me from beneath the tree).

Bobbin two of two in progress. 

It drafts like butter, so I have no one to blame but myself for any inconsistencies.  I'm aiming for a dk or light worsted weight two-ply, which I will then dye, and knit into a little cozy for the glass teapot I'm giving to my father in law. In seven days. While squeezing in a family holiday with two kids and a five hour drive. I'm sensing a theme here.

At least the rest of the Christmas crafts are ready for gifting, with this last one just requiring a quick bath.

Embroidered me, you have!

Hmm, and the lip balms. And bath bombs. Better get back to work. 

Who am I? Where am I? Pass the wrapping paper.

Very little knitting to report, as I've fallen down a rabbit hole of my own choosing. Why I would volunteer - without prompting - to sew a carry bag for a large piece of electronic equipment, within a week, without ever having picked up a sewing needle before...The mind boggles. However, it is going along smashingly, despite being on the fly and based entirely on an idea. Just have to focus,  and ignore the shawl edging's cries.

Also,  I felted a hat, which I had serious doubts about until I tossed it in a hot wash and it came out, in a word, perfect. 

 Back to work. 

Is this thing on?

I fell down the well of knitting nuttiness with a scarf. It was crappy, knit at too tight a gauge in scratchy craft shop wool on my mother in law's borrowed needles. I swore I would never knit another thing. I returned to happily hooking, churning out beanies and blankies via crochet, until I desired a scarf myself. One with ribbing, and cables. So I bought a cheap set of needles, churned it out...and quickly found myself knitting matching fingerless mitts. It was a downhill slide from there, and now I find myself trying to find ways to knit everything from t shirts to swimsuits. My child now has to beg for store-bought stuffies, and my baby is bundled into bamboo dresses when summer temps drive the tiny jumpers into storage. I dabble in dyeing, wing a lot of my own patterns, and really don't enjoy sock knitting.