monkey magic

I've returned from a quick getaway to the Southern Highlands. I spent most of my time wandering around villages, having Devonshire Tea, knitting, and wandering around the grounds of various (no doubt haunted) properties. The haul included:

• six bottles of Rose wine
• a stack of vintage knitting patterns from various antique and op shops
• Roman Polanski's autobiography for $3.00

Big news - Monkey socks officially finished!!!



they turned out great - i love socks that rock!! I used US 1 needles and knit the pattern to the exact specifications.

next up on the knit list:

• more socks - this time some Jaywalkers in Choc Cherry Claudia's Handpaints.
• the vintage baby cape
• Lords and Ladies cardigan from Rowan 41. I have the yarn, Kidsilk Haze in dark grey. just need to swatch.
• beret of some description

Also in a fit of insanity, i have signed up for the Tour De France Knitalong. I don't like watching cycling at all, but I am obsessed with all things French, so am hoping the experience will balance itself out. I'll be knitting a scarf from Victorian Lace Today with some Handmaiden Sea Silk. It will be my first official full lace item. eep!

break

my new favourite sock cast-on - twisted german

i'm heading out of town for a few days as of tomorrow. i shall return with photos aplenty. i'll be scouring various op shops for vintage knitting treasures.

success!

I have finished the crochet blanket! just in time too, for the weather has taken a turn for the rather cold over the past couple of weeks. photos to follow shortly. i wanted to take it down to Sydney University and drape it dramatically over a gargoyle or some books in the library, but the grim weather has temporarily halted my photographic plans.

also another stunning achievement: one monkey sock down, one to go (well, for the first pair at least)! I am currently supposed to be putting finishing touches on a casenote for a law journal - deadline tomorrow morning. must resist temptation to start second monkey sock instead....

i wish i was going to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival again this year. last year was so much fun! but this semester break i'm going up to byron bay instead to swan around the lighthouse and eat In the Pink icecream...good times.

knitty

the new knitty is up.

i quite like the sweet pea socks and the chapeau marnier cloche. i must say nothing else has really grabbed me so far.

Worldwide Knitting in Public Day

Worldwide Knitting in Public Day, Sydney
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

So yesterday myself and Erin braved the insane weather to go to knitting in public day down at the Sidewalk Cafe near the Opera House. It was good to meet other knitters and see lots of exciting projects on the needles. tragedy struck, however, when two of my lantern moon ebony sock needles snapped in half during transit from Petersham to Circular Quay. luckily i had a spare set of knit picks with me, which i have now decided i like better anyway. we probably would have stayed longer if the weather wasn't so awful, but we bailed and went and ate some sushi.
then i had a quick trip to kinokuniya, and snapped up a copy of Knitting Lingerie Style. it's a gorgeous book. i think i'll make the trumpet flared skirt first. i've always wanted to knit a skirt.

vintage babies!

my new plan - covering the babies of the world in vintage-inspired clothing! perhaps a bit ambitious, so i'll start with one baby. have been commissioned by a fashion-industry friend to make her lovely little baby some one-off pieces from my enormous collection of vintage knitting patterns.



so it would appear that currently all i seem to be knitting is baby clothes. have managed to keep plugging along on the monkey socks, have almost finished the crochet blanket, and probably would have finished it if i didn't get so distracted this afternoon watching cillian murphy resisting the british army in The Wind That Shakes the Barley.