Winter Goals

I love the way one can see the sky through the Australian trees.

Life continues to give me lessons aimed at keeping me flexible in my plans and expectations. Even the weather brings surprises. Overcast days alternate with warmer nights. We throw off a layer or two of covers. We leave wool socks in a pile and dig through clothes, looking for something cool. We have no need for a morning fire. Winter isn't really over, it's just taking a break.

My Bendigo Woolen Mills yarn order arrived and I've completed a pair of knitted socks for the other twin who may not really like socks, but sometimes socks are required and perhaps that's when Gran's handknitted socks will find acceptance. (We grans know about patience.)

Second pair of handknitted Toddler Socks:
ChippySocks for Kids - pattern by ColorJoy
Bendigo's Harmony yarn

I began thinking I might want to knit a more colorful pair or two, like the one's illustrated in ColorJoy's Chippy Socks for Kids pattern. Then, reality struck and I faced the fact that I've never done colorwork knitting which requires knitting with two (or more) strands of yarn, held two in one hand or one in each hand. But, how hard can it be? My first go at a sample plainly demonstrated: yes, this is going to require patience....

Lucky for me, ColorJoy posted a series of five videos on YouTube. She made them to accompany a KnitAlong featuring another of her patterns, Crystal Socklet, published in Knitty. One of the ColorJoy videos addresses the how-to of colorwork. I feel encouraged after viewing it. Maybe I'll feel brave enough to start a pair of Crystal socklets for myself!

On the weekend I'll start spinning cotton as a member of the Tour de Fleece group in Ravelry. I joined the Team I Spin Cotton 2012. My goal is to use my Ashford wheel as well as a support spindle to spin cotton daily throughout the Tour de France. (Australia's Cadel Evans won the Tour de France last year.)

I plan to use the resultant handspun cotton yarn in my weaving project. I've finished sleying the reed for that project – though not until after discovering I had miscounted ends and had to wind two more. Next, I thread the heddles. I have plenty of plans. Life gives me opportunities to practice patience... while adapting and pursuing my goals.

Post by M in JaM

Photos by J in JaM

Handwork

Toddler sock

I finished knitting a pair of toddler socks. They provide “growing room,” sez mum. As soon as my order for more Harmony yarn (30% wool, 69.6% cotton, 0.4% lycra) from Bendigo Woolen Mills arrives, I can begin knitting another pair... that's what you do when it comes to twins... you knit more!

I used a sock pattern called ChippySocks for Kids by ColorJoy. The pattern calls for 2-3 colours (and looks incredibly cheerful), but I had only one colour on hand. I found the pattern easy to follow. I think I'm getting quicker at knitting socks... but that's probably a personal illusion inspired by such small socks.

Have you noticed how many people these days seem to believe whatever suits them, ignoring facts to the contrary?

I cling to my small fantasy of getting faster at knitting socks. It gives me hope that I can produce knitted socks faster than the twins outgrown them. Since we live in the Tropics, socks are winter wear. Kids in Summer favour bare feet. I can take a break then... or get a headstart on the next winter.

Sleying the reed

When it comes to weaving, I've finally come to enjoy the complete process: winding a warp, sleying the reed, threading the heddles, beaming the warp, weaving and finishing. The complete process takes however long it takes. To avoid aggravating shoulder problems, I divide my weaving chores into numerous short sessions. I've reached the halfway mark in sleying the reed. 

Coffee assists with sleying the reed

You can see that a mug of coffee adds to my pleasure. I warp my loom front to back, following excellent instructions found in Warping All By Yourself by Cay Garrett. (No longer in print, but used copies can be found.) 

Post by M in JaM

Pix by J in JaM