Sock Knitting with New Wool

Just look at the fabulous wool I bought from thr Bus Depot Special Wool Markets today. The blue has flecks of silver in it and will make a scrumptious pair of socks. The plum wool is also for a lace pair of socks too. I am going through a bit of a sock phase. The markets were fun and I even met a friend blogger. The wool was from Fibrewebs and the lady who sold them to me dyes the wool herself. She had a lovely range of wool and blends. Ahhhh, I had a fantastic time and can not wait to get knitting.

Viola time already!

Im potting up some happy viola faces today and replacing the petunias.That always means it is getting cooler.

Im going yo enjoy wearing my lace cardi this Autumn.

flowers and lace top

I finally finished the lace top I started ages ago. The design is from the craftsy class; Crazy Lace Cardigan www.craftsy.com.

I have been busy in the garden collecting Lunaria seed pods and potting up little cuttings in tea pots.

Cooler Days

 Lovely echinacea!

 It has been terribly hot here and we're now having a couple of cooler days which I am enjoying!

 My lemon verbena is flowering. This herb really speaks to me. The aroma is divine and the flowers just so precious!:-)

Raspberry Delight!

What a lovely find this morning! Hiding in the mass of leaves is a real red raspberry! There are heaps more on the bushes too! It's going to be a great year for them I hope.

Yet more sweet peas. I am just loving them so much! They have actually taken over the veggie patch!<3 br="br">

Sweet Peas!

 

I'm loving the Sweet Peas in my garden!

Everything seems to be in flower!

 

One of my favourite roses is Pierre de Ronsardt. Where ever you maybe, stop and smell the roses!:-)

Spring Roses

                                The Zephryn's are out in bloom! Aren't they just divine?

                                                 One of my favourites, the Meg Rose.
                                                                           

Mum and Flowers!

   My mum is modelling the Haruni Shawl (emily ross). She loves it!

                              My youngest daughter took this photo at a local flower show! So beautiful!

Happy Spring and happy knitting!:-)

Blocking Haruni

Haruni

 I finally finished haruni by Emily Ross. The last few rows were challenging but I got there in the end. I think my hands might not be able to do such fine lace knitting for much longer as my rheumatoid arthritis in my joints is just too painful. However, I just love this shawl. It is a present for my mum's birthday next week. She loves red.

 The blocking was harder than I thought it would be as the shawl is not a typical triangular shape, like the others I have done! I also ran out of pins and had to race off to the shops to get more!

                                                       This is me blocking the edges.

 This has been a lovely pattern to follow and I just adore the name "Haruni"(by Emily Ross) which means "Grandmother" in Elvish (Tolkien's language).

Finally, a shot of Honesty, or "Lunaria" from my garden. I love watching the purple flowers turn into little silver moons! Happy Knitting!:-)

No Knitting!:-(

I have not knitted in four days. I know it doesn't sound like a long time, but for a hard core knitter, it is an eternity! RA is awful! It's ok if it gives me pain and trouble in my hips, knees and feet, but not my hands! The thumb joint on my left hand is swollen and sore and the wrist on my right hand is bad. My fingers are swollen and chubby from the meds and the arthritis in every joint. What a whinge I'm having today! You know, I've never really considered that one day I may not be able to knit. In fact the thought makes me want to cry. I'm going to try to knit just a few stitches today -maybe if I just pace myself and take it slow I'll be ok. I might try some crochet instead for a while. All my projects are on hold. I really want to get the Haruni done for my mum's birthday on October 2nd. I'm not sure if I'll make it on time! I'm trying to be positive and take it slow but part of me is trying to accept that perhaps I can't knit as much as I want:-(.

Spring Blue Wren

 This is "Bluey". He is a blue wren who lives in our garden. He is always followed by many females wrens (with no blue markings) who nest in our roses and honey-suckle.

 Isn't he just gorgeous!?

 Spring has made an appearance finally with the blooming of many jonquils and daffodils in our garden. I'm just loving them all! It has been a long and particularly bitter winter here. The last three days have been so sunny and bright, it has lifted my spirits so much! I'm looking forward to more planting and sowing in the garden in the weeks to come!

Wishing you warm weather and sunny days where-ever you may be!:-)

Brown Owlie Sockies!

 I finally finished the Brown Owlie Socks by Julie Elswick Suchomel! Yay, they took a while as I just didn't seem to be able to get the cable turns right initially! I did get it eventually and I'm very happy with the little owls!

 It looks like they are camouflaged! The eyes are black beads. I think if I do this pattern again I'll use a plain light colour so as to see the shapes better.

Still, they are very cute and warm! I knitted them for my eldest who actually has the smallest feet!
Happy Knitting!:-)

Spring Sunshine Afternoon Knitting

 I've been enjoying some sunny afternoons while working on the Haruni shawl (by Emily Ross) which is coming on slowly.

 As you can see, they way I keep track of where I am in my knitting is very messy!

 A couple of purchases! I just love buying knitting books! These ones are just brilliant! I like a few of the sock patterns in Sock Knitting and you can never have enough books on lace stitiches and charts!:-) I bought these from Candobooks.com.au.

I have some hellebore cuttings to plant up into a shady spot! Oooooh lovely!

Wishing you sunny afternoons filled with knitting!:-)

In Love with New Square Needles!

 How groovy are my new Knit Pro Cubics Needles from The Wool Shack! I totally love them. I started knitting Haruni by designer Emily Ross with normal metal 4mm circulars, but I found them too slippy with such a fine lace weight alpaca yarn, so I bought these new ones online. They are just heavenly to knit with -especially for arthritic and slightly deformed fingers like mine!

 The Owlie Socks by  designer Julie Elswick Suchomel are coming on slowly! I'm getting there! I bought some lovely little black beads for the owl's eyes which I'm very happy with.

Crazy Lace Cardigan with Myra Woods on Craftsy is also growing slowly. This is my "knitting in public" project as I can carry on a conversation, or just knit mindlessly on this one at the moment as I'm just finishing the bottom in feather and fan. I've still got the sleeves and front bands to do. I wonder what it will look like washed, blocked and finished!? The colours are a lovely rainbow!

Where are you up to in your knitting?:-)