Is it really so long ...

My goodness, is it really so long since we talked?  The partial eclipse of the sun happened on November 14 at about 10am.  Of course, just at that moment big black clouds rolled in obscuring much of the view but we managed to get a few pictures using welding glass during the breaks in the cloud.

The beach blankets mentioned in the previous post turned out excellent.  Anyone would love to cuddle up in one on a cool evening.

The next series was Marsden pounamu, somewhat brighter than this pic indicates, with mustardy gold flecks through them.

As mentioned last post I'm trying to finish off some projects.  The irony is not lost on me in that this morning I was walking the beach, paddling in the surf in a sleeveless top and I have just finished off my winter jumper.  That's what preparing for an exhibition does to you.

 The centre panel is ring spun mohair (from the angora goat) knitted in double moss stitch. I joined the shoulders and picked up stitches along the edge of front and back to knit sideways.  If I recall a stitch was picked up on every three out of four rows but now that the garment has been wet finished I could have had more moss stitch rows and picked up the same number of stitches or picked up less sideways stitches.  I had expected the moss stitch to drop but it hasn't.  Still it fits good albeit with an interesting hem shape.

 This was supposed to be an exercise to use up some of the novelty yarns I have but really it hasn't made a dent in the pile.

I brought some fabric home with me from Melbourne which my cousin asked me to sew for her.  She visited yesterday and the garment fits perfectly.  I just happened to have a ball of sock yarn that pretty much toned with the fabric so ...

You might wonder why only one sock is modelled on this blog.  My cousin lost a leg in a dreadful accident involving a motorbike and a truck many years ago and she pretty much is the only person I knit socks for.

The pattern is called "THANKS", copyright Satta Design.  I can't remember where I found the reference.  There are a lot of charts to the pattern, one set for each size so its not as intimidating as one could be led to think.

And that is about it.  More blankets woven and a wrap woven but picture shy until finished.

I have been cleaning the house.  Decided it would be best to start in the kitchen first.  Our water contains a lot of silica.  The council assures us its not injurious to human health but it cakes up electrical equipment (jugs etc) and deposits on porcelain, stainless steel and glass.  And of course cleaning has been let to slip with an injured shoulder and all!  I'm not one to obsess about the job!

Time to wind a warp I think.

Pot pouri of catch up

The Kereru wrap as it was displayed at the exhibition recently; upside down, inside out and scrunched to death.  In fact it was more scrunched as it wasn't covering the bobbin lace piece until I started fiddling.

 A simple display at home on the wall.  My lesson is to provide props or hanging system if at all possible and go to the opening to check things out.

Now that the exhibition is behind us and I've made a small headway on work for Pauanesia  (hand dyed warp for Beach blankets) 

a major clean up and finishing of started projects is to happen.  I meant to record the knitting machine before tidy up started, this is about halfway through:

I have finished a hand knit jumper for Jack who is nearly two.  Hopefully it'll still fit him in six months time as its supposed to be nearly summer here, though you wouldn't know it with a chilly breeze.  Many much worse off than that though.

The stitch pattern came from an old Burda magazine and I made up the garment pattern.  We held it against his back and there is room for growth.

One of the bags of "stuff" under the machine was this yarn which has now been straightened and waiting for a new incarnation.

Weaving is happening; two Beach blankets finished and delivered, two more blankets woven and awaiting finishing and a second shibori wrap started on the dobby.  Time to get back to it.