More stripes

Tags

clothing, Heidi Kirrmaier, jumper, stripes, Sydney

There’s been a lot of knitting but not much posting about it recently. I have been distracted by the ease with which images are shared on Instagram. Fortunately, I have been reading some blogs which is how I came to be the lucky winner in knitthellout’s 600th post! The celebratory giveaway was for one of her patterns plus a skein of Bulletproof Sock by Sweet Georgia Yarns. Cassy’s just released a new sock pattern,  Chevrolicious, which had come up in my Ravelry highlights feed, in this yarn. It looks like such a perfect combination that I chose this pattern and I’m more than delighted to have won! What a lovely surprise for a Sunday morning.

Sunday continued well. We’ve been having a bit of a non-winter here in Sydney. The weather’s been lovely, spring is certainly (almost) here. I’ve just finished this jumper and wore it out yesterday into the Botanic Gardens. Sitting out of the sun I was glad of its warmth. I’m really pleased with the amount of ease. It has just the right amount of casual sloppiness to it.

It’s After the Rain by Heidi Kirrmaier, knitted top-down in the round. The stripes are 6-round stripes and the shaping happens every 9 or 12 rounds which really makes counting easy. I knitted a lot of this while watching the Olympics.

There’s some waist shaping which really stops a loose-fitting jumper from becoming just a baggy sack.

I struggled a bit with my colour changes. I tried jogless stripes by picking up the first stitch from the round below when I was on the second round but it looked a bit bulky. In the end when I started a new stripe, I pulled the last stitch tight from that colour below so that it almost disappeared and then knitted the new stripe.

I also tried to tighten up the SSK, left-leaning decreases too. I can never get these to be as neat as their right-leaning counterparts.

Otherwise, I’m really happy with this jumper. The shaping and fit are good and I’d definitely use the pattern again.

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The post I shouldn’t be writing

Tags

beach, blanket, holiday, Lizard Ridge, stripes, Sydney

Why?

Because right now Mr Soknitsome and I should be enjoying a holiday on Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of global natural significance, lying in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.

So why aren’t we enjoying our holiday?

It’s not a question of enjoying ourselves – there’s simply no holiday!

Things started well. We took off on the 90-minute flight to Lord Howe Island last Friday. We’d almost reached the island and then the pilot had us in a holding pattern for a good 30 minutes waiting to see if the weather would improve. It didn’t so we flew to Port Macquarie for refuelling and landed back in Sydney 5 1/4 hours after take-off.

Worse was to come.

There was no flight available until Sunday morning. Saturday passed slowly. We couldn’t really settle to anything. We weren’t meant to be at home.

Up bright and early on Sunday morning we headed off to the airport for our 7 am flight. Boarding was delayed twice. Not a good sign. Mr Soknitsome had found detailed weather forecasts on the bureau of meteorology’s website indicating low cloud. At 8 am our flight and the following one were cancelled. The weather wasn’t expected to improve.

Worse was to come.

Airline staff were saying we might be able to fly out on Wednesday. Yes, five days into our week’s holiday, we might be able to fly…

Holiday cancelled.

Back at home in Sydney we grudgingly unpacked (we weren’t meant to be at home), and did some grocery shopping to fill the empty fridge (because we weren’t meant to be there).  

Ironically, the weather was lovely in Sydney so we walked over to Elizabeth Bay where we enjoyed an ice-cream and the view and tried not to complain about the holiday that wasn’t.

I even did some of my holiday knitting. I’d decided to make a few more pieces for the 4-ply weight Lizard Ridge blanket I’m making. Here’s what I knitted at the airport, on the flight, and on the beach by the sea…

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What a su-purl-ative Saturday!

Tags

Christmas, friends, Knitters' Guild NSW, Ravelry, skein, Sydney, yarn

The second Saturday of the month is when the Inner City group of the Knitters’ Guild NSW meets. This month’s meeting was a little different as Lyn and I were convening the meeting for the first time. Having expressed an interest in the position prior to the AGM, we found ourselves nominated by default since many members have already done a stint and were happy for someone else to take a turn. The Inner City group has about 80 members but many are unable to attend every month so we were probably only speaking in front of about 30 odd knitters and crocheters. We don’t just get together to socialise over our knitting and crochet. The Guild’s constitution states that the object of the Guild is to

• encourage and maintain high standards in design and techniques
• provide a forum for the exchange and provision of information
• provide the opportunity for education in the craft

With these aims in mind, we had a bit of a brainstorm and came up with suggestions for talks and skills/techniques development for the coming year. We also collected lots of other excellent suggestions from members and now have the task of putting together an interesting and varied programme for 2016.

After the Guild meeting the knitting fun continued…

The Thursday night knitting group traditionally goes for afternoon tea in December. So we hopped on a train and travelled down to Circular Quay to enjoy a delightful tea at the Sir Stamford Hotel.  Not having knitted enough already, we were working away on our projects before we’d even had a sip of bubbly!

There were fourteen of us and we were seated around one large table in a private room which was great for chatting. Thanks to Kelly, the organiser, there was some lovely Christmas fun and games with ‘guess the yardage’ of an anonymous skein, a lucky draw, and a Secret Santa Skein Swap. Here’s the lovely yarn I came home with.

This is a hand-dyed skein from Hawthorne Cottage Yarns. It’s a 4-ply wool/nylon blend that feels sturdy enough for some great socks. But the reds are so stunning that perhaps it should be a little something for around a neck? Choices, choices!

Whilst having tea, we even came up with a more appropriate name for our Thursday group. We’re easier to find now on Ravelry – we’re the Sydney CBD Knitters. So if you’re ever in Sydney on a Thursday evening, come on by!

KnitCamp 2015 – the best bits

Tags

Ann Budd, friends, KnitCamp2015, Knitters' Guild NSW, knitting, Ravelry, Sydney

Ann Budd’s class
Goodie bags
Knitting outdoors
Lucky draws
Mystery scarf competition
Neck massages
Presentations
Show and tell
Stash enhancement
Techniques turntables
Workshops

Last weekend the Knitters’ Guild NSW hosted KnitCamp 2015 at Stanwell Tops, just over an hour away from Sydney. There were all things knitterly from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon.

On Friday evening there was a techniques turntables event.  I came away feeling more knowledgeable about German short rows, kitchener stitch and grafting. Afterwards the prizewinner for the Mystery Scarf competition was announced: a relatively new knitter made a fabulous double-knit scarf in memory of and depicting her cat!

Ann Budd held classes on fixing mistakes and we did scary things like dropping down several rows of stitches in order to reknit cables so they twisted the other way, dropping end-of-row stitches and she even cut a hole in her knitting to demonstrate fixing that too! I feel quite confident I could fix an incorrectly leaning cable without having to frog several inches of work, despite my sample here not being quite perfect. 

But Ann didn’t just teach classes, she spent the whole weekend with us, hanging out with her knitting and putting up with all the fans and the adoration. And this, despite being quite poorly and losing her voice. She was wearing lovely knitted garments herself. Several of us admired a skirt she wore and she kindly lifted up her top to show us the waistband and the darts shaping the hips.

The Knitters’ Guild NSW has some new merchandise and we received lovely goody bags  with Guild merchandise, yarn, tools and retailers’ information inside.

There were various workshops that we had signed up for when we registered. As well as Ann’s class I took part in a Fair-Isle/stranded knitting class. The teacher, Merrin, brought along some fantastic jumpers she’d made. As you can see from these samples, I still need more practice!

The Christmassy-looking sample was knitted flat. Purling was hard so I was glad to be able to work in the round for the blue and grey piece. I started by holding both yarns in my left hand (I’m a continental knitter). When I got part-way through the snowflakes I switched to grey in left hand and blue in right and I think this makes the knitting more even.

We were very fortunate with the weather. People got up early to go walking and later, sat around knitting and crocheting outdoors if they didn’t have a class. I managed a bit of knitting outdoors in the sunshine at lunchtime. It was lovely early spring weather, just right for all the beautiful knitwear on show. Seen a cardigan you fancy on Ravelry? Someone was probably wearing it.

When they’re not knitting, Guild members are partial to enhancing their stash. On Saturday there was a retailers’ market. I was keen to see some Australian yarn up close and of course, once you’ve started petting and stroking, there’s no way you can just walk away. My purchases were quite modest – a skein of baby alpaca and mulberry silk (lace weight) from The House of Wool

and Ozifarmer’s Market Silky Merino Lace.

However, I then succumbed to the yarn that one of our local Guild branch members had used to make a beautiful Nurmilintu and so this also came home with me. It’s Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal. Several of us bought it for the same scarf. The hardest part was deciding on a colour; they were all fabulous. One knitter even cast hers on while we were there.

That isn’t the end of the yarn acquisition – I was also one of the lucky draw recipients and won this Ella Rae Lace Merino which is actually fingering/4-ply yarn.

I was very happy to be sharing a room with some of the Inner City Guild branch, friends from Thursday night knitting. I really feel more like a part of things here, which is good since I’ve now been in Sydney for 10 months.

The whole weekend actually was very relaxing. On Saturday there were even two masseurs who went around giving everybody a neck and shoulder massage. It was wonderful. People knitted and crocheted everywhere and all the time – while listening to presentations (on using digital tools and Ravelry, and from a local publisher) and during show and tell, as well as when the winner of the Mystery Shawl competition was announced. In fact from early morning until the small hours of the following morning it was knit, knit, knit!

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Primavera – my three seasons socks

Tags

knitting, patterns, Ravelry, seasons, socks, Sydney, Wolle Rödel, yarn

These socks have been a work-in-progress for far too long. I kept abandoning them for other projects. I ‘saved’ them for times when sock-knitting was best. They’ve been to a few Thursday knit nights but it’s been a while since I’ve  worked on them with any kind of commitment. It was time to change all that. Besides, I really like the colours and I am still keen to have more socks that aren’t shades of blue or green in my sock drawer.

So having started these in summery January, and worked on them on-and-off through the autumn, they are now finished. Perfect timing as Sydney has been experiencing a cold snap. The yarn comes from a German company – Wolle Rödel – and this is a traditional 75% wool / 25% nylon blend. I really like the Primavera pattern. I modified it so I could knit these toe-up. The cables would have pointed the wrong way otherwise. This could have been tricky but, luckily enough, another Raveler, Kunterbunt, had done the same so I followed her stitch instructions. (Her project comes up as a linked bookmark on my Ravelry project page). It worked like a charm. I started each sock with the same colour but clearly not in exactly the same place!

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Knitting in Sydney … but not mine

Tags

cardigan, Coogee Pavilion, knitting, lampshade, progress, Ravelry, socks, Sydney, toe-up

Isn’t this just a great piece of knitting?

You can see it in all its glory hanging from the ceiling in the Coogee Pavilion. (The Pavilion is an 1880’s building that started life as an aquarium and swimming pool and now houses a restaurant, café and more. Coogee is a beach suburb situated to the south-east of Sydney.)

This lampshade is a good metre in diameter and if I lived in the kind of home that had space for a giant chandelier I would definitely consider a lampshade like this one.

I have been knitting. I have. But nothing as spectacular as lampshades. Just chugging along with my cardigan which I’m now keen to finish so I can start the next project I have planned.

There’s another toe-up sock on my needles, too, but goes without saying and, anyway, I needed some easy and portable knitting to take to the Thursday night knitting get-together.  All will be revealed soon.

In the meantime, did you know there are 156 patterns for lampshades on Ravelry?

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It’s not just a walk in the park

Tags

Art Gallery, Botanic Gardens, history, Sydney, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, walk, wool

This is a photo-laden post with no knitting so if you’re here for some pretties, they are of the scenic and not the woolly kind!

Since moving to Sydney I’ve continued with my regular morning walk. Six kilometres along the Rhine have been replaced with a good five around part of the harbour, the Opera House and through the Botanic Gardens. The photos here were taken over several days.

I begin parallel to Finger Wharf. This is the longest timbered-piled wharf in the world and started out as a wool-shipping wharf! The old buildings have been renovated and turned into flats and restaurants.

This is one of a collection of seashell sculptures that are reverberation chambers. They are sometimes submerged so that natural sounds mix with the pre-recorded historical information. The pathway climbs a little allowing a view of the Andrew “Boy” Charlton swimming pool. Charlton was an Australian swimmer who won five Olympic medals during the 1920s but there’s been some kind of swimming here since the first Europeans settled in Sydney. Woolloomooloo Bay was a working harbour and you can see the naval dockyard (still in operation) in the background.

Further along Mrs Macquarie’s Trail, we get to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. This is a popular tourist spot but bereft of people early in the morning. Macquarie was the Governor of New South Wales from 1810-1821 and he had this seat carved (by convicts) out of the rock for his wife to enjoy the view.

Walk round Mrs Macquarie’s Point and you’re confronted with The View – Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Again, come early for people-free photos! Then it’s a walk around Farm Cove. On my right the Opera House in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge and on my left this lovely Jacaranda tree. Look closely and you’ll spot that lovely Jacaranda tree again once I’ve walked 1.4 km round the cove and am nearing the Opera House. Almost there!

Then I then walk right round the outside of the Opera House to get a good view of the bridge. Straight across, you have The Rocks and Mr Soknitsome works in one of the office buildings here on the left.

Back into the Botanic Gardens near Government House, the residence of the Governor of NSW (this photo was taken from further inside the gardens). I then meander my way home. I have little or no sense of direction and so I end up taking various paths but always at a fast pace. Past this herb garden, or these giant trees (the statue is almost life-size so you get an idea of how large some of these old trees are). Mr Soknitsome first showed me this Elephant Foot Tree but I have since found it myself.

When I pass this fountain

I know I’ve reached the Woolloomooloo Gate. Then I walk past the Art Gallery of New South Wales and I’m almost home.

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The Knitters’ Guild – serious knitting!

Tags

AIWCC, cardigan, Knitters Guild, knitting, Sydney

Yesterday morning I attended the monthly meeting of the Inner City Group of the Knitters’ Guild of New South Wales.

Here’s some information from the Guild’s website:

The Knitters’ Guild NSW Inc. was established to promote and encourage the disciplines of handknitting and crochet. It also encourages the maintenance of high standards in design and technique, provides the opportunity for the exchange and provision of information and education in the craft and encourages the exhibition of member’s work…

And

The Guild regularly arranges workshops and demonstrations in many disciplines including Aran Knitting, fine lace and Shetland lace knitting, Fair Isle, Crochet etc…

And

The Standards Committee has developed a series of Achievement Certificate Syllabuses in both knitting and crochet for those members who wish to improve or extend their skills and knowledge of techniques.

Sounds serious, doesn’t it? And it was. But ‘serious’ in a variety of ways. As soon as the tables and chairs were set up, it was down to the serious business of knitting! First up were official matters – electing committee members for the coming year. Important and serious but undertaken in a very relaxed, albeit proper manner with many members up for re-election.

Then there was morning tea (Australian for Britain’s elevenses or Germany’s second breakfast), a chance to look at books in the library boxes, and general mingling before Lyn gave a lovely talk about a knitting cruise she’d been on that took her from Copenhagen to New York by way of Norway, the Faroe Islands and many more places. She shared anecdotes, talked about the lovely yarn she’d acquired en route and showed items made during the various classes that had taken place on board. At the end she distributed fact sheets including places of interest and details of the various shops. You can see some super pictures and find out more over several posts here on her lovely blog Shades of Grey.

The serious business of knitting? Well, from where I was sitting, it appeared as if everyone continued working despite listening attentively to Lyn’s talk. Afterwards, there was a chance to take a closer look at her lovely acquisitions whilst others exchanged notes and compared patterns and yarn and… knitted. It was lovely to be surrounded by so many knowledgeable knitters. I know that M, my co-leader from the AIWCC Stitch ‘n’ Bitch would’ve enjoyed it immensely, too.

My serious knitting was this: Same Same but Different by Ankestrick (aka Fallmasche), a lightweight cardigan knitted top-down.

I was asked by more than one person if I was going for lunch. It turned out that people go off in small groups so I lunched with some I’d said yes to and not others – I guess I’ll just have to go back!

Knitting in Sydney

Tags

community, Knitters Guild, knitting, Ravelry, Sydney

Today was a wonderful knitterly day.

First of all, I knitted and had lunch with some of the North Sydney Knitters. There were four of us and we had lunch and knitted outdoors and spent a lovely hour together (lunch break for most people so time is precious).

Later on, I went along to the group that meets in York Street every Thursday. I have to admit to feeling a bit nervous beforehand. I’d met a couple of the North Sydney Knitters on my short visit in August but this group was totally new. I’d enquired about their meeting on Ravelry (the website for knitters and crocheters and other wool crafters. If you don’t now about it, you should!) so I knew I’d find some friendly crafters but I was slightly taken aback to discover I’d been checked out in the meantime. I suppose it’s a bit like mothers eyeing up other mothers at the school gates in an attempt to assess the suitability of their offspring being playmates.

Having said that, I had a wonderful time. I was made to feel most welcome and everyone took pains to fill me in on current events. I was encouraged to join the next Knitters Guild monthly meeting, which takes place this Saturday morning. I was told that the Inner City group (yes, there are several groups in Sydney and the surrounding area) is quite eclectic, hip and cool.

Now I just have to think about what I take along for show and tell!

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One final marvellous Monday

Tags

AIWCC, Cologne, crafters, Cross-stitch, expatriate, knitting, Monday, Stitch 'n' Bitch, Sydney

Today was the last one of those Mondays that I particularly like: when members of the American International Women’s Club of Cologne get together for Stitch ‘n’ Bitch. I have to admit to having been a bit anxious beforehand, knowing I would be saying goodbye (for now) to many lovely people.

We knitted and cross-stitched and chatted. I only knitted a bit but helped a friend with a nifty trick for making a three-needle bind-off easier and chatted lots. I was very touched that one member came especially to have a coffee with us and say goodbye. I also got to unpack some lovely stripey sock wool and several sock patterns – perfect aeroplane knitting –  from a friend who knows how much I like to knit socks! Another friend flew into Germany from the US this morning, made a short stop at home, and came along to catch the tail-end of Stitch ‘n’ Bitch before we went to lunch.

My co-leader, M, and I had decided to have a bit of fun and so we both turned up in our Ravello jumpers. Mine is a roomy, winter version. M has knitted a fitted, all-season jumper in gorgeous colours of Holst Garn. It was quite amusing to see people’s reactions when they realised that, yes, we were wearing the same jumpers! We have even both done the Odd Sleeve Thing.*

One of our cross-stitchers knew about the perfect place for lunch and after suitable refuelling (crafting is hungry work) and much laughter, I was very touched to be given an extremely generous gift voucher for the wool shop in Sydney, Morris and Sons. I already have a couple of ideas but will wait and see how things really are weather-wise. I’d like to make a garment and think of all my lovely friends in Cologne while I’m knitting it and every time I wear it.

Being part of an expatriate or itinerant community, means you’re saying goodbye to people on a fairly regular basis. It never gets any easier, regardless of whether you’re leaving or watching others go. In my unassuming way, I’m always slightly taken aback that my sorrow at leaving is matched by those I leave behind. Despite some tears, today ended on a bright note: one friend reminded me that exciting opportunities lie ahead and that she and others will still be in Cologne when we return. Watch this space! 🙂

*Ravelry is the perfect resource for ‘variations on a theme’ both for Ravello and other  delectable stripey garments!

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