FO: Miss Jane

I'm proud to say my first FO for the year is one for me, me, me.













Knit in stunning red "Paris" DK by Red Riding Hood yarns (you can find her on facebook for weekly updates and custom orders). I made my grey abalone in her 10ply last month. The colours dont show perfectly in the full summer sun, it's much richer and deeper in real life.







































The pattern is an adult version of the Jane cardigan by Georgie Hallam aka Tikki. I was pretty thrilled to get a testing spot because I know her designs are so popular and there were lots of interested folks. A long long time ago I test knit the oriental lily dress for Tikki so it was pretty special to test knit her first adult knit too.



























I love the style of this cardigan. Short sleeves is nice for the humid climate here, when you just need something to keep the breeze off but don't want anything too heavy, and I love the clean, tailored lines of it. The neckline is flattering, both open and closed and I can see this being a truly wearable piece - from jeans to summer dresses. I couldnt have been more thrilled with how this turned out actually :) I've already worn it several times and I only finished it a few days ago.

The pattern is still being worked on, keep an eye out for it on Ravelry, it shouldn't be too far away. Info on yardage etc is ravelled here.

Summer at home

Summer has been very quiet for us. 2011 was busy and stressful; it's been nice just to chill out at home and read lots of books and do not a lot of anything. The weather has been very wet so lots of the things we planned got written off and we've just been hanging out at home mostly.


Sunrise over the valley.

One thing about now having our OWN place is the ability to make the garden our own too. We planted some things - a lemon tree (DH) and some hydrangeas (me), we found a massive rhubarb plant hidden by the rose bushes and have been indulging in bowls of hot stewed rhubarb and vanilla icecream. There was already a gorgeous strawberry patch which we ate our way through, and the plums are just starting to ripen - DH finds me one each afternoon. The paddocks have cattle grazing in them now so we're feeling like proper lifestylers, the kids enjoy saying hello.



We did a day trip to Auckland and spent an afternoon at Butterfly Creek. It was awesome. The kids absolutely loved it.




I dont think Ive ever been so up and close and personal to butterflies before, it was quite magical.



One week left of the summer break. In some ways it feels like it has gone by so fast, and then in others (when the kids are fighting mostly) I feel ready for a dose of normality and routine! Term 1 looms ahead. In the meantime I'll be spending some quality time with my new love...


And knitting on with a test knit for Tikki

Just because

Just because I wanted something mindless and easy while we were in the midst of the shifting house chaos. Miles of stocking stitch was just the thing.




















The yarn, a "just because" impulse buy. Gorgeous gray toned 10ply from the Breaking Dawn update at Red Riding Hood yarns. The colourway is called "Imprint" and makes me think of wolves. I seem to be really drawn to gray at the moment.




















Just because, after lots and lots of gift knitting, it was time to make something just for me. Pattern is Abalone. A pattern that is more like a recipe, but easy to modify to suit your own measurements. Soothing stocking stitch finished off with a gorgeous Icord bind off (takes a long time but worth it I think). I think this is going to be a great layering piece for when the weather cools.




















Just because I fell in love with the pattern - Escargot from the last knitty. It's high summer here, I certainly do not need a worsted weight hat right now but I knit it anyway...just because I wanted to :)























I hope to knit more things "just because" in 2012. I'm not making goals to finish my wips or knit 12 shawls in 2012, knit down my queue, only knit from stash, or anything else like that. Just to simply knit "just because".