FO - a diversion

Here is the baby blanket I finished knitting some months ago. The photo is a bit dark but true to colour. Tomodachi [a.k.a. Tom] is snooping around in the right of the picture. I sewed in the ends of the blanket on 28th December during my avoidance-of-lace-but-finishing-other-things period. It was blocked last week and photos were finally taken today - mostly to distract readers from the boringness of that "other project"! Here's another photo taken by WM in the role of photographer with my 51yr old bear [Ted] and Tomodachi assisting!



Although I didn't strictly knit this during the Long Lacy Summer, I did finish it during that time. It qualifies as lace [having both yo's and K2tog.] so this blanket is my first contribution to LLS.

The pattern is Snow Berries Blanket from "Easy Afghans for Knitters". I knitted mine in Cleckheaton Fiddle De Dee [100% cotton] on 4.5mm [US size 7] needles. I used the 500g I bought on special at Australian Country Spinners' Mill Shop when I was in Wangaratta in July. This photo shows how much of the ten balls I have left - from the last ball which was not enough to do another circuit of the blanket and the leftovers of two other balls.

It's a pity this yarn is discontinued - it's lovely and soft, and knits up quickly.

I made it for my next-door neighbour who is expecting her first child in February. I love it so much I might keep it for my first grand-child and knit something else for the neighbour. Hopefully, NDN will have a girl because this is such a boy's blanket! [Just kidding - I really want to keep it!] DD says I'm rushing things a bit - they're not even married yet; besides I knitted it for NDN so I should give it to her. I don't agree. I knitted it - I can choose who the recipient should be, can't I?

For those of you still following that "other project" - I have completed 10 repeats; that's a quarter of the centre panel!

Day 3: Australian Country Spinners

After the shock of seeing so much yarn at great prices yesterday, we recovered enough to buy three large bags of yarn! Oh, and four balls of sock yarn. Our purchase didn't make a dent in the amount that was available! In fact, apart from a large part of my yarn budget staying behind, there was no evidence that we had been there!

What was amazing was that we were there until closing yesterday and back one hour after opening today; there was yarn that we may have bought that wasn't there anymore! It's a very popular place!! You can visit the mill shop without leaving home at www.millshop.com.au [I'd give you the link but I'm on a very slow connection so it would take forever for me to get it!]

The weather here is still wet and and cold [12*C / 53*F] and will continue for the rest of week and through the weekend. Nevermind - we're off to Bendigo tomorrow!

travel blog Day 2

Today was cold and wet in Wangaratta. DD has a very bad head cold and didn't get out of bed till mid-morning so we had a slow day; which was okay after yesterday's lengthy drive.

After lunch we went to Australian Country Spinners' Mill Shop. My first feeling was excitement. After about five minutes, I was so overwhelmed by choice and variety I wanted to run away!! Choice? How about acrylic yarn at $12.00 a kilogram. The cheapest I can get it at any retail outlet [we're talking Panda yarns here, not $2 shop yarn] is $19.90 a kilogram [$1.99 per 100g skein] at Lincraft! That's a saving of 40%. Since I know some of the yarn was Carnival acrylic [exclusive to Big W] which retails at $2.68 a skein [or $26.80 per kilo] that's less than half price! And a lot of what I knit is done in acrylic because that's what some charities ask for! And, speaking of acrylic, Patons Powder Puff was $10.00 a kilogram; that's a saving of $39.95 over the price at Spotlight! Sure they had some pretty awful colours - but kids love bright orange and red! And still on the acrylic theme? How about mixing it with Tencel to make Zhivago for $1.38 a ball? That's $27.50 per kilogram. Not all the stuff is labeeld, in fact, most isn't; so it pays to know your products and prices before heading in there!

Don't like acrylic? How about wool or wool blends at $27.50 a kilogram? That's Patons Inca or Jet at the equivalent of $1.38 for a 50g ball! Prefer mohair? How about Cleckheaton Studio Mohair at $65.00 a kilogram? Sounds expensive? A kilogram at Spotlight would be $119.90!

Jealous yet?!? We didn't end up buying anything! But before you start worrying about my sanity...we're going back tomorrow! Now we know what's there, we'll have time to think about what we really want and not rush into anything or, worse still, miss out on the bargains! Don't forget, we still have a trip to Bendigo - both the mill shop and the Wool Show, so let's not be hasty! Or greedy! Roll on tomorrow!!