BIts of awesomeness

It is the boy's birthday, and while he is not yet home, that does not prevent me scoffing blue cheese, ganache from his birthday cake and wine in celebration.

Let's also celebrate some awesomeness people have been linking to on Twitter in the last couple of days - graffiti moss and a camoflage crochet car.

Yesterday was a day of dyeing mayhem, in which I dyed so much yarn I had to stop as I couldn't fit any more on the drying rack - in fact had to bring half of it home to take over two drying racks here.

But still, I need more, and I need new colours. I want you to come up with them. Go on, dream something up, leave it in the comments, and if I like it i'll dye it and name it after you.

Go on. Do it.

Free Pattern! The Coffee Cowl

Yonks ago, when I was first playing with 12 ply, I knit up this infinity cowl as a product knit - something I wanted, so just made it up as I went along. It's picked up 'the coffee cowl' name as a lady spilled her coffee on it at the June Craft2.0, apologised profusely, and it honestly wasn't a big deal. It's the perfect cowl to throw on for those 'not quite sure' days, when the weather looks like it could be promising, but the it could also turn hideous. Wrap it up nice and tight for the chilly days, and hang it loose for the warmer ones.

Yarn: 4 skeins of Knitsch 12 ply in Silver Lining
Needles: 6mm on a 100cm cable
Gauge: bah! gauge! forgeddaboutit!

Cast on about 350 stitches, or until you get *really* bored.
Row 1: Knit, and join in the round at the end of the row, being sure not to twist the stitches. Although if you do, it won't be the end of the world.

Knit ad infinitum, round and round, until all your yarn is used up.
Cast off.

Weave in ends, and wear.

Hooray! Easy as that. A great in front of the tv, don't have to think too much knit.

New Shop, Hooray!

Finally, after lots of late nights, frustrating moments (i've learned a lot, that's for sure!), and bursts of elation,

the new shop is here!

In it you will find, alongside the usual suspects, Knit Pro needles! And fingers crossed today will see the arrival of my Hazel Knits order...yum!

Happy knitting and have a wonderful weekend - the whole fam-damily is in Wellington for my little bro's 21st.

Hoot-twooo!

Hooray! An FO! I'm so pleased with my Owls - such a fast knit, and hardly any thinking at all :D
I quite like the owls sans buttons. I think if I were to knit it again, for me, I'd go down a needle size and up a fitting size, just to give it a slightly denser look.

All the same, for only the second top i've knitted, it's a winner.

Speaking of winners, keep the nominations of Canterbury knitters and spinners heading this way. Where the week has gone I don't know, but tomorrow is apparently thursday, and the last day for entries.

xx tash

The warm comforts...

After watching the news, I thought how very very lucky it is to be able to sit on the couch, watch crappy Friday night tv, by the fire, with a glass of wine, and knit.

All the warm knitted love going out to not only Christchurch, but Pakistan and San Francisco. All three things truly break my heart, and makes me feel so powerless in the face of nature's force.

It seems a bit frivolous to share pics of a recent FO and a current WIP...but we all need something to cheer us up, right?

Below, Alice's Doddle pattern from the last installment of the yarn club, in new colourway Popeye (a luscious seaweedy green that normally I wouldn't go for, but have fallen in love with)

And above, 'Just another' Ishbel (my first, admittedly) in Hazel Knits Jay Blue. Divine yarn, that is...

Keep those nominations coming in for Cheer up Chch - I've had several worthy nominations come through already, and am lining up some other awesome crafters to take part. Flick me an email with name and address of a knitter in Canterbury who may need a bit of letter box love and i'll add them to the list.

Cheer up Chch

Sitting at my laptop, chatting to mum on google chat, talking earthquakes, reading blogs about earthquakes...

something must be done!

Do you know a knitter in Christchurch who needs cheering up? Who may need an unexpected surprise in their mail box?

I'm putting together 3 'Cheer up Chch' packages ready to go (all surprise and hush hush like) to people who need a smile.

Send me an email with your nomination, and i'll put names in hat. Emails required by 5pm Thursday, 16 September. And an address, if you please. That would be lovely.

xx Tash

Mountains, etc

I'm continuing with the lazy blog theme - photos from last weekend up the mountain. Sadly my altitude sickness prevented me from really enjoying the snow (gah!), but plenty of knitting took place.

Waking up on Saturday morning to news of the big earthquake in Christchurch made it hard to relax - luckily everyone I know down there is safe and unhurt. The continuing aftershocks have all on edge and my thoughts constantly turn to those who live in the middle of the disaster. I'm trying to come up with a productive way to support those who need assistance, so watch this space for info.

Being in Wellington, the traditional centre of earthquake fear, all we had were a few small jolts to indicate anything was amiss, which means there isn't any interruption to Knitsch Yarns.

Right, here are the pics...

It snowed! Right down to National Park where we stayed. Pretty magical...

Catch Up

Whoops...time has got the better of me.

Here's a very fast run down of what i've been up to the last couple of weeks:

• Knit graffiti for the New Dowse

• having a nosey around design spun in Napier

• Relaxing at Port'o Call in Napier (in between having an amazingly inspiring time at Knit August Nights)

• And dyeing some fabbo new colourways! Hooray! They will be in the online shop a bit later today :D

• oooh and mustn't forget - Knit Pro needles! I have an office full of them, and they'll be available for purchase once the new shop goes live (any day now, fingers crossed!)