Forget sheep, let's count socks.

Lately I've been dreaming in socks. 

I love handknits socks and I have so few. 

I'm so looking forward to the next episode when I will be reviewing a very special book. About socks. 

Have you guessed who yet? Stay tuned...

Middle Days

I was delighted a few weeks ago when Brenda Dayne did a peice on 'imaginary knitting'. The idea being that while you might be tied to finishing other peices, in your mind, you have an imaginary knitting bag with works in progress. I really related to this sentiment and I thought I'd share the contents of my imaginary knitting bag today. 

First up I have bright, beautiful socks. They're plain and I will learn how to do the perfect after thought heel and I will squeal with delight at their addictive stripes. This will mark the first of many striped socks, and I will begin to memorise my perfect vanilla socks. Socks I can travel with and cast on and finish at any point. I need never be without knitting again as long as I am armed with this. 

Idlewood by Cecily Glowik Macdonald

Then there is my sweater. I have wanted a sweater project for so long but gifts are always more obtrusive than I give them credit for. In my head I am knitting a beautiful garment, in warm yarn, that is the perfect fit. Part of my imaginary knitting was matching stash and I realised I had enough stash for a knitting crush I've had for a while. It will be mine. Just not yet. 

Then there is my true flight of fancy. I have been drooling over the sweater of awesome that is Beatnik, by Norah Gaughan. I have been noticing this a lot, I mean, I've been finding myself finding it on Ravelry in between rows. I dream up colours and I picture it's warmth now the weather has finally turned so cold. Most of all I think about how proud I would be as to be quite honest, this sweater is way beyond my skill set right now. I'll get there. It's my new year plan: more garment knitting. 

What's in your imaginary knitting bag?

Episode 17: Madame Toad and her many friends

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

Notes:

Save the date! 4th December 2011 12- 5 pm for the Playful Meet up 2011 at Interknit Cafe. Enjoy 10% purchases on the day and yarn tasting.
Also, please bring any essentials listed on this page to donate to Give and Makeup.

The winner of Lisa Mutch's pattern collection, Uncommon Clouds, and a skein of from Northbound Knitting is:. Please get in touch as soon as possible and we can get the goodies to you!

Be sure to enter the ongoing Coastal Knits giveaway. To win a signed copy of the book, please leave a comment on the podcast shownotes linked here, with your contact details, by 4th December 2011. I will try my best to produce a podcast over that weekend but may announce via the blog first so be sure to check back!

Off the Needles
Little Colonnade by Stephen West in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock colourway Baltic.
Juno Regina Stole from Miriam L. Felton in HandMaiden Seasilk in the colourway Salt Spray.

On the needles
Purl Ridge Scarf by WestKnits in Madelinetosh DK, colourway Graphite.
Humanity Mitts by Denise Lotter in Rico Design Essential Soft Merino Aran

Review
A glowing review for the Fold Out Needle Envelope, Hooky Yarn Pouch and Giant Yarn Pouch from the very talented Undercover Owl.

Festive Frolics
Franklin Habit gives us a Thanksgiving message to giggle over.

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

Thanksgiving by Steve Stellavato, available on Music Alley

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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Dark Days

Sometimes you write a title just so you can follow it up with another titled post. I'm hoping the next one states that dark days are over, there's a Florence and The Machine video and a parade of food and knits. However, in order for there to be such a post, there needs to be dark days. I believe I'm in them. 

Let's look at the evidence: the days are now shorter. So short in fact that yesterday the giant and I were ready to go to bed (we're both sick) and looked at the clock. 6.45 pm .Really? REALLY???? I swear it had been dark for hours at this point. Surely it had to be closer to midnight. Normally extra evening would be delightful, like waking up on Saturday, thinking it's a week day and gleefully realising your mistake. Last night however it felt like a day that was never going to end. Ever.

Then of course there is the fact that I remain in a black hole of knitting. I have not completed anything in ages and if I have, chances are it hasn't been for me. The Juno Regina stole is trying to kill me in my sleep. Seriously. I hear it whispering to me 'you will never finish me and I will be your albatross'. Or should that be monkey? Monkey on your back; albatross round your neck, right? Whatever. I have a friggin zoo climbing all over me right now and christmas is not getting any further away. 

I also have a chest infection. AGAIN. How is it that I can catch a cold and go down with a chest infection with such ease? You know how men never have a cold but have man flu and might be dying? I am like that. I don't get just a cold. I get a chest infection and become my own little parody of Slimer with green goo. It's attractive I can tell you. 

So to lift my spririts in these dark days I'm powering through the stole so that I can look forward to these new brights. You'll be hearing about them next podcast. If I can string a sentence together by Sunday. If not, I'll be dragging myself out of bed to write a blog post that announces the dark days are not yet over and we're all doomed, DOOMED, I tell you. 

Artist's Palette Dk- with cashmere!

ROBOT LOVE!!!

Oh I have clever knit friends, yes I do....

Ok, that was dramatic. My fever might be up again. Apologies.

ETA: Slimer reference point

You're IT! Featuring Alana Dakos

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

Alana's blog, podcast and patterns can be found on her blog. 

Details of Coastal Knits by Hannah Fettig and Alana can be found here and this includes details of stockists.

To win a signed copy of the book, please leave a comment below, with your contact details, by 4th December 2011. I will try my best to produce a podcast over that weekend but may announce via the blog first so be sure to check back!

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

Never Not Knitting theme song can be found on Alana's blog

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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My love grows stronger

My knitting crush has done it again

Oh my

Oh wow

Let us count the ways we love him.

Episode 16: If in doubt, knit.

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

Notes:

Save the date! 4th December 2011 12- 5 pm for the Playful Meet up 2011 at Interknit Cafe. Enjoy 10% purchases on the day and yarn tasting.
Also, please bring any essentials listed on this page to donate to Give and Makeup. 

Donation giveaway:
The winner of a set of Stitchcuddles stitchmarkers from Stephcuddles and a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the colourway terracotta 802 has been contacted.


Off the needles
Purl Ridge Scarf by WestKnits in Madelinetosh DK, colourway Graphite.

On the Needles
A joyful reunion has meant Kai Mei by Cookie A in Superknits Mary, Queen of Socks, colourway 'With my tv and CD collection of Bob Marley' is now back in rotation but I've not yet worked out where I was in the pattern!
Juno Regina Stole from Miriam L. Felton in HandMaiden Seasilk in the colourway Salt Spray.

Munch Burp Schlurp

The giant and I visit Borough Market and the Vinopolis Whiskey Exchange.


Lisa Mutch joins us for a wonderful chat despite technical difficulties. Lisa is offering a pattern collection, Uncommon Clouds, and a skein of from Northbound Knitting to one lucky listener. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us what you love about Lisa's designs or yarns! The winner will be announced on the 20th November so please leave a comment before this date. Good luck!

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

Betty by The Lascivious Biddies, available on Music Alley

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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Storage is not stash.

I've been shopping. Now I know, I know, I'm trying to liberate my stash and I'm trying very hard. This is not stash, this is something even more essential. 

Observe my previous attempts at storage for my notions: leftover wash bags and free storage that comes with interchangeable knit pick sets. Yes, those are crumbs you can see clearly through the cheap plastic. 

It had to go. Just had to. 

Check out this lovely little bit of business. A needle envelope from the ever so talented Undercover Owl. Note it's cute sheepy fabric, perfectly seamed finish and pockets for all by needles and cables. I'm quite enamoured to say the least. I keep inspecting it and finding it quite marvellous. If it did the washing up, I'd propose quite frankly. I feel much better about a storage solution that actually stores what I want, in pockets I can find and tucks away prettily into the stash nook.

And did I mention, it has sheep on it?

Let's enjoy some up close shall we?

What's more it came with a little freebie- a lavender sachet to store with my yarn and keep away moths. Isn't that sock monkey fabric so cute? Sarah informs me that she tries hard to include a different little gift with each purchase and I'm just pleased as punch with mine. Anything this cute that prevents my stash becoming expensive moth food is always welcome in my house.

So there it is, in all it's glory, a considerably improved set of notions storage....

..... what's that? The large bag? Oh yes, there's more reviews to come. Please tune in to the podcast for more information on yet more goodies from the Undercover Owl. Tee hee!