Destiny and Yarn

In the run up to Christmas last year I plotted hand knits for loved ones and assigned yarn and patterns. I mostly hit the stash as shopping from my own private collection is very satisfying indeed. The only new yarn I purchased was some aran weight for my Dad's handwarmers and some beautiful worsted weight from The Uncommon Thread. 

The handwarmers were easily finished, running smoothly and without problem. However, the TUT had other ideas. 

The base is Ce's beautiful MCN 'Lush Worsted' base, a squishy mix of Fibers 80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere over 230 yards. I chose the 'Bois' colourway to show off an ambitiously cabled pattern. What? You can see a problem already? Yes. Quite.

The pattern I had chosen was Dryad by my knit crush, Jared Flood. It is a beautiful collection of cables and twists over a long, long scarf and the giant, its intended recipient, seemed very pleased with the idea. It was knitting destiny. It would be beautiful. 

I cast on late in the year for such an ambitious Christmas present. I gleefully told myself that this would be what I knit during the 'nesting phase' of my pregnancy. You know, the bit at the end where all you do is sit around knitting and creating while your due date looms? Yes, you're seeing where this is going aren't you? 

My baby was quite impatient and arrived 2 weeks early which was certainly better than the 7 weeks early arrival she originally tried for. It was joyful but complicated cables only 2 repeats in were just folly. 

Rrrrriiiiiiippppppp

I stayed with the Jared Flood theme though and picked Setzer. Welts and short rows, what could go wrong?

Ah yes. About those short rows....


I have only just finished the cowl and still have a whole skein and a half left of the original yardage to turn into matching mitts for the Giant. I'm really pleased with the results and as soon as I find a moment to block it and snap it, I'll share the results. 

Sometimes you just can't argue with destiny can you?

Evolution

Being the playful thing I am, I have a few favourite games but my favourite is any variation of Hide and Seek. 

As a child I nailed 40:40, the game where you all run and hide from the scout and try to creep back to base. I was a demon  Sardines player, packing myself into spaces no one else dared. I stalked, crept, pounced and camouflaged. I loved getting lost and that feeling that no one knew where I was at that particular moment. 

As a teenager I lamented the loss of these games as my awkwardness meant I wished for nothing better than to hide. I transferred the game into hiding my inner self, going up to London, alone and uncontactable with nothing but the promise of being home for dinner. 

Today I am the world's best and worst hermit. I like to retreat and console myself with quiet bliss at home. This happens more and more since the arrival of Playful Babe. We hide together: long meandering nap time walks, baking sessions with the phone switched off or ignored and a quiet defence of unanswered mail or messages. 

Yet there is this blog, the podcast, Twitter and Ravelry. A whole part of the Internet that I skipped across playfully and made friends. What of those places when I'm going through one of the biggest Hide and Seek phases I've ever encountered?

They become quiet. Still. Unused. 

They are hidden and I'm not sure how long I will count for. Almost certainly until I figure out my new words and identity. I have a complete metamorphosis occurring and like when I was a teenager, struggling to learn who I was, I feel the same way now: lay low and watch for signs of emergence. 

I'm skulking, keeping an eye on base though. I have ideas and thoughts. I'll share them when I next make a streak for base so don't drop your guard ok?

Till next time.... X

Just Keep Swimming

New games we currently enjoy?

Dropping things from a high chair. Things drop! Wow! Now look at mummy crawling around underneath picking things up? This is brilliant!

Raspberries. Blowing raspberries is perfection itself.

Pee-boh! Peekaboo! 

All those bottles on the side of the bath? They don't belong there. Let me crash them all into the bath then squeal with delight as I look at my destruction!

Rolling on and off of Daddy. Daddy makes a good climbing frame. 

Women

At some point in our lives, we are suddenly hit by the realisation that we are adults. Big grown up adults who face adversity, commitment and responsibility. While I love to find playful things in life, life sometimes offers challenges that are huge. What really hit home this week is that women often face more. 

Women in my life are facing great adversity right now. They are doing so with dignity and strength that quite frankly, humbles me. I too am now facing a life altering decision that many women face as loving members of a family. We do these things. 

For no particular reason other than I'm so overwhelmed by things going on right now and how women are solving things, I wanted to say it out loud. Women, you are amazingly. 

And the Winner is.....

... random number 1, Fruitful Fusion! You said in your comment, 'I'm such a beginner when it comes to socks, I'd definitely start with the basic toe up in that cute little baby size and then work my way up to the other lovely patterns!'

(c) Cooperative Press

Please get in contact for your digital copy of Tiny Treads  that features 12 sock patterns for infants and children

If you weren't lucky this time, you can always purchase your copy here or simply check out more of the fab designs in this book. Stay tuned for another fab giveaway later in the week!