Froze Toes Day

It's bloody freezing and windy in Sydney today - OK only 11 degs C but in Sydney that feels a lot colder because of the humid air. I think this is going to be a cold winter. Perfect for bringing out the thousands of scarves I've knitted over the years . Today is certainly the coldest Toesday so far this year. And serendipitously, a friend of mine gave me these cute froggy toe-socks:

Mmm...cosy toesies. And as a quick PS, here's her last knitted project...hey if you don't have anything good to post on your own knitting, post someone else's:

More coastal adventures

We popped up to Newcastle on the weekend...yes, I know it's taken me a while to post about it. The first place we stopped at was a park set on the edge of a cliff. It turned out to be the local suicide spot - a rather sad and spooky start to the weekend.

But the park also contained this perfect hill. I really like a nice hill.

We walked out along the breakwater hoping to catch one of the killer waves the signs warn you about before you walk out there.

There are massive concrete blocks set along the side of it to dissipate the waves as they come in and stop them from going into the harbour and causing damage. It was a pretty flat ocean when we were out there but hubby said he knows people who have come out there on a stormy night and nearly been washed away.

It was a great vantage point for watching the ships come in. Newcastle is an old coal port so there's lots of interesting industrial type stuff to see there.

It's also pelican city. There are pelicans *everywhere*. Here is a couple being seriously mobbed by some vicious attack-birds.

WARNING: You are about to enter a knitting zone.

It always happens. Somehow I always find the knitting heart of a town - providing hubby lets me that is. I convinced him to go look at the Sunday markets with me, and was amazed to find 50% (I'm not kidding here) of the stalls were handknits! There was this "mass production" of feathers scarves:

And another with a wide range of different knitted things including these hats:

And this jumper which was entirely made out of sari silk. The thing was ridiculously heavy - that's basically why I only took a shot of a corner of it. You can see how it's dragging on the coat hanger.

And then there was yet another stall with more of the "mass-produced" goods - basically small triangle shawls in garter stitch on massive needles in tacky fun fur. The woman responsible for them didn't want a photo taken of her stall (and, might I add, had all the personality of an undertaker). I perfectly understood. I wouldn't want a photo of myself next to that crap either.

Vertigo

The view from our office down to the street:

I have consulted the knitting psychic...

I sent this picture of the scarf I liked to my mum. She took one look and deconstructed the stitch for me - sometimes she scares me:

Lovely photos of Terrigal - just love that scarf - will look at books because I think that it is row 1 - k required no of sts, w/f, k 2 tog, k 2, w/f, k 2 tog, k required no again etc etc etc to end. Row 2, probably p to end, Row 3 - required no minus 1 or 2, then when you get to row 1 w/f area, w/f again, k 2nd st on left hand needle, k say 3 or 4, and repeat w/f, k 2nd st on left hand needle. Sounds batty, but I will see if I can find the pattern - something like pineapple stitch I think.

I think when she says w/f she is meaning yarn over???

The rack

Here's my latest excuse for not knitting:

Nearly made it!

Tonight was going to be my first appearance at Stitch n Bitch since the accident, but alas I am stuck at home with a really gross cold. Sorry guys, I'll have to try again in another fortnight! Rest assured I have not abandoned the knitting though - it's right here beside the trusty tissues.


Speaking of knitting not done, though...look what reminder came up on my screen over the weekend:

Oops, ok you can't see a damn thing in this pic, but basically it's reminder from my To Do list. Specifically my "You're on my knit list" list of knitting due dates. It seems that a whole entire year ago I thought that I should have been able to finish the Rogue hoodie by now. I don't think I've even picked it up in that whole time. So another winter goes by with nothing to wear!

And now I'm all inspired by lace knitting. Even though I haven't mastered the cables in the Rogue. Even though I have about 50 other projects on the go. The good thing is I haven't been able to find a pattern so I haven't been able to start project #51. This is the kind of thing I want to do some day, but it didn't come with a pattern (and let's face it, it's a bit too "big time" for me just yet):

My sister gave me a huge pile of yarn on the weekend. It's cotton (which is strange because it says acrylic on the wrapper but it is very obviously not acrylic) and, I'm guessing, about 2 or 3 ply, and also in a colour that will burn your retinas out.

I'm thinking I could use it for some test lace knitting, and if the test works out I could dye it a slightly more subdued colour at the end.

No, no, no, no, no, and NO!

Every evening as I leave work I have to pass SIX very annoying people trying to hand me this paper. Before I get to my bus station I have to say no SIX times. Every single day. So today I said yes once. And even though I brandished the thing in front of me like a shield, I STILL had to say no another FIVE times. AAARGHHH!!!