February. Is it Over Yet?

February is my least favourite month. It is a time when I really feel the gaping hole that my best gal pal Rachel left behind. She passed away just a little over 3 years ago in the Christchurch earthquake, and was the coolest and kindest lady I've ever met. Three years is a chunk of time, and one would think it would stop hurting. Newsflash: it does not, and I don't know if it ever will.

This being so, I really threw myself into the Ravellenics, and am feeling a bit of a knitty burnout (GASP!). So yesterday I treated myself to a haircut (getting my hair washed is the BEST part). And I can highly recommend Dionne at Charlie Miller at Holy Corner in Edinburgh! What an amazing blow dry!

I've also done a bit of knitting that was not specifically for the shop. As in, I'm using up some random personal stash. This is Almandine by Anushka Tay, featured in Pom Pom Quarterly, Issue 6: Autumn 2013.

I do love a hood!

I've also just finished a pair of Wristwarmers With Contrast Rib by Anna Wilkinson. It wasn't until after I picked out the colours from my stash and started knitting, that I realized I was subconsciously been inspired by TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Do you see it?

TMNT

Now I'm all ready to start on Brill from the latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly. One can see I'm getting on a real Anna Wilkinson kick. I've caked up the yarn, but just keep staring at it and petting each lustrous cake. Is this normal?

Ravellenics & the Dye Studio

This past week has been all go-go-go. Which is definitely a good thing! In knitting news, the Ravellenics have begun, and I'm well on my way with a few more days to go. For those not in the know, the Ravellenics runs alongside the Olympics. You can join a team if you like. I'm on the Geeky Girls Knit team, and its been really motivational. The Ravellenics, like the Olympics, is about challenging yourself. In this period, one is encouraged to craft like mad, maybe trying out or working on techniques that one is not quite so comfortable with. I don't think I will quite manage to enter every category...
Here is a peek at what I've been up to.  

 







 

 


 

I've also just finished a sideways shawl (being blocked) and casting off on a set of leg warmers. I might manage to squeeze in a couple of things before Sunday's deadline.

And if that is not exciting enough, I have gotten access to a proper dye studio thanks to Yarn Pony. Gone are the days of home kitchen dyeing in my PJ's. No, I'm a serious lady yarn colourer now. I even purchased a clipboard today for my studious note taking.

Tuesday, my day off was spent joyfully schvitzing over several hot pots and lots of yarn. Och, the colours! Besides having loads more space to more efficiently produce, it is just nice to not have loads of wet yarn drying in front of the television. I had just finished a full day of manual labour and the lighting was not so photo great, but here is a crappy phone pic of the day's toils. 

I will share more after I go to pick up the dry results. I'm sure there's a few in the bunch that are in the latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly.