No name

 Now, I know I haven't posted here in a long while. I have finished Iona, and will put up a picture later. I really love the way it has worked up, and am so pleased with the colour I used for the I cord border. One of the girls at work - Rose - suggested it, and she was totally right.

One of the reasons I haven't written anything was because I was going through some personal things and work. And I really didn't feel like doing alot, except knit.

I am currently shaking off the last of covid. Both my husband and I got it at the same time - he got it really lightly with a strong positive. I, on the other hand, got bad symptoms, with a weak positive!!! Makes no sense to me. Maybe it was because I was also fighting sinus and hayfever. The wattle is in full flower over here, and the pollen has also started up. I have been left feeling rather tired, and hope they are understanding at work. 

Speaking of work, I go back on Tuesday. Makes it a short week for me, but I am happy with that. I know I am going to feel quite work out at the end of each day, and certainly by the end of the week, I will need my days off.

Since finishing Iona, I have started Durrow, and had to unpick the whole thing after I realised I had read the charts totally wrong. I was on a total downer when I had to do that. I did try to walk away and start something else instead. But, I know that if I don't pick it up again, then I won't do it. It will stay in the naughty corner for a very long time.  

I am a knitter

 I know that doesn't mean much to anyone. But, I have usually hidden this talent - and it is a talent - and only let other knitters see my work. But, I am 62 years old, and I have decided that it is time I stopped hiding my work. I am not embarrased by my knitting, I don't really know why I've always downplayed what I have achieved with my knitting. Maybe because I am so used to not meeting others expectations? I admit there are many mistakes in my knitting, and I choose colours that make me happy. After all, if I am doing the work, and I am going to be the one to be looking at it, then I should be happy to do so.

I know this doesn't mean much to most people, but it is actually a big step for me. And you know what? I don't really care what others think of me being a knitter. It has taken me a long time to get to that point, and I actually feel like a hugh load has been lifted. One I wasn't even aware that I was carrying!!

A lovely square

 I really love this combination of colours. These are actually two different shades of orange, and I think they compliment each other quite nicely. I think this might well be the brightest square I have done so far on Iona.

I know the different shades might not show up very well, but they really are lovely. It also looks quite small, but I am only half way through this particular square.

Stress

We all handle stress in different ways. Sometimes you don't even realise that you are stressing about something, not until that stress actually goes away. I have been stressing about things at work, trying to not give in to it, but, when you have a headache that seems to overtake you, you know you really aren't handling the stress very well.  So, how to handle things? Talk about it, with someone you trust totally which in my case is my husband. I also need to get back to walking, even in the winter I still need to go for a walk. I haven't been doing as much walking as I used to, and I honestly think that is playing a part. It is how I usually work that stress out of my system, as well as the talking thing. Knitting is also a wy fo relieving the stress. I continue to knit, no matter what. I can't not knit, it is so much a part of who I am.

Can't think of a title

 Do you know how difficult it is to try and come up with a title with each post I do? I could just to a heading of each day that I do one, you know, Friday, 1st July. But that sounds so boring. Good thing there isn't a competition for the best title, aye?

Anyway, what was I gonna write about? Not Iona, must be gettinga  little boring hearing about how I am going on that, - which I am still doing by the way. No, this is about knitting, but maybe a little of my journey on it. You could say I am a bit of a rebel knitter. I don't do swatches, I don't even do tension squares!!!!  I actually never bothered doing a tension right from the beginning of my knitting journey, couldn't be bothered. I just wanted to get on with the pattern. In all honesty, I still don't do a swatch, why break a habit of years? I know I am a tight knitter, so I know to go up a size on the needles I use for any pattern. 

I also don't usually use the yarn that the pattern states. Mostly because I can't get that yarn. As long as the yar I am planning on using has the same measurements for the pattern, then I am all good to go. Good thing this isn't being read by anyone else, cos I know I would be in so much trouble right now. But, you know what? I am very happy with my knitting, and the results ares till good. Any garments I make still fit the intended person, and they seem happy with it.

So, now back to knitting on Iona. Come on, you really can't expect me to not mention Iona!!! I am surprised I have actually stayed with this one projects for as long as I have. Sure, I have made a couple of small things, but, I have always gone back to Iona. She calls to me, louder that any of my other knitting - and that really is saying something.

More progress

Iona is slowly making progress. I had a short break while I did some baby knitting, then made some hats for Mum. But I am now back on track. I have sorted out my yarn, so picking colours should be easier - I hope. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of my progress.

Another digression

 I truly haven't given up on Iona, I just keep getting sidetracked. Mum has asked my to make her a hat, as she is feeling the cold lately. So, I went stash shopping. Found a couple of skeins of wool I can use, I need to make sure the yarn is nice and soft, as Mum reacts to anything evensligtly scratchy. This yarn is acrylic, but I know it won't bother her skin. I have ordered some other yarn, but while I wait for it to arrive, I can do this one, and get it sent to her.

I also made another baby item for the baby shower at work. It was just a simple garter stitch jacket and bootees. Very simple, and came out nice. It was also yarn from my stash. It was supposed to be done in double knitting yarn, but I used 5ply instead. At least I am stash shopping first, so that has to be good.

I will get  back to Iona once I get these little projects out of the way. Shouldn't take very long, though. They really are only small projects, and quick to work up. 

Normal transmission has begun

 I took a very short break from Iona, and of course, I didn't write anything on here. I knitted a couple of baby items for a baby shower we are having at work for one of the girls there. I enjoy knitting baby items, because they tend to be quick and easy. Now that I have finished those two items, I am back to Iona. I made sure I kept the current square near me, where I could see it, just to make sure Iona didn't end up on the backburner. I don't want it to become a UFO, I want it to stay as a WIP. I truly don't know how big it is actually going to end up, as I keep finding new colours that can be used in this blanket. I know it was supposed to only be a queen size, but will not be surprised if it turns out much bigger. Of course, it will stretch one it is finished. The whole weight of it will make sure of that. But, while I am enjoying this knitting, I will keep adding squares. It does have to come to an end at some point, but hey, there's no hurry for that. 

I do have a jersey that I need to do for my husband, so I guess that will be the driving force to geth this blanket finished. Just don't hold your breath.

Something a little different.

 I have taken a very short break from Iona. But, have no fear, I am going back to it. 

I have knitted both these items for a work colleague who is having a baby shower soon.

Love how these have turned out. I just need to get the buttons and maybe some ribbon for the singlet.

Another two halves

 Here is the next panel. I used the six background colours for this panel, just repeated those backgrounds for the second half, but a new foreground. I am truly enjoying out different colour combinations.

As you can see, I am using mostly lighter combinations of colour. That is because that reflects how I look at things. I try to see the good first.

A study in colour.

 These are the two halves of one panel. They show the difference the use of colour can make. Each square is a reverse of the one below. I love the way each square shows up the difference in the colour used. I might do this more in this blanket.

As you can see, the background has become the foreground colour on each square. All I have done is reversed the use of each colour combination.

I had to do it again

I had to unpick another square. Why? Because I forgot an important increase. How on earth I left it out is beyond me, maybe because I hadn't had a coffee? Maybe because I knew I had a doctors appointment this morning, and I knew she would bring up the smear test. Maybe because I was getting just a little to careless with my knitting? Or a combination of all of the above? I should put these two in time out, and do two different colours instead, then go back to these. 

I don't want to take a break from this blanket, because if I do, I know I won't pick it up again for a long time, I will get too distracted with other things. And, I also don't want to take a break from knitting - I tried that, lasted about 30 minutes. So, I can't do that, just press on and know that I will get another square done and it will be good.  

I do not like unpicking

But somethime you just have to do it. Today I have unpicked two fo the squares I was working on. The first one was because a stitch slipped off the cable needle, and I couldn't fix it, so off the needles it came. The second one was because the colours just weren't working together. They were too similar, and you couldn't really se the difference. Som I am hoping third time lucky for the square I have going jow. These two colours are enough apart in shade for me to be able to keep working. 

I was doing so well on the blanket, too. At least I know to be a little more careful inmy slelction of pairings.  

Another panel complete

 Just finished this panel. Need to sew it into place, hence all the ends. All of these colours have the same white wool as the background. I really like the way the colours look with a light background.

Another update

 Do you know how hard it is to come up with a title for each post? I know they all sound the same, but sorry, not sorry.

Anyway, this is, of course, an update on the progress of Iona. I am still working away on the squares, and still enjoying knitting them. I thought I had enough colours, until I went into a shop yesterday, and saw some lovely yarn that just screamed take me home for the blanket. They are going to look so nice together, will give the blanket a really lovely pop of colour. 

The panel I am working on at the moment is with the white as a background. I am trying to alternate between light foreground, and dark foreground. I think it is looking quite good. I will put up a picture once I have this one completed - the panel - not just the current square. 

I have pretty much memorised the pattern, which isn't surprising. i've actually lost count of the number of squares I have knitted. One day soon I will actually count them up, and put up a post, if anyone other that me is interested.

You know, if anyone is reading this, you are allowed to leave a comment. It might help me to know there is some one out there interested in what I am writing.  I know what I am writing isn't all that interesting, but it helps me to keep track of my progress. I can look back and see how I was going on this blanket. I don't usually stay with only one project, usually by now, I would have started a different project. But, I am actually wanting to stay with just this one, and keep up the work on it. Part of that is because each square looks different, what with the colour combinations I am using. As I am working it, I am seeing different ways I can combine the colours.

Still here, just not written in awhile

 I am still working on my Iona. Will get some more pictures up once I have this panel finished. I am going to try something a little different for the next panel. I have heaps of white yarn, so am looking at using it as a background colour. I'm thinking it will look really good with the darker colours. I will need to check what colours I have already used with the white, because I am not ready to double on them yet. I actually don't know if I will need to double on colours. I seem to have more than I thought I did. 

My finger is nicely healed now. I used a diffeent splint, one I made from an ice block kind of stick that I found in a craft box. It worked really well, and allowed me to continue knitting, and to be able to do my job at work. In fact, it felt much better with the new splint, than with the one made from a cotton bud.  I am keeping it, too. You never know, it might come in handy. Not that I intend to hurt my finger like that again, not in any hurry for a repeat performance. 

Gardening is not fun

Well, sometimes it isn't. I have hurt my pinky finger doing the gardening today. I think I may have pushed - if that is the right word - my little finger back a little too far. It isn't broken, but I have come up with a unique splint - a cotton stick/bud - cut in half and taped on either side of my finger. I am hoping I can still knit with my finger wrapped like this. I truly have tried to just sit and read, or sit and watch television. I can't do it. So, good old kiwi ingenuity kicks in. Lets hope this works.   

Final colours

 The final three colours for the blanket have arrived. I will put up a picture of those colours later. Now I just need to keep on making the squares, and sorting out what colours to partner with each other. I need to look at what I have done, and try to make sure I don't mix them together again, unless it is reversed. The current panel has started out with more purple colours, which I quite like. The whole panel won't be like that, as I don't have enough purple. But I might get half of it like that. Again a picture will be taken later, once I have used up all these purples. 

Another panel done

 I have to take these pictures in three now. This is starting to look the way I want it to. The colours are looking good, for me, anyway. Still got a lot of knitting  to do, but the fact that I am sticking to this one pattern says a lot. I usually work on other projects, but want to stay with this one.

Just a little update

 I have been plugging away at Iona, and am happier with the colours that I am now using. As I said in my last post, I am going with colours that make me happy.  Yes, there are some darkish colours, but there are more light ones. 

I did say that my knitting is my voice. It reflects some of me, I like colours, preferably light, bright, colours. I guess that is because I try to be positive. I am not a light, bright person. In fact I have been told I am quite a boring person. I have learnt to accept that.  I know I can't come up with anything witty, but do I really want to? Sometimes I wish I could, I envy those people that can come back with a clever reply. I am surely not one of those. 

I try to see the best in people, always believing that there is something good in most people. I get hurt easily, but that is because I feel things personally too much. I don't really want to harden up, that is not who I am. I may not shed tears in a sad situation, at least not where it can be seen. I usually cry once I get home, or on the way home if I am walking. It's not good to be in tears at work, it can be seen as a sign of weakness. Am I weak? I sure hope not!!!!

Trying to find my voice

 I've been going through a little bad period lately. I feel like no one listens to me, and I don't want to roar to be heard.  When at work, I can say something, but don't get heard - not because I talk to quietly, I am told I talk too loud- but because no one listens to my voice.

In doing the Iona blanket, I thought I could sort of use my voice. I can't explain what I mean, but it makes sense to me. So, I am going to use colours that 'speak' to me, and if others don't like the combo's that I use, then that is their issue. I am going to use colours together that I like. After all, I am the one who will be looking at this blanket. There will be a few darker blocks, but that is because most of us, and myself included, have dark days. But, there will be more lighter squares, and that is because I don't want to be in those dark places for too long. I prefer colour, and mixed colours are even better. So, the blanket is going to reflect that as much as possible. 

It is probably a good thing that no one reads this, because I don't think I have expressed myself very well. I have the ideas in my head, but find it hard to express in person. But, in my head, I use my voice, and my expressions in my voice, putting the emphasis where I want it. Others reading this will use their voice, which is fine by me. It will be interpereted their way, which is what I would expect. I still hope that if anyone reads this, that they will try to understand where I am coming from.

Another panel done

 This is coming along nicely. Now have three panels done. Getting better with the colour selection, too. Actually picking colours I prefer, and not what others might like. After all, this is a blanket for me, so I need to be happy with the way it looks.

Love these two together

 These are both old yarns, and have been in my stash for a while. One good thing about doing this blanket, it is helping me to use my stash of 4 ply yarn. I didn't realize just how much I have.

I like the way they look together. This may be the brightest square in my blanket.

More progress pictures.

 You can see it fits across the bed nicely now. I am working on the length, and don't think it will be too many squares more than the width.

Progress on Iona

 For those may be following my progress on Iona, here is the start of the second panel. I am still enjoying knitting these squares as they work up really fast.

I am trying to use colours that are not too alike. Someone, please tell me what you think.

Progress

 I am making good progress on my Iona blanket. I will post pictures shortly. It now fits across the bed, so I just need a couple more squares, so it can hang a little over both sides of the bed; then I will concentrate on the length. The squarees are proving quite addictive, and I am averaging nearly two a day. Each colour is being used twice, first as background, then as the foreground colour. It is quite interesting how the colour changes as you use it with another colour. I think that is why I have stayed knitting this particular pattern. 

I have had to take the picture as two, because it is too wide for one picture.

Iona Blanket

 Progress is slowly being made on my Iona Blanket. Pattern is by Lucy Hague. I am concentrating on getting the width first, then will do the length. I want it to go over my queen size bed, so that is a lot more squares to do.

The squares need blocking, but that can wait for another time.

New yarn.

 I bought some yarn when we were on our way home from Hokitika the other day. All this was bought at Pins and Needles, a wonderful shop in Greymouth. All this yarn is going to be used in my Iona blanket. The pattern is by Lucy Hague, which I have started, and loving.

Anyway, here are the ones I bought. I have other colours I am using on this project.