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.
So, as this year comes to an end I thought I should do one last post. I don't know what 2022 has in store for us, but am hoping it is much better. Will this virus ever be conquered, or is it something we just have to learn to live with? Wearing a mask in the heat of summer is not easy but if it keeps us safe, then I will keep wearing one.
One thing I do know, I shall keep on kntting and keep on reading. I can't stop either of them. Lindisfarne is coming along really well, and I do like the colours I have chosen for it. The first one I did was quite dark in comprison, and this one is nice and light. I can't promise that I won't start more projects than I finish, but, I will try to finish more projects. I also won't promise to not buy more yarn, but I will try to use more from my stash. I also can't promise that I won't get more patterns, but I will try to use more of the ones that I already have.
Reading is something else I enjoy. can't say I have finished every book that I got out of the library, but, I will try to finish more of them. I also need to get out of my comfort zone, and try new authors. Reading groups are great, but down here at the bottom of the world, one can feel just a little isolated. Especially when we don't have access to alot of the authors that others mention. We only have a small library here.
I have just finished reading a really good book. I love those books that keep you reading to the end, just so you can find out what happens, and why. This book kept you guessing for quite some time, as it is written in the first person; so you really don't get a proper 'bead' on the main character - who is also the narrator of the book. The ending was right, and for once I didn't feel let down. Now I want to try this authors other books, it seems he has written a few. Wonder if they will be as good as this one was.
I've been processing some bad news that we received at work this past week. Our store manager has cancer, and won't be back to the store. It ahs hit several of us pretty bad. On the day we were told, I was okay with the news, felt sad, but not too ovverwhelmed. But, the day we were told that she won't be coming back was not good for me. I spent pretty much the rest of the day fighting back tears. I did try to stay busy, so I didn't thave too much time to think about it. This will be the 6th person fro our store that has got cancer. Of the other five, only two are still alive. It just makes things a little hard.
On the knitting front, I am making good progress on the second baby shawl I am knitting for Karen. I am on to the last repeat of the pattern, and only have the twelve rows of the border to do, then it will be finished. I have had a bit of fun wth this pattern.
How do I stop feeling so tired? I know I don't sleep very well at night, but it is getting beyond a joke. Some nice natural remedy would be great, as I really don't want to go to the doctor and get something to help. Guess I really just need to press on, and hope I do get some sleep at some point in the near future.
At least I can still do my knitting, and without too many mistakes. I am making a baby shawl in a pattern that is not actually a traditional baby shawl pattern. But, I am loving the way this is working up in the yarn I am using. It is a Lucy Hague pattern that I ahve done once before, and is much easier this time, especially now that I know how to read her charts. After I get this finished, I really need to finish my husbands jersey for next winter. It was supposed to have been ready for this winter, but that has been and gone. It will make for warm knitting in the summer, but that is okay, it really needs to be completed.
I have so many projects that really need to be completed. One at a time, and I will do my best to not start too many other projects. Maybe I could try finishing two, before starting a new one? Is that even possible? Only one way to find out, and that is to give it a go. So, this shawl, and my husbands jersey would be two projects. Or, I could finish the lovely green wrap/shawl I am doing for myself. I might go with that, as it is nearer completion than the jersey. And I really love this wrap. Another Lucy Hague pattern that I have done before. This time it is longer, and in 4ply yarn, and in shades of green. Will post a picture of it later. Once I have finished this shawl, which I will post a picture of later. Probably once it is finished.
I know, it's been a while since I last wrote something solely devoted to knitting. So many things to write about, so few words to write with. That doesn't really make sense, but it does in my head.
Anyway, I finished a shawl for a friend last week. Now I have to come up with a price for it. She paid for the wool, and the pattern was free. Do I know what to charge her? Not on your life!!!! I knot because I enjoy it, and I really felt honoured to be asked to knit a shawl for her. I am thinking of asking $200, but it feels too much. I have started a second shawl for Karen, and probably should start thinking of a price for it as well. I will wait and see how it looks when I've done a bit more of the pattern. I am only on to my second repeat of the pattern. Don't know at this point, just how big I will make it.
I really want to get this, because I am already eyeing up other patterns that I really want to get my needles in to. I got a couple of books out of the library the other day, and they have some really nice patterns in them. I am itching to try a couple of them out, actually, more that a couple of them!! It's not like I really need to start anything else, really. But, hey, I love knitting.
I am so tired these days. Every day I have come home from work, and taken painkillers. My back is getting worse, and my hips aren't helping things either. I don't like aging, it sucks. Living with all this pain is just so very exhausting, both physically and mentally. I truly don't know how much longer I can be doing this job, what with all the heavy lifting that is involved, and how much more is expected of me. I know I can't keep taking these pain killers, they can't be good for me long term. But what else am I to do?
On a brighter note, I finished the first shawl for Karen. Am working on the second shawl, which I changed to a circular one, because I was getting bored with the border of the other one. This one I am now doing is the Old Shale pattern, or Feather and Fan pattern. It has been called both. I am liking it so far, as it is working up fairly quickly, even with 433 stitches on the needles. I'd like to get this finished before Christmas, as I have other knitting that I really want to do.
This whole subject is actually very fraught with lots of emotion. I am all for the vaccine, but at the same time, I don't agree with it being forced on people. It is our choice, and we should be free to make that choice without being penalised about whatever choice we make. I am fully vaccinated, and am happy with my decision. I am not so sure about getting the booster, something is telling me to hold off on that for a little while longer. My husband is not vaccinated, and honestly? It worries me, and that is because this virus is hitting the unvaccinated the hardest. I know that getting the vaccine doesn't stop you from getting the virus, no vaccine does that, but it does give you a fighting chance. I totally understand those that can't have the vaccine for health reasons. I totally disagree that they should be punished.
Back to my knitting, much less full of any potentioal backlash. Feel free to disagree with me. This is my opinion, and you are free to have yours, even if it disagrees with mine.
The trouble with wearing a mask all day is how tired you feel at the end of it. I know, lots of people have to wear a mask all day, every day, and I take my hat - or mask - off to them. I wear one all day, five days a week, and I usually feel quite tired at the end of the day. Who know breathing fresh polluted air was so important. I don't know how long this mask wearing will go for, I fear it may become the new normal. I do try different masks, to get one that will fit with both my glasses, and my hearing aids. It's not easy to get one that is comfortable. But, I need my glasses, otherwise I end up with a headache after a couple of days of not wearing them, and if I don't have my hearing aids in, then I really don't hear too well. When I take my hearing aids out, it always surprises my just how quiet it goes.
Anyway, at the moment, masks are the new fashion accessory, and may well be here to stay. I am sure I will get used to them. When I finish work, I tend to not go out very much, simply because I am enjoying the time without a mask on my face.
I know, this blog was set up for knitting. But, since it is my blog, and nobody seems to be reading it other than me, and if anyone is reading it, they sure aren't commenting. So, I can write what ever I choose. Since I fell on the ice a few years ago, I have had back issues. My back was broken at the time, but nothing was done about it, so now I have to live with the consequences of that. Yesterday, at work, I hurt my back doing something I have done a dozen times before, but this time my back decided it wasn't liking it. All I did was bend a little, and turn to pick up something that had fallen to the floor. I've done that heaps of times before without any issues. So why did my back decide it didn't wanna do that? Of course, that means I can't go to work today, because my back is only just starting to come right, and I know with all the heavy lifting that I do, it would cause more damage. The only good thing about being home is being able to do some more knitting on the two shawls that I am actually being really good at working on. Doing two that have different constructions makes things really interesting. It is going to be interesting to see just how long it takes to finish either shawl.
No surprise that I am knitting. I am always knitting, when I'm not reading that is. But, I do always have something on the needles. At the moment I am concentrating on two projects. They are both baby shawls, and both are oldish patterns. The interesting thing with both these patterns is they are both worked slightly differently. By that I mean one is worked with the centre first, then you do the edging. The other is the edging worked first, then you do the centre. Both are supposed to be in garter stitch, with lace - of course. But, I have changed one to stocking stitch, and kept the other as garter stitch. Because I have changed the construction just a little, it keeps me interested. I am not totally sure of the yarn amounts that will be needed for both patterns. So, that also makes things interesting.
