Gift Giving Galore

The last few months, I haven't had much knitting that I could show because it's been super secret swap and gift knitting. Now that the packages have been received though, I'm free to show off what I've been working on of late.

The first is for a swap organised through The Knitgirllls forum on Ravelry. I decided on a deceptively simple and elegant shawl for my swappee, out of a gorgeous silk/merino blend yarn. Although the pattern doesn't look complicated, the mesh pattern was actually harder than it looks, although it flows easily once you get the hang of it.

The shawl was much appreciated by its recipient, who loved the colour and yarn I picked out. I also enclosed some samples of Australian goodies, as my swappee lives in America.

Yarn: Knitabulous Fifty Fifty - Tokyo Rose
Pattern: Sarai by Vanessa Smith
Duration: Started 29th January 2011 - Completed 15th March 2011

The other item I've finished recently is a pair of socks that my mother asked me to knit for her manager's birthday. Always looking for opportunities to induct another person into the cult of hand knitted socks, I readily agreed and worked my fingers to the bone to make sure these were completed in time.

My mum's boss was absolutely blown away by the socks, as she wasn't expecting them at all. She had admired my mum's socks, but was told that only 'special' people got socks knitted for them. She actually spent the entire weekend after receiving them, showing them off to all her friends!

I wasn't too happy with some of the pooling on one of the socks, as I'm a little obsessive regarding socks matching, but other than that, I'm quite happy with how these socks turned out.

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug - Raphael
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 13th March 2011 - Completed 31st March 2011

Now that I'm finished with all this gift knitting, I can actually work on something for me, before I start work on mum's Mothers Day socks. The weather's getting cooler, and I desperately need another pair of fingerless gloves. Nothing like a bit of cold weather to get the motivation going...

For The Love of Swaps

I recently took part in the Low Budget Swap on the Australian Knitters board on Ravelry, and I wanted to knit something nice for my swappee, Bribroday. As she had expressed a desire for some hand knit socks, but was unable to knit them herself, I decided to knit up these for her, and off they went with some yummy edible treats.

Yarn: Moda Vera Noir - Bushland
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 19th July 2010 - Completed 10th August 2010

In return, from the lovely Celia, I received this delightful package - nice warm bed socks and chocolates in my favourite brand.



Celia actually sent me the first ever swap package I received, and the fingerless gloves she sent me years ago are still in regular use today.

It was nice to go full circle with the swaps and the kindness and generosity of everybody in ensuring that their swapee's had lovely packages to brighten their days reminds me of why I love swaps. I love going to that extra effort of making something that someone I've never met will adore, and then receiving a package in the mail, with the contents a total surprise, and knowing that a total stranger has also gone to that extra effort to make something nice for you ..... the kindness and generosity of other knitters is why I love swaps.

P.S. On a totally unrelated matter, I got a mention on Round the Twist video podcast. Carin chose my suggestion for a name for the newest pair of socks that she's knitting. Check out her blog to see.

Xmas Wrap Up

Christmas this year has been totally hectic, and I'm glad to finally be able to sit back and take a breather.

First up with the Xmas knitting this year, was a package for the Aussie Swappers Xmas Swap on Ravelry. I knitted this Travelling Woman shawlette in Knitabulous Merino Sock yarn in Pumpkin Head.Shown in more close up detail here:
My swappee loved it, which was great, but it was my first time knitting a shawl, and by the end of it, with so many stitches on the needles, each row seemed to take forever!

I then received this package in return, with yummy Malabrigo sock yarn, which I've been wanting to try for ages!


Next up was socks for Mum. As I knit her a pair of socks every year for Xmas, I couldn't break with tradition.


Yarn was Socks that Rock Mediumweight - Spaun of Brawn colourway. I used a basic toe up pattern, with afterthought heels. Went down to the wire on these ones, finishing up at 10 minutes to midnight on Xmas Eve! Sock 2 was done in 2 days, both very very hot, and knitting in 40 degree heat - not fun. Mum did love them though, and that's what counts.

And last up - the two yarn club packages I received in December. First up is the delightful package I received as the first installment of Knitabulous' Indian Summer Club.


The colour of the yarn is gorgeous, and I loved all the extra goodies that were included - DPN's, lip gloss, tea, chocolate - all of my favourite things.

The other package was the first installment of Lush Yarn's Summer Sock club package.

The pattern is gorgeous, and I had to refrain myself from casting it on right away. I loved the extra goodies included in this, especially the 50g ball of cashcotton (can't wait to try it out).

All of this is the reason I am now crawled up in a ball, waiting for the new year! Somebody pass me a cup of tea....