Second sock syndrome, conquered

I woke with a start at a quarter to six this morning. Thought, as good a time as any to write a blog post. I’ve been walking to work recently, which takes an hour at a fast-ish dawdle. I’m very glad it’s possible, because even ten minutes in a crush of pinstriped commuters begins the day on a slightly sour note. This way, I feel my kinship is with the dog walkers and early-rising groups of Japanese tourists. I cut through the back lanes of Richmond over to the MCG, through the Fitzroy Gardens and past the cathedral. I think about getting a bike, and mentally cheer every time I see someone riding in his or her regular clothes. I understand the practicality, or necessity even, of showering and changing at work, but I hate the idea. I plan to ride slow.

Slow’s been on my mind. I’m still digging out from under a To Do List laden with responsibilities stretching back to last year. Unfortunately, I’ve let whole slabs of life fall by the wayside (correspondence for one.) I’m ashamed to say that the e-mail contact to the right there wasn’t actually set to forward to my main account until a few days ago. (I just didn’t realise, and am too embarrassed right now to tell you how I worked it out.)

Lunch at my new workplace is 45 minutes long, which isn’t quite long enough. Fortunately, they’re fast at Slow Food Piadina, which was where my friend (businessman/suit) suggested that craft is the secret to a happy life. I’d been explaining tasks at work: making boxes, sewing and covering books, cleaning photographs, sorting negatives. It’s calming, satisfying work, and if I can pull myself together, will be a good mesh with my own work. Small steps.

Even with my dismal posting schedule, I continue to receive wonderful comments, each of which make me resolve to post and comment more. I haven’t been thanking people individually (see above), but every comment is a small paper plane into my world with the word encouragement on it. Thank you.

Which reminds me: D posted a brilliant treatise of a comment on my post about bircher museli, exposing me as the dimwitted food dilettante that I am. I’d never heard of a piadina until a few ago, and my only thought on encountering them was, D, what do you know about this? Do write and tell.

Finally, in celebration of slowness, see the above finished lollipop socks. Long-time readers will remember that I wasn’t convinced that I was knitting these the right side out. I’m still not sure. I presented my mother with one sock last Mother’s Day. This year, she’ll have a pair.

Late entry

Downloaded from Fox Searchlight's Flickr account.

Without doubt, if Best Knits were an Oscar category, Notes on a Scandal would be the runaway victor. At a certain point, I realised I was mentally reciting a list, trying to keep track of an inventory of garments worn by Sheba Hart, the character played by Cate Blanchett. There was a chunky vest not dissimilar to Jo Sharp’s Ultra Vest in Knit 1. A striped fairisle vest in camel and red that brought to mind Jane’s lovely one. A cabled cardigan in a chunky silvery blue mohair. A lace scarf. A crocheted scarf. And these were just the ones that looked handmade.

Bonnie babies

Lovely little Lola and “Jazz Hands” Jones.

Wearing Lacy Bonnets from Erika Knight’s Baby Bloom [Knitting for Two in the US.] Knitted in Jo Sharp’s Alpaca Silk Georgette in Ecru. The pattern calls for a DK weight yarn such as Rowan’s Wool Cotton, but I wanted to knit these up considerably smaller, and I love the feel and colour of the Alpaca Silk Georgette. The pattern is a lovely one, but I think the ribbon rosettes are a little over the top. Instead, I extended the edging around the base of the bonnet and knitted a strap with a buttonhole. Lola’s button is sewn on with a dusty rose thread; Jones’ with a grey-blue.

Sweet though they are, this is not an ideal bonnet for a tiny baby. The under-chin strap bothered these littlies, so they’re wearing the bonnets tipped forward with the straps loose. I think this pattern would be best for an older baby (able to hold up his or her head) in the heavier gauge yarn (just as the pattern calls for, ahem.) But I like fine gauge knits for babies, which makes me think that I might knit this pattern next:



Found at an antiques place near the corner of Burwood Road and Power Street in Hawthorn. The bonnet is knitted Paton’s Super Scotch, an undoubtedly discontinued 2-ply fingering weight yarn. Throughout the book, the patterns are referred to as “recipes”, which has a lovely improvisational feel to it, though I don’t think this was the intention. There is much capitalisation suggesting the dire consequences of using anything other than the recommended Patons & Baldwins wool (BY BUYING A ‘P & B' WOOL – YOU WILL MAKE SURE!) They do however strike an agreeable note in the footer on page 3: What a pleasant thing it is to knit on steadily with a beautiful yarn. Indeed.