I've been deep in a making frenzy ever since my friend shared with me a quick and easy kids' cardigan pattern back in March. Since then I've completed no less than twelve projects, which must put me in contention for a world record. It's been intense. And very rewarding.
So let's see here...
This is the pattern that started it all - the In Threes cardigan. I had a veritable mountain of this grey acrylic yarn left over from when I made my first ever knitted garment (remember that?). Since my kids are ingrates and act all excited for the things I knit until it comes to, you know, WEARING them, I thought if I make the cardigan out of this yarn that's just lying around, I won't be totally infuriated if it never gets worn. Note the singular here: cardigan. I was only intending to make one for J.
Anyway, as per usual she willingly tried it on for fit while it was in progress, and was very happy to go to the shop to pick out some buttons. But, as per usual, now complete she has no interest in it. Has worn it MAYBE once. For an hour. WHATEVER.
It dawned on me that apparently I would be making two of these things when we were picking J's buttons and A was also enthusiastically browsing the buttons for her own as-yet-nonexistent cardigan. Okkkk. We bought the buttons and as soon as J's was done I cast on the smaller size for A. But then got confused being so close to finishing the last one and ended up making the bigger size again by mistake. So A's is absolutely swimming on her and she also is not a fan. MOVING ON.
Then, the same friend who sent me the pattern for the cardigan commenced an ambitious project, a beautiful lace shawl for herself. We spent so much time discussing the pattern that I somehow ended up ordering some yarn and starting one for myself. Oh boy was that shawl a joy to knit. Some headaches through the lace sections but mostly I loved the whole thing. The yarn is a silk/merino so it's incredibly soft and drapey with a subtle silky sheen. It took weeks and weeks and many hours of knitting to complete.
What was next? Oh yes, after the epic shawl project I wanted something quick and easy, so a Winter Morning head warmer which took all of 24 hours to complete was the perfect next project. I used some fairly hideous yarn from the cupboard that I must have bought while having a psychotic break and/or PMSing. It made for a suitably hideous head warmer which I LOVE!
Then it was a quick little hat which was supposed to be for a friend's baby except it turned out hilariously small so I kept it for my kids' dolls instead.
Then I started on a group of items for my sister's birthday which I can't show you as they're currently winging their way to her door.
Then I made a Milo vest to replace the too-small hat for that friend's baby. So cute! So tiny!
I made a beanie for B's upcoming birthday out of the most incredibly soft and warm possum/merino yarn. Also not pictured because: upcoming birthday. Not that he reads my blog *eyeroll*.
Now I'm dying to start on a challenging colour-work sweater for myself in some beautiful custom-dyed yarn, but I have to wait for the yarn to arrive in the post. So while I wait I'm making another one of those Milo vests for my kids' dolls because I still have a cupboard full of icky acrylic yarn and the dolls seem like they don't mind synthetic fibres.
Having done so much of it recently, I've decided that there are two especially great things about all this knitting.
One: it has reduced the amount of time I spend on my phone. No hands free to scroll! That stupid judgemental screen-time report is being way less judgemental these days.
And, two: making things for other people is just a very rewarding way to spend your time. When making something for someone you invariably end up thinking about that person a lot. I'm not so much into the woo-woo but I do believe in intentions and - for want of a better word - vibes. I like to think that there's love and good thoughts woven into every stitch.
Now if I could just get my girls to wear what I make, everything would be perfect.
