Yesterday I intended to ease off on the house reno pace a bit and take the time to blog. I took these photos then, before I could sit down to post, the painter turned up to sand and varnish the stairs, which effectively cut off access to my computer for the rest of the day. So instead I took my knitting out onto the back table and drowned out the sound of the sander by listening to podcasts for a while.

Mum and Dad recently holidayed in New Zealand, and both as a souvenir and a birthday present they got me some wool – some lovely soft Touch yarns in an aqua and green colourway, and a rustic purple-blue 8ply called Charisma from Manukau Yarns.

Mum had asked for a guide to what sort of yarn I’d like. I’d said no acrylic, but no mohair either because it makes me itch. She decided she better be on the safe side and stick to 100% sheep wool, so passed up on the possum blends she saw. Doh! The yarn is lovely all the same and I’m already thinking of possible projects to make.

Here’s my first Quick and Dirty Sock:

I’ve been playing with shaping. First I placed the instep increases at the top of the foot as they were on the Flow Motion socks. Then I tapered off the slip stitch rib at the heel to a point. Now I’m anxious to do the second sock before I forget what I did for the first one.

They look better on the foot than flat:

The first Hedera sock is going well. I’ve got the simple lace pattern memorised now and can just cruise along. I lovelovelove this Crystal Palace Panda Cotton. It’s soft and springy, though a little splitty at times. I have to stop wearing wool socks in favour of shop-bought cotton ones around this time of year as the weather heats up but I reckon I could wear socks made out of this yarn. I definitely want more of this yarn!

Here’s the body of the Diagonal Stitch Cardy.

Last night I picked up stitches around an armhole and knit the sleeve cap, then continued in the round down to the point where the decreases begin on the arms. Then I left the stitches on the wire (I so love Denise needles) and repeated the process for the other sleeve. Now both sleeves are at the point where they involve stocking stitch with occasional decreases, so I have near-mindless knitting to pick up when I need it.

When I spread out the body yesterday to take photos, guess what had taken up residence inside?

A white-tail. And I’d squished one just that morning. We seem to be having a bit of a plague of them right now. I don’t mind huntsmans and will just release them outside because, for all their size, they’re fairly benign. But white-tails have a nasty bite AND like to live in the folds of clothing. They get squished. And I can tell you, there’s been a lot of nervous shaking out of clothes before dressing lately.