tiny happy

Kia ora! I hope this finds you very well.

I've been a bit quiet on the blog front, mostly because I didn't feel there was much to report. I have been slowly knitting on a top/sweater that I think will be just the thing for autumn. But as usual, it's taking me ages to finish it, but I suppose that's what happens when you only knit in front of your evening episode of Breaking Bad and at no other time. (Tom and I are watching the last season because we seem to have missed that when we watched the others years ago).

The design is called Virginia, by Jonna Hietala and it's a pattern from Laine magazine, issue 6. I loved it the first time I saw it – just the simplicity of the design, the wide neckline, and the way the hand-dyed yarn really is the star of the show. The yarn I'm using is some DK-weight that Mum and I dyed together while I was staying with her over the New Year break. We were going for a peachy-brown tone, but ended up with more of a rose colour, which we then over-dyed with darker browns and pinks a few times. The end result was this variegated plum-chocolate-rose vibe and I really like it! I have no idea how I'd get the same colour again though, so hopefully I'll have enough yarn to finish the garment.

I'm just working the bottom twisted rib section now, then will pick up and knit the sleeves. It would be lovely to have this for autumn wear – I think I'll enjoy wearing it with a long linen skirt or trousers for work.

It was really fun to have a go dyeing yarns with Mum. She has a great set up for it – a lovely big stove top and space to store the dyes, and we dried the skeins on the deck in the sun. It gave me even more respect for the people I know who dye full-time for their job – it must be so tricky getting the colours to be uniform every time, and to organise everything! I feel I would soon have a lot of yarn tied up in a terrible tangle, if it was me.

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Also in January, we were the unlucky recipients of a burst pipe in our spare room (this is the place where family and friends often stay when they're in town. It also houses our laundry and I had some craft supplies stored in there too). The water sprayed everywhere, meaning we had to strip everything back to the joists behind the walls, and the concrete floor. We've just now managed to get it back to how it was and in the second-to-last photo I've included a shot of a very pleasing wee bookshelf that Tom built! I popped a few of my favourite books from the past year on it. This little scene is so pleasing, it's almost possible to forget the other elements of the project that need sorting out. Focus on the bookshelf!

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And lastly, look at this lovely wee gift I received from my friend Lizzie. She lives near Melbourne, and the card features a painting of the town she lives in. She also included a super sweet linen pin for my cardigan and a ceramic star she made too. I'm hoping to see Lizzie 'in real life' very soon. X X X

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Some other things from this week:

I've started work on a Tamarack Jacket, after dreaming of making one for a long time. Set myself the challenge of using only what I had among my existing supplies. I hope to have some progress to show in my next post!

I've known of the music of Anais Mitchell for years now, but have only just found her NPR Tiny Desk Concert. If you like folk music and story/songs, I think you'll love listening to this.

RIP, Jeanette Fitzsimons. You were a true inspiration.