Another Christmas Over

And now with all the festivities over, Christmas is finished for another year. Kids are happy, lots of pressies, I am happy, lunch was a success and my knitted gifts were a success too. And now, with all the chaos over, leftovers for dinner for the nxt few days, I am hoping to finally get some knitting and spinning in, because I sure haven't had much opportunity in the last few days, but at least those days flew.

And now, it is time to start contemplating my goals and objectives for the new year in regards to health, wellbeing and work. All three make up a person and I like to look into all three when I reevaluate things at this time of year.  Health generally includes a promise for healthier eating, more exercise and looking after myself. Wellbeing is things that make me happy, knitting, spinning, reading, anything that I do to keep myself feeling sane and well. Work..........in the past this has included focussing on the kids such as when they were babies, studying or looking for work. The part of our lives we are obligated to do to survive.

There is also the aims we have as a family for our household, as a couple and just for the kids. Either way I love the idea of a fresh start even if it is just another day.

Last Minute Christmas Knitting

It came to my realisation that I have knit a cardigan for my mum, a sweater vest for my father-in-law, and a shawl for my mother-in-law. So who's missing? Dad! I felt terrible and since it is now less than a week til Christmas I think I'd better get moving. So I decided upon a cabled beanie and matching fingerless mitts. Although it is the wrong season, I hope he will find them beneficial in winter, especially when he takes the dog for a walk.

On another note I have been looking at knit toy patterns, and I am very fussy about the ones I like. I don't like the ones that look like a 5 minute knit sewn up and called a toy. I like the toys that look like animals, have many design techniques involved and that look really really cute. Although both my kids are past the soft toy stage, I am thinking about making some for the Christmas Tree Donations at the department stores next Christmas. That way I get to experience the fun of making these toys and know that they will be going to less fortunate kids.

Wave Shawl

I realised this morning that as we are only 6 weeks from Christmas, I had better get moving on my Mother-In-Law's Wave Shawl. I haven't made much progress on it lately, I've been too preoccupied with finishing my Tangled Yoke Cardigan and my anklet socks. I have been using the socks as travel knitting in the car when taking my man to work in the mornings and picking him up at night, but I think I need to take the shawl along instead. The pattern is very simple for the body, just knitting in stockinette with yarn overs placed to increase the shawl evenly.
But as you can see, I have made very little progress considering the size of the shawl, it is a big style, pictured to cover most of the upper body. The color is Pale Eucalypt from Bendigo Woollen Mills, and at first I wasn't a big fan of it, but the colour is really growing on me. As you can see I still have a long way to go before I reach the lace edging.

I have chosen not to add the sleeve in the pattern, just didn't really like it. I'm also not sure if I will make it as big as the pattern says. We'll see how it goes. I'm loving the fabric that the needles are creating and I am developing a real love for finer yarns. The delicate nature, and the finer gauges all appeal to me. Although 5ply isn't overly fine, It is much finer than even the 8ply.

It is refreshing (and odd) working with the larger needles too, I think I'm using 5.5mm, and I've been using 3.75mm on the cardigan and 2.25mm for my socks. Definately a lot bigger, but at least it gives the hole in my finger a rest!