Pattern: Colour Shift Cowl

My mother has received a lot of compliments about the Colour Shift Cowl I made for her for Christmas (after she admired the one I made for myself) and I've had a few people ask about the pattern - so it's time to write it up. This one is fairly simple, and all you need to know is: knit and purl stitches, knitting in the round, how to knit together and how to lift a stitch from the row below (there's a link to a tutorial for that). There is an option for a fancy cast on/bind off but this is easily replaced by any other technique you prefer.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

76" size, shown here in Wool of the Andes Tweed, 'Oyster' and 'Indigo' heathers.

This Garlic is In A Hurry

It's really cold outside! The garlic is in a hurry to get growing, though, and my strawberries look happier now than they did all summer.

They do have some weird green things growing, though?

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Aside from the incoming Antarctic storm front that's due to possibly actually give us actual snow this week, it doesn't really get that cold here. But it does get Australia cold, and boy is it. I'm scraping frost of the windscreen after work and layering knitwear over my clothes as I potter around the house - not the most stylish look but dammit does that shawl+cowl+glove+lap blanket combo keep you just about warm enough.

Meanwhile the extra rain has the garden beds carpeted in green (mostly weeds that I have no idea how to keep on top of) and my water-loving plants thriving. It's also prime knitting weather, and that means it's time to cast on a new project or two for that extra variety.

Strawberries and kale... and some very enthusiastic weeds.

Here Comes The Sun

The sun is, by some miracle, shining today. It's so lovely and warm outside - and while yesterday I wore an almost uncomfortable number of layers just to keep warm, today I'm in a t-shirt and leggings. It is, in essence, the perfect day for a Chore Day. Time to get out into the garden!

So You Want To Knit Socks, Part One: Equipment

Though I've been knitting for a few years now I was always intimidated by the idea of knitting socks. The yarn and needles are both so tiny! It has to fit! You need to, like, measure stuff! You need to actually for real this time work out gauge before you get started (and we all know that gauge is something you pretend you have because it doesn't matter if a scarf or shawl is a little off in size).

I'm here to tell you that socks are totally achievable. There are a few new skills to learn, and a lot of techniques to choose between, but I assure you that if you can knit you can knit socks. This series of posts will be a guide to all of the options, techniques, styles and advice I've accumulated in my sock-knitting adventures.

If you already know how to knit socks or would like to jump right in, you can head over to my Sock Knitting Formula, a "pattern" for a pair of simple, fitted socks knit from the toe up for maximum fittedness.

If you want to take it step by step, then come on in. First we are looking at the necessary ingredients for knitting socks - yarn, needles and helpful extras.

Sprouts!

Did we ever doubt that the potatoes were going to sprout? Please! Obviously when you follow the directions on the package things turn out just fine. Supporting that theory: my potatoes have begun to sprout.

Finally.