Slow Going on the Knitting Front

Work and family are conspiring to keep me from knitting. I can't quite point out how or why. But my progress has been slow recently.

I have finally finished the front on Gabi Blue and have started the sleeves and whilst I am knitting the progress is not as fast as it feels (ie I am knitting some but not seeing the rewards).

Perhaps a night out, extra heavy on the thinking side on the work front and some late nights and sheer exhaustion adding to the frey. Hopefully this weekend or this week we will have the components of Gabi Blue done...so i can get ready for the Summer KAL on Ravelry.

Tipping Point - Do Knitting Projects have tipping points

Hmmmm..as a avid Sock knitter, as well as venturing to other projects I have been contemplating if a Knitting Project has a tipping point. The point at which the effort so far has been slow and painful but you then sail into the home stretch.

Currently I am being relatively faithful to Gabi Blue - My Blue Cotton lace jumper/sweater.
Both the front and back have significant decreases that progress slowly 2 stiches every 8 rows then 2 stitches every 6 rows. They both start at 220+ stitches and it seems to be until i reach the 200 mark that rows take forever and i can't get my rhythym going. Then a switch flicks and it is like sailing home...swish, swish, click, clack and ten, then 20cm is complete....but the first 10cm's that took hours, days, weeks even.

I find this with socks...but they have the "fooooooooooooooooooooot" for top down, and the "leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeg" for bottom up that puts a huge slow section in the middle.

It's interesting because once you reach that point it is a quick and relaxing end. Let's hope the front of Gabi Blue is over soon. Then I can start on the sleeves (which start under the 200 stitches) so hopefully will be quick, quick, quick.

An Evening with A National Living Treasure

Last night I ventured out to the Opera House to see Paul Kelly.

He, along with Paul Grabowski have re-arranged a whole heap of Pauls music with God as a theme (Some of the connections were tenuous). They have teamed up with the Australian Art Orchestra, The Ladies Bull (Vika & Linda) and The Choir with No Name (As they were referred to..as they had not yet found themselves a name). The event was called Meet me in the Middle of the Air.

A fabulous evening of soul, blues, rock, gospel and good company. It reminds you that we have talented musicians. A few songs in and you are reminded of the significant difference between Linda's beautiful clean diva sound and Vika's magic dirty R&B/Soul voice.

If you have a chance to check out any of the AAO's events whether teamed with an artist like Ruby Hunter or Archie Roach or not you really should - they are a revelation.

Stash Enhancement

Generally this year I have been pretty good and not added too much to my stash.


In the last week or 2 a handful of events have conspired against me

1. A Bendigo Woollen Mills new Cotton range with black, red and brown it was too tempting. Did I mention it was on sale?


2. Lincraft in the Sydney CBD is closing down and is offering 33% off. I don't use much lincraft brand wool, but their cosy wool felts beautifully. So a huge bag of yarn later....hiding in the wardrobe for Christmas presents.

Photo of the BWM hall below

Blue Gab gets some work and the Collapsing Computer

Don't you love when life throws you little curve balls. My computer decided it wasn't going to play nice on the Friday of the long weekend (now lost weekend!). DH spend most of the weekend rebuilding her Saturday was just trying to rescue as much as we could off the damaged primary harddrive.

Saturday night and Sunday he spent reinstalling software.

Monday was spent trying to recover all the items on my Ipod..danm you itunes!

As such i spent the weekend knitting (And playing Wii with O - but that is a different story).

I managed to finish the back of Blue Gab and have since cast on the front, I am very pleased with it as you can see above.