Quickly

I didn’t get that job. But I got some really great feedback and there’s another position at the same place that they’ve asked me to apply for. So I feel, all in all, that it was positive.

I started knitting the second baby blanket. I decided I was better off getting her the kid’s blanket, so she had something nice to wrap the baby in in the first few weeks. Sunbreak is pretty big and heavy, I think it’s going to be more of a playmat/cot blanket, so there’s less rush. I’m knitting Abby’s Blanket by Kristin Kapur. Like all her patterns, it’s wonderfully knitting, and a perfect blend of simple, elegant and complex. Loving it so far – I’m up to the second repeat of the lace. I’m knitting it from Bendigo Rondo, which is a machine washable one but is twist plied not crepe. I like it a lot, it’s soft and smooshy. The colours are their regular pastelly ones, but somehow are less flat than usual, I guess because the base is nicer? I think the ‘lime zest’ is the same dye mix as the ‘pistachio’ alpaca, but it’s much less insipid. I’m using Lime zest for the inside, I’m just going to knit until I’m out, and then Ocean spray for the border, and I’ll just knit until it’s a decent size. But I’m thinking of this as more of a car seat/wrap blanket, so it shouldn’t be too big to be unwieldy.

That’s been my evening couch knitting. But I’m knitting the sunbreak border on my commute. I’m managing an average of 3 repeats of the cable each way. 27″ down. 161″ to go. That’s still a good 5″ a day, though, so I’m feeling ok about the whole thing.

Bicentenial

WordPress kindly informs me that this is my 200th post. It’s taken me a while to get here. There are at least five drafts half finished, as usual, written since the last time I posted. They will almost certainly never be posted. Here is some of the information in them, plus some bonuses. In list form.

• I’ve gone semi-vegetarian, since the New Year. The precipitating factor was a book called PopCo which was excellent, and you should read it. I promise it won’t make you veg, unless it’s been slowly creeping up on you for years as it has me. My personal stance is about factory farmed meat, so I can still eat roo and beef and even lamb if I want. Just no chicken or pork. And probably tuna anymore, as it’s pretty farmed out. Curses. It also means I can take holidays and relapse without failing, because it’s a general abstinence, not a Life Choice. Tonight, for instance, I had Hungry Jacks for dinner. It was revoltingly delicious, and I’m not sorry.
• This all came out at a family do in January, when my Grandmother accused me of being a coward for not eating the turkey meatballs. I wasn’t aware that they required bravery, but I had to ‘fess up. Cue flapping and screeching from all the aunts, bless them. The uncles all immediately went po-faced and refused to venture an opinion. I, and my cousin who has been veg for years, had to justify ourselves. One aunt declared that I was ‘coming out’ which was… well, it was awkward.
• I cut off my hair.

• Twice.

• My favourite part is the way you can see where my cowlick is, because the hairs change direction. I love it even though it’s much less seasonal now. Am plotting to knit some hats.
• I had a job interview today. I was frankly surprised to get the call, as I’m not really qualified, although it’s well within the area where my talents lie and I can definitely do it, and do it well. I interviewed for a different position in the same department last year, so I’m taking it as a good sign that I even got called back, and I think it went well and everyone was friendly, etc. I’m trying not to think about it too much, because I’d really like it. It’s better money, a better commute and a chance to use my brain properly again. I hope this isn’t jinxing it, but it’s taking up a lot of brain space so I thought I may as well at least think about counting my chickens, once they hatch.
• This is not a very impressive 200th post. But it’s what I’ve got, and besides, you know what they say – go on as you started. Or something along those lines.

The centre of the sun

I’ve been diligently knitting away on Sunbreak.

It’s not finished yet. It’s 47″ by 37″. That’s 168″ of edging to be knit – well, a bit more, counting corners.

It’s taking me about a half hour an inch.

So another 5040 minutes of knitting. 84 hours. Plus seaming. Not that I’m counting.

The recipient is due on the 4th of March. I don’t know if anyone realises, but that’s three weeks away.

Well, 20 days. That’s 4.2 hours of knitting needed per day. At least. My commute is two hours a day, and I can knit for most of it. Even so, that’s a lot of stitches.

Well, it’s a first pregnancy. It’s bound to be overdue, right? RIGHT?

Some actual information:

• I blocked it out pretty hard, as per the instructions. They tell me that the size I’m knitting should be 43.5″ by 51.5″ but I just blocked it until it was stretched, and then evened up the sides. The drape is really lovely, and the heavier middle and heavier cabled sides are going to make it even better, I think.
• The pattern is amazing, and really clever, but I struggled with a few bits. It’s clear enough for the advanced knitter it assumes you are, but there were one or two points where I could have used a hint. Once I remembered that the bumpy side is actually the right side, though, it all came good.
• Ravelry tells me I’ve been knitting this since the end of July. Six months, or so. Not too bad, really, especially as it reached maximum lap warming size about the time the first heatwave hit Adelaide this summer.
• I say the recipient is due in March, but that’s not true. This one’s not for the kid. It’s for its mum. She’s my oldest friend, apart from my cousins, and I wanted to give her something that showed her how much I appreciate her, and all the warm sunny thoughts I have for her future.
• I was going to knit another blanket for the actual baby. I still intend to. I think maybe someone should call a psychiatrist for me, or something.
• Doing the centre was freaking painful. There was swearing. There was an email to the intended recipient that read ‘I’m making you a blanket, and it’s going to be shit’. There was ripping out and restarting and darning in of ends. And it’s not perfect. But I am so, so happy with it. Like our friendship, there are dodgy patches and a wonky seam and a couple of ends poking out, but the overall effect is stunning, if I do say so myself. Besides being cozy and warm.
• Brb, knitting.