The 80s were awful.

Don't believe anyone who trys to tell you otherwise, the 80s were shocking.  I think this is the worst knitwear outfit I have ever seen, ever. Way worse than anything the 70s came up with, like these posted here.  This is just all wrong in so many ways!

Also her hair is a crime.  If you are young, and are thinking the 80s were pretty cool you are wrong.  It was pastels and big shoulders and bigger hair and bad, bad, bad knitwear.  On the plus side it was a great time to be a teenager because it was really easy to dress anti-fashion :-)  I used to wear 50s and 60s opshop dresses and penny loafers.  I thought I was way cool.  My mum thought I was insane.

Party Animals

I made these for my daughter's 10th birthday party, we put them in noodle box carry cases, and the girls made them party hats.

So cute it hurts.

Pattern is Monster Chunks by Rebecca Danger.





Autumn

We've had a glorious bright harvest moon the last few days, and during the day the lovely dappled sun light of autumn as the sun angles lower and shines through the leaves.  We're waking up in the dark, and it's dark again soon after dinnertime.  It's quieter too as the cicadas are winding down, instead we have a fluttering of butterflies and a few lazy wasps circling the grapevine.

This year we have too many grapes and too many pears.  A couple of branches actually snapped on the pear tree, I really should have thinned the fruit, but usually the spring winds take care of that and its not been a problem before.  I picked 12kgs of pears off the the broken branches - that was just the ones worth keeping (not too small or bruised or bug-eaten) - no wonder they snapped!  I've made one batch of chutney, I think there will have to be another.  The grapes we just eat and eat and eat until we can't take anymore.

I've got pumpkins from the garden too.  I really feel like lighting a bonfire and making jack o lanterns, but no, it's bunnies and eggs and fluffy chicks in our crazy upside down part of the world.  Oh well, eating chocolate is ok with me anytime of year.

The cooler, darker evenings have started a bit of a knitting flurry.  I've almost finished the man's Rowan sweater, halfway through a big baggy one for me, made a start on my 40s fair isle (at 30sts/4" - eek!), and started a tunic for miss almost 10.  I made the mistake of asking her how long she wanted it.  She has now totally redesigned it with a diamond and wave pattern and flaring medieval type sleeves.  Righto.

When in doubt, knit....

Of course there really are all sorts of ways you can help by knitting, but right now for me it's knitting as meditation and prayer.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, my heart is still in Christchurch.

Gee, the world is a scary place, and I live on the coast near several major fault lines.  But thankfully no nuclear power plants!  Deep breath, knit knit knit, check our emergency supplies, knit knit knit.

And a donation to the Red Cross will always help.

Matariki is live!

It's only been the best part of a year, but I've finally got my Matariki sweater pattern ready for release.  It is now available to download through the Ravelry Store for US$5.00.  All you have to do is click the button:



I'm absolutely stunned by the beautiful sweaters my testers have knitted from the pattern, one even made a gorgeous hat and skirt to match.  I love to see people take an idea and run with it, to me it's all part of the joy of the creative process that is knitting.

From now until the end of April I will be donating all proceeds from the sale of this pattern to the NZ Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.  My little bit to support the people of Christchurch through this difficult time.

Hope you enjoy knitting the pattern as much as I have!