Reflections on a Sutra - 1.3

1.3 Tadā drașțuh svarūpe ‘vasthānum
Then the ability to understand the object fully and correctly is apparent

After a few rows of the Madeira pattern in the Shipwreck shawl I started to get the feel of the pattern and see when I was either about to make a mistake or had done so and could correct it. I find this applies to more than just knitting and it sometimes takes me a period of focusing my attention on something or experiencing it first hand before I develop an understanding of how it works. Then I am better placed to anticipate potential pitfalls and make adjustments accordingly.

The Cinderella Bolero (how lucky am I?)

So there we were at SnB last Thursday evening at Morris & Sons and MissFee held up her beautiful creation for others to try on. Surely it would fit 'just right' for someone around the table. This was after demonstrating to us the previous Saturday at Guild that after her labours it was too big in the back and just did not sit right. Around the table it went, too big in the bust, not big enough, too pregnant(!). Then it was my turn, as much because knowing the sizing issue, I didn't want to find myself in the same predicament when I knit mine (MissFee had enabled me with the book from whence it came already!). So there it was, the colour was me, the fit was good, hey presto a new bolero for me!

Many thanks MissFee and with any luck the Bolero fairy will visit you again soon.

Reflections on a Sutra - 1.2

1.2 Yogaśgcittavŗttinirodhah

Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain that direction without any distraction

Knitting the Shipwreck shawl is shaping up to be an exercise in focusing my mind exclusively on the pattern so as not to get distracted and stuff it up! I'm not sure this is what Patanjali had in mind when he wrote this sutra but that's what it means for me this week. After all sutra is Sanskrit for thread...

2010 a new odyssey

Laid low for new year's eve, was still getting over December. Kicked off the new year with a 'back to basics' health blast and tidying / reorganising of 'stuff' around the house. I received the 2nd package from Knitabulous' Indian Summer Yarn Club - a beautiful 120g of 50/50 Merino/Silk in varigated purple with a Bollywood Nights Shawl pattern.

I just realised I hadn't posted a picture of December's instalment, Shantaram pattern and sock yarn in vibrant greens, complete with goodies.




I've joined the '10 shawls in 2010' group on Ravelry and I commenced knitting the epic shawl pattern Shipwreck in Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace on new year's day - I will probably need all 1.1km of yarn to complete it!
With any luck it won't end up on the rocks...

It was a busy December

Indeed it was busy, with little time for blogging. There was the SnB High Tea , where we sipped sparkling and cups of tea with our sandwiches and scones. There was also a xmas swap - what would a knitting group be without a swap of some kind. I received a beautiful box of homemade xmas biscuits (thank you Cactuskelly!) and my recipient received a knitted tree.



I attended a Feeding Your Soul yoga workshop with Janice Clarfield all the way from Vancouver. I think she has taken a liking to Australia. There was the work xmas party, my farewell lunch and an attempt to buy a house (I can highly recommend a building & pest inspection before getting your hopes up!).

The highlight however has to be the birth of my nephew, care of my very clever sister and brother-in-law. He was born mid December and while we knew all along it was going to be tricky and there would be a stay at Westmead Children's hospital, he is doing very well. I just hope he likes tropical north Queensland weather as much as he seemed to like Sydney's. Note how overcast it was at xmas - hence the beanie - well any excuse for me to knit him something really.