Tropical Challenge #1

With my recent move north to the tropics I've set myself a couple of little lifestyle-change challenges. Actually this first one was handed to me by my other half and involves ditching my 'Sydney Black' for summer dresses. So far...
Days into challenge: 25
Days wearing summer dresses for most of the day: 18
Number of knitting projects in queue to complement dresses: 7
First of these on the sticks: Tropical Teal Travelling Woman Shawl
Dress of inspiration: Tropical Butterfly Dress
Photos to follow in due course...!

Autumnal Bandit

Well it has been a while since I wrote anything, which doesn't mean that I haven't written any posts in my head, just that they haven't made them to my blog. It's been a rather full on couple of months - One sister was married with me and my other sister as Bridesmaids. My other sister's little boy had more operations on his heart and he's doing really well, to look at him you'd never know what he'd been through. Then my hubby and I decided we'd move from Sydney to Cairns, stepping closer to our dream lifestyles. Needless to say packing up, sorting through and culling furniture, books and clothes has filled our days quite well of late.

Somehow I've managed to finish knitting a couple of shawls, with just a few more projects on the sticks. The Autumnal Bandit was made for my dear friend who lives in the Blue Mountains. Its 4 ply Alpaca/Silk/Merino blend in, well Autumn colours and using the Sprintime Bandit shawl pattern. In naming this one I was also reminded of a friend's band 'Autumnal' that existed in the early 90's in Sydney (I wonder whatever became of them, google couldn't tell me), which kind of fits with the fact that my friends' hubby is a drummer in a band.

I also finished my Bollywood Shawl and am currently working on an Ishbel Shawl for my mother's birthday, which as with most birthday knits, is running late!
The biggest dilemma of course is what yarn to leave out of the packing to see me through until the boxes are received and opened once we are relocated to FNQ!

Zucchini Spindle Anyone?

I think I've seen it all now, watch this to see how to make your own Spindle from 2 Zucchini you might have left over from when you might have run out of sneeking them onto your neighbours doorstep in August - just watch the clip, it seems to make sense that way! Funny, I was talking to another knitter a couple of days ago about Spindles and having some to experiment with at a Guild meeting. We might just wait for the right season and harvest some Zucchini to make our own! Thanks for the link to the clip Zaz

Reflections on a Sutra - 1.4

1.4 vŗttisārūpyamitaratra
The ability to understand the object is simply replaced by the mind’s conception of that object or by a total lack of comprehension

Just when I thought I was getting this pattern, I wasn’t…and then I did…and then I had to put it down again…then I came back to it with renewed vigour and I would like to think, greater understanding.

The Jivamukti Experience

I was recently fortunate to spend the best part of 4 days with 167 yogis attending a workshop with David Life and Sharon Gannon of Jivamukti yoga. I had read much about this style of Hatha yoga, and had their book, but it really did not compare to experiencing it first hand. Apart from be living examples of 'Spiritual Activism', they have a unique style of teaching. I loved the way music and sound was incorporated in their classes, either in the form of yogic chants to begin and end the practice (complete with harmonium) or throughout. It was unique, uplifting and truly inspiring. I mean, its not often you get a sampling of old school hip hop to accompany Downward Facing Dog!! I met lots of new people, found an old friend I used to take dance classes with (ahem, 20 years ago) and introduced a whole new group of people to the joys of sock knitting (the Shantaram socks are nearly finished).

I was pushed to my limits physically as there were many components of the class I don't normally practise, or not in the same way. It was probably just as well it was as humid on the Saturday as it was since it meant we were all very warm from the start, though a cool change in the afternoon would definitely have been welcomed...

Mmm.. lets just see what gems I can dig out of my music collection and find an excuse to play in class, while more consistently practising śirșāsana (headstand) and contemplating Sacred Geometry and Quantum Physics...aaauuummmm

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.