week 8 of lockdown a finish and new starts

 Lockdown continues here in Auckland.  We had 5 weeks under level 4, and have now been in level 3 for 3 weeks.  From today restrictions have eased slightly and people can meet outdoors only in groups of up to 10 from a maximum of 2 households.   We can now also travel around Auckland for exercise - walks along beaches etc.  So really, for me sill nothing much changes from level 4.

I've been knitting quite a lot, not much else to do.

Since my last post I've started and finished the Dingley Dell tee by Isabelle Kraemer.

I enjoyed knitting it in a wool/cotton yarn by Garn Bio Balance.  I like the finished result, except the neckline is too low.  I will need to wear a singlet underneath.

I've started 2 new socks.

This is Suokatu from 52 weeks of socks.  It is knit in the colour Macaron by Marmalade Yarns.  I love the pattern and the colours of the yarn are gorgeous.  The 'cable' pattern is created by twisting the stitches.  I'm enjoying knitting these.

These are vanilla socks using a sock set from Mamawooling.  Again I love these colours.  These will be another pair of shorties.

I've started another Habitation throw.

I'm using scraps that are less than 20g in this project and holding double on 5mm needles.  Enjoying seeing how the marles are working out.

In purchases I've continued using lockdown savings to buy treats.

I never thought I'd buy sock blockers, something nice but not needed.   However using lockdown money to buy treats I decided these would be a great treat.  Love the llamas.

 Just because I need some neutral 4 ply, possibly for a colourwork jumper to use scraps, I go this from Skeinz.  Good value at 303m per ball for just $7.95 per ball.  This is called champagne.  Was worried from the photo on the website that it would be too yellowy, but it is a lovely cream.

The Stephen West MKAL starts this weekend (NZ time - Friday for most of the rest of the world).  I wound my yarn up and swatched.

Excited for the MKAL to start.

Lockdown finishes, lockdown yarn haul

 We are still in full lockdown in Auckland,  the rest of the country has moved to level 2.  We find out this afternoon if we are able to go down a level.  However there were some late mystery cases last week so it is looking unlikely.

Stephen West announced this years latest MKAL will be called Shawlography.  I've signed up for it and it starts on 7 October.  This gives me a bit of time to get some things off my needles.  So far I've finished 3 items.

Misurina Tee

Very happy with this.  These were 2 colours in my stash that I wasn't keen on, but I think they look great together.

The second finish was the Ranunculus Tee.

This is the same red that is in the Misurina.  I like how it looks in this flowy tee.  This was knit with fingering weight yarn, held single and on 7mm needles.  It looks good on, though I will probably wear it with a singlet underneath as it is a bit sheer.

I look forward to knitting more Ranunculus tees, trying different weight yarns and combos.  I have some lace weight yarn and mohair that I want to try next.

I finished some shortie vanilla socks.

I have quite a lot of mid leg length socks now, but no shorties.  I thought these would be useful in summer when I want to wear skirts with trainers.

I won't show WIPs as next time I post these will be FO.

I have already bought my yarn for the Shawlography MKAL.

Most of these are Exquisite by West Yorkshire Spinners, bought from Eskdale yarns.  They have a yellow in the range, but Eskdale Yarns had sold out, so I found what seems to be a similar yellor from Marmalde Yarns.  I have only recently heard of Marmalade Yarns, but oh my, they have some beautiful yarns.   All 5 contain silk, so should make a wonderful drapy shawl.

As I'm saving a bit of money being stuck at home - no  lawnmowing, gym fees, hairdressers, etc, I decided I'd spend some on yarn, specifically trying places/dyers I haven't tried before.  I'm not ordering from Auckland (sorry Auckland shops/dyers) as they can't deliver until we go down a level.

So far, apart from the MKAL above I've received this from Marmalade yarns.

Skeinz had their August sale so I bought a couple of sweater lots from them.

This is a 10 ply and is for a cabled sweater, possibly Morning Rituals by Andrea Mowrey

This is to go with the lace weight yarn I have and will be a ranunculus.

And I am now fully vaccinated. 

Lockdown knitting

 After over 6 months of no community cases, we had a case of the Delta variant in the community on 17 August.  We had already been told that as soon as there was any Delta we would be in lockdown.  6 hours after the announcement we were in the hardest level of lockdown.  Only essential workers can go out to work, and trips out are limited to essentials - supermarkets, pharmacies, doctors, testing and vaccinations.  You can walk for an hour in your area but only with people in your bubble.  People living alone can only form a bubble with one other person who also lives alone.

It was good that we went into lockdown early as the affected case had been to a lot of highly populated places, these people have become infected who have also been to a lot of places.  After 2 weeks the majority of cases are in Auckland with a few in Wellington.  From Wednesday the rest of the country goes to level 3 with Auckland and Northland remaining in level 4, probably for another 2 weeks.

I've been trying to maintain my fitness regime by joining a 6 week challenge through Les Mills on Demand.  Also the trainers at my own gym are running regular facebook training, done from their homes.  Nice to see familiar faces when you live on your own and aren't going to see anyone for weeks.

And of course, I've got lots of knitting done.

I have a HO.  

This is a shorty vanilla sock that I just had the toe in last time.  I've started the second sock, have done the toe and part way up the foot.

I have progress on my other Dear Bjorn sock

Misurina is coming along

As is Ranunculus

And Cragside

Stephen West's mystery shawl starts in October.  I wasn't going to do it this year as I have the 52 Weeks of Shawls and there are a lot in there I want to make.  However being in lockdown has given me the urge to join in the MKAL.  Though I hope we'll be at level 2 by October.  Another reason to do it, is I should finish Cragside by then so will be looking at another shawl to cast on.  

He starts releasing clues next week.  I'm hoping that even though I am in Level 4, if I order yarn from someone in Level 3 it can be delivered.  Not sure what the rules are around that.  I'll be keeping an eye out for NZ dyers that are doing kits.