End of another lockdown, another cast on, cross stitch update and a sewing finish

 On Monday 31 August Auckland came out of another lockdown.  This lockdown was level 3, so not quite as severe.  It is now mandatory to wear face masks on public transport and recommended to be worn in other public places.  I haven't been back to the gym yet as there have been a number of cases in a suburb close to my gym, so not feeling too comfortable going there.  However I did buy myself a spin bike, so I can happily watch some of the classes online and get my exercise in.

In July I sewed another pair of Love Notions Summer Caye pants.  This time I narrowed the legs a bit as I didn't want them as wide.  They are made out of drill from Spotlight.

I couldn't resist another cast on.  Skeinz had some Melilla from Cascade yarns come in that has an ombre effect,  It is a thick yarn so thought I could quickly knit a poncho and still get some wear out of it before it becomes too warm.  I am making the Minjia poncho, this is what it will look like

  

It is a versatile pattern as can be made in various yarns, has options for collar, cowl or turtleneck and can be knitted to whatever length you want.  Here is my progress so far.

I've just done a little bit more on the first of my socks.

Cross stitch progress round up.  First is Ornament Healing Rose

I'm just over half way on this.

The next 2 are screenshots taken from Pattern Keeper as they are both partially hidden on the QSnaps.  All the blank space is what still needs to be stitched.

First is Naida, top of her head is appearing.

Next is Cosmos, the tigers ear is appearing.

That's it for now.

Knitting: a Finish, WIP Parade, haul and another lockdown

 On 12th August it was announced there was a person who tested positive for Covid19 in Auckland.  We had gone 102 days without transmission.  Immediately our Government put Auckland  in a level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country in level 2.  As I'm in Auckland I was back in lockdown.  Level 3 isn't as strict as level 4, with people still being allowed to work, so long as they can social distance.  At this stage we are just locked down until 26 August, 2 weeks.  Today we find out whether it will be extended or if we can start going back down the levels from Thursday.

Finish

I finished my socks.

I am happy with these.  I added a few rows to the afterthought heel before starting the decreases.  I think it has made the heel a bit big and I also should have made the foot just a tad shorter.  However perfectly wearable, and these were really an experiment to see how many rows needed to be done, etc.

These were knitted in Regia Valetta self striping 4ply sock yarn.

WIP Parade

Ochre Cardigan.  I finished the body and the collar.  My first time doing Provisional Cast on and did Jennys incredibly stretchy bindoff.

It is looking a bit small so I'm hoping it will block out and fit better.

I've started another sock, using my own instructions.  This time with a 1x1 rib.  I felt the 2x2 wasn't very 'grippy'.

This is knit in Opal Butterfly, a self patterning 4 ply.

And I have a new start.  This is Rievaulx from a PomPom magazine

I had bought 4 Pom Pom knitting magazines and love many of the patterns.  At the same time Skeinz are running a KAN august colour theme; show a project with 2 or more colours and go in the draw to win a prize.  I haven't made anything for 30 years with more than one colour, so I decided it was perfect to cast on a T.  However I didn't have any wool.  So I went to the Skeinz website and ordered Orb Fine 100% Merino 4 ply in the colourways Mist, Florence and Venice.

So this takes me to haul:

While I was there I decided to also buy some wool for another jumper I like.  For this I bought  Southlander DK in the colourway Oatmeal, along with some white laceweight 70% Mohair 30% silk.

This will be for another pattern from PomPom magazine Autumn 2019 and is Fata Morgana

All the wool in this haul was bought from Skeinz. I have more haul coming this week. I will reveal that in the next post.