Woolfest, finishes, a start and wip update

 On Saturday we had Woolfest, the biggest yarnie event on New Zealands calendar.  It is held not far from me at Kumeu.  Last years event was cancelled due to Covid, so this year a lot of people had time to make up!  It was absolutely packed.  There were 4 sheds full of yarnie/fibre vendors with over 70 vendors.  There were lots of food trucks and coffee stands.

I spent around $340 and made quite a haul.

Clockwise from top left.  Place markers and cable needles.  4ply from Yeah Yeah yarn - possible for the Cragside shawl, though I wish I'd bought another skein so could make a top, but may make the stripey T shirt with it if I can find a complementary solid.  Undyed 4 ply in chocolate and white for Drops of Memory shawl.   Undyed 8 ply, was for Wild Flowers, but the next one shown I found after buying this is exactly what i had in mind.  So I may learn to dye yarn and use this.  Both the undyed were from Anna Gratton Ltd mills.  Fawn Merino and Alpace, natural, undyed have cast on Wild Flowers in this.  The last one was a lucky dip and is a bulky rainbow with sparkles.  I may make a Milo with this for baby Dotchin due in October.

On to finishes.

I finished my Soldotna.

I'm very happy with this, though I do wish I'd made it a bit longer.  I did 11 repeats of the body pattern.  The pattern itself is cropped and calls for 6 repeats so I did lengthen it already, but another pattern repeat or even 2 would have been better.  I'll probably make this again as it is a great way to use up left over yarn.  I wore this to Woolfest and got a lot of compliments - I also saw other people wearing Soldotnas.

I finished the Bubbles Down the Drain socks.

Happy with these, though I found the yarnover bind off to be a bit too loose.

On to new starts

I cast on a Milo for baby Dotchin in Cascades Melilla

Yesterday I cast on Wild Flowers shawl from 52 weeks of shawls.

and progress on the others

Habitation throw

Modular Inlay Wrap

I haven't any progress on the vanilla socks.

Last week I caught up with my friend Des, his wife Margaret and Janis at Howick Colonial Village.  It was a stunningly beautiful and warm day.  We had a lovely lunch and sat outside afterwards.

Shawl finish, WIP Parade and stunning Waitakere walk

 I have a shawl finish.

Free your Fade by Angela Mowrey. Made from leftover yarn from my So Faded jumper.  I wore both yesterday for a trip to the Art Gallery and felt fab!

I have 2 new cast ons

Soldotna top.  Using mainly Southlander DK, the light pink is left over Rowan Felted Tweed from my Pirta cardigan.

I'm loving how this is looking and can't wait to be able to wear it.

Another cast on is a pair of vanilla socks.

Heels and toes are/will be in Tseba yarn and the main sock is in Under the Sea by Kiwiyarn-a.

Progress has been made on my other knits.

Habitation throw, progress from marker

Modular Inlay Wrap.  I have completed both grey triangles, the bright pink and bright green triangles and started anothr grey triangle.

Bubble socks now have half the leg completed.

I recently went on a stunning walk in the Waitakeres to Upper Nihotupu Dam.  The dam's water levels are much lower than usual, but it made for spectacular scenery.  There was even a beautiful waterfall along the way.  I wanted to share some photos here.

Pirta cardigan finished, vanilla sock finished, new book and WIP update

 I finished knitting Pirta from the Strands of Joy book.

I love how it turned out.  It was my first time steeking and first time to add pockets.  I added ribbon on the inside of the buttonholes to conceal the steek stitches.

Also off the needles are a pair of vanilla socks.

This yarn was by Purrl Kitten and called We're all mad here.

30 April saw the release of 52 weeks of shawls.  I had put my name down with Holland Road Yarn company for the pre-order.  It arrived on the 30th.

I think my first make will be this one, called Wild Flowers.

Onto Wip progress.

Some more progress made on the Habitation Throw.  The red arrow indicates where I was 2 weeks ago.

And Modular Inlay Shawl.  I added the 2 grey triangles on each end.

And Free the Fade shawl.  I'm hoping to have this finished by my next post, so I will be able to cast on Wild Flowers.

And Bubbles Down the Drain socks, heels added and started the legs.