posted by Lily on chatter, knitting

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outside my window, the wintry air is icy crisp.  the glass is frosty to my touch.

and yet, gently warming sun oozes through the window behind me, making the room sparkle.  truly makes my heart light and spirit blithe.  I do so love the cold … when it is sunny.

… as I munch yet another piece of toast spread thickly with Erica’s cream cheese (thank you mum!) and Bruthen’s plum jam, I knit the very last row on my misti alpaca shawlette.  At least I hope it’s the last row.  And not a row that only inches half way across the 720 stitches that take forever, before needing to be frogged!

this yarn is so luscious to knit with.  look at those wee wisps rising like steam up out of the fabric I’ve knitted.  they promise to keep me extra snug during these short short days, and long dark nights.

… yet during the hours of night knitting, it looks really quite drab .. only the pinks and greens stand out.  now, bathed in this welcome sunlight, the stitches on my needle remind me of a wonderfully huge box of wax crayons, lined up neatly in their rainbow order.

so out I go into the light of the garden, to capture the last moments of this shawl gathered up into a nest upon my needle.  sometimes, I think I should be wearing neater, quieter, darker colours.  is this because of the black and grey winter palette worn by Melbourne’s sky, buildings and people?  then I see colours such as these and I think, me?! no! never!

back inside … no matter how much sun there is, that air is still so cold.  as for this wee, wee ball of wool … will it make across the casting off of 720 stitches?  I’ll hide it down the side of the armchair, then I won’t have to watch.

knit, pass over, knit, pass over, knit, pass over.  as the time ticks by, the sliding off stitches reveal an oh so pretty ruffle.  half way there, still a wee chunk of wool to go.

… then it’s finished, with only a skerrick of wool left.  perhaps enough for a wee crocheted flower for Abby’s hair.

I could take a million photos of this yarn and still love looking at more.  I don’t think I’ve ever loved a yarn so much.  all of that colour and richness and warmth and joy.  I’ve knitted happiness.

the lace stitch … amazingly simple, terribly humble when squashed up on the circular needle … and then with a wee stretch and steam, out leap those delicate holes and wraps. so pretty.

the little girlies wanted to know if I knit my “thing” or did I find it in an op shop.  they know me so well :-)