Sunday, April 10, 2011

StashDownUnder 2011 - March

Sorry for the blog silence - we went away the last week in March and I've only just caught up with my blogreading (not to mention uploading photos etc). Sorry also for the weird paragraph spacing in this post, I tried to fix it and only made it worse. First off we went to my home town for the weekend for a family reunion of the descendents of my mother's parents (both of whom died before I was born). They had 10 children, and now have over 300 descendents, the youngest of whom was born about 5 days before the reunion! Then we had almost a week on the south coast - this was the view from the front of our cabin. Not bad, hey. Made the early morning wakeups you get with a small child so much more bearable!

And of course, there is an excellent yarn store down that way, which was a "must see". And maybe I bought some yarn...


Not much, really! I was very very restrained. But you see, to celebrate 3 months of no yarn purchasing, I bought myself 3 new books - I figured a book a month was a suitable reward! And one of the books has these socks: I LOVE Missoni - the way they use colours, and how they have made the chevron pattern iconic, I just love it. So I had to have that sock yarn in that exact colourway, so I can make these for my very own!


I was also lucky enough to win a prize from MissFee: I cannot tell you how many times I have almost bought this yarn in this exact colourway! Weeeeee, now it is mine without even needing to purchase it, and since it is gift/prize yarn, it doesn't count, heh! And now that I come to think of it, it would look pretty good as Missoni style socks too...


I'll tell you more about our holiday in another post, but for now, here's my March StashDownUnder totals:


In: 2 x 50g (or 4 x 50g if 8ply equivalent)


Actual balls used: 5 x 50g - but 3 x 50g if the "in" yarn is taken off


8ply equivalent: 9.5 x 50g (lots of 4ply and laceweight knitting this month!) - but 5.5 x 50g Metres used: 1030m (I'm not going to take the "in" yarn off this, I'd like to use it as an actual record of what I've knit for the year)


YTD


Actual balls used: 18 x 50g


8ply equivalent: 24 x 50g


Metres used: 3203m (woohoo, over 3km!)

18 comments:

Lynne said...

Oooo, lovely! Family, a holiday, yarn and books as well as a prize.

Wonderful.

Mereknits said...

What a lovely place to have a vacation. So nice you could spend time with your extended family and to buy some fun yarn just makes it more perfect. I have been treating myself to some crochet books lately...so much fun.
Have a lovely weekend,
Meredith

Gidgetknits said...

Got to love yarn that doesn't count! And books and holidays... life looks good!

2paw said...

How wonderful to be part of such a great family, and what a lovely place to holiday!! I love the pattern in the chevron socks and how fortuitous that you have the exact same wool!!! I have knitted 4km so far this year, but I just count every metre I am not as virtuous as you with your conversions!!
I think I saw a flowers books like the butterfly book this week. If it is the same kind, it will be fantastic!!

Bells said...

hey when you do your blogposts, do you write it in the html screen or the screen where you view it as it will look (with link text highlighted etc)? It's easier to fix the para problems when you're in html and you can just delete the paragraph marks!

New sock books - so fabulous. Those socks are AMAZING!! Totally worth it. Cast them on NOW!

Michelle said...

I've had the same problem with blogger the last few weeks, and I've just fixed it! Was getting so sick of writing my posts in straight HTML. It seems blogger editing switched back over to the old style. This is what may have happened to you? You can can fix it by going into your dashboard. Click on "settings" and then scroll down to "select post editor". Select the "updated editor" radio button. And you should be (red) roses!

I am impressed by your yarns - so beautiful! And 3 km used? Insane! I've crocheted probably 300 m all year!

Michelle said...

PS I love Missoni too. My dream one day is to make a Missoni style chevron blanket or quilt. One day!

Unknown said...

I love missoni as well, i even have the same kind of dreams as Michelle up there, except i want a missoni dress. Love that vertical zigzag sock, in all it's greeny goodness.

Have you seen the missoni dress on ravelry? amazing ..

Sarah said...

Oh that view is heavenly - glad you've been having fun with your family and those socks promise to be glorious - I like the look of that beasties knit and crochet book too

WildflowerWool said...

Sounds like a great holiday with some yarn shopping on the side. My kind of holiday!

MadMad said...

Sounds like a wonderful vacation - can't wait to hear more! And to cap it off with that fun yarn, too! It doesn't get better than that!

michele said...

oh i love those Missoni style socks! and the Regia colorway too. your socks are going to be fantastic!

i've looked at that Socks Around the World book too many times and thought about getting it. except i'm not much of sock knitter - maybe if i had an inspiring book that would change.

gorgeous view from your cabin.

Anonymous said...

I'd say 3 new books is pretty mild -- good for you!

I LOVE Missoni, too - what I wouldn't give to have a dress by that brand! The socks are fantastic, can't wait to see yours.

Yoga Knitdra said...

What's not to love about this post - the view, reunion of the 300 give or take, great pattern books, butterflies, missoni. That book is worth buying for the missoni pattern alone, can't wait to see yours knit up.

Caffeine Girl said...

A reunion of 300 people has got to be a great time. Nice getaway!

I've been eying Around the World In Knitted Socks. It looks like a fabulous book!

Anonymous said...

spectacular view of a great part of the world. and nice purchases, very considered and restrained.

Denise said...

Wonderful trip and stash / library enhancement there! I have 4 balls of that exact Regia yarn, it's gorgeous, isn't it? I love the sock pattern, I guess it must be knit sideways?

1funkyknitwit said...

Wonderful escape and great view !

A book a month sounds good to me, I LOVE Missoni too and those socks are VERY cool, may have to steal that pattern from you ;D and I think the colour of both sock yarns are just fabulous because I have them both, can't help great taste can we ? ! ...ahhaha :D