Island life draws to a close

Our time on Kangaroo Island is fast coming to an end. By this time next week I will be back in the comfort of my own house with reliable internet connection again.

In the meantime I managed to get up close to some of the locals. Here is a rather attractive specimen.



A family group lazing in the sun.



Having a bit of a gossip.



And one of my favourite birds, the pelican.



Knitting has been taking place but more about that once I am home again.

From Kangaroo Island

I had started writing this post before I left home just over a week ago and it has taken more than a week to get back to it. I'm on Kangaroo Island at the moment with a rather intermittent internet connection. But the views more than make up for the lack of internet.

Before leaving home I managed to finish these socks. They are Bordhi's Bartholomew's Tantalizing socks using her Sky architecture. The yarn is the lovely sock yarn I got as a present from Val. Although I like the look of the socks I am a bit disappointed with the fit. They don't fit as snugly as the other socks I have knitted using Bordhi's other sock architectures. I think it might simply mean that Sky architecture is not meant for my feet.





I have also been mulling over what yarn to use for my Summer Swatch Sampler which is due to start soon. I ended up paying an unexpected visit to the Australian Country Spinners Millshop in Wangaratta and picked up some pure wool 3 ply there which will probably do the trick. And here is my swatch.




And finally here is a little fellow I met on my walk yesterday morning. In fact there were two of them lolling on their backs right up against the rocks.



Apologies for the lack of links but my connection is just too slow and my patience far to thin to sit around waiting!

A lovely surprise

Some weeks ago I bought some KnitPro needle tips from The Knitter's Studio and as a result I won their May Prize Pack! My prize arrived yesterday and I was absolutely delighted with it.



It includes a gorgeous Buddy Case, KnitPro Shawl Pin, Debbie Bliss Magazine and a packet of StitchDots. I have been wanting a shawl pin for some time and now I have one! The Buddy Case has also arrived just in time for my trip to Kangaroo Island. Now I have a practical case for all my knitting notions. I will be spending several weeks on the island and will have to go very prepared knitting wise. I'll be taking several projects with me.

I finally got round to blocking Gabriel's Wings. I knitted this shawl with a skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. Its quick, easy and uses up all the yarn in the skein. Don't you just hate having those little left over bits of yarn?

Meet Gail

When I opened my little project bag to see what it contained for my May personal sock yarn club I was delighted to see that it was the yarn I had chosen to knit a Gail (aka Nightsongs) shawl with. I have wanted to knit this shawl ever since I first saw it but somehow never got round to doing so. My personal sock yarn club is really paying off. Mind you, it helps to have a bad memory because so far I have received a lovely surprise each month! This is my fifth shawl in 2010, so I am half way towards my goal.



The yarn is The Knittery 4ply Sock: Merino Cashmere (OLD) in Warm Pinks. When I first felt this yarn I knew it was far too good to become a pair of socks. Unfortunately this yarn is no longer available.



Once you get your head around the chart then this is an easy shawl to knit. You just keep knitting leaves until it is big enough(or you run out of yarn) and then knit the edging chart. I misjudged my yarn a bit and was unable to knit the final two rows of the edging chart so did a bit of a fudge and managed to have enough yarn to cast off.



I have recceived a lovely skein of Spacefrog yarn from Val. She sent this as a thank you gift because I knitted her this scarf. Its a lovely colour and I have already cast on for Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks.