I have been knitting

I did do a bit of knitting while I was on holiday. I seemed to have started quite a number of projects the last few weeks but I have managed to complete a few. And here they are.

First I made a vintage hand towel. I first saw this towel on Bells' blog and just knew I had to knit it. I knitted this one for a lovely friend in Perth.


And then I knitted a second one for myself.



I also knitted a pair of Mountain Form Slippers for my mother.



These were all really easy knits and very suitable holiday knitting.

Since returning home I have also knitted a Keyhole scarf for a gift. I couldn't make up my mind what I was going to knit for this gift except that I wanted it to be appropriate for the recipient. After much stalking and searching I settled on this pattern and decided that it would be a perfect match for a skein of Ridgy Didge Handnspun Yarn.



And I think the two have worked well together.



I have also cast on another couple of projects but they are being neglected at the moment while I focus my attention on my Snow Queen.

FO: Isobel

I finished blocking Isobel this morning. I knitted this in Bendigo Woollen Mills 3 ply using 4mm needles. This scarf is destined to be a birthday swap gift.

Here is Isobel reclining on Acacia Cognata:



And the Hebe is looking lovely at the moment so I couldn't resist draping her over it.







I have also made two more soap sacks for the birthday swap. The leaf pattern in Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton and the eyelet pattern in Anchor Magicline cotton.



The stash busting is continuing as is the exercising. And Val and T I have taken your comments to heart and thus I'm still puzzling ;)

A contradiction in terms?

So, I've started stash busting right? But I've also joined the exer-stashers on Ravelry. The aim of this group is to get fit, lose weight and reward yourself in the process by building up a stash fund. This is the way to get guilt free yarn. So my system works as follows:

• My basic system: 50c for every km walked and $1 for each additional half hour of exercise.
• My achievable monthly goal: 12 km per week and 2 hours per week additional exercise.
• My bonus goals: $5 for every kilo lost (but minus $5 for every kilo gained!)

I started on the first of January and so far I have walked 12 km = $6; 1 hour additional exercise = $2 and I've achieved a bonus $5 by losing 1kg so far. I aim to buy myself some luxury yarn at the end of the year. Don't know what yet but it will be something I usually only drool over and can't otherwise afford to buy. Now is that an incentive or what?

As for knitting. I'm on the homestretch with the edging for the Mandala and with a bit of effort might get it done tonight. I've also started knitting Isobel for one of my Birthday Swap partners.