Of Solstice and Knitting

Hope you enjoyed your Solstice, whether it be of a summery or wintry variety. Although it's supposed to be Summer 'ere in these parts, yesterday dawned somewhat grey and chilly and almost wintry, (which I don't mind at all because it is far more conducive to scoffing gingerbread and supping on hot fragrant chai than if we were roasting in 30-plus Celsius weather).

Not only was it Solstice, but it was a lunar eclipse also. Spesh.

It's been a while since I showed up here, and I've mostly been away from the interwebs, recovering from my year of study and generally winding down, shifting gear, and taking care of lots of neglected areas of life that tend to fall by the wayside when one's head is being occupied by assignments and exams and whatnot. There's also been epic events connected with Moon's school, (how many school picnics, concerts, and festivals can one child have I ask you?)

I've noticed a prevailing theme emerging amongst my friends and I, and even among friendly interweb bods, in that a number of us have been wanting to slow things down, simplify, and not attempt to try and do too much. I've certainly been attempting my own version of this, particularly as things started to get stupidly busy and I just decided that enough is enough.

So now, in the days leading up to Chrimbledom, I'm just pottering, doing some festive baking, (but not too much!), and crafting with the Moon who is now on school hols. And eating just a little too much gingerbread. Ahem.

We've had some big and small changes here lately, largely instigated by me. Thing is, those of you who know me, know that I would prefer to live out of the city somewhere a bit beautiful and green, and quiet. But due to a combo of factors, including the Moon's schooling, (not to mention her teacher who we would follow to the end of this blessed earth because he is a freakin' genius with children), we are very much in the city for the next little while.

So, in order to align a bit more with our values/ideas about how we want to live we've been busy investigating composting systems, and acquiring ceramic water purifiers, push-bikes and a kitten. Er, yes, a kitten. I'm aware of the dissonance in that sentence. Long story, but mostly to do with the Moon desperately wanting a kitten and catching me during a momentary lapse of reason.

And having been lectured by righteous types on the evils of cats and the environment, let me just say that I have strictly indoor cats, and they have no opportunity to prey upon birds or animals - native or otherwise - of any description. Except flies and mosquitoes, (which I heartily encourage). I do find it odd that I tend to receive such lectures from the owners of rabbits. Um, yes, rabbits. So good for the environment. Not feral, nasty, cannibals. Or anything like that.

Anyway, let me introduce to you, Merlin...(so named by the Moon). 10 weeks old, total chaos, and very cuddly and affectionate.

Merlin: being jet black, I have to capture in bright sunlight and with his eyes open, otherwise he tends to disappear. I nearly sat on him the other day when he went to sleep on a black chair.

In other news, (or not-news), I've become quite obsessed by knitting over the past few months. This has taken me a little by surprise, as I'm someone who tends to be far more inclined to things of a fabricky and sewing nature. Although I have knitted bits and pieces over the years, they tend to resemble Roman roads in their straight and undeviating nature, (er, scarves for instance), and I always thought myself far too impatient for knitting. But the knitting envy became overwhelming and I have since embarked upon Projects. 

I finally completed a cardigan for the Moon, having it on the needles back in July and pretty much finished by August, and then, I encountered the picking up of stitches around the neck, (cue music suggestive of doom), and following a goodly amount of swearing that would lay out a sailor with a fit of the vapours, it languished in my knitting basket for the next few months. Finally I asked a friend Who Knows About Knitting what to do with the sodding thing, and it all came together very quickly after that. I could post a pic, but I haven't taken one yet...(how's that for an anti-climax).

Suffice to say, it worked! And it fits the Moon! And she loves it, (it was her Solstice pressie), and it is the colour of berries and cream! And it has star-shaped purple buttons made from sea-shells!

*Blink, blink*.

But, now I am infused with the fire of woolly inspiration...erm. I've been swooning over goodies on ravelry, acquiring wool, (a veritable ton of Peace Fleece), knitting books, and patterns, (even though I can't for the life of me understand what half of them mean, and by the time I look up all the knitting abbreviations, I can't remember what I was doing in the first place). I am determined to embrace circular needles, although I am deeply, deeply intimidated by them, because I have just purchased this delicious book, and want to make just about everything in there, (the elf hat! the elf hat!). And nearly all of these patterns require circular needles.

And I want to make most of this lovely designer's patterns as well, and Tea Leaves for me, and Tiny Tea Leaves for Moon. 

But at the moment it all amounts to a large pile of knitting porn. I have a mountain of learnin' to do. So dear reader, are you able to point me in the direction of any good tutorials? Particularly in regards to circular and double pointed needles? 

And what knitting or other crafty projects, if any, do you have on the go at the moment?