knitting | Drawn Out Yarn

Rolling hills, glistening sea and even the smell of the air – there’s nowhere quite like New Zealand. And I am so lucky to have just received some very special yarn from that country.

Two skeins of wool in the colour “misty grey” are now mine, sheered from the rare breed of Gotland sheep.

But these strands didn’t come by the post. Some history: My father grew up in New Zealand and I still have family there. That includes my Nana, who first taught me how to knit and purl. When I was a girl — deeply committed to my ballet classes — I was always the envy of other girls with the coziest, snuggliest leg warmers at the barre, made for me by Nana.

While crochet has become my first love since then, my Nana’s house in South Island of New Zealand was ground zero for my introduction to the fibre arts.

So, when my Dad announced he was making a trip home to see the family this March, I was hoping he might bring me back some yarn. And he did – from a farm and craft shop called The Woolshed on Takaka Hill. It’s pretty cute place by the looks of things, with a lunch menu, ice creams and farm animals you can pet!

But this delivery was extra special to me because my dad also brought back my Nana’s knitting needles and the bag she used to put her yarn in. I am so lucky to have received it, and it’s found a home next to my glitzier yarn box. And that about sums me up – a taste for the modern and the vintage.

Naturally I can’t wait to see what I can do with this yarn… but I’m also inclined so save it and just enjoy the possibilities for a little while.

What should I make?!

Jax

Sunday morning and the wine is already open… to add to a Sunday roast in the slow cooker, of course! The Christmas décor might have to go back in its box today, but nothing can stop me from soaking in the last of the holiday before kicking off the New Year with a hiss-boom-pow on Monday.

The lead-up to the festive season was a whirlwind of… mostly just yarn. Fibrous fluffs abound! I didn’t quite meet my goal of crocheting ALL my gifts this year, but I did knock out a bunch of projects I was really proud of, including an embellished tea cozy for my mom (which I sort of made up), Martina Gardner’s Sir Knight Helmet, several of Knotted by Nicole’s Mindless Scarves in different yarn weights.

I didn’t avoid staying up until 3 a.m. on Christmas eve (boyfriend snoozing beside me) madly weaving in ends and desperately knotting ends. Zzzzzzz… That’s probably why I completely missed getting photos of a lot of my work. Lesson learned.

Learning to Knit But for all my efforts, I got pretty lucky this Christmas. I received the Boye crochet master set (get ready, lace, I’m comin’ for you!) and plenty of yarn. My man’s grandmother also gifted me her set of Boye knitting needles now that she’s unable to stich any longer. My first effort to make use of them isn’t exactly worthy of posting, I know. But I’m keeping myself humble here.

Anyway, there’s never going to be a shortage of projects ever again!

In the annual Reddit Secret Santa gift exchange I received some Lion Brand Homespun yarn from a gifter who was concerned I might not be able to turn it into anything, so I worked that up into a scarf too to show her.

Now that the holidays are over, I’ve got high expectations for all the work to come this year. I’m on to baby blankets and clothes for a few newborns expected in 2015. Can’t wait to swaddle these little munchkins in something cozy. But first, I’m making myself a simple granny blanket, because It’s been ages since I made something just for me, and it’s snuggle time. I’m thinking of taking a couple of Craftsy classes to improve my skills, too.

So, what did you guys make/receive this holiday?