I can honestly say, I no longer can keep track of what day it is. Working from home, it is not like I have mental markers, traveling to the station, daily interactions with others… it is just one day after another, some sitting in front of a computer, the rest running about trying to do what I have to do.

I posted off the baby blanket and immediately started on blanket 3. I cannot recommend Lincraft’s Cosy Wool. Each ball is knotted and tangled in the middle and sadly, numerous breaks within. Some bits of wool being only a couple of centimeters long. Most disappointing. Still, I will not let that stop me.

The cold weather has set in. Ozzie is a bit more forgiving and gave me some hugs in between munching down on lucerne. Chaser has taken up running laps of the yard like a crazy juvenile alpaca. It is very entertaining. They are putting on a little more weight which is good at this time of the year. The unseasonal cold and yes, even snow – took us all by surprise. I hope the boys put on a bit more weight so they stay warmer.

I spent some quality time with both ukuleles today. It is nice to just pick them up and enjoy the sweet sounds. I have spent a lot of time with the pineapple recently so to pick up the Leolani was a nice change. I enjoy becoming more confident with them and John doesn’t seem to mind my random noises while I stumble on my journey.

Ok, enough rambling today. Back to crochet. Only one more blanket after this and then I have more time for design.

I lost a friend to cancer last week and to say I am lost for words is an understatement. Linda was an amazing woman, headstrong, knowledgeable, kind and well, just beautiful. She taught me a lot and gave me a sense of belonging. I have never been one for groups but when I visited Linda I always felt welcomed and, well, loved. We shared a passion for yarn, fleece and textiles. We spun together, we talked, I got in her way while she weaved and we went to the sheep and wool shows together. I kind of feel my partner in crime is missing. Rest well Linda, I dare say we will meet again. I hate to say good bye.

I threw myself into finishing things and have just finished A C2C blanket the size of a queen bed. I need to finish a smaller one for a cousins baby due shortly and then one for another new edition to the Clan… I so enjoy my family and seeing it grow. I also love that they include this crazy aunt in all the fun. Hopefully it won’t always be from such a distance.

Oh, I did finish re-vamping my little inkle loom and have been procrastinating the warping. I wasn’t sure how to warp it (this would be one of the times I would go to Linda and ask for assistance) when I was flicking through a book given to me by my oldest friend, Sharon. Spin your own wool and dye it and weave it by Molly Duncan. There, towards the end of the book was a diagram of my very loom. It says it is “an American type Inkle Loom”. You can imagine how excited I was… now, to stop procrastinating!!!

I will stop Rambling and go have lunch. Then… maybe the loom!

Here we are, March already. I have completed most of my samples for Raxor Yarns and I’m just waiting for some feedback.

It has been a crazy few weeks and I managed to get a day off work to have the Alpacas shorn. Guess what? It rained and shearing is postponed. All good! I have other plans namely, visiting dad and taking him to the Pennant Finals of Lawn Bowls. It is exciting as I am a newbie to the sport and something I share dearly with my father.

That aside, my shuttles arrived. I was so excited and now I find, they delivered the wrong ones. Most disappointed in this dealer so just wont use them again.

Today, I will head out and will buy some dowel to replace the missing ones from my inkle loom then, I plan to warp it up and make a start. I have put it off long enough. In all honesty, for my first ever attempt, I don’t need the extra dowels as I will only make a smallish braid. I am itching to launch head first into Baltic Pick-up but will work out kinks first. This is so very exciting. I will have to learn to divide my time between knitting, crochet, designing and spinning and weaving. To those who continually tell me that I would get bored if I retired… RASPBERRIES to you… I will never get bored! Ever! Tired maybe but never bored!

It is February and I missed January all together. The last Month has been a little hectic with parties and doctors and new eating plans etc… apparently my intermittent fasting has been working well. My pharmacist said he has noticed a difference in me.  Can say I feel quite appreciative.

Knitting and crochet has been a little on the back foot as I begin Muninn again. This time no beads but in black and possibly blood moon. I am making sure to write every step down this time and I’m charging up the GoPro  so I can take some choice pics of the different steps I do just to make it clear.

Yesterday, I also sent some of Raxor’s super springy to the U.S. so Bizzy Crochet can do some test knitting for me. I have to also thank the lovely Yvonne for doing some knitting for me also. This being said, if you are interested in doing some test knitting for me, drop me a line… here at sockdiva.

Here it is, January, and I am only now talking about St Distaff (or Roc) Day! Apparently it is an ‘unofficial’ Catholic holiday. On the 12th day of Christmas (January 7th) women were allowed to take up the Distaff and spindle or spinning wheel and continue on with their spinning. There is all kinds of references to Germanic women and Hexen and such but I won’t bore you.

There have been articles in Interweave Knits™️ and Spinoff™️ But I found a lovely article on Fiberygoodness.com (which is where I obtained this picture from).
The reason I am telling you this is a (I have never heard about it before today and b) I think all spinners should take note, put down all your other tasks and tools and spin! I plan on taking leave from now on… spend the day spinning and not feeling guilty. I am not sure why WWKIP day is not on this day too but then why share… there are 364 other days knitters can celebrate and around the second week in June is fine by me.

I am currently spinning some Galaxy from Raxor.com.au (‘s) range. It is so pretty to see the glitter shining as I spin. The colour is beautiful and I feel on a hot day, the small amount of air movement can be very nice on the legs. I am trying to mix this with knitting another garment out of Raxor Yarn’s Super Springy keep and eye open for another pattern and a pair of socks out of her bamboo sock range. His little name is string bean!

I better leave this here. I am on a train, soaked to the bone and I do have some knitting to do.
Until next St Distaff day… Well, until my next post… keep well and out of harms way.
P.S. I cannot leave this here, without mentioning the current #bushfirecrisis we have at the moment. My thoughts and heart goes out to all who are affected including my cousins who are on the South Coast of NSW. If you are planning to donate money, please be wise and donate to well known funds as there some groups that are misleading the public. There are also many groups knitting, crocheting and sewing things for the poor orphaned animals if money is an issue. Thank you to all volunteers who are helping to protect us from harm. You are all doing a great job.