Workin' on it

I haven't done much knitting lately, I've been too busy reading Harry Potter!

But I have started knitting at work again. I haven't done that in ages, at least a year. I'd forgotten how relaxing it is to work away subconsciously at something really simple and fluffy while you're chatting to someone about why there are no tickets left to the Melbourne vs. Richmond game! Unfortunately I finished the piece of Sparky's cardigan that I was working on yesterday about half-way through the shift, and had to find something else to keep me occupied for the rest of it! I'm really powering through it now though.

Quick Update

I've been working in little bits and pieces on all of my projects lately, so I haven't progressed on any one very much. I just don't have the concentration to stick to any single one at the moment. So I'm afraid I don't have much to show at the moment.

I've started reading/become obsessed with the Harry Potter books again, so that's taking up a bit of my time. Here's an exciting picture, in lieu of any pictures of my knitting, cos I can't be bothered:

[Stolen from Mandy's World] [link defunct]

Too much Knitting!

Well, I vowed I would not start any new projects until I finished an old one, and I kept my vow.
I have finished 2 projects so I am allowed to start 2 new ones! Yay me!!
And here they are:

First is a toy Penguin for baby Sparky that a friend suggested I make.

That kid's gonna have a lot of textile creations by the time I'm finished!


Second is a new scarf which I just thought of yesterday.

Honestly, this will be a scarf when I'm finished! ...I hope. I'm knitting it lengthways, so I have to use circular needles as it's too long for normal needles. I've never used circular ones before because they always seemed like too much of a pain in the arse. It's been pretty good so far though, and even though I cast on 200 stitches (which I'm afraid will be too short), I've done 2 1/2 rows already. We'll see.

I've also finished the back of the Baby Hoodie and I'm well onto the front. Yay!!

P.S. I'm trying to keep the photos small as I know I've posted a lot lately.
Sorry if they're causing trouble.

*fanfare* ta daaaaa!

Finally, here it is. The day we have all been waiting for. The unveiling of the Top Secret Project!

It is.....

a cushion cover! I call it the Cardigan Cushion.
It's made in a cable/rib pattern which I made up myself after I couldn't get the one in the pattern to fit the cushion. I forgot everything I read about how cables and ribs make a piece of knitting narrower, and I didn't take it into account. But thankfully this type of pattern is also very stretchy, so I was able to make it fit the cushion nicely. The only problem is that the end with the buttons curves in. But I stretched is as much as I could. What can you do?

The wool is Paton's Zhivago, which is very smooth and silky. I like it a lot. I have 2 balls left over to make into something nice.

I didn't really think about the buttonholes until I got to them - I've never done buttonholes before. But I got out Montse Stanley's The Handknitter's Handbook, which I got from the library and I don't want to give back! and I made some passable buttonholes. I wanted either black or pearly buttons, but when I saw these, I knew they were the ones. I spared no expense! I had some problems sewing them on - I kept putting them in the wrong place! Yeah, well, I never said I was actually any good at this knitting gaff!

My greatest compliment came when we put the pregnant birthday girl to bed at the end of the evening, and she wanted my cushion with her. Awwwwwwwww!
*big, warm, glowy feeling*