Week 22 – Side to Side Sweater Weather

Woah… these weeks are going by so fast. I can’t believe it’s time for another blog post.

I am still stuck in the MCAS flare. I’m pretty sure that it’s due to the change in weather (the Autumn slide). It’s been cold and rainy all week again. We’ll officially be in Winter on Monday, but it feels like it’s already here.

Last year, around July, I started having allergic reactions to acrylic yarn and polyester filling. I was lucky that it mostly went away when the weather warmed up, but it seems like it’s back. I was using Feels like Butta this week, and my face was itchy. I guess I’ll be back to cotton for the foreseeable future.

But, it’s not all bad – I get to buy more cotton yarn!

Week 13 of the stupidest war of the century.

Just like last week, fuck all has happened. The US and Iran are still in a ceasefire, and I think we’ve been told every single day that they’re ‘closer to a resolution’.

Meanwhile, Trump has been building a UFC ring on the lawns of the White House because apparently Idiocracy was a prophecy.

Other shit from this week:

• The Ebola outbreak in Africa keeps spreading, and it’s seriously concerning how many people are getting infected. I can’t even imagine that those poor people and medical staff are going through.

• Bezos’ Blue Origin made a gigantic explosion with one of their rockets

• A US judge has ruled that Trump has to remove his name from the Kennedy Center
• There is a diphtheria outbreak in Australia
• Pam Bondi refused to answer questions about Trump’s involvement in the Epstein Files
• One of the founders of the right-wing Operation Raise the Colours in the UK has been charged with murder
• Israel has announced that they are now going to illegally occupy 70% of Gaza, which definitely doesn’t make it seem like that was their plan all along.

And in news that everyone else seems to already know – big businesses are finally starting to click that generative AI isn’t going to be the great money-saving invention that they hoped (at least, no time soon). 

Most of this week, I’ve been working on the sweater I started with the Scandi Cotton. I decided to go with the Dove Pullover by Briana K Designs.

I’ve freehanded quite a few sweaters and cardigans, but I’ve never made one side-to-side. I didn’t realise the sleeve on the Dove Pullover was a puff style before I purchased it, so I adjusted to a shaped sleeve, and then I added extra length… and then I decided to make it a cardigan, so it’s not much like the pattern anymore. I’m halfway through the 2nd side. I’m not sure if I’ll add a hood yet. 

I also splurged and purchased an Addi Express King Size knitting machine! I love knitted fabric, but I can’t knit anymore because it causes too much pain in my fingers and shoulders. I’m hoping to make some beanies to donate and maybe even panels for a sweater. I just need to learn how the thing actually works. 

We are almost finished with Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation – and still no sexy pajamas.  I’m on the final few episodes of House, and I have no idea what I’m going to watch next. Maybe Kath and Kim? Maybe… another medical show?

I still haven’t been sleeping properly, so I decided to re-read the Murderbox series. I’m on book 2 (where ART is introduced, and I think this is one of my faves in the series). I don’t want my brain to get too excited right before bed, and it helps if I already know what’s going to happen. 

I was working on a new Millennial-themed Overlay Mosaic wall hanging, but I had to order cotton yarn because I was reacting to Feels like Butta. Boo, but yay for more Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton. So, that pattern is on hold for now.

I woke up thinking about the 90’s album, Pure Moods. Remember that ad?! I was wondering whether I could design a keychain with max 20 stitches that would be recognisable… I mocked something up, but will have to test it this week. 

This week has been a bit slow, but fidgets have been popular on Etsy (as usual).

The Magic Mosaic Cube has also been selling well. I’ve been thinking of doing another one with all sides with a variation of ‘fuck off’, ‘go away’, etc. It would be perfect to keep on your desk. Imagine if you made one in DMC pearl cotton and it was teeny tiny.

Thankfully, my sister is feeling better, so maybe we can get some work done together on the Howard Moon pattern. I want to rewrite a couple of my very early amigurumi designs that I think could be improved upon. There’s a really cute cat one with outfits that needs a re-write with new yarn. 

It may be cold, but the little veggie pots are doing fantastic! All of the peas have grabbed onto the chicken wire, the potatoes are getting bigger every day, and the spinach is slowly creeping up. The other plants are all thriving as well. We picked another 5 lemons this week.