Wool On Sundays

First day of autumn here in Australia - and I breathe a big sigh of relief. Hot weather and I are not friends; let's face it, crafting and very hot weather just do not go together! So I am looking forward to lighting the first fire of the season and really cosying down to some knitting.

If my dog did that to my yarn, I wouldn't be smiling at her!

There will be no snow out my window, but just loved this Japanese image.

And what is with all the grannies knitting by the fire?!

I am linking today to a new party - well, new to me! It is Wool On Sundays at Rainbow Hare Quilts. There can never be enough wool/yarn/fibre related parties, right?!

I will also be hanging out at the Yarn Fanatic Party with Rachel at The Philosopher's Wife. 

And at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On.

I have been busily adding my stash to Ravelry. I have never used the My Notebook section of Rav, except to add millions of patterns to my library. I thought it would take too long and just not be worth the effort to add my considerable stash. But after only adding a very small amount, I can see it will be incredibly useful, especially as I am adding a photo of each yarn. It will be so easy to look for yarn for a project!

I just love being able to see all my skeins on the screen like that - so pretty!

Gorgeous yarn shawl is finished (Rav notes here). I love it! Really simple pattern, quick and easy, looks lovely and just the right size. I find that, much as I love bigger shawls, I just don't use them. I think I will be making another one of these before the winter is over. Hmmm, but which yarn to use?!

What is that balloon doing there?! Photography is so not my thing!

I really wanted to get the pictures up so, as you can see, I haven't blocked or even darned in the ends yet!

The pattern came from Fyberspates Scrumptious Collection Volume 1. There are some gorgeous knits in there; I particularly like the Wytham cardigan and the Uffington sleeveless top. But as I have sworn off buying any new patterns or stash, they are not for me at the moment. There are just so many free patterns though, I really don't feel I am missing out!

Now I will be casting on the Colin Vest by Doris Chang. Love a free pattern! And I just love vests on little boys - just something about them is too cute.
I will be using the Jorstad Creek BFL Tweed Sock that I got from my Knit Crate subscription - 100 grams of Chestnut and stripes of some of the colourful mini skeins. Stripes and vests are such a great combo!

When I started the Year of No Superfluous Spending, boy, did this subscription ever cause me some angst! I ummed and aahed about it for ages - and in the end decided to keep the subscription running as it will be the only yarn I purchase and it will keep from falling off the wagon completely! I figured if I have a teeny bit of yarn coming in, it will be just enough to stop a complete yarn meltdown, resulting in huge parcels arriving on my doorstep after a marathon online yarn shopping spree! 
And I do love the surprise of the Knit Crate - it's like a special gift arriving every month. You can cheat and look at the previews on their website before it arrives, but that would just be spoiling the fun! I have loved everything I have received so far, which is pretty impressive. 

Happy autumn (or spring), as the case may be!