HRYC

A family member is celebrating a milestone birthday this weekend, so the shop will open at 12pm on Sunday 11 March. Enjoy your sleep in!

So...the new Knitty is out. I LOVE knitty. I love the patterns are free, that they push the boundaries and have lots of fun with the designs they publish.

But...I find it a little tricky that their seasons are opposite to ours. Right now I'm rugged up in hand knit cardi and socks, so looking at those beautiful shawls makes me feel...cold. And like the models should be told to put something warm on.

Anyway!

What are your favourites? Did you instantly want to cast anything on?

Here are my picks...

Loooove this! The colour, the lace pattern, everything! Good Day shawl by Amanda Bjorge (click on the photo to go to the Knitty pattern page)

Squeeee! Don't mind me getting all excited that Michaela is featured in knitty! She was knitting this last year at Knit Nation - so pretty. And so lovely. I might knit this just because Michaela is so awesome.

I'm being more and more convinced by the concept of knitted tees. Gemini by Jane Richmond

A pineapple? Of course! Thanks to the ever interesting Franklin Habit. If you're a twitter person, you should follow him - Franklin's joining of twitter instantly made it more awesome and hilarious, if that is at all possible.

So, back to the question: what are your faves?

How could I not? Congratulations to the wonderfully talented Wellingtonian Bret McKenzie for winning the Oscar for best song last week. We grow 'em good here in NZ....

Plus....any excuse to watch Jason Segel. He's up there with Ryan Gosling in my favourites...

In New Zealand, at some point, the phrase 'weather bomb' was coined by the media.

Right now, one such weather bomb is raging outside the shop window. The footpath sign can't go outside as it will end up somewhere in the Cook Strait, the heater is on and I'm playing very atmospheric Bon Iver on the Tivoli.

The Metservice is so concerned, this is at the very top of their website (where you'd usually find ads on normal sites):

And this is what the rain radar is telling us right now:

With weather like this, most kiwis are thinking about a day on the couch, under a blanket. I dream of a great, big, heavy, warm knit blanket. It is one of those projects will take some time, but will be so worth the effort.

Jared Flood's Shale Baby Blanket (click the image to go to the pattern's Ravelry page)

Lucy Sweetland's Seraphine for Brooklyn Tweed

Anne Hanson's Hourglass Throw for Brooklyn Tweed

Jared Flood and his Brooklyn Tweed crew really can do no wrong. All the best blanket or blanket inspired garments on Ravelry seem to come from their corner. Anne Hanson's Hourglass Throw would look amazing in Harvest Saffron ($5.50/50g ball) and be super snuggly with the mix of possum, cashmere, merino etc etc.

If you need a bit of bright to help lift the grey days, the Purl Bee, as usual, has something for you...

The Hudson Bay Inspired Crib Blanket by the Purl Bee

Seeing as I'm still stuck on the queue project, the only blanket on my list for this year is still Jared Flood's version of the Hemlock Ring blanket. Shop happy helper person Claire knit one of these in a matter of days - so I'm hoping when I finally cast on it'll be a nice quick and satisfying knit.

Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring Blanket

Right....time to relocate my cold self next to the heater and get on with knitting! Stay safe and dry if you are in one of the weather bomb spots xx

A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of being a Special Agent at Webstock. It is the most inspiring week of the year, which may be why I drop everything else for 5 days and disappear off the face of the knitty planet .

This year one of the recurring themes was 'craft' - craft your work, take pride, take the time and complete work with love. It all sounds rather huggy-happy-hippy, but it's not. Especially when it's coming from someone super amazing like Jessica Hische or Derek Handley.

Jessica spoke of 'procrastiworking' - and is well known, especially on Pinterest boards, for saying:

Jessica Hische said it, Chris lettered it

When I procrastinate, I knit. Or spin. Or bake. On the right track, yes?

But even doing what you love, a little inspiration can be required. Webstock tends to blow my mind and make me feel a little like I could be doing more, better. So i'm on the hunt for words that work, that help give the extra push needed to keep life and the shop amazing.

Like this:

This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit.
If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV.
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

from this great website

So, I'd like to know - where do you look for inspiration when you need a Pick Me Up? Do you cuddle yarn, a person, or look for words on the interwebs? I'm curious! Share! (plus, if you comment, it's much more exciting than spam bot comments).