starting summer holidays

So, this:


(knitting on Grandpa's socks whilst studying)

and this:


(post-it notes of key points I seem to forget, as well as post-it notes of knitting reminders)

has turned into this:


(what was left of a dozen eggs after a day of baking)

and lots of knitting.

Med school is out for the summer, and every single one of my exams, tests and assignments is passed. I have since realised I need to return to uni to submit some paperwork and I need to catch up on some emails, but school, study and stress are not around this month.

To fill in my time - time! I didn't realise people could have this much time! - I have been baking and knitting furiously. Which means I am feeling considerably less stressed and very contented. And not quite knowing what to do with all the baking I seem to have produced.

I thought about doing some light reading driving home a few days ago, but have since talked myself out of it. I must force myself to take a break as I don't want to burn out next year. Of course, when a break is knitting, baking, reading novels and becoming quite adept at doing nothing, it's not such a hard task after all.

happiness

Exam results out.

One final exam to go, and then halfway through medical school.

Gluten free baked goodies.

Summer fruit.

Beautiful yarn gifted to me by my parents.

Singing in the car.


Walking the dog.



Life is good.

finished for others

Being unsure as to what of the (many) FOs I should show first, I've been thinking about it. Which one to choose?

And then it hit me that these two go together.

In short, med school is hard. Goodness knows I whinge about it enough. The funny thing is, I mostly have it easy. It has cost me some in terms of personal life and timelines - being the timelines of marriage and children - but this is nothing to what I see my peers go through.

I have not moved interstate, I am surrounded by family, and I do not have children of my own yet. I am not paying a mortgage. My fiance is here, as are friends I have known for years. I am moving next year, but no more than two hours away from the people I know well. I have dealt with the politics of things, but not been burnt as badly as some.

Two dear friends of mine went through some lesser times this year. Nothing like all of the above happened - but things were not as pleasant as they could have been. So I knit them something.


Friend one received a beanie.
(Please excuse the quality of the photo.)

She received this back in June, our winter.

Pattern: Lina by Johanna of Joko Knit. I followed the pattern as written. However in hindsight I would have done one less repeat of the cable as I think the hat was a little too long.
Yarn: Luxury 4 ply from Bendigo Woolen Mills, colour Lake, used doubled. I used 4 ply doubled as I knit it in a hurry and I only had 4 ply in the colours I wanted. I love Bendigo yarns though. I love truly.
Needles: 4mm 40cm circular and double points
Modifications: zilch
Best thing about this project: that it was and will be warming the head of someone lovely


The other friend received a baby ishbel.

This was given just a week or so ago. That is, just before my city was hit with a massive heat wave. We'll ignore that for a moment though, shall we? I will concede though my timing of this one was not the best for instant wearability.

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague, smaller size. I love this pattern! It has been the second one I've knit, and I have vague plans for another. What can I say? I'm addicted.
Yarn: Luxury 4 ply from Bendigo Woolen Mills, colour Brick. I see a pattern here.
Needles: 4mm circulars - I believe around 80cm
Modifications: zilch
Best thing about this project: that it will be warming the neck of someone lovely - not that they would have needed it last week!

Yes, I definitely see a pattern here.


ah... baby ishbel blocking. How I do love blocking lace.

I wanted to do something for them to show people care. Something tangible. I have baked for other people before, but it didn't seem right on either of these two occasions.

I count myself a selfish knitter in that I knit what I like. I may (or may not) give it away, but it's what I've chosen to knit so it's still selfish in nature. This beanie and this shawlette I was so pleased to give away.

and so, a hint.

Well yes, I am here. Although I haven't been posting, I have certainly been knitting. I feel as though I have knitted a huge amount in the last month - only I have just realised that it feels like more because I've been posting less. Just a hint of what I've been up to.

caffeinated

Exams start tomorrow.

Stressed. Nervous.

Knowledge base isn't where I think it needs to be.

Made silly mistakes on Friday helping people with a topic I thought I understood.

Have since told them I was wrong.

Feel silly. Thought I understood it. Worried about other knowledge I think I understand.

Haven't updated blog in months.

Finished some knitting. Had no energy to write about it.

Exams tomorrow. Hard stuff.

Hard past exams.

Must study.

Proper update with photos and some project wrap ups after exams I hope. Hopefully I'll be able to get some words down about it then. xx

pink is the new white

In my quest to find the right yarn for my wedding shawl, I had some trouble with the shade. As much as I love cream, I don't think I can wear cream. If I can wear cream, cream doesn't really suit me. So I need a white yarn, not a cream yarn.

It was originally going to be for a veil, so it had to be fine. I've since decided I probably won't use the veil idea - after looking at dresses, none of the dresses I've found will suit a lace veil, I'm scared I'll look like I'm wearing a tablecloth on my head, and finally, I don't need the pressure of having a mammoth knitting project that must be done by my wedding day. Hence, the movement to a shawl rather than a veil. If it's not finished, it's not finished, but it won't mean I walk down the aisle with no head covering.

I'd decided on the yarn I wanted, which is a merino cobweb weight - according to Ravelry - and stocked at my favourite LYS. It's there in cream, but the cream was too yellow. So we looked at the colour photograph of the shade card and ordered in the white.

Only, this came in.



Not quite white, is it? It turns out that when photographed with a flash and surrounded by other brighter colours, the pale pink looks white. The LYS were absolutely wonderful about it. I was repeatedly told that I didn't have to buy the pink, but I bought it anyway. I'm not much of a pink person, but I know people who are. Besides, I can't leave all that pink yarn - which I asked to be ordered - with the LYS. Or rather, any excuse to buy more yarn.

The white came in:



and is truly stunning. It will make a lovely wedding shawl, and I am really looking forward to starting this. Not quite sure on which needle size to use yet, but we'll get to that eventually. However, I'm now knitting with the pink.



A fountain pen shawl, to be precise. Testing out the yarn and needle size in a giant swatch.



The pink almost does look white sometimes. Onwards with my fountain pen swatch.

juicy juicy green grass*

(*with apologies to Peter Combe.)

Please forgive me for being so excited, but the grass is green!

Look!



Yes, green. The grass that is, my sneakers are most certainly black. Anyhow, it's definitely rained around here, and that suits me just fine. I like me some grey skies, warm blankets, hot drinks and cozy days.

I've snapped out of whatever mindset I was in, and am eager for a bright and happy - preferably green - future. Passing my exams - booyeah - may have contributed to this slightly. But we'll also say it's that green, green grass.

That being said, I baked yesterday. When I get busy, I miss baking. I pulled out a favourite recipe of mine - Orangette's lemon cake - which I hadn't made since I was diagnosed with coeliac disease. Now, this cake was awfully light when made with wheat flour. Gluten free cakes are generally heavier, and require more moisture. I made a simple switch of gluten free flour for plain wheat flour, added xanthan gum, but didn't change anything else. Sadly, the case wasn't as light as I remembered. Silly gluten. So I feel some more fiddling is in order.

I like my lemon cake iced with runny icing so it drizzles down the side. Not as light as I remembered, but just as pretty as simplicity can be.