Twenty-two centimetres is roughly ten thousand, three hundred and forty stitches;

And ONE CENTIMETRE in garter stitch is a LONG TIME...

Let me demonstrate*:

I've been motoring along on the Debbie Bliss Duffel Coat, which I'm knitting in a nice bluey-purpley-heathered Cleckheaton Country 8 ply 'Heathers' that I gained in a stash dive at Mum's (free yarn is good yarn!).

The first three pieces - back, left and right fronts - were knit up pretty quickly, even for me, and I'm quite pleased to be able to say that this piece, knit entirely in garter stitch has actually taught me to be able to knit without having to look intently at my knitting - without too many errors!

The next step was to join at the shoulders then to knit across both fronts and back to begin the hood. Crikey, I'm glad that I'm knitting this for a six-month-old and not an eighteen-month-old! Ninety-four stitches across, over twenty-two centimetres, in garter stitch, seems like it's taking forever! I of course, have made it worse on myself by measuring that I take about five rows to knit one centimetre, and so I've led myself to the calculation above of a rough total of 10, 340 stitches to complete the hood - phew!

Here we are, with countless ends to weave in, showing just how far I've gone in hood-stitchery.I quite like the double-breasted thing this coat has going on. I bought little wooden duffel toggles yesterday, anticipating a quick finish on the sleeves and sewing up... though just saying that would certainly be tempting the Knitting Fates to step in and stuff me about at this point!
I'm nearly there... nearly! Looking forward to the next step...

A couple of weeks ago, I had quite a vivid dream about going to hospital, knitting whilst in labour, only to find out that I hadn't packed enough yarn to keep going on this duffel coat project, and that I just had to send Pete home to get more out of my stash cupboard... clearly something in my mind has snapped, or I've come to the much more sane conclusion that I should have some sort of (non-complicated) knitting project cast on and ready to go, should I want to knit in labour. I don't see why not - knitting calms me, and will certainly give me something to focus on as I go through the first stage, at least.

Anyone think I'm entirely crazy?



* Anyone familiar with the film 'Yellow Submarine' will hopefully understand my adaptation of that line!

... and then Trouble arrived!

I knew it, I knew it! I tempted the Knitting Goddess to wreak havoc, on Christmas Eve of all times, and she certainly delivered a blow to my knitting ego! I was motoring along on my mother-in-law's washcloth when around 10pm, I realised I wasn't coming back to twenty-one stitches at the end of each segment; I was coming back to seventeen. What had I done with the extra four stitches? Buggered if I know, even now - I chucked it all in my knitting bag and huffed off to bed. Haven't even looked at it since! Mostly, for this reason:

This is my Christmas present from Pete: A fair-dinkum, real, true Jordana Paige Knitter's Satchel! Featured here in the colour 'Cappucino', it is a gorgeous way to schlep my current projects around and the ill-fated washcloth just didn't make the Christmas morning cut. WHen I showed my mum, she remarked "Oh, it looks just like a normal handbag!" I replied "And thus the deception is complete". Pete bought it through the Aussie website YarnsOnline, and the lovely bags can also be seen in their natural habitat, at Jordana Paige.

Meanwhile, the Christmas treats continue. Pete took me to the movies today for a nice Wonderboy-free outing (we do so love the little bugger, but it is nice to go out and about, just the two of us every now and then. Can I hear it from the parents out there? Yeah. That's what I'm talking about) to the Greater Union 'GoldClass' cinemas to see 'The Golden Compass'.

First, the cinema - oh... my... goodness... What a way to relax and enjoy a movie! We were ushered into out own little area, like a V.I.P. spot, behind closed doors, where we reclined on sofas and ordered our lunch and drinks. Luvverly.

We were escorted to our pre-booked seats in the cinema, where we found they were plush armchairs with electric recliners and enjoyed the film. Occasionally, cinema staff would quietly let themselves in, creep over to your seat and deliver your ordered food and drink. Sure beats the hell out of cold popcorn!

A very civilised way to enjoy a film. You certainly pay for the privilege, but we figured that we don't go to see films anywhere near as much as we did before Wonderboy arrived, so it's nice to treat ourselves when we do.

Which lead me to wonder, as I watched the film; how many other knitters out there were watching and thinking about the fantastic knitted garments featured? I'd love to post some examples from the movie, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to, especially when everything is copyrighted so much. Grrr. I couldn't even get pictures from the official website.

But, for the curious, check out 'The Golden Compass' on IMDb, and Froggie Meanie added her own 'Lyra's Hat' patterns to her blog and on Ravelry. I can't wait to make a little wee one for my little wee Wonderboy!