HRYC

One of the most wonderful things about the internet and social media, I find, are the small magic moments where a friend shares something, you click through, and that something speaks to you so very deeply.

'How Many Times Should You Say "I Love You"?' by Christine Defrancisco is one such moment.

'Our tragedy is that we believe something can only be beautiful when it is rare. We exist in a society that dismisses the beauty in everyday life. We overlook the small, fleeting moments that make up our day...'

Truth. Life is hectic, and slowly I've learned that my favourite moments are not the big ones: rather, they are the small simple things that bring a momentary sense of peace, a feeling that all is well with the world.This morning, it was a smile from the guy I bought bread from at the Riverbank Market, standing at the shop counter drinking the first long black of the day, and a text from a friend that simply said 'HAPPY'. Our joy doesn't need momentous occasions.

You may be wondering how on earth this is relevant to a yarn store. Every day we have the pleasure of sharing new things with new people, introducing someone to Ravelry for the first time, witnessing that first 'Malabrigo Experience', seeing you light up over the possibility of an exciting new project. And we get to see first hand how important it is for everyone to make some sort of connection to each other. Knit Night continues to get bigger every week - we're on the hunt for more chairs so that we can fill the entire shop from front to back with happy knitters. Because if we can bring people together, and introduce you to someone new - that totally makes our day.

If you haven't been to Knit Night before, and are worried about not knowing anyone: come anyway. You never know who you might meet.

A little magic - I love watching the faces of people as they go by, not quite sure what to make of the orchestra flash mob. (And trying to spy familiar faces!).

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra flash mob to celebrate the release of 'Good for Nothing' (in cinemas 3 May).

A post, inspired by the fact an ever increasing number of people seem to be pregnant right now* - something in the water, perhaps?

As per usual, click on the image to be taken to the Ravelry page (i'll put in public links where available)

Justine Turner's Aviatrix has to be at the absolute tippity top of our list - we have one knit up in the shop and constantly send people to her site for the pattern. It's a fantastic wee hat that is easy to put on and pull off in a hurry.

While Puerperium may not be easiest name to say, this is the sweetest wee cardi - and Kelly Brooker is one exceptional pattern designer. All her patterns are for kids and ever since i've been around mama knitters, they have raved about the Looking Glass Longies and Vanilla Soaker patterns.

Puerperium

Beyond Puerperium

The adult version of Owls became one of those cult knitting patterns for good reason - I adore mine. And now: mini Owl!

Owlet by Kate Davies (how cuuuuute would this be in Malabrigo Rios in Sunset?)

The little sister dress would make a great 'throw over tights and merino top' for winter....

Little Sister dress by Tora Froseth

While we're on the girly dresses, I kind of want an adult version of this for myself...

Fionas top by Sanne Bjerregaard

Back to more practical things, the Pebble vest has the cute (and no doubt handy) addition of buttons down one side.

Pebble by Nikol Lohr

Oh, how I could go on! There's really no need to put small people in boring knitwear. It's worth having a bit of fun when they are small enough not to argue what you dress them in.

If you have any favourite little people patterns add your own links in via the comments!

* I'm certainly NOT one of them, by the way. Just to clarify :)

A much needed update on the queue project: so far, so good.

I've finished Manu! Hooray!

Manu, by Kate Davies, knit in Cascade 220 SW sport

And I've got the tiniest wee bit left to go on Interlocking Leaves (anyone have the tiniest bit of Knitsch Sock Pencarrow floating around so I can finish?)

Knitting and beer - what could possibly go wrong??

All but done - Interlocking Leaves by Kelly Porpiglia

And Aidez has been cast on - two sleeves are done...but as I'm knitting in the round I need to sit down and put the two cable charts together so that I don't make an almighty mess.

There have been a few distractions, especially with the gorgeous Blue Sky Alpaca yarns arriving. Added to that is the problem of picking project that are tricky to knit on Thursday nights, or when hanging out with customers in the shop. Just quietly there's a second queue project going on - for projects knit specifically for shop display and easy enough that one can chat, knit and be distracted from.

What are you working on? Are you queue project-ing with me? Are you worring (like I am!) that you won't achieve all your knitty goals for the year?

A guest post! Of sorts, anyway. Megan is the most wonderful feministy knitty sexy voiced friend. Plus, she has the odd afternoon off during the week so she's great to hang out with when the shop is closed. Here is our collaboration on the most important of topics: the return of the hat.

The lovely Tash and I finally got around to seeing unveiled this week, and spent a delightful couple of hours wandering through Te Papa exclaiming at fabrics, tiny waists, and bemoaning our 2012 lack of elegance.

Not that we're not elegant in our way, but we're not swanning around in gorgeous red dresses, dolled up, complete with gloves and hats. So, we've decided we're bringing back hats. Now, if you've been reading here a while, you'll have seen photos of me wearing hats - in varying states of success. So, we're on a mission.

Tash, as is her wont, immediately thought of the beautiful things she could knit:

Cloche, to my ears, is one of the more beautiful sounding words in our language. Naturally the cloche is one of my favourite hat styles - jaunty, elegant, sophisticated, tongue slightly in cheek.

Hats, to me, are a lovely way of finishing off a well-thought outfit. I suppose these days as we accessorise to the nth degree hats may seem a bit superfluous. In this city, famed for our love of black, I'm excited that this new 'bring back the hat' mission of ours will allow more colour into a winter wardrobe of black, grey, and black.

Ironically enough, I (Megan) have that Escargot hat in my Ravelry queue. My only concern is that I have knitted myself several hats, and I never end up wearing them. Right, first on the agenda is to wear one of them to the book launch this evening. Yes, Tash? I have a bright pink one that will do for the "bringing the colour" part. In fact, I believe it's even in a Knitsch yarn.

Now, to add to my queue - cos, you know, it's not nearly long enough - look how cute this cloche is! (though not in that scary green.)

For something a little more casual, this cabled slouchy-beret (What? It's a technical term) is gorgeous.

However, were I too lazy to knit, I could also shop. "Were" and "Could" being euphemisms, of course. Hats are something you really need to try on, but some internet shopping will do for now.

So I did some hunting around the interwebs. Look how cute! I'd wear this to casual saturday afternoon drinks in the sun.

This one, I'd wear while shopping. In a coat and some kind of matching scarf/glove arrangement.

But let's face it, Cloches are where it's at. Cute and sophisticated, and with Ebay, available in actual vintage.

With this, I'd just need red lipstick, and a cigarette holder.

And lastly, it's not a cloche. And yet, again, I'd really just need red lipstick, and an LBD. For that excellent Black Widow At A Funeral vibe. That sounds sarcastic, but that actually is one of my favourite looks.

Creepy mannequin, but.

So that's it. Hats. They're back. One thing I would say, is that hats - like red lipstick - take a bit of getting used to. It's not like putting on a new dress. Yes, the pattern might be different, but the foundation is the same. But a hat changes your look, and it messes with your hair and your face and looks really odd in the mirror if you're not prepared. Stick with it. We're wearing them, and being elegant and interesting. Are you in? And what will you wear?