Why “back to?” Well, as it turns out, VAustralia (run by Virgin) does NOT allow knitting needles on board planes. Can you believe it? Not even small, blunt, circulars (which is what I was carrying). I was even threatened (not too nicely, might I add) with getting them confiscated, which made me grip the sock I was working on pretty tightly. They let me put it away without confiscating them, though, which is good! On the trip itself I didn’t knit much as I was too busy so the 40 hours of plane time that I thought I would have to knit turned out to be 0 hours, so I basically got no knitting done during my time down under. I do have to say that the experience (happened on the flight over to Australia) made me more than a little bitter and I wrote a pretty angry letter to VAustralia customer service about it. They wrote me back with a “sorry about that, but no knitting needles allowed” generic answer. One thing is for sure, no way am I going to fly with them again! Well, if I ever go to Australia again that is, LOL!
In either case, I’m happy to be back and knitting again. So happy, in fact, that I finished a hat in just two days. It’s a very easy hat, though, so don’t be too impressed.
The best part of this hat is the yarn I chose for it… I used a brand new yarn to the Fiberphile line called Dream Worsted. It’s 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Silk and 10% Alpaca and is oh-so-soft. Not only that, but it’s very warm, which is what I made it for – as a new winter hat. The color is also perfect for this time of the year – Pumpkin Spice! Thanksgiving anyone? 😉
Although you probably can’t tell from the pictures, the ribbed section is actually doubled up (it’s folded and seamed on the inside) so that it keeps my ears nice and toasty – very important for someone like me whose ears get cold before any other part of her! The pattern was very easy to do and memorize and probably would make a good Christmas gift if you’re looking for hat patterns!
Pattern – Jane by Jane Richmond (rav link | project link)
Yarn – Fiberphile Dream Worsted in Pumpkin Spice (rav link | store I used)
Needle – US8 (5mm) and US10 (6mm)
Cast on – November 24, 2009
Cast off – November 25, 2009
Modifications – None
The next FO is actually something I’ve been working on since October (actually cast on for it on the bus to Rhinebeck!) and cast off the night before I left for Australia. I couldn’t block it before I left, so it waited until my return. It is, however, one of my favorite shawlettes I’ve made so far!
And, yes, that’s yet another green shawl. And, yes, it’s yet another green Wollmeise shawl. But, in my defense, I couldn’t help it. The Wollmeise Farn was speaking to me and saying that it wanted to be a shawl and it wanted to be one now! I couldn’t help it… I’m weak when it comes to the whims of my yarn!
It’s funny because I really didn’t think I was going to like this shawl as I was knitting it, but when I blocked it out and put it on, it was like love at first sight. Honestly, I love how this one came out! I made it quite bigger than the pattern says to do and this is all I had left of the skein:
The pattern itself is easy though some parts of it are really poorly written. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been updated if you think about the number of people who’ve made it already! In either case, if you’re going to make it keep in mind that the part that says YO, K1 6 times *should* say (YO, K1) 6 times. I know a lot of people who had to do quite a bit of ripping due to that mistake.
The pattern is quite lovely, though, and I couldn’t be happier with the end product. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a shawlette to knit… though I’m sure most of you have made one already!
Pattern – Multnomah by Kate Flagg (rav link | project link)
Yarn – Wollmeise Sockenwolle 100% Superwash in Farn (rav link | store I used – Ravelry trade)
Needle – US3 (3.25mm)
Cast on – October 17, 2009
Cast off – November 25, 2009
Modifications – Knit garter stitch section to 265 stitches, did 13 repeats of Feather and Fan section to make shawl bigger – finished width 58.5″
I’m very excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow, though the hubby and I are spending it alone this year (first time in more than 3 years!). I’m still making my famous (yes, it’s famous!) Apricot Turkey, though. I’m trying a Chocolate Pudding Pie for the first time ever, so I hope it goes well – I’ll be starting it today so wish me luck on that. 🙂
For all of you celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, Happy Thanksgiving! And if you aren’t, I hope you can still think of things to be thankful for… it’s nice to do that at least once a year, no? I personally am thankful for a lot in my life, but especially my friends (both online and not) and family. I wish you lots and lots of things to be thankful for!
Happy Thanksgiving! Lovely Multnomah.
Multnomah is such a vibrant green. I LOVE it!
It’s beautiful! I LOVE the color. I promptly added the pattern to my faves….I think I remember seeing that before, but it wasn’t in my queue or faves yet. I would have been SO aggravated about spending all that time on a plane and not being able to knit! It would have driven me crazy. (mental note: don’t ever fly VAustralia)
That hat is very cute and has a nice slouchiness to it…and the yarn sounds VERY yummy! Kudos for writing and complaining about the knitting needles.
Happy Thanksgiving- beautiful FO’s as always. 😀
I’m so sorry about the lack of knitting on the plane! Holy crap- I was always told that knitting on an airplane was ok! It makes me a little nervous to fly now!
Your FOs are amazing! That shawlette is breathtaking! And the hat looks so cozy and comfortable!
Take care, and have a great holiday!
Great post, amazing looking weblog, added it to my favs!
Wow, the green on that shawl just pops! So vibrant! I like the hat too, looks very smoosh-able.
I love that hat! Gorgeous texture and yarn. Happy thanksgiving to you, I hope you enjoyed your time together.
I love your multnomah. The green is so pretty. I found your blog when I was trying to figure out the best way to get the word out when I host give-aways. Anyway, I read every post in one sitting. I am going to put you in my “blogs that I enjoy .”–very inspiring
In defence of VAustralia, it’s not their policy, it’s a Federal Government issue. So no matter what airline you flew, you’d have the same result. We Aussie knitters have been fighting for years to have it overturned, without luck *sigh*. If interested, there’s a big Ravelry thread (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/australian-knitters/284359/).
Your green shawl is GORGEOUS!
Yeah, i was going to say the same about Australia – although flying *to* Australia I would have thought it might be okay, perhaps it was that it was an Aussie airline. However, I had a brand new Addi Turbo needle confiscated off me at Customs before I could go on my flight home once. I nearly cried.
Beautiful shawlette and hat, stunning yarn choices as always.
Glad to hear you’re safely home and knitting again 🙂
You are lucky you were allowed to keep the needles. I knit all the way to Ireland without incident, but on the return flight I didn’t make it through security. They made me take my socks off the needles and confiscated my 2 circulars. It was a very painful and expensive lesson. Domestic travel allows knitting; international, I won’t risk it again. I love the hat and shawlette…both are just beautiful. Oh, and I also enjoy the pics of the furkids when they appear on your blog 🙂
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving- love the hat color and that’s a beautiful shawl too.
The hat and shawlette look great! That’s too bad you couldn’t knit on the plane, it’s such a long flight. Just wanted to let you know I included a link to your blog in a post I just wrote.
Gosh, Lina, you have such beautiful items. My Moebius scraf will pale in comparison. However, since none of this is about competion I’ll tell you that after the blasted coughing stops and I feel better DH and I will drive north to Columbia [about 30 some miles] to the closest yarn stores and will will buy some # 6, 8 and possibly 10 circular needles – then watch out – neckwarming scarf here I come.
Your gorgeous pictures are reminding me of my own trip to Australia last year. We missed out on the bats though (thank goodness – shudder!). Like others have said, the pesky no-knitting thing is a government regulation (we couldn’t knit on Qantas either) – matter of fact, I bought a video game for the express purpose of entertaining myself since I wouldn’t be allowed to knit. Can’t wait to see the next round of pictures.
Good news. As of Christmas Day, knitting needles and crochet hooks are allowed on Aussie planes!
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/carryon-luggage-rules-to-change-on-christmas-day-20091222-lbq9.html
Hey Carolina!
I can’t believe how much knitting you do…I’m so jealous! Someday…
Hope we can catch up with you, Spencer, and the boys soon!
Michelle