Mindful Making

Come celebrate Sunday with me over on YouTube. Episode 65 of the mindfulmaking knitting podcast is waiting for you.

Hope you'll enjoy.

In my lunch break I always try to relax and rejuvenate with a coffee and some rounds on whatever is on my needles. Currently, I have this pair of socks going, and they are progressing very well. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​They follow my go-to sock recipe, with 72 sts, in a 2 by 2 ribbing on a 2.5 mm / US 1.5 needle, 15 cm leg, 36 sts heel, 36 rows heel flap, and total foot length minus 5 cm before decreasing for toes. For a men's EU 43-44 shoe size this foot length is 22.5 cm (and total final length will be 27.5cm).

I do not have many cm left before starting the toe decreases, and they will be finished in time for the birthday they are intended for.

What is your go-to sock recipe, and do you prefer to knit your socks in 4 ply / fi*****ng or 8 ply / DK weight yarn?

Meet this beautiful fella, his mates and all the wool in the latest video on the mindfulmaking youtube channel, where you are invited to come along to this year's Sheep & Wool show in Bendigo. Grab your project and tune in. ​​​​​​​​​https://youtu.be/qpXXTVTGXII ​​​​​​​​​

Catching up with Ally was one of the big highlights of last weekend's adventures at Bendigo Sheep and Wool show.​​​​​​​​
She's just finished her stunningly beautiful Gum Nut Cardigan and we got to twin-wear our cardigans. Doesn't she look stunning in her softly speckled pink Gum Nut Cardi?​​​​​​​​
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Video number 63 has landed on the mindfulmaking Youtube channel. Join for a dive into my latest obsession of knitting on larger needles. Grab your project and you a cuppa and tune in. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Small pleasurable moments. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This picture reminds me of the importance of collecting and treasuring the small moments of joy. Evidently a nice hot freshly brewed cup of coffee is one of my daily favourites, and with the addition of a Portuguese tart and a knitting project, the moment exceeds the scale of gloriousness.

This picture was taken a couple of years ago, when I worked on the , which is also an excellent choice for a holiday project, and despite it being an 'old' picture it sparks joyful memories and reconnect to that same feeling of utter indulgence. Enjoy.

knittingandcoffee

It is summer holiday season in the Northern hemisphere and many of you are on holidays, or preparing to go on holiday. An important part of that preparation is to decide on the holiday knitting project(s) - yes absolutely more than one. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Gum Nut Tee is an excellent holiday project. You get to play with colours in the round yoke pattern and for the body it is simple knit stitches in the round, leaving mental space for cheerful conversations and a cocktail or mocktail close by.

The winter here in the southern hemisphere is also ideal for knitting and maybe we should slowly start preparing for the warmer days that inevitably will be back again shortly.

Find the pattern for the Gum Nut Tee on mindfulmaking.com.au or on Ravelry.

As mentioned in the last video podcast the first design I wanted to make from the book by was Naava, which is a boxy all over half fishermans rib jumper full of warmth and fluffiness (check it out on picture number 2). ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I went stash diving and found three yarns, which held together achieved the approximate gauge. To get the intended positive ease I went up 2 sizes and I really really enjoy this project.

What are you working on at the moment?

Calling all Sydney siders. ​​​​​​​​​Come and check out my designs, yarn and project bags at the mindfulmaking stall, coming to Hurstville this Saturday 29 June 10 am to 2:30pm. ​​​​​​​​​I look forward to seeing you there.

Although not being very present here on the socials, I have been busily knitting away on a series of gifts, which had to be finished in time for my son's suitcase to leave for an overseas holiday. Check out the new video on the mindfulmaking youtube channel to see what I've been up to, what has jumped off and on to my needles, and you can also hear who the lucky winners from last episode's giveaway are. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Grab your project, pour a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy.

Check out the new video on the mindfulmaking youtube channel to hear all about the Gum Nut Cardigan, and celebrate the pattern release. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I hope to see you there.

NEW RELEASE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Gum Nut Cardigan is ready for your knitting needles and yarn. With a gauge of 22 sts on a 4.00mm / US 6 needle it is suitable for so many yarn qualities, be it sport/dk weight yarn single stranded or as here a light fi*****ng weight and lace weight yarn held together.

For this sample I held toghether one strand of Supersoft and Titicaca both in the Silver Grey colour. For the yoke colourwork just add an extra strand of your preferred colour. Here I kept the monochrome vibe and added a strand of Black Supersoft.

With the weather cooling down here in Sydney I have been wearing my Gum Nut Cardigan basically every day for a week. It for sure is a winner.

Pattern available in English and Danish on Ravelry and on the mindfulmaking website.

NEW RELEASE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Gum Nut Cardigan is ready for your knitting needles and yarn. With a gauge of 22 sts on a 4.00mm / US 6 needle it is suitable for so many yarn qualities, be it sport/dk weight yarn single stranded or as here a light fi*****ng weight and lace weight yarn held together.

For this sample I held toghether one strand of Supersoft and Titicaca both in the Silver Grey colour. For the yoke colourwork just add an extra strand of your preferred colour. Here I kept the monochrome vibe and added a strand of Black Supersoft.

With the weather cooling down here in Sydney I have been wearing my Gum Nut Cardigan basically every day for a week. It for sure is a winner.

Pattern available in English and Danish on Ravelry and on the mindfulmaking website.

The Gum Nut Cardigan pattern is RELEASED. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​It is my absolute pleasure to bring you this new mindfulfmaking design - a cardigan recognisable with the characteristic gum nut texture and pattern.

I am sure the Gum Nut Cardigan will become a favourite in your wardrobe. It is worked flat, top down with a round yoke construction with the simple colour work creating the textured ‘gum nut’ effect with slipped stitches.

Check it out on Ravelry and on the mindfulmaking website. The pattern is available in English and in Danish.

.ravelry

It has been a bit quiet here on the mindfulmaking feed lately. How have you been? Well I hope. ​​​​​​​​​You can check in on the latest projects that have jumped on and off my needles since we last caught up in the latest video on the mindfulmaking YouTube channel. ​​​​​​​​​I look forward to seeing you there.

As you might have seen some posts ago mindfulmaking is going to the and I will be teaching 2 sock knitting workshops on Saturday 6 April. There are only a few spots left, so if you've been wanting to learn how to knit socks, this is the time. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​But, that is not all. I will bring the mindfulmaking yarnshop on Sunday 7 April you can experience all the amazing colours of the Holst yarn sold in my shop. You can find my stall in front of the Police Station.
Fingers crossed the rain will take a detour around Carcoar.

Looking forward to meeting so many of you, lovely makers.

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter break with a new video on the mindfulmaking YouTube channel. ​​​​​​​​​You are invited on the recent trip to Adelaide, visiting a very dear knitting friend. There is also a new project on the needles and exciting additions to the yarn collection. ​​​​​​​​​
Hope you will enjoy.

Show notes to the episode can be found on mindfulmaking.com.au

I love packing your yarn orders, especially when they are as beautiful as this. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Can't wait to see what these balls of yarn are made into.

Supersof in these colourways:
Goldcrest, Black, Nougat, Flannel grey, Jasper, and Dark Olive

Yes, not many days to go now, and I have the pleasure of running a workshop at the in Carcoar, NSW. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you want to learn how to knit socks, this workshop is for you. Through the practical application of knitting a cute little baby sock we will go through all the basic elements of sock knitting - heel flap and gusset style - and after the workshop you will be able to knit a complete pair of socks regardless of size.

Does that sound interesting? Head over to or www.riveryarn.com.au for more information and for signing up.

When: Saturday 6 April 10:30 am or 1:30pm
Duration: 3 hrs
What to bring: DK wight yarn and 3.5mm circular needle or dpns.

I look forward to seeing you there.

The yarn used for the Gum Nut Cardigan is a combination of Supersoft (100% wool) and Titicaca (100% alpaca), and here you can see combinations in three shades of grey/black​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​1. Silver grey
2. Slate grey
3. Black

And this is just the first few combinations. So many more to come. They can all be found on the shelves of the yarnshop on mindfulmaking.com.au.

Check out the previous posts to see the my version of the Gum Nut Cardigan using the Silvergrey colourway for both yarns.

You still have the opportunity to join the group of test knitters for the Gum Nut Cardigan. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This design is worked top down with the front bands knitted with the body. Gum Nuts are created with slipped stitches and neckline, front bands and hem are in twisted rib.
The gauge is 22 sts, suitable for a varity of yarn qualities. For my cardigan I held a strand of Titicaca (100 % alpaca) together with a strand of Supersoft (100% wool) on a 4mm / US 6 needle, and this combination gives a lovely warm, light and slightly fluffy fabric.

Interested in testing this design? send your email in a DM and you will receive all the details.
Ideally, the deadline for test completion is 5 May 2024, but that can be negotiated should it be an issue to meet it.

On another note, on pictures 2 to 4 I played with background settings to see if I could remove the fact that the picture was taken at Christmas (and now it is Easter). Anyway just a bit of fun.

Finally - the is ready for testing. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Experience the timeless charm of the Gum Nut Cardigan – a true staple for your wardrobe!

Delight in the subtle yet captivatingly charming 'gum nuts'
yoke motif created by blending the main color with a contrast yarn giving the interesting marled effect adding depth and interest to your knit.

Want to get involved? We're inviting you to join our test knitting team! Be a part of the creative process and bring this classic and cozy cardigan to life.

Ready to dive in? Send a DM with your email address for more information and sign up.

I look forward to hearing from you. Jane

(some may notice a different tone of voice in the text - it was created with the help of AI).

Help me create extra space on the shelves in the yarn shop. ​​​​​​​​​Enjoy 10% off all yarn orders from the mindfulmaking webshop. ​​​​​​​​​
Use the coupon code: yarn2410 at checkout to activate the offer of 10% off, but you need to get in quickly.
The offer ends Sunday 17 March, 2024.

Use coupon code: yarn2410.

If rearanging pictures on the IG grid was possible this tile would swap place with the last post, to keep the chronology intact. Well, as far as I know that is not yet a feature of IG. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February came and went. It brought
- sun, warmth and humidity
- Uni start for my lovely adult children
- a trip to the emergency room with a foot swallen with infection, and antibiotics that thankfully retracted it to its normal size.
- catching up with beautiful knitting friends
- sourdough bread making
- singing, laughter and joy.
Life is good.

and March has already started in the most perfect way. I hope March has been good to you too.


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After a week of illness I am finally able to share the new mindfulmaking video with you all. Small projects takes over the the scene today, and I hope you will enjoy and be inspired by what has been on my needles the last weeks. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Search mindfulmaking on YouTube or find the direct link to the video on mindfulmaking.com.au

Hope to see you there.

I have a good feeling about these socks. Don't they look great?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The socks are on the needles. Apart from the many colours the only decorative detail is a simple 3 by 1 ribbing. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Knitting the socks toe up and two at a time ensure the socks will be identical, and so far I am loving the process.

The latest finished project is this gorgeous little Bella Dress. Flying through the delicate leaves pattern at the yoke and relaxing into rounds of stockinette for the skirt, and topped with, if not instant, a fast gratification from the final cast off made this a very enjoyable knit. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Pattern: by
Yarn: colourway Blackcurrent
Size: 18-24 months
Needles: 3.25 and 2.50 mm

Each time a yarn order ticks in, I get a little burst of happiness. I admire how you cleverly put together the colourways for your order, and it gives me so much joy to picking and packing your beautiful orders. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Here is one of the recent orders. Isn't it beautiful? I wonder which project it is intended for.

In case you haven't seen it already, I invite you to go to the mindfulmaking channel on YouTube and watch the latest video. We talk about a Christmas Day cast on, a blanket, a tee and the very restrained additions to my yarn stash during my holiday in Denmark. ​​​​​​​​​I hope you'll enjoy. ​​​​​​​​​