It was inevitable that with the attention I was giving Lily while she was writing her blog post, that Toby would decide to write one too. Or rather, he decided to pull all his woollens out of his cupboard, strew them around his room, drag a pile of them down to the living room and then dictate his list to his father. Thanks Andy for taking his rather random notes down. 

Toby's choices were probably not so much a surprise but he still did make some comments that I found  interesting. Toby is an unusual six year old boy in that he loves wearing woollens. I think he may have been a sheep in a previous life, he likes them so much. Generally, he's not as sensitive to yarn choices as Lily is. He doesn't not wear something if the yarn is a bit rough, he just works his way around it, as you'll notice from his comments. Only once did he actually comment on the feel of the yarn. 

One thing that did surprise me is how much he loves buttons (hmm, maybe this boy was a knitter in a past life?). Notice how often he mentions buttons in his comments. He also really likes textures, colour and those small details, which is interesting. I am currently rewriting a pattern that I had planned to release a few years ago and I'm about to knit a new sample. One of the elements I had planned to add was some additional texture/stitch pattern to the yoke, as it just felt like it needed something a bit more. This observation has pretty much sealed it. 

This little lad with his cute list has ignited an urge for me to knit some more clothes for this sweet munchkin to continue to feed his love of woollies. I am going to knit him something super special ❤︎.

I love that this has a hood. I like the zig zags down the front and that the shape is comfortable.

Knit in Red Riding Hood Yarns 'Belle' Supewash DK/8ply

I like the design because, hmmm, that's hard - because, umm..... it has rainbow of lots of different colours! I like the hood and pocket too. 

I wish there were sleeves.

(Georgie: That comment about sleeves really blew me away and really surprised me. I'm not sure he'd leave something on that's knit out of an Aran weight yarn if it had sleeves! Not in our climate!)

Knit in Noro Kureyon

I like it because the lines down one side are really cool. I also like the type of buttons.

Knit in Red Riding Hood Yarns 'Belle' Superwash DK/8ply

Next is the milo. I like it very much because it's the first thing that Mum made me. You need to wear something under it because it's really, really itchy!

(Georgie: I think he means the first pattern I wrote for him. As this milo certainly isn't the first one I knit for him! Actually, a milo wasn't even the first thing I knit for him, but he wouldn't know that.) 

Knit in Noro Silk Garden (Yes, a 10ply yarn for this 8ply pattern. I modified it for an 18 stitch tension. This is what happens when you order yarn online late at night. Sometimes, what arrives isn't quite what you meant to order!)

I like all the colours on the neck bit and I like how you can use it as a school jumper.

Knit in Skeinz Vintage Premium NZ DK

I like the neck on Chocolate Brownie because umm, all the colours make it really stand out with the brown. I love the little end bit and how it curls up.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino DK/8ply

I like how the buttons are up near the neck part and I like how it is at the end of the sleeves - yeah, the grey and red bit. 

Knit in White Gum Wool Ethical Superfine Merino 8ply

It gets on my list because I love the bit where the buttons are - the knotty bit.

Knit in Skeinz Silver Lining DK

I like this because of the neck bit. It doesn't just cover your body, it covers the neck bit. And I also like the buttons.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino 8ply/DK

I like it because it doesn't have sleeves.

Knit in Celia's Basket Organic 10.

Tonight I have a little treat for you. I asked Lily what her Top 10 knits were and rather than just listing them, she decided it would be fun to write her own blog post. 

Her answers were interesting and surprising. Surprising, because while these may be her Top 10 favourites, they are not necessarily the knits that she wears the most.  I found it interesting that for her, a garment was a favourite not just because of the pattern but also because of the yarn used. I know this to be very true for her as there are a number of knits in her cupboard that while we both adore, and they may be some of my better sellers, she doesn't like the wool used and so they rarely get worn. For this reason, I've also listed the yarns I knit the garments in. You may see a pattern here. ;) Bare also in mind, that for some of my older patterns, she no longer has that garment in her wardrobe as it no longer fits her. (Ie. Granny's Favourite is too small and I do need to knit her a bigger size in a yarn that meets her approval)

She did find this a bit of a tricky task. I think it was she couldn't remember what she actually had in her cupboard  and had to go searching through them LOL A couple of these are patterns which are yet to be released. Hopefully, they will find their way into the pattern world at some time this year.

Are you interested in reading her responses? These are all in her own words and I really like the way she has used language to "sell" her choices.
Do you think her verdict may impact on what you knit for your kids in terms of both patterns and yarns? 
I know that I am more conscious of my yarn choice when knitting for Lil, as opposed to her brother; who would happily wear a knitted twine sack! Toby, by the way, while I've been preparing this blog post has written his own Top 10. I'll post that tomorrow.

Over to Lily:

I like how the wool is so soft and warm, considering it's a cardigan and not a jumper. This pattern hits first place because it is so simple but very effective. 

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino 8ply/dk

This pattern is perfect for wearing to school on a chilly morning especially if you are cycling. The wool is very very snuggly and you don't want to take it off. 

Georgie: This is a hoodie that is constructed with contiguous sleeves and has a kangaroo pocket. I knit it for Lily to wear to school in winter. I possibly need to publish this pattern as it has been a staple in her wardrobe. 

Knit in Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply

This pattern scores a top place on my list because it is perfect for snuggling up on the couch with when you're watching a movie. I love the wool because it is so smooth and not itchy.

Knit in White Gum Wool Ethical Superfine Merino 8ply/dk

Cherrypool has a great slouch and is perfect for lazing or hanging in. It seems to go with everything. WOOLganics is so soft that you hardly remember it is on your head.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino 8ply/dk

This little cardie is an awesome cardie for Summer action and seems to be the solution to every fashion fix.The wool is so silky and fine.

Knit in Wendy Dennis Polwarth/Silk blend 5ply

This princess sleeved cardie is comfortable and is ornamented with beautiful lace patterns and stands out above others. 

Knit in White Gum Wool Ethical Superfine Merino 8ply/dk

I love its brief relaxed style and it is my must take jumper for any camping trip. The wool is so luscious and soft that it sinks into your shivering shoulders when you wear it.

Knit in Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran Tweed and Noro Silk Garden

Hot pink. You can see me from a mile away. Soft as silk is the only way to describe the fine pink wool.

Knit in White Gum Wool Ethical Superfine Merino 8ply/dk

It's not just a dress up. It can be a casual normal jumper with a little spark to it. Just a bit different.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino Knitters Yarn 8ply/dk

It matches all my blue dresses, which is a lot! It's always the "A-ha, why didn't I think of that cardie?" I find the wool a bit scratchy though.

Knit in Red Riding Hood Yarns 'Belle' Superwash 8ply


There you go!

So was there anything there that surprised you? Any omissions that interest you? 
I'd love to hear your thoughts about what you've learnt about what your kids like to wear in terms of both garments and yarns. 

I am so sorry I am late with announcing these winners, and yes, A shout of winners is the correct collective noun. I love it! It seems very very appropriate for social media, doesn't it? 

Every year for some reason we did decided to combine this. Camping and the return to school. You see, the kids start school on the Thursday so the idea is that camping the week leading up to those days makes the transition into school a bit easier and they go to school from camp. We camp only five kilometres from our home on this magnificent bit of coastal spit that straddles the ocean and the river inlet. It's a rather special place, bush camping that is only available for six weeks of the year. 

The theory sounds grand doesn't it? The reality sometimes works and others not so. This year didn't seem to work so well. The kids haven't really managed to slip back into an earlier bedtime routine, Toby is often still awake and doing a relay run from his bed to the lounge room at ten o'clock at night. Both kids have been tired, both adults have been tired; and everyone is a wee bit niggly. Maybe we had a bit of full moon angst and things will be better this week, who knows? I hope so!

Anyway, you may also notice that Lily is wearing the Wallaby 10ply version for her first day of school in the photo above. .

So before my kids distract me any further this evening (I started this post possibly two hours ago with the intent of it taking a mere five or ten minutes. We have spent the day at a Regional Surf Life Saving Carnival where Lily competed, so let's just say the tiredness continues) let's get on with the winners.

Lily and Toby chose eight winners in total, they deduced they couldn't narrow it down, and given we're late; I thought that was a grand idea.

The collective nouns they chose were:
A pack of wolves
A murder of crows
A skein of geese
A mischief of mice
A prickle of porcupine
A clowder of cats
A zeal of zebras
A crash of rhinos

Our shout of winners are....
Cherie, Julie, Emma, Casey, Tracey Kenyon, Maya, Sarah and Rachael. I've emailed the winners so please check your inbox and shoot one to me with your Ravelry username.