a short post about knitting...

Here is the great reveal of my nephew Isaac's knitted gift as he has now received it all the way over there in the land of Switz...it's a kimono cardi (I call it) based on this baby bulky asymmetrical cardi pattern (scoot down the page a bit and you will find it - is a great pattern) The yarn is blue sky alpaca organic dyed cotton, in Fern and 'twas knit on 6mm (harmony options) needles...



apparantly it is a big hit with the little tyke...

awh shucks...............

I have some bad news to report on the knitting front however.I was at a conference in Liverpool recently and brought another kimono cardi I was working on with me to while away those train hours there and back ( this time in a lush purple bamboo yarn...oooh, my mouth waters at the memory). I made it back to London only to find that I'd left my knitting bag on the train somehow (it was late, the train was crowded, I was tired). Numerous calls to various lost property departments have yielded nothing and I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I've lost an almost complete cardi, along with a couple of sets of harmony needles and cables, and various bits of knitting paraphanelia that happened to be in the bag (that I have lovingly accumulated over my knitting career).I couldn't bring myself to report this until now as it would have ended with me bawling and wailing over the computer. I've gotten through this post without drowning the laptop in tears so I must be coming through it at last (excuse me while I run outside and scream, LOUDLY)

Ahem, back now. Thanks for waiting.

The fact that my (well rather Katy's) teacosy was featured on cuteable this week has helped in my recuperation...thanks Lynsey

I'll be back shortly with a report on what I liked at Origin, which I dragged a rather unwilling Ms Bester around yesterday morning...it was fun, in that unique way that craft shows and irritated (because they are not at a playground or eating icecream) small children can be...

defeat...no, victory...I think...

as a little diversion while knitting my forecast (progress: steady but slow) I decided to do myself a little summer quickie...the antropologie inspired capelet...mmmm, in a lovely soft silver grey Rowan Cocoon...mmmmm again (what is it with me and grey knits? I love 'em)

you'll note the capelet is designed in reverse stocking stitch, i.e to be worn purl side out

I knit it nicely in a couple of days on the No. 68 (upper deck)

and for once decided I must do what all those knitters out there swear by and block the little beauty (I mean, I had already done a guage swatch and everything)

well, imagine my delight, turning rapidly to consternation when I raised the sheet of protective fabric from the steam blocked knit to find this...on the right side out...

ignore the pretty heart shaped pins (filched from Ms. Reva's sewing basket, knew that would come in handy some day) look closely, you see those orange marks...they'd be scorch marks folks....

just in case you didn't see them clearly enough first time around

between you and me - I was almost weeping at this stage...

but then, inspiration struck...

I turned the little baby "inside out" ...


and smiled again...

phew!

ASIDE: do you know, almost the entire workforce of my office fell about the place laughing when I innocently put these shades on when we were out having a few drinks together the other evening...I mean I know they are large but do they really look that ridiculous? perhaps they'd (ALL) had one too many drinks...hmm, I like them regardless...(the shades that is, I haven't quite forgiven my colleagues...yet)

[vintage brooch from the regular Monday Jubilee Market, Covent Garden, London]