Two down, lots to go -

Teva's leaf cravat from Interweave Knits Winter 2002 in Colinette Silk Tao. Sarah had her stall at the Folkie, so I bought myself a not-music present. I used slightly less than two skeins, which made it really really long.















I only had to weave in ends to finish it. Still, you can't wear it till it's done, so it counts.

My dear boy,

I hope you are well and that you get this soon in your travels.

Thank you for the credits you forwarded. They have helped, as Matty is still sick with the Damplung.

I made you the enclosed to keep you warm in your travels.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Your Mother.















A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything.

i just counted, i think i have 21 knit projects on the go. and that is not counting crochet or embroidery. i need to finish three before i even contemplate a new one. like a hydra in reverse.

Squishy surprises in the mail -

This just arrived for me from Germany. Pretty German sock yarn with bamboo. It shines, it shimmers, it does not want to be socks.
















I shall listen to it for a while. I can't cast on anything for a few days anyway. There is still the black angora scarf, and that has to be finished for a birthday next week. That scarf takes priority; I shall not turn my attentions elsewhere; no straying in my affections.















Pretty. Shiny. I have just the needles for it.

Knitting in the Dark -

I have finished the body of the Spindleshanks Jumper, and now we wait until the arms catch up.

The body went like stink because I could knit in the cinema or anytime that required eyes-free knitting. I decide to put a cable up the arms, no knitting in the dark...
















I think I'm going to have to have Nell teach me how to use her camera, I can't seem to take a shot in focus.

Birthday knitting -

My go everywhere, knit when I have a spare minute project was the Indigo Ripples Skirt. I cast it on while watching Harry Potter, followed the pattern for a bit. This latest Harry Potter was really dark. When I got home I ripped it out; cast on fewer stitches on smaller needles (now 3.5mm) and went at it. The lace bit has slowed me down (no more knitting in the dark).















And this angora scarf has taken over for the now. It is Louisa Harding Kimono and I want one for *me*. It is a the very simple broken rib stitch (not to be confused with the very simple mistake rib stitch) from Barbara Walker. It feels like wearing very warm nothing around your neck (it is much longer now).















I have discovered something about black. I still love my new Holz und Stein, I still love the angora, I love the stitch pattern, but I am finding the black tedious. There go any immediate plans for knitting an enormous dishcloth shawl out of black Bendi alpaca.

Chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny -

It arrived; the post guy looked at me funny when I went to pick it up. I could imagine a thought bubble, "Grinning like a loon, back away slowly."















One of the colours is on back order, so I can't start it yet.















Besides, I have to work out what I have to finish first before I start this one, and because I started Indigo Ripples illegally, I have to finish two.















Pretty.

Second Clue -

Followed by a slight pause, while I look for my brain.

A DREAM

Once a dream did weave a shade
O'er my angel-guarded bed,
That an emmet lost its way
Where on grass methought I lay.

Troubled, wildered, and forlorn,
Dark, benighted, travel-worn,
Over many a tangle spray,
All heart-broke, I heard her say:

"Oh my children! do they cry,
Do they hear their father sigh?
Now they look abroad to see,
Now return and weep for me."

Pitying, I dropped a tear:
But I saw a glow-worm near,
Who replied, "What wailing wight
Calls the watchman of the night?

"I am set to light the ground,
While the beetle goes his round:
Follow now the beetle's hum;
Little wanderer, hie thee home!"

William Blake

This is what love is -

xkcd

I'll just moon about with a little smile on my face then, shall I? (I need to stop falling in love with cartoon characters)

Crochet Granny Square Blanket.

All odd balls.

A justification, a note and another potential project.

Okay, the deal where I couldn't start the mystery stole until batwing was taken care of seemed to work quite well (obviously the holidays and the hermitage helped). So, the same thing for Venezia. No Venezia until Spindleshanks is done and dusted.

I should think about Reid, maybe for one of those babies arrived recently.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I had the ingredients for this:















Cute, huh. I think this is the colourway I picked, the other has more orange than I like:

The EZ Mittens and Oops.

They've stalled and, having finished the latest chart of the mystery stole, I have stalled.















And I also ordered yarn for Venezia. They had free shipping. I was helpless.

I have been sorting out patterns and filing them, I have found more things I wanted to knit -

Verona, which requires Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4 ply - 200yds, 50gr, 3.25mm, 28/4" - I'd need ten balls of that.

Apricot Jacket, which requires GGH Java - 90m, 50gr, 5mm, 16/4" 85% cotton, 15%acrylic - I'd need 10 balls of that.

And the Frost Flowers and Leaves Shawl, I've wanted to make that ever since I saw it on Eunny's blog. Bless Eunny.

Andavadoaka

For three months last year this was my view.















I'm just saying.

Mystery Stole

I started it without beads, but then in Maria George I found the sweetest little blue beads, so I ripped it out and began again.

My valiant little computer has stepped up to try and take another knitting picture.















I like the blue beads. It is like fluffy clouds in an autumn sky.















You know that what happened right after this involved a beauteous cascade of colour and light and five minutes searching the carpet.

I went bead crazy and also bought some silver beads in case I want to try it again with the black Centolavaggi. That will look more like a starry sky on the night of a crescent moon (far from electric light and major cities).

Finished Batwing - Hurrah!

All there, but for the blocking and the weaving in of the ends.

My computer had a go at taking the picture.















Not bad, for a little computer.

Resources and Progress

An excellent gathering of cast offs.

The Spindleshanks jumper has stalled,

















But progress continues, apace, on the Batwing shawl.















You see, I have to finish it before I can begin the mystery stole,
















and the first clue for that came out two days ago.