I keep trying to remember the words to “Home on the Range” but all I can think of are pots on a stove singing their hearts out 😛 Things have been very quiet here since I finished my concerto. I have been doing lots of knitting and lots of practice – although today didn’t have much of either. I got up to practice in the morning, then I went in to accompany my friend Richard for his singing assessment exam. When I got home, I felt a bit sleepy so I said, ok, half an hour, and woke up two hours later. The Argentina V Serbia/Montenegro match was so exciting! And now, it’s 815 and I have done no more practice.
But on to the knitting! I finished my Kiri shawl straight away on Wednesday. Check it out!
my carpet supports the Netherlands
I took this yesterday in pretty poor light. It looks much bigger than it actually is. I had to rip out about 4 repeats to make sure that I had enough to finish it off – in the end I only had just enough. It’s not so bad, though, because it is now the more scarf-like shawl that I wanted and not the triangular monster it was growing into. I have yet to block it. I am still in love with that mohair, but the drawback of the variegated mohair is the total loss of stitch definition. Oh well. When it’s bundled up around my neck on the shortest day of the year, I don’t anyone will care :}
In the absence of my Phildar yarn (yes! still! I know!), I have been zipping along with Salina. I am one of these people who like to get their money’s worth out of a good 100g ball of wool, and therefore am suspicious of these 50g balls that Rowan make. However, I have to say that I am impressed with the mileage I am getting out of the Felted Tweed. I bought the 6 balls recommended by the pattern, and I’d say I’ll have a bit left over. Out of an entire jumper – that’s pretty good. Here’s where I was at on the front yesterday:
I really like the seed stitch detail for under the lapel. I was afraid both sides of the front wouldn’t match up but I tweaked it so that they will.
I have stopped freaking out about my Phildar shipment. I was thinking about it today and usually when I order from Amazon in the UK, it takes more than two weeks. Since this is going to be much bigger than a few books, it’s not surprising that it’s taking longer. I’m just impatient. However, if it doesn’t come sometime next week, I will be in trouble because I have to start work in Sligo the week after next.
A woman beside me on the bus today remarked how astonishing it was to see someone knitting a sock. Indeed, the usual consensus is that it is remarkable to see someone using a dying craft. This drives me crazy. I think knitting, crochet and sewing are skills that everybody ought to know, men and women. A mate of mine in college told me how he learned how to knit, crochet and sew in school. He said the one he used most was sewing on a button and darning a hole in your clothes. See? Ok, people are going to say, I don’t want to know that stuff. But there will be a situation when you’re glad to know how to sew on a button or knit a hat. It’s just how I felt about how to peel a pineapple, wire a plug, and what to do if the sink is blocked.
In other news, check out this cardigan (it might just be worth forking out for kidsilk haze) and this jumper. The latter is also available through The Garter Belt, which has a nice selection of both free patterns and patterns to buy.
Your Kiri Shawl is BEAUTIFUL!
Sorry…I hit enter before I was done!
I’m sorry your Phildar is not there yet…you would think that the UK being right next door that you would get it right away!
Great carpet!
😉
(we won yesterday, 2-1 from Cote d’Ivoire!!!)