Obama Yarn

And just to prove the point, lookee what someone over on Ravelry* did with my blog post. Funneee!

Can't see it? Look closer.



(Link needs a Ravelry account. If you're a knitter, go get one.)

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You Know You Knit Too Much II

...when you see this on your national news website (RTE) and think that President Obama is worried about yarn.





Seriously. I did.

(Betcha it's Kitchener Stitch that's the problem.)

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Ah Jane!

I love Jane Austen.

Yes, I know, that's not exactly startling news, (or even interesting you may say), but I cast my net wider than dear Jane. I love the whole Georgian & Regency Periods too. Beau Brummel, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Count of Monte Cristo...everything from the French Revolution to the Crescents of Bath. I love it all.

I love the history, architecture, fashions, furniture, textiles, wallpaper, social etiquette and even the politics. And they do all come together rather nicely in Ms Austen's work, one must allow.

Recently I treated myself to these treasures: (Book Depository links)

Jane Austen's Sewing Box

and this


Jane Austen Fashion: Fashion and Needlework in the Works of Jane Austen





Tippets, cravats, muslin and lace.


I'm having the lovliest time.

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Franklin does it again

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Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening (delete as appropriate). I hope you are well.

May I direct your attention to this.

Love it.

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Beach Knitting 2010

Now there's something to add to this and this from the previous Beach Knitting series. Here is the Beach Knitting 2010*.

This is the curent design project knit in King Cole Bamboo Cotton, purchased here. This project has taken months and months and MONTHS of thinking, charting and swatching but is finally in the finishing stages. Well, Stage 1 of the finishing stages I guess. There's a tricky construction issue that I haven't begun to solve.

S'funny, I just realised that both of the previous beach knits have become self-published Ravelry patterns - Miss Potter Mittens and the Ashford Cowl. Perhaps that augurs well for this one.

Maybe beaches are lucky. Let's hope.

PS: that's a knit project bag made for me by my Knitting Mama, a.k.a. The Bag Lady. She makes them to order. If you'd like to order one (they're reasonably priced), just give a shout in the comments.

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Finally

There are no words.

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It's a very long time since I've knit, and more importantly finished, a garment for myself. Mittens, hats, Twists etc have flown off the needles, but not a garment.

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I've barely taken this off since it was finished. And ok, so it's too big and it droops a little in the front, and the sleeves don't match.....but it's sooo soft and creamy.

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That's funny. 'Magine that. I managed to find some words after all.

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Holiday Report

Starting at the beginning. No, we did NOT get a smooth crossing from Ireland to France. There was a storm at sea and we had a very rough crossing indeed.

So bad, in fact that on a visit to the Irish Seal Sanctury this weekend we met some baby seal pups who had been separated from their mothers and rescued the morning after the storm. Poor little things. Such cuteness. BTW, they will be released into the wild at 3 months old when they can catch their own nourishment. But. I digress.

Fortunately, due to a comfortable cabin and liberal doses of anti-travel sickness medication, nobody was actually ill or felt too rotten. This is a minor miracle and I thank heaven for modern medicine. My childhood method of sitting out on deck, clenching my teeth and staring at the horizon would not have been much use to me this time.

It was bliss. For 2 weeks we swam, cycled, ate, knitted (well that was just me actually) and rested. The weather was mixed, but overall it was good and we split the time between the pool, the beach and the deck.

On the less-than-sunny days we had trips to the circus, Sealand, a lovely zoo and some high adventure at the Feeling Forest where we swung, crawled, clamboured and zipped between pine trees at a great height and got some great thrills and many interesting bruises. (Well, again, that was just me.)

Fearless Little Monkey in action

And oh yes, there was knitting. More on that anon.