Taking a break

Just a short post to say I'm taking a break from blogging until some time in the new year. I'm also taking a much more relaxed approach to knitting in general - you know things are slightly awry when your List starts to loom at you! Too many projects to worry about so from now on, knitting is the relaxation it's meant to be, and I won't worry about what I'm making when.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!

The first rule of Lace Club

You do not talk about Lace Club. Oops! Too late :-) Last week I received the November yarn, cashmere-silk laceweight in a gorgeous deep rich red. The picture doesn't do it justice, the red is somewhat darker than the camera flash allows.



We also received the link to a lovely free pattern, the "Pot Pourri" lace scarf. I'm keen to make this, especially as I also snagged some bargainous Debbie Bliss cashmerino Aran on eBay this week. The garnet tones very well with the Posh Yarn, this came from Alba Yarns (and I have another pack on its way). The deep plum/purple is from Belleflower Designs who are sadly closing down. After working with the Cashmerino again for the London Beanie I decided it was perfect to make hats and wristers, hence the eBay searching.

I also received the Winter 06 Interweave Knits this week, and after seeing Arwen again I ordered that second pack of the garnet yarn. So now I have yarn enough for that and for accessories. I also love the Equestrian Blazer, and in fact most of the designs in this issue.

Daisy asked (or rather, Monkey asked!) if we had taken any monkey photos at the zoo. Sorry Monkey, we didn't, but we did see one of the spider monkeys "singing" in his tree on the island in the capybara enclosure :-) Couldn't get a decent shot of him unfortunately. We didn't have much time to wander around and see all of the animals but we're definitely going back in the Spring when the weather is better and the days longer.

Hats hats hats

The WIPs on the sidebar haven't actually moved this past couple of weeks, but there has been much industrious activity in the making of hats.

Firstly here are the three I made for the Operation Christmas Child boxes:



L-R: Natural Dye Studio wool DK; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran; Colinette Point 5

The patterns are: own basic hat recipe, London Beanie, and a Colinette beanie pattern.

One of my colleagues really liked the Colinette hat and asked me to make one for her, so I used a skein in colourway Morocco:



I now have 2 more commissions for children's hats! They won't be done just yet though.

I've started a pair of Fetching gloves for myself in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk which makes a beautiful soft warm fabric. My hands have been grumbling with the cold so warm accessories are my priority at the moment. Once these are done I'll be making a 4x4 rib hat at the same sort of gauge in DB Cashmerino, I need something really warm!

Another post is coming along later!