WIP Wednesday 158 : Cats and Dogs

Gaian Tarot

I am feeling just like the woman in this joyful Sun card from the Gaian Tarot: I had the most fabulous weekend away in Kent, meeting the gorgeous Nephew (August 2013 Edition) and attending SIL2's birthday gettogether. The sun shone, everyone was in a good mood, the kids and the dog behaved beautifully, DH and I were put up somewhere self-contained on our own, we didn't have to cook (by we, I mean DH, of course)  ....  it was just superb.

On top of that, all the baby things I'd made were much appreciated and more importantly, ooohed and awed at; SIL2 loved her birthday shawl. And now I am home alone in quiet solitude. Even my checkup at the dentist (only 1 filling needed in 2 weeks' time, in the tooth that had the ache - you can't imagine my relief. Or maybe you can.) and mucking out Destructo Boy's sty to the tune of 4 full big black bags full of rubbish has not affected my mood.

 It has just occurred to me that because I was out walking with DH and Sebastian on the beach or in barley fields ie. The Wild, I didn't even go into any yarn shops. Wow.

Unfortunately I have not managed much knitting or making. I did take my knitting with me - I find it keeps me calm and distracted in the car - intending to get on with the fronts for Destructo Boy's cardigan. I made a start, with the ribbing, and a few rows of pattern - then realized that I had managed to leave behind the pocket linings.

It is obviously not part of the Universe's plan for me to knit this week:

Perhaps everybody else is being more productive over at Tami's Amis .....

FO Friday 82: Quick, Quick, Slow

Well, not only is it the Easter holidays coming to an end - boo, hiss and boo again because I have really enjoyed having the kids at home - but I have two proper FOs to share today while they are boogying, grooving and generally getting on down with their bad selves to the UK Top 40.

Firstly, I finally finished the Candleflame Shawl, which I started ... umm ... an embarrassingly long time ago (July 2011, can you believe it ?!) but then again, there was no deadline for it. I will replace this rubbish photo if I can find someone to take a decent one for me:

And to show the detail of the flames with beads:

I altered the top edging to moss stitch from ribbing because I wanted something a little  firmer. This was made using BFL Laceweight in the colorway 'Fire Festival' from Laura at the Abstract Cat, on 3.25mm needles; I used about 600m, and have approximately 210m left for something. Dunno what the something is yet, though ...

And recently I had a request to make something specific; I was wary to start with, because who knows what an incautious 'yes' might have committed me to. But it turned out to be a hat for my young nephew, as his original had fallen into Dover Harbor and, when last seen, it was floating its way to France; the deal was sealed when I was told that my hat was the only one he'd wear - well played indeed, clever SIL. So here it is, another 3am Cable Hat, modelled by Mini Diva:

I even had enough of the original yarn left to complete it, Stylecraft Extra Special DK in 'blue marl': soft, machine washable, easy to knit with. And whilst searching for this half-ball in the yarn tub, I came across another yarn I'd forgotten about which I think will be just right for my next project ... more of  which another time.

Don't forget to check out all the other lovely FOs today over at Tami's Amis ...