FO Friday 78: Buses

What with not having finished anything and the swap, it seems like ages since I've done a FO Friday - and in fact, it is: the last proper one was FO Friday 67; and there was that in-between Wednesday one. Of course, now it looks as if I have been stockpiling against some kind of craft zombie apocalypse.

You remember that Uber-Cool Brother confessed to losing the 2nd scarf I made him ? Well, the third time is the charm, so he has now received the scarf made from 2 skeins of scrumptious Drops Alpaca (such brilliant prices, very reasonable, purchased from Garn Studio with the aid of my friend Miss.Mags) in the colorway '6834 Dark Petrol'  using the 'Flemish Block' stitch pattern; unfortunately, I  cannot get the color right in any of the photos - it is really a navy blue shot through with turquoise/teal, not the flat charcoal back color presented here:

Then Mini Diva's birthday approached, which meant a slight hiatus from knitting that resulted in this:

And I have also completed my 2nd Lady Bertram, using Crazy Zauberball in 'Indian Red', destined for my Auntie Hazel:

I wanted more shawl body than edging, compared to last time, so I kept increasing the stockinette section until I had 122 stitches on each side of the 2 spine stitches; I completed the first set of charts, then repeated charts B and A once more, which left me with a mere 10 or 15 yards of yarn left after binding off.

So now I must focus on Chrissy's Lily's Slice of Pi KAL, and the other VIP (Very Important Project) that has a fast-approaching deadline ....both laceweight on skinny needles, both moving as dispiritingly slowly as the most turgid of molasses ....

Pop on over to Tami's Amis to see things finished more regularly and in a timely manner.

Blog Hub Swap: Extra ! Extra !

Victorian Romantic

Well, today really was the last day of the Blog Hub Swap - and an extra bonus day was lovely to have ! Even though we already know I have to check my Ravelry inbox (can we say ''pattern'' ? ) would you like to see what Denise sent me ?

How kind, even though I am no longer a mod ! And her accompanying email said it was also a thank you for organizing the swap - which is almost done; there is just one person who is still awaiting a package, which is being shipped internationally to the USA via a three-legged one-eyed decrepit old mule, I think - this poor person has an estimated 10 more days to wait before delivery ....

And this is the pattern that was in my inbox, Denise's very own La Vitre Scarf -  pretty, lacy and with added bling if wished; this will definitely get used.

Thank you so much, Denise, for being such an excellent swap partner, and taking so much obvious time and trouble to find all those lovely gifts for me: I truly appreciate them, and you.

Blog Hub Swap 2012: Day 7

I am sad that it's almost the end of the swap: having a carefully thought out surprise to open every day has been very uplifting and cheering; I am extra lucky, though, as Denise has already told me to check my Ravelry inbox on Day 8, tomorrow, when there only had to be 7 gifts ...

But I have got in advance of myself there; today, having trekked up the hill to Mini Diva's school twice already since she forgot her swimming kit, and she and I are both WAY too OCD to even begin to contemplate 'borrowing' the school's own ooky spare stuff that has been worn by who knows who with whatever bugs and might not see a washing machine except for termly and is just left draping around in damp corners ... SHUDDER ... that's just  ... nasty .. However, as I was saying, it was lovely to get back and have a package to open.

So anyway - you didn't expect a horror movie synopsis this early, did you ? so that must have been an enjoyable detour - back to the good stuff, Day 7:

Hmm. Let's check the card for any clues:

 I am none the wiser. Nothing for it but to shred the tissue paper:

Oooh ! Some beautiful handmade floral cards, with envelopes. As it goes, I shall have the perfect use for these - do you remember me telling you about this year's knitting goals ? One of the shawls has already been made and sent to my Great-Aunt Vera. My Auntie Hazel's is off the needles, washed, blocked and awaiting photographing and then mailing: and now I have just the right medium on which to write the accompanying note, as well as for the other two shawls for special ladies which remain to be knitted this year ...

Thank you, Denise.

Blog Hub Swap: Day 6

Victorian Romantic

Once again I managed to control myself until at least one child was in school, and the lovely men from Anglian Water had arrived to replace whatever it was that broke last week. Here is the package labelled 'Day 6':

And the part we really want to see:

A 1oz and 1 1/2oz liquor measure. I used the English equivalent, both optics and measures, throughout my previous career, starting with 1/6 and 1/3 gill and moving to 25ml and 35ml when everything went metric.Except the Great British Pint. Which is thankfully, still a pint - the politicos don't want a revolution.

And to go with it ?

A recipe book ! But not for boring food - it's for cocktails ! That's what we call a win ...

I think the Cranberry Cobbler is definitely a Must Try - doesn't it look inviting ? Well, 11:35am is almost lunchtime, isn't it ? Close enough to count ? Please ?

And the back page:

And the card that accompanied today's gift explains everything:

Well, I'm definitely getting a much clearer idea of which of my blog topics tend to stick in Denise's mind !

Blog Hub Swap: Day 5

Kids are at school, washing machine is on, and everything else can wait while I open the package labelled 'Day 5'. Looks interesting, doesn't it ?

Light, box-shaped, has something in it that moves when shaken ... what could it be ? Why wait to find out - a millisecond later all the lovely packaging is shredded, and reveals that Denise's sense of humor is far dryer and a lot more subtle than it has any right to be, for an American:

I put 'tea' into the search box on my blog, and got 6 pages full of posts where tea is mentioned. I guess I drink quite a lot of tea. But I have never drunk Newman's Own Royal Tea, Organic Green Tea blend, from California.

Green tea sent to England, famous as a nation of black tea-drinkers, from the country that revolted against England over a tax on black ie. Indian (not green ie.Chinese) tea. And on the back of the box the instructions for making it not only include microwave instructions (a blasphemy for all true tea drinkers) but say that milk may be added ... oh my. 

Biting wit as dry as Bob Newhart: Denise haz it - in spades. I luff Denise, I luff this gift, and I'll try the tea ...

Blog Hub Swap 2012: Day 4

I apologize to Denise for the lateness of today's post - it was warm and sunny today, so once the household chores were done, we were outside ...

I knew from Denise's introductory card that I was to check my Ravelry inbox on Day 4, and this also was the message in the lovely handmade card I opened today:  so upon hotfooting it over to Ravelry, to my great delight, I found that she had gifted me the pattern for the Late Hours Shawl by Kristina Vilimaite (AnimaKnits on Ravelry), which has been at the top of my queue since 31st July, 2011.

I can't remember if there was a specific reason for me to queue it other than its prettiness: but you will agree, I'm sure, that it is totally worthy of its place. The original took 366m/400 yards of DK weight yarn to make a shawlette size, so I could possibly use the Farmhouse Silk DK from Day 3 - allowing (as Denise reminded me in her comment on yesterday's blogpost, thank goodness) for the blocking and drape of silk/cotton/ blends. But then her message suggests that I may like to use something from my stash instead ... aaaah ... too many choices! 

Yet another lovely gift, and one that I will most definitely use: thanks, Denise !

Blog Hub Swap 2012: Day 3

The whimsical feel of this 2 of Wands from the unique Phantomwise Tarot reflects the contemplation and consideration that is due to the gift that was labelled 'Day 3' in my package from swap partner Denise.

I am sure that even the non-yarny amongst you will recognize what is in this package by its shape; and when I further inform you that it was most delightfully squishy ? What else could it be, but yarn.

The carefully written card tells me Denise thinks I'll love the color and slightly rustic quality. She was right. 

It is 4oz/350 yards of Farmhouse Silk Blend DK in 'Tangerine', which is 34% silk, 33% cotton, and 33% American lambswool: an unusual combination. It has a very textured feel, and seems thicker than most DKs - and on checking the needle size recommended on the label (US size 4-5) which is 3.5 - 3.75mm, I was quite surprised how small the needles were for the apparent yarn weight. The label gauge is 5-6 stitches per inch, which equates roughly to fingering/4 ply  and/or sport weight. Depending on the stitch pattern, I would have thought that this would give quite a dense, stiff fabric with this yarn. But anyway - no need to drag you down further into my musings on weight and gauge, as the real issue is:

What kind of pattern might suit this yarn ? You already have the technical information, and you can see the color. Recommendations, please ...

Denise has so far achieved a hat trick: check back tomorrow to see if her run of good luck accurate stalking continues ....