FO Friday: Summer MKAL Wild Flowers Shawl

Animals Divine Tarot

I thought the 6 of Wands for the unusual Animals Divine Tarot would be a good choice for today, as I have completed the Wild Flower Shawl MKAL.


I'm quite pleased with how it turned out; I'm glad I didn't bother with the 1700 or so beads that were part of the original - the sparkle of the metallic strand that runs through the Rico Design Creative Reflection yarn I used was more than enough.

I kind of wish I hadn't bothered with the nupps in the pattern - for the hassle involved, I'm not sure the results were worth it, as this yarn doesn't really show them up. However, looking at other people's projects, I noticed in many of them the same lack of ... not definition exactly ... but the 3D aspect that nupps ought to provide.

The sharp decreases near the end of the shawl may create a sort of gathered effect, and this may require careful blocking to avoid. You don't have to ask me how I know, cuz I know you know how I know already.

I did particularly like the bobble in the first amazingly long row - when blocked, they create a really lovely edging.

I know, I know, you're itching to see it. Wa-Lah !

The pattern itself is well-written and clear, and the designer is readily accessible through the Ravelry group if there are questions.

I hope you have as enjoyable a weekend as I am hoping for ....

WIP Wednesday 200: Weedfree

Whimsical Tarot

I haven't made much progress with the Yalinka Shawl; I don't think I like it much - but I persevere as I might have been affected by the dodgy yarn, rather than just the pattern itself. Plus, I don't think I could bear to rip it back again. Plus, Auntie Fashion is no longer able to go to the function for which she wished to wear it: she is home again, extremely tired and in a wheelchair.

So today let's look at sunny photos of my roses:

Absent Friends, floribunda

Sweet Dreams, scented patio rose

wish I hadn't lost the label - a scented patio rose

I think this is Sweet Magic, scented patio rose

This last rose is the one that suffered most from the move - but she is making a determined effort at a comeback.

And I did start a new knitting project, since I've completed the MKAL, and don't want to work on Yalinka. I wanted something simple, quick, straightforward, and using much thicker yarn than laceweight. So here is the beginning of the Ghislaine Gloves in the Artesano Hummingbird 4ply that looked so ugly as a shawl:

Yes, I know, it doesn't actually tick any of the required boxes; I may have to go rummage in the stash storage to find some of the chunky yarn my sister gave me. How long do we give it before you count me lost and send in a rescue party ?

Meanwhile, over at Tami's Amis .....

FO Friday: Triplet

Tarot of the 78 Doors

I know you'll be disappointed but not surprised that neither the Wild Flowers MKAL Shawl nor Yalinka is here -clue 4 arrived in my inbox this morning, and Yalinka is getting to the size where a row is not a quick thing to achieve.

So instead I have photos of 3 baby sweaters I did recently for a friend of mine who is expecting her Surprise Baby any day now:

This was her favorite - and I like it too, for the cable and how clever the striping is. I have made it before, but this time I paid more attention, so there are no unplanned 'design features'.

The following sweater I found in an issue of Woman's Weekly Knitting & Crochet magazine. I made the edges a different color to add a little extra interest. I liked the patterned cuffs and bottom, and the star motif came out OK, but it is back fastening and I didn't like the way the neck is done, so I probably won't bother doing this one again:

And finally, this lovely vintage cardigan in 4ply - I hadn't made it for a boy before, but I think it works pefectly well in this lovely traditional baby blue:

 

And of course, the buttons are just great. They 'make' the outfit, and to me show just how important the 'little' things can be - putting plain old cheap ordinary buttons on this would have been a shame.

While I plod on, why not browse the lovely things over at Tami's Amis ....


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WIP Wednesday 199: Cold Molasses

Spiral Tarot

Grey and overcast today, and the only thing that will ease me at the moment is a blitz of the house. I know, that just shows you how bad things are. But before I whizz off, I can tell you I've completed clue 3 in the Wild Flowers MKAL:

There are nupps in there. Although I quickly gave up with needles and used a crochet hook (on the purl row, to drag the yarn through the loops), I have no love for them whatsoever. I should have gone and bought some nice big sparkly beads and used them instead of the nupps, which are kind of lost in this yarn anyway. You live and learn, sometimes more slowly and painfully than one would wish - the crochet hook method in that link looks a breeze.

I've chosen to use the 'large lace' option on the Yalinka Shawl, and now stand at Row 45 out of 96. It still looks tiny:

I thought I had fished out all the dog hair, but the camera tells the truth: I failed. And it proves that I really, really do need to get the vacuum out. While I do that, why not pop over to Tami's Amis and see what else is going on .....

Walk of Shame

Housewives Tarot

No, not that kind of walk of shame - not only am I married, I'm too old for that now: I would take pride in it rather than shame.

I was at the dentist today, having slinked out of an appointment on Friday 13th (are they KIDDING me ?!) You'll recall my morbid irrational fear. Today I was there for a filling, which involved a needle for anaesthetic being put into my pre-numbed back of my mouth. I cried. Silently, of course, since after all, I am an adult. 

During my stay, tears continued to leak out in spite of my best efforts, the dentist's words of advice on how to calm down, and the death-grip I had on the dental assistant's hand - a very talented person who could handle all kinds of tasks with her remaining hand, as we found out.

I have to go back next week for either a triple trip for a root canal, or one single trip for an extraction. I have opted for an extraction - fortunately the affected tooth is in a place that will not leave me looking like I'm some kind of Appalachian hillbilly.
 

As I drooped and drooled home (the anaesthetic took 4 hours instead of 2 to wear off) I pondered my father, Belo, who regularly falls asleep during root canals and other dental nastiness.

I considered Titch, whose arm had to swell almost to bursting point with pus-filled yuck before he would consent to A&E.

I considered my Good Twin, whose pain threshold meant she thought a burst appendix was a particularly feisty bout of trapped wind. On the other hand, she thought her gall bladder packing up was agony, so please all my gods don't let that happen to me.

I considered my friend Dianne, among whose symptoms of Behcets is sweating blood. Literally.

And I considered my sister, Auntie Fashion, who has been in Addenbrooke's for just about 2 weeks so far while they work out what they can do about the PML without poking the Behcets back into action.

And I was ashamed.

WIP Wednesday 198: Carousel

Whimsical Tarot

The sun has been out all week so far, and June is just bustin' out all over - and I don't mean only me. Look at my gorgeous marguerite, planted in a nook in the patio wall thing:

And her big sister, leucanthemum 'Snow Queen' in the front garden:

And I am slowly but surely making progress on the Yalinka Shawl - but I must say, it does seem super-slow  ... like treacle on a cold day:

If you're bored, look really closely and see if you can spot the beads that are dotted about. Or else, pop to Tami's Amis for other lovely projects ...... I think I must look around for another blog linky party thing, as Tami often forgets to host in a timely manner: if you know of any good ones, please let me know.





Don't be deceived - this is one of the most saddest films ever in the world. You're welcome.

Mystery Monday

Spiral Tarot Deck

Having survived both the torrential downpours and thunderstorms of Saturday, and the scorching heat of Sunday (endured while watching Mini Diva play cricket at a rather picturesque location), today is somewhat humid and overcast - but, ever optimistic, I have washing out on the line to dry anyway. We must hope that it holds off until after Mini Diva's Quad Kids competition (for which I could not find one single solitary updated link) this afternoon.

All the rain and sunshine has been excellent for the gardens this year - the last remaining rose we inherited on our move to this house has finally showed not only it's colors, but that it, too, is scented:

So it is only the scentless red rose on death row. He may be joined later by the incredibly boring columnar cypress ....

The Wild Flower MKAL continues - here is mine at the end of Clue 1:

Yep, looks like a ruffly sparkly nothing, and probably will until it's finished and blocked.

That's your lot for now, just a little update while I remembered; I feel the urge to go raid the kitchen for red velvet cupcakes. 

What diet ?