I had to pull a really late night to get this little bag finished up in time to give to the Baby Bohemian's teacher who was leaving on Friday after covering for maternity leave. She's been such a nice lady - really good at getting the childrens' attention in interesting ways, no shouting or loud voices, just calmness which the Baby B really likes. I find people often raise their voices when talking to her and I want to say "she's blind not deaf, you idiot!". But of course I don't. Our best place to visit is our local Tesco where all the ladies at the checkouts are so motherly and kind, they always take the time to talk. Did you know that it is Tesco's policy to recruit 'older' ladies because it makes for a much nicer shopping experience? Works for us.
Just the right size for some gorgeous soap
I used Rowan 4-ply cotton and those Rowan beads (thrillingly called J30010130. I just cast on around 90 stitches at the beginning, did a few rows, then made some eyelets and then did some K2tog to get to about 60 stitches and then placed the star. Oh, and I knitted it in the round and then used a third needle to bind the stitches off together at the bottom (You know, get half of the stitches on each end of the circular needle, then cast off together). Minimal sewing - which is a good thing as I have spent the greater part of this week just 'running up' some curtains so that the father-in-law could stay in our static caravan. Who knew those things had such big windows?!
I saw a lady at the swimming baths this morning putting on a Kaffe Fassett jacket. Of course I had to ask her if she had knitted, to which she replied that she hadn't but her mother had. Sadly her mother had died some years previously. Now she wears the jacket reguarly and has a constant warm reminder of her mother. Isn't that lovely?
Just a quick entry - many things getting in the way of knitting time so no real progress to show on anything. Only real woolly activity is the feeding of lambs to nurture future spinning projects.
I did manage to purchase the new Lucinda Guy book (Designs for Kids) which is just excellent - something to rival Little Badger, I think. Lots of interesting-to-knit little items with cute cable details and flower trims. I got mine from Get Knitted - it's listed as not yet published elsewhere (you know where I mean!)
I spent yesterday morning in the company of my nine year old daughter and hundreds of other women running around the streets of Truro. Heck no, I wasn't shopping (we waited until afterwards!), I was taking part in the Race for Life. As you might imagine, being all women, it was a very good natured, well-mannered affair. Lots of "excuse me" and "thank you" as we elbowed our way through the running throng. We did our 5km in a pretty respectable 37 minutes and had enough energy left for a leisurely shop afterwards.
I'm very, very proud of the little Bohemian. It was a bit of a defining moment for her. This morning I overheard her saying to her youngest sister who was protesting against being taken swimming "You've just got to believe that you can do it, then go for it" which was pretty much what I had said to her the day before. She's such a star. Upon completion, we were given medals one of which has been taken to school today. I'm resisting the urge to wear mine while I do the housework today but I am going to post a picture of it here!
No progress at all was made on Liz this weekend but I did work on a bag for my baby Bohemian who is six at the end of the month. As you may recall, she is totally blind and I'm always on the lookout for good 'textural' type things for presents. I was idly flipping through the Emma King bag book and came across her design for Raspberry Milkshake (bottom right - PS. UK knitters should take a good stroll around this site - it's got some good things!). Emma King says that the first thing you will want to do with this bag is touch it which is just what I'm looking for. I've just worked up about three-quarters of the front so far.
Touch me!
It's Rowan Summer Tweed with All Seasons Cotton bobbles - it feels good.
Pleased to meet ewe
Meet the latest addtion to our farm, just seven days old. She has sisters as well.
Of course, being such babies they require plenty of this, at least three times a day.
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In knitting news, Elizabeth continues apace. I'm 46 rows into the centre cable panel, having now finished the darts which give it such lovely waist shaping. To say that I'm pleased with it would be a HUGE understatement.
I'll just do one more row to see what it looks like....