Two Boleros

Yes two boleros, or what ever the plural of bolero is, on the left is DD`s and on the right is mine. Ok, so not quite, but if you use a big bit of imagination and given time that`s what I will have.

I was very impressed by the service from Diane`s knitting Yarns. I placed the order late on Saturday evening, and the yarn was on my doorstep on Tuesday morning. The only way it could have arrived quicker would have been if they`d driven here themselves! A pat on the back to them for their speed, friendly email and for using Royal Mail rather than one of those annoying delivery firms who will insist on leaving a note saying they tried to deliver and will do so again tomorrow, but with no clues as to how to contact them, which is no earthly good to anyone who works and needs to make alternative arrangements. I`d much rather go and pick it up from the post office, than frustratedly wait in the hope that delivery firm will just happen to pick a time when I am at home or DH is off on a lieu day. Sorry, rant over.

Anyway, the Kool Kotton is very nice to knit with, and hopefully the bolero will grow quickly, even though I had to go down two sizes of needle to get the tension right (I always have tension problems with my knitting being `too loose` and was once told by the owner of my old, sadly missed, now closed down, LYS that I obviously found knitting too relaxing!)
I started with DD`s (aren`t I a lovely Mummy) as it is stocking stitch and so doesn`t take too much thinking about. I hope to have it finished for our holiday as requested, and I can well see I will be taking mine too - though probably on the needles!

Knitting with `real` yarn

I am really pleased to be knitting with `real` yarn again after that horrible ladder stuff (- thanks for the comments and it was only the fact that I liked the finished effect that kept me going). It is taking a bit of getting used to the girt fat circs, but at least it will grow quickly, I am making The clutch you`ll never give up from One skein except that I will be giving it up as it is a pressie!

I need to get knitting though, having tried on a bolero in the shop and not liking the price I decided I would knit the lacy version of this.
DD promptly put in her order for the plain one, she only wants it for our hols in August and so did I! I know that for many of you that wouldn`t be a problem, but at the speed I knit!!!!!! Well I have ordered some Kool kotton and will be beavering away to get the bag off the needles for when it comes (I hope.)

At long last

Hooray, I have finally finished the Firefly stole, and here modelled by the lovely Doris (the dressmakers dummy!) is the article itself. DH even commented that it was nice! but I have never known anything so simple take so long - it was only 50 stitches and garter stitch for heavens sake, but I just couldn`t knit normally with that stuff some how. But at long last it`s done, and I can make something else now.

One skein wonder.

Look what the postman brought me! My One skein pal has obviously been thinking hard and a lovely skein of Noro Kabuto is the result - the colour is so nice too. I haven`t knitted with Noro before, and without any shops locally selling it I have only been able to look at it on the web and imagine - and it is just as nice as I thought it would be. I`m not sure what I will make with it yet, but that`s ok, I`m enjoying fondling it!

The card, in case you wondered, says "Manhood", thought Dickie "is a very serious business" and with the plane in the background is very appropriate (for anyone who doesn`t know, my name comes from the fact that DH spends much of his spare time out flying radio controlled model airplanes!)

So thank you very much Pusscat.

A finished UFO?

Yes, I know it sounds like a contradiction, but here is the picture to prove it. After the trouble I had with this pattern, I`m very pleased with the result and relieved to say my latest creation is proving to be much easier, though there is not enough to show here just yet.

On the knitting front the Firefly shawl is progressing s_l_o_w_l_y, but I will get there soon (I hope).

Is `One Skein` good for the stash?

She who never had a stash (other than odd balls of acrylic from years gone by) is now having to find somewhere to put her newly acquired yarn, and it is all the fault of One Skein
Before I would have cast aside odd balls considering them as of no use, but now I see potential, and here are my latest acquisitions. The Debbie Bliss is actually a beautiful shade of purple, but no matter how hard I try I can`t get the photo to do it justice, and no...I don`t know what I am going to do with it yet. The beige wool of unknown make (unusual to have a label and no clues) is 100% wool handwash only, so that will be a felted something.

I keep finding these wonderful bargains in my favourite shops......if only they sold extra hours in the day too!

Friendship

I`m afraid the knitting hasn`t had much of a look in this week, the firefly scarf has grown a bit but that is all as I have been busy with the lacemaking instead.
Our teacher (though she is more like a friend) suggested a joint piece called `Friendship` where each of the 10 of us lace friends do a small part, so here it is, though you can`t really see my work as it`s the bit hidden by the pins! The thread is lovely to work with and doesn`t come out at all how you expect from looking at the reel - ok so the link isn`t actually the one we are using, as she has sold all of that colour way which was called jewel, but I am using this one in my own piece and it is fascinating to see how the colouring is working out.

I have high hopes of getting back to the knitting this week, having done 34 of the 50" needed, and I am desperate to knit something else in normal wool and in colour, but I daren`t start anything else or this stole will never get finished.