Does this yarn want to fly?

I go to a knitting group twice a month, and this week we were forced to have a bit of a tidy-up.  There’d been a water leak in the meeting room and our cupboards had been turned out and moved.  During the re-organisation process I offered to take home some large skeins of yarn to wind them into balls using my yarn swift and ball winder.  One of the skeins was a particularly attractive shade of turquoise and it was suggested that I brought it back knitted up, rather than wound into a ball.

The skein turned out to be four skeins, each of 30g.  I’d guess the yarn is 100% wool since it’s worsted spun and breaks quite easily.  It’s a bit neglected but now it’s in four little yarn cakes it looks fairly inviting.

So, what should I do?  I need to make something that will appeal to people who either buy at a charity market or a stall at the hospital.  I’m thinking a lace scarf would be best, but I’m drawn to yet another crescent-shaped shawl, like Annis. After all, I wear my Pimpelliese, Mezquita and Annis wrapped around my neck as scarves:  I like the variety of shapes and layers I can achieve.  But would someone else think the same?

I’m very attracted to Dragonfly Wings from Boo Knits and I think the yarn would really suit this. Any thoughts, dear readers?

Making Hay

I’ve been making hay while the sun shines. Not literally of course, but I’ve been packing plenty into these unusually hot and sunny days. Since the heat is so late in the season there’s an obvious urgency to make the most of it. All those housework jobs which I’d put off, waiting for fine weather, have been done. Curtains are washed, cleaning is finished, and now I’m set for whatever winter wants to throw at us this year.

I went along to my second Knit’n'Natter at the Blind and Partially Sighted Society earlier in the week, and enjoyed every minute. It’s really inspiring to discover how knitters are so determined and inventive. To compensate for my lacklustre performance last time, I took a couple of hats, a handful of smartphone socks and my Royal Orchid shawl to sell on the Open Day.

Well, I'll never wear it

I’d asked a neighbour to act as a referee for my work with the Society and she let me know that she’d done the necessary. As a thank you I want to knit her an Ishbel in some hand-dyed merino-silk. She’s a wonderful person and she’s been very supportive.

But I want to do it as soon as possible, so how quickly can you knit an Ishbel?

I’ll just make a cake …

and cast on …

Can I finish it by Sunday?

Custard, Caramel and Roses

Liking all things custard, I was immediately drawn to the Kindle book by Susan Alison, White Lies and Custard Creams. I tried out the first chapter and can report that it’s superbly light-hearted. It’s only 97p at the moment so I think I could stretch to that and finish the book. I must confess that I’ve formed the bad habit of downloading samples to my Kindle rather than buying entire books since they’re just the right size to read at night. I guess I’m not alone.