Raspberry Parade

So this is my latest FO - an adapted Fetherweight cardigan. I've been making this for ages and get getting bored with the sleeves

Yarn: 110g of Forsell Pure New Wool Superwash 3ply in Fuschia
Needles: 4mm
Mods: increased on the neckline for a slightly waterfall effect, long sleeves with deeper ribbed cuffs, a narrower collar, 3ply yarn not 2ply or 4ply...

It was a bit overcast and windy when I was taking the pictures. Every time I got it lined up the wind shifted or the sun went in.

So in other news I have started an 'Audrey in Unst' Cardigan in Wendy Sorrento (shade Dove) as a smart work cardigan for the summer.

And the raspberries in the garden are starting to ripen up nicely. We had our first tiny crop of plump dark red berries and our first home grown garlic. With homegrown fruit and Wimbledon starting is this the start of the British summer?

FO: Lacy Pie Crust

So I have been hard at work on a larger, laceweight version of my new pattern - still provisionally called Pie Crust

This is in Jaggerspun Zephyr (Fiddlesticks) Wool-Silk 2/18 that was a gift ages ago. It takes approximately 700 yards of this lovely 2-ply laceweight yarn. This version also has beads randomly placed in the inner border.

That bare fence and heap of mud is waiting for a delivery of manure and a rotivator before becoming a gorgeous bed of flowers and herbaceous shrubs. We'll have lupins, gladioli, massive bouncy dahlias, sweet williams and random handfuls of flower seeds and will complement the big bed of roses on the other side of the lawn. I like things in the garden to work as cut flowers for the house or food. Himself rather likes decorative shrubs but I don't really see the point.

At the end of that empty bed is a big pond with lots of fish and two new ghost koi which has a Japanese planting scheme (sort of). Himself has been doing a ton of work over the last couple of weeks to sort out the garden so pictures will follow

Unfinished Friday

I can't believe I've not updated for nearly a week. I am a bad blogger. Then again I've not done a massive amount of bloggable things this week. To make up for it here's a picture heavy blog post of progress and pretty things:

Merino Tencel Laceweight in Flower Power from the Knitting Goddess

This gorgeous butter soft yarn is from The Knitting Goddess and I bought it when she was giving 50% of her sales to the Disasters Emergency Committee (correction) for Pakistan Disaster Relief. Knitting seems to attract charity giving and lots of people on Ravelry have been giving money from pattern or yarn sales often to Medicins sans Frontieres or Doctors without Borders. MSF is supported by lots of knitters, crocheters and yarnies often via p/hop which is a very worthy cause to support.

Peggy Sue

This is an awful photo of Peggy Sue in progess (see there has been some progress). That first sleeve needs about 8 more rows and then there's sleeve 2, buttons and blocking to go.

Iridescent beads

Some very pretty peacock shaded beads from Spellbound Beads. I was rummaging for the shawl pin seen holding Peggy Sue together above and found a tub of beads I'd forgotten about. And they're so pretty!

John's Scarf

John's scarf now has two repeats and I've finally remembered to print out the chart pattern so once Peggy Sue is finished this takes priority. In the meantime it's had a short trip outside to bask in most unusual sunshine. for someone who is afeared of cables I'm quite pleased with this.

And finally, for the non-knitters around some lovely purple clematis which is at it's best at the moment. Sadly this one might have to come out this year so the climbing roses can have more room so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.