Festive gifts and greetings....

I hope this post finds us all well and looking forward to the festivities ... and with all planned Christmas projects finished and wrapped! As usual, I'm lagging but nearly there:o)

Mum's Forest Canopy Shawl is done and has hopefully wung its way home to Scotland. I reckon its safe to share pictures before the Big Day as I don't think any of my family have found their way to Blogland (though the kids all have friction burned fingers from their time spent on Bebo, Facebook and MSN!!).

Forest Canopy Shawl - by Susan Lawrence
Knitted in Fyberspates Scrumptious DK

The Scrumtious yarn is an absolute dream to work with. It's 55% Bluefaced Leicester Wool with 45% Silk. This is the Moss colourway and it has the most beautiful muted shades of greens and soft browns. I'm itching to use this yarn again - but choosing the project carefully as the yarn needs to be handwashed seperately! Despite yarn love, I remain a housework/laundry sloth;o)

The Forest Canopy Shawl has proved such a popular and well loved pattern that I'm not surprised at all that the pattern has recently been amended to create a beautiful cowl version. This is one that has been knitted in Artesano Alpaca Hummingbird yarn and is another Christmas gift for a friend. The main part of the Cowl is knitted on 4.5mm circular needles. The lower edge is done on 5.5mm needles and has created some mighty interesting pooling in this yarn:o) But, hey, it gives clear guidance about which end is the bottom, doesn't it?

Forest Canopy Cowl - by Susan Lawrence

Knitted in Artesano Hummingbird

The cowl calls to be blocked less rigourously than the shawl. It needs some of the 'elasticity' that underblocking leaves to ensure the neck stays upright when worn.

Wishing all health and happiness over the festive season and may the coming year bring all you wish for and need...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL!

Thank you for your support and inspiration over the past year

Slouch socks and yarn dreams

Pic 1: Slouch socks in their finished glory
Pic 2: Temptation ... temptation ... I couldn't resist this scrumptious yarn - Lorna's Laces Maple Leaves, purchased from Yarnela, eBay seller


At last! Houston, we have a pair!! Please welcome DD1's cosy new Slouch socks (pattern by Sue Morgan,
http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Patterns.html), knitted in Artesano Alpaca lemon colourway. I just can't tell you how cosy and snuggly these wee beauties are ... in fact, if the weather continues to be as cold and miserable as its been over the past week, I may be tempted to become 'bad mummy' and whip her socks! Whilst doing the 2nd of the two, I used bamboo dpn's and found that these created a much nicer tension, especially over the lacy heel flap. However, as the yarn is prone to splitting a little, I had to revert back to ye trusty olde metal pins to pick up the gusset. And wonders will never cease, the Growley One (DD1) has openly expressed the fact that she likes these ones!!!! Pass the smelling salts ... sock knitting mother faints!!

I just had to share a pic of this drool evoking yarn for possibly my March entries to the sock-a-month KAL ... Lorna's Laces Maple Leaves, purchased from Yarnela, eBay seller in Canada. I could just sit and lust quietly away at this one (ooooh the colour, the pattern potentials) whilst maniacly hissing at DD1 and DD2 'This one's mine ... all mine"! (Don't sock yarns bring out THE worst in me????). After much drooling I found the ideal pattern, Cascading Leaves sock pattern. NOW, could I find the pattern once the yarn had wung its way across the Atlantic??? NO ... NO .... NO... Like a woman demented I had to seek help from my fellow forumees in the Yarn n'Crafty Things forum ( http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/index.php) and we sought endlessly through cyberspace till we solved the riddle. The pattern is available to members of the TownsendKAL (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TownsendSocksKnitALong/).

I now have both in my grubby hands and life feels complete ....