Lake Windermere

Hi there! Back from holidays with some serious jet lag -- the kind where you stumble around in the dark at 2 a.m., eat crackers and drink coffee, look at how long your bangs have grown, consider growing out bangs, decide that maybe they just need a trim, resolve to think about it because actions regarding bangs can have serious consequences, go back to bed but can't sleep, eat another cracker, think about bangs some more, catch up on blog reading (y'all have been doing some amazing things!), and now write a long rambly blog post.

And so now, ah Windermere - lovely friendly people, beautiful scenery, roaming sheep, crispy fish and chips, busy towns with bunting everywhere, raspberry pavlova ice cream (made right there on the farm from cows standing right over there!), pots of tea, one day of pounding rain (but no thunder or lightning), full English breakfasts, a trip to Miss Potter's hilltop farm (where tiny Peter Rabbits actually do roam the gardens), heather on the hills, gingerbread and more tea. So happy to have been there. Tomorrow, pics from Scotland and then finally some crafty business. 

Just like Beatrix Zellweger

Hey friends!

I'm off for a wee holiday to the Lake District and Scotland. About a month ago, I decided I wanted a shawl to wear, just as Renne Zellweger did at the very end of Miss Potter. Remember that scene where Beatrix goes walking through her beloved hills? Obviously, I would need a shawl too.

 I convinced myself that I could knit Quill. The big size. Oh foolishness. I regained my senses and opted for Henslowe. I upsized it and pulled it off the blocking board (I'm such a bad blocker, what's up with my messy points?) last night. Still, I do LOVE it so.

So friends, see you in a couple of weeks. Happy August -- phew, I'm so ready for fall!

Versailles

Hey y'all.

I asked my mom if she might like a hand-knit special something this year and she selected the Versailles tank (You can't argue with something that doesn't have sleeves). I used a Fleece Artist tank kit from my stash (oh how long it lingered there!) and was off to the races. 

I knit the back and front at the same time but not in the round. (If you are like me and have avoided doing it this way because you're easily distracted Webs has offered up this good tip!).

A few mods:
I did two rounds of crochet at the bottom to stop it from rolling (if I were to do it again, I might just swap in garter stitch instead.)
I sewed up the space between the buttons to prevent gaping holes. That neck plunges pretty low and the buttons are ornamental.

:)

And just because for no reason at all -- my friend KW sent me this link and it made me happy. Love that little girl!

I heart ... new socks!

:: Ah new socks. I love em. They're super soft and the gentle green, blue and purple stripes are so pretty. (Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Allegria, Pattern: ye olde tried and true basic sock.)

:: Thank you all for your sweet comments on my new shirt adventure :)

:: The Loop blog recently announced they are selling Sophie Digard scarves. I saw these beauties in a department store when I was in London and they are so delicate and gorgeous. I especially love the Cotillion scarf and the Melancholia scarf.

:: Oh. these. sweet. little. faces.

:: On blogger, there's a little section where you can see how people came to your site and the search terms they used. Recently, someone who typed in "regret cutting bangs" found their way here, likely because of this post. It made me giggle. Sorry, no hair advice here. Just mostly crafty stuff. But I feel your pain, regret bang cutter, whoever you may be :)

I made a SHIRT!

Hey! I made this shirt! I'm kinda gobsmacked for the following reasons:

 #1 - It looks so pretty - It may be unbecoming to be all, hey, look at me I MADE SOMETHING PRETTY! But in this case, I'm just going to be bold. I love it. Especially because I had major fears it would be a Gordon Gartrell homage. 

#2. It fits! 

#3. My friend Johanna and I did it in a day, thanks to her mom's expert steering and infinite patience. To be honest, this pattern is a bit beyond my skill level. If I had tried to do it on my own, things would've ended differently. (Gartrell differently, if you get my drift.)

The details:

Pattern - The Wiksten Tova

Fabric - Comma dot slate, Zen Chic from Greenwood Quiltery

Size - Medium (Not much ease here. It's a snug medium)

Belatedly...

My friend Carla bought two skeins of beautiful bamboo at the Knitters' Frolic and I offered to weave it into a scarf for her (several. years. ago. And she never once said to me, "Hey chump, where's my scarf!" because she's a nice person.)

Ah well, worth the wait I hope. Weaving with bamboo is WOWEEE super delightful and the fibres fluffed up nicely after I gave it a long Eucalan bath. Can't wait to see it on you dear C.

I heart ... ah summer

:: I made a little order from Warp & Weft that included the Merchant and Mills pins pictured above. Summertime making is the best, isn't it? Just slow and easy, no deadlines, a glass of iced tea and a bowl of strawberries nearby. When my little order arrived it came wrapped in a brown paper package tied up with string - you cannot imagine how much I loved this detail.

:: Also new crafty books to seek out including Zakka Handmades and Stitch Zakka

:: I want to try these no-bake recipes: peanut butter & pretzel bars and Reese's bars

:: And these summer salads: roasted summer corn salad, crunchy summer salad, and summer salad with grapefruit, avocado and bacon (grapefruit! genius!)

:: This movie, The Kings of Summer, looks really good

:: This technically isn't summer but wow, stunning stunning stunning timelapse of Ho Chi Minh City