Beacon in progress

Thought this would be a quick knit but got quite a long way through my first go only to realise it was too big (even on my enormous bonce) and that the way I'd done the knit/purl stripes just didn't work. So I'm back on try 2 which seems a more civilized size but I'm still not 100% happy with the clapboard effect. On the plus side I think I have worked out how to do the planned matching scarf.

Have also got to do swatches for the next Knit Now subs call - and finally finish the Fyberspates jumper I am knitting myself as I keep wanting to wear it then realising I haven't finished it yet...

Sample is in the post!

Posted my finished sample off to Knit Now today - took some photos before I send it but I need to keep this wrap under wraps for now. Don't know what the world will make of it, but I think I would want to knit it if I saw it in a magazine and you can't say fairer than that can you?

I think a short simple pattern next - so it'll be the Black Beacon men's beanie with Orford Ness Hebridean wool from Cafe Knit. Better do a tension square I suppose.

Was at Foxy's Craft Market at the Fox pub in Hanwell today, mooching around for a bit while I helped out on our allotment stand (the wonderful Billet's Hart allotments in Hanwell that is), selling some of my preserves & spare veg to the unsuspecting populace. Pleased to say my Louisa Harding knitted dress was admired by the lady on the knitted goods stand!

Was a bit glam look maybe for the allotment stand (I was pulling courgettes in my frock and knee-length boots) but we were going straight out to La Trompette for lunch so needs must...

Suffolk thoughts from London

I've been demon knitting in every spare moment for my Knit Now commission, only pausing to think about ideas for new patterns & submissions for their next subs call (oh, and to turn up at court & do the odd trial). It is looking quite good I have to say. The yarn I'm using is Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran, which really is very soft and drapey and warm. But I will not be able to wear it myself for months!! I'm still getting over the disaster of managing to lose my hand-dyed Caleta Tortuga on the way to an otherwise brilliant day at the Paralympics.

If you see this shawl in the Hanwell/Brentford area, please let me know.... (weeps quietly).

I'm also feeling a little annoyed, as I sent a sub off to another knitting mag over a month ago which I was intending to self publish if they turned it down but they haven't yet let me know either way, despite reminders. It's quite a topical Olympic theme so I would have liked to get it out this month if it's not going to be commissioned.

Anyway, finally went to the lovely Cafe Knit in Lavenham in Suffolk last month. They stock yarn from the Hebridean sheep flock on the National Trust's property at Orford Ness (a shingle spit of special scientfic interest, with old WW2 buildings, unexploded ordance etc) which I had to buy as that is where, over 9 years ago now, my husband proposed to me. I'm going to design an Orford Ness themed hat & scarf set with it; found myself on their website today & was very excited to see they have some new woad-dyed Lavenham Blue yarn. So I'm thinking a shawl or scarf with a cottage garden and timber framed roof - I've ordered a skein of it in 2 ply to see how I get on.

I've also been looking at lots of classic British glass and studio pottery.

I had a preserve making weekend last weekend - including bread & butter pickles, cider apple butter, raspberry jam with liqueur, blackberry & apple cheese, rhubarb relish, marrow & ginger jam, blackberry & apple jelly with creme de mure, allotment chutney with ale, raspberry, apple & geranium jelly, and a bit of blackberry ribena

There will be a selection on sale at the Billet's Hart allotment stand (along with other allotment produce) on Saturday 29th Sep at the Fox pub craft market in Hanwell.

Caleta Tortuga now available

Finally, my mangrove shawl pattern is done and up on Ravelry, for sale with 50p from each sale going to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. A lovely break in a Landmark Trust property in County Durham (living in an 18th century folly with no TV) gave me the chance to put the finishing touches to it, and take some photos:

It's name Caleta Tortuga, which means Turtle Cove, after the bay on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos (it's actually Caleta Tortuga Negra, but quite clearly it's not black). Actually, the shape of the finished shawl is more like another resident of the bay, the rays.

Commission to Land

I've just been reading the Darkness article in this month's Q (hilarious if you like tales of rockstar excess, and Lowestoft), hence the awful blog post title.

But I am really pleased and excited - I've had my 2nd magazine commission! After all the trauma of the last one , it's great to have another one accepted. This time the magazine in question is Knit Now, a lovely magazine which launched last year and focuses on accessories and smaller projects. I won't give any details of what it will be yet - it's for issue 18, which won't be out until Jan/Feb.

I wasn't convinced that the yarn I knitted the swatch in was the right yarn for the project, so I also have an excuse to head out to some yarn shops to see if I can find the right one. The yarn I did the swatch in was Louisa Harding Grace, which is a fabulous silk/merino blend, but I think the final fabric needs to be a bit less firm - a bit drapier, in other words. Maybe some bamboo, cashmere or alpaca content would achieve this. It also needs to come in a dark terracotta or brick red.

A brief hiatus between Olympics, cricket and paralympics...

Means that the mangrove pattern shawl is finished and blocking; the pattern should be available sometime next week. It's a lot simpler than my original concept (which involved trying to knit mangrove flowers, which proved impossible to reproduce) but I've created a slightly frilled edge using yarnovers which makes it quite pretty despite the simplicity, I think.

Designing + Olympics = no designing...

While the Olympics is providing continual inspiration in every way possible it is just TOO EXCITING to make it possible to concentrate on designing anything...

My Mangrove Forest Shawl and Tobago cross over top have both reached the "complicated bit"... which I'm afraid means they've been sidelined while I automaton-like knit in-the-round stocking stitch on the body of the lovely Challow from wonderful Fyberspates.

Once the closing ceremony's over hopefully both patterns will accelerate towards completion!

Am off to the Dressage tomorrow - so exciting - team GB currently winning both team and individual and looking to build on the fantastic success in the showjumping today. Don't want to risk bringing my knitting - even the baby birch DPNs that don't cause trouble on the plane - partly due to security and partly due to the fact that I'll be finishing the day at Olympia for the Great British Beer festival.  And I was at the Athletics on Saturday morning, which involved far too much screaming & flag-waving even for stocking stitch.

Two days at Lord's next week should be a more productive sport & knitting combo!