Matrimonial Daisies

As you may or may not know, I'm getting married quite soon. August 14th, in fact.

When I asked my "best friend since I was five" Mel to be my maid of honour, I thought a lot about what type of person she is and what she means to me. She is a strong, intelligent, compassionate woman who loves the outdoors. No matter how much time passes between us, it takes all of ten seconds to reconnect.

I've been designing my own shrug for the big event (post coming soon, if I finish it in time) and this of course involved scouring the web for stitch patterns. In true yarn addict style, I found and bought yarn long before I had a pattern. In this case, I had snatched up some discontinued Debbie Bliss 100% silk from the sale bin at Loop.

But that, my friends, is a whole other kettle of knit.

I wanted to knit something lovely for Melissa, but at the same time I wanted the gift to be practical.  She isn't the delicate lace shawl type. In my pattern searching, I found the Daisy Stitch Hand Warmers pattern by Whitney van Nes. I hadn't come across this pattern before, though it's been around quite some time. I fell in love with it.

It seems like a funny knit for summertime, but hey! I’m odd like that. I knew that my truck driving, outdoor loving, black dog owning friend would make much use of them.

For once I had a pattern before I had the yarn. Off I traipsed to Loop, at their new Camden Passage location. There I became enamored with Rowan Lima.

Rowan Lima is amazing to knit with. It’s so soft. The stitch doesn’t have as much definition as it would in a crisper wool, but I liked the effect. With black dog hair friendly colours in hand, I set about knitting.

I have to say that this is the second of Whit's knits I've done, and both patterns have been absolutely wonderful. Easy to follow, great accompanying photos for help, and a fabulous finished product. Most of all, it was fun.

Now I have my present in hand, and enough yarn for another pair. I have the sneaking suspicion the next pair will end up in my own collection.

Now to finish my shrug!

Myself in Stitches

One morning, in the course of my Groundhog Day-like routine of feeding, changing, and entertaining the Droplet, I received a Stitch London newsletter. That bastion of devious yarny goodness always manages to lift my spirits, even though I've not been able to attend many events since the offspring's arrival.

Apart from Gertrude's snarky advice and the meeting announcements was a call for participation. A challenge, an opportunity, particularly for geeky narcissists such as me.

Stitch a small version of myself? Send it to Stitch London? Have my mini doppelganger displayed in the Science Museum in London? I am all over that.

So all over that I was that, after my reading was interrupted by baby demands, I promptly forgot all about it.

Thank goodness for Twitter. Without the constant prodding of certain tweeples, the stitched ponddrop would never have seen the light of day, let alone the inside of the Science Museum.

After several disastrous attempts at magic loop, I switched to dpns and managed to knit myself a body. After that, the project took on a life of its own...

...and this blog.

Hi, I'm Mini-Ponddrop. Please excuse my naked state above. I clearly and slowly (using small words) explained to my larger self that this was completely unacceptable. Whilst she is a competent knitter of large garments and articles, she had no idea how to go about clothing such a minute and fine figure.

Luckily she consulted me. In my infinite wisdom, I suggested a simple silk evening frock. After all, I wanted to look my best for an evening at the Science Museum. There might be some handsome mini people about. My giantess agreed, and set about fashioning a frock using thread, needle, and somewhat questionable sewing skills.

The finished product was almost acceptable. However, given the unpredictability of London weather, I argued that a coat would be necessary for the journey. She agreed, but her coat knowledge was limited to the creation of Sylvi, her pride and joy. Why could she not make a small one for me?

Still, I felt something was missing. What could it be? Why, a mini version of the droplet, of course. How could we forget the force of nature that turned our lives upside down?

The droplet agreed, and picked a bright red shade for her knitted blanket. No pink, thank you very much.

Makeup in place, it was time to make my way to meet some like-minded mini others.

Emerging from the piles of envelopes, we decided that a pre-party was in order.

(photo courtesy of Deadly Knitshade)

We've sufficiently recovered from absorbing all that alcohol (being made of wool is handy) and are on our way to the Science Museum for one night of glory. Join me tomorrow night!

Backlog of FOs

It's been awhile, yes yes. I'm still using the excuse of having a baby as an explanation for my lack of posts.

I have, however, managed to sneak in the time to finish a few WIPs lying despondently around the house.

The Springtime Bandit shawl/scarf was an epic project for me. For some reason, I just couldn't get into the pattern. I don't like charts that only show half the rows, for one thing. I also didn't like the roaming stitch markers.

The yarn almost made up for it, though. The Berroco Ultra Light Alpaca in fingering weight is what I chose, anticipating a lighter and lacier finished product. Alpaca is so warm, a thin layer would do.

Well, enough chitter chatter, on to the yarn porn!

The colour of the yarn is brilliant, and it was wonderful to work with.  A bit splitty if I wasn't paying attention, but that's my own inability to concentrate and no fault of the yarn. I am very pleased with the final result, but it's not a knit I enjoyed. I can't explain exactly why; perhaps because it wasn't relaxing.

I also finished the Squash hat pattern from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders for my baby. There is a surplus of Rowan DK Cashsoft in my stash so I decided to make something quick and easy whilst on the train.

That's her, modelling it when she's several days old. Unfortunately there isn't much call for a warm woolly hat at this time of year. She's worn it several times, but it may be passed on to a winter baby. The pattern was easy to follow and it was a quick knit. There is a definite squee factor when you see it on a tiny head!

Currently I'm working on a Tomten jacket for the droplet in cotton. She needs a light summer jacket. No pink, though. We've been inundated with pink. It's a nice, in your face red. I've also been knitting her a pair of legwarmers, since trousers are almost impossible to wrestle on and off.

I've also been working away at a Stitched Self for the Stitch London Science Museum shenanigans. I will post about that in the very near future. I'm very please with how the little me is turning out!

My big project of the moment is a design for my wedding shrug. I'm currently swatching lace and stitch patterns, and hope to cast on soon!

I love Dalston

This poster made my day.

It's on Kingsland Road, visible southbound, after several large Tory campaign posters.  I know, I know, I need to update this blog with my recent knitting, but I had a baby, so cut me some slack! More posts this week.

Use the force!

Baby Yoda sweater is complete.

The rabbit stole the matching booties.

Lazy blogger

I haven't posted here since my birthday, I know.  I think I'm still suffering from a Ravelympics hangover...no finished objects to report.

In terms of projects, I cast on the baby Yoda sweater by Cari Luna, which I have completed but for the seaming. I seamed the body pieces together, but the sleeves are proving a bit tricky to line up. Once I've succeeded at that, I'll have something to post. 

The mini-me is due to arrive in three weeks, so it's been baby cast on time. My current commute knit project is the baby squash hat by Tamara Del Sonno, which will hopefully be completed in my last four days of work next week!

You might think that I've been neglecting all my blogging duties, but I actually donned my other OTHER blogging identity of late to rant about non knitting related items.

Screw you, soothsayer.

It is the Ides of March.  It is my birthday. I am 30.

Eat cake.

That is all.