A short wish list

So, I have two specific things I’d like to find yarn for tomorrow (so much for not adding to the stash and just using what I’ve got):

Clapotis – not necessarily using what is recommended, I have a couple of ideas, but mainly want to see what I find.

The Seraphim Shawl – I haven’t bought the pattern yet, but I like the idea that this one is composed stockinette on the top bit, with lace at the bottom – warm, and a nice way to practice (I hope).

I'll also be looking for some green and blue cotton fabrics for a potential quilting project. I've looked on the web, but I'm much more comfortable with looking at colours 'in person' so I can really get a feeling for them.

As for the baby kimono, after another nice sunny lunch break, I’ve on the home strait – just another 4 inches or so to do on the right front, and then ribbon or something else to find for the closure. Hoping that my friend doesn’t have the baby any earlier than planned, but so far on her first day of maternity leave she has cleaned the house and attempted to mow the lawn. She just doesn’t know when to stop!

Testing, testing...

I've been trying to get a few pictures of what I've been working on to make things a bit more interesting! However, the combination of using the camera on my mobile phone, and the fact that by the time I get home from work it is starting to get dark (natural light is so much better when you have a rubbish camera!) have lead to some less than successful results!

Just to test out what a half decent photo from my phone looks like, here's picture I took at lunchtime (and a wonderfully sunny lunchtime it was too!)

Well, there would be a picture if I could get blogger to upload it!

Ok, there its is! After only six attempts... I can see that when I do manage to get more pictures, I'll have to post them from my PC at work, as our dial-up at home will never cope with it! There seems to be a bit of a 'vaseline on the lens' effect - it might need a clean.

If you look closely, you might be able to see the London Eye in the background; yes, this is a picture in central London. I'm lucky enough to work near one of the city's beautiful parks, which makes for a pleasant lunchbreak when the weather is good.This helps when I'm going a bit mad about living in a city (I spent the first 26 years of my life in Devon, so London is quite a contrast).

Today I sat and watched the geese fighting on the pond while knitting a baby kimono from MDK. On a bit of a deadline on this one as my friend is now going in for a c-section on the 20th - the baby is breech and they've had no success turning it. She waited 5 hours to see the obstetrician on Tuesday, and then they closed the department at the end of the day without her actually seeing a doctor! I'd really like to get it done before the baby arrives, so all my knitting time is going into this one project at the moment.

Other time has been spent creating a wish-list for the Ally Pally. More on that tomorrow...

Resolution: must post more often.

Going on holiday is great, but when you're trying to get into a new habit, it can be somewhat disruptive. But there we go.

Cornwall was great, very relaxing, and the weddings were fun (even while wearing my veryred (TM) bridesmaid's dress!) but I'm all wedding'd out now. Don't think there are anymore on the horizon, which is a relief.

This has to be quick, as I'm at work, but the startitis continues...

1 crochet blanket nearly finished: almost all of the ends weaved in, just those of the border to do now. This one is for a work colleague. When she went on maternity leave, I presented her with a gift-bag full of squares, yet to be sewn together, and the promise that I woul dget it finished as soon as I could. Baby is now 2 weeks old, so the pressure is on. The finished article is a bit small, but so are babies. Apparently.

3 more squares of knitted baby blanket done, but I've lost track of how many that is in total (aiming for 36). For my oldest friend, who is due at the end of this month. Think this may end up as a Christmas present.

1 knitted ripple baby blanket cast on: another work colleague having a baby! Not until February thankfully, but I wanted to get started on it.

1 baby kimono cast-on (in lieu of finishing aforementioned knitted baby blanket for my friend - hoping this will be finished in a week or so if I can stick at it). Pattern is from Mason Dixon Knitting, a recent acquisition, and an excellent book. Trying to stop myself casting on for a log-cabin blanket until I've finished another project. Though I have bought some cotton in order to make a dish cloth. Can't help but stash sometimes!

2 balls of wool purchased for a new hat for me (there's a chill in the air): Rowan Cashsoft Aran in 'Mist', pattern of my own design (to be determined). I hear grey is the colour of the season, so an opportunity to make something of my own and be a bit trendy. This is sooooo soft and cosy, I'd love a scarf to match, but cost may be a factor there. Will see how the hat goes. This will also be my first attempt at knitting on DPNs, so wish me luck!

Next week is the knitting and stitching show (as mentioned before) - hurray! Going to think about a few items I'd really like to make, and aim to find appropriate yarn. But I will probably buy random stuff as well ;-)

Ok, back to work...