Malabrigo. Laceweight

So. I buckled. I bought some delicious Malabrigo Laceweight. The colour is Holyhock. It's for a scarf for a friend, and it's not really the colour I wanted, getknitted had sold out of grey and cream by the time I talked myslef into it. It's a good colour though. And this stuff if SOFT. It is seemingly great value too, at just £6 a hank. Although, I suppose that's just 50g. For soem reason, it seems great value if you get 400yards, but not so much if it's less yardage but the same weight of a bigger gauge yarn. It feels lovely to work with although I worry it will pill. The wise knittyheads have warned me of this. I didn't have a pattern in mind, so I posted on the knittyboards if anyone had any ideas. Loads of great patterns were suggested, many of which I have book marked for later. For some totally unknown reason, I decided to come up with something of my own. This is going to be slow going. If it ever gets finished it will be a miracle.

Isn't it funny what you come up with when you sit down with some needles and spare yarn and just 'play'. I'm sure there's some sort of psychological meaning in it.......

And if any of you were in any doubt that I-like-brown, here is my latest purchase. 10 hanks of DB pure silk, half price in the John Lewis Sale. What to do with it I have NO IDEA. Stroke it. For a long time. I imagine.

There are worse binges, right??

Whose terrible idea was a PhD anyway? I'm finding it stressful at the moment. I had a bit of a moment on Friday and I had to give up for a couple of days. So far, I haven't had to do any all nighters, or work from the crack of dawn, but the stress of having it hanging over my shoulders is enough to make me crazy. I gave up and left the office on Friday morning and came home. What makes it worse is that when I'm not working, I feel guilty. I've not done much work since then, although today I've got back into the swing and I feel much better about it. I've been quite productive, for a Sunday.

So anyway, on Friday I went to ASDA on my way home and bought these.......I suppose I could actually re-title this post 'A few of Nell's Favourite things'. Who cares. If I've learnt one thing in the last 25 years, I know how to cheer myself up!!

My Colleagues

And what better 'colleagues' could I have these days, whilst I am tucked away in our home 'office' working away on my thesis......

Knitting Lingerie Style

A book review! I saw this book whilst blog surfing a while back and ummed and ahhhed as to whether to buy it. Imagine my absolute delight and surprise when I received a electronic amazon voucher, for my birthday, from the lovely, kind, generous and beautiful Annie, someone I consider to be a great friend (and not just because of the book voucher!) So I went ahead and bought the book. Appropriate to buy a knitting book with a gift from a knitty friend!

Knitting Lingerie Style

Joan MacGowan Michael

Stewart, Tabori and Chang; 2007

Let me say, I love this book, I was not at all disappointed. I have scanned a few of my favourites, but believe me, this book is stuffed full of great designs, I couldn't list all of them!

I love this bra set. I'm not sure I would knit it, as I don't think it would be very wearable. I have a minor criticism of this book, in that Joan seems to have used DK or Aran weight yarns when a finer weight, such as 4 ply would have been better. I think currently this pattern would be too bulky to be practical.

This top, I will definately make, I just love the bust darts. I think in a darker colour with a lacy camisole underneath it would be great.

And as for these dresses, I just wish I had ocassion to wear them. Thi sfirst one, well I change the skirt to be a fish tail or something more long and floaty. The bodice is gorgeously simple. well, if I find a ball to go to, maybe!

This one Joan has described as a nighty. It reminds me so much of when James and I saw a Midsummer Night's Dream at Stratford. Just beautiful. Maybe for the next wedding I get invited to. Although, I'd change the skirt to be less nighty and more formal, and wear something underneath the bodice!!

The pictures in this book are not particulary imaginatively shot, but they are good, clear and pretty. For some of the patterns, pictures of the detail are lacking too. Overall the book looks lovely, with great design. I have heard there are errata somewhere too. If you like the underwear idea, this book is a must. Even if you don't there are cardigans, socks, lacy t-shirts, something for all. I think, aside from being on our coffee table, it will get used a lot!! Thanks again Annie!

Nick Nacks

As my parents used to call them when my sister and I were small. These I've made for a knitting friend's birthday next week. As a kind of joke. I think she'll find it funny, she is my best friend....

Pattern: Lacy Thong by Laura Rintala, IK free web pattern

Yarn: A merino / silk blend from knitshop.co.uk

Needles: Various, 3.75mm Boyes straights and 4mm pony circs

Time: Oh, a couple of evenings

I just love this pattern. So quick, I love the finishing feeling as much as I love the cast on feeling! The silk blend is lovely, very soft and good for stitch definition. The merino makes it a teeny bit fuzzy, but that's OK. Whilst knitting these, I was sceptical, they really don't look much like knickers until you block them. Everything including the great crochet picot edge comes together. I am tempted to do them again for me, and I'd have to do the large and I'm only a UK 10. These are the small, and they're very small. That's OK, cos my friend is a UK size teeny weeny (if very tall). To make these wearable (let's face it they're just gimmicky!) I think I'd modify the thong portion too, the pattern doesn't show that it's actually just a crochet chain! I am tempted to make these into lacy big knickers!