Bridegroom's mother shawl

This is my mother of the groom shawl which has to be finished by 25 July. It's Jelly colour Kidsilk Haze and is a pattern I had published in Knit Today last year. Then it was in cream yarn and a bridal shawl so I thought I would change the look for myself.

It's to be worn in the evening with the tunic and trousers of my wedding outfit.If it's too hot to wear it I will just use it as an accessory, but with our "summer" so far you never know! I'm enjoying knitting it again because the look is so different from the original.

The first scarf pattern I ever had published is now out of copyright so I will be presenting it to you as a freebie shortly. I had to sign away the rights for a year and I can't believe the time went by so quickly.

Watch this space!

Parisian knitting for you

This Phildar Preface yarn is far more vibrant than the photo suggests. 70% wool and 30% nylon, it was not sold as sock wool but that's what it is. 193m or 211 yds per 50g ball and I got 5 balls.

Regular readers will know I like large scarves / wraps, so at 965m I have more than enough. I'm using 5mm needles.

So here we go :

Cast on 155 stitches and knit 2 rows. Then work every row as follows :

K1,P1,K1,P1 K1, (YO, K2tog to last 5 stitches ), work last 5 stitches as first 5.

Continue till yarn is nearly used up, K2 rows and cast off.

This will provide a length of well over 5 feet and, if blocked, a wide and lacy look. The photo is unblocked and I like it like this. If worked as YO, P2tog the effect would be different but I like to knit wherever possible.

You could use any self striping sock yarn but remember to adjust the starting point when adding a new ball in order to maintain the pattern.

Ideal holiday knitting - the pattern is in your head and you can do it anywhere!

Paris, Edith Piaf and knitting

Yes, I went to Paris last week and here's the proof.

Knitting wise, I got some Phildar sock yarn which I am not going to use for making socks ( that would be far too obvious! ). If you are ever over there, I recommend the Mercerie dept. in Le Bon Marche store on the left bank. They stock Rowan, Phildar, Anny Blatt, Plassard and Elle as well as the best selection of ribbons I have ever seen. There was too much choice, and I don't often say that.

Still on a knitting theme, I watched La Vie en Rose last night which is the latest film about the life of Edith Piaf. This has had mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it. When asked what she did when not singing she answered " I knit. " When touring America she had her knitting with her. A short but tragic life, doubtless made a little happier by knitting.

Rip it up!

This is what I've been doing since last week. The triangular shawl is now a stole in the same pattern - the colours were not looking good to my eye and having ripped it back twice, I decided the straight stole looked better. I'm not usually a ripper, but it had to be done.

A couple of discoveries this week - www.paviyarns.co.uk looks like it might be worth a look. This was recommended to me by Jennie who I met randomly in Tesco's by the hot chicken counter. She used to come to Taj shop regularly but then went to India. I had not seen her for over a year and she came to knit group on Thursday before going off to Switzerland. A busy woman!

Also, Eurovision, which is so bad it's good, now features knitting. The Bosnian entry has backing singers dressed as brides who are knitting. Quite why, I'm not sure but, for comedy value, it has to be watched tonight!

I'm looking forward to a Paris trip this week and it's decision time - what knitting to take and what to buy at the Phildar yarn concessions. There are at least four to be visited and my plastic currently has vacant space!

Back soon!

News and a new project

A new project which looks completely random at the moment but will transform itself into a triangular shawl with a diamond pattern.

The picture shows my poor photographic skills and the shabbiness which is unblocked lace. Whay could be more attractive? However, all us lace knitters know that blocking will transform this monstrosity into a wearable garment.

My previous smooshy project is awaiting blocking and will be revealed in all it's glory soon.

In other news, Knit Today magazine is being sold to another publisher, so I wait to see whether it will continue in the same format ( and whether they still want to publish my designs ). I have bought the last two issues of Let's Knit; although I'm not a big fan of some of their designs, there are some good ideas in there and the magazine has a trendier look than some of the others. It mentions a good charity project; you may like to download a free children's hat pattern from

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/ - donated hats are sent to Africa to be worn by newborns. Night time temperatures can drop dramatically and hats can make the difference between life and death. A good cause!

Film lovers may be interested in The Jane Austen Book Club - it's pretty lightweight but I enjoyed the book and the film. The members only read Jane Austen and one of the main protagonists is a knitter - scores double points with me!

I hope to be back to more regular posting from now on. Work has quietened down and I have a little more time to myself.

Marking time

Not much progess to report as I've been a busy girl one way or another. However a few good things to report; we had the pleasure of Tracey's company at knit group last week. She is looking well and enjoying her new life on the island.

Maggie has asked me to come up with an idea for her beautiful Colinette yarn purchase. There's not a lot of it apparently, so I'm thinking a stole with provisional cast on so the yarn can be used for a centre panel and then the two ends could be contrasting. I'll be perusing my stitch books this week so I can come up with something for Thursday.

I had an impromptu trip to Anfield this weekend to watch Liverpool, my favourite football team.Enjoyable but tiring! Sadly, number 1 son is under the weather at present so he could not go. Quite a stressful time in my family at the moment, so I could soon be knitting more items that don't need much attention. That's how it's been this year!

Just when you thought you'd finished!

Another hat is lurking in the wings. One of my students has been pestering me for a beanie so I have bitten the bullet.Cygnet DK in dark green and a pattern from the book on the right.

For anyone who's interested , this is a good basic book of patterns and many of them are easy enough for first time knitters. There are teach yourself to knit instructions in the front of the book.

I've owned this for some time and refer to it for standard shapes which I can then customise as I like.

I took a trip to John Lewis yesterday and bought a few Noro goodies for future use - exact plans to be decided, but I'm guessing gloves.

We look forward to a guest appearance by Tracey at knitting group this week. She's been allowed off the island for good behaviour!