Well, I made it through another Oxford Folk Festival – possibly the best we’ve done so far despite last minute panics, an act not being able to get there due to volcanic ash, and heroic efforts on the part of a drummer friend to get back  from Spain, overland, in time for his band’s set (journey done with half an hour to spare).

We went off on our first proper holiday – to Northumberland –  in our Camper.  That was an experience, I spent a lot of time writing lists of things we didn’t have and having ideas about decorating the functional but boring insides of the van. I did no knitting whatsoever despite having the delusion that I would get 3 pairs of socks completed *easily*. Alex loved it, but decided he would like to stay up until 11pm every night, while we took refuge in Farne Island beer and Alnwick Rum.

I walked 26 miles of Moonwalk through fair London town, at night, in my bra…our team raised well over £1,000…I didn’t take my knitting with me or it would have taken even longer than the 10 1/2 hours it took us to finish I think. We did do some morris dancing at mile 24 though.

N has been off working in the U.S. a fair bit. Single parenting is a bit tiring - I have to say I have utmost admiration for those who do it all the time! But since I had several evenings of being ‘trapped’ in the house I decided to tackle the *lace fear* yet again.

Having had a very large argument (including swearing, doubting own sanity and etc) with the Starfish Shawl from Knitting Nature (whereupon my online researches turned up that there are errata in many of the patterns, grumble) I found Gnarled Oakwoods in the Twist Collective.

It has written instructions, hurrah! I only had two aborted cast on and first few rows incidents, hurrah, hurrah!. Here is the beginning of the leaf pattern, but I am now on repeat two of the vine for the first half of the stole:

I am knitting this with YARN FROM MY STASH hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! It’s Rowan Rowanspun 4 ply I’ve had for <cough> four? years.

I am more convinced than ever, though, that charted lace is not for me (I’m beginning to think it goes along with Marmite, olives and Guinness in the love/hate stakes). This pattern has the written instructions in newspaper style columns (so is very easy to follow) so with a couple of Post Its I can easily isolate the bit I’m doing and ignore the rest. So far, it’s been a breeze (through the trees!)

Well…

…it definately won’t be this: gams

I very rarely have a ‘WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???!!! moment these days (I put it down to some mellowing on my part and a lot of time spent with contemporary art)….but….is this part of the ‘fugly’ trend that has passed me  by? They look like the knitted nappy covers I never made.

Meanwhile, back in my comfort zone:

I like this:  Summit and this: Anthemion A LOT. I have had no huge scarf/shawl on the needles since the epic winter 6 footer. And I think my vintage yarn stash could lend itself to either of them.

And I like the idea of this: Inamorata . I love the body part of it, but a square neckline on me is a big no no…hmmm.

But what to do next. Well, let’s start with a list:

- Another vest but of my own designing, I unravelled the yarn from ‘Elfin’ back in December and even washed and ball wound it. Since then it’s languished in a bag and the idea has languished in my head.

- The giant pullover for husband. He is so tall and broad of shoulder I can’t do a chunky knit so that’s going to be time consuming!

- socks (actually, there are always socks).

- something for the boy, who has had nothing knitted for him since he was but a babby! I like Mr Boy, but it might be a bit big for him if I got it finished quickly (hahahahaha).

- learn a new skill a.k.a ‘buy a loom’. Oh dear…I think I’ll stop now.

and I’m really pleased, it fits well and it’s warm. Now I just need a ski trip to go on!

I had forgotten there was a large ribbing section so I motored away on that this afternoon on my longed for afternoon off (it was supposed to be two days but conferences need stuff, and I have to produce that stuff) which I managed to get today.

Here’s a detail of the rather curly front, it must flatten in blocking surely!:

And of the shoulder area

and of almost the whole thing:

I have a front bit to go, and then you do a pick up and knit session round the arm holes and neck, to neaten it all up. I fear it may be a little short but I think will stretch a lot in the blocking too, it needs to be an over the hips deal for me on all top half garments.

This blue, by the way, is not nearly so bright in real life, it’s a bit more dusky and woodsmokey, and lovely Rowan tweed.

I got nearly as far as the armholes, here is the bottom border. It curls a bit at the moment which I hope will stop when it’s blocked:

And a bottom corner:

I would be steaming ahead if I hadn’t had to tink and re knit 3 rows due to a brain/pattern interface error. 

 I was very pleased to see Canada have won the ice dance, I must go and watch it (their Flamenco compulsary was amazing!).

But a small update, I have reached the bust increases, and have had no lace traumas so far. Photos when I can find my camera.

…and am now into the main body of this vest.

It’s been pretty good going so far (even with attendant baking for 6 grown ups and two under twos Valentines Tea Party yesterday). There is nothing like a deadline to focus the mind!

I don’t enjoying purling two together through back of loop much. No. And I think 6mm is the maximum size I can cope with my needles being, I wish I could have got gauge on 5.5s

These obstacles are as nothing of course compared to what the skaters must go through to do what they do. The figure skating  is, as usual, astonishing. Alex is not as interested in either thing as I am…

I have done six rows of Talia, there was a period of panic as the whole first row of lace was tinked…but I think I am now ‘in the zone’ .  Here is some lacy border and mountains (Whistler):

And here is my first ‘woolly hat watch’ photo:

Quite a nice one on the head of Kerrin lee Gartner, while she was being interviewed by Claire Baulding at the Gondola station at the bottom of Whistler mountain where the Men’s Downhill was not happening (postponed until Monday).