Friday, September 14, 2007

FOs!!

I'm getting ready for the start of term.

Obviously, this entails teaching preparation, tidying of bits and pieces of research, furnishing my new office (so exciting!!), but it also means that I am trying to get the house into a semi-habitable state, catching up on the laundry, ordering in food for the storage cupboard, and... I am continuing on my journey of finishing knitting projects that have been lying around far far too long.

Next on the list are the socks that I have spoken of before:

I'm happy with them. Really happy. The yarn was some merino wool from the Natural Dye Studio and they are super soft. Also, I love the blue. I don't often knit blue things, because it's not the best colour for me personally, but knitting things that are a) not for oneself, and b) socks frees you up a bit on that account. :-) I hope that their recipient will like them as much as I do.

I have also knitted a little Raglan Sweater for the Bean. He had one that I knitted for him when he was very very little, but he never wore it because he hadn't even tried it on before it landed in a pile of laundry that MIL took away to wash for us to help out. She tumble-dried the little sweater and it was never quite right after that... ;-)

This was such a quick knit. I started it last week, then took it with me to a conference at the beginning of this week and I nearly finished it on the train. Just this morning I knitted the last few rows and then assembled the whole thing. I like the simplicity of the sweater - no frills at all - and the rolled edging. I have high hopes that it will actually fit the Bean!

And lastly, I have received the last of my current Gimme Your Stuff exchange parcels and I have to say that I am speechless - such generosity! Just have a look at this:

There are 3, yes, 3(!) yards of fabric, and all soooo pretty! Then there is some Knitpicks yarn, both to dye myself and in a gorgeous colourway, some lip balm, a cute keyring, and there were also some delicious and really fun Jelly Bellies, which alas have already been eaten by D and myself. It was almost like Berty Botts Every Flavour Beans in Harry Potter!! Thank you so much Phyllis, I love everything you have sent!

ETA: I forgot one item in the parcel - a copy of Blueprint magazine!!