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August 20, 2006
Lavender’s blue (diddle diddle)
Summer 2007 – surely this must be a design for summer 2007. A few months ago I had been feeling quietly smug, the penny having finally dropped that I needed to work on designs several months in advance of their season. Alas, apparently not far enough in advance… summer here is decidedly on its way out, with barely a chance to wear Daisy. I planned to find a wildflower meadow to gambol in, but that will have to wait for another year. This particular knit is also historic as it is the first one which I have designed on paper, but made up by third-party hands (thank you!).
Daisy cardigan
Pattern: Available here
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton in Antique
The garter slip stitch in wool cotton drapes in a pleasingly supple way, and I've used my favourite Annie Modesitt slipped-stitch edging. The neckline is finished with a bias binding cut from some wisteria print cotton purchased years ago down the road in Shepherd’s Bush market. It closes with a concealed fastening of pearl buttons and sewn button loops, both applied to grossgrain tape.
I once heard of a diamond ring lined on the inside with jewels, and I enjoyed thinking about secret treasures while finishing the precious details.
Posted by Anna at 06:03 PM | Comments (61)
August 16, 2006
Flummery socks
I think slightly variegated solids are my very favourite sock yarns. Along with tabby stripes and zebra stripes. This pair of socks, which remind me of rhubarb fool, or raspberries with meringues and cream, all those soft pink summer puddings which attract the bees, are in Fleece Artist sock in Rose, and the pink is paler and more subtle than it is showing here. They're very short because I was overly-cautious in my yarn rationing. I needn't have, there's masses left: I could add at least a couple of inches to the length, but I'll probably leave them as candy-floss ankle-highs.
Just plain old top-downers, with a little knot pattern, which gives them a spotted look when the light catches. They are so simple, so plain and I love them for it. Do you ever feel like your socks are too pretty to wear?
Posted by Anna at 09:56 PM | Comments (43)
August 13, 2006
The apiarist
Apologies for the technical problems we have been experiencing. We now return you to your regularly scheduled viewing.
Oh what a glorious thing to be,
A healthy, grown-up busy busy bee;
Whiling away the passing hours,
Pinching all the pollen from the cauliflowers.
I’d like to be a busy busy bee,
Being just as busy as a bee can be.
Flying ‘round the garden, brightest ever seen,
Taking back the honey to the dear old queen.
Bzz, bzz, bzz, bzz, honey bee, honey bee,
Bzz if you like but don’t sting me!
Kenneth Blain
And the song continues endlessly in that manner.
This is Rowan 4-ply soft in black, Scottish Tweed in a yellow held together with a strand of Kidsilk Haze also in a golden colour. I was swatching to find the most pleasing relative depth of stripes, but I rather like the undulating effect of the differing depths together. As a wasp-waisted sweater to wear with a pencil skirt, it might give the brazen panache of those creatures who carry danger-markings. On some unconscious level we must respond to these signals from nature, wherever they appear, and on days when one feels vulnerable, uncarapaced, the armour of stinging insect stripes might offer some protection. An unspoken warning.
Posted by Anna at 06:12 PM | Comments (30)