One of my, many, favourite moments in the tv series “Gavin and Stacey” is when some of the characters are planning to go bowling and invite Dino, who refuses.  Of course they chorus, “scared of The Shoes”.  Well this time I was Scared of The Sleeves.  I had heard many stories of gloom that these sleeves just were not right.  So I did the obvious thing, ignored Blithe until the autumn and then put away since it was now not the weather for it.

So at the beginning of this recent heady Easter sun I looked again and tried sewing in the sleeves.  Fear became reality and it was clear something was wrong.  The sleeve of care indeed.  Oh, the raveled sleeve….  quick post on the KH forum and within hours I had the advice I needed, from LizzieD who suggested using the sleeves of Arielle from Misty, which I did.

I knitted one sleeve, sewed up the tiny sleeve seam, used several quilting safety pins, for safety, and to be really sure crossed my fingers

It worked! I quickly knitted the second (well actually of course 4th) sleeve and sewed it in.  A soak in Soak, (the Blithe), a lie down in the sunshine (both of us) and here it is

I love it.  I wore it to work today, although I had to change at lunchtime due to the change in weather and our office’s full-on air con.

Thank you LizzieD!

However, it turned out it was a day for me to give as well as receive. I had just finished knitting a garter yoke cardigan intended for myself when I realised how much it would suit my younger daughter.  (My elder daughter is an advanced knitter and not so much in need of knitwear).  So I handed it over

Today, although the day of the gift-giving, was not the day I made the decision however and I therefore had been able to prepare by buying the perfect buttons for her.  Not just for this cardigan but for ever.  And I should think so given the cost – not bad per unit but fairly hefty for 10.  Perfect though.  A lifetime of blue garments with openings awaits…

They are lovely. Last weekend my mother bought them for me,and they were a deep orange. The markings were like burgundy feathers. Over the week they have opened and turned this beautiful gold. However,that it not what fascinates me. Look at the left of the picture.

it appears to be two tulips but is in fact a twin bud. You can see where the stem is kind of two stems but joined together then there are the two blooms. Things like that intrigue me.

Yes, spin.  I have had quite the run of learning this month, one of the high points of which was learning to spin in a way preferable to my tendency to treadle fast and scream.  This new method involved treadling slowly and drafting an inch at a time in a steady, relaxed rhythm.  Spin serenely, draft thoughtfully, let it move, let it twist and let it go – quite a way of living as well as spinning. I learned all this at a mini-spin two days at Wingham. It was great…

I also learned how to knit two socks at the same time on one long needle, at the Coventry Ravelry Day. Again without the screaming and panicking bit. I wont put it into practice just now but am glad I could if I wanted to.

I am really glad there is so much to learn, and so many people to learn from. And so much fibre and yarn and colour to learn with.  It amazes me that the  whole world doesn’t think so too, but each to their own…

and these

but the indigo saffron will be a longer-lasting pleasure, both in the knitting and wearing…

First garment for a long, long while.  I have quite got the taste for it now.  It was intriguing knitting the noro, the colour changes creep up on you.  I particularly like the red and lime green sections and I love the button!  If I had thought this through, knowing that noro grows on washing, I would have made a smaller size and used the extra yarn to make it full length.

I knitted some Spring Forwards last autumn and gave them away to a friend for her birthday.  So I decided to knit myself some.  This is the much talked about Magic Ball yarn from Germany.  It is a bit splitty to knit with and it has striped not very well in these socks. I think it would be better for a shawl.  However, red spring forwards are going to be a cosy wear.

After the epic knit for my best friend Simon’s birthday last year – the scarf that should have been finished end of June and finally was in late January – I felt it best to start this year’s now.  And something much less long.  I love this sock yarn, it is one of the Kaffe Fassett colourways of Regia.  Quite suitable I thought.

I have yet to visit the tea cosy, which is now living with my mother, but I will photograph it when I do.  And I have yet to photograph my FREE hat, which is resting after a lot of wear in the chilly early spring.

I do have a photo of the wedding bag I made for my daughter Kate (curiositykate).  It doesn’t really do the bag justice but is lovely of the bride and her sister Lucy.  I am there too, just keeping my eye on the bag of course…

However, at least I have updated, which is progress.  I did take quite a few photos, saved them carefully and then lost them which is why I didnt put them up or blog.  I always feel that blogging without photos is a Bad Thing, which is foolish since I would rather read a blog without photos than read a blog without new photos or text which is what my blog has been this year.

It has been busy, to be fair.  Particularly recently with the wedding of curiosity kate (ravelry) who is my elder daughter.  It was a lovely wedding, reflecting the couple and how they like things to be.

So, loads of knitting started and done.  I’ll get the camera out and catch up.

and at last it is finished.  Made for best friend/brother S but modelled today by Mike.

Now I just have half a Cranford to go and all my obligations are met!

This morning I saw a text sent to me by  my 20 year old daughter late last night,

Am at C’s drum and bass party surrounded by people saying they wished they could knit cos it’s so trendy and cool.  I totally bigged you up. x

Today trendy and cool.  Tomorrow a chosen lifestyle.  We are winning over the world, one knitter at a time.