Crossing the finish line

And, Yes she did it, Yeah. The FLS is now off the needles. I cast off the 2nd sleeve yesterday afternoon, took some photos (which all turned out to be really crap) and then immediately cast on the next big project. I will let you have one photo, and believe me it's the best of them. I cannot take portrait photos of myself. Perhaps if I had a better positioned large mirror it might work. My only big mirror is directly opposite the front door so when I try to take self portraits you get the light directly behind my head bouncing off everything. So enough excuses about the crappy photo and the mess stacked up in the hall behind me too.


I think you'll all agree that is one ugly photo. The FLS is truly beautiful in real life and I am so pleased with it, I'm not sure if any photo can really do it justice, the colours are jewel tones yet soft and the yarn is so snuggly soft and delicately fluffy. This piece must have the least finishing of any project (except socks) I've ever done. The yarn was in 2 enormous skeins and as the whole body took just a bit less than one skein there are no ends but the 2 CO and BO tails to weave in. There are 2 more tails at the underarm pickup and sleeve bind off and that's it. I have to go look for more buttons though, I did get lovely buttons which would have been ideal but they are too small for the buttonhole so I have to do another search. I'll try and get DH to take a few more photos outside this weekend (if the weather holds) as you might get a better idea of the true colour in natural light. Changes - I happened to read the Yarn Harlots blog entries on her FLS just before I started mine so I followed her modification, swapping the YO increases for M1 removing the eyelet row.

Yes I have cast on the Chinese Lace Pullover and have got as far as the 12th round, no photos of this yet, there's not enough to show but I'll keep you up to date on progress next week. I'm one of those people who casts on the next project immediately after casting off the previous one (provided this has not already happened due to startitis). I have to have the next project in swing before I do any sewing on the finished project - so that I have actual knitting. That way I can do the finishing over time, it always takes me ages to get from casting off to completed project (unless it's something small like socks or scarf/shawl).

To make up for the crappiness of the FLS photo here are a couple of good photos I took in the garden the other day. I think you'll agree these are much better - there's no me in them.


A beautiful sunny day and my Laburnum looking good. This is my gateway. The Laburnum is now past its loveliest for this year, the blooms are fading and falling but I do so love it when its in bloom with all its pendulous bright yellow flowers. It was covered in masses of flowers this year, compared to last year when it wasn't at its best. I don't think any of our gardens were at their best last year. Hopefully the fact that we have had such amazing colour from our blooms so far means we are going to get a proper summer this year.


And for you further delectation - a glimpse of my Pepper waddling up the garden. She doesn't do the heat so well and while she likes to spend time in the garden with me I try to keep her inside when it gets very hot.

It's DHs birthday on Sunday and when asked what he would like to do for his birthday his answer was "forget it". Anyway we're going out to a nice restaraunt on Saturday night and there will be croissant for Sunday breakfast (we normally only do those on bank holiday weekends). OK off to do some more rounds on my CLP and attend to the laundry before DH comes home with the Friday night fish and chips.