I’ve cheered up a bit about Tuesday’s voting, although I still profoundly wish there were a way to put a stop to this. I can remember nothing like it. Whichever one wins, the nation will know that only half the Democratic party wanted it that way.

I am amused to learn that the Clintons have lent a lot of money to Hillary’s campaign. The BBC said that she had lent it to herself, but I have had a personal message from Obama’s campaign manager this morning, saying that it came from both of them. As must be the case. She couldn’t be that rich (one would hope), a hard-working senator like her. This must come from Bill’s post-presidential earnings and rather underlines his ambition to get back to the White House.

Theo made an interesting non-partisan appearance on local radio yesterday. He posted the URL in advance on the family blog, but when I tried to listen, I was told that access from outside the US was not allowed. (Did that happen to you, Janet?) His proud parents couldn’t hear it either, as they had a power failure at the crucial moment. So Theo sent us an electronic copy—that is, an audible one – last night, and I hope he will post that to the blog.

Enough politics. Too much.

The sun shone yesterday. Here’s the gansey, on the doorstep in my own shadow. I added a bit more last night. You can faintly discern the initials, TELeC, at the lower right just above the ribbing.



I have decided that it is silly not to allow myself one day a week of non-gansey-knitting, as planned, and have therefore started winding a skein of Manos Silk Blend and perusing “Knitting New Scarves” again. I’d like to knit Drifting Pleats, challenge-wise, but the author says it requires undivided attention throughout, and I’m not willing to give it that.

I’m interested in Tricorner, because it’s exactly the same technique as the Linked Rib I’ve already done, but produces an entirely different result. And I like Tilted Blocks a lot. But top of the mental list, at the moment, is Stacked Wedges. I’ll confer with Helen this afternoon. (Don’t miss Kristin Nicholas' comment of yesterday.)

Jean K., you’re absolutely right, “Knitting Lace” by Susanna Lewis is a marvellous book, full of excellent technical advice about using lace in knitting design. I forgot. I’m sorry to hear it’s hard to come by – the moral, as so often, is that you’d better go ahead and buy any knitting book you’re interested in right now, because it’s going to cost a packet on eBay in five years’ time.

Our granddaughter Kirsty Miles of Beijing was born in one of the rare years (2000) when Scotland won the Calcutta Cup, and I incorporated an image of it in her Christening shawl (bottom of page). I used Susanna Lewis’ exposition of the technique of curved faggotting, p. 145, for the handles.