I'm well advanced with round 111 of the
borders of the Unst Bridal Shawl – the third corner is in sight.
The current and last motif reaches its widest point at 113 –
another little landmark and one I might even reach today. Meanwhile the
5th ball of yarn – the May Ball, one might call it –
is on its last legs, with the cardboard core showing urgently
through. But the yarn can hold out a remarkable length of time in
that state – it'll go a couple of days into June, at least.
I feel pretty confident that the 6th
ball will see the job out. Sharon's pattern was written before
Jamieson & Smith Shetland Supreme came into being – she
specifies 9 25 gram balls of J&S cobweb yarn, “or similar”.
Shetland Supreme was cooked up fairly recently in a collaboration
between J&S and the Shetland Museum, to recreate handspun
Shetland lace yarn as closely as is possible in a commercially-spun
yarn.
It's wonderful stuff, strong and
bouncy. And, now it would appear, also miraculously light. But J&S
will scarcely expect the cash to come rolling in, if it takes a month
to knit 25 grams of it.
You will remember that I started out,
in late December, by knitting the edging, expecting to pick up
stitches and knit inward towards the centre. But I got scared about
the need to reverse aspects of the border pattern since it had been
written centre-outwards. The last thing I wanted to do in those dark
days, when I wasn't feeling very well anyway, was think. So I laid it
aside, and cast on the centre (provisionally), and have been doing it
Sharon's way ever since.
And I have recently half-decided that
when I finally finish the borders, I will not graft on the waiting
edging, but knit one on (because it's fun), and keep the edging I've got as a starter
for the Queen Ring Shawl. I have further half-decided that I might as
well knit the Queen Ring edging onto the Unst Bridal Shawl, since the
reverse is going to be the case.
In terms of width and effect, the
edgings are fine for substitution. But what about the maths? I must
soon re-read the instructions for both patterns, and do a bit of
thinking. I don't mind it (thinking) so much when we've got a proper
amount of light.
Miscellaneous-horticultural
My sister has got the Good King Henry
plants she ordered, and is now not sure that treating them as bitter
leaves and frying in butter with anchovies and garlic, is going to
work. They actually taste nasty, she says – the mot juste, indeed.
All is going well on the doorstep here,
although the lollo rosso lettuce is making but slow progress. I think
the Salad Leaves (mild) might actually figure in their first salad
today. The chillis on the kitchen windowsill are swinging into
production.
Miscellaneous-knitting
The
Harlot's post of May 29 found her stuck in a
number of ruts, but I'm glad to see that May 30 reports progress on
all fronts. Other people get so much more done than I do.
I am much struck with the Red
Fuji Tank Top, discovered on Zite, and rather
emphatically not for me. The yarn is Noro, cotton, wool, nylon and
silk, which sounds OK. Perhaps a granddaughter? But when?
Genuinely-miscellaneous
Thank you again for suggestions and comments about my husband;s mobility problems. I'm going to shelve the whole thing until Helen gets back in July, but I will remember your advice.
Eeny Meeny continues to hold up well on Amazon's bestseller lists. It was 5th last week on the Sunday Times paperback fiction list -- tomorrow's ranking is eagerly awaited.
Barbara M., I was deeply moved by your comment yesterday, alhough I had to look up Chawton. I wish we had met.
Eeny Meeny continues to hold up well on Amazon's bestseller lists. It was 5th last week on the Sunday Times paperback fiction list -- tomorrow's ranking is eagerly awaited.
Barbara M., I was deeply moved by your comment yesterday, alhough I had to look up Chawton. I wish we had met.