I spent some happy time with the Edinburgh Yarn Festival website yesterday, and finished with the same classes I had chosen on the first delighted run-through: tomofholland, Woolly Wormhead, and Nancy Marchant. The first two because I'm a t'riffic fan, the last because I'm not. I can't remember which one is on which day, nor does it matter.

I've got Marchant's books. I love brioche stitch – at any rate, I love fisherman's rib which I am sometimes told is the same thing. (=k1, k1b forever, where k1b means “knit 1 in the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle”.)

Presumably the way Marchant does it is more complicated in order to extend the range. I have never had the mental energy to master “brk” and “brp”, abbreviations unique (I believe) to her. At the EYF, she is going to talk about combining brioche with lace patterns, a bold move indeed. I think I'll try to master “brk” and “brp” before the day, although I am also sure she won't assume mastery.

Registration starts this weekend. Worst case scenario, this wouldn't be the first (or even the second) knitting event I've paid for and failed to attend. I didn't even read the schedule of the afternoon classes – I am not at my sparkling best in the afternoon, and it will be much easier to get away from here in the morning anyway.

Actual knitting continues well. I am now sloping the shoulders of the front of the v-neck vest, and should therefore finish it today except for the ribbing. Ready for a try-on.

Here it is, not exactly posed for optimum photography but you get the general idea. The size looks good – and I've still got blocking up my sleeve. It is delicious to be approaching the actual end of something. The balls of yarn, upper right, are for the current homework in Franklin's Craftsy class on colour. I am not going to let myself go on with the class until I've done the swatches.

Non-knit

Alexander says he might pop over today.