FO: Suzanne

Miss Almost 7 is doing well in the handknits this winter. After such a long break from kid knitting it has been lovely to create for my own children.

Suzanne is another of Tikki/Georgie Hallam's designs in her "sister" series. I've already made Jane, and Annabel so this is my third sister, which I made for our second sister.

One of the things I love most about Tikki's designs is that she doesn't just take the same thing and recycle it over and over - all her designs are unique. Suzanne is knit sideways like a traditional shrug - you knit an arm (in the round) then the back, then the other arm. Once that part is complete you pick up stitches and knit the bodice part (top down). Very cool. It was nice to try a different construction for this knit.

 It makes for a lovely open styling which looks lovely and feminine but without being too fussy. I really love the length of this, especially over leggings/boots. There's great coverage in the back, but the front is nice and open and with 3/4 sleeves this is a lovely piece for spring/autumn when the weather can be so changeable.

DD has worn it to school two days in a row so I would say that's a hit with her :) The wool I used is the same brand as her Jane. It's a merino/cashmere 8 ply blend which is lovely and cushy to knit with. Unfortunately it pills insanely. It's making me rethink the massive amount I bought to knit myself a sweater. Lured by the cashmere and the cheap price point it's disappointing that the finish is less than ideal when it is covered by blobs of fuzz. This is how much it pilled after ONE WEAR.

I may have to invest in a sweater shaver!!

While we out in the fading winter light , I spotted some spring flowers in the garden. I love those first spring bulbs - such a promise of warmer times ahead.

Finally, this is my favourite photo from our "shoot" - I swear that cat hears the camera clicking and comes running!

FO: Cornwall Park Shrug

After a long time of not knitting for my kids I'm on a bit of a roll. I made Miss almost 7 a Cornwall Park shrug. This is another clever pattern from Kelly @ Knit.So.Quaint and is a lovely little raglan shrug in a pretty lacey stitch.

DD wanted 'something sparkly' and chose this 4ply sparkle yarn from Tri'Coterie. Serendipitously this was an upcoming yarn and so her shrug also doubled as a test knit of the colourway. It's "Jadis" from the Narnia series of books by C.S.Lewis and the theme of July's yarn stocking. We're also stocking colourways in Aslan, Dawn Treader, Reepicheep and a gradient also inspired by The White Witch. You can find ordering information here.

The knitting itself is not too difficult though you do have to concentrate, particularly as the sleeves and body do not share the same written line of the pattern. But with no front, sides or sleeves (!!) it is an incredibly economical knit and I made this from just 47g of fingering yarn. I think that's pretty awesome for a size 7 garment!

DD loves it and has worn it a couple of times already. It's a nice style for where we live where it is often fine and warm-ish even in winter. Now her big sister has put in a request for one....looks like my selfish knitting is on hold for a little while!

WindChild

The child arrived on the nor’west wind. A trick of the light, a glimmer; nothing more. Husband said I was probably coming down with a migraine. There was a smile in his voice as he said it (the nor’wester makes people crazy you know).

The next time that blasted overheated wind blew its pollen and dust through our open windows, the child lingered a little longer. I could see then, she was a girl. Long golden tresses blowing around her face, her eyes big and round and lonely. She was gone before I could reach out my hand to her.

Husband will tell you I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog, always feeding the local stray cats and backing the no-hopers. I tell him he’s a heartless bastard, but he just laughs and calls me a bleeding heart. Perhaps that’s why she chose me. Maybe I looked like an easy bet, maybe she could see my eyes were lonely too.

Each time the child floated in on the wind she was a little more. She stopped flickering in the spaces between the dust motes, ethereal and made of light, and planted her feet firmly in the earth. Eventually, even Husband had to acknowledge her, this strange halfchild on our doorstep.

She didn’t have a name so we gifted her one, something we had been saving for a baby that never came. I filled her silence with the language of mothers, and Husband built her a swing in the oak tree. Our windchild smiled and blew us kisses on the air.

Now, it is like we have always been three.

Every night, we tuck our daughter into bed, tell her a story, and leave her window open so she can feel the wind on her face.