FO: Quick Fyberspates socks

Yarn: Fyberspates Dream Sock
Amount: 1 skein with plenty leftover for new baby socks
Needles: 2.5mm Knitpicks dpns
When I started these, I wanted some quick socks that wouldn't be as ridiculously involved as my mum's pair (over 100 sts, 2mm needles) so I used much bigger needles than normal for me and cast on far fewer sts than normal and came up with some lovely yellow and blue socks. I did some ribbing and some calf decreases and a heel flap and boom, first sock done. The second sock was even quicker, especially when I relised I couldn't find my notes so decided to just pretend it was the first sock again and not worry about trying to make them identical.
They look small (and my feet look a bit stunted in the first photo) but they feel lovely and I can't wait to wear them. I love socks, so of course, my immediate reaction to finishing them was to want to cast on some new socks. I have managed to resist so far as I can't decide whether to make some mini socks for the new nephew/neice or start ball winding for a new pair for me. Decisions, decisions.

I went to Rome

and it was rather fun.

New project!

When I was at Ally Pally I bought some Nef Lace from Fyberspates. It is very beautiful and soft (alpaca, silk and cashmere) and I have finally decided on a pattern to knit. I've never knitted a triangular lace shawl before and I wanted to see whether it suited me.



The pattern is Mystic Waters shawl by Anna Dalvi. Like most triangular shawls, it starts with very few stitches and after increasing two stitches every other row, you finish with approximately 7000 stitches. Okay, I haven't actually checked how many I will finish with , but it will be many many many stitches.





As I have only just begun, the rows are very quick. I have only had to unpick two and a half so far out of 20 so I think that is pretty good going. I can only do a few rows at a time as I find manipulating the fine yarn a bit stressful on my wrists. Oh ok, I was playing computer games in my lunch break and my arm was a bit strained.



I'm using completely wrong yarn and needles for the pattern so it will be a voyage of discovery and a delightful surprise as to the final measurements. I normally don't like surprises but I'm too lazy to swatch and I don't think the measurements of a shawl are crucial. I think I'm partly drawn to this as I've been watching lots of Jane Austen dvds lately. My new favourite is Mr Tilney. I've set a preliminary deadline of the summer - perhaps a birthday present for me. Actually, the shawl was originally going to be a gift for someone else so I shall see when I've finished whether I want to keep it or not. If I had been buying for me, I would have bought a different colour but I do wear blue a lot and I do like this colourway.

I'll leave you with a view of my new hairdo.