FO Holiday socks

Here is my second pair of socks from Berlin. They're impregnated with aloe and jojoba oil so after a few wears I should feel like I've had a fish pedicure. Or something. I've been put off some magic patterning sock yarns before as I don't like the fake fairisle so when I saw how this knits up into stripes, I found it hard to choose only one colour.  In fact, I wish I'd bought one in every colour.  Happily, the friends I visited in Berlin sent me some more for my birthday!

The wedding on Saturday was brilliant fun.  The groom was a friend from uni so it was something of a uni reunion (some people there I hadn't seen for oooh a year) and everyone was on great form.  It was the first Humanist wedding I'd been to and if they're all as good as this one, I thoroughly approve.  It made the couple and their family the focus of the day and there were still rings, speeches and a massive cake, so what's not to like.

After the speeches, the son of the couple asked us all to stand and sing twinkle twinkle little star. After a pause, we all did as we were told. Perhaps this should be adopted for all weddings in future.The venue and food were great, everyone looked beautiful and we danced for several hours, squeezing in time for bacon rolls before heading home. 

MOFO: Jubilee weekend socks

I've finished my Jubilee socks. They took just over a week but that did include many hours of knitting in front of the Jubilee coverage.

If the calves look a little wide and the feet a little stumpy that's intentional as they feet reasonably well, but the calves are a little loose and the feet a smidgen short.  I'll adjust for that on the next pair. 

When I calculated my swatch, I declared I only really wanted 64 sts for the calf but still trusted the calculations and went for 72 sts.  Never blindly follow science, people!

I bought the Faires and Elves Opal sock yarn in Berlin, with Emily, who is now an expert on where to buy yarn in Berlin.  We went to many places and saw many things.

 I posed here, particularly for the crocheted lime green and acid yellow waist coat in the background.

 There was an expansive selection of sturdy German sock yarn in this department store and I quickly gave up on the plan of only buy enough for one pair.  I was surprised to see that even if I didn't have time to knit my own socks, but was desperate for that particularly strong wool blend and faux fair isle patterning, I could buy them ready made.

I think they must have been machine knit as I didn't faint at the price.  I didn't look too closely so I didn't see if there were size option but there were plenty of colours.  I suppose you could even buy them and pass them off as your own work if you took the label off. 

Jubilee knitting and partying

 I've had a lovely if slightly single weekend (attending a 50's style dance as a third wheel required a bit of determination to hit the dance floor solo) but at least being in charge of the remote meant I could fast forward out of tune singers (Cheryl, I'm looking at you) and pause on the royal box. I like spotting minor royals but how did Heston get an invite? Part of me does wish I'd made it up to London to join the crowds but then I remember I don't really like crowds. Really, I just want to be a princess, as I think I'd be excellent at it. I like smiling, watching boats, wearing gloves, travelling and working for charities.