lavender days

bee on lavender, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

More purple for Project Spectrum.

The dominant smell of these heatwave days (if you ignore the sweat and smelly feet) has been lavender. There are several large clumps in the college garden and whenever I walk past, the scent coming off them is amazing. There are insects on the flowers all day long, bumble bees and butterflies during the day, moths in the evening.

too hot to knit

And too busy. I'm busy at work, helping organise a conference and although I brought some socks, they've languished in my room unknit. Here's something I started at the weekend, in the 24 hours or so break between the end of the first week and beginning of the second. I was too tired to read or do much, but it was too hot to sleep during the day, so I knitted and found enough brain power to read instructions and charts. This is the Diamond Fantasy shawl by Sivia Harding. It's going to be a Christmas present for my grandma (who doesn't read my blog) whose monster stash I raided last Christmas. The yarn is HipKnits cashmere sock yarn in a greyish blue with purple bits, one of the cashmere club shades. It's a more subtle colour than I might have chosen myself, but it's grown on me. There's enough colour variation to be interesting without competing with the lace pattern.

It's fun watching the lace grow. Charted lace is so intuitive. I knitted the first part (chart A) from the written instructions, mostly because I was very tired and wanted to make sure I got it exactly right, but once I got to the main body of the pattern, following the chart was easier. I can see why people get hooked on lace knitting.

the comfort of cashmere

Today I'm wearing my cashmere socks. They're keeping my very cold feet warm. I think it's the lack of food and electrolytes, despite the digusting rehydration fluids I've been drinking (stomach bug since Monday, gradually getting back to normal, but mostly subsisting on rice cakes at the moment). Not much energy, but at least my feet are comfortable.

Incidentally, I put them through the washing maching by mistake earlier this week. Both of them. And they're fine. Don't think I'd do it regularly, but good to know if it happens accidentally it's OK. It's Hipknits cashmere sock yarn. Good job Kerrie.

purple aliens

aliens, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I love these plants. They're love-in-a-mist or Nigella. They're pretty when flowering, but I like them even better when the flowers are over and the spiky purple seed pods can be seen. They look like aliens, mini-triffids taking over the garden. Soon they'll dry out and start to scatter their seeds to start all over again next year.