Thank you for the compliments on the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. It's a dead easy knit, just two real lines of lace to memorise, and the small shawl only takes about 350yds (but please check, this is a guess!).
I spent the weekend finishing off some socks
These are the gift socks for May.
Opal Rodeo - 64 sts using 2mm circular. Plain top-down with a short row heel.
These will be going to a friend of ours who already owns one pair of hand knitted socks, but she's desperate for another pair, so here they are.
My second pair for this month will be Sockapaloozer socks. I cast on last Thursday, but have restarted three times! The pattern calls for a ribbing long tail cast on (well, it's not called that exactly, but it looks like a ribbing, of sorts) and slipped sts in the the first few rows, which has produced a fairly inelastic cast-on edge. I tried three times, but on this fourth time I'm using a long tail cast on and disregarding the pattern instructions. Once I'm past the ribbing I'll take a photo. No point in tempting fate yet.
And what's this? 
This turned up in the post on Friday - my niece Chloe's first attempt at knitting! It's got everything going for it, hasn't it? Cast on, cast off (these look like my sister's doing!), garter stitch, the odd ribbing, and even some lace! I do hope that she sticks with it. I've knitted this niece some socks, and I think that these have inspired her to try to learn to knit. Billy, sadly, wasn't at all eager to learn to knit, even with lots of encouragement! He once picked up some straight needles, when he was about 10, but only so that he could use them as spears on a knitted cushion cover!
Pretty socks Dawn! Your friend is going to love them! I meant to pick up a skein or two in the Rodeo line, but never got around to it. I should look to see if it's still available.
Posted by: Karen | May 21, 2007 at 10:52 PM
I think all our first pieces of knitting looked like Chloe's! Well done her, anyway, we all have to start somewhere.
Posted by: Jill | May 22, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Yep looks pretty familiar to me, bless!
It won't be long and she'll be making you socks ;)
Posted by: Tracy | May 22, 2007 at 09:49 AM
and how old is niece Chloe?
What I really love is that the precious first effort was posted to YOU :}
Posted by: catsmumcatsmum | May 23, 2007 at 01:54 PM
What a brilliant idea for the blocking. I'm off to check the Early Learning website now.
And the shawl is gorgeous too.
Posted by: Helen | May 25, 2007 at 08:23 AM
Your Opal Rodeo socks look lovely. Your friend will be so pleased when she gets them.
Posted by: Hawkesley | May 25, 2007 at 10:40 AM