time flies when you're having fun ...

Once again I have been peripatetic, helping post-op daughter, minding grandchildren, etc. Which has left me with little time for blogging and often little access to the internet. But all of which is great fun, so no complaints.

It has not prevented me knitting, however, which is just as well, since a dear friend has just given birth to a darling daughter (a first baby), for whom I produced this surprise jacket and heart-shaped hat, also courtesy of the great Elizabeth Zimmermann. This was the first time I tried the hat, so rather experimental, but it seems to have worked out well – although I’ll have to wait for the recipient, or rather her mama and papa, to give the final verdict. Best of all, it was knitted with STASH!!! Maybe that's why I felt I could buy some new knitting books, as a reward. Unfortunately, the cost of the books was way out of proportion with the value of the yarn, particularly since I had bought loads of it for 25p. per skein in a sale (Rowan's Lightweight DK, for those who need to know)!

And now to trees! I love old and gnarled trees, and captured a really fine specimen recently whilst visiting the wonderful gardens at Kew.

This one, with its wonderfully twisted branches is not bad either. Although now, a week later, I wouldn’t mind betting that they’re both covered in foliage. Suddenly spring has sprung, blossom and leaves everywhere, a wonderful time of year.

more Zimmermann

I have now finished my third, and for the time being, last Baby Surprise Jacket:

This one, in blue stripes, using Rowan Lightweight DK from my stash, is for my beautiful new Grandson Finn who weighed in at around 7 lb 13 oz on 24th June, two days before his cousin Ellie's second birthday! He's gorgeous (as you will see in pic on right), and parents Jos and Lisa are nuts about him, understandably, if still a bit shell-shocked.

I just love the way the colours are modified by each other, and also how they change again when the jacket is finally assembled. The first pic shows the jacket before assembly.

My next effort is an aran jacket for the same gorgeous guy, to my own design adapted from the Mc Carthy clan aran, as his mum is a Mc Carthy. I already knitted the clan aran for his dad, more later, and thought it might be nice to have something for the boy!

what took me so long?

Unsure whether to return after such a long time away, after all, by now there is unlikely to be anyone out there listening anymore. But I'll try anyway.

A lot has happened, including a lot of knitting, and another wonderful grandchild. But things are not so good now. Having had a wonderful holiday with my husband in Africa in May/June, I had the misfortune to become infected with a parasite. This has left me feeling very, very low. I have an admission to make. I have sometimes suffered from severe depression, and whenever something difficult arises, I find it difficult not to backslide. The symptoms of my present illness, which took a long time to diagnose, both mimic and provoke depressive feelings, so it's tough right now.

Anyway, enough self-pity. Much more interesting, the knitting. Quite a list, but for today I'll just post two versions of Elizabeth Zimmermann's BJS. I loved knitting these, but am a bit disappointed with the sizing. In our family most of the babies, including the recent addition, of which more another time, are a good 7-8 pounds when they are born, and grow apace. Maybe it's the modern baby - all that healthy living. These two were gifts. I am knitting a third for my lovely new grandson and will post that soon. In the meantime enjoy these:

BSJ in Jamieson's Shetland, lovat green and a silvery grey:

BSJ in Rowan Lightweight DK in various shades of pink and purple: