Knitting progress: Paris, Wine and Roses

"I love Paris every moment, every moment of the year. I love Paris; why, oh why do I love Paris? Because my love is near." - Cole Porter

A brief update on two beautiful, tricky knitting projects I've been working on lately.

First, my version of these Paris mittens. So far I've finished the right-hand, and need to make the left-hand. Due to the stranding, this mitten came out a bit tight, but still wearable.

I'm convinced that taking photos of your right hand while holding the camera steady with your left hand should qualify you for the military or something...

The other project is my "Wine and Roses" shawl, which is coming along nicely:

Both of which to be continued...

Green Tea and Persuasion

"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings." - Anon.
 

I've finished my third and final knitted tea cozy, which I've christened my "Green Tea" cozy, since it is made in Kelly and Pine greens. 

Whether the tea in your pot is green, black, white or gold, this cozy does not discriminate :-)


I've also started work on the "Frederick and Anne" scarf from the Jane Austen Knits magazine. This scarf has a lot of lace work, and as long as one follows the chart accurately, it comes out beautifully. The middle panel is a wave, which represents Frederick, and on either side is a delicate leaf motif, which represents Anne. I'm making this with a yarn that is in a subdued electric blue (yes, I realize that's a bit contradictory) and has silver wisps woven in. I like the added romantic touch the blue and silver give this piece, as well as being an appropriate color for the wave.

As I haven't gotten very far yet, the wave and leaf motifs cannot be seen in the photo above, but the pointed edge came out nicely.

More to come later.

Purple Elephants and Scotch Eggs

"Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie/ O, what panic's in thy breastie!" - "To A Mouse," Robert Burns

On the knitting front, things have slowed down a bit. I made my Christmas deadlines for two projects last month, and have been taking a break from the needles n' yarn of late. However, I did find time to make a stuffed animal for a friend's baby while sitting in a hospital all day:

There's nothing like knitting a stuffed purple elephant while sitting in a hospital to make people smile or to start a conversation.

As for cooking, my family recently discovered Scotch Eggs. There's a reason Scotland is the heart attack capital of the world, and these eggs are part of it. But they're incredibly tasty for lunch in winter. They go very well with strong mustard.

The recipe can be found here.

Enjoy!