A finished project and friendship!

At last - a finished project! I have had the knitting grumps these last few weeks, I have completed and discarded two knitted presents for friends' babies ( why is it that when we knit for someone else we are never satisfied ) so it is somewhat of a relief to have actually started and finished something and to be pleased with it!

Montego Bay

Yarn: Knitshop Mulberry in # Peacock

Needles 5.5mm Millwards

The pattern for Montego Bay can be found in the Summer Issue of Interweave. Now I know this wasn't the yarn called for, but I had this beautiful skein of Mulberry Silk ( 50% silk 50% merino wool which I had received from Chrissy in a Secret Santa swap, and I really wanted to use it to knit this with. I think it's a DK, but I really like the way it has knitted this pattern. And I think Peacock is just the right colour to call it - beautiful isn't it?

If anyone is thinking of knitting this - a word of caution if you are knitting in a finer yarn than I did. The pattern says US8's or 5.5mm, it wasn't till I was half way through I realised that a US8 is a 5mm not a 5.5mm - no problem for me with my yarn, but it may be with a finer yarn, depends what you want your stitch to look like I guess.

And now on to frindship! Now then, let me tell you that the on-line knitting community is by and large a wonderful place. If you had told me that I could be blogging away intermittently a few months ago I'd have laughed at you and yet here I am. And blogland takes you to some wonderful places I can tell you! And yesterday it led the postman to my door with these wonderful surprises.

This is what was written in the card.

Dear Joy,

I decided to have a "prize draw" for the regular commenters on my blog, and your name came out of the hat ( or rather bowl! ). I hope you like the contents of your parcel.

All the very best, knittyinpink

I can't tell you how overwhelmed I am by her generosity! Thank you!

And finally, another act of friendship here from Carolinne on the Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns forum. Carolinne does the most amazing sewing, and has introduced us all to ambigrams which are fascinating, and last week, when she knew I needed cheering up, Carolinne sent me this beautiful ambigrammed needle case, with an ambigram of Joy on it - isn't it beautiful

So, here's to the on-line knitting community and friendship, and long may we all go on with support and encouragement of each other!