So, first of all the bonnet pictured on Isabella in the post below. The pattern for this is in 'Baby Bloom' by Erika Knight. The pattern uses Rowan Wool Cotton which produces a slightly bigger bonnet than the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that I used here. I maintained the stated needles size though. I seem to have acquired lots of balls and partial balls of baby cashmerino in a range of colours, so I'm thinking of knitting Isabella another bonnet, probably in pale green and a salmon pink. Sounds horrible but the colours look great together.
Next is a bolero and beret, knitted in Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino (or a variation on that name. I can't remember the correct order!)This is the same pattern as the huge bolero I knitted for Leila last Christmas. I went down a needle sise on both of these patterns. The size is 3-6 months. The patterns can be found in Debbie Bliss 'Simply Baby'.
When I started knitting the 'Thinking Dress' from Louisa's Harding's 'Miss Bea's Rainy Day' I didn't really have anyone in mind to give it to. It's a pattern I've wanted to knit for a long time. I was given the pattern book by Ruth as part of my SP9 package, and I had the All Season's Cotton yarn in my stash so I knit it on a whim. Jen saw it on my blog and loved it so I sent it with Isabella's other gifts. It's age 1-2 years so it's rather a long-term gift but at least she has something to grow into!!
I'm really pleased with the dress. It was fairly simple to knit. Again I went down a needle size and I changed the decreases from those stated in the pattern to give fully fashioned shaping. I'm off to Stash in Putney now for a day of knitting. Ruth is visiting friends nearby and is going to pop into Stash later. It'll be nice to meet her, particularly as my current project is using yarn she gave me, also as part of an SP9 package. More on that later, along with the hat I knitted for Isabella (she's a new baby...I get excited about knitting small things...I can't help it!) a couple of days ago, without a pattern!!! I know, I know, exciting stuff. Right, I must go, Stash is calling me...
I had a lovely weekend, Miles visited me in London, he entertained Jan, Nic and Natalie at Stash on Saturday. Yes, my boyfriend let me take him to a yarn shop. Yes, I realise I am blessed!
The de Young Museum has a 9 storey viewing tower with 360 degree views of San Franciso. The Golden Gate Bridge is just showing above the trees in this photo.
Here's a closer view of the bridge... and a closer view of me!
This photo was taken near Golden Gate Bridge, looking back at San Francisco (right), and the Bay Bridge, stretching over to Angel Island and Oakland. On the left is Alcatraz.
This photo was taken on the edge of the Bay in San Francisco, on the Embarcadero. It shows the fog over the Bay quite well. There was too much fog while I was there. The evenings get quite cool though.
I visited lots of knitting shops, and I'll probably review them in another blog, but this was by far my favourite: Noe Knits, on 24th Street in Noe Valley. The atmosphere in this shop was wonderful. I went back three times and each time was greeted by name. Delightful!
When Ellie finished work on Thursday, we met Tim and drove to Half Moon Bay. I managed to find two more yarn shops, one in San Mateo and one in Half Moon Bay. Then we drove down to the beach. These birds were looking happy in the sun:
In other knitting news, I finished a pair of Lorna's Laces socks before I went away. I'm knitting the sock above, and trying to finish presents for Jen's baby. Photos soon!