Orange Knitting & Lemon Cake!

Super, super soft 4 ply yarn.  So delicate in my hands as I was knitting.  A delight to knit because it felt so good.

Lace Edge Detail

I decided to knit my sister a shawl for her 50th birthday in orange.  She loves orange, it is her favourite colour.

Blocked to open up the 'lacework'.

After starting and undoing and starting again 9 - yep 9 - times; I really got stuck into the knitting of this shawl.  I will admit to finding the outside triangles a bit hard to figure out, but once I got the stitches sorted in my mind, it was a breeze to complete.

I couldn't decide which of these two photos - above and below - to put on here as I really like the way the orange 'glows' in both the lighter and darker shots.

And, what birthday isn't complete without a cake?!  One of my favourite recipes: coconut sponge, sandwiched with lemon curd and finished off coconut/lemon butter frosting.

We were so very lucky and blessed that stay at home restrictions had lifted during the week prior to my Sister's birthday and that we could celebrate in person.  

Shawl Pattern - "Ishka" by Marleen van der Vorst of Dutch Knitting Design.

Needles - 5mm circular.

Yarn - White Gum Wool, Superfine Merino 4ply in colour Flame.

Dresden Plates, Lace and Red

There's something very nice about Table Runners, especially those made with red!  Somehow a well set table can be transformed into a stunning table with the addition of nice runner.  Here are two for show'n'tell.

First - is made up of 4 Dresden Plates.  This is a pattern torn from a magazine, Creating Country Threads - Vol 11 No 12 and is called Beautifully Blush by Leanne Pitman

Each block was a delight to make and I am very pleased with the result.  Simply quilted in the ditch and around the plate center and petals with rayon thread.

And... I have to show you the fabric on the back - it's a map of Paris.

A perfect house-warming gift, along with a bottle of Chandon Champagne!


My second piece of show'n'tell was super easy to make and very effective.  Made completely from stash, including the lace, I was able to practice some fancy quilting in the outer strips.  This table runner was also from a pattern torn out of a magazine, (have no idea the name or issue - oops!) and was designed by Cheryl Filby.

A nice finish on the edges of the runner

 And, I can't resist showing off the backing where you can see the variegated thread from the quilting.

I love a beautifully set table - and seeing a nice centre piece such as runner, when you can't have fresh flowers is always satisfying.  :)