Destination Deal

September was spent by the sea.

White Cliffs and Dover Castle are in view.

 Take the A258 at the round about,

 passed Markwood in Walmer,

 and the old Royal Marine Barracks on the left to

our seafront flat

in the charming

 Conservation Area

of 16th

and 17th century

history.

Deal's award winning high street

with many new businesses

is a walk away along familiar footpaths from

Walmer Castle. 

But, it's for the sea  

and its rumbling tumbling pebbles which its waves draw back

 and its bright bleached sentries which its fishermen tend

 and its quietness so quiet

that we return.

thanks to

 John Reeves and Matthew Arnold

When You Must Be Still

Too many years in ballet class can . . .

ware away the cartilage in the joints.

Dr. Lu removed the resulting bone spurs, but rest was in order.

Goody! That meant . . . 

a couple of UFOs could be finished,

a 7 foot scarf could be completed,

a Christmas gift could be knitted

. . . and . . . 

Bandit is finally done!

It's So Easy to Fall in Love . . .

The Bandit is coming along . . .

 20" of the required 31"

 a very nubbly fabric

 that's warm and soft. 

But, wait! What's this?

 It's Rowan Felted Tweed diverting my attention, 

forcing me to begin Mist from Rowan Magazine #26.

(thanks a lot, Julie)

And Churchmouse isn't helping! 

Their new releases are making me break out in a cold sweat and

 setting my head spinning.

It must be love.

Documenting a Bandit

Lisa Richardson's cowl Bandit is so eye-catching that it graces the front and back

of the pattern book.

 9 balls of Thick 'n' Thin and . . .

 2 of Fur is all that's required for this little gem.

 Typically, I thought the cowl was worked from the bottom up and concern grew 

 when I realized it was going to be too small. Was I on gauge? Yes.

 Duh! Reading all the instructions helps. 

The cowl is knitted from side to side.

 There is an 8 row pattern repeat, but the stitches appear to be random  

because of the varied twists to the yarn.

Stay tuned.

Three Sisters and Kiz

Autumn always recalls the companion planting practised by Native Americans. 

The crops most often used were corn, beans and squash - 

The Three Sisters.

The three plants benefitted from each other. The corn provided a structure for the beans to climb. The beans provided nitrogen to the soil and the squash would spread on the ground blocking sunlight to the roots and preventing weeds.

The squash's leaves also retained moisture in the soil 

and its prickly vine deterred pests.

Together the three sisters provided a nutritious diet .

This planting relationship was a universal 

among the agricultural people of the Americas.

Practising ancient ways, Kiz and Lim shared some of their harvest.

However, they wanted to carry on the old English tradition of 

growing root vegetables . . .

that look like . . . 

 I'd say they've been successful. 

We call this one Kiz.

Catch Up

 Katja is patiently waiting for further attention and

 I have committed to knitting that Rowan hood/cowl thingy for Feat's blog, but

 I have finished Auburn Waves in Freia and 

the 3 S Shawl in Malbrigo. Love those picots.

 Brooklyn Tweed's visuals are always alluring, so

 I ordered the Churchmouse Yarns kit to make the scarf. 

The colours are interesting but, I'm not keen on the yarn.

 Too rustic for my taste. 

However, I knew that before starting the project.

 I didn't know how little of each of the 5 balls would be used. 

These are left overs of two sections I've completed.

This is ridiculous.