Un'uccellino fa sempre piacere

This little vintage bird brooch fluttered into my hand in a shop overlooking the Rastro a few months ago in Madrid. I had been in the city for a couple of weeks and was beginning to pick up the scantiest smatterings of Spanish, but it was still a struggle to ask basic things (and then understand the answers), so I was delighted to detect a strong Italian accent in the owner of this bric-a-brac shop; it was such a relief to be able to switch into a language I do speak, albeit imperfectly.

Like most purveyors of vintage goods, this one was crammed with random stuff in all varieties of condition and quality. I was sorely tempted by the above telephone bag - think of the comedic potential! 'Hello, taxi for one, please?' etc. I'm so glad I went with the bird, though: as the shop owner pointed out , 'un'uccellino fa sempre piacere', which might be loosely translated as 'a little bird always goes down well.'

I love his quizzical blue eye, and the alert curves of his wings and crest. I didn't notice when I bought him (and indeed, hadn't noticed till this afternoon) that these clear stones are set in a flower shape. I'm such a sucker for details - check out those little toes clinging to his perch.

Brick Lane

This Sunday, my sweetheart and I took a stroll down Brick Lane. As it so happened, we had inadvertently chosen to come on the day on the annual curry festival, and the street was absolutely hoaching.

There were various modes of transportation...

... and several decorated walls that caught my eye.

Most of all, though, there was FOOD. Not just the aforementioned curry, wafting sweet spice over the crowd, but all manner of other comestibles, from gherkins to goulash, all sizzling in the sunshine.

 

This last exhibit is a deep-fried Hungarian flat-bread with sour cream, cheese and garlic sauce that was one of the most delicious things ever to have passed my lips. I snarfled half of it before I could bear to put it down to photograph it.

It was a superb day.

More Snow White and Red

Sorry, I couldn't resist showing off how well my new jumper co-ordinates with all the other red things in the garden. All these photos were kindly taken by my friend Alice.

I was Snow White but I drifted

Snow White is finally dry! I took her out to meet some of the (hopefully not poisonous) apples in my back garden.

This was a speedy, stress-free knit. Like other Ysolda patterns, it is impeccably laid out, cleverly constructed, and full of interesting details. I love the neck-line: it satisfies a desire I didn't know I had to look like a Cluedo piece (Miss Scarlet, of course). The sculptural ribs accentuate some curves and minimise others.

 

The stretchiness of ribbing is a thing of miracle of knitting engineering - this measures 18" around the waist when laid flat.

I am so pleased with how this turned out. I am glad to have found a good use for this yarn. I love its deep, velvety shade; the colourway - 'Christmas Red' - is appropriate to me, as my birthday is on Christmas Day. All in all, Snow White has just about healed the wound of losing Broderie.

Like watching knitwear dry

This is the most exciting image I can offer you of Snow White, who is still stubbornly soggy.

In the meantime, my long-awaited black cardigan is beginning to take shape.

I don't think I've already mentioned the pattern - it is Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston, from the latest Twist Collective. I rather like the way this crisp, superwash merino is working up.

World's Skinniest Sweater?

Snow White is done, and reclining in state while she dries....

... on an ironing board. How ridiculously skinny is this sweater? It looks more like a broomstick cozy than a garment for a human being. I know it fits - I tried it on before I immersed it - but still it's hard to credit.

Milkweed

I have finished my Milkweed shawlette.

I used the Old Maiden Aunt Merino/Bamboo left-over from - and now all that is left of - my sadly departed Broderie. Once again, the yarn was a delight to work with: soft and glossy but with the promise of durability. I am very pleased with the finished product; I plan to hang on to this one. The colour is far more dark and mysterious than the above two pictures imply - the silvery tint is the light bouncing off the bamboo.

I find the lace pattern that broods out of the garter stitch enchanting, and the fact that it has no wrong side makes it perfect for casual scrunching around necks, as well as demure draping over shoulders. It was a quick and meditative knit (not a single purl!), soothing to pick up when I was tired. 

I have also been beavering away at Snow White. Last night, I joined the sleeves and the body, knitted a couple of rounds and then did the most beautiful picot cast-off at the neck you ever did see. I stretched out my work to admire it... and realised I had just cast off the back, instead of the front. I have got it sorted now, though not without weeping and gnashing of teeth. Sometimes I wonder if this yarn is cursed.