Upholstery Braid Headband

Inspired by Emily Martin of Black Apple fame, I rustled myself up a little headband out of gold upholstery braid. This was a super simple project, but I'm rather pleased with the results - I might post a tutorial if anyone were interested? I haven't yet decided whether to add stars as in Emily's original... It was so easy and cheap that I might make myself a selection; my hair is behaving like a restless animal at the moment, and is benefiting from this gilt caging. 

I have been wearing my Haruni shawl and Evolution mitts together a LOT, and revelling in the co-ordination. Above they can be seen in conjunction with an unexpected canine companion.

This was a decidedly hand-knitted riverside stroll, as my friend wore her new Que Sera cardigan. This yarn used to be part of my six sweaters-worth that hung like an albatross round my neck, until I observed that the colour made me look more exhumed than exuberant, and gave it to Simone, who totally owns this shade of yellow. I'm so pleased this lovely yarn has found a good home.

Haruni

I hastily pinned out my Haruni (Rav link) shawl before scampering off to Canterbury for Easter, and have just rattled off a few frames of it.

I knit this in the remainder of the Dream in Color Smooshy, in the colourway Gothic Rose, that I had left from my Evolution Mitts - I am excited about having a matching accessories set! This was a most enjoyable knit, and an admirably well packaged free pattern. I was rather apprehensive about the crochet cast off, as my nimble knitting fingers turn into clodhopper carrots at the sight of a hook. I managed it, though, and absolutely LOVE the effect: I would definitely use this on another shawl in future.

I'm very pleased with the marriage of pattern and yarn - the leafy border motif reminds me of a Victorian doily, and this bruised, brown-y purple seems like a decidedly Victorian colour: it is the shawl equivalent of a deep leather armchair with an antimacassar. 

Two Skeins of Sock Yarn

I started and finished a shawlette, and I didn't even tell you. How rude. It's the one on the left; I'll get some proper pictures after I've blocked it. On the right is the tiny pile of yarn that is all that stands between me and finishing my Alhambra scarf. So very soon I should have two FOs to show you, or, to put it another way, about 880 yards-worth. It seems my knitting mojo is definitely back...