I blame Shakespeare

I've just returned from the tour of South Warwickshire. It's all to do with Shakespeare, birthdays, country dancing and #1 daughter - you really don't want to know any more. I shall be doing a similar tour later in the day, with the addition of a flute rehearsal and concert. The upshot was that I wasn't at home when the postman called. It didn't stop him forcing a small packet through the letter box. I knew what it was.

It's the Garden Shawl, knitted by my friend in America. This is our "I'll knit yours and you knit mine" project. Same shawl, same yarn, we both knit, then we swap.

When I unwrapped the packet, this was revealed:



and when I opened that my Garden Shawl was revealed in all her glory:



Isn't she just beautiful?

The colour is even nicer in real life than as seen in this picture. I am almost speechless with awe at the delicacy, the beauty, the evenness of the stitches. Most of all, I'm blown away by the fact that it's done and it's here in my hands. Maryann, I can't thank you enough.

That's not quite true. I could thank you quite well enough by finishing your Garden Shawl and sending it off to you. I can't see that happening in the next day or two. This is the state of play at the moment:



There is quite a way to go. I'd better get on with it.

Trouble is - I'm deeply addicted to my Kimono Jacket. The effect is starting to become more apparent:



You can sort of see the chevron effect here: the "point" of the chevrons is the centre of the sleeve. Here's a "full frontal" shot:



Sorry about the shadows in this shot - the sun was shining, for once.