A kiss on the hand

There I was saying I'd be posting the next day and here it is 4 days later.  I blame it on the view, I have to keep stopping and looking.  It's dangerous as the view is out of the dining room window as well as the kitchen.  I love it that I can even write that.  I have a dining room!  It's pretty exciting to live in a house after 10 years living in a flat.  We have a garden, and an upstairs!  Coming from Auckland, land of the bungalow, an upstairs is a big deal for me anyway.  Mind you, it has its downsides. I need convincing that there aren't people sneaking around downstairs each night after I go to bed.  At least in the flat there was just one corridor to worry about.  I worry a lot about these things.

Anyway, back to the knitting.

Last time there were photos I showed you the beginning of the Diamond Fantasy scarf.  I found it a nice quick knit and finished it off while I was staying at my mother in law's.  When it came off the needles, it was a sad crumpled thing.

I soaked it in Eucalan, wrapped it in a towel and left it in a corner for 3 days while I stressed about moving related things.  Then I found it again, resoaked it and blocked it severely, as per the instructions.

I used blocking wires on the top edge and then pinned out the points.  This was the first time I've blocked on a bed and I would definitely do it again, as long as Toby's not around.

I'm very happy with how it turned out.  The only shot of me wearing it shows me in my pyjamas with my hair unbrushed, so you're not seeing that I'm afraid.  Here's one of it against a window, to show off the diamonds.

Another one outside, to show off the colours.

I will put up the project specs later.  Right now I have to go and get rid of the horse that has just come into my garden.  Yes, really.

Comments

[Niki]

Very pretty! I love the picture in front of the window. I need to give lace a go one of these days.

[mrspao]

That's a beautiful shawl. It sounds like you are having a good time in your new house.

[Mary de B]

Very pretty! Horses, though big, must be easier to deal with than the raccoons and skunks we have.

[Daisy]

I know what you mean. I've just (July) moved from a ground floor flat to a house. Ooof those stairs... But it is very nice having a dining room!

[hPNY knits]

I love the colors! I am still to find how lace is a quick project...

[2paw]

Wow, it looks so lovely!! Oh, upstairs, too many goings up and down for me: I have a Californian Bungalow, even though I am about as far away from California as you can get. NZ got good coverage here recently when the Maori Queen died...

[keri]

It is to pretty, I love the yarn and the colors!

[Mary-Lou]

I like the way the colours ripple across diagonally, that's very pretty.

[Jill]

Pleased to hear you are getting accustomed to the view and the stairs....the children must love having all the extra room.

Shawl looks lovely, but bring it in from the garden quickly before the horse or some other roving livestock eats it.

Me, I'm not a country lover, would rather look out onto people and shops (esp. yarn and book ones) and I like concrete under my feet and a 7/24 shop on the next corner.....

[Tracy]

The shawl is so beautiful, I just had to download it, yet another to add to my growing pile! Glad you're settling into country life....wait til the moles arrive. Now they're great fun ;)

[paula]

The shawl is beautiful, glad you are enjoying your new house.

[yvette]

I love your shawl colour, I have nearly finished my second one, except I have run out of yarn with 70 sts to cast off, now just have to find yarn that matches!
Hope you get rid of the horse easily.

[Iris]

how beautiful! And isn't it amazing what a difference blocking makes?

[dawn]

I love that shawl, it's climbing higher up in the to-do list every time someone posts a photograph! Hope the horse didn't bite!
You'll have to update your blog photo now that you're not living in Clapham!