Lunamoth

The beaded version

A few weeks ago I posted a request for test knitters for a sock pattern I am designing.  I was amazed at the response — so many people generously offered their time and effort.  Well, the other knitters and I have been working away at our socks, and I hope to offer the finished pattern next week.  There are a few final layout issues and photographs to take care of.

I’ve named the pattern “Aquitaine”, after Eleanor of Aquitaine.  She’s often portrayed in a gown with a diamond patterning, and I used that as inspiration for this sock pattern.  There will be two versions of the sock in the pattern, one plain with ribbing on the foot, and one beaded with the diamond pattern continuing down to the toe.

I’ll be posting some photos from the test knitters in the coming days, too.  It’s really interesting to me to see how the sock looks in different yarns.  And, speaking of different yarns….

Sock yarn

After taking a little time off from dyeing, I’m back into it.  These are all sock-weight yarn, and they’re all available to buy on eBay (along with a bunch of other things — I’m spring cleaning, lol).

Yesterday the weather was lovely enough that my painting class went outdoors to do some sketching at Britannia Beach.  This was my first outdoor sketching of the year, and I’m looking forward to lots more of it.  Cheryl has promised that we’ll be painting outside, too, and I’m happy about that.  I haven’t actually done any plein air painting before.  I hope we can get to it while the weather’s not too hot, and the bugs aren’t out in full force yet (mosquitoes and blackflies — I always wonder what made the pioneers decide to settle here!).  My friend Karen gave me an early birthday present (really early; my birthday’s in August!) of a little water-colour set suitable for packing along in my sketching kit.  I’ll be adding colour to some of my sketches, which should be fun.  I’ve never felt the urge to do full-blown water colour painting, but some of the things I sketch could definitely get some added interest from colour washes.

Today the temperature is supposed to hit 27C — time for ice cream!