Introducing Stoney the Waistcoat

Here's my new waistcoat Stoney Rowan 43 designed by Lisa Richardson.

Made using 6 balls of the discontinued Jonelle Knitting Cotton DK which I bought from John Lewis when I first got back into knitting, I think we're talking the year 2000 here. Has been maturing in my stash for eight years or so, he he. I do like the colour, it's a warm pinky browny shade aptly called Rosewood. I was left with 2 or 3 metres left after the edging, which was lucky. I wasn't panicking too much because I have more balls of the same yarn quality in a toning colour which I could have edged it with if the worse had come to the worst.

I like it and I've enjoyed making it. One thing I can't get my head round though. There's short row shaping to get the curved look on the left and right fronts. So far so good. BUT there is a definite texture to the waistcoat, with garter ridges every four rows so the short rows look weirdly staggered. Wouldn't make it again with that feature.

It has a mock opening, you sew down both layers of the fabric and pull the waistcoat on over your head. I used some Rowan buttons I got from Get Knitted. (Rowan Metal Heart 15mm 00037). I'm also pleased with the fit. The sun's in my eyes in some pictures, sorry for looking grim!

Oh yeah, and I'd spell it Stony, but the book says Stoney, WWWWWhatever.

Very optimistic selection of holiday pix !

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you and yours.

Here's our fireplace display to put you in the spirit.

And the winner is...

... the weasel!

J has seen a weasel running about the garden down in Dumfries and Galloway and making its way into its little home in a hole in the wall, or his alternative residence, which is a hole in the ground.

Unfortunately the weasel itself is too fast to photograph, we'd need a team from the BBC to have a 24/7 cam up, but we can show you its little dwelling places.

Imagine our surprise when we can see a flattened path leading up to the rowing boat.

J starts chuckling and I ask him what's up. He says, "don't get a fright if this guy shoots out when I lift this up." Well no guy but a pile of warehoused crab apples from the tree in the garden! So I fall about laughing, remembering how it has been obvious that some creature or other has been plundering the compost bin, where I put the rotten windfalls.

So, to cut a long story short, although we haven't seen him or her with our own eyes, all the signs point to a weasel using the rowing boat as a shelter for a heap of mouldering crab apples. Bon appetit, buddy!

A photo clue, I hope....

Here's a close-up of what is stored in the stash, in case that helps.
This is a crop of the previous picture.

So, whose stash is it?

and

Where is it stored?

Don't give up yet, there's still all to play for. x K

Stash competition

NO, not my stash, for once!

So here's the competition for all you smart eagle-eyed people.....

WHOSE stash do you reckon this is?

And WHERE do you think it might be stored?

Can you tell?

A knitterly prize will be offered to the person who can work out the answer, or for the closest guess.

One part of the question is not too hard, the other is a little more challenging.

Good luck, and knock yourselves out with the guesses!

x K

Share the love....and the cash

Happy Valentine's Day!

Right, now I've sweetened you up, I'll direct you over to my friend Lilith's blog because she is running the Cancer Research Race for Life in memory of her late dad who died in 2001.

She has set up a special blog to chart her progress and to raise funds for the cause. As well as a link to the donation page, you'll also find some other interesting links about the event and the charity.

Not only can you donate to a great charity, you can be in with a chance to win some of the lovely prizes up for grabs.

Share the love......and the cash!