Sweet things.

This card touches my heart, even though it was for Hugo and not for me. It is soooooo sweet it squeezes my heart.

It was Hugo's Birthday recently, and I have this image in my head of Millie, my Niece, pen held tightly in her little hand, all the experience and learning of her six-and-a-half years, (I know how important those halves, quarters, and three quarters are at that age), being put to good use as she hunches over the card, concentrating on not making a mistake.

I have to say, as her auntie, it's very difficult not to be impressed by the neatness of her writing. Is it neat writing for a six-and-a-half year old?

George, who is two-and-a-half years old, chose the card, I understand from my sister. It makes sense that he should choose a card with vans on it, because he is utterly and totally obsessed with machinery of any kind.

When I last stayed with my sister, I read a bedtime story to George, and it was very hard not to laugh. The book had no narrative, it's content was pictures of aeroplanes, cars, trucks and lots of other things that go vroom-vroom, with their names underneath. I tried to put as much expression into reading each name as I could.

The thing about this birthday card that touches my heart is that my Niece and Nephew like Hugo enough to send him a card (I imagine there was some prompting from my sister, but still, isn't it adorable?).

Talking about adorable things, look at this little girl:

Cuckoo, from blog the cuckoo is a pretty bird gave me this ADORABLE Dachshund she bought at Fanny Adams Vintage. She's supposed to be called Fanny, but like with any newly acquired pet, I fancy giving her a name of my choosing and calling her Clementine.

It must have been quite hard for cuckoo to part with Clementine/Fanny, don't you think? She's such a sweetie, with her pompom nose, and little bow perched on the end of her tail. Her expression is a mixture of cheeky and naughty, and like most Dachshunds, she's got tons of personality. And as for the fabric she's made of, isn't it lovely?

Clementine/Fanny was a gift out of the blue, very generous don't you think? I understand she's meant to hang from a doorknob, but I want to be able to see her properly and at all times, so she's in my studio, hanging on the wall where a picture used to be, near my desk. 

Now for a bit of the latest on my fair isle knitted dress.  Last seen at this stage:

The skirt section has reached it's full length, (which I haven't photographed yet, so there's more to see of the skirt pattern than is shown in the above photo), and it now needs to be cast off.

But in the meantime, I've started on the first sleeve.

This is the top part of the sleeve! Totally different from the pattern's sleeve specifications, and I haven't a clue  yet whether it will work, until I fit it into the dress. A mix of feelings here, excitement, and dread that it looks awful and I have to start again.

The red yarn at the bottom is a crocheted provisional cast on, which, when unravelled, will expose live stitches, and then I'll just continue knitting the sleeve downwards till I get to the right length, with a bit of shaping along the way.

I'm going to knit a fair isle pattern below the cabling, as I've done with the main body of the dress. It won't be the exact same pattern as in the dress, but I'll use the same colour combinations.

So there you go! The plan for my sleeves revealed! Wouldn't it be GREAT if it worked!

I've got to go now, I'm off to my usual Wednesday night knitting group, to do some more work on the sleeve, drink tea and eat my chosen biscuit. Lovely. I'll see you Friday then dear readers. Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx

P.S.  We just skyped my sister, and Millie and George were there. I remarked to Millie that it must have required lots of concentration to write that message in the card, and her reaction was a vigorous shaking of the head, and a resolute "no". My romantic auntie imaginings were dispersed immediately, and I've found myself looking at the card again, and thinking "gosh, did Millie do that in a bit of a hurry?" Still, she's trying to do joined-up writing, and I always think, it's the thought that counts. A very sweet thought.

Comments

[Jacqueline]

I'm sure my son had the book with the pictures and sound effects when he was younger. It was a fun read, especially once he started making the sounds himself. Your nephews choice of card is pretty fabulous for one so young. Dress is looking good too, you are so adventurous with your knitting. The colours look so good together. I love the little dog as well, you're lucky to get surprise gifts like this!

[Kate Bruning]

Joined up writing is a big deal. It is even a big deal now when I use it rather than my quick scrawl. Maybe she had a case of 6 1/2 year old case of nochalance (if that is how you spell it). I am so excited about the dress - methinks you are a very fast knitter... Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

[Lucille]

I think that writing is exceptionally neat compared to similar offerings from my sons at that age.

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

I have to say, I'm getting very excited about seeing the dress in it's full glory!
The card is so so cute... and her writing is great, you're not biased at all!
Have a lovely rest of the week!

[Martha]

I love it all - the card, Clementine, the dress...I'm sure she was trying to impress you, saying how easy it was to do all that fancy-pants writing! ☺

(We are LOVING our books here...thank you!!)

[mlle paradis]

i've always had such respect and awe for knitters, both for your patience, commitment and even-tempered approach to your work, but also for your tremendous capacity for suspense and surprises! when it actually all comes out perfectly and properly well then, that is nothing short of miraculous to me!

as to millie....FINE WORK!

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Ooooohhhhh the Dachshund, Clementine is lovely. I don`t blame you for putting it in a prominent place so you can look at it all the time.
And i cannot get over how clever you are re-knitting your dress. I wouldn`t know where to start. And it is looking sooo brilliant.
I`m having to slow down on my knitting a bit! I`ve got Osteoarthritis in the joint at the base of my thumb, so i`ve now got to wear a splint. I`m managing to do some knitting, but then i have to rest a bit! So i`m not doing any small things, ie toys, strawberries etc,for a while. So i`m just knitting with DK or Aran yarn. Then i`ll try again in a few weeks time. A bit of a pain, cos i love doing little things. Never mind if i take care of the joint i hopefully will be able to continue knitting.
Hey Ho!
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxxxxx

[paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com]

Don't believe her - joined up writing is good for a six year old - but that's girls for you!

[Janice Perkin]

clementine is so gorgeous

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Vanessa, I just have to tell you that I was sitting in a very looooong and boring class (cognitive behavioural therapy in fact) yesterday... I had my knitting in my bag and mid-way through the day wondered if I should ask my tutor "do you mind if I knit?" After all... it is good manners! ;) I had to smile to myself!
I managed to restrain myself, but escaped half an hour early to sneak to the wool shop as a reward...

[Gorgeous Things]

The dress is looking amazing - I can't wait to see your next update. The colour combo is gorgeous.

[Erica K]

I think her writing is wonderful! I have a 7 year old boy to compare to even! :D

The sleeve sounds like quite an undertaking! Can't wait to see the dress completed...very exciting! :)

[Siobhan]

Your niece's writing - whether she needs to concentrate hard to do it or not, really IS very neat. As well as that it is joined up! I can promise you that Milly does indeed have the excellent writing you think she does from what I've seen of 6 year olds (used to help out in my daughters class). Fingers crossed that the sleeves are going well with your own invention, sounds like it will look great - really can't wait to see! The little doggie is full of character; a really lovely gift.

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

Your cables are divine! And Clementine's bow is perfect :-)

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

Your cables are divine! And Clementine's bow is perfect :-)

[Simone Lykke Hartz]

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE your fair isle dress pattern - so beautiful!