I can see my knitting 'Finishing Line' ahead.

Wooh-hoooo! I'm inching towards the finish line on my knitted dress! Yee-ha! I can't quite believe it.

And how are you today? For those of us living in England, Monday is a Bank Holiday, so that means a three day weekend, and extra woo-hooos, yee-ha's and yipeeees.

Plus, in half an hour I'm heading off to the opening of a new wool/sewing shop in our town, which is very exciting. I had a peek inside on Wednesday, and it's selling Rowan yarn, Amy Butler fabrics, those sort of high-end goods, which is enough to get me jumping from foot to foot with excitement.

The lining I was making for my dress is now finished, and has been sewn in place, though it's hem still needs to be finished off.

I've been trying on the dress with its lining to check it fits, and every time I pull it on, I feel like I'm climbing into cosy bedsheets. Which makes sense, as the lining is made from a brushed cotton bedsheet. I tell you, putting on this dress is going to be like climbing into bed, there's something marvellous about that don't you think? As long as I don't nod off.

I've been changing the ends of my sleeves, I wasn't happy with the way they just 'cut off' in a straight line, so I'm tapering them by decreasing the stitches. I've got some elastic to draw them in nicely too. That's the plan anyway. The hem of the skirt will have similar shaping. That too is the plan!

Just before I run off, I must show you the beautiful Sweet Peas my Father-in-Law, Alan, gave me, and the pretty pink roses I picked from the garden. It was very nice to open the front door to Alan presenting these Sweet Peas. Apparently it's not been a good summer for Sweet Peas, they've only just started to flourish, which was a bit disappointing, as I look forward to the gifts of Sweet Peas I usually get from Alan and Susan each summer.

It was Alan and Susan's 40th wedding anniversary recently. Forty years! That's a long time isn't it. Only immediate family was invited to the celebrations, which were great fun. Alan and Susan had booked a long table in a very plush restaurant, and we had a delicious meal. But before the meal, gifts were opened. Hugo's sister Tamsin, has a great raucous sense of humor, and got some t-shirts printed for the happy couple.............................. Wanna see?

They are a bit risque, so prepare yourselves.........................

Alan is a Vicar, so I hope his parishioners don't have a heart-attack if they see this photo. That's Alan and Susan's camper van they love to escape in, on the t-shirts.

And on a more tasteful note, here's something that I feel privileged to have in my garden.................

Though it's sad that the egg was abandoned. I don't know which bird laid this egg. The nest was built in one of our woodpiles, near to the area we sit and enjoy the garden, and the mother must have decided to evacuate when we started to use the garden.

There's another nest in the middle of the box tree which I discovered when I was trimming it a few weeks ago. It's beautifully made, so smooth inside. I haven't moved it, just incase the bird returns to use it again. Sometimes we find ourselves creeping around the garden, or should I say, the birds' garden, worried that we're disturbing something or other.

Ooh! Is that the time! I must dash. I'll have to love you and leave you, have a good weekend, and hope you get lovely weather to go with your weekend. Cheerio. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[K. McCullough]

Light blue eggs tend to be robin's eggs. And they are notorious for leaving eggs behind.

[Janice Perkin]

thank you so much for setting my mind at reast as to why my sweet peas have had a bad year - lovre the t shirts - we too celebrated our ruby wedding this august - wehad a great party in the garden and the children are sending us to Stratford for 2 nights next week! aren't we lucky and it is Phoebe's christening this Sunday!

[Helen]

What gorgeous colours in your dress and in the flowers, and such a lovely little nest complete with blue robin's egg.x

[Siobhan]

I love your dress colours so much - the blue (turquoise?) is so beautiful with the cable texture. Really I could eat it! So pleased your lining went well too. Little birds are so clever I think to build their little nests. I think robins do lay blue eggs but I don't really know about these things. Lovely for you to have them in your garden - even if it does make you feel like a visitor! Happy weekend xx

[Kate Bruning]

Those t-shirts are so funny. Jonno's parents would look good in them too. They have a campervan and Maureen (jonno's mum) bought a licence plate that says 5in bin (as in sin bin) - Jonno and I are always a bit mortified when people comment on it to us (we are tremendously serious at all times) and particularly so when the children are on born. Maybe we should have another baby (never in a million years) so we can just pretend it says 5 in bin. I am loving the dress - even when it is finished could you please keep showing photos of it all the time. I think it is heading for the knitters hall of fame. Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

[Jacqueline]

Vanessa, the dress is beautiful! I look forward to seeing you modelling it. I wish I was a bit more adventurous with my knitting, but things always seem to go wrong for me. I think I will just stick to scarves. Have a nice weekend, see you next week.

[Loani]

Woo hoo Woo hoo Woo hoo INDEED. Holidays sunshine, almost finished projects.

Those colours are gorgeous. I think I am having some sort of physical reaction to them, a sort sweet lolly melt down. Gunna have to try them myself.

I come over here sometimes just for a little colour fix.

L

[Jo-anne]

Those t-shirts are so funny.
I love the sweet peas. They're one of my favourite flowers.

[Chris, milatos]

The colours in your dress are lovely, you have done well. The t.shirts are great, hope they wear them.hehe The sweet peas are so prety.

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Wow, I can't wait for the finishing photo shoot! What a mission this dress has been! It's all so exciting!
And Yay for a new wool shop opening up... sounds like it's going to be your new procrastination spot!!!
Have a lovely long weekend XXX

[Hahnsmum]

That dress is just so pretty.. And yr flowers make me wish for spring to get over here really quickly.

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Your dress is looking stunning,oooooo it is going to be sooo snuggly and warm in the winter with some lovely coloured thick tights, that you love. It`s fab.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxx

[MsPremiseConclusion]

Your dress looks so lovely! That little peek of lining through the neckline in that one photo is just delicious!! I can't wait to see the finished dress.
Oh, and those T-shirts made me laugh out loud! Happy 40th to your super adorable in-laws!

[Devon]

Wow that is beautiful,,,and I love the tee shirts,,it always good for a preacher to have a sense of humor..

[Bibi]

Ta robe est super!
vivement une photo de toi avec!

[Teje Karjalainen]

Dear Vanessa, your dress is going to be something else!!! And so beautiful flowers!
I'm waiting to see the dress finished!
Best wishes from Teje

[Dorien]

That dress! I keep coming back to your blog to see it grow. The colours you are using are so gorgious, and the idea to make a complete dress with Fair Isle motifs is just ridiculous. Now you are teasing us with little sneakpeeks and details. I want to see it!!!

[Jude]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this fabulous dress!!

[Skippy]

I truly admire your stamina and skill in knitting the dress but how on earth are you going to wash it and keep it in shape? Just a thought.

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

Your dress is looking divine! Love those T-shirts ;-) Hope they wear them!

A new shop with all that goodness inside....going to stock up for your next project??

Did you have a go with the sleeves on your stripey dress?

Have a great Long Weekend xx

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Oh Vanessa of course I'll put more Raymond up! Would you believe Karen (my partner) said the other day "people are going to get sick of seeing pictures of him Babe" ha ha! I'll show her your comment!
XXX

[PosyLinda]

Wow you are really close to finishing your lovely dress!!!! Can't wait to see it. I think you made the right choice in changing the sleeves - it zings!! Have a wonderful week V.....

[Nadia]

Your dress is so beautiful, the colours, cables and stitch patterns...wow is all I can say a piece to treasure for a very long time, I can't wait for the big reveal...

another lovely post :)

x

[gris fleur]

We had the same nest with 5 eggs in our garden recently, about two months ago. I found in a thrift charity shop an old book with beautiful drawings of eggs. It could be a robin nest but also a Whinchat. Good luck for the rest of the dress !

[Alison]

The dress is just divine, please share how you made the lining. I am in the midst of a feather and fan dress which is going to be so nice but I think it will need a lining.

[Nikki]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Could you let me know how you made the lovely scarf that you sent to Hen in November 2009. I would like to make one for my mum for christmas.

[Rachel]

oh my goodness, so beautiful! the dress is stunning!