It's in the wash.

Hello! Bright and perky yes I am ................ That's the great thing about blogging, you can pretend to be cheery and chipper, when actually, you might be sitting in your chair at your computer feeling bloated, unproductive, miserable, and lots of other negative feelings, and noone will ever know!

Actually, I'm feeling absolutely fine. In percentage terms, my mood is 95% sunny, which isn't bad is it?

But I have a distinct lack of things to show you today, because lately I've been burying myself in work and not doing my blogging job. Last weekend was quite a busy one , and going out is time consuming.

The Debbie Bliss dress I have been knitting is finished!

When it's washed and dried and pressed and preened I shall reveal it to you.

I have tried it on, and the good news is that it fits like a glove, because I did have doubts about it fitting me. I have to admit, I expected a disaster, and was very pleasantly surprised with how it turned out.

That's the absurd thing about knitting garments isn't it? You often don't know if something is going to fit until the end. Crazy!

I haven't done any more sewing in the last week, but I have started a new knitting project. I've embarked on knitting Ysolda Teague's cardigan pattern "Coraline". You can find it on Ravelry here.

I had some beautiful DK Alpaca yarn in my stash, and was hunting for a good pattern. When I saw how many people had knitted this pattern, and how good it looked on everyone who has made it, I knew it must be a winner. Have a look at all the 691 (so far) Coraline cardigans that have been knitted and displayed on Ravelry, they are lovely, and inspiring. It's not often you get a pattern that suits everyone.

I'm not knitting mine in just the one colour, as you can see in these photos, I'll show you more another time.

And before I love you and leave you, a quick check on my mood percentage............... 98%.

You see, that's what blogging can do, lift your spirits, I was 95% at the beginning of this post!

See you on Friday. Vanessa xxx

Comments

[greenrabbitdesigns]

That is a very pretty pattern and your yarn looks delicious. :)
Vivienne x

[Anita]

Oh Dear!!! i am expecting to see your dress!, i am sure it's beautiful!
please hurry!! i can't wait!

[Kmbold]

How do you knit so fast??

[Liz W in Missouri, USA (With Lucy)]

I think it's going to be fun to see how you do the various colors on the Coraline sweater. It's such a pretty one and people have done some amazing things with it, haven't they? Can't wait to see the Bliss dress, either.
So glad you are feeling chipper. Hope your week is all that and more.

[Alice and Raymond!!!]

he he yes I agree, it is very easy to pretend that we are happy and perky while wearing pyjamas and being a grumpy mess!
I'm off the check out this cardigan and see what you're up to next!
XXXXX

[Stephanie]

Hello Vanessa, I have returned from my holiday and although I haven't taken the time to post on my blog I simply wanted to see how you were and to say 'hello'. I'm happy you are feeling chirpy and well.

Have a productive, happy week.

[Annie]

It's a lovely pattern ... and may even be better stripey! Get knitting, then you'll be 99.9% ;)

[Susan Potter]

Dear Vanessa

Sorry I am contacting you this way - but could not find an email link :) I am writing to tell you about my fantastic giveaway of 10 lovely 100g balls of Stylecraft Special yarn to celebrate opening my little etsy shop.
Please see my blog at http://millicentjames.blogspot.com/
if you wish to keep this quiet that is fine by me - and if you wish to share the news that would be the best :)
Thank you and best wishes
Susan Potter

[Penelope]

Oh Vanessa, I have been a long time Ysolda fan ever since I read an article on her in the Saturday Times. Her knits have always seemed too complicated for me but maybe just maybe I might one day feel confident enough to knit one of her pretty's xox Can't wait to see your glove fitting dress xox P

[Robin]

Love that cardigan! Can't wait to see your colors and the finished dress. You do such beautiful work. xoRobin❤

[harmony and rosie]

I think your moodometer must be working on me, I feel a lot happier since popping over to see you!

Thanks for your lovely comment, it made my day as that's what I used to do in my previous life - the food, not the photos.

Looking forward to seeing the creations, I started a jumper for my boy back in April and haven't touched it for months, tut tut!

Kate xx

[I'll Take The Scenic Route]

I am looking forward to the big reveal of the knit dress. On inspiration from you, I just purchased Chic & Simple Sewing. I just bought it a few hours ago (read: now I don't want to do ANY of the things that need to get done around here). I feel like doing the Nestea plunge into my fabric stash. Thanks for the inspiration. Carolina

PS- if you click on the "posted by" link, Vanessa, you will see a video of me, hiking, where I live. It is worth it, despite the fact that I am in it. The view is beautiful.

[Vicki K]

This kind of post is among my favorites - just whatever is sitting nearby that you have worked on in the past, want to work on, or will think about working on... just regular everyday stuff! Can't wait to see your dress. Beautiful yarn!

[Magic Cochin]

Oh yes, that's a very nice pattern - the 'smocked' yoke and the colours you've chosen remind me of the little smocked frocks my Mum loved to sew for me when I was a tot.

I saw some love bias binding the other day and thought of you ;-)
http://www.clothkits.co.uk/haberdashery-liberty-print-bias-binding-c-36_90.html

Celia
x

[maggie]

Well, it's a lovely pattern but I don't think it would suit everyone, and certainly not someone well-endowed 'up top' as they say! No, that yolky fastening bit would surely emphasise the bolsters I have attached to my front!

[maggie]

Just a PS... I was browsing the Black Sheep website and found a knitting pattern for a cardigan I really liked, but which wouldn't suit me... but you came to mind as it looked so you....it's in the Rowan Pure Lie knitting book, pattern one I think, cabled, and flared, very pretty.

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Can`t wait to see your Debbie Bliss dress! I love the look of that yarn for your next project, lovely muted colours especially the bluey-grey.
I bought the "Simply Knitting" mag and went for a latte at a Starbuck`s cafe near my Mum`s. There i am happily sipping and reading and low and behold there you are!!! Another mention in a magazine! Page 79 under Knitting Websites, another glowing endorsement of your blog. And much deserved! Well done you.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx

[Fiona]

beautiful colours, looking forward to seeing the finished cardigan x

[Florence]

I love the secret bloating (that yes, strangely can lower one's mood to around 38% in extreme waistband-pinching circumstances). I'm commenting at a breezy 88%...not quite up with you, so perhaps I need to go and write a blog post...

Can't wait to see the dress. x

[Kate]

Going out eh?mmm,buying new yarns whilst out and about too...that's why I try to stay at home...happy knitting!

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Oooh looking forward to the reveal! I love that Coraline pattern too....its on my list :-)

[Nina]

I can whole heartedly sympathise. On a positive note - I love your yellow washing basket.

Happy chipper day,

Nina xxx

[frances]

Hello Vanessa.

That cardigan is going to be another beauty...will you be doing the "smocking" in contrast colors?

I agree that sometimes even when we aren't feeling really upbeat, that just doing something upbeat can help change our beat, if you get what I mean!

Right now, I am having problems fully connecting with blogger, and it is keeping me from being fully upbeat. I am sure that the situation will eventually change. xo

[Barbara]

Dear Vanessa,
you just made my day with your beautiful knitting, Coraline is a darling pattern as the Americans would say? and your colors are beyond adorable ...
wonderful too that your dress is finished, so much knitting in that, you are amazing. I'm struggling with duplicate stitch on felted tweed at present ...
love Barbara x