It needs buttons.

I have finally gotten back on the Yarn Along train again, with this hat. The yarn is the same rose coloured softness that I bought months ago and am just now getting around to using. The pattern is version two of Mrs Micawbers Two Roads Hat. The end result is very satisfying; I love the wavy band, and it has a charming 1920's look to it when worn.

This photograph, being unedited, is closer to the actual shade. (I couldn't help myself on the last one. I went to correct the exposure and suddenly thought "I wonder what would happen if..." Voila.)

But it is not finished yet. Dear me, no. It needs buttons, you see, to cover up the line of joinings in the band. Luckily I happen to have some that match well, otherwise goodness knows how long it would take me to get some.

Oh yes, as for the reading... I am still ever so slowly finishing Bleak House. I am not used to taking so long to read a book, but it really is very long. Also, I am getting together the books I need for this class that I decided to audit. Because it looks like fun, and a brilliant excuse to read the Sherlock Holmes stories again.

***

As I was looking at the preview for this post, it struck me that the hat is nearly the same shade as the post title text. And also that perhaps I should change the colour for link text. Is it too hard to read do you think?

Return of the neglected doily

I haven't been crocheting very much this past week or so, though I have another project planned that will probably push this one out of the way again. Poor little doily. But a lady I know is having a baby in a few months, and I want to make a pair of booties. I have the yarn, but the pattern I had picked turned out to be a dud. In the meantime, I am back in the land of thread.

You can see what I've been reading there also, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. A friend sent it to me for my birthday and it is absolutely enchanting. I think I could just read it over and over again.

And it is all photographed on the piano because... piano.

...

Linking today with Ginny's yarn along.

"What a lovely idea," I thought.

So today I am joining along with Ginny's Yarn Along over at Small Things. This is the crochet pattern promised in the last post, a little handbag. It is written in American terms, but a terminology translation can be found here.

Ruffled Drawstring Bag

(4 ply yarn, about 3 oz; size F/5 3.75 mm hook)

With main colour, ch 6, sl st to form ring.

Rnd 1:  ch 1. 12 sc in ring. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 2: ch 2. 2 dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 3: ch 1 *sc in first dc, 2 sc in next dc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 4: ch 2. *dc in first two sc, 2 dc in next sc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 5: ch 1. *sc in first three dc, 2 sc in next dc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 6: ch 2. *dc in first four sc, 2 dc in next sc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 7: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 8: ch 2. dc in back loop only of each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 9: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 10: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 11: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnds 12 & 13: ch 1. sc in each st around.sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 14: ch 3 tr in each st around. sl st in ch-3.

Rnds 15 & 16: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 17: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 18: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnds 19 & 20: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 21: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 22: ch 1. *sc, ch 1, skip next st, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 23: ch 3. *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 24: ch 1. *sc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 25: same as for rnd 23.

Rnd 26: same as for rnd 24.

Rnd 27: same as for rnd 23.

Rnd 28: same as for rnd 24.

Rnd 29: ch 1. sc in front loop only of each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 30: ch 2. * dc, ch 1 and skip next st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, ch 1 and skip next st. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 31: ch 3. (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 space. *ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 32: ch 3. dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1. *(dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1) 3 times. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2. End off.

Rnd 33: Join with accent colour. ch 1, sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1. End off.

Handle: With accent colour, ch 200. Thread through rnd 27. sl st in first ch. End off, pulling both strings through loop.

As for the reading bit, I've been spending a lot of time with Bleak House by Charles Dickens on the kindle (my token bit of technology). I have enjoyed reading it so far, though I couldn't stop myself from watching the BBC miniseries. And somehow it didn't spoil it, which must be a sign of a good book.

Sick days

I've been laid up for the past few days with a bad head cold. But today I finally feel like doing something besides huddling on the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket.

And, when she felt like it, my cat.

Valentines Day made me bemoan my decision to give up candy for Lent.

Also, I found this book secondhand. It is one of a series of books featuring sketches of cities that were drawn years ago. The pictures are fantastic, and it's easy reading when you aren't feeling well since there are hardly any words.