Walking and stitching and knitting

 

These are a few photos from the other day.  Blue sky and reasonably mild weather drew me outside for a brisk stroll around the RSPB reserve near my home.  No exotic birds to be seen, just the usual ducks, swans and magpies.  I have seen red kites and kestrels there, even an owl during daylight hours, but not that day.  

I love the washed out colour of these dried grasses, and especially the sounds they make when the wind's blowing through them.  

Back at home, I've been making myself a simple pair of fingerless gloves, using the Yarnsmiths Lagoon wool I bought.  

They're so straightforward to make, knitted on two needles rather than double-pointed.  Cast on 44 stitches, then several rows of K2 P2 rib.  I decreased by 4 stitches, did a few rows of stocking stitch, then lots of seed stitch before switching back to stocking stitch, increasing by 4 stitches, then more ribbing.  Easy peasy!  

The variegated wool works perfectly as the colour changes add interest, and make each glove slightly different but still obviously a pair.  

I've continued with the stitchbook challenge, though maybe calico wasn't the best choice for a background material.  It does fray a lot.  Also, I've realised I much prefer to stitch this kind of thing in an embroidery hoop.  Pre-cutting my 7 x 5.5 inch pages means they're too small to fit easily into a hoop.  So I've tacked this piece on to a backing fabric for now, to enable me to do this.  I'll stitch into it again tomorrow, then it'll be time to tackle the second stitchbook page, and see where that leads me.  

Before I go, just a word about the Daphne du Maurier book I was reading.  'The Scapegoat'.  I devoured the last of it this morning, and it's very good.  Weird and very unsettling.  A really interesting setting and cast of characters, especially for any reader familiar with du Maurier's 'Rebecca'.  They both deal with issues around identity, loneliness, feelings of not belonging, of being an imposter, an interloper.  'The Scapegoat' is definitely worth your seeking it out, and if you get the Virago edition there's an interesting forward by Lisa Appignansesi.  Though read that after you've read the book as it contains plot spoilers.  Don't say I didn't warn you!