Karabella River

So everyone is talking about how disappointed they are with Rowan 38. Maybe it is my first time getting the magazine in the mail, I quite enjoy reading through it ... or maybe it is because of this:

no no no ... not the model, not the vest, but the background floral wallpaper. It reminds me of my grandfather's (mother's side) home. It was a pre-WWII building in Hong Kong and the walls were covered with gift wrapping papers (yes, you read it right!) with patterns of roses and peonies (popular in the 60s) ... similar to those you see in the Rowan pic. I had spent a lot of my childhood in that home, spending holidays with my grandfather. Now the building has been demolished to give way to newer taller buildings and my grandfather was long gone, this photo suddenly brought back a lot of memories.

There are a couple of things I'd like to make from the magazine. I would include Pandora if it doesn't require 2 different yarns ... which is something I don't really like. But availability of yarn in the stash very often determines my readiness to start a project. So, using the Karabella lace mohair I have, I cast on for River the past weekend. Now, I am at the 3rd pattern repeat:


It is interesting that I didn't see the pattern very clearly just by holding up the piece ... until now when I look at the photo! At some point I was really worried if I was knitting correctly. This is my first really lace project. So, when I read the pattern instructions which said "use the lace method to cast on ...", I had no idea what it was. After consulting Miss Stanley, I used the simplest loop cast-on and it seems to be the way to go:


However, I think I may have to put River on hold because I am waiting for Rowan's reply to my inquiry as to whether there are beads in the body of the shawl.

Other knitting updates: Summer is slipping silently away ... instead of setting at 8:40 p.m., the sun now sets at 7:40 p.m. So, I picked up the speed on the navy sweater. I hope that when it comes to the late summer time, it would be ready for Husband. Also, I have finished the left front of Bomber:



See that? Bomber is a real challenge, with the zipper front and pockets. I find that sometimes, Rowan patterns require a high level of common sense from knitters. Other than how to place the pockets, there is nothing on how to finish them! I think I can figure that out later.