Spitting Yarn

A blast of sunshine on a gloomy day.

Marigold sock number one is complete, but destined for the frog pond. I stupidly cast on with 2mm needles, thinking they were 2.25mm and the sock is too tight around the ankle (I wear a UK size 5 and a half). The pattern is an enjoyable one so I may well return to it, possibly with a less bright yarn. The pattern is quite busy (although perfectly simple to knit) and when combined with lairy yellow yarn, the overall effect is…extravagant!

Sunshine and showers were scheduled today but I saw rather more of the latter when, having reached a bit of a brick wall with my college project, I took DB’s advice and ventured out into the rain seeking inspiration. My first stop was the latest exhibition at Somerset House – Skin & Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture. The perfectly assembled mix of models, maquettes, garments, computer images, drawings and prints provided real food for thought. I heartily recommend it.

My next stop was a yarny interlude – my first visit to I Knit in their new Waterloo premises. I was looking for an aran weight spring/summer yarn in a solid or semi-solid colour. Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything fitting the bill, but like the hapless fool I am, I succumbed to a little something, anyway(!) Two skeins of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in colourway 9254. Yum.

My final stop was very special and closer to home. The famed Persephone Books has opened in west London on Kensington Church Street, only a short hop from Chez Spitting Yarn. Jane has written about Persephone Books from time to time and I’d been meaning to visit their premises in Lamb’s Conduit Street. Well, they saved me the trouble! It was even more delightful than I hoped it would be. En masse, the books are beautiful in their silvery-grey jackets and cheery end papers. What I hadn’t expected was such a wonderful selection of non-Persephone books. Their buyer has excellent literary taste. The shop is not large, but it was difficult to walk out without another “little something”.

In fact, I entirely failed to resist. When I got home, I was pleased to find that my book and yarn purchase complemented each other.