Golden Years

Finished objects have been noticable by their absence here in recent months.  This is because I have been working on a secret project for a special birthday present.  You may recall the strip of Celtic knotwork from Alice Starmore's St Brigid, which appeared some time ago here. 

The first strip was the deep cream of  oiled wool, and fortunately a skein of Blue-faced Leicester, which I had in store, was a similar cream, although a lighter weight.  For the contrasting colour, I reclaimed the wool from the giant Starmore Aran that I had made for my husband, but which had never been worn.

Many of the cables are taken from "The New Knitting Stitch Library" by Lesley Stansfield. One is the central motif of an Aran jumper pattern by, I think, Hayfield.   I have tried to give some continuity to the design by including a ladder pattern on each taupe strip.

Since the whole item is intended to celebrate a significant birthday for my younger sister, I added the year in i-cord.  I was ten, and had always considered myself as the little one in the family, when my sister was born.  Fortunately, I have enjoyed her company from the first moment she came home from the hospital - how can that possibly be so long ago?

Remarkably difficult to get a full shot of this throw, and not to lose the definition on the patterns. 

Bright sunlight the other day cast bars across it, but gives a better impression of the liveliness of the whole.  I hope it gives my sister as much pleasure as it gives me.