Shawl Test Swatch

I am not making a mini shawl for a doll. I am testing out a pattern for a new Hugs and Hearts shawl pattern for monimcc on Ravelry. She has written this pattern for a full size shawl and wanted me to make a swatch to see if I understood the pattern.



The beauty of this pattern is that the edging is worked at the same time as the main pattern and the increases are hidden in the waffle stitch pattern. When I have the time I am going to make a full sized shawl as it looks like a lovely warm stitch to make a more substantial shawl rather than an openwork lacy one.



I had a surprise this morning. I swear that this bud on last year's amaryllis has appeared overnight. If you remember I got three flowers from it last year and just let it carry on growing leaves over the winter as I wasn't sure what to do with the bulb. One by one the long leaves died off and I was left with just one leaf. I kept watering the plant as I can't bear to get rid of a plant until I know that it is well and truly a hopeless case and completely dead. I will be pleased if I just get the one flower on this year. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

My knee is still very stiff but I didn't make it up to the pharmacy to get my leg measured for my sexy compression socks this morning as a guy came to inspect the cavity wall insulation, that I had done a couple of months ago, and by the time he had gone and I had my shower it was no longer first thing in the morning. I will give it a try tomorrow and scoot up there before breakfast when my leg should be at it's slimmest. Apparently the socks have to fit when the leg is at it's best for the correct measurements. If they measure it when it is swollen then the socks will be the wrong size.

I have found the pattern, needles and the wool for my elder niece's Birthday jacket so hopefully it will get cast on tonight.