Joe's hat

After handing Ronan his double hat, he put it straight on. Joe saw it and loved it, so I felt that I had to make one for him too. I made it in record time (no probs with size, no frogging and superfast knitting helped) so that I could hand it to him Christmas eve. However, thanks to the bar actually being closed (yeah, we were shocked), he didn't get it until Christmas day. I think he likes it.


My only concern is that the red was a different yarn, with a smaller gauge (you can see in the double picture), but the hat is still wearable, and what Joe doesn't know, won't hurt him. Btw, the red in the picture is really not as intense as it looks, although it is a 'true' red, it's a little warmer, the green is also not as pale. I have trouble taking true color pictures at night with a flash, but you get the gist.
Little update: I've seen Joe close to a week after gifting the hat, he was still raving about it, his girlfriend says he wears it all the time, all a good sign of a good gift.

Double Hat

Here are the pictures of the too-big-hat. It's a double hat adapted from the sockyarn hat by Dawn Adcock. I used an Italian double-knit acrylic (handwash only - which I found unusual). The colors did not have names, but were an orange, grey and smokey gray. The brand name is Luxor which I bought from school products in NYC.


Here's my adapted pattern, which you are free to use for personal or non-profit use:
For a size 21-22 inch hat (average adult).

Using the smokey grey (or color of choice), provisionally cast on 104 sts on circular size US5 needles.
Mark the beginning of the round with a stitch marker
K1, P1 rib for 1.5"
change to size 6 circs then K (st, st) for 1 1/4"
Switching to the orange K 5 rows.
Switching back to the grey K 5 rows.
Again K 5 rows in orange.
Back to the grey (for the rest of this side of the hat), K until entire piece is about 6" long (you can make it longer or shorter depending on how long you want the hat.
You will need to switching to dpns when there are too few sts to go around the circular needle):
*K2tog, K24 sts; repeat from * until one round done
K next round
*Double Dec (slip 2 sts tog as if to knit, Knit 1, pass 2 slipped sts over), knit 22; rep from* around, forming 4 sections for top decreases, (8 sts decreased). Knit 1 round
Continue to do Dec Round every 2nd round, but having 2 less sts between decs after each dec round, until 36 sts are left. Then do Dec Round EVERY round until 4 sts are left.
Draw end through last 4 sts and weave in end on wrong side.
This will make a fairly rounded hat.


Second side of hat:
Pick up the live stitches from the provisional cast on.
Using the orange yarn knit one round from the right side (outside facing out again)
NB: If you have one less st due to picking up and knitting in the opposite direction, increase one st on first round to make 104 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 1.5" in the orange.
K one more row in orange
*switch to green and K 5 rows
switch to orange and K 5 rows; repeat from * until the piece measures 6" from the beginning of the orange ribbing then start decrease.
Decrease is the same as the other side of hat, except that you should still change colors ever 5 rows (until there is less than 36 sts, I ended on green).
I finished off the hat by pushing one side into the other (hoping it would fit) and sewing in a little stitch at the top to connect the two hats in one.

Big hat now fits and Strike over, yay and yay

Phew, phew and phew. Gifts nearly over with, the double hat now fits a normal human being now, and it looks pretty cool, even if I do say so myself. That's one phew. Hope that Ronan likes it, I will hand over his and Maureen's gifts (grasshopper stained glass scarf) this evening when we meet for a pre-crimbo drink as they will be off visiting family for the hols.

Most gifts are done now, just a fringe to do on another stained glass scarf and a little gifto for dh (he already has a biggie coming). That's the second phew.

The transit strike, which I've not had chance to write about, was called to an end around 3:25pm when the excutive board took the advice from the TWU leaders (the last phew). Big fines for the union and workers to follow and still no contract! I was one of the lucky few who was granted permission to work from home, due to the difficulty of travelling around Qns from Manhattan - not easy on a normal day. I had plenty of paperwork do do, phone calls to make and even did a home visit for one of my Manhattan co-workers. My paperwork is caught up and I can (hopefully) get back to normal just before the holiday weekend.

Strike

Okay, the rumors of strike are over, the strike is happening - REALLY happening, I kept saying that I really thought it would happen, but from the shock I experienced on hearing that the TWU voted to strike, I guess I just didn't believe it. Oh well, I've been working at home and will continue to do so as long as needed, I figure I have enough paperwork to keep me going 3-4 days, also can do visits for those that have pple near me. My biggest challenge is ignoring my knitting during the work day, it keeps looking at me!!! I feel for the masses that don't have the option I have, they are walking/biking/getting into cars with random strangers in the bitter cold. Images of people walking across the Brooklyn Bridge look great, but it doesn't really show all that's going on (there are a few other bridges ya know). Anyway, the stories of riots reaching other parts of the world are grossly exagerrated, NYers shout and scream when their pissed at poor organization (thinking Penn Station), this does not constitute a riot okay? Okay, back to the needles...

Big Hat

What the hell? I just can't get the hat right, I can only make them too big (just like the hat that won't make it - which I still haven't had the heart to frog yet). I am in the process of decreasing this double hat that is looking quite good, and I realize that it is far too big (by about 2 inches). Okay, I have to frog this and try not to cry while I start all over again.

As for the strikes, it seems that there are a lot of empty threats going around. No strike has happened, and if it does it will be the still little bus strike just like they had in Queens a year or so ago (lucky me eh?). They say that they will strike fully on Tuesday if they don't get what they want/demand. I say, just do it or don't, you're pissing off the NY'ers by messing them around like this, pple don't know if they will get to work (or, worse still, get home again). I imagine that people are losing money out of this already, not a good way to have the city on your side TWU!

The Supple Rib and transit strikes.

I've nearly finshed my second ever own design of an armwarmer. It's knit in supple rib using knitpicks "shine and twist" in Green Apple. I'm writing the design as I go, I will publish it (and the link to it here) once I know for sure that it's going to work - i.e. once I do the second one.


On another note, the MTA strike is looming, I wonder if it's going to happen? It will certainly have a pretty devastating effect on the city. I know that I won't be able to get to work since I do the reverse commute (New York to Queens) and bridges & tunnels will be closed in that direction for the morning rush. On the bright side, I have plenty of paperwork to do at home for at least a few days, so it won't be a total waste. Fingers crossed for everyone else though...

Bad knitting day today

Yup a bad day for me today, first of all I have *just* figured out that I just don't have enough yarn for my latest project (Robert the bear - such a cute 'intellectual' bear), he will be an arm and 1 1/2 legs short (quite a lot to be missing if you ask me). But while looking around the internet inbetween body parts, I find this site!

WHY OH WHY did I have to see that AND read it??? Now, just when I started falling in love with some beautiful natural wools (Robert the bear included) I'm going to feel guilty about it, but I'm pretty good at not thinking about these things for too long (a good example is that I was a vegetarian for about 6 weeks). Oh well.

Another happy note is that I am in the process of knitting another set of wristwarmers/gauntlets/fingerless mitt things (another pattern of my own) using "supple rib" and I'm excited about this, think they could be pretty cool (yarn is grass green and 60% modal and 40% cotton, pretty). More about that in a few days when I see how it goes.

Wrist warmers.

I had some of that homespun left over from the earthy scarf and have been wanting to knit a pair of wrist warmers for me. So I decided to write my own pattern for some. These were pretty quick and easy to make since it's such a thick yarn. DH hates them, says that I look like a bag lady, not sure it it's the color or just the fingerless thing....


I'm posting the pattern free for others to use if they want, this is for personal or non-profit use only.

Pattern for wrist warmers.
With Sz 10 needles, cast on 24 sts (wrist end)
Switch to sz 9 needles
1. k1, p1 rib (ws)
2. k1, p1 rib
3. k1, p1 rib
Switch back to sz 10
4. K (rs)
5. P
6. K
7. P
8. K
9. P
10. K2tog, K to end
11. P2tog P, P to end
12. K2tog K, K to end
13. P2tog P, P to end
14. K2tog K, K to end
15. P2tog P, P to end
16. K
17. P
18. K
19. P
20. K1, inc1, K to last 2 sts, inc1, K1
21. P
22. K1, inc1, K to last 2 sts, inc1, K1
23. P
24. K1, inc1, K to last 2 sts, inc1, K1
25. P
26. K1, inc1, K to last 2 sts, inc1, K1
27. P
28. K1, inc1, K to last 2 sts, inc1, K1
29. P
30. K
31. P
switch to size 9 needles.
K1, P1 rib for 3 rows,
Cast off on 10, or 10.5 needles (i.e. loosely). (finger end)
Sew sides tog, try on the warmer and work out where the thumb gap will be, sew about 1/2" together for thumb.
copyright Cathy Bechler

Blue Man's scarf

Not to be confused with the famous blue man group. Here is the blue version of the homespun scarf, I can't get a completely accurate representation of the color but it's close enough. It's the same as the previous homespun scarf, but I cast on an extra 20 stitches as I wanted the extra length. Now I have to decide which is better for Ronan.

Man's Scarf

I finally dug up the Homespun and decided to knit a scarf as I was having so much trouble to trying to find out what I could make for Ronan's present, since the double knit hat didn't work and another shadow knit scarf just doesn't seem right for him. Anyway, this is one of the scarves (the other is a different color and 'in progress' right now) I'm going decide between. The color is one with greys, greens and deep reds, it looks almost a brown color, it looks great. I don't have the color (it was one of those bargain buys) but looking at the website I think that the color is Creole, but I'm unsure if it's Ronan's color. The other will be deep blues and greens, pics to follow. Oh, and the pattern was VERY easy. I cast on 140 sts on size 13 needles then switched to size 11 needles and knit every row, casting off (on the 13 again) after the width was satifactory to me (approx 5-5 1/2 inches).

Skull Illusion Scarf Complete

Scarf from head on (just stripes).

And from the side (there are the skulls).

Not only is this my attempt at first illusion knitting, but my first attempt at blocking - blocking is absolutely essential with this scarf if you want to have a flat scarf. I'm pretty proud of myself, it's finished!! And it's another Christmas gift down. The pattern was thanks to Ysolda Teague.

Oooh, and for those that are curious, here is a picture of the back of the scarf (something I wanted to know about when I first saw the pattern). The back is NOT illusion, but as you can see, the skull pattern is still on the back (in reverse).



On a side note, I gave Lisa a stained glass scarf (in "Caribbean") for her belated birthday celebration (her birthday was actually on Thanksgiving day, poor thing, sharing her birthday with Turkeys) she loved it.

Woolspun Hat & Scarf

Here is a quickie set I made with Lion brand woolspun, the color is dusky mauve, unfortunately this yarn is discontinued with Lion brand, but I managed to buy it (in person) from Smileys yarn I also saw it at herrschners in limited colors. After playing around with swatches of the yarn I decided to stick with a very simple k1, p1 ribbing which really showed off the variation and depth of the yarn. The hat is also a k1, p1 rib but it is too big, I haven't gotten around to frogging and re-starting since I've been so busy knitting Christmas gifts.

Gauntlet no more

I loved the baby alpaca on these gauntlets I knitted up from a pattern in "Exquisite Little Knits", soooo soft! However, the color proved to be something I could not wear out, a little too rustic. They have been undone, frogged and are now working their way into my current project. The Skull Illusion scarf on the next post. The color is much better with this scarf, and I will splurge on some more baby alpaca in a more acceptable color, since I know the gauntlets will be perfect for the dreaded winter.

The hat that won't make it

This seemed like such a good idea at the time, a double knit hat with a liver bird pattern for Ronan for Christmas, DH even helped me design the pattern (thanks Chris!). However, after nearly completing the pattern I figured that it's TOO BIG! I haven't had the heart to frog it yet, it shows a lot of time and effort, I just don't think that I can do it again, it's also just not as cool looking as I would have hoped, maybe stripes are needed?

Skull Illusion Scarf

As you can see, it's not finished (yet) but I'm so excited with my first attempt at illusion knitting, isn't it so cool? Anyway, the pattern I got from Ysolda Teague here
the directions are great if the grid is not you 'thing'. For the skull color I used the baby alpaca (from knitpicks) from my undone gauntlets and the black is Encore D.K. (25% wool, 75% acrylic) from a local (and internet) store, Smileys Yarns. I have 2 balls of each and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that is enough. I will let you know. The big thing is that I will have to learn to block now...

Jack the Bear

Isn't he adorable? He's only little 11 inches tall (when stood up) and his arms and legs move. I found him relatively quick and easy to do, using some of the yarn I had left over from Mr. Bean's bear #2. I knitted this from a pattern in The knitted Teddy Bear, which has some really sweet bears in it, I got the book from the library, but I'm pretty certain that I will need to buy it now because they are too cute and these bears will make some great gifts for friends and friends kids, particularly when I splash out and actually buy some decent yarn. I forget which bear it was and I don't have the book right now, but I will try and remember to put up his real name soon enough.

Bag is complete

Here is a picture of the completed bag, it's not the best picture, I think the bag looks better in real life. The pattern the yarn produced is pretty funky, happy accident on my part. Once again the pattern is based on the deco-ribbon pattern.

Teddy 2 is complete

Yay! I got his eyes today, sewed them on, along with his head, now he's complete. Cute isn't he? He's waiting for DH to come home, I think he will love him. Once again, thanks to Sarah Bradberry for posting the pattern on knitting-and.com.

Ribbon bag #2

Okay, I wasn't so happy with the other ribbon bag, still don't know if it was the colors or the way they fell or what, but this is the beginning of the second bag. You see I bought 2 balls of fluid from numei.com (yes, I admit that I'm currently obsessed with this store and their prices and their yarn). I'm not such a big fan of this ribbon yarn, the end result, or how it knits, BUT I am feeling more optimistic about this little project. The yarn is turning into a groovy 60s style pattern... let's see how it turns out...

btw the pattern is nicked from straw.com, based on their deco-ribbon bag. However, I only had one ball of this yarn so I made it smaller, casting on only 71 sts.

Blind Teddy (warning picture may be upsetting to those with weak dispositions).

Okay, okay, he's blind now, but he will soon be able to see. This is hubby's Mr. Bean Bear (he wanted one too), it is almost complete, so here is a sneak peak on Teddy 2. I will be getting some eyes (buttons) for him tomorrow, so he will be finished over the weekend, much to hubby's delight!!

Mr Bean's Bear

Here he is, Mr Bean's Bear, known to Bean as "Teddy", original huh? I think he's adorable and I'm pretty sure that Dad loves him, Teddy does have the super-floppy head and hypnotism can be done on him. I wasn't sure if he would be complete in time since I did buy the wrong kind of yarn initially (teach me not to rush out and buy just anything brown). Anyway, after finding a lovely pure wool yarn just before we left and begging the security at the airport, I was allowed to take my bamboo needles on the flight with me (although, this was not the case on the way back, it seems that different airports have different rules). I knitted like crazy on the red eye and on the coach from London to Wolves, I even ended up sewing on my parents doorstep! Anyway, big thanks to Sarah Bradberry, who wrote the pattern and shares it on knitting-and.com.

11/01/05
FYI, this bear was knitted with a Sportsweight machine washable 100% wool (there were 2 hanks and I pretty much used all of them), but can be easily substituted (Bear #2 was done with a much cheaper 100% acrylic DK [sportsweight] bought in the UK and only one ball - no idea how much was on it, since it was so cheap). I used size 4 needles since I lost one of my size 3 needles, (I also needed bamboo for flying with), but with a bear (i.e. not clothing) the needle size shouldn't be too important, Sarah's pattern recommends size 3. The buttons were bought wherever I could find them (some from sewing store that were too small, I ended up buying them in a pack from a cheap store in Flushing, NY). As buttons are a chocking hazard, remember to substitute felt for buttons when giving to a small child. Please check out upcoming November posts for another teddy in the making (different, cute and traditional).

Golf Club Cover

Time to finish with a silly one. I got this yarn from numei.com (on special) and thought that I might knit a hat or scarf out of it, until I got the yarn and it wasn't quite what I expected. After many swatches and attempts I quickly realized that I could not make anyone wear something so 'solid' and scratchy. So I saw a pattern in a vogue book and decided to use the lion brand's free pattern as a template to make this golf club cover. Hopefully, Dad will like it, or at least see the humor. I have a lot of stuff to take back to the UK now....

Gran's scarf

I made this a long time ago (well, last year when I first started knitting). It's from a batch of Homespun that I got as a bargain. I think it must have been coming towards the end of the winter because I never used it (and it's soooo soft, therefore unlike me not to use). I remember I got the pattern on the lion brand site, here. Thinking about going back home for the reception I wanted to have something for my Gran too, and remembered this, and I think she will love it.

Helen & Owen's Baby Blanket

This is the blanket I knitted for Helen and Owen's child (McChortle). I had this yarn that I didn't know what to do with (sound familiar?), then found a pattern on Lion Brand's site for diagonal baby blanket and decided that was it. I doubled up the yarn and pretty much followed the pattern on the site, except that I only went up to just about 105 sts before decreasing again.

Stained Glass Scarves Set

Here are a couple of pictures of the scarves I made in different colors of the Stained Glass. One for Mum Jones, one for Mom Bechler and the other for me. I love them, they are all slightly different in pattern (using different sized needles and different amounts of yo's and garter st rows).

Ribbon bag

This bag feels lovely, made from ribbon yarn, but just not my colours. Luckily, Maureen loved it and took it home. The pattern starts co 28 sts with garter st for about 5-6 rows, then st st for the desired length of the bag (just over 5"), then garter 5-6 rows, then increase 4 sts evenly on k side of st st until 40 sts, then decrease the same way. Then garter again 5-6 rows, then st st for the same length as other side then garter 5-6 rows again. I-cord for the strap and some ribbon yarn as tassels on the side.

My Stained Glass Scarf

I adore this scarf and I know the picture just doesn't do it justice. I got the yarn (Stained Glass - Tequila Sunrise) from numei.com at a reasonable price. The pattern a very simple drop stitch with 3 rows of garter between, athough the first and last 6 rows are in garter, I cast on 22 sts and used size 7 needles, but I have been known to go up or down a size depending on mood (weird huh?). Thanks to knittinghelp.com for the inspiration. So it goes something like K 4 rows, drop st next row (k, yo 4 times), then k next 3 rows, dropping the yo's. It's a tricky yarn to knit with, but it still knits quickly and it well worth it for the finished result, I ended with a fringe.

"No Scratch" Mitts

At Jane's request I also attempted to make these itsy bitsy mitts for a newborn. I based them on the booties I already made for her, and have no idea if they are a good size or not. I used Bernat Love Bug (same as for the booties). Here is the pattern (probably very poor) for them.

#5 needles, cast on 20 sts
K first row.
k1, p1 rib next 3 (4?) rows.
Switch to #6 needles
k1, p1 moss stitch until piece measures 21/4 inches (end on a p).
decrease:
row 1: k2tog, (p1, k1) 3 times, p2 tog, k2tog, (p1, k1) 3 times, p2tog
row 2: moss stitch
row 3: p2tog, (k1, p1) 2 times, k2tog, p2tog, (k1, p1) twice, k2tog
row 4: moss stitch
row 5: k2tog, p1, k1,p2tog, k2tog, p1, k1, p2tog
row 6: moss st
Cut 10" tail. Weave through remaining 8 sts, pull tightly. Stitch seam shut.

Jane's "pavilion" Blanket

Okay, it's finally finished, I love the pattern, it's so new to me. I just bought a calendar with a different pattern idea each day, I will probably just end up knitting blankets forever more (LOL). Okay the pattern was from about.com, but I will list it here just in case it goes, it wasn't the easiest to follow, but worth it for the end result. Hope Jane likes it too.

Multiple of 18 stitches

Row 1 (RS): k2, p1, k5, p7, k3; rep across
Row 2 and all even rows: Knit all knit sts and purl all purl sts as they face you.
Row 3: (k1, p1) twice, k5, p5, k4; rep across
Row 5: p1, k3, p1, k5, p3, k5; rep across
Row 7: k5, p1, k5, p7; rep across
Row 9: (p1, k5) twice, p5, k1; rep across
Row 11: k1, (p1, k5) twice, p3, k2; rep across
Row 13: k2, *p1, k5; rep from *, end p1, k3
Row 15: k3, p1, k5, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k2; rep across
Row 17: k4, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1; rep across
Row 19: k5, p7, k5, p1; rep across
Row 21: p1, k5, p5, k5, p1, k1; rep across
Row 23: k1, p1, k5, p3, k5, p1, k2; rep across
Row 25: k2, p7, k5, p1, k3; rep across
Row 27: k1, p1, k1, p5, k5, p1, k4; rep across
Row 29: p1, k3, p3, k5, p1, k5; rep across
Row 31: k5, p1; rep across
Row 33: k4, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k5, p1, k1; rep across
Row 35: (k3, p1) twice, k1, p1, k5, p1, k2; rep across
Row 36: Knit all knit sts and purl all purl sts as they face you.

So that's it for now

I tried to do the cardigan to go with the blanket, but after starting the front and back and a sleeve I realized that I didn't understand the rest of the instructions. So I am in the process of knitting another blanket (this one for Jane's bump) with a really cool "Pavilion" pattern. I also just got my Denise needle set (which I'm already loving) and 3 lots of yarns, one of which I could not resist, and am also working on. It's called 'stained glass' from numei.com and I adore it, can't wait till it gets a little chillier so I can wear the scarf I've almost finished, it's gorgeous - and nice to knit myself something again.

Blanket (Isabella's)

Okay, got the pattern from the ball of yarn I knitted it from (Lion Brand - Baby Soft). Pattern is:
(multiples of 6sts plus 1)
1 (RS) Knit
2 Purl
3 K1, *yo, p1, p3tog, p1, yo, k1; rep from *
4 purl
Oh, and the edges are 5 rows st st b4 pat, then 6 st at beg and end st st (knit every row).
There is a right and wrong side though...

Booties

A couple of cute booties, really simple and quick to make. I've made a couple of pairs before for other babies, but these are for Jane's bump. I got the pattern from Crafts Beautiful. The needles are size 5 US.

Scarf

Just like the one I knitted for Michelle, but this is a thicker yarn and different color and hers was cream (nicer too).

Edit: The pattern was adapted from the morning surf scarf the yarn was a mercenized cotton (more for crochet), therefore a little thicker than many laceweight yarns, so I think I used size 4 needles and less yarn overs (yo). This is my adaptation of the pattern:

Cast on 56 stitches loosely (or multiples of 10 + 6 stitches):

Rows 1-3 Knit

Row 4: * k6, yo 1 time, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 1 time, rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.

Row 5: Knit, dropping the extra loops from the yo's of previous row off needle as you come to them. (Be careful not to drop the other sts!) After completing row, tug gently on sts below needle to distribute the yarn from the dropped loops downward.

Row 6: Knit.

Row 7: Knit.

Rows 8: Knit.

Row 9: * k1, yo 1 time, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 1 time, k5, rep, from * to last 6 sts, k1, yo 1 time, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo 2 times, k1, yo 1 time, k1.

Row 10: Knit, dropping the extra loops from the yo's of previous row off needle as you come to them. (Be careful not to drop the other sts!) After completing row, tug gently on sts below needle to distribute the yarn from the dropped loops downward.


Repeat rows 1 to 11 until scarf is desired length (or running out of yarn) ending on row 3 or 9, cast off loosely, weave in ends and add fringe if desired. Block (if needed), and wear with pride.

How long has it been?

Oops looks like I haven't added pics for a while, probably getting married and the heady days of summer getting in the way. Well, there's no-one to apologize to except myself. So here follows a few pictures of things I've done in the last few months - not everything, since I forgot to take a picture of some booties and gloves, and a scarf for Michele.

Oops, forgot the hat

Oops, forgot the hat
Originally uploaded by schrodinger.

Okay, it's not such a good picture, but it gives you an idea of the hat that goes with Beth's new scarf (but she doesn't know yet, so shhhh). I got the pattern from knitty.com (lace beanie) and used a size 10 crochet thread (doubled up).

Close up of the Cranes

Close up of the Cranes
Originally uploaded by schrodinger.

Yes, as the title suggests, this is a close-up of the 1000 cranes, they are pretty eh?

1000 Cranes...

1000 Cranes...
Originally uploaded by schrodinger.

The cranes were completed before I started my latest knitting bug. They were neglected in a box for months before I finally found this huge vase which was perfect for them. Now they can be seen by all (well, here and our apartment).

Lacy Scarf detail

Lacy Scarf detail
Close up of the scarf.

Lacy Scarf

I've done it!! Beth's scarf is complete, and with just enough yarn to make a hat to go with it and a fringe as well. I've very proud of my first attempt at lace-knitting. I think she will love it, shame I have to wait until June to give it to her...