Warmth Under A Wandering Star

Fleet by Martin Storey

in Rowan Brushed Fleece

 65% merino wool; 30% alpaca; 5% polyamide

for Tom

This yarn twists and bends any way you like into a warm and deceptively lightweight fabric… The colour is a thin felted patina over a white foam-like wool base which shows  through occasionally in very small gaps - I'm sure Rowan have thought about this, but I'm hoping that it will only blend and not fray after washing. I absolutely loved the pattern – it’s constantly interesting and because it’s worked mostly on 6mm needles, moves along at an encouragingly brisk clip.

Sandymount strand this morning...

I made this for my son, the natural camouflageur…  I just coined that word especially to describe him  and its definition is “harbouring strong penchant for visually blending”.  He picked both colour and style himself.

.....  haven in the centre of Dublin city..

He’s wasting his time there of course, because no matter how much he attempts to merge, he’ll always stand out on account of his lateral-thinking, huge sense of fun and generous nature.  Auburn hair, too, has a tendency to catch the sun.  As his mother I’m bound to say such things, but it's also worth noting that many others unrelated do too - Tom has the gift of charisma as well as brains.

This is as good a location as any to point out that I’m particularly seriously proud that the free spirited, healthily subversive teenager of ten years ago, who was not always appreciated or encouraged in every forum, had the patience and tenacity to hone his intelligence into so many practical skills, ideals, qualifications, positive enterprises and adventures in countries ranging from the US, Mongolia, Haiti, India, Ecuador to all over Europe and back.  He's probably tired of hearing me say that the longest way round is often the shortest way home, but now he's actually lived it and lived it well.  And in fact, he’s living abroad at present, which suits him as he was definitely born under a wandering star.            

Thank you again, Milla of  The Stitch Shop for covering over my many slip ups in the sew-up... it makes all the difference.