Menokreatikkul; Saturday Stitches

Okay, so that new open-work stitch from a couple of weeks back caught my imagination. Could it be worked without the four rows of stocking stitch in between? 

Absolutely! In fact, it makes a very pleasant fabric with lush texture, and although worked in aran (4-weight) yarn here, I could see it producing something lovely in finer weights.

Having worked up quite a swatch, I just kept going - remember I have been using up the rest of the bargain Stylecraft acrylic for these experiments - and once I'd run out of the green, I added a little extra on with the navy. Just enough to form a 'cravat'.

Peeking between the leaves, you can see the reverse side of the stitch... it is just as lovely, and so this might be considered a double-sided fabric. If, inadvertently, one were to put the thing on outside in, it wouldn't matter.

The idea of this I got from my mother many, many years ago. It can be worn with the 'bib' to the front, side, or back, depending on where you need the warmth. It could sit outside your other garments - but I prefer it tucked...

This is another of those wonderful neck-defenders for the winter months. Again, done in lighter-weight yarns, it can be quite an elegant item. Would make a good gift... yes, we're getting to THAT time...

Anyhoo... I heartily recommend this variety of lace stitching, which I found quick and easy and ideal for when watching your favourite binge. It is easy to correct if you find you miss a bit, and it has a lovely rhythm to it.

Menoturals; Season Shift

Once again joining up with the LLB gang for Nature Friday. I managed to get a quick shot of the local Swan family having a Sunday swim by the promenade. They were coming in with the tide, moving at quite some pace - by the time I got out of the van to try and improve on the photographic efforts, they were a long way off. I didn't want to subject the passing public to the sight of me attempting a run...

As I was out of the vehicle, I took the chance to snap the changing leaves... These are Maple trees, but not the sugar variety. You can see the wind in them... and how they gather moss.

Menovering; Continued

Last week, I shared a couple of ships spotted on the Clyde. The US submarine was really catching my imagination... There was another sighting last week... note the Marine Pilot Boat escorting it.

There had also been, over a couple of weeks, constant movements overhead. Namely, a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter thundering up and down the shorelines. At one point it came so close that as I looked out my window at it, one of the Commandos leaned out and waved to me!!! I wasn't quick enough to photograph that, but I did manage to get it before it disappeared once more over the headland... You can just make out the darker patch where the side door is open, through which that fellow had peered...

You can tell I took that shot in a hurry! I did manage a front-on shot when it came back around, right over that passing sub...

All this activity had me pondering... There have been major international 'exercises' out of the Clyde before, so was there something going on? Turned out there very definitely was! You can read about Exercise Strike Warrior at this link. There was no sign of the German boats coming up the firth, but I don't have eyes-on 24/7, so you never know! And it is entirely possible that there is more than one helicopter patrolling...

Source

Something I didn't manage to photograph was the passing of a frigate with the hull number F88... It looked rather whing-ding and wasn't coming up on the AIS... a guaranteed prompt for the YAMster to go burrowing!  Well, it seems I had spotted the HMS Glasgow going out on sea trial. For a glance at the specs and purpose of this F26 class of ships, you can read here. In fact, that is the Glasgow in the photos on that page, in a much less finished state than when I spotted it. For the extra geeky (like me), you may like to watch this short video, made just prior to this sailing taking place.

Preparedness is the key to the success of most endeavours... But as much as the engineering-geekery part of me is fascinated by the systems in air and on water, the very heart of me wishes they were unnecessary, and the preparedness could be elsewhere focused...