However, my current project is one with an external deadline but it is one I am knitting gladly. The photo is a sneak peek - once the final project has gone to its recipient I will post a picture of the finished article, but I can tell you a bit more.
My Dad is involved with fundraising for a hospice local to him. Last month he completed a Three Peak Challenge in Morocco, and next year he (and my sister) are climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for the hospice. Both those challenges were organised through the hospice but Dad decided he wanted to help with a fundraising event of his own in between the two treks. He decided to organise a Dinner Dance to be held in October with monies raised being donated to the hospice. While he was telling me about this huge project he was undertaking (and it really is! He has a background in academia - organising charity dances is not something he does every day!), he mentioned he needed raffle prizes and especially prizes that would appeal to ladies. I offered to knit something, if he thought that would be suitable. Then I thought, if I'm going to knit it, why don't I design it too? Why not make it a one-off, unique hand-crafted piece? I'm well aware not everyone will appreciate it, but hopefully there will be ladies among the guests (or even gentlemen) who understand the care and skill that goes creating such a piece of work and will be willing to buy a ticket or three in hope of winning it.
The piece is a rectangular stole, worked in Wollmeise Lace-Garn (good quality wool and machine-washable!) in a classic dark grey. The pattern is simple but effective and very wearable.
I had thought of writing up the pattern and releasing it after the Dinner Dance but I really wanted this one to be a complete one-of-a-kind. Instead I plan to write another pattern, based on this one, but with a twist, and I hope to make it my first group knit-along (KAL) in my Ravelry group. Any money I make from sales of that pattern will go to the hospice.
And what about the Dinner Dance itself? Well, if anyone is in or near the town of Newark in Nottinghamshire on October 3rd this year, you can find all the details about the 1940s Dinner Dance here. The theme is because it is 70 years since the end of World War 2, so don't forget your ration card!!