The Princess has passed a major milestone. She taught herself to cable without a needle. This is a major achievement, people.

For years now, We have disliked cables, not strongly, but with a mild dislike you might reserve for spoiled milk, or perhaps a gauche faux pas at an otherwise splendid fete. Therefore, We have taken great pains to avoid them. Shaping? It rocks. Lace? Let the sun shine in. Cables? Not so much.

Until yesterday, when it all came together for Us, like a shockingly positive bolt of lightning from the Craft Gods. We were working on the Aviator Hat that’s on the cover of the Winter Vogue Knitting. Struggling, annoyed, peeved with the cables. And then it happened. Cabling without a cable needle. Figured it out. Makes sense. Now I LOOK FORWARD to the cable rows. Can’t wait for ‘em. Seriously. This is a major breakthrough and has taken Our knitting to a whole new level.

This is what We love about knitting. There’s always something new to learn, and you feel like a genius when you’ve figured out a new technique. It’s an achievement, a genuine thrill, that non-crafters don’t get.

What’s next for the Princess? Mmm, perhaps steeks, which have always seemed scary. We shall see.

What techniques have you made your bitch? And what mountains are you still waiting to, um, mount? Courage, fair subjects, and you shall be rewarded in spades.

So, this morning the Princess goes downstairs in her little cottage to find that there’s been…AN INTRUDER. The cat’s food has been scattered everywhere, and there are wee little dirty paw prints on the floor. At some point, the intruder jumped up on the counter and ate some dried fruit and nuts…which was right next to where my Ptarmigan was blocking. There was a pawprint on it, but luckily, the intruder didn’t steal this luscious neckwarmer, made out of Shibui’s gorgeous DK baby alpaca in Peony, and take off with it.

Obviously, security around the palace is going to be beefed up considerably. The Royal Spymaster, Frances the Cat, has suggested we duct tape the unused cat door closed.

All in all, it was a terrifying animal encounter that We happily slept through. And who knows if it was a raccoon? It could have been a jaguar, or perhaps a tasmanian devil, for all we know.

Stay safe out there folks, and remember, wear full safety gear when knitting in case some creature comes in and tries to attack you.

Ptarmigian blocking, an obvious lure for an animal attack

A tasmanian devil, which probably entered the Royal chambers last night