If you know me IRL, then you know that if there's one thing I like about windows (the ONLY thing I like) it's MSPaint. I've decided that I'll start a regular feature on my blog where I share my MSPaint masterpieces.
Move over, Thermal! There's a new gal in town......
It's the little jacket from Drops design! This jacket needs a better name that simply '103-1'. The pattern has been translated so there were a couple of times when I had to really think about what it said, but overall this was an easy breezy knit which is destined to become a wardrobe staple.
This project was SO FAST and SO AWESOME! It clocks in at about 4 days - The yarn arrived on Wednesday & by Sunday I was seaming it all up.
I am SO INTO this thing - I want to take this jacket out for dinner & dancing & then back to an expensive hotel room for snuggling.
I used about 10 balls of Laines du Nord 'Softlight'. I don't have tons of experience with working in chunky wool, but this stuff is *super*! There's a bit of Nylon in it which makes it pretty strong - I seamed the whole thing with it and it didn't break once. And also, it is so.effing.soft.
I knit the largest size, which turned out great - it's slightly fitted at the top & then flares out with a bit of sass at the hem.
I took a million pictures of me wearing it - look! This is what it looks like when I smile wearing the jacket!
And that's me thinking "damn, this sweater is rad!"
And here's me being all "Why can't you be more like this sweater? I knit this in *FOUR DAYS* Awww, I can't stay mad at you baby..."
Phew! Courtney has received her package, so I can now blog about it!
A little while ago, I got a fabulous little ring in the mail from Courtney - she made it & sent it to me as a complete surprise & I was so very touched. I have been wearing the ring practically everyday since then, so I wanted to make her something that hopefully, she would love just as much as I love the ring.
I chose the 'Swallowtail Shawl' from Interweave Knits Fall 2006. I enjoyed making this so much the first time, and was so pleased with the final results, that I knew it'd be a great gift.
I can't remember when I started it exactly, but I think it took me about a month of casual knitting. I used Fleece Artist 'Suri Blue' in the 'Blackberry' colourway. This stuff is an absolute dream to work with. I think I'll need to make myself something out of it, since it was love at first stitch.
The only thing I did differently this time, was increase the number of repeats for the first chart to make it a bit bigger. I got these directions from pepperknit - I'm glad I did, too, since I think it turned out to be just the right size.
It was waiting for Courtney when she got home from holidays & she's reported to me that she loves it. And I loved making it, so we're all even.
I have so many great pictures to share from my awesome weekend at the electric eclectics festival, I'll be back soon to tell all y'all all abouts it.
A really super great day!
I wore a new skirt I made!
Pattern drafted by me, totally copied from a denim skirt I wear all. the. time. For those who are wondering, yes there is a waistband on this :) And the zipper is yellow! I was on warp speed & made this in about an hour & a half.
I got these totally adorable Keds for half price!
Gord phoned me at work to tell me he scored *TWELVE* pieces of Fiesta Ware at some crazy CBC prop sale. Just the boost my aspiring Fiesta Ware collection needed!
So far so good, right?
Yeah, well then it got even better. I got my invitation to Ravelry & so far I am really, really loving the site. It's so....cozy! And full of knitters! I can tell it's going to be a mega time-sucker-upper.
And then when I got home, there was this lovely postcard waiting for me. A friend I really should get in touch with wrote me to say they were thinking of me.
Lovely.
*SO* happy with this...
Gord's Saddle Shoulder sweater is finished! Honestly, this was one of the most enjoyable knits I've done in a while - and considering it's pure stockinette, that's saying something.
I started it the first week of May & bound off the neck stitches on Friday night. So about a month in the making.
I have to say that I was a little nervous when I started - there was measuring, and gauge swatches, and percentage systems! Math! But the absolutely perfect fit of this sweater has made me realize that that's exactly what I should be doing every time I start a sweater.
I know its been said before, but I can't not say it - Elizabeth Zimmerman is a mother freaking genius. The raglan & shoulder decreases blew my mind as I knit them! Amazing!
I already wrote about the contrast hem - here it is in action. mmmmm!
I used 12 balls of Elann's Peruvian Wool in 'Oxford Heather Grey' & 1 ball of Patons Classic merino in 'Too Teal' for the hem. The Peruvian wool was great - it's soft enough, the colour is really nice, the price is amazing & I love that they are Canadian. (In fact, I just placed an order for lots of baby cashmere for my next project...more about that later..)
It's actually Gord's Christmas present. I had knit him a different sweater but the fit was way off & not really his style. He was honest & told me that he wasn't too jazzed on it, but that he knew I had spent lots of time on it. I told him I wanted to make him a perfect sweater that he will love. We talked lots about patterns & colours & now we have this - a perfect sweater that he loves. And I love it too! I take it as a great nod to our relationship that we were able to avoid, nay, SMASH the Boyfriend Sweater curse! Gord was able to be honest with me about the original sweater - it takes a brave soul to tell a knitter that they will never wear a gift that has been made just for them. Knitters almost always have pointy sticks in their hands.
Boyfriend approved!
Effing yes guy! Check out my sweet new socks!
I love these so much that I am currently wearing them despite the very hot & muggy conditions. These are my first official tip-toe into the world of making sock patterns & I am pleased as spiked High School dance punch with them.
mmmmm I could just die from how good that heel looks.
The first sock was the test run, the second sock is a little different since I made some fit adjustments. This means that the socks are not exact twins, but I love them like a mother would love even slightly imperfect children.
But what kind of no good mother doesn't name her child? Me, that's who. I'll try to come up with a clever name while I knit the second pair (I gotta...so that I can perfect the pattern & share it with you!)
For those who wish to know, these socks were knit using Socks That Rock in the 'Harlotty' colourway. It's totally awesome!
I la-la-la-la-love my boy lots - so much that this is the fourth pair of socks I've knit for him!
The pattern is John's Anniversox knit with Lanett 100% Merino sock wool. This sock yarn is awesome - Super soft!
My camera has a hard time getting right in there to show details, but trust me when I say that I think this is the best heel I've ever turned. The picked up stitches along the heel flap are flawless. Not to toot my own horn or anything - really, it's Grumperina's horn I'm tooting since it's from her tips on 'picking up stitches the pretty way' that I've been able to reach this level of awesomeness.
Why do I love knitting for Gord so much?.....
Because he's even cuter than my parent's awesomely cute dog. And the only thing he knows how to play on the autoharp is 'Louie Louie'.
Some new little friends!
I was itching for an instant gratification project last night - this fit the bill perfectly! They're so cute it's killing me!
I used some scraps of worsted weight yarn, and some of the many wine corks we have in the kitchen - the pattern can be found here
I see many, many more of these in my future.
First, a finished pair of socks!
'Retro Rib Socks' from the Winter 2004 Interweave Knits
Socks that Rock in the 'cracked canyon' colour way
These took about a week and a half to finish. STR is some really great stuff, the colours are outstanding - I wore them all day & they are super cozy!
Second:
When I came home today there was a small package waiting for me! With curious and anxious hands I opened it up to find this!....
An awesome broach made of wool! I commented on how great I thought this was when I saw my friend Shannon's photo on flickr - and now it's mine! She sent it to me in the mail along with a really awesome vintage clothing label. AWESOME! I put it on right away! Thank You Shannon! I love it!
So it was already a super great day! And then my doorbell rang & at my door was the total angel of a cab driver who had come to return my wallet!!! **With everything in it!!**
Could. not. be. happier.
