Sha-Wing!

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..."

Secret Project, revealed!

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.

I love you, Elizabeth Zimmerman.

*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!

Jane Doe.

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!

bewitched.

Remember when I scored a giant cone of fingering weight wool last summer?

I knew it had to be a shawl or a stole or something, but seriously, a shawl? I've never been that kind of girl, so the thought of spending tons of time on something that for sure would be incredibly gratifying to knit & finish, wouldn't be put to much use once it was done wasn't all that appealing to me.

But last week I found myself in a very new to me place. A place with no projects on the go. Donald's socks have been axed - he'd like slippers instead (the socks were taking me *for.e.v.e.r.* something about using cotton to knit stuff for other people slows me down) Gord's anniversox were done & the next big project was supposed to be a sweater for him. We've finally narrowed down the pattern (Elizabeth Zimmerman's Seamless Hybrid - wooot!) but now there's the matter of picking out the yarn. I had a sock on the go - but it was mainly an 'at work' project.

I needed something....something a little challenging, using something from my stash. A buffer project that would last until Gord had made a colour/content decision for his sweater.

Yo guy, my bad - this was cast on last wednesday at about 9pm. I finished it on Monday night.



It's the Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits Fall 2006. I used size 4 circular Addi Turbos. This is a really easy to follow pattern. The hardest part is the nubbs - the stumpy ends of my needles could not get in there for the p5tog - I did some online searching & discovered that sl2, p3tog, psso would work just the same. This saved me lots of time & cut my swear words to almost nil.

I'd read it a million times - how blocking lace turns the work into a whole different thing - turns the caterpillar into a butterfly....but it took seeing it with my own eyes to fully understand. Before blocking, the top edge measured 42". Now it's 56". Lovely. I have the awesome tips on lace blocking from the Yarn Harlot to thank for how nicely this turned out.


It has one or two mistakes, but nothing I can't live with.

This used barely any of the wool from the cone - I could probably knit about 4 more of these things with what I have left over!

I really, really love it, and dare I say...I think it's converted me into being that kind of girl.

Anniversox.

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'.

korknisse!

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.

crazy great.

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.

Just give me a call when you land in Montreal...

Complete!


Yarn: Regia "Canadian Colours"(a dynamite yet sadly discontinued yarn series) in 'Montreal'

Pattern: The ever popular Jaywalker pattern by Grumperina


Cast on Thursday, Finished Monday. I love them!

Puppies, chocolate fountains & knitting toys!

For Christmas my wicked awesome parents got me a yarn swift from Knitting Notions but we had to wait for it to arrive. Well, I finally got my paws on it this weekend and I am in love! I knew I'd get it on Saturday so there were lots of preparations to be done!
On Friday after work I went to Lettuce Knit to get a ball winder & some skiens of yarn.

mmmmmmmmball winder!


I was going to only get one skien so that I could have the pleasure of winding it up with my swift & my winder - I have, after all, made a (very weak) promise to myself that I would get rid of most of what I already have before I brought new yarn home.

I knew I wanted Lorna's Laces since all the stuff I see knit with it looks amazing. I wanted sock yarn since I'm way into knitting socks for *me*. I thought that a darker yarn, more subdued would be good. A calmer pair of socks......

A pair of Black Watch socks!


These colours look super great & I cannot wait to find the perfect pattern to show them off!

So after I picked out this stuff I thought I was just about ready to get out of there before anything else caught my eye & then I saw it.... a bit of brown & seafoamy green sticking out from beneath all the Lorna's Laces. I starting pulling the hank out....sorbety orange??!! banana marshmallow yellow?? All together? All one? It was a skien of Socks that Rock. And it was mine with no questions asked. I have seen countless beautiful socks knit with this stuff & finally my ship had come in. Now I have the great pleasure of blog searching for the perfect STR pattern.

I practically ran home (swinging my Lettuce Knit bag happily by my side...they use clear bags which gives me a really disgusting show-offy thrill. I'm all "HEY! Look! All of my totally indulgent yarn purchases are right here in plain sight! Look at hoe colourful my life is! Booyah!") anyway, practically I ran home because I had to get the nursery sewing room ready!



Whoah! Christmas mess! And then some....

So I tidied everything up, organized my yarn box(es) & knitting basket & seperated all the acrylic I know I'll never use.

Then I tied up some loose ends. Well, I wove them in, actually.

I started knitting Ivy months ago. I had intended it to be my sister's birthday present but it wasn't ready in time (augh!). I had to make the arm holes bigger & seam it all & fix some bits that weren't sitting well with me. This took me a *long* time. A long, long time. But when it was finally finished, the relief I felt was amazing (a greedy relief...a 'good! now that that's done, I won't feel guilty about knitting for me!' relief) I just had to cross my fingers & hope it would actually fit her.

IT DOES!

I *LOVE* this sweater. I think it's my favourite completed sweater yet! It looks fantastic on her & I'm happy that I put in all that extra time with it. I'm even thinking of making one for me!

I used Nashua Creative Focus Worsted for this, in 'nickle'. I loved using this stuff. It's 75% wool & 25% alpaca making it super soft - I could have knit with it for forever. The yardage of this stuff is fantastic & it comes in a bunch of really awesome colours. Thumbs up!

As an aside, this picture was taken at Spencer's on the Lake this morning at brunch, which is a magical place with a chocolate fountain!


Anyway, okay, so...sweater gifted, brunch eaten, many mimosa's drankened & then back home to my parents where we watched PUPPY BOWL III (!!!!!!!!!!)




(That's all it was......puppies....for THREE HOURS! HEAVEN!)

Despite the frolicking puppies, I was itching to go home so I could play with my new swift! Basically when I got back home I threw my coat & bags on the floor & wound up my STR into a perfectly perfect tasty little yarn cake.

Could I get hot fudge sauce & walnuts on top of that.....because that's how delicious it looks to me. As delicious as a Sundae.

Holy Crap!

I finished these socks in record time & thank God I'm keeping them for me because these.are.awesome!


Pattern: Brenda's Socks
I made no alterations to the pattern, although I was tempted to change the toe around, but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.
Yarn: Colinette 'Jitterbug' in the 'fire' colourway
this yarn is smushy, soft, vibrant & warm! My feet were happy all day long, even during the wicked cold walk home.


I guess these went so fast (I cast on late Wednesday night & was finished both of them by Sunday night - and also during this span, I managed to finish 3/4 of a sweater, but that's another post...) because there was enough to keep me interested. Also, I used size 2 needles & the Jitterbug is a bit heavier than the Regia I've been using.

I wish my camera could get right in there & show you the detail. Luckily my Ott Lite shows the colour pretty much exactly.

Now it's time to focus on whittling down my stash - getting rid of the thorns in my side & making room for only more yummy yarn like this stuff here.

Now that's what I call serendipity!

Remeber the Jitterbug sock yarn I bought just 5 days ago? Well, it had been sitting on my bedside table Totally innocent. Minding its manners, waiting patiently for me to make it into something..."nonono" it said, "I'll be here when you finish knitting Donald's socks....don't mind me....lum de de dum..." Well, like Garfield with Lasagne, I couldn't resist. I cast on at about 10:30pm Wednesday night for Brenda's Socks. By Thursday night I was turning the heel!


Today I came in from a cold, cold walk home (a walk where I helped an old lady cross the road & ran after a girl who had dropped her TTC pass - too bad the little halo above my head didn't keep me warm) I sat down with my sticks & settled in to listen to the latest Cast On. Which is when I suddenly stopped what I was doing so that I could fully realize what I was doing.

I was knitting a sock pattern Brenda Dayne had written
I was listening to Brenda Dayne's podcast
The yarn I was using is from Wales - where Brenda Dayne lives.

So these socks are meant to be. I'm sure of it! Lets just hope I have enough yarn to finish sock #2, since my little yarn cake is starting to look a little small.


This sock is lovely - the yarn is squishy, the cable & eyelet pattern is incredibly addictive & I'm pretty sure that by next week I'll have a complete pair. If you decide to knit this up, keep in mind that when it comes to the heel flap, the instructions tell you to K2tog, K1, Sl1 - I'm pretty sure this k2tog is supposed to be a Sl1.

I will be your hero baby....

Hey doodes! Check out my first finished knit of the year!


Months & months ago the fantabulous Amber sent me some sock yarn & the Apartment Therapy book in exchange for some Eames stamps I had. In an effort to get my stash into check, I reached for this stuff to make socks....for *me*,


It's Sockatta! A really great feeling cotton/wool yarn. Amber had already used some of it to make a pair of socks, so I did them two at a time toe-up since I wasn't too sure of how long I could get away with making them. I still have lots of it left over though, so I'm a little tempted to go back & make them longer.

But not before I fix this!


My very tall & slender friend Donald was the unfortunate recipient of this sock for Christmas. Donald is allergic to wool so I knit these using cotton stuff. I never stopped to think that I'd need to adjust the pattern - I just cast on & set off. It was after I had turned the heel that I realised this sock was crazybig.


Upon seeing this sock, a co-worker said "That's a whale of a sock you got there!" yeah, a regular Shamu. So I've started to make them again. This time I'm knitting them two at a time, toe-up so that I could just increase until it looked right. (I guess I'm slowly learning the merits of the toe-up sock, but I wouldn't call myself a convert just yet.)


Ah! Much better! (when I unravelled the jabba-the-sock at the toe, I was able to fit the thing on my arm..my *matronly upper arms* This sock was heeee-oooooge!)

Last night was my pal Colleen's birthday keg'r. Of course I should have taken photos, but since the beer was going to be flowing freely, I left home with the key to my front door, $10 to put towards Keg Fees & that was it. So I don't have any pictures of the fun fun times but I do have a picture of the super cute earrings I made for Colleen:


These were super quick & fun to make -- for sure there will be more of these in my craft future.

And because I am lucky enough to have friends who enjoy getting together often to eat in each other's company, this morning we pushed through our hangovers to go to Jeff & Shelley's for a deeeeeeeeelicious breakfast!

Dave showed up in a hockey helmet!

Shelley making a delicious fruit salad!


Jeff brought home the bacon!

There was a frigg-load of food (baked beans, french toast, scrambled eggs, toast, fried potatoes, fruit salad! aie aie aie!) & soon I was on the road to recovery.



There may have been a teensy tiny little bit of karaoke.
I wanted to stay in their house for a whole week, but I had errands to do & I was probably smart to walk around a little after so much booze & food)

And then by accident this followed me home:

I had to go to Kensington Market to get a couple of things. None of the things on my list was sock yarn, but I mean, I was walking right past lettuce Knit anyway...why not stop in? And then I saw the colours of this Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in the 'fire' colourway. This stuff is so yummy, I can't wait to see how it knits up! I just have to find a good pattern for it - something cabley, I think.