Monday, September 27, 2010

Autumn at the PFRA

Don't you just love it? I do! I love the crispness of it, and I adore the colours!

We went for a walk at the PFRA yesterday. I love that place and am always astounded that no one uses it, or at least we never seem to see anyone. The nature trail is really pretty at this time of the year.






It was the nicest day. I think it was one of the warmest of the summer at 30C. I spent a good ten minutes standing with my face turned into the sun and soaking it in. I love it! I'm definitely a sun worshipper.

In knitting news, I got a whole sleeve finished on my Starsky Cardigan. I picked up the stitches last night for the second sleeve and knit to the elbow. I may be able to finish it tonight. I still need to knit a belt and loops and steam block the shoulders and collar. I can taste the end though! 





Saturday, September 25, 2010

Wonderland Wrist-ees

I've finished a whole bunch of knitting projects that I really want to share with you, but can't. This one was supposed to be one of them, but the Super Star found them hiding and scouped them up!


The pattern is called White Rabbit Wrist-ees by Tiny Owl Knits. Check out her blog, it's filled with all kinds of whimsy and fantasy.

I knit these with some alpaca I picked up at the Western Canadian Agribition 3 years ago. I got a ton of yardage and have never used any. It's very soft! I also used some purple mohair that has been in stash for an equal amount of time.

My only complaint with these little mittens is that they are super tight. If I were to make them again I'd cast on a few more stitches, even just 3. It would it give them a bit more wiggle room.

The Super Star is in love with purple and yellow right now but she says these are "really nice Mom."

Yellow. I may need to keep to my eyes open for some fabulous yellow yarn! A bright yellow pair of mittens would be just the thing when the drabness of winter threatens to take over. Hmmm...

Friday, September 24, 2010

Friday Favorites

A time to share my favorite thing or things from the week that just past



Don't you just love getting flowers? I'm so digging the Mums. And this next picture, the flower looks like a firework caught on a stem. So amazing!



Happy Friday!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Autumn Resolutions

I made a decision a long time ago to stop make New Years resolutions. I always seem to fail miserably at keeping them after the first few months. Just recently I thought that maybe I would try the resolution thing again but instead of a year, I would break it down into seasons. This way I can try it out and change it up again in 3 months.

Being September 20th and the Autumn Solstice (one of my favorites!) I think this is the perfect time to start a few resolutions. Just a few though!

Resolution number 1 = Finish the laundry room reno. I swear I started this last year! I need to finish stripping the paint on the baseboards and stain them walnut and then to paint the walls a rather cheerful yellow. I need to buy a new light fixture, some new light switches and some shelving for the linens.

If I work at it a little bit each week I can have the work part (stripping and painting) done by the Super Star's birthday in mid October.

Resolution number 2 = Knit from stash only. Now if I tried to stick to this for a whole year I'd loose my mind. I know I could knit from stash for the rest of my life and still have a terrible pile of yarn left. I will never be able to stop buying lovely yarn and I honestly don't think I should have to, but I can manage 3 months. 

As a part of this resolution I've decided to knit at least one skein of acrylic a month. There is a great charity thread over on the Itty Bitty Knits forum on Ravelry. The general gist is a person chooses to "host" a month and picks a charity to donate to (often times a local neonatal unit). People (like you and me) knit baby hats, booties, blankets, anything the host charity needs really, and sends it to the host to be donated. It really is a fabulous thing and so easy to do. The Itty Bitty Knits group is on year 3 of this and I love it. It's such a great way to use up leftover scraps of yarn that seem to pile up in a stash and help keep some little noggin warm in difficult times. Truly knitters are fantastic people!

I don't get around to donating every month but I should. A baby hat is a super fast project to whip up. Here are some of this months' contributions (I actually sent off 5 hats).



Happy Autumn Solstice to you!

And hey there Knittingknirvana! Congrats on another wonderful video podcast!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Ruh-Tard Sweater

Have you ever fell in love with a sweater and obsessed about making it? Going so far as to buy the pattern and find a suitable yarn all in the space of a few hours?

Well I did with this pattern, the Oatmeal Pullover by Jane Richmond. I love this sweater. I love how chunky it is. I love how warm it looks. I love the simple design. I love how fast a knit it should be (a weekend, yes really). I love how beautiful this girl is. I want to look as stunning in this sweater as she does.

So I went stash diving because I'm serious about trying to knit it down this season (another blog post). I found this green Lion Brand Thick and Quick in my stash that would work great. I thought I had 4 skeins but it's really hard to tell as it's all wound up into one humongous ball of yarn.

So on Thursday night I got my 9mm circular needles out and cast on. Loved the thick fabric and the ribbing at the neck. I knit and knit all night. Then at 2 am I ran out of yarn. Yup. At the waist. None left. I wanted to cry but I was too tired. So I went to bed and dreamed of my yarn magically multiplying in the night.

I frogged in the morning. I was so sad about that. I was looking forward to using this yarn, it's been in my stash for 4 years. I know now that I have 3 skeins not 4 and it isn't enough to make this sweater. Not at all. So I put it away and went searching in my stash for something else.

I found all this Cascade Eco Wool in a very light grey. I don't like the colour much which should have stopped me from picking it, but I sat and knit with it that morning. I couldn't get gauge with the 6.5mm or the 7.5mm and the next size I have in a circular is 9mm. That worked out to close enough. I knit and knit and knit and got to just about the same place as the night before. I tried it on and it fit fine, a bit big but that was okay, a layering piece. Perfect.

Not perfect. I didn't like it. The stitches looked loose and the fabric was loose. I like knitting a tighter gauge and this yarn did not like 3 sts an inch, it wanted to be tighter. I wanted it to be tighter. So I put it away for the rest of the night and knit some baby hats instead.

Saturday, I couldn't face frogging again, and I was almost at the end of the second skein. I started the sweater again on 7.5mm and knit the new sweater from the old.


I wasn't getting gauge with these needles, but I liked the look of the fabric and so I did some math and knit a few sizes larger. I knit and knit and knit. This time, I tried it on about an inch after I separated for the arms. It pulled funny at the armpit, the raglan increases looked funny and the colour was terrible.

3 times was enough for me.  I put it into hibernation status until I can pick up some yarn that I actually like.

I'd like to say I've learned something but I have no gems of wisdom. Instead of getting upset about knitting this sweater 3 times over in the space of 3 days (my hands are actually sore) I'll turn it around. I had planned on calling this sweater Autumn Solstice but now I'm dubbing it the Ruh-Tard Sweater (a funny quote from this movie).

sigh... o well.

Oh, Happy Birthday Chris! May this coming year bring you more joy than you ever dreamed possible. Love you!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friday Favorites

A time to share my favorite thing or things from the week that just past

No more girl hair

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

the never ending queue

Really. That's what I have. I also have a large stash. Too large. So what's a knitter to do? Get organized and get knitting that what! I have at least 9 projects (and the yarn) right now that I could cast on for. If I knit these 9 projects I'll destash over 3,300 yards! Wow!!!

Here are a few projects that I can share.

photo by Orlane  

This pattern is called the Textured Shawl by Orlane . I'm going to use up some Louisa Harding Mulberry that has been sitting in the basement for 2 years. It's a beautiful silver pure silk yarn and I have, get this, 816 yards of this stuff! I'm a little shocked that I've left it for so long but I was honestly a bit afraid of it.

my picture

There is this pattern called Deirdre by Linden Down, that I also like. I have a great skein of Malabrigo Sock in blues and browns that would work up great in this pattern. I have a bit of a crush on Malabrigo and shawls apparently. I keep thinking shawls are for little old ladies, and yet they are so fun to knit and I love the way they look tucked into a coat or tied around my neck. Besides, there are so many amazing sock yarns out there to knit with!

© Linden Heflin

How about this great cardi by Drops in Rowan Felted Tweed. I have 4 skeins in a chocolate that have been sitting in the basement for far too long that would work great with this pattern. I have never knit a Drops pattern. They have lots of great designs, all are free and lots of people have said good thing about their yarn (something else I'd like to try).

© Drops Design

© knitonthenet 

And then there is this great scarf by Sasha Kagan. I really like the simple lace pattern and the texture of the stockinette and garter stitch triangles. It's a very wide scarf that would certainly be a warm addition to my wardrobe. I was thinking of using up a cream acrylic blend that I have. I have maybe 3 skeins of of over 400 yards each.

The best thing about these patterns is that they're free and the yarn is already in my stash (or basement) which is such a bonus. Now if only I could knit all day...

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Bella Mittens

So the Super Star asked me today if I would make her a pair of mittens inspired by the Twilight movie. There is a great free pattern on Raverly called appropriately, Bella's Mittens, which I've made for my coworker JoAnn, and also myself. They are super cute, and knit up quite fast in a bulky weight yarn.


She wanted purple mittens so we went to the city and paid both our local yarn stores a visit. We found some great Cascade 220 on for $7.99 at Hip 2 Knit. I made a pair of sage green Bella Mittens holding Cascade 220 doubled and it worked perfectly (the above pair were done in Cascade Ecological Wool, which is a bulky weight). So that would make for a inexpensive pair of mittens, I'd only have to buy 2 skeins. Unfortunately we couldn't find a purple that was perfect. I liked the Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky and the Super Star found a good purple but I wasn't too thrilled with the price tag especially as I'd have to buy to 2 skeins.

I could have spent some money there for sure though. They recently started carrying Berroco Blackstone Tweed, and I've been wanting to try it! I have a pattern in mind and in my queue called Napoleon. But I didn't buy any. Oh I wanted to though!

picture by berroco

So then we went to the Golden Willow. I found so many good things. So many tempting things! The Super Star found her purple yarn, a Diamond Luxury Yarn, called Baby Alpaca Sport which amusingly is not a sport weight at all. It's really bulky, and soft, and squishy and all kinds of wonderful. Expensive too, but I was tired and hungry at that point and would have bought more if I could have found what I was looking for. It's really hard to find charcoal anything in worsted weight right now. Like impossible. I found a skein here or there but I'm looking for 1300 yards  and so far that seems to be totally out of my reach.


photo © 2010 Splityarn

I saw a lovely cardigan on Ravelry the other week that is on my must knit with 6 months list. It's called Dark and Stormy and I think it's lovely. I'm really drawn to the charcoal grey and even a heathered dark grey would have worked just fine for me. But it wasn't to be I guess.

Never fear though, I did find something for me! I bought 7 skeins of Shepherd's Own 100% All Natural Undyed Wool in a rich chocolate brown. It isn't a merino that's for sure but as a outerwear piece like a cardigan, I think it will be great. I have a few things in my queue that might work well with this yarn like:

photo by cecilyam

This one called Idlewood by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. She has lots of really great patterns that I find so inspiring not only to make but to wear too. Love them.

photo by chicknits

This cardigan is called the Mondo Cable Cardi by Bonne Marie Burns. She also designs really classic pieces that would work for the office or play.

photo © madelinetosh

And then this one, called Tea Leaves Cardigan by Melissa LaBarre. I think I may hold out for some actual Madelinetosh yarn. I have a feeling this one may be worth it.

So there you have a rather rambling look at the yarn I acquired today and the worsted weight sweaters I'd like to knit some time in the coming year and even a yarn or two as well.

I'll sign off today with a picture of my new yarn swift. My friend Sheryl and her husband Rick made yarn swifts to combat the boredom of a rainy harvest where the combines can't combine due to the wet. Well what are they to do? Start a business making these, that's what! I'm so enamoured with this! Here is a link to the directions to make your own swift...


Thanks Sheryl and Rick!!!


Friday, September 10, 2010

Friday Favorites

A time to share my favorite thing or things from the week that just past

mister man's ice cream face!




And I just have to share this new knittting video cast. It's created and hosted by my co-mod on the Ravelry group Itty Bitty Knits, Suzanne, or better known to us as knittingknirvana. She is totally delightful so check it out!


Happy weekend!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

ewww... Gross!




It has been raining here for weeks now. There is so much moisture that weird things are starting to grow.

I found this bad boy growing amoung the rocks that line my new flower bed under our spruce trees. The fungus (my theory and I'm sticking to it) has a hollow center, a really amazing lace like body and a sticky grey/brown substance coating the tip.

Um, ya... Gross!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tuesday Night Knits

For a knitting blog, I haven't been posting much about my knitting! I have been knitting though, lots! I just can't share much of it yet.

Here is something I can share. I knit a pair of fingerless mitts on the weekend. JoAnn gave me some great yarn as a gift when she went to New Zealand last winter called Naturally Karamea. This particular yarn is DK weight and is made of 75% Merino, 15% Alpaca, and 10% Possum. I really get a kick out of the possum bit. I wonder how they managed to shear a possum and spin up his hair? That would make a great Far Side comic for sure!

The pattern is called Susie's Reading Mitts and can be found for free on Ravelry. There are almost 2000 projects listed so it's a very popular pattern. I can see why too. It's simple to knit, fast, cheap (it only took one ball of yarn) and very cute. A perfect gift for a teacher or a friend or a coworker.

But these are for me!



So I basically followed the pattern as written except for a few mods:

* I cast on fewer stitches to make for a snugger fit, for me that was 36 stitches.

* I hemmed the false picot edge as I knit instead of seaming afterwards. So for the bottom hem, I had done a cable cast on and when I folded the turning row over I knit together the stitch on the needle with the corresponding bar from the cast on edge, making for a quick hem as I knit.

* I did the same for the top hem except I knit the stitch from the needle together with a bar from the last purl round and cast off at the same time. 

* I knit 14 rounds from the end of the lace pattern to the beginning of the thumb gusset.

* and I knit 3 rounds on the thumb before starting the purl rounds

Totally cute, totally warm and something I'll be making again really soon. I still have one more ball of this yarn so who knows, maybe I'll have to make a matching hat?

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Long Weekend Apple Fest!

Happy Long Weekend! I love long weekends, especially this one, kids are back to school on Tuesday and the apples at the farm are ready!






We spent the better part of yesterday afternoon stripping the trees of apples. The Super Star and Mister Man were great helpers and B climbed a rather unstable ladder to get the nicest ones from the top of the tree.


Those lovely Holly Hocks I blogged about on the last visit to the farm are just about finished blooming now. So sad to see summer slipping away but at the same time I got some handfuls of seeds to plant at our house in the spring. They are just so pretty!

B laughed at me because I spent ages taking pictures of this guy...


They sound so great, crickets. Usually they like to hide but at the farm they're everywhere, and they're big, and they jump. Pretty cool if you're a peanut or if you chase them about with a camera, but not so much if one crawls over your toe when you aren't looking.

The Super Star wanted me take a picture of this potato bug. They're kind of cool, when they're on someone else's potatoes.


When we got home I went to work washing and trimming the apples. I boiled them with a bit of water and then strained the mush to get the nicest coloured apple juice. Thick, slightly pink stuff it was too. Then this morning bright and early I got my Gran's canner out and all the stuff I need to make apple jelly. All those apples we picked yesterday, turned into all these jars of apple jelly today...


I'll start the crab apples, tomorrow...

Friday, September 3, 2010

Friday Favorites

A time to share my favorite thing or things from the week that just past




Have a fantastic weekend!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wednesday Evenings

I thought I'd add a few more pictures from our weekend camping at Crooked Lake.








Happy Wednesday!

Little Sheep Virtues

Happy Friday! I'm pretty excited to be sharing this cross stitch project with you all. Pattern: Little Sheep Virtues 1-12 by Litt...