September shawls and January hoodie

I've been a bad blogger. Then again, I haven't done as much knitting as I would have wanted to. Maybe one of the pics below will "show" why.

I'm starting to get into knitting shawls, or more so shoulderettes. It's a nice accessory to use for the fall season and I'm looking forward to knitting more.

Pattern: Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman
Source: Knitty
Materials: Malabrigo Lace in Apple Green
Needles: 4 US / 3.5 mm

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A Clark
Source: Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Materials: Classic Elite Silky Lace Alpaca
Needles: 4 US / 3.5 mm

If you didn't notice, the first picture showed another WIP. I'm around 7 months pregnant at the moment. I'm very excited and looking forward to making more kiddie knits.

The other thing I haven't blogged about was my pattern in Knitscene Fall 2009. It's my first published pattern for Interweave.

Pattern: Twickenham Hoodie by Susan Power
Source: Knitscene Fall 2009
Materials: Berroco Peruvia in Abusar
Needles: 10 US / 6 mm and 10.5 US / 6.5 mm

Oh L'illo

Ain't he a cutie?

Kudos to anyone who tries to take pictures babies/mini-tots. He was a bit drooly which required some wardrobe changes and a hairdryer. After a while, I had my sister with tissues in hand to catch anything before it fell. It was tough but I managed to come out with some charmers.

Pattern: L'illo by Susan Power
Source: Knitty Fall 08
Materials: Rowan Cotton Glace (4 skeins)

I've definitely been bit by the designing bug. I've got a few designs/concepts that I want to create, just need the time to do it all. It does have it's downside that I don't have much to show on my blog. Designs have to be kept on the down low until it gets published, whether it be by wonderful knitting magazines to self publishing. I do try to keep other WIPs with me, the Noro striped scarf goes with me whereever I go (that allows me to take knitting with me).

I want to get into spinning my own yarn (non-knitters tend to laugh at me when I mention this, thinking I'm too knitting obsessed) and into sewing, although it requires a big purchase of a sewing machine that I'm not quite ready to make. I need a better camera for taking better indoor pictures and possibly a dress form first.

Feeling giddy over Mosey

I'm uber excited over the new Knitty coming out today that I'm gonna chase that feeling for the next little while. So here it is, wee toes and all:

Pattern: Mosey by Susan Power
Source: Knitty
Materials: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Natural Mix
Needles: 7 US/ 4.5 mm Denise needles

These are the other two pics that didn't make the final cut. I was lucky to have my cousin take these pictures for me. (thanks Steph!) I was outside in the front yard trying to take the pics myself but they didn't turn out nice *at all*. I capitalized on the fact that I was out west for Christmas vacation. It would have been worse if I had tried to talk outdoor pics in Toronto with all this snow that's been coming down. I picked up the plaid sneakers in Vegas (I love plaid as you might have guessed from the banner) which matched the legwarmers quite nicely.

The main reason I picked Natural mix as a colour for Mosey was that I thought it would make for better pictures in seeing the detail rather than going with something dark. I really lucked out with all the sunlight in LA. The temperature was pretty close to what it would be spring time in Toronto. I nearly didn't take the pictures there... the photo shoot happened 30 minutes before leaving for the airport. The colour also made it easier to match it with an outfit in my wardrobe. At the mo, I'm really digging deep orange colours, which is the reason I chose to use the colour Rust for my Equestrian Blazer. That's pretty close to being complete although I haven't touched it at all. It's still waiting to be blocked along with the star stitch scarf. I still need to take pictures of the Gretel beret I made for a friend, but that's all to come =)

The little things

It's Christmas time so I've got little projects on the go. I'd love to start a sweater project but I need to finish off these three things first:

1) the Danica scarf in a not surprising choice of Paton's SWS. It's a gift that's nearly completed. The only thing left to do is to get it blocked and wrapped up.

2) I haven't casted on as of yet but I'm planning on making two sets of Saartje's booties. Not sure why I've been procrastinating with these but I think I'll get them started this weekend. Well.. I *have* to get them started this weekend.

3) The Butterfly Mobius from the Knitter's Book of Yarn (recommended). This one's for me, something that'll give me instant gratification although I'm itching to start a sweater project. Which project? Haven't decided but a couple options were the Patti cardi from Rowan Studio 1 or the Equestrian Blazer from IK. It'll happen... only a matter of time. I've never worked with this weight of yarn before but I'm quite pleased so far.