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 =)

What are you doing this stat holiday weekend?

This is the winter in Toronto that I remember as a kid (without the January thaw). I'm waiting for the next big snowfall to come down, should be later on this evening.. so they say. When it comes down to it, I prefer the weather as it is rather than it being a sweltering 37 degrees Celsius.


We've embraced the winter and had taken skating lessons. I've finally learned how to stop on skates, and when I say stop, I don't mean slamming into the boards. Hopefully next winter, we're planning to take up skiing.

I'm still finding time going by very quickly lately. Ever since getting engaged, that's where time started to fly by. We got married in September 2007 and I thought time would start to free up and go back to the pace pre-engagement, but no. It has a lot to do with something I've been planning for a couple months now.. it's on the down low but it will all make sense in due time; about a month I say. But because of it, I haven't been knitting as much as I want to.

For the past month, I've been working on finishing another Danica scarf. Slowly but surely. This time around, I'm using Patons SWS in Charcoal. I think the last one I did knitted up quickly because of the colour changes, getting surprised with what colour it will change to next. Oh well, I'm down to the last ball hoping to be done this weekend.


But is this really considered a Danica? My opinion, no. There's no different coloured squares and it follows the simple entrelac pattern that's been done before.

I'm also planning on blocking my pieces to the Equestrian Blazer this long weekend.. hopefully. I do always tend to procrastinate with this part but I want to finish the scarf before I start. So close. I picked up some DMC floss for the seaming for fear I'd run out of yarn for the edging.


However, here's the real prize this weekend. This was my first attempt at making pizza. Turned out better than I thought it would.


I used the bread maker we picked up last weekend. Made two yummy loaves and planning on making another pizza tomorrow with the left over ingredients.

I'm going to get back to knitting now =)

It works!

I've been meaning to post this a while back but I was absorbed with trying to finish the Imogen sweater. I have a yarn winder at home but without a yarn swift, winding was a pain in the backside. I had three hanks of Dream in Color yarn to wind and figured, ok... it's time to get a yarn swift.

I didn't want to order it online, especially after I had so much trouble getting a blocking board, that took a month and a half to sort out shipping to me. I also didn't want to spend as much money on it so I toyed with the idea of making something myself. I found good tutorials on how to construct one with wood and all the rest. Even asked the hubby to help me with it. But then... I found the Crafting Jen blog post and thought, I could have my very own yarn swift that night made from Tinkertoy. I looked up toy shops in the Toronto area, one in particular came to mind, checked there site and low and behold.. they had them!

I popped in after work, spent about 30 bucks, got home and put it together. It was simple and it works. Granted, it's a bit wabble-y, but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.. I paid less than half the price of a new one, I can redesign and change sizes if you wish, and had no problems when it came down to winding.

equals

So nice, I'd like to knit it twice

My first Imogen sweater:

Pattern: Imogen sweater by Adrienne Thomas
Source: Perl Grey
Materials: Dream in Color Classy in In Vino Veritas
(less than 3.25 skeins)
Needles: 10 US/6mm Denise needles

This is, hands down, an awesome pattern. So awesome that I've bought more yarn to make another one. I'm looking to make it in Manos Del Uruguay in a teal colour. I'm still trying to get through making the Equestrian Blazer (started the left front today, with two more sleeves afterwards to go). I couldn't resist casting this one on. So I did and finished it in less than a week. The yarn was great to work with, nice and cushy. I definitely want to use it in future projects. The variegated colour worked nicely that there aren't any splotches of colour all over. It's distributed quite nicely.

I stuck to the pattern although I added some small changes. I added a selvedge on the bottom edge of the sweater. I decided to go with the invisible cast on instead of unraveling the cast on. It's the first time I've used this cast on and worked out great. No signs of uneven stitch tension. I also added two extra stitches when picking up the front stitches to hide the holes at the armpit. I nearly completed the sweater with three skeins but at the very end broke into the fourth skein to finish the collar edging.

The bottom edge kept curling so I ended up ironing the bottom half of the sweater. I dampened a piece of cloth and placed that over the knit. Worked out well, the sweater flattened to the perfect length. It was the first time I tried this technique. Normally hovering the iron above the knit worked for me but the sweater resisted.

The little ones count too

My instant gratification project:

Pattern: Butterfly Mobius by Clara Parkes
Source: Knitter's Book of Yarn
Materials: SRK Ovation in Camel (2 skeins)
Needles: 5 US/3.75mm

No mods to report, it was simple and straight forward. This one was finished before the holidays and took maybe a week and a half to complete. I was planning to take pics of it in a warmer LA but I hadn't worn it out. I definitely like how this finished off but I'm unsure if I'll actually wear it when the warmer weather comes to Toronto.


I think it's amazing, yet slightly crazy one week there's a big ol' pile of snow that makes me try to think back when it last snowed that much and now... all the snow is gone. In the past week, the temperature in celsius has gone up to 15 degrees and for the next week, the daily highs are lingering around the zero degree.

In preparation for the winter months, I've casted on a scarf for myself. I picked up two skeins of Manos Del Uruaguay in a sumptuous colourway called Stellar. I had planned to make the "My so called Scarf" but I felt it's been done so many times. One of the things I really like about knitting your own gear was avoiding the dread of seeing someone else wear the same exact thing you are. Granted, that's going to happen and really, who really cares... it's just less likely when it's something you've made yourself. For the most part, every FO is like a snowflake. The same generic pattern may be used being used but people knit differently, make different yarn choices, make modifications! Maybe I've put too much thought into it.

Anyhoo.. here's the startings of my scarf. I started looking at stitch guides to avoid working the My so called scarf and remembered this star stitch pattern I loved from an Urban Outfitters scarf that on their site is selling as a crocheted scarf. I wouldn't have paid the amount they were asking for it, especially since it was all *cough* acrylic but it still looks lovely. I added a two stitch gartered chain selvedge to clean up the shape.


I've also come to think there should be different types of WIPs on the go. The only other project I've been working on right now is the Equestrian Blazer but it doesn't travel well because of it's complexity. I like having a project with me where ever I am so the scarf was a good choice. I could pack in my knapsack or purse even and the pattern is easy enough to remember.

Onward home

Sitting in the airport lounge, wanting to get home already. This trip home was the first canceled flight I've had but luckily things are looking good to get home. Luckily, there's free wi-fi here so I can finally post these FOs.

Pattern: Saartje's booties
Source: Saartje's Knits blog
Materials: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Teddybear
Needles: Susan Bates 2.75mm
Made for: an expecting cousin

These were newborn size. I tried them on my nephew who's 7 months but they didn't fit. They were fun to make and absolutely adorable.

Pattern: Danica by Jesse Loesberg
Source: Knitty.com

Materials: Paton's SWS in Natural Russet (3 skeins)
Needles: Denise Needles US 8 (5mm)
Made for: Christmas present for cousin

This Danica scarf was a quick knit. I love the colours on this one and am considering making one for myself. The entrelac was quite tricky because at one point I didn't make sure there were 10 stitches on the needle for every square. I was able to go back a few blocks safely to fix the mistake. I think I'd like to make the "So-called Scarf" for myself next. It's going to be a couple of cold months in Toronto. It's warmer in Vegas and in LA and I don't think I'm prepared to feel the winter in a few hours.

Vacation was relaxing and was great to see family. Christmas lunch was delicious but I can't imagine anyone finishing that portion. (see below) Can't wait for the next one although I can't stand airports anymore.

Happy New Year!!!

Nearly there

TGIF for sure. So close to vacation time! I'm close to completing my previous list of things to make for Christmas.

I've finished knitting the pieces, I just have to finish up; weaving ends in/blocking/sewing buttons on. Close, but not enough to put that check mark on the list. I started knitting the Equestrian Blazer out of Interweave Knits yesterday. I finally got the yarn I ordered online although it didn't turn out as orange as I thought it would be. I still like it though and am happy with the progress I have on it so far. I've been looking to make this blazer for a long time now.


Went to another LYS last weekend, and although I really shouldn't have, I bought four skeins of Classy by Dream in Color. I couldn't resist! The owner was wearing the Imogen jacket and I wanted to make one of my very own. It'll be the next sweater I cast on after I complete this Equestrian blazer.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....