You Know What's A Good Feeling?

Grafting the toe of a sock that has been sitting next to your knitting chair since late November....

I finished the knitting part of this project. I even finished (in it's entirety) the first sock. The second one just desperately needed a good ol' toe graft.

Yarn- Regia by Erika Knight in shade Mind Julep

Needles- 2.5 mm

So yesterday, I managed to find a moment is my ram-packed schedule (pfft) and I got around to it.

And thank heavens too! Because it looks like I might need them for a liiiiitle while longer. Especially if I continue to hang out in places like this (much like I did last Sunday).



And you know what else gives me a good feeling?

Pink roses on an orange table cloth.

Dreams Can Come True

What I want to know is- where was I when this storm hit?



I'd better go check my rain barrel.

Just Push Through the Pain, Baby

I woke up this morning with my forearms feeling terribly stiff.

I find myself struggling, trying to decide whether it was the multiple sets of burpees I did at my Monday evening 'boot camp', or if these sore arms are because I have been hammering through this lovely striped project on 3.25mm needles faster than the speed of sound. (I might have even decided to knit instead of shower yesterday... that's how much I love this project).

Oh, pfft. Who am I kidding? Nuts to healthy living.

Pass the bonbons! I have some 3.25mms waiting for me!

You can be sure that next Monday evening I will most definitely be passing up the burpees for more stripes.

Bulbs anyone?



Little Gold Riding Hood

One fine day back in February, I spontaneously cast on this lovely little hood. (It was one of those 2:30 pm urges at the shop to start something new that I just couldn't fight).

I finished the knitting of the hood in record time. Liiiike... pretty much by the time I went to bed.

BFFL

But then it lay on my living room floor up until this past Monday (thank heavens I live with the type of person who likely wouldn't even notice if I brought home a flock of sheep). After having little success with sewing up my green sweater, this golden hood caught my eye. So I picked up all those stitches and got 'er done.

I'd say it's the perfect little number for when you don't want to flatten your hair (although I must confess to not having much hair these days-CHOP!), don't want to deal with a giant scarf choking you (although admittedly, that's never been a problem for me) or just want... a hoodie without a body (this isn't the kind of hoodie you can wear without a bra however).

Well, if you didn't think you needed a hood before- you will now!

Project info for my pretties.
Pattern- Mondo Cabled Hood by Bonne Marie Burns over at Chic Knits (we have patterns for sale at the shop if interested)
Yarn- 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers
Needles- 5mm for the hood, 4 mm for the ribbing
Pompoms- I learned my lesson last time. Thank you Clover for making this bitsy 'machine'.

And just because I've had this insanely gorgeous Stargazer Lily next to my bed for the past few days now... I just had to share it with someone I love.

YOU!

(I so wish my blog was scratch and sniff.)

Staying Out of Trouble While Staying Warm

Just like the title of this post says- I'm staying out of trouble while staying warm (it's not short weather just yet people...)

I have been busying myself with lots of knits and purls. I promised to show you some knitting. I just thank the heavens above that I didn't promise finished projects. Because I got NOTHING.

Nothing but some brightly coloured new Noro Silk Garden Lite that is almost the front of a sweater. (I apparently knit the colour pink at warp speed).

Noro Silk Garden Lite, Shade 2038

And there has been some bright green to celebrate the first few hours of Spring. Speaking of this green sweater, remember when my knitting attacked? Well I fought back, and I almost have a sweater to brag about.

Which will be brag-worthy not because of it's quality workmanship (OH no...), but because it's DONE.

And my garden? I may have told some little white lies last we spoke.

This is more like it...

No Knitting Here Because...

I have been really busy in my garden.

I'm pretty happy with how my tulips are looking. They frame my hedge just so beautifully.

This bed of bulbs is almost to my liking- could have been a little more densely populated if you ask me, but the smell is so outstanding that I think I can find it in my heart to forgive. (Better luck next year bulbs).

And this year I also decided to cover my retaining wall out of kalanchoe. I mean... why not? It's been done before, hasn't it?

More knitting to show off in the coming days- I promise. I just wanted to assure you all that I haven't just been lazing around, I have simply been 'keeping my knees dirty'.

For those of you looking for a little inspiration of the gardening type, this is the week to head down HERE.

Spring is almost here my pretties. Almost here... So get out in that garden of yours (and cast on some cotton while you're at it).

There's nothing quite like a stylish gardener... (or knitter!)

'Knitting Group Makes Shocking Discovery'

Knitting isn't all we do!



We also eat cereal.

If I Could Knit This Fast...

I might actually have some knitting to share.



Just sayin'.

A Bit 'O Baby To Lift Those Spirits

Is all of this disgusting brown snow getting you down?

I hear you people.

Maybe this will help.

Ladybugs on a baby sweater?

Oh, yes please!

Yarn- Sirdar Tiny Tots

Pattern- Sirdar pattern #388

Knitter- Ben's dear friend Janice- thumbs up!

But if you're one of those heartless people out there who thinks that baby sweaters are stupid.

Have some left-over Vday candy.

That should do the trick.

Can you see the spoon? Yup. I eat the stuff like cereal.

Then you can join me as I nurse the worst sugar hang-over in LIFE.
(Serves you right for thinking baby sweaters are stupid).

Oh Valentine's....

For Those of You Who Like Your Small Needles...

This is for you.



By the time you've knit a few of these, winter will be over.

So, get knitting!

A Cabled Helmet- A Wardrobe Essential, Of Course!

If you live in this part of the world, you will recall the disasterous snow storm that hit us last Wednesday, February 2nd (yup, Groundhog Day). Schools were shut down, buses were cancelled and many people worked from home. While it's rather difficult to work from home when you work in retail (if you have any suggestions, I'm open), I still managed to swing a day at home (working with one's mother is truly not as bad as it sounds).

As I was 'working from home' and keeping track of all those various groundhogs and their shadows (Spring is coming people! Relax.), I happened to cast on this warm hat.

And by the end of the day, I had the large bulk of it done. (I also had a pesky twitch in my left eye settle in which I am still trying to get rid of).

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Lynn, you really should have used a lighter colour so that we can see the cables better". Yeah. I'm picking up what you're laying down- but when you're snowed in, you knit with what you've got on hand. Right?

This hat sort of makes me look like I could win a battle horseback- doesn't it?

Aaaaaand I happened to have three balls of Naturally's Aran Tweed in my house, originally intended for another snowy day stocking stitch beret.

I have doubts that that beret will ever come to be.

Head butt!

Yarn? Naturally's Aran Tweed in shade 85, 3 balls

Pattern? Deborah Newton's cabled hat from the cover of the latest Vogue Knitting Winter 2011

Needles- 5 mm

Love Factor- Big time

Now, in a perfect world I would have put a loooovely pompom on the top of this hat just as I would a cherry on a cake.

But check out my terribly pathetic attempt.

It was left for the birds.

And at $10.00/ball, I sure wasn't going to risk wasting even more yarn than I already did on this stupid thing.

Lesson learned- never try to make a pompom from wrapping yarn around a book of matches. Invest in a Clover pompom maker.

Dear knitters, I hope you also have a big hat/helmet to keep you warm.

Because baby, it's cold out there.

Fake Knitting Isn't As Bad As It Sounds

I must start this by saying that BOO! My camera sucks garbage.

Then I must tell you (before you get too excited) that I cannot take credit for the knitting I am about to share with you (nor can anyone at Mary's for that matter).

BUT- I just had to show and tell a little something something.

First off- cute buttons. Right? I know. I love them.

Next up- cute sweater. Right? Yeah. I know that too. (See how fun it is to be cocky about other people's knitting?)

And lastly- HELLO ADORABLE FAKE KNIT PANTS!

Too cute for words.

My sister was doing a grocery shop at Loblaws when she happened upon the Joe Fresh aisle and scored a pair of these for a whopping $9.00. Sadly they weren't her size, but they were the inspiration behind this whole little get-up.

Look real close at how amazingly even those stitches are...

Details I want to share with you.

Knitter- My brother's friend in Ridgetown, Ontario, Janice.

Yarn- Duett by Sandnesgarn in shade 3381.

Pattern- A sweet little Sandnesgarn pattern leaflet (the number I forget...)

Does anyone else feel the excitment for Valentine's Day growing like I do?

It must be the heart motif in those fake knit pants...

A Giant Ball of Yarn?

Rolling through San Francisco?



Yes please!

Because Amy is 'Kool' Like That

Remember this? I knit a hat, I loved every stitch, but my head is too big. (As is every head in my family).

So, I decided it had to be sent to a well loved individual.

Meet Amy. A fabulous nurse, and a stellar friend. I met this woman when we were about 8 years old at camp, and our paths just kept crossing after that.

This dear girl has recently embarked on an already impressive knitting career of her own, so I felt that it was appropriate that she have a hand knit hat of her own. You know... it's a kind of 'evangelism' amongst knitters.

Stranger- "Ooooooh. I love your hat. Where did you get it?"
Person wearing handknit hat- "Thaaaaanks. I made it/someone made it for me."

Now if that won't get the world knitting- what will?

For those that missed the previous post about this creation, here are the details.

Pattern- Koolhaas by Jared Flood
Yarn- Naturally Harmony 10 ply
Needles- 4mm (brim) and 5mm (crown) 50 cm circulars

Oh, and in case you were wondering.

Yes. We were doing a photo shoot in the Sears parking lot.

Who Said Wreaths Are Just for Christmas Anyway?

My mom has an Aunt named Helen who lives in North Bay and knits bitsy sweaters by the dozen. Not for babies, not even really for dolls. Just... because she wants to. And why not? When you've raised five kids who all managed to grow up into respectable adults, you can pretty much do whatever you want. Right?

Her daughter (my mom's cousin and my namesake), started to get her creative thought juices flowing when she realized just how many of them there actually were piling up in her mother's condo.

Well those thought juices were sweet because dear Cousin Lynn came up with a brilliant way to put some of those bitsy sweaters to good use.

One might want to make note that Cousin Lynn is actually the Queen of all things home decor.

And the best part? She surprised us by popping it in the mail for us! Well, actually- for my mom (since it was sent to her house, and not the shop), but I am going to take part ownership anyway. Joint custody perhaps?

 
And the cutest thing about this creation? Cousin Lynn designated a sweater to each one of my family members.
 
See the tags?

 

Funny... my 'wreath sweater' is in exactly the colour scheme I have on today. 

Hello french knots, blanket stitched cuffs and buttoned collars! I'm in loooooove with those little details.

And the yarn? Bits of sock yarn. Aunt Helen won't dip into a new ball of yarn for these creations, she'll just use up odds and ends. (If you have any scraps kicking around, we'll gladly send it up to North Bay for you and be sure they get put to good use).

And if you should happen to want to go on a bitsy-sweater-binge, I don't have this particular pattern (I don't even think that Aunt Helen does- she's just pretty clever), but I do have this to offer.

Feel free to embellish as you choose.

And remember all those pretty flowers that I finished my posts with last summer?

Well, this is what they looked like yesterday.

Stay warm dear knitters.

I would hate for this to happen to you.

When Knitting Attacks

I have been listening to The Knitmore Girls regularly for quite some time now. In this delightful podcast, there is a segment titled 'When Knitting Attacks'.

I must admit to not only enjoying this segment, but actually ADORING it. Not so much becuase I take pleasure in their knitting catastrophes, but because it makes me feel sooooo much better about my own.

Which brings me to this sweater pictured below.

We recieved six boxes of Berroco yarns over at the shop about two weeks ago. As always, I snagged a bag of something I loved (in this case is was Berroco Glint) and instead of returning the bag unused a few days later (which would mean that I hadn't necessarily fallen out of love with the yarn, simply talked some sense into myself), I cast on this sweater in green.

I ploughed through the back in only a number of days and enjoyed every stitch. I decided to take some liberties with the pattern and make some changes to the shaping.

Silly me...

I cast off last night only to discover that I have the back of a sweater that not only covers my back, but wraps around my front as well. (No, I will not post pictures. It makes me too depressed). Maybe I should cut armholes in the sides and make a cardigan? I'm at a loss. Actually... I'm not really. I know exactly what I need to do.

Sigh...

Fortuntely for me, I love the yarn enough that I am going to cast on the front and learn from my mistakes. Then return to the back afterwards. I think it just needs to take a time out for a bit while I deal with it's better half.

And so, I share with you pictures that make the yarn and the pattern pretty, only so that I can come back to this post and remember what I fell in love with in the first place.

Because if I don't do that... this girl will never have a green sparkly sweater. 

Heaven forbid!

Even Tea Gets Cold

I have been knitting a lot lately. And it feels goooooood. Finishing up gifts (the boyfriend scarf just needs to be blocked), starting Spring (GASP!) sweaters for me and whipping through samples for the shop (sorta, kinda... don't get too excited to see them the next time you're visiting me there though. They might disappoint).

What popped off the needles most recently? you ask.

A tea cozy. Because at this time of year, we're not the only ones who need a little extra warmth.

I must confess that I am a little embarassed about who this is for, and when it was actually supposed to be given to them. Brace yourself, because if you thought that not having a Christmas gift done by this point in the year was bad... how about this for tardy knitting?

My dear friend Liz and her man Daryl got married on OCTOBER 2nd!!! That was... over 3 months ago! Christmas was only 3 weeks ago! (Doesn't it seem like forever ago though???)

As of October 2nd, I had the teapot, I had something to tuck into the teapot (I will be sure to leave a little note so that it doesn't get soaked in 100 degree water), and I had the body of this tea cozy made.

But for some reason... it took me 3 months to knit two i-cords.

Aiaiai... I tell myself that at least by this point, they have hopefully had a chance to find spots in their apartment to house all of their other gifts. Besides... I was waiting until tea drinking weather was in full swing.
Or at least, tea cozy weather was in full swing.

Besides, aren't you technically allowed one full year to give the happy couple their gift according to wedding etiquette? (Much like they are allowed one full year to write their thank-yous?)

I was just giving them a chance to get ahead on their thank you note writing.

The pattern? Kuryon Cozy by Emma Crew from knitty.com
The yarn? Noro Kureyon- 2 balls
The needles? 4.5 mm double points and straights
The teapot? William Ashley Gourmet Shop. They have loads of super colours and it set me back only about $25.00.

Speaking of gift-giving. Remember these? Well the recipient also bloggity-blog-blogs.

My knitting is travelling all over cyberland these days it would seem.

Check it.

Operation: Cheer The Place Up

So apparently yesterday was supposed to be the most depressing day of the year- the third Monday in January.



Maybe this will help you beat those winter blues.

A Trip to The Bermuda Triangle Via Denmark

Remember how I said that I was knitting to my work-out tunes and watching long movies just to get through those projects around Christmas time? Well this project my dear knitterly people, is what I was casting off as I was watching the final credits roll of The Great Escape.

This project I absolutely HAD to finish no matter what. Why? Because it was for my Mom, and I have given that poor woman more half-finished projects than I can count. I wanted to at least once in my life give her something that wasn't still on the needles. I am sure she is finding it rather tiresome that every holiday she gets just one sock, half of a scarf, or a promisary note wrapped up for her with my name on it. There was no question that I absolutely had to finish this.

So, I did.

Wearing scarves runs in my family.

What is it? The Bermuda Shawl by Ilga Leja
What did I knit it with? Kauni Effektgarn that I picked up on a family trip to Denmark 2 years ago.
What needles? Now you're asking me too many questions.
The model? My lovely cousin Nora who looks stellar in this. My mom was being camera shy- but I'll let her get away with it this time. She had just finished cooking a meal for 28 people. (And no, it wasn't Christmas. It was January 2nd. Who wants to cook for that many people on January 2nd???)

And the tag? It's hard to see, but is says 'Made With Love'. Cheesy? Maybe.

But true? Absolutely.

As for the boyfriend... his gift is still on the needles.

I'll have it done in time for next Christmas.

Perhaps.

By Golly, She Likes It!

It's over. My tree is away, my presents have been presented and I was spoiled completely rotten myself. It's sort of a depressing feeling- isn't it?

I had a wonderful holiday (as I hope that you did too) although I didn't get through as much knitting as I had hoped (isn't that always the way?).

BUT- I have some posts for you that are mostly photos of gifts given.

And to top it all off??? You must recognize this project- and maybe even this person? Depends how long I've known you.

Here you have it.

My sister.

Emma.

Stunning Emma... 

Who actually seems to love the cowl. (Her giant fake grin might not that express that, but the fact that this cowl stayed looped around her neck the entire holiday does).

Thaaaat's better. 

I know I've told you once, but there is nothing wrong with telling you again.

Patterns- Welted Cowl by John Brinegar, Vogue Knitting Holiday 2010
Yarn- Harmony 10 ply by Naturally
Needles- 5 mm needles Chiaogoo Red

Even the cat begged to be enveloped in this cowl. (I swear!)

This colour was just perfect for Harvey to not let him give it a try.



So the moral of the story here is that sometimes, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Too bad I'm usually just such a know it all.