Honeymoon (Part Two) Hat

When we were initially planning our honeymoon, I was quite insistent that we take two weeks and go somewhere. It's been a few years since I have been away for more than a week, and I thought that we were both due for a real escape. A road trip seemed like a good idea. Two weeks, on the road, with no real plans. How blissful. Especially when you're married to a guy who loves to drive, and you don't get motion sickness while knitting in the car.

Win. Win.
Am I right?

Things of course, did not turn out this way. I can't really complain, because a week in St. Lucia certainly wasn't a hardship, but since I was feeling a touch bratty about not getting the two weeks I had begged and pleaded for, I was feeling rather sorry for myself.

Queue- our good friends whose family happen to have a condo on St. Pete's Beach, Florida.

So last week, that's where we went.

It's a trip that I like to think of as 'Honeymoon, Part II'.

Unlike most honeymoons however, we weren't flying solo. We were with a pretty amazing couple who we naturally had a ball with. The boys would talk motorcycles, and us girls would talk knitting, sewing, shopping and dance moves.

Good deal, right?

And through all of this, I found myself with a knitted toque.

Perfect for the +30c weather we enjoying while down there.

The curious thing about knitting in the hot, hot heat however? A usually tight knitter (such as myself) ends up with a nice and relaxed gauge. Perfect for the gorgeous Merino/Alpaca blend that I was working with. Had I thought to bring down more of that yarn with me, I would have gotten started on a MASSIVE scarf out of the stuff.

Absolutely.

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.

 

No word of a lie.

And I want it wrapped around and around and around my body, no matter what the temperature is outside.

My recommendation? Show a little self-love, book a ticket to FLA and cast on some of this yarn- for you.

You deserve it.

It's been a loooong winter.

 

Pattern- Watch Cap by Michele Rose Orne
Yarn- Swan's Island Pure Blends Worsted, 1 skein (we have  HUGE shipment of this stuff expected at the shop any day now!)
Needles- 4.5mm 40cm and 4.5mm DPN (which were splintered and I had to keep filing down with a nail file. BOO!)

So while I feel as though I cannot let the opportunity pass me by to say something along the lines of "So I guess this means that the honeymoon really IS over".

 

The fact of the matter is...

 I have a hunch that this couldn't be further from the truth.

♥

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Baskets

A while back, my mom planted the seed in my head that we needed to do a yellow themed display at the shop in order to reassure people that Spring was most definitely on the docket. While a late Spring may be good for sales in the yarn industry, anyone who doesn't dream of Spring in this country must have some sort of a screw loose. Even if their livelihood does depend on it.

So last weekend (that would be Easter weekend), with Spring on my mind, I wound up a skein of Butterfly Super 10 in the brightest yellow that we had, and I got hooking.

It seemed crazy to start making baskets on Easter weekend... but I never was one to plan too far in advance.

So by the end of the weekend, I had not one, not two, but THREE little baskets in a row.

 

I also had the feeling that I would never be able to fully uncurl my fingers out to high five anyone ever again.

As it turns out, crocheting that yarn on a 3mm hook will do that to a girl. 

Besides, no one wants a basket with 'drape'. Let's leave that to the cowls, shall we? We want a basket that has no problem standing at attention!

Sorry. Fake flowers are sort of against my religion... but this is what our late Spring has brought me to!

The end result however, was most definitely worth it.

One look at those baskets and OH yes, Spring has sprung.

As is often the case with me and crochet, I totally binged on these baskets. One just wasn't enough. I had to keep going and going and going... until I hit a wall. That's how I roll with this craft. I skip out on sleep so that I can finish up just one more inch, or one one more ball of yarn and then BOOF.

I'm over it.

I feel good though. Like my hunger has been satisfied.

That crocheting beast within has been tamed- for the time being. Time for her to kick it into hibernation mode for a while.

I assure you however, that when she's ready for another round, you will hear her roar- loud and clear.

Crocheter's Details

Pattern- Churchmouse Crocheted Baskets
Yarn- Butterfly Super 10. Two skeins of yellow did the whole set, and the contrast colours were just bits and pieces that I found throughout my home. (You heard me- throughout my home).
Hook- 3mm (the pattern calls for 3.5mm, but I found that to be too floppy for this yarn and my tension).

And should you need just one more indication that Spring has sprung, I urge you to look closely at this photo.

Yellow crocus at the shop

So leave that Wiarton Willie alone- will you???

He was just saying what he thought you all wanted to hear.

Murray Had A Little Lamb

Spring has sprung!

And lambing season has begun.

 

Here's a small clip for you to enjoy from our visit with the lambs last week.

Happy Friday!

♥

Lost In Translation

Recently, I have made a string of poorly chosen pattern purchases on Ravelry. I see something I like, get overly excited, type in my PayPal password (they make it WAY too easy to buy things online), and BOOF! There is a fresh new pattern waiting for me.

The trouble is however, I should really learn to read the fine print first. 

On one occasion, I paid for a pattern and as soon as it was ready I hit 'print', only to discover that the pattern was 52 pages long. 

Buh-bye ink cartridge.

Shortly after that incident, I bought another pattern, opened it up on my iPad (I had no more ink, so what other choice did I have???), only to discover that it was only available in French.

Buh-Bye $6.00.

My grade 9 French mark is a sure indication that since I can't even speak in simple past tense 'en Francais', I certainly can't knit in French either. And believe it or not... Google Translate isn't so sure what to do with knitting abbreviations.

Low and behold however... that pattern showed up in my inbox a few short weeks later- IN ENGLISH.

Hallejulah.

I felt as though Karma was coming for me- in a good way. I am doing my very best to support all of those independent online designers, and here I am with no ink left, and a pattern in another language.

So in celebration of my victory, I cast on pronto.

And this is what I ended up with.

Why hello little sailor collared/ kangaroo pocketed pullover for a two year old!

I love you.

I must confess that the pattern was still a little wacky, even in my native tongue... but that's OK. It wasn't anything that a decent knitter couldn't figure out.

Besides, who am I to judge? I can't read a pattern in French, why should I expect someone else to be able to translate it from French to English FOR PETE'S SAKE!

They done good.

I'm not entirely sure who will wear this little sweater someday. Maybe our beautiful nephew, maybe someone else...

But for the time being, it's going to hang up at Mary's Yarns as a daily reminder to me to always read the fine print first.

Baby Sweater Details

Pattern- Pull Gaspard by Christine Rouvillé in size 2
Yarn- Four balls of SMC Universa in shade 197, 45% acrylic, 55% merino- love this stuff
Needles- 4mm Addi Turbos (still the best needles EVER)

Breathe deep knitters.

Spring is just about to show her pretty face.

Je vous promets.

♥

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Wishing you all, all the luck in the world.

This cowl, this yarn- AS IF I even had to tell you...

I hope you all enjoy your green beer/cake/favorite t-shirt today!

xo

Sick, With A Dash Of Sparkle

Last week, I was sick. Like... I was DOWN. The edges of my nostrils were peeling from blowing it too much, my body was rolling through a 'hot, cold, hot' temperature cycle, and I couldn't taste my food for what felt like... an eternity. A real hardship when you love to eat as much as I do.

Admittedly, I'm a big baby when I'm sick. But aren't we all?

The nice thing about being a knitter however, is that even being sick has it perks. While I didn't leave my house for days and I was pretty much the grossest I have been in a loooong time, I got to knit.

I propped myself up on pillows, allowed myself some daytime Downton Abbey marathons, and I knit.

And occasionally I would think to myself, "What do non-knitters do when they get sick???"

Cool pants Lynn!

So while I was cooped up in the house in my ugly grey sweatpants, I cast on some yarn that conveniently arrived at the shop the morning I went down.

Sock yarn, with SPARKLES.

Socks = the perfect thing to knit while sick. Round and round and round...
Sparkles = a sure thing to cheer you up when you're feeling a little bit blue.

Plain socks means minimal thinking required. A real bonus when your brain is ensconced in... the common cold.
 

FACT- One side effect of cold medication is that your stripes will match

 So while being sick usually makes you feel like you are a burden to the world and all those that you love, at least I was able to proudly hold up a pair of sparkly, matching socks at the end of my few days in isolation and say "Hey guys... look at what I made!".

Although... I must admit that these socks were knit with none other than me in mind.

Because let's be real. When I'm sick... I become a rather self-centred whiner who just sing-songs 'Me, Me, Me' at every chance.

So yeah... the socks are for, ME. (Sniffle, sniffle).

The sparkle is there, but the sparkle is subtle

Yarn- Opal Hundertwasser SPARKLE!
Needles- 2.5mm Signature Stilettos DPNs
Pattern- The one in my rather foggy head

And finally- some tulips.

Not only were these a 'Get Well Soon' gift from my lovely sister... (which worked, BTW!)

They are also a wonderful reminder that Spring really isn't all that far away.

♥

Ten Years Ago Today...

Happy Birthday Mary's Yarns!

And many, many more...

xo

The Fiber Factor

I sort of really love this idea.



Too bad I don't have three designs ready to go.

And too bad I'm not American...

I'd be all over it if I did/was!

I will most certainly be tuning in however.

Keeping Those Hands Warm

In Canada, in February, warm knuckles are CRUCIAL. It seems as though no matter how much lotion you slather on your chilly paws, you just can't keep up with the dry, dry skin that ensues.

Pair some lotion with some fingerless gloves however? And you just might have a solution to your dry/cracked hands problem. (Gross- I know. But there are many gross facts of life out there. Blech!).

Nail Colour- RBG in shade 'Red'

I know that these gloves probably look familiar. And that's because... it wasn't too long ago that you saw another pair right on this here blog.

But after seeing my friend Tara churn through many-a-pair in this beautiful yarn (not only beautiful to look at, but also SO beautiful to knit with!), I couldn't contain myself.

I cast on, and before I knew it, a new pair of fingerless mitts had just fallen off of my needles.

Two by two ribbing and hand painted merino with 20% alpaca.

Win.

Win.

Win.

Pattern- Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Ferryboat Mitts
Yarn- Misti Alpaca Handpainted Worsted in the shade 'Flora'
Needles- 4mm DPN

So if you don't have a pair yet.

What are you waiting for?

Surely you don't want to end up like this guy.

Do you?

Happy Valentines Day To YOU

Today is the day- my favorite holiday of the entire year. Everything is red and pink, each bowl is filled with sugar and there is simply no excuse NOT to buy flowers. I just... love it. It's exactly what the world needs in the middle of an otherwise rather dreary month.

So to celebrate my favorite day, I thought that I would crank out (yet another) striped baby sweater.

Pink, red, stripes, and some little heart buttons.

Little heart buttons that found their way into my stocking this Christmas, courtesy of my sister Emma.

Precious- right?

But do not let this sudden onslaught of baby knitting allow you to think that perhaps I might be pregnant.

Because... you would be sorely disappointed.

Much like "Auntie Emma" was yesterday when she discovered that my text to her which included a photo of this sweater using her buttons was NOT in fact a baby announcement.

So, sorry folks.

No babies baking over here.

But that doesn't mean I can't knit for babies- does it?

Lovey-Dovey Sweater Facts
Pattern- Striped Baby Cardigan by Debbie Bliss,  from her book Baby Cashmerino 2
(this is the fourth time I have knit this, so I don't expect too much of an applause over it).
Yarn- Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2 balls each of shade 601 (baby pink) and shade 700 (ruby)
Size- 6-9 months
Needles- 2.75mm and 3.5mm (I always bump up my needles when I knit with this stuff)
Recipient- The invisible baby that lives at Mary's Yarns (meaning... it's a store sample)

That imaginary baby is going to be one festively dressed little creature today.

As for what I am wearing... that goes without saying.

Happy Valentines Day dear knitters.

May your day be nothing but 'sweet'.

♥

Honey Coloured Socks and a 'Honey'moon

So... yeah. It's true. I have been a little bit MIA as of late, but with good reason! And that reason?

This place.

We just got back from a week of being blissfully disconnected from all things 'inter-webs' while hanging out on the beautiful island of St. Lucia.

It was a week of no internet, but a week with no shortage of sun, sand and swimming.

 

I guess that trips like this one are often referred to as a 'honeymoon'.

And let me tell you... it certainly was pretty sweet.

  

So while the temperatures ran high, the knitting didn't stop. 

I believe that most non-knitters of the world would think that it might be somewhat disfunctional to go somewhere so beautiful -on a honeymoon no less!!!- only to knit your brains out.

But I know that you folks understand.

And so does my man.

That's why I like you all (my man included!) as much as I do.

So as we were taking off from gross, grey Toronto, I cast on these beautiful honey coloured socks, to commemorate our 'honey'moon.

And the sock knitting certainly didn't stop once we had landed. 

OH no!

I hauled those socks down to the beach with me everyday. Days in which I spent cycling through a pattern of 'knit, read, swim, nap, repeat'.

I have returned home a little bit more tanned, a little bit more rested and with a fresh new pair of socks to add to my sock drawer.

Which as it turns out, is perfect.

Because while you are someplace as beautiful and as warm as the tropics, it is often difficult to imagine that there might be snow waiting for you at home.

Snow-Toes

But it is certainly a good thing that I didn't let my doubts get the best of me.

Because it looks like... I'm going to need these.

A Honey-ed Heel

Knitterly Info for Pour Vous

Pattern- Tesserae Sock by Anne Hanson, kindly gifted to me through Ravelry FOREVER ago by my good buddy Tara
Yarn- Hazelknits Piquant Light in the colourway Bronze Age (purchased at the Sock Summit in 2011)
Needles- 2.75mm double pointed needles

So stay warm dear knitters.

Trips like these remind us all that summer really is just around the corner.

And that it's never too hot to knit.

♥

How About A Little 'Cheer Up'?

I have read that the third Monday of January is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. While it's now two days past that depressing date (thank heavens!), the weather this week has clearly proven to be anything but... cheerful.

Which works out well, because I have been saving something for you. Something cheerful. Something to brighten up even the greyest of days.

It's rainbow and it's crochet, all rolled into one.

 So if this doesn't make you smile, I'm afraid... that I can't help you.

I can't take credit for this. I am simply the VERY lucky recipient of it.

And on days like these, I can't tell you just how lucky I feel.

This was a wedding gift made by my dear buddy Tara. (You might recognize the name from this trip and that trip). And as it turns out, that Tara has got to be one of the most patient, and focused people I know.

The girl started 'granny-squaring' (or should I say 'granny hexgon-ing'?) as soon as we announced our engagement last May. And by mid-December, she had that blanket wrapped and ready to gift.

I have made a granny square blanket before, with bigger squares (which means less seaming), and not nearly as large in width. It took me the span of a few years and when I finally did finish with it, I refused to part with it. How she managed to package this up once the final end had been woven in is way beyond me.

Like... WAY beyond me.

In fact, she had this gifted to me within 24 hours of completion.

Had it been me, I would have kept it and gifted a gift card instead. A last minute decision perhaps, but that is exactly what I would have done- no doubt!

This speaks volumes of Tara's exceptionally giving character.

She's one in a million.

Yarn- A combination of
Sandesgarn Smart, Cascade 220 Superwash and Cascade 220

To read Tara's account of how this blanket (and the blanket hand-off!) all went down, be sure to check out her blog here. 

It's a good read.

I have already ready read the second installment of
The Hunger Games while all wrapped up in this beautiful work of art.

So thanks my friend! It's amazing! And it's days like this that we simply cannot thank you enough.
 

If opened up in it's entirety- this blanket is bigger than Ms. Tara herself!

Now go and do something entirely indulgent.
 

Because you entirely deserve it.


♥xo♥