Happy Hallowe'en!

Since I am pretty positive that one can never be too old for Hallowe'en costumes, I thought I'd share with you this years version.

(If you missed the past few years, just click here and here).

Time seemed to slip away on me this year and on Friday morning, I ran into Value Village to drop a bunch of stuff off. I then gave myself 10 minutes, and $20.00 to find a costume.

After immediately spotting an a-line skirt from Peach Berserk with 'kissy-lips' all over it  (that would have made 14 year old me ECSTATIC!), I left with $14.00 and 8 minutes to spare.

What you can't see is the little pink, red and white bunting hanging over my head

Oh, the things you can do with the boxes that your yarn is shipped in...

Wishing you all a Happy Hallowe'en!



Mohair/Silk (Burlap) Cowl

Last night I was sitting at my kitchen table, knitting away when my cousin/roomie asked me 'Lynn? What's the difference between burlap and knitting?' Since this wasn't an entirely odd question (as far as questions from him go), I took my time giving him an answer. He thanked me, shared his Kraft Dinner with me and carried on with his evening.

When he came home a little later in the night, I proudly modelled my brand new, hot-off-the-needles project (inspired by a customer who was at Show and Tell two weeks back).

The project? A mohair bias looped cowl.

His reaction? 'Lynn- That looks pretty itchy. Doesn't it feel sort of like you're wearing a strip of burlap around your neck?'

Boys...

Thanks heavens I don't allow other people's comments to affect my level enthusiasm for my latest project (remember this???) Especially since- I absolutely love this project.

So just to clear the air, I gotta tell you- this light and airy mohair/silk cowl does not in fact feel like burlap against my most sensitive skin- it feels more like little angels are kissing my neck.

HA! And the yarn used is called 'Angel'!

What the HECK are the odds?!?!?!?

What's more? You can wear this little number in a multitude of ways! (Does three ways count as a 'multitude?')

Heavenly.

As I mentioned above, this project was inspired by a customer who brought her mohair cowl to the shop's annual Show and Tell two weeks ago. I cast on a few days after I saw her version, and after running into her at an Indian Restaurant over the weekend (and gushing over how I loved it so much that I'm making my own...), I thought I'd be a big fat phoney if I didn't follow through and get 'er done.

(So is that the secret to finishing projects!?!?!?!)

Pattern? Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Mohair Bias Cowl (we've got copies at the shop!)
Yarn? Two balls of Debbie Bliss Angel in 'Chestnut'
Needles? 6.5 mm circular by Chiagoo

Stay warm folks.

And remember- leave the burlap to the roses this time of year.

Baby's Got A Brand New Blog

So, this is a picture of my dear sister and I in Florida last February. (It's nice to have a face to the name sometimes... you know?)

Oh, to be wearing a bathing suit again...

And I just thought I'd tell you guys that she has been bloggity-blog-blogging out in Kitchener over the past few weeks.

So, add it to your Google Reader, Faves list... whatever floats your boat.

Just thought I'd pass that news along.

Happy reading!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma!

Since one doesn't turn 90 everyday, I felt as though it was appropriate to wish my dear Grandma a very Happy 90th Birthday today in blog-land.

If it weren't for her... my mother wouldn't have likely knit (click here to read a summary of how Mother Mary learned to knit)...

And while it wasn't my mother who taught me, being surrounded by knitterly things growing up certainly planted the seed that grew that knitterly beast within.

Need photo evidence that our family's knitting history runs deep?

You got it.

Photo taken from a scrapbook that my Mom made me for my 21st birthday. Photo circa 1940-ish I would guess.

Happy Birthday to you Grandma.

This photo was taken last week as the birthday celebrations were just kicking off. Two generations of knitters (the third generation was snapping this pic).

Thanks for passing down those mad knitting skills.

We love you lots.

xo

ps- how fitting that today also happens to be 'I Love Yarn Day'... what a day to celebrate!

Fraternal Triplets

So, I've had this plan that I will knit a pair of socks each month from now until Christmas. This will ensure that there will be none of that panicked Christmas Eve grafting which has become a part of my Yuletide tradition. (This is one tradition that I will be happy to leave behind one of these years).

Everything was moving along fine and dandy until I cast on the second sock of a pair mid-September.

I finished the cuff and thought to myself 'Really!?!?? This matches???'

After consulting with many a knitter, it was established that no. This isn't a pair (in the traditional sense of the term).

My man friend (who already doesn't understand how I have the patience to knit socks seeing as I barely have the patience to wait for water to boil) said that he would happily wear them, even though they don't match.

But, I didn't cast these socks on with him in mind, and I have some Christmas gifts to knit already!

So, I finished the second... and then cast on a third.

There is a first for everything, and this is the first time that I have ever knit three socks to make a pair.

All I can imagine is that the sock-yarn-spinning-machine hiccuped, causing one ball to be vastly different from it's cousins.

I'm ok with it. While it's thrown me off schedule, it's not like I don't like knitting socks.

Besides, everyone is permitted to make mistakes every once in a while- even yarn spinning machines.

I have forgiven this yarn. So much so that I might have even cast on a turquoise pair for me...

Yarn? Sandnesgarn Strompegarn (I'm pretty sure that means 'sock yarn' in Norwegian) Fantasy
Needles? 2.5 mm double points
Pattern? It's still in my head... I should really get it out there and into the world someday.
Size? Mens 10

So, I suppose that it's time I think of a recipient with a need for three socks.

Or two people with the need for three socks?



As for that 'Sock Plunge' I commited to a while back... does this count as 1.5 pairs??? That would put me at 2.5/26.

Let me know.

In Which We Must Thank the Sheep

This past weekend was the much loved Markham Fair. I make a point of going each and every year with my buddy Amy. We always end up stuffing our faces with Tiny Tom's donuts while we moan and groan about how adorable barn yard animals are and oogle the lovely quilts and knitting. (A big 'congrats' to all of the knitting winners out there!)

It just so happens that every year we go, it's absolutely freezing outside. It always feels like the first official 'cold' of Fall arrives the moment we step onto the fairgrounds. Since I am getting wiser with age (ha!), I planned ahead this year and made sure to knit myself an ultra warm accessory.

Sorry dude... I've got your wool.    

I even made a point of posing with the producers of the fibre. (Thanks guys!) I would have given my left foot for one of their fleeces that night had I not taken matters into my own hands.

But either way, I owe them a big thank you.

                                        
Info on cowl? Well... I've knit this cowl before, and I promise you I'll knit it again! This baby whips up in about as much time as it takes to go grocery shopping. (Now what would you rather do???)

Pattern- My Kind of Town Cowl by Trish Woodsen
Yarn- Cascade Magnum- 1 skein
Needles- 12.75 mm (SEE! I wasn't kidding when I said it knit up at warp speed)

I suggest you make one for yourself for the next time Markham Fair rolls around- you've got plenty of time to make a few of them actually... Oh heck- enter one in the fair if you really want. Just be sure you have one to wear when you go collect your prize winnings.

Speaking of entering things into the fair... here is a sampling of my Uncle's winnings- first prize tomoatoes! (There was also first prize peppers, watermelons...the list goes on!)

Oh Markham Fair...

I love you.

Even though you're colder than winter camping in February.