"Nice Knitwear!"

On Friday night, my dear boyfriend and I decided to go on a date that consisted of dinner at a pub and some skating at the public rink. (Yup, you heard me. We're still together despite the fact that I knit him a sweater. That dumb curse is nothing but a hoax).

The rink is next door to the high school that my baby brother went to, and while he is in Halifax to further that education of his, we thought that we would do a cheesy self portrait with my phone and text it to him. While I was hoping for a response that said 'WOW!!! That totally makes me homesick! Come and get me!', instead what I got back was a message that read 'Nice knitwear!'

Well...you know what?

He's right.

Knitwear is nice.

And I just wanted you guys to know that we do actually wear our handknits.



 I will not be held responsible for how he chooses to wear his hat

Pictured here...

On me.
Hat
Yarn- Two balls of Smart.
Needles- 4mm.
Pattern- From an amazing hat book by Sandenesgarn (pattern #11)

Cowl
Seriously? You don't know?

On him.
Hat
Yarn- Two balls of Zara.
Needles- 4mm.
Pattern- Pressed Rib Hat and Muffler by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.

What you can't see.
My new poncho that fits perfectly under my coat (which makes me love it even more)
My socks buried in my skates.
His socks bured in his skates.

So let's keep on keeping those loved ones warm people.

Especially if they actually wear the stuff we make.

My Peer Pressure Poncho

It's no secret that I'm an absolute sucker for knitting-peer-pressure. I see something I like that someone else has made, they merely suggest that I make one too, and I almost always secretly cast on in the quiet of my own home. (It happens more than you think... you just only ever see the projects that I actually finish).

This poncho, is one of those peer pressure kinda projects.

Churchmouse released their new line up of patterns a few months back and my head was just spinning. I was entirely unable to focus on just one (or even two, or THREE!) patterns that I was going to cast on. I wanted to go home with the binder full of patterns and cast on every single one in ONE NIGHT.

But that... would be really stupid (even I know better than that...).

However, after many conversations with friends, family and customers about how wonderful this poncho was, I just couldn't resist. I felt like I had to 'take one for the team'. I had to cast on, and cast off so that everyone else who was admiring it could decide for themselves if this was a project they wanted to tackle.

If you're on the fence, I hope that seeing it modelled by someone who isn't actually a model (if you thought I was a model, I'm flattered- you're obviously new to this blog...), and photographed by a photographer who isn't actually Jared Flood (sorry Heather) you will be able to make up your mind.

It's just so easy to be seduced by the styling of a pattern sometimes! (Hello, Rowan?)

Hopefully these photos will un-seduce you and help you decide with a clear head if this is something you actually want in your wardrobe.

As for my train of thought, it has gone something a little like this...

Did I ever think I wanted a poncho?

Heck no.

Am I ever glad that I have this one though?

Heck yes.

Even if I don't look exactly like the model on the pattern.

But I can always try.

Info you might want to know (I'm totally trying to peer pressure you here).

Pattern- Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Easy Folded Poncho (we have copies at the shop)
Yarn- 8 balls of Filatura Di Crosa Sportwool
Needle- 4mm 60cm Addi Lace (it's just what I had in my giant bag of knitting needles... and I absolutely enjoyed knitting with those lethal sharp tips!)

A brief lesson in tension- I'm a super tight knitter (or so I'm told), and I used almost eight balls of yarn to power through this. A dear customer however used only five. Granted, she didn't knit the cowl, but I assure you that there isn't three balls of yarn in that cozy little cowl neck.

I just... thought you'd be interested to know.

To all you tight knitters out there- always buy yourself an extra ball of yarn.

And to all of you who planted your amaryllis at Christmas time...

I hope it has finally popped open to say 'hello'.

On My Needles Today...

Was this sweater.
Out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in shade 6281.

And on the stove...

Was a pot of split pea soup.

You could say...

It was a very good day.

Down On Fraggel Rock

Because of course his sweater needs a lime green stripe...



I was just thinking the same thing about my current project yesterday.