November in Review

This past month has come and gone at a rapid-fast pace, and I felt that point form was the best way to catch up with my knitting blog buddies. I have for you both knitting, but mostly non-knitting news.

-I went to Florida and got a bit of a sunburn, making my skin peel. I also knit myself a sock.

-My precious parents celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss. A party was thrown, but more importanty- somebody amazing made an equally amazing cake (in honor of the amazing couple).

Anyone who knows my parents, knows how perfect this cake is.

-I became uber obsessed with hats. I made a couple, but have more than a couple on the needles currently. This will make for more blog content where you have to look at my face as I awkwardly wear the freshly knitted hat. Perhaps I should hold a casting call. Our model is getting a little stale.

-I turned 27. No big deal, but I did start using under eye cream. I'm told my time has come. Better watch it with those sun burns.

Thumbs up for a homemade-personalized-Grasshopper-Birthday-Pie!

- I rediscovered my lava lamp. Am I ever glad that I kept that thing in my parent's barn all those years! TOTALLY worth the storage space.

-I finished two pairs of socks in one week. This might be some sort of record for me and my DPNs.

-I discovered the 'Shellac' manicure- and I will never be the same.

 -I took someone's hand-knitted-sock virginity- and he will never be the same.

- I re-discovered my love for point form notes.

Because I'm 'Kool' Like That

Oh hello beautiful knitters/readers (I don't discriminate... if you can't knit, I suppose that you can still read a knitting blog). Here I am and believe it or not, I have knitting to show off to you. And much more to come! But before I get ahead of myself, I want to show off something recent.

It's... a hat.

And... it's a colour that I have never knit before.

Cream.

Yup.

Cream.

Looks to me as though my neighbour is clearly up to no good. 

I must admit one small thing though... and that is that this yarn comes in a limited range of colour. Cream was pretty much the most 'vivid' option available but it's just so darned beautiful to knit with... that I care not! While this yarn's rainbow doesn't extend much past neutrals, I simply tell myself that I'm knitting the shade of some precious New Zealand sheep out there and then suddenly all is well with the world.

Why New Zealand you ask? Because that's where this yarn reigns from. Where the sheep are cream, charcoal, and various shades of brown. (In my New Zealand anyway...)

Yarn? Harmony 10 ply by Naturally

                                         Needles? 4mm for the brim, and 5mm for the main
        Pattern? Koolhaas Hat from my boyfriend Jared Flood over at Brooklyn Tweed (jealous much?)

It's a Chrismas gift, but I can't decide quite yet for who. I have made a list of possible recipents, I'll just see who treats me like gold for the next month and who doesn't.

And just in case you were wondering where I have been since I took off that sugar bag, here's a hint.

Baby trees and lizards anyone?

Only Because You Asked

Some of you have been inquiring so I thought I would oblige.

Voila.

Instead of going as a baked good this year, I thought I'd go as an ingredient.

I am thinking next year... a stick of butter perhaps?

There Just Weren't Enough Ruffles in My Life

So I knit some more!

I must tell you that this scarf was a result of two things.

1- I cast on a hat out of Veronik Avery's new book Knitting 24/7 (the best knitting book I've gotten my dirty paws on in a long time) out of this yarn and it pooled... this isn't always a bad thing- in fact, I thought it was a good thing when it started to happen. But the deeper I got into the hat... the more I fell out of love with it.

So, I rrrrrriped it out.

And promptly cast on this lovely little ascot- because I felt this yarn just simply couldn't go un-knit.

Which leads me to # 2- When Estelle's fancy-fun novelty yarn Frill Seeker graced our shelves a couple of weeks ago, we couldn't keep it in stock. Our inventory is now rather depleted and the supplier is clean out. It occured to me that Mary's Yarns just couldn't handle not having an alternative ruffly-scarf option for even a moment.

Aaaannnnnd... queue the Churchmouse patterns.

I cast on the required 648 stiches and off I went. Nothing but a whole lotta knits, purls, increases and decreases. The most time consuming part was casting on (which I believe I spread out over two days) but after that, it was all fun and games (seriously).

Info you tend to want to know as follows-
Pattern- Churchmouse Classics 'Barb's Ruffled Scarf.
Yarn- 2 skeins of Shibui Staccato in shade Bohemian
Needles- 4mm and 3.5mm.

BOOM! There are your ruffles folks.

And so, I leave you with this sheep today.

Thank you for your wool.

Baaaaah.

Keep those Pumpkins Warm

This past weekend I was thankful for many things- safe cars, cupcakes with plastic rings nestled into a mound of phoney icing on top, health (which is likely to deteriorate at top speed if I continue to eat aforementioned things at the rate I do), family, friends, food, people that knit... and hats that looks like seasonal produce.

Above it all though, I am thankful that I have a mother who can knit such things.

Not only am I thankful for all of her mad knitting skills, but also that she has passed along (some of) her knitterly abilities to me. Oh, how thankful I am.

The details? (I am also thankful for details)

Yarn- Smart by Sandnesgarn.
Pattern- Patrick's Pumpkin Hat by Fiber Trends
Needles- I don't know (since I didn't make it- my mom did, in case I had you confused)... but I can make a sort-of-educated guess. 3.5mm-4mm double points? (If we're lucky, she'll let us know in the comments)

So, she might have been a little on the skimpy side when knitting for this beast, but I'm sure we can find a deserving little pumpkin for this hat. Especially since I happened to notice that we got our first decent frost when I walked up Yonge Street to pick up a carton of milk this morning.

We best be keeping those pumpkins warm.

They need to make it to Hallowe'en yet.

I'll Have Another Order of Purple Milk Please

Can you smell the crispness in the air? Do you know what that means? Do you know why Mother Nature is gently nudging us towards our jackets and hats once again?

She wants us to know THAT CHRISTMAS IS COMING HOLY SMOKES GET KNITTING!

So, I did. Er, I am.

I recently cast off a Christmas gift and am feeling pretty good about myself. Too bad I made a list this week of everyone I intend to knit for- I'm so hilarious sometimes. The list was absolutely laughable. I'll be lucky to get a pair of chunky socks done.

Well, at least I can feel good in knowing that there will be at least one lovingly handknit item under the tree from me. (For a certain VERY loved one who just purchased purple glasses- the colour was choice was very intentional).

What is it? I hear you ask.

Look familiar?

I bet it does!

Because you saw it here not so long ago! (I'm getting pretty boring and predictable, aren't I?)

Details please.

Pattern- Milkweed Shawl by Laura Chau
Yarn- Tosh Sock
Needles- 3.5 mm

Thank you.

Happy Fall.
Flowers for all to match the shawl.

(Did I just leave you with a rhyme there!?!?!? I DID!)

I KNEW I Chose this Polish for a Reason

A few days back as I was digging through my extensive nail polish collection to pick out my 'shade of the week' (don't laugh). I landed on this milk-chocolatey-rusty-cinnamon shade (how's that for a colour description?). After I had slapped some onto my nails I admired them (but only for a moment) until I realized "Gee Lynn... you really have kissed summer good-bye".

Where has all the hot pink and vivid read gone!?!?! I took myself by complete surprise. I felt like I didn't even know myself anymore.

That is until ... I walked into the shop and my mom asked me to close my eyes and hold out my hand. I did this with some hesitation (I always think that someone is going to put a mouse in my hand when that happens) but low and behold, there was no mouse. But a BISON-BAMBOO wrist warmer!

Holy heavens how wonderful!

If you recall... I am a total sucker for ensuring that nails match fingerless gloves. I knew there was a subconcious method to my milk-chocolatey-rusty-cinnamon madness.

The details? NO PROB!

Pattern? ACTUALLY! How about kit? Fibreisle's for "Zoe's Wrist Warmers" (we have them in the shop)

Needles? Whatever came in the kit! (Remember now, I didn't knit them) 2.25 perhaps?

Yarn? Again... came in the kit. BUT, it's Fibreisle's Bamboo-Bison blend in laceweight. So warm... and such pretty colours!

So I guess I didn't completely write-off summer afterall. I was just prepping for all the Fall accessories that are about to come my way.

Le Sigh...

Seriously Lynn???

I had a week off recently and thought that I'd be oh-so-clever and get cracking on some Christmas gifts. I raided my stash, pulled some fun sock yarn from the deep depths and got rolling.

Much to my amazement, a pair was completed.

Cute enough.

Right?

Look closer.

I panicked, concerned that my knitting had become so inconsistent I couldn't even get socks to match anymore. Had I knit one before I had completely wound down from work that it was that much tighter? One sock representing my state of mind at the beginning of holidays... and one at the end?

HAH! No. (This realization was a bigger relief than you know!) It was just me getting bored with this project and itching like mad to start something new. I ended the second sock an entire repeat before the other (making it three fat stripes shorter).

Aiaiai...I am not convinced that my holiday did what it was supposed to.

I think it just made me even more daft than I was going into it.

Peaches anyone?

Lions, and Garter and Lace- OH MY!

Well I'll be... Do I look overly pleased with myself or WHAT!?!?!? I mean really, it's just ridiculous! Not only is it a million degrees outside and I'm wearing long sleeves and a scarf/shawl, I am smiling so big it looks like my lips are going to disappear!

And why is that? You ask.



Because I have used up yarn that has been staring at me for over a year from my bookshelf, AND because I was able to use that yarn not only on garter stitch (I love me some decent garter!), but LACE also! I often worry that my brain is rotting because I knit so darned many plain-jane socks, that it feels MIGHTY good to have popped some lace off the needles. It is nothing epic mind you, but it feels rather good none the less.



Can't you tell?

You want the deets? I'll give you the deets.

Pattern- Milkweek by Laura Chau (available for purchase through her site)
Yarn- Cadenza by Estelle- 1 skein! Love that.

Needles- 3.5 mm, but I think I'd bump it up to a 3.75 next time around (I must have been stressed... SO TIGHT!)

Fun factor- It's fun. Believe me. It's fun. HELLO! It's garter stitch and LACE! Together at LAST!

And lastly, look at what a dear friend recently gifted to me!

May this act as a gentle reminder to me each and every day.

Summer Tiiiiiime...

And the living is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is... being crocheted!

Mandarin Petite cotton that is! Into a sweet little chevron patterned baby blanket.

And while that's all happening, the tomatoes are ripening.

And there are sweeeeeeeet blooms everywhere.

This sure beats working with that heavy mohair/wool blend yarn from last summer! Aiaiai... What exactly was I thinking???

In this hot, hot heat... I'll stick to the Mandarin, merci!

A Feast for the Eyes (and Soon the Belly too!)

How about a healthy helping of some Handmaiden Sea Silk...


Some Madelinetosh Sock...



New Noro Silk Garden colours...

And my first ever bitsy cucumber that's growing as fast as it can.

My life SO doesn't suck.

Cotton, Coral and SUMMER!

I have discovered that when new yarn starts rolling in to welcome a new season, I immediately cast something on. It's like I just black out and before I know it, I am 4" into something. I actually sometimes have to go back and remind myself exactly what pattern it was that seduced me into knitting it.

Back in April/May, this was the case with this lovely cotton coral vest.

A new yarn showed it's face called 'Replay' by Tahki Stacy Charles. It's a 100% recycled cotton (I am still sort of trying to figure out what means exactly since I don't throw my jeans in the recycling bin- do you?) and aran weight. It comes in fabulous colours that remind me of the shelf of very loved t-shirts in my closet. The book that accompanied the yarn was equally enticing and before I knew it... I had knit the body of this baby!

Sigh... when you finally come to terms with posting photos of yourself online, you have to be ok with the fact that not every single image will be FABulous. In this case, I ask you to please just revert your attention to the vest- not the face.

Now- as with most projects, I learned a very valuable lesson here. In this case it was read the pattern before you just charge into a project. If I had read through the pattern, I likely wouldn't have cast on. Why you ask? Because the neck line asks you to kindly pick up over 400 stitches in cotton yarn- not the worlds most forgiving fibre. (Did you feel me just throw up a little???)

Having said that... It was probably super good for me to have to do this and work outside of my comfort zone. Did I particularly enjoy that part of the vest? Heck no.

Especially when I realized I had made a massive mistake and had to rip it all out and pick up those stupid stitches all over again.

BUT- look at what a lovely vest I now have!!!

Feeling kinda groovy

I must say though that I am entirely tickled with the finished product. What the pattern lacked in laze-factor, it made up for in fit-factor. I love the fit! Now, enough time has passed since completion that I don't feel like I want to throw it into my recycling bin along with my jeans. I tend to have to let my projects marinade for a while after finishing them before I wear them (and in this case, blog about them).

I don't know why that is... it just is.

Want some details???

Well, twist my rubber arm!

Yarn- Tahki Stacy Charles 'Replay', 100% recycled cotton. 7 balls.

Pattern- Washington Square Vest

Needles- The pattern called for 5.5mm, but I used 5mm (because I guess I just felt like rebelling when I saw the number of stitches I was picking up).

Size- Medium. 37" finished bust. I went up a size than I normally would since I bumped down my needle size. Sometimes that's a scary thing to do, but it this case it worked out looooovely like. (I tell you, I am just SUCH a knitting risk taker!)

Summer is still young... cotton vests for everyone!


I hope you all have functioning air conditioners!

Socks Just Never Get Old

Honestly.

How is it that some socks just seem to fly right off the needles? Some fly, and then some seem to take what feels like YEARS to finish up. These ones were the flying kind. But why is that? Could it be because these socks had no recipient waiting impatiently 4 months after Christmas for me to graft the dang toes for them? (Little do they know that they're likely going to have to wait another 4 months at least!) Or is it because I used my Signature needles? (Those things are lethal- but FAST!) Could it simply be because I absolutely adore this yarn and even 10 years after discovering my first ball of self-striping yarn, I still marvel at the way the stripes work up?

I'm stumped.

But this game just never gets old.


It's smoking hot outside, and it's too hot to allow any sort of knitterly thing to drape over my lap. So socks it is!



Yarn? My favorite shade of Fabel- 911. This is the same colour I used many moons ago to crochet those wee baby mukluks! I thought it was about time I added this colour to my own sock wardrobe! Why do babies always get to have all the fun anyway?

Needles? 2.5 mm Signature needles I purchased last summer at the Sock Summit. MAN! Those things are SHARP- but oh-so-efficient!

Pattern? The one that I store in my head. Every sock knitter has one of those.

So, I hope you are keeping cool while hopefully knitting up a sock or two. I suppose that two is the sensible thing to do usually... Or so I'm told.

But, if knitting socks just doesn't seem to be helping you beat the heat, then eat some gelato.


Lemon and hazelnut please.

And thanks.

The Break-Up Blanket

Once upon a time, I broke with a dear boyfriend. It's ok though. These things happen and I'm over it now (although I appreciate the sympathy I just felt come my way from you).

I recall shouting out to a friend to do a wee demo for me on how granny squares were born. I figured a little round-and-round crocheting would do my body some good- and did it ever. She came to my rescue, and I crocheted my way through that broken heart.



Fast forward quite some time and I finally realize how littered my living room floor is with these granny squares. You know when something has been there for so long that you stop even noticing it's even there? Like... dirty laundry? Or a dead house plant? That happened with these squares.

Upon re-discovering these little morsels of crocheted goodness, I did a quick count and realized that I wasn't all that far off a decent sized afghan. So, I got back to it.

The squares I completed most recently were done at a slightly more relaxed tension as I wasn't nursing any broken hearts, but I'd say it all worked out in the end.

Wouldn't you?

It would seem that I am entering that phase in my life now where wedding invites are beginning to roll in more and more frequently. While I had considered packaging this up for a wedding gift, I can't imagine that a real friend would hand off a 'Break-Up-Blanket' as a wedding gift.

That's just cruel.

Right?

Soooo it's all mine.

And the yarny-good details??

Yarn? Cascade 220. 19 skeins total. 8 colours, 10 squares per colour. 2 skeins per 'set' of 10 squares (1 skein in the colour, 1 skein in navy border) plus that 1 extra skein of aqua I had to dip into for the double crocheted border. Ya follow?

The Hook? 4.5 mm

It's the cheapest therapy going- baby.

Not to mention, I'm cozier than I was before the break-up.

I'd say I came out on top.

Wouldn't you?

Happy beginning of Summer to you all!