Knit Project: Lace! Feather and Fan Short Scarf

So here is a lace pattern that I wanted to try. It's called the Feather and Fan Short Scarf by Kelly Faller. It's a simple pattern but so pretty and elegant.

I'm using Sweet Georgia Yarn's Spun Silk Lace in the gorgeous "Goldmine" colourway.

I've never really worked with lace-weight yarn before. It's a bit finicky but it's knitting up beautifully so far... And sooo very silky soft...

Wish me luck! ^.^

*fingers crossed*

Knit Design Project: Inara Cowl... DONE!

So it's finally done! *phew*

I think my Inara Cowl that I designed turned out pretty good. :) It's warm and cozy but light and airy so its great for the transitioning weather between winter and spring. Plus it gets breezy here on the island so it keeps the chill off quite nicely.

The only complaint I have about making this cowl was the yarn. The Patons Lace that I used was crazy to work with. No matter how carefully and slowly I pulled from the ball it would get snagged and cause a bunch of problems. I guess that's due to the mohair cling to itself. Plus I counted at least four yarn barfs that slowed things down a lot. If I absolutely HAVE to use this yarn again I will definitely draw the yarn from the outside.

But all in all it was a wonderful little project. It makes a nice snood too, doesn't it? :)

Knitting: Sadly...

I know that this may seem a bit sudden... 
But sadly, I may have to take a break from knitting. It's supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable but lately I'm finding it to be neither. It's a bit of a time suck and a money suck. Neither of which my family can spare. So it's just bringing on a bunch of stress that I just don't need. So I will probably finish the projects I've started and then move on to other things...

Thank you knitting... Maybe we'll see you again.

Knitting: New Issue of Knit.Wear for Spring 2013

I cannot wait until the spring 2013 issue of Knit.Wear magazine comes out. I am so excited! 

Check out all its beautiful projects. 

Specifically, I've got my eye on the Cable and Pleat Tunic, the Brickwork Cardigan and the Godet Skirt but they all look so lovely that everything else is a wonderful little bonus :) 

Knitting: Yay! New Books!!!

So my order from amazon.ca arrived today... SQUEEE!

I got Knits Men Want and Knit Notes. 

Knit Notes is a notebook/design journal to help with designing your own knitting patterns. There's lots of room to jot down ideas and inspirations. There are places to attach yarn samples, swatches & pictures of the finished projects... as well as graph paper pages to sketch out your designs. I think I will have fun filling this book up with my ideas :)

Knits Men Want was a book I borrowed from the library and immediately fell in love with it... So naturally... I had to have it! :D It was the book that my husband found the pattern for his first project in. It has some great patterns for men in it. It's a little ambitious for me right now since there are more sweater patterns in it than anything else (since I'm kinda new to making sweaters) but I find most of them are classic styles that men (at least the men in MY life) would actually like... AND actually wear. So it's definitely something for me to work towards. Yay!

Family: Sun!

The boy and I had an "ok" start this morning... Long story short we ended up settling our differences by having some quiet knitting time together... He was curious about knits & purls (or as he calls them: "Vs" & "bumps" ^.^) So we started him a pattern of 5 knits & 5 purls and he's recognizing what they look like as he's knitting them up. When he sees the Vs he knits... and when he sees the bumps he purls. It was so exciting to see the little lightbulb go off and his eyes just popped with the realization...  Then our delicate Mother/Son balance was restored :)

But then out came the sunshine! Woohoo! So we decided to get some fresh air. Today is the first time we've played outside this year. It was a bit chilly but we warmed things up by attempting a walk up the street but about half way up the street I remembered that a package was being delivered today and I REALLY wanted to be home to receive it. Sooo to make up for it we sprinted back just laughing and giggling all the way home... I never thought racing my son could be this fun! When we got home he was so wired that I had to quickly find the ball so he could start kicking it around. He's such an outside kid. That's his father in him... Sadly, not so much his mother (lousy allergies... and... and bugs.) :D lol!

Family: My Husband's First Knitting Project!

My husband is incredible. ^.^ He learned to knit just this past February. As soon as he got the hang of it he started finding it more and more gratifying. I kept all the little swatches he had made and each one got better. His tension became more relaxed and consistant. I was in awe of how quickly he was progressing. Then he was up for a challenge... A first project.

So I found this book in the library called Knits Men Want by Bruce Weinstein (that I have since ordered on amazon and am now waiting patiently for it's arrival ^.^...) and in this book my husband decided on his first project... The "Reversible Cable Scarf" and as you can see... He's doing a pretty awesome job so far.

The book is fun, witty and it has some great knitting patterns (my husband and I looked through it together and with the exception of one or two items, there wasn't anything in the book he wouldn't wear. woot!) But the really great thing about this book is that not only does it give advice on what men like (and don't like) in clothing or accessories, but it gives you the reasons why... And you know what? All the explanations made perfect sense... And THAT is what I absolutely love about this book.