WOOT It's 2014! Wait... WHAT?!?!

where did the time go? it's been 2014 for almost a month?!

oops! ack!

as you can guess i've been knitting up a storm since my last post sooo...

quick 2013 wrap up / catch up to 2014...  annnnnd... GO!

• i tried to design a neckwarmer - i wanted to try something knew so i cast on a bunch of stitches, took my favourite rib pattern and started knitting in-the-round... i thought it was looking pretty good until i realized (after i was done...doh!) that i was following a "knit-flat" pattern and knitting in-the-round without modifying it for circular knitting. i really love how it ended up but it was not what i was expecting. so i call it "My Beautiful Mistake" neckwarmer ;)

• i finished my Elegant Travels Fingerless Mitts - And I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! They're so pretty.

Elegant Travels Mitts

• i finished my first cable project... Rainbow Twist by Thao Nguyen - this is one of my favourite neckwarmers. the yarn i used was not as thick as the pattern wanted but it came out perfect for me. it's basically like wearing a cozy thick turtleneck. i had never tried cables before and i probably should have started with something a little less chunky, but i'm so happy with how it turned out!

Rainbow Twist

• something for the family gift exchange - i was told that the gift had to be under $10 and gender neutral. so i made this. no pattern just 2 chunky yarns held together and knit in a 1x1 rib. i can post it now because Christmas is over and hopefully it found a good home :)

Gift Exchange Neckwarmer

• *sigh* Christmas REALLY took it's toll on our family - the plan was to spend Christmas up-island. and it was a pretty exciting plan... except that our family was not well. you know how when you're sick... you stay home. we were away from home and it was just not as pleasant as it could have been. there was stress all around especially with my little boy. he was not himself at all. it will probably go down in history as the most memorable holiday we've ever had. but it's also totally blurred. i can't remember a whole lot... oh wait! there was a surprise wedding... but for the most part i can only remember what i was feeling... *sigh*

• i FINALLY knit up an Arbutus cowl - Jane Richmond's designs make the most wonderful knits! i have been itching to try and knit up the Arbutus since her book (ISLAND) came out last year but i was nervous about all the complexity of the pattern. what are"short rows?" erm..."wrap & turn?" so i put it aside for a while. then just after Christmas i realized i wasn't knitting anything *GASP* :D i saw on instagram that a couple of people i was following were having a "jane-along" (a knit-along using patterns designed by Jane Richmond) so i decided that it was the perfect time to start the Arbutus. it was an open group so i joined... and guess what! here it is!

Arbutus 

• crochet (or knit) mood blanket 2014 - i saw on instagram an idea that a crocheter had started and it boomed in popularity over instagram and facebook. it's quite simple. you can make one square a day for 365 days or one square a week for 52 weeks. it started out awesome! the first couple of weeks were so exciting... i seamed them together and saw that it was looking not too bad for a strip of knit squares :) then i started thinking about other projects and well... i'm kinda falling behind now... but i know i'll pick it up again... why? because i am tenacious when it comes to my knitting... some might even say i'm TOO tenacious! :D

Colours for my Knit Mood Blanket 2014

• i'm designing something new - bu-u-ut that is for another time! ~.^

there! all caught up! woot!

Finished Projects for This Week!

1. Christmas Decorating? DONE!

I love seeing the house done up at Christmas... *sigh*

2. Marian Cowl by Jane Richmond? DONE!

I really enjoyed knitting this up. It is so warm and cozy. 

And because it calls for super thick yarn... it knit up in no time.

 I may have to knit up a couple more in different colours.

Love Love Love!

3. A Cowl for Mark

 When I started, I was  knitting up a hat. 

But when Mark took a look at it he thought it was a cowl. 

Which gave me the idea to turn it into a men's cowl.

I just started knitting it up a few hours ago... 

 Now... DONE! :D 

(Mark wouldn't model it for me... *pout*)

I'd say that's enough for this week. 

Time to rest up tomorrow so I can get ready

 to tackle the projects for NEXT week!

(which may or may not include the baking of some goodies)

^.^

Knitting: Moving on to... The Marian Cowl ^.^

In light of yesterday's weather development I decided that it was high time that I make the Marian cowl by JaneRichmond that I've been itching to make since last spring... I bought some Lion Brand: Wool Ease, Thick and Quick yarn in Charcoal, brought out my 12.75mm 24in circular needles and got ready to go.

I wanted to try out a few rows. So I started it late last night to see how comfortable it would be for my hands to handle knitting. I stopped after a few rows to take a few pics but kept going. I got so into it I forgot to stop. It's knitting up so fast and easy. I could have stayed up and finished it but my body was screaming for sleep so I got about 3/4 through it and put it down. Now I'm ready to finish it up!

But first... To Christmas-ize the house a bit!

Stay tuned!

^.^

Hey There! Long Time No See!

Hello all! Long time no see! :)

I took the hiatus from knitting for what seemed like an eternity and did other things with my time...
Such as:

• Seeing my little boy fall absolutely in love with Kindergarten!
• Getting the opportunity to work on my voice over work. 
• Watching my darling husband take on the challenge of a new job... as well as biking and swimming three times a week...
• Working at honing my beginner sewing skills because... well... I NEED to craft! :)

I remember looking in the closet in the spare bedroom last week and happened to stumble upon my fabric stash. I remembered that I wanted to try a cowl pattern  I found on line. It didn't quite work out the way I liked so I started playing with the fabric a bit, found what worked and then got totally hooked. I sewed together some cowls out of my a few different types of fabrics: fleece, flannel, some coordinating "fat quarters" and some funky fabric called "missoni." I totally got addicted to making them... so er... now I've got a TON! A few went to my sister in-law's craft booth at the Christmas craft fair last weekend. And the others are just waiting around for Christmas... ~.^

Here's a few styles I tried with different fabrics...

top left: Three coordinating fat quarters
top right: Missoni fabric
bottom left: solid fleece and brushed cotton in plaid print
bottom right: Three coordinating fat quarters and solid flannel

But now...

I'm sooo super happy to be knitting again... However, I have learned my lesson and I'm taking it slowly and carefully this time! I decided to start with a project just for me...

The cooler weather is taking it's toll on my hands so I've started a fingerless mitten pattern by Jane Richmond Designs called Rathtrevor from her Island collection.

Here's the first one so far. Please pardon the double pointed needles. I'm just getting the hang of using them and wanted to see how the wrist fit.  :D


Wish me luck!

Knit Project: *wince* Ouch! That Hurt... :(

"Sniff!" - pencil sketch by Jenn 

So i was looking around the house for a particular set of knitting needles and remembered that i had left them on my half-finished beaded mesh cowl that i was knitting a few months ago. it was a new design of mine and was hoping to get it done by fall but then i gimped up my wrists and arms with my extreme knitting marathon-ing. so i went to the doctor and she told me that i carpal tunnel. so she told me that i had to stop knitting... so i did.

but  after a few months of not knitting and resting up as much as possible, i decided to start up again slowly and pace myself. when i opened the project bag where the cowl was, i saw that the wooden tip had broken off of the cable connector and almost half  of the 218 stitches had slipped off the cable. all i could do was wince and then utter a heavy sigh. there was no way i could salvage the project. so i began to unravel the cowl. i wound it back onto the ball of yarn and let beads fall off the project as i unraveled it. it was frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time... but definitely a learning experience.

i was really excited about this project but i guess i just have to be a bit more careful.

oh well... next time.

*extremely heavy sigh*

Crafting: Something Different...

So I went the doctor yesterday and she told me that while I try to heal my poor right arm... *sigh* I am not allowed to knit. Boo... :( But those of you who know me... You know that I can't NOT be crafting something. But what can I do? Hmmm...

Interestingly enough... About a week ago my husband and I were trying to organize the office/craft room when we happened to discover the crazy amount of fabric that I own and it gave me the idea to start sewing again. So I wanted to start with a project that was easy and small. And since I am "cowl crazy" right now I decided that I would try to make The Patricia Infinity Cowl by Shannon of luvinthemommyhood.

I found some beautiful fabric sets that I thought would look awesome... 

Black White and Currant II by Henry Glass & Co.

Chinese Takeout by Sheri McCulley

So now we'll see what happens...

~.^

Design Project: Sparkly Mesh Cowl is S...L...O...W... Going...

My sparkly mesh cowl design is coming along but sadly I've had to cut back on my knitting a bit. I seem to have done something to my right wrist and it is causing some pain to do anything at all. So this already SLOW project is taking SO... MUCH... LONGER. But so far I'm happy with how it's looking.

I'm really getting the hang of knitting with beads. It's a lot easier that I thought it would be and I'm enjoying the little bit of sparkle it is adding to my design. I have a bit of a pattern emerging. we'll see if it holds up.

^.^

Knit Projects: Finishing It Up... Blocking!

So I've finally found the time and space to block my two spring/summer accessories (my Strathcona and my lacy mesh linen cowl that I have yet to give a name to :S). I've never blocked anything before so this is all new to me. I really hope I did it right.

I can't wait until they are dry so I can see them on! But... I WILL wait patiently...

*sigh*

*foot tapping*


*tapping grows louder & more impatient*


GAH!


*runs to grab a hair dryer*


Lol!

Design Project: Lacy Mesh Cowl

My latest design project... A lacy mesh cowl for spring and summer made from linen. This is my first time working with linen and I have to say that it does take quite a toll on your hands. First off... It gets to be pretty heavy. Even after the 2nd ball I started to feel the weight of it. And secondly... It's a bit of a stiff yarn that can get pretty rough to work with... Literally. Although, my hands became really soft and smooth from working it, the downfall was that it became hard to work with over long periods of knitting.  But on the plus side, I've heard that after blocking it softens right up. So that will be my next step. 

But for now it is my "something light and pretty" accessory for the warmer weather! Yay!

It started with this...
Punta Yarns: Rope-Light Hand-Painted Linen
I fell in love with the colours... light lavender, blues, greens, and yellows

I cast on a whack load of stitches... and chose an openwork mesh pattern.
Then I just kept knitting... until...

VOILA! A cowl emerged!

It was so much fun and easy too!

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? :)

Class Project: One Button Wonder... DONE!

Soooo... Here it is... FINALLY completed on March15th. I was humming and hawing about whether I should block it now or later. Hmmm... But there's so much going on right now... So I will probably save that for another time. I messed up a bit in the seaming and the style is not really suited for my shape but hey!  What the heck! It's all a learning experience for me. And besides... I just made a sweater. I MADE MY FIRST SWEATER EVAR!!! woo hoo!

So now to round off the things that I need to do now...
1. I WILL finish my Rae Scarf #4 this weekend so I can...
2. I get back to knitting up my Inara Cowl for springtime... before spring suddenly disappears on me :D

But thanks so much to Rebecca of nook for
being a super fantastic teacher and new friend!

*hugs to everyone*

New Design Project! The Inara Cowl

As if i didn't have enough in my yarn bowl... ^.^
I started something new! I found this yarn at Michaels. It's Patons Lace in Arctic Plum. It is THE prettiest colour I have ever seen. I needed to get it. So I pulled up the Michaels 50% off coupon on my phone and bought it. Then I started knitting it up into the "You Are My Sunshine" cowl but then I decided that I didn't want the stripes in it. So it will be just straight open work lace from bottom to top... hence the Inara Cowl was born. A new pattern design for me. Woot!

We'll see how it turns out...

Knit Project: Next In Queue...

Went to Beehive Wool Shop today and scored these -->
VIP by Lana Gatto in Ecru. They are 80% Wool and 20% cashmere,  they are incredibly soft AND they were on clearance. Woot!

Plus I know exactly what to make with these...

The Devonshire Cream Cowl designed by Laura Aylor... and I can't wait to get started. Squee!

New Design Project! The "Love Is..." Cowl

I had a skein of Punta Yarns Mericash yarn in baby pink and I wanted to make something cute and cozy. Just a few days before Valentine's Day and I had wanted to try making my own pattern of hearts using knits and purls. So I came up with this.

It's still in the design phase. The name is inspired by my mom's favourite little single-panel comic called "Love Is..." I thought it was a good fit.  So it's a combination of row of hearts then a few rows of openwork lace (the lace was mainly my husband's idea being the hopeless romantic that he is. ~.^)

So far it's looking pretty cute! We'll see how it turns out...

Knit Project:You Are My Sunshine Cowl! Complete!

It's finally finished! My First Cowl Design! Woot!

There are a few kinks to work out in the pattern but I think it turned out pretty well :) Light and airy but warm and cozy. It's great for this winter-into-spring weather.

it's worn relaxed and open for the milder days and... because of the all the "eyelets" I decided to run a cord through them to get it to cozy up to the neck on the cooler days.

It took a while... But I'm just happy that it's FINALLY done! ^.^

New Design Project! The "You Are My Sunshine" Cowl

I'm getting anxious about the knitting class I'm taking next week.
So I just need to knit SOMETHING! :D

I've been trying to find an openwork, lacy looking cowl pattern that was ka-razy simple to do. I've looked everywhere but with no luck. :( So I decide to try and make one up for myself... I'm winging it as we speak. This is the 3rd project I've ever done in the round... but it's my first I've ever tried without a pattern.

A-a-and here it is... so far... The "You Are My Sunshine" Cowl.

I'm using a meri-cash yarn (merino wool and cashmere) by Punta Yarns in "butterscotch." It's feels incredibly soft and luxurious but light as well. I can't wait to finish this for the transition from winter to spring! ^.^
Wish me luck!

*fingers crossed*

Knit Project: Mmmm Tea...

I came across a fantastic set of cowl patterns on Ravelry by Laura Aylor called Cream Tea. In this collection are three different cowl patterns: Hot Tea, Cinnamon Scone & Devonshire Cream (mmm they all sound yummy! ^.^) I will be making all of them... but alas... All in good time.

Hot Tea: Lovely little thing. No chance of a draft seeping through this neck-warmer. It's a close-to-the-neck almost turtle-neck cowl designed in garter stitch. It looks so cosy.

Devonshire Cream: This looks absolutely luxurious. It literally looks like a soft fluffy cloud around your neck. I've never tried cabling before but I WILL learn just so I can make this beautiful cowl. Beautiful and decadent.

Cinnamon Scone: I will be starting with this one. I just love the diamond pattern. The simple diamond design uses just knits and purls. It's a great pattern for knitter who knitted a LONG time ago when she was a little girl and has just recently fallen back in love with the craft (namely someone like... ME! :D)

I love all of them and can't wait to get started...