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!

Knit Project: Travels Fingerless Mitts... PLUS, I WON!!! ~.^

Life is crazy! Tis the season :D

Between knitting, sewing, getting food organized for Christmas and trying to clean around the house... Life has been a non-stop whirlwind.

Since finishing my pair of Rathtrevor by Jane Richmond, my newest obsession has been on fingerless mittens. 

Let's start with a couple of new ideas...

Cozy Travels Fingerless Mitts
I found a ball of bulky yarn in my stash and looked up a bunch of different patterns in The Knitting Book that I got for Christmas last year...(Someone obviously knew me ~.^)and came up with these. They are so warm and cozy... They are a bit big for me but it's a cool first try! They turned out better than I had expected...

But then...

I wanted something a bit more elegant and pretty. So I used the same pattern, chose a finer yarn and adjusted the number of stitches and came up with...

Elegant Travels Fingerless Mitts 

I found a ball of Martha Stewart Crafts 100% merino (colour: Buttermilk) in my stash and thought "I just have the one ball so why not try it out." I have to admit it took me a couple of tries but I think I've got the pattern almost perfected. I finished one piece. I seamed it up and tried it on. The fit is comfortably snug. But I like the look of it. Because of the stretch it looks almost lacy... The width of my palm is about 9cm. I will play with the number of stitches so see the different fits I get.

PLUS!!!! 

I WON an ebook copy of Journey from reading Melissa's MisoCraftyKnits blog and entering the giveaway. Journey is a NEW book of knitting patterns by Jane Richmond and Shannon Cook.  All three of these fantastic ladies are incredibly talented crafters from Vancouver Island, BC. This TOTALLY made my Christmas! I am so excited to start on these patterns. Squeee! ^.^ 

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!

^.^

Knitting: Rathtrevor Fingerless Mitts... DONE!

Aaaand they're DONE!
I am so in love with these mittens! They are cute and cosy and I loved making them!

I made a couple of modifications to Jane Richmond's Rathtrevor pattern to my liking. For instance, I didn't make the forearm as long as the pattern instructed. I just wanted them just passed the wrist.

Also, the pattern instructed the "hand/palm" in a stockinette stitch then bind off but I decided to do the stockinette stitch until the last four rows and then ended with the same rib as the wrist. I think it ties it all nicely together. :)

Soooo... What next?

~.^

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 Project(s): So many... But surely there's room for just ONE (or TWO) more?

So I've finished my Gemini for the TTTKAL and I know that I said that I should really take a small break from knitting to get my "mild carpal tunnel" under control but... I just need to have something on the needles. Well...  at the very least something besides the two or three that I consider "side projects" and really don't have to get done any time soon.

Okay... so... let's review the projects that I am now working on...

1. I have my FIRST lace project that I started a while ago and is ongoing but goes sooo S...L...O...W...L...Y. Because the "spun silk yarn/lace" by Sweet Georgia Yarns feels so soft, delicate and a super thin, I'm going slowly and being extra careful... Plus with the use of smaller-than-comfortable needles I have to take more breaks or else my carpal tunnel makes knitting a bit painful... But it is knitting up beautifully. Just slowly. ^.^

2. ALSO... I have some time sensitive mystery projects that shall remain a mystery until I have completed them. But there are TWO more projects for that...  ~.^

SO what's one... or two... more projects, right? :D

And so there is this... I'm SO in-love with this... 

The Saoirse Shawl by Norah Gaughan

(Pics are from the Spring 2009 issue of Knits by Interweave.)

Norah Gaughan has got some beautiful designs. I am IN LOVE with this shawl/wrap-skirt. I found the pattern in the Spring 2009 issue of Knits by Interweave. The wavy ruffles are so feminine and the colour is fabulous. This shawl was knitted using Berroco Seduce in the "Gris-Bleu" colourway (47% Rayon / 25% Linen / 17% Silk / & 11% Nylon) It looks so amazing! We'll see if I can find the exact yarn... and of course how many moneys it's going to cost us... But I just can't wait to knit is up!

I am also torn between knitting up another Gemini by Jane Richmond (but this time the longer sleeved "modified Gemini") or trying my hand at knitting up another one of her designs... the Grace.

*sigh* Decisions... Decisions... So now I'm off to prioritize these pretties... Woot!

Knit Project: Strathcona... Again.

So here is my SECOND attempt at the Strathcona...
I realized I read the pattern wrong and messed up the stitches in the first one :( But it still looked ok so I'm gonna finish it as is... But I at least wanted to knit one up properly. So, after consulting my knitting teacher/friend Rebecca & talking it out with my hubby, I figured out what I did wrong. And so here is the start of my new properly knitted Strathcona scarf.

The yarn is Cotton Cascata by Regia in the "Tugela" colourway. I totally fell in love with the colours and it's knitting up so nice. And now that I'm knitting it up properly... I can't wait to finish it!

Woot!

Knitting: Funny... Because It's True

YES! This just says it all for me... ^.^

Knit Project: The Strathcona

So here it is... The Strathcona by Jane Richmond. I must say... I am loving this pattern. It is so light and airy and the v- shape of it is so unique. It will be perfect for summer.

I'm not sure if I have enough yarn to make the full sized scarf but I just wanted to try it. So I chose to use a Mericash fingering weight yarn by Punta Yarns (80% merino/ 20%cashmere) in "baby pink." It will be a bit shorter but I think it will look great. And since it's such an open mesh it will probably give a little warmth without being too stifling. So it'll be perfect for our cool Vancouver Island breezes :)

So far it's knitting up pretty smoothly and SO soft!

So once again... Great pattern, Jane! ~.^

Knitting: My Rae Collection... So far... ~.^

I just absolutely LOVE this pattern! The Rae scarf is still one of my absolute favourite scarf patterns. However... A close second is one that I just started knitting up yesterday... The Strathcona... Stay tuned to find out how it's going... :D 

Jane Richmond is just fantastic!

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? :)

Knit Project: Rae Scarf #4... DONE!

And... Also on my list of finished projects... My fourth Rae Scarf by Jane Richmond. I just finished a few minutes ago and so excited to share. It's so soft and the colours look great! With greens, purples & yellows (although my pics NEVER do the colours justice)... It's my new multi-seasonal scarf.

I can't express enough how much I love making this scarf. It's such a simple pattern. But such a classic and versatile shape. My absolute favourite!

And it's SO great for knitters of all levels.

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!

Just Me: It Finally Arrived!

Now if this doesn't say "Crafty Unicorn" I dont' know what does... :D

I ordered this shirt called "The Unicorn - Nature's Mystical Knitter" by Harebrained on Redbubble.com and it finally arrived today! The bonus is... It arrived just in time for the knitting class I'm attending this evening. Woot!

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! ^.^

Family: Happy 1st BC Family Day!

What a way to celebrate our first Family Day in BC... It was grey and wet... but then again, what do you expect from the west coast? ;)

I showed my little boy how to knit with needles this morning and then I had to go get ready for our outing into downtown. When I had returned from getting ready, it turns out he had undone some of the knitting and needed/wanted some help with it. So he asked daddy to help him...

Now there are some dads out there that would have said to him, "Calm down and wait until mommy comes back" OR just plain... "Sorry, I can't help you. I don't know how."

But no... Not my darling husband (and this is why I love him so... ~.^)  He decided to go and find a youtube video on how to knit, watch it several times, learn how to do a "long-tail cast on" and the basic knit stitch so that he could try to figure out how help... all in about 30-45 minutes. I mean... Wow! I came downstairs and stood there and watched him learn to knit so that he could help our son... *bowing*

Then we all sat there in the living-room relaxing... and knitting. It was such a wonderful feeling to all be doing something together. ^.^

Of course now that my husband was understanding how knitting works... he started analyzing all this sweaters. It's so cool and fun to watch! :D

Then we headed downtown, checked out the "Family Day" festivities, then took a drive, came home and relaxed after quite an eventful day... *sigh*

Happy BC Family Day!

*hugs*