Category: patterns

  • New Pattern! Willowdale Shawl

    Willowdale is the neighbourhood I grew up in, in North York. North York was its own town (mayor, city council, school board, etc), until it was incorporated into the City of Toronto in 1998.

    What’s that got to do with this pretty shawl? Not much! But it’s a nice name, right?

    Willowdale Shawl 1

    Willowdale is worked from the top down, beginning with a garter tab and a zigzag-and-garter-ridge lace pattern. The bottom edging is worked in a similar pattern of chevrons.

    willowdale-shawl-2

    The yarn is Mountain Colors Louisa, a SUPER SOFT cashmere/silk blend. Since it’s a pretty precious yarn, I wanted to make sure that the shawl uses just one skein – perfect for light layer or even a gift for a special someone. It’s pretty big just with the one skein too, since both cashmere and silk tend to loosen and grow when they hit water. Finished measurements: 66″ across the top edge, 16.5″ deep.

    willowdale-shawl-3

    The lace patterns are given in both charted and row-by-row directions.

    This 4 page PDF pattern is $6 CAD.

    Queue, fave, and buy on Ravelry!

  • May zoomed by

    Now that I feel like I *might* have a bit of breathing room on my current deadline projects, a quick catch-up!

    I have a couple of patterns in the new June issue of I Like Knitting. I don’t think they’re on Ravelry yet though:

    dad's dress socks

    Dad’s Dress Socks are worked in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, one of my all-time favourite sock yarns, in Douglas Fir. They’re worked top down, with an easy staggered ridge pattern and heel flap and gusset.

    maritime baby cardigan

    Maritime Cardigan is a pretty adorable (if I do say so myself!) baby cardigan in sizes 3 months – 2 years. It’s worked from the top down, with panels of twisted stitch medallions down the back and fronts, short sleeves, and ribbed edgings. This one’s also knit in Lorna’s Laces, in the beautiful Shepherd Sport (colour Poppy).

    We finally got out to the garden this weekend and planted out the tomatoes and herbs. Sorry for the overexposed photos, it’s way too hot (and unshaded!) to spend much time out on the deck in the morning!

    tomatoes

    Lots of tomatoes this year: 9 plants, mostly cherry types.

    peas

    The peas are doing pretty well, getting established – I wish there were most plants though, I ran out and I suspect that the squirrels may have gotten ahold of some of them.

    berries

    I bought this “framberry/pineberry/strawberry” pack at the grocery store and have high hopes for them! I’ve never grown berries before. We’ll see how they do in a container. Quite a few of the plants at the nursery had teeny tiny fruit – I tried to pick ones that had flowers, but not fruit yet.

    herb-pot

    We usually just grow basil in with all the tomatoes, but I wanted some different herbs this year as well. Mint, coriander, dill and basil in a container together. It’s okay with me if the mint takes over eventually!

    lettuce

    Lettuce that I planted a month or so ago (in COLD April) is definitely ready for some eating. The spread in the container came out a bit patchy, but I’m not sure whether I should plant more seeds since it’ll be so hot.

    In knitting, I’ve had so many deadline projects that I can’t share yet, but these will be available soon!

    threeshawls

    Milkweed original and XL (uses 200g of fingering weight yarn), and a new shawlette in super pretty Mountain Colors Louisa: a cashmere/silk blend that’s OMG SO SOFT. Coming in June!

  • A Monday-like Tuesday

    Let’s catch up a bit!

    New Project: Top-down raglan

    I don’t think I shared here that I started a new sweater for myself, inspired by Ann and Kay’s “Bang out a sweater” knit along. I’m not knitting Mary Jane’s (lovely) Stopover, but instead one of my own design. It’s a top-down raglan wrap cardigan, worked in garter stitch – the grown-up version of my Mermaid Cardigan! I’m using Fleece Artist Blue-faced Leicester DK in a lovely deep brown-black, with hints of blue.

    td-wrap-yoke

    I’m past the yoke divide now, but this one hasn’t been getting as much attention as I would like – I have 2 other sweaters to finish before the end of the month for a deadline!

    I did a little more spinning.

    barn-country-handspun-2

    barn-country-handspun-3

    barn-country-yarn

    2016.5

    Fibre: FatCatKnits Superwash Targhee Combed Top, colour way: Barn Country 40
    Structure: split lengthwise, singles spun end to end, basic 2 ply.
    WPI: 14-15 WPI
    Yardage: 391 yards, 113g

    New Pattern: Polonium

    And I have a new pattern out as well! Polmonium is an easy, elegant hat and mitt set worked in super soft Miss Babs Caroline. The largest size set can be made with just 1 skein!

    mb-polemonium

    One last thing: cake! I made this hummingbird cake (banana, pineapple, and pecans) for my grandma’s 86th birthday, which we celebrated yesterday. I really wanted it to look nice for her, so I piped roses on top – it came out great. I didn’t have quite enough frosting to do roses on the sides as well, so I just smoothed it out and added some chopped pecans around the bottom edge.

    hummingbird-cake-1

    hummingbird-cake-2

    I used this recipe from Joy of Baking, but changed up the frosting a bit – I used equal parts butter and cream cheese, and a good amount of heavy cream (along with powdered sugar and vanilla). YUM!