Category: musings

small and simple

Wow! Thanks for all the fantastic comments to my last entry – there were lots of things I haven’t seen or eaten and it’s going to take me awhile to cook up the interesting recipes :)

I’m working on a rather consuming secret project at the moment, but that’s almost done – so in between I’ve been working on some small, simple accessory-type knits. Especially ones that would be nice gifts for the holidays or take 1-2 skeins of yarn, and I’m working them up in some yarns we carry at lettuce knit.

First up off the needles is a simple shawl – my simple yet effective shawl, to be exact! I knit it in a skein of Noro Kureyon sock, alternating every 4 rows to break up the colour patterning a bit.

I quite like the effect. It’s done now, went into a long soak in a Eucalan bath, and it’s now drying. It’s sort of a large scarf/small shawl size. And I love the way the yarn looks rewound into cakes!

As an aside, I can’t wait for the new Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4 lens. It’s a LOT more expensive than the AF 50mm f/1.8 that I have now, but autofocus! It would be so useful! I mean, my manual focusing skills are a little better now at least, but autofocus sure would be sweet. I’ll have to start saving my pennies now…the price tag’s a little ouch.

The weather here has turned rather suddenly, and it’s all about pulling out the thicker sweaters, my cashmere cowl (which is AMAZING!) and jacket, and…buying socks?

Despite my best efforts I can’t knit all the knee socks I wear – it would just be way too consuming! Better to save the knitting time for really cool knee sock patterns. Now that I’m finally out of school, I seem to be wearing the September clothes I always wanted to wear in high school – skirts, knee socks, and mary janes. Every day, pretty much (I have a lot of skirts and knee socks).

Of course, the dryer likes to eat store-bought socks, so I went out today to acquire some socks the easy way – might I recommend H&M. They didn’t have the organic cotton knee socks that I love so much (were they discontinued? I should’ve bought more) but they did have some fun argyle patterned and stripey knee socks that actually come in smaller sizes so the heel doesn’t poof out the back of my shoes!

Now if only I could justify these super kick-ass boots, I’d be all set for autumn! Bring on the sweater weather!

(This weather bodes well for sweater-wearing at Rhinebeck. It’s only TWO WEEKS AWAY!)

October 3, 2008
little black whatchamacallit

Well, it only took four days to knit this little sweater, but over a week since then to block, photograph and blog about it! Oh well.

My own pattern, just a simple top-down raglan bolero/shrug thing with half-length sleeves and curved fronts. I had the yarn lying around and really wanted a simple super soft, black cardigan, so here it is! I used six balls of Sublime cashmere merino silk aran (there’s a mouthful) and used up every last drop. I’ve got a tiny length left (like 1 m) so I think I might crochet a little loop and do a button.

I was a little unsure about the chunkyness of this sweater at first – it’s on 5.5 mm needles, which is way bigger than I’ve used in awhile! But a good soaking opened up the fabric a bit and it drapes much better now. If I’d had some more yarn I would’ve liked to do longer ribbing around the edge, but as it was I had to tink back a row just to have enough yarn to bind off!

I’m thinking of writing it up (it would probably be pretty quick, too) but I’m not sure when I’ll get to it! So we’ll see. I want to write up that skirt from the last post, too, which is actually a bit easier…oy, so many ideas, so few hours in which to get things done.

I’ve actually had a really productive day “off” – it’s off work from the store, but that doesn’t mean I’m not working! I’ve laid out the patterns for the baby and child, top down versions of the Thermal sweater, so I’m hoping to release those very soon. Just as soon as I get some photos! I also did a bunch of stuff in preparation for my trip – calling the bank and credit card companies, finding a suitcase, making some lists, I even packed most of my clothes.

Now I’m down to the tough parts of packing – deciding what knitting and/or crochet to take! I want to take some crochet for the plane, I think, because I’ve got a design idea and it would also get around the whole are-needles-allowed thing. I guess the thing is that I’m sure to buy yarn there (especially at iknit!) so I can always start up a new project there if I get bored or something. Yeah, I kind of doubt it too. But we do have some longish train rides worked in there.

Five more sleeps, people. Whoa.

August 26, 2008
raising the profile

Well, it’s rather late and I meant to post earlier – but then I got all caught up in watching Doctor Who (the new series; I’m on season 2 and rather starting to like David Tennant) and here I am.

I seem to have gotten back some of my knitting mojo of late – I think I was just tired of everything I was knitting, but really needed to do it anyway! I’ve cast on for 2 new projects and they’re both going nice and quick. Photos of them soon.

What I really came by to tell you about are some (rather random) print happenings for me!

First up, I’ve got a pattern in Shannon Okey’s new book, alt fiber – it’s a long jacket in linen stitch, knit with hemp. Yeah, that took awhile. I don’t have any photos at the moment but hopefully Shannon will be able to send some over!

Next up, totally unbeknownst to me until I read the magazine, I got shout outs in the article on knitting in Canada! From the most famous knitter. Pays to know people! (Thanks dude. I totally owe you homemade peanut butter cups.)

ETA: Oops, I don’t know how I didn’t say the magazine! It’s the fall 2008 Vogue Knitting!

Second mention in the same article, about Canadian bloggers…hey! I know those other names! (And one in particular who isn’t Canadian – I wonder where they got that from?!)

I’m so happy to be making a bit of an impact, and so glad that there’s such a great community of knitters. I don’t know where I’d be without you!

August 15, 2008