Yesterday I went to Imaginknit and met a fellow blogger/knitter, Leslie for the first time. I've been following her blog for several years now so it feels like I've known her for a long time, even though we had never met. And there she was, live and in person, looking every bit as lovely as she does in her blog photos. We are standing in the wool-free room in Imaginknits which is now our shared LYS -- how amazing is that? (yes,I'm wearing my Sothia shawl if you were wondering) This room is the thing I love most about this... Continue reading

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know I've long been a fan of Julie over at Little Cotton Rabbits -- I've knit up her mini stocking and for years I've long drooled over her beautifully knit animals that she sells via her blog. So I'm super excited to share that she has (at long last) released two patterns for her beautiful knitted bunnies. And there's the promise of more patterns to come. You can find both of these patterns for sale on Ravelry. Irresistable, right? Think of all the little (and big) people on your list who... Continue reading

One Skein along -- My Easy Folded Poncho in Prism's Custom Dyed Euroflax Linen, "Lapis". So, my BKF and I cast on this week for the Easy Folded Poncho KAL. And the first thing we both began to question was whether or not we could trust that we'd be happy with the finished size of this garment. To begin, this pattern is a one-size fits all. My BKF and I would not normally choose to knit a garment the same size so how we could both be making a poncho of the same finished dimensions and expect it to fit... Continue reading

I finally completed the Metro Cardigan. It is a pretty quick knit if you don't end up reknitting most of it twice (as I did due to some mindless mistakes that had me frogging and reknitting all too frequently). Also, I used Kollage Riveting Worsted which is a denim yarn which meant I had to knit the entire sweater 20% longer in length which added a few hours to the project as well. Finished cardigan BEFORE washing/drying --see how long and stringy it looks? Finished Cardigan AFTER washing/drying -- shrunk to perfection! I learned a new technique from this pattern... Continue reading

Well, it's the start of our Easy Folded Poncho KAL and it's still not too late to join us so feel to pull out your needles and yarn and cast on with my BKF and I. Details of our yarn choices are here. If you aren't familiar with the optional provisional cast on using waste yarn, you'll find an excellent video tutorial by Lucy Neatby here. We'll check back in with a progress update next week. Be sure to leave us a comment if you are knitting along with us! Continue reading

May 6th - June 30th (more or less) Feel free to Join In. So, my Best Knitting Friend and I are starting a KAL on Monday. The pattern's the Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. The pattern calls for Rowan Felted Tweed (not exactly a wool-free yarn) so I will, of course, be using a substitute. I seriously considered going with Shibui Knits Heichi (silk) after viewing this project by knittergran on Ravelry, but it wasn't available locally and I wanted to see/feel it first. Pretty though, isn't it? I found another wool-free version knit up in Berroco... Continue reading

I'd planned to show you the completed body of the Metro Cardigan last week this time, except when I was almost finished it, I realized that I'd flipped the left and right sides and by the time I'd got myself sorted out I'd lost a week of knitting time. It looks like a long stringy vest at the moment, but that's the way Denim yarn hangs before you wash it -- very loosey goosey. I know it will look wonderful once that 20% shrinking in the length takes place. But, before we wash it, there are 2 sleeves and a... Continue reading

At the moment, he just has a head, but he's eventually going to look a little like this wonderful creation by Susan Hickson. I've knit a couple of her rabbits before but this is the first from the Nordic collection. I've been meaning to make him for awhile now, so it is exciting to finally see his wee face take shape. For the head/body I'm using a delicious blend of 50% alpaca/raw silk . It's Blue Sky Alpaca's Metalico Platinum. I just fell in love with the shade of it. Oh, and for you gardeners out there, he's posing with... Continue reading

Yesterday was the 117th Boston Marathon. For each of the 8 years that I lived there, I walked the few blocks from our home to the finish line to join the crowds of cheerleaders as the runners came in. I didn't go to see the winners, I went to see the persistent. Those who were running hard to achieve a personal goal and those who were running for the ones they loved who could no longer run. Often, just yards from the finish line, a runner would falter and someone would jump out from the sidelines to encourage them and... Continue reading

I've been busy this week planting succulents (my newest plant addiction). Do you have ANY idea how many different varieties and cultivars of these there are? It's as endless as yarn choices. This bed is 10' long and 1.5' wide and I've managed to sneak in 22 succulents, which should fill in this space beautifully. This one (Sempervivum Magnificum) is almost the exact shade of the Kollage yarn I'm knitting with. As you can see, the Metro Cardigan is working up nicely. Such a change to be working with worsted weight yarn. I feel like this project is just flying... Continue reading

At another new design of mine. This time, "A Three Stringed Vest". I've had so much fun making these. Shown here are toddler size 1 and 2. They're going out to be modeled soon and pattern is off to the tech editor. I'll keep you posted. Continue reading

The best thing about knitting for little people is how much cute-ness they bring to even the simplest of hand knits. This is the Easy Baby Cardigan I knit for my youngest nephew with Misti Alpaca's Tonas Pima Silk, "strawberry". Aside from the hood (which you can't see from this angle), it's a pretty plain knit cardigan. But I think that just allows all this little guy's inherent cuteness to take center stage, don't you? Of course you know it just makes me want to knit him something else. Good thing he's growing at a very fast rate, it means... Continue reading

A few weeks ago I shared with you my plan for being prepared for knitting on the road. This week, as I traveled to Ontario to visit the folks for Easter, I had a chance to test it out. The pouch worked great -- every accessory I needed was there and I didn't lose a thing. BUT, I did take the wrong needle for my latest project (a 5 US instead of a 5 mm) which I'd planned for the return trip, so I had to make an emergency stop at Shall We Knit to pick up the right needle... Continue reading

I finally finished this project. I do love the fabric that this Anzula Mermaid yarn produced. I'm not sure how happy I am with the adjustments I made to the pattern -- the tapered ends turned out rather long and narrow due to the different gauge. So I really need to think carefully about how I wear the wrap so I'm not tripping over them. I'm trying to decide if it's worth ripping it all out and starting again doing double increases on each row to shorten the taper or if I should just consign myself to the fact that... Continue reading

So, I had some fun today taking this great quiz over at the Knitting Brain site and I thought I'd share my results. This would be ME: "The Logical Knitter" "You approach knitting logically and methodically. You'll enjoy reading knitting reference books and find satisfaction in using the best knitting techniques. A book such as No Sheep For You which celebrates the geeky side of knitters will likely appeal to you." (Can you believe the accuracy of these quiz results? It's amazing). "You like to understand the logic behind how thing work. You strive for perfection in your finished knitting.... Continue reading

One of the things I absolutely hate, as a knitter, is to be out on the road and discover that I have left a key knitting accessory behind. There I am knitting along and I suddenly discover I have no way to measure my progress or no scissors to cut the yarn or no stitch markers to put on as I begin the patterned section etc. I have my yarn, pattern and needles and I can't complete a key step in the process because I've left a key accessory in another project bag or down the side of my knitting... Continue reading

Things are progressing at long last. The blinds are installed and provide good shade from the hot sun in the heat of the day. I scored a few great deals at HomeGoods last week so I now have a cozy new rug and a great new storage piece for under the window. Replica of Tiffany's "River of Life" My husband hung my mirror and stained glass picture and I love how each of them reflects the light in this room at different times of the day in different ways. This is my grandmother's rocker and has been in the family... Continue reading

Do you remember a month or so back I showed you my Spring Round Up scarf? A bright, cheery and cozy tubular knit scarf guaranteed to jump-start spring wherever you are. I chose KnitPicks Comfy Worsted: 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic (although any worsted cotton yarn would suffice) because it is soft, squishy and wonderfully budget-friendly and who doesn't need a budget friendly knitting project? The pattern went live on Ravelry this afternoon and you can purchase your copy of the pattern here for just $2.99: Happy Knitting and Happy Spring Everyone! Continue reading

Thought you might be wondering what's on my needles these days. I've started Just a Whisper Wrap using Anzula's Mermaid yarn (60% seacell, 40% silk) which I purchased at Purl Soho in NYC. It reminds me a lot of Handmaiden's seasilk. I was inspired by this version of the wrap which is knit more densely using a 5 mm. needle and doubling the stitch count. I hope mine will turn out half as lovely. Miles of stockinette in laceweight yarn -- I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. Wonderful mindless knitting. Continue reading

I'm so excited to show you this latest design I've been working on. I actually knit this up for my sister for a Christmas gift (you may recall she LOVES anything with a sheep motif). She had asked for a headband with a flower-thingy on it after she saw one at a store and I got thinking about how much cuter it would be for her if it had a sheep accessory. Then I saw a sheep inspired cupcake and my brain went into overtime. How could I create a ruffled body with a sheepshead? Out came the stitch dictionaries,... Continue reading

This Easy Baby Cardigan started out as a Christmas gift for my youngest nephew but fell by the wayside what with the move and all the other last minute Christmas knitting I was working my way through. I've actually knit most of it twice since in my earlier haste I had messed up one of the sleeves at a point where it was joined to the body so both sleeves and most of the body had to come out to fix it. But the upside was that I got lots of practice with the magic loop method which I used... Continue reading

Yesterday I went for my scheduled appointment at the DMV to get a California driver's licence (which really means you have a starting time for waiting in the line-up). After completing my forms, paying my money, and having my photo taken I was directed to go to the final line for "the written test." My mouth dropped open. No one told me there was going to be a test. Now, it has been over 25 years since I took a driver's test. And I took it in Ontario. Canada. And I have never looked at the California Handbook. Not so... Continue reading

Yarn Inventory Cards from Cochenille Design Studio It seemed prudent, given our recent move and the start of a New Year, for me to take a detailed inventory of my own yarn. I had a "general" idea of how much yarn I have based on how many bins I'd need for storing it etc. But I hadn't actually broken it down by weight and yardage amounts (dyelots and so forth) and I must say, the findings have been a bit disturbing. I do have a LOT of yarn. But my stash is still very random. Yes, I have some yarn... Continue reading