Color Fun

Yep, that Noro yarn sure is fun!

Pattern: my own design
Yarn: Kureyon Sock
Needles: 2.25mm

The colors in the yarn are a lot of fun, but I don't think much of the yarn itself. It seems very fragile and I don't expect much durability from it. I increased the stitch count to 80 for this pair and used my standard heel flap, but I still have problems getting them on. There doesn't seem to be any give to the yarn. The yarn was very rough to work with, but it did soften up nicely in the wash.

It was a really treat to puzzle out how to design the heel on these socks. I love the stripes on the bottom.

I was debating my options when the colors started to come too close together. Do I just let it happen? Or should I edit out one of the colors? I decided to accept the yarn the way it came, and now I'm glad I did.

My life is like this sock. Sometimes there is great clarity and sometimes there is a muddy mix-up. All I can do is push on through the mess to reach the clarity. It is the contrast between the two that make up the beauty of the whole.

Just Enough

We had a beautiful weekend. The weather was warm and the sun was bright. I took the opportunity to wash the winter woolies in preparation for storage. The hammock worked beautifully to dry them all in double quick time!


I sat out to watch them dry, to knit and to supervise Dexter. We bought him a big knuckle bone at the pet store. You should have seen his eyes light up when they spotted this beauty.

But it was too big! Poor puppy. Fortunately, Jim is handy with an axe and he chopped that thing in two for Dexter.

Every Thursday Dexter and I go to Rally-O and agility class. Last Thursday the trainer said to me "Laurie, you don't give yourself enough credit. Dexter is doing awesome." For some reason, I really heard her that night and it has changed my attitude over these past several days. I always felt like I wasn't doing enough, that Dexter wasn't responding well enough, or that he wasn't behaving well enough. Enough for what?!

And I recognize that this is an old pattern of mine. This feeling of "not enough". It's an uncomfortable way to live, let me tell you. It used to be that there was never enough food. I would obsess about it. Then I switched to knitting. Healthier for my system at first, since I stopped eating as much. But ultimately, sitting on the couch knitting non-stop wasn't good for me either. I knew getting a dog would be a good thing for me, to keep me moving, but I didn't think I'd switch my "not enough" obsession over to him.

You know, recognizing the pattern is the first step. I'm really glad I can see it. Now I can accept it, and consciously evaluate, yes there is enough. I live with abundance, I can enjoy quality instead of hording quantity, and I accept that sometimes, you just have to live with good enough.

Mystery Revealed

The Mystic Light KAL was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the mystery, the pattern, the yarn and the finished product.

Pattern: Mystic Light KAL
Yarn: Fleece Artist Blue Face 2/8
Needes: 4mm

This shawl will be a Mother's Day gift to my grandmother. It's a bit small on me, so it should be just the right size for her.

The Latest Thing in Sock Yarn

I just found something I'd never heard of before. Flat Feet sock yarn (scroll down for pictures). Essentially, it's sock yarn knit up on a machine, and then hand painted. I've heard of this concept before. I just think it's really clever that someone thought to market it.

But I don't think I'd enjoy knitting it straight from the flat as is recommended. It's hard to keep even tension with crinkly yarn.

Not Quite What I was Hoping for...

Like any big dreamer, I often find that reality doesn't meet up to my expectations. After my first Noro sock, I was all fired up to create ones that would fit my feet. I bought two skeins that I thought would work well together:


But they don't. Not so much.


I should probably keep knitting, to see if I like it better later, but I'm just feeling blah about it. Or perhaps I'm burnt out. After all I did accomplish quite a bit of this type of knitting in a very short time. Plus, my second sock wasn't coming out as nice as the first.

Which is part of the reason I switched to the other colors.

So this weekend I knit mostly on the Bee Fields shawl. It's nice to know that I can pick something up again after putting it down for quite sometime. Today, I booked a day off for myself, but I've been restless with the knitting and so not enjoying it like I thought I would.

I spent some of my day outside, knitting on the Mystic Light shawl and I was surprised on how brilliant the colors look. The winter light really took the vibrancy away from this yarn, but the spring light is bringing it out in spades.

This was shot under cloud cover, or it would have seriously blinded your eyes.

And in keeping with today's theme, here's another project that wasn't coming out quite as I'd planned:

This is the Aspen Leaf pull over, just about ready for the leaves. I used a provisional cast on, so I could line the inside neck with something really soft to accommodate Jim's sensitive skin. I think my gauge is too tight, and it just looks more purple than I'd expected. I was thinking of doing my calculations after the leaves to see if I needed extra increases to get it to fit. This is part of the reason I was knitting it top down. But I just can seem to get around to knitting those leaves, and it should be the fun part of the project!

I know this is a common phenomenon. A knitter has a big idea, starts a project with gusto, and then wanders off when things don't turn out quite as expected. So far my strategy is to let things marinate. Later, I will either rip or carry on. But I have noticed that projects are accumulating. I'm going to have to do some housekeeping very soon.

It doesn't help that new and exciting things are catching my eye all the time. Take this book of toys by Alan Dart for example:

I bought found it a Chapters this weekend and had to have it. (You can buy Irresitable Gifts to Knit online.) There are many toys I'd like to make in this book, but I'm smitten with this pirate:

The only thing that is keeping me from casting on, is that I have mostly fingering weight yarns and the patterns all call for DK. I'm been contemplating what the substitution would look like. I'll bet it won't turn out like I'd expect....

A New Love

Remember when you were in high school and one of your friends would point out a boy to you? And you would say, "Sure he's cute, but I hate him! He's so annoying and he thinks he's hot stuff." But secretly, you really liked him. And maybe, and often things work out this way, you'd end up dating the guy.

Well, at the Monday meet-up at the Wortely Roadhouse (see previous post), I met the cute, but annoying yarn that everyone thinks is such hot stuff. And I dissed it. It's a single ply, I scoffed, and it's rough. I'm talking about the Noro Kureyon Sock yarn.

Well, me and Mr. Kureyon sock met up again at Needles and Pins, where I was picking up a needle for the Bee Fields shawl. There were many pretty colors and finally I agreed to take one home. It wasn't long before those colors seduced me and this weekend I was obsessed with my new love.

Isn't it pretty!! I love, love, LOVE my latest crush. I started it Friday night and finished the first sock by Sunday afternoon. I just couldn't put it down.

I knit the stranded pattern from both ends of the same ball. The heel and toe were knit on a 2mm needle, because I’ve heard the yarn doesn’t wear well, and I used a twisted hem for the cuff with a purl turning ridge.

Unfortunately, they are a little small for my feet, even though I used by standard 72sts. I should have known the stranding would take out the ease. It’s okay. I’ll just have to buy some more of this yarn and make a pair for me! Mr. Kuryon and I are an item!


I'm as flighty as your typical teenager in the spring, since last week I had a mad crush on this fellow:


That's the Vinnland pattern knit with the Soxophone Player's own color way. There is an amazing amount of color in this yarn and it was a real treat to work with. Doug creates some amazing colorways, but he is such a tease. You can't buy his yarn anywhere. Good thing I have a new crush to mend my broken heart.

Shawl Queen

Last night I went to the London Ravelry Group meet up at the Wortley Roadhouse. The weather has turned gorgeous these past few days, and we four early birds thought that we might be alone that night. Perhaps people would be out enjoying the sunshine. But no, the knitters turned up in droves.

The Yarn Harlot would have been proud to see us whooping it up, carrying on and generally perplexing the muggles. We fondled yarn, socks in progress and an especially gorgeous Tangled Yoke sweater that was still being worn by its knitter! I think the guys in the bar were very curious at that point. There were feet on the table as one knitter tried on her socks. One of the male knitters present obligingly flexed his biceps for any female that cared to give them a squeeze. He was knitting a long cabled scarf, his first, for his lady love who didn't mind sharing a little bit.

My proudest moment was being crowned the "Shawl Queen". When I think of the shawls produced by talented knitters across the blogosphere, I can only cry, "I am not worthy!" And I did so protest. But, then I was asked what shawls I have knit and when I tallied them up, well, I must confess there were a few. So, I will proudly accept my title, with the caveat that it is only for the London area.

Here is the Mystic Light shawl, knit up to the end of clue 2.

I finally took the time to read the Yahoo Group page to learn that the clues are released on Wednesdays. So you know I'll be getting the next part soon. But what to knit in the mean time?

I finished a pair of socks on Sunday (they deserve a proper photoshoot, so I'll wait to show them to you). I had nothing on the needles. Never mind that I have about three sweaters in various stages of progress. I don't want to knit a sweater, with all that angst over fit, and measurements and (horror) gauge. No, I want something fun, interesting, yet soft and relaxing. So, yup, you guessed it:

I started another shawl. This is Bee Fields from Anne Hanson at Knitspot. I bought the kit from Wooly Wonka Fibers as soon as it came out and I can't believe I waited this long to work it. What was I thinking?!

Vicarious Fun

I've spent my Friday night clicking through the flicker group for the Yarn Harlot's scavenger hunt. I just have to share some of my favorites with you. Enjoy!

• Cleverest use of a sign.
  
• The sock that ate Toronto!
  
• Love the caption. I didn't know Winston was part rabbit.
• What a beautiful beast.
• Mhmmm... He can hold my sock any day.
  
• I just find this creepy. I think I've read too many Anne Rice books.
  
• My favourite international.
  
• The one that got a way.
  
• This one wins for best hidden in the image.
  
• Here is the bestest ever; made me gasp out loud!

New Thrills

The thrill of the Shetland shawl hasn't worn off yet. I wanted to cast on another shawl right away, and the Mystic Light KAL was right there to help me out.

This is as far as the first clue takes me. It was so much fun! In the first place, I didn't look at other people's progress pictures on purpose, so I could have the fun of watching the pattern develop. Then, there was one spot where I was a bit stuck. I got quite a rush out of solving the dilemma. But the icing on the cake was the lovely, soft yarn. Every time I picked this up to knit I fell in love again. The only trouble is, now I have to wait for the next clue. I'm in lace-limbo. Fortunately, there's always a sock on the needles.

Opps! I just discovered Clue 2 today! Whee!!!!!

I had another visit from my knitting students Maddie and Anne. Anne is a working mom, so she's finding it hard get to her needles. Maddie on the other hand has taken to it like a fish to water. She finished up about 50 rows of garter stitch, so I told her it was time to learn to purl. Young students are so great, because she was all "Yeah!"

Anne and Maddie came to my house the past two nights to make sure she got the hang of it. What dedication! And it paid off. Look, stockinette:

I'm so impressed with Maddie. She was gabbing away to her mom while working a knit row and she wasn't even watching her needles. Just like a pro! Way to go Maddie!

The shirt doesn't lie, does it?

Spring Glory

Pattern: Shetland Garden Faroese Shawl
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk
Needles: 3.25 mm

It took me two tries to start this shawl. I found the beginning rather complicated because there are many motifs all at once. But past the first third of the knitting, it was smooth sailing. I still used lifelines up until the last chart. Usually I scorn them, but I had no desire to start this project a third time.

My photographer was Alex, who is 11 years old.

This shawl will be a Mother's Day gift to my mother. She has one worsted weight shawl from me, but has pined for a laceweight shawl. She might expect one for a Christmas present, but I think she'll be totally surprised to get this for Mother's Day. I'm looking forward to it.

Anticipation

Lookin' good so far, but we'll have to wait for it to be unpinned to see the true beauty of the thing. Do you like my little shoulder pads? Since it is a Faroese shawl, it's not flat. The shoulder shaping gives it a bump for your shoulders. I thought that I'd like to account for that into my blocking, hence the two folded up wash cloths. I don't don't if it will make a big difference in the long run though.

Chew

I like gum. I always have at least three packs of different flavours in my desk at work. I chew a piece after I have my coffee, my lunch, and I like a chew in the afternoon, when my mental energies start to lag.

Now doesn't this look like a big wad of pink bubble gum?

I've been chewing on this project for quite a while now. The pink seemed like a good idea when I started it, but towards the end, I was getting heartily sick of it. Another reason to like handpainted and variegated yarns, and color work.

There's some nice lace in there though. I just know it.


Blocking party this weekend!

Oh yes, and the sheep are telling us spring has arrived.

Local Treasure

Taking Dexter to obedience class, I always pass a little farm with 5 or 6 horses out to pasture and an shed decorated in a most intriguing manner. There's a laundry line, with a wooden cartoon sheep hanging from it and brightly painted wooden quilts are nailed to the exterior of the building. The upper story has a big window with a spinning wheel and a stuffed sheep visible from the road.

On Saturday I finally made a special trip just to visit the Wagon Shed. I should have brought my camera. The place is a magpie's nest of fiber and textiles. I found Kassy, the owner, sitting at her wheel spinning. A four-paned window behind her cast a warm light into the room and onto a hand-spun, hand-woven shawl draped over a loom. Kassy had embroidered dainty flowers on it. There was a open closet full of charming children's sweaters, and on the other side of the room there was a whole colony of wooly bears, each one unique.

Kassie had a student in, learning to spin. I couldn't decide if I wanted to flop down in a chair and work on my sock, or poke around the shop. I did both. I found collections of yarns, grouped by color, in bowls and on looms. I found a few caches of hand-spun too. I picked out some colors that spoke to me and played with them and arranged them to suit me.

It was difficult to talk price with Kassy. I think she loves her yarn too much to want to part with it. But I did manage to talk her into taking my money. I was just so inspired by the yarn. I think I want to make a hat, so I tried a swatch on Sunday.

I love the colors!

I want to knit a hat and bring it back to Kassy so it can live in her shop for awhile. I want her to feel like her hand-spun went to a good home. Next time I go, I promise to bring my camera so I can show you real pictures, instead of writing descriptive prose for you. But in the mean time, do go visit Kassy's website and poke around.

Happy Easter!

There's snow and sun and beautiful blue skies today! I've had a lovely long weekend so far. There's been visiting, cleaning, shopping and walking in the warm sun. I waited for the sun to take pictures of my Ruby Socks which were all finished last weekend.

Pattern: my own - little diamonds lace, with short row toe and heel and a picot hem (80 sts around)
Yarn: Schaefer Anne
Needles: 2mm

My photography cannot do them justice. The yarn is vibrant and lively, and the pattern is graceful. I'm very pleased with these socks.

The gauge is quite snug, so they were hard on my hands, especially towards the end, but they feel soft and smooth on my feet that it was worth it.

Casting Forth for the Next Knit...

As I approach the finish of one knit, my mind is casting forth towards the next project. It's not a pretty sight to see me all twitchy and jumpy when I don't have something satisfactory on the needles. My family stays far away as the books get pulled out, flipped through and tossed aside. The children are coldly booted off the computer when mom needs a turn. They peer in hopefully to see if I'm done, only to be told that I'll be done faster if they would just leave me alone.

One potential project is the Mystic Light Knit along. Last weekend Anna posted a swatch pattern that can be turned into a pulse warmer and so I knit it up this weekend.

Can you see the cables on either side? I find the idea of cables and lace together to be intriguing. My yarn is Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester (BFL), which is lovely and soft, but I don't like the look of it in this swatch. I don't think the yarn does the pattern justice, or vice versa. I'll need to go down a needle size or get a different yarn, if I choose to knit this shawl.

Because I've got an idea for another project. I've been thinking about knitting Jim a sweater. He wears his Urban Aran all the time, and while it still looks great, I think it deserves a break. I was searching around for some yarn for him on the net, and I found this great website I want to share with you. It's called Wool2Dye4. Not that I know how to dye. Or am interested in learning how. Cause I'm not. No really. Honest! I am NOT protesting too much!

I wish I could buy the 1lb aran weight cone of BFL and dye it in shades of blue to knit it up into Cobblestone for Jim. I think the changes of garter stitch to plain stockinette would look great in hand dyed yarn. But I've never dyed before, and I don't trust myself to create my vision.

So instead I dove into my stash and I've come up with this combination of colors to make Jim a yoked pullover. When these colors were put together, they just clicked for me.

This would be for the Aspen Leaf yoked pullover (look for the image with the number 31 in the bottom) from Meg Swansen's Knitting. Jim looks good in a yoked sweaters, and I love the idea of using stash yarns. I'll just have to knit him a neckband of something soft and lovely so to make up for not using the BFL.

Well, back to the needles! Those socks won't knit themselves you know....

Hibernating

We were hit with another big snow storm on Saturday. There was only one thing to do, which was to hunker down and wait it out. I've been in hibernation mode ever since Christmas. I'm waiting for the weather to turn and bring me back my spunk. I feel like such a slug these days.

This weekend also brought the start of daylight savings time. We had sunny days on Sunday and Monday which made it worth while to lose a whole hour on the weekend. The down side of it is that it's pitch dark in the morning now, right when I'm taking Dexter to the dog park for a run.

The blowing snow inspired me to knit mittens, but my hibernating brain made a critical error. I don't think I have enough of the light grey to finish the mitten.
This pattern is from Charlene Schurch's Marvelous Mittens book using the same colors too. I think it looks really spiffy and I was planning to give it to Jim. I didn't even have a ball band left on the light grey wool, since it was leftovers from a pair of socks. I'm going to try heading down to Micheal's with a bit of the original yarn, just in case it was Kroy and I can get some more. Otherwise, this mitt is destined for the frog pond. At least I had fun during the snow storm, right?

I finished the fourth Trekking sock using a different color way for the last half. They all kind of blend it together nicely though.

Socks do not make a good substitute for flowers.

This Post is Brought to you by the Letter S

S is for spring, sunshine, socks and startitis...

Southern Ontario had another snow storm this morning which gave way to a beautiful sunny afternoon. Perfect for walking the dog and taking some pictures. I was mesmerized by the colors the sun brought out in my latest sock project.

The yarn is hand dyed by Doug, and the patterning is taken from Vinnland. I thought the yarn too dark to show the pattern well last night, but today in the sun, it just sings! Lovely, vibrant color. This much knitting occurred last night, but I should have been turning the heel on my fourth Trekking sock instead. I think it was disappointment that made me turn from it.

Clearly there will not be enough yarn to complete an entire sock. Not to worry, I have an oddment of Trekking in another color way that will work for the foot. Thank you to the kind reader who offered to send me more yarn.

All I can seem to knit these days is socks. There's still the red lace one. I've decided to start the second one before completing the leg on the first. Then I'll be able to take turns knitting each to maximize all the lovely red yarn. The sock is big on my blocker, but it fits nice on my foot.

There's also a pair of boot socks on the needles. Boring, brown, boot socks. Not part of today's post.

It's funny, but I'm not really worried about the startitis at all. I love all these projects, and the lace shawl too, and I'll get to the one by one, when I'm good and ready. Anyway, it's going around. Like a bad cold, there's nothing to do but wait it out.

The Sublime Ridiculous

Having fun is not translating into beautiful knitting for me this year. I've had a couple of flops this year, and oh look! I've made another.

Pattern: Pale but Proud, Knitters 1992
Yarn: Bernat Soy Naturals
Needles: 5mm

Yes, I had fun knitting it. If it's only about process, then this project was a success. But I do like to have a nice product too. Excited at the prospect of knitting this pattern, I took a moment last weekend to pick up some yarn from Michaels. I wanted something with natural fibers, that would look slightly elegant. I must have been tired because I chose entirely the wrong yarn for this project.

Soy fibers felt, so I can never use it as a wash cloth. It's too clunky too look elegant.

In my enthusiasm I thought I'd make two cloths so I bought two balls of the yarn, in different colors. But one ball wasn't enough to make even one cloth, and since I already knew this project was a dud, I just carried on with the other ball. I think it gives it an old fashioned, country styling that just isn't my cup of tea.

The cloth fits nice over the stool we keep by the phone. Oh, the phone's ringing. Grandma called, and she wants her doily back.

The stool does show off the pattern nicely.

What else could I do with this thing? It's not a dog coat.

It's not a hat.


Any one want a piece of ridiculous knitting? Free to a good home.

Gambling

Will there, or won't there be enough for a fourth sock?

I intend to knit to find out.

Welcome!

Tonight, I helped make another new knitter. Anne, who I taught to knit last Saturday, brought her daughter Maddie over tonight for her first lesson. I think she likes it.

It was quite a thrill for me to welcome two enthusiastic knitters to the craft.