It’s December one!  The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is finally here and I’m so happy.  But that’s not what I’m going to talk about first…. 

There’s been some progress on my shawlette and I’ve reached the edging.  This shawlette (which is more scarf-like for me since I didn’t check row gauge::my bad) is knit first and then the leaf edging is knit and attached with a fantastic method of using the simple p2tog.  Great plan, since it does not involve any picking up of stitches!! 

These leaves are so cute and serve to make up for the loss of the ones on our “neighborly” trees. 

Alas, the going on this project has been slow because my pre-Christmas list is enormous.  Doesn’t everyone have such a crazy list??  A leeeeetle too much going on right now but that’s ok!  I think that all of it doesn’t sound like pandemonium in my head because I love Christmas and everything that surrounds it!  Hopefully, I can check back soon with a finished shawlette (scarflette?)  Or maybe some other randomness on this blog which threatens to keep going into hibernation.

Talk to you soon:)

No finished object this time although, I have some stuff on the needles. 

I would love to say that I have some tweedy number flying off the pointy sticks with plenty of interesting twists and turns, preferably a cardigan with waist shaping, knitted in the warmest wool and in a lovely shade of wintry grey.  Did I mention that its tweedy?  That’s all just in my head. 

In reality, I have some lovely projects on the go that I’m enjoying but there ain’t a single cable in sight!  Given that Christmas (my absolutely favorite time of the year) is almost here, don’t cables sound perfect?

The beret is Aira by the lovely Lily who is an amazing knitter like her mom and who is also turning out to be quite the talented designer.  The yarn is Araucania that I’ve never knit with before.  I haven’t blocked the beret yet – well, I’m not even half way through the pattern and so I can’t say for sure if I like this yarn or not.

The shawlette is Cedar Leaf done in drool-worthy Malabrigo Silky Merino.  The picture makes it look like a swirly mess but it’s actually almost 300 stitches across.  The pattern is lovely – short row heaven with a wonderful leafy edging.

Then there is garter stitch madness in the form of the Vine Yoke Cardigan.  I have never really liked garter stitch because I can never seem to keep an even tension when all I do is knit every row.  Despite the garter crazies, this is a very, very interesting pattern and my first sideways knit sweater.  I’m not too thrilled with the Cascade 220 Heathers I’m using for this project – not as soft as I expected it to be.  I don’t know if I’m turning out to be a yarn snob, I sure hope not!!

Lastly, a just-now-cast-on toddler sized Drive-thru cardigan done in Cascade 220.  If you look on Ravelry, this yarn has held first place for the longest time.  I guess that the 100% wool content, the amazing range of colors along with the fabulous price tag is what makes Cascade 220 a popular yarn.  This cardigan is knit in Christmas Red – perfect for the holiday season!

Having so many projects on the go usually overwhelms me but I’m trudging along and actually enjoying knitting them.  I’ll get them done soon so that I can actually knit cables with that tweed.  Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Inst.Grat.  That’s what I have written on top of my printed copy of Molly. 

Instant Gratification is a phrase that every knitter loves.  This beret turned out to be exactly that.  Cast on, knit, cast off, blocked, photographed all within a few days.  That’s a big deal in my knitting world of slow.  Best part is that Kiki loves it and allowed me to take pictures even though the temperature outside was hovering just above freezing.  I think that’s the best compliment she could give me in her own toddler way and bonus points when she insisted on wearing it all day.  Now that’s a winning knit!

This is a great project and fantastic to use up leftover sock yarn.  And what’s even more amazing is that Alana has written up the pattern for a large range of sizes – baby noggin to large adult sized head – doesn’t get more fantastic than that!  Love everything about this pattern and the swirliness that the decreases create on the crown of the beret.  I will definitely knit this pattern again.

Molly

Pattern: Molly by Alana Dakos (check out Alana’s blog for more lovely patterns)
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock in colorways “Terracotta” and “Impressionist Sky”
Needles: Size US 2/2.75 mm and US 4/3.5 mm

Handmaiden Fine Yarn produces Camelspin – an most interesting combination of fibers that actually work well coupled together.  This yarn is 70% silk and 30% baby camel and is dyed in the most gorgeous colors.  A skein of this beautiful yarn in greens and greys had to be mine and I’m so glad that I used it to knit my other pair of Socktoberfest socks, Marlene.

The yarn fuzzes up a bit as you knit but not in a gross pilly sort of way, just like a soft halo.  At the same time, the stitches remain crisp, so this yarn is a winner and I would love to knit a scarf or shawl with it again. 

This sock pattern is chock full of twisted stitches (a Cookie A. staple) and is essentially a 1×1 all over rib.  However, due to the knit stitches being twisted, it is not as stretchy as normal ribbing.  The socks were quite snug once I knit them but blocking caused the yarn to bloom and produced the softest buttery fabric.  The high silk content makes them feel so luxurious.  This yarn definitely gets two thumbs up from me!

Presenting my silk and camel socks…

Marlene Green

Pattern: Marlene by Cookie A.
Yarn: Handmaiden Camelspin in colorway Green
Needles: Size US 1.5/2.5 mm

Orange is usually associated with halloween, hippie, harvest or highway (you know the weather proof vests worn by highway workers, I salute them).  I never see orange-colored clothing at a trendy boutique or squished onto a rack at the local outlet store.  This color seems to have built quite a bad rep for itself.  But tone it down or mix it up and it turns from a fashion nay to a fashion yea.  Enter the cousins – pumpkin, peach, rust,amber. 

I chose another close relative – terracotta – to be fashioned into my Mystery Socks.  This was a part of Socktoberfest and offered every week as a clue.  First clue was the cuff, second the leg, third the heel and so on.  Designed by the ingenious Kirsten Kapur, this was a fun sock to knit and breaking the pattern into bits made it a breeze. 

This was the end result and I have to say that I love the pattern, the yarn, the color.

TTL Mystery Socks

Pattern: Mystery Socks 09 by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in colorway “Terracotta”
Needles: Size US 1.5/2.5 mm
Started 10/1 – Finished 10/30

Ravelled here

Nope, it’s not my blogiversary.

Kirtana turned two years old today and the exciting journey continues as we watch her grow each day in so many ways - mind and body and spirit. 

May this phase of the widely proclaimed “Terrible Two’s” pass mildly for us.  All the same, with kids - the good will always outweigh the not so good.

Happy Birthday, KiKi-Bee!

Today is the last day of October and the last day for Socktoberfest.  I started off this month saying that I was going to try to knit 3 pairs of socks and I actually cast on for all 3 on the first day of this month.  Two are done (yay!)  The third pair didn’t quite make the finish line and remain in a state of unravel.  Oh well, you win some you lose some.

Knitting along with so many others made this fun and extra special showing me that the knitting community is a great place to be.  New friendships have blossomed and old ones reinforced with you can do it encouragement that has been passed around.  Having a deadline helped a great deal too, sticking with these projects and getting them done – fantastic feeling!

There are no modeled sock pictures in this post because right now they are damp and blocking and I didn’t want to put on a damp pair of socks even if it was for a few minutes of camera time because…. well because, eeew!!  I might just give the socks some blow dryer action later because I want to wear them already!  Anyways, pictures of my socks coming soon.

Socktoberfest was fun!

I never meant to blog so sporadically but this month has been filled with bursts of activity followed by periods of sheer exhaustion.  It’s nothing really different from every other month of the year but just seems like I have a bit less energy and I can’t seem to figure out why.

While I’ve been keeping up with the sock knitting this month, Prithvi’s school has a project called Fall Foto Frenzy where students and their families are encouraged to take pictures and share what this season means to them. 

At the end of the month each student will have a chance to display what their family discovered together and talk about their Fall memories.  I think that this is a great project to help the kids learn and discover all they can about this planet with its perfect life supporting tilt away from the sun.  What better season than now before all the leaves are shed and the silent beauty of yet another change comes to be.

Since this is a family project, we’ve used every opportunity to haul the camera out for picture-taking.  Prithvi is done with his collage and I marvelled at all the work he’s done and the sweet touches he’s added to his piece.  Without much parental prodding, his memories have been preserved and he’s learned so much along the way.  It’s wrapped and ready to be taken to school tomorrow, but I’m sure that when he gets it back it will hang on his wall for a long time to come just to remember this vibrant earth.

Giving thanks for family, friends, blessings unimagined and love.

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

It’s not the pattern, it’s not the technique, it’s not the yarn or any of the other things that I could blame. 

My Sock#2 for Socktoberfest were meant to be Leyburn Socks.  This is my first time doing toe-up socks and everything was going along swimmingly.  I followed the instructions and all the helpful Ravelry tips.  I turned the heel and then I tried it on for size.  SNAP!!!  My yarn actually snapped because the heel was so tight and there was no way to salvage anything after that.  

All I could do was F-R-O-G

Someday, I will knit these socks and I will learn how to knit toe-up!