Baby knits are super quick and really fun to do! After knitting a couple of Beloved bonnets, I wanted to knit a present for my cousin’s new baby.

I picked an adorable sweater pattern called the Norwegian Fir Cardigan by OGE Knitwear Designs. This time I stayed away from angora and went with a more practical yarn choice — Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk. I love this yarn, it is super soft and has a lovely sheen to it. The sweater turned out really cute!

To accompany the sweater, I made the Garter Ear Flap Baby Hat by Purl Soho using the same yarn. Quick, easy, done!

Garter Ear Flap Hat 
Pattern: Garter Ear Flap Hat by Purl Soho
Yarn: Baby Cashmere Merino Silk by Sublime Yarns in “Dusty Pink”
Needles: Sizes US 7 & 8 / 4.5 & 5 mm

I really enjoyed making this sweater and would totally knit it again. The lace detail works beautifully to create the raglan yoke.

I think I’ve found the perfect baby shower ensemble! I love the soft pink paired with this cotton dress. Momma approved!

Norwegian Fir Cardigan 
Pattern: Norwegian Fir Cardigan by OGE Knitwear Designs
Yarn: Baby Cashmere Merino Silk by Sublime Yarns in “Dusty Pink”
Needles: Size US 6 / 4 mm

The world is on pause as we navigate through the Covid-19 Pandemic. A push to protect ourselves, our loved ones and the most vulnerable in our communities. A coming together by staying apart.

With the ever-changing situation the globe is in, I have been looking to the constants in nature to soothe and comfort. The air is cleaner, the birdsong is chirpier, the world is quieter.

While the world is in lockdown, there have been reports of Orcas spotted in the Burrard Inlet. Peacocks are roaming the streets of India. Wild creatures are claiming back their territory as people #STAYHOME.

With everyone staying home and only venturing out for essentials or walking the dog while being socially distant, it sometimes feel like there is no end in sight. But surely, this pandemic has an end date. Weeks or months, no one knows. But in the meantime, we do the work and stay apart so that we can #PLANKTHECURVE!

What a strange time this new normal is. We are all in this together, none of us is truly alone. I hope you find moments of calm and happiness through this time, whatever your situation may be. Sending some neighbourhood sakura magic and virtual hugs <3

Happy New Decade 2020! Last year whizzed by in a flash, didn’t it? It was a good year for me. A year where I learned to slow down and be thankful for so many things I simply take for granted.

I accomplished a few creative things during 2019. Plenty of knitting, some sewing, a bit of watercolour and lots and lots of reading. Um, baking… still pretty much stumbling with that.

I want to share my makes of 2019 but instead of listing them all down in one blog post, I think I’ll break the list up. This post is all about fluffy baby hats.

Every knitter knows the fantastic pattern company that is Tin Can Knits. Emily and Alexa are the brains behind creating patterns that are enjoyable to knit and easy to style and wear.

I knit two store samples for Black Sheep Yarns from one of Tin Can Knits’ stand-alone patterns, Beloved. I used “Incredible” which is a 100% Angora from the Orkney Islands. Perhaps not very practical for babies, but this yarn is incredibly fluffy and soft.

These hats (bonnets, actually) were really fun to make with hardly any finishing required except to tuck in the ends and call it done. The angora yarn creates these cloud-like hats that are great to display at the shop. I used some fun colours for maximum visual impact and I have to say all of our customers love squishing these hats.

Are these practical for a real baby to wear? Probably not with all the fluffy angora fibres. But, they are pillowy soft though.

Beloved 
Pattern: Beloved Bonnet by Tin Can Knits
Yarn: Incredible 100% Orkney Angora 
Needles: Size US 6 / 4 mm

With visual media taking the spotlight, are words becoming an antiquated form of expression?

If this is an online journal for me to keep track of things that I want to remember, then I’d better write those things down! I was reading through some of my older blog posts a while ago. Wow, I loved blogging back in the day and sharing things I was making or places we were visiting as a family. I really did enjoy that. Sure, I can write things down in my journal, but the reality is that I can type faster than I can write! All this to say… hello, Blogland!

So, a quick recap since my last quick recap. I’m still making stuff and enjoying every moment creating things with my hands. I will share details of the projects I’ve been working on and those that I’ve finished. But today is all about words. Reading is by far my most beloved hobby and my favourite way to relax. Give me a good book and cozy corner any day.

I love that Goodreads offers an annual reading challenge and I’ve done this successfully for a few years. For 2019, I challenged myself to read 52 books and so far I’ve finished 40. Yup, certified bookworm and proud of it!! Some books have been astounding and some have been doozies.

A few of my favourites reads so far this year have been:

“Sometimes she heard night-sounds she didn’t know or jumped from lightning too close, but whenever she stumbled, it was the land who caught her. Until at last, at some unclaimed moment, the heart-pain seeped away like water into sand. Still there, but deep. Kya laid her hand upon the breathing, wet earth, and the marsh became her mother.”

― Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing

A Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine selection from September 2018 and a Goodreads 2018 Choice Awards Nominee. This story stayed with me long after I finished reading the last paragraph.

“My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.”

― Tara Westover, Educated

Named one of the Best Books of 2018 by the NY Times, this memoir by author, Tara Westover is a must read.

“I know it’s a strange thing for me to say, but you will honor them by staying alive, surviving this place and  telling the world what happened here.”

― Heather Morris, The Tattooist of Auschwitz

I’m sure all book lovers have come across The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I couldn’t put this one down. Lale and Gita, your story lives on.

** Any fellow book lovers out there? Do you have any book recommendations? **

Oh my, I forgot all about this one!  Last summer, I finished a sample that I was working on for Black Sheep Yarns.  The High Pines cowl.

I knit this neck warmer using Brooklyn Tweed’s Arbor in a rich, earthy colorway called Klimt.  The pattern is very engaging and every round is just a bit different from the others.  As with any BT pattern, these sort of stylistic nuances are fun and to be expected.  High Pines is completely charted and you can mark off the rounds as you progress, which is handy especially with the traveling stitch pattern and the twisted rib.

Plenty of texture in this cowl.

An interesting design element is that decreases are worked on the upper third so that the cowl is tapered at the top near the neck.  A tubular cast on and bind off give this cowl a nicely-finished look.

I enjoyed knitting with Arbor.  This worsted spun yarn has a smooth hand although, it is not superwash.  The colors of this yarn are deep and vibrant.  I think it is is a great base to showcase textured patterns.  I don’t know if I’d knit a whole garment using Arbor as I prefer the lightness of fabrics produced by woollen-spun yarns.  Shelter, Loft, Rauma, Tukuwool and Jamieson and Smith are fabulous for sweater knitting.

Who am I… embracing all these woolly wools, LOL!

High Pines (Ravelry notes)
Pattern: High Pines by Jared Flood
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Arbor in “Klimt”
Needles: Size US 4 & 6 / 3.5 & 4 mm

The hat, it is done! This is the coziest hat I’ve ever made. Also, the sweetest.

That mohair halo! That pom!!

It was truly a pleasure knitting every stitch of this project. Holding the hand dyed merino from Hedgehog Fibres together with the fluffiest Rowan Kidsilk Haze produces a fabric that is so dreamy. I would love to wear a sweater knit with this stuff!

My daughter wanted it extra slouchy and she is super thrilled with how it turned out. I scored major tween points for the pompom too! Now, I don’t have to remind her to wear a hat when she goes out the door.

For the pattern, I used the framework for the Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits and then added a panel of mock cables. The pompom is detachable and is secured to the top of the hat using a piece of cotton yarn and a large button.

I’m quite happy with this first finish for 2019. Next, I have a pair of socks on the needles and a sweater. Oh, I also have fabric cut out for some project bags that I’m looking forward to finishing.

So many fun things to make. So little time.

I have quite a bit of yarn left from each color, maybe enough to make a pair of fingerless mitts or a more fitted beanie sans pompom.

Beach Bunny Hat 
Pattern: Inspired by the Barley Hat
Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK in “Beach Bunny” and Rowan Kidsilk Haze in “Natural”
Needles: Size US 6, 7 / 4, 4.5 mm

I purchased this faux fur pompom a few months ago and put it away in one of my yarn baskets. Then I promptly forgot all about it.

A couple weeks ago, I was digging through my stash for some yarn and my heart just about stopped. I saw this round, furry thing sitting there in the basket. I swear it had beady eyes and sharp teeth. Eeek, had a rodent invaded my yarn stash and made a cozy home?!

I should have paid attention to the box this furry blob was sitting inside. Whew!

The culprit

To prevent any further palpitations, I decided that I needed to use it right away. I was going to knit a hat and put this pompom on it.

Right after Christmas, we were going away for a week to sunny Jamaica. I packed a book to read and of course, I had to take a small project. A hat would be a great project to tote along for some beach knitting. In keeping with that, I picked up a skein of Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK in the perfect colorway… Beach Bunny.

But that’s not all. To make this hat extra cozy, I added a skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and held the two yarns together. Pure luxe.

This hat is for my daughter. But as I keep knitting and watch this project grow, I want to keep it. No, I should be a nice mom and give it to her. Or… I should keep it. Haha, we shall see 🙂

Happy New Year, friend!! I hope this year be all that is good and fulfilling in whatever way that looks for you.

Isn’t a brand new year always exciting? A new opportunity, a clean slate, a fresh start. I don’t do new year resolutions, but I always look for something to focus my year on. I use a word or a phrase and write it down in my bullet journal as a reminder. I began doing this a few years ago and I can’t tell you how many times during the year I feel prompted to refocus just because I wrote my intention down.

2018 was a tough year for us as a family. But also, so many parts were so good and meaningful and deep. We dealt with some serious health crises but we made it across to the other side, for which we are immensely grateful.

The past year taught us so many things about ourselves as a family, as unique individuals and also what it means to do life with community. I wouldn’t trade any of the wobbly, bumpy experiences for a pinterest-perfect life.

2019. I wish that it is filled with lots of treasured moments for all of us. Embracing full on, the simple things. Experiencing the joy of just. plain. ordinary.

It’s been a whole two weeks of back to school now and I’m loving the more predictable routine.  More so since this has been an eventful summer for us. We traveled to India to visit family and friends.  We were away for about 5 weeks and while the vacation was absolutely fun, it wasn’t without the post-holiday crash and burn that international travel entails.

India was, as always, crazy and chaotic in a good way.  Every day was enjoyable and overwhelming at the same time.  This trip was especially because of a family reunion which made our holiday extra special.  So many precious moments!

A highlight on every trip to India for my little girl is getting henna designs or mehendi, as it is traditionally called, done on her hands.  Convenient that there is a mehendi artist at the end of my mom’s street.  He did this in under 20 minutes… both hands, front and back.  Now that is skill!

Of course, retail therapy is always good when traveling to distant lands.  This time around, I wanted to visit local crafts people and I got quite a few opportunities to do that.  It’s always good to support local artisans and we brought back a few lovely handcrafted pieces for ourselves and our home.

We visited a silk weaving studio and another place where the finest cotton was being woven into yards and yards of gorgeous fabric.   Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to photograph or film the artisans at work creating their unique pieces, but I am truly grateful that I was able to experience this first hand.

Inspired by these skill craftsmen and women, I am eager to get back to regular crafting and making.  To enjoy the process of creating unique items that are made using my hands.

I have just completed a mammoth knitting project.  It has been blocked and the ends woven in.  This will be on display at Knit City in the Black Sheep Yarns booth and so I was rush knitting to get it done in time!  Knit City is in 2 weeks and I’m super excited that we have such a wonderful fiber festival in Vancouver every year.  Next up, I’ve got a couple more works-in-progress that I want to tackle.  I’ll share my crafty projects and plans in future posts.

As good as it was to travel and be with family as well as have a culture-rich summer, it is so good to be back home.

I hope your summer was filled to the brim with special moments and laughter too!

I’m currently working on a store sample for Black Sheep Yarns.  We want to showcase how Arbor knits up and so we picked out a small(ish) pattern to finish and display in store.

The pattern choice that made the cut was High Pines, a textured cowl designed by Jared Flood.

If you’re familiar with Jared’s work you will know that his patterns have unusual techniques and the design is often quite intricate.  The end result though, is always stunning.  High Pines is no exception.  The pattern is constantly ‘moving’.  It is charted so you really have to pay attention to the tiny boxes on the grid.

Knitters, if you love an interesting pattern and don’t mind working off a chart, then add this to your Ravelry queue!

High Pines is not your usual zen project.  Every round is different from the previous one.  The payoff for razor sharp creative focus, is texture, texture, texture!