Spontaneous

I love a spontaneous plan.  We made last minute reservations to take the ferry across to the Sunshine Coast and boy was it a spectacular few days!  It’s a good thing we reserved because this is what was in store for us and the thousands of other vacationers over on the other side…

Coast 4

We did lots of hiking, kayaking, late night movie watching, board game playing and plenty of lazing around… every minute was perfect.

Coast 1

Even the bald eagles were out having a great time.  We saw so many of them… at first it was like “eeeeeagle!!!” and by the last day the kids would say, “oh, eagle”.

Coast 3

It’s back to reality and school now and my Elia sweater has been steadily growing.  The cables provide the perfect rhythm making this knit interesting without being too overwhelming.

Elia Progress

I think I may have overdone it yesterday with my just-one-more-row mantra.  I keep forgetting to take frequent breaks while I’m knitting and just do some finger/hand exercises.  I promise I’ll be good today because this is a highly addictive pattern (ooh, squishy cables!) and I really want to get it finished.

Coast 2

Posted by & filed under Canada, Sweaters, Vacation. This post has 8 comments.

Spring Fever

Sprrrring!

Daffs

Spring Fever 1

Spring Fever 3

With the weather being so crazy gorgeous and the kids on Spring Break, every day has been packed with hikes and picnics and bike rides.  We even managed to spend some time at the beach.  Ok, we didn’t dare get our feet wet what with the water still being freezing cold and all!  We did do some pretty decent beach combing, though.

I’ve been crafting a bit here and there.  On my needles is a lovely cabled sweater, Elia, designed by Julia Trice.  This picture was taken a while ago, I’m almost done with the waist increases now.  Don’t the cables look gorgeous in this yarn?

Elia 1

And I’ve been sewing, of course.

Mini Quilt 1

Inspired by Amy’s amazing work of art, I finished this mini quilt and I feel all smiley when I see it hanging on the wall even though the points are not very pointy 🙂  I had so much fun working on this project, I will definitely try squares on point again.

Mini Quilt 2

We’re off to the Sunshine Coast this weekend for a last bit of frolic before life returns to normal on Tuesday.

Spring Fever 2

Posted by & filed under Quilting, Rambling, Sweaters. This post has one comment.

Business Casual

The socks I was knitting for my son’s ginormous feet are done!  Happy dance!!

Biz Casuals Done 1

He said that they fit perfectly and are super soft and hinted that he would like another pair.  Um… maybe after I knit a few sweaters first 😉

Biz Casuals Done 2

I knit these socks as a part of the knit-along hosted by Kelly of CelticCastOn.  There have been so many lovely finished pairs of Business Casuals that have been popping up on the knit-along thread.  This pattern was designed by Tanis Lavellee, the genius dyer and designer behind Tanis Fiber Arts. The argyle pattern works up really fast and is fun too.  I knit the mini cables without dropping the stitches or using cable needles and this video explains it much better than I would.

Biz Casuals Done 5

Of course, Miss. Kiki wanted to be in the picture but it’s not likely that she will ever ask for a pair of handknit socks in the near future since she thinks everyday is flip-flops weather!

Biz Casuals Done 3

Business Casual (Ravelry notes)
Pattern: Business Casual by Tanis Lavellee
Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy in “Romeo Blue”
Needles: Size US 1.5 / 2.5 mm

Posted by & filed under Finished Knits, KAL, Kids, Socks. This post has 6 comments.

Embracing Color

When it comes to yarn (or fabric), color is my friend.  I’m always drawn to saturated, vibrant shades.

Vitamin D 1

Never one to shy away from wearing color, it’s always a challenge to pair my handknits with my clothes.

At Long Last

I recently purchased a blouse in the loveliest shade of “seafoam” and when I looked for a sweater to wear with it, as expected, there was nothing.  All those handknit sweaters and I came up empty.  Then I spied the first ever cardigan I knit – the February Lady Sweater.

FLS

It’s knit in this sort of coral shade of Malabrigo.  And just like that, the coral and the pale green work together perfectly.  The above picture was ganked 0ff my Ravelry page from 2009, I’m glad to report that I’m done with the knitting, I’ve only got to weave in the ends and add buttons.  I guess the reason for me dragging my heels with this one was because I wasn’t digging this colorway.  Suddenly, I’m obsessed with getting this finished so that I can wear it, pronto!

I’m going to try being more daring like this with my other handknit sweaters and experiment, because it’s all about embracing color.

What color have you been drawn to lately?

Posted by & filed under Cardigans, Rambling. This post has 3 comments.

Slowly, Surely

Suddenly, it’s the last day of February! I don’t have much crafting progress for show-and-tell since I’m sort of stuck with the dreaded SSS (second sock syndrome).  However, I’m determined to be monogamous with this project and see it through to completion.  The socks I’m talking about is this pair of Business Casuals.

Biz Casual 2

If you’ve been reading this blog for sometime, you will notice that I’m not much of a sock knitter.  That being said, when Kelly announced that she was going to host a KAL for this pattern, I decided to sign up to join in on the fun.  I pulled out a skein of Dream In Color Smooshy (love that name!) that has been marinating in my stash bin for far too long and cast on.  I’m knitting this pair of socks for my firstborn, Prithvi, who has ginormous size 12 feet.  I figure that it’s the large-size knitting that’s been tripping me up and the fact that once I was done with numero uno, I have to do it all over again!

Biz Casual 3

That second sock will get finished though, because he’s asked me everyday without fail, if his socks are done.  No pressure, haha!!

Biz Casual 4

I also finished my table topper.

Candy Topper 1

Turned out super soft and crinkly when I washed and dried it.  I love handmade 🙂

Candy Topper 2

Now, all it needs is a vase full of tulips set on top.  Ah, Spring!

Posted by & filed under KAL, Quilting, Sewing, Socks, Stashbusting. This post has 3 comments.

Renfrew

I know, I know… hat-wearing days are almost zero now that it’s warming up, but I wanted to squeeze this post in because I really want to gush about this pattern.  I picked up Jane Richmond’s book Island, at Knit City and so far I’ve knit two patterns out of  5 in the book!  That’s saying a lot!  I love Jane’s pattern writing style and her designs are 100% wearable.  They don’t just get stashed in my shelf of handknits never to see the light of day again.

Renfrew 1

This hat was a great project to knit and I love how it turned out.  When I first looked at the pattern I saw all of those purl bumps and almost didn’t want to begin even though I had my yarn wound and ready.  Like most knitters, I’m no exception in the knit stitch loving camp. Purl stitch… meh!  Then I skimmed through the pattern and get this, you knit this hat inside out which means no miles of purl bumps.  Just knit, knit, knit round and around, oh yeah, with the panel of decorative stitches to pretty things up!  Then you turn it inside out and voila, you’ve got a fabulous Renfrew!  I was all over this baby and I knit this hat in a day.  Me, the world’s slowest knitter, knit this hat in ONE day!!!

Renfrew 2

The yarn I used for it was the perfect choice – SweetGeorgia Worsted – the same yarn I used for my hat design, Courtenay.  The next pattern I’ve got lined up from this book is the Grace cardigan for which I will be using SweetGeorgia yarn again, Tough Love Sock this time.  I’ve got a couple other things on the needles that need to be finished first, cough Business Casual cough 😉

Renfrew 3

Renfrew (Ravelry notes)
Pattern: Renfrew by Jane Richmond
Yarn: SweetGeorgia Superwash Worsted in “Boysenberry”
Needles: Size US 7 / 4.5 mm

Posted by & filed under Finished Knits, Hats. This post has 4 comments.

More Craftiness

We had an awesome time on our trip and we’re back home now.  I packed a knitting project with me, nothing big just a hat, thinking that I’ll have time to finish it.  Um… didn’t quite get around to pulling my knitting out of my suitcase!  However, between the loads of laundry that I had to tackle yesterday, I managed to cast on for my Renfrew hat and I’m pleased to say that I’m close to the crown decreases.  Yeah!!

Renfrew 1

Now… you’re not going to believe these next couple pictures.  Ta-da…

Christmas Sewing 1

Christmas Sewing 4

That’s right, I can’t believe it either!  Let me back up a bit.  I have this lovely friend who also has a huge crafting habit like me.  She’s mainly into sewing and quilting (her quilts are outstanding!) and dabbles in a bit of jewelry making and get this… building handcrafted furniture.  She has been wanting me to teach her how to knit and promised to teach me how to quilt in return.  So late last year we began swapping crafting lessons and we’ve had success.  She has begun knitting a scarf and she taught me how to make this Christmassy table topper complete with embellished tree and mitt and even some fun stitches.

Christmas Sewing 2

Lots of incorrect seams yet, so much fun and so quick too.  But, what I enjoyed most about this topper was the hand stitching.  I love the tactile aspect of crafting, I guess.

Christmas Sewing 3

Next, we’ve been working on this “mini quilty thing” (another table topper perhaps?)

Quilty ThingShe’s making one in aquas and mine is made using a pack of pre-cut fabric squares from Moda called Marmalade.  Perfect for welcoming spring 🙂  I have to say that I’m hooked and there will be lots more quilting in my future.  Of course, knitting will always have first dibs 😉

Posted by & filed under Accessories, Hats, Quilting, Sewing. This post has 5 comments.

Baby Red

I almost forgot to share finished pictures of this project.  I knit a little baby sweater for another soon-to-arrive bebe using the Baby Sophisticate pattern and Malabrigo (swoon!) yarn.

Baby Red 1

My favorite part about this pattern was the little shawl collar, definitely the “Sophisticate” part of this sweater!

Baby Red 3

I added the different colored buttons for a bit of whimsy and fun.  This pattern was such a quick knit and I’m definitely going to be knitting it again.  I went up a needle size from what the pattern called for and I’m glad I did because this sweater is tiny and newborns grow so quickly.  Speaking of growing up, I’m going to really miss my two not-so-little munchkins.  Vineet has been planning a big surprise for me since it was our 15-year anniversary and it’s also my big 4-GULP-0 year!  He’s planned out this whole vacation for just the two of us for a few days and I don’t know many of the details like where we’re going to be staying etc.  I only know that we’re Vegas bound and he said that it’s going to be a blast!  We’re not into the whole gambling thing and so this is going to be interesting and exciting.  We leave tomorrow and my sweet mom has offered to watch the kids while we’re away.  I’m feeling all happy and sad inside because we haven’t been away from the kids, specifically Kiki for more than a night.  But once we get on that plane tomorrow, I’m sure I will be fine.

I’d better get back to packing but not before I add some knitterly notes on this teensy sweater.

Baby Red 2

Baby Red (Ravelry notes)
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in “Ravelry Red”
Needles: Size US 9 / 5.5 mm

Posted by & filed under Cardigans, Finished Knits, Gifts, Stashbusting. This post has 2 comments.

Wee Wildflower

Isn’t this little sweater just adorable?  This pattern is from one of my favorite designers, Alana Dakos.  Hot off the needles is Wee Wildflower…

Wee Wildflower 1

I think it turned out super cute despite the fact that there is seaming involved (set-in sleeves anyone!)  If I had to knit this pattern again in a small size, I would definitely convert this to a seamless garment, especially the sleeves.  And even though the pockets are darling, I’d convert them to faux pockets because I ripped and re-seamed but couldn’t get them to lay flat.  I don’t know any newborns who stick loose change in their sweater pockets 😉

Wee Wildflower 3

Also, I blocked this sweater twice :: once before seaming and once everything was done including adding the buttons.  I think the little cardi needed the second blocking for it to look less scrunched up and more finished.  I’m happy to say that this project was knit entirely out of stash.  I used all but a couple yards of the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that has been stewing in my stash forever.  This is a great yarn for knitting baby things. The brown trim was knit using remnants of Tosh DK leftover from this hat.  Now, the baby it is intended for just has to show up and hopefully she is a girl, if not this sweater will go into my baby shower gifting pile that I intend to add to significantly this year with so many of my friends pregnant!

Wee Wildflower 2

Wee Wildflower (Ravelry notes)
Pattern: Wee Wildflower from Coastal Kids by Alana Dakos
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for the body and a bit of Tosh DK in “Toast” for the trim
Needles: Size US 1.5, 4 / 2.5, 3.5 mm (yes, teeny tiny!)

Posted by & filed under Cardigans, Finished Knits, Gifts, Stashbusting. This post has 6 comments.