Inst. Grat.

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!

Molly1

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.

Molly3

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

Posted by & filed under Family, Finished Knits, Hats, Stashbusting. This post has 12 comments.

Marlene Green

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.

Handmaiden Camelspin

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 2

Marlene Green

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

Posted by & filed under Canada, Finished Knits, Socks, Socktoberfest. This post has 10 comments.

Offshoots of Orange

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.

Mystery Sock

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

 

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Two Today

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. 

Kiki at two

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!

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Socks for October

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!

Marlene Green Blocking

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!

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Vibrant Earth

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.

Pitt Meadows2

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. 

Stanley Park2

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.

Pitt Meadows 

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.

Pitt Medows3

 

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Uptight Socks

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. 

Leyburn 1

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

 

Leyburn 2

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

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Socktoberfest OH-9

A month of all things sock begins today.  Yee-haw!  

Some fantastic knitters I know will be pushing the limits of sock knitting – trying to master new techniques, knit the most number of socks, finish unfinished socks or empty their sock queue on Ravelry by casting on for every sock project they intend to knit.  It’s all about the fun of knitting socks.

I’ve set myself a wimpy target of finishing at least three pairs of socks this month.  The best way to accomplish this is pressure and this time it is in the form of knitting alongside other knitters, albeit virtually.

First up, I am a part of on the Fans of Through The Loops Group on Ravelry.  Kirsten has written some amazing patterns and like last year has decided to run another Mystery Sock KAL this year.  Clue #1 came up this morning which is for the cuff.  Really interesting twist to plain 2×2 ribbing.  Can’t wait for next week’s clue

Mystery Sock Cuff

Posted by & filed under KAL, Socks, Socktoberfest. This post has 6 comments.