High Pines – Finished Knit

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

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Beach Bunny Hat

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

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Put A Pompom On It

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 🙂

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Just Plain Ordinary

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.

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Summer Recap

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!

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Creative Focus

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!

 

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The Slow Movement

Downshifting and practicing mindfulness has been the most liberating change I’ve made this year.  Stepping away from tech regularly, embracing the great outdoors, making things from scratch, indulging in self care without guilt… I’ve made a conscious effort to build these things into my every day.

Has it been easy?  Nope!  Has it been worth it?  Absolutely, yes, yes and yes!

The slow living philosophy has been around for ages.  The fast pace of advancement in technology that’s often intrusive has stolen just a bit of everyone’s soul and happiness, in my opinion.  Slow living forces you to savour each moment and make it count rather than living life like it is a countdown clock.  Slowing down and practising gratitude everyday is easier said than done, especially when you throw home and work life into the mix.  However, it is essential for a happy, healthy you.  Your happiness and your health are important!

Begin with baby steps, changing just one thing at a time.

Practising gratitude while doing something with my hands has helped me slow down immensely.  I have been doing this by creating something every single day.  Whether it is knitting, sewing, bullet journaling, cooking or pottering around in the garden.

I also take time to read, and sometimes listen to a podcast or an audiobook.  Even if it’s just for 10 minutes.  It’s amazing how quickly you can power through books if you read just a little each day.  I know this for sure

I just finished reading this wonderful book, Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much by Niki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home.  This book really sheds light on stepping away from the expectation of ‘too much’ but just the same, not swinging to the extreme opposite towards total non-indulgence and living off the grid.  Rather, finding a balance that’s just right and unique.  That balance is different for me than the balance that works for you.  If you get a chance to flip through this book, do!  The photography, illustration and mood conveyed through these pages is presented beautifully and thoughtfully.

What’s your take on this whole slowing down thing?

Too boring?

It’s the bees knees??

It is a gorgeous spring day here in beautiful British Columbia and I’m going to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  I hope you have an indulgent weekend xo

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BT Bonanza

I have been working at my LYS, Black Sheep Yarns, for the past two years and I have loved every minute.  Last month, we became a destination store for Brooklyn Tweed.

Happy dance 😀

 

As we unpacked boxes and boxes and boxes of gorgeous BT yarn, there was much squealing and whoops of delight!  Stocking the shelves was a mammoth task, but so worth it.  I love the story behind this all-American yarn and now I am so glad that this wall of color is my work-day view.

With Brooklyn Tweed in the house, I’ve got a second wind to finish my Veronika Cardigan.  I’m on the longest stretch right now – the back section.  Since this is an oversized garment, it’s like knitting two sweaters at the same time!  But the BT Shelter that I’m using produces the lightest weight fabric.  This is a unique quality and the best part of this yarn.  I’m sure it will be super cozy too!

The timestamp on this picture says that I began this sweater 8 months ago.  Of course, now that the days are warming up, I’m all about sweater knitting, hah 😉  I’m loving every row of this potato chippy knit even though it continues to look like a grey blob.  I see this becoming a favorite handknit.

Brooklyn Tweed’s Shelter is woolen spun which give the stitches a gorgeous texture.  Such a joy to work with.  Knitters will so appreciate the tactile nature of this yarn as a project is knitted.

I’ve already picked out the next pattern I want to knit using Shelter.  I can’t stop with just one BT sweater 😉

So many possibilities, so little time.  This crate of Vale bathed in its personal halo is just as dreamy as can be.  I think something floaty and light would be the perfect project for this laceweight yarn.

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March Makers

Whoa calendar, slow down already!

Every March Joanne Hawker puts out a #MarchMeetTheMaker challenge.  The inspiration, camaraderie and community spirit with so many creatives sharing is mind boggling.  Check out all the eye candy and the makers behind the creative offerings.

In the spirt of March Making, I’m working on a few creative challenges myself.  A while ago, I bought this wonderful, bright skein of hand dyed yarn.

Tosh Sport Cactus Flower

It was the perfect choice to make these fingerless mitts for my daughter and she loves them to this day.  Pattern is Spate by Jane Richmond and I highly recommend it.

Spate 5

I wanted to use up every last bit of this gorgeous yarn and so I began making a ribbed cowl.  Nothing fancy just 2×2 rib round and round.

Bold Color 3
Warm, squishy and most of all, v i b r a n t !!

And then, I ran out of yarn.

Bold Color 1
I work at a yarn shop once a week, so my first instinct was to buy another skein and finish my project.  But I decided to break my yarn habit and “shop” my stash bins instead.  Yes, that doesn’t happen too often, hah!

Score… the perfect complementary leftovers from another project.  In an effort to stashbust and buy less, I present this stacked cowl.

Bold Color 2
This is turning out to be a great project and perfectly portable.  I love how these colors play so well together and I am learning that I can embrace neutrals just as much as I tend to reach for the bright, bold, vibrant colorways 🙂

Are you participating in #MarchMeetTheMaker

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Inspired 2018

Happy new year, friends!

Being inspired really challenges me to grow and develop.  2017 was definitely a year for me to step back and find balance.  To assess what inspires me and weed out all the things that caused me overwhelm or stole away time from what mattered.  Did I learn a lot!  About myself and about how I react to or process things that influence me.

While there is no magic formula, I’ve benefitted from goal setting and actually following through.  Looking back at what has worked over the past year, makes me want to do more of the same going forward.  For what hasn’t gone to plan, learning how to make it better rather than looking back with regret is key.  I’m not one for making resolutions, but I’m definitely keen on making this year a good one.

Here’s to an inspired 2018!  I’m celebrating with rainbow bunting 🙂

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