Always Casting On...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:32:00 +0000

I think I like it. :)

Something is Better Than...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:12:00 +0000

nothing.

I'm knitting in fits and starts. It's really weird. I have the urge, but don't pick up my project to work on. It's mainly because of being constantly interupted, I think. My attention hasn't been able to totally devote itself to any specific project for any length of time, so I don't bother. Kinda feel like a sacrificial lamb, some days.

Regardlessly, God works in strange and mysterious ways and has found interesting alternatives to keep reminding me of what it is I love to do to relieve my life stresses. I am teaching twin girls how to knit, which has been a true pleasure. They are very good students. I've also been approached to give a review of a craft product, which I hope to get to soon. Perhaps a video review? Whaddya think of that? Let me know!

Now, about my current project. I know in my previous post I said I was itching to knit the Relaxed Coat by Mari Lynn Patrick (Ravelry link)...but, I am a woman of limited mental capacity (A.K.A. perimenopause) and I decided to start something different. :P Short attention span, indeed, eh? Besides, it's another Mari Lynn Patrick pattern. I seem to really like her oversized knits. They please me very much. So, I started the Textured Cardigan (Ravelry link) from the Fall 2011 issue of Knit Simple Magazine.

BACK

Yes, I'm in bobble hell! Purling five together repeatedly every few rows keeps in line with eating one too many cookies. You're fine as you're doing it, but regret it the next day...instead of gaining a bazzilion pounds, though, I have a very sore finger. I've lost my knitting callus. Very sad, really.

This is being knit using KnitPicks Comfy worsted in silver sage. I love Comfy. I really, really, really do! It's so soft and even though it's a cotton blend, very easy to knit.

Alrighty, I'm signing off. Have a good one. Until next time...

Knit On!

Obsessed...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Relaxed Coat by Mari Lynn Patrick

From the winter 2011/12 Knit Simple magazine. My fingers are beyond itching to knit this.

Have a happy weekend!

Aha!!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:37:00 +0000

Found it!

That is all.

Knit on!

Do You Know When...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:43:00 +0000

your knitting hiatus has been too long?

When you can't find any of your needles because they're all stuck in long forgotten projects.

Anybody Still Here?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:37:00 +0000

I am. I'm beginning to feel the end to my knitting funk. It's at that hanging over the precipice moment...kinda like the 3...2...1...blast off! count down. I'm currently at 1...just waiting for the blast off! ;)

Inside of Creme Egg Cupcake

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Ouch! This makes my teeth ache just looking at it.

May your teeth stay healthy and pain-free this Easter weekend!

Thanks for the Memories...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:49:00 +0000

Have you heard? There's a royal wedding in the works and the nuptials will be taking place in approximately;

Well, will wonders never cease! There is even a widget to countdown the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the big day.

There will be no short supply of commemorative memorabilia to make you want to whip out your wallet and splurge on that "limited time offer." Be it Royal Doulton figurines and tea cups, books, magazines, dolls, pillows, postcards, notebooks, clocks, bedding, t-shirts,(insert big breath here), watches, reproduction engagement rings, and the pièce de résistance the mighty salt and pepper shakers! Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't selling commemorative boxes of Honeymoon William & Kate condoms.

I was feeling kinda bitter. Nothing for knitters? Seriously? Come on, now! People can shake salt out of Wills' noggin for decades to come and I as a knitter get nothing?

But wait! What's that over there? A Book? A Knitting pattern book? Yup, you can now...

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding by Fiona Goble

I was sent this review copy expecting, well, I'll leave that up to your imagination, eh. I gotta admit, though, that I was pleasantly surprised.

The book takes into account new(ish) knitters and gives you a detailed explanation of techniques used through the first few pages. The patterns are well written, with a little blurb about each person you are knitting and the materials you will need for each. There are clear, large photos of all the royals and come on, who can resist the wee Corgi's! Seriously, I want to make a dozen Corgi's...no Queen though. I'm gonna be Queen over my knitted Corgi's! ;)

Last but not least, there is an insert/cutout to make your own balcony so your own knitted William and Kate can relive their waving and smooching, over and over again!

Now, I never considered myself a royalist, nor a collector of memorabilia, but DANG! maybe just a small part of me is after all! Well done!

Knit On!

The Continuing Saga of Let's Make a Deal...with Myself.

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:42:00 +0000

Ahem...

1. ~~Pixiebell Hat - 100%~~

2. ~~Pixiebell Hat the 2nd - 100%~~

These hats are like opening a bag of potato chips...you can't stop at just one.

3. ~~Owlet (A.K.A. Hoot! Hoot! Junior) - 100%~~

This post just proves that not only am I a knitter, but also a liar with no self control. :D

The saga continues...

Knit On!

Let's Make a Deal...With Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:48:00 +0000

If I can finish knitting the following projects on my WIP list:

1: Slinky Socks - 60%

2: ~~Victory Socks~~ ~~- 100%~~

3: Norwegian Snail Mittens - 55%

4: Junior Fiddlehead Mittens - 55%

5: Fiddlehead Mittens - 40%

6: Cityscape Pullover - 20%

Man, that list is ~~long~~ doable. Yes, indeedy. *sigh*

This will leave me with two projects left remaining on the needles. The Faroese Flower Shawl - 35% and the Must Have Slightly Upsized Cardi - 40%. I will knit on these two projects while allowing myself to knit on ~~ONE~~ TWO (I need a sock project on the needles at all times) new projects, namely Halliard.

There it is in black and white. A list to knit by. A goal. Something to achieve.

May the knitting Gods be with me.

Knit On...

Seriously?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:22:00 +0000

This is a knitting blog. I started it several years ago to talk about my knitting and to get to know other knitters. I have and I have. :D The last 2 years (or maybe it's 3, now?) have been trying at the best of times and downright brutal at their worst. I should rename my blog to "I'm ready for the Plague" but really, all I'm ready for is a breather.

Since Christmas Day, we've all had the flu that knocked us out for two and a half weeks. Seriously. I was so lethargic and weak that I couldn't dress to go to the doctor. I went in my pajamas. My daughter faired better than I, but was also very ill. We were thankful when it was all behind us, until last week when my daughter became sick again with Strep throat. She's currently on a 10 day course of antibiotics, when wonder of wonders, she's breaking out in red itchy spots.

You got it. She has the chicken pox. I can't believe it. Actually, I was anticipating chicken pox last week when she got sick with Strep throat. 21 day incubation period is a bitch!

So, it's another week off school for my daughter, while she snuggles with her Quincy Quade Quentin Monster that I finished knitting for her last week...and another week of me tending to the sick. :P

Yarn: KnitPicks Chroma fingering in Lollipop

Needles: 2.25mm

I wish there was more to show. I'm trying to build momentum to finish knitting all my wip, so I don't feel guilty for wanting to knit this and this and this.

Someone give me a push...or a simple swift kick up the arse. ;)

Knit On...

Oh Dear Gawd

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:35:00 +0000

I almost peed my pants laughing. Poor thing.

F#$*ed Up Looking Cat
Originally uploaded by DiscoWeasel

Once in a Great While

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 21:02:00 +0000

I do still knit. Quite frequently, as a matter of fact.

No, seriously. See...I knit this yarn;


Stacy Charles Cosmos in Golden Sunset

into this cardi.

It's a good thing that I'm pleased with the outcome of this cardigan because (and I don't mean to scare you off of knitting this because I do think it's worth it in the end) this was one hell of a B.O.R.I.N.G knit and alot of it! ARG! Needless to say, it's all behind me now and I'm quite tickled with it.

Specs:

Pattern: Kirra Knit from Berroco #294, Origami (Ravelry Link)

Yarn: Stacy Charles Cosmos in Golden Sunset (Ravelry Link)

Needles: 5.5mm

I also attended the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair last Saturday. I did more looking than buying this year. I gotta admit that my current list of WIP's are giving me a guilt trip and well, I'm gonna work hard on clearing them up to make me happy. There was one kit that I bought that really took my fancy, though.

Meet Yvonne. (Ravelry Link)

She will be my next largish knitting project. The yarn is cotton and is made up of 7 thin plies. There was one on display at the fair at the Adirondack Yarns booth where I bought this one. It is sooo soft! They had so many colours to choose from and I was befuddled as to which one to go with, so I went with something fun and what my gut said. I'm learning to like what my gut says, but we're still having trust issues.

I gotta say, now that I look at this colour in the pic, I love it! =))

Of course, I only reserve monogomy for human relationships. I also have a fun sock in the works for a friend that hates winter. These should brighten her days up quite a bit.

Slinky Socks

Have a good weekend.
Knit on...

How's this for Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Infinite Loop

This is pretty cool! I like it. The only thing daunting is the amount of stockinette stitch. With my track record for knitting scarves, if I started this today, I may have it ready to wear in the year 2025.

There is a pattern available for this knit available as a Ravelry download.

Well Hello There!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:52:00 +0000

I have been ordered by my son to "update the damn blog and make the Christmas tree disappear!"

So here I am.

Yup.

Making the tree go bye-bye's.

See ya later tree...and perhaps to anyone still apt to popping into this ole blog periodically to see if I still indeed breathe...and knit.

Hint: I do and I am.

P.S. Hope you like the new layout.

Wishing You All A Very

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Lots to Show...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:45:00 +0000

just not much to say. I don't know why I don't have much to say. I actually have knitting projects to talk about. I have a spinning project in the works. The excitement is there. I want to share them. I just can't seem to find the words...but I'll try today.

First up is the fourth kit from the Rockin' Sock Club. I've been really enjoying the club. Yes, there are patterns and colours that aren't what I would normally knit for myself, but I am very open and have enjoyed all of them. I'm not as fickle as I once assumed I was.

Pattern: In Season

Designer: Melissa Morgan-Oakes

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in the Garden Daze colour

Needles: 2mm and 2.25mm circs.

Size: Medium

And wonder of wonders, I finished my Handspun Morning Surf Scarf! It's gorgeous and I'm glad I finished it, but I'm certainly not a knitter of scarves. They bore me dreadfully.

Pattern: Morning Surf Scarf

Designer: Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer

Yarn: 392.0 yards (358.4m) handspun 3-ply fingering weight superwash 50%Merino/50%Tencel

Fibre: 4 oz. 50%Merino/50%Tencel in the Autumn Sunset colourway. Purchased from Susan's Spinning Bunny.

Needles: 3.25mm

Mods: I knit this over 36 stitches as opposed to the patterns 76 stitches which I felt would be too wide.

The final project I'm going to share with you today is something I've wanted to try for a long time, but never got around to. It's a double knit hat. I decided to embellished the bird with a few beads for the beak and eye. This will be for my daughter.

Pattern: Double Knit Bird on a Wire Hat from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009

Designer: Elli Stubenrauch

Yarn: KnitPicks Palette in black and petal

Needles: 2.00mm

Finally, yesterday was the Waterloo Knitters Fair. It was jam packed, as always. What astounded me was that I thought I was being smart to get there early. It begins at 9:30 am and we arrived at 9:45. Wrong! The parking lot was already full to bursting.

Starting from the top left of the pic:

- Double Knitting by M'Lou Baber (incredible projects and photographs)

- Double Knitting Delight DVD by Lucy Neatby (looks like I have a small interest in learning more about this technique, eh?)

- Fiddlehead Mitten Kit from Tanis Fiber Arts (Etsy shop) (for me because when I tried on the sample I couldn't believe how incredible they felt)

- A new brand of Regia called Regia Flusi Das Socken Monster. It's geared more toward socks for children because of the colour choices and shorter colour repetitions. (to make socks for my daughter)

- Ella Rae Merino Lace (I fell in love with these colours and feel a cowl or shawlette being cast on with it)

- Lastly, some Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock in Flames (for my husband...don't want to have him feel left out, or anything) ;) Glenna, glad to see you didn't buy too many blues/teals. ;) ;)

Knit On!

Priceless!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Coraline Jones!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:25:00 +0000

My daughter fell absolutely, head over heels in love with the movie Coraline when she saw it for the first time last week. After her first viewing, she asked if she could have a Coraline doll. I asked if she would like me to try and make one. She thought that would be great.

I was dreading it.

I abhor sewing.

So, I did what I had to do to make my daughter happy and spent three whole days devoted to making this for her, along with sewing up some outfits.

The pattern? Well, it's a Knitted Babe! Cool, huh? I improvised the raincoat and I even surprised myself at how well it turned out.

I'm so glad it's done. Now I can get back to what I'm really good at. Knitting and spinning!

Knit On!

Neeeeeeeeeeext!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:07:00 +0000

I'm raring to go for my July club shipment.

Once again;

Pattern: Fraggle Squiggle Socks - May 2009 kit for the Rockin' Sock Club

Designer: JC Briar

Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Pepe La Plume

Needles: 2.50mm

A big thank you for the compliments left in my previous post to; Beentsy, Dragon Knitter, Northmoon, Samantha, Amy and to all those that were thinking them. ;P

It was a crazy week last week with working at home and having the child on her summer break...which means, what little time I have for me, I use it to knit! Call it preserving my sanity. [wink]

Knit on!

Name that Title!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:07:00 +0000

So, as you will remember (I hope), I was spinning to make myself a nice, light, summer cardi.

With my track record of late, I bet you thought it was tossed into a dark, musty corner, never to see the light of day again.

HA!

It is done and I love it!

Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan A.K.A. Handspun Lightweight Cardigan

Designer: Hannah Fettig

Yarn: Approximately 1208 yards/1104 metres of my own handspun using Halfbred Wool Slivers in Black All Sorts from Aurelia Wool & Weaving.

Needles: 4.00mm

Size: 43"

Next on the list was finishing up G's socks...just in time for the heatwave! See how much I love you, G?

Pattern: My own basic cuff down sock

Yarn: DGB Confetti Superwash - Colour 100.206

Needles: 2.25mm

Then it was time to think about Father's Day, so I knit up these for my husband using the yarn he bought me for Mother's Day...and again, just in time for the heat of summer!

Pattern: My own basic cuff down sock

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock multi in Tuscany

Needles: 2.25mm

You'd think I'd be over knitting socks and ready to plunge into something lacy, perhaps?

Nope.

I wanted to plunge into - hmmm, just had a graphic mental image - (insert head shake here) my May Rockin' sock club kit.

Pattern: Fraggle Squiggle Socks - May 2009 kit for the Rockin' Sock Club

Designer: JC Briar

Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Pepe La Plume

Needles: 2.50mm

and that is what I'm currently concentrating on. You'll be thrilled to know that I must knit 8 or 9 pair of plain ole vanilla socks for Christmas gifts. If anything, the boredom of seeing plain ole vanilla socks will be counteracted by the brilliance of their colours. *snort*

Knit On...

Say What???

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Gotta say, I had a good laugh, but when a burger franchise gets into marketing body spray with a hint of meat (that fricking kills me), it just about makes me want to go off of burgers (or just meat for that matter) for life.

Fire Meets Desire

I'm All About the Baaaaaa

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:52:00 +0000

After we had our roof re-shingled and I cleaned the house from top to bottom because it was such a filthy, dusty, disorganized mess, I had to take a break.

I've recovered, thank you and during this time, I found out about a FibreFest at Silmiral Farms that was taking place nearby in Grimsby, ON. What a better family day than to spend it on a farm watching sheep being sheared, listening to the Alpaca make their weird noises and ohhing and ahhing over the baby kids, lambs and chicks, whilst watching spinners do their magic plucking Angora rabbits and spinning straight off the bunny.

Here's a little video I took of the shearing of one sheep and some pics I took of the other animals. After that, I kinda forgot about the camera while I was around the spinners and fibre. That's me!

I hope you enjoy it anyway!

We missed you, G! Hope to see you soon!

Sheep Shearing

The Agony...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:18:00 +0000

of what's sucking up my knitting/spinning time.

Five layers of shingles on that stupid roof. FIVE! With the first layer being cedar shakes. Why in the name of all that is holy didn't previous owners strip the bloody roof before re-shingling?

After many cancellations due to rain the roof is finally two-thirds done and it will be such a relief when it's complete. We bow and thank from the bottom of our hearts, my brother-in-law, nephew and his cousin for getting so filthy you couldn't recognize them and for tackling such a major task that is our roof.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's out there!

Sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:59:00 +0000

you have to tell yourself to have that extended holiday...even though it's from many long suffering, half knit projects. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, aye?

So, that's what I'm doing. I'm sure I'll get my other projects completed, eventually. In the meantime, I need to move on or not craft at all and that's not an option. I like to feel passionate about a project in the works and this one has struck its arrow through my heart.

Halfbred Wool Slivers from Aurelia Wool & Weaving in Black All Sorts colour.

Singles on bobbin.

2-plied and skeined into light fingeringweight goodness.

The beginnings of the Featherweight Cardigan.

This project is giving me that satisfied feeling. Too bad the next two or three days will be all about working on our roof. *Sniffle*

Have a good one and knit on!