About a Year, and About a Week

It's been a long week, but it ended with a lovely package in the mail:

It's sample return time! It was delightful to open the package from Knit Now and find three samples that I had knit up to present my patterns that Knit Now have published in the past year. The Woodland Cardigan represents an important beginning for me, as it was my first third-party publication. It also marks a year since I have started working full-time (or, as full-time as I can during the kids' school hours and the occasional round of household errands and tasks) at knitwear design.

This week has featured an interruption to work; that of having a sick kid at home all week. She's well on the mend now though, and for that I am very thankful. I am also glad that I have been able to easily take that time with her due to my work being fairly flexible, and that if it was going to happen (and this kid is rarely ill), it happened during a slow week. Sure, there was a lot that I would have been working on, but none of it needed to be done this week exactly.

While spending time with my daughter, I did also make a bit of progress on a few non-work projects, such as on her socks that I've been meaning to make for awhile:

and, on a hat for a friend's baby (just need to weave-in those ends!), the pattern being garter and hearts by Amanda Keeys and it is knit in Et après by Plassard, colour 89. If it looks a bit big, it's meant for the 6 month and up size, as it's rather lovely out, so the baby shouldn't need it for awhile yet.

Also, I'm still spinning the blue silk. I'm getting rather close to the end of the singles, but it's still going. 25g has been taking longer than I thought, but it is a rather fine single (maybe not consistently fine, but I'm still happy), so it may be a few more days yet before I can start getting this organized for plying. No idea what I will make with this just yet, but it's certainly no rush to decide. I'm enjoying the spinning process and the feel and shine of that silk!

Very Brief Update

Hi, just a quick update today!

I would like to congratulate Scarpetta1, who won a coupon for a free pattern of choice from my Ravelry shop. The coupon is good for one year, so patterns that are not yet uploaded will be available as well to her; looking forward to seeing what she chooses.

My camera won't talk to my computer at the moment, so I can't share any photos right now. So, please believe me when I say that Spring is finally here in Edmonton even if I can't offer a glimpse of the crocus and tulip that have bloomed in the past week.

I also am pleased to have a new nephew! The family is busy scuttling around getting ready to welcome him home, so the week should continue to be busy. He came a very wee bit early, so I haven't managed to get my sewing done for him yet (I'm just stitching up some burp cloths so far anyhow). I'm planning to knit up a 9-month-old size sweater for him for Christmas, and would love to hear your suggestions for patterns!

In Which I Finally Finish a Few Things

I had a rather productive weekend, despite something in the way of a low-level migraine (I don't get them often thank goodness, but it's even rarer for it to keep threatening to return off and on). I finished swatching for a submission, wrote it up, and sent it in. I spent time visiting with fellow knitters and spinners while knitting and spinning. I finished and delivered baby gifts:

Gather by Tin Can Knits, knit in Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, accompanied by my usual baby mittens, and a pair of books for an adorable pair of babies. Gotta keep heads and hands warm, and gotta start filling up a bookshelf with lovely reads. This time, I went with Sandra Boynton's Going to Bed Book, and Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo. These are both favourites at our house, but I'm always looking for more great books for little ones, so I'd love to hear from readers what some of your favourite baby/kid books are to read or give as gifts!

I also finished my modified Slable by Woolly Wormhead. Now, I wouldn't have modified it if I'd had enough yarn, but as I was using my handspun, it would have been very difficult to spin up some more as I would have had to order in more roving first, and also because it's a cabled yarn that took a lot of time and work to make in the first place, and my spindles are all otherwise occupied anyhow.

If I'd known I was going to run out of yarn, I would have continued with size 23", but would have started the charts and such based on size 21" for where the repeats would fall. As it was, I had to back up and start the decreases earlier (I just plain didn't want to go all the way back to the brim), which worked fine, and pretty much just left out one repeat.

I couldn't resist sneaking in one last cabled section as I worked the last several decrease rounds, but worked them in single twists to make up for how few stitches were left at this point. It was a bit taxing on the hands, but it worked neatly enough, and I'm satisfied with the result. I was too eager to wear Slable to block it just yet, but will do so soon.

I'm certainly developing an appreciation for just how little yarn I do have once I'm finished spinning 100g, and hopefully will be able to estimate a bit better. Even better, will work on measuring more accurately, helping that by measuring AFTER washing the yarn instead of before.

Quick WIPs and FOs Update

I've been busy swatching for a couple of submissions, but I've also had time to do a bit of knitting and spinning.

After finishing up spinning the yarn for my mom's Christmas present, I took a bit of time to spin up that Creamsicle Batt from what was then Flannelberry Creek and what is now A Curious Spin (go check out the new website, hot off the press re-vamped today, or even better, check back again in a few days, as it will be even better once there's been time for the owner to get everything posted the way she'd like it).

Anyhow, I decided to try spinning with a more woolen style as it would work with instead of against the batt's preferences, and ended up with a lovely bit of yarn that is perfectly happy to be somewhat thick-and-thin (I had to remind myself occasionally not to make it too even, though some consistency across the yarn was nice). Next time I'll have to buy a bit more, but I'm sure I can find some use for it (I just haven't quite decided what yet). I'm quite happy with the results (it sparkles a lot more in person):

As for my New Year's knitting, I've had to put Slable down for a wee little bit.

I ran out of yarn, and had to pull it back to somewhat before the point pictured here.

I have a plan though. I was knitting the largest size as it doesn't take much for a hat to give me a headache, and the looser sizes tend to do better so long as they're also long enough to cover my ears properly. However, I'm not sure I need quite as much slouchiness as I would end up with following the pattern exactly as is (even though I'd really prefer to follow it properly), so I think I can modify it slightly to end up finishing the hat before the yarn. It's a shame I didn't have a bit more yarn, but I'm sure I'll eventually get a bit better at estimating and measuring my handspun before starting a project. Eventually.

So, aside from swatching (finished one sub, one more to go), I'm finishing up baby hats and mittens for a friend who just had twins the other day. I'm actually down to weaving-in the ends now, having put in a bit of work after taking photos, but so far, Gather , by Tin Can Knits, is working out to be just lovely paired with Rowan's Pure Wool Worsted. Must get back to swatching now, but I'm taking the baby knits with me to the kids' swimming lesson so I can make myself get around to weaving-in while I'm waiting.

Is it March Already?

For all that it's March already, and we are to "spring ahead" by setting the clocks forward tomorrow, there's still too much snow to play Gaelic Football outdoors. Still, I've been busy helping to organize the coming season, and my blogging has just not been happening as a result.

However, I've still been knitting. I'm nearly finished my husband's cardigan in fact, but the button-band/shawl collar seems interminable at this point.

Of course, it would help if I'd only work on that project, but I do have a few other projects on the go, and something about spring seems to have convinced me to cast on for two new pairs of socks, then there's been a bit of sewing, mending, and of course, everyday life. I should also start some seeds for the garden...

Amid all this distraction, I have managed to finish a baby hat, which is now on its way by post to a new baby along with a copy of The Gruffalo (excellent book, do read it), so here it is:

This is the Classic cap by Amanda Keeys, knit in Berroco Vintage.

Sorry, that's all for now; hopefully I'll have a detailed post about the finished cardigan soon!

Today: More Catching Up

Today I get to catch up a bit on last post, thanks to my helpful sister-in-law who kindly sent some photos to share of the apron of which I hadn't remembered to take a photo, and of the penguin hat in action, which is of course, infinitely cuter than a penguin hat without a cute baby in it.














So, here is my extremely adorable nephew (about 6 months) with his winning smile (such a cutie!):

and with his proud Dad, providing confirmation that despite the hat's colours coincidentally being an exact match for another hockey team, this kid is definitely an Oilers fan (but of course!):















Here is his mom, who looks lovely in her new apron:

 


I'm glad to show the apron off here, especially as I was so pleased to find the fabric. It struck me as being stylish without being too elaborate or fussy and of course being in blue, which is among her favourite colours, also made it a good match.













And here are the gorgeous-looking Linzer cookies that my lovely sister-in-law made with the cutter set I had tucked into the apron pocket. I'm sure are quite tasty too, as she makes excellent desserts.










To continue to catch up a wee bit more, here is a hat I whipped up for a new baby who lives far away (it's fun knitting hats for babies, it hardly seems to take any time at all if it goes well, and this one did):

I designed this hat after a bit of swatching and sorting through the yarn stash, finding some nice soft Swish DK from Knit Picks in Squirrel Heather. I think it went rather well, and am pleased with how I managed to fit the decreases neatly into the cable pattern despite starting without knowing how I would end it (though I did stop to chart it out just before ending to make sure it would work).

Now this next item is definitely about catching up, as I started these socks about a year and a half ago when I was in Vancouver for a football tournament. By the time I arrived at home, the first of the pair was not quite finished. A few months ago, I fished them out of the bottom of one of my knitting bags, finished the first, and started the second. Sometime last week, I decided to just finish them up already, and so here they are:

These are the Sunday Swing Socks by Kristel Nyberg, worked in Patons Stretch Socks in Licorice. When I had started these in Vancouver, I found it an enormous effort to keep track of the (really quite simple) lace pattern, but when I picked them up again, I found them extremely easy to work with only occasional reference to the pattern. It only goes to show that a bit of practice with a newer skill (in this case lace) goes a long way when it comes to the facility of reading your knitting. I'm glad I picked these back up, if only for learning how far I had improved in a year or so.

Christmas Gifts for a Wee One

I have finished a few more Christmas gifts, and I can actually share this one, as the recipient, who is going on three months, definitely does not read the blog.  For the baby boy in question, I knit this hat:

 Being the Bedtime stocking cap by Amanda Keeys.  I used an assortment of yarn that I had on hand, and am pleased with the cheerful effect.  My husband picked out the pattern, and I think it was an excellent choice.









For a gift-tag and Christmas ornament, I knit up a wee sock from Joelle Hoverson's More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  Really, I wanted to make a pair of socks, and ran out of yarn, but as I was not sure they would stay up very well anyway, I think this is even better.  I just duplicate-stitched the baby's initial onto the leg of the sock, and made the cast-on tail into a hanging loop.  Voila!

Now, off to figure out if I can fit in more gift-making in-between loads of laundry...

We Interrupt this Cardigan to Bring You Wee Things

A new baby is coming soon to a member of my football team, so, when my yarn order arrived, my cardigan was set down on my dresser for a bit.  I was even at an exciting part (the collar is coming along well), but imminent arrivals do get priority.  Besides, it's my birthday, so I'll knit what I want to.

I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted, and the pattern for the hat is Bright Beret by Amanda Keeys, and for the mittens, Bold Banded Mittens by Zöe Mellor.  I did make minor changes to each; in the case of the hat, I knit it at a gauge I liked better (much tighter), so I just made the larger size so that it would come out newborn-sized (or slightly larger) in the end.  For the mittens, instead of a seam across the top, I just used the ever-handy Kitchener stitch, and am well-pleased.  I am also forced to admit by the very wee size of these mittens that my youngest is not so wee anymore (nearly two, in fact.  Time does fly).  

I might just get back to the cardigan later, but in the meantime, there are cupcakes to be eaten.

Even More Instant

Just a quick little post today!  I just whipped up a baby hat in Bernat Organic Cotton for a friend who should be having a baby any time now, and was pleased with how soft and drapey the cotton was as it knit up.  I think I'll use it for a vest I'm planning for my eldest.  Anyway, this pattern is Flour sack by Amanda Keeys, and I really enjoyed making it.  I think it's an adorable hat, and I hope the new baby comes soon.