Rest and Renewal

In the last month or so, I've been taking a bit of time to catch up on a variety of projects. I took time off to participate in Spinzilla, I've worked on some around-the-house work that needed doing, I've taken up cross-stitch, and I've been making plans for future projects. I've still been knitting, but it's been a combination of work knitting and just for fun knitting. I had taken a bit of time to tidy and plan with my stashes (spinning, personal knitting, work knitting), and found the need to clear my plate a bit to prepare for some of the future projects that I want to get done.

Spinzilla output: All this spun in a week on a spindle!

The thing about making a hobby into a job is that it's not a hobby anymore, and so I've filled the gap with spinning, and recently cross stitch. I also draw, and I used to garden (I'm planning to go back to gardening in the Spring, so this winter I'm hoping to set aside some time for making those plans), and for quite awhile, it seemed like it was hard to justify taking the time to work on creative pursuits outside of knitting, or, in other words, like I wasn't working hard enough to justify taking time off from work. Adding in spinning helped a little, but it still results in yarn, which I then mentally assign to knitting projects (more work, in a sense). Cross stitch feels more like drawing and painting, but new enough to me that I'm launching in with a bit more enthusiasm and less worry over improving my technique like I do when I draw or paint. I'm new to it, so any work done on it is improving my technique, after all.

Halloween cross stitch. Pattern from Cloudsfactory.

I'm not completely taking time off though, and have been still working on proposals for new knitting work, re-releasing older patterns when the rights revert back to me (like the Bangor Pullover), and also self-publishing some new patterns (like the Braeside Cowl).

Bangor Pullover

Braeside Cowl

Also, I've been doing a bit of knitting for fun! It's been ages since I've made myself a sweater, so I'm treating myself to some time spent knitting Ásta Sóllilja by Kate Davies! This sweater is worked in Ístex Léttlopi, and my parents brought me the light grey wool that is used for the body of the sweater when they returned from a trip to Iceland. I love the colours that Kate Davies picked for the design so much that I was determined to use the same shades for my sweater.

Ásta Sóllilja in progress!

In the meantime, in an effort to get a bit of life back into this sorely neglected blog, I may well toss in a bit of crafty fun from non-knitting projects now and again, hopefully a tad more frequently than of late! Other places to find updates from me include my newsletter (use form off to the right, or follow this link:

http://eepurl.com/czV5l9), Instagram (as @jessiemckitrick), and my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JessieMcKitrickDesigns/), so please feel free to join me at any or all of those!

Canucklehead

I recently released the Canucklehead set, which I designed for Pam's Woolly Shoppe, and would love to share it with you!

In celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary, I designed a tuque, and then, for those who prefer to wear cowls, and for those who want to be extra warm and wear both, I designed a matching cowl. Worked in Estelle Worsted,  these are available in a wide range of sizes so that the whole family can be decked out in cheerful Canadian maple leaves. Might I suggest that in case you are a Toronto hockey fan, you can make them into Maple Leafs instead simply by knitting in blue and white instead of red and white. I don't happen to know any Leafs fans personally, but I respect your dedication to the cause!

On February 18th from 10:00 to 17:00, if you can make it out to Pam's Woolly Shoppe, there's a party going on, complete with Hot Apple Cider and Maple Leaf cookies, and I would love to meet you! The Canucklehead pattern will be bundled as a kit for this event only, so it's a great chance to pick it up free with purchase of the yarn needed to complete it.

Otherwise, the Canucklehead patterns are now available for purchase via Ravelry, as a set or individually! Further details on my Patterns page.

In other announcements, I've started a monthly newsletter! The first issue, with a more detailed behind-the-scenes look at the Canucklehead Set, went out the other day and is archived here, but to receive the March newsletter you can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/czV5l9  There will be more behind the scenes information and photos, along with occasional special subscriber-only offers!

Running Tide Cowl

A little while ago, I published the resulting pattern from a collaboration with Sea Turtle Fiber Arts, that being the Running Tide Cowl, worked in Breakwater Bulky, in the colour Deep Sea.

Everyone, this yarn is super-cozy and squishy and warm! I really wanted to make the most of that cozy feeling, and so a cabled cowl came to mind. The best bit is that it's REVERSIBLE. This way, whether you wrap it, let it hang loose, or even make it into a scarf instead, there is no wrong side.

I've made it long enough to wrap around twice, but it can be shortened as desired, or lengthened. At the gauge I used, as written, the cowl uses 3 skeins (with about a third of the third skein left over), but 2 skeins would work up into a good shorter cowl, 3 would make for a decent length scarf, and 4 would get you a nice long scarf, or a triple-looped cowl if that is a thing.

This cowl works up super fast; it took me about 3 days (not knitting constantly either) to get it done, though it took me a little longer to find time in the schedule for grafting, blocking, and getting photos taken. Now that the weather is getting a lot colder, treat yourself to a weekend of knitting so that you can be cozy next week!

Pattern available for purchase on Ravelry for $6.75CAD
(Ravelry membership is not required to shop on Ravelry)
just click away here:

For more of my knitting patterns available for sale, please head to my patterns page.