Archive for the ‘Knitting and Crochet’ Category

Here's hoping that you have a chance to indulge of your craft of choice over the next few days. And maybe a bit of sitting in the sun, barbecuing, and time outdoors, too.

I've got plenty to keep me busy. Knitting and reading and knitting and did I mention knitting? The Tops, Tanks and Tees Knitalong ends next Wednesday, and it's going to be a squeaker!

I've got miles to go. OK, not really, more like six inches, but you know what I mean. I might take a break from the body and do the sleeves, so that when I cast off the body I'm really, truly finished. That's such a good feeling.

Oh that? Just a list of the next dozen things I want to make. At least I know I won't be bored...?

Well, if there's anything better than seeing a teeny-tiny baby sweater come off your knitting needles, it's seeing a photo of that sweater on a teeny-tiny baby. Oh, my goodness.

The sweater in question...only about 8 inches across the bottom hem.

I received just such a photo on Saturday, and if there's anything that will guarantee that I'll keep knitting for teeny-tiny babies, photos like the one in my inbox would be it. Seriously.

So, since today is the beginning of the TFA Colour Knit-along, and since I am going to see that teeny-tiny baby in just a month (so excited!), and since I'm a bit behind on my 12-in-2012 project...there's another baby sweater in the works.

Tanis's Blank Canvas Baby Sweater pattern (available as a free Ravelry download) will be just the ticket. I'm going to cheat a bit and upsize my yarn and needles – from fingering weight to DK weight – as an easy way of upsizing the sweater, since the baby seems to be doing pretty well at upsizing herself! And hopefully that will mean the sweater will fit for more than a few weeks.

Now the only question is what pattern to use. I'm thinking a monogram would be cute, or maybe a Fair Isle pattern from Mary Jane Mucklestone's great book, 200 Fair Isle Motifs. As if she knew what I was plotting, this morning she shared a great post about "how to choose and use pattern motifs" – great stuff! I see some quality time with graph paper and pencil crayons in my near future...

Will you be knitting along? What are you going to make?

There's something exciting about the riot of yellowy greens that's popping up on the trees in the neighbourhood.

Photo by garden beth, Flickr

There's so much potential in that mix of tints, shades and tones. Energy that's been locked up for months, waiting for just a bit of sunshine and a whisper of rain – a new beginning.

I think I know how that feels.

So each time I look out the window, I'm finding new inspiration. I've been Googling all sorts of green things. On Craftgawker I was looking for whatever came up under "green":

On Etsy I was trying to find craft supplies that would inspire a new project (LOVE the green buttons):

On Ravelry, I was on the hunt for a pattern that would make the most of two skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight that I've been squirrelling away for the last year. The colourway is Irish Girlie Green, and it's just the thing for a little spring knitting.

After a long, leisurely look through (what seemed like) a million options, I clicked on the Sweet Oak Shawl by Megan Goodacre. It had just the right look for my beloved green yarn, and it's the perfect mix of interesting lacy patterns to keep my attention and give my lace-making skills a workout.

What colours are inspiring your creativity this spring? Are you a green person like me?

What with all that sewing last week, my knitting took a bit of a hit. But not too much! In fact, a long drive out into the countryside last weekend gave me ample opportunity to do a bit of catching up.

I'm half a round away from dividing the sleeves from the body of my sweater, which will cut the stitch count in half. At that point I think this project will really start zooming. (Especially since the sleeves require just 6 rounds of st st each! Thank goodness for short sleeves!)

The pattern is Gemini, and the KAL is the Tops, Tanks and Tees KAL that Shannon is hosting. I've got another couple long car rides coming up, so I should be in good stead to meet the May 23 end date. (More discussion and information on the Ravelry thread.)

Meanwhile, there's another KAL on the horizon that I'm kind of excited about: the Tanis Fiber Arts Colour Knit Along. It starts next Monday and it's wide open for interpretation – as long as your project has two or more colours of TFA, you're good to go. I don't know what I'm making yet, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'll be making it with...

This jewel-tone TFA Palette that I picked up at the Knitter's Frolic. I love it! It's an assortment of Yellow Label DK weight yarn. I might make a simple (but super cheerful!) striped pullover.

Of course, there are tons of appealing options that use a different gauge yarn – including Colour Affection, for example, or Gathering Stripes, both from Veera Välimäki. Or either of the Bláithín sweaters (for bigs or littles) or the Betty Mouat cowl from Kate Davies. Decisions, decisions...

What are you making these days? (Have you seen the granny-along over at wise craft? Fun!)

Do you memorize recipes? I do. Most of the time it's not deliberate – it's just that after you've made the same cookie recipe five or six dozen times, you're bound to remember the details. And so Chocolate O'Chippers* are a permanent part of my repertoire.

Same for scones, pancakes, and baking powder biscuits. For me, they're all comfort foods, and there's nothing more comforting than being able to walk into the kitchen and start baking – no cookbook required.

Just this weekend I realized that I've started to do the same thing with my knitting. I've got a few standby patterns that now reside permanently in my head. Glenna's Nice Ribbed Socks have taken up residence, as have the Cutest Booties from the Yarn Harlot. Given a repeat knit or two, I think that the Classic Raglan might move in, too.

I've also got a simple shawl pattern stored away up there. It's based on Simple Things – a super basic triangle shawl built with symmetrical yarn overs, with rows of garter stitch and yarn overs as decorative edging toward the bottom of the shawl. It was just the ticket for Sunday afternoon, when I had a movie to go to and nothing simple to work on in the dark. This is Noro Silk Garden, knit on 5 mm needles. I'm loving it.

* You didn't think I'd let you go without providing that cookie recipe, did you? Of course not! This recipe was shared with me by my friend Ali. I don't know where she got it, but I do know it's my favourite.

Chocolate O’Chippers
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with sugar until light. Add vanilla and egg; mix well. Add flour, oatmeal, baking soda and salt; stir til incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 min, or until edges are golden and tops are just beginning to set. Makes approx 36 cookies.

(You can play with the add-ins if you like: I'm also a fan of raisins, pecans and coconut, in any measure.)

I dropped by the post office yesterday to pick up Sweater #4. Although in my head this baby's already finished and ready to wear, the reality's a bit different.

Yeah. So I have a bit of work to do yet.

The yarn is  CotLin in Surf, from KnitPicks. I loved the colour, the cotton/linen blend will be just right for summer, and at $2.99/ball, the price was right. (I'm saving up to buy a Palette from Tanis Fiber Arts for a colourful KAL she's planning. And if I win the Heart & Stroke Lottery, I'm buying one of each!)

Um, where was I?

Right. Sweater #4.

I'm going to make the Gemini t-shirt by Jane Richmond, featured in the spring issue of Knitty. So cute! Reversible! And – importantly – short sleeved!

I started swatching last night while I caught up on my various guilty-pleasure TV shows. You know: Bones, Castle. That sort of thing. Though I should have saved the plain-vanilla knitting for  Sherlock, which is far too absorbing (and scary!!) to watch while tackling raglan increases for a top-down cardigan in sock yarn on 2.75 mm needles, I learned this weekend.

Sorry, distracted again.

Anyhoodle. I'm joining the Tops, Tanks and Tees KAL over at luvinthemommyhood – I'm a week late to the party but hopefully I'll be able to catch up. Today there's a great post about understanding fit, so if you're like me and sometimes your brain starts to hurt when you're trying to discern the difference between body measurements and finished measurements (and what's this business about ease?!) be sure to check it out. Helpful to the max!

I'm almost finished my swatch – couple more rows and then a wash and dry and we'll see how I did. Right now it's coming in a bit tight – looks like about 24 sts and 30 rows to 4 inches on 4 mm needles, rather than the specified 22/28. But only time will tell!

So anyway, what are you making these days? And failing that, what are you watching? Sherlock's only got a few episodes per season, so I'm looking for recommendations!

I feel like it's been a while since the last inspiration roundup, so here's a quick list of things that your friendly neighbourhood craft bloggers have been intrigued by lately.

• The Winterwoods ABCs sampler kit from Alicia Paulson. Mine arrived yesterday (that's it up there) and I can't wait to get started.
• Threadbias – a new online sewing community. Will it be Ravelry for sewing enthusiasts? Check it out and let me know what you think. (Thanks to Holly for the tip!)
• Omiyage.ca has a few washi tape grab bags up for sale today. A great way to spend your allowance!
• I wish I could visit this exhibit of Newfoundland knits (via KnittyBlog).
• Speaking of knitting, considering casting on for Luv in the Mommyhood's Tops, Tanks and Tees KAL? Today's the day.
• Finally, this isn't a craft but I couldn't resist the photo, and I'm pretty sure your kids will love it. What to do with that ol' chocolate rabbit (hint: melt it!), bite marks and all, from Dinner A Love Story.

I travelled a bit over Easter weekend and, in a fit of optimism brought on by finishing my classic raglan, packed FOUR new knitting projects.

Obviously, I did not come home, 48 hours later, in possession of two new sweaters and a pair of socks. But I did manage to finish the jar cosy.

I'm not really in the habit of knitting sweaters for jars (HEY, WAIT! Does this count as #4?!) but here's the deal: I couldn't resist. The Internet made me do it!

My friend Sherrie blogged about her new Cuppow lid – basically, a lid that turns a Mason jar into a travel mug – but noted hot tea in a glass jar is, well, HOT. Sherrie's friend Amanda shared her pattern for jar cosy.  I enthused about this my friend and coworker Daniela, who kindly bought me a lid from her local coffee shop.

See? It was only a matter of time before I became a one-woman jar cosy knitting factory.

I took the basics from Amanda's pattern and altered it a bit to fit my taste. Here's what I did:

• Using Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label (aran weight) yarn and 4.5 mm (US 7) DPN, cast on 48 sts and join to knit in the round.
• Row 1: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
• Rows 2 to 6: Continue in 2 x 1 ribbing.
• Round 7 and every following 7th row: *(K2, p1) 3 times, C5B, (p1, k2) 3 times, p1; repeat from * one more time.
• Repeat until desired length is reached, ending on Row 6.
• P 1 round.
• K 1 round.
• *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
• Repeat decrease round until only 3 sts remain.
• Cut yarn, draw tail through, and fasten off.

• Stitch glossary:
• K = knit
• P = purl
• 2 x 1 ribbing = K2, p1
• k2tog = knit two together
• C5B = slip 3 sts from left needle to cable needle and hold in back of work. Knit 2 sts from cable needle. Slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and purl; slip remaining 2 sts from cable needle to right needle and knit.

Pretty fancy!

(And I know, I know, we're headed into warmer weather and who wants hot coffee or tea when it's 38•C, but come on: how cute would these look on your beer – ahem – pop cans at your annual cottage knitter's retreat? Pretty cute, I think.)

Woo hoo! Behold my finished Classic Raglan, and sweater #3 of my 12-in-2012 project.

I got home from work last night with half a sleeve left to knit, so it was me and some reruns till the end of the decreases. I knitted away all morning and – phew! – I'm happy to report I have a finished sweater. And I *love* it! (And I'm starving, because I told myself I wasn't having lunch till I was finished, and somehow now it's 2 pm. But anyway.)

Here's a photo that's a little less "Where's my grilled cheese?!" and a little more "Awwww yeah!"

How's your knitting going? Are you finished? (I know a lot of you Speedy McKnittersons finished last week, including Karen Blackburn, Gemma of Super Knits, Nendy, ummashin, Celtic Cast On) Are you close? Are you so busy eating hot cross buns right now that you can't even remember where you put your knitting needles?

I can't wait to see how your sweaters turned out! Thanks to everyone for participating, and especially to Jane for agreeing to let us use her pattern and for starting the Ravelry thread. To each of you who commented and blogged about the KAL, a big hug and a thank you – it's been an awesome way for me to "meet" new people and find new blogs to read. Awesome!

I promised earlier that I'd have some prizes for the KAL participants, so: If you haven't already posted a pic of your finished sweater, leave a note (and maybe a photo) on this blog post telling me about your sweater for a chance to win. I'll have a couple prizes for people who've finished and a couple prizes for people who are still knitting away on theirs. I'll post the winners next Friday.

Have a great Easter, and happy stitching!

• Wow, the train is pretty empty today.
• Look at that! A three-seater all to myself!
• I wonder if I can finish this 11-row repeat before I get to work.
• Why is the train stopping?
• I can see my house from here! I could be right there! But I'm not.
• Knitting. Knit knit knit.
• Annnnnd, we're moving.
• Knit knit knit.
• What?! There's another knitter on this car!
• Hey knitter! (Imaginary hat tip.)
• That sweater looks awesome. So many colours.
• This colour...

• ...matches the train. Oh for Pete's sake.
• It's OK. It's like camouflage. Highly specialized urban camouflage.
• And we're stopping again.
• I'm going to be late.
• Again.
• Knit knit knit.
• Moving again. S L O W L Y. Oh so slowly. Oh, come on.
• Knit knit knit.
• Breathe. Keep breathing.
• Knit knit knit.
• Will that guy think I'm nuts if I take a photo of this?
• (As if. He probably already thinks I'm nuts.)
• Photo-taking thoughts.
• Knit knit knit.
• One more row!
• Oh. My stop.

(More about knitters on public transit in Toronto.)