Ugly Easter Candy

You remember them right? There was always a handful of them at the bottom of the Easter basket, tucked away - camouflaged in the plastic Easter grass. Those ugly, sickly sweet jellied eggs of such nastiness that I shudder now at the memory of eating one. Well, that's what this yarn reminds me of. Nonetheless, I do like the yarn. I won't be eating it mind you, but I do like the colours. Perhaps I'll knit a Easter Basket out of it. Anyone know a good pattern for a basket?

Some more eye candy for you all. I present the most gorgeous critter in my house, on my street, in my town even. Yes, I'd venture to say this is the most gorgeous critter in all of Labrador. I just gave him a hair cut, something I don't like to do and he doesn't like to receive. But cuteness abounds. I love him.

A Baby Sweater and some spring potential

I finished a baby sweater.

Its for Kev's niece who is having a little boy this summer. This sweater will be ideal by the time he grows into it this fall. Notice that I neglected to put button holes in. I don't know what I was thinking. For the size of this thing, there were too many pieces. I hate seaming. I'm sure this pattern could have been easily adapted to in the round, but I didn't bother. I guess its not that easy. So now I'm not sure what I'll do for closures on this little thing. Perhaps icord, perhaps snaps. We'll see. I've got a lot of time to decide.

And here is a picture of Kev beating the ice off of our front walk. Yes, that is a snow bank as tall as he is. But the fact remains that the ice can be beaten off now. So, spring is here right?




I also did a little plying of something that was sitting on the bobbin for way too long. So long it almost seemed like the fibres were felted together. Lesson learned I guess. I'll never leave things too long again. I set the twist a little differently this time. Once I had the 100 yards or so Navajo plied, I dunked it in boiling hot water, then emmersed it in cold water. Then I beat the living hell out of it. It seems to have bloomed and opened up more than anything I've ever spun before. It is very soft and squishy. I'll try this method of setting again to see if the same things happen.



I also cast on for another striped Noro scarf. This time in actual Noro Silk Garden instead of SWS. I see why the harlot was so taken with this. I have a sweater that has to be finished by the end of the month, and I can't stop knitting this scarf. I think I even dreamed about it last night.

A New Hat for Spring

Its officially spring now. Can't you tell? Just look at the view out of my front window. Spring in Labrador.



Ignore the sarcasm. Its been a long, long winter. I actually love, love, love 'spring' in Labrador. It is warm enough to go outside and enjoy the snow. In keeping with the springy feeling. I knit a spring hat. Spring knitty just came out and I was immediately drawn to this sweet little beret called 'reverie' by Amy Swenson.






This hat is knit from yarn by tanusfiberarts that I picked up in Montreal. Colourway 'stormy'. I really, really love it. I actually think I have enough yarn leftover for a second beret. Which is great, because I'm sure Amy will end up with this one.

Those socks are done

Finally. I've had enough of them. I started them as a project for Arithmancy class for the House Cup competition on Ravelry. The theme was Labyrinths. Labyrinths are supposed to be contemplative. Whatever. I did contemplated stabbing myself in the eyes with the size 0 needles several times. I also contemplated that no one is sure how the Noro Kuryeon sock yarn will hold up since its a single and knowing my luck they will disintegrate the first time I wear them. I also contemplated that Noro always seems to have one colour in the sequence that I just don't like. ***cough(peach)cough*** I also contemplated the fact that there are as many stitches in a pair of socks as there are in a sweater. I also contemplated the fact that the pattern while gorgeous, is lost with the colour transitions of Noro. And I also contemplated that despite all of the contemplation, I do love them, and will indeed continue to knit socks. That is, if I can find the 8 skeins that have mysteriously disappeared in my house.

Oh, like my new sock blockers? They are this high tech version made of bended coat hangers.

And yes, that is snow outside my living room window - level with it actually. For reference the window is about 4 feet off the ground. Its been a long winter.

Pointless?

I've never quite understood the point of fingerless gloves. Its a scientific fact that ones extremities are the first to get cold with a drop in temperature. Hence if its cold enough to warrant wearing something on ones hands, then it stands to reason that the finger should be covered. Perhaps I need to come up with a pattern for palmless mitts or something.

In anycase, I did crank these babies out in about 2 hours. I bought the yarn in Montreal. Pretty though, aren't they?

OWLs sweater finished

I'm super happy with the way that this baby turned out. I'm also glad that I changed the pattern to a cardigan because a pullover would not have been too flattering. In interest of mending issues, I've omitted the button eyes as if they became hooked in anything there is no way that Amy will repair this on her own. She is heading back to Montreal today. I finished the sweater just in time. Yes, she is trying it on at the airport.

How much do I love Montreal?

Within 1 hour of being in the city, this is what our hotel room looked like. I can honestly say that I'm not a Montreal Canadiens fan. I did cheer for them for the 2 years that Michael Ryder was with them, but I didn't really like how they treated him towards the end. I vowed not to cheer for them again. But, it is so hard to resist the energy in that city. Plus Kev is a die hard fan who will likely be buried in a Montreal hockey jersey. Its kind of hard to resist that kind of passion. We had a ball at the game. I even think Amy was cheering for the Habs towards the end of the game.

We had such a great visit to this great city. I found the people to be so warm and friendly, which you don't often find in a big city - world traveller that I am. And the yarn stores. Oh. My. God. I spent way, way, way too much money. I'll show a few of my purchases. Thats just a few. It started to get embarrassing.