Viral Knits

Do you know what I'm talking about when I say viral knits? I'm talking about those patterns that kind of defy logic. There is just something about them, no one can really say what it is, but every knitter wants to make it.

I have made some viral knits in the past. There was this drops sweater that everybody made years ago including the yarn harlot. I even cast on (but never got around to finishing) the clapotis. The "Owls pullover" that I made into a cardigan and the "Colour Affection" shawl are what I would call viral knits or bandwagon knitting. 

Honestly, I usually try to resist the siren song of the viral knit. Everyone is knitting it - why should I? One of the reasons knitting appeals to me is that you get to be different. You can produce a garment or accessory that is so unique that no one else on the planet owns one. 

There is this knitting pattern that's been on my radar for about 5 years or so. It's called "Hitchhiker" by German designer Martina Behm. When it first came out I wanted to make it. Then everyone else made it, so I wouldn't. There are more than 19,000 of these posted on ravelry. And you know not every knitter is on ravelry (shocking and hard to believe but I have met them) and you know that the knitters that are on ravelry don't always post their work (again, shocking but people use the site in so many different ways). 

Last week I could resist the lure of this pattern no more. I cast on and I was smitten. 

It's like it was made for this yarn! I just love the garter stitch squishiness of it. I just lover the colour transitions. I just love how I keep wanting to make 'just one more point'. 

I totally understand why it's been made over 19,000 times. What I don't understand is why it's taken me 5 years to cast on.  

I vow from this moment onwards to not resist the call of the viral knit. If everyone else is making it, there must be a reason. Usually that reason is because it's a fun and engaging knit. Why am I so stubborn?  There are more Martina Behm patterns in my future I think. 

A Very Random Saturday

Its been a while since I last posted and I feel I'm over due. For some reason I only tend to post finished objects, not works in progress - so it would seem that I'm not doing too much, but I am - honest.

Now, I don't knit for Christmas - way too much pressure. I have been known to knit for Halloween though. Thats whats been taking up my time lately. I've been charged with the task of knitting a lobster costume for my nephew Colson. Last year, I did a duck costume, remember? After a search on Ravelry, I realized no knitted lobster costumes patterns in a toddler size were to be found. Believe it or not, there was an infant bunting bag pattern that is super cute, but no way would Colson put up with being bound up in that for Halloween, not anymore, since he is walking this year. So, I've been improvising my own pattern and so far so good. I've two mittens completed and almost finished the hat. Next up, legwarmers that somehow look like a lobster tail. Yeah, I've saved the best for last. And I have to finish this by tomorrow. Pictures of my success (or failure...eep...) to come later.

In other news, I've been so busy with Anne Hanson's Knitspot Fall into Colour Club!! I've completed Longshawdows. I wear it all the time. It is so beautiful and lightweight, yet warm enough.

This is a picture of it blocking - aggressive blocking makes all the difference. I just love the colours.

And here it is on my neck.

I've finished the knitting on the second pattern from the club too. Its called Hazeline. Its a top down, triangular shawlette pattern. I'm smitten with this too. I just have to graft the center stitches together, block it and I'll be good to go.
This isn't a great picture, it was taken in the dark with a flash. The colours are very sophisticated. I'll post a picture, post blocking. When I get a chance...too busy knitting a lobster.

And here are the mittens that I finished knitting for Sam. She loves them. I love knitting for people who really appreciate things. She was so grateful for the mittens and she's been wearing them ever since.

In an effort to try and document more WIPs I'll show you what I've been knitting. I started this hat my favorite designer Lee Meridith. Its called Wild is the Wind. She has a new ebook called Remixed - she is releasing a pattern each month. So far, I've received two patterns and I love both. Lee writes any gauge patterns - which I love! This hat is no exception. The pattern features twisted stitches and is so pretty. I just have to finish this lobster, so that I can finish the hat.

And finally, here are a couple of pictures of the latest addition to our family...well, not directly our family. I'm not sure I could take training two puppies right now. These two cuties belong to Aimee, Keith and Max. This is Bailey.

And this is Spike. I think they are insane, but I can't argue with the cuteness factor!

Fall in Full Colour

I am really enjoying Ann Hanson's Fall in Full Colour Club.

I've been pretty monogamous with knitting the first project. Its called Longshawdows, which is a great name since the colours do look like shawdows. Here is my progress so far.

It is such a great lace pattern and the yarn is stunning! This yarn is a custom blend made for club members by Spirit Trail Fiberworks. Its a laceweight merino, cashmere and silk blend.

I've also received my second shipment. I love this one too. Here is Morgan modelling it, since he thinks it looked like hair.

The pattern for this yarn is a triangular shawlette - which I love knitting. I'm resisting casting on until I finish the first one.

And in family news....guess who started hockey this week??

Too big!

Spectra

Here it is...another Stephen West design. Obsessed much? Well yes, I believe I am. Lol. Make no wonder, just look at this stuff that he comes up with. Unbelievably simple, yet so effective.

Its knit in Berocco's Ultra Alpaca Fine and Noro Silk Garden sock yarn. I really enjoyed knitting this. I knit quite a bit while travelling to Toronto earlier this summer and vowed I'd knit until the yarn ran out - so its quite long.

I decided to lay it out on the piano so you could see the length of it. I highly recommend this pattern. It curves around the neck in such a nice way. There are endless possibilities in how to wear it.

Happy New Year!

Yeah, I'm about a week late.  Oh well.  Things have been busy - work, life, etc.  Aimee and Max have move out, which makes me so sad, in ways I can't even explain.  It has been an absolute joy to have them here, especially on the heels of Mr. C's passing.  They filled a void for us.

Now, I've taken over Aimee's empty room.  Everything is now in there.  My two wheels, drumcarder, loom, skein winder, niddy noddys, sewing machine, yarn stash, fabric stash.  I could go on and on.  Some day, I'll post photos of my lovely craft room.  I'm very happy with it.  It is so nice to have everything in one place. 

I usually set some goals for myself in the new year.  Fiber goals that is.  Personal goals, I won't go into here.  Though maybe I should.  It might make me more accountable.  Well, in 2011, I would like to

• knit, crochet more from my every growing library.  I have been so fortunate to have a family that gets my fiber addiction.  Every occasion usually means I get some new books and magazines.  I love that.  They are a great source of inspiration.  But, I seldom knit from them.  I want to knit more from my knitting library.
• knit using my handspun.  I think I mention this quite a bit.  I love spinning, but find it incredibly difficult to find projects 'worthy' of the handspun.  I have to break this mentality somehow.  2011 will be the year to do it.
• knit a sweater for my mother.  I have had a fleece artist kit in my stash for some time now.  I love the pattern and the yarn.  I just have to do it.  Christmas 2011 - I hope to have a sweater for mom.
• knit more for Kev.  Poor Kev.  I never make him anything.  This has to change.  He is such a great supportive partner in everything I do.  And he spends a lot of time outside.  He needs to be warm too.
• start making and spinning batts.  I love to spin batts.  I have a drum carder.  There is no reason why I should be buying batts.  I could make them easily.  I need to do this more.

Speaking of batts, I was lucky enough to get some of hobbledehoy's batts just before the holidays.   I just love the way it spins up into a thick and thin single.  You can't see the sparklies in this, but there is just enough shimmer in here.  I think I'd like to weave this.  I've been so, so happy with weaving lately.  Its unbelievable how fast weaving goes.  Here is a simple scarf that I wove for Heather B.  Simple yarn, but with the slow colour changes, its very effective.

 One last photo to show you.  Here is a trio of handpun hats that I made for my trio of daughters/stepdaughters.  I love the hats,  I love the girls.  I hope they will wear the hats.   Picking a favorite would be like picking a favorite daughter right?

Self Striping Yarn - My True Love

The yarn is Zauberball Crazy and it is just that.  There is no repeating of any colours.  If you knit socks from this yarn, they would definitely be fraternal twins as there is no way to make the colours line up.  Up close, the yarn is like a barber poled handspun.  I love the result.  I would have kept crocheting but I ran out of the contrasting black yarn.  It took two skeins of Knitpicks Palette.  

I have countless other images that I wanted to put up as well, but I chose these.  I love the close ups.  This is from a free pattern that can be gotten here.

In other news, I cast on for a baby sweater four days ago, and finished it.  I used Spud and Chloe Sweater yarn.  Its a blend of wool and cotton and is supposed to be easy care.  I really enjoyed the yarn.  This sweater is for Heather's new baby, not yet born, and it had to be easy care.  No care would be great, but I'll settle for easy care.  I bought this yarn from A Good Yarn.  Its a new yarn shop that opened up in St John's.   While I've never been there in person, I can attest to the great customer service.  I hope to visit it real soon.

Still loving the Crochet

I finished the little dress, which turned out to be adorable.  I donated to the Girl Guides fundraiser silent auction.  I know the lady that bought it, so I will be secretly watching her child this summer to see if she wears it.  This was such a cute design, and the designer couldn't be sweeter.  She contacted me on Ravelry to let me know that she liked my rendition of her design.  I did use a heavier gauged yarn than recommended and consequently ended up with a size to fit a 2 year old even though I crocheted the smallest size.


And here is my progress on the rhubard scarf.  What a great pairing of stitch pattern and yarn!  I'm loving the result, though I'm getting a little tired of scarves.  I just finished knitting Summit from the most recent issue of Knitty.   I modified mine to make a more narrow version because I didn't have enough of the yarn to make a full sized version.  I used Knitpick's Stroll kettle dyed in the auburn colourway.  Overall, I'm happy with this as it resulted in a nice spring scarf.  Blocking was tricky though!

What I've been up to.

Its been a while since I've blogged.  So much for my resolution to blog more, but in my defence, I was ill.  Strep throat to be precise.  And at the worse possible time.  I went to visit Amy last week.  I had all of these plans to go yarn shopping.  I even had Kev convinced to go wheel shopping with me.  He even knew that I was talking about a spinning wheel, not actual tires or a vehicle.   All that I managed to do (in the fibre realm) was to buy some books and magazines.  I did get to take in some amazing performances by the students of Bishop's University.  Other than that, I slept.  And took medication. 

Prior to our trip, I got on a crochet jag.  Brought about by National Crochet month and our little CAL on Ravelry.  So here is a look at some crochet projects that I've been working on.

This is the Bella Dress from the most recent issue of Interweave Crochet.  I finally broke down and bought a subscription.  This was my first issue and I was not dissappointed.  This little dress features a fabric skirt sewn in after.  I just love the coordinating fabric.  It came from a tent dress that I bought from Old Navy on sale for 99cents!!  I guess I'm still in denial that Heather is having another boy.  I really wanted this dress to be for her new baby.  Maybe she'll still let me put it on him.





This is the Noro Catherine Wheel Scarf.  I'm making mine out of a ball of Zauberbal Crazy and one ball of Knit Pick Palette.  I love how its working up.  This was my go to project on our little trip.  Normally, I knit or crochet like a bandit while travelling.  Sadly, I hardly worked on it at all.  That just goes to show you, how sick I really felt.

Montreal - Again!

Kevin and I are just back from dropping Amy off for her second year of university. I can hardly believe it! I still have nightmares - yes, nightmares - that I'm still in university. And now my beautiful girl is doing her second year.

This year she opted for an apartment -res life not being for her. So, she needed some help with getting her apartment set up. Here is a picture of her very college-like apartment. I think they will be happy there.
















We drove to Sherbrooke (12 hours to Baie Comeau - overnight there, then 7 hours to Sherbrooke) and spent several days there cleaning, buying furniture, assembling furniture and what not. A picture of Amy and Lucy at the Brick looking for furniture. I don't think the employees were too impressed with us.















Then we went to Montreal. Again. I can't believe that I've been to Montreal twice this year. And this time we drove. We gave Kev a GPS for his birthday and I really think its the best money that we've ever spent. Seriously, a life saver - well, most definitely a relationship saver as prior to this I was always given the task of map reading and lets just say that my map reading skills aren't up to par. Having a GPS is the only way to drive. I know there is no way that we would have been comfortable driving in Montreal without it. The city of Sherbrooke is only about the size of St. John's Newfoundland, so I'm sure that we could have managed that one, but still - amazingly easy.

So guess what I did when I was in Montreal. Yep, I went to Mouline. The owner guy actually remembered me from last time. I'm not sure what that says about us (or him), but it was very nice. I bought a few things. Mostly sock yarn again. I guess because I had just purchased Cookie A's new book 'Sock Innovations'.

















I've been steadily working away on the Vine Yoke Cardigan, and I suspect that I would have finished up to the back on the long drive home, but I misplaced the pattern. I do have the right front and sleeve finished. I'm really enjoying the pattern. I'm not so certain that my yarn choice was the right one as it is a loosly spun single that is already developing a halo. I hope it doesn't pill too much.
















And I finally finished my One Skein Stole from the Noro Kuryeon sock yarn. It turned out very pretty. I'm not sure how wearable this will be here. Perhaps it will become a gift.

160 Yards and Counting

This dirty fleece business is getting a bit monotonous. I don't mind the cleaning of it. Really, its not that bad. The carding of it is kind of boring, but again, not that bad. The thing is, I thought that when I had done these steps there would be a pay off. I'd have something really great to spin. That this fiber would be delicious and I would love spinning it. Not. No matter what technique I use, I have loads of neps. The fiber feels very matted (even though I have taken great care in the cleaning process). In any case, I have decided to go with the bulky single. I now have 160 yards of the stuff. What will I do with this? Right now, I'm thinking mittens. But I'm open to suggestions. I might even try overdying it, just to see what happens.















And, in knitting news, I haven't finished anything - and my goal to finish the stormwater shawl before August rolls in, is now completely out the window. I have, however, cast on and have knit nearly half of this stole. (Pattern found here ). It is such a fun, fast knit. I have dreams of knitting hundreds of these, and giving them away to ladies that have important birthdays. (Yeah, I was just invited to a 70th birthday of this awesome lady and I really wish that I had something like this finished and ready to go - next time, I'll be prepared). It knit in the Noro Kuryeon sock yarn. Which I think is much nicer in a stole than in a sock.















And, my tulips have finally bloomed. When my mom was here visiting she kept insisting they were going to bloom anyday. But I knew better. Here we are 2 maybe 3 weeks since they've left and they are now just blooming. Sorry mom, I was right, you were wrong.

Wild Fire Knit

The Yarn Harlot is knitting one therefore, I must knit one. I present the noro ribbed scarf (that I'm knitting in SWS).



I don't follow the crowd. I make a point of not following the crowd, or I should say - I try to resist following the crowd, but sometimes resistance is futile. But hey! I haven't made a clapotis yet. (I actually cast on for one, and promptly frogged it, but not before getting this far)


I even got further than that and it was looking gorgeous, but I didn't want to take a picture of it. I started it in Kauni, and it was a poor choice. The colour is gorgeous, and it would have been beautiful, but the yarn is so sticky. Its meant for colourwork. Doing those intentional drop stitches was a royal pain in the arse with the kauni. The kauni will wait. I have something in mind. You will see.

I finished another Kim's hat - this time I made it big enough for Riley. Hopefully I have. Since I haven't seen him this year one can't be too sure. Perhaps his head grew inexplicably large in the past year. I really hope not.

Sea and Surf

I love this stitch pattern so much. Its the first time I've worked with my handspun yarn, and I'll admit to not wanting to use it. I can't really put my finger on why I didn't want to use it. Too precious - maybe. Not good enough - perhaps. And of course there not being enough of it to really do anything meaniful with.

This pattern is a freebie, but it first came to my attention in Spin off magazine. There were so many different versions of it, and it required very little yardage. So, I gave it a try and I couldn't be happier with the results. I'm thinking this might be a nice gift form my mom. Initially it was to be mine, all mine. But after seeing the qiviut cowl on Sara Palin, I've been hankering for a cowl. In handspun. My handspun. This, combined with the fact that I gifted some handspun to a coworker and she made a delicious cowl out of it. I cant' stop thinking about it. Like I needed something else in my queue right?

Moving right along

I'm up to the heel on these toe up socks. I must admit that I much prefer the heel flap method of turning a heel than this short row business. But, I must broaden my knitting horizons by trying new techniques. They sure are pretty though.

I'm also moving right along on the handspun scarf. I can tell how overspun this stuff is as I'm knitting it. Its not something overtly apparent by just looking at it, or even just touching it. But knitting with it, is a different story. This pattern is a perfect fit for handspun yarn.

I have a new computer!

Lalalalala! Yes thats me singing. I'm so happy. Pictures load so quickly. Now, I have to get my good camera back from repairs at the Future shop, but I'm hopeful. In the meantime, my old standby camera will suffice.

I've finally bitten the bullet and have decided to actually work with my handspun. I'm knitting the sea and surf scarf from Interweave's Spin Off magazine. I do believe this pattern is available free somewhere on the internet too. It really highlights handspun yarn very well I think.



I also finished my sock club socks.


They are called Flying South, and they are in Fleece Artist. I love them. I got my second installment of sock club yarn too. It is droolworthy.



The pattern that came this month is called 'Twisted Licorice'. Its a nice cabled rib pattern. I will be casting on shortly. This is my first sock club and I'm really enjoying it. It is so nice getting surprise yarn in the mail. So far I have loved the two skeins that I've been sent.

Crochet Bib Beanie

I've been looking for a pattern like this for a while. Someone on Ravelry posted this freebie. It is a great quick pattern, and I'm so grateful. It turned out super cute. I sold it at the Girl Guide's craft sale this past weekend for 15$. I will likely make more of these, since they seem to be in style right now.

In other news, I finally finished the 'Danica' (from knitty.com) scarf for mom. I'm not blocking this one. She likes the texture of the entrelac, and so do I. I've been knitting this off and on since this summer. Its not a difficult pattern at all. Its my fourth 'Danica' I think. But Christmas is mere weeks away, so the pressure to finish was on. This scarf is done is Paton's SWS natural earth colourway - and I like this colour the best of all the Danica's that I've done.