Spencer

On New Year's Day Spencer got sick. Stones in his bladder it turns out. 3 of them that made peeing very difficult. He had to have surgery and was not a happy puppy for about 1 week after.

Over on Ravelry, the Harry Potter - Knit and Crochet House Cup group have a class on the care of magical creatures. People who signed up for the class had to knit something for a magical creature in their life. Spencer is very magical to me. Hence I knit him this cute lil argyle sweater. Pattern is my own - not that it was difficult. I think I'm starting to get into intarsia...well, maybe just a little.


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In other knitting news, Amy has requested a knit sweater for her birthday. This from the girl who 'hates knit sweaters'. I am secretly thrilled at this request, so of course I'm obliging her. However, there is no way in hell that I will finish the sweater in time for her birthday. Considering I've had to order the yarn from Elann.com which is based in BC, Amy's birthday is less than 1 month away, and Amy is in Quebec. So, even if I get the yarn in a week, and if I can knit this sweater in 2 weeks (yeah, right), I would still have to mail it to Quebec. My goal is to have this sweater finished by the end of March. By then of course it will have warmed up to the point that a sweater knit in a chunky weight yarn will be too warm to wear anyway. Such is my life as a knitter.

Boutique Cloche

I've knit this cute little hat from a book that I got for Christmas called Boutique Knits. Its super cute and I wore it out today in minus 30 something celcius weather and it kept my ears and head warm, so its a winner.

It took me a while to figure out how to wear it, but it looks best (on me anyway) with the ruffled edge hauled down over the ear.

Impaled or Pole Dancing?

You decide. I can't. Its even been suggested that they are firemen, sliding down poles. They are supposed to be impaled, but I dunno. Its a very clever pattern called 'tepes' from Anticraft.

May old aquantance...

And all that jazz. I've completed one project so far in the new year. It is a cowl - naturally. Its my own design this time. I may get around to writing up the instructions. This was actually done for the 'Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup' on Ravelry. Its called the Whomping Willow Cowl. I'm happy enough with it, but if I were to offer the pattern, I'd clean it up a little. The cable is a little sloppy as is the button band. Other than that I think its super cute and rather ingenious of me to embroider around the eyelet holes. I'm certain that I'm the first person to ever think of that - Not. But seriously, I haven't seen a lot of it, and I must admit it is rather cute.

Revisting the Druid Mitts

I've lost count as to how many times that I've actually cast on for the Druid mitts. If you aren't familiar with them, they are on the cover of Vogue Knitting Fall 2008. They are the most beautiful mittens ever. I know that I've cast on and knit 3 or 4 cuffs in different yarns and needle sizes, but until now, I've not produced a fabric that I think will stand up to the Labrador winters.

All that has changed though, with this cuff. I'm using a smaller than recommended needle size. The yarn is Knit picks essentials kettle dyed sock yarn. I'm holding two strands together to produce a thicker fabric. Wish me luck!

Still with the cowls

I seem to be on a never ending quest to keep knitting these things until I find the perfect one for myself. I may keep the green one. The orangey one is knit in Fleece Artist kid aran. I liked the colours in the skein, but not so much as it is being knit. I will be gifting this. They are both from free pattern recipes that I found on ravelry. One is here...http://newtonsknitting.blogspot.com/2008/10/garter-cowl.html

The other is here....http://www.ravelry.com/projects/insaknitty/wham-bam-thank-you-lamb-neckwarmer

I also made another pair of saartje booties. I forgot how cute they are.



These are done in Dream in Color Classy (or smooshy?) leftovers from the tulips baby cardigan kit that I bought a long time ago.

I've got cowls on the brain

Seriously, ever since I saw a link to Sara Palin wearing a quiviut cowl, I've been wanting one. As a result I've been trolling the internet for cowls, neckwarmers, gaiters, scarflettes, etc. I had almost forgotten about this little gem from knitty called Tudora. Its going to be a Christmas gift because yellow isn't my colour. I love the idea of a simple buttoned neck band. I have an idea for a pattern of my own thats been ruminating too. I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, here are some pics of my tudora knit in (I think) Berella Muskoka superwash merino (Its that or Paton's Classic). Super fast easy knit for anyone looking for some last minute gifts.