Celtic Cast On

Thank you for all the great suggestions you left in the comments of  the last yarn along. I’ve been checking things out adding to my GoodReads *to read* section and sourcing out some great audio books. I think I’m set for a while but I will definitely be putting the question out again when I’m ready for more.

Joining Ginny this week for another Yarn Along.

Reading : I recently became aware of a book called Creating Myself by Mia Tyler….. actually I must back up. I recently became aware that Steven Tyler had another daughter lol well he has 3 daughters and a son so I learned that too. Anyway the book is written by Tyler’s second daughter Mia as she decribes her life  living with her mom, who was left to care for their daughter while Steven toured around doing the Aerosmith thing. It is an honest account of what Mia went through, with her mum, life mostly without her dad and all the other things in between.

I did also finish Water for Elephants and I can honestly say I wasn’t too thrilled with it. The animal abuse kind of turned me off the book and didn’t really allow me to enjoy it. I won’t be watching the movie.

Knitting: I cast on Tanis’ newest pattern Terracotta when I finished Classic Raglan. I adore turtlenecks and live in them from the moment it gets cold enough until I can stand the blazing sun no longer. I usually have quite a few turtlenecks in my wardrobe but this winter I have discovered several that are looking a bit worse for wear. I knew it was time to knit one but I was still trying to decide between a few in my queue. Then Tanis releases a new pattern and its that comfy turtleneck I’ve been looking for. I’m knitting this with some stash yarn *you will be seeing a lot of stash getting used up this year, I’m also keeping track of my yardage in and out, more on that later* Jo Sharp dk pure wool in Aubergine. I had originally had this ear marked for an Audrey in Unst but I’m really feeling sweaters more than cardi’s right now so its best to use it up and find something else for Unst. Terracotta is knit for the bottom up so I’m choosing to start with the sleeves since they are what usually slow me down. I figure if I start with the sleeves while I’m all excited and fired up about the project I’ll probably get it finished faster…and I did manage to squeak out a sleeve already.

So tell me, what are you reading? Do you have a project on the go or waiting in the wings that you’re fired up about?

You may remember a few months ago I test knit Courtenay for my sweet friend Preeti.

Well I ended up gifting Courtenay in a Yankee Swap we had for a christmas party with my knitting group. It’s always so nerve racking when you gift a knit like this hoping that the recipient who ends up with it will like it.

 Michelle liked it so much she traded for it!!  There was of course  one *small* problem…. the hat which fit on my head just wasn’t big enough for Michelle so I told her no problem I’d frog back and add an extra repeat.

Yarn arrived for Sailing and I really needed to hunker down and get it done so the adjustment was put off for a bit. Then I ran out of yarn for Sailing and I had to wait for more to arrive so I pulled the hat out and added some length and volia!

Courtenay Reworked!

I’m hoping this works for her, that extra repeat really made a difference.

This sweater is the epitome of comfy!

Pattern: Classic Raglan Sweater by Jane Richmond

Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool in Nature’s Brown

Mods: I did have to lengthen everything to fit my long torso but other than that the numbers worked out great for me.

The Fisherman’s Wool was great to work with, I love a good, warm workhorse yarn and this one fit the bill perfectly.  The colourway, Nature’s Brown is such a beautiful  heathery shade that makes it stand out from other solid shades.

My only wish is that they had more of a colour choice. There are only so many garments you can make out of the same 3-4 colours that fisherman’s wool comes in before it gets a bit boring.  I do however have plans for another one using a coloured yarn from my stash, maybe a third too!

It’s -14 out today so the photo shoot didn’t last long….

Throw the jacket off, run to the right spot, click click click and reverse the process.

If the weather says this cold I think I”ll be living in this sweater for the next few months and I’m not a bit bothered by that!

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along today!

I’m cruising right along with my Classic Raglan but I reached the sleeves and then, as always with me,things slowed down.

I decided I needed an audio book to get me through the sleeves and picked up Water for Elephants from the library. I”ll let you know how it goes.

Sleeve number one is almost done and once I get going on number two it will be a race to the finish so I can wear it.

I’d love to hear any suggestions for good audio books. The narrator is a crucial factor when I’m listening so if  the narration isn’t the greatest I’ll quickly move on to something else.

p.s.  The Incorrigible Children from Ashton Place , I’ve let go by the way side. It was kind of odd and It felt like a chore having to pick it up to read so back to the library it will go. I have another one that I can’t keep my nose out of but I’ll leave that for another day.

All that twisted knitting has left my fingers craving….

Craving to go right back to the beginning where it all begin.

The knit stitch!

It’s funny how you grow, master complex techniques and all your hands really want to do is go back to that simple little stitch.

Sailing is coming right along. The body is blocking and I have half a sleeve and the neck left to knit. I am dangerously close to running out of yarn and won’t really know where I stand until I knit the neck.

Sooooo what are those idle hands to do while I wait for a blocked sweater body to dry?

Cast on for something new of course!

I’ve been wanting to knit Jane Richmond’s Classic Raglan Pullover since it was released in November. I have this beautiful shade of brown fisherman’s wool  in my stash that will work perfectly for this sweater. You may remember last year when I wanted to knit a cozy sweater with this yarn that I could just pull on anytime? Yeah that one didn’t quite pan out but I’m sure the classic raglan will. Jane explains the sweater as something comfy you can wear around the house and yet if you need to go out you wouldn’t give a second thought to leaving the house in it.

I can see knitting this one in an array of colours and I’m sure my mum will ask for one once she see’s it.

Raglan shaping done, now its smooth sailing until the sleeve separation! That will have to wait of course because this afternoon I’m tackling the neck of Sailing. Fingers crossed I will have enough yarn left over for the sleeve and sewing them up.

What patterns are you craving??

It’s all Tanis’ fault!

I needed to take a small break from all those twisted stitches on the Sailing Sweater and I had a couple hours drive that needed to be occupied with a simple knit.

Tanis released a hat pattern called Cabled Canuck before christmas and its all I could think about. This drive was the perfect opportunity to whip it up AND satisfy my need for something a little different.

Pattern: Cabled Canuck by Tanis Lavallee

Yarn: Cascade 220

This cabled beanie knit up quickly on 5mm’s and worsted weight yarn. There was enough cabling to keep it interesting but not too much that you were always refering back to the chart. *note I get motion sickness quite easily but as long as I just keep to one thing and I’m not flipping back and forth I’m usually ok*

The yarn for this hat is actually recycled from what was once my Gretel. I loooved Gretel but the tubular cast on I did at the brim was way to tight and therefore always hard to get on and kind of hurt when I did have it on. Instead of having it sitting in a basket getting unused I decided to unravel and create something new with it.

I was and still am a little weary that I don’t suit this style of hat but I love my Chevalier mittens and thought that hat would go well with them  so I decided to forge ahead.

I love how the decreases create a beautiful cabled flower on top. So what do you think?

Do I suit it or should I stick with the beret style?

If all else fails it looks super cute on T!

Now Tanis, please no more MUST KNIT patterns, at least until I’m finished this sweater k?

7 adult garments
6 T sized garments
3 pairs of socks
4 toys
3 hats
2 shawls
1 infinity cowl

Phew! Not too shabby!

There is one knit in the mosiac you haven’t seen yet. I just put up a teaser shot for now but it will be released sometime this month. Any guesses which one it is?

I ended up frogging Emelie. I just had the sleeves left to do but wasn’t feeling it so I frogged and will most likely re knit in the future.

The socks I still haven’t decided on so I’ve moved them to live with the stash for now. They may or may not resurrect themselves in the future.

This year I am resolving to KNIT WHAT I WANT! I’m not joining 12 sweaters in 2012….. although I’d like to…. I’m not going to hold myself to any crazy feats. I’m going to knit what I want to knit when I want to knit it.

Here’s to a great 2012!

Pattern: Gamine by Tori Gurbisz of Lachesis & Co

Yarn: Paton’s Classic Wool

Ok so I lied but not intentionally…. Gamine is my final FO of 2011.

I was all set to frog back and move the button-hole positions up two stitches but when I realized I would have to frog the hem, collar AND both button bands I decided I could live with it.

This was a test knit for Tori of her wonderful cabled vest design, Gamine.

Isn’t that back panel fabulous??

The construction of this vest reminded me of  knitting  Agatha. Like Agatha this is also knit top down, starting with the back you knit to the under arm then knit each of the front pieces before joining in the round to knit the body.

I really enjoy knitting garments this way. Not only is there no seaming but you get a really good idea of fit as you go.

Originally I had sewn on brown leather buttons but they were just too “grampa`s cardigan“ for my liking. I took mum with me shopping for some new ones and she came through, as usual, with a button that pulls out the beige and grey flecks in the vest. Thanks Ma!

This is a great layering piece that looks great dressed up or something I can just throw on at home for that bit of extra warmth this winter.

A great garment to round out 2011.

T looooves puzzles! She was very excited to receive this 7 foot long one from my brother on christmas eve.
Instead of opening presents on christmas morning we put together her puzzle.

This was another one that Grammy gave her. It’s called a Puzzle Ball, is made of hard plastic and is very neat to put together. She enjoyed finding each vignette and then popping them into place.

I love that she loves puzzles. Not only are they great for problem solving, spacial relations, hand eye co-ordination… I could go on… but Mama happens to love them too. It’s one of those activities I thoroughly enjoy doing but don’t often get the chance to do.

Hopefully this love for puzzles grows with her and we’ll enjoy making  many puzzles together in the years to come.

The last FO of 2011 that I have yet to blog about., my Peppermint Pukes. These socks were started in Cat Bordhi’s sock class that I took at KnitEast. It was Cat’s Discovery Sock class and we used her recipe to knit them. I was quite surprised to discover that knitting plain socks Cat’s way I only need 48 sts!  Yes my friends 48 sts! That leaves a lot of leftover sock yarn. I have worn  these a lot since I cast off and they still fit great. The only thing I’m not sold on is the way we did the heel. It doesn’t sit right on me and constantly slides up and down but that’s an easy fix. I’ll just substitute Cat’s Heel for a different one and I’ll be all set. I’m also undecided about the pizza toe… it fits well and feels ok on but it looks kind of poofy on your foot.  Looks like I’m still searching for the perfect “vanilla” recipe for my feet but I’m getting pretty close.

Thank you to all that took the time to vote for T’s Rossbeg cardigan a few weeks ago. T’s cardi won in her category and Monika’s shawl won in the accessories. I received my package of goodies yesterday in the mail and wanted to show you what arrived.

The pink yarn is Donegal Yarns  Soft Donegal, and the brown is Plymouth worsted superwash. T has taken to the lanyard and calls it her dog collar Thanks so much Carol for the lovely package!