Category Archives: The Ridge

Demolition

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Things have been a tad busy up on the Ridge.

For the last week and a half I’ve been busy doing something  I really enjoy……

Ripping and Tearing!

We’ve started phase one of renovations on our house. It will probably take all summer to complete working at it when we can. I’m very excited and can’t wait to see the end result but its going to be slow going as we piece things together.

The first thing that needed to get done was to tear things down.

This week I removed two small decks and a porch off the front of the house by myself.

 *Ice cream breaks included*

Thankfully Moose was home to help rip off the side decks because they were stubborn, and we wanted to save as much wood as we could for a future project.

*The Tiny Carpenter at work*

Everything needs to be off and cleared out by Monday morning because we have a rented toy coming that’s going to get some major play time this week.

I’ll be checking in when I can to show you the progress. I still have WIP’s and FO’s to share too so hopefully I’ll be able to find some time to throw those in as well.

Catch Up

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Sorry its been so quiet around here.

We are knee deep in renovations….. spur of the moment renovations at that. For a long time we’ve been talking about splitting our bedroom, which is the length of the house into two. We definitely don’t use the extra space and it could be put to better use as a spare room.

So yesterday we got started!

Of course the only way to reno on the coldest week so far this winter *a frigid -25 C* is to wear stripey legwarmers with your work boots.

Things are going well and T is very excited to help us paint when we get to that point!

On the knitting front, I’ve picked up the only current WIP I have left to finish.

This is the French Braid Cardigan by Tanis Lavallee.

I’m pretty sure I started this the day Tanis released the pattern, Ravelry tells me it was April 26th. It is a top down cardigan and I managed to plow through to the underarms fairly quickly but then I was bombarded with tests and I knew I would need lots of concentration to do the body, so I set it aside until I could devote the time to finish it.

Well….. more than enough time has passed, the backlog is clearing up and I’m finally saying enough is enough. I want to wear this beauty so before I cast on for any more sweaters I’m going to finish this one first.

There was still a problem…. at the time I decided I was going to finish it I was really  craving stockinette and something mindless. I did start something else that I will share with you next time but now its full steam ahead to get this finished so I can wear it. I’m working on the second sleeve which is so close to being done and then I get cruise through the body.

What are you craving with your knitting right now??

Woodburne Cardigan

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I recently had the chance to test knit the Woodburne Cardigan, Carol Feller’s newest pattern for her KAL.

As always I knew right away that I wanted to add Woodburne to my wardrobe and testing was the icing on the cake.

It is knit bottom up with a round yoke and a modified saddle shoulder construction. I had yet to knit saddle shoulders so this was a first for me.

I knit this with Di. Ve Zenith that I’ve had in my stash for a couple of years. I could never find the right pattern for this yarn because it has a bit of stretch to it. It was splitty to knit with but has wonderful stitch definition that really makes the cables pop.

I added a bit of length when knitting Woodburne but because I knew it was going to stretch out a bit when blocked I left about 2 inches for growth.

The cables on this one are so interesting and different and as a friend put it almost Art Deco-ish. It really lends a modern look to the cardigan.

One of my favourite things about Carol’s designs is that they are always different in the way they are constructed. Woodburne’s waist decreases are at the middle of the back between the cables instead of at the sides where you would traditionally find them. I love how it makes the cables look like they are pulled in at the back creating a nice waist.

The cables travel up the sleeves and right over the shoulders with the saddle construction.  The shoulders were easy to knit through once I got my head around what I needed to be doing.

It’s easy to get into ruts with your knitting.  We all usually have one construction style that we prefer and tend to knit it over and over again but I always like to challenge myself, learn something new. I always know I will most likely be knitting out of the box when working with Carol!

I couldn’t be happier with this knit. I knit the 30.5 size with a little bit of a different gauge to achieve a 33 bust. I’m seriously thinking of knitting 33″ busts from now on because they create that little bit of room and are just so darn comfy!

Although the KAL is almost over you can still purchase Woodburne and knit it at your own speed. I would definitely recommend it. This is one of my favourite cardigan’s to date.

My Rav Page

Happy Halloween

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This year when I asked T what she would like to be for Halloween she immediately said

A Pumpkin!

Ok I thought a pumpkin will be easy…. until she said “I want you to knit me a pumpkin!”

ummmmm really???

At first I really was going to knit her a pumpkin costume but when we walked into music class and saw THE perfect pumpkin in her size for sale she forgot all about the knit one.

I did however make her a little pumkin top to go with it.

A simple little fascinator attached to a headband that worked perfectly.

I used Cabin Fever Northern Wool in the Pumpkin Colourway and a bit of extra cascade 220 held doubled I had left over from Woodstove Season. I whipped this up in about 20 minutes!

Of course there is no show without Punch…. eerrr Molly!

She has been in every Halloween photo so far so why should this one be any different.

Poor Molly wasn’t too interested in pictures this time…. it was around the time that daddy comes home from work and she was listening very carefully for truck. I see I will have to time my photo shoots around home time from now on!

 Now if you’ll excuse us we’re off to take this little pumpkin trick or treating!

Spirited

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I recently finished my test for Elena of a design called Spirited.

It is the adult version of Playful Citrus that I knit for T in the summer.

I started this back in August, it took a month to knit the body and then another month to get back to it and knit the sleeves…. short sleeves at that.

I guess life got in the way of things as it sometimes does but I’m am glad to say it is now finished.

I used 3 skeins of Malabrigo Lace in the Bobby Blue colourway and I actually ran out of yarn before I finished the sleeves.

If you remember the sleeves came to the elbow and were ruched on the original.

They were my favourite design element but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be on my version.

I really like it with the short sleeves as well and think it will be great to wear during the summer.

Another element I love about Elena’s designs are the back decreases.

She pairs decreases down the middle of the back that pull the body in making the most flattering shape.

It was a tad chilly to be sporting a sundress and lace cardigan in October… especially when the photographer had a winter jacket and toque on but it had to be done!

It is fantastic picture taking weather when its overcast and rather gloomy out.

Woodstove Season

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Luvin The Mommyhood’s Summer Sweater KAL has come to an end.

 I didn’t manage to get the sleeves on my lace cardigan finished on time but I did complete this beauty!

Woodstove Season by Alicia Plummer is due to be released mid October.

I was super excited to test knit this one and even more excited with the finished product!

This cosy cardigan  knits up quickly on 5mm needles and is a stunning addition to my Autumn wardrobe. I’m glad I chose brown Cascade 220 for this because it will just go with so many things! I have already been wearing it for the past two days and I just know I’m going to wear this one right out and have to make another.

My Rav Project page!

Those chevron pockets are such a cute addition and really tie the knit together with that beautiful chevron back.

I made absolutely no mods to this knit, didn’t even have to add length on the sleeves or body, love that!

When I see pictures of the back of this cardigan it makes me want to walk backwards everyday so everyone can see it. hehe

That or I may just have to do a few twirls mid sentence!

My buttons are ones I purchased a few years ago from Beadic on Etsy. I’m so glad I was able to find the perfect knit to adorn them on. Beadic doesn’t seem to have anything in her shop at the moment so I’m not sure if she is still in business or not but if she is I will definitely be putting in another order. Her buttons are delicious!

I have been wanting to knit myself a cardigan to go with this dress for quite some time.

It’s a very light dress but paired with tights and this cardigan I will now be able to wear it year round, love outfits like that!

Oaked

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I just finished an amazingly cute hat for T and had to share.

This little number was a test knit for Alicia Plummer.

An adorable slouchy that ranges from baby all the way up to adult and only took a day to knit.

It features 3 sets of oak leaves around the body of the hat and a great twisted rib that really makes it pop.

It’s knit with dk weight yarn and I chose Berroco Vintage DK  in a beautiful red to go with her winter coat.

I won’t have to worry about it getting dirty because I can just through it in the washer… you would not believe how dirty this girl gets!

I’m glad that the hat quest is taken care of for this year. I always seem to have trouble finding exactly what I want…and choosing from pink, pink or pink in stores REALLY drives me mad!

Ok Fall… We’re ready for you!

Honey Stripes

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Pattern: Satsuma Stripes *due to be released in August*

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Honey

Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton in Putty

My Rav project page

I’ve been following Sharon on Ravelry for many years now. Everything she knits is beautiful and eye catching so when I saw that she was looking for testers for her first pattern I jumped at the chance.

Satsuma Stripes is a breton style pullover worked from the top down. It features a wide boat neck, folded cuffs and hem not to mention all those fun stripes.

 This was the quickest photo shoot I have ever done!

When I stepped into the clearing the black flies attacked! You can see the little pigs in the picture above on the left hand side around my elbow area. I was wearing white shorts and they were quickly coated in a sea of little black bodies. Most of the shots Moose captured were of me shooing them off me or flailing my arms around my head.

Thankfully we got enough to make it work!

This was my first time doing a knitted hem. I have used a sewn hem in the past but the knitted one really worked out well and doesn’t seem to flip up on itself like the sewn one does. I’ll be implementing this design feature again for sure.

 This was another pattern that used the contiguous method developed by Susie Meyers.

I think I am hooked!

I love the finished product even more so once it was blocked.

The yarn bloomed nicely making this my go to sweater for the rest of the summer!

Weekend

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What a great weekend!

I finished THREE knits!

 It feels so great to have some needles cleared off, but I still have a few projects left to go before I will be satisfied with the current state of my WIP’s!

I had my first REAL smore!

Enjoyed toasted marshmallow’s and hanging with visiting cousins.

Of course there was fun on the 4 wheeler,

and playing around with sparklers too!

But most importantly….

 We got to spent some quality time with Daddy!

That’s the kind of weekend we like best….

Right Moolee?

Citrus

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This is another sweet test knit for Elena of Anadiomena Designs.

Knit with more of that yummy pink Malabrigo lace this cardigan is like a soft fluffy cloud.

Rav project page

A delicate open cardigan that gently falls to the side pairs beautifully with her favourite sun dress.

There is always the option to pin it closed at the side with a small brooch if desired as well.

As always Elena adds little details that truely set off her garments.

This ruched sleeve is one of those incredibly sweet touches.

I love that I can grab this at a minutes notice, throw it in my bag and I have something to cover her shoulders that doesn’t take up much space and is light as a feather.

T decided she needed to carry a stick with her when I was taking these pictures in the pasture. It wasn’t until I took this last picture that I thought “My goodness doesn’t that just look like a minature version of Kate Davies?

It shouldn’t be much longer before Citrus is available for purchase.

Before I get a flood of comments saying they wish this was in adult sizes too I’ll save you the bother.

 There is an adult version being test knit right now and you may see some progress of that shortly.