Category Archives: WIPS

Business Casual KAL -Travelling Stitch

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I made great progress last week on my socks. I’m cast on one sock in each colourway and have been tandem knitting them back and forth. This method seems to be working out well for me and Iove being able to play with both colours at the same time. I managed to turn the heel of each sock this week.

 The Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label in Brick.

This colourway seems to be pooling a bit but I think the colours are close enough that they won’t be that noticeable once they are complete.

Tanis aptly named this colourway Brick. The colour is spot on!

Wandering Cat Yarns Barn Cat BFL in Parrotfish

I thought this was going to be a variegated skein but to my surprise when I started knitting I realized it was striping. I’m really enjoying this colour combo, reminds me of the beach.

Now how have your socks been coming along??

Woweee! We have two finished pairs of socks already!

Sara of LundenKnits knit her socks in a mere 3 days! Incredible.

She used Tanis Purple Label Cashmere Sock in Sliver Plume.

I love the shades of grey with subtle pops of pink in these socks.

The colourway is a special kit colourway and not available through Tanis shop.

I believe Sara has a second pair on the go already!

Monika of Smoking Hot Needles also finished her socks in 3 days.

I want these ladies sock knitting stealth for sure!

Monika knit her version with Wandering Cat Yarn’s Alley Cat BFL in the Fern Gully colourway.

Everyone else’s socks are looking good!

Here are a couple of WIP’s from this week.

Left to Right : Versions by Deadlysmurf, Laina and Hotcheese

Left to Right : Versions by Fancybell, Redknitz, and Tracylw.

Make sure your projects are tagged CCObusinesscasualkal because there are ton’s more WIP shots to come next week!

I’m going to leave you with a short video of how I do the travelling stitch. I know some folks are having a bit of trouble so I’ve tried to explain how I do it.

The video was a quick job because I have a sick little girl at home so hopefully this won’t confuse you even more!

Travelling Stitch

No Snow Blues

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Winter has been anything but spectacular so far this year. We had a few dumpings of snow although nothing has really stuck for any length of time. Last week it was -37C  but during the middle of the week we had a huge wind and rain storm with temps going up to 10C…… Mother Nature just doesn’t know what it wants to do this year.

The wind storm we had caused mass power loss across the province, trees were dropping like flies and people loosing shingles left and right.

What we are left with is straw coloured grass and lots of fire wood to cut up for next year…..

I’m glad that through all of this I at least have some pretty knitting to look at.

I’m testing Splitstone for Alicia Plummer in the most gorgeous shade of Cascade 220.

My Rav project page

The colour number is 9456 in case you are interested.

The cable pattern adorning the front of this one is very intuitive and is making for a quick knit. I only had two skeins of this in my stash but managed to track down another one from my LYS. I’m currently at a stand still while I wait for it to arrive.

In the meantime I’m enjoying looking at this brilliant blue.

It is definitely helping the “no snow blues”.

Business Casual KAL – Casting On

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I’m so excited so many of you are joining me in knitting Business Casual. I expected 10 -20 and got 115 participants to date! I am gobsmacked to say the least and cannot WAIT to do an FO Parade. Just think of all those finished socks!

Of course with that many people joining me I couldn’t just leave it at one prize…… I’ll be adding more to the list as we go along so keep a look out for Prize Alerts!

Tanis has given us the go ahead to use the picture above for our project pages and blog posts about the KAL so feel free to spread the love. Don’t forget to sign up HERE to be eligible for prizes and tag your project pages with CCObusinesscasualkal so I we can all see each others progress. I will be using some of your pics for update posts, with permission of course. If you need help tagging let me know and I’ll walk you through it.

I loved hearing what yarns you have chosen to use so I think its about time I share mine with you.

I have this lovely skein of Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label in the Brick colourway that I’ll be using to cast on with for my business casuals.

Its a semi sold so those different peaks of colour will add some interest to the diamond pattern as I knit.

That isn’t however the only pair of business casual’s I’ll be knitting. I won this skein of Wandering Cat’s Barn Cat in the ParrotFish colourway last year on Monika’s blog.

 I always thought it would make a nice pair of variegated business casuals and since I couldn’t decide whether to do a variegated pair or semi solid I’m just going to knit them both!!

All caked up and ready to go!

Now before you all go running off to cast on I wanted to show you the cast on method used in the pattern. Tanis refers to it as an elastic cast on. It is my first time casting on this way  but one that I will absolutely be using from now it. It leaves a wonderfully stretchy edge and takes most of the fiddle work out of casting on and joining that first row.

I know some of you are fairly new to sock knitting and even those who aren’t new like me, may find it interesting!

Elastic Cast On

Now GO CAST ON!!!

If you would like to link blog posts about your projects for others to catch up on feel free to do so below with the link.

 

Yarn Along

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Joining Ginny today for Yarn Along.

Knitting – I started a test for Elena of Anadiomena Designs. This one is similar to her Wild Vanilla pattern that I knit in the summer but this time with a fun kangaroo pocket that I think T will really love. T is finding most wool itchy at the moment, especially  Berroco Ultra Alpaca, hopefully she will grow out of this, but for now I’m going with Berroco Comfort and hope that it keeps the itchiness at bay. T chose the colour, it was the closest thing she could find to Robin’s Egg Blue, everything is about birds right now. I’ll tell you more about the birds another time.

Reading – T and I have been reading lots of Fancy Nancy. I love these books so much such a delight to read. Nancy has a big vocabulary which is great for my little book worm, she has a wonderful imagination and is filled with creativity. I highly recommend Nancy for your little book worms.

Reading or knitting anything fun today?

Sock it to me!

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You will never guess what I’m knitting…….

yeah ok the title probably gave it away but HEY I’m knitting SOCKS!!!

It’s been a while since you saw a pair of socks around these parts hasn’t it?

It seems that around the same time every year my knitting cravings turn toward socks. It usually lasts through one pair…. or half of a pair….*ahem* and then the craving vanishes but I’m hoping to rectify that this year. I’ll tell you more about that in a minute.

I cast on this pair of socks just before Christmas. I wanted plain stockinette, nothing fancy but enough to keep me interested. My mind flew to the many Nancy Bush books that are on my knitting shelf and I knew immediately that I wanted to knit the Welsh Country Stockings. I have been coveting this pattern for years and they fit the bill perfectly for the kind of knit I was craving.

These have mostly been knit in the car or while visiting someone at Christmas time. I usually get a mummy break when we visit others because there are new people to play with. They are flying off the needles quite quickly and I will be happy to have a new pair of socks, almost knee highs at that to add to my arsenal.

So the plan for 2013 is to knit more socks. I have quite a few skeins of sock yarn that are never going to see the light of day if I don’t get them knit up.

Truth is I prefer socks with complicated lace and cable patterns but most of the time they are the ones that steer me clear of knititng socks altogether. So in 2013 I will be using up my sock yarn stash and knitting socks, plain, patterned, colourwork whatever I’m in the mood for.  Just so I don’t fall off that band wagon right away I’ve choosen 6 skeins of sock yarn from my stash to use.

Some I have a pattern in mind and some I don’t. I’m not nailing myself to these skeins either. If after a while I want to switch a skein out or using for some other kind of knit I will but at least it will give me something to go by and hopefully use up my poor neglected sock stash.

There will still be sweater knitting OF COURSE, heaven knows I’d die without my sweater knitting but hopefully I’ll have a few more pairs of socks along with the sweaters this year.

Do you have stash lingering that you are eager to knit up this year???

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??

Yarn Along

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Joining Ginny for Yarn Along this week.

I’m currently reading The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern along with folks in The PlayfulDay Podcast Group on Ravelry. I didn’t read the synapses before I dove into this one, much like with The Knife of Never Letting Go.

Le Cirque des Rêves, is only open at night. A circus that arrives without warning, one day its there the next day it isn’t. The black and white tents contain the most amazing sights and experiences that keep people coming back again and again.

Behind the great acts of the circus two magician’s are competing in a dual. The magicians  have been trained since childhood for this event but could never imagine that it is a dual to the death….

The atmosphere of the circus is amazing and keeps me listening but I can’t say the story line behind the circus is all that interesting. It skips about so much that you don’t really get to know the characters as much as I would have liked.I do however think the circus will make a great movie .

I have two knits currently on the go with this audio book.

I cast on for a hat for T. The pattern is the For Good Hat by Megan Williams. 

Megan is one of the faces behind the Stockinette Zombies Podcast. The pattern was designed in remembrance of her sister, who tragically died in 2007 from pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs), that the family believe were caused by the birth control she was taking.

All proceeds of this pattern will be donated FOR GOOD, to the National
Women’s Health Network in Melissa’s name. The NWHN is a woman’s health
advocacy organization seeking to “protect women from health risks caused by
unsafe drugs, devices and medical treatments”, in addition to addressing many
other health issues that face women today like health care coverage.

If you would like to purchase the pattern you can do so here or make a donation to the For Good cause here.

Megan is also hosting a For Good KAL on the Stockinette Zombies Group if you’d like to join in.

I’m also testing a pattern for my good friend Sarah.

This is mitten #1 of my pair of Ardour Mittens.

This beautiful stranded mitten pattern is working up quickly. I love how the pattern differs from the front to the back yet still works so well together.

I’ll be adding a lace lining to these mittens as per the pattern. It will be my first time knitting liners and I don’t think it will be my last.

I’m almost finished with The Night Circus… do you have an recommendations for my next audiobook? I’m got some  big projects coming up that are going to require a new book.

Aidez – Front

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I made some good progress this week finishing the back and starting on the left front.

With a little under 3 weeks left to go I figured I had better try to pick up the pace a bit.

Did you make any progress this week?

DANA   ALICE  LYNNE

SARAH   HEIDI  MICHELLE   HANNAH   RONNIIE

JESS   EVELYN   ANNABELLE2   ELIZABETH

CHRISTINED   LETE   ALAINA   SARA  KELLY

REBECCA   JESSICA  SHANNON   GEORGIE

LACEY   TINA  JEANNIE  EMILY

KATHERINE  KATE  MEGAN  IGNASIOWA

ROSE  KATHY STACIE  MINDY  MARY

We two finished cardigans this week!!

Jess knit her lovely Aidez is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in the colourway Wallaby.

I love how those cables really pop with the bulky yarn.,

She did a smashing job!

Christine aka Duncanch finished her Aidez as well.

Knit with Cascade Ecological Wool, colourway 8016.

The only mod she made was to make the sleeve and armhole circumference bigger so the sleeves weren’t so tight.

This is the first sweater in many years that she has knit and she is very pleased with the result as well she should be.

How great does she look in it!

Alaina aka Flyingmuse is busy working up the fronts of her cardigan using an undyed version of Cascade Eco #8015.

Dana is on Aidez number 2!!

She’s using different cables for this green version using Polar by Wolle Rodel.

I’m interested to see the end result.

Helene is working her version in chocolate truffle Country by Naturally Caron.

She’s choosing to knit it all in one piece.

Emily aka oohfancypants and lovely face behind the  Whatcha Swatchin Podcast added some diagonal pockets to the fronts of her Aidez.

Very practical because what is a cardigan without pockets??

I’m going with pockets on mine as well but they will look a bit different to Emily’s.

Did you get any knitting done this week??

Time is a tickin!

Aidez – Back

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 I’ve got progress!

I finished my second sleeve and am making my way up the back.

The back is knitting up quickly along with one of my favourite sweet treats my parents brought back from the home land.

How did everyone do this week??

DANA   ALICE  LYNNE

SARAH   HEIDI  MICHELLE   HANNAH   RONNIIE

JESS   EVELYN   ANNABELLE2   ELIZABETH

CHRISTINED   LETE   ALAINA   SARA  KELLY

REBECCA   JESSICA  SHANNON   GEORGIE

LACEY   TINA  JEANNIE  EMILY

KATHERINE  KATE  MEGAN  IGNASIOWA

ROSE  KATHY STACIE  MINDY  MARY

Justyna finished the seaming on her Aidez and it turned out beautifully!

This picture makes me want to get a crack on and finish mine up.

Hannah is knitting up her Aidez in a beautiful variegated Malabrigo Worsted.

Can’t wait to see how the body works up in this one.

Shannon aka McFeety is knitting her Aidez in one piece with Knits Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in the colour Wallaby.

I love this shade!

Michelle aka Mickerr is working her sleeves up in the round to avoid seaming, she’s currently on her second sleeve.

and Claudia who has recently joined us is getting on like a house on fire knitting her version all in one piece.

We’re on the downward slope to the finish date now…

Can you finish in time?

Aidez – Progress and Prize Alert!!

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DANA  and ALICE

SARAH   HEIDI  MICHELLE   HANNAH   RONNIIE

JESS   EVELYN   ANNABELLE2   ELIZABETH

CHRISTINED   LETE   ALAINA   SARA  KELLY

REBECCA   JESSICA  SHANNON   GEORGIE

LACEY   TINA  JEANNIE  EMILY

KATHERINE  KATE  MEGAN  IGNASIOWA

ROSE  KATHY STACIE  MINDY  MARY

How did you make out this week? Were you able to squeeze in any knitting time?

Here’s an update from some of our Aidez Knitters!

We have two more finished Aidez this week!

Dana finished her Aidez in a beautiful sunshine yellow in Soft Wool.

She did note  that her yarn grew when blocked as well.

Looks like it will be perfect for Fall and Winter and especially nice for cuddling up in!

Megan aka Just Run Knit from Stockinette Zombies finished her Aidez.

She had a little trouble getting her knitting to behave like her swatch.

The cardigan ended up being too small for Megan but her daughter scored a new cardi out of the deal so all is well.

How cute is that mini Aidez??

Justyna aka Lete is on the home stretch with just the sleeves left to do.

She is knitting them up two at a time!

Mindy aka KeepinEmWarm is motoring right along on the back of her Aidez using Cascade Eco.

Christine aka Duncanch finished her back panel this week and is ready to cast on another piece!

I have another PRIZE ALERT  for you this week!

The lovely Sarah from Fripperies and Bibelots who makes my most favourite stitch markers EVER,  is kindly donating one set of Ringo’s to a lucky winner!

I love everything about these stitch markers!

They are completely snag free and come in adorable colour combo’s.

I use nothing but Ringo’s!

We are at the halfway mark of  our KAL this week!

How is your Aidez coming?? Can you finish on time??

Don’t forget to link to your blog below so everyone can follow along!