In which I have too many projects on the go

First up, the long, grey knit of the past two months is at an end! I cast off the Juno Regina shawl last night, and will wash and block it soon as possible. The pattern was well written, and the yarn was (as always) a dream to work with. I'll be mailing it off to Victoria soon for the auction. Finishing off the shawl has given me license to move onto another unfinished project, the Jewelled Cowl. I'm knitting it up in lovely Sweet Georgia Merino Silk Lace, and by the way, beading isn't hard, but is kind of a pain! And last for now, yarn that I'll be using for a future project, but it's a secret for now!

In which I share Things

Guess what happened today. The sun came out! I mean, there have been some sunny days lately, but not a cloud in the sky, bright sunnies-worthy day? Yeah, it was nice. And it got my motivated to take some photos! This post is about Things I Like. I like Striking Colour Combinations. I like Stripes. I [love] Garter Stitch. I like Lace. I like (Handmaiden) SeaSilk. I like the Wrong Sides of projects.

In which I dip my toes back in

This winter has really hit my blogging, but I've still been knitting! First up, two test knits for Urban Yarns, the first is Norby from Brooklyn Tweed in Rowan Fine Tweed. And the second is Vega from Brooklyn Tweed in Harrisville New England Highland. I've got a number of other projects on the go. The next to be finished is... well I'll tell you next time, but here's my palette. Stay Lovely!

In which Hap Baby is released!

Alright lovely folks, I have a new pattern for you!



Very loosely inspired by Shetland hap blankets, and mostly based on my desire to knit some chunky lace in a good woolly wool. Enter Cascade Eco - at about 14st/4" and with a whopping plus-400 meters a skein, knitting up on 6.5mm needles, it was the perfect candidate.



Now, I love me some garter stitch, so I paired that with some simple lace motifs, and the while thing knit up in less than a week!



As always, I appreciate your support and the pattern is available through Ravelry (link below) or a hard copy will be available through Urban Yarns (as soon as I get to the printer)



And of course, questions, comments, thoughts, please let me know!

In which a new year...

Happy New Year, peoples!

One of my favourite comments about New Years that I've heard so far is about not using it as a chance to dwell on the past year, but to look forward to the next one.

I just finished a super quick, super lovely knit - Honey Cowl out of Madelinetosh Vintage (instead of one of the DK yarns) in Copper Penny. I used two skeins and 5.00mm needles. The result is a slightly narrower, but squooshier cowl. I didn't do a very good job of picking two similar skeins, so I ended up striping them in the middle to transition between them. I haven't gone a day without wearing this since I finished it!

Pattern is available for free through Madelinetosh. It seems like every one of us at Urban Yarns has oen of these cowls knit up, and we are all just a little bit nuts about the yarn...



Oh, and I've got the pattern for the baby blanket all ready to go - just waiting on some final corrections and details, and it should be up in a day or two hopefully!

If you wanted to plan ahead, the pattern as written calls for one (and really, it used the whole skein, so beware) skein of Cascade Eco and 6.5mm needles (in your favourite small and large diameter circular configuration - I used magic loop, then regular circular methods).

In which I resist punning

Just a very quick update to show off the fruits of my holiday knitting. I normally don't do winter gift knitting, but these were just too fun (and quick) to resist! All the balls are from "55 Christmas Balls to Knit" by Arne & Carlos, and were knit out of St Denis.

In which things are new

Things that are new... I knit an awesome manta ray? Thing? Baby Jacket! It's knit out of lovely Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3 Ply in Hemlock, and Berocco Vintage (worsted) in something mustardy. I'm still waiting to get it handed off to the new babe and parents, but it's too cute not to share!

I've also got a really squooshy new knit off the needles. A baby/hap blanket out of one skein of Cascade Eco, for which a pattern will be coming soon. If I can find the time, that is...

Ok, so hey everyone! This just needs to be a quick round up post to prove that I am still out there. First, thanks to everyone who has bought Fulton so far. Also, I just got a small stack of copies printed (finally!) and hard copies will be available at Urban Yarns in Vancouver. On a related note, I am in the midst of re-writing my old Man Cowl pattern (seriously, 226 projects on Ravelry? So cool!). I will be making it into pdf form, and making minor changes (it will still be available for free, just nicer looking). So of course I had to re-knit it. Yarn is Malabrigo Sock (colour is Persia) held doubled on 5.00mm needles, and my scale says it only used 90 out of the 115g in the skein. Okay, a boring update. I am still working on my Brocade Cardigan - I've got one sleeve done, and it only took one skein of the Araucania. I plan to knit the other sleeve, then do the body. I'm debating between a pullover, a standard cardigan, or a pseudo-wrap cardigan though... Thoughts anyone? (it's boring, but have a photo anyway) And finally, two of my friends are expecting... well any time now, so of course I decided to knit them a little "surprise". I'm not going to link to the pattern in case they check here (I like surprises sometimes), but knitters, you should be able to figue out where I'm going with this. If not, well wait and see, but this pattern is GOLD. Yarn is Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3-ply. In other news, I am just busy busy busy! If you stop into Urban Yarns, say hi! And maybe think about registering for one of my classes! I'm hoping to run a class on Fulton, and also a Cable Sampler Pillow, and am thinking about doing another lined fair isle mitten class is there is interest. Ta for now!

In which Fulton is released!

I am just so thrilled to be able to release this, my first, real pattern!

From the pattern, Fulton was designed to recreate a comfy store-bought hat that had been lounging around for many years, and to incorporate a bit more detail than the stockinette original. Fulton has just the right amount of slouch - enough to be trendy, but not so much as to slide off one’s head. The i-cord cast on gives the brim a clean edge, and flows seamlessly into the cable detail. Included are two different cable charts: a moss stitch diamond for the more traditionally minded, and a ribbed diamond for a subtler look.







Worked in less than one skein of either Pear Tree Supersoft 8-ply merino, or Madelinetosh Tosh DK (approximately 135 meters), this is the perfect hat for the... transitional weather of autumn. Perfect for a guy who wants a slightly different look, while not standing out too much, or for any person who wants a swanky new hat, for that matter!





For now, you can pick this pattern up on Ravelry (no registration needed) , but as soon as I can get printing sorted out, it will be available for purchase in hard copy as well (at Urban Yarns in Vancouver).



I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but drop me a line if you have any questions about the pattern!

In which Fulton is revealed... almost

 So I hear you all asking, "what is this elegant grey cabled blob?"

 Well, it is a new design that I am juuuust about ready to release! I'm waiting for the two samples to finish drying so I can photograph them, and then the pattern will be available for sale!

 Using about 150 meters of a worsted or DK weight yarn to work a comfy, cabled hat, Fulton will be available soon, so check back here!

  Fulton was designed to recreate a comfy store-bought hat that had been lounging around for many years, and to incorporate a bit more design than the stockinette original, of course. Fulton has just the right amount of slouch - enough to be trendy, but not so much as to slide off one’s head. Included are two different cable charts: a moss stitch diamond for the more traditionally minded, and a ribbed diamond for a subtler look.