In which I am unBEARably cute.

Oh so many things going on this week!
The baby blanket is done and will be gifted this week. I'm planning to release it as a pattern, so you know, you'll probably see that coming in a few years, with my track record.

We got some really cute crewel kits in at work from Wool & Hoop. I'm making 'China Blue No 2' (mostly because it's the only one we got that isn't orange and pink, which soooo don't go in our house), and it reminds me of those wicked spirograph toys I had as a kid, and would kill to get my hands on again...

I am also working on a really nifty easy scarf design that when done will be another Urban Yarns free pattern. It's done with four skeins of Koigu (I'm doing mine in two colours), and the single hardest thing I have done all week was deciding on the colours - we have like 50 or 60 colours at work, and oh man is that overwhelming! Can you guess the stitch?


As usual, progress on the long terms projects is... progressing.
Over and out!

In which a few things happen

First off, that pink blanket from my last post just got cuter! I've chosen some Liberty fabric for the lining, which will be a first for me, so send me good sewing luck? And in other news, I have a new design out! We've started to launch a line of patterns at work, and I have designed and knit a toque for the first submission. More information can be had right here.

In which I have irons in many fires

It's been a busy few weeks over here! Knitting season is getting into full swing, so lots of busy days and lots of classes at Urban Yarns (and lots more to come, hopefully!)

All that aside, I'm still diligently knitting away. I have cast on for the Shetland Shawl Dress.





And I am about to cast on for what I am hoping will become a convertible Baby Bunting Bag/Blanket. I am planning to release this as a new design, provided it all comes together.



In other news, I am stepping up my game at work and will be contributing to the store blog starting next week, so check us out there for some different content. I am also attempting to marshal some Urban Yarns patterns, the first of which is this ever-so-straightforward toque. The pattern is nearly done and I promise to post a link to the Ravelry page as soon as possible.



And finally I would like to mention that there are many more photos of my ongoing projects over on flickr. You should be able to click on any of the photos above and peruse all the others there.

In which I knit another cowl

If cowls aren't the hot item this season, I don't know what is. They're quick, easy (or hard if you like), take less yarn than a scarf, and of course are very trendy.

One favourite at work is the Honey Cowl from Madelinetosh. In fact, I just finished knitting my second one.



This one was knit in Tosh Sport, in the Jade colourway. I cast on an extra 10 stitches. The fabric is particularly drapey - a bit more open and looser than expected, but it is just fantastic when all is said and done.



Oh, and did I mention the colour? Just fantastic.

In which I am ever so slightly obsessive

Have you ever had a moment of true realization? A moment where something happens or someone says something and you just stop and go 'Ah' and acknowledge a deep truth about yourself?

Well I had one of these moments just now, when I picked up a copy of 'Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting'. To say I got ever so slightly over excited would be an apt description. To say I grinned like an idiot while clutching it to my chest would be an honest description.

As they say, knowledge is power, and apparently I want to know ALL the things (at least when it comes to knitting - my ignorance elsewhere is highly prized).

Additionally, I have had one or two requests for the Regency Era Shawl pattern. As stated, it is an original design. I am willing to format and publish it if there is enough interest. So let me know if you're interested here or on Ravelry, and pass it on to friends who may be interested as well - it's a large project that I'm willing to tackle if I know there is enough demand out there!

In which the Regency Shawl is done!

Well here it is, the Regency Era Fichu!



This is an original pattern made up as a commission for a friend who started her PhD this September. Given the nature of her studies, I took some cues from Victorian and Shetland shawls, and this is what I came up with.



It's knit in Merino Silk Lace from Sweet Georgia in the colourway Hush. This yarn has drape, softness, stitch definition, and very generous yardage - all in all an absolute pleasure to work with.



The shawl pin in some of the photos is the String of Beaded Pearls from Jul Designs, which just seemed to fit in so well.



Without further ado, lots and lots of photos. Feel free to click on through to the flickr set, or my Ravelry page for some more detail shots. Let me know what y'all think!

In which there is a very green green

After 13 weeks of epic lace shawl, it's time for a nice easy intermission project.



Another Honey Cowl it is! This one is actually a Christmas present - one of the few I will be knitting.

Yarn is Madelinetosh Sport in Jade, 2 skeins, making the big version on 5mm needles.

Photos of the Regency Era Shawl are being processed, and once it's gifted, I will post them up. Can't wait!

In which this post is like a trailer (a big tease)

So you know how sometimes you get really focused on finishing something and totally lose track of time? For... six weeks? Yeah, oops!

Anyway, the Regency Era Fichu was grafted last night! Still has to be blocked, but I'm looking for somewhere large enough because right now it's 48" a side, unstretched.

The adventure continues!

In which there is Linen

So I swatched the Lino for the Shetland Shawl Dress and it is just stunning! My gauge is a little off, but I think going up a needle size would throw it off further, and I'm quite happy with the fabric as it is now. Plus it is going to be a store sample, so technically doesn't need to fit anyone.



Even after just one wash, the yarn has softened noticeably. As much as I want to go and cast on, I am resisting because the Regency Shawl gets priority for now (and that still has a very long way to go).

In which there is variation on a theme

Hey peoples!

I'm ripping along on the Regency Era Fichu, and I would love to show it to you, but right now it kind of just looks like a pretty blue bag, since I've started the center-out edging.

The edging(s) will be worked with these two skeins from SweetGeorgia. They're a bit different from the first one, and even more gorgeous, if I may say.



And the next project I will be starting is the Shetland Shawl Dress from Loop-d-Loop Lace by Teva Durham. I had the pleasure to meet Jana from Handmaiden at work last week and scored two skeins of Lino in Salt Spray which I think will be just *stunning* for this pattern.





I know, the colour looks kind of familiar, eh? This always happens - I wholly unintentionally manage to make about a dozen projects in the same colour in a row. Oh well, a knitter's life sure is hard... I promise more progress photos of this one, since it's knit flat, and should photograph a bit better. Until later!

"We are all a little weird, and Life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them in mutual weirdness and call it love" -Dr Seuss

So with that said, knitting stegosauruses for a wedding might make some more sense. This is for you, you lovely dorky people!







Forgive the quality of that last photo. I assure you it is not a reflection of the quality of the wedding (which was a blast and just oh-so-perfect).

In which I mustache

Surprise surprise, another month between posts! I'd like to open with this really excellent (Slipped Stitch Designs) knitting bag I snagged from work. I mean really, how could I not?

/br /br And an update on the Regency Era Fichu. The center portion is coming along quite well. I can't wait for the knitting to get really exciting when I start the borders (yes, borders, there will be at least 4). In honour, I have started reading Northanger Abbey.







And with that, I'm off to the island for some camping, and what promises to be an absolutely unbearably dorky and adorable wedding. There are more things I would like to share, but I daren't post photos yet, lest I un-bag the cat, but I promise the post is written and ready to post as soon as the wedding is over. Until whenever I feel like it, apparently, enjoy yourselves, lovely people!

In which someone has good taste

Has it been two weeks already? Well, the time does fly! In exchange for your infinite patience, good readers, I present to you the third (and final) Jewelled Cowl. This one was knit with a skein of Zitron Filisilk and about 700 6/0 frosted glass seed beads. I love the colours (very trendy, I know) and the yarn knit up into an absolute cloud. I will be mailing this off to Washington state as soon as time allows. Enjoy some photos, and scroll through to the end for a tease of what will be coming next! Et voila, some Sweet Georgia for a nice big lace project which I will tell you more about soon.