In which there are some new things

Still can't post the full photos of the shawl. Apparently test knits take time, or something. But I have been working on and off on some argyle armwarmers. And am about halfway through a new design for a cabled pillow. This pillow is a sample of Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran for Urban Yarns, and will be the pattern offered in the beginner cable course I'll be teaching there (exact dates to be determined, but all the info is on the Urban Yarns web site. These two blocks make up half of the front of the pillow - the rest is underway, and I'll be sure to post more photos as progress warrants. And finally, a swatch out of Araucania Ranco Solids, for a nice light cardigan design I have in mind.

In which there is a teaser!

It's been a busy week and a bit, and that will not be changing anytime soon!

I just got back from a few days on the island, and in the spirit of the beautiful summer days, I would like to share a sneak peek of a new project with you all.

I have a lace shawl design that is in the process of being test-knit! It will be available in a little while (because apparently these things take time...) But for now, enjoy!







And there will be some other new designs forthcoming, so keep your eyes peeled!

In which there is most of a mitten

As promised, one of the goodies currently being worked on.

Flocked Mittens by Adrian Bizilla (Hello Yarn). Knit as a store sample for Urban Yarns out of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted and Classic Elite Mountaintop Vail (for the lining). They are also the pattern I will be using in the upcoming Fair Isle class this September.

In which there is an update, and an FO!`

Oh wow. Radio silence around here much?

It's not that I've had more important or better things to do, just... things (it's been a while since my schedule has been busy, slowly getting back into the groove). Settling into Vancouver a bit finally; got the house in order, and got work in hand.

Speaking of work, I am having a grand time getting myself good and embroiled in all sorts of woollen escapades with all the ladies at Urban Yarns. Come September, I will be running and introduction to stranded colourwork knitting - we will be knitting the Flocked Mittens from Hello Yarn, and it is very exciting indeed! Also in September, I'll be hosting the Urban Yarn's Men's Night again, now on Thursdays, and I really think this could be a great event, so I want to see all the knitters with balls out in September! (starting the 8th)

But now for what you all come here for...

I finished this sweater an embarrassingly long time ago, and it is finally on it's way to St John's, Newfoundland. In planning with a friend who was then approaching their 30th birthday, we brainstormed a set of words that described their ideal sweater.



And you've seen progress shots all along, so yeah, just ogle on the rest of these.











There are plenty more photos in the flickr set, including some of the details incorporated...



I would like to extend a big thanks to Ms Fyfe for modelling (no she isn't the recipient, but it was an effort to pry it away from her after the photoshoot).

And now friends, I promise I will be back soon. I will probably even have information pertaining to a new lace shawl pattern with some truly clever details.

Until then,

Men's Night at Urban Yarns

Hey peoples!

I promise photos of the cardigan as soon as they are edited. In the meantime, I'd like to let everyone in Vancouver know that Urban Yarns in Point Grey will start hosting a men's knitting night on Tuesdays, beginning next week (the 12th). I'll be there, and we are hoping for a good turnout, so if you are a male knitter come down between 6:30 and 8:30, or if you know any male knitters, pass it on!

In which I am buried under boxes

Oof folks. Oof. Despite being absent from here this month, I assure you I have been busy. We're in the middle of moving to the mainland (and in fact, took a big truckload over earlier this week), have been back and forth four times this month already, convocated (finally, yippee!), and have mounds of cleaning and packing and visiting and setting up and cancelling services, looking for jobs etc... So it's been busy here.

But I did just finish sewing in the zipper on the cardigan (twice), and as soon as I can give it one final wash and block, I'll arrange for photos. Promise. I make no promises, however, about when this will all happen. So if I don't check in before the end of the month, I'll be writing you from Vancouver in July! (and yes, I will need to find a knitting group or two)

In which we are just about ready to zipper!

Well, this is the state of the cardigan as of this afternoon.



I just need to weave in (lots of) ends, and tidy up one or two seams, and then we can try sewing the zipper in! Once I find a zipper, that is...

As promised, the sweater has one or two little details.





Which will be revealed in full, once the sweater is done.

Also, I have finally been swatching with the Madelinetosh. It seems that my current theme is 'add a dash of colour'. There are plans in the works for the Shelter, too, but that has to wait for a little bit longer yet.

In which the sweater almost takes shape

So I was good and blocked the cardigan pieces before seaming, but after seaming it seemed a little bit small... Rather than being impatient and immediately moving onto cuffs and hems (well, I did knit the collar, i can't be expected to wait for everything, can I?), I was good and gave the whole shebang a long wet soak and have laid it out to dry, blocked fairly strictly to measurement. This way I figure I should get a decent idea of whether the perceived shrinking was due to my lazy blocking job, or an unexpected spring back in the knit fabric. If I feel that it's going to be too small, at this point I could still pull out the underarm and side seams (the raglan seams should be fine) and add in spacer panels if need be. I really don't want to, but it's better to know now rather than knit the whole damn thing and have to rip out the hems and reknit everything.



I think it's starting to look like a real sweater now! and I can't wait to knit the hems, cuffs, and work in all the last secret details...



There's more left to go than I care to admit, and the blocking has set me behind a few days, but it's The Right Thing to do.

In which our wandering hero returns

Well we made it back from New York in one piece.

I blocked the sweater pieces before I left, so now I have a nice stack of parts waiting to be seamed.



And I indulged in a little bit of yarn whilst abroad. I've got a bit of a design idea for this yarn, so we shall see what happens.



Now to get back to knitting, and time to start looking for a house in Vancouver!

In which Shelter is found

Just a super quick mid-trip update. I could talk about New York, but for now, I will just say that Purl Soho is ADORABLE, and I found and purchased some Shelter yarn! (I plan to go back and get a few more skeins in fact...)

Any knitterly suggestions/requests for/from NYC? I'm here for 5 more nights.