Shallows Cowl and Knit Along

I joined a knit along at Leighside Knits . I love how thoughtful each of Leigh's posts whether she's writing about knitting or anything else.

Leigh asked each knitter involved several questions, about knitting and very thought provoking questions.  You can read my answers and those of the other knitters here


Pattern: Shallows Cowl  by Bonnie Sennott
Yarn: unknown white yarn, maybe acrylic/wool blend?
Needles: 3.75 mm

The suggested patterns for the yarn-along were by Bonnie Sennott.  I took a look through the patterns and loved the Shallows Cowl.

It was a quick and easy knit.  I like the lace pattern followed by patches of stockinette.  It will be perfect for a little bit more warmth on these spring days or with a dress in the summer.

Thanks Leigh for hosting such a thoughtful knit along.

Grey Long-Sleeve Cardigan

Pattern: Carrie Cropped Flare Sleeve Cardigan
Yarn: Americo Original Copito Medeo
Needles: size 11, 8 mm

I had bought this Copito Medeo yarn to make this vest.  I have one in green and enjoy wearing it.  But for some reason I didn't end up wanting to make one again so I went searching for a pattern without very much yarn and a chunky yarn and found the Carrie Cropped Flaire Sleeve Cardigan. So I modified this pattern quite a bit.
The original pattern is a cropped cardigan with flared sleeves and lace insets.  I've made the sleeves with the lace inset but adjusted the stitch count so there isn't a flare to the sleeve.

I knit the pattern as written to the bottom edge but instead of stopping at a crop cardigan length I continued until I had a full length sweater.  The first time I finished it it was too short and too wide. I've had to rip out the bottom out. I knit the bottom again, without increasing as much.  I added a button band edge and large buttons.  I put the button band in 3 times before I has happy with it. 

This is me wearing it for the first time and being happy with it.

Toddler Hoodie - Finished

Another FO!  This cardigan fits my daughter perfectly.  Nice and snug, the arms the right length.

Pattern: Toddler Raglan Hoodie by Megan Goodacre  (free)
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted
Needles: 4.5 mm

I had enough yarn leftover from my Grey Star Cardigan that I had to knit something for my daughter. Mommy and C in our coordinating sweaters. Not quite matching . . .   I do love each of the sweaters . . . might not wear them on the same days.  What do you think?  Too much?

May WIP's

What do I have on my needles right now?

 1.  Fairisle Toddler Raglan Hoodie

Pattern: Toddler Raglan Hoodie
Yarn: Swish Worsted by Knit Picks
Needles: 4.5 mm

So close to being finished.  I'm almost done the first sleeve and just need to finish the second one. Finished by the weekend then my little girl can have a sweater with matching colours to my Grey Star Cardigan I just finished.

 

2. Shallows Cowl

Pattern: Shallows Cowl  by Bonnie Sennott
Yarn: unknown white yarn, maybe acrylic/wool blend?
Needles: 3.75 mm

I joined a yarn along at Leighside Knits with a focus on patterns by Bonnie Sennott.  I took a look through the patterns and loved the Shallows Cowl.  I've decided I'm a cowl girl, not a scarf girl.  I like the lace pattern followed by patches of stockinette. I think this will allow me to make quick work of it . . and another yarn gone out of my stash! I love how thoughtful each of Leigh's posts whether she's writing about knitting or anything else.

3. Toddler Bolero

Pattern: Sirdar Jumping Jellybeans Bolero 1215
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo
Needles: 3.75

A nice light, summery shrug for my daughter.

 

To Be Cast On

1. Purple Socks

Pattern: Tuscany Socks From the book Toe-up Two-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
Yarn: Tough Love Sock by Sweet Georgia Yarn

I bought this yarn at the Creativ Festival in Toronto last week.  My needles arrived today from Knit Picks so I'm ready to start swatching. I was pleasently surprised to find out that Sweet Georgia yarns is a Canadian fiber company.

2. I Heart Purple

Pattern: I Heart Cardigan
By Tanis Lavallee
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label Aran Weight

No pictures because I'm waiting for the yarn to arrive. I've been wanting some TFA yarn as soon as I discovered Tanis' blog and online yarn store. Her colours are amazing and I love that she's a Canadian yarn artist.

Finished but needs adjusting

 

Grey Long-Sleeve Cardigan

Pattern: Carrie Cropped Flare Sleeve Cardigan
Yarn: Americo Original Copito Medeo
Needles: size 11, 8 mm
Original pattern is a cropped cardigan with flared sleeves.  I've made the sleeves with the lace inset but adjusted the stitch count so there isn't a flare to the sleeve. I'm having issues with my buttonbands (the bane of my knitting world sometimes). I've set it aside for when I'm less frustrated to attempt fixing again.

 

Sort of Hibernating Projects

 

Sunset Purse

Pattern: Tosh Purse 
Unknown sock yarn that has been in my stash so long I lost the label.
Needles: size 2.5 mm

One side knit on circulars all at one time

I'm making slow progress on my purse.  I'm not very interested in finishing it right now but if I need a small to-go project this one is sitting there just ready to take with me.

Blue Hoodie

Pattern: Olive Branch Hoodie
Yarn: cotton yarn
Needles: 4.5 mm

I have no timeline for finishing this sweater.  It is a really easy knit that I can pick up at any time if any of my other projects are at a difficult phase and need something to do.  This will probably be a WIP for several months as well.

That's it right now.  I have several others I would like to start but knitting time has been diminishing recently. The weather has been slightly nicer so we've been outside more.  I've also been tackling some DIY projects around the house.  I'll share some of those soon . . .even though they don't have anything to do with knitting.

What do you have on your needles. Let me know in the comments.

 

Past Projects: Green Sea Shawl

Since I've only started blogging recently I have so many projects that I've knit in the past that I haven't  shared. So I'm starting a series called Past Projects where I will share as much as I remember about the project.  I wasn't very good about keeping information about my yarn so I don't always remember what kind of yarn I used.

 First project I want to share is the Blossom Silk-Sea Shawl from the book 101 Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders. 
Yarn: Fleece Artist - silk/wool/seacell blend (I think)

It is a beautiful but easy lace pattern. 

I made this for my mom to wear at my wedding in 2008.  Turned out to be one of the hottest days of the summer so it didn't get worn then. My mom has worn it a few times to some of her dancing (my parent's go dancing at least once a week!) but she is always really warm so she doesn't wear it much.

This was one of my first lace things I knit and I love how it turned out!  Got me hooked on knitting lace things for sure.

I borrowed the shawl back from my mom a while ago to wear to a party. For some reason I haven't given it back yet. I've been wearing it as a scarf.

Doesn't it look great?  I'll give it back when she asks for it but right now I'm enjoying my hard work! Have you ever knit something for someone then acquired it back because they don't seem to use it much? 

Slightly disappointing yarn shopping

Yesterday was the Creativ Festival in Toronto.  I was so excited to go and look at yarn and fabric.  I wanted sock yarn and sweater yarn.  I've gone to the Creativ Festival several times in the fall and had such a great time and seen so much inspiration.  The spring show was quite disappointing. There were only 3 yarn stores.  The whole venue was less than 1/2 of the size of the fall show. 

I wanted to get sock yarn and needles for the socks.  I was able to get sock yarn . . . .but no needles.


 I wanted to get sweater yarn for a Burdock Cardigan . . .but none of the stores had enough to make a sweater in a worsted weight yarn.  Overall not really worth going.

The good news: I got sock yarn that I love.  The yarn is Tough Love Sock by Sweet Georgia Yarns.  The yarn is 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon.  Colour: ultraviolet.  And best of all it's hand dyed in Canada

The last pair of socks I knit was over 6 years ago and I never work them.  The cuff was too tight to put on and the the gussets bothered my feet. I threw them out.  I do have a few pairs of socks I knit 10 years ago and I still wear them today but they aren't perfect.  I'll show them to you next week.
 For my birthday I got the book Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes for my birthday and I have been waiting since March to get yarn and needles to start casting on for this method.  I think I'm going to like making 2 at the same time, being able to try them on and customize the sizing as I go up and casting off with Jeny's Surprising Stretchy Bind Off , which I've just learned recently and love how stretchy it is.

This is going to make my feet very happy!! Now I just have to wait for my needles to arrive in the mail so I can cast on for my 2-at-a-time toe up socks!  What is your favourite way to knit socks?

Schoolboy Vest - Finished

Finished this just in time for my son to wear it for Easter.  It is so cute.  I love the subtle colour change that happens up the body.  It fits him so well.

The pattern is from Tanis Fiber Arts and is available on Ravelry.  Ever since I saw this vest I've discovered the Tanis Fiber Art yarns and I'm drooling over them on the computer screen.  I will be buying some of her yarn. It just looks so incredible.  In the meantime I knit up my son's vest with yarn leftover from my Grey Star Cardigan.

Some action shots.  It was hard to get him stay still for some pictures.  I love how cute it looks on him.

Pattern: Schoolboy Vest

Yarn: Swish Worsted by Knit Picks (leftover from another project)

Needles: Size 4.5

Modifications:  Made the body an inch longer for the 12-18 month size.

Have you ever knit any pattern from Tanis Fiber Arts?  Or used the yarn?  The pattern was well written and I have my eye on more of her patterns.  I am certainly going to be saving money to buy some TFA yarn!