antique, boutique, quite wonderful.

I have been meaning to share this for a while but some of my steam to share it ran out when I realized I needed hubby to photograph me and he wasn’t around … then I honestly forgot! This will be my Toronto toque when we go to visit at Christmas time – that’s how warm it is! While I was modeling it, I had to take it off for a bit because I was starting to sweat – and it’s cold, rainy and icky outside – the perfect toque day! Ohhh Malabrigo, how I love your warmth.

So, the Sideways Grande Cloche by Laura Irwin is amazing. I love her style and sense of design. After I knit this I thought, This was challenging in the terms of the construction. Then, after reflecting on the results, I thought, No, this was a good skills project. I’ll explain. This would be a really good project for the new knitter who hasn’t done much in terms of seaming, decreases and construction. There’s just enough of those skills that you learn them but not enough that you get frustrated. And the beauty of it is that your seaming will be hidden behind the cloche and your decreases are on top of your head, so no one will see them! Perfect!

My modifications included casting on 27 stitches as my gauge was quite different. I followed the pattern for the rest – I think I ended up with one less “twist” in the cloche, which I just noticed! I have not washed or blocked this – I’m not sure that I’m going to either. I have what’s called “Blocker’s Anxiety” about most of my projects I finish. This means that I worry about what the project is going to look like after I block it: Will it look the same? Will it stretch to some un-Godly size? Will I ruin it? etc. etc.

I have decided that my answer with toques and blocking is: wear it, enjoy it, let it get wet (it’s bound too, we live in Vancouver for goodness sake!), just plain enjoy it, and don’t block it. I don’t know if this is right or not but it’s working for me so far! :)

I never mentioned the yarn (although I’m sure you’ve realized!): Malabrigo worsted in Frank Ochre. Lovely.

Anyways, props to Laura for a great pattern and I think I will knit it again in the same Malabrigo for my sister-in-law for her next birthday. It’s totally her style and would look great on her!

strike a pose! that’s VOGUE!

Oh 80’s music. How I miss you and your synthesized wonderfulness. But then we still have Vogue Knitting so that’s a bonus. I have to admit, I don’t generally knit a lot out of Vogue and the few things I have, I was left wishing the magazine came with a 360 degree picture to show you *exactly* what the finished object looks like – complete with the model standing in a *normal* position. But we can’t have everything, can we? No.

But then there is genius in those pages. Sometimes there’s just plain amazing-ness. MMM, yes, designers like Cathy Carron grace their pages and you think, Wow. The #12 Cabled Cowl is what I am talking about. I don’t know why I like it so much – I just do. Cathy actually has a couple of patterns in this issue of Vogue Holiday 2009 but the cabled cowl had me speechless. So naturally, I had to knit it!

  

I had Cascade 220 Heathers left over from the 2009 Boxing Day sale at Three Bags Full here in Vancouver, BC. I had only bought 2 hanks of the yarn, thinking I would knit a vest but I never did and subsequently I used some of the yarn for the Give A Hoot mittens. I ended up needing a fourth of a third hank of the yarn (so much for using things up) to finish the cowl, but I love it, so I don’t mind! The colourway of this particular Heathers is 9410. It’s actually quite grey when knit up, rather than a green. The photos are pretty bang on for the colour, they’re not washed out or over-exposed.

I knit this on 5.5mm circulars. I didn’t change needle sizes for the ribbing – mostly out of laziness. The measurements match the pattern exactly, which amazed me. It’s an interesting pattern in that it changes enough that it keeps you interested and just when you are thinking you don’t want to do it anymore, it’s over! Love it! This will definitely be a permanent addition to my winter jacket this year, especially when we are in Toronto and Ottawa at New Years.

long overdue gushing

I am amazed. Two blog posts in one month! I wrote last week that I hadn’t been doing any knitting. School has in fact taken over my life but I have managed to pick up the needles since then and have *magically* finished some things. While we were on the phone with my parents-in-law last week, I finished the *tedious* task of adding the fringe to an amazingly amazing scarf. I actually hesitate to call it a scarf because it’s more of a monster.

It’s also crochet:

 

When we were in Anacortes, WA, back in June, I found a book by Schachenmayr Nomotta that I had never heard of before but the patterns – oh, the patterns! It’s the first time I have picked up a booklet (other than made in Brooklyn) that I have liked each and every pattern.

  

The yarn that I used when *meant* to use up the rest of the Cascade Ecological left over from my owls sweater; however, I frogged it due to fit and had already started another one in another colour of yarn. Needless to say, I still have 1.5 hanks of Eco left. I actually have plans for it since there is so much left – I am thinking about a cowl or Bella’s Mittens. We shall see.

Back to this scarf. The design number is 6524 for those wanting to look for it. A friend at knitting group who taught me how to crochet this said it’s a kind of shell pattern. All I know is, it was the perfect first crochet project because I had to learn to read a chart, count my stitches and it wasn’t boring! Every row is different – AND right when I was getting the hang of it, it was over! I am definitely going to make another one at some point but in a colour rather than a natural for contrast with this one. It is 99” in length with the 12” fringe (6” either side). I am 63” tall so that gives you some perspective on the length of this monster. It’s pretty rad though, huh?

ps. My boots are an early Christmas present from dear hubby from Aldo.

neck fashion

I have not been knitting lately. School work had taken over my life. As has work and life in general. I don’t think I have had a busier Fall – ever. I decided to leave my full-time position. I am now back where I started: in Emergency. Working casual has it’s perks: I work with all the different lines, set my own schedule and have weekends off. Oh, and no night shifts. Whoot!

Needless to say, no knitting time. Until this past weekend. I realized that if Christmas knitting was going to get done, it needed to be started. But then I got distracted by this: {ravelry link}. I know, right? I had to make it. I had some Cascade 220 left over from my Give a Hoot mittens:

Sadly, they are still lacking eyes. One day soon they will be able to see. This pattern also happens to be one of my Christmas knitting projects. Another pair will be for my mom, who is almost as owl crazy as me. Hers will be out of an aran weight yarn. Her hands are slightly bigger than mine and she gets quite cold so I wanted them to be a little more substantial. And washable, so Misson Falls 1825 Superwash Merino comes to the rescue – in green.

Now to show off the un-blocked #12 Cabled Cowl:

It’s needs to be blocked but I made no mods. I like the “stretchiness” of it already. It’s soft and I think it’ll be perfect for Toronto at New Years over my winter coat. I am going to block it tomorrow and will take some “proper” photos of me wearing and loving it. haha.

Last thing to share: New books! I was wandering in two LYSs this past week and found two books I have been looking for:

I am in love with the Made in Brooklyn by Jared Flood. He is such a talented and resourceful designer. I love everything he touches. Norah’s book is excellent as well. I am knitting the Wilson Hat for my dad for Christmas. The Feldspar Scarf will be for my hubby – it will be the first knitted gift for him ever. I know right? He doesn’t like anything “scratchy” or “that would cause you a lot of work” – very thoughtful. But I want to knit him things!!! So I am just going for it – the Ultra Alpaca he doesn’t find itchy on his skin and I am going to soak it for longer in Soak or Eucalan to soften it up even more. Too bad – it’s time he had a knitted gift!

I finished another scarf this past week that I am anxious to share but I have no photos of it yet. I will get those done this weekend and post them soon. To everyone embarking on Christmas knitting:

~~ Good Luck ~~