DKC Success!

I've been knitting rejuventated!
I've seen knit-celebrities today. Amy Singer, the Yarn Harlot and Fiona Ellis.
I've purchased (almost) more books than yarn.
I've started a new colour cycle (grey and purple this time).
And, ultimately, I'm back baby!

Much like the jitterbug, the knitting bug has bitten me, and I've got the fever. Oh yes. I'm energized, enthused, eager and any other appropriate adjective. I've yet to photo all the loot, but I have plans. Oh yes.

Here is a sampling of the new additions to the stash family.



But, here's a better one:



From left to right:

The shiny new baby at the bottom is some Alchemy oh-so-lovely hot pink silky goodness which was made even more attractive by its sale price - who could say no to %50 off? (I picked up all three hanks. It's already on the needles).

Above is the fluffy soft pink cotton-candy-esque joy of Alchemy angora. There was only one hank of that left. What it will become, I do not know.

And finally is some hand spun beautification of baby alpaca sweet grey-ness. It's standing in as a sub for Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I looked all over the place for some of that crack, and I couldn't find any/enough/good colours. Besides, at a fraction of the price, this stuff will make me even happier! (more savings=more $ to buy more yarn).

Here are the WIPs I just couldn't hold off on:

Sweet alpaca dreaminess


From one of the two books I purchased. I love Interweave, and their Lace Style is (one of my two) new favourite book. I can't even remember how many patterns I want to make from this one.

Well, here's another


A very pretty retro shrug. Being made from the above-mentioned Alchemy silk. It's a fast knit. I hope to have it as an FO within the week.

I also have two new FOs to blog about, but all in good time.
I have plans.
Big plans.

What it is that I have been up to TWO - and, Dreaming the Dreams of a Knitter Heading to the Frolic

I've been stitchin bees,



and bitchin about my Ester,


and now finally the time has come to dream, to plan, my long-awaited forray into the lovely, lovely world of The DKC Knitter's Frolic!

I was scouring the internet for new (free) inspiration. Here's what I've come up with so far:


Belle Paquita
This one is actually a maybe. I like the delicate-looking edging around the neckline, but the V shape may be a little much.

Petit Chou
A cute bra top from Knitty. No, I wouldn't wear it like that. I did say this was inspiration. I like the lacyness of it. I'd make it a little more substantial, and turn it into a wee halter for the summer.

Good ol' Razor Cami
This one has been floating around in me brain for a bit of a while now.

Top Down Sweater with Crazy Collar
So very pretty. I only hope I can live up to making this one.

Ballet Top from Magknits
Cute. Possibly do-able. I'm mostly intrigued by the gather at the neckline.

No Gauge Swatch Top
The name sounds good - and the pattern has potential. Looks sort of corset-like.

Do I dare dream?

Swappees Beware: Spoiler! -or- what it is that I have been up to

For those of you who have been wondering at my silence, here I present one of the reasons: my high-gear swap production.

First is the Historical Swap, for which I made three hats. The theme was the 40s and 50s, and so I made a little feathered cap, a tie-on hat, and a snood (which I must say I'm rather proud of. Not that I think I'd ever wear one, but the cuteness of it made me want to make one for myself).



This one shows the colours better:


Snoody Goodness:





The second swap I've been working on is the Jane Austen swap. So much fun! Here you see the loot:

Stitch Markers (made to spell out the author's name!) and magnetic bookmark:



Soaps I made (which have little polymer clay pieces in them that say "Mr. Darcy", "Emma", "Mr. Knightley" and "Hartfield".



And another soap that has the initials J.A. imprinted in it (the pink one is for me!)



And finally, the item I wish I could keep for myself: Jane Austen, amigurumi style!

Her we see her in full:



and her she is with her "quill" (really, a feather dropped by my good friend and pet birdie squawker, Butters, pictured below):




And here are her shoes, which I must say, I am rather proud of!:



To make Austen, I used some good ol' Red Heart acrylic, a pretty pink crochet hook, and adaptions of this great little pattern at RoxyCraft. I just elongated the pattern for the body, and winged it for the limbs and clothing. I hope my swap partners enjoy their goodies!

The Angel of Death

All my plants die. Wanna see?




Rather sad. I didn't even photo those sprouts I was oh-so-happy about the other week. They've now bent under the pressure of living with the world's best plant killer.

Here is the only plant that I've succeeded in not killing.



Ah, bamboo. All you need is water. No sun, no feed. Any suggestions on plants that need no care, I'll be happy to take them. Oh yes, and limited sun.

Lady E Le Deux Makes her Entrance into Polite Society

Several weeks ago I completed my second Lady E. Here's the specs:




Pattern: Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, #149
Needles: yummy Lantern Moon circs
Skills: Lesson learned on my first Lady E: DON'T use straights when you can use circs. The project went much faster on the circulars.

LADY E vs. LADY E

Now that I can directly compare the yarns, I'll have to say that the Silk Garden is worth the extra few bucks per ball. It's much softer (not that the Kureyon itches me mad. Maybe I need to soak it longer in some conditioner).

Too all of you out there, wondering if it's possible to three-peat a pattern, I think I just might have to prove that it can happen. Don't ask when, with what yarn, but it will be done!

No Knitting, Just Baking

Settling in to a new place brings great changes. My yarn gets a new home, my crafting time has suffered, and my baking time has increased. Exhibit A: streusel from a package -

You may or may not notice the "core sample" I had to take for quality assurance purposes in the bottom centre muffin. I'm just good that way.

In other news, I have been working away on swaps (which for obvious reasons can't be discussed/posted) and have been feeling dreadful in my lag-time shame of not posting specs on Lady E II (yes, I do realize I could do it right now, at this very moment. The mood doesn't strike me as yet).

I will say that I am greatly looking forward to the Knitter's Frolic in Toronto (in just under two weeks!) and am slightly panicking because my usual list of wishes remains empty for this yarn enhancement endeavour. Any suggestions? I believe all the choices in my "Next on the Needles" list are covered by stash. Should I be terrible and just buy skeins as the impulse hits me?
Weigh in, my loyal readers! I clearly can't make such a weighty decision myself.

ps: The streusel were decent. They were particularly decent when dipped in the lovely chocolate fondue that I tried for the first time this very evening. Mmmm, chocolate and strawberries... and bananas... and blackberries....

Sprouting, Sewing and Stitching

You see here before you the evidence of my plant-nurturing, and possibly the reversal of an historically black thumb (or, the touch of death for plants).
My Marigolds and Assylum are growing!



With north-facing windows shaded by an over-hanging balcony, these suckers have got to be hardy. I only hope I have pretty blooms to make my outdoors more pleasant than the nasty flying, cooing rats make it now.

I've been up to more than plant-growing. Here be my first homey sewing project. A throw pillow case WIP:



WIP in that I've yet to sew up the final edge. I was fighting with my sewing machine
last night. It may not look like much to you, but I've the feeling of pride swelling in me heart, and now a pretty place to rest my head. One side of the pillow is just a lucky shade of yellow that matches the front quite nicely. The front you see pictured here was a piece of fabric I received in a swap from Portugal. I love the fat little birds on it - they remind me of my Butters (who is yet to join me in Les Digs Nouveau). Terrible French, I know.

Another product of fighting with said sewing machine (who has yet to be named, but I'm afraid a distinct personality may be emerging) is this guy:



May not look like much yet, but I be tres proud indeed of my rotary-cutting, seam- sewing and instruction-following skills! More to follow because, hell, that quilting is absolutely addictive! I was up til midnight working on that star.

It's good to be back baby!

New Digs

I've been so silent because I've just moved - a new apartment for me!

I've also been keeping busy with swaps, and my second Lady E (which is currently blocking - hopefully finished pics to come soon).

Here's a pic of a current swap I've received - a beautiful grey pencil skirt with cute bee details. I love it!



Here's one of my new neighbours.


Updates soon!