Insert Unhappy Emoticon

I've recently mastered the art of pdfs and breaking cameras.
This may or may not explain the silence as of late.

I hope to re-encamerate myself shortly.

In the meantime, I'm off to a certificate course for work, wherein I hope to spend copious amounts of off-learning time at Lettuce Knit (did I say time? I'm sure I mean time, and not money).

Any Torontonians up for knit night?

Foxy Cloche

I am sometimes the lucky recipient of knit-gifts.



Pattern: Cloche (I think Foxy is writing it up)
Yarn: I believe she made it with good ol' Patons Classic Wool
Ribbon: My only creative contribution to this one

I take back all previous railing against hats. This one makes me smile. Despite what my expression in the photo below might indicate.

Destash 2008: Bulky Hoodie Edition

If the model in Loop-D-Loop can wear this sans shirt, then so can I.



Pattern: Fair-Isle Hooded Capelet from Loop-D-Loop
Yarn: 1 skein Lamb's Pride Bulky White
1 skein Lamb's Pride Bulky Creme
.25 skein Lamb's Pride Bulky Olive Green

Many o' mods:
It's almost questionable that I can call this Durham's pattern. I used a vastly different gauge (3 sts to the inch instead of 1.5), needles that were about half the size the pattern calls for (10 mm) and of course, because the gauge was off, I had to increase til I thought it fit.
Very easy construction to follow and alter.



It was a race to the bottom-edge to knit this one. I was hoping that the wool wouldn't run out on me. Pre-blocking, the body of the capelet looked oh-so-sadly short. Blocked the hell out of it (and truly, it's questionable how much longer I actually made it. Blocking as placebo).

I seem to have forgotten at the time my munchkin stature, and have happily found the short length of the torso part is actually preferable.

Tam to keep me head warm

A knit finished in two days? And only two days from date of yarn purchase?



Pattern: Three Tams (I made the third one)
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 wool and Noro Kureyon (only used half hank of Noro and one and a tiny bit of Mission Falls)

Set the fan on it and had it dry overnight - and it actually fits! (to my jaw-dropping astonishment, it's actually a bit big. May require elastic woven through rim after a few wears).

I now have a hankering for more Mission Falls.


Now I have a purpose for orphan skeins of Noro.

Two Months is the New Record

I silently pledged to myself that I'd yarn-diet for as long as I could in 2008. It lasted til precisely 11:00 this morning.
My most excellent enabler over at Foxy and Crafty drove me to the magical light-filled wonderland that is Spun in Burlington. Oh yes indeed.
I had a budget limit (for why, I'm not sure. Ms Foxy is very good at peer pressure... that and I'm very susceptible to her steely glares and seemingly sound logic).


These sweeties will be made into two hats for my brobdingnagian noggin (learning new words everyday!)



Sweetie rose pink lovely will become a hat.

I will voice my skepticism straight off and say: kit patterns don't usually work out for me. I'll try my luck here. A hat's a hat, right? I'm sure you'll hear about the disaster if it does indeed occur.

As you probably don't know, I love grapes and all symbolism connected therein (them and the bees - reminds me of youth spent sucking back the concords growing over the back porch, being watchful that the bunch you've plucked are not the abode of aforementioned honey-makers).
This will become a tam - as to which one, I'm not sure. Possibly the third.

This is my first time using Mission Falls. I hear raves; I'll have to see if they're well-founded.

Enamoured

The cold, cold outsides have gotten me all keyed up to cuddle with the fuzzy, fuzzy yarn I've been covetously making plans with for over two years now. Yes, two of them. So the anticipation and stakes are high (I'm not sure more of this sweet yarn can be found!) Also, it's a fibre content I've never worked with (being 100% angora), so the learning curve will be steep.

In no surprise, the poll I posted about days ago has the results that most people prefer to make sweaters, followed by cardigans. I must thank the 30-some-odd voters.

A Little Input

For all those who wouldn't mind obliging, here is a wee poll I've set up, just to get an idea about what type of knitted garment is most popular.
*bows out graciously*

Rowan Tapestry Sweater; or, On the Advantages of a Proper Name for Finished Knits*

Another 2008 resolutionary triumph (don't look twice - I did make up that word):



Pattern: Manufactured in my own noggin
Yarn: several balls (about 5?) of Rowan Tapestry, colourway Country


(above is a more accurate depiction of the colours, though slightly less of an arty photo itself).

I liked the yarn, it was on sale, and long, square-necked sweater patterns do not abound the internets.
It's mostly alright; the sleeve cap science/art is still a mystery to me (mostly because I refuse to do the maths I know are involved), and the yarn itches like mad (the conditioner-fix will soon be employed to hopefully silky results).



I also think I didn't use the yarn to its greatest strengths. I have another colourway of Tapestry, and am currently making it into an entrelac wrap (which I think suits self-striping yarns much better than something straight-knit).



Once again my favourites (the 3/4 length sleeve, square neck, long-torso) reappear, and a new favourite has dawned on me: the low-back neckline.



Why use up the extra yarn to cover the back of your shoulders? asks I. I think this will be added to my ever-growing list of "ways to cheat and save as much yarn as ya can".



With this project finally complete, I've allowed myself to start up on another self-designed baby. And I hope it'll be a good one.
You'll all have to tell me.
Have I piqued your anticipation and curiosity?

*I find it slightly cumbersome to keep referring to the damn thing as the Rowan Tapestry Sweater. I'll get more creative for everyone's sake from now on.