FO Alert:

Here is the X and O vest for Julianna:

I can not seem to capture the X and Os properly, but believe me, they are there.  This is the first thing other than socks or scarfs that I made without using a retail pattern. I used the cable pattern from Miss Bea's Two for Tea sweater, and Ann Budd's book of patterns for the sizing.  I used seed stitch for the bottom, stocknette stitch between the cable columns, and on the collar and underarms.  Pretty simple.  I think it took me longer to write the instructions and complete the finishing touches (ie: seaming, collar and underarms) then it took to knit the whole thing.  This was also my first time working with cables, and they were pretty simple to knit.  I give this project two thumbs up.

Because Miss J was getting some knitting attention this morning, Maddie wanted to show off her half finished multi directional scarf:

Maddie picked the yarn and I choose the pattern, which they work really well together.  I think I have to knit about 3-4 triangles more and it will be done.  I'm not such a big fan of making scarves, but this one is fun to do and I know she will love it.

So - once these two projects are done, I can start on my Ribby Cardi!  Yeah, I'm so looking forward to starting.  I wonder if Marmalade.ca is starting the knit a long?  Looks like a lot of people will be making this cardi, so, if she doesn't start it, should I?  I wasn't such a good one with Grace, but I will be better with the second KAL.

My Elann Order Has Landed

I received my 11 balls ofthis from Elann a couple of days ago. The colours are exactly what I wanted and I can not wait to get started.  But before I do, the X/O vest for the older girl and the poncho for the little one needs to be finished.  Once this out of the way - I can start on the Ribby Cardi. Yeah. 

I bought some roving from the Naked Sheep last night and Sandra showed me how to spin it.  It is a bit tricky to get the hang of it, but with my handy dandy instructions from the internet and with lots of practice, I'm sure I will get the hang of it.

Thats all my friends.  I will mostly likely NOT be posting for the next couple of days. My sister in law and me are throwing a surprise 60th birthday party for my mother in law this Saturday - so instead of knitting - I will be cleaning and cooking for the big event. How lucky am I?  It's worth it.  My MIL does so much for me, that I would do the world for her.

Have a good weekend folks.

X and O Vest

The front is done and blocking.  It was pretty interesting to complete, and I'm not quite sure if I enjoyed cabling.  I might have to try my hand at another cable pattern which is more difficult to make up my mind. The back will be plain stocknette stitch, so it should be pretty fast. 

I've broken my rule about having more than one project on the go. I started another scarf for a craft sale on December 3rd.  I decided to add another one to the pile as I want to get rid of the 9 balls I have and there are only so many scarves I can make for myself.  It is pretty fab for a scarf, and not much else. Look here to see the yarn. It is the yarn on top in the bottom right hand box. 

Also, I have been knitting on the blanket here and there. So that is 3 - on the go - right now.  And I'm not feeling stressed about it. Wow - that is pretty good for me. I'm going to the Naked Sheep tonight for the Wednesday SnB - and I think I will bring the scarf to try and finish up, and then really only 2 will be on the go. (I usually don't count the blanket as on the go as it will take forever, but I'm in the homestretch to finished the 1 panel out of 5).

And on to other news - I bought the little one on the left:

Why?  what the hell is wrong with me? My friend Sandra is taking up spinning now, so why not add something else to my fibre crazy world.  The Naked Sheep sells roving from Fleece Artist, so tonight, some it will be coming home with me.  I'm hoping Sandra can get me started, and then it will be practice, practice, practice. 

Happy Knitting Folks.

Man...I'm an idiot.  I shut the Grace A Long down, and deleted the page with the info on it. Duh....I guess I'm not such a great knit a long host. Like I always say - live and learn. 

I hope your weekend was good, mine - well not too knitterly.  Is that a word? I'm sure it is. I started on the front of J's vest - here's a picture that really doesn't show the Xs and Os that well, but believe me they are there:

I even did a small swatch before starting to make sure that the cables were slanting accurately- wow - I'm a real knitter now.  Cables, swatches and my own pattern- oh my.  As well for some strange reason I picked this up and knit about 8" of the next section.  I have about 30" of the first panel of 5 to go.  Sounds like a lot, I know, but I keep trying to convince myself, that I will finish the damn thing and it will look great on my green couch.  It will look good, it will look good....Now, that I have it out and it is an extremely easy knit, it is good for a filler between projects or boring ones.  I really don't like to have more than one project on the go, but this blanket is the exception.   

Well - that's it my friends!

Grace A-Long

R.I.P. Grace. I've decided to close down the Grace A Long. We hade 8 people who were involved, and 4out of the 8 completed the sweater successfully. I, was not one of them. I thought I would like it, and I would have I'm sure, if I made it with fluffy yarn, instead of the GGH Mississipi. So Grace - bye bye my friend.

I finished the scarf for my friend using the Fleece Artist Wool Slub, but no pictures will be taken.If you are really interested in seeing what it looks like, go here. That was a two night affair, which, frankly was so boring. 6 feet of YO, k2tog. I could have screamed. Hey wait, I did scream.

I have two projects to finish before my yarn comes from Elann.com for the Ribby Cardi and there are:

1. Poncho for darling younger daughter who asks me every single day where her poncho is

2. Vest with X and O for older daughter. J loves letters, shapes, Xs and Os, so this is the perfect pattern for her. I decided to make a vest, because like me, she likes the cold, and wouldn't wear the sweater all day. The vest has a better chance of staying on. And to make the deal sweeter - a vest only has a front and a back. Yeah! She also chose a yarn that requires 5mm needles to make, so the vest, hopefully will be speedy project.

And then on the the Ribby Cardi.

There's your update - in case you wanted to know.

Banff - Thanks to all for your comments. I love this sweater. I wore it last night on my Monday walk with another mom while our girls are participating in the Sparks program. It is like the Brownies, except Sparks is for the 5-6 year olds. Banff was so warm, and comfortable, not itchy considering it is made out of 100% arcylic. Not bad, not bad and all for 14.00 and some of my free time. (Yeah like I have alot. I took last Thursday and Friday off to finish it)

During the making of this sweater I was thinking how much wear I would get out it, and as this is the one and only warm sweater I own, so I guess it will be the sweater of choice. Of course there is no other choice. I dont own alot of sweaters - I must have a built in furnance some where in me. Dont get me wrong, I do get cold, alot, but it doesn't usually bother me as much as some people - Curlie Girl! Sorry Kim you are the first person that came to mind. Enough - no more about warmth and Banff.

Here is my older daughter wearing her petite poncho:

I made it with one ball of Estelle Watercolours with some eyelash yarn at the top and bottom. I made it to sit on her shoulders and stop at her elbows so she can wear it to school and still be able to eat, colour, play and whatever else they do there. I'm not so sure I like this style in the mini version, but she LOVES it. I'm in the process of making another one for the younger girl using the same yarn in a blue colour. The trim and bottom will be the same, but the body hopefully will be more of a capelet shape than a poncho shape.

Also - I've gotten on the bandwagon with the rest of the blog world and ordered 11 balls of this to make this. After reading Marmalade.ca  and seeing the colours she chose for her cardi, well I just knew I had to make one too. I think she is starting the Ribby Cardi along - but I'm not sure.  But I know I'll be making one.  ARE YOU MAKING ONE?

BTW - I ordered the sleeves in the eggplant colour and lime green for the body. I love these two colours, especially together. Once this cardi is done - I will have TWO sweaters. Maybe I will enjoy being warm for a change? I;ll have to because I can't make the cardi and not wear it.

Got to go! Happy Knitting All.

And Here He Is..

Thanks Girl From Auntie. I love it. I used a little over half of 6 balls of Lion Brand Jiffy in Grey. The pattern was very easy to follow and I enjoy making this sweater. The only thing I should have done is shorten the sleeves about 4". As you can see I've rolled the sleeves up because they are so long. I have very short arms, and next time I make a sweater, I will ensure to make the sleeves to my arm length. I made adjustments with Klaralund, not sure why I didn't with Banff. Oh well, I like it with rolled cuffs, so all worked out in the end.

What's next? Well, I'm about to cast off, yes, that's right, cast off, for a little mohair blend capelet for my older daughter. I didnt want to make a poncho for her, as she won't be able to wear it to school, as she needs her arms..So, a caplet will do just fine. Once it is done, I will take a picture of her in it. And then next? Another capelet for the younger daughter. She wants one too, or so she says. I made her socks after I made J's, and now she won't even wear them. What a waste of time. So, thankfully this little capelet doesn't take long, so if she decides not to wear it, oh well. J can, and that would make her happy.

That's all folks - happy knitting....

I have forgot to mention - thanks everyone who left their comments about my halloween costume. I loved it, loved wearing it and I might wear it next year.

We now have 32 blogs in the GTA Knit Blog Ring. Man - when I took over the ring, I think there were 5 blogs including mine. I think it is great Toronto has so many knitting blogs. Check them out here.

Banff - well, His first sleeve is half way done. Man, I'm in the home stretch on this thing, and can't seem to find the time to finish it. Crap. I think I will do so more rows at lunch today and see how far I get.

I want to make a little kerchief, but instead of wearing it on my head, I would like to tie it around the back of my neck. The zipper on my jacket is very little, but in the cold, I can feel that little thing under my chin and it drives me nuts. A scarf would be too big and bulky, but a little kerchief, I think would fit the bill. Does anyone know of a pattern I could use? If not, I guess I will make a triangle in a stitch pattern I like.

As I've stated before, I only like to have one project on the go. I broke that rule last week and made two pairs of mittens. And I have Banff on the go as well. My reasoning was - it is getting mighty cold here, and my mom and I don't have mittens. So that is okay. But now, I'm thinking of making the Fleece Artist scarf and the Llama yarn for mittens. Man, I keep thinking of the all the yarn in my cupboards and all the wonderful things I could do with it. My mind is getting cluttered again with the future projects. There is not enough time in the day to make everything. Such as life.

And I want to keep buying more books and magazines. Like I will have enough time to complete the projects in there too. Why not add them to the already unrealistic list I have? For starters, I bought the new Vogue Knitting Knit.1 premiere issue. It is pretty good. There are quite a few projects in there I would make. I can't believe it. Sometimes when you buy a magazine - it surprises ya. And this time, in the good way.

That's all for now folks..Happy Knitting.

Wonderful, Yarn Weekend Update

This will be a show and tell post Not to keep you waiting...let's begin....Here are two pairs of mittens I made this week:

The one on the left are for my mom and made with Araucania Nature Wool Chunky.  Brilliant colour and texture!  When Tanya made a sweater using this yarn in blue, I knew one day I would use it for something.  Psst - Tanya - when are you going to seam the sweater so we can see in on your blog and at the SnB on Wednesday?  No pressure - okay?

The aqua blue on the right are for me.  I used one strand each of Filatura Di Crosa Zarina and Love.  Man,  these yarns are fantastic separately, but together?  There are no words to describe how heavenly they feel. Enough about that.

Next on the list - this:

My girlfriend just returned to Toronto from a trip out east - P.E.I. to be more specific - and brought me back this wool slub from Fleece Artist, so I could make her a scarf.  She usually lives in Australia, but will be in Japan from December to March, so she will need it. Of course she wasn't being too pushy about me making her the scarf and I certainly do not mind in the slightest, because she bought (not just brought it, but gave it to me) this Fleece Artist Poncho kit:

And this Scarf Kit from Fleece Artist as well (same pattern as this):

Which is just grand as I got this at The Royal Winter Fair, which matches the browns in the kit:

This is 100% Llama.  I believe it is 2 ply and they say I can get a pair of mittens out of this skein.l It is beautiful.  Soft and so rich in colour.  All in a couple of hours I have yarn to make matching scarf and mittens.  

That is it for now - no real progress on Banff, he is moving a bit slower at the sleeve stage, but I haven't had time for him this weekend. Busy, busy bee, that is what I was this weekend.

Hope you all had a good and successful knitting weekend.

I've Been Knitting

Mitts - man, I don't enjoy knitting mitts, well, I do, but I HATE the sewing the ends in part.  There are 4 - count them, 1,2,3,4 ends to sew in.  And you need to be nice and neat, especially at the thumb and top of the mitt.  Those parts need to look neat, and you also don't want to feel the ends. But, they only take about 2-3 hours maximum  to make, so I guess I should just shut up and make them. 

Banff's front is done. So two pieces down, 2 more to go...And I have two vacation days planned next week, so if the sleeves can be done before then, I know what I'll be doing on Thursday - and maybe wearing it on Friday!  That sounds like a plan, if I've ever heard one.  

The SnB at The Naked Sheep was full on Wednesday, which is nice.  I love seeing these ladies.  It is a pretty good group, if I do say so myself. I look forward to knitting with them each week and see what they are working on. 

There is the update and I hope you all have a great weekend.