I’m so excited that the Secret Pal 13 Swap will be starting up soon. This will be my first ever swap and it should be lots of fun…sign ups close on Friday if you want to join in!
Monkeys!
October 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm (Knitting Projects, SKA's Sockdown 08/09, Sock Knitting)
Tags: 3IG, arcticcircle, beckon, cookieA, Knitting, monkey, SKA, skasep08, sock, sockdown, yarnista
My Monkeys are done. Here they are, aren’t they purty?
Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A
Needles: US#1 dpns
Yarn: Three Irish Girl’s Beckon Stretch
Colourway: Arctic Circle (August club selection)
You can find the details on Ravelry here.
Just wait till you see what I’m working on next… 
Sweater KAL update
October 6, 2008 at 3:33 pm (Knitting Projects, Little A, TIG Sweater KAL)
Tags: 3IGsweaterKAL, Alice, Knitting, pinwheele, sweater, TIG
I’m still working on my TIG sweater KAL project, knitting away bit by bit when ever I find the time. As I mentioned before, I’m making a Pinwheel sweater for my daughter using TIG Lindon merino in the “Alice”; a gorgeous girly colourway of white, blue, yellow, pink and black (you can see it here on Ravelry).
Its been slow going because I started a whole lot of projects in September and I’ve been on a bit of a sock knitting kick lately. Plus, we’ll be putting our condo up for sale soon (and moving to a house in the suburbs -yikes!) so we’ve super busy getting things cleaned up, painted and ready to go. And honestly although just knitting around and around is a really easy project, its not holding my attention very much.
I finally finished the main body of the sweater and I’m working on the edging now – little loops of i-cord – and I hate knitting i-cord. It looks really cute though, so I will persevere.
I started the edging in the main sweater colour, but I got this far and decided to rip it out and start over in the contrasting pink.
After that, all I have to do is add sleeves. You can see the turquious scrap yarn here where I’ll add them (I modified the pattern instructions for the sleeve openings because they were kind of confusing).
At the point where I wanted to start the sleeve openings, I dropped my working yarn, picked up some scrap yarn and knit across 19 stitches, I turned the work and purled back over 19 stitches still using the scrap yarn, and then using working yarn once again I continued knitting in the round where I left off. The scrap yarn will be pulled out later on to reveal 38 live stitches to work the sleeves with.
I’m hoping to have this done by the end of the month and give it to my little one for Christmas!
Orange Mystery
October 3, 2008 at 12:07 pm (Knitting Projects, SKA's Sockdown 08/09, Sock Knitting)
Tags: Knitting, mysterysocks, orange, SKA, skasep08, socks, toeup
My first September Sock Knitters Annonymous Sockdown entry is finally finished. I knit the Orange mystery socks designed by Jeannie Cartmel. You can see them here on Ravelry ! They are my first pair of “real” socks made with sock yarn, first toe-up sock pattern and definitely the most complicated pattern I’ve ever knit. It was challenging getting through this pattern, I especially struggled with the heel but I am so pleased with the final result. Plus, they are soft and comfy!
Pattern: SKA’s Orange Mystery by Jeannie Cartmel
Yarn: Cadenza by Estelle in Cinnamon
Needles: Knit Picks US size 0 circular
Cast-on: Sept 4th Finished: Sept 30th
Hmm, I can see that sock knitting is going to become addictive will probably lead to yet another addiction - now that I have these awesome socks finished I think they need some new shoes ;-D.
I’ve got a bad case of startitis
September 17, 2008 at 3:52 pm (Knitting Projects, SKA's Sockdown 08/09, Sock Knitting, TIG Sweater KAL)
Tags: 3IGsweaterKAL, SKA, skasep08, socks, sweater, threeirishgirls, TIG, yarnista
Wow! I can’t believe we’re already more than halfway through September! The summer went by so quickly this year, and although we’re still enjoying summer weather, signs of fall are starting to show.
As fall is slowly approaching and colder weather is not too far behind, it’s a great time to start some warm and wooly knitted projects. I’m planning all sorts of sweaters, socks, hats, scarves and mittens. I recently finished an acorn coloured Kimono sweater for my daughter, the colours are very appropriate for fall and although I started a Helena Cardigan in a bamboo-wool blend, my heart is just not in it. It’s more of a lighter spring-time cardigan especially using the bamboo; I’ll probably let this one hibernate until next spring and finish the sleeves later on (plus, I think I’ll need to buy one more ball of yarn to finish).
I am officially kicking of my fall knitting with a couple of fun KALs. The first of these is the Three Irish Girls Sweater KAL, hosted by Abigail. We’re all knitting a sweater of our own choosing using Three Irish Girls yarn. My project will be a Pinwheel sweater for little A using Lindon Merino in the Alice colourway with bright pink trim – so girly! I love this pattern, it should make a sweater that little A can wear up to about 4 years old, totally justifying using this yummy yarn. It doesn’t look much like a sweater yet, but it is a relaxing knit going around and around…
The second KAL I’ll be participating in is the Sockdown: Ravelry! It’s a year-long personal sock knitting challenge hosted by the SKA Ravelry group. Every month the SKA group has designated a different challenge that’s designed to encourage knitters to try different techniques and master new skills. You can choose between a specific technique or a designer each month. Additionally, every other month you, there is also the choice of knitting a Mystery Sock pattern using the featured technique. For me, this will definitely be a challenge considering I’m a knitting noob and I’ve only ever knit one pair of simple ribbed, worsted weight socks, but I’m definitely up for it. For September, the featured technique is a little different –knit a sock that’s orange coloured. I’ve decided to start off with a big bang and I’m tackling two projects; the Mystery sock using the cinnamon coloured Cadenza yarn I blogged about earlier and Cookie A’s Monkey in the August yarn, Arctic Circle on Beckon from the TIG Sock Yarnista club. The mystery sock, by the way is AMAZING! I love it even with all the little mistakes I’ve made along the way, I feel so empowered knitting this – its definitely the most challenging pattern I’ve ever taken on.
Wow, that’s 4 WIP at the same time. I think I’ve developed a bad case of startitis.
Acorns, Oranges and Hibiscus…
August 15, 2008 at 12:24 pm (Knitters for Knockers, Knitting Projects, SKA's Sockdown 08/09, Sock Knitting)
Tags: HibiscusforHope, Kimono, KnittersforKnockers, Knitting Projects, SMSS, sockdown09, socks, Yarn
No I’m not cooking something exotic in the kitchen (even though it sounds rather intriguing and delicioius, perhaps a tea?) but rather this post is all about knitting!
The acorns refer to my current WIP, a kimono sweater for my darling daughter in the Acorn colorway.
The pattern is the Seamless Kimono by Sweet Mama Small Sugar and its working up so nicely so far. Well written and very cute. I wasn’t sure about the colors at first, but its starting to grow on me – very autumnal.
The oranges, refers to my absolutely gorgeous new sock yarn purchase!
Its from a LYS (Creative Yarns) here in Toronto and its Cadenza by Estelle in the Cinnamon although it looks a lot more like Sweet Potato to me 
. I love it – everything about it -the color, the squishy soft feel and even the reasonable price. What am I going to do with this Cinnamony, Orangey goodness you might ask? Well, as much as I wanted to start knitting with it as soon as I got it home, alas I have to wait until September 1 because it will be used for the September Sockdown ‘08/09 challlenge at the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry. For September the Challenge is to knit any sock in the colour orange OR knit any Cookie A pattern OR knit a mystery sock pattern in orange yarn. I love a good mystery, so for my very first time participating in this fun KAL, I’ll be using the Cadenza to knit the mystery sock. I can’t wait!
Most importantly though, the Hibiscus in the title refers to the AMAZING new pattern I just got this morning – Hibiscus for Hope. Isn’t it beautiful?
Best of all, this pattern supports a wonderful cause. This September here in Toronto we’ll be having a 60km 2 day walk called the Weekend to End Breast Cancer which raises money for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Hospital. If you want your very own copy of this wonderful pattern and you want to support an amazing cause then all you have to do is visit Knitters for Knockers and sponsor MezzoDiva for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
So many exciting things will be happening in September! I really can’t wait!
A couple of FO’s
August 9, 2008 at 4:37 pm (Knitting Projects, Little A)
Tags: Knitting Projects, longies, magic loop, slippers, sockdown09, TIG yarnista club
I’ve actual gotten a little bit of knitting in this last little while. I finally finished the Ladybug longies that were driving me crazy. 
The magic looping wasn’t all that bad in the end, although I think I knit quicker and more evenly using my 12″ addis. I probably just need some practice. Anyway, I think I was so flustered by the whole thing that I mis-measured and they fit for just right now (they were meant to be big so that little A could wear them through the whole winter, oh well, I just don’t feel like re-doing them).
I also finished these ballerina slippers for my mom, I think they will be a Christmas present to keep her feet toasty when she’s at dialysis. 
I’m so pleased with them
Now that those are off my needles, I’m not sure what to work on next. Nothing I have in my stash currently is inspiring me much right now, I think I’m just so impatient for a bunch of stuff that I have coming to start in September. I want to join in to a TIG KAL (starts in September) and knit a pinwheel sweater for A in the lindon Alice that came recently (which reminds me – I need to order a couple more skeins). I joined the SKA sockdown ‘09 (also starts in September) which I’m so excited about. I’m also waiting for the first TIG sock yarnista club shipment to arrive as well as the July selection which I didn’t get in on early enough so I had to order some for myself (the Azalea orchid). Sigh. I hate waiting but writing it all out here makes me worried that I’ve probably bitten off way more that I can possibly chew, er, knit. Bring on September!!!
Knitting through Tangled Yarn and Cables (otherwise known as Magic Loop)
July 31, 2008 at 5:45 pm (Knitting Projects)
Tags: Knitting Projects, longies, magic loop
I started knitting little A some Longies using BBR dyed in the Ladybug colourway by Nicole at Laines Magnifiques. When I got to the legs, I’m not sure what insanity possessed me, but I decided I would try magic looping the legs. Great idea, right? I’ll get both legs done at once, woohoo! Well, the execution hasn’t been as great as the whole concept. Needles and cables sticking out everywhere, tangled in amongst two balls of yarn. Tugging and yanking stupid cable back and forth through said tangle of yarn. I’m not impressed. Sure both legs will be done at the same time and I don’t have to keep count of rows to make sure the legs are the same length, but really, its just not worth the aggravation IMO. I think next time I’ll stick to my 12″ addis.
Here’s the project in ravelry
I’m still at it
July 25, 2008 at 1:58 am (Knitting Projects, Little A)
Tags: Knitting Projects, Little A, socks
My socks are almost done, I just finished the gusset of the second sock. I’m still motivated to finish its just so hard to find the time between work and running after my little toddlerette! She’s walking most of the time now and is even trying out her little running feet… Speaking of busy little toddlerette feet – here they are on the beach at Presque Isle State Park on our little mini-getaway to Erie, PA earlier this month.
A very purple update…
July 11, 2008 at 9:30 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: Knitting Projects, socks, yarn stash
I finished the first sock!!! I’m just warning ya, its very purple! I’m sitting around the house right now wearing it and my foot is nice and toasty while the other is freezing. Yes, freezing in July because the A/C is cranked up since I’m feeling sick. Who gets the flu in July??? So without any further ado, here is the sock…
Oh and I thought I should share the little stash of Lindon Merino from Three Irish Girls that I blogged about the other day. Here they are in their girly glory… (from left to right) Alice, Elsbeth and Nora. Which should I steal for myself? Personally, I’m leaning toward the Nora.
