Friday Finish and an WIP

Everything is in one post this week. A beautiful finish. The project I've been focusing on this week. And a lovely surprise at the end.

Finished my Bampton Cowl last week. Took pictures last weekend in the snow. Most of the snow melted during the week but we're supposed to get a lot more this weekend. Should be fun.

A nice size. I don't really like cowls that go around twice. This cowl is made with sport weight yarn (leftover from my Branches and Buds Pullover). I still have some of this creamy/beige left.

Stretches out nice.

Looks amazing after blocking.

And I've been trying to get my Spotlight sweater done for tomorrow. The yarn is Feisty Fibres and the dyer of the yarn is in town tonight and tomorrow (doing a trunk show at my work). I would love to have it done but I don't think that's going to happen. Unless I skip sleeping tonight.

And I was surprised with flowers this morning. It's our 16th anniversary today, and even though my husband is currently living in England, he sent me these. And they smell great. 

WIP Wednesday - One Day Late

Pictures were taken yesterday but ran out of time to write the WIP Wednesday post. And despite having more than enough projects on the needles to keep me busy for weeks, I have 3 new WIP's to share with you today. And don't think I haven't finished anything. I have several finishes to share. Hopefully I'll get that post written and posted tomorrow. Lots of lovely knits to share. Let's get to the new WIP's.

First is a hat for my daughter. It's the Stormy Harbour hat pattern that I test-knit for Sarah of Imagined Landscapes. I made two of these before and mailed them to Jen for her hat-along (found here and here). But I loved the pattern and knew I would knit it again. I hadn't looked at the pattern that Sarah published after test-knitting and it is so good. The test-knit was set up differently and probably confusing to some but now it has a great flow. 

My daughter requested a new hat that didn't have any holes. She meant lace but I understood. Yarn is new to me, Sugar Bush, Bold. It's a Canadian yarn similar to Cascade 220 Superwash with a ton of colours. Works great, too. Love the magic of twisted stitches.

And this little Cyclops tree might look done, but he still needs to be decorated. And arms. I used the Generosi-trees pattern by Anna of Mochimochi Land. Fairly quick knit. Worsted weight yarn and just a couple hours to make. I plan on making several of these to give as gifts this year. This one is for us to keep. I think I'll put a cardboard circle in the bottom of the next one to see if that helps it stand up better. 4 year old loves it.

And a new sweater for me, because why not. Not like I have any gift knitting I should be doing. (Only 2 cardigans, an afghan, socks, a couple cowls and maybe another afghan - that's not much, right? Oh, and two quilts. Yikes!) Yarn is Feisty Fibres (another new to me yarn)and I couldn't resist it when my boss brought it into the store. I'm making a Spotlight sweater using a bright green for the yoke colourwork. And the dyer is coming to the store next weekend to do a trunk show. Should be fun. Slightly challenging myself to get the sweater done by then, but I don't think that will happen. Maybe. We'll see.

What have you been working on?

WIP Wednesday

I'm on the ball this week - taking pictures and scheduling a blog post! Been working on a few different projects this week so thought I'd share what I've been up to.

On the weekend, I finally did the heel of this second sock and have been knitting the foot while watching tv or when I have a spare five minutes. Don't think they'll be done in time to share this Friday. Maybe next Friday.

Bampton Cowl. I did several pattern repeats of this the other night while trying to catch up on some podcasts (I think I have over 20 waiting for me!) Have 4 repeats to go. I also knit another inch of my Lifesavers cardigan but it doesn't look much different so no picture today.

My poor Mystery Knit-Along shawl. It's been set aside and forgotten. Deadline for a finished pic is Friday. Don't think I'll make it but hope to get a few more rows knit before then.

And I've been working on some Poppies. I really did miss seeing people wear Poppies in November while we lived in the States. Hope to make a few more this week for myself and family. I used this free pattern but switched the stitches to American sizes (used single, double and treble crochets instead of double, treble and double trebles).

What have you been up to?

And good luck to all my fellow NaNoWriMo'ers!

SaveSave

Life Update

Things have been quiet here on the blog, but they haven't been in my day-to-day life. On October 10th, I started work... at a yarn store... part-time. So far, I have resisted buying anything but the wishlist of what I'd like to buy is very long in my head. Needless to say, the blog is going to suffer (something had to give, right?) but I'll still do a couple posts a month with what I'm working on or when I have something finished to share. I have several items on the needles (5, I think) but I've been focusing on two. Now that I have somewhere nice to wear all my knits to, a place where they're really appreciated, I want to get all the projects done so I can wear them to work. Here's a little update of what I've been working on.

I have one more increase row to do on my Lifesavers cardigan. Then I have to knit several inches to get to the ribbing at the bottom. Then sleeves. Think I might leave out the buttonholes when I do the edging at the end. Maybe. We'll see.

This is new to the blog. It's the Bampton cowl. I made the shawl this summer but I bought a new dress for work and I didn't really have any knits done that went with it, so... I cast on this cowl. I had a full skein of the creamy beige colour leftover from my Branches and Buds pullover, almost like it was meant to be. 

And I finished the test-knit cowl I was knitting. Still can't show pictures here yet, but thought I'd show you what was left of the yarn. And yes, I already have plans for it, too. 

First day of work. Wore my Fogliame cardigan. Have worn a different knit every work day. Trying to wear everything I have once before I repeat myself. So far I have worn my Fogliame cardigan, Branches and Buds pullover, Sun Rose sweater, Low-Tide cardigan, Prairie Hills shawl and test-knit cowl. Counted this morning and I have at least enough knits for 15 more work days before I will repeat myself. Fun times.

I finished this embroidery this week. For the third time. Yes, I have stitched this twice, didn't like it and ripped it out. First time I stitched each square a different colour. Second time I used white and some pink. This was part of the Super Stitcher's Club by Studio MME

This time I used green, yellow and white. Like this combination. Now I need to iron it. Think it will become a hot pad for under a teapot.

And I did some little cross-stitches in September. Still waiting to be ironed and framed. The small one will become a necklace (part of a kit from Jo-Ann's). The poop was a gift from one of son's last month for my birthday. Got to love him.

And now that I've blogged, I can think about which shawl I'm going to wear to work tomorrow. Going to be wearing black clothes. Any thoughts which one I should wear? They are Zuzu, Hogmanay and Lokum.

WIP Wednesday

A very short (and late) WIP post this week. 

I've divided the sleeves from the body of my Lifesavers cardigan. Still lots of knitting left to do.

And I still can't show you the test-knit I've been working on but thought I'd share another picture of the yarn. Worked on it yesterday while watching my son play soccer. Loving how the pattern and yarn work together. Hope to be able to post pattern pictures here soon.

What have you been working on this week?

WIP Wednesday

It's seems I've mainly done WIP posts this month. I swear I have finished things but when Friday comes around the energy I use for blogging is long gone. Maybe I should start scheduling posts again? Think I was a better blogger when I did that. 

Anyway, here are my WIP's for this week. At the end is a spoiler of Jen's latest MKAL. 

I finished crocheting all the snowflakes for my Tree of Snowflakes. Ran out of yarn making the bigger flakes so I frogged the mini ones. Then crocheted new mini ones in plain white yarn. Hopefully having 5 mini snowflakes being different is better than having 2 big snowflakes different.

Now I need to weave in a bunch of ends, block them and attach them to the fabric. 

Prairie Hills shawl saw some attention this week. Yarn seems to pool every couple repeats which is okay. Won't be as noticeable once it's wrapped around my neck. Right?

Lifesavers cardigan got most of the attention this week. It has been great television knitting for Star Trek: Discovery and Alias Grace. Need to knit about 10 more rows and then I can separate the sleeves from the body.

And I signed up to do another test knit for Sarah of Imagined Landscapes. I won't be able to show you any progress pictures until the pattern is published but I can share the yarn I'm going to use. The pattern is part of her +1 Pop Collection. I'm using a bit of Cascade Heritage sock I had leftover from my Low Tide cardigan (which I finished two years ago but still haven't added finished pics to my ravelry page? But it's in a blog post here.). And some lovely yarn from Dragon Strings bought at my LYS, Stix and Stones. It's an OOAK on their Phoenix Wings base, in the Mirrored colourway. Website for Dragon Strings can be found here.

Spoiler for Jen's MKAL is next.

Making slow progress on clue 1. Need to knit two more pattern repeats. Clue 2 comes out Friday so you still have plenty of time to join and get caught up. As a patron of Jen's, I've already seen a little sneak peek of clue 2, and I think I'm going to change to blue for it. 

What have you been working on this week? My poor second sock is still waiting for me to knit it's heel so it wasn't included this week. Maybe next week? And I think I might have to challenge myself to another Socktober next month to finish up the second sock and get a couple pairs knit for Christmas. I'm way behind on that (as in I don't have any gift socks knit up yet!)

WIP Wednesday

It was my birthday this week, so I cast on two new knits for me. I did finish my Hello, Hello shawl on Sunday and it is blocking today. Finished photos Friday? Or maybe next Friday. 

Let's get to my new WIP's!

I bought this variegated yarn over a year ago (on clearance at WEBS - link to yarn with colours still in stock) and thought of doing a Flax light for me. However, it ended up being much brighter in person. I thought of making a sweater for a niece but decided to keep it for myself and make a Lifesavers cardigan (minus the stripes). I thought I could handle wearing this bright yarn if I was able to break it up with a shirt underneath. I matched the yarn and pattern months ago and it's been hard to wait to cast on.

So far, it's not really pooling. I hate to say I'll wait until I separate the sleeves from the body to decide if the yarn and pattern will really work together because that's a lot of knitting. But I'm enjoying the knitting so far.

And I cast on a second Prairie Hills shawl. I test knit this pattern last year. I love that shawl and am waiting for the weather to cool so I can wear it again. I bought the special Camp Loopy yarn this year (first time I did that) and am using it. Had a little pooling start. Hope that clears up during the next pattern repeat or I'll have to rethink the yarn and pattern combo. 

And I did a bit of cross-stitching this weekend. I have two small finishes that need to be ironed and framed, but here's a bookmark that I sent along to a friend as a thank-you for  being a beta-reader (like a test-knitter) of the novel I am currently editing. Bought a kit to make 8 bookmarks at Jo-Ann's earlier this year.  Comes with three different patterns, have to buy your own floss. I used stash floss and tried to match it as close as I could. Only took me a couple hours. Hope to make a few more for Christmas gifts this fall.

What have you been working on this week?

WIP Wednesday

In the past two weeks, I have finished two sweaters, a shawl and a hat. My WIP's are disappearing! I am finally noticing that my knitting pile beside the couch is getting smaller. To reward myself, I went through the stash today and organized it a bit. I hadn't touched it since we moved in almost 3 weeks ago. I threw project bags full of yarn onto a shelf and shoved one container of yarn under the bed and turned my attention to my WIP's. Now that I'm finishing things up, I think I'll be able to cast on a couple things next week (both for me, since my birthday's next week), and I'm pretty excited. 

Today, I took most of the yarn out of project bags and into ziploc bags with their respective patterns. Made more room on the shelf and made it look neater, too. And after having to pay duty on my first parcel from the U.S., I am very committed to using up my stash for the next two years while we are in Canada. And to buy from Canadian shops. ( We might never leave Canada again, but using up the stash during the next two years is a priority both financially and to give us a bit more space, since we are living in my parent's basement while my husband works in England).

You'll have to wait until Friday to see the sweater and hat I finished this week, but here's what else I've been working on.

I hope you can tell that I knit an inch or so of this shawl since last week. Have just over 60 rows left to knit. Can I get it done by Sunday night? That's my goal. Pattern is Hello, Hello shawl. I'm loving it but for some reason it is taking me forever to knit. Hopefully I'll have it finished and blocked by next Friday to share here on the blog.

Second sock is ready for me to do the heel. Would love to get these done by Sunday, as well.

And I found this WIP at the bottom of a bag. Only have 10 snowflakes left to crochet. Should be a quick finish. And I had set aside fabric for this but not sure if I have it in the house or if it is in a bin in the garage. Guess I should search for it. Pattern can be found here. Ugh. Just looked at my ravelry project page and I started this over a year ago! Shame on me for not having it done my now.

What have you been working on this week?

WIP Wednesday

It's been three weeks but my WIP's haven't changed much. I did finish one, and I'll share it here on Friday. And I started one, but it's a secret and I can't share it. 

The past three weeks have been very busy. My husband accepted a job in Sheffield, England, starting November 1st. However, it's too expensive for all of us to go (there are 5 of us), so he will be going alone. The kids and I are living with my parents (husband is here until the beginning of November). The job is only for 18 months but it's going to be a challenge. We're happy to be living back in Canada again and our kids are attending Canadian schools for the first time - my little guy will be going to Junior Kindergarten, all day, every day, starting next week. I'm going to miss him. 

My knitting has taken a bit of a backseat due to packing and moving. We are now settled into our new space and I'm motivated to finish some WIP's so I can start something new on my birthday later this month. Some of the WIP's below haven't been touched in weeks but thought I'd share everything I'm trying to finish in the next two weeks.

My Hello, Hello shawl just has garter rows left but I haven't knit a stitch of this since... July? I'm not sure. Need to finish it because I really want to wear it this fall.

On the weekend, I finally cast on the second sock. Makes great knitting when the tennis matches at the U.S. Open are too good to look down at a pattern.

Spero hat was ignored for a few weeks but I'm ten rows away from decreasing for the crown. Then it will be time to mail it to Jen for her Hat-A-long.

And the Owlet sweater for my son has grown since the last post. It has sleeves! Picture was taken after knitting the first row of the Owlet pattern. I'm almost done that section now.

And I already have buttons for the Owl eyes!

My knitting view this morning.

And a sneak peek at my finish. More pictures on Friday.

And my secret knitting is a sample for Jen Lucas. You'll see it next year in her book but all I can show you today is my son enjoying the box the yarn and pattern arrived in.

What have you been up to?

WIP Wednesday - Two Sweaters

I made progress on one WIP this week... and started another. Oops. I made no progress on my Hello, Hello shawl or Spero hat. Maybe this week? We're having a Muppet Movie Marathon today, so I hope to get lots of knitting done.

Here is my Branches and Buds sweater Monday morning. Finished the branches and divided the body and sleeves on the weekend.

Stretched out, the branches lay flat.

Here's where I am at today. Started the second skein of the cream colour. Still have several inches to knit so it is a great movie marathon knit.

And I needed something that worked up quick, so I started an Owlet for my youngest on Sunday. Did the first 6 inches in less than 2 hours. I made him an Owlet when he was little and he was sad when I told him it was too small. He picked out the blue yarn for this one. I already have yellow buttons for Owl eyes. He'll receive this sweater for Christmas.

Today I finished the body. Need to make two little sleeves, join them to the body and then I get to knit the owls. He's 4, but I'm making him a size 5/6 hoping it will fit him for a few years.

Figured out I have yarn for at least 5 more sweaters/ cardigans in my stash that I want to knit up this year - two of them are Christmas presents. And I need to buy yarn for at least one more sweater that will be a Christmas present. Guess I should get back to the Muppets and knitting.

What have you been working on this week?