New Year New Projects

There's nothing like a New Year to put some new projects on the needles.  First up, in my queue for sometime, is Seashore by Isabell Kraemer.  I cast this on right after Christmas and have had a hard time putting it down.  It's a relaxing knit, perfect for this time of year.  The next few weeks at work will be quite busy for me, so this is the perfect pattern to knit, without having to use much brain power.  I can't think of anything better than starting my year off with a project using Sweet Fiber Yarn Cashmerino 20 , a fingering cashmere, nylon and merino blend in the most lovely shade of grey, called Smoke.  I am pairing this yarn with Black Trillium Pebble Sock Gradient Yarn in the Undine colourway.  Just looking at this gradient yarn colourway makes me happy.

Seashore by Isabell Kraemer

Black Trillium Pebble Sock Gradient Yarn

The next up on my list is Gray Rose, a beautiful wooly hat by Thea Colman of BabyCocktails.  Her patterns are always so lovely and well written.  This one caught my eye as soon as it was published last September.  After looking around in my stash I think I found the perfect yarn to knit it with, West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester yarn that I bought on my trip to Scotland in 2014.  I am excited to knit a small project with this yarn as I have enough skeins to knit a sweater.  It will give me a chance to see how it knits up and blocks.  I have also wanted to knit with Bluefaced Leicester for some time as I have read a lot of good things about it.  After knitting with Cormo last year I am interested in trying a variety of yarns that are not superwash. Yarn that still smells sheepy, if you know what I mean.  There's nothing like knitting with some cozy yarn during the cold winter months.

WYS Bluefaced Leicester

And lastly, I have also promised myself to redo the sleeves on my son's Slade by Michele Wang.  I seamed the sleeves into the body of the sweater as instructed, but try as I might I just couldn't get them to fit properly.  They were just too big in the upper arm for some reason.  After several attempts to fix them, I put the sweater away while I worked on my Christmas knitting.  This is definitely not my idea of a good time, but I want to get it done so he can wear the sweater this winter.

So there you have it, my list of knitting for the next month.  What's on your needles?

Fall Knitting: Sweet Fiber Yarn, Baby Cocktails & Much More!

I just love this time of year.  Are you like me?  The days are becoming cooler and I start eyeing my hand knits, wanting to wear them once again.  There is the excitement of new patterns popping up on Ravelry, and ideas about what I want to knit this fall are swirling around in my head.  

One item I will definitely be knitting is socks, using the latest installment of Sweet Fiber Yarns Sock Club called Stepping Stones, which arrived in the mail this week. Isn't it lovely?  If you haven't knit with Sweet Fiber Yarns before here's your chance.  Melissa Thomson keeps hinting about an upcoming shop update selling Cashmerino DK...so stay tuned. If you look at her Instagram account you will see some of the photos of this most gorgeous yarn. And then to top it off Baby Cocktails has blogged about a pattern that she has designed using Sweet Fiber Yarns. (If you click on the link I provided to Baby Cocktail's blog you will see the orange knit..maybe Spiced Pumpkin?).  I confess that I am not good at waiting so I emailed Thea Colman of Baby Cocktails and asked what kind of pattern it was.  She told me it was a scarf using four skeins of Cashmerino DK. She is an amazing designer and the combination of Sweet Fiber Yarn and this pattern will be stunning.  Hopefully the pattern will be released soon.

Sweet Fiber Yarns Super Sweet Sock in 'Stepping Stones'

There are so many lovely pattern collections that have been released recently.  Have you had time to look them over? Here are a few that caught my interest:

Fall Back:  A Plucky Knitter Collection
Amirisu Issue 8-Fall 2015
Knitty Deep Fall 2015
Sweet Georgia Fall 2015

And then, of course, Brooklyn Tweed Fall 2015 is coming out on September 16th which is always gorgeous.

But before I start any new patterns I need to work on the Slade cardigan I am knitting for my son.  I wanted to show you the swatch I knit for it using Harrisville Watershed.  I love how the yarn bloomed after blocking and the specks of colour in the Granite colourway adds a lovely dimension. I can hardly wait to see what this pattern will look like knit in this yarn.  (For those of you interested in buying this yarn in Canada you can order it online from Urban Yarns in Vancouver).

Harrisville Watershed swatch

I am also slowly working on my Mailin knit in the lovely Plucky Knitter Scholar. This is a simple and relaxing knit, a perfect pattern for me  to work on when I am so busy at work.  I can easily pick it up and knit a couple rounds even when I am tired at night.

Mailin progress

And if I wasn't already in the mood for fall knitting I was lucky enough to attend the annual Knitter's Fair held in Kitchener/Waterloo. There were so many beautiful yarns, knitted samples and knitting bags.  Here are a few things that caught my attention starting with the big photo on the left and working clockwise:

1.  Dream In Colour Yarn Classy with Cashmere (Needle Emporium)
2.  Bare Naked Wools:  Better Breakfast (Shall We Knit)
3.  Magmatic Boom knit in Party of 5 Kit from Sweet Georgia (Needle Emporium)
4.  A gorgeous sock yarn blanket by Passion Knit
5. Madelinetosh Merino Light (Needle Emporium)

Sights at Knitter's Fair in Kitchener, Waterloo

And as for my purchases I could not resist String Theory Caper Sock in Kiwi, 80% merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon blend from Shall We Knit. 

String Theory Caper Sock

I really seem to gravitate toward green. I have no idea what I am going to knit with it but I am looking forward to figuring it out.  So happy planning everyone...I look forward to seeing what you all create.