Jenna Rose: Printed Textiles

I have lots of things on the needles but sadly no finished objects to show you this week.  I am currently knitting quite a few projects at the same time, and since I am splitting my time up between these projects, nothing seems to be getting finished quickly.  But I love the variety!

In the meantime I thought I would share with you some new things that I have received.

First up is this beautiful bag I ordered from Jenna Rose, as a Christmas present to me from my husband.  I have one other printed textile bag from this Etsy shop and I just love it.  I think this is the perfect size to fit a number of my ongoing projects instead of having them laying around everywhere.  I convinced my husband to let me take a few photos with the leaves to show you all, and now it is put away until Christmas.  He is such an agreeable man.  :) 

And then I couldn't resist this cute one from Jenna Rose as well.  This bag is the perfect size to store my sock knitting and it fits easily in my purse.  Each bag Jenna Rose makes is so unique and it makes me feel so good to support Canadian crafters.

Front view

Back view

Today I received my final installment from the Sweet Fiber Yarn Sock Club. This skein is called Monarch and consists of a deep chocolate brown colour with a mix of orange, gold and grey. Once again Melissa Thomson has created a beautiful colourway.  I think this skein will become a shawl.  I am looking forward to seeing what patterns/yarn kits Melissa comes out with this month as she has hinted that something new is going to be announced very shortly.  So stay tuned to her website.

Sweet Fiber Yarn Super Sweet Sock

Lastly there is this lovely autumnal yarn that showed up in the mail.  Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmere DK in Spiced Pumpkin.  It is as soft as you would imagine.  I haven't settled on a pattern yet but I can hardly wait to get knitting with it.

Other news:

Have you checked out Hue Loco's new podcast?  The podcaster, Nicole Clark, lives in Colorado, and despite having young children and homeschooling them, she has time to sew project bags, dye yarn and knit. What really caught my interest is that she just released a video on how to sew a Christmas bag. Not only does she provide the how to on the video, she also has a pdf file you can download with the pattern.  I have decided to challenge myself and try to sew a few bags. With the help of Hue Loco's detailed video I am sure I can manage it. Now I just have to locate a sewing machine.  She has also suggested that she will be coming out with a few how-to video on dying yarn, which I am also looking forward to viewing.

I don't ever talk about apps but I have to say I am loving this free Apple app called Bitmoji Keyboard. In this app you create an image for yourself and then it creates a variety of emotions/sayings designed using your character. The great thing is you can email, message, tweet, etc. these sayings.  I can't tell you how many laughs I have got from it. Now we just have to get the designers of the program to create an expression for knitters.  I probably am the last person to know about this app but if you haven't checked it out have a look.  I think you will enjoy it.  To add to the fun they also have lots of designer outfits to chose from.  Here are just a few of my favourites:

I hope you all enjoy your week and get in a good amount of crafting time.  Take care!

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.

F.O. Lake Effect

Have you ever looked at a pattern for the first time and knew you had to knit it? That's what happened to me as soon as I saw Lake Effect by Amy Miller.  

Sweet Fiber Super Sweet Sock in Chartreuse

I knew exactly what colour I wanted: Sweet Fiber Yarns Super Sweet Sock in Chartreuse. I fell in love with this colour after I knit my Cladonia.  It is a hard colour to capture on camera but, trust me when I say, it is gorgeous.   

Cladonia

I joined the the Very Shannon Summer Sweater Knit Along and got knitting. This KAL began at the end of July and ran until Labour Day Weekend.  I love this annual KAL as there are many enthusiastic participants and it is very motivating for me.

The pattern was easy to follow. Knit from the bottom up, using a 3.5mm needle, I used markers in between lace repeats which helped me spot my errors easily. 

When knitting the sleeves I went up a sleeve size as I always knit so much tighter when using dpns.  Unfortunately my first sleeve still came out tighter than I would have liked.  My friend Judy suggested I try knitting the second sleeve in the round.  That triggered an idea.  Instead of trying Magic Loop I decided to put the second sleeve on two circular needles....half the stitches on one circular needle and the other half on another.  Then taking a third circular needle I started knitting the sleeve.  Not only was I able to knit faster using this technique, but when I measured the width compared to the first sleeve, the second sleeve was turning out wider.  I switched back to dpns at this point as I didn't want to have two different sized sleeves.  However, this was a lightbulb moment for me as I realized that I would definitely use three circular needles for sleeves in the future as it would prevent me from having tightly knit sleeves and would speed up my knitting. So thank you Judy! 

One sleeve to go!

I love the comparison of the photo above pre-blocking and then the photo below after blocking.  Do you see how the lace just opened up?  Blocking is the best part of the knitting process for me.

All blocked

Now the weather just needs to cool off so I can wear it!  I hope you all are having a wonderful long weekend and are getting excited about the fall knitting ahead.

Kate Atherley: Custom Socks

Check this picture out:

Knitting two socks at the same time!!!

That's right my friends.  Your eyes are not deceiving you.  I am knitting two socks at the same time using two needles.  No double pointed needles are in sight. Think of how this new found skill will change my knitting life.  I could knit two sleeves at the same time or how about two pairs of mittens?  Think of the possibilities.  And how did this magic happen you may be asking yourself?  If you have read any of my blog entries lately you will know that I am totally a newbie sock knitter and have only knit two pairs of socks in my life. The person sharing this bit of knitting magic was the one and only Kate Atherley.

This weekend I had the opportunity to take my first class with Kate Atherley at Shall We Knit in Waterloo, one of my favourite yarn stores.  What a thrill!   Kate is a Canadian knitter, designer, lead technical editor at Knitty and author to name just a few of her many accomplishments. She has just come out with a new book entitled Custom Socks.  Kate explains in depth how to knit good fitting socks for all shapes and sizes of feet.  There is also a selection of lovely sock patterns to choose from.

Kate taught us how to knit two socks at the same time, perfect for those people who never get around to knitting that second sock.  This method is easy to learn once you have seen someone do it.  To begin you start by dividing your yarn into two separate balls.  Then cast on.

To start:  Cast on the number of stitches for each sock and divide in half between the two needles

Then:  Use the top cable to knit both top rows in each sock

You always knit from the needles that do not have the working yarn.  It is definitely worth searching a YouTube video on how to do it and it is a great option to use.  Once you see a demonstration it is easy to learn.

I received the latest installment of Sweet Fiber Yarns Sock Club yarn called Riverstone and wasn't sure what I wanted to do with this beauty.  But once I took Kate Atherley's class I knew I that I had to practice my new found skill using this yarn before I forgot what to do.  Isn't this skein gorgeous? 

Sweet Fiber Yarn Super Sweet Sock in Riverstone

I love learning new techniques and I going to enjoy knitting these socks using my new found skill.  I will post my progress on Instagram  if you are interested. But first I must finish my Lake Effect cardigan.  Have you tried any new techniques lately?

Sock Knitting: A New Found Joy

There are so many knitters on Ravelry that almost exclusively knit socks.  I have to admit that has mystified me.  Skinny needles, fine yarn, hours spent knitting such a small object that most people would never see....why bother?

I have to admit that I have totally changed my view.

After my mother-in-law knit me a pair of socks recently I realized how lovely they looked and how wonderful they felt on my feet.   Sure no one could see them but me, but who cares?  After joining the Sweet Fiber Yarn Sock Club I knew the time had come.  I had to try knitting my own pair to see what the fuss was all about.  I decided to start with Susan B. Anderson's basic sock pattern.

Here they are!

It is so weird to take a picture of your own feet!

I have to admit that I totally get the allure of sock knitting.  I enjoyed every moment of making them. The combination of a pretty yarn and learning new techniques made me a very happy knitter.  I love the portability of knitting socks and the fact that they are not such a huge time commitment compared to a sweater.  The best thing for me is that there are an endless amount of patterns to try.

And frankly they feel just great on.

Sweet Fiber Yarns "Wildflower" colourway 

The number of resources available to help a new sock knitter out is amazing.  Fish lips heels?  Afterthought heels? Patterned socks? Toe up?  Magic loop?  These are all terms that I have heard and am excited to try out.   I have started my research about the best guides and here are just a few resources that I feel will really help me out on my sock journey:

•  I like to watch the Junkyarn podcast and on her website she had a helpful article called So You Want to knit Socks which offers step by step guidance as to what patterns to start with and which ones to knit as your improve your skills.

• Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book Knitting Rules, which has a great section on knitting socks. 

• Clare Devine's (owner of Ginger Twist Studio in Edinburgh) new book called Sock Anatomy  

• Not to mention Craftsy's class:  Learn How to Knit Socks by Lucy Neatby 

• Crafts from the Cwtch also has a three part tutorial on knitting socks that looks good.  

• Kate Atherley, a fellow Canadian, is coming out with a book this summer called Knit Socks That Fit.  

The list of resources is endless.  So if you were as foolish as me and haven't tried knitting socks yet what are you waiting for?

Toronto Knitter's Frolic 2015

I made my annual venture to the Toronto Knitter's Frolic on Saturday.  My friend and I got there early enough that we were near the front of the line.  When they opened the doors at 9a.m. there was a big cheer from the waiting crowd.  Talk about passionate knitters! This annual event is a favourite of mine as all knitters know that it is so much fun to actually see and touch the yarn that you only have access to from the internet.  Here are a few things I enjoyed:

There was so many beautiful yarns to look at.  The yarn pictured above was all from the Sweet Fiber Yarn booth.  The colours were even more beautiful in person than on the internet.  Melissa Thomson brought a variety of her yarn, Super Sweet Sock, Cashmerino 20 and Coastal, a beautiful silk/merino blend.  I also enjoyed looking at the knitted samples that different vendors brought.  The Warrior Shawl caught my eye in The Needle Emporium's booth. It was a really interesting shawl pattern. Eweknit, my favourite Toronto based yarn store, brought a Madelinetosh Pashmina version of Brooklyn Tweed's Statis Pullover. It would be so amazingly luxurious to wear.

Super Sweet Sock

As for my purchases I tried to show restraint!  The night before the Frolic a new Spring Forward collection from Amy Miller for the Plucky Knitter yarn line was published.  The pattern Lake Effect caught my attention immediately and I knew exactly what yarn would look perfect with it, the chartreuse Sweet Fiber colourway I used for my Cladonia recently.  Thankfully Melissa brought some of that colourway with her.  Both my friend and I snapped up enough to make this lovely lace sweater.  If you haven't looked at this new collection of patterns yet you really should!  There are some beautiful patterns in it that you are going to want to knit.

This colour just glows in the sun

And I don't know if I mentioned it but I love buying interesting stitch markers.  I just could resist these pretty ChiaGoo ones.  Look how pretty they are!

I think my favourite part of an event like this is being surrounded by other knitters/crocheters who are as passionate as me about their craft.  I am not alone in the world!

Congratulations to Monica who was the winner of my contest and won a copy of the Hyperballad Cowl by Julie Crawford.  Yeah Monica!

FO: Japan Sleeves

Japan Sleeves, my spring sweater, is complete.  I thought I had cleverly planned this sweater to be finished just in time for the springy weather that comes in April.  But just like last year, when I completed my Folded Poncho, the snow came and the photos were done with snow flying in my face.

However, I know it can't snow forever and I will be all ready with this lovely sweater.  As mentioned in a previous post, I thoroughly enjoyed the construction of this sweater written by Joji Locatelli.  The pattern was written so cleverly and clearly, beginning with the lace panels and then the top down construction, that it really kept my interest.  When I got to the body, knit in the round, it was a bit monotonous, but made for good t.v. knitting.  I would really like to make this pattern again, or at least its' sister pattern, Old Romance.  If I were to do it again I think I would like to use yarn with a bit of cashmere in it.  I was pleased with the combination of the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light colours I used (Teddy Bear and Molly Ringwald) and I was impressed with how far one skein of yarn goes.  For the medium sized sweater I only used about 1.4 skeins of the pink colour and 2.5 skeins of the light brown.

I am really enjoying the colours I chose for the pattern Cladonia by Kristin Kapur.  I am just finishing the main body of the shawl and then I will move on to knitted the lace section.  Look at this colour combination:

What do you think?  Wouldn't it make a great fall Japan Sleeves?  The yarn I used was String Theory Caper Sock Yarn (containing 10% cashmere) in Java combined with Sweet Fiber Yarn Super Sweet Sock in Chartreuse.  Ahhhh, the possibilities.

A Look Back: 2014

First of all I want to thank all the readers who take the time to read my blog.  It always thrills me to find out that there are actually real people reading what I have to say.  I am still excited (my husband would say obsessed) with all things yarn and I just wish there were more hours in the day, less demands at work and that I was a faster knitter.

I thought I would take this time to reflect on my blogging year and recognize what stood out for me in 2014 in the world of knitting:

Best Yarn Shop:  I had the pleasure of visiting many yarn shops this year including the Gingertwist Studio in Edinburgh, Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria and Purl Soho in New York City.  Of course there are all the terrific Toronto based yarn shops which I visit frequently.  But if I were only able to visit one of the yarn stores again it would have to be Knitty City in New York City. The variety and the amount of beautiful yarn was spectacular.  I still regret not buying a yarn I had my eye on when I was there.  (As an added bonus there is a bookstore down the street for patient husbands to sit and wait).  I must go back.

Table display at Knitty City

Best Online Shop in Canada:  The service was excellent and the delivery was fast from any online Canadian yarn shop I ordered from this year.  However, ValleyYarns.com is one that I have used several times as I find their prices are competitive and they offer a huge selection.  Also delivery is free if you spend over $100.  But I have found that it is worth my time to shop around as prices do vary from site to site.

Best Shawl: As I am becoming a more experienced knitter I am getting very picky about what shawls I will knit.  I have knit some beautiful shawls in the past that I find are challenging to wear comfortably.  I prefer to wear shawls that can be worn a number of ways and that don't overwhelm my shorter height. With that in mind the shawl I find myself turning to again and again is Algiers by Kristin Kapur which was part of a Fan of Through the Loops Mystery KAL.  Knit in the beautiful Black Trillium Fibres Studio Pebble Sock yarn it really is the perfect shawl for me.  This shawl also represents the first completely lace shawl I have knit. When I started this KAL I had no idea what the finished shawl was going to look like.  Each week I was sent the next part of the pattern.  I think if I had seen what the finished shawl had looked like before I started I would have felt intimidated and not tried it.  It really was not that difficult and it helped me gain confidence in my knitting skills.  I am currently knitting another one in a solid colour.

Algiers by Kristin Kapur

Best Cardigan:  This one is an easy one to choose.   Grace by Jane Richmond knit in the most beautiful yarn by Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino Luxe is my top choice of the year.  I had tried knitting this cardigan in the previous summer and had no luck getting through the lace part at the beginning.  This summer I was able to get through it and make a sweater that fits great and is so soft to wear. I love everything about it.

Grace by Jane Richmond

Best Knitted Accessory: Tanis Fiber Arts Snowfling Mittens knit during the Olympics.  The red cashmere lining with the beautiful black and white snowflake pattern were well worth the time and effort.

Snowfling Mittens by Tanis Lavalee

Best Yarn:  Well this is the trickiest category so I will break it down:

Best Yarn Colour:  The colour in Pigeonroof Silky High Twist Sock in Railroad Stake is incredible to me.  I am hesitant to knit with it because I want to pick a pattern that does this colour justice.

Pigeonroof

Best Yarn Brand:  Seriously there are so many I could choose.  But I have to say Sweet Fiber Yarns has to be my top choice.  From the consistently beautiful colour to the quality of the yarn I can't get my hands on enough of it. The owner, Melissa Thomson, has announced that she is expanding her business by moving to a much larger workshop.  I also had the pleasure of test knitting some of her patterns this summer and it always impresses me when someone can both dye yarn and design beautiful patterns.  I am excited to see what she comes up with next.

Sweet Fiber Cashmerino Luxe and Coastal yarn

Yarn That Surprised Me:  I knit the Colour Play Mohair Scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a 70% Mohair 30% silk blend.  I had never knit with mohair before and I was worried that the yarn would be itchy to wear.  It did not itch me at all and turned out to be a warm, light scarf that is a pleasure to wear and looks great.

Colour Play Mohair Scarf

Best Lookbook:  Can there be any contest?  Brooklyn Tweeds Lookbooks created by Jared Flood are highly anticipated by all knitters.  The photography paired with the beauty of the patterns and yarn are hugely impressive.

Best Knitting Book:  Although I have bought a few books this year I only wrote about this one on my blog as it really stood out for me.  The 150 patterns are cleverly written top down, bottom up, back and forth, and in the round.

All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard

Best Knitting Blog:  There are so many beautiful blogs that I like to follow it was very difficult to choose. It really amazes me how much talent is out there.

Best Yarn Store Blog:  Purlbee  This is one gorgeous blog.  Each week a new project is shared and most patterns are free. The photography of the yarn and the finished products are stunning.
Best Canadian Blog:  This is a tie between Tanis Fiber Arts and Julie Crawford's Knitted Bliss.  I have been a longtime fans of both.  Both of these women are innovative, highly skilled crafters and have a fantastic eye for colour. The fact that they accomplish everything they do in addition to having young children is impressive to me.  I look forward to their postings every week.

Well there you have it.  The knitting world is growing by leaps and bounds and it's such a great time to be a knitter.  What are some of your favourites?

I wish everyone a Happy New Year and lots of crafting time in 2015.  I hope you come to visit my blog in the New Year.  I always look forward to your comments.

All the best!

Christine

Sweet Fiber Accessories e-book

I had so much fun test knitting some patterns for Melissa Thomson's e-book just released last week called Sweet Fiber Accessories.  The patterns are gorgeous as is the photography for this e-book.   I am also a huge fan of her beautifully dyed yarn.  Although I would have loved to knit these pieces in Sweet Fiber Yarn I decided to do some stashbusting with yarn I had on hand.

First up was Dockside, a hat with some cabling and double seed stitch making a very warm slouchy hat.  My daughter loved it.  I knit this in some Madelinetosh 80/10/10 MCN, a merino, cashmere, nylon blend, a favourite of mine.

Dockside in Madelinetosh 80/10/10 in Sand Dune

The second pattern was a pattern called York a lovely cabled hat that I knit with some Malabrigo Merino Worsted, a 100% merino yarn.  This was the first time I knit with this yarn and I have to say I was impressed.  This is a beautiful yarn, incredibly soft and warm and available in so many beautiful colours. I will definitely be knitting with it again in the future.  I really think it is the perfect hat yarn.  

York in Malabrigo Worsted in Jade

The third pattern I knit was the Bedford Cowl, a beautiful cabled cowl using 600 yards (550 m) of yarn which created a substantial cowl for those very cold days. For this project I used Manos del Uruguay Maxima, a 100% Merino yarn in a beautiful shade of turquoise.  This was also the first time I have used this yarn and I have to say I was disappointed.  As I knit my hands were constantly turning blue and when I went to block it the dye that came out in the water was incredible.  The final colour once the cowl was dry was considerably less vibrant.

Bedford Cowl in Manos del Uruguay Maxima

Besides the shawl, Endsleigh, which I featured in my last blog, there are also two more hats and another cowl.  If you are looking for a fun project for the upcoming winter months you should really check out this e-book.