I need knit therapy

Where the blank did May go?

2008-06-11T18:16:00.004-04:00

I'm sure a lot of you out there are thinking, where the heck is the time going?? Bad blogger am I but I'm here to fix that. I've got three projects on the go, concentrating more on this first one.

It's my own pattern, the second pattern to go on the Knit Therapy patterns page. I've got 90% of it to go but I'm pleased so far. Feels so nice and soft.. got to resist picking up the needles until I finish this post!

I'm still working on the Patti Cardigan. The WIP unfortunately doesn't picture well.. I took a few photos and figured it can't look any more exciting than it does... it's just a flat back piece.

I really wanted to cast this on after seeing Girl Kae's version of it. Absolutely stunning, ain't it? I picked up a copy of Rowan Studio 1 in Auckland, not realizing it was available for download, but was happy too. I bought it from this lovely shop called Alterknitives. I'll be sure to stop by there again if I'm ever in that part of the world again.

The last project is this star stitch scarf which is screaming to be blocked. (yep.. just procrastinating) but there's no real urgency since it's way to hot consider wearing this beautiful colourway outside in this hot and humid weather. It'll be winter in Toronto in no time.

Kept this pretty short.. it's knit therapy time =)

Baroness Beret

2008-04-23T19:27:00.003-04:00

I'm excited that I posted my first free pattern on Knittherapy.ca. =) I'm planning on posting some more so stay tuned.. but for now:

Pattern: Baroness Beret by Susan Power
Source: Knittherapy.ca free pattern section
Materials: Nashua Creative Focus Worsted in Rust
Needles: 7 US/ 4.5 mm and 5 US / 3.75 mm

Good in the city and out in the country. I love wearing this hat! My hair can get a bit much sometimes... so the hat works when I just let my hair do it's thing. Despite how it looks like in pictures.. it isn't naturally straight. I'm completely addicted/dependent on my flat iron.. in fact I've got a few in case any of them break down. I also love the fact that this beret doesn't give me hat hair like most hats I own.

Picking up the needles now =)

Blocking procrastinator

2008-04-15T20:50:00.008-04:00

Wow, it's been over a month since I've last posted. I've been meaning to post but I've been busy with my store Knittherapy.ca... I'm so glad it's up and running. There's still stuff to finish up but it is open for business =) I have been knitting in the meantime, it really is my therapy/meditation from stuff going on around me... so I do have updates and pictures to share.

First off, I completed this one a while back:

Pattern: Gretel by Ysolda Teague

Source: Ysolda Store
Materials: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: 8 US/ 5 mm Denise needles
Completed: February 2008

I finished this one for my co-worker friend that was leaving the company for bigger and better things. It was sad to see her go but we'll hopefully not lose touch.

It took me a weekend to complete. I tried using the tubular cast-on technique that Ysolda Teague shows in a Youtube link from her site. It's very useful and looks less of a hassle than using a scrap piece of yarn in other examples, although I've never tried this. This one works just fine so I'm quite happy with sticking to it. I also tried, for the very first time, working cables without a cable needle. The very thought of doing this intriqued me since I'm very much an airplane knitter. (I've never had a situation where they've taken my knitting away although I am sure to always bring my plastic Denise needles) It's also less hassle to not have a cable needle. I've come close to dropping stitches but never had a situation where I've screwed up royally and had a trip to the frog pond. *knock on wood*

I couldn't for the life of me find a tapestry needle around the house so I tried using the actual Denise needle... and it worked! So yes a weekend it took. I'd definitely knit this one up again.

Second thing to report is that I've finally finished my Equestrian Blazer. It's literally been in a plastic bag, all knitted pieces finished, since early February. I felt the need to start new projects, hopefully designing new pieces so last weekend I aimed to complete it.. and completed it, I did.

Pattern: Equestrian Blazer by Kate Gilbert
Source: Interweave Knits Winter 2006
Materials: Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran in Rust
Needles: 6 US/ 4 mm Denise needles
Completed: April 2008

I'm really happy with this one. No modifications to report and it was really easy to do. Lots of short rows but it made for great shaping in this blazer pattern. I think I'll need to try to press the bottom bit of it. The right edge somewhat flaps up.

I might not have binded off loosely enough as I only had this much yarn after all the pieces are knitted.

I know they always say, "Make sure you buy enough yarn". I bought the yarn online so I figured, well I'm buying the yarn that the pattern calls for. If it says 5 is enough, I'm going to buy 5. I've never run into this problem before. I even bought DMC floss to seam the pieces together. I was able to do the trim on the collar and the body but the cuffs were left undone.. although it isn't too noticeable.

I'm happy to be starting a new project. I've swatched for the Patti Cardigan with the yarn I bought on my honeymoon from this wonderful store called Alterknits. I'm hoping to be done this one pretty quick though I've got other projects on my mind.

I'm planning to finally block the star stitch scarf. I've had it completely knitted but I hadn't yet blocked it (yes.. I'm a blocking procrastinator) and just when the warm weather is starting to come out. It'll be good to wear since there are cold nights here still but I'll at least have it for next winter. I've been wearing it the past couple months unblocked.. which might have been why there was no motivation to finally block it.

I've also worked on another project that I need to write up the pattern for. It'll be the first pattern I post on my store site. I'll put more detail about it when it's finally up.

Now, it's late but I need me some knit therapy.

Feeling giddy over Mosey

2008-03-11T21:07:00.003-04:00

I'm uber excited over the new Knitty coming out today that I'm gonna chase that feeling for the next little while. So here it is, wee toes and all:

Pattern: Mosey by Susan Power
Source: Knitty
Materials: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Natural Mix
Needles: 7 US/ 4.5 mm Denise needles

These are the other two pics that didn't make the final cut. I was lucky to have my cousin take these pictures for me. (thanks Steph!) I was outside in the front yard trying to take the pics myself but they didn't turn out nice *at all*. I capitalized on the fact that I was out west for Christmas vacation. It would have been worse if I had tried to talk outdoor pics in Toronto with all this snow that's been coming down. I picked up the plaid sneakers in Vegas (I love plaid as you might have guessed from the banner) which matched the legwarmers quite nicely.

The main reason I picked Natural mix as a colour for Mosey was that I thought it would make for better pictures in seeing the detail rather than going with something dark. I really lucked out with all the sunlight in LA. The temperature was pretty close to what it would be spring time in Toronto. I nearly didn't take the pictures there... the photo shoot happened 30 minutes before leaving for the airport. The colour also made it easier to match it with an outfit in my wardrobe. At the mo, I'm really digging deep orange colours, which is the reason I chose to use the colour Rust for my Equestrian Blazer. That's pretty close to being complete although I haven't touched it at all. It's still waiting to be blocked along with the star stitch scarf. I still need to take pictures of the Gretel beret I made for a friend, but that's all to come =)

What are you doing this stat holiday weekend?

2008-02-17T15:02:00.007-05:00

This is the winter in Toronto that I remember as a kid (without the January thaw). I'm waiting for the next big snowfall to come down, should be later on this evening.. so they say. When it comes down to it, I prefer the weather as it is rather than it being a sweltering 37 degrees Celsius.

We've embraced the winter and had taken skating lessons. I've finally learned how to stop on skates, and when I say stop, I don't mean slamming into the boards. Hopefully next winter, we're planning to take up skiing.

I'm still finding time going by very quickly lately. Ever since getting engaged, that's where time started to fly by. We got married in September 2007 and I thought time would start to free up and go back to the pace pre-engagement, but no. It has a lot to do with something I've been planning for a couple months now.. it's on the down low but it will all make sense in due time; about a month I say. But because of it, I haven't been knitting as much as I want to.

For the past month, I've been working on finishing another Danica scarf. Slowly but surely. This time around, I'm using Patons SWS in Charcoal. I think the last one I did knitted up quickly because of the colour changes, getting surprised with what colour it will change to next. Oh well, I'm down to the last ball hoping to be done this weekend.

But is this really considered a Danica? My opinion, no. There's no different coloured squares and it follows the simple entrelac pattern that's been done before.

I'm also planning on blocking my pieces to the Equestrian Blazer this long weekend.. hopefully. I do always tend to procrastinate with this part but I want to finish the scarf before I start. So close. I picked up some DMC floss for the seaming for fear I'd run out of yarn for the edging.

However, here's the real prize this weekend. This was my first attempt at making pizza. Turned out better than I thought it would.

I used the bread maker we picked up last weekend. Made two yummy loaves and planning on making another pizza tomorrow with the left over ingredients.

I'm going to get back to knitting now =)

It works!

2008-02-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to post this a while back but I was absorbed with trying to finish the Imogen sweater. I have a yarn winder at home but without a yarn swift, winding was a pain in the backside. I had three hanks of Dream in Color yarn to wind and figured, ok... it's time to get a yarn swift.

I didn't want to order it online, especially after I had so much trouble getting a blocking board, that took a month and a half to sort out shipping to me. I also didn't want to spend as much money on it so I toyed with the idea of making something myself. I found good tutorials on how to construct one with wood and all the rest. Even asked the hubby to help me with it. But then... I found the Crafting Jen blog post and thought, I could have my very own yarn swift that night made from Tinkertoy. I looked up toy shops in the Toronto area, one in particular came to mind, checked there site and low and behold.. they had them!

I popped in after work, spent about 30 bucks, got home and put it together. It was simple and it works. Granted, it's a bit wabble-y, but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.. I paid less than half the price of a new one, I can redesign and change sizes if you wish, and had no problems when it came down to winding.

equals

So nice, I'd like to knit it twice

2008-01-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

My first Imogen sweater:

Pattern: Imogen sweater by Adrienne Thomas
Source: Perl Grey
Materials: Dream in Color Classy in In Vino Veritas
(less than 3.25 skeins)
Needles: 10 US/6mm Denise needles

This is, hands down, an awesome pattern. So awesome that I've bought more yarn to make another one. I'm looking to make it in Manos Del Uruguay in a teal colour. I'm still trying to get through making the Equestrian Blazer (started the left front today, with two more sleeves afterwards to go). I couldn't resist casting this one on. So I did and finished it in less than a week. The yarn was great to work with, nice and cushy. I definitely want to use it in future projects. The variegated colour worked nicely that there aren't any splotches of colour all over. It's distributed quite nicely.

I stuck to the pattern although I added some small changes. I added a selvedge on the bottom edge of the sweater. I decided to go with the invisible cast on instead of unraveling the cast on. It's the first time I've used this cast on and worked out great. No signs of uneven stitch tension. I also added two extra stitches when picking up the front stitches to hide the holes at the armpit. I nearly completed the sweater with three skeins but at the very end broke into the fourth skein to finish the collar edging.

The bottom edge kept curling so I ended up ironing the bottom half of the sweater. I dampened a piece of cloth and placed that over the knit. Worked out well, the sweater flattened to the perfect length. It was the first time I tried this technique. Normally hovering the iron above the knit worked for me but the sweater resisted.

The little ones count too

2008-01-12T16:35:00.000-05:00

My instant gratification project:

Pattern: Butterfly Mobius by Clara Parkes
Source: Knitter's Book of Yarn
Materials: SRK Ovation in Camel (2 skeins)
Needles: 5 US/3.75mm

No mods to report, it was simple and straight forward. This one was finished before the holidays and took maybe a week and a half to complete. I was planning to take pics of it in a warmer LA but I hadn't worn it out. I definitely like how this finished off but I'm unsure if I'll actually wear it when the warmer weather comes to Toronto.

I think it's amazing, yet slightly crazy one week there's a big ol' pile of snow that makes me try to think back when it last snowed that much and now... all the snow is gone. In the past week, the temperature in celsius has gone up to 15 degrees and for the next week, the daily highs are lingering around the zero degree.

In preparation for the winter months, I've casted on a scarf for myself. I picked up two skeins of Manos Del Uruaguay in a sumptuous colourway called Stellar. I had planned to make the "My so called Scarf" but I felt it's been done so many times. One of the things I really like about knitting your own gear was avoiding the dread of seeing someone else wear the same exact thing you are. Granted, that's going to happen and really, who really cares... it's just less likely when it's something you've made yourself. For the most part, every FO is like a snowflake. The same generic pattern may be used being used but people knit differently, make different yarn choices, make modifications! Maybe I've put too much thought into it.

Anyhoo.. here's the startings of my scarf. I started looking at stitch guides to avoid working the My so called scarf and remembered this star stitch pattern I loved from an Urban Outfitters scarf that on their site is selling as a crocheted scarf. I wouldn't have paid the amount they were asking for it, especially since it was all *cough* acrylic but it still looks lovely. I added a two stitch gartered chain selvedge to clean up the shape.

I've also come to think there should be different types of WIPs on the go. The only other project I've been working on right now is the Equestrian Blazer but it doesn't travel well because of it's complexity. I like having a project with me where ever I am so the scarf was a good choice. I could pack in my knapsack or purse even and the pattern is easy enough to remember.

Onward home

2008-01-02T14:01:00.001-05:00

Sitting in the airport lounge, wanting to get home already. This trip home was the first canceled flight I've had but luckily things are looking good to get home. Luckily, there's free wi-fi here so I can finally post these FOs.

Pattern: Saartje's booties
Source: Saartje's Knits blog
Materials: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Teddybear
Needles: Susan Bates 2.75mm
Made for: an expecting cousin

These were newborn size. I tried them on my nephew who's 7 months but they didn't fit. They were fun to make and absolutely adorable.

Pattern: Danica by Jesse Loesberg
Source: Knitty.com

Materials: Paton's SWS in Natural Russet (3 skeins)
Needles: Denise Needles US 8 (5mm)
Made for: Christmas present for cousin

This Danica scarf was a quick knit. I love the colours on this one and am considering making one for myself. The entrelac was quite tricky because at one point I didn't make sure there were 10 stitches on the needle for every square. I was able to go back a few blocks safely to fix the mistake. I think I'd like to make the "So-called Scarf" for myself next. It's going to be a couple of cold months in Toronto. It's warmer in Vegas and in LA and I don't think I'm prepared to feel the winter in a few hours.

Vacation was relaxing and was great to see family. Christmas lunch was delicious but I can't imagine anyone finishing that portion. (see below) Can't wait for the next one although I can't stand airports anymore.

Happy New Year!!!

Nearly there

2007-12-21T11:23:00.001-05:00

TGIF for sure. So close to vacation time! I'm close to completing my previous list of things to make for Christmas.

I've finished knitting the pieces, I just have to finish up; weaving ends in/blocking/sewing buttons on. Close, but not enough to put that check mark on the list. I started knitting the Equestrian Blazer out of Interweave Knits yesterday. I finally got the yarn I ordered online although it didn't turn out as orange as I thought it would be. I still like it though and am happy with the progress I have on it so far. I've been looking to make this blazer for a long time now.

Went to another LYS last weekend, and although I really shouldn't have, I bought four skeins of Classy by Dream in Color. I couldn't resist! The owner was wearing the Imogen jacket and I wanted to make one of my very own. It'll be the next sweater I cast on after I complete this Equestrian blazer.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....

The little things

2007-12-11T21:57:00.002-05:00

It's Christmas time so I've got little projects on the go. I'd love to start a sweater project but I need to finish off these three things first:

1) the Danica scarf in a not surprising choice of Paton's SWS. It's a gift that's nearly completed. The only thing left to do is to get it blocked and wrapped up.

2) I haven't casted on as of yet but I'm planning on making two sets of Saartje's booties. Not sure why I've been procrastinating with these but I think I'll get them started this weekend. Well.. I *have* to get them started this weekend.

3) The Butterfly Mobius from the Knitter's Book of Yarn (recommended). This one's for me, something that'll give me instant gratification although I'm itching to start a sweater project. Which project? Haven't decided but a couple options were the Patti cardi from Rowan Studio 1 or the Equestrian Blazer from IK. It'll happen... only a matter of time. I've never worked with this weight of yarn before but I'm quite pleased so far.

My Christmas Treat

2007-11-28T19:59:00.001-05:00

I was on a mission last week: work on Shopping Tunic, and boy did I work on it. I had this yarn in my stash for a long time, had purchased Twinkle's Big City Knits a long while ago so I've always been set to make this... I unfortunately just kept putting it off. So, I casted on on the Tuesday night (Nov 20th) and finished weaving in ends on the Sunday afternoon (Nov25th). I'm planning on making another one.. but not anytime soon... a) because there are so many other projects I want to start and complete and b) it just isn't the time of year to wear it out. It's currently one degree celsius outside. I did however create this to wear for Christmas day, whatever indoor event will be happening.. still unsure.

Pattern: Shopping Tunic by Wenlan Chia
Materials: Rowan's Big Wool Fusion in Soot (4 skeins)
Needles: Denise US 19
Source: Twinkle's Big City Knits
Started and Completed: Nov 20th to Nov 25th 2007

Next project to cast on: Danica using Paton's SWS (a not surprising yarn choice). First venture into entrelac. I'm excited!

My New Favourite

2007-11-28T19:31:00.000-05:00

This is one of the reason's why I love knitting so much, being able to produce your own clothes.

Pattern: Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronique Avery
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in Teddybear (5 skeins)
Needles: Denise using US 7 for the rev st and US 8 for the lace pattern
Source: Interweave Knits Sprint 2007
Started: August 2007
Finished: November 2007

The choice in yarn made the sweater drape-y which I like a lot. It's a very casual, mellow-type sweater that works really well with jeans (because of the colour mostly). I got the buttons from raiding my closet, trying to clean out clothes. I found a pair of khakis I bought from Urban Outfitters maybe four years ago. It had five perfect sized, perfect coloured buttons. I felt like I hit the jackpot. I'm so glad I never threw those pants out despite the oil stain I had on it.

I took these pictures a while ago but wasn't happy with them to begin with. As much as I love this sweater, it's not photogenic :(

My goals for 2008: take up gardening and learning how to sew. If I can do one of these things, I'd be a very happy woman.

One down, a lot more presents to go

2007-11-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again =) It's the first real snow fall of the season. I love it. Granted, everyone is driving like a crazy person out there but despite that, I absolutely love the look of snow that sits on the trees, untainted and pure.

With that said, just thinking of the Christmas shopping that needs to be done. One Christmas, I wanted to make all handmade gifts, so I managed to make scarfs and legwarmers for friends and family. That was ambitious but that won't happen for this year. Instead I really wanted to make a sweater for my husband, he's been asking for one as well so I bit the bullet and casted on. There were no surprises for him since I needed to know if it was going to fit right so he was kind enough to model them for me. I wanted to take better pics but it's packed away now and so it goes...

Pattern: Jared Flood's Cobblestone Pullover
Materials: Misti Alpaca Worsted in a dark green melange (6 skeins)
Needles: Denise US 7
Source: Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Started and Completed: Oct to Nov 2007

Project: Success. The thought of making him a sweater was quite daunting but I'm happy with the turnout. No modifications needed for this sweater. It was a straight forward quick knit. The sweater is so light and soft that I want to make something for myself with it.

I'm working on the Shopping Tunic in Twinkle's Big City knits now. I started it two days ago and I'm at the collar part. So far, so good.

Need to retake pictures of the Dollar and a Half Cardi, will post soon.

Pre-blog FOs

2007-11-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

Here are some finished objects that I've finished in the past year.

Pattern: Twinkle's Tea Rose Halter
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in New Age Teal
Source: Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Started and Completed: July 2007

I love wearing this halter. It was an easy knit; the body took an afternoon of knitting and I procrastinated with the straps. Will definitely make another one in a different colour. I think Cotton Fleece was a good choice for this top.

Pattern: Michael Kors' Boxy Cardigan
Materials: Lionbrands's Cotton Ease in Stone
Source: Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2007
Started and Completed: June to July 2007

This was the my first real sweater project (first venture into seaming). I wear this *a lot* when the weather's warmer. This is a great sweater although the pattern was a bit troublesome on the sleeve part. After a week or so of trying to figure it out, calculations did the trick. Thank you mathematics for not failing me! I ended up decreasing every other row on the front shaping. I want to make this in a light drapey material if I get the chance to. Sooooo many projects I want to get done and dusted.

Pattern: Ballet T-shirt
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Ease in Candy Apple (2 skeins)
Source: Loop d Loop
Started and Completed: July 2007

This pattern was completely straight forward and I completed this in an evening. I was determined! I made the shirt a little longer since the style these days seems to be more towards the tunics rather than those shirts that showed of the midriffs (those baby tees... that's what they're called) back about 10 years ago. I love the different colours that Cotton Ease has to offer. It was my yarn of choice this past summer.

More to come, stay tuned.

Why buy when you can knit it yourself

2007-11-17T22:06:00.000-05:00

What a great week. =) I got a new camera yesterday so I can finally take pictures of my new and old FOs. It was waiting for me when I came home from work. Felt like that feeling you get when you go to the restroom in a restaurant and come back to your table with the food waiting for you.. don't you just love that? (Name that movie) I finished another sweater this week (yay!) and received my invite for Ravelry (it is, indeed, the Facebook for knitters). I will take pics of said FOs when I can get them modeled for me but I did take a picture of the my most recent FO; my wee little camera case. I started it this evening and am very happy with the turnout.

Pattern: improvised - made to fit my camera
Materials: leftover Lionbrand Cotton Ease in Stone
Needles: Denise needles size 7
Dimensions: 6 inches around, 4 inches long

Knitting on the brain

2007-10-22T14:54:00.000-04:00

All I want to do is knit! Get like that sometimes? Thinking about what knitting project(s) you're working on... thinking about what knitting project(s) you'd like to start next. I always have a project with me at all times. It really has become an addiction for me and right now I need a fix.

I'm currently working on The Cobblestone Pullover and the Dollar and a Half Cardigan out of the Interweave knits magazines.

The Cobblestone Pullover is knitted with Misti Alpaca Worsted (so soft!!) and I've got 70% of the body done after 4 days of knitting. It'll be the first sweater I'd knit for my hubby, just in time for Christmas. So far, so good.

The Dollar and a Half Cardigan is knitted with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Teddybear. I finished all the pieces and it's waiting to be blocked. I recently purchased a blocking board, just waiting for it in the mail. I started knitting that one mid-August and was really quick to knit. I managed to not do any knitting while I was away on my honeymoon. It was a trade off since my hubby didn't bring his laptop.