Marching toward spring

Lots of time to knit in March, with spring break in the middle.  It's also usually the time that I participate in the Annual Yarn Challenge at a LYS.  This year the yarn was Briggs and Little Sport, a rustic wooly sport weight yarn.  I chose to knit a warm hat, since the Polar Vortex rushed down on us in Southern Ontario for the last bit of February into March. 

The pattern is by The Petite Knitter, a designer who lives on an island in Nunavut (far north), Canada.   I chose the hat for a couple of reasons.  First, it's an awesome hat that will be warm and cozy that lends itself to a big pompom (Bernat faux fur).  Second, it's a Canadian designer.  I want to support people who live Canada, especially those who forge ahead with their small business in this current economic climate.  She has new patterns out right now - the Tundra sweater and matching hat.  Maybe next year, I'll knit one of them.    She also has a pattern in the Mason-Dixon March Madness bracket (knitting bracket similar to the NCAA basketball bracket - all fun, found here!)  It's the Iqaluit Shawl.  Iqaluit is the capital of the territory Nunavut, if you're wondering about the name.

I also knit my third pair of socks for the Grocery Girls Sock Bash.  The theme was movies/tv/books, so I knit Hermione's Everyday Socks (Harry Potter reference) in some stash Dream In Color yarn.  The yarn is almost too variegated for the texture pattern, but I enjoyed knitting them.  My LYS has 1.75mm circulars on order for me - hoping they will be easier on my hands and easier to use for my next pair!

Next month's theme is 'from far away' - yarn from another country.  Off to dive into the stash and pattern library for April!

footloose

I'm intrigued by sock knitting.  I find them pretty, and fun, with lots of beautiful yarn with different themes, colourways, and other interesting aspects to them.  I have two problems - both practical in nature.

First and most challenging, I knit so loosely that I have had to special order size 00 (1.75) needles to use to try and get a tight gauge with sock yarn.  They are very thin, and a bit fiddly to hold.   To start knitting socks and be inspired to keep trying, I've decided to knit 12 pairs this year to participate in the Grocery Girls Sock Bash for 2019.  This may be a bit ambitious.
Themes for the first third of the year (image from Ravelry - Grocery Girls group thread):

 I started with bulky weight Lyndon socks by Alicia Plummer for January.  I figure that if I start with a successful project I'll be inspired to keep going.  They are done, and I wear them as house socks.

Second pair are Granola by TinCanKnits, knit with sport weight Malabrigo Arroyo.  They are slightly too big and I'll knit my next pair with more negative ease to allow for stretching.  Also discovered a dropped stitch after I wore them for a day so I'll need to mend them already...

Next up are my socks knit on the 00 needles.  Just started Hermione's Everyday Socks.  I figure if over 26 000 people have knit them on Ravelry, I can't go wrong.  My yarn choice may not show the texture well, but I'm moving ahead with them anyway.

My second issue with socks is more with fashion than function.  I don't own shoes that knit socks fit into, and my boots are tall or outdoor/winter boots that I can't keep on all day inside.  This makes my socks hard to wear on a day-to-day basis.  Short of buying different footwear (not really practical) I am not sure what I'll do about this.  I also notice that almost all sock patterns have photographs with no shoes or footwear - this makes sense as the knitter wants to see the entire project but makes it hard to imagine styling them for wear.   It makes knitting socks less appealing to me; however, I am determined to knit 12 pairs this year to get better at sock knitting.  Perhaps in a year I'll have solved the gauge issues and the footwear problem!

In Progress

I've been knitting a lot this month too - trying to keep myself focused on knitting but also have a lot of time to sit at various sports practices and games/meets/events.  Small project knitting is definitely getting done!

First up, I finished my 3 Colour Cowl (without the cashmere) by Joji Locatelli that was my Holiday cast-on.  Easy travelling project, fits in a purse or bag and is easy to follow, pick up and put down during sports events while sitting on very uncomfortable bleachers. Ends have been woven in and it's blocked now but still looks similar to this:

I also finished a bulky fair isle hat for a colleague at work.   I used a Caron x Pantone braid from Michaels, as she has very sensitive skin and also likely wants to wear this without worrying about taking care of a pure wool fibre.  I knit the hat in less than 3 hours during the 2019 Superbowl.  Game was quite boring unless you love strategic defense in a low-scoring game, but that meant I could focus more on the hat than the tv screen.  This yarn was great to work with.  It's affordable at $10 CDN for a 'braid' of 5 colours, and I purchased it on sale for 50% off.  Whole project was less than $5.00 and I'd knit another at full price.  The pattern is free on the Yarnspirations website.  In the debate about cost versus luxury fibres, I come out as a 'omnivore knitter' (more on that in another post) and use all kinds of fibres, including those easily found at a 'box' store like Michaels.

Speaking of Yarnspirations, I also like the patterns I find there.  They've started carrying Sugar Bush Yarns which are more expensive (for good reason - lovely yarn!) but a few patterns are free on the site.  I started Without A Paddle, a cropped pullover but am using Berroco Vintage Chunky in a dark purple colour instead, as I can buy it from my LYS at a price point that works for me.  It's meant to be knit in Canoe, a chunky wool/alpaca blend that is tweedy.   Mine won't be tweedy but I do like the way the Vintage Chunky knits up.  It's a bottom-up sweater with a yoke construction, so I'm done the body and am ready to knit the sleeves, then join them to do the yoke:

I have a few other projects on the go, or almost done but I'll save those for other posts as they have their own stories to tell.

yarn of my dreams vs. yarn in my budget

I love knitting books and magazines, especially the ones that come with thick pages and lots of photos that come from overseas (Laine, PomPom).  They are more collectors items than recyclable reads for me.  Often, though, the cost of the suggested yarn is far beyond my means, and often quite literally out of reach to purchase even online.  (Note: I've never purchased yarn online, more on that to come).

I have learned to pay close attention to the fibre content, suggested gauge, and my own experience to pick something to substitute.  My LYS is a great place to go with a pattern - Tina will suggest something that will work that she has in stock. I also often rely on Yarnsub.com to help me find suitable alternatives to the yarn found in the patterns I want to knit.  I scroll down to see if I recognize a suggestion that my LYS might have, or one I know is comparable.

A few examples:

Nuuk (Laine issue 1) - suggested yarn is Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.  To purchase the required amount of this online from a Canadian store (which avoids exchange rates and international shipping), the cost of the sweater would be $142.38.   Instead, I chose Cascade 220 at my LYS and paid about $55.00 for the materials.

More recently, I knit Lanes (also Laine issue 1) - suggested yarn is Walk Collection DK, a yarn not available to purchase in Canada.  I'd have to buy it online in the UK at 125 GBP or $210 CDN before shipping and customs.  I used an alpaca blend from my LYS (purchased a few years ago) that cost about $60.

My next few projects from Laine, Pompom, or other sources will not use the suggested yarn, either.  I'll find a substitution that works that I can buy locally (or that I already have in stash, also purchased at my LYS).

Up next is Luoto (Laine issue 4) - suggested yarn is Quarry by Brooklyn Tweed. Purchased online, the skein with tax and shipping will cost $45.20.  A bit pricey for a hat.  I'll use Berroco Inca Tweed, purchased for about $22.00.

I know that purchasing online is the only option for some, and realize I'm fortunate to have two LYS within reasonable driving distance from home.  One day, I might change my mind but for now the hunt for a good substitution is part of the challenge (and fun!) of planning a project.

Working On... more Bristol

Started the Sharman garment from Bristol Ivy's Knitting Outside the Box.  Like all projects in this book, the construction is unique.  This is a shawl that will be folded so that the sides become 'arms' with ribbed cuffs at the end, and a bottom band to resemble the waistband of a sweater.  It is not a sweater or cardigan though; it drapes over the shoulders like a capelet/shawl.  Many knitters on Ravelry have commented on this (some positively, some less so) but I think it's the mindset that matters.  If one wants to knit a cardigan, there are two of those in this book that are designed to wear like a sweater.  If you want a shawl, there are several of those as well.  My expectations are for a loosely fitting, shrug-like layer that I can toss on in my always-cold workplace so I think I'll be pleased.

The yarn is Estelle Yarns Eco Andean DK, a pure wool from Peru.  It's from my stash, purchased originally as part of a Soper Creek Yarn Challenge.  I made the Tanager shrug with it from Alexis Winslow's book Graphic Knits.  I don't wear it often, mostly because it's short and not practical most of the year.  I'm hoping this one will be worn more often as it's more substantial (longer) and should work as a layering piece for three seasons. 

Top two photos are from the book, bottom one is the one I'm working on:

Finished

My Wislawa Cowl from Bristol Ivy's Knitting Outside the Box is complete.  This is my second project from her brilliant book.  I love it, and will wear it when the weather changes from hot and humid to cool and frosty.  This change will come more quickly than I'd like, I'm sure.

Pattern:  showcases short row lace motifs inserted into an otherwise simple background of knit/purl garter pattern.  Easy to follow chart (I use chart instead of written instructions) and clear instructions made this a relatively easy knit

Modifications:  I knit fewer repeats than the pattern calls for, as I reached the stated length well before.  It calls for another 4 repeats.

Yarn:  Manos del Uruguay Alegria (75/25 wool/nylon sock yarn)

Overall, this was a quick and satisfying knit, much easier than I anticipated and relatively fast given that it's fingering weight yarn.

post-Mayhem Plans

This spring, I'm renewing my commitment to knitting from stash, and knitting patterns I already own. I strayed from this plan in late fall... and it became a slippery slope of purchasing, planning, but not necessarily knitting.  To get back on track, I'm revisiting my queue with this renewed goal in mind.

For inspiration, I'm turning to the MDK March Mayhem bracket.  The final winner is a yoke sweater by Isabell Kramer, Humulus.  Turns out 3 of the 4 'finalists' were patterns I voted for.  Only the mini-skein pattern was different (I chose Luminosity hat by Tanis of Tanis Fibre Arts).  Many of the patterns, however, are not in my library.  While I'd love to purchase many of them, I instead looked for patterns I own that fit these categories AND the yarn is already in stash.  I'm considering:


YOKES:
Indigo Frost by Isabell Kramer - same designer as the Mayhem winner, I own the pattern and have the yarn in stash , with gray as the main colour:

SWEATERS:
I have the yarn and pattern for Winterly  by Suvi Simola in the first issue of Laine Magazine.  My yarn is Classic Elite Alpaca Sox, and will be a bit more colourful than the original:

OR

I have the yarn to knit Wolf River by Melissa Schaschwary that I purchased quite a while ago.  It's bulky yarn with a lace pattern and should knit up quickly (or more quickly than a fingering weight sweater!)

MINI-SKEINS:
I bought a Sweet Georgia Party of Five Mini-Skein set to use for a gift project for a colleague.  I'm leaning toward Talinum by Tabitha Hedrick, a cowl designed for Sweet Georgia Yarn.

This one needs to be done by end of June (end of school year) so it'll be cast on as soon as I'm done my current cowl project. 

SHOULDERS:
I have lots of shawls and big cowls in my queue.  Most will mean a yarn purchase - while I own the patterns or book that they're in, I don't have the yarn ready to go for most.  I do have yarn for Sharman,  which is a shawl/shrug garment.  I own Bristol Ivy's book, and Harjo was included in the MDK Bracket this year.  This category is the one I will likely leave til later... I like to knit shawls but don't really want to cast another one on at this moment.  Maybe in the summer. 

These four categories are organized in my queue on Ravelry, so I'm hoping to knit one from each in the next few months to play along (sort of) with the MDK KAL while also using things I already own.  Lofty goals, perhaps?! 

Nuuk- start to finish

I chose this sweater because it's simple, easy to layer, and looks so wearable on the cover of Laine Magazine.

Yarn is Cascade 220, a workhorse yarn that is always predictable for me.  Gauge is always 18 stitches, 24 rows with 4mm needles.  I get a sturdy fabric with a bit of drape, and have used it for other projects (like my Amanda cardigan). 

I love the finished product with the twisted ribbing at the edges - just enough definition to be interesting but still keep the simple style of the garment.  I like the ease (about 3 inches upper bust, 1 inch full bust) and added about 3 inches to the length of the body.   I also added an inch to the sleeves before knitting the ribbing.

It fits exactly as I planned, and was well written.  Already looking ahead to what I'll knit next from Laine.

Start to Finish: Mailou

Pattern:  Mailou by Bristol Ivy
Yarn:  Mineville Wool Project purchased at Soper Creek Yarn

I purchased Knitting Outside the Box in the fall and finished my first project from this gorgeous book.  First, the book itself is beautiful.  It's bound, with a textured cover that feels lovely to hold.  The design is like a coffee-table book - meant to be leafed through, picked up and reread from any given point.  The essays are interesting and provoke creative thinking, with stunning photographs to accompany all elements of the book.

I chose to knit the Mailou Mitts first.  They are fingerless mitts with a cable that twists around the hand and down the side of the mitten.  This is achieved through short-row construction and picking up stitches from a provisional cast on.

First, the mitten is knit side to side with a cable at each end:

Then short rows are used to build out a thumb at one end:

Then, the provisional cast-on stitches go on a needle to be picked up as a series of short-rows and decreases are knit to turn the cable down toward the wrist (almost a 90 degree turn):

All of these seems complex, but if you trust Bristol Ivy (and you should!) to simply follow her instructions, you end up with these:

I love the construction, love the finished product.  They are stylish and practical, a simple accessory with enough complexity to make it interesting. 

Next up from this book: Sharman, a cocoon-style shawl/shrug

start with the end in mind - goals for 2018

I've started 2018 with projects that fit my goals for 2018.  I love setting goals, making plans, determining what I want to do over a longer period of time.   Some goals are quantifiable, others involve learning new skills and others connect to the quality of a handmade wardrobe:

1.  Improve colourwork skills (speed, quality of work) - I'm going to knit stranded mittens over the year as part of the Skeindeer Knits 2018 KAL.  My first pair are done, just need to be blocked a bit, Herati from Pompom Quarterly:

2.  Focus on using more colours in my garments and accessories - I'm knitting a Bindrune Cardigan from Pompom Quarterly using 3 colours of Lopi, to add more colour to my garments.   I'm also almost done Nuuk from Laine Volume 1 in an autumnal orange colour.  Up next will be #18 Broken Rib Pullover from Vogue Knitting in a dark mauve colour:

3.  Knit shawls and hats all year for gifts, to reduce the need to knit for others in November and December (ongoing goal).  I've started with Jodi Shawl and hope to knit the Tread Hat by Shannon Cook before I start my next pair of mittens.

None have firm deadlines except the holiday gift stash and my goal to knit a pair of mittens or a hat each month.  As usual, I hope to use the stash I already have for lots of things, and the patterns from books I've purchased.  Lofty goals perhaps, but I'm starting projects with these goals in mind.

in between

Feels like the fall rush of starting cozy things has passed, but the rush to finish by Christmas isn't quite here yet.  In between means settling in to finish things I've started and plan for what comes next.  Some things are done, like my Jaded Sleeveless Turtleneck from Vogue Knitting Fall 2017.  It's modeled with bare arms - lovely but highly unlikely to be worn that way by me here in Canada!  I love the finished product, and it's my kind of garment.  Layers, cozy neck, bulky knit, texture...

I've also finished my Girl From the Grocery Store shawl by Joji Locatelli.  Ends are woven in (although not in this picture!).  The yarn is Canadian, Merino Slim by FleeceArtist.

Rye Cardigan by Thea Coleman has buttons and is blocked.  The neckline is a bit wide for me, and it slips slightly to the right, making the front look assymetrical by an inch or so.  I am not off-kilter, so it must be my blocking or finishing.  It's not seamed.  I think I'm better with pieces that I can seam when it comes to fit and finish.  Still like it though!

In progress are a poncho from Knitscene Winter - Hvil.  It's a gift for a friend for her birthday.

The other is a very colourful shawl by Andrea Mowry - Goldfinch.  I'm knitting it for a KAL with my LYS in SweetGeorgia Superwash Sport (green), Cascade 220 sport (pink) and Mineville Project yarn (speckles). The pink is a bit brighter than I usually choose but the pattern is fun to knit with lace, short rows, and stripes (oh my!).

slow down, you think too fast

I'm constantly attempting to balance my need to "keep on schedule" and "get things done" with the very real anxiety that comes with that kind of drive.  These are self-imposed deadlines, most of the time.  Even when I knit a gift, I am aware that I have the means (time, money) to purchase an equally appropriate gift for the recipient.  These deadlines loom, on top of the very real deadlines at work and the equally demanding time limits imposed on my life as I get my children to school, sports, activities, and social opportunities.

I picked up a copy of Slow Knitting at Indigo Books last week.  I almost put it back as it was close to $40 with taxes.  But then I thought - I want to change my perspective and focus on enjoying what I make instead of starting things that become deadline-driven.

The book focuses on knowing where your wool comes from, how your materials turn into finished objects, and the connection between paying attention to these farm-to-sweater details helps you enjoy the process as much as the product.  The designs also focus on texture, stitch details, and shape - things that slow down the knitting.  Moves you away from choosing projects that will finish quickly and toward projects that give the knitter a sense of connection to the product.  By having to count rows, stitches, charts, patterns, the knitter becomes more aware of the process of making.

This makes sense.... but also means I may finish fewer things.  I don't knit just to have things, but I do like to plan, browse through patterns and books, shop for yarn, and cast on.  This part leaves me with many items in the queue that I want to knit but don't have time for.  This feeling of wanting to make more will be hard to let go.

With that in mind, I'm finishing some shawls:
Girl from the Grocery Store (just needs ends woven in):

Goldfinch:  about a third of the way done (more than in the photo):

When these are done, I hope to cast on a project from the book.  Not sure which one yet, but I'm leaning toward the cabled pullover by Norah Gaughan.  It's an unusual construction, of course, but in a worsted weight yarn that will give me a break from finer gauge shawls that seem to have taken over my knitting plans.

All of this will, I hope, lead to more joy in the process.  I do love to knit, to see the fabric grow beneath the stitches on the needle.  Fall and Winter seem perfect seasons for slowing down as the demands of life continue to pick up.

back to school

Every summer I forget how little knitting time I have when I'm working full time, running a household, and parenting two very active and athletic kids.  My knitting slows to an almost-halt as the school year starts.  Still, I've managed to almost finish two WIPs:

I knit a Campside shawl by Alicia Plummer to give as a gift this year to a teacher.  She's into camping and has taught my child for two years now, so she's knit-worthy!  It's more blue than gray, and just needs the ends woven in.

I've also finished the knitting for my Rye cardigan by Thea Colman (Baby Cocktails), from the Berroco Portfolio Volume 1 collection.  I need to seam the sleeves (I knit them flat), sew on buttons and block it.  Hope to finish today!

I had problems with the symmetry of the decreases - didn't notice until I was almost done so I've left it for now but may rip back.  I think the error was in when I decided to keep the bramble pattern or not, leaving fewer stitches in the texture panel on one front compared to the other.  We'll see how much it bothers me when it's done.

Up next is another Lowlands Hat which uses grafting in garter stitch which is this month's technique for A Year of Techniques.  I'll be knitting a pattern I own using stash yarn, as I've done each month.  The patterns in the book (just published) are gorgeous but I'm challenging myself to knit what I have. At least for this series of projects!

I am also casting on a Joji Locatelli shawl:  The Girl in the Grocery Store using Fleece Artist Merino Slim in a purplish gray colour and a cream with the purplish speckles.   I have other shawls in the queue including a MKAL with Sweet Georgia Yarn that starts in mid October.

Now if I could just knit more and work less, I'd get it all done!

More knitting (less everything else!)...

A month since posts... I do so  much on my ipad, and can't quite figure out how to post images and create a blog post on that device.  I'm looking into it as I know I'd post more often from that device than the laptop.  Laptop signals "work" for me, while I use my iPad for "fun" things.

I broke out the sewing machine last month and made a top:  Sorbetto by Collette Patterns (a free top pattern).  I also made a "One Hour Top" by Fancy Tiger Crafts but the photo is on Instagram and I'm on my laptop.  Too many technological devices?!!

On the knitting front I've made a lot of small accessories, finished a KAL, and then got very distracted by a Mystery KAL.  

First, I finished a cowl using Noro Gingo and a pattern from my LYS.  It's more colourful than the photo shows, with mauve and green and gray:

I also knit a cowl using Briggs and Little Durasport, also in gray.  It's a bit scratchy but I'll wear it a lot in the fall.  Pattern is from PomPom Magazine, called Striated:

I also got sidetracked by a first birthday gift for my nephew.  I used stash yarn and a free pattern by Joji Locatelli called "Lolo's Vest".  Mine is more colourful than the original, as I didn't have enough of the red or the gray (my original plan) so added in some blue:

I also cast on a hat using the 'pinhole cast-on' for my Year of Techniques project this month.  This month's pattern is a cute knitted mouse.  I live with pre-teen boys and a lot of sports gear... and I am not keen on knitting toys (although these  may get knit one day!).  I'm trying to knit all of my 'technique' projects using stash yarn and patterns I own, so I chose some leftover Berroco Alpaca and cast on an Amstel Hat:

I'm no further along than this, as I am very distracted by my "Starting Point" MKAL with Joji Locatelli.  SPOILER picture is about to come up, but it's only clue one and a bit of clue two, so not really a big surprise anymore as clue 3 was released.  I'm not sure about the colours now that I"m knitting, as it's a lot more colourful than I usually knit.  I knit bright things (like the hat above) but usually in a monochromatic, solid colour.  The mix of colours is very far out of my comfort zone.  This means it will get worn with a lot of gray and black, I imagine!  

Yarns:  Zara (mauve), Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (orange), Sweet Georgia Toughlove sock (variegated), Sweet Georgia Bulletproof Sock (Blue), Alegria (gray):

More on this when it's done, as I don't want to give too much away.  I'm trying to keep up with the pace of the KAL, so I have a few days to do a LOT of knitting - the project uses close to 2000 yards in 4 weeks....  

All of this knitting means less of other things.  Like housework, school work, reading, etc.  I'm okay with this, but my house is looking a little dusty and my report cards loom ahead!