first impressions

I'm putting some WIPs aside to start a Mystery KAL with Helen Stewart of "Curious Handmade"  The theme or inspiration for the project is Impressionist Paintings:  blurred lines, muted edges, vibrant or light colours, and everyday objects or scenes.  Think gardens, vases of flowers, ponds, fields.  People in the paintings are often women: dancers, mothers, children.

I have some yarn in stash that is bright and spring-like.  I decided to join in to give myself a spring project and to try a design by Helen.  She asked us to post pictures for inspiration, so I found the artwork one on Creative Commons (copyright-friendly photos) that goes with my yarn.

The speckled yarn has yellow, orange, and raspberry, but no pink.  I'm hoping the pink will work once the three are knitted together.

The first clue came out this morning, written in a charted- percentage style.  This is new to me... but shawl knitting is not, so I'm hopeful I'll be able to put it all together.

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.

FO: 2017

I did a lot of knitting in 2017.  According to my projects on Ravelry I finished:

4 pairs of mitts, including Fireside

7 cowls, including my own improvised pattern, Loretta:

2 headbands, 2 baby knits, and my first pair of socks:

2 ponchos/capes, 1 pullover, 1 vest, and 6 shawls including Starting Point:

and 3 hats, including 2 PussyHats about a year ago:

I did a lot of knitting-related thinking, purchasing, and doing as well - dipped my toe into Craftivism and plan to continue that into 2018.   More on that in another post (perhaps) but for now, these photos sum up the knitting for 2017!

VK35

I enjoy knitting because I like to make my own clothes.  I like to knit garments and accessories.  I don't like to knit baby items, household items, or toys.  I've tried, but none bring me a sense of satisfaction in the way knitting my own clothes does.  I grew up in a household where clothes were made (mostly sewn), and I've inherited that interest in sewing.

More importantly, I've inherited an interest in fashion from my mother who studied textiles and design at university.  She taught Family Studies (Home Economics, then) at secondary school with a focus on sewing and even taught courses on fashion design.  She made fine tailored clothing out of fabric that was purchased on 'road trips' to nearby cities with textile mills, or in large stores in Toronto.  My interest in clothing is not just about frugality or slow fashion; it's from the idea that I can quite literally create my own sense of style.

Vogue Knitting magazine serves as an inspiration point.  Many items, as knitted or styled, wouldn't fit in to my wardrobe at first glance.  But the trends, colours, styles and ideas from the runway serve as inspiration for me.  In 2017 the magazine celebrated 35 years.  As a Knit-Along, a Ravelry group hosted a VK35kal.  The challenge:  knit an item from at 2017 issue AND at least one item from an issue ending in '7' (e.g., 1997, 2007).  I don't have a large back catalogue, so choosing patterns to knit was a bit difficult.  I joined in quite late with two projects:

From 2017:  #1 Sleeveless Turtleneck  knit in Berroco Vintage Chunky

From 2007:  a free pattern, Charming! Cape by Vladimir Teriohken

I'm not sure... I love the turtleneck, it's my style, my fit.  The cape is a stretch outside my comfort zone.  It's knit in super-bulky (and super economical) Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick, which is what the pattern calls for.  I'm leaving it for a bit to see if I'll wear it... if not, it will be frogged and re-knit into something else.

The challenge motivated me to rethink my wardrobe from a fashion viewpoint.  I don't want to "Knit All the Trends" (no thanks, neon from the '80's - did that first time around!), but I do want to be current and to push myself to wear things that are not just a remake of a previous thing.

So off to plan 2018... and to peruse the VK magazines I do have to see what might come next!  More on that to come!

cold and bright

The lovely people at Berroco Yarns have send me a package:

This prize includes enough yarn to knit Amy Christoffer's Bindrune from PomPom Quarterly Winter 2017 issue.  I selected a light gray for the body, a camel colour for the background colourwork, and the garnet red for the contrast colour.  I love the cozy look of the sweater, and think I can dress it up or down.  This will be one of my Christmas holiday projects - hope to finish it by January 8th (first day back to school)

The package includes the PomPom Quarterly issue, so I now have other brightly coloured projects in mind for the short and cold winter days:

Dipyramid, a two-colour stranded hat in DK weight yarn by Emily Green (above), and Orianna (below), a pullover that combines cables and colourwork.

All of the patterns are knit in soft, yet bright, colour combinations.  I hope to finish the cardigan and hat over the 2-week holiday break.  The pullover may have to wait... as I dream of spring!

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!

Long Runway.

I have completed a second mystery KAL.  It's very far outside of my usual knitting comfort zone (which does shift in terms of technique but not usually with colour).  It's huge, knit in fingering weight yarn (close to 2000 yards of it), and very colourful.  It took me a long time to pick the colours, and even though it's very beautiful now, I'm not convinced I'll wear it.  I usually choose solids, and muted colours.  If I'm combining colours, it's usually in either a muted palette or a very predictable one.   Otherwise, the colours are too bright, too contrasting, too... much. 

I find lots of things 'too much'.  I read a blog post called "When you have a long runway" and named my shawl Long Runway.  The gist of the post: it takes some people a while to make decisions, act on their thinking, speak their minds.  Not because they don't have an opinion but because the thought process is so complicated and deep that saying the exact thing you mean to say, the moment you mean to say often never happens (to borrow a phrase from "You've Got Mail").   

I have a long runway.  I think a lot before I act, I deliberate all the options, I consider perspectives and consequences.  I'm not impulsive, risk-taking, or impractical.  So to buy 2000 yards of multi-coloured fingering weight yarn for a 'mystery' project that I may not like in the end is so far out of my comfort zone.  That said, I love the process of knitting with a group and keeping up (or trying to keep up) with the clues.  

In the end, the wrap represents the process of being bold, and slightly brave.  I realize it's just knitting and not a life-changing decision.  But I believe we make choices based on habit, decisions based on past experiences and patterns.  Next time I'm unsure and reach for the familiar, I can remind myself that it might be okay to do something differently.  Maybe.

There's a first for everything!

In the spirit of "A Year of Techniques", I am attempting July's technique, the heel-flap and gusset.  This requires me to knit my first pair of socks.  I've been knitting for over 30 years, on and off.  I've knit garments of all kinds, hats, shawls, lace, cables.... I can cable without a needle, read lace charts, and am not intimidated by most things knitterly.  Except socks.

My hesitation to knit socks is related to technique, mostly.  And style.  I knit loosely.  I often have to go down at least 2 needle sizes to get stitch gauge (and then adjust for row gauge as needed).  For socks, this means knitting on VERY tiny needles.  I'm using 2mm needles for my current project, but if my LYS had smaller DPNs I'd likely be one size smaller.

So far, I'm done one repeat of the chart, and realize that cables, twisted stitches and a heel-flap all in one might not be the best combination for one's first pair of socks.  I'm not a beginner, so other than the heel-flap these are not new skills.... but socks are knitting much more slowly than I'd like them to be.  I feel a strong case of "second sock syndrome" coming on in my near future!

Pattern - Festoon by Rachel Coopey
Yarn - Viola Sock by Emily Foden

more techniques

I'm moving along with the Year of Techniques hosted by Arnall-Culliford.  So far, we've covered Helical Stripes, Intarsia, and Pinhole cast-on.  I finished my Amstel Hat that started top-down with a pinhole cast-on, using Berroco Ultra Alpaca:

June's technique is knitted-on edging.  In keeping with my plan to use stash yarn and patterns I own, I'm knitting the Hydrangea Neckwarmer from the book Brave New Knits.  I'm done the main body, and have started the edging.  This is a new skill, but not a difficult one.  The pattern calls for a provisional cast-on for the edging, but I will seam at the end.   The yarn is variegated and pattern is lacy, so a small seam in the edging won't be noticeable.  It was less awkward than the provisional one in the original pattern.

I'm enjoying the challenge of learning (or practicing) new things, but am happy that I've stuck with using pattern and yarn I own.  It's so tempting to buy new patterns and yarns.  This allows me to search through my books and patterns for things I may have overlooked before, and match with yarns to knit things I may not have considered before.  Can't wait to see what July brings!