Shhhh. . . . It's a Surprise

Getting ready for Christmas is always so much fun. And this year I am having huge amounts of fun.


I have finally moved into the realm of toy maker, and my two little, adorable nephews are my test market for the 2011 season.


I have decided to begin my journey with the tried and true sock monkey pattern from Paton's Classic yarn. I have make some adjustments to their pattern as follows:


Casting on both feet using the Magic Loop Figure 8 cast on, so both legs can be worked at once (will also use this technique to knit the 2 arms and 1 tail simultaneously).


Also, I have substituted Cascade 220 Superwash for the yarn (as I want to make sure these little friends can enjoy bathtime as needed).


I have both legs completed and about 1 inch up the body. So far everything is coming along very smoothly, and I can hardly wait to start stuffing them.


I will continue to post photo's of my progress and here is to making my deadline!

The Simplicity of a Sock

So as of this morning, everything I am working on became too big to walk around with.

The Tranquility Afghan is thankfully way to big to fit in my purse
The Helmsley Men's Vest #1 - has only the neck band to do, so a little awkward to work on while travelling
The Helmsley Men's Vest #2 - front done, back in progress, still no way it is purse worthy

And so I find myself looking for a simple project that will fit in my purse, and after many months of complex, large, time consuming projects I find my self enthralled at the thought of mindlessly knitting around in a circle, over and over and over again.

The Simplicity of a Sock - my new meditation for today.

Paton Kroy Sock in Mulberry - just cast on, loving the colours.

Tranquility

Well, after 6 weeks the first part of the Tranquility Home Spa collection has been released.
http://youtu.be/fbMPjFeuj98

It is made with Knitpicks Comfy Worsted, which is an amazing yarn. It is a Cotton Blend, and has an absolutely luxurious feel to it. I am currently working on the co-ordinating afghan which should be completed by Mid September.

I am also working on the Helmsley Men's vest which will also be released by the end of September (just in time for vest season). The Helmsley is an updated slim fitting vest, perfect for todays urban fella.

What is a knitter to do when its 40 degrees outside?

Why work on an amazing fall sweater, what else.

Sept. 20th, 2010 I began working on Berroco Nonpariel, a birthday gift to myself that did not get finished in time. You see, I got that call from the design house in December, and stopped all work on non essential items until I finished all the pieces for the retail collection. . .

Then came Florealis Feet for http://www.knitpicks.com/

Then came Florealis Fingers for http://www.knitpicks.com

Then came Aragonia for http://www.knitpicks.com/

Then came The Gambler for http://www.knitpicks.com/

Then came The Kobi - eReader Cover for http://www.knitpicks.com/

Then came Apple of My Eyelet Fingerless Gloves for http://www.ravelry.com/

And I am now in the middle of Tranquility ~ Your Home Spa Collection, 3 pillows and an afghan, hoping to have it released by September 1, 2011

But as with every Sunday, it is an open knitting day, I have an agreement with myself, that this is the one day I can knit anything I want, with total disregard for deadlines, contracts, delays to other projects. Really, what difference will one day make?

With that said, I decided last night to pull out the Birthday sweater and see where I left off (hoping that I also took fantastic notes so I would be able to pick it up 8 months later). Well, the notes were fantastic, turns out I only had the Right Front to complete.

All pieces have been blocking today, and I will be ready to sew it up next Sunday and begin the edging and collar.

There are a few changes from the original pattern as follows:

1. Waist band was changed to the woven cable, try as I might, I just could not get my fingers to work out the pattern as written, even watched a video on it.l

2. length adjusted both from armhole to waist and waist to ribbing, wanted the waist to fall on my actual waist, not be an empire waistline.

Watch out for my next post, which hopefully will show the completed sweater!

Tequila Sock or Why Dyelots DO Matter

So I bought two skiens of the most amazing Paton Sock Yarn, colour name is Mexico. Now I know that I picked up two skiens, checked the dyelots (because I know how important that is, in fact it is the first thing I tell all my students). But it appears a shopping gremlin replaced one of the skiens while I was in line checking out.



Now, I must confess that I did realize the gremlin issue before casting on, but figured, hey, its two socks, colours look the same, really - what difference will it make.

Now, if you actually drink enough Tequila, they should start to look the same - really, don't believe me, try it!

Looking for something new to work on . . .

I have a few new pattern releases this week available on Ravelry, as well Florealis Toes and Fingers will also be released shortly at

Knitpicks.com

please be sure to stop by and see them. And if you require any yarn this would be the place to get it, they truly have perfected providing luxury yarns at affordable prices. The Stroll Tonal was a pleasure to work with, I am sad that this project is completed (Florealis). The CotLin (Aragonia) is also an amazing product, wonderful drape and stitch definition.

I am working on a eReader cover right now with Dishie (Kobi), and the colours, sheen and stitch definition are fantastic, it is definately not just for the dishes.

Up next is the Gambler redone in the Chromo worsted by Knitpicks, and the gradient colours in this shade (Mesa) are unbelievable, this project will be another one that will make me sad when it is done. I will post photo's as soon as I get a good portion completed.

All for now - back to my sticks.

Coming Soon . . .

Florealis, the next pattern soon to be released. Just finishing off sock number 2, but could not hold off showing it to the world.

Update on Saturday Morning Hoodie: Completed, will be picking up the most amazing button's on Tuesday and will post photo's then.

Sunday Knitting Saturday Hoodie

I have decided that with how busy I am, Sunday knitting will be whatever I want to do, not what has to be done. That puts this knitter in a strange place, do I actually pick up a WIP (one of 9 on needles) and work towards finishing it, or start a new project. Well, after wandering aimlessly for a few hours, I of course went rummaging through my stash and then tried to find a pattern to fit. Just so happens I had 8 balls of Paton's Shetland Chunky and that is just what the Ladies Sizing of the Saturday Morning Hoodie calls for. Cast on the back at 4 pm, cast it off at 8 pm, started left front. This morning I completed my first pocket facing, and am half way up the left front. Great fast knit, but it will have to rest until next Sunday when I can pick it up again (well maybe I will steal a few hours away from my real work).

Amazing!!

All I can say is the collection is amazing and I am proud to be a part of it, still have 2 pieces to be photographed but here it is. . .

http://www.larkandhazel.com/

Check out the whole collection! (photo and link courtesy of Lark and Hazel) I have already had people requesting the Cape, and another stated that the White Leather dress is going to be their wedding dress!

Knitting Like the Wind

I am being held captive by a Toronto Design firm to create their Fall/Winter 2011/12 knitwear line - 4 amazing pieces - one huge project. Yarn received Friday of the Family Day weekend, so knitting began full force on Feb 22nd, pieces due for completion by 8 am March 8th for the Media Launch.

Knitting so many hours that each day is running into the next. Children being bribed with the occasional trip to DQ.

Blogging will continue once project is complete.

I will see you all again once I escape their clutches (yes, and post photo's once they release them)

Only true blessing in all of this is that I am working on amazing designs and a yummy 100% cashmere from Loro Piana in Italy!

And here they are

I have two new pattern releases this week, one is Aurelie, which was the tease last week






The other release will be Brokk, a yummy 100% cashmere cowl/scarf








I am also finishing up an amazing ribbed, 100% alpaca vest with a low scooped front, a great transitional garment to get you from the dead of winter to early spring. Once size will form-fit from 34" to 40" , perhaps it can be named "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Vest".

Such a Tease. . .

Here is your first peek at my new pattern release - should be out by the end of this week!!! I will keep you guessing on what it might be.