{finished} Seed Stitch Cowl & More Mittens!

We moved again!  To Fort McMurray, Alberta this time.  It's a big move for us.  The hubs got a great job (he's going to be a Firefighter!!) and I am happy to tag along for this new adventure :)

The drive to Fort Mac was about 11 hours.  Which is prime knitting time, of course!

Pattern:  I made a simple seed stitch cowl with a mobius-style twist.  I followed the guidelines from this cowl that I made last year.

Yarn:  Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Mushroom.

Raveled here!

Hopefully this keeps me warm up north!  Good thing it's spring - the mild winters in Southern Alberta haven't exactly prepared me for the temperatures we might get up here.

I also finished this pair of mittens a few weeks ago.  I followed the same basic pattern that I used for these mittens, with a couple of modifications to help them fit my hands better.

My modifications included one row of increases from the cuff into the body and can be found on my Ravelry project page here!

{I've also been getting great use out of my Array Cowl!}

So...what do I miss most about Lethbridge?  Family and friends for sure.  And being close to real mountains to ski at!!  I am already looking forward to next season.  Hopefully we will be able to book some time off to fly to resorts that we have not experienced yet :)

At Castle Mountain.  This was my second day skiing black diamonds.
Not bad for a first season!!

DIY Ruffle Headband

I took a break from knitting and decided to upcycle a headband!  I was inspired after reading tutorials like this one.  Unfortunately, I didn't think things through and I didn't take a "before" photo.  Try to imagine starting with a plain red headband...Add a glue gun, fabric from a shirt and a little bit of imagination and you get this!!

This project only took about 20 minutes!  I don't think I can knit anything wearable in 20 minutes...!

Must make more of these!!  :)

{finished} Array Cowl & Sister's Mitts

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post!  I have had a few projects on the go so here are some photos of the completed ones =)

Array Cowl

Pattern: Array by Shibui Knits

Yarn: I used two yarns with different weights to keep the texture interesting.  Main colour is Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Linen and the contrast colour is Martha Stewart Crafts Merino in Poppy.  Michaels had a giant yarn sale over the holidays...these yarns were cheap cheap!!

Mods:  I cast on 260 stitches to compensate for the difference in gauge of my yarn and the pattern's yarn.  No, I didn't do any calculations....I just cast on until I felt like I had enough stitches.  I guess I really lucked out with the results!

Raveled here!

One thing I noticed while knitting this cowl is that using slip stitch techniques for colourwork makes the project take forever to complete!  It literally felt like it took twice as long to knit this cowl compared to any other one and I almost gave up after the first 8 rounds. But I'm glad that I didn't!

Sister's Mitts

Pattern:  Grammy's Mitts by Tanis Lavallee

Yarn:  Just some scrap stash yarn that I'm trying to use up!

Mods:  Followed the pattern as written.  The directions were very loosely written but still simple enough that it made me wonder why I haven't tried to make mittens before!

Raveled here!

I have already started working on my second pair...photos will come soon =)

{finished} Glen's Winter Toque

I knit this for Glen during a ski trip over the holidays.  He has been bugging me for a toque with long ear flaps.  It only took me 2 years to get around to it.... :)

Glen's Winter Toque
by Jana Falls

Yarn:  Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds in Pewter for the main colour.  Loops & Threads Impeccable in Grass for the contrast colour.

Mods:  Used bulky weight yarn and followed the pattern instructions for size medium.  Followed the rest of the pattern for the shaping of the hat.  Decided to use green yarn for some colourwork.  I just winged that.  I think it turned out well :)

Raveled here!

I would like to line the inside of the hat with fleece to make it extra cozy.  I've never done that before.  Hopefully it isn't too difficult!

Always need to have a silly photo ;)  

{preview} Holiday Beret

As you may have read in my last post, I recently finished a Christmas gift.  As lovely as that beret is, it's one of those knits that gives you cramps in your hands from all the k2tog, k3tog, etc. type of stitches.

After all that finger strain, I needed something simple and satisfying.  That's when I started working on this...

But I can't reveal too much, of course.  Because it's going to be a pattern that I will share with all my friends in this knitterly world!

{finished} Cascading Leaves Beret

Another project off the needles!  This one has actually been finished for weeks now....I just never made the time to take photos.

This beret is going to be a Christmas gift!  I am not very good at keeping knitted gifts secret, but I think the special recipient of this one still doesn't know it's for them  ;)

Cascading Leaves Beret
by Mei Lynne Travis

Yarn:  Diamond Yarn Tempo

Mods:  Rows 1-12: For the brim, I did k1, p1 ribbing instead of the folded over stockinette.  Row 13: Increased to 90 stitches. For the increases I did one m1 after ever 3 stitches.  For the 3 stitches in between I followed the k1, p1 ribbing.  i.e. [k1, p1, k1, m1, p1, k1, p1, m1]* repeat from* until end of row. 

I ended up doing 4 lace pattern repeats to give it a little extra slouch  =) 

Raveled here!

{finished} Cabled Beret

This hat was a fun knit!  Lots of cables to keep it interesting with a pattern repeat that was easy to memorize.  I ended up using just over one skein...so maybe a pair of matching hand warmers are in order   =)

Cabled Beret
By SweaterBabe

Yarn:  Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends in Lavender

Mods:  For the brim I followed the k2, p2 ribbing for 12 rows before starting the increases.  I wasn't sure that I wanted it as long as the pattern recommended.

Raveled here!

Now it's ready to be wrapped up as a special gift for a special someone!



Next on my needles.....

A simple cowl in a juicy colour for a good friend!

And as soon as I get this deliciousness wound up, I'll be starting on another accessory!

Looooove Quince & Co. yarn!!

{finished} State Street Cowl

I started this project in April....and then finally picked it up last week to finish it off!  I think I completed this project just in time for frosty mornings and chilly evenings.  Too bad I can't seem to get motivated to finish this one too....

It was a really quick knit and relatively simple pattern to follow.  I love purchasing patterns from Quince & Co. - they are always so easy to follow and their photography is lovely!

State Street Cowl
by Pam Allen

Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Mushroom

Mods:  I started with size 11 needs intending to switch to size 13 (instead of the instructed 13, then switch to 15).  However, I moved while I was in the middle of the project so I ended up losing some of my knitting supplies (sad sad!).  I unintentionally decided to do three pattern repeats in size 11 needles.  And I also didn't have enough yarn to complete a fourth repeat...but that is okay because I actually really like the outcome!

Raveled here!

Yes, we took these photos at a restaurant :)

I will admit...at first, I was not really in love with it.  I believe my exact words to a good friend were, "I think it looks better sitting on my couch's armrest than on me!"  And she just laughed at me.  But after a couple wears, I fell in love.  First completed knit of the season!!

One year of love

Yesterday was a special day.  It was my first anniversary with Glen.  I just wanted to write something to let the world know how amazing my guy is and how much I love being his princess  :)


The first surprise was a personal delivery of flowers to my workplace.  And he was even dressed in the outfit he wore during our wedding reception!

One pink rose for one year :)

 The next surprise was a beautiful white antique dresser.  I have been wanting one of these for so long!

And here are a few photos from our wedding day...

 

Love you forever, Glen

xoxo

We're still here....

I won't lie, my knitting has been stashed away in my closet for almost the past three months.  The gorgeous summer weather has been keeping me happily distracted.

Here is the latest project that I cast on:

Sand and Sea Shawl

A few months ago, I purchased the book Coastal Knits by Hannah Fetig of Knitbot and Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting.  I chose to start with the Sand and Sea Shawl because it uses the technique of short rows, which I have not tried prior to this project.  I think I am getting the hang of it, but we'll see how it goes when I get to the lacy trim at the end!


And now, here are some photos from a little hike up Turtle Mountain in the Crowsnest Pass that the hubs and I did on the weekend!

{finished} Avery Cowl

This was a really simple knit, albeit rather time-consuming.  But I loved the rhythm of knits and purls creatively placed to produce a fun scheme of textured diamonds.  I also loved using the yarn Osprey from Quince & Co., and I am definitely looking forward to ordering again from them again!

When I finished this last night, I could not decide whether or not I should lightly block it because I was worried that it would stretch too much lengthwise.  But I tried it anyways and I think I am pleased with the results.

Avery
by Melissa Labarre

Yarn:  Osprey by Quince & Co. in Honey

Mods:  None this time!  Followed the pattern as written, even purchased the same yarn.  However, I should mention that I ordered three skeins of Osprey and ended up having to start on a third skein for the last 3.5 rows.  Which was a little annoying.  But from reading other knitters' project pages on Ravelry and realizing that others have also ran out of yarn towards the end, I don't feel so bad and am just thankful that I had some extra yarn.  Maybe I am just a loose knitter.

Raveled here!

A little side note:  I was trying to finish this project on my way down to Lethbridge on the weekend.  I received a text from a good friend and she asked, "are you knitting right now?"  Yes, of course I was.  What else would I be doing?! =)

{preview} Avery

Apparently my usual knitting spot these days is in the car during what seems to be our routine weekend road trips to our parents' city.  But this might change soon...we have been looking at houses to buy...and I have been dreaming about cozy window seats where I can sit in the warmth of the Southern Alberta sun and do my yarn thing...one day hopefully!

Here is my Avery cowl so far...

One of my favourite knitting moments is about halfway through the first pattern repeat where you can start to see your work resemble to the pattern's design.  That is about the point I was at in this pattern when I took the photo.

I sometimes find it frustrating to knit scarves and cowls in the round (versus flat on straight needles) because it takes what feels like forever to see your project come to life.  But, once I reach this particular point I finally started to get excited!  And now I cannot wait to wear it!

I do realize that it probably seems like the wrong season to be knitting a wool scarf.  But hey, my workplace is air conditioned and I think it's colder in there now than it was through the winter months!

{finished} Candle Flame Beret

I was a little slow with knitting this one, but it's finally finished!  I was so excited, I took a photo in the car right away while we were driving back from Lethbridge.

Here it is after some gentle blocking to get a little more of a slouchy fit.

Candle Flame Slouchy Hat  
by Sisse Holstrup

Mods:  For the brim I did 14 rows of a k1, p1 rib.  Started with 80 stitches and then increased to 128, like the pattern suggested.  I think that because of my shorter brim, my project ended up taking up just one skein of Cascade 220 Superwash, but if I had done the folded brim, I would have needed to use up a little bit of yarn on a second skein.

Raveled here =)

This cozy beret is ready to be shipped to the West Coast for a dear friend of mine ;)

And now...on to another project with this new cushy yarn that I purchased off of the Quince & Co. website!  Hopefully my winding goes a little better this time...