“Bear” with me…I only have one knitted project complete this week.…

My Husband parent’s place is slightly up the mountain so their home attracts much wildlife.  The other month a skunk walked through the yard, which was pretty exciting and of course Thomas the neighbourly cat has made a home in their garden- well actually I think their couch by now.  But what happened the other week takes the cake. 

I didn’t knit these but I will…one day.

We went over  for dinner and were just about to enjoy our ice cream and blueberry dessert when his father exclaimed “BEAR BEAR!”  We all looked up to see a smallish (yet very BIG) black bear waltz across the law like it was no big deal.  Stunned we all ran to the floor-to-ceiling windows to get a closer look.  It was so exciting and SO close!  The bear proceeded to the front of the house where it decided to visit a few other neighbours.  About half- hour later when we were all comfortably sitting on the couches after a yummy dinner enjoying a good book or newspaper (well I was enjoying a good knit) we heard a loud BANG coming from the front-  We all jolted up and ran to the front door which we swung open (in retrospect- probably not the best idea).  So there we were, my husband, his dad and I all standing in the open front door watching the bear rummaging through the trash.   Dad yelled to the bear “HEY GET OUT OF THERE!”  Funny, I don’t think bears speak English because I think the bear must have heard “HEY OVER HERE WE ARE FOOD.” No sooner did we start yelling (and banging pots and pans) the bear stopped what he was doing,  took one look at us, GRUNTED and started to charge at us (oh ya, did I mention the bear was only about 5 feet away from us to begin with).  The three of us stepped back faster than I think we thought we could and my husband SLAMMED the door shut so fast, I turning the lock and we all braced ourselves and leaned on that door with all our might- we knew that bear would burst through that door so quickly and I think all three of us already envisioned that bear inside.  But, as you have it- as soon as we slammed the door the bear stopped, turned and walked away.  Dad looked at my husband and said “you almost slammed the door on my foot!”    Saving lives over saving a foot might have been a no-brainer but either way my heart was beating so fast; a tad close for comfort. 

Sheldon is, of course, a CiD Hanscom Design kit knit with Blue Sky Alpaca in Melange and Sport weight!

And, I can’t stop knitting….

Who knew knitting could be stressful…. It seems like I have a few looming projects and a few projects I haven’t even started yet that have  deadlines.  Despite these looming deadlines I still find the time to squeak in a little distraction here-and-there.   It seems like I can’t stop making the little mini softies from CiD Hanscom Designs!  Last week I finished the Chimp but I made him into a mini sock monkey- this week I have started Sheldon the turtle!

Oh ya and remember Squeek? Well Kitty had a bit of fun with her before she found a safe place lounging on a shell in the window of Urban Yarns!

And I did finish that beautiful Brushed Suri Wrap by Blue Sky Alpaca- it came out really nicely and I am in love with the yarn.  It is super soft and not scratchy at all; I am thinking it is because of the bamboo.

I also knit my first test knit; a friend of mine, Alison Holley, designed a Lace Sampler Scarf and I knit it in a linen wool blend which made it airy and summery.

Oh, and I also found this super cool mitten pattern on Ravelry;  Kitty-gloves!  I already knit the right mitt in Blue Sky Alpaca’s Sport weight in black & white.  These will be great to make and redesign for unique personalized gifts.

And my most aggressive goal is to finish the Audrey Coat by next week…I am officially 50% done! If I don’t start the frog or Crocodile CiD Softies I think it is possible!

Distractions

Is it me or am I going crazy?  I swear the flowers in my garden are changing colour.  Maybe it is because my favorite movie right now is Alice in Wonderland?  But I don’t think so because my red roses are still red and my white roses are still white. So to prove my sanity I went back in time to our photo archive.

The only past photos of our garden where taken with an underwater camera (don’t ask why) and so they are pretty pitiful but they prove that my daisy flowers were once orange and now they are white and my other flowers once were a pale pink and how are a darker pink colour!

Anyways, I am not too worried about my garden- sort of neat being surprised by the colours changing year-to-year.
Since my last blog I have to admit I have not really been crocheting at all. I am still working on the red Audrey coat, the gloves and the pink sweater but have been distracted lately by a new pattern from Blue Sky Alpaca, The Brushed Suri Wrap. It is so graphic, fuzzy and lacy- an odd combo that is totally works!

I also seem to get distracted by cute things and found myself knitting another CiD Hanscom Design Kit; Squeek. And of course I had to knit the little mouse a bikini since summer seems to have finally arrived!

 $2.95 CAD

Lastly I have completed my much anticipated Princess Leia Hat that comes in sizes Small (baby) Medium (kid) and Large (adult)

$4.95 CAD

Princess Leia Hat and Squeeks Bikini are also available for sale on the page: “Pattern for Sale” above, Ravelry and Urban Yarns.

A Changed Knitter

I am smitten by Brigitte Read’s Owlets and Robin crochet pattern. I always thought of myself as a “knitter” and slightly turned my nose up to the craft of crochet. But on Monday night that all changed. After attending a beginner crochet class where we made Spud & Chloe’s new pattern Pack o’Puppies Mitts. I was hooked.

After a 3 hour classes I was home by 10pm and by 1am I had completed my first crochet project.  The next day I was so enamored by this little mitt I thought I should make another.  So I did.

And the next day it was no different.  I created 2 little creatures; an Owl and a Robin.  These little creatures are so charming I can hardly stand it!  They take just a wee amount of yarn- and with all the left over’s from my bigger projects it is perfect way to use these scraps.

So, I guess I am a changed “knitter” and although I have to say I do prefer to knit I definitely will enjoy a crochet here-and-there!  And if you visit Brigitte Read’s website you will see that she has a ton of adorable crochet creatures.  And of course I will have to make them all.

Little Treasures

My Nani was the most stylish crafter.

She used to be an avid knitter, needlepointer, watercolorist, and crafter. Now that she is older these hobbies are not as enjoyable as a good book. I think she might prefer if I finish her unfinished crafts which I am honored to do.

I recently acquired a few of her knitting projects, a lot of her needlepoint and some special treasures like old and new buttons, antique scissors and a ton of knitting supplies ( needles, notions and fun little bags).

Sorting through her crafts inspires me and I know she once was excited by the multitude of colours, by the threads, by the canvases and the yarns.  I know she got excited over buttons and I know little scissors, needles, and notions delighted her. The way she carefully stitched a ribbon on every scissor handle, threaded her big eye needles on safety pins, and had special places for everything confirms that she was passionate about crafting. Just like me.  

And just like me she had many projects started at the same time because she had so many ideas and loved crafting.  And just like me she was a finisher.  So it just seems appropriate for me to finish for her.

//

Another Project Done and a Silly Kitty

Since summers’ arrival I can hardly tell it is here; the cool crisp days are deceiving.  So I took on a most wooly, thick knit project I could find, which, knit during a typical summer would be a bad idea and be cause for some serious overheating.  But it seemed like a good idea and I just finished it in 10 days so if the sun decides to burn down I will be ready!

The pattern was from the Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010 issue.  #2 Cropped Jacket knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky alpaca/wool blend in colour # 1211; an icy blue- my favorite.  It was such a quick knit and even though the sleeve pattern was riddled in errors and I had to rip one out 5 times I got to correspond with Vogue knitting and that was a joy!

And on a side note, my silly Kitty got into the cat nip.  We left it on the table, sealed no less, and when we came home it was everywhere.  Oh Kitty you are sooooooo cute!

Harriet Rabbit’s Skirt

After much demand I have finally designed Harriet Rabbit’s Skirt! A little fashion accessory for the CiD Hanscom Design kit “Harry Rabbit.” Pattern is also availible on the pages listed above my banner.

Pattern: $2.95 CAD

These days I seem to be in “designing mode” and “finishing mode.” Although Harriet Rabbit’s skirt was way over due it inspired me to keep designing new things! By next week I am hoping to post the baby toque I have been working on which I am particularly fond of and of course I must finish my opera gloves I started months ago.  Other projects on my list of things to finish is the red Audrey Coat I started last month and the new sample I started last week for Urban Yarns from the new fall/winter 2010 Vogue Magazine: #02 Cropped Jacket (I just have the sleeves and finishing to do and voila it will be complete).  I am knitting it in Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky in my favorite colour #1211 (a light dusty blue).

Also, exciting news this week, you can now become a fan of Urban Yarns on Facebook!

My Favorite Shawl

 

For my birthday a few months back my mum surprised me with this stunning shawl.  This is the lightest shawl I have ever known.  I bring it everywhere with me because it is a perfect size to stuff in my bag, it is light enough to wear under a sweater to keep me extra warm without being bulky and it is perfect for over a t-shirt without looking although I am wearing a winter accessory in the spring/summer months. 

The shawl pattern is called La La’s Simple Shawl and it a free download on Ravelry.  To make it extra special mum knit it with one ball of the Diamond Luxury Collection cashmere/silk blend. It’s one of the softest and lightest yarns.  After raving about how great and airy the yarn was to knit with she gave me the left over’s to sample.  She was right.  It was so light and felt as though I was knitting clouds!

A Knitting Vacation Continued…

You must be wondering what I knit this Vacation.  I have to say I was surprised at how much I accomplished.  Although we were super busy during the vacation I managed to find little knitting moments here and there.

I started this project a week before leaving and finished the Citron Shawl just in time for Mother’s day!  I used one Schoppel Wolle Zauberball in Blackberry.  It was not quite enough to finish the ruffle on the edge but I think ½ a ruffle is just as good!

This shawl is the perfect spring/summer size.  It is small and keeps the chill off during cooler evenings and air-conditioning! It was a simple pattern and an enjoyable knit!

On the flight to Boston I knit the cutest toy; Fuzzy Lamb.  It took me the whole 3 hour flight to knit everything and about an hour to finish: embroider the little face, stuff and sew up.  A less intricate toy than Harriet Rabbit and completely satisfying!

Along with working on my cherry blossom sweater from Vogue knitting (posted earlier) I also finished the Baby Beanie from Tilli Tomas.  I made the smallest size and it took one skein of the Tilli Tomas Flurries 100% Australian Merino with Glass Beads (70yds).  Once knit, I pushed all the beads to the outside leaving the inside soft!  This Baby Beanie is perfect for a special gift.

1st knitting Vacation

I recently came back from a warm, restful and fun vacation!  Although we go away every year, this vacation was different- I brought my knitting and my goal was to find at least one knitting shop!

First stop, Bedford MA.  We only had a couple of days and only a moment to find a local knitting shop.  After asking the guy at the front desk of our hotel I was guided to a cloth shop…I guess the guy wasn’t a knitter.

While I was inside looking at their ribbon selection my husband was off finding wildlife!

Next stop Miami.  Our one day trip from Orlando was about a 3 hour drive each way so time was limited.  It was 6pm when we pulled up to the knitting shop– and of course it was closed.  Somehow I don’t think I really missed much….

On our last day on the way to the airport we stopped at a knitting shop called Sip & Knit…and it was open!

It was a cute shop, messy and a bit grimy but surprisingly they had a great selection.  Basically they carried the same range as Urban Yarns in Vancouver; they had more colours but way less stock. 

I didn’t have a chance to really get to know the yarn or purchase anything this trip but it was fun just to seek out the knitting shops in Bedford and Florida.  I look forward to exploring knitting shops around the world!