Pop-up Vancouver

It seems like knitting has taken a wee-bit of a back seat these days as my company Snugglings and  Urban Yarns  just opened a retail store called Pop-up Vancouver which will be open for one month only featuring about 30 local Vancouver designers! We are open from May 01 – May 30 Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sundays 12pm – 5pm.  location:  4421 West 10th Ave and Trimble

If you’re unfamiliar with the pop-up retail concept here is an excerpt from an article on Trend Watching.com: “From gallery-like shopping spaces with one-off exhibitions to mobile units bringing innercity-chic to rural areas…We’ve dubbed this trend POP-UP RETAIL, as these initiatives have a tendency to pop up unannounced, quickly draw in the crowds, and then disappear or morph into something else, adding to retail the fresh feel, exclusivity and surprise that galleries, theatres and Cirque du Soleil-adepts have been using for years.”

This last week has felt like a whirl-wind.  From helping Urban Yarns move from their old location 4421 West 10^th to their new location 5 doors up to 4437 West 10^th and then setting up Pop-up Vancouver in literally 2 days!  Impressively it has all come together with a little elbow grease, tough love and a manicure which is now chipped…I guess that means I need another one!

Join us on our Facebook fan page Pop-up Vancouver for more information on the artists and companies featured in the store and frequent updates.

Red Roses

A 4 year anniversary and 2 dozen roses later I think my knitting has inspired some colour. I love the bright red and I love that one of my current projects happens to be that exact red- the exact red the beautiful roses happens to be.

I am working on the Audrey Coat from Blue Sky Alpaca. I am using about 30 skeins of number 511- the brightest red that comes in the Alpaca sport weight. I have been waiting months to make this coat and it was well worth the wait. Although it is a super simple pattern knit in 6 pieces, 2 strands held together, all in stockinette stitch with increases and decreases I find it a nice break between the more complex patterns I am currently working on. I like the variety and I love the bright red!

Spring has Sprung

I love this time of year, the air is warm, the cherry blossoms have exploded and when I walk down the streets and look up I see a canopy of pink gloriousness.  These days I am working on many projects but the one I am most fond of is a cherry-blossom-pink sweater out of the spring/summer 2010 Vogue Knitting magazine.  Their version is a beautiful blue made out of a mohair/nylon blend.  I, however, took the opportunity to use my favorite yarn Blue Sky Alpaca Suri Merino in colour #412; it knits like butter and I am enjoying every stitch.

Knit Trends for Spring/Summer 2010

It is always scarce to find knit trends in the spring and summer months from the big fashion designers.  But, this year Chanel didn’t let me down. 

When My Flare Magazine arrived the other week the knitted fashion selection was dismal.  The only knitted garment in the whole entire magazine was a Chanel cotton/silk dress; it is adorable. 

If Chanel can feature one knitted dress in this month’s Flare Magazine, surely there is more.  So, I began my search on line and found these one-of-a-kind bags and dress also by Karl Lagerfeld.

And my favorite accessory trend for spring/summer 2010 is the vintage-style, chunky neck pieces that have inspired my newly acquired knitted jewelry obsession!

Summer Explosion

I stumbled across this new technique recently and haven’t looked back since. It is the art of jewelry making and knitting at the same time.  The technique is from Sivia Harding Knit Designs.  Since this was my first necklace I was experimenting with bead size and yarn so I didn’t really edit my design decisions rather I just placed the beads not thinking about composition or colour.  I call this particular necklace “Summer Explosion.”  Although I love the various bead sizes and the crazy colours I think next time I will put more thought into it threading the beads from smallest to largest to smallest creating more of an intentional gradient and choosing all one colour or perhaps just 2 or 3.  I would also use the wool the designer recommends- a silk blend or maybe even a linen blend.  The wool I choose was a bit too furry for my liking and I think it will degrade over time.   I love this pattern, it is simple, and a pretty quick knit.  Perfect for gifts or a spur-of-the-moment accessory!

Just in time for Spring!

And I finished the reindeer Cowichan inspired sweater!  Last week after 5 zippers all different sizes/colours and 2 attempts to sew up the final zipper it was done!  Away went the linty black wool jacket I have been wearing all winter to be replaced by this warm and stylish sweater!  I have to say this is my favorite sweater I have ever knit!  The free pattern from Canadianliving.com was fantastic and easy.  I used a 12 stitch gauge yarn, bigger than they suggest, but I adjusted my needles to obtain the gauge (3.75mm and 4.5mm needles).  It fits perfectly.   Out of the four of us who tackled this project two more have yet to be completed!  I will post them all once they are finished; it will be quite the sight! 

Little Bit Baby Bootee

These super adorable baby bootees are a quick knit that only takes a little bit of yarn.  They call for fingering weight yarn but I had some scraps of Baby Alpaca in a DK weight.  Using the same needle size as directed by the pattern the bootee’s came out perfect.  I added a silver rose button to each which added that special touch.  The pattern is from Heirloom Stitches which I purchased at Urban Yarns.

And then there is this project….

I forgot…I have one more project in the works that has totally made its way to the bottom of my knitting bag under all my wool and into the lost land of frustration; it is funny story though.  A couple of weeks ago I was involved in the “Knitting Olympics:” cast on a new project during the opening ceremony and cast off during the closing ceremony.  Well, I chose an easy project: Prairie Boots from COCO Knits deigned by Julie Weisenberger.  It was such an easy project that after  knitting one whole boot (left) by the next day I decided to put the project on hold until the closing ceremony…didn’t want to finish early.   The day of I started knitting the right foot and during the start closing ceremony I started to cast off.  I was so proud that I had actually finished until I put the boots side-by-side and realized to my horror I had knit a small size when my left boot was a medium….   I ripped the right boot out and started knitting it up again.  Realizing I wasn’t going to finish on time I put the boot down for the day.  Determined I picked it up again the next day and finished, only to realize after I had sewn on the buttons that I had made 2 left feet….  The boot is still not done.  Moral of the story- haste makes waste.   

PS the sleeves are done on my Cowichan sweater!

A few projects in the works

A single project on the go is not realistic and most knitters can relate to the fact that multiple projects on the go is more practical.  I am proud to say I am a knitter who likes the satisfaction of finishing!  Currently I am working on a Cowichan inspired sweater (free pattern on Canadian Living).  Untraditionally, mine is grey and white with hot pink and line green deer on the front and back.  I am ½ way up the sleeves and hope to finish this week.  There are 4 of us knitting this sweater all with different yarns: mine is made with the “scrata-luscious” Naturgarn I got on sale; another is made from the ultra luxurious Eco Baby Alpaca; another is made from Dream in Colour Smoochy yarn in green and teals; and the other is made from Eco Cascade in blue, cream and a fuzzy brown.  It will be cool to see all the sweaters side by side- they are all so different.

Another project I am working on is a ruffled lacy fuzzy wrap designed by Louisa Harding from her latest book “Ruffle It Up!”  I am making it out of Rowan Kidsilk Haze but tragically after 4 balls I am 6 rows away from the finish line and have run out of yarn…uuug.

I am also designing a pair of long opera gloves out of Blue Sky Alpaca Royal combined with Tilly Thomas Beaded Silk.  I have almost completed one glove.  The pattern will be up for sale on the blog and also on Ravelry by the end of the month!

I am also working on the “Dolly” sweater designed by Kim Hargreaves knit in the crazy Zauberball!  This 4-ply project will take me forever so I am not giving myself any deadlines.

Addi Clicks

I have been eyeing these tools for a long time; imaging what it would be like to knit with these smooth needles, flexible cords, and having every size I need for any project at anytime! 
The wait is over- these beauties are mine!  I have come a long way from the Arbutus tree twig knitting needles I learnt on to these splendors!  The easy-to-use mechanics of the Addi clicks is delightful- just pick a size, pick a cord and push, turn and click!