Backdoor Quilt Series: Beginnings

Many, many moons ago I made a fall quilt from a pattern called "Back Door Quilt Series: Be Thankful." I'm a sucker for all things Autumn, and this was right up my alley. My office at work had a perfect space of blank, bleak wall which was just calling out for some décor, and that autumn quilt fit the bill perfectly. I changed the lettering to "Thankfulness" (not wanting to be too pushy) and it still hangs there every fall.
The problem with seasonal quilts, however, is that (in my opinion) they look weird if they're hanging there out of season. So I duly designed and constructed a winter-themed one ("Tranquility") using the same basic principles, and it hangs there during the winter. And just this week - while I had a reduced child-care load over March Break thanks to various members of the Sheldrake family - I finished off this spring one: "Beginnings." The template is the same, but the design of the quilt part itself is totally from my own brain. This was a very organic process - I kind of faked my way through most of it - but I'm really thrilled with the results. One of the things I love about these quilts is the little bird that gets incorporated: a crow for fall, a cardinal for winter, and here - a robin for spring. The flowers are made following a couple of patterns in the Fabled Flowers book. I love it, and even though it's snowing outside today, it reminds me that spring is just around the corner.
Pattern: my own, but based on the Back Door Quilt Series
Fabrics: from my stash

Thank You Scarf

After Chris the librarian gave me her handspun and I turned it into my lovely Shalom Cardigan, I felt it was only right that I give her a little something in return. Karma, politeness, the Golden Rule - all would suggest that this is a good thing to do. Figuring out what to make was a bit of a trick, but eventually I settled on making her this infinity scarf. I used the same yarn I'd used for my Celtic Cardigan - it's Canadian, nice and thick, and a great mix of colours. Chris often wears a scarf when she's sitting at the front desk in the library, and she's a no-nonsense kind of person who would appreciate the simplicity of this scarf. These big cowls (or infinity scarves) are all the rage these days, and I can see why - they're big and warm and can be worn all kinds of different ways. I faked a pattern up - it's just a big loop of seed stitch - and knit until I felt it was big enough. I kind of love it myself, but I'm happy for Chris to have it, with my thanks!
Yarn: Fleece Artist Scotian Silk
Pattern: my own

Handspun Shalom Cardigan

At the last book club meeting at the Storrington Public Library, I brought my knitting. Chris the librarian said she had some yarn at home which she had spun ages ago and which she was never going to use, and did I want it? I said sure, thinking that would be the end of it, but the next time I went in to pick up my books: there it was. A bag of cream handspun think-and-thin yarn which Chris happily handed over to me. I did some research on Ravelry, weighed and measured the stuff, and figured out that my best bet was probably to make myself a Shalom Cardigan. I also decided to dye the stuff with Kool-Aid. The dyeing was an interesting process - it took a few tries and lots of grape powder mix - but eventually I ended up with a colour I liked (even if it was a bit uneven. Luckily the pattern could accommodate the patchy colour). I probably would never have tried this method if it hadn't been free yarn, but I'm very glad I did - it was really fun, and made the whole house smell like grape Kool-Aid! (The sweater still smells a bit like Kool-Aid as well, even though it's been well rinsed and blocked.) The sweater knit up quickly - it was a great pattern to work with - and overall I'm thrilled with the result.
Yarn: Chris the librarian's thick-and-thin handspun, dyed with Grape Kool-Aid by moi
Pattern: Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane

Hugh's Birth Announcement

What? Do you think I should have had his birth announcement finished and framed closer to his actual birth almost seven years ago? Well, you're probably right. But a few things happened in the intervening years (see: worldwide travel, buying and moving in to one house, buying and moving in to another house, and having two more children) and this little item kind of got lost in the shuffle. But: it's done now. And even if it's a little late in coming, the love that goes with it isn't diminished one whit.

Sparkly Scarf

One of the side effects of learning about the incredible knitting community online (mostly via Ravelry and the Yarn Harlot) was that I found a number of online yarn shops in Canada where I would, often, buy yarn on impulse. Their sale bins were no less appealing just because they were online. And so I acquired a number of things which - quite honestly - if I had seen them live and in person, I probably wouldn't have bought. This yarn was one of those impulse buys. The idea of sequined, beaded mohair sounded great, but when it arrived, it was the smallest skein of yarn I'd ever seen. Seriously - when I wound it up (and it was closer to dental floss than yarn in terms of thickness) the ball was no bigger than an apple. I had no idea what I was going to do with it - how I would stretch this tiny bit of luxury yarn into anything at all resembling anything useful. Still - I fell in love with it, and stashed it carefully where I wouldn't forget it. Eventually, I found this one row scarf pattern on Ravelry and decided that this was what my yarn was destined to become. I paired it with a plain brown sock yarn to give it some body, and knit until I ran out of yarn. I seamed the ends together and, voilà! A sparkly brown infinity scarf, large enough to go around my neck twice. I'm very, very pleased. But I've learned my lesson: buy most yarn in person unless you know the yarn well, or unless you're willing to take a risk. And I'm also laying off the online yarn store websites until my stash is reduced to a more manageable level.
Pattern: One Row Lace Scarf by Turvid
Yarn: Artyarns Beaded Mohair & Sequins; Sandnesgarn Sisu Sock Yarn, both in brown