Saturday, December 22, 2012

Seaside Shawl

When Rachel and I were on our trip to England last summer, I brought lots of knitting along. While we were in Cornwall, I was working on a pair of socks for her using this yarn. I knew the yarn was perfect - it's the same colour as the sea - but for some reason I just could not get into the socks. Then it dawned on me: I could make her something else with the yarn! So I ripped the socks back and made her this shawl. It's supposed to mimic the seashore, with the darker yarn as the colour of the sea and the lighter bits as the foam when it hits the shore. This was a super-fun shawl to make, and if Neva's envious looks are any indication, I'll likely be making more in the future! This shawl was made with love, and with gratitude for the wonderful trip we had together. The yarn is infused with the Cornish seaside goodness, and I hope it brings warmth and comfort and fond memories of England to Rachel for many years to come.
Pattern: Whippoorwill Shawl by Carina Spencer
Yarn: Dream in Color "Smooshy" in "Deep Seaflower" and Seacoast Handpainted Panda in "Night Sky"

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tree Skirt

Now that we're celebrating the holidays in our own home with our own tree, it only seemed right that we also had our own tree skirt. I whipped this one up (with help from Neva and Hugh in terms of cutting and design) and finished it just as the tree went up. Success!
Pattern: Trees All Around

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Soft-As-Moss Cardigan

After making a Shalom cardigan a year ago, and loving it, I decided to make another one. This is a great little cardigan for cool weather, and when I found this gorgeous alpaca I knew it would be a great addition to my wardrobe. Plus it's a fun and quick little pattern to knit up - always a bonus! I love it - it's the softest thing I own, cozy, warm, and a perfect holiday colour. A definite winner.
Pattern: Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane
Yarn: Diamond Luxury Collection Baby Alpaca Sport in Loden Green

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Celtic Handwarmers

So here we have a pair of socks which I made, thinking how cool it would be to knit these while on my trip to England last summer with Rachel. I found this Celtic Spiral intarsia pattern and some yarn I loved and I made these lovely socks. And then I tried to wear them. And the intarsia made it really, really hard to get them on over my heel. But since I'd worn them once, I washed them. And they started to shrink and felt (apparently this yarn I loved was not superwash yarn) which made it even harder to get them on my feet. But I loved them so much I couldn't just let them go, so: I turned them into fingerless gloves. I frogged the socks back to the intarsia bit and then just knit on as if I had been making gloves the whole time. November in Canada is the perfect time of year for these things: the steering wheels are cold, but my fingers are still available for fine motor tasks like buckling seat belts and tuning radio stations. I'm getting a lot more use out of them, and even though it took me a couple of tries, these are totally worth it. Plus I get the added bonus of admiring my handiwork every time I'm driving somewhere in the car.
Pattern: Celtic Spiral Socks by Catherine Devine (modified)
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Multy and Patons Kroy Socks 4-ply

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Spirit Bag

My own personal Hallowe'en Treat came this year in the form of me finishing this beautiful bag. I got this pattern some time ago and just recently decided to make it in these fabrics from my stash. It was a very fun project - lots of little pieces and interesting things to do, and never too much of one thing or another - and I am in love with how it has turned out. I'm going to use it to keep my "spirit" stuff inside: my journal, my current yoga magazine, etc etc. It's a true treat.
Pattern: Evening Mist Bag by Hopscotch Quilts
Fabrics: from my stash

Friday, October 26, 2012

Neva's Vampire Cape

Neva decided early on she wanted to be a vampire for Hallowe'en this year. "Sweet," I thought to myself, "that will mean I only need to make her a cape." I found some pin-striped pants and a ruffled shirt at Value Village for her to wear underneath, and whipped up this cape for her. I kind of love it - and so does she.
Pattern: Simplicity 5927
Fabric: Hallowe'en Satin

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Mummy

At some point this year I thought it would be hilarious to dress up as a mummy for Hallowe'en. The kids also thought it would be hilarious, pun-lovers that they are. So I dreamed up this costume. It's an old shirt and leggings from Value Village (I do love that place for Hallowe'en costumery) with strips of ultra-cheap knit fabric from Fabricland sewn overtop in a mummy-like arrangement. Things I love about this costume: 1. It's comfy. 2. It's supposed to look dirty and as if it's falling apart, so I didn't need to sew it perfectly or keep it pristine. 3. It is kind of hilarious, right?

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Hugh's Knight Costume

So last year, I made Hugh a knight costume before we went to Medieval Times in Toronto. He didn't wear it to the event, but enjoyed wearing it for play. When he decided he wanted to be a knight this year for Hallowe'en, I thought we could just use his old costume. Then he put it on, and it became clear that he had grown. Significantly. So I whipped him up another knight costume, this time with embellishments from the knightly gear we bought at the Medieval Times show. I purposely made this one a bit bigger than needed, in the hopes that it will serve him - or possibly one of his younger brothers - for some time to come. Extra bonus: he was so intrigued by the sewing machine being out, he helped me hem the pants!
Pattern: Simplicity 5520
Fabric: Twill, Fleece, and Silver Foil Knit

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Ewan's Firefighter Costume

Ewan was a firefighter last year, but in a frenzy of getting rid of clothes which are too small, I donated his costume away. (In fairness, it was too small, but I could probably have just adjusted it to make it bigger. Anyway.) So when he asked to be a firefighter again this year, I knew I had some sewing to do! I put this costume together using some pyjama patterns I had lying around and added in the touches I remembered from his previous costume, like the reflective tape. He is delighted, and as always, I'm happy to make him something he loves so much.
Patterns: New Look 6131
Fabric: Fleece

Friday, September 28, 2012

Epic Cabled Cardigan

I'm calling this an "epic" cardigan because it was five years in the making. FIVE YEARS. I started this cardigan when we still lived in our old house in Kingston. Then we moved and I had another baby and it kind of got lost in the shuffle. Then I found it again and Mom graciously agreed to take on some of the knitting of the body, so she definitely did the lion's share of this sucker. Then the pattern got weird and she brought the cardigan back to me to continue on with. And what with one thing and another, five years passed, and I only just finished this cardigan up. But I can say one thing: totally worth it. It's warm and cozy and just ideal. I love it, and a big shout-out of thanks to Mom for helping make it a reality!
Pattern: A Cardigan for Arwen by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Patons Décor in "Rich Aubergine"

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Hallowaves Socks

For the last couple of years, I've really wanted some Hallowe'en socks. (I really love Hallowe'en.) While browsing the interwebs one day, I found a yarn at Blue Moon with the perfect array of colours. (Bonus: it's called "Ghoulash." I love that.) I ordered some post-haste and was super-excited to make my Hallowe'en socks. It took me a few tries to get the pattern right - first off, it flashed and pooled way too much; then I changed the pattern and ended up with socks that were way too small. Finally I came up with this stitch pattern which worked pretty well. I wanted them to be interesting but also a bit ghosty - the waves on the socks make me feel like there's a ghost saying "oooOOOOooooOOOOOooo" and even though they're a tiny bit on the big side, I do love them. I will wear them with pride at the Hallowe'en season - or maybe even before!
Pattern: made up out of my own crazy head
Yarn: Blue Moon Fibre Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight in "Ghoulash"

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Summer Cardigan

I am delighted with this summery cardigan. I knit it out of some leftover yarn from a previous project and am very happy with the results. It was a fun and relatively quick knit. If I were to do it again (which I may well), I would make some modifications, but I'm happy enough with it like this that I'm going to enjoy it as is. I suspect it will get lots of use at work over the next few weeks, since the air conditioning (if it's on) makes things very, very chilly indoors.
Pattern: Metro by Connie Chang Chinchio
Yarn: Patons Katrina in "Ice"

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Star Wars Mittens

Our friend Jason is turning 40 this year. He's a Star Wars Geek of epic proportions, so to celebrate this milestone I decided to make him a pair of mittens. Ravelry (source of all things knitting) came through with the fairisle patterns for the characters, and I used a mitten pattern I've used before. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out, though I'm nervous they might be a bit big. However, it's an easy fix to make them a bit smaller. My own little geek self came out while making these; I decided to put the "good guy" (R2-D2) on the right hand mitten, and the "bad guy" (stormtrooper) on the left. (Fun fact: "sinister" is actually from the Latin for "left hand [sinestra].") Happy Birthday, Shark! May the force continue to be with you.
Pattern: Modified Cigar with Fairisle Star Wars Patterns
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers

Monday, June 11, 2012

Gerbera Socks

For Solstice 2010, Jeffy bought me sock yarn. (Always a good gift. I feel about sock yarn the way my mom feels about vegetables: you can never have too much.) This was one of the skeins he got for me. It's called "Champagne" yarn because it has tiny bits of silver woven through it, which gives it sparkle and oomph. The colour is called "Gerbera" which I think is perfect, since that's exactly what it looks like: summery and flowery and bright and happy. Anyway, I started these socks in early 2011 and only just finished them up now. They sat in hibernation for a while but I rediscovered them a few months ago and realized they were perfect sock knitting - enough of a pattern to keep me interested, but not so complicated that I couldn't work on them while watching TV. So I carted them around for a while (to gymnastics, while waiting for the kids at school, etc) and lo and behold: here they are, done and posing happily near our petunias overlooking the lake.
It took me a while to find the right pattern for these, because I wanted something which would make them look beaded without having the discomfort of actual beads on the socks. I couldn't find what I wanted in the many patterns already in existence, so I made up my own. Yes indeedy-do, these are entirely out of my own head, and after a few false starts I managed to figure out a way to get what I wanted from the yarn all by myself. I am delighted with how they turned out. They're fun and comfortable and warm and gorgeous. Thanks, Sweetie, for giving me the sort of gift that keeps on giving!
Yarn: Unwind Yarns "Champagne Fingering" yarn in Gerbera
Pattern: out of my head, but I'm happy to share if interested

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Fingerless Lace Gloves for Neva

For her birthday this year, Neva requested fingerless gloves. Since I had recently signed her up for Ravelry, I had her go online and choose the kind of gloves she would like. As you might guess, she had specific ideas about what she wanted: lace, long, and white. I managed to whip these babies up in under two weeks, and after she unwrapped them this morning she put them on right away and is wearing them to school today. It's always satisfying to knit something for someone and have them love it.
Pattern: Lace-Back Fingerless Gloves
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK in White

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fancy-Pants Shirt

A creation I made to wear to my Dad's 70th birthday party. It was cool enough outside that I really never took off my sweater, so it was a hidden gem. I'm delighted with it, though. I came up with the embellishment idea on my own, and used a basic bias top pattern for the garment itself. I hope to get more use out of it this summer!
Pattern: Burda 7509
Fabric: some kind of sheer polyester I found on the clearance table at Fabricland

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Zelda Gloves for Jeffy

Jeffy got The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword this past November, and playing it has been a family affair. By that I mean that all 3 of the oldest kids wanted to watch him play every moment of the game, so if someone was missing, the game didn't get played. Which meant it took him longer than it might have otherwise. Which also meant he was playing it during prime gift-giving season (winter holidays and his birthday). Since he knows I like to knit him things, he asked if I could make him a pair of Zelda gloves. They had to be "just like on the game" (see lower image). Luckily, I already knew of (and had made) a pattern for fingerless gloves which he liked and which fit him, so I just made up my own chart for the Tri-Force symbol (those are the 3 golden triangles on the back of the hand) and adapted the glove pattern appropriately. Recently he had just worn un-darn-able holes in a pair of socks I had made him a couple of years ago, but I was loathe to throw them out since the leg parts were still good. Lo and behold: these gloves required a long, grey cuff. I just cut the feet off of the old socks and repurposed the leg section of the socks into the cuff part of the gloves. (This also made the knitting go much faster, since half of it was already done.) The fact that he's been wearing them since I gave them to him suggests to me that they pass the test.
Pattern: Cigar by Kerri Cadd (adapted)
Yarn: Cuff - Dream in Color Classy in "Cocoa Kiss"; Hands - Cascade 220; Tri-Force Detail - Diamond Luxury Pilar

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Magic of Britain Socks

I started these socks mumblemumble months ago with the intention of knitting them while I was on my trip to England with Rachel. I wanted something that would encompass the different qualities of the UK - the myths, the nature, the ancient symbolism. I found this yarn in my stash, and it had the colours of earth and sky and stone and water, and then I found this intarsia pattern called "Celtic Spiral" which pretty much sealed the deal. In my head, I was going to do all kinds of knitting while over there; the reality was that I didn't do quite as much as I had thought. I did work on these socks on our Stonehenge Day, though the only photo evidence of that is when we were at Old Sarum. These are awesome socks; they go perfectly with jeans; the yarn is not overpowering yet still interesting; and the celtic spiral detail adds a certain magic (even if it does make them a little tight getting on and off). I love them.
Yarn: Araucanio Ranco Multy, with spiral in Patons Kroy Socks 4-Ply in "Gentry Grey"
Pattern: Celtic Spiral Socks by Catherine Devine (modified)