Where are they now? : Blessingway Blanket | 2KCBWDAY4

2KCBWDAY4

"Whatever happened to your __________?Write about the fate of a past knitting project. "

Yesterday while chatting with Nicola, I mentioned Blog Week and today's topic. I said I didn't know what to write as I usually forget to photograph most of the knitted gifts I make before giving them to the lucky (and sometimes not so lucky) recipients. She thought it'd be exciting to talk about them being all over the world. I wasn't so sure. So I slept on it and awoke this morning with an interesting knitted gift to write about.

Today I write about a special project I felt lucky to be a part of. When we moved back to the UK at the end of 2008, I knew 2 people in the town we'd chosen to settle in. But how does an adult female knitter go about meeting like-minded people? Why, through Ravelry of course! The first knit night I attended was out in the Yorkshire Dales. I didn't think I'd make it as I had no car, buses stopped running to and from those parts at 6 p.m. (knit night starts about 7:30 pm) and even if I knew my way it was too far to cycle. Fortunately, Nicola offered to give me a lift to knit night and back. She showed up in her little white car, quite obviously pregnant, brimming with warmth and a sparkle in her eye. Within 5 minutes of meeting her, I knew we would be very good friends.

Days after this first knit night, ladies in the group were trying to come up with knitted gift ideas for Nicola and her unborn child. We settled on Blessingway Blanket by Hannah Cuviello. Yarn was generously donated and we were each allocated sections to knit - I got the middle bit. This was an experience I enjoyed from beginning to end (even though I found the yarn 'trying' and the pattern in want of test-knitters). 

As we worked our individual sections, we enquired after each other's progress, compared increases & decreases and suggested alternatives, shared any hints we came across, and so on. I loved the spirit of this knitalong. I loved that I was a part of it. I even loved the 'secret' element to it and I love how it came together in the end. Of course I'd seen pictures of the blanket in the book (Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together) and on Ravelry so I knew how it was supposed to look yet I was unprepared for how incredibly beautiful it was when fully assembled!

{Nicola's Blessingway Blanket. Photo by Sieue}

Just last night, as little Gwen got ready for bath time, I spied the Blessingway blanket (that I had a hand in making) and smiled as the feelings of love and friendship that makes up this beautiful blanket washed over me. 

I love that this is one knitted gift that I get to see from time to time.


To read more on this topic from knitters and crocheters across the globe, google: 2KCBWDAY4. 

Tidy mind, tidy stitches: tools | 2KCBWDAY3

2KCBWDAY3

"How do you keep your yarn wrangling organised?...if you are organised, blog about an aspect of that organisation process, whether that be a particularly neat and tidy knitting bag, a decorative display of your crochet hooks, your organised stash..."

When I began knitting I knew 2 things with certainty. The first was that this new-found interest (in truth it was rediscovered) was not a crush nor was it a passing phase but a love that would last forever. The second thing was that I needed proper tools to feed and nurture this love. 

Back then, people would arrive at knit night clutching their 'hot off the press' copies of Interweave Knits or Vogue Knitting and everyone would take turns admiring and/or scoffing at patterns, critiquing, queuing and so on. When I got my turn, I skipped past or rushed through the patterns to the back of the magazines to the dwelling place of my wants and needs - sad to say this was the highlight of knitting magazines for me!

Crochet tools came a short while after knitting tools. Chiefly because I was proficient at knitting before I gave crochet a look in. In the past I've documented my knitting needle rolls and my knit kit but not my crochet hooks.
Today dear friends, I'm taking "a decorative display of your crochet hooks" literally :)

The double-ended hooks can be a bitch to crochet with as I often catch my work on the opposite end.  And as if there weren't enough discrepancies in crochet (American vs. British terms anyone?), the Japanese had to add their hooks to the mix! To be fair, their ergonomic design and being slippery as silk, not to mention light to work with and pretty to look at more than make up for the 'non-standard' (2.7mm, 3mm, 3.3mm, 3.6mm,...) sizing of these hooks. Furthermore, the sizing doesn't bother me one bit as gauge is never crucial in my projects anyway.

I like having hooks for every job. My metal hooks are great when I'm ploughing through a blanket, amigurumi, hyperbolic crochet or teaching beginners to crochet. They're also great when I feel the need for speed.

But on those very rare occasions when my work in progress is something I can savour indulgently, I reach into my milk jug for my hand turned beauties.

Wood feels so good in my hands. You can call me silly but I feel rather quaint whenever I use wooden crochet hooks or single pointed knitting needles. 

I've been remiss in informing you of other bloggers participating in blog week. To read more from knitters and crocheters across the globe, google: 2KCBWDAY3. 

skill+1up: colourwork | 2KCBWDAY2

 2KCBWDAY2

"Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year." 

Whilst with my old knitting group (shout out to the Tuesday nighters @ the Knit Cafe, Toronto!), I found that I acquired knitting skills voraciously. It seemed to me like every other week someone would walk through the door with mind blowing techniques, patterns, skills, projects, WIPs and lots of other heretofore inconceivable (to me) things - I even heard of someone knitting a pair of socks one inside t'other (mind melt). Being surrounded by such talent, it was easy to grow in leaps and bounds...or it could all be down to the learning curve of a new knitter.

Knit-a-longs were (and still are) about pushing myself just past my comfort zone or out of a rut; they're my safety net, training wheels if you will. I noted that the next knit-a-long after I left the group (and country) was a colour stranding project. But in January 2009 I was far from ready for that. In fact, I wouldn't be ready for another 18 months. But the time did come and last July, I cast on 

{Selbu Modern by Kate Osborn}

My first stranded colourwork project involved a number of new "experiences". Being a continental knitter, I held both yarns in my left hand: yes, they got tangled up every few rows but that's just the way it went, right? In time, the tangling-up got VERY irritating so I bought the first of 3

{knitting thimbles}

This (the blue one/worst of the lot) made colourwork slightly less irritating but it also changed my gauge so I ditched it and carried on without. 

Next was the matter of the charts. Though there was a degree of 'rhythm' to them, I found the charts easier (and so much quicker) to knit from when I used numbers, like so:

I wrote down the leading colour of the working row and how many stitches that initial colour appears over and since I was using only 2 colours, every number was understood to signify a colour change. And though I 'charted' conventionally, each row was knit as usual i.e. from right to left. 

Finding a method that worked so well for me meant that the project was not just a breeze but very enjoyable too. 

{the innards}

Another way my knitting skills have grown, though much less noticeably, is through a drastic reduction of 'the fudge factor'. Sometime over the past year, the number of fudges required were significantly reduced. Perhaps this is due to a better understanding of knitting, or because I knit only those things I love. Either way, these days I take more care during the process thereby making fewer mistakes (if any) which consequently require fewer fudges. 

I've been remiss in informing you of other bloggers participating in blog week. To read more from knitters and crocheters across the globe, google: 2KCBWDAY2.

a tale of 2 yarns: bad and badder | 2KCBWDAY1

 2KCBWDAY1

Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

Meet bad: 

{February Lady Sweater}

I loved this yarn; loved the stitch definition, loved the feel of it, loved wearing it, in fact I loved everything about it...until I washed it.

{Cotton Fleece Shame} 

Now it's ugly, undesirable and plain uncomfortable to be around - sort of like an ex after a nasty break-up. The worst bit is the fuzz: chartreuse fuzz against darker skin tones is not (now and never will be) a good look!

Meet badder:

{die!, Malabrigo Silky, DIE!}

"But, but, but it's MALABRIGO?!", I hear you say. Yeah, I expected to love it too. I mean, what's not to love? It's squishy, lush malabrigo + it's got some silk too! 

Sadly, I found knitting with this to be plain hell: It un-plied as I cast on, every skein had a knot, I found black damn near impossible to see and as if all that wasn't bad enough I felted the garment before I ever got to wear it! gah! 

Hopefully someday soon I'll get over the disappointment that is these two!

I've been remiss in informing you of other bloggers participating in blog week. To read more from knitters and crocheters across the globe, google: 2KCBWDAY1. 

unpacking? not so much

{moving day}

We've spent our first fortnight in our new home and are still very much in love with it, life, love...allthethings! 

Unpacking? not so much love there so we'll move on to other lovely things. Like these new home announcements I made and finally got mailed yesterday. Shameful really, as we've already received a number of cards and pressies (and visits!) from dear friends and family.

{new home announcements}

We've had:

 the cutest guests;

{G in my craft room}

the yummiest gifts;

{Sarah's drool-worthy chocolate chip cookies}

Chocolates from Sam, B & J and S & E (thank you, thank you, thank you!)

Of course I was a good girl and shared with the Nutty Knitters :)

Yesterday, Nicola & l'il G hung out at mine in the afternoon. Most of the visit was spent in the garden (it's been a wonderfully sunny and uncharacteristically warm week here) where we made a start on Nicola's xmas pressie to me.

{day 1}

There has been some knitting too! I completed Nina's shawl, mailed it with the 'new home announcements' yesterday and got a telephone call from her just before I stepped out today. She was so excited to receive a parcel (parcels are the best!), then she opened it up and saw it, a shawl knit just for her, and was deeply touched. I could hear it in her voice that she was moved by my gift to her and that moved me too.

And because I can't get enough of a good thing, I made S his very own Windschief. For someone that said he didn't want/need any more handknits, he staked his claim rather unequivocally  - he's hardly taken it off! 

I think he likes it.

We're yet to be hooked to the interweb and that's still o.k. as there's still lots else to be getting on with. 

Next week is the 2nd Knitting and Crochet blog week and as I am still internet-less, I will have to blog in advance. Postdating blog entries will be a new experience for me but needs must. All posts, will be related to knitting or crochet in one way or another but should still be of interest to non-knitting reader(s) of this blog. 

every other box

We're still living out of boxes and getting used to new house noises. Every other box I open reveals a treasured something or other. Thankfully, we've had a lot of help from the loveliest, most thorough people (and I thought I paid attention to detail); whoever moves into the flat after us will be over the moon. Optimistically, I thought I'd be gagging to hang up pictures, organise my craft room and put things away instead I am tired, weary and oh so zonked. 

We're yet to be hooked up to the WWW; we're at the mercy of British Telecom. Interestingly, not having the interweb is (surprisingly) not the end of the world and I've accomplished so much in the day and a half that we've been in the new space! - who knew the web was such a timesink?!?! :-) I might even get some knitting done at this rate.

I'm off home now but leave you with another favourite of mine.

I hope you're having a good weekend. 

the day!

Today is huge, it's a big day. Today is The Day!
In a matter of mere hours my phone will ring and I will hear Gail's voice instructing me to come pick up the keys to our new home. Unfortunately, I'll be picking them up on my own. It'd be nice to not have to do this alone but S will be at work while I sit still/pace/bite my nails/call the parents/pack some more/cry/fret/feel constipated/laugh hysterically and you know, whatever else escapes me. 

To calm my nerves I turn to two unfailing cures: music and friends. I've a lifelong love of one and a recent true discovery of the other. For both I am ever thankful. 

But I'd like to share a tiny bit of the day's magic with you(!) so here's one of my favourite songs by two wonderful ladies (one of whom just happens to part-own my favourite knitting store - The Knit Cafe, Toronto)

I'm wishing you all sorts of lovely on this most blessed of days!

what lovely things I'd make

I'm in a good place today, been thinking happy thoughts. Looking ahead but fear not, this is not another "new house" post. I'm looking past the move to the time we're settled with everything in its place.

I'm dreaming of what lovely things I'd make. I've a list as long as my arm and so far, I've only chipped at the edges. Was I a braver person I'd declare this the year to blaze through said list! Alas, I am not that brave but thought I'd share a collage with you anyway. These items are those that just won't let me be.

{happy thoughts}

1. Babette Blanket: liked this from the get go but began to really want one after seeing Kim's

2. A pot holder: never saw the point of these; I thought, "Whatever they do, oven mitts do better". Not that I need a reason but if I did, I'd say that oven mitts are for "oven things" and pot holders for "stovetop things" (duh!).

3. Cushion covers: sewn hexagons and applique? can't wait. I'm not crazy enough to attempt a whole quilt so cushions are a great way to gain an introduction to new sewing techniques without the commitment.

4. A Giraffe hat: c'mon! it's a giraffe! need I say more? 

5. Swatch portraits: because fabrics are so pretty and I'm about to get a craft room with walls that need prettying.

6. A crochet flower shawl: like this one but not quite. Basically, I need something to do with all the pretty flowers I plan to crochet someday.

7. A crochet cushion cover: sort of started this one already.

8. Sashiko: I've owned a kit and a book (for 2 years) I really should do something with. And soon.

9. Quilt: I think this is a simple yet versatile design that'd work with all sorts of palettes.

I'd be over the moon if I got just half of these done this year.

shelves being bare

It's starting to feel like we're moving out. This isn't entirely down to the place being littered with boxes, it isn't just about shelves being bare or the undeniably bland walls (funny how they didn't seem so bland before).

I think it's that finally the message has gotten through on a deeper level - I've checked out emotionally. It's taken a while, much longer than I'd've guessed it would. 

This is an ending

But it's also a beginning.

the hat-trick

I am done with the hat-trick (see what I did there?) and very pleased with my results.

The last of the lot is blocking in the airing cupboard as I type this. "Ah, airing cupboard how I love thee"; fortunately there's one in the new place too so I've no need to compose an ode to this one. 

Blocking hats in airing cupboards is quick and with a balloon (blown slightly smaller than the desired head circumference) obtaining the perfect fit has never been easier! 

These hats have been a lovely introduction to what could quite possibly be my go-to yarn for sweaters and cardigans. I would advise anyone considering knitting with Drops Alaska to wet block before wearing. In addition to the usual advantages of blocking, all three colours used for these hats bled considerably. 

Just so you know.

Swap 3 - Day everything!

I have a problem. I am addicted to swaps. There. I've said it. I love all stages of swaps...except the end which for some inexplicable reason (sadistic, torturous) people choose/prefer/insist on drawing out. I am not a patient person. I've participated in a number of swaps but last night's was the first where the exchange was face-to-face. Swaps take on a whole other meaning when you're partnered with someone you know on a personal level, you hope that little bit harder that they like what you've chosen for them. In a way, it's a measure of your friendship, of how well you've gotten to know a person. And if my very emotional reaction to my swap gift is anything to go by then SammyB knows me pretty darn well. 

Sammy was very generous in her gift giving. I received an Umpie project bag (made in Yorkshire, no less!); 2 skeins of Malabrigo sock yarn in Abril (a luscious purple spanning blues through reds); a pearly, lime green shawl pin; a pattern yet to be picked by me; some sewing labels and the most decadent chocolate truffles which she made herself! And OMG, the smell!!! Sammy is one of my favourite bakers EVER so I am doubly appreciative of her/my truffles. 

I don't believe I've told of her pillow cookies, well they're divine! So much so, when she put out feelers asking what to bake for swap night I was bent on rigging the vote. I'm glad I didn't succeed at that or I'd've missed last night's "interestingly constructed" brownie

{yup! those are Oreo cookies IN the brownie! drool}

I had A LOT of fun last night and would have pictures to share with you had i not forgotten my camera at home (!) I even charged the bloomin' spare battery and all!!! 

Many thanks to SammyB and the Nutty Knitters for a magical evening. Happy Friday and a good weekend to all. I'm going to be very busy (you guessed it) PACKING!

the 3rd of 4

Needing a break from Nina's shawl (which is coming along nicely, thank you), I began a hat for uncle Tom; who just had a pacemaker fitted. I found Windschief while browsing on Ravelry just after 4 this morning. I know, I know, I should have taken night nurse before bed. 

I'm not too familiar with Drops yarns and so didn't know what to expect of their 100% new wool, Alaska. But I ordered some anyway, received it the following day and once I saw the pattern I knew this would be a perfect pairing. 

I found the first few rounds tough going as I'm used to knitting with finer (fingering weight) yarns. But once I took all rings off and cracked my knuckles, I tucked in and even began to enjoy the knit - just the ticket for a shawl that was becoming a bit of a drag. I'm just saying that because Nina's shawl and I were getting along rather well when suddenly there was LOTS of pooling! bleagh! I've since thrown in some garter ridges, yarn overs + K2togs which between them seem to have it sorted but I still needed some instant gratification to erase the horror from my mind. 

I've another two hats to knit (for the couple who sold us our home) and it'll be Windschief for him and  Foliage for her. It isn't often I like a pattern so much I'd knit it back-to-back but I have to admit I'm smitten with Windschief. 

I like the feel of this yarn and think the price reasonable enough to consider knitting myself a cardigan (or three) using it. I've often found the costs involved in knitting sweaters and cardigans prohibitive but feel that's about to change with my discovery of Alaska...the yarn and not the place.

It's time I got ready for a special knit night. Tonight will be the 3rd of the 4 swaps of 2010 i seriously doubt there'll be a 4th. I'm excited and not at all o.k. maybe a teeny bit nervous - it's so much more personal when a swap is face-to-face. I must remember to not get too carried away cos I'm still quite weakened by my cold and have no voice. It's gonna be a good night, I can feel it in the air.

Proper photographs and the move. again.

Still on knit markets. 

This year I plan to take proper photographs - to do a better job of documenting these events. I usually either forget to take my camera, forget I have it on me, or take irrelevant pictures. Case in point:

{Knit Nation 2010}

 Of course I can't/won't photograph every.individual.stall

{Knit Nation 2010}

but to be able to present some simulation of photojournalism would be ideal. 

{Sock Summit 2009}

{imagine if you will 

a picture 

of a great hall

linearly arranged with stalls 

full of beautiful yarns

and even lovelier notions

many handmade objects

yet this photograph 

focuses on

nothing in particular.}

But this must change. After all, one of the main reasons I blog is to document life as I live it.

We are packing in earnest now and I anticipate blogging over the next fortnight (or longer) will be patchy at best. I'm at the tail end of a cold (that's headed to my chest) but will spend the day migrating our address with: the Council, banks & building society, National trust, TV license, utilities, charities e.t.c. 

This evening another mover is coming to give us an estimate for the move, the last was alarmingly expensive - we paid just over £1000 to move from Canada to the UK. That company did the packing (and it was very well done too) and moved our belongings from door to door without incident, so to pay £737 to move 5 streets away is simply ridiculous to me! Especially as we're packing everything ourselves and even moving the fragile stuff with the help of family and friends. The quote the guy coming tonight gave, off the top of his head, was reasonable and on the phone he came across as a no-nonsense type of person. 

For weeks I've been overwhelmed by my feelings which vacillate between crazy excitement and deep apprehension. Then last night I had a chat with my mother-in-law and now feel excited and up to the task of this move.