Acquistions

Over the past few weeks, I've brought home several new beauties for the stash. I've been really good about using up stuff already in the stash... and most of these new ones are already slated for projects, so I don't feel too bad about stashing them

First up... a new yarn base

This is the mohair/merino I mentioned several posts back. We're most likely going to call it Mountain Cat. I'm going to test it out on a pair of gloves (to go with my Loop cowl). If we like it, you'll see it in the shop.

Second... I showed a pic of these when they were still in the blank

Some gradient Barn Cat (Aqua to teal to grey) that I'm going to use for Katzenjammer. I'm thinking of making a little purse. I just need to snag a skein of nekkid Barn Cat next time I'm up in the studio.

Third.... Some more Big Fabel

The worsted socks I made for Dad have been a huge hit. I didn't think he'd get a chance to wear them until hunting season... but he's been wearing them all over the house all winter. So he'll be getting another pair for Father's Day.

Fourth..... more handspun by Mom.

If this looks familial it's because it's the same colours as a hat I made back in the fall. Mom spun up another braid and I told her I needed matching mittens, so home it came with me. (She has another braid.. so there may just be a matching cowl at some point....)

And finally.. even MORE handspun by Mom

She spun this up the other week, and was lamenting that she just wasn't that fond of it. Say no more! I'll give it a good home! this is the only one that doesn't have a project planned, but I'm sure I'll find a good use for it!

Here kitty kitty....

Why aren't you done yet kitty, kitty????

Yes... I'm still working on this darn blanket. Just a few inches to go...

WHY are those last inches so much longer than the beginning inches?

Baby is three months old now.  Come Hell or high water... this one is getting finished before the end of the month. Even if I have to call in sick to work! (Oh... wait... maybe I shouldn't have put that on the internet....)

Do you have one of those projects that just won't die???

Spring Cleaning Sale!

We’re having a Spring Cleaning Sale in the shop! We’ve slashed a laundry basket full of inventory to $10 or $15 a skein. We want to make a clean sweep so we can make room for some new stuff that’s almost ready to go in the shop.

No codes needed - we just slashed the prices. Get them while they last!

Pattern release: Highgarden

At long last....

Highgarden is available for sale. 

I'd actually intended to release this early this week.. but just after the car was fixed, the computer went down. It took Dave a few days to get every back up and running again. But it is... so hopefully my run of bad luck is over... at least for a little while

In the mean time, you can now get a copy of this pretty shawl pattern. It's not as complicated as it looks, and the beading it optional (though it just add that's extra zing!)

And stay tuned... with Season Five of A Game of Thrones starting on April 12, we've got another KAL with fantastic prizes coming up!

Short and sweet

After the rough start to the week, I needed something to cheer me up. And I think a quick knit hit is just what the doctor ordered

So as much as I like the thought of long Broken Seed stitch socks... I just don't have it in me. They have a three inch leg and I couldn't be happier. These will fly off the needles, even with them only being lunch knitting.

And don't you think they are just so darn cute?

Another thing that's making me happy....

This great furry find. I've been looking for the perfect mukluks all winter. Most of the ones I like we're well out of my price range (but oh so lovely....). A coworker has a gorgeous grey deerskin/rabbit fur pair - but she paid $400 - that's just not going to happen for me.

But I popped into the mall today to get a phone card for my cell phone (just in case Stella acts up again, I don't want to be left with no minutes!) and there they were on display in a store front... end of season clear-out for $10.

I may only get to wear them for a couple more days.... until next winter, but they are already bringing a smile to my face.

Back on track

First.. we must give the Cat his due...

He's been moping, and I think it's because I haven't posted his picture since Friday. The injustice of it all...

And... after I finished posting, I turned my attention to getting the shawl design right. Normally, I don't swatch... for anything. But, desperate times call for desperate measures...

 After modifying my chart, I grabbed a handy ball of scrap yarn and knit a wee swatch. It's much easier than knitting on the actual garment and having to rip it out. Not to mention, the Fluffy Cat, while lovely, is not built for frogging.

But, I was pleased with my swatched, so I went back to the shawl itself.

I managed to get a repeat and a half done before bed. It's not exactly what I originally envisioned, but I'm quite pleased with it. It should knit up fair quick now... though I do need to get back to that blanket...

Sigh....

 

What a week... and it's only Monday.

My week actually started yesterday. Stella was supposed to be all patched up, so as soon as Dave got home from the cottage, we headed out to go pick her up. (about 40 minutes away)

But as soon as I started her, I knew it wasn't right. Dave told me the rough start might just be from sitting.. but I know my car. A trip around the block confirmed my suspicions. She was a little better (there were no more big scary noises) but she still wasn't running right.

So that dear, sweet man of mine decided to tackle the job himself. And you can say what you will about him, but he knows his way around an engine. (And is really sexy doing it, too!)

A few hours later, he'd figured out what was wrong (beyond the original plug issue). When the plug blew (or when his uncle or the mechanic were tinkering around after) a crucial sensor was broken. The sensor wasn't expensive (as these things go - it was still money I didn't want to spend... but hey - I need my car!), and Dave could change it in 20 minutes - but it was Sunday at 5 pm by this time - we couldn't get the part.

I convinced him to give up for the night, and we dropped it back off at the mechanic's. A quick call to the mechanic, and a call to the parts guys this morning, and she was back up and running by noon.

Of course, all that messing around and unhooking the battery, knocked the power window control out. (I told you... she's a drama queen). Because of the convertible top, if the windows don't work, the door doesn't shut right (there's a sensor that lowers and raises them when you open and close the door, so they don't interfere with weather stripping.)

An hour later, that amazing guy of mine had them working again.

And then the battery died.

Fortunately, we were still at the shop. A quick boost, and I was finally on my way home. Stella is back in the driveway, and with any luck, she'll behave herself - at least until October.

Who needs a drink?

But you came here for the knitting, right?

Yeah - that's not going so hot either. I needed a break from the baby blanket. And I'd accidentally left my socks on my desk at work on Thursday (you have no idea how much I'm kicking myself over that one... five hours at Dave's grandma's on Sunday - and no knitting!). So I decided to pick up one of my other WIPs... the shawl design I mentioned several posts back.

It's knit in Fluffy Cat, and the yarn is an absolute delight. But the pattern I charted just isn't doing what I want. I've recharted three times, but it's still a no go. So... back to the drawing board...

Bring on Friday!, I'm so done with this week.

Lazy kittens

 

Yep... that's the kind of day it's been. Sunny, but lazy. But it has meant a fair bit of knitting time.

As a result, the kitten blanket is growing. As you can see, I've added quite a few butterflies. The butterflies aren't written into any specific part of the pattern - you're just to putt them where you feel like it. Mine look random, but there is a bit of a method to how I'm adding them.

I've got about six more butterflies to go (or about six inches) plus the top seed-stitch border. I was hoping to finish it up this weekend, but those inches take longer than you'd think. So it will probably take at least another week. And I can't wait to get this one off the needles! The cotton is going to be nice and soft and washable for the recipient... but for the knitter, it makes things a bit of a slog!

Think spring

This is my driveway. Notice something missing?

Yep... Stella is in the shop... AGAIN. She started acting up on the way home from work last night. Of course, she chooses the day when I forget my cell phone and Dave is almost 2 hours away at the cottage... she's dramatic like that.

Fortunately - she also chose to do it five minutes from Dave's grandma's house, and I was able to limp her there with my four-ways on while she made all manner of scary noises. And extra-fortunately, Dave's uncle was home. He took a look and determined it was likely just a loose spark plug. He didn't have the tools to fix it, so he followed me as I limped it to the family's mechanic around the corner. The mechanic was gone for the day, so we dropped it off and he drove me the rest of the way home, promising to take care of it in the morning for me.

And he did. The plug has been tightened, and she seems to be running normal again. She's back at Dave's grandma's, and I can go pick her up this weekend when Dave returns from the cottage. So, I'm car-less for a few days - and just keeping my fingers crossed that when I pick her up, she'll behave herself for a while.

Since I'm working from home today, I decide to take the boys out on lunch to enjoy some sunshine. It's hard to worry in the sunshine. And look...

 The tree out front is budding.

The bulbs in the front garden are sprouting.

Out back, the strawberries are greening up.

And there's even a little bit of Columbine sprouting in the bee garden.

While Tux soaked up the sun and Rocky explored, I swept the bunny poo off the patio and onto the grass where it's less noticeable and can fertilize the lawn.

There's still a wee patch of snow here and there, but the ground is beginning to thaw and get squishy. At least I can get to the feeder again - even if I'll need rubber boots soon to do so!

Slight change of plans

With four FOs off the needles this month, I've permitted myself to cast on something new... but only because with Dave's socks done, I needed a travel/lunch project.

So, I cast on for my Broken Seed Stitch socks

Eagle-eyed readers might be saying "Hey - that's not the yarn you said you were going to knit with." And they'd be right. I started the socks with the Berrocco Sox I brought back from Chicago, but I just didn't like the way it was looking. The yarn is actually a self-striper (which I didn't realize) and mixed with the natural Alley Cat, it was looking a little too Christmas-y for my taste.

So I frogged and went stash diving.

When I surfaced, I'd come up with this lovely rosey skein of Barn Cat. I knit a few rows and knew I'd made the right decision. I'm absolutely loving knitting this pattern so far. It's a little addicting - I keep saying, "Just one more row."

I love it so much, in fact, that I'm having a hard time deciding how long to make the legs. I normally prefer a short sock (between three and four  inches long in the leg)... but the pattern is just so pretty, I think I might just do six!

FO: Diamond Dave

As promised, after finishing Saturday's blog post, I put the toe on Dave's socks...

So that's another WIP I can now call an FO! Nothing super fancy here - just a simple 2-2 garter rib. The yarn is White Birch Fiber Arts and the colour is Diamondback. I used some Alley Cat for the heels and toes, just so I wouldn't have to break up the striping.

I considered giving these to Dave before he left for the cottage (it's still pretty chilly there), but I've decided to tuck them away for now. He's got a birthday in a few months, and I like feeling ahead of the game!

Green scene

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The snow is melting slowly. I'm just itching to get into my gardens. And the floral section at the grocery store is not helping...

They had a whole display of these pretty Shamrocks - I just had to bring one home with me. I bought Mom one years ago when I was still in my teens. She planted it in the garden and it lived there quite happily for many years.

I think that's exactly what I'm going to do with mine.I think it will look quite nice opposite the black clover I planted last year...

...don't you?

Up next

With Old Town off the needles, I turned my attention to back to the baby blanket.

It might not look like it, but I've added a couple of inches since the last time I shared it here. I got the cable/lace pattern charted finally - and was moving along quite swimmingly. That is, until I noticed a BIG boo-boo just after I finished the cats. I had to rip all the way back. But it was one of those boo-boos that was just too obvious to leave in.

I'm going to try to do at least half a pattern repeat every night. Dave's gone to the cottage for the week, so I don't have anyone to interrupt my knitting time. With any luck, I can be well on the way to finishing this one by the weekend. It will be nice to have this one off the needles too - and not have to knit with cotton for a while!

FO: Old town

I mentioned the other day that Old Town was finally finished. Mom and I found a pretty Anglican Church in Owen Sound for a quick photoshoot.

I'm not overly thrilled with this one and I'm glad it's finally off the needles. It had an interesting construction, so it was a fairly engaging knit. But I just don't think it suits my body type - it's just too boxy for my short torso and wide hips.

 

The empire line above the bust doesn't work so well for me either. I much prefer below.

I'm also very dissapointed in the yarn. It's Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patine and while it was okay to knit with (cotton not being one of my favourite fibers) it had a bit of a nasty surprise when it came time to block. It bleeds.... A LOT. (And sadly, I have 10 more balls of it to use up)

Seriously - you would not want to wash this with anything else. And after soaking, it stained the towels I used to squeeze the water out. And after blocking....

Look down the arm..... you can see where the dye pooled and is darker at the edge where it was folded. I'm going to give it a run through the washer to see if it evens out. If so, this one is going right in the Christmas box. If not... it's a cat blanket!

Road trip

This morning I was up bright and early and hitting the road with Mom. March Break has begun and two lucky girls....

...won themselves a week-long stay at Grandma's house.

Since it's a three-hour drive one way, and Mom was driving, it gave me plenty of time to work on Dave's sock

I didn't knit the whole way up, but I still made some good progress. 

The munchkin brigade was still at swimming lessons when we arrived, so I took the time to torment... I mean love up.... my brother's cats. 

Meet Chu and Zappa

Finally, the brat pack...

arrived home and were loaded into Mom's truck.... 

 and we hit the road agian . By the time we hit Burger King in Guelph...

 

I was only a stripe or two from the toe.  The last hour on the road finished that up, and I as soon as I sign off, I'll be finishing the toe and calling these ones done like dinner!

Bit by bit....

Thanks for the well wishes. My cold is slowly subsiding - much slower than I'd like but progress is progress. And speaking of progress.

Dave's socks are coming along nicely

By the weekend, I was almost done the gusset. I was tempted to just sit down and finish them on Sunday, but I didn't.  I was a good girl and worked on the sleeve of Old Town (and managed to finish her up this week. She's on the blocking board now.)

Beside, if I finish these up too quickly, I'll have to cast on something new (so I have a travel project) and I won't really feel like I'm cleaning out the WIPs.

I do have my next travel project picked out, though. I'm going to make the Broken Seed Stitch socks.

I think they will look just divine in the Berroco Sox I brought home from Chicago. Paired with some Nekkid Alley Cat... it's sock perfection!

Sick but sunny

Wednesday was a sick day for me - finally felled with a brutal cold I'd been fighting since I got back from Chicago.

And as crappy as I felt, it was nice to be home on such a sunny day. Someone else was very happy I was home too - though not that I spent a good part of the day with my laptop in my lap (where he felt he should be).

We took a moment to enjoy the sunshine and clean the bunny poo (left by the melting snow) off the patio.

It didn't last long. My neighbour was out banging around in his yard and my cats are giant pansies, so they ran inside pretty quick.

From there we did a little squirrel watching

And finished up the Loop Cowl

And since it was a sick day, there was also a little napping...