Trippin'

It seems like I've finally got the kinks worked out on my transit commute. It's still long (min 2.5 hours), but it doesn't really feel like that. The bulk of the trip is on the GO Train..

If you suffer from motion sickness, it might not be much fun, as the train rocks and rolls quite a bit, but I find it almost hypnotic. It's not a fancy train, but it is clean and comfortable inside.

The station I get on it isn't serviced by the Express trains (the ones from downtown Toronto), so I don't seem to have to deal with crowded cars - I've had no problems getting a bank of seats all to myself (and by the time I get into Hamilton, sometimes the whole car).

My only complaint is that the lights are on inside the cars, and while that's sensible, it means right now, I can see nothing but my reflection in the window. That will change as the days get longer, so I just have to be patient. There's some pretty cool views along the way, and I'd love to share them with you.

And while Old Man Winter has arrived.

Unless the train is late, I don't have to do too much waiting outside. I have no more than a 10 minute wait for any of my connections.

So, I'm spending most of those 2.5 hours knitting.

And as a result, the second Jaywalker is on the gussett! (I would have been further, but one day I forgot to bring my tape measure and had to stop out of fear of knitting the leg longer than the first sock).

I'm not in the office again until Friday, and these won't see any work until then. I'm doubtful I'll finish them on the trip home, but I'll probably get close. If that's the case, I can finish them on the weekend and have an FO post for you sometime next week. Here's hoping! I'm ready to cast on for something new!

And don't forget about our Birthday yarn sale! From now until Christmas, use the code BOSSCATS37 and save 37% off almost* anything in the shop (excluding gift certificates and sock cranking services)

FO: Mushroom colourwork hat

I'm not the only December baby in our group. In fact, there are quite a few of us. And today is the birthday of my big brother!

We're two years (almost to the day) apart, and as you can imagine, have always been quite close. He lives three hours away, and I won't see him until Christmas, but I went on a little stash dive to find the perfect yarn for the perfect hat.

The pattern is the Mushroom Colourwork Hat. I chose it because my big brother has recently become an avid mushroom hunter. You see, a friend of his is battling cancer, and they've been researching the benefits of the Chaga Mushroom. Buying prepared Chaga is quite expensive, but Chaga likes to grow on birch trees, and where he lives, there are plenty of birch trees. So for the last few weeks, he's been spending his spare time, hiking through the woods, hunting Chaga to help his friend.

 Now Chaga doesn't look anything like these mushrooms (I think it kinds looks like expanding foam insulation), but I know my brother will appreciate the sentiment. Especially when he's trudging through the woods this winter with a nice warm mushroom hat on his head.

I used a skein of Tabby Cat Worsted for the base (colour is French Roast) and some leftover  MadTosh Heirloom for the mushrooms. I modded it slightly from the original pattern (ribbing instead of garter, and a few stripes). It was a fun, fast knit, that I hope will put a smile on the face of the Mighty Mushroom Hunter.

And don't forget about our Birthday yarn sale! From now until Christmas, use the code BOSSCATS37 and save 37% off almost* anything in the shop (excluding gift certificates and sock cranking services).

Happy Birthday... to me! (With a little something for you too!)

Today is my birthday, and if you've been around for a while, you'll know that I always get myself a little something...

This years little something arrived late last week.

A cute little Nine West pair from eBay that were just too cheap to pass up. Thankfully, they were ordered before all the car drama, otherwise, cheap or not, I wouldn't be getting them at all. But I can safely say, this will be the last pair of shoes for a very long time - every spare penny I can scrape up is going to go towards a new set of wheels.

And.. I've got another little gift for you too!

From now until Christmas, use the code BOSSCATS37 and save 37% off almost* anything in the shop (excluding gift certificates and sock cranking services).

Pattern Release: Special Little Snowflakes

Back in August, KathyB organized a dishcloth swap. I couldn't find any dishcloth patterns that were striking my fancy at the time, so you know me.. I just designed some!

... and now the pattern is available so you can make them too. The pattern includes all three versions, as well as a blank  chart, so you can design your own special little snowflake!

Like Corvin, and Dorothy, the Snowflakes are on sale for just $1 until Christmas!

Pattern release: Dorothy

Here's another pattern that's long overdue for its release

My sweet little Dorothy socks! The perfect, girly ankle sock.

The cuff is knit flat, blocked, then grafted together. From there, the rest of the sock stitches are picked up and it's knit from the top down.

I used natural, undyed Alley Cat for a simple, classic look ... but I'd love to see how these look in another colour. Maybe pink... or a soft, baby blue!

Like Corvin, the pattern is on sale for just $1 until Christmas! Don't miss out!

Friday Felines

The last few weeks have seen a big change in a certain little ginger boy.

All of a sudden, he seems a lot more comfortable here. He's starting to act like he owns the place... or as I said to Dave the other day, he's turning into a "real cat."

He still has his things that freak him out...

 ...like company visiting, sneezes, the running water in the bathtub, and walking near him when he's sitting at the top of the stairs - but otherwise, he doesn't seem to have a care in the world.

I think he's finally decided we're keeping him, and he's can have a pretty good life here.

To my great joy, he's also become a lap cat. And not just when I pick him up and put him there. Frequently I'll be working away on my laptop, and he'll come and sit at my feet and cry, asking me to make room for him. If I don't... he just comes up anyway and pushes his way into my lap

He's even getting better at joining us for bed time. Though I still have to bring him up, he's happy to settle down for most of the night (he usually leaves around 6am). The other night, Dave woke me up and complained that I was hogging the bed. After grumping at me. He immediately fell back to sleep. I sat up, and looked down... I was still well within the boundaries of my side. Then I looked over at Dave's legs.... where Rupert was stretched out, from Dave's ankle to his knee, sound asleep and pushing Dave toward the edge of the bed.

Yup... I'd say he's right at home.

Pattern release: Corvin

I know I've been promising this one for a while, but with all the car drama I just couldn't find the time to finish it up. And then every time I did have the time, Dave was hogging the computer!

But.. I finally found a few moments when Dave wasn't around, and so I give you the pattern for Corvin!

It's a cute, classic little cardi in three sizes (three to 18 months). Knit in Stray Cat, it's light, but warm.

It's cabled on the fronts, backs, sleeves, and even the side seams.

It's knit seamlessly from the top down, even the front bands are knit as you go, so the only finishing you need to do is sewing in the ends.

Great for girls or boys, it's got a timeless class look... I love it so much, I'm tempted to design an adult version.

The pattern is on Ravelry now, and since my birthday is just around the corner, I thought I'd give a little gift to all of you  - so from now until Christmas, you can get the pattern for just $1!