Weekend Knitting

I got this far on my shawl last night- 7" - the first section is almost done.

There was a lot of knitting today. Football. The Amazing Race (I liked the outcome). The Mentalist (I'm glad we're back to fun story lines where Patrick solves cases). Here I am now. Just over 16" and into the third colour.

It's bed time now. I'm so tired that I can barely focus. I think my fingers are going to be moving in my sleep. They haven't stopped all day.

Number 4

The shawl (Color Play Mohair Wrap in Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe) has been cast on and I'm just past the moss stitch edging. I cast on an extra 20 stitches so it's going to be nice and wide.

Today's post is going to be short. I'm on a roll and want to see how far I can get before I post tomorrow.

It's time for another season of festivities and like always Knitter's Pride is here to delight with a specially crafted Limited Edition Gift Set of knitting needles!!

THE 'BOX OF JOY'
This year we have a Limited Edition Set comprising of the Karbonz needles that have emerged as the hottest needles in the market since their launch last year. Karbonz needles are highly sought after and have earned rave reviews from experts and knitters around the world.

The Karbonz Interchangeable Needle set will be packed in a very attractive box made of wooden board that carries the laser-cut design of a 'tree in bloom'!! The Karbonz needles peer through the space where the design of the tree appears.

The Limited Edition set contains nine sizes of Karbonz Needle Tips - US size 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11 (3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 & 8.0mm) along with 4 cords (one each of 24" & 40" and two of 32"), 1 set of cord connectors and a complimentary Shawl Pin from the new Azure Charm range.

This being a Limited Edition set, there are only 2000 on sale throughout the world. Each set will consist of a certificate that will display the unique number of the set.

I didn't even remember ordering these. :) We have two sets in stock and they sell for $175. What a gift!

The decision has been made

Something happened last night that has never happened in my life. I gave up on a knitting project. I will be ripping it out and using the yarn for something else. The pattern is good. The yarn is good too. They just don't like each other.

On a happier note-I've decided what I'm going to knit to take to San Diego. You think California in January is going to be warm but I've been there when it hit freezing at night. If it is warm out during the day then the restaurants and convention centre have the air conditioning cranked. It can be chilly inside.

I'm going to knit another Color Play Mohair Wrap. I've knit three already and used four balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe for each. This time I'm going to use six balls. Wider and longer. The colours?? I'm combining Herb Garden.....

.........with Royal Botanical Gardens.

I'm very excited about this project. Now the decision is the colour order.

My dad arrived home safely last night but it was a short night of sleep. Beth and mom left for the airport at 10:30. The dogs and I went to bed to try and get some sleep before Beth got home. She called from the airport just after midnight to tell me that Dad was out of customs. He didn't have any luggage with him so there was no waiting at the luggage carousel. Everything stays in Honduras. We slept for another hour until Beth got home and then I was up early this morning. There were chores to do before starting work. I'm hoping to start my new project tonight but I have a feeling it won't happen until tomorrow evening.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

I finished!

Pattern: Lovely from Rowan's The Amore Collection
Yarn: 4 balls of Rowan Kidsilk Amore
Needles:15mm

I think that you could get away with 3 balls for this. It is really long. I've wrapped it three times around my friend's neck.

It will be here before we know it. Christmas. Do you need to buy something for a knitter but aren't sure what to get? Here are some great needle cases from Della Q.

This is the Tri Fold Circular Needle Case.

The tri-fold circular cases allows multiple needles to be stored in each pocket. Labeled from 2 US (2.75 mm) to 15 US (10 mm), plus five unlabeled pockets.

Open: 14.25" wide x 16" high 

Closed 5" wide x 11" high 

And a little video from Della showing you the inside of the case.

DPN and Circular Needle Case

Our newly redesigned DPN and circular case holds one complete set of DPNs and multiple sets of circulars. There are unlabeled pockets for any extra DPNs or circulars. Quad-fold design securely holds your needles. Includes two small zip pockets for notions.

My dad has been in Honduras for the past 10 days and gets home late tonight. He's probably in the airport in Atlanta right now. He was excited about a 3 hour layover there. It means they get to sit down and have a steak dinner and a beer. There wasn't much of that on the trip. Beth and the dogs moved in with my mom while he was away. It was easier with their dog Tui. Tui is old and a bit crotchety and likes to be walked when it suits her. This way Beth could be at her beck and call. :)

I realized today that we are heading to San Diego in just over a month. This is to see the new yarns and accessories for spring. Normally I knit something new to wear for a show. I haven't even thought of it until now. I've been looking through my pattern library trying to figure out what I can get done in time. YIKES!!

New Patterns

It's been like Christmas in the store today. Lots of boxes with books and yarns.

This is the Color Block Bias Wrap from Classic Elite. The original was knit in Chalet and they have reworked the wrap adding in colours of Chateau.

The pattern is from the book Handmade Los Angeles (which arrived today) or you can purchase it on Ravelry...

There are so many great colour combinations available. Picking one could be hard.

I think not casting on is even harder :)

Storm has arrived.

A collection of contrasts and attitude, at first glance it appears slightly tough, slightly edgy, however look a little deeper and you'll find that the pieces are true classics and have a soft feminine side. In a story where delicate fabrics of satin and lace work alongside boyish plaid and sturdy biker boots, expect the unexpected. 

See all the patterns... 

And there were a few more surprises in the box. Smoulder is here too.

In celebration of the female from a collection that is pretty but not too polished, feminine not fussy, timeless never dull, traditional tweeds keep it classic, quirky patterns offer individuality, while the softest fabrics will leave you in angora haze!

See all the designs... 

This mini collection featuring the luxurious yarn Fine Art Aran showcases 8 easy to wear designs taken from the Rowan archive and originally designed by Kim Hargreaves and Martin Storey. There’s definitely something for everyone in this collection ranging from a simple slouchy hat to oversized collared jacket.

See all the designs... 

Alpaca Chunky is back in stock.

Alpaca Chunky is a beautiful alpaca yarn which is amazingly soft. The rounded chain construction creates a yarn which is light in weight yet warm and comforting to wear.

Here is a really quick scarf to knit up in the Alpaca Chunky.

You need:

-4 balls Rowan Alpaca Chunky

-10mm needles 

Cast on 30 stitches.

Row 1: *K3, P3* across the row

Repeat Row 1 until you are almost out of yarn.

Cast off and darn in ends.

It doesn't get any easier than this.

Survivor tonight. I'm still undecided on who I want to win. Right now I think I'm leaning towards Hayden (yes, he won on Big Brother but I like him) but I think he's in trouble with the alliance. You really never know what is going to happen. Maybe they will get wise and vote out Tyson. He's trouble. 

I've been working on the computer all day. Website, blog, newsletter. It's time to plug the computer in and pick up my needles.

Sort of done

It was hard to knit during The Blacklist last night but I did it. Windward is done!

Almost done. I have to block it but that will be tomorrow evening.

Pattern: Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier - purchased on Ravelry
Yarn: 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Sportmate in the colour Sparrow Lake
Needles: 4.5mm

I love the size of it and it will be longer after blocking.

Lorna's Laces is sending two colours of Sportmate next week

to go with the three colours that are already in stock. There will be more coming in the new year including brand new colours sometime in January.

Lovely in Kidsilk Amore is growing. I'm into the third ball. When I actually sit down and work on it I can get quite a few rows done.

If you aren't into infinity scarves I think you can eliminate joining the ends and leave it as a scarf. The yarn hangs great.

More boxes left madelinetosh today and are heading our way.

-merino dk
-merino light
-pashmina
-prairie
-dk
-lace
-vintage
-sock
-ASAP - just in time for that last Christmas present
-spectrum
-cathedral
-vishnu
-alizarin
-mala
-nassau blue
-flashdance

Big Break is on so I'm going to sign off and knit. :)

Home stretch

We had great seats for the football game yesterday afternoon.

The day started out a bit shaky. It took 2 hours to get from Ancaster to a parking spot by the Rogers Centre. The traffic was unbelievable. The drive should take 45 minutes at the most.

Our gate

Then there were huge line ups to get in. They were searching everyone. I have been to many NFL games at stadiums all over the US (Buffalo many times, Miami twice, Cleveland twice, Minnesota, Seattle, San Diego and Detroit as well as seeing an NFL game in Toronto two years ago) and have never experienced anything like this. The game had already started at this point and some gates had 200-300 people lined up waiting to get in. Luckily our gate wasn't too bad. We got to the entrance and they weren't going to let me in with my purse. The young girl taking tickets told me to make it really small (thanks to her) so I didn't have to walk somewhere else for them to check my bag. Now there are purses and there are purses. I had a purse that held my wallet and not much more. I knew not to take something big. Beth took my wallet and put it under her coat and I rolled my leather purse as small as possible and hid it under my coat. If that was my first NFL game it may have swayed me never to go again.

The gate next to us - it is at the top of the stairs - that's the line

Once inside the day was great. The people around us were a lot of fun. The guys in our row had a few too many beers but in a funny good way. No fighting. No swearing. Good clean fun. And the game went into overtime. What more can you ask for?

Unfortunately there was next to no knitting this weekend. I did get to the home stretch on Windward while watching The Amazing Race and The Mentalist. I think there are 30 rows to go. Every 2 rows I lose 3 stitches so it's going fast. Maybe tonight. We're getting ready to watch last weeks The Blacklist that we missed and then tonight's season finale. The only problem is that I like to pay attention to the show and forget to knit.

One thing I totally forgot about yesterday. Beth and I were walking to our gate and we see all these police walking towards us. What was up? Fighting already? No. They were surrounding the mayor of Toronto as he was walking to his gate. Unbelievable. The guy looked like he didn't have a care in the world.