Space Tank

This is the Space Tank by Heidi Kirrmaier - pattern purchased on Ravelry.

Design:
This design is simple in appearance, but features neatly placed increases on the front and back, and decreases on the shoulders, which make it a little bit different than your basic tank top!

Fit:
Measurements shown above are the circumference of the finished top. I suggest you choose a size that measures approximately ½ - 3 inches more than your actual full chest measurement. 

How it’s Knit:
It is knit from the top down, in one piece. You begin with a provisional cast on, and then a little yoke is knit in the round with increases and decreases, before you divide it into shoulder, front, and back sections. After the back and front pieces are knit flat, the body is knit in the round. At the end, the neckline and armholes are finished with i-cords.

The pattern includes links to videos that show several of the techniques, just in case that is something you find helpful.

The tank is knit in DK weight yarn so you have lots of options. You can use a plant based yarn for a summer tank or wool fibres to make a vest.

• BC Garn Allino
• Rowan Creative Linen
• Rowan Summer Lite DK
• Rowan Felted Tweed
• The Fibre Co Arranmore Light

Atenti Bags

Just before I left I placed an order for Atenti bags. We have the following Hope Baskets and Caddies coming which are brand new fabrics. My guess is 6 weeks but they could be here sooner. There will also be a restock on older fabrics.

I wrote posts for this week before I left. They are all knitting related. I will try and write while I’m away but sometimes it doesn’t work out. The day gets away from me. My dad told me that I have to send them pictures every day to show how much knitting I have accomplished. He is becoming a drill sergeant. 

I forgot to set this post to publish so I’m going to add to it. I flew into LA this afternoon and I’m in my hotel room in Long Beach. I’m staying at the same hotel we would stay at when we came here for TNNA. It brings back great memories.

I can see the Queen Mary from my hotel room.

I knit a bit on the plane. I was so tired that there was some napping. I’m almost finished the first two skeins of this Inclination Shawl. I started this on the train and didn’t get very far.

Tomorrow I get on a ship that is heading up to Vancouver for the Alaskan cruise season. On Sunday I will fly from Vancouver into Hamilton. Dad and I did this flight and it so convenient. I can call Beth when I have my suitcase and she is at the terminal within 5 minutes.

It is almost 8pm on the west coast and I’m crawling into bed. I love to fly but today’s flight seemed to take forever and I’m exhausted.

Wibbly Wobbly Scarf

This is Ambah O’Brien’s Wibbly Wobbly Scarf - pattern purchased on Ravelry.

Add a joyful burst of colour to your wardrobe with the Wibbly-Wobbly Scarf. This adaptable design invites you to experiment, mix, and play with colour. Knit it in a narrow five-colour or wide ten-colour version, or adapt the pattern to suit your mini-skein stash with a six, twelve or twenty-four colour set and create something uniquely yours. Another option is the scrappy version where colours are changed more frequently for a striped effect. The scarf is knit width-wise with tapered edges.

The pattern includes both charted and written instructions and a video tutorial for a never run out of yarn long tail cast on.

A Theme Pack from Emma’s would make a beautiful scarf.

But I’m thinking something else for this. How about the new Estelle 50 - Cotton Lux? You would need 2 balls for the narrower scarf or three for the wider. The yarn stripes for you so you don’t have any work to do. I think I would still knit the shawl on the 3.75mm needle that the pattern calls for but you should swatch it and make your own decision.

I took a ball home of the Estelle 50 on Friday evening and started a Traveler Cowl. I wanted to see how the yarn looks on needles. I knit a bit loose so I’m using a 3.75mm needle.

Or so I thought. You shouldn’t knit during overtime of a hockey game. When I laid out the cowl to get a picture this morning in the store I found a mistake about 5 rows back. 🤬. I’ve ripped it back.

It’s back on the needles ready to go.

I wrote this post yesterday in the store and then totally forgot to finish it last night.

Here is more progress.

Now I need to pack. Everything is on the dining room table and I need to go through it one more time and possibly remove some clothes. I am a chronic over packer. Just in case is my motto.

Hello May

Clear skies ahead! We love this variegated blue for the last full month of spring.

The latest Crazy Beautiful Colour from Emma’s has arrived. It is available online and in the store.

Susan Ashcroft has a new cowl pattern called the Triangle Tricks Bandana and you can purchase it on Ravelry.

Although this looks a bit like stranded knitting, the triangles are formed by slipping stitches, which means that you only work with one yarn per row and the knitting is very easy.

It reminds me of both Flying geese quilting and Escher motifs; your eyes don’t eyes don’t know whether to focus on the downward or upward arrows. (if you would like to make a co-ordinating hat you might like to take a look at Easy Escher Effect or Play like Klee ) 

The pattern has both charts and written instructions so that you can work with the type of instructions you prefer. 

The pattern is listed for “worsted” weight, but it can also work with DK or Aran weight. 

Allow approx. 150m of each of 2 yarns with good contrast:

One yarn can be a solid or similar that will form the background and bottom edge. 
The other is the “feature” yarn - handspun, variegated or striping yarns are all good options for this. 

The pattern was tested both top-down and bottom-up, but based on the testing I decided it worked best when worked top-down, so that is the version that is detailed in the pattern.

There were many lumber yards as we were getting close to Vancouver. Dad was oohing and aahing. “Look at those 8x8s. They are perfect. Look over there. Look at that.” It didn’t stop - he was so excited.

I put the hockey game on my iPad for dad as we were getting into Vancouver. He doesn’t know anything about technology (he has a flip phone) but when we set it up for him he is happy. He’s always asking us to look up the weather or the score of a game. Beth and I tell him to get out his computer and his response is always ‘it’s in the shop getting fixed’.

The Estelle 50 - Cotton Lux arrived yesterday and all preorders have been filled and boxes are on the way. We are out of one colour already but don’t worry because it’s been ordered and we’ll have it when I get back the week of May 11th.

I think I’m ready to go. One more load of laundry. The most important things are ready. My medications and my knitting.

I haven’t talked much about this season of Survivor. We watched this week’s episode last night and it was awesome. One of the best tribal councils ever!!!

Have a good Friday evening. I’m heading home to put my feet up and knit. 

Hollyhock

I haven’t shared my knitting lately. There was a lot of knitting last night watching hockey. It turned into a late evening with one of the early games going into overtime. I did not stay up for the late game.

I’m about halfway through the last two balls of Dream State. I really like how this Inclinations Shawl is coming out.

We just received an order from Rowan and have the last colour to knit the cover vest. Hollyhock was designed by Brandon Mably and is knit in Rowan Summerlite 4ply.

This summer vest makes a bold statement, effortlessly combining charm with modern style. Its striking checkerboard pattern of multicoloured squares gives this summer vest a retro-inspired yet contemporary look.

See all the shades of Summerlite 4ply.

Here are the yarn and needle requirements for the vest.

I’m in my ‘getting ready to go away’ mode. The store is in good order right now so I’ve been placing orders.

We are running low on Lantern Moon Interchangeable needle sets and they are now on order. They should arrive the week of May 11th.

Get ready to brighten up your knitting with the vibrant Grace interchangeable knitting needle set! These needle pairs are tucked away in a cranberry-colored Khadi silk case and radiate elegance and finesse.

With 5 pairs of 4" (10 cm) long needle tips, this set is perfect for knitting smaller projects in the round. And with 2 stainless steel swivel cords in lengths of 16" and 20" (40 and 50 cm), you'll be able to tackle hats, loops, or even baby sweaters with ease. So why wait? Bring some delightful energy to your knitting with the Lantern Moon Grace set!

The Grace Set contains

5 pairs of 4" Interchangeable Tips
US Sizes: 2.5, 4, 6, 7 & 8
MM Sizes: 3.00, 3.50, 4.0, 4.5 & 5.0mm

Nylon Coated Stainless Steel Cords & Accessories
2 Swivel Cords of 16" (40cm) & 20" (50cm)
(Cord length denotes complete needle length)

4 Wooden End Caps, 2 Tightening tools & 5 Colorful Tassel Stitch Markers

See what’s in stock. All out of stock sets have been ordered.

I had a nap after work and dinner is now finished. It’s time for Survivor and knitting.

Touch of Sparkle

 

Estelle 50 Cotton Lux should be arriving the week of May 11th could be arriving tomorrow. I’m excited to see the yarn in person. It is available online for preorder. 

The food on the train was amazing!

This is called Hells Gate. I was out on the platform while we were passing and we could see smoke in the air. Then we could smell a fire. A few minutes later there was a helicopter flying over the river picking up water.

The next day we saw on the news that there was a forest fire in the area. One of the first of the season. I just checked online and the fire is still going. I have a few more hours of photos to share tomorrow. 

On Saturday a customer came in and told me that our phone wasn’t working. The situation has been remedied. Bell was here and somehow our line was disconnected at the Bell offices. Very weird and they couldn’t explain it.

Yesterday was spent doing everyone’s tax returns. They are finished and mailed. Then I had to remit my HST which is done. A newsletter was written. It was a busy day and I didn’t make it to the store. There was an afternoon nap. I’m still trying to catch up on the sleep I missed last week. 

If you didn’t receive the newsletter here is a link to it.

Now it’s time to put my feet up and knit. Dad keeps commenting that my knitting isn’t growing. I’m working on Inclinations Shawl #1 right now. You need to work 2 rows to get one row finished on the shawl. It takes extra time. #2 is put away for next week while I’m away.

Thursday on the Train

The start of day two. We were in the hotel lobby by 7am to catch the bus to the train.

Here is the kitchen staff.

Emily, Laura and Matt who looked after us in the dining room.

Kristi and Ky who were our hostesses upstairs.

We were offered coffee, tea, water, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages throughout the day.

The terrain on Thursday was totally different.

We went through a lot of tunnels.

My dad is pretending to nap. I tried to get him to close his eyes for an hour because we weren’t getting much sleep but he couldn’t in case he missed something.

All these pictures are before 1pm on Thursday. I will show more tomorrow. There is about 7 more hours of pictures to share.