Knitter's Magazine

The newest Knitter's Magazine just arrived.

You can see all the garments here.

There is a mitred poncho from Jane Slicer-Smith that is amazing!

The trees were beautiful on my way to work this morning. It snowed all night. Nice fluffy snow. I took this picture while stopped at a stop light. I was stopped so that should be alright. :)

Out back of the store. I would have loved to own a good camera today for these.

Ms. Canada Post delivered the missing boxes from madelinetosh. The website is up to date with these. Tosh sock, merino light, merino and vintage. Then Mr. Canpar brought in a huge box of Cascade 220. That will be my job this afternoon. No, not putting away yarn. Updating the website-which is done.

It's after dinner and I'm going to knit. Not on my knitting. I'm casting off Beth's Linen Stitch Scarf. Then I need to cast on stitches for her. She is heading to Myrtle Beach tomorrow and wants to take knitting with her. Another Linen Stitch Scarf. Yes, you read that right. The girl who didn't like to knit wants to have some with her. Thank goodness I have Criminal Minds and CSI to watch.

I've reread my post and there isn't much knitting content. I started looking for some free patterns for you. Many knitters ask for a pattern in sock yarn for baby socks. Here you go.

Download the pattern...

The Mara Shawl from madelinetosh

A simple garter‐stitch triangle shawl, worked from the top down and trimmed with a pleated border. This flexible pattern can be worked larger for a full‐sized shawl or smaller for a petite shawlette. Knit in DK weight yarn, this shawl is the perfect companion on a cool spring evening or layered under a winter coat for fall.

The pattern says 3 skeins of yarn but when I was looking at the shawl on Ravelry many people commented that they ran out so I suggest 4 skeins.

4.5mm needles

Download the pattern...

I think my work here is done. Beth is calling from upstairs "What about my knitting??" Gotta go.

No Snow Day

I was up at 6am with the news on waiting to see that the school buses were cancelled. No school means the roads are too bad to go to work. Didn't happen. I was up so I got the day started. I was in the store by 8:30 so lots of knitting was accomplished today.

The Lonely Tree Shawl is growing. Chart C is done and I just attached the second ball of yarn. I'm adding Chart D-which isn't part of the pattern but you can download here. I have lots of yarn and bigger is always better.

I received notification today that the shawl pins that were ordered at TNNA are on the way to us.

Spring Bud Shawl Pin

Single Leaf Shawl Pin

So the snow they called for only partially came.

It isn't nice fluffy snow. When the driveway was cleaned this morning and again this afternoon (it hasn't stopped here but it isn't accumulating) it made big chunks of snow.

My knitting is packed to head home. It's a big TV night. Survivor. And it looks like there will be lots of fighting tonight. American Idol. Now that the auditions are over we have started watching. The judges are meaner so far this year. We like it that way. Big Brother Canada starts tonight too.

This and That

The Yarn Harlot wrote today about a scarf she just knit. I had it in my favourites on Ravelry but haven't looked at it for a while. What a great scarf!! Two balls of sock yarn. Now I'm thinking.

Do you follow The Needle Emporium on Facebook? Many times things are posted there that I don't post here. Pictures from yarn companies of garments. New patterns that I find on Ravelry. Cute comics. Come and see.

Beth is flying to Myrtle Beach for the weekend and will be meeting with the carpenter about finishing our sun room. We know what we want the room to look like (window benches with lots of cushions) which led me to think about fabric for the pillows I want. I went onto the Westminster Fabrics website (they make Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler Fabrics) and I found this free pattern for a quilt. Not what I was looking for but I like it and wanted to share with you.

download the pattern...

Then I went to design-seeds.com to because I love looking at their colour combinations.

The teal colours of my house shown in a ball of yarn. Of course I had to share this one.

I'm not big into yellow but the bright yellow walls in the sun room look good. And sunny. I saw this picture and thought about the room. Beth and I need to pick out fabric for the bench cushions and then throw cushions. These fabrics need to match my Amy Butler fabrics that I want to make pillows from. Okay, if my fabrics don't match I will buy more. Fabric shopping isn't a bad thing. :)

We received some project bags from Della Q today.

These cotton bags are 11" x 12"

Why would you use a Ziploc® bag when you can store your work-in-progress in this fabulous Edict project bag? Consider using the bag as a gift bag when you are finished with your project. An interior pocket holds small notions. 
• "Cheaper Than Therapy"
• "Paws off my knitting"
• "Tangled String"
• "Handknit for you"

We have more colours and sayings.

We baked cookies just in case the storm hits. If the kids are going to be shovelling the driveways in the morning we want a treat for them.

Freezing rain is coming down really hard. Pelting the windows. I'm glad that I'm not driving.

It's knitting time. And The Mentalist. Season 4 has two episodes left.

Another FO

The Inspira Cowl is finished. Blocked. Ends sewn in. DONE!

I tried to be creative with my picture. Didn't work (the styrofoam head didn't want to sit in the branches like I planned in my head) but it does show the cowl. :)

I'm a bit further on the sleeve of Eos. Last night while everyone was watching the Oscars we watched The Amazing Race and some episodes of The Mentalist. I don't like going to the movie theatre. Can't sit that long without my knitting or pausing to go to the washroom or to get a drink. I like to be able to talk while watching a movie as well. I haven't seen any of the movies that were nominated so sitting through the show can be a bit boring.

Just one question. Who goes on The Amazing Race when they are afraid of water? Why do you sit at a detour for 45 minutes discussing if you can do it or not? Try it and if you can't then try the other one. Not that hard. Especially for people who are smart.

I was adding my Inspira Cowl to Ravelry when I came across a beautiful cowl pattern.
Joselyn Cowl knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. You can also use Metalico from Blue Sky Alpacas or madelinetosh pashmina.

I decided to take the sleeve for Eos outside and get a picture on my friend. I quickly pinned it so it isn't sitting as neatly as it should but it lets you see the lace pattern. I'm into the second ball and have about an inch and a half to go. Or so I think. I'm going to put the sleeve on a holder and start the back. If I do the sleeve length that the pattern calls for I usually end up with sleeves that are too long. I'm going to knit the front and back, sew the shoulders together and then pin the sleeves in to make sure they are the correct length. Much easier than getting everything knit and sewn together only to find out that the sleeves have to be rolled up. Yes, I could take out the seams and shorten the sleeves but remember I'm a lazy knitter. It's easier to roll them. :)

And what is the weather tomorrow going to be? I just looked on my iPad and it says 20cm (8") tomorrow and then 5-10cm (2-4") on Wednesday. Are we really getting that much?

Blocking

Last night we went to Niagara Falls. The water was crashing really hard and looked great with the lights. The Falls are such an amazing sight. I think we take them for granted because they are so close.

I just blocked the Inspira Cowl.

I used the new scent Yuzu from Soak. Tart citrus and crushed eucalyptus. My kitchen smells great.

I have it laid out on a Shamwow. It really soaks up the water so the cowl will dry faster.

Today is a busy TV day. The Daytona 500, finals of the golf match play and then The Amazing Race.

The Daytona 500 is finished and I was busy during the race.

I couldn't resist. One project done means I can start another one. This is Eos. The yarn is Rowan's All Seasons Chunky and the patten is in the All Seasons Chunky Collection.

I talked about the Knitter's Frolic yesterday morning. My goal is to wear this at the Frolic. Very doable. I am almost finished the first ball. If I get moving it should take less than a month.

Mr. Melo wanted in the picture. Mr. Roko was sniffing around my work but didn't show his face for the camera.

It is going to be an interesting episode of The Amazing Race tonight. Two teams are going to be starting a long time after the others. The show always tries to bunch them up but I'm sure they didn't think they would have that problem this early in the season.

Mom and dad are heading back to Myrtle Beach this week so we have been watching the weather. It looks like we could see lots of snow on Tuesday. Right now I am reading 15-20cm (6-8"). YUCK!! I'm ready for spring.

Inspira Cowl

I just cast off the cowl. I love it and I think it will go with my purple dress coat.

I will block it tonight with the new scent from Soak called Yuzu.

Pattern: Inspira Cowl
There are three different versions on the patten. I did the middle version.
Yarn: Classic Elite Liberty Wool - 2 balls of 7821 Caribbean Tidepool and 2 balls of 7890 Ultra Violet Autumn
Needles: 5mm, 60cm circular
Stitches: 150

The pattern calls for decreasing but I didn't put any in-my cowl is straight.

I wrote this earlier today and planned on finishing when I got home from work. Plans have changed and there is a road trip happening so I need to sign off. Have a good evening! Daytona 500 tomorrow.

Knitter's Frolic

Don't forget to get the Knitter's Frolic marked on your calendar. It's going to be here before we know it!

Marketplace: Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Workshops: Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario

Ann Budd is the Keynote Instructor for this year’s Frolic.

The Knitter’s Frolic is Toronto’s premiere spring fibre festival organzied by the Downtown Knit Collective.

Featuring a one-day marketplace on Saturday with vendors from across Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Michigan retailing fibre, knitting, crochet products, and related accessories. The Knitter’s Frolic features prize draws, The Knit Cafe, and the beautiful venue of The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre to socialize with like minded fibre enthusiasts.

The Knitter’s Frolic also features two days of workshops for both knitting, crochet, and spinning on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on the Frolic workshops....

Knitting Camp

I've been up for hours and it's only 9am. I have my decaf from Tim's and am sitting down to work on the Camp brochure. It is on my old computer so I'm working on two laptops at once.

I think it is done. Just needs to be proofread. The classes this year are great. Josh is going to be teaching design classes. Fiona has three new classes for us-one on necklines and two on cables. Beth will be teaching yarn dying again.

An email came in from Namaste this morning while I was working.

We have them on order already. When I went to TNNA I used the Devin wristlet in my bag to hold all my medication. The Jemma pouch was great for holding all my change. There are many uses for both.

The Lonely Tree Shawl is growing. I have 14 rows to go and then the edging. There is lots of yarn left so I think I'm going to add in another chart to make the shawl bigger.

We had a great time at the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association dinner last night. Our cousins were there who we haven't seen in a while so it was good catching up.

This is the picture of my Opa that will hang on the wall with the rest of the inductees into the Hall of Fame. Many stories were told about him-some that I haven't heard before.

If you live in Ancaster, don't forget that tomorrow is the annual food drive. Last year they collected 80,000 pounds of food. You can leave donations on your front porch and volunteers will be out picking them up between 9am and 2pm.

Linen Stitch

I picked up my Linen Stitch Scarf last night. People were in yesterday buying yarn for the scarf and it made me want to work on mine.

 I'm totally addicted to this stitch. I can't get enough of it.

We received bad tosh news today. Canada Customs is holding my boxes (it's a really long story) so I need to get my broker involved. Maybe next week the yarn will be here.

Mr. Canpar just delivered a box with some Malabrigo sock and Knitter's Pride knitting needles.

 Piedras

Playa

100 grams per skein, 440 yards per skein. 100 % superwash merino wool.  Needles US 1 - 3 or 2.25mm - 3.25mm Gauge 32.0 sts = 4 inches Machine washable, gentle cycle, cold water, dry flat

On Monday afternoon I put the TV on after our road trip. It was time for General Hospital. I haven't watched in a really long time. Many of the old favourites were back. I had to watch all week to see everyone. It's like old home week.
-Anna
-Luke
-Laura
-Scottie
-Frisco
-Felicia (not a favourite of mine but she's back-Frisco could do so much better)
-Duke
-Lucy
-Heather

I came to work today with a suitcase full of my clothes for tonight. Dinner is at 6pm and I won't have time to get home and change. Don't people have to work? It just hit me that the suitcase was in the car. I better bring it in to warm the clothes up.

Grey's Anatomy tonight. Is the sale going to go through?

Rosemary

Mr. Canada Post just left. The boxes from madelinetosh didn't come. I'm starting to get sad. Are the people who work at Canada Customs going though my tosh and picking out what they want?? I'm just joking. Kind of. :)

There was a box from Della Q.

Now in COTTON PRINT!!! This cute little bag looks great on the arm as you knit on the go. The closure serves as a perfect way to feed your yarn, tangle free! An outer pocket holds any notions.

• Length: 6 inches
• Width: 6 inches
• Height: 8.5 inches

The Rosemary Bag is perfect for your sock knitting.

We also received the bag in 100% Taffeta Silk.

If you want to get your straight needles organized we have more needle cases.

Earlier today my dad called to see if I was watching the golf. He wanted to know what the scores were. I wasn't watching but put on the TV. It had just started to snow. SNOW! Just outside of Tuscon Arizona. They got close to 2". Here is a picture of the TV just after it started. I sent it to my dad because he thought I was joking.

Tomorrow night is a big night for my family. My grandfather is being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association.

The Hamilton-Halton Construction Association initiated the Construction Hall of Fame to recognize excellence of service to building, to the construction community, to its associations, and to the community. Recognized construction industry persons who have participated in the geographic scope of HHCA are eligible

It's too bad that Opa won't be there but we will have a drink for him. :)

Back at it

I'm back to knitting. Last night while watching CSI and then Flipping Vegas my fingers were flying. The cowl is almost done. The first ball of the contrast colour (pinks and purples) has run out. I think I might finish the 12 row pattern and then cast off.

I picked up the Lonely Tree Shawl in the store this afternoon.

The first chart (chart A) is done and I'm onto chart B.

Mr. Canada Post showed up this morning without the boxes from madelinetosh. Where are they??? Hopefully tomorrow.

He did bring in a box from Namaste. There are two new colours in the Laguna bag.

Exterior Pockets? Check. Interior Pockets? Check. Zippered interior divider and detachable shoulder strap? Check. Check. Organizing your craft, work, or kid stuff with your personal items is just another day at the beach with Namaste's Laguna bag. The Laguna has 5 metal feet on the bottom and strong magnetic closures at the top. 

There is a box heading out to Ann tomorrow. She is going to knit in the new Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk DK. I wanted a sweater that will really show off the striping of the yarn.

I really like the colour that it is pictured in but I try to make samples in a different colour. We're going with Ocean.

It's a really cold and windy night in Ancaster. The fireplace is on and I'm going to sit and knit for a while. Hope you are staying warm this evening.

Christmas in February

It was Family Day in Ontario today. The store was closed so Beth and I decided to make a road trip. Square One in Mississauga was open so we went to buy some Lush. It might as well been Christmas. The roads leading into the mall were jammed. JAMMED!! Then trying to get a parking space was crazy. People were cutting each other off. You had to get aggressive or you were never going to get anywhere. We made the executive decision that I was going to drop Beth at the door and drive around until she was done. Bingo. A spot opened right at the door. Talk about a gift. We have a huge bag of Lush. Then we stopped at Panera Bread. I wish there was one closer to us.

I got back to work on the Inspira Cowl. The colours look great.

We are caught up on almost all our shows. There are a few episodes of CSI taped so I'm going to watch one and knit before bed. It's a big day tomorrow. Four boxes of tosh. Kim and I are going to have fun putting it all away.

March to the Top

We're getting ready for The Amazing Race. It's going to be a good one. From the commercials it looks like the first leg is going to be tough.

I'm plugging away on my Inspira Cowl. There is some dizziness when I knit right now (that darn sinus infection) so I can only knit for small periods of time. Maybe it will be better tomorrow.

Here is a program reminder for tomorrow evening.

From my cousin Adam

Check out this documentary that I shot 2nd camera on. Tomorrow night at 8pm on CBC.

We can't wait to see this.

Shalimar

Laura Aylor has a new pattern called Shalimar. I just found it on Ravelry and it is stunning. 

Diana was in this morning and took yarn to knit it for the store.

tosh pashmina in the colour mica

Lace and cables combine to create beautiful curves in this lace stole. A luxury blend of yarn makes this a truly opulent knit.

Shalimar is knit all in one piece from end to end with a knotted fringe that is added last.

Purchase the pattern on Ravelry... 

Diana dropped off Clark Cable-these are from the original set of Soakboxes.

Fiona Ellis designed the fingerless gloves. When Kim put them she commented about the little slit which makes them more comfortable to wear. Fiona thinks of everything.

I finally got the stitches cast on for Beth's Inspira Cowl. She picked it up from the store and knit all afternoon. It is progressing nicely but she doesn't want to show any pictures yet.

I grabbed my phone to try and sneak a picture but Roko had other ideas.

Maybe Beth will share tomorrow.