Happy Birthday Mom

Yesterday was my mom's birthday.  We don't mention the number any more.  She stopped counting at 50.  :)  I did remember to call her yesterday but I forgot to add it in my post.

Many have been asking when the new Kim Hargreaves magazine Whisper will be arriving.  I was told this morning that it should be here at the beginning of June.  From Kim's website

Minimal simplicity merges with edgy style, whilst shades of black and white offer a sharp contrast to pretty feminine designs.

Last night I worked on the Frill Seeker scarf but I had to keep taking my hands off the knitting to work the converter.  I managed to get through the three hour episode of Celebrity Apprentice from a week ago.  There was a lot of fast forwarding.  The best part of the show was the boardroom in the last half an hour.  I am so glad that Star is gone.  She really thinks highly of herself.

Normally Beth works the converter but she is in British Columbia for two weeks for her business.  The dogs are staying with my parents so I have a very empty house.

Ms. Canada Post just came in with a box of Saki from Prism.  There are four Layers colours.  From Laura

This method produces just that, layer upon layer of color that reads as solid from a distance, but reveals all of its subtle glory upon closer examination

In the basket are
-Plumberry (darkest purple)
-Peony (pink/purple)
-Woodrose
-Mist (in real life it is more periwinkle than blue but I have lost the charger for my camera and am using my phone right now)

I'm picturing two scarves (both Purl Diving patterns) made up in the new colours.

Calsada-one skein of Saki is enough

Amalia-the large version is pictured which takes two skeins of sock yarn. A smaller version is also on the pattern and you can make it with one skein.

While writing this I received word from Prism that they have a new laceweight yarn coming out.  The order has gone in and I will give you more details when it arrives.  If you like laceweight yarn you are going to like this one.  The colours are amazing!!!

Mr. Canpar just walked in with four boxes.  I better hit Publish and start putting yarn away.

Blocking

Yesterday afternoon Katherine Matthews (Purl Diving) delivered her two new patterns to the store.

Les Vignes

A lace shawl, that can be worked as either a traditional  triangle with 2 panels or as a "triple triangle" shawl with 3 panels; instructions and charts are given for both versions, in large and small sizes. For Intermediate knitters with some lace knitting experience.

The shawl is knit in sock yarn.

Mala

A lace cowl, with written and charted instructions for large and small sizes. For Intermediate knitters with some lace knitting experience.

The cowl is also knit in sock yarn.

I finished the Zig Zag Tam from Classic Elite some time ago but didn't block it.  Last night I decided to do it.  First it had a 10 minute bath in Soak. Then I took it out and put a dinner plate inside of it.  This helped to stretch it out.

Here it is in the bright sunlight.  Beth was not cooperating or I would have taken a picture of the hat on her head.

The first thing on my to do list for this afternoon is a nap.  I will set my alarm to wake up for the Nascar Race/golf/NCAA basketball. A rest is needed so that I can stay up tonight to watch The Amazing Race and Celebrity Apprentice.

Another Scarf

Emma brought Calsada in earlier today.  The yarn is so soft!!  I'm thinking that this will definitely be MY scarf.

I switched it around and added a pin.  I love the colour but there isn't a colour from Prism that I don't like.

Beth and I went to Chapters when I got home from work.  Beth loves to read and once she starts a book she doesn't put it down until finished. Cathy gave her a book by Lee Child for Christmas and since then she has finished six of his books.  Tonight she bought three more.  While she was looking for books I spent my time in the magazine section going through knitting magazines.  Wow.  There were a lot of magazines available.  I bought knitscene-winter/spring 2011.  From their website

Simple-but-clever knitting can lead to really cool results. The newest issue of Knitscene exemplifies this philosophy with 26 projects that will entice crafters of all skill levels—from stockinette to basic Fair Isle to quick one-skeiners with sparkle. The silhouettes are interesting and modern. The yarns are on-trend and fun to work with. The style is free—because you’re a free spirit. 

I like the belvedere cardigan, paperboy cardigan, camellia shrug....

There were no books for me but I did download the newest Jilly Cooper book onto my iPad when I got home.  This will keep my occupied for some time.

No knitting was accomplished last night.  I was in bed by 9pm.  On a Friday night.  How pathetic!!!  I am going to pick up my needles now and watch a few episodes of Criminal Minds.

Finished projects x 3

Things got away from me yesterday and it was bed time before I realized that I forgot to post.  To make up for it I have lots of pictures today.

Emma posted this on Ravelry yesterday and gave me permission to show the picture

I finished blocking Calsada today. This is a really easy scarf pattern, you knit the edging first and then the short row body of the scarf. It is an interesting construction, although I found that I needed to go down two needle sizes as it was going to be massive. It took me a while to figure out how to block it, but it turned out nicely. Here is a pic of it blocking:

Calsada is a design from Katherine Matthews (Purl Diving).  I really wanted this scarf but knew that Emma would knit it faster (and do a better job) than I would do.  The yarn is Prism Saki in the Cabernet colourway.  It is funny that Emma is bringing the scarf in tomorrow-a box just arrived from Prism with 10 different Saki colourways.

A parcel arrived from Lynda this morning.

Pattern:  Valentine Cardi designed by Laura Chau. Pattern from Spud & Chloe
Yarn:  5 skeins Spud & Chloe Fine
Colour:  7819 Orangutan
Size:  Medium

I really wish I would remember to send buttons to my knitters.  I didn't have time to sew any on today so I have used a shawl pin from Romi.

Take a look at the scarf!!

It is finished (even the ends are sewn in)

Pattern:  Hitchhiker Scarf (you can purchase this pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn:  1.5 skeins of Prism Saki 

Colour:  Portofino

Needles:  3.25mm

And a close up.  I really like how the colours came out.

A finished project means that I can start something new!!  I am going to show some restraint though and try and get another project finished over the weekend-the tosh pashmina scarf I am knitting.

Amalia

I started this post yesterday morning.  When I got to work it was a busy day-mail orders, updating website, returning phone calls, placing orders...  After work Beth and I had dinner with our parents and then I had 9 boxes to pack.  Somehow I forgot to hit Publish.

It was an early morning for me.  I woke up at 7:30 (I have no clue why) to hear the snow blowers outside.  Our driveway is cleaned for us-part of our condo fee.  It is a real pain when they clean around our vehicles. I got up and cleaned off our trucks and moved them into visitor parking. This way we will come home to a clean driveway.  Unfortunately I couldn't find any mittens so my hands were very, very cold.

When I got to work Cathy had done an amazing job straightening and moving things around.  I think she lives to do that.  :)

There was a box from Lynda with a couple of scarves that she knit for the store.  Scarf one today and the other for later in the week.

This is Amalia from Purl Diving.

Lynda used two skeins of Bearfoot from Mountain Colors in the colour Ladyslipper.

I used a shawl pin from Annie Adams for a different look.

Yesterday afternoon Cathy unpacked a box containing

Triana
Unfortunately we only received
46 Violet
45 Fuchsia
40 Cream
49 Black

This is how much knitting I accomplished while away. You might not think it is much but for me this is a lot. Normally my time away is spent reading.

Pattern: Hitchhiker Scarf (available for purchase on Ravelry)
Yarn: Prism Saki
Needles: 3.25mm 80cm long Lantern Moon Ebony circular

The pattern is easy to follow-great for traveling.

Aldred part two

This morning I finished casting off Aldred.  All ends have been sewn in (before Wannietta and/or Rhonda make a comment) and I am wearing it. Love it!!  Want another.  Which colour will I take home?

I made a few modifications to the pattern.  I wanted my tails longer so I did 36 repeats, not 32.  When I was doing the short rows it says to work 3 more stitches than the row before and turn-I did 4.

This morning dad came to hang our pictures in the dining room. We will be adding more pictures in the spring and we were worried that the new ones might not be exactly the same size.  To balance that out we hung them all at different heights.

Jane and her family just left after Christmas dinner.  The food was good and the company was great.

Last year Jane made me a Kaffe Fassett afghan to hang on the wall.  This year she quilted me a wall hanging in Kaffe Fassett fabric.  It is the perfect size to hang over my bed. Another job for dad this week.  :)

It's done

Here is Aldred with all the ends sewn in.  I really like how the curved edge makes the scarf sit.

Liberty is a great yarn to knit with.  And there is a bonus-the yarn is superwash.

The edging is done on my next scarf and I will be picking up tonight for the centre.  This scarf is in colour 7893-Rainforest.

Ms. Canada Post came in with a few boxes this morning including the long awaited box from Namaste.  Very cute. Someone asked me if a passport would fit in the front pocket and the answer is yes.

It's knitting time and there is a great football game on tonight.

One down and another started

Beth is watching Glee in the other room while I am typing. It is very distracting. I have only watched one episode but have listened to a few more. I keep asking for updates on who the characters are.  She is getting mad at me and told me to stop typing and come out and watch if I am that interested in the show.

Before starting my post I did a quick look on Ravelry to see if I was missing anything.  Here is a link to the complete preview of Spring/Summer 2011.

This afternoon I finished my Noble Cowl.  I am very happy with the finished product. Blocking is needed but I am going to display it in the store for a few days first.

The pattern said to cast off loosely so I used a 6mm instead of the 4mm the cowl was knit on. The cowl is on the mannequin upside down with the looser edge on the shoulders.

I love the idea of a shawl pin on the cowl and picked a nickel pin from Romi.

Now that the cowl is done I can get to work on a new project.  Aldred from Katherine Matthews.  The shawl/scarf is shown in Liberty from Classic Elite.

The pattern will be in the store next week.

I am also using Liberty. First the edging is knit and then you pick up for the body of the shawl. The body is worked in short rows that Katherine explains in an easy to follow manner.

I can not believe the song that they are currently singing on Glee.  Dirty Dancing. Seriously??

Purl Diving

Somedays I struggle to find things to write about and then I have enough for three posts.  Today I am going to talk about some exciting news.  We are going to be carrying Purl Diving patterns from Katherine Matthews.  Last week while in Woodstock Karen from Shall We Knit suggested that I look at them because they sell very well in her store.  My patterns will be arriving sometime on Saturday.

Katherine has given me permission to use her copyrighted photos.  I am also giving you Katherine's descriptions-she can write about the patterns much better than I can.  :)

Calsada knit in fingering weight yarn. I can't wait to see this knit in Prism Saki. Or Tosh Sock. Or Tanis Sock.

Garter stitch rectangles alternate with lace in this feminine shoulder scarf, giving it the look of paving stones, or calsada as they are known in Portuguese. The edging combines with garter stitch short rows to create a graceful arc and give the scarf depth at the back of the neck.

Calsada comes in one size, and the pattern includes both written and charted instructions. For the adventurous intermediate knitter.

Amalia-small version
Again knit in fingering weight yarn on 4mm needles.

A wider edging with the lace worked on both sides combines with garter stitch short rows in a shoulder shawl designed to unleash the inner fadista in any adventurous intermediate knitter.

Amalia can be made in two sizes (large size information given in parentheses), and the pattern includes both written and charted instructions.

 And Amalia in the large version.

I asked Katherine for some information on herself because her name might be new to many of you.

Katherine Matthews has been designing patterns since the late-1990s.  As well as being an independent pattern publisher under the Purl Diving banner, she has had designs published in the Knitter’s Magazine books Kids - Kids - Kids: 40 Winning Patterns from the Knitter's Magazine Contest and Socks - Socks - Socks: 70 Winning Patterns from Knitter's Magazine Contest.

She is currently an active member of the Ravelry online knitting community, where she can be found under the user name “purldiving”.

Her designs are often inspired by images, patterns and colors found in the movies (particularly Bollywood and other Indian cinema genres), paintings, nature and architectural elements she loves – many of which she experienced while living in France and travelling around Europe.

Takenoko
Knit in Noro Sekku.  The scarf takes one ball and three balls are needed for the shawl.

This stitch pattern reminded me of bamboo shoots, hence the name, “Takenoko”, which is the Japanese word for “baby bamboo”. Instructions are given for a scarf and a rectangular wrap/shawl. Note that the yarn amounts do not include enough to swatch – the scarf, which uses all of one ball of Sekku, would work well as a swatch.

As many of you know I don't really like Noro (okay, I have a small Noro problem-I can't get enough of it).

The colours look amazing in the shawl.

I'm thinking of trying the new Noro Kirimeki for this.

Momiji
Knit from one skein of Lorna's Laces Pearl (51% silk, 49% bamboo)
I already have my skein picked out.

Momiji is the Japanese word for their variety of Maple tree, with its delicately lacy red leaves, which the lace in this pattern calls to mind.

Also included is a bonus lace scarf pattern for the same yarn, which may be better suited to some of the busier colourways.

Roman Holiday Scarf
This is the bonus scarf on the Momiji pattern.

Scarborough Dude Scarf
The scarf was knit in 3 balls of Noro Silk Garden Lite.  There have been rumours that this yarn is discontinued.  Technically it is but will be coming back again this spring. We still have lots of stock and new colours will be added.

When my friend Ken, AKA “The Scarborough Dude”, celebrated his 60th birthday, I knew I wanted to do something to mark the milestone, so I decided to create a scarf in his honour.

I knew that what was needed was something that involved a little bit of thinking outside the box, something a little out of the ordinary, something that moved in an unexpected direction, and yet something which left you with a good feeling in the end – much like Ken himself. And, in a nod to his many years spent in Japan and his continuing connection to the country, its people and its culture, I knew the yarn had to be Japanese.

I settled on Noro Silk Garden Lite: a blend of noble materials – wool, silk and mohair – and known for unusual and surprising colourways.

Like Ken, the end result speaks eloquently for itself.

Precious
One ball of Superior from Filatura di Crosa.  70% cashmere and 30% silk.  How can this be bad?

While knitting up the original of this lace scarf during a knit 'n chat evening at the local yarn shop, one of the other knitters gave the pattern its name: “It’s just so precious!” she said.

I can't wait for Saturday. Katherine and her husband Rob are going to visit and bring the patterns.