Some finished projects...

In my previous post, I said that I would spend some time finishing projects, and I did.

I have finished this scarf for my niece (she's really into green this season). I used Knit Picks Imagination in Frog Prince (this product line was a huge hit and was sold out very quickly. I was lucky enough to place my order on time and have two skeins of several colours). It is a simple k8 p8 basket weave stitch.

I have also finished a pair of socks (of course I would go back to knitting socks). I found this yarn during one of my summer day trips. The yarn is by Titan Wool and it's called Pays (country in french). Larisa at Headwater Wool shared her Russian Knitting technique with me. She even wrote a book about it. Not only is she very busy at the shop, but she also has an alpaca farm and sells her yarn at the shop. She also gives knitting lessons (her website has a few tutorials on it).

I have also finished another scarf for myself in this basket waeve stitch. I haven't blocked it, and I think I won't either, as I love the raised effect it creates. The yarn I used for this was from Cherry Tree Hill and the colour is Spanish Moss. I just love it!

Here are two more scarves I completed, but I can't remember the yarn I used.

A must read post...

While blog surfing today, I came across this gem of a post.

http://cabincovechristmas.com/

Another felting attempt...

I wasn't expecting much from this project, as I knew the recipient would definitely not be critical. I just made a large rectangle, and then picked up stitches all around it with a circular needle. I knitted for about six inches, and then started decreasing (quite unevenly on some rows, I might add). Finally, it ended looking like this...

Since it was knitted with 100% wool ( Lopi), I decided to throw it in the washer in hot water for a spin. Boy did that thing ever shed! Big lumps of hair everywhere in the washer and on it too. I had to remove the hair bits before giving it to Lizzie. It didn't shrink by much either. Oh well, just another felting experiment, and as long as Lizzie is happy, I'm happy. Doesn't she look happy?

This coming week, I'm planning on finishing as many unfinished projects as possible. Yup, that's right. I have way too many of those hanging around the house. Besides, some of those projects are Christmas gifts, and there's not much time left before Christmas.

First attempt at felting

Although this is not a new project (I finished knitting it last December), I finally completed it this week. What was meant to be a Nintendo DS case, and be a rectangonal shape that closes at the side....ended up looking quite the opposite...
It was knitted with KnitPick's Palette yarn (100% wool), and I put in in the washer in hot water for one cycle. I didn't expect the ribbing to come out so flat (mind you, I had never felted before so I really had no idea how it would come out) and make it so wide. The other thing I didn't expect either was that the lenght would shrink so much (it was knitted with larger needles that was called for, so I was expecting some shrinkage but not that much). I guess a test swatch would have helped. Knit and learn...

Visit to the Historical Acadian Village

I just came back from a week's vacation in New-Brunswick, along with my sister and my two nieces. We drove from Toronto . Looooots of driving.

Anyways, one of the many places we visited was the Historical Acadian Village. I've always wondered why I couldn't find antique knitting needles. Well it turns out, the Acadians were using wood needles...

Of course, they were making their own yarn...

Spinning...
And were using all natural plant dyes... I wish I knew what plants created each of these vibrant colours.

Discovering dishcloths

Yes I know, it's a bit late to discover dishcloths. I've never really followed trends much.

I think I just needed a break from wool (and socks too) and wanted to knit cotton for a change. I decided to do quick projects, in case I started missing wool and/or socks, and thought:" Why not dishcloths?". I have done about a dozen so far, and here are a few...

and the second baby's here....

Here's little Nathan, my second nephew within a month. He was born two weeks after Pierre Elliot. After years of having two nieces, I'll have to get used to have little nephews. Since I only had sisters, I have no clue what little boys are like. Oh well, I guess i'll have to find out.

Welcome Pierre Elliot, and other updates

Please welcome my little nephew Pierre Elliot. He was born on April 29th and weighs about eight pounds (lost a few ounces after birth). Both him and mom are now home, and settling in a routine soon, I hope.

His little hat wasn't knitted by yours truly, but by a hospital volunteer. Little Pierre Elliot had skilfully concealed his gender by hiding it behind the umbilical cord, so no gender specific gifts were knitted for him until his birth.

Lots of knitted projects are on the way for the little one. Here's one...

I've tried to take a close-up, but the camera doesn't seem to like either the stitches, or the colour. I'll try again later...

In other knitterly news.... I got my Wee Tiny Sock! Thanks Emily! So sorry it took a bit to post about it. I just love it! Thank you, thank you!

Wee Tiny Sock Swap

This year again, I just couldn't pass up the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. I made mine with Applelaine of course, Army Surplus. Here's a pic of my Wee Tiny Sock, and my Wee Tiny Sophie. Now if onlyI could I figure out how to get the button up on my sidebar...
Also, you can check the Wee Tiny Socks here on Flickr.

Gone Applelaine mad!

I have just completed another pair of socks (for myself), in Applelaine of course. For some reason, these were from the same dye lot but ended up looking somewhat different colours. It's not a huge difference, but still a difference.

I knew I had some more of another similar colour in my stash, and thought I may had gotten two different colours for this pair of socks. But no I hadn't. Then I realized: "OMG I have so much Applelaine!" Other than the skeins in this pic, I also have another 5 skeins, and four more skeins winded in balls, ready to become socks. Oh well, Christmas presents for this year....

DR architectural details...

Flowers from DR

Since today is a rainy day, here are some flowers to cheer you up...

Back from DR...

A few quick pics as promised, before I attack a huge load of laundry. More to come later this week...

Off for March Break....

My DH and I are off to Dominican Republic for a week. We'll be staying in Puerto Plata. I certainly hope our flight is not delayed, or cancelled, as we're having yet another snow storm.

I'll be back in a week with lots of pictures to share...

New pairs of socks

A few weeks ago, an old "friend" decided to show up uninvited: arthritis. My hands and feet were all puffy, stiff and painful. After a visit to my family doctor, I was back on anti-inflamatory after a twelve year break. After a week on it, I was less swollen, feeling better but still had some pain. He told me about this new painkiller on the market that seems to be exactly what I needed. I would be his first patient to use it, and he seemed quite confident it would help me. He was right, Ralivia took care of the pain, and now I'm off the anti-inflamatories. This drug is as precise as a swiss watch. It's a slow release for 24 hours, and it's painkilling effects wear off in almost exactly 24 hours. Anyways, all of that to say if your current arthritis treatment no longer satisfies you, there are new treatments available.

Now that I'm knitting again, I finished two pairs of socks, and both are for myself. They're both made with Applelaine yarn, which knits up (and washes) so wonderfully. I've had great comments from the people who received my Applelaine socks this Christmas.
This first pair is "Purple Haze", and for some reason seems a bit darker on this picture than it actually is. The colour is more of a lavendar tone. I've also put the sock on an antique sock stretcher I found in Mont St-Hilaire this summer. I always thought that my feet were small but the stretcher is smaller than the sock.

The second pair is in "Cotton Candy" and the colour name served as my inspiration. I could just see the sugar crystals forming in the cotton candy, and then from candy I thought of candy wrappers. So off I went cabling alternating candy wrappers. I'm content of the results, but I should have knitted a few stockinette rows in between the top row and the second row of candy wrappers. The candy wrappers would be more visible, as they now seem to meet and twist sohewhat.