Frolicking Aftermath

So despite that I had a much better idea of what to expect at the Knitter’s Frolic from last year I was still completely overwhelmed as was my friend Mel (but it was her first time). Due to being so overwhelmed by the yarn and sheer number of knitters I took almost no pictures. I did however remember to think to get a picture of Miko (from the Purple Purl) in THE Tiger Dress.

I did hit up the booths of Viola, Tanis and Indigodragonfly but only came home with yarn from one of those three, Indigodragonfly. I love the names of her yarns and the are the reason why I bought these ones.

“Curse you sudden but inevitable betrayal (Wash)” is a merino/cashmere/silk blend:And the second yarn I snapped up is a merino sock that screamed Sean’s name as the colourway is called “Just one Stanley Cup in my lifetime; is that too much to ask?” and is in his team’s colours. 

I also drooled over and then decided to bring home some Habu yarn which I have been wanting to try for ages. This is their silk/stainless steel blend and is quite a unique yarn due to the stainless steel content. I bought three cones to keep my options open as I need to find a project that will suit this yarn and I will enjoy knitting. This colour is one of my most favourite shades of red.

I also picked up a bottle of Soak, some beautiful buttons from AB Originals and a Knitter’s Frolic tote!

Knitter’s Frolic is coming up!

This weekend is the Knitter’s Frolic and Sean has agreed to drive me there bright and early (we also have a vet appointment in the early afternoon). My friend Mel is going to catch a ride with us, which reminds me I should send her the details.

This year I am very excited (now that I know what to expect) and have already started a little shopping list. I would like to get some wooden buttons for two different sweaters. One I completed this weekend and all that is missing is the buttons; the other is in progress. I also wanted to check out the booths for Viola, Indigodragonfly and Tanis along with seeing if any Japanese stitchionaries are available.

I shall share the aftermath on Saturday or Sunday. It depends entirely on when the yarn fumes wear off.

February, March and April Packages

It would appear that I have not been keeping up with the yarn packages I have received in the mail and it is not as it I don’t get at least one a month thanks to the Bare Naked Knitspot (BNK) club I am in.

February:

The first package of BNK was two lovely skeins of merino as well as a special sized project bag by Three Bags Full (she makes my favourite project bags; I have several of them). This was turned into a lovely baby blanket but since it is not a superwash yarn I don’t want to give it to a new mother since it cannot be thrown in the washing machine so I am using it as a lovely little lap blanket. I sadly have no photos of it to show you at the moment.

March:

The second BNK package had two skeins of Great Northern Yarn’s Yak. It is a beautiful colour and Anne gave us many options to make including a slouchy toque, fingerless gloves, a scarf and a neckwarmer. I have made the neckwarmer and gifted it to Sean for our third anniversary. It should keep his neck and jaw very warm in the winter! I intend to eventually make the slouchy toque for myself (although I will need to pick up a small circular to accomplish this). The yarn seems okay as you knit it up but transforms amazingly into a light soft yarn with a beautiful halo once washed and blocked.

April:

This month’s package is some lovely Alpaca, merino and nylon in fingering that was custom spun for this club! It is deliciously soft and yes it going to become a pair of socks! For me of course.

The other package I received is four more skeins of Great Northern Yarn’s Yak as I really loved the fabric it made for the neckwarmer and it was $5 off a skein. How can I say no to that! I received a little note in that package from Craig (the owner) saying that they will be coming out with silk/merino yarn soon!

Bare Naked Knitspot

I really enjoyed Knitspot’s Fall in Full Colour Club, so when it was announced she was going to have another club starting from February to July I was certainly interested. Then I found out it was going to be about natural undyed fibres and that the focus of the club was to learn about each different fibre we received and a pattern designed to best work with that particular fibres characteristics, I was sold. I think it is a great way to learn about different yarns and fibres and then apply that knowledge with a project.

Should be interesting to see what the next six months of clubbing with Knitspot will bring! I am awaiting the arrival of the first package as they have been sent out already!

Echo of Bells

Pattern: Echo of Bells by Anne Hanson as December’s Fall in Full Colour Club project

Made for: still unknown

Size: Tall

Yarn: Great Northern Yarns 70% Mink 30% cashmere yarn in Rhododendron

Needles: 3.5mm circulars

Started: Dec 24/11       Finished: Dec 31/11

This was the last project of 2011 that I officially finished as it was blocked on New Year’s eve.  This is a keyhole scarf which makes use of a small amount of luxury yarn. There is also a set of wristwarmer that go with the pattern and enough yarn leftover to make them.

This yarn is absolutely delicious but is a bit deceiving about it’s true nature. It doesn’t look all that special when you start working with it except that is unbelievably soft. But after a nice blocking it gets this beautiful halo of fuzz that is just sumptuous!

Frankie was kind enough to be the model for this project and was very good about not licking the yarn.

Fishbone Gansey Sock

Pattern: Fishbone Gansey Sock by Anne Hanson

Made for: Dad

Size: XL

Yarn: 1.18 skeins of Malibrigo Yarn Sock in Azules

Needles: 2mm dpns

Started: July 22/11       Finished: Dec 22/11

Modifications: The length of the leg is 9″ instead of the recommended 10″ (I got tired of knitting ribbing).

This was Dad’s 2011 xmas present. I ended up needing a second skein to finish these (it is what happens when your father not only is a size 11 foot but also has fat feet) and even though the skein was the same dye lot it looked very different than the first skein (it had more purple). Luckily I didn’t have to switch until the foot of the second sock so most people won’t even notice. As per usual Anne Hanson’s patterns are very enjoyable to knit with great instructions.

Malabrigo is my Dad’s favourite sock yarn even though it is not the most optimal choice for the feet. I have told him I am going to start looking at different sock yarns trying to find a nice balance between soft which he likes and durability which I like. Hey, if I am going to spend all this time knitting a huge pair of socks they better last for years is all I am saying.

The January Packages

The last package for the Fall in Full Colour Club arrived on the 16th (the day before the pattern was released) and what a lovely package it was. Inside was a lovely skein of handspun yarn by NewHue Handspun called BamHuey Lace in a colourway called “Crystal”. It also arrived with a Woolen Rabbit Handcream that smells like basil and does an excellent job at softening up the hands. I brought it to work where it will get the most use as that is where my hands dry out the most due to all the glove changing.

The yarn is going to become a very beautiful half hexagon shawl. I haven’t completely decided my opinion about this yarn and think I will save it until after it has been blocked. And yes I know I am very behind in posting the finished products of the other months! Hopefully I will be playing catch up in the next few weeks.

Another package came in the mail this month that had nothing to do with the club but contained the yarn I ordered for Sean’s Whitfield Jacket. I’ve already cast on as I want to get a head start on all my presents for 2012. The yarn is Briar Rose’s Robusta that I mentioned earlier I had custom dyed by Chris. The yarn is scrumptious and the colour has gorgeous depth. It is going to be one very warm jacket.

Backwards, Forwards

So last January I wrote about intentions since I don’t do resolutions. The first one was to clean up my projects and get better at completing them in a reasonable amount of time. I think I have improved upon this. I did frog a lot of projects during 2011 that I knew I was never going to complete and I have been keeping a reasonable number of projects on the needles, trying to finish one before starting another. I also believe I have gotten much better at finishing projects. The proof? I finished 23 projects in 2011 compared to the 12 in 2010 (which in itself was a big number at the time).

The other intention was to document all my stash in Ravlery. Mission was accomplished and to keep it up I have been adding the yarn to Ravelry as I purchase it.

This year my biggest intention is to have my three holiday gift projects done before November 1st. I have purchased the yarn for one last September and just need to start. The second one I have just completed a custom order with Briar Rose for some Robusta and Sean got to pick the colourway (Chris from Briar Rose is awesome) and I think I’m sure about the third but nothing is in cement yet.

And other than that I just plan to keep up on last years intentions since it worked out so well as not only am I a bit more organized and have more finished objects but I am happy with the results as well.

Sunnyside Cardigan & Cabled Toque

(In case you are wondering todays finished object post describes two finished objects)

Pattern: cabled Sunnyside Cardigarn by Tanis Lavallée and a variation on Basic Toque by Ann Budd

Made for: Mandi and Brian’s newly arrived baby boy

Size: 3-6 months for the sweater and 0-6 months for the toque

Yarn: Tanis Fibre Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in Lemongrass

Needles: 3mm circulars and dpns

Gauge: 30sts/4inches

Started: July 30/11(sweater)           November 6/11(toque)

Finished: August 13/11(sweater)     November 8/11(toque)

Modifications: For the sweater I continued cable down side “seams” as it just seemed natural to do so. For the toque I added in a cable and fudged the number of stitches cast on.

This was made and gifted before the baby and therefore before the sex of the baby was known. This was gifted in November and yes I know I am only now posting about it. What can I say I am very behind (and on more finished objects than just this) but I can report that  Xavier is very cute! I would also like to state that I love the lady bug buttons!

The December Package

The Fall in Full Colour package for December had a little something extra special in it: Great Northern Yarns 70% Mink/20% Cashmere yarn in a colour called Rhododendron (exclusive to the club of course). This is a yarn that I’ve heard a lot about but have yet to have a chance to try until now! I was so excited when it arrived. Also in the package where Unicorn Fibre Wash and Rinse samples. There are many interesting and delicious properties that make up this yarn but I will save sharing those for another day!