Blooming Superwash Scarf

The Blooming Cotton Scarf Pattern by Eunny Jang

The colors I chose!

So many colors, so much fun! If you're like me and have some trouble with tension when doing color work, try this pattern. Because you're only using one strand per round, you don't have to juggle multiple strands. It's all ingenious slipped stitches. The pattern is easy to remember and it's easy to see where you are in the pattern, thanks to all those colors!

The scarf is knit in the round, then cut and partially unraveled to create the fringe. See Below.

I've decided not to do the full pattern and knit only half the width of the scarf. I've also decided to sew a fabric backing onto the scarf. The back of the scarf has all those wonderful carried strands from the slipped stitches and seem prone to snagging.

Pretty green fabric

More on all this once the scarf is totally finished.

Wavy

Wavy Scarf Pattern from Handmaiden

This was a super easy quick knit. Urban Yarns has tons of this Fleece Artist yarn. The yarn I used was Merino 2/6 with AngelHair(mohair) in the Peacock colorway. The 2 separate skeins are sold together with the idea that you knit with both yarns at the same time. My favorite part was watching the colors change. So pretty.

Happy New Year!

The first FO of the year!

This gray scarf is a gift for my sister. Not really a late X-mas gift.... A simple 'just because' gift. (Basically, I asked if she wanted me to knit her anything and this is what she requested.) It is so. Freaking. SOFT. Chunky Baby Alpaca yarn... *drool* I'll be sending it off in the mail soon!

I've got a bunch of projects lined up and it's just a matter of choosing which ones to work on. I am going to try very hard to not spend any extra money this year which means I'll be working on slimming down my stash.

For starters!

I'm going to knit this.....

Which I found in this....

And I'm going to knit it with this.

Eri's Clapotis and Muskox Qiviuq Yarn

Eri's Clapotis.....

....In Drops Alpaca.

I love giving gifts. This past weekend became a series of impromptu gift exchanges. My Fella's sister and fiance came out from Courtenay to visit and I also spent some tasty-food, quality time with my good friend Eri. She was kind enough to model her new clapotis for photos. (Thanks Eri!)

Eri brought something for me too. Of course, what would a knitter love more than the gift of yarn!

100% Muskox Qiviuq Yarn from Folknits.

This is no ordinary yarn however. It is Muskox yarn. Muskox. I had no idea. I checked out the Folknits website and it said "Qiviuq is one of the finest, lightest and rarest fibres in the world." How cool is that? I am being very careful with what pattern I choose to knit with this. It will be a scarf for sure, possibly a slim version of the Clapotis... Oh! This yarn is absolutely gorgeous. It smells a bit different from other yarns. More like home, earthy and warm. I am in love with this yarn. The natural color of the yarn is so pretty too. It's a very subtle gray-brown, very sophisticated in a cashmere kind of way. Really, I can't say enough about this yarn. I'm going to savor it and not rush through knitting it. I'm still resisting winding it into a cake. =)

Gifties

I thought I'd show some bits and bites of gifts I've been working on for the upcoming holiday season. I won't say what's what (I'm sure you can tell what they are anyway...) or for whom. Let's not ruin the surprise!

Debbie Bliss - Alpaca Silk

Drops Alpaca in Deep Red

Socks That Rock

And a pretty gift I received from the lovely Angela over at Food and Yarn. Thanks Angela!

Best Angela Ever

Eeek! Socks That Rock!

That is the Angela over at Food and Yarn. How come? Because she has brought me a cool pattern and pretty sock yarn. *Swoon* How sweet is that? The pattern is The Mystic Sea by Cass White. So pretty. And the yarn! Blue Moon Fiber Arts - Socks That Rock. (I don't know what the colorway is called though...Nodding Violet I think?)

The Mystic Sea by Cass White

Yarn Cake!

Squamish Getaway

Sloan, David and Ian

Well my Fella got whisked away this weekend with me and a couple of friends to Squamish, BC for his surprise birthday weekend. (Specifically, it was a joint birthday weekend because Ian and Sloan share the same birth date!) We stayed at this cool little hostel called Squamish Inn on the Water and we took in the sites and hiked around at Shannon Falls.

The Birthday boy on his hiking adventure

Me taking a dip in cold river water after a good hike!

We also had time to check out the little shops downtown and of course, I found a yarn shop. Not just any yarn shop mind you, a yarn shop-slash-gelato cafe called Gelato Carina! (604-815-4448)

Noro Cashmere Island in Color #5

Which is where I found nine skeins of this lovely Cashmerino Noro. Mmm, I've already got a sweater in mind for it too.... Possibly the Eyelet Pullover from the Fall 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting.

And speaking of sweater, there has been good progress on my Fella's Cobblestone Pullover. I may have pictures to post soon...

Bird-colored yarn and a hit of lace

Testudo from C*EYE*BER Fiber's Project Spectrum Sock Yarn Club

I love this yarn! I am totally in love with the colors. It very much reminds me of the Pink Galah birds I saw while I was in Australia. I know it's sock yarn but I am tempted to use it to make something other than socks.... What to do, what to do...

Swallowtail Shawl - Budding Lace Pattern Close-up

Lately I have been having a hankering for some lace knitting. After sifting through patterns I found this one in the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits. I am knitting it on needles that are 1.5mm smaller than called for in the pattern. I could end up with more of a neck scarf than a shawl, which will be fine with me. I am using Alchemy Yarns Haiku (40% silk/ 60% mohair). *Drool*

Bee and Allium

I am afraid of bees. Mostly when then fly into the apartment. But with gentle coaxing from my Fella and sheer determination to get this shot, I got up close enough to get a decent shot. It helped that the little guy was so busy he didn't seem to notice.

More silk!

Tussah Silk - Handspun on my poplar drop spindle

One of the wonderful ladies I work with brought me a bagful of tussah silk roving. (She had no use for it and wanted it to go to some use.) I am a happy girl, let me tell you! This is the first time I've spun silk and it's easy, I really like it. And the color! Such a pretty color. *Sigh*

Tide Pool from C*EYE*BER Fiber's Cake of the Month Club

Here is some yarn I forgot I bought! That happens sometimes when I order things online. I forget about the order and then.... Surprise in the mail! I love getting mail. Especially in the form of yarn.

Hope everyone is having a good Canada Day weekend! I stayed at home to avoid the crowds... Aren't I exciting? Woo!