Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Shamrock Coaster

I decided to do a quick stocking stuffer for my Mom for Christmas:  a shamrock coaster.  It only took a couple of hours at the most.  Given her Irish heritage I'm sure that she'll like it and that it will come in handy.  I'm calling this project finished but I'm thinking about adding a border, maybe an attached I-cord, to help square up the coaster and smooth out the edges..


THE DETAILS

a free pattern by Kris Patay

Size:   6" square

Needles: US #3/3.25 mm

Color #67 - Sage Green
DK Weight
40% Cotton
30% Rayon
30% Hemp
~ 1/3 of the ball was used

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Hey Kids....

....let's all go to Hooter's for dinner!
Calgary, November 26, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Baby Booties for Jamie & Amanda

Jamie and Amanda, friends of my daughter and son-in-law, are expecting their second baby in about 2 weeks.  It's a boy.  I wanted to make a small baby gift for them and Christine's Stay-On baby booties was the ideal pattern.  My daughter loved the pair she received when her son was born, thanks to my friend, Sheila.


THE DETAILS

Pattern: Christine's Stay On Baby-Booties
by Christine Bourquin
Free pattern, click here.

Made for: Jamie and Amanda's baby due Dec. 12, 2011 

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Fingering weight
Color #340059 Teal
Color #340100 Off-white
(less than a ball of each color) 
Plus about 5 yards of pale blue Sandnesgarn Lanett

Needles: US #1/2.25mm 


Notes: After the foot was finished I did the following:
Knit 3 rounds in teal.
Worked eyelet round for the shoelaces.
Knit 2 rounds in teal.
Knit 1 round in off-white.
Worked 2x2 ribbing in white for 22 rounds.
Purl 1 round in baby blue.
Work 1 round, 2x2 ribbing in baby blue.
Purl 1 round in off-white.
Work 2 rounds in 2x2 ribbing in off-white.
Cast off loosely in ribbing. 

The ribbing is folded in half to create a cuff. 

Shoelaces: 2-stitch I-cord for 16 inches.


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Monday, November 21, 2011

Knit-in

Yesterday I made my first trip to the Calgary Farmers' Market.  I'll be back one day for lots of fresh veggies, meat and treats. This visit, however, was to join the knitalong in support for the Calgary branch of Inn From Cold

I knew that I was at the right place when I saw the giant ball of yarn and the sign on the table:


They are in need of mittens, toques, socks, etc.  I'll be knitting more things for them in the future, but for now I decided to make a quick scarf, my Wibble Wobble Scarf.  I found an interesting yarn in the bargain bin at Gina Brown's.  It's Adriafil Impulso Trends, an aran weight.  I may have to go back and get a couple more skeins for a scarf for myself.  I like the way it's turning out:


I had hoped to finish in time to turn it in at the knitalong.  I'll drop it off the next time I go the market as the need for warm clothes, blankets and accessories is ongoing.

I had to smile when I saw this "rhythm of the needles" sign on one of the tables!  Did you notice the misspelling? 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Bread Basket Liner Finished

I've finished the first bread basket liner.  I bought a 650-yard cone from Louet online so I've got enough yarn to do at least one more.  The bread basket liner was rather unappealing when I took it off the needles.  It looked like a limp wrinkly rag but washing and blocking has transformed it.


THE DETAILS
PatternBread Basket Liner (Ravelry link)
by Kellelynne Hedberg Riley
Thistledown Design

Size: 17" square

Needles: US #4/3.5mm
double-pointed, then 24" circular
Color #01 Champagne 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Road Trip

Today I decided to take  a little road trip to the town of Okotoks, Alberta, a short distance south of Calgary.  Fun word to say.  Okotoks.  It's a nice place with a view of the mountains.  I did some sightseeing and ate some excellent homemade, greasy French fries, made just the way I like them at Mr. Spud Cafe.  Of course, every trip requires a visit to a yarn store if there is one.  I found Shuttleworks, Ltd. outside the city in a rural area where highways 2 and 2A meet.


The store is located in a large building attached to a house. 


They cater to knitters, crocheters, but even more, to spinners and weavers.  They have a lot of yarn from Brown Sheep, the only Brown Sheep yarn I've seen since arriving in Canada.  I don't think that I saw this much variety in shops in Denver.  I was good and resisted all yarns, but what tempted me the most were cones of Shetland-style 2-ply fingering yarn from Harrisville.  I thought that the price of $23.00 for an 8-ounce cone was quite good.  There were lots of books, needles, hooks and dyes.

There was lots of equipment for spinners.  I don't know much about spinning but it appeared to me that there was quite a bit of variety.  I saw some very fine gauge cottons that weavers would like. 


All in all it was a nice shop and Okotoks is a pleasant, quiet little city.

Monday, November 14, 2011

More Red Socks

Yesterday I wrote about the red socks that I finished.  There was quite a bit of yarn left over so I did some math and worked out a pattern for a pair of toddler socks for my grandson - about a size 2.  There was also enough yarn remaining for a couple of blocks for my sock yarn afghan.  I can't wait to get back to that project.


Finishing the socks opens up a slot in my Rule of Four.  Next from the queue is the bread basket liner that I read about on the Rainey Sisters' blog.  I get many (too many!!) ideas from reading it.

I'm also working on a quick scarf for charity but I'm not counting it in my Rule of Four as it's only going to take a couple of days.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

New Red Socks

The red socks that I originally planned to knit for my Project Spectrum project are finished.  I had to give up on Project Spectrum this year as life got in the way.  I hope that there will be another round next year as I really enjoy it.  It's good to have these socks completed.  I gave them to my daughter who likes them a lot.


THE DETAILS

Pattern: Generic -
stocking stitch legs and feet, short row heel, 2 x 2 ribbing, top down

Size:  Ladies Medium

Made for:  Daughter, Jessica

Yarn:  Regia 4-ply Line Steps
Color #5372, reds

Needles: US #0/2.0 mm

But wait, there's more....  come back tomorrow to see what else I made!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Knit In for "Inn From the Cold"

Knit In for Inn from the Cold

Calgary Farmers’ Market is hosting a Knit In for Inn from the Cold.

We have heard many predictions of this winter to be a long and cold one. So in preparation for this The Calgary Farmers’ Market and Original Linda’s Knits (couldn't find a link) are hosting a Knit In for Inn from the Cold. This event will bring together knitters of all ages and levels to help create hats, scarves and mittens for those in need. We believe everyone deserves to stay warm and we hope you will join us to help this great cause.

Knit In for Inn from the Cold
Sunday November 20th from 10am -2pm
Location: Large table in between The Cherry Pit and The Saskatoon Farm.

You can come for any length of time between 10am – 2pm. The Calgary Farmers’ Market will provide $10 in Market Bucks to each participant. The Knit in Participants will be knitting items like socks, scarves, hats and mittens to be donated to Inn from the Cold. You can bring your own yarn and needles but we will also have donated yarn.

We look forward to seeing you and ask that you RSVP so we can gauge attendance numbers. Please RSVP to Amanda at amanda@calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

Friday, November 11, 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

A Murmuration of Starlings

I just learned a new word today:  murmuration.  This amazing video is captivating, just draws you in, especially if you watch it in full screen mode.  Enjoy a couple of minutes of relaxation.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Effortless - Halfway

Over the past few days I've been working on the Effortless Cardigan.  The pattern is well-written and the knitting is, well, effortless!  I'm halfway finished, at least I'd better be halfway.  I've used half the yarn.  If I'm not halfway then I'm in trouble! 


I like the Tosh DK yarn.  My hands are loving the softness.  I've read on various blogs and on Ravelry that sometimes there is a wide difference in color between skeins of the same dye lot.  However, so far at least, I'm not finding that with this color.  Maybe it's because gossamer is a lighter color.  Having said that, I hope that the remaining three skeins are as consistent as the first three.

I just need to finish 2 more inches of ribbing at the bottom, the two sleeves and the ribbing along the front edges and neck.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Do Not Disturb Room

If you ever find yourself in Brighton, UK, and you're missing your home with its massive yarn stash all around you, you might think about checking in to the Hotel Pelirocco.   To call this place "funky" is an understatement.  Each room has a theme and the newest one is a single room called the "Do Not Disturb Room".

The room is entirely decorated in knit and crochet items, right down to the bacon, eggs and toothpaste:


I don't know how often the room gets rented out but the owner could probably charge admission just to view it and could make a profit! 

I learned about this place from the Wool-Tyme (Kingston, Ontario) newsletter.  You can see more pictures and read more about it in British newspapers, click here or here.