Back so soon?

Yes back again. Apparently, I am on a knitting roll! I am trying to de-stash and these two patterns came along so here I am. This is Mid-December by A Crafty House.
I used stashed yarn so as a result I ran one row short but who's looking right? Great pattern, very easy, so you beginners out there, NOW is the time! Knit and purl, that's all you need to know girls! What are you waiting for?

It will be a little gift to my cousin. You remember her right? She deserves a little treat after looking after hospitalized hubby for sooooo long.

Stay tuned for more de-stashing projects!

xoxo

:: PS there are more details about this pattern at Ravelry

Back to my Roots

And I don't mean the dark ones on my head. This blog began as a knitting blog and that's what today's post is about. This is the GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley. This is a free Ravelry download.
Ignore the cleaning clothes sweats please, I did not dress up for you, I am sorry. See how long and lovely? A great infinity scarf/cowl. Love it! And DN1 loved it. I knit it for her. I tried a pattern last year that was a disaster. This one is scrumptious. And the yarn, oh the yarn. It is Malabrigo Pearl (3 years old) doubled, knit on 9mm circulars. (Wish I ordered from Jimmy Beans, I paid waaaay more than that!)

If you are looking for one of these patterns, it is quick, simple and lovely. Really, give it a try. Below is my gorgeous eldest wearing GAP-tastic. She asked me to deliver it to her at work. So like a good mum, I did.

I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! And I am planning on posting a few pics of the most gorgeous Christmassy things I received. Somewhere, there is a Cath Kidston stockist with very little stock!

much love

Lisa xo

Crafty Knitty

Lest you believe I have been up to no good, here are pictures to prove you quite wrong.

A granny square cushion.

A cushion that has been in the making for about one year.

A cushion that started out as a blanket with the odd bits from the ripple blanket. Half way through, the thought of continuing on to form a huge blanket really did not appeal. But there is some yummy yarn in there I tell you. Have you ever used Lamb's Pride? Well there is some in there and they do have such scrumptious colours.

The finished baby hat. You know I just want a little one around just to knit for?

Too much sweetness, really.

Can we use the expression "charmingly adorable"?

Some Answers

I have been asked a few questions lately and I think now would be a good time to answer them. But first I must tell you about my knitting progress. I am working on the second sock so going at the same rate as the first sock, I should be finished that one by this time next year. I am also working on another baby hat for my little niece/nephew that will be arriving the end of April. (I have so many things I want to knit but feel I am a little late at the starting line)

I wanted to get some Debbie Bliss or Rowan at my lys, but they order both brands in and I wanted yarn NOW. So I picked this up and it is gorgeous. Has anyone ever worked with this? Quite heavenly. And the colours a so beautiful. It is Sirdar Calico. Yummy.

How pretty are those colours?!

I picked up an issue of BBC mag and look who was featured in there? Btw, do we know how old this issue is? Yes, like October or November. Aren't we colonials up to date over here ;) Such a wonderful article, Julia, congratulations!

Oh yes on the computer, writing a post and not a bed made in the house. Yes, if you are checking up on me it is 10:07 am EST and not a bl#*dy thing done all morning.

Not that I always make their beds.

But sometimes, if the mess is really getting to me, I do. Slightly obsessive perhaps.

Mine. Not made. I am dawdling I know.

Still trying to get a decent photo of the curtains. I know, that isn't happening either.

Now for some answers...

1. Frances, the yarn is Trekking XXL from a few years ago.

2. Thank you Marie for the generous offer of sending me Marie Claire from France. How terribly, terribly sweet of you. I can find it here, however I must trudge downtown to get it, but I do get it.

3. I have had a few people ask about the Amy Butler Gumdrop Pillow. It is a copyrighted pattern. I would be in breach of this copyright if I were to post it here or email it to you. The pattern can be found at many online resources and at most sewing shops, especially if they carry her fabric.

And a few funny things...

1. I had a reader email me asking what she thought was an obscure question. Would I happen to know what the pattern of the blue dishes are on the "All Creatures Great and Small" series? Now, dear readers, I ask you, is that an obscure questions for those of us that absorb every detail of our favourite programs? That some us actually watch these shows, specifically for their curtains, dishes and furniture?
My reply was that I did not know but I would try and watch the shows (I have them on DVD) and help her figure it out. In the meantime, I suggested she try Lovers of Blue and White.
She did. And found her pattern and where to buy it.

How happy am I?

2. While visiting one of my favourite bloggers, Sairer, I got the word verification HOLYSIT. Sorry, it was just too funny not to share. Go visit her and perk her up a bit.

3. Finally, a big thank you to all your lovely comments on my handsome man. Especially you, Elyse, thinking he is pretty darn cute and you not even a dog person ;)

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And a special thanks to Bellascountry for an award!

I will be adding it to my sidebar, again, much appreciation.

Have a great day girlies.

What are you up to on this fine day?

I will guess you are just dying to know what I am up too, right? I am so funny. I am eating, savouring and well not to put too fine of a point on it, pigging out totally on the long sought after, previously mentioned biscuits. I FOUND them! Oh the excitement is palatable here. Shortly after I touched on this subject, right here on my little blog I discovered them at my grocery store under a new name. They are now a President's Choice product and are still the same biscuit I have bragged about so many times. After spotting them I had to tell my husband to turn around while I scooped the lot off the shelf. They are now safely hidden in the sideboard in the dining room. Ahhh, relief.

The curtains have been made by my lovely and talented seamstress. I could not get a better shot as the sun is quite hidden in this spot of the house. But they are lurvely. Trust me. I will try and get a better picture so that you can truly appreciate the Sanderson beauty.

Sock knitting at its finest. Slow but beautiful. I knit a pair of these about 3 or 4 years ago in a mauve colourway. They wear like iron. Four winters of wear and not a hole. If you like sock knitting I cannot emphasize more the durability of this yarn. The camera did not pick up the gorgeous colour. It is a pink and pinky red with a moss green.

And finally, washing the green linen curtains that are usually hanging here. I won't get into too much detail but the dog basket sits right beside the curtains on the right and they were quite, um, dirty in that area...however last time I washed them the linen shrunk a wee bit and of course the lining didn't and well I guess that's another job to put on the list.

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I am going to assume that everyone had just the jolliest of holidays. We had several days of doing absolutely nothing. Snuggled down in comfy flannel jimjams watching movies and consuming loads (not exaggerating here in the slightest) of chocolate. Did I mention I found these?

Life is good.

PS You know I could have entitled this "Chocolate Biscuits" but I didn't. That would have been the THIRD time ;)

Knit Hat

I have been totally playing with blogger and flickr, trying to figure out how to easily enlarge my photos without too much html knowledge.

If anyone out there knows how to do this simply please let me know. This is a little baby hat I knit on the weekend. My husband's sister is pregnant and I thought I would knit up something for her for Christmas. The little crochet flower can be taken off if it is a boy. I made the pattern up myself after spotting it on this blog. I just fell in love with that wee hat and could not for the life of me find a pattern on the web so I winged it.



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I am still reeling from the discovery of the horrid conditions at the Toronto Humane Society. Yesterday, it was discovered that the food they have been feeding the animals is over six years old. I just cannot comprehend that there was not any kind of supervision or governing body keeping an eye on this organisation. Who watches the watchers?





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Thanks for popping in and listening to my drivel ;)

Lisa

So Much Prettiness

I would truly like to say I have been a busy bee. That has not been the case. I mean I have been busy doing the usual, but nothing crafty or really fun. I have such a chaotic schedule over the next little while I just feel a bit overwhelmed. But nice things are happening as well. For example, do you remember this charming fabric I found last fall and have been meaning to make into curtains for the kitchen? (We will not discuss exactly how long it has taken me to actually take the fabric to my lovely seamstress that does extraordinary things with the wee bits of fabric I give her). Well as I was perusing Nostalgia at the Stonehouse, don't I come across just the most gorgeous fabric on this little chair she re-covered?

I thought "What beautiful fabric!". Then thought, my gosh, is that the same fabric that I have? Niki seems to be pretty sure it is. And if a professional like Niki thinks it is well than so do I.

Well, what do you think? I am sure you have all visited her before but if you haven't why don't you drop by? She has lots of handmade goodies as well.

And another little surprise that warmed my heart. Jane (sadly blogless) emailed me to tell me she has been using my hexagon knitting pattern to make this stunning blanket for her son that is going away to University. She got the idea from this magazine page and had googled "knitted hexagon pattern" and found mine. It is so terribly nice to hear from people that have used the pattern. Brilliant job, Jane!

I am working on one or two things as well but the camera is missing (again) and I will not torture you all with the other sad excuse of a camera that is our backup.

Stay tuned, I will have pictures eventually.

Lisa

Too Granny?

Really, I can take the truth. I know some bloggers have done similar and it looks simply fab at their places but too granny for me? Sometimes I feel dangerously close to those older folks that sit behind the table at the bazaars and church charity things with the loo roll covers and the orange acrylic potholders.

I figured out how to do an edging in a shell (like) pattern. It's only been about two years that I have been crocheting. I made this pattern up. I don't even know if I did this cushion the proper way. I have never done anything in a circle before.

I had a bag of feathers from a previous project that was just the right amount for it. Do you know you really shouldn't try to fill a cushion with feathers inside the house? Ahh, see most of you already knew that, correct? I didn't. Not only that, I made the mistake of not leaving a big enough hole to actually put my hand "in". My oldest was watching me totally cracking up. It was quite funny. Then, brilliantly, I thought "I should do this on the porch". Well, in retrospect, doing this outside on a day with 60-70km an hour winds was probably not a good idea either. So, consequently, as I am filling the cushion, the bag of feathers falls over, just as the wind blows the door back open. Well, you get the picture. Some blew between the houses as well and it sort of looks like the German shepherd next door assassinated something there.

I think I like the flower. Or do you prefer it without? I can't decide. I have another flower pattern but it is knit, not crochet. I may try that one as well.

I do think it is cute though. Maybe not so granny? Maybe they are cool enough if you use the right colours and nice yarn? I mean if this was orange and brown acrylic .99 cent stuff it would be kind of blech.

I really should be off, though.

Gotta vacuum.

Hexagon Knitting

I have a link on the right that will take you to my post with this pattern. These are knit hexagons. If you cannot crochet, or just love these in general, they are the project for you. I can whip two or three of these off in a night, when I am so inclined. The beauty of them is they require very little yarn. So all those bits and pieces you do not know what to do with? Perfect. I have been doing them for a year or two and have amassed probably 20 or 30. The pattern is actually from my mum that had it on a tea stained piece of paper that, as I recall, had no title just "1970" typed at the top. I typed the pattern out and posted it a while back, for your pleasure ladies. Mostly because the most hits I have from google are "Knit Hexagon" and "Knitted Hexagon". I believe the blanket above may be felted a wee bit.

I delivered the baby booties to my nephew and the baby on Sunday and didn't they just love them? So proud. A truly gorgeous baby. My husband held her for a while and gave me that "aw come on, let's have another look". Ever seen that look? It can be very scary when you have an almost 20 year old. (I was married very, very young).

And finally, the most gorgeous Louisa Harding bag. Love.

Have a great week, ladies.


Lisa xo

PS Ladies, if you are looking for a free pattern for a crochet hexagon there is one available here.

Seriously, The Cutest Baby Booties Ever

After going to the doctor on Monday, I have felt marginally better. Oh yes, thank you the sinuses are definitely better. However, there is the small problem of the medication that has a somewhat undesirable effect on my inner workings. But we will not get into that. We will discuss, however, my deep and emotional love towards Debbie Bliss for creating just the cutest darn pattern for baby booties. This particular pattern is from the Quick Knits book but is modified the Knitty, Vintage and Rosy way.

How you may ask? Well I didn't have any Debbie Bliss yarn in stock so I used a beautiful Baby Alpaca I did have in stock. The little problem was it was a bit thicker than the pattern calls for and they came out bigger than they were suppose to. So in my crafty (ha) sort of way I decided to felt them. That is the result. I just love them. I really cannot capture their utter cuteness on my super yucky camera. But they are adorable.

I also finished the Mason Dixon Bib. Simple. Fast. Cute. With a flowery little button for the closure. These little knitted bits will be given to my nephew's new baby. Her name is Madison and she has rosy cheeks like her Auntie. Yes, I know technically I am her great Aunt but we are not mentioning that fact around here.

And the slow progress of my sock knitting. Between the baby items and the ripple blanket, these hands can only do so much ;)

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Thank you so very much ladies for your kind words while I was ill. It does seem there is a general problem worldwide with mummy having any kind of down time. Here I thought I was the only one with these "superpowers".

Does Debbie Bliss Have a Crush on Cath Kidston?

I mean who doesn't, right? But as I'm breezing through the beautiful images of the Debbie Bliss books I'm getting a real Cath Kidston-esque feel.

What do you think? Or perhaps they are the same person?

Have they every been in the same room together?

Cuteness, eiderdowns, fair isle patterns, polka dots?

I wonder...

But seriously, the patterns in these books are wonderful. I am thinking about knitting the most charming little booties in the Quick Baby Knits books. Oh, they are simply darling. I also started some socks with some Trekking yarn I've had for about two years. My imagination is so much more organised than my real life.

source: Quick Baby Knits and Home by Debbie Bliss