Tag: kal

Almost May?

Almost May?

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Did the end of April sneak up on anyone else? Anyone? I know that I am surprised haha.

I don’t have a pile to report this morning. Work is getting busier and busier, so I am finding myself re-evaluating my time management and making sure that I am able to keep up with my plans. April turned out to be a bit of an engine warm rather than a take off, but hopefully that will set me off on the right foot for May.

My Behance project for this month is taking over all studio time, so the balance is a little off. But I already have an idea for May so I think that I am off to a good start. Once I get a good balance back I will be sure to post some of the sketching ideas I’ve had brewing too. Lots to come from the studio.

I am also brewing up a few more Creativity posts. These are a lot of fun to research and write, so I hope that you are enjoying them too. Anyone out there still think that they have no creativity at all? Here’s the time too look back on my posts to let you believe the compliment of creativity that is given to you. Here’s the first post, just in case.

On the yarn side of the world I have been working on a Mystery Knit-A-Long from one of my favourite designers, Ambah O’Brien. She did one back when I first started knitting and I have been eager to get started on another one ever since. So far I am loving the outcome, I do wonder if I should have gone with four colours instead of three, but something new is coming this week that I think might just change my mind. This will all make more sense when I make a post about this project later on.

I also have a KAL with friends coming up, finally getting to my sailing sweater! And I am keeping up with my original sock plans for the year, shockingly enough haha.

This one is short and sweet, but I do promise this silence is not being wasted. I am working away in the background right now, trying to get the best content for you lovely readers.

Here’s a few things that I enjoyed this month for you to explore while I write furiously in the background:

  • A Court of Thorns and Roses series
  • Rewatching Inkmaster on Prime – great sketching inspiration
  • The jaw dropping design on this season of RuPaul’s Drag Race
  • Music trades with friends – I am finding some great new studio vibes this way

Project Spotlight: Horacio Cowl

Project Spotlight: Horacio Cowl

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I keep talking about having “more to come” on projects, but I don’t know that I am actually delivering on that as much as I could. So, I am carving out a few extra posts where I can have some more spotlights on the projects that I have completed and I’m super proud of, that I am excited about, or (most exciting) that taught me something new.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram and Facebook were able to see this project first. This is my Horacio cowl. A friend shared this to our chat and the usual “we should do a Knit-A-Long” comments followed, this always happens. But every now and again a project sticks, and this was one of them. Not long after this discussion, I received surprise snail mail (my favourite). My friend had commissioned leather accents to compliment our projects from her husband who does amazing leather work. The project was solidified! Everyone took some time leading into the holidays and new year to gather up their yarn and supporting supplies, and we all got started over the holidays.

I didn’t realize until part way through this project that this was my first cowl of this type of construction. I will be making more for sure. The whole pattern was so much fun! The folded cuffs really make for a cozy accessory to keep out the cold.

The pattern is the Horacio Cowl by Jean-Philippe Cliche. I was able to find the perfect yarn on sale on Boxing Day from The Knitting Loft in Toronto, ON. The yarn is Dyed by Delz Merino Aran in Chris’s Pine Green. For the cord I used a boot lace. I had received a new pair of boots in the mail while I was working on this, and they came with spare laces (score!). Because they are boot laces, they are a little long. It all works for right now because everything is all tucked into my coat anyway. When things open up a little more I’ll go into a store and see about getting something a little shorter.

Everyone else in the KAL has chosen amazing colours! I hope we are able to get photos of them all together when everyone is done. I am so happy with how this project came out. It is as warm and cozy as it looks. Based off of the response from the social media post, I can imagine I will be making a lot more of these in the future :).

Update for July

Update for July

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July has been a little busier than June was. It’s been really hot here, so my evenings have mostly been spent sitting still to keep cool. This left a lot time for knitting, painting, and reading.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately. I have been feeding my thirsty mind with lots of information on the topics of the day/week/century. There isn’t a lot of light reading in here, but reading I am enjoying and feel is important for me to do. Here are a few of the books that have flown off the shelf this month. I recommend each one of these. The stories told here completely opened my mind to areas I knew nothing about, and almost more importantly areas that I thought I knew lots about, showing me where there was so much more room for expansion. 

I have also been participating in a Mystery Knit-A-Long with a pattern by Very Busy Monkey. I won’t show pictures just yet because the last clue just came out a couple days ago and no one hates spoilers more than I do.

Other than that I have been putting a lot of effort into making sure that I am keeping myself in check. Making sure that I am still doing ok with the world of 2020. The verdict is that I am still doing just fine. I’ve been getting in a little more journal time and going on a lot of walks and doing yoga. These things are really helpful to keep my head clear, keep me focused and centered on what I need for me. I am really learning a lot more about myself, a topic I also thought I was well versed in hehe. 

I hope you’re all staying safe and doing well!

A Dangerous Game

A Dangerous Game

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While knitting my final piece for the Joji Fall KAL, I won the closest game of yarn chicken yet. Check it out. That’s all that was left!

E8E4CB56-000E-4B9A-BCFA-BE710C716763_medium2This is a scary game that all us crafters play in some way shape or form. Making that last little bit of perfectly mixed paint fill the background, spreading the beads out evenly so the cluster is not too obvious, scraping the bottom of the bottle to glue that one last photo on, etc. It can get the heart going, especially if you’re not able to replenish the supply.

A friend pointed out a true fact about this game to me. When you play chicken, you tend to “craft” faster. What, like you’re going to trick the yarn into being longer by going faster? Proooooobably not. Somehow though, it makes you feel better about the whole thing.

Oh well, it was just so close I had to share. You put up a good fight yarn, but I won this time. Until next time!

Joji Fall KAL 2019

Joji Fall KAL 2019

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This year I decided to participate in the Joji Fall KAL. I had a few of her patterns waiting patiently in my queue, ready to go, and I thought that this would be a good push to get them started. I decided on the three patterns that I thought I could finish in the three month time of the event. Here’s what I came up with.

Two Color Socks:

These were surprisingly quick to knit. I did both at the same time so as the pattern of stitches changed I switched to a new sock. I think that the different patterns really made these fly by. I knit them using a yarn from a local dyer now located in Stratford. Yarnbird Studio Soft Sock can be found at Knit Stitch in Stratford, Ontario.

Ziggy:
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I had originally bought different Leo & Roxy yarn for this pattern, but then I had another plan for it, so I moved this one from another one… there was a shuffle haha. I am very happy that this yarn ended up with this pattern. It turned out to be a beast! This shawl is HUGE! I have made lots of multi skein shawls, but this feels extreme haha. It’s a great knit, having the garter bars broken up with the lace is delightful. The rows are super long at the end but you can make it through! The yarn can be purchased from Leo & Roxy, I bought mine at the Little Red Mitten in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Storm:

I usually try to stay away from one skein projects. I like to be all wrapped up in a thousand skein project. Cozy is my default. But this one looked a little different, and with the lace and dropped stitches sections, it looked like it would work out nicely. I have never done dropped stitches before and they were a lot of fun. The first row after is a little finicky but I made it through. The yarn worked out perfectly for this too. I bought the yarn on the TTC KAL a couple of summers ago at the Purple Purl. The yarn is so soft and the variegation worked out so well for this shawl. I knew that this one was waiting for the perfect project.

Overall this was a great experience. Everyone in the groups is really supportive and the projects coming out are wonderful! I am already starting to plan my projects for next year. Maybe one of these? Longline Cardigan? Ashes?

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August Updates

August Updates

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As all of my regular readers will notice, August was a productive month, but a quiet month. Almost everything I was working on was a gift for someone else, so I couldn’t post progress pictures until they were handed out. Most of them are handed out now, so I can start sharing.

Last week, you all saw my nephew’s baby blanket. It was a lot of fun to knit and hopefully something that will be able to keep him warm through the colder months in Northern Ontario.

A few other projects were handed out and their posts are coming, but for now here is a little sneak peek at what’s to come.

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Now that fall is on its way (it’s happeninggggggg!) I am turning my attention to some more cozy knits. I have had a few winter requests that are going to get cast on soon, as well as a few cozy things for me that have been patiently waiting in the queue.

I have also made the decision to participate in this year’s Joji Fall KAL! Please keep an eye on my Instagram and Facebook pages for updates on my progress there.

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That right there, that’s a lot of knitting. What about my original art? Huh?

Don’t worry, there’s more to come in that area as well. I usually leave a lot of my artsy Christmas planning until it is too late to do anything about it (“awww nuts, I should have made those this year”. face palm) and I fall back on old faithful “maybe next year”. Nope. THIS IS THE YEAR! At least for some of the ideas anyway. I have thought about these projects early enough now that I think that I can start planning, and I have shared with you all so I feel the need to deliver. I don’t know where this will go yet but there’s plans for ornaments, or cards, or something awesome for the holidays this year. Stay tuned everyone!

My First Sweater

My First Sweater

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Knitting with Friends

Last year I wanted to take on the challenge of making a sweater for the first time. I didn’t get to an adult sized one, but I did make a baby sweater for my fabulous niece.

This year, 2019, was going to be the year that I made my first adult sweater! I have had the Campside Cardi Ravelry queue almost since I started knitting. It looked so great, and after asking some of my more experienced knitting friends, it was deemed a reasonable starter sweater. One of these knitter friends wanted to knit it as well so we scheduled a KAL. At first it was summer 2018, but wedding plans were getting overwhelming on her end, then it was winter, but holiday plans were getting overwhelming on my end. So, cast on first day of the new year was the plan. It evolved into a group Craft-A-Long, as friends had other sweaters they wanted to start, or weaving instead of knitting. Projects were started!

I was very careful to gauge. When I talked to my knitting friends about how worried I was that I was going to mess up a sweater, their only suggestion Read more ›