My First Sweater

This Saturday D and I went to the CCAD student art show, which was really something - 3 floors with works by 150 students! We didn't buy anything, but it was still worth going. It was a bit like the One of a Kind Show in Toronto. Not much else to tell about the weekend, we've been doing holiday preparations and assembling Christmas presents. I've been making some shortbread too, but I haven't found a great recipe just yet, so that means more baking tomorrow.

Today I think I'll show you one of my older knits, given that it's the holidays which means many of my crafts will no longer be a surprise to their recipients if I keep posting them all. In 2004, after many hats and scarves, I decided to knit my first sweater after seeing D's sister churning out lovely sweaters like it was no big deal. She claimed it was easy. And really, it was.

Pattern: Cowl Sweater from Stitch and Bitch
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, about 4 skeins
Needles: US11 straights and dpns

Back in the day, when I didn't know any better, I bought yarn at full price and needles that the pattern called for. I excitedly trekked to Lettuce Knit on my lunch break and bought myself an armful of bright, apple green wool. Increases, decreases, I was making stuff up and fudging bits of the pattern that I wasn't sure about (hmm, decrease both ends? Does that mean you turn first? How do you count a row? What's that gaping hole??

I'm glad to say that in 3 years I have learned a thing or two, most helpfully that I usually have to go up least 1-2 needle sizes to get the correct gauge. Anyhow, I still really like this sweater, even though I haven't worn it in a while. I made a few modifications to the pattern too - stockinette instead of garter stitch, ribbing along the bottom, and a wider, floppier cowl.

That's about it. I was so super excited to wear this thing and too impatient to wait for it to dry from blocking that I wore it out still slightly damp. I didn't even notice the damp woolly smell in my excitement. I was now officially capable of sweater-making. Next post: D's first sweater.

Basic Cabled Socks

Pattern: Basic Cabled Socks from Vogue Knitting: Accessorize
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino in Vanilla, just over 2 skeins
Needles: US4 dpns

Winter snuggly socks! This was my go-to project whenever I was tired of making coasters. I used Knit Picks merino style for the first time, and I must say, I really liked it. It has a soft, smooth feel without being too shiny or excessively sproingy, but doesn't split and shows off cables nicely. Plus it's really affordable. I probably could have done this in two skeins, but I knit them from the cuff down, so I wasn't sure if there was a way to judge yardage that way.

The cable pattern was easy to memorize which made for good mindless TV knitting (although this week's Grey's had me gasping and verging on heart attack status so many times I only managed to squeeze in a few rounds) and I was able to finish them in about two days.

Some more DK weight projects coming up. I've developed this habit of buying single balls of yarn without any project in mind, thinking I can probably turn it into a hat or mittens, only to find out that usually you need at last two balls to do much. So, it's mix and match time and I'm trying to find a two-colour pattern for DK wool, which means endless hours of Ravelry surfing. I love that site. If you haven't gotten on it yet, sign up! It is the ultimate knitting resource. Be careful though, it's very very addictive.

Last Minute Quilted Coasters

Quilted coasters from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, one of the many beautiful and simple projects from this book. They are relatively easy to make, even if you've never quilted before. I ended up using just a standard presser foot on my machine because the walking foot was the wrong size (ordering it in would have taken 3 weeks - how can I wait that long?) and I think they turned out just fine.


The nice thing about this project is that as long as you are using coordinated prints, you can just cut and sew as you please and then later match the coasters together any way you want. I think I'm going to go test drive the coasters now... curl up with a cup of tea and munch on some shortbread cookies.

Peter Rabbit's Misty Garden

For my birthday last year, I received a skein of wonderfully cuddly, soft angora yarn called Peter Rabbit by Fleece Artist - just enough for a luxurious little scarf. The bright yellows and blues seem to be pooling a bit, but it's also creating this crazy diagonal effect which I kind of like. I've read about people using different balls of the same yarn to prevent pooling but I haven't attempted that on any of my projects yet. The scarf is a basic lace pattern, a version of feather and fan, called Misty Garden from Scarf Style.


It started snowing this morning, finally! Downtown is covered by a blanket of snow and I'm feeling more festive already. I might have to play some Christmas music this morning while I craft. Have a good morning!

Pointy Kitties

Kitties up to no good...

Pointy kitties! These guys are so cute. It's a free pattern too, by Wee Wonderfuls, so go download it! I used some leftover cotton from my apron project, as well as some thinner quilting cotton (which was easier to turn out). I know their heads are bobbing in funny directions, and looking up, but sewing on the head is harder than it looks! I'm still indecisive about the stripes, mainly because the colour selection in felt is really limited, so I just got some ivory and light blue. While I was hovering in front of the felt rack, this woman kindly advised me, "Looking for red and green? I know how you feel. They've got tons left at Walmart...". I kind of just looked at her blankly and said um, thanks. Thoughtful of her, anyway.

Our Christmas tree is up now!

These two cushions were part of last week's crafting

Odds & Ends

I'm starting the week by wrapping up a few things - a package for my friend J's baby on the way, inside is the cardigan and teeny socks...


Every once in a while I get the urge to pull out an entirely different hobby, so I started this necklace. When my fingers and eyes got tired, I switched back to knitting and sewing.


New stash! This is my first order from Knitpicks online (minus the grey in the top left) and I am pretty happy with the yarns I received. I purchased the color cards a while back and have just gotten around to ordering some this past week. The yellowy merino DK weight is soft and squishy and will probably be turned into some chunky socks. The Shadow laceweight is going to become a shawl of some sort, and the cream, black and grey Palette are going to become mitton projects. I'm planning on trying some fair-isle and lace knitting - it's just a question of how to priortize all these ongoing projects.

Not much news to share...I am still waiting for the sun to come out soon so I can take some better pictures already!

Happy Pin Cushions

Pattern from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

Cute pin cushions to brighten up an otherwise dreary weekend - it rained all day today, and there was absolutely no good daylight to take photos in. I finally gave up waiting and snapped this dull looking photo. I don't have Photoshop either, so I really have to rely on good natural light. Anyhow, the pin cushions were a cinch to make, but it took some practice to line up the points meeting in the centre (hence the button in the top one!). I have a newfound admiration for the intricacies of quilting and the quilts that D's mom makes with all those complicated star designs and tricky seams. Wow. I guess practice makes perfect. This means many more pin cushions. Although I'm not sure how many pin cushions one person can use...they might find their way into some stockings or something this year.

So this weekend was one of those stay-in-slump-on-the-couch weekends, not involving too much activity. We did get a chance to drive up to Worthington and visit La Chatelaine bakery, where we had a delicious croissant and chocolatine. Mmm. It's crafting madness in the apartment. My kitchen table is littered with coaster pieces, batting, and bits of thread, but I've got a whole bunch of them done already. Unfortunately the walking foot didn't fit, so I am just using the standard presser foot. It's tugging a little bit, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little ironing. The couch and floor are littered with balls of yarn from the package that just arrived from Knitpicks...I love new yarn! I haven't done one of those "newly acquired goods" posts in a while, maybe I'll do that next. Good night!