tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53578812024-03-13T10:59:21.506-06:00Tansy & Vetchmost of the crafts, but mainly knitting.Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-32107055768163276562019-12-30T16:03:00.004-07:002020-01-05T17:43:36.836-07:00Episode 2 - During the Holidays, we craft.<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5ZxWxOaKUA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/joannieoflockish/">Instagram</a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-the-globe-and-mails-2019-giant-holiday-crossword/">The Globe and Mail Holiday Crossword</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Felt Ornaments - <a href="https://aliciapaulson.com/collections/ornament-patterns/products/ice-skating-afternoon-ornament-pattern">Ice Skating Afternoon pattern by Alicia Paulson</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Skate & Gingerbread Girl</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/moms-gingerbread-haus-socks">Mom’s Gingerbread Haus Socks - Improvised</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hogwarts Castle Lego Set</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/parisian-dreams">Handspun Parisian Dreams pattern by Mina Philipp, Knitting Expat Designs</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mauve three ply spun from Custom Woolen Mills 1lb Felting Batt</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/nr-10-valldal-damekofte">Nr 10 Valldal damekofte pattern by Sandnes Design</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/vanilla-latte-socks-12"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Vanilla Latte Christmas Special socks pattern by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Virginia Rose-Jeanes</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/crft-an-inquiry-into-the-origins-and-true-meaning-of-traditional-crafts/oclc/1088952301&referer=brief_results">Craeft by Alexander Langlands</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.theshopacs.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://www.theshopacs.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What I’m wearing</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.cashmerette.com/collections/cashmerette-patterns/products/pembroke-dress-tunic-pdf-pattern">Cashmerette Pembroke dress</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/stockbridge">Stockbridge Cardigan pattern by Ysolda Teague</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I could not find the video tutorial for the method I use for a long-tail tubular cast-on. All the videos I found start with a slip knot which I don’t do. It’s possible to cast on without any kind of knot (magic, I know) and I prefer not to use them if I can help it (because magic).</span></div>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-37866516462292728652019-12-24T11:44:00.000-07:002019-12-27T12:08:58.462-07:00Time to Try Something New<p>Hello! It's been a little while. To be honest, I'm not sure that anyone still reads this little old blog so it's difficult to get motivated to keep things up. </p>
<p>In the spirit of trying new things, I decided to try out the Podcasting thing and see how it goes. </p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oN3l5Wa7pW0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Here is episode 1 where my philosophy is everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe it'll get more polished. Maybe it will continue to be tangent heavy. Only time will tell. </p>
<p>To be able to have some kind of searchable archive of shownotes, I plan to post episodes & notes over here.</p>
<p><b>Shownotes for Tansy Knits Episode 1: So I guess it's a Podcast?</b>
<p>You can find me on:</br>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/joannieoflockish/">Instagram</a> & <a href=" https://www.ravelry.com/people/janemumbles">Ravelry</a></p>
<p>I try to keep Ravelry notes with at least the essential details, but if I haven’t put enough detail, feel free to ask!</p>
<p><b>Recently Finished:</b></br>
<a href+https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/starflake">Starflake MKAL by Stephen West</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/cable-eylet-ribbed-cardigan
">Cabled Eyelet Cardigan - Improvised from an old favourite store-bought sweater</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/moms-replacement-stripey-socks">Mom’s Stripey Socks - Improvised</a></p>
<p><b>In progress:</b></br>
<p><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/parisian-dreams">Handspun Parisian Dreams by Mina Philipp, Knitting Expat Designs</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/nr-10-valldal-damekofte">Nr 10 Valldal damekofte by Sandnes Design</a></p>
<p><a href=https://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/moms-gingerbread-haus-socks">Mom’s Gingerbread Haus Socks - Improvised</a></p>
<p><b>Technique videos I found useful: </b></br>
<a href="https://youtu.be/6bmmz207lu8">Dankfiber - Colorwork & The Norwegian Knitting Thimble Part 01</a></p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/3-sx0elGnoY">Mckenzie Mullen - TWO TIPS to get you READING & KNITTING...AT THE SAME TIME!</a></p>
<p><b>Books:</b></br>
<a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/hot-comb/oclc/1053581791&referer=brief_results">Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/look-alive-out-there-essays/oclc/1031909668&referer=brief_results">Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-book-one-the-crucible/oclc/1090243819&referer=brief_results">Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Book one The Crucible written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa; art by Robert Hack; colours by Jack Morelli</a></p>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-6798069811929351192018-12-01T17:23:00.002-07:002018-12-01T17:24:16.267-07:00Saying Goodbye<p>A yarn and fabric store in Montreal is closing after 12 years. Effiloché is closing it's doors on December 6, 2018. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/23040324120/in/dateposted/" title="Yarn Shop Portrait by @techalleen #allthegrams"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/772/23040324120_b134d60e43_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1024" alt="Yarn Shop Portrait by @techalleen #allthegrams"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>There have been other local yarn stores that have closed. When I moved back to Edmonton a few years ago, Wool Revival was on "sometimes" hours and Ewe asked for it, and Knit, Purl had both been closed for many years. </p>
<p>Effiloché was not the first yarn store I visited in Montreal, that was A La Tricoteuse Laine which closed a year or two before I left Montreal. </p>
<p>But Effiloché was my most frequented yarn store, partly because it was the largest shop that was near to where I lived, and partly because I became friends with the owner through my brother who taught knitting there for many years. </p>
<p>There were trips visiting with early blog/knitting group friends. Trips with crafty friends to buy materials for <a href="https://janemumbles.blogspot.com/2011/08/international-baby-friends.html">communal baby quilt projects</a>. Sewing Saturdays where I would go and learn about garment sewing from then sewing teacher <a href="http://lafeeraille.com/">Anne</a>. </p>
<p>At one point, back when Foursquare was still a thing, I became the mayor of Effiloché. Ginette laughed, and gave me an out-of-date calendar. </p>
<p>I became a regular at the shop. And that's why I eventually started working there early in 2014 until I left Montreal in January of 2016.</p>
<p>Let me tell you, I loved working in a yarn store. We worked hard a lot of the time, especially in the wind-up to Christmas time when people really want their yarn! Winding yarn was the favourite circus attraction for every child and non-knitter who came through our doors. </p>
<p>People think you get to knit a lot in a yarn store, and there was some crafting that happened, though most of the time I was quite busy helping customers or cutting fat quarters. </p>
<p>I got obsessed with crochet amigurumi and made penguins for everyone. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/18831593428/in/dateposted/" title="Team of Tiny Penguins"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/274/18831593428_0245a94450_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Team of Tiny Penguins"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I crocheted a mermaid, pony and bunny for the shop.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7168052@N05/14435070281" title="Brindle Pony"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14435070281_4b0f839388_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Brindle Pony"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>And there was that time we decorated the Plaza's public piano with giant crocheted doilies.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15052674122/in/dateposted/" title="I still need to get pics of the finished piano we redecorated. Here's a small collection of Instagram pics I've come across."><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/15052674122_33eae51ebc_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="I still need to get pics of the finished piano we redecorated. Here's a small collection of Instagram pics I've come across."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I over came my fears of speaking imperfect French and talking on phones.</p>
<p>As a music lover, I had great fun picking out music to play in the store. We'd have days of different moods based on whatever I or Tall Sarah felt like rocking out to. There were Otis Redding days, sad indie-folk days, Belle and Sebastian days, and only the best, up-beat retro Christmas music. I was always pleased when customers commented on the music, which was usually favourably.</p>
<p>I cut so many fat quarters, I couldn't even guess how many. People loved to dig through the bins and buy stacks of them. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/19227412708/in/dateposted/" title="I should put "professional cutter" & "good with knives" on my CV. #allinadayswork #fatquarterstack"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/19227412708_d917b78d23_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="I should put "professional cutter" & "good with knives" on my CV. #allinadayswork #fatquarterstack"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Some of my favourite memories were of the kids that came in the store. Once, two girls came by after school to carefully choose their most favourite fat quarters to buy with their allowance money.</p>
<p>Another time a vacationing family came in so that their son could pick out some yarn for future projects. It was lovely to see the whole family supported his interest in knitting. </p>
<p>These are some of my favourites because, had I known about local yarn shops beyond mall chain stores, I would have been these kids carefully selecting the best colour of yarn or my favourite fabric for my next craft project. I mean I did frequent Fabricland and Lewiscrafts when I was a kid, but there's more magic to be found in a local yarn or fabric shop. </p>
<p>I'm sad that I'm not there to say goodbye in person, but maybe that's a good thing. Seeing the empty shelves popping up on Facebook is a sad reminder that things are always changing and I think it would make me too sad to see it in it's current state and not how I left it. </p>
<p>But time moves forward and I'm sure Ginette will move on to better things.</p>
</p>And Montreal has 2 other vibrant yarn stores that will hopefully be around for quite a while. Edmonton also has a few good ones to frequent. </p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-48403975786701089612018-08-17T10:45:00.001-06:002018-08-17T10:45:19.879-06:00Back onto Socks<p>I finished some more socks.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/42284662610/in/photostream/" title="Scrappy Toes"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/42284662610_d6c6bff01c_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1536" alt="Scrappy Toes"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I had a desire to use up every last bit of my favourite sock yarn. I still had some bits leftover after knitting two other pairs of socks. I figured there would be enough for another pair. Use one for the main part of the sock and the other for contrasting toes, heels and cuffs. I decided to work two at a time & toe-up as I wasn't sure how much yarn was left. I had planned to work a toe-up heel flap (from <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sockmaticians-toe-ups">the Sockmatician's pattern</a>), but I was quite low on the green when I got to the gusset increases so I changed to an Afterthought heel instead to really maximize what I could get out of the green. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/42284662320/in/photostream/" title="Afterthought Heels"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1813/42284662320_7d5fdaf497_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1536" alt="Afterthought Heels"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Turns out there was plenty of the blue-purple colour, so I made up for the skimpy legs with more generous cuffs. I had enough of the blue yarn to do even more, but I'm happy with the 30 rows that I worked.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/30225747698/in/photostream/" title="Finished from Scraps"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/30225747698_6e4da7fa2c_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Finished from Scraps"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> Toe-up Afterthought Heel Socks<br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Regia Extra Twist Merino Color in 9327 & 9328<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> August 9, 2018<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> August 14, 2018</p>
<p>I didn't really follow a pattern for the Afterthought heels. Having knit quite a few pairs with afterthought heels, it's pretty straightforward to pop in some waste yarn and pick it up later. If you are looking for a pattern, I have used <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/afterthought-heel-socks">Laura Linneman's Afterthought Heel Socks</a> and it works quite well. </p>
<p>Yes, it's a cuff down pattern, but working the heel is the same no matter the direction the socks are knit. Working toe-up makes it a litter easier to figure out where to place the heel as you don't have to budget extra space for the toe. So it's closer to the length you'd knit for the foot after having worked a heel (if you were knitting cuff-down). I hope that makes sense. I should maybe make some diagrams if I'm going to explain this in future. </p>
<p>Anyways, after a bit of a hiatus I'm back to knitting socks. After finishing <a href="/2018/08/new-sock-dance.html">a pair for my Dad</a> and this pair, I have cast on two more pairs. I have started an online MLIS program through San José State University and have knit through a couple of initial introductory video conferencing sessions where I didn't really need to take notes. I bet I make many more socks in the next few years.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-19617053132022926552018-08-13T10:53:00.001-06:002018-08-13T10:53:55.201-06:00New Sock Dance<p>When you finish a pair of socks for someone and they immediately start dancing after putting them on, they deserve more socks. </p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmW4TNRHi67/?utm_source=ig_embed" data-instgrm-version="9" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmW4TNRHi67/?utm_source=ig_embed" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">@ayerslorenzo doing the new sock dance. #handknitsocksorbust #socksforeveryone #knitforever #knittersofinstagram</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joannieoflockish/?utm_source=ig_embed" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Sarah J Ayers</a> (@joannieoflockish) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-08-11T23:45:36+00:00">Aug 11, 2018 at 4:45pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-82008025011466276692018-07-15T15:28:00.002-06:002018-08-13T10:54:47.590-06:00There has been knitting!<p>I've taken a bit of a break from stitching on black to do some knitting. I know it's been a while, but sometimes one has an appetite for something different. And then when it's time to switch things up once more, it's time to cast somethings on. I like to do different crafts for different reasons and I cycle through them as it fancies.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/43431492861/in/dateposted/" title="Socks for Dad"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1824/43431492861_28c8c57c14_k.jpg" width="2048" height="2048" alt="Socks for Dad"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes<br />
<b>Materials:</b> Regia Extra Twist Merino Color in 2826<br />
<b>Start Date:</b> June 18, 2018<br />
<b>End Date:</b> July 5, 2018</p>
<p>Some time before my little vacation from knitting, I had asked my Dad to pick out some sock yarn from my stash that interested him for future socks. He picked out two sets of sock yarn, so when the mood to knit something had struck, I cast these on. I decided on making another pair of Vanilla Latte socks for him. It's an enjoyable pattern to knit and the resulting socks are nice to wear as well. I knit these on my Lantern Moon double pointed needles which I really like. There's something satisfying about picking up all the instep stitches on DPNs and decreasing them down. Not sure why I like it so much, but I do. </p>
<p>I was more than happy to make use of my favourite (and sadly discontinued) yarn, the Regia Extra Twist Merino Color. It's such a squishy yarn that is a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to wear. I have noticed some fulling on the pair I knit last year, which is maybe why they discontinued the yarn. I know if I come across it again somewhere, I'll be sure to pick up some more. And I'll definitely be using the leftovers with some contrasting heels & toes to make a pair of socks for myself. Love this yarn!</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/42527092685/in/photostream/" title="Clues 1, 2 & 3"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/845/42527092685_3672c75bae_k.jpg" width="2048" height="2048" alt="Clues 1, 2 & 3"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I've been sneaking peeks at the hashtag for Gloamin-tide on Instagram quite a bit. So one afternoon I decided to raid my fingering weight stash for something appropriate. I found I had enough purples to make a satisfactory gradient to cast on. It took me a little bit to decide on the final colours, but here is my progress after a few days out a the lake, knitting away. I finished clue 3 by Wednesday of this week and REALLY wanted clue 4 to magically appear, but I'll have to wait until Monday.<p>
<p>In the meantime I MAY have ordered some yarn for a couple of cardigans, which may have already arrived, and I may have already swatched and cast on the first one. Something to tide me over between mystery knit along clues. I may be knitting up a storm over here.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-22539390011909050622018-06-25T11:39:00.000-06:002018-06-25T11:39:06.967-06:00Another Cross Stitch Finish<p>So most of the cross stitch that I have done has been designs by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cosy. I've enjoyed doing her kits in the past and I continue to get them. But after discovering FlossTube videos and being introduced to the larger world of cross stitch, I've discovered other things that I like. The first discovery was that I like Halloween designs. Especially those by Prairie Schooler. My first order of cross stitch patterns from 123 Stitch HAD to include Nevermore by Prairie Schooler. I came across the pattern when searching for Ouija board cross stitch patterns on Google Images. It was a MUST stitch.</p>
<p>I also sought out a local needlework shop for the materials instead of ordering them online. Edmonton has a needlework shop called <a href="https://www.thecraftconnection.ca/">the Craft Connection</a> at 12413 115 Ave NW. One day I decided to go check out what they had and bought the floss and fabric for a couple of projects. As soon as I finished up the Moth, I decided to start up this piece. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/28076930237/in/dateposted/" title="Finished Nevermore"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/28076930237_5fbd3bc59f_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Finished Nevermore"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Pattern: Nevermore by Prairie Schooler<br/>
Materials: 32 count linen by Zweigart in Lambswool<br/>
DMC Floss<br/>
Started: May 8, 2018<br/>
Finished: June 20, 2018
</p>
<p>Now I know it should probably have more fabric around the design, but when I was looking at fabric pieces, I didn't calculate in extra fabric and then look for that size of piece. I looked at the finished size of the design and then found a piece of fabric that it would fit on with some leftover. Not the end of the world but now I know what to do for next time. </p>
<p>I really enjoyed stitching this piece. I started in the middle and worked my way out, finishing each area before moving on which was quite enjoyable and satisfying. I left the backstitching for last and I ended up eliminating some of the backstitching around the tombstones as I felt it didn't really add much overall. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/28076930137/in/photostream/" title="Signature over 1!"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/28076930137_445e4833e7_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Signature over 1!"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>To try something different, I tried doing my signature one over one. Sometimes I like to try things that are supposed to be hard just to see how things go. And I really like how this turned out. I really enjoy the look of a cross stitched signature as opposed to a back stitched one, but sometimes it can be quite big and take too much attention. I like how small the one over one looks without being too dainty. It wasn't that much of a pain to stitch and it's quite pleasing so I may continue to do future signatures one over one. Who knows?</p>
<p>My next piece is the <a href="https://aliciapaulson.com/collections/embroidery-patterns/products/midsummer-sprigs-abcs-cross-stitch-sampler-pattern">Midsummer Sprigs ABCs Sampler by Alicia Paulson</a> which is stitched on black fabric. Since doing the one over one I thought I may as well do another "scary" thing and stitch on black. It does help to have really good light, but it's been quite enjoyable so far. I did splurge and get all the over dyed flosses for this project. It uses Weeks Dye Works which are super nice to work with. They are cotton, but seem much silkier than the DMC of my previous pieces.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-64682243928258936032018-06-19T16:34:00.000-06:002018-06-25T11:14:07.099-06:00I finished the Moth<p>So I finished cross stitching the Moth back in May and am almost finished cross stitching my next piece which is a Halloween piece by Prairie Schooler (I love their Halloween designs). I'll show you that one when it's done which will be soon. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/41985822261/in/dateposted/" title="One finished moth! Next up is a Prairie Schooler Halloween piece. #crossstitch #mothystitches"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/943/41985822261_1570758f28_z.jpg" width="640" height="479" alt="One finished moth! Next up is a Prairie Schooler Halloween piece. #crossstitch #mothystitches"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>
Pattern: Cecropia Moth by Joan Grove from The Cross Stitcher, October 1996 <br />
Materials: 28 count Cashel linen by Zweigart in Smokey Pearl <br />
DMC Floss <br />
Started: April 8, 2018 <br />
Finished: May 8, 2018 <br />
</p>
<p>In other news, yesterday I cast on a knitting project! Some socks for my Dad. I'd promised him a couple of pairs from deep stash yarns, so I thought I should start knitting them since Father's Day just happened.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-91801745039275061762018-04-30T19:40:00.001-06:002018-04-30T19:40:35.551-06:00Mothy Stitches<p>So what am I stitching on now? It's a moth. I became interested in moths as a motif last year during an university painting course that I took. I had included a moth in a painting prep collage and later in the course revisited the idea of adding insects to my work. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/40916408235/in/dateposted/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/40916408235_d3754e87f8_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Since then I've had moths on the brain and have been collecting images of moths that I see in real life as well as ones I come across online. At some point last year I searched Etsy for moth cross stitch patterns and found this pattern from a 1996 issue of The Cross Stitcher for a few bucks. I really liked the moth. And I had a leftover piece of fabric from another project that would be the right size. So I knew it would be the next thing to work on after I finished the 'Night, Neighborhood sampler. The very night that I finished it, I started getting the moth ready to go.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/27551099088/in/dateposted/" title="Stitchy update: this moth is progressing nicely and starting to take shape. #crossstitch #mothystitches #cantstopwontstop"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/814/27551099088_d88e5891e9_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Stitchy update: this moth is progressing nicely and starting to take shape. #crossstitch #mothystitches #cantstopwontstop"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>So I've been Stitching.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/27737492988/in/dateposted/" title="It’s getting there. #mothystitches #crossstitch"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/27737492988_7b0c79b820_z.jpg" width="640" height="518" alt="It’s getting there. #mothystitches #crossstitch"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>And stitching.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/40986070544/in/dateposted/" title="Getting in some outside stitchy time. Not pictured to my right is the massive stack of outside furniture. We wrestled out a couple of chairs and a small table which is enough of a start. #stitchingoutside #mothystitches"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/943/40986070544_1731f3cbf6_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Getting in some outside stitchy time. Not pictured to my right is the massive stack of outside furniture. We wrestled out a couple of chairs and a small table which is enough of a start. #stitchingoutside #mothystitches"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>And stitching. It's finally been some nice weather here, so I even got to stitch outside last week. This week is cooler, so it'll be inside stitching for a while. But I'm working on the edge of the wings, so who knows how much longer I'll be stitching this guy. I've already got a few ideas of what to stitch next.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-45218974685196664432018-04-25T12:35:00.000-06:002018-04-25T12:35:12.884-06:00All Stitched Up<p>I have something to tell you. I have been cheating on knitting. BIG TIME!
<p>I've barely even kept up with all my knitting podcasts. Did I hear you gasp? I know.
<p>What have I been doing? I've been sucked into the world of Cross Stitching (again). It's funny how I cycle through different crafts and after a while they start to repeat. There was a brief idea to start needle punch rug hooking while I was away on vacation. But I'm not really at the financial place to be investing in new tools and stash at the moment. </p>
<p>So yes, CROSS STITCH. AGAIN!</p>
<p>How exactly did I get sucked back in cross stitch? One. Word. Flosstube.</p>
<p>Weeeeeeell. It's been something I pick up from time to time, but haven't really blogged about other than my <a href="http://janemumbles.blogspot.ca/2011/02/currently-cross-stitch-obsessed.html">initial personalised</a> <a href="http://janemumbles.blogspot.ca/2011/03/more-cross-stitch-floppies.html">floppy</a> <a href="http://janemumbles.blogspot.ca/2011/04/and-finally-one-for-me.html">disks</a>, <a href="http://janemumbles.blogspot.ca/2011/07/ceci-nest-pas-une-diskette.html">mixtape</a>, and <a href="http://janemumbles.blogspot.ca/2012/07/ive-been-sewing-lot.html">first, slightly wonky cross stitch sampler.</a></p>
<p>Though, I've been quite terrible about blogging anything in the past number of years. Trying to be better at that.</p>
<p>Turns out I have quite a bit of cross stitch that I've done over the years.</p>
<p>Watch out, this first one includes A CURSE WORD! Repeated MANY times!</p>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/16380236411/in/album-72157650100790788/" title="IMG_4044"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/16380236411_2b5901ffa0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_4044"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I have this potty mouthed piece from a <a href="https://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/just-dont-give-a-stitch/">pattern by Chawne Kimber</a> which was kindly sharing back in 2011 (no longer available, sorry!). I used some Sajou heavily starched linen bought at Purl Soho and some thrift store small crochet cotton that was interestingly stained on the outside of the ball. Crochet cotton worked pretty well for stitching, though it had a tendency to tangle. I don't recall when I started stitching this, but I know I finished it when we were staying at a country house in Estrie, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in August of 2014. I even have a picture of me stitching it while sitting on a porch!</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/16194667930/in/album-72157650100790788/" title="IMG_4029"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/16194667930_4695fbaccd_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="IMG_4029"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I loved stitching this potty mouthed piece in such a bucolic setting!</p>
<p>Since then I've pretty much only worked on patterns that Alicia Paulson has released usually as kits. There are a couple that I've kitted up myself, but I haven't started those ones yet. My rule is only one in progress cross stitch at a time. Mostly because I have one really nice twill taped embroidery hoop that I like to use. Once you get used to nice things, it's hard to use other stuff. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/39760960130/in/photostream/" title="Finished Sweetiepie ABCs"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/39760960130_af5aaf93c0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1024" alt="Finished Sweetiepie ABCs"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>I'm pretty sure I started this Sweetiepie ABCs as soon as I got the kit which might have been in May of 2015? And I must have finished it in the summer or fall of 2016. Spring Ring had come out as well as 'Night Neighborhood. And I had to finish up so I could start the next one.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/41528374222/in/dateposted/" title="Finished Spring Ring"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/893/41528374222_bbe6075134_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1024" alt="Finished Spring Ring"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>This one was super fast, but I realised that I dislike only using colours for a few stitches before changing to another one. Good to know for future cross stitch work. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/39520369810/in/photostream/" title="And the ‘Night Neighborhood sampler is finished! #crossstitch #nightneighborhood #posiegetscozy"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/39520369810_a1336edf35_b.jpg" width="640" height="711" alt="And the ‘Night Neighborhood sampler is finished! #crossstitch #nightneighborhood #posiegetscozy"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>'Night, Neighborhood was one of my favourites. I love all the bugs and moths in this one. Moths will be a recurring theme from now on. Though this one became a bit of a slog because of how spaced out all the stitched bits are. More things to learn about my stitching preferences.</p>
<p>Finishing 'Night, Neighborhood and hearing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/megandbellable">Michele at the Striped Rose</a> say that work isn't finished until it's signed and dated had me bring out all my finished pieces, figure out when I finished them and sign them. As an aside, hers is one of my favourite flosstubes! I have to pace myself because I'm running low on episodes.</p>
<p>This week my Mom and I hit up the crazy amazing Antique Mall here in Edmonton and we went nuts finding ALL the reasonably priced interesting frames or framed pieces that we could find in the joint. I managed to find frames to work for all these pieces so you may see them all framed up soon enough.</p>
<p>I'll make another post about what I'm currently stitching which I'm LOVING! Even if it does involve blending threads and fractional stitches, so far I don't mind.</p>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-35318884888500482242018-04-19T17:11:00.000-06:002018-04-19T17:11:45.123-06:00Vacation Sewing<p>Before heading off for a Mexican vacation back in February, I panic sewed some new dresses for myself. Usually the promise of warm weather causes this reaction in me. I often panic sew summer dresses when confronted with the promise of good temperatures. I meant to blog about these while we were away, but my Dad broke his leg while we were down in San Miguel de Allende and needless to say blogging took a back seat.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/38598981400/in/dateposted/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4608/38598981400_344a210301_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>This first version of the <a href="https://store.closetcasepatterns.com/products/charlie-caftan-pattern">Closet Case Patterns Charlie Caftan</a> was originally made for my Mom out of this wonderful tiny bicycle print that we found at Fabricland here in town. We settled on this pattern when looking up the fabric requirements as this was the last of the bolt. I had made this version back in November for her to take on her trip to Southeast Asia, but I don't think she wore it much and gave it back to me once it was time to pack for Mexico. Fine by me, I love these little bikes!</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/40410264881/in/dateposted/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4608/40410264881_fe571b715c_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>On another trip to Fabricland, I had come across this AMAZING silky polyester fabric turquoise fabric with wonderful neon pink polka dots. After having it around at home for a little while, I decided it ALSO would make a perfect Charlie Caftan. After trying to wear it one day, I found it was insanely staticky. So I think it's a candidate for some kind of slip or I need to get an anti-static spray.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/38598965060/in/dateposted/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4604/38598965060_3c9071b4c7_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>After making the polyester version, I remembered that I still had tons of this grey and white cotton mystery woven that I bought a million years ago at Fabricville in Montreal, back when they still had a downtown location. At the time I was following the fabric buying rule of "if you really like it, buy 7 meters." So even though I'd already made and Adelaide dress from this fabric, which I've worn a lot in summer weather and just love the look of, I still have enough for this pattern and probably another dress still.</p>
<p>I realized after finishing this third version of the Charlie Caftan that this fabric would have been better suited to a View A version. The structured cotton didn't quite sit as nicely with the gathers as the other, more flowy versions that I made. Oh well! I still wore it a ton while we were in Mexico. And I'm dreaming of making an Indigo linen version where I'll definitely try out view A!</p> Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-71900814269946047912018-02-06T14:44:00.000-07:002018-02-06T14:44:05.148-07:00Some things just take for freaking ever<p>My Ravelry project page for this shawl tells me that I first started knitting with this yarn WAY back in 2009. The knitting was finished in 2014 and the final blocking was last week. That is truly an insane amount of time for something to take to knit. But it happens, even to the best of us. Somehow it took me nearly four years JUST to block this shawl. That in itself is pretty nuts. </p>
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<p>I didn't even recall that I had originally cast this on for another shawl project until I looked at my project page. Good for past me even taking note of that. I know that the size of the shawl was really daunting to me to be able to block as I didn't have a big enough carpeted or spare bed on which to block this when I lived in Montreal. But I have friends with a spare room. I had blocked things on my brother's carpet. I'm sure I could have found some space somewhere to block this behemoth. Heck, I could have blocked it as soon as I came back to Edmonton in January 2016. But I guess I just wasn't thinking about this shawl. </p>
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<p>The sad fact that this sat around unblocked for so long that it had 2 moth holes that needed patching before I could block it. Two little chomps to fix. Without careful study, you can't really tell where these fixes are, and there's so much lace that it's not so noticeable.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/25078810737/in/dateposted/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4770/25078810737_66705a03e5_k.jpg" width="1536" height="2048" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaves-of-grass-4" rel="nofollow">Leaves of Grass by Jared Flood</a><br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Tanis Fiber Arts Pink Label Lace Weight<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> February 26, 2014<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> May 18, 2014</p>
<p>I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to finally wear this shawl. I didn't think I would really wear such a large shawl when I knit it, but after loving my enormous Find Your Fade, this shawl is no trouble to wear. It's SO LIGHT and SO WARM! It's already become my new favourite Winter shawl.</p>
<p>I think it's time to knit another pi shawl.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-68477935282820869142018-02-01T14:31:00.000-07:002018-02-01T14:31:49.127-07:00January Sock Round-up<p>I started the month casting on socks for the Commercial Yarn Along hosted by Amy Florence of the Stranded Podcast. I had so much fun knitting up this ball of Arne & Carlos Pairfect yarn that I started the second pair straight away. </p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7168052@N05/24768666777" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/24768666777_c54f0986d0_o.jpg" width="3264" height="2448" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> Top-down sock with Half-hankerchief Heel (64 stitches)<br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Schachenmayr Regia Pairfect Design Line By Arne & Carlos in 9136 Garden Color<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b>January 2, 2018<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> January 10, 2018</p>
<p>One evening I went down into my sock yarn bin, picked a few selections of interesting commercial yarns I wanted to work with and asked my parents to pick out what they liked. As I had just finished my January pair for my Box 'o' Sox, I thought I'd make some for other people. </p>
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<p><b>Pattern:</b> Top-down sock with Round Heel (72 stitches)<br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Schachenmayr Regia Pairfect Design Line By Arne & Carlos in 9095 Kollen<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> January 10, 2018<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> January 14, 2018</p>
<p>My Dad was super excited about the colours in this skein of Arne & Carlos Pairfect that he put them on right away after I finished weaving in the ends. That's the sort of reaction one wants when knitting for other people!</p>
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<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/embossed-leaves" rel="nofollow">Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt</a><br/>
<b>Materials:</b> SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Nightshade<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> January 14, 2018<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> January 18, 2018</p>
<p>My Mom is still raving about how much she LOVES the SweetGeorgia yarn that I used for this pair of Embossed Leaves socks. I guess I should get some more, but she's been mentioning how nice it would be for a sweater. We'll see just where that leads...</p>
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<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/selbu-socks" rel="nofollow">Selbu Socks by Skeindeer Knits</a><br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Tukuwool Fingering in H 28 Ujo, Kauni Wool 8/2 Solids in Light Moss<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> December 9, 2017<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> January 25, 2018</p>
<p>This last pair of socks isn't going to count for any knit alongs, but they're still amazing. There was a bit of a disaster of a broken DPN while finishing the leg of the second sock, but happily some super glue managed to save my needle and let me finish. Thankfully the break was splintery enough for the glue to work. I'm super happy with how these socks turned out and fit. I've already raved about how amazing this yarn is once blocked and can't wait to knit with it again.</p>
<p>Who knows if I'll get another four pairs knit in February, especially as I've picked up a sweater project to continue working on. But as I'll be travelling, there's sure to be some sock knitting as some point.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-85441969206648887832018-01-22T16:25:00.000-07:002018-01-22T16:40:18.293-07:00Rediscoveries<p>Last year I started watching knitting podcasts which has led to rediscoveries of things I love about knitting. Yes, podcast viewing is what's led me to make so many socks in the past year. This has led me to really LOVE handknit socks. Both making and wearing them. I've been enjoying knitting socks so much, that I've been knitting them for my parents too.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/39845054391/in/dateposted/" title="Selbu Sock"><img alt="Selbu Sock" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/39845054391_df69ced0a0_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<p>When Eli of Skeindeer Knits first showed this pattern she was working on, I knew I had to cast them on! They are the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/selbu-socks">Selbu Socks</a> that she released before Christmas. I cast on straight away with some good toothy yarns that I'd recently put my hands on. Some Tukuwool fingering I'd ordered for another project and some Kauni Wool 8/2 Solids I'd bought at a local yarn store.</p>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/25948031008/in/photostream/" title="Sock update: one finished and the other on the go. This yarn is so amazing once blocked! #dpnsforever #sockknitting #toeupsocks #boxosoxkal2018"><img alt="Sock update: one finished and the other on the go. This yarn is so amazing once blocked! #dpnsforever #sockknitting #toeupsocks #boxosoxkal2018" height="640" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4758/25948031008_5d0c1cfe50_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<p>Because I had committed to knitting some gift socks for Christmas, these got put to one side for a bit. (There was also a Christmas Eve Cast on in there too). After knitting a number of standard pairs of socks, I picked these up again and managed to finish the first sock this week. I was a little concerned about my tension and the fit of the sock, so I blocked the first one as soon as it was finished. I have to say that this yarn makes such a DREAMY fabric once blocked! </p>
<p>When playing fantasy sweater last week with Ysolda's new pattern <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stockbridge">Stockbridge</a>, I was second guessing the Tukuwool as being an expensive option and was looking into more affordable options. I've already planned multiple future versions of this wardrobe staple sweater. But after seeing how the Tukuwool blocked out in this sock, I'm TOTALLY IN LOVE!! Rustic wools FTW!</p>
<p>Oh and I've opted for a new look, new tag and new name. If we're going to dust things off and get them going again, they deserve some pizzaz don't you think?</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-89017505334931819432017-12-31T14:50:00.002-07:002018-04-19T18:56:10.853-06:002017 Wrap upIt's been quite a while, but crafting continues. Maybe because we stayed home for the holidays this year, maybe because I've been watching many knitting podcasts. But somehow this year I feel compelled to do an end of the year wrap up.<br />
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Knits from the first part of the year.<br />
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This year has definitely been the year of the sock for me. Inspired by a friend's participation and after finishing two whole pairs of socks, in April I felt compelled to join the Box 'o' Sox KAL. Because I was playing catch-up, I started knitting two-at-a-time socks on magic loop and really started cranking them out.
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I knit 13 for the Box 'o' Sox KAL</div>
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Plus a bonus pair of Christmas socks that I finished today.
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I made four pairs of socks for my Mom.
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And two pairs of socks for my Dad, including my first intarsia-in-the-round Argyle Socks.
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Other than socks I knit two sweaters and a HUGE Find Your Fade shawl.
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This holiday season I became enamoured with making tree ornaments out of felt.
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That about covers everything I made in 2017. We'll see how the making of things continues in 2018. I'm still pretty keen on knitting socks.Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-9706402584092973622014-09-22T07:45:00.002-06:002014-09-22T07:45:56.507-06:00It's not fair.<p>The weather that is. We had a Winter that would not go away, a topsy turvy summer and now a chilly Fall?!? IT'S NOT FAIR!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15100998020" title="I will break out the handknits before I'll accept wearing my warmer coat. What is with this weird cold Fall? #toosoon #signsoffall by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/15100998020_bd81c74edd_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="I will break out the handknits before I'll accept wearing my warmer coat. What is with this weird cold Fall? #toosoon #signsoffall"></a></p>
<p>This weather has made me quite rebellious. So rebellious that I've been wearing some of my hand knit sweaters this past week (which I never do for varying reasons). I will wear ALL the handknits before I switch to my warmer coat. It's TOO EARLY!</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-43656635795327010002014-08-30T13:14:00.003-06:002014-08-30T13:14:35.469-06:00I bought a sheep...sort of<p>Yes, I went to the <a href="http://www.festivaltwist.org/">Twist Fibre Festival</a> in Saint-André-Avellin last weekend. It may seem strange but this was actually my first time at such an event. Maybe that's weird considering how relatively close Montreal is to some of the major ones? I never really had much of a desire to go, and in the past few years, it been out of my holiday budget.</p>
<p>However, I've had an idle interest in getting a good quality fleece to play with since I dug out the rather dirty Outaouais Arcott I've had for a while and started <a href="/2014/03/a-sheeps-fleece-has-taken-over-my-front.html">processing</a>. </p>
<p>And after having such a lovely visit with Kathy Chapdelaine a few weeks prior, I had pretty much made up my mind that going to Twist would be a good idea. Not exactly like going to Rheinbeck, but a good place to start. </p>
<p>So Saturday after work, I hopped on the Metro & met up with my brother & rode all the way to the other end of the line. We took a bus out to Fairview Point-Claire & got a ride from the friends we were staying with who have a small farm near Rigaud, who were also interested in going to Twist to check out the animals.</p>
<p>We got to the festival around lunch time on Sunday. The festival was indoors, inside the community's hockey arena. At first it didn't seem like it was that big of a festival, but we it took quite some time for us to make our way through them all. </p>
<p>Jon and I spent a lot of time looking through the books and spinning accessories at the <a href="http://www.geminifibres.com/">Gemini Fibres</a> booth. He had ordered some hard to find knitting books from them in the past. I probably would have bought some hand cards or other spinning accessories if I didn't have them already and took a good look at the lazy kates they had. I also looked through their spinning books, but didn't see much in the "so you've been spinning for 5ish years and want to level up" category. Of course this might have been because we were there on the last day.</p>
<p>We stopped and chatted with Céline from <a href="http://lamaisontricotee.com/">La Maison Tricotée</a> here in Montreal and Jon chatted with Julie from <a href="http://www.lajuliefactrie.com/">La Julie Factrie</a> in Nicolet, QC, both former Effiloché colleagues. Later we also chatted with Kathy & David of <a href="http://www.domainechambord.ca/">Domaine Chambord</a> & saw pictures of his latest rope braiding machine which was pretty cool. </p>
<p>I was happy to see that Céline carries Jamieson & Smith as well as some other hand-dye brands that I have recently come across online <a href="http://shop.hedgehogfibres.com/">Hedgehog Fibres</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff">Jill Draper Makes Stuff</a>.</p>
<p>The yarns at the <a href="http://absoluteshetland.websiteanimal.com/">Absolute Shetland</a> booth were really nice, but it was kind of crowded and I moved on after a bit. Jon bought 2 skeins of their pale & charcoal grey Shetland to make some stranded mittens with. It's really nice stuff.</p>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15055700665" title="From Trailhead Yarns by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img alt="From Trailhead Yarns" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/15055700665_48f88798c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<p>My first purchase of the day was from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TrailheadYarns">Trailhead Yarns & Fibre</a> (who seem to be setting up their online presence). I bought some lovely purple Correidale roving & a screen printed project bag.</p>
<p>I was pretty surprised that most of the roving or top I saw for sale was Merino. There weren't a lot of other sheep represented which I thought was too bad. But again this could have been because it was Sunday afternoon. </p>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14868952709" title="From l'atelier de Pénélope booth by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img alt="From l'atelier de Pénélope booth" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14868952709_cc0919843c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<p>I also bought some really nice 38-count linen from <a href="http://www.latelierdepenelope.com/">L'atelier de Pénélope</a> and some great neon BFL sock yarn from the <a href="http://violetteyarnco.com/">Violette Yarn Co.</a> booth.</p>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14869083338" title="Super BFL Sock by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img alt="Super BFL Sock" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/14869083338_8923ed26d5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<p>And my big purchase of the day (mostly because of the size) was this amazing fleece from <a href="http://www.from-hopeful.blogspot.ca/">Hopeful Shetlands</a>from Embro, ON, who seemed to me to be the only ones with raw fleeces for sale. And I was kind of surprised at how many they still had. Though maybe there just aren't that many spinners?</p>
<p>She had 3 really lovely darker wool fleeces that attracted me right away, one was a BFL Shetland cross, the other two were different shades of Shetland. But I had a hard time deciding which fleece to get, especially as I have no experience in what to look for in a fleece other than it would be nice for it to be cleaner than the Outaouais Arcott fleece I already have. In the end I ended up picking out a different, lighter grey fleece altogether which was so nice that I said "Woooooooooow!" as I unfurled it on my floor to take pictures. I think it will be an amazing first fleece to play with. </p>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14869665477" title="I bought a sheep by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img alt="I bought a sheep" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14869665477_79ab0c9607_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<p>Want to know how to get immediate cred at a fibre festival? Walk around with a big bag of fleece. It seemed to be a conversation starter for the rest of our visit. This probably would have been more of a normal sight at a bigger deal festival. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15001920986" title="Bag 'o' sheep, memories from Twist 2014. #weekendinthecountry #fibredweeb by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/15001920986_70865cb669_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Bag 'o' sheep, memories from Twist 2014. #weekendinthecountry #fibredweeb"></a></p>
<p>In the artisanal area, we spent a lot of time at the Infuse booth, from Sutton QC, hearing about they traditional folding & dyeing techniques she uses to make the wonderful motifs on her scarves. I'm often drawn to the soft, light hues that result from working with natural dyes. </p>
<p>Jon also chatted with the woman from <a href="http://meliooa.com/">Meliooa</a> about the process for her crocheted toques.</p>
<p>We spent some time looking at the animals out front and solved the mystery of the angora goat. We stopped at an LCBO & casse-croûte in Ontario before getting a ride back to Fairview to catch the commuter train back into Montreal.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14839436160" title="Imports from Ontario. I better start working on the house cocktail list. #travelontario #weekendinthecountry by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/14839436160_ccfa678b89_n.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Imports from Ontario. I better start working on the house cocktail list. #travelontario #weekendinthecountry"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15001198126" title="Lunch break. #travelOntario by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/15001198126_c7d10623b0_n.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Lunch break. #travelOntario"></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15021852441" title="Waiting for a train. #weekendinthecountry #cicadachorus by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/15021852441_67b681e7e7_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Waiting for a train. #weekendinthecountry #cicadachorus"></a></p>
<p>Overall a nice weekend excursion to the country. And I have plenty of fluff to keep me busy for quite a while.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-59034382724516856572014-08-28T19:27:00.000-06:002014-08-28T19:27:15.818-06:00Recent Acquisitions<p>Somehow in the past few weeks, without much intention to, my fibre and yarn stashes have grown somewhat. Since I currently work as a yarn shop girl, it is an occupational hazard for some yarn & fabric to follow me home, I've been very good about it (for the most part).</p>
<p>But besides a ball or two of sock yarn, or a few meters of fabric now & again, I really haven't added much to my stashed materials in a big way for quite a while. The stash is already quite healthy enough. Most recent additions in the past few years have been from visits to shops while travelling. And this month started like that too. </p>
<p>First of the acquisitions were from a recent trip to the county. While my parents were visiting in early August, we all went out to stay at a house in country near Cookshire-Eaton, QC for a few days. </p>
<p>Without fully intending to, we managed to work in a trip to a small yarn shop to round out our day of cheese tasting, junk shop scrounging & ice cream eating. Because my Mom needed some needles to knit mittens with, we ended up seeking out <a href="http://www.domainechambord.ca/">La Shoppe de Laine</a> in Moe's River, QC. And I'm very happy that we did. </p>
<p>I guess I should say that this isn't really a typical yarn shop, mostly because the shop is located in an out building on the farm where Kathy and David raise a variety of animals and have yarn produced from their coats.</p>
<p>While the shop does stock some commercial & locally dyed selections which my Mom was drawn to (she loves angora), I had trouble selecting which of Chambord yarns I was going to buy. In the end I went with a skein of Rambouillet & a skein of Shetland/Baby Doll blend.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15032633596" title="Chambord Shetland/Baby Doll by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/15032633596_1635a0b36b_c.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="Chambord Shetland/Baby Doll"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14869094287" title="Chambord Rambouillet by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14869094287_edbf4335f0_c.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="Chambord Rambouillet"></a></p>
<p>Also stored in the shop was raw fibre waiting to be processed & spun. Kathy mentioned that she was preparing for the upcoming <a href="http://www.festivaltwist.org/">Twist Fibre Festival</a> and sold me some Lincoln Longwool Locks & raw Rambouillet fleece sort of as a preview to the festival. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/15032667116" title="Loose Lincoln Locks by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15032667116_17b16a8978_z.jpg" width="300" height="220" alt="Loose Lincoln Locks"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14869055328" title="Rambouillet Raw Fleece by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/14869055328_da30aae3e3_z.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Rambouillet Raw Fleece"></a></p>
<p>We also got to see some of her husband's collection of Victorian sock knitting machines that had been set up with dates and information about each machine. He collects & refurbishes the antique machinery and also makes socks & leg warmers for sale. We stayed and chatted for about an hour & even met one of her cashmere goats.</p>
<p>Overall a wonderful discovery.</p>
<p>I think I'll leave our visit to Twist Festival to another post.</p>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-62057936451388500892014-07-11T11:47:00.002-06:002014-07-11T11:47:44.117-06:00Hooked on crochet<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14633101813" title="J. & P. Coats "Knit-cro-sheen" 250 yds by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14633101813_3e976b2b9c_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="J. & P. Coats "Knit-cro-sheen" 250 yds"></a></p>
<p>I suppose it was inevitable. Especially with how taken I've been with crochet lately. And I blame a project I've been working on at Effiloché, but this week I've been really taken with this crochet doily I've been working on. </p>
<p>Considering how much I love working on knitted lace, this really should be no surprise. But making doilies isn't really something I've ever explored much, or even thought of making. </p>
<p>The white doily, made with fine crochet cotton & tiny hook on the top of a well polished antique table is the pinnacle of grandmotherliness for me. It's exactly the sort of thing you'd find at my great-grandmother's apartment, along with the porcelain figurines and complete set of collectible porcelain teacups, all inside an antique glass case in the dining room.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14590102426" title="Doily time by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/14590102426_8f3d6df123_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Doily time"></a></p>
<p>The associations I have with doilies is probably the sort of association most people have with granny square blankets, maybe. For the record, great-grandma preferred rippled crocheted afghans to granny squares, and if something were made from scraps, you'd never know it. Her version of "home made" projects were properly tailored, double-breasted peacoats & matching over-trousers for all the children, grand children & great-grand children which, I'm told, were sometimes made from old overcoats. </p>
<p>What was I talking about? Doilies. Right. So I've seen my share of aged, once white doilies in my time that it's not something I would consider having on my dresser or sideboard (I'm not big on porcelain figures or china teacups either). I think mostly because I'm not a big knick-knack kind of person, although I'm sure part of it is the association with old stuff (though usually I'm quite the fan of old things). I guess doilies get a bad rap, and now that I've been working on one, I'm not sure why. Hooking this doily has been satisfying the same part of me that lace knitting usually does.</p>
<p>And I often joke that I'm a cranky old lady anyways.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-10870171296820811662014-07-05T21:59:00.000-06:002014-07-05T21:59:00.451-06:00Speaking of Hexies<p>This is an epic project. There is no way that this wasn't going to take years of work. And here we are in the 5th year of English paper piecing this project.</p>
<p>It grows slowly. A little section at a time. It gets picked up and worked on a bit here and there over the year. And it keeps going.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14206696327" title="Working on the layout by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14206696327_0b39501a0c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Working on the layout"></a></p>
<p>When preparing the randomized layout for the latest section, I snapped some pics. I always have to take a reference picture of the layout because inevitably I get the hexagons out of order somehow while I'm piecing them together (every time!).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14393147525" title="For reference by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14393147525_ec19e3ecb2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="For reference"></a></p>
<p><b>The Stats!</b></p>
<p>Hexagon size: 0.875 inch a side <br/>
(It's a weird size measured like this, when I was picking a size, I was measuring the diameter across from flat side to flat side).</p>
<p>Finished Quilt Width: 83 inches (55 columns of hexes)</p>
<p>Finished Quilt Length: 106 inches (81 rows of hexes)</p>
<p>Which gives a GRAND TOTAL of 4384 hexagons</p>
<p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c94WAdWYOPU/U7YWv-_h8DI/AAAAAAAABig/FhOphBPFa8w/s1600/Hexagon+Quilt+Progress.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c94WAdWYOPU/U7YWv-_h8DI/AAAAAAAABig/FhOphBPFa8w/s1600/Hexagon+Quilt+Progress.png" /></a></p>
<p>This diagram shows the current progress. Not counting the hexagons in the current piece I'm working on, there are 2,005 hexagons pieced in this top this far. That makes this top 45.7% done.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14206695087" title="My floor is too small by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/14206695087_02324f63e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="My floor is too small"></a></p>
<p>This quilt is getting kind of impressive looking, taking over my studio floorspace.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-39399955301176752052014-07-03T19:58:00.002-06:002014-07-03T19:58:54.461-06:00Not Another Laceweight<p>Hey, so I guess I forgot to talk about this yarn I made? I think I mentioned it <a href="/2014/06/woolen-spun.html">over here</a> but never elaborated huh?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14200803164" title="Gobbler Loose by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/14200803164_fa14213cf4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gobbler Loose"></a></p>
<p>Well I followed the advice I'd read in The Intentional Spinner about changing wheel ratios & using a higher tension to effectively change yarn weights, and it seemed to work out pretty well. At first I was consciously trying to pull out more fibre as I was drafting, but even when I settled into mindless-zombie-drafting, it still worked out to be bigger yarn. Crazy stuff, I know!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14395588561" title="Prepped for spinning by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14395588561_862873e51f.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Prepped for spinning"></a></p>
<p>This is also the first of my Hello Yarn fibre stash that I have spun and the first time that I've spun Cheviot too. It has a pleasing crunchiness to it as I spun. It's hard for me to articulate, but I found it an enjoyable spin. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14375812136" title="First half spun by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14375812136_e76f114f47.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="First half spun"></a></p>
<p>As I'm still on my previously mentioned WOOLEN FOREVER, WORSTED NEVER! kick at the moment, I treated this top differently than my previous go to method. I started by dividing the top in half (I even weighed both halves to be sure they were close to even), and then pulled out staple length poufs from one end & spun them from the fold. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14395583591" title="Singles in progress by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/14395583591_b01ee30c17.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Singles in progress"></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14423174215" title="Not laceweight by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14423174215_a7d7ba3f72.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Not laceweight"></a></p>
<p>I ended up with long sections of each colour. But as I didn't do any compensation to be sure colours would line up, this yarn turned out very barber pole-y as a result. It's fine by me. My only plan for this bump of fibre was for a larger gauge of yarn, and that's what I got. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14236519969" title="Finished Skein by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14236519969_b87cf43a2f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Finished Skein"></a></p>
<p>2-ply<br/>
'Gobbler' <b>by Hello Yarn</b><br/>
Fibre Club for October 2012<br/>
100% Cheviot Top<br/>
Woolen spun from the fold<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> May 14, 2014<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> June 11, 2014</p>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-53496851271691644892014-06-16T13:50:00.000-06:002014-06-16T13:50:18.643-06:00My Brindle Pony<p>Yesterday while I was at work, I decided to crochet a pony. This isn't such a crazy whim to follow through on since I'm currently working at a yarn & fabric store here in Montreal and Sunday afternoons aren't so busy. </p>
<p>I had just finished making some crocheted flowers for the shop and had an appetite for more crochet. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14426801181" title="Work #selfie from yesterday. Crocheted flower hat & corsage. by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14426801181_4893e897ae.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Work #selfie from yesterday. Crocheted flower hat & corsage."></a></p>
<p>I've been curious about amigurumi for a while, but somehow I have never tried it. After cruising some patterns on Ravelry, I found <a href="http://www.allaboutami.com/post/74973453463/ponypattern">this pony pattern</a>, grabbed a 3 mm hook and some random oatmeal fingering weight wool and got to work.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14250855988" title="Amigurumi workshop by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14250855988_4fddd2e1e5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Amigurumi workshop"></a></p>
<p>When I got home last night, I grabbed some left over aqua blue Fleece Artist I had from knitting a shawl for my mom a while ago. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14251814440" title="Brindle Pony by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14251814440_48903762d1.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Brindle Pony"></a></p>
<p>Today, I continued working on the pony while hanging out on my front balcony, sewing each piece on after I was done crocheting it. I just finished it up this afternoon.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14415290106" title="Brindle Pony by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2917/14415290106_5476a95057.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Brindle Pony"></a></p>
<p>The only thing I found a bit strange was that each piece is made separately, and then sewn together. My understanding of crocheted toys was that each piece could be picked up and worked off the next? Maybe that's just wishful thinking.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14435070281" title="Brindle Pony by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14435070281_4b0f839388.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Brindle Pony"></a></p>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.allaboutami.com/post/74973453463/ponypattern" rel="nofollow">Pony by Stephanie Jessica Lau</a><br/>
<b>Materials:</b> Mystery Oatmeal Fingering, Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 in Aqua<br/>
<b>Start Date:</b> June 15, 2014<br/>
<b>End Date:</b> June 16, 2014</p>
<p>Quite a quick little project.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-50738534001691447242014-06-09T13:57:00.000-06:002014-06-09T13:57:01.374-06:00The Secret Language of Hexagons<p>Once in a while, there's something in a movie or TV show which will catch my eye. I secretly love when crafting is referenced in pop culture, even in jest. </p>
<p>Heck, I even get excited when really nice handmades gets used as set dressing or costumes (<a href="/2008/01/juno-is-my-sweater-vest-hero.html">Juno had some awesome sweater vests</a>). </p>
<p>Most recently I noticed this amazing crocheted hexagon blanket while re-watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105793/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Wayne's World</a> for the first time in a loooong time. </p>
<p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEqfZKuV-z8/U5X16F_yk4I/AAAAAAAABhc/gJI43KXTYyA/s1600/_1274261788.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" width="520" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEqfZKuV-z8/U5X16F_yk4I/AAAAAAAABhc/gJI43KXTYyA/s1600/_1274261788.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>I'm sure the average set dresser saw this as the usual ugly granny square blanket that would live in the typical basement rec room. But these be some truly bodacious granny hexagons! </p>
<p>There's also this wonderful scrappy hexagon quilt used in the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/?ref_=nv_sr_1">About Time</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbKeAd6RkDA/U5X17ScTb-I/AAAAAAAABhk/aJ6H6wmDsTg/s1600/About+Time+Quilt.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" width="520" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbKeAd6RkDA/U5X17ScTb-I/AAAAAAAABhk/aJ6H6wmDsTg/s1600/About+Time+Quilt.png" /></a></p>
<p>It's hard to tell from this picture that the fabric here is more than the usual printed cottons. There are some velvets used as well which makes me think this was probably built from old clothing scraps. Oh and nice hexagons too right?</p>
<p>What's the big deal with hexagons you ask? </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14197860678" title="Current piece by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5232/14197860678_f422be897b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Current piece"></a></p>
<p>Well, back in 2009 is when I first became enamoured with the shape. It began with the <a href="/search/label/Jelly%20Bean%20Afghan">Jelly Bean Afghan</a> early in the year and continued with the <a href="/search/label/Hexagonal%20quilt">Hexagonal Quilt</a> sometime over the summer. </p>
<p>Little did I know the effect these projects would have on me.</p>
<p>You see hexagons are kind of spectacular. They are one of three regular polygons that can be used to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiling_by_regular_polygons">regular tilings</a>, but somehow don't seem to be used that much. Or so I thought.</p>
<p>Once I started working with the shape, I began to notice it everywhere. And they are truly EVERYWHERE once you start noticing them. Those who know me in real life have likely noticed me whisper "hexagon" to myself, and perhaps take a picture of something random with no further explanation. Or even with too much explanation. It's become my own meme of sorts. </p>
<p>At some point I started collecting the results of my personal hexagon scavenger hunt over on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/joanoflocks/hex/">Pinterest</a>. Many of the images are snapshots taken while travelling. I've had friends and coworkers forward me links to projects, products, articles and images based on their use of hexagons. It's that kind of thing. </p>
<p>Most often I come across a wonderful old hexagon tiled floor. But strangely enough, hexagons also get used in futuristic settings too. Used in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104001/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1>Tron: Legacy</a> and as a sort of mesh overlay on Oscorp tower in the new <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Amazing Spider-Man</a> films (I haven't seen 2 yet, but it shows up in search results).</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-51320443403986434132014-06-06T15:43:00.001-06:002014-06-06T15:43:15.844-06:00Woolen Spun<p>Back in March, I caught the spinning bug again after <a href="/2014/03/a-sheeps-fleece-has-taken-over-my-front.html">reading winter issue of Ply magazine</a>. Now there was a LOT of that farm fleece to go through, and as this was a rather grimy fleece, I didn't quite get through scouring it all. That's ok. I have enough prepared fibre from the fleece to play with for a bit. I think I might try to get a decently clean fleece in future to play with. Now I have a "real" reason to possibly go to Rheinbeck in future.</p>
<p>The other thing that I got super excited about in this issue was the first article "Lying About Longdraw: Helping spinners get from worsted to woolen" by Jacey Boggs. I was really pumped to work through the methodology laid out in the article to get to spinning woolen.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/5448101432" title="Yoke Roving by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4080/5448101432_ffd5902d54.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Yoke Roving"></a></p>
<p>So I picked this merino roving out of my fibre stash. Yes, it's roving and not top. I thought it was a batt when I picked it out at Lettuce Knit on a weekend trip to Toronto a few years ago, but later saw that it was roving wrapped up. The article does say to work through with differently prepped fibres but I decided to work through with the same fibre throughout. Still worked. </p>
<p>Somewhere around step 5 or 6 things really started to click and I was "instinctively" started pulling the fibre out longer and longer before allowing it to wind onto the bobbin. Suddenly I was using longdraw like nobody's business. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14012839990" title="Yolk 2-ply by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/14012839990_6e9696cbb9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Yolk 2-ply"></a></p>
<p>I was so pumped by my successes with this skein that I went to the library and took out a number of spinning books. The Intentional Spinner by Judith MacKenzie McCuin and The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson were the most useful that I read. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14199388984" title="Yolk 2-ply by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/14199388984_aa6e79e3ee.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Yolk 2-ply"></a></p>
<p>I'd love to say that I flew through this bump of fibre, but I've been spinning in my fastest ratios for a while which means I keep ended up with very fine singles (such problems to have!). I didn't do a WPI count, but I can say that based on the weight to yardage ratio, this yarn lace weight.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14012802828" title="Yolk 2-ply by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/14012802828_1dd3a4c033.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Yolk 2-ply"></a><br />
2-ply<br />
'Yolk' <b>Pear Tree</b><br />
100% Merino Roving<br />
Woolen spun<br />
<b>Start Date:</b> June 2013 (?)<br />
<b>End Date:</b> May 14, 2014<br />
112g<br />
Approx. 774 yards<br /></p>
<p>I finished the yarn by fulling it. I washed it in hot water and transferred it to cold water and back a few times before thwacking it against the side of my tub. It's so soft and surprisingly plump and squishy. I'm not sure if I'll be doing much worsted spinning anymore. This woolen yarn is that nice!</p>
<p>I'm so pumped about this yarn that I nearly threw all my active projects aside to immediately cast on for <a href="http://katedaviesdesigns.com/2014/05/17/a-hap-for-harriet/">Kate Davies' Hap for Harriet</a>. I have contained myself for the moment, but it's sure to be on the needles soon enough.</p>
<p>On my latest spinning project, I've changed my ratios and am trying to spin a heavier gauge of yarn. It was going to be a proper 3-ply, but I didn't think I'd get much yardage. </p>
Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357881.post-43178521747270895822014-06-04T11:54:00.000-06:002014-06-04T11:54:06.773-06:00And another thing<p>In the last few years, the infrequent things I've posted have mostly been finished things. Or at least I intended to post them. There's been a lot of catch up. While my making of things hasn't waned over the years, my reporting of them has. Which makes me reflect on what my intentions are in this space. I have been quite out of the habit of blogging for quite sometime and yet I can't quite bring myself to call it quits entirely. </p>
<p>Crafty blogs have been quite important to me over the years, which is why I felt the need to start one up in the first place. Even when I haven't been actively participating by sharing my own content, I have endeavoured to keep up with what other crafters have been posting and taking inspiration from that. Mostly, I read blogs though I rarely comment. It's tricky when you follow a bunch of them. And commenting is one of the more frustrating experiences to try and do from a smartphone. I don't intentionally lurk, but effectively I do.</p>
<p>Communities demand a certain amount of participation of their members in order to survive. And as I've become a big time smartphone user in the past few years, I've shifted to using more immediate forms of posting short commentary snippets, Twitter and Instagram mostly. So that's satisfied my need to share things in the short term. </p>
<p>While this sharing is more immediate, impulsive and rewarding (with likes & favourites), it's also less focused or detailed. Twitter & Instagram have been about whatever I'm doing at the moment, and thus not much about crafting. And I find I no longer am keeping track of many details of my projects. I start things to have something to work on. Finish them and use them. I might take pictures & try to remember when I worked on it to put something in Ravelry or on Flickr, eventually. Or often I won't. Which is fine. Life moves on, we all understand.</p>
<p>But I kind of miss it. I miss delving into the detail of my inspiration. I miss sharing my excitement over a newly learned technique. I miss feeling connected to people who are maybe actually interested in hearing my rambling details of what changes I made to a pattern, or understand why handmade quilts make for the best naps. I miss being a contributing member to community that has been important to me.</p>
<p>And there has been no real reason for me to have stopped.</p>
<hr>
<p>Now I'll ramble a bit about a sweater I'm currently working on.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14241451441" title="Garter stitch beginnings by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2901/14241451441_605fdb61ef_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Garter stitch beginings"></a></p>
<p>Back in May, I finished knitting a shawl (I'll maybe tell you about it sometime). Once the end of the border was grafted to it's beginning, and it took up it's current residency on my coffee table, I begun swatching for <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/95-spring-summer-2012-patterns/1125-candlewick-by-christa-giles">Candlewick</a>. </p>
<p>I have had this yarn and patterned picked out for sometime. I probably bought this yarn back in May/June 2012 after finishing the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/janemumbles/audrey-in-unst">Audrey in Unst I knit using Briggs and Little sport</a> (and never posted about).</p>
<p>This is one of the few times that I think I've purchased yarn with a specific pattern in mind. And I even started swatching right away. I don't recall why this was put aside. I probably just got busy at work and continued with something that was further along and didn't need as much thinking.</p>
<p>Or maybe I was <a href="/2012/07/ive-been-sewing-lot.html">cross stitching</a>? I don't remember.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnieprops/14159088368" title="Finished back & right front beginnings by Joan of Locks, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/14159088368_1cf34db7a5_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Finished back & right front beginnings"></a></p>
<p>Fast forward to May. I knit some new swatches, managed to find the right gauge with this yarn (2.75mm needle). Cast on for the back. Made sure to check the measurements in the schematic and compared them to my new favourite cardigan. And just this morning I finished the back and started on the right front. </p>
<p>Can I tell you something? I am in LOVE with this yarn! 40% Merino, 30% Organic Cotton and 30% New Zealand Possum fibre. I was intrigued by the possum and it's just knitting up to make a beautiful fabric. There's a great squishiness to the garter-stitch borders. </p>
<p>It's too early to really tell, but this might just be the hand-knit sweater that I'll finally wear. This could even become a favourite sweater (I hope I didn't jinx anything).</p>
<p>So here's to getting back into the habit of things.</p>Sarah A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12778293635800340382noreply@blogger.com0