Yarn-Along

This week…

Knitting :: Maeva Socks in Cascade Heritage Sock (colourway Navy Blue) for my second Ravellenics 2014 project. I’m 14 rounds into the second chart on the first sock, so I’ve got awhile to go on these. (Rav link)
Spring Boneyard Shawl… I’ve made a Boneyard Shawl before, but I’m making a lighter springtime version with laceweight cotton/linen, Diamond Luxury Collection Pima Lino Lace. The colourways are Nile and Light Denim. I love how this is turning out so far but the longest rows are going to have a crazy number of stitches! (Rav link)

Reading :: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I’m not very far into this but it’s good so far. I also finished An Abundance of Katherines this week, which was pretty good. Definitely John Green’s worst book, but the most of the characters aren’t bad, the plot just isn’t very compelling. I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads but in reality it was more like a 3.5/5.

Watching :: Season 1 of Orphan Black (okay, so I started and finished this…). If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to stop reading this and go and watch it. Right now. It’s that good!
I also started Season 3 of New Girl… not loving this as much as season 1 or 2. The humour just seems slightly different somehow.

Let me know in the comments what you’re knitting, reading and watching… I love getting your recommendations for books and shows! I hope you are all having a lovely Wednesday!

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual!

Cabled Canuck

I finished my Cabled Canuck last night… it feels good to have something off the needles for the 2014 Ravellenics! That’s why I picked the hat for my first project- I knew it would be a quick knit. My next project is going to be the Maeva Socks, which are going to take a bit longer.

I really love how this hat turned out! The yarn I used is Rocky Mountain Dyeworks Troll Falls Worsted in Bronzite, and the colour is perfect for this hat. I forgot to switch to the larger needles after the ribbing so the hat is a bit snug- it fits, but I’ll probably use 5mm needles for the body next time and I will also probably go down to a 4mm for a 4.5mm for the ribbing so get the edge to but a bit more snugly.
(Rav Link)

Thanks H for helping me out with the photos for this!

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend! Let me know in the comments what you’re knitting for the Ravellenics!

Let the games begin.

I’ve successfully cast on my first Ravellenics 2014 project! I’m playing for Team Canada again this year. I was few hours late for the general cast-on… I slept in, and then spent most of the day working on a paper, but I managed to take a break this afternoon and put on season 2 of New Girl, wound my yarn, and started a hat!

The pattern is Cabled Canuck by Tanis Lavallee and the yarn is the discontinued Rocky Mountain Dyeworks Stag Ranch Aran in Bronzite. Rocky Mountain Dyeworks shut down last year but Hasmi is still dyeing with her new company Raventwist! She does beautiful work.
(Rav link)

If you want to see how my Ravellenics projects are coming along, I’ll be updating my twitter and instagram with lots of in progress shots!

Let me know in the comments what you’re knitting for the Ravellenic Games!

More Vanilla.

I mentioned last week in my post about my Vanilla Latte Socks that I was working on another pair of Vanilla socks… and here they are! These are the Plain Vanilla Socks in Patons Kroy Sock. I really like how these turned out- the length of the leg is perfect and they fit well. The only tweak I made was to use 1×1 ribbing for the top cuff rather than 2×2- I find it doesn’t stretch out quite as much that way.
(Rav Link).

These socks are my second pair this year, so I’m on track with my goal of finishing 12 pairs this year! I’m going to start another pair this weekend, so I can get a head start on next month’s socks!
(And that book I’m reading in the background? The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. Great so far!)

I also have a quick announcement today… a bunch of designers, myself included, are doing a little donation drive during the Olympics and Ravellenic games to voice our support for those whose human rights are being oppressed in Russia. From tomorrow (Feb 7) to Feb 9, I’ll be donating 50% of my total pattern sales to Egale and for the remainder of the games (Feb 10-23) I’ll be donating 25% of my total pattern sales. Any of my patterns are eligible. If you’d like to see the other designers participating, Bristol Ivy has compiled a list on her blog. Thanks for your support!

(And I’ll see you again tomorrow for the 2014 Ravellenic Games cast-on… go Team Canada!)

I’ll be linking up (a bit late) with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual!

Ravellenics 2012 recap

As of Sunday, the Olympics, and therefore the Ravellenic games, are over! I finished a total of 5 (five!) projects during the games this year, and got a head start on my Christmas knitting. Not bad considering it’s only August!

I figured I would do a recap post with all of my Ravellenics projects in case you missed one (or two, or all) of them. Info for each in under the photo, along with related links.

Lotus hat- Ravelry | Pattern | Yarn | Blog Post

Ginger Rib Scarf- Ravelry | Pattern | Yarn | Blog Post

Mukluks- Ravelry | Pattern | Yarn | Blog Post

Little Miss X- Ravelry | Pattern | Yarn | Blog Post

Double Bump Dishcloths- Ravelry | Pattern | Yarn | Blog Post

Did you participate in the Ravellenic games? I’d love to see your projects, leave me a link in the comments so I can take a look! Happy Tuesday!

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along, as usual!

           

Getting started…

That’s right, I’ve gotten started on my Christmas knitting! Every year, I make a generously long list of all of the things I plan to make for everyone I know for Christmas, and I’m always very optimistic as to what I can actually finish. The problem is that I want to make things for so many people… immediate and extended family, school friends, family friends, neighbours… you get the idea. Needless to say, I’ve yet to have a year where I actually make everything on the list… maybe this year will be that year? At least I’ve got an early start.

For my last Ravellenics project (if you want to see all of my Ravellenics projects, I’ll be posting a recap tomorrow), I made a pair of dishcloths for my grandmother. She loves hand-knit dishcloths and she says she really liked the waffle textured ones that I made last year, so I made her something similar.

The yarn is Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Off White and the pattern is Double Bump Dishcloth (free!). (Rav Link)

Have a great Monday!

First Ravellenics FO!

That’s right, I’ve finished my first project for the Ravellenic games! It’s the Lotus Hat, and the pattern can be found for free on Ravelry here.

I like how it turned out but it’s a bit short. I would definitely add an extra body pattern repeat next time.

(Rav link)

I’m a member of Team Canada and I’ll be entering the hat in the following events:

-Hat Dash
-Lace Longjump
-Single Skein Sprint
-Synchronized Stash Busting

I’ve already cast on my next Ravellenics project, a scarf from this pattern. I am completely smitten with the colours of this yarn. It’s just so pretty.

(Rav Link)

I’ll see you all at the finish line!

Linking this post up with KCCO, Yarn-Along, and KAL Tuesdays.

New Patterns: Aestas and Solis!

I’m really excited to be releasing 2 new patterns today, Aestas and Solis. The patterns are available for purchase today (more details below) and I’m giving away one copy of the e-book with both patterns on my blog! (More details on the giveaway below as well.)

From the Aestas pattern description:

Aestas is a light and airy beret, perfect for warm summer days or for a light hat for fall or spring. The lace pattern is sophisticated yet easy enough for a beginner. Aestas is designed to coordinate with the Solis gloves. Aestas is the Latin word for summer.

From the Solis pattern description:

Solis is a pair of elegant yet simple fingerless mitts made using fingering weight yarn. Designed to coordinate with the Aestas beret, these mitts are perfect for fall or spring or even chilly summer nights. The pattern includes both a long and short cuff version. Solis means “of the sun” in Latin.

The patterns can be purchased individually at the links above (you don’t need a Ravelry account) or they can be purchased together for a discounted price here. Additionally, to celebrate the 2012 Olympics and the Ravellenic games, from now until the 4th of August, you can use the code “ravellenicsintro2012” for 15% off either the individual patterns or the e-book set.

To celebrate this release, I’ll also be giving away 1 copy of the pattern here on my blog. There are 3 ways to enter the giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each entry or you will only be entered once! I will draw the winner on Saturday, July 28th (via a random number generator).

To enter:

1. Leave a comment below letting me know that you’d like to win. Please include either your Ravelry username or an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
2. Follow this blog via e-mail or WordPress.
3. Add Solis and Aestas to your queue on Ravelry.

(I have to approve your comment for it show on the blog. If it doesn’t appear right away, please don’t post it again! It’ll be up soon.)

I can’t wait to read your comments and see your versions of Aestas and Solis. Have a great week!