Knitting: Organizing my Yarn

Warm

Cool

Unfortunately, much of this isn't for gift knitting so it just sits there all pretty, calling to me, and making me want to cast on about 10 projects at once. ;)

Knitting: Renfrew and Rathtrevor

I can't resist the call of my new Island book, even though I should be doing my gift knits first. Thankfully, these were quick, so I didn't have to feel much guilt! 

 Rathtrevor: (only my favourite place in the world, and now I believe I have discovered my favourite colour way in the world to go along with it. Charcoal, brown, grey...shades of everything that will go with everything!! Love Love Love.)

Am I wrong to be trying to convince Jay to head over to the Island so I can wear my mitts on Rathtrevor Beach?? Expensive photo shoot, perhaps??

And Renfrew, a quick and lovely slouchy hat, knit with a skein of Tanis Fibre Arts aran in the Dove colourway. Faire chose it for me for my birthday and I immediately cast on (after dealing with a horrible mess of a skein and having to spend 2+ hours winding the damn thing by hand - this is when non-knitters wonder why I don't just buy a hat!!)

I love how these hand-dyed yarns look in the reverse stockinette stitch. And thankfully, Jane designed the pattern to be knit inside out, so very little purling!

Knitting: On the Needles and In the Baskets!

A Sand and Sea shawlette. I'm using Habu silk lace - awesome! I'm determined that this pattern will help me get over my aversion to short rows!

This is a gift for the holidays and I know I will be sad to se it go. I anticipate leftover yarn though so I may get a little something for myself out of this silk!

I went to Knit City last weekend!! Greatest thing ever.

And I was number 48 in line, so I was able to score a Fabulous Swag Bag!!

(Thank you, Faire, for patiently waiting with your mom for an hour in line before the event opened so she could score said swag bag. And for enjoying the Knit City as much as your mom and asking to return the next day. You enabler, you!)

Plugging away on my Wisteria sweater. I can't wait to be warm and cozy in it! I have finally signed up for the sweater knitalong at luvinthemommyhood to provide some incentive to finish this, even though holiday gift knitting looms over me!

My beloved yarn purchases from Knit City: Four skeins of Madelinetosh (one Pashmina, two Tosh DK, and one Tosh Merino Light), one skein of Malabrigo sock, and a three-skein set of fingering from We Will Tell You All of Our Secrets (the lovely Caitlin at Baaad Anna's)

None of these will become gifts for others. Just sayin'. ;)

Got my hard copy of the book Pacific Knits, which I had already bought digitally. And I scored an advance copy of Island!!!!! By Jane Richmond! Five patterns all inspired by life on the Island. Anyone who knows me will know that my own love for Vancouver Island is boundless. One day, I will live there. Some of the skeins in the basket above will be used in these patterns. I'm deliberately not winding the skeins into balls so that I am forced to do some gift knitting first!

My easy-access yarn stash is a mess. Today I will figure out what is being used over the next few months, wind it into balls if need be, and put the rest away in the craft room stash area.

Knitting: Ishbel Shawl

Why, yes, another shawl! 

This one is for Faire's teacher. 

All three teacher gifts done, and it's not even June! 

This leaves me lots of time to knit more shawls (I'm not kidding,) and other knitted accessories, for my sister's wedding in July. In fact, I believe I will cast on her wedding shawl right now.

Pattern: Ishbel, by Ysolde Teague

Yarn: bfl sock, by Sweet Georgia, in Riptide

Knitting: Summerflies Shawl

Another shawl.

This one is for Isla's preschool teacher. It has a butterfly motif in the lace, which is fitting because on graduation day, all the preschoolers in the "Caterpillar" class release butterflies as they leave the school and go on to Kindergarten. 

Sniff.

pattern: summerflies shawl

yarn: patons grace

Knitting: Damson

Oh, how I love this shawl!

It took much longer than expected, due to boredom with the garter stitch base, I believe. Then I ran out of yarn as I was about to begin the final row. Argh. But I was able to fudge an ending and now I am a very happy knitter, and also Maid (matron?) of Honour, because this baby will be over my shoulders at my sister's wedding this summer. Along with shoes the same colour. 

I was never much into yellow, but now I love it, especially earthy, honey, buttery, mustardy tones. Obviously I like the colours of food...

Pattern is Damson, by Ysolde Teaque

Yarn is Quince Tern, in Buoy (with the final finish in Quince Chickadee in Carrie's Yellow)

Knitting: Little Shells

I was able to knit this shawl during my weekend on Galiano Island. 

I added to it, so it was a bit larger than the pattern says. I really love it, and I do believe this pattern will be used again!

 It's for Shea's grade three teacher.

Pattern is Little Shells

Yarn is Quince Chickadee in Lichen (2 skeins exactly)

Knitting: Fuyu Cowl

Love this cowl. 

Fuyu.

I knit a beautiful hat with this Malabrigo Worsted. The colour way is Autumn Forest, and it was intended to be my Lynn Valley hiking hat this winter. 

It looked not-so-good on me and my short hair. My sister and her long hair got it for Christmas. 

 All was not lost though, when a mom at Isla's preschool (we're a knitterly bunch this year!) introduced me to the Fuyu cowl! I love how warm and squishy it is. I want mittens in this yarn for next winter (I refuse to think about needing mittens once March hits Vancouver)

Knitting: Ruche Beret and Brier Toque

I'm knitting my way through Weekend Hats. Not officially, but there are just so many patterns I love in it, I know this is going to get a lot of use.

I needed a red hat so I whipped up the Ruche Beret for myself out of Blue Sky Suri Merino. Love. A bit big for Isla, my hat model, but I don't like self-portraits of myself in hats. You get the idea.

The Brier Toque, which I had to knit, mainly because I love the name. Used a ball of MiniMochi, so awesome! Love the colours! Wasn't sure who this was for (I like to hoard hats for myself) but alas, Shea tried it on, and it looks so good on him, that I have bestowed it upon him. He couldn't care less about hats, unfortunately, but I'm the one who has to look at him, so I am happy in this case! Faire also wore it two days straight when feeling under the weather, and it looked great on her too.

Hmm, which pattern next? This book will be a great stash-buster!

A Few More Gifts Off The Needles

Baroness Beret for my mom.

Beret (Ravelry link) for my niece Maya, as per her specifications.

Sweet Baby Cap for Isla. I cannot wait for her to wear this! Blue Sky Alpaca Melange is super dreamy. She'll be the coziest and cutest little pixie in the playground.

Hmmm, all hats in this post.

There are others, but the recipients may see this blog. I'm keeping them under wraps for now, but oh, Salon sisters, I can't wait to show you in person next week!