Tuesday Knitters Rock!!

two very dedicated knitters

February has been a very prolific month of knitting amongst my peeps! Louise (on left) and Jackie (on right) have been knitting and knitting and knitting these fabulous felted bags.Louise and Jackie were kind enough to provide me with a before and after shot. Can you believe how big this bag is before felting? It is almost a sleeping bag!!Jackie's finished bag is awesome. It is a strong and sturdy bag that sits upright on its own. I calculated that between the two of them they have knit over 1.6 km of yarn.

Where's Jen when I need her

Infinity scarves are still really popular to knit and wear. I don't think they will ever go out of style. They are so easy to wear-just a couple of wraps around your neck and you are ready to go. Last year Sally suggested I  knit a bias infinity scarf and I did! Sally always has the best ideas. I don't need much convincing when I can use Noro yarns!

Frances modelling her scarf knit with a Berrocco yarn

This year, lots of knitters are knitting infinity scarves. Frances knit one in over a week. I believe she used a Berocco yarn-my picture really didn't do it justice.

Deputy Barb

Barb knit a beautiful one using Boboli-a Berocco yarn. We all agreed she should buy a new coat to go with her new scarf. Many thanks to Barb who took my scribblings and formalised it into a well organized pattern. Thanks Barb, you are awesome!!

Evelyn knit a gorgeous scarf using Noro Silk Garden. Absolutely lovely!

Jackie knit her's using a Sirdar Country Style yarn. This yarn has built in striping and fair-isle patterning. It knit up beautifully. I should have taken a close up picture of this one, as it was quite unique. Wonderful!

Laurie, Frances and Geri are knitting intently

There's Brigitte knitting two at a time socks!

The Tuesday Morning ladies are absolutely delightful and are great knitters!! We are all planning to knit lots more infinity scarves for gifts ...and maybe for ourselves. I think this is what is so great about knitting with a group of like minded knitters-we all encourage, help and stimulate each other.( I don't like to use that word -enable!)

Busted Louise! Probably looking at new patterns!

 Thanks again for everyone putting up with me and my camera and my "Glam Shots". I have lots more pictures of knitters and projects to share. Stay tuned and happy knitting friends.  Chris

Smoochy Mama Monkey !!!

Smoochy Mama Monkey

The world needs more sock monkeys. How can you not laugh and smile when you see a face like this!

Judy has been knitting a sock monkey every year for her grand niece. Last year she knit an adorable baby monkey.

Adorable Baby Monkey

Cutest things ever!!

Judy also made this rag quilt for another wee one. It is beautiful-I love the colours! It is made of flannel so it is super soft and cuddly. Lucky babies!

Judy and Maria knitting up a storm

It is really hard to take pictures at the best of times and it makes it even harder when we are all camera shy. Consequently I have to do some stealth picture taking. Everyone is knitting such interesting and lovely things.

Maria has been knitting lots of lovely infinity scarves. Her teen aged daughter loves them! That is a super bonus in the land of knitty.



She is also currently knitting an adaptation to the honey cowl. She substituted seed stitch for the slip stitch pattern. It made it a lot easier to pick up and knit. She is a very very busy woman. This picture does not do the wool justice as the colours are really vibrant. I do like how garter stitch and seed stitch really allow colours to pop in hand dyes.

Brenda is working on her 6th or 7th infinity scarf.

This one is super soft. She used two yarns together, a grey alpaca and a Madtosh DK. Stunning! Knitting with Madtosh is something else-bit of a slippery slope!

This one was knit with a multi coloured cotton yarn. She will be able to wear this one throughout the year. I have knit a couple of infinity scarves and I am starting to like them more and more. They are very easy to wear and they look great on everybody. You can wear them loosely or more tightly depending on the weather, just wrap them more or less. Scarves are still very much in fashion. Recently I have seen them paired up with spring sweaters, jackets and even tee shirts in the local shops. I think it would be nice to knit one in linen, bamboo or ...silk (!!!) . Cashmere wouldn't be too shabby either!
  I have lots more pictures of knitters and projects to come. It is really a great time of year to knit,. Have a good week and happy knitting friends!  Chris

Kitty Mitts and a Westie

Lots of snow!

I was very fortunate to receive these beautiful mitts for Christmas from my one of my knitty friends.  I love them!! It is so exciting to receive gifts from fellow knitters. There is so much to admire and talk about. I too, love gifting knits to my knitty friends. We are all preaching to the choir-so to speak!

These beautiful mitts are knit using Sisu-a heavy fingering/sport weight yarn in my favourite colours. It was hard to get a good picture outside, but hopefully you can see the kitties on them.

On the palm there are kitty paws and if you look closely there are fish skeletons on the thumb. I love the pattern on the cuff too. They fit perfectly and are so nice and warm. I am so lucky!!

The most incredible part is I also received two other gifts that match perfectly. This was totally coincidental.

Archie and myself on Christmas Day

This is Archie, our daughter's Westie. He sure keeps us all busy. We get to puppy sit a lot!

 He does provide a lot of comic relief around here. Have a good week friends!  Chris

A New Year Begins

Pond in my neighbourhood

 Happy New Year! Another year begins while another ends-it is just a flip of a page in a calendar but we all attach great significance to it. It has been some kind of year here but that's ok-here's to a new year ahead with lots of great and happy things to us all. I am not a big resolution maker-that requires self discipline and mindfulness!! I do aim for more manageable things like take my vitamins more or less regularly, clean up and get rid of (sorry recycle re purpose renew) all those treasures in my house (ongoing resolution-don't laugh!) and generally be a good person, eat properly, go to bed earlier....all the good stuff.

 I do have some projects I finished in the early summer before I had to stop knitting. We are still married and nobody is missing any body parts so I am coping admirably! Maybe this is yet another kind of personal growth issue the ether's have thrown at me but I am finding it really ANNOYING-just sayin'! (but it is really quite minor). Enough of my whining!!! Zip it Chrissie!!

This is the #15 Cabled Lace Shawl in the Spring VK. It is an Iris Schrier pattern featuring Artyarns. Iris is both a phenomenal and prolific designer and wool dyer. I could talk endlessly about her designs and her yarns-oh my!!

I used Artyarns Beaded Silk Light and Artyarns Silk Rhapsody Glitter Light in H3 colourway/ These yarns are pure heaven to knit with.

 The shawl/wrap fits perfectly it doesn't slip off your shoulders and it is so soft and light and just lovely to wear. If you want to treat yourself or for someone special,  this is the ticket! I loved it so much I just had to, really really had to, knit another!!

I knit this one using neutral colours-very elegant. I am a more in your face kinda colour person so this is really a departure for me!! It does go with everything.Very very pretty. This pattern is easy to follow and an enjoyable knit..

 January knitting can be the best, all the giftie stuff is done-or close to it. Now it is time to knit something you really would like to wear or even to do. It is winter, so lots of time to stay warm inside, knit, have a cup of tea and eat some leftover Christmas goodies. Happy knitting in 2013 friends!   Chris

A fresh coat of paint and some good knitting karma

I haven't done a lot of knitting this summer. It is probably a good idea to cease and desist when a certain right arm seizes up on oneself! These things happen to us all, it's annoying that's for sure! Hopefully modern medicine will help rectify the problem and I can be back at it-in moderation of course (hah)-sometime in the near future. I did get a little painting project done though.

I love painting things-not so much walls and ceilings. but tables, chairs dressers are fun to do.Painted furniture was quite popular when our kids were little and I painted a lot of pieces. It was fun and cheap and a great way to recycle and repurpose good but tired furniture. I am so happy to see it is back in style again.This table/desk was a great project to do.

So I sanded, primed it and a few coats of paint later it was done. I also put on some new knobs. It is a more vibrant green than the pictures suggest.

I am currently adding a lot of colour to my living room-too ho hum.

I have a lot more painting projects I would like to do-c'mon arm!

On to more knitterly things. Our Thursday morning group has been planning to knit some chemo caps for our local cancer centre. There is a need for these hats especially with cooler weather ahead . They would be so greatly appreciated. So if any of you are interested in doing some just get in touch with me, leave me a message here or I am in on Thursday mornings at AoY. Needless to say cancer has touched many of us either personally or our families, friends, neighbours and co-workers. It would be great to be helpful.
  I was talking to one of my neighbours recently. She works in a women's shelter/transition house. She was telling me they have a great need for some knitted booties and /or slippers for all the little kids and babies that come to stay at the facility. Often the women and the children arrive with very little in desperate circumstances. The floors are not carpeted and they can be quite cold so it would be nice to slip some warm woolies on their little feet. They also become something of their own to keep. Sadly, her facility needs lots. Of course she would love to have quilts and blankets too but those are bigger projects. Again.any handknits would be greatly appreciated. So if you want to do some just let me know or you can drop them off on a Thursday morning. Thanks. It's good to spread some knitterly love. That's what it is all about.

Spectra Spectacular

Madtosh Merino Light Forestry and  Noro Silk Garden Sock

 Well we might be a little late for the party, but we are all making up for it. Stephen West's pattern Spectra is causing a little bit of a knit frenzy amongst us.

Cathy is knitting one too. I am not sure what colour the Madelinetosh is but I am guessing Vermilion. It contrasts dramatically with the SG Sock. Stunning! I will have to do this combo too.  We both like strong bold colours ( in a very refined in your face kind of way).

Tianna is doing hers in Madtosh Calligraphy and Noro Silk Garden Sock. Lovely palette of golds greens and browns.

Sally's is finished and it is beautiful.

Brenda has chosen these colours. Very pretty!

nice nose

We all love Brenda!

Madtosh Twig and SGS

Rebecca/Becky chose some awesome colours, the pics don't do them any justice. This is going to look incredible when it is knit up . Rebecca is a fabulous knitter, check her projects out on Ravelry. Her nom de plume is Beckabee. I still have to get pictures of Maria's and Jane's Spectras. It truly is a lot of fun seeing all the different colour combinations knit up as you really don't know exactly how it is going to look.
 We are such a bunch of enablers. One great project and we are the knitting lemmings of the world. We just can't move fast enough to look at colours, talk and talk and compare and discuss perfect colour combos, and  finally finally decide (well maybe, what do you think, I like yours do you think this is ok?) on the perfect match. Next get our patterns and needles (which ones what length which ones do you like), and off we go-straight off the knitting cliff! Fortunately no one has been injured  yet (to my knowledge)  in the general stampede. It is such a blast! So much fun!
  I am knitting this scarf with a set of Cubics needles-well come to think of it we all are now. Colleen, a member of our group who has RA, absolutely raved about them. I tried them and I really really like them. Who knew a cubic needle would a) be invented and b) be so great!. They are nice and light and really comfortable to knit with. Life is full of surprises.

What's that bright shining orb in the sky?

Armenian Cornflowers

 Today the sun came out in its full glory! I know for many millions of people who are suffering through a terrible heat wave in the States and in eastern Canada this is complete crazy talk.I can't imagine how hard it it is to suffer through such heat without any power and even with power come to think of it. Let's hope some of our cool wet weather will travel across the continent. We have had a very cool, extremely wet June
  I love this plant, the blooms look like giant yellow thistles-bees love it too.

Everything is growing well but I have noticed my perennials aren't nearly as large or as tall as they usually are, due to the lack of sunlight I guess. As we usually have such a hot dry spring and summer most of my plants are more drought tolerant.

Moonshine Yarrow, Fleabane, Shasta Daisies

I started digging up the front yard a few years ago. I do love flowers.

This year I haven't done much gardening, for several reasons. I didn't plant any zinnias which are my favourite. Sigh. However in the grand scheme of things its no biggie,

Linen-Linen Project Bag

 There has been some scattered knitting though. Sounds like a weird weather forecast . On Thursday morning there will be mixed knitting conditions for Kelowna . Expect bright sunny spots of clear and calm contented knitting punctuated with occasional outbursts of loud grumbling noises and torrents of ripped out rows. Favourable conditions are expected to prevail for the rest of the afternoon. Okay okay enough.
 I started this little project today and I really like it. It is the Linen-linen project bag, a freebie on the Churchmouse website. The pattern calls for a Rowan yarn, which I don't have. I am using Nashua Creative Linen, in the Faded Lime and Bright Pink colourways. I really like the look of this bag. It can be used for a knitting project or for anything else really, Great gifty idea too. The only mod I have made so far was to cast on 50 stitches. This allowed me to get a finished width of 10 inches. It is knit using the linen stitch which is aptly named and is actually quite fun to knit. I seem to be knitting (and ahem buying) a lot of pink yarn this year. Judith says it is the colour of healing, I thought that was quite interesting. I just love cheerful bright colours!

False Sunflowers