Projects

Warm sun, cool breeze, I can't lie that it's a beautiful day, but today just can't compare to the cool autumn days when I can wear boots, beanies and scarves and sip on hot chocolates and lattes. Unfortunately, there's still another month to come; but that doesn't mean I can't plan ahead! So, here's my next project: a moss knit blanket!

The second I saw the pattern, I absolutely fell in love! And it just so happens that my grandma, whose retiring from knitting, decided to pass on a ton of yarn to me. If I had a choice, I wouldn't pick such a bright fuschia colour, and I probably wouldn't want to use a 100% acrylic yarn, but hey, it was passed on and I don't't want to waste it. I'll most likely use this blanket to cover up the dog on cold winter days, or to keep folded in the car as a lap blanket.

I'm about 30% done the project. It is a bit of a tedious pattern because you need to constantly keep track of what you're doing. The pattern calls to knit from the front and the back of each stitch during the first row, then knit 2, purl 2 for the second row, then knit from the front and the back of each stitch during the third row and purl 2, knit 2 for the fourth row. I need to write down which row I'll be doing next or else the pattern with be severely screwed up. I've used a long tail cast on onto size 10 US round needles. I'm using round needles for a flat project because they can fit the 130 stitches (which double during the first and third rows).

I hope to be done soon, but I can't make any promises. Updates are to come!

Haul 001

My very first knitting haul! Woohoo! This is a bit of a compiled haul because I got all of these items over a few week period.

The first item is a pair of blue blunt-ended yarn needles by Red Heart. They're made of a plastic, which I'm afraid won't be as good as a metal needle. I have yet to try them out but I'll be sure to review them when I do.

The next thing I purchased I'm actually really excited about! It's a grey cabling needle! Cable knit is one of my most favourite things in the world and I can't wait to use them on a future project I'm planning! They are from Red Heart as well.

I've wanted the Boye Needlemaster Interchangeable Set for the longest time and I am SO happy I finally ordered it! I found it on Ebay for $30 which was such a steal because I saw the set at Michael's for $90. $60 savings means more yarn! I'm expecting a lot of use from this set considering I can make pretty much anything with it. Also, it is a set of circular needles, but they can be used as straight needles as well. You get a set of 13 needles ranging from size US 2 to US 15, 4 cables and a few accessories all packed neatly into a pretty brown leatherette (?) travel case.

I also purchase a pair of Anodized Aluminun circular needles from Boye, size US 17, cord 29". I needed these for another future project coming up very soon. They cost me around $11, I think, and I purchased them at Michael's.

While at Michael's, I also found the big sale bin full of yarn! After a good amount of digging, I finally came up with a few skeins. The first is 5 skeins of bright blue acrylic chunky yarn, each 114 yards. I bought these for a scarf I'm planning on making, but the pattern didn't state how many yards was in each skein of yarn the original scarf was made in, just that 5 skeins was used.

Next I came up with 2 skeins of sparkly wine red yarn! I'll be using these for a hat I'm hoping to make before autumn chills set in! I was honestly pretty hesitant about getting this yarn because of the sparkles and colour, but I decided 'what the heck' and got it anyways. The sale bin claimed each skein was $2.99 but when I went to check out, it turns out each was $1.99! Super save! I just regret not going back and picking up a few more skeins.

This picture and the one underneath are not true to colour.

The following yarn I purchased on Etsy from El Coyote Ranch. I found it while browsing around. It cost me $10 from $20. The colour I purchased was Rusty Gray (WHICH I LOVE) and it is 60% wool and 40% mohair, approximately 180 yards. I'm a little hesitant with this yarn because it's much rougher than I expected it to be, so I'm not sure what to make with it. I'm considering doing a hat because I'm afraid it might be too scratchy as a scarf. I'll have to use a lot of white vinegar and fabric softener with it.

Next, I got 2 skeins of the same yarn in different colours. The first colour is a charcoal, the second a natural camel-y colour. They are 80% acrylic and 20% yarn, both very soft. I'll probably make a hat out of the first and a scarf out of the second. They cost me around $5 each.

And finally, I stopped by Romni Wools in Toronto. After browsing the very-packed racks of various wool, an associate there told me about the sale section in the basement and I jumped at the chance. The basement was just as packed as the upstairs! I finally decided on 6 skeins of Rubens Tweed, which is 65% virgin wool, 14% polyacryl, 12% polyester and 9% cotton. I really like the colour and for $6.50 a skein, I just had to have them!

Azor

Autumn's approaching and I've been planning ahead my projects so that I (and others) can wear them during appropriate weather. One of my latest projects was for the 'others', which is to say my dog, Azor. He's a German Shorthaired Pointer and he's 3-years-young.

This mischievous little beast is terribly spoiled by the family. For the past few years (when he grew into his frame), he's had his little coat for the cold Canadian winter months, but the coat doesn't go up to cover his neck, so he's been wearing a couple of our neck warmers. But because I love the guy so much, I wanted to make him his own infinity scarf. It was my very first time using circle needles and I can tell you now, it was not easy. I cast on approximately 70 stitches, and then I knit using a simple pattern of 4 knit, 4 purl, 4 knit etc. I screwed up so much, it's not even funny, even though you can't really tell when just looking at it. I would knit when I had to purl, I had one part that had 5 knit stitches. I even started going backwards on the project at one point. Mess, mess, mess.

Oh well, he's still gonna have to wear it (even though it's a little bit loose on him). I still need to sew in my loose ends and wash it in some vinegar and fabric softener because I used an acrylic yarn.

I wanted the beast to model the scarf for me, but he was over-excited at that point. He started biting it when I was trying to put it on him, then he saw my brother leaving the house so he was watching him go like a love-sick woman. Managed to grab 2 shots of him still before he started running away with the scarf.