Anybody want Waffles? Waffle Mittens that is!

As I browsed the knitting books at the book store looking for inspiration I found these mittens in a book titled Knitting By Design. It was instant love. I wanted them. 

I bought the book and immediately bought yarn for them. I have never made mittens before but I've decided that each new knitting project I start needs to teach me a new skill and advance my knowledge in knitting. With only one new skill each time I can concentrate but not get overwhelmed. Slow and steady my friends!

The new skill here were using double pointed needles and attaching a thumb gusset. After completing these mittens, those two things were quite simple but I ADORE the result. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I made only one flaw in the design. The pattern has 4 rows. On my first mitten I forgot what row I was on so took a guess. It was wrong. So now I have one row on the inside of my left mitten that skips the pattern. That is ok - imperfections help prove they are self-made. 

The wool is Berroco Ultra Alpaca (50% wool/50% Alpaca) in Eggshell and Beet Root. It knits magnificently but after wearing them for two days they have become very fuzzy which I don't mind at all because THEY ARE SO WARM! but means that photos don't turn out great. Just think of how toasty my little fingers now are! 

Another one of my makes is the gigantic cowl that I am wearing. Burnt orange hand dyed wool. It is scratchy and squishy and my favourite thing. It certainly blocks the -30C winds blowing across Canada currently. Baby it's COLD outside (Not not while wearing all my WOOL!)

Now lets talk about this book: Knitting by Design. It is so beautiful. The patterns are all simple ones so this book is great for beginner knitters. Each pattern is easy to follow with detailed instructions and has a few photos of the pattern as well as snippets of Design Inspiration, Yarn&Stitch, and Trial&Error. It gives you insight into the design process which is a nice change from books that only provide the pattern.

This book feels like a lifestyle knitting book. The style of the book is whimsical and the patterns fun. There are hand drawings and vibrant colours. All things I thoroughly adore.

I'm so happy I bought this book. These mittens turned out near perfect and I look forward to making my next item from their patterns!

The only detail I will change for the next pair is starting the Contrast Colour earlier so there is more of it. The pattern called for 3 more sets of the pattern but that would make them too long for my hands so I made it shorter. But I didn't realize this until I was there. I suppose trying them on while making them would of helped eh? Things to remember for my next pair.

Have you seen this book? What are your opinions?

Ps. I LOVE MY FIRST MITTENS!

Read More »

Wool & Blue & Something New

The first piece of clothing I made was this free Bubble skirt pattern from Burda Style. I was enrolled in an introductory sewing class in Toronto and I needed to have a pattern and fabric already selected.

In all honesty I didn't really know what I was doing. I just thought it would all work out. And happily it did.

I was so utterly excited to go to the fabric store for the first time with a plan. I knew I wanted a nice soft wool for my skirt. And I also wanted it cheaply because well, who doesn't love a bargain? Not an easy thing to find. But I was determined. I searched every bolt of wool in Designer Fabrics on Queen St in Toronto first by feel and then by price. Every. single. bolt. I was in there for a good 3 hours looking at wool. It was love.

I eventually found this blue wool suiting that has an incredible soft touch with a slight sheen. And at only $5/metre I knew I'd found the one. That feeling never goes away. I LOVE finding incredible fabrics. Oh the possibilities.

This may have been one of the only times that I had a pattern and went in search of a fabric for it. Typically I buy fabrics that I love and then figure out what to make of them. It typically works out. But I also have a large fabric stash now. Choices - FUN.

The bubble on this skirt was HUGE. Like, make me look like a hippopotamus huge. So after making the entire skirt, I had to grade down the hips, thus eliminating plenty of the girth of this bubble, to an appropriate level. I must of taken off 3 inches on each side. Re-donkulous.

Now, this skirt isn't perfect. I admit that. I added an exposed metal zipper to the left side, but it is too heavy for the drape and shape of the pattern and weighs that side down. I definitely couldn't sew a straight line at this time (I admit I'm STILL not the best at straight lines. Sometimes they weave - my bad) I used a purplish thread which shows very obviously on the hemline. And finally my pleats are uneven and my waistband is wavy. BUT, it was my first piece of clothing ever.

The fact that I will still wear it in public means that even with all its flaws and imperfections - it is still wearable to me. And that is all that matters. Plus, I get compliments on it when I do wear it so they imperfections are more noticeable to me than to others. Even better.

Me! Me! Take my Picture! Me! Take MY Picture!   -Scotia

First skirt. Forever love.

Read More »

Knit-Faced

Ravelry has taken over my life. I adore it. I frantically search for amazing knits that are a blend of easy (since I'm still a beginner) and beautiful (since I love pretty things). So much FUN I'm definitely knit-faced.

I made this beautiful yellow cowl. I wanted to play with texture and learn a new pattern from my pattern book. I figure I'll be making many snoods in the near future with varying textures. Test them all out. See which ones I like best.

Yarn: Paton Classic Wool Roving
Colour: Yellow 77615
Contents: 100% Wool
Pattern: Blanket Knit Stitch

I have been eyeing these Turban headbands for awhile. My work sells one identical to it. But I knew I could make my own. Forget buying it. So I did just that! Simple. I think I'll make many many more in many many more colours!

Yarn: Red Heart Soft Touch
Colour: Berry 9779
Contents: 100% Acrylic
Pattern: Rib Stitch

And finally we have my first voyage into the world of cables! LOVE them. Not as difficult as I thought they would be once I purchased double ended needles. So much easier to use than my first attempt using cable holders. BUT I am super happy with the result and can't wait to find another beautiful cable pattern to try. Since I had lots of the Red Heart Soft Touch remaining I used that. I don't much like acrylic yarn but I didn't want to veer away from the exact instructions because I am TERRIBLE at gauging size. OOOPS.

Yarn: Red Heart Soft Touch
Colour: Berry 9779
Contents: 100% Acrylic
Pattern: Cable 6

And there are many more knits to come. Just you wait random internet people. JUST. You. wait.

Read More »

Grey Wool Circle Skirt

I have always loved the cold weather. I love to bundle up, wear fleece tights and wool accessories to keep warm. So when I found this luxurious 100% grey wool coating for the incredible price of $5/metre I knew it had to be mine. The thickness of it, the soft, furry touch of it, and its colour. It was all perfect material in my eyes.

Since I do love the cold weather, I wanted to make this wool coating into day wear instead of outter wear. Was it possible? It has great drape for a heavy wool coating, but I knew it probably wouldn't take darts without adding substantial bulk and gathers would NOT be happening in this without added 50 lbs to my waist line. And forget that right? So I opted for a simple circle skirt with waist band.

This circle skirt has no side seam. I cut it all as one piece. I love the thought of an endless piece of material. AND no seam means no bulk. That works for me!

I added a metal zipper because I prefer the look of them. I wanted to make it a full exposed zipper but realized that I am still terrible at adding zippers so I ended up with a slashed opening basic zipper insertion. Easy for me. It does cover my metal zipper a bunch, whereas I wanted it full exposed, I am just happy that it turned out as not a hot mess.

There is a small sprinkling of snow of the ground and taking these pictures sans fleece tights wasn't my brightest idea. It was cooooooooooold. And we all know that a circle skirt loves to keep it breezy. And Breezy it was. You can't see it but I have many many goosebumps.Maybe the staunch white colour of my legs is testament to the last time these gams saw the sunlight eh?

Here's to a beautiful winter of fleece tights and wool garments!

Fabric: 100% Wool Coating
Cost: 5$/metre - 0.75m Used
Pattern: Self drafted Circle Skirt with waist band

ps. I still have 2 metres of this wool fabric. I'm thinking a beautiful dress next!

Read More »

It's a Snoody Day in the Neighbourhood

While I was in Melbourne, Australia I found that the city has this incredible artistic vibrancy about it. The city pulsates with culture and stimulates all those who enter it. I wanted to be a part the drama, a part of the colour. I scoured the independent designer shops, the thrift stores, and found fabrics galore. But another part of the city I wanted to be involved in was learning a new craft. I immediately signed up for a knitting course.

Every year I beg my grandmother to knit me another pair of mittens. I love knitted mittens. Line them with fur and they are perfect for Canadian winters. The colour options, the yarn texture, the designs. Knitting has always been so beautiful to me. I always knew I should learn but never considered taking a course on it. I'm so glad I did. It was casual and fun. There was tea and laughter involved. It was splendid. I felt like I was gaining so much from Melbourne. Melbourne was sharing its passion for the arts with me. 

But, I arrived back in Canada in a midst summer time. Hot and sweaty and wonderful. Knitting was the last thought on my mind. But as my new skill got set aside temporarily, I knew I would pick it up again. I knew I would hone my skills. I simply had to wait. It is Canada after all. And one of the Great White North's guarantees are the rapid temperature drops. And just like that October rolled around and hello Winter. 

I needed to pick up my needles and start knitting. It was brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr cold out. And knit I did.

Thanks to By Hand London's post I had two beautiful snood patterns to choose from. I wanted them both. And I wanted them NOW. And that is what I did. I bought circular needles and super chunky Peruvian wool. I turned on the kettle and pulled out my favourite mug. I was about to spend my night inside cozied in my fur blanket, knitting away. Bliss.

And these are my results:

The Moss Stitch Snood

Bernat Roving in Plum (00071) (80% Acrylic 20% Wool)

The Basket Weave Snood

SMC Tweed Montage in Grand Canyon (509) (56% New Wool/40% Acrylic/4% Viscose)

Started: The English Rib (with a twist)!

Read More »