The Midnight Yarn Fairy

A little while ago, online, I had bought some Berroco Vintage DK and thought a colour called Cast Iron was going to be dark grey. Why did I think this? Really, I have no clue.

So I strolled around downtown Toronto with my knitting bestie Caitlin. We went into two yarn stores and a plethora of home decor places.  (I can't wait to have my own living room, kitchen, everything really! ) So I was in the search of the perfect grey to make this. And over all the yarns I looked at, the Vintage DK in the grey was actually a perfect fit. Silly me. Had I ordered the right yarn from the start I wouldn't be in this mess (see exhibit A below)...

So of course, by not buying it in the shop I bought it online at 5am this morning, as you do... By doing this I also ended up buying...well... everything else saved in my online "dreaming" basket. Whoops?

The Ultra Alpaca in Berry Pie is backordered so it could be ages before I see it. The Cascade was all on sale (five bucks for 100g.... who can say no to a great deal in all it's glory like that?) A whole sweater for like $25? Awesome! 

I almost bought the grey in alpaca as well, but that would have cost a lot more, and well, I'm still unemployed so really I should not be buying ANY yarn....

A little of this, a little of that

I am packing my shipping boxes and found out today that my yarn can in fact go into the shipping boxes. The regulations were warnings for "some countries" but Canada is not one of them. Which is good because most of the stuff I'm packing was actually bought in Canada and brought over last Christmas!

When I first learned to knit I went a bit haywire and bought a ton of stuff. Needles, yarn, and I didn't know what half of the stuff was! Now I barely use straight needles and when I do my housemate always asks me questions with concern in her voice - something clearly is wrong. Why are those needles so straight? But this project, as it will be lengthy and ongoing the straights are good - I won't be desperate to get them for another project.

So I happily sorted my yarns into "Can go into shipping box" which meant if it got lost somewhere at sea as things sent in any sort of postal service have potential to do I might not break down and cry too much, and which "I might use soon (hopeful) or I am saving for a special special project." And here this means a decent amount of tears and regret if they are lost.

In my sorting I found lots of bits. Some big, some small. None full skeins and not even near half in many cases. What do I do with these once so loved, so full of memories of gifts, these finished items.

Something for me, something I can keep. A BLANKET! A random, stripey, patchy blanket! Or at least some squares for one at the moment. I think this will be my "long day, can't think" project. So easy. And something to make me actually make swatches perhaps?

Quick - Entertain me!

I need to be entertained a bit more today - stress and all.  So, I thought it might be nice to do a recap of all my recent FOs.

There was the toddler spiral cap, for which I'm working on a written pattern. I didn't like the way the top went a bit uneven so I'm doing another prototype in the same pink as the bunny booties below...

Bunnies! Gifted and happily on the feets of a little angel. These are Debbie Bliss Bunny Bootees . Fairly intricate to knit, but sooo cute! The ears and face I postponed for AGES but they really do make a sweet gift so I'm sure I'll struggle through another pair. They're intermediate, but if you're willing to do crazy things like knit the row you're on while knitting it into a row 7 below then you're ready for this project!  

These are my asparagus/celery coloured Aidez rip off mittens. Really must come up with a name and perhaps write the pattern for them too!

And this weekend's masterpiece - A Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk hot water bottle cover using the Muckle Mitten colourwork pattern. I do love the pattern! This HWB is squishy, soft and I am selling it on Etsy! 

If you want a pattern for a hot water bottle let me know. I've been working on some but so many factors can change - bottle size, yarn weight etc, that I am stumped as to which to publish!

Designing Woman

Sometimes, when its quiet at work and I'm doing mindless clean up of things I have left for too long (hello spreadsheets) my mind wanders into the land of Knit and Purl. 


What if I did this. 


What if I did that. 


So the other day I didn't have much to do at lunch and lunch happened just after one of these mindless sessions on Excel. While I've been working on my Aidez I have fallen in love with the diamonds on the back. So: 


What if I put these diamonds on the back of little fingerless mittens?! Hmmm...


I did a doodle then went to heat up my food. 


Yesterday Mr. Boyfriend was out with his friends, so I had the WHOLE evening to myself. I left work super early (thanks to a cold Mr. Boyfriend had given me earlier in the week, and a trip to Manchester with work that left me with too much overtime saved up). 


So me. And my lonely sofa. And a ball of this clay beige Debbie Bliss Cash-soft. mmm... 




This is the somewhat finished product: 

I think I'm getting pretty quick at this knitting malarky! Finished both today. 

Not 100% happy with the outcome. They fit and are comfy and interesting to look at, but will do another pair changing things. Like thicker ribbing, maybe copy the Aidez further and do a double moss in the centre. 

And then have a think about publishing the pattern to share with everyone! If you want to knit a pair of mittens with double moss diamonds on the back let me know. Maybe you can test knit!