2012, the year of the selfish knits

Since I have started knitting - only a year a half ago - I have actively knit for others. I have done some things for myself, like the Owl Sweater and some random projects but I still wear store bought mittens, a hat, scarves, I tend to use my own projects as learning curves and keep them more out of necessity that no one else would want them than them really being for me. 


My hot water bottle cover was the first thing for me. Since then I have knit a few things for my Etsy shop and considered making things for specific other people. I like making things for people and seeing them enjoy the gift... but maybe this year I should make things for me? I could learn some socks, do some sweaters, finally use that white and grey cashmere merino wool I bought last year for a shawl or something useless and lovely. 


Enter the teal alpaca mittens. I made a pink pair of these for my co-worker and loved them while I knit, so when I started the teal I could already picture them on my own hands. Currently they lie in my Finished Box, without thumbs. 

Why the finished box? So that I don't finish them and have to sell them. I want to keep them. But I don't need another pair, I already have a fingerless mitten that I actually made (first time knitting in the round, first time doing colour work, first time ribbing, I learned a lot on those mittens and to be honest they still aren't cast off properly!). 


Tomorrow I will finish my item for my Etsy shop (HWB cover, what else) and then finish these teal mittens... but tell me, do I have to sell them??? 


Alpaca is amazing. Knit with pure alpaca as soon as you can. Go buy some now. Make these mittens. Really.... Really... YOU MUST!

Accessorise your knitting...

I bought myself a present after Christmas as it was on my wish list and no one else bought it for me! Stitch markers for my knitting!


I cannot wait to start a project that uses these babies! They're delicate and adorable but quite sturdy. This is where I bought them! And they only took two weeks to arrive from the US, which isn't bad at all!

Now the question, what should I make?! 

Heart Hot Water Bottle

It's done! I have to get some better pictures before I put it on Etsy, but thought I would share with you first!  This is made out of Debbie Stoller's Worsted Pure Wool.  I have it listed on Etsy without a hotwater bottle, but it fits a 1.5L water bottle. Here is where it is listed in my shop. 

(This is the finished product, the pattern is a little while away, but I am working on that too!)

I'm already planning my next one!!!  I plan on having some more things posted in time for Valentines...

Obsessive Compulsive

I know I have said before I get sort of obsessed with one thing and kinda run with it... my new relationship with knitting has followed a prior one with cupcakes, friendship bracelets, painting, sewing, kickboxing, yoga.... the list continues!


So once I do something once I kinda have to keep going back for a while to get it out of my system. My last post I showed you my first hot water bottle cover. I love it. I actually have never owned a hot water bottle before so this was also a first for me. And now I want to share the love! I went out today and bought 3 more bottles to create covers for. None of them are the same size, and I couldn't find the size I already have so the cover I'm already working on is a bit lost (poor guy) but I will find that size again I know. I think there are only so many sizes of them... well I hope anyway!


What are your thoughts on Hot Water bottles? And little knitted sweaters for them? Good idea? Jealous? (I am working on patterns, so don't get too jealous! I just need to work out the stitches for each size bottle??? )

Turning over a new leaf....

I started myself a project as its now after Christmas and I feel like I deserve some of my own knitting. I also finished the project today which is very unlike me... normally when it's for me it sits on my needles for AGES and I feel guilty about working on it, but not this one! (I'm also doing this as a test knit to create a pattern to share, so I was also sort of working for others at the same time, so maybe that is why it is guiltless.)


It is also something I've been dreaming up since I first learned to knit. I bought some hot water bottles and if you have seen my Ravelry line up you might notice a small and very rustic one with a heart that I designed and knit last year. This year my skills are much improved and I still had a big bottle to cover, so in Sept when I was at Romni wools in Toronto and bought many balls of amazing wools I dreamed up this design and have finally realised the dream. (Bit dramatic sounding but not sure how else to say it!). 


I want to change some things in the pattern before I share it, like the squareness at the bottom, and some placements of colour changes but otherwise here is the gist of what I will be doing in the next little while!


My FO from today!

Christmasey Cheer

I LOVE Christmas. I really really do. I love shopping, I love making, I love wrapping, and I love the excuse to fly to Toronto and see my family. Living far away is sometimes hard, but knowing I get Christmas here makes it all much better!

I have been in town a week now, and have made my way down to the most amazing yarn shop that Toronto has to offer! Romni Wools on Queen West is amazing. If you live anywhere in the general area just go. Drop everything, leave your non-woolly friends at the Tim Hortons across the street (they can people watch, and there are quite a few weirdos in that area) and although the store doesn't look like much on the outside its really worth a trip inside! There are two floors of yarn. The ground level floor is made up of current lines of yarn and is sorted by fibre and size, so if you only want sock yarn you can skip a few rows and just go there. I never skip anything. I spent an hour in there the other day, when it was my second trip to the store already!!! The basement is a dungeon of amazingness - its where they put all their sale yarns and a huge stock of yarn on cones! Its amazing!

While home I've knit one and a half pairs of mittens and I bought yarn to produce sets as my next year's endevour! For the month of January I will still make things for my Etsy shop but have decided it will be a winter occurance only and will spend the rest of the year either making stock or knitting for myself!!! I already have ideas for a hot water bottle cover, mittens for me!, perhaps another sweater.... the sky is the limit! (Ok, the summer months are the limit, but who's counting!) I can't wait to share the items as I make them. I'm going to be making my own patterns for them and really want to be able to share the ideas with others!

 

December Finally!

For someone who hates the snow I have an obscene joy for December. I love the Christmas build up, the manic shops (I try to do most of mine online in advance so the few things I go out and get aren't too ridiculous) and just the rush!

Right now the rush is a bit more than I anticipated. I have taken on an extra job at work, managing my etsy shop, organising knit groups and I'm flying back home in a few days, right after a friend's wedding and then Christmas Dinner for the in-laws. (We're not actually married but how else is a nice way to say your boyfriends parents?). You can possibly imagine the state of my flat?

My signature mittens arrived to their buyer in the USA, which is SUCH a relief and the buyer Kitty says she has been wearing them everyday! I'm so glad they are being used and enjoyed. I love those mittens but I love sharing the craft and what I make. It brings me such satisfaction!

I can't wait to show you some of the things I make in the new year. One of the items will be inspired by the Signature Mittens and I have had the yarn since September and I can't wait to use it! I keep pulling it out, looking at it and practical me keeps putting it away and going to my shop items instead!

 Maybe you will be inspired and share your things with me!