The Maxfield Saga Continues

So, my Maxfield has taken me ages, and if you have been reading my blog you've seen pictures of it.

I do love this sweater. I think Amy Christoffers is amazing and her brand Savory Knitting has so many patterns I want to make. This sweater hasn't taken me ages as it's difficult or because there is just a lot of knitting. It's more because I cannot decide how I want it to look.

I was stash busting and ended up buying as much yarn as I'm using up, so that wasn't as successful as I had hoped. So this was my first colour play, trying to decide how to work this sweater without the variegated yarn. Navy, Yellow, Gold and Blue.

I found that the yellow and the gold was a bit much. 

So I decided on this stripe, dropping the yellow out entirely and then began the body to reflect that. 

Once the body was done I thought this front panel was too busy and wasn't entirely happy with this. It sat for a few days as I reflected on what to do. The body I liked, but the fronts needed some changing. 

So I swatched again last night. 

Which do you think I chose? 

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So this is the one I chose! I love that it reflects the stripes without being busy or as chunky as the body stripes. Now just wish me luck in not changing my mind AGAIN! 

Lifely update.

Today I am going to share some knitterly things, and some life things. My life, not life in general. Sorry, I'm not in a philosophical mood. 

I am working on many projects at the moment. My Maxfield Cardigan I'm sure you're getting sick of hearing about. 

Here are two of the that you haven't seen before: 

This is my sample Headband. I plan on writing up a pattern for it. It is made on Aran wool, so if you have some of that lying around and are eager to use it up this could be just the pattern! It uses under 50g  so it's ideal for single skein use up, or quick presents that look impressive but are super simple! 

Then yet another Stokholm scarf. I have made a few of these, they are simple, gorgeous and fun to make.  If you want to make one don't be daunted by it. There is one tricky stitch, but there is so much guidance on Ravelry that helped me get my head around it, so if you're stuck just ask me! I'm more than happy to help! 

 This one is for me. I love teal, its' my go to colour at the moment. My first one I used 200g of DK yarn, and this time I'm going to use 300g to make it plush and thick and warm. I'm using a needle size down from the one reccommended in the pattern to create a slightly firmer fabric. I did that with my first one as well. 

This is where I live. Not here exactly, but on the border of Mississauga and Toronto. One day, I want to live right downtown again. I love it down there. 

And this is my wee kitty Molly. She's tiny but she's the oldest cat in the house at a mature 7 years. She took to sniffing in my project bag for quite a while, but isn't much a playful cat so she wasn't too bothered with the contents. 

Work all day.... oh wait....

So. I am now a resident of Canada.  I am also unemployed and sitting in a pub on a weekday. Why must people work, this is much more fun right? Oh ya, that whole "money" thing. Must make money to buy more yarn. Oh yes, perhaps I should get a job. 

I have been very behind in my updating you of my life. I can tell myself this is okay as I don’t assume anyone actually reads this. Some people just mosey on over from Ravelry for some free patterns and such. Ah well!  My internet at home is pretty crappy at the moment and between fighting with that to apply for jobs and navigating my way around our four cats I just haven't found the time! 

I have been quite lax on the knitting side of things. I ordered some yarn online and got black instead of dark grey so I need to wait until I get a job to fix that mistake. I’ll make something out of the black sometime soon though. Maybe for one of the gents in my life. I am making an effort at finishing my Maxfield cardigan, which I still cannot decide on how to do the front panels so I'm just plugging away at the body at the moment. 

I have been spending time on my resume, sending it off places in hopes of getting something, somewhere. Let’s hope that works out for me.  I had a meeting with an agency today and the woman was really nice. I talked myself out of the job I’d actually applied for but she seemed really positive about everything else. Plus, I talked myself out of that job by being honest and saying I wasn't crazy about working in finance again so I guess it’s better this way.

I sent in one application for volunteer work. I’m hoping that comes through fairly soon. It sounds like something I’d really enjoy.  Teaching knitting! But I have to wait for an opening in the schedule they have and then apply specifically for that time. Wish me luck on that and on a “real job”. Also if your work is in Toronto and hiring someone relatively sales/customer supporty.... haha

Welcome back to Canada, Eh?

I now officially live in Canada. My agent at customs was lovely and didn't charge me any tax on the items I was bringing into the country. To be fair, I don't really have much of value aside from my yarn collection and I'm sure no one cares about that in the slightest unless they are crazy knitters like me.

I haven't knit much since I've been back. But I was teaching my step sister the other day. She's progressing well. I think she also wants to learn crochet so I will have to brush up on that! I am heading to my Dads today for Christmas Day celebrations. We usually have Christmas Eve with my moms family, and Day with my Dad.

Last night was really fun seeing everyone. I was so sleepy by 8pm though, with the jet lag so I ended up in bed really early. AND I had a nap before everyone arrived! Now its 6am and I'm wide awake. Not good.

On the first day of Christmas....

I have been a very busy little bee.

My last day of working in England happened today. Tomorrow is one of my most favouritest people's birthdays. We are spending the day in London learning to make Sock Monkeys - hello awesomeness!!

Yesterday was a day spent in London, at Winter Wonderland. I was very good and only bought food and some small things, like a belt that has three owls on it.

I wanted to buy this from Joules, and I still might if they have my size tomorrow!

I finished my dragon FINALLY. 

Christmas Celebrations!

Tonight is my first Christmas party of the season. And, happily, it's my knit group's christmas!

We do a gift exchange where we buy crafty supplies or make something. Last year I got some lovely Rowan Cocoon and a copy of the Bella's Mittens from Ravelry. I gave a handmade hat, and others got things like craft books, home sewn needle holders, all sorts of awesome things!

I cannot wait to see what my lovely ladies have come up with this year!

And to socialise with them and eat a lot of crap (I bought a lot of crap).  I am giving a gift that keeps on giving - my favourite interchangeable needles. Well not mine, but the same as mine. I hope whoever gets them loves them!

Here is a picture of something I made earlier, for another secret santa that we're doing at work. :)

The Pressure Is On - 100 blog posts later....

This is my 100th post.

I feel it should be monumental, profound, you know. all that stuff that my dedicated readers deserve.

Today I did some non-knitterly things - like hiking up a hill in the mud. And buying groceries. And I actually took some pictures!

Here is the hill I walked up. It's called St Martha's Mount in Chilworth, Guildford, Surrey. Veeerrry close to where I live but this was my first time up!

I have also been working on knitting. This is true.

These are my next pattern that I shall be writing up! I didnt like the big "purled" gap between the cable and the stockinette starting in the pink ones, and while I love that twisted knit stitch up the side, I just didn't think it was working right, so I have fixed that in the blues and voila: 

Ive also started working more on my Maxfield. The front panels are single rows, and the sleeves will be double colour rows with 10 rows of navy to separate them. Hurrah. The sleeve stripes are my favourite. 

I also happened to put on facebook about wanting to start a knit group in Toronto and so far I've had a lot of positive response, and as I organised the one here in England, I think I'm more than capable of developing another perhaps! Challenge accepted. 

I also got a funny response to come knit at someone's work. Sounds like it could be interesting, meet some different people, volunteer some time, and while I love me some old ladies and their stories of life I think this won't be seniors but a variety of people from all walks of life. So while I might be unemployed when I get back home, that might not last long and in the meantime I might be able to do some really interesting things!