Louisa!

Okay, the Louisa hat pattern is ready to go. Please contact me with any issues! Enjoy!

March 15, 2010 - ETA: The pattern is now available as a Ravelry download. It can be found here.

belated FOs...

I don't know why it often takes me forever to get a post organized. I guess I haven't been that motivated to blog lately, too distracted by other activites and too loathing of the computer after a long day at work. But, I have a couple of things I would like to share, so here we go:
As mentioned in the previous post, I have been working on the Darkside Cowl (Rav link). Except I refer to mine as the Autumnside cowl, due to the lovely colours. This yarn is TRI, from Ancient Threads, and the colours are ridiculous. Love them. It is sock yarn, but I couldn't imagine hiding it away on my feet (although there is quite a bit leftover for that possibility).
This pattern is a great textural knit that I think works well with the variegated yarn, whereas something more complex or lacey would be lost. I had to nearly double the amount of stitches cast on in the pattern, as the original calls for an aran weight, but it turned out well. It is a perfect hit of colour to brighten up the many browns and greys that I wear.
And after the success of the Inga, I was inspired to try a bit more colourwork with Noro as the background. This hat, dubbed "Louisa" for no particular reason that I can think of, uses Silk Garden instead of Kureyon, but the off-white is the same leftovers used in the first hat. I found this chart online, and am in the middle of cleaning it up so that you too can have your own Louisa, if you are so inclined.

a bit of gifting...

Rain is spattering against the windows in the dark, in time with the gusts of wind that echo through the chimney. Before the night set in, the clouds loomed heavy and grey, low in the sky. This is the first good southeaster of the fall, and I welcome the feelings it brings, urges to curl up on the couch with knitting in hand, to nest and hibernate for winter. Right now I'm working on a Darkside Cowl (Rav link), in gorgeous fall colours, and should have an FO to show soon. As well there are a few projects on the go for Socktober. But first it's time to catch up on a bit of gift knitting that has been finished in recent weeks.

I've been wanting to knit this pattern for ages, and I can definitely say this won't be my last go at it. Embossed Leaves, by Mona Schmidt, for my mom's birthday. This is actually my first attempt at top down socks, which was probably my least favourite part, but I wanted the leaves to go in the right direction. I made very few modifications, although I just did my usual heel.

The yarn is Araucania Ranco, which is the second skein I bought along with the purple that was used for my shell socks, It's great stuff.

The other recently completed project is an Inga Hat for my friend Em (she doesn't know this yet, so mum's the word). I have been wanting to revisit this pattern since I made the mitts, and it's possible this will also be made again (for me?). I skipped a few rows on the chart, as per advice from other knitters, and the size seemed to work out well. I probably should have gone up a size on needles, but with a bit of blocking it seems to fit well.

I love this colourway of the Noro Kureyon, although this skein was a bit disappointing. For the hat it worked out fine, but this colourway is supposed to be purples and GREENS, yet once I went through the purples, it was just starting to change to green and then there was a knot, followed by a cycle back into purple. In the light of my lamp the tiny bit of green seemed hardly noticeable and so I left it in, but now it seems a bit out of place in all the purple and I wish I had taken it out. Oh well, the hat is still pretty and cozy and that braid on the bottom kicks ass. Yup, I'll be adapting that into other hat patterns fo' sho'.

Well time to batten down the hatches and get back to my knitting. I love this time of year! (a few more sunny crisp days would be appreciated though!)

happily lost in the forest...

I try to keep my inner 15-year-old locked away most of the time, well at least so far as my manner of speaking goes, but OMG! I love this sweater. I really consider this my first real REAL sweater, in so far as my first real cozy, cabled, perfectly fall sweater. It turned out just as I hoped, albeit a few errors that I think I'm okay with, for now at least. I just want to wear it all the time.

Are you tired of the gushing? Okay, the deets: This is Forestry (Rav link) from the Fall 2008 issue of Vogue Knitting, knitted with cozy Sirdar Eco Wool. I guess I made some pretty significant modifications, such as knitting it entirely in the round, adding cables up the back, adding some length to the sleeves and body, adding buttons...okay I changed it a lot. But I do think it is a great pattern either way, just that I have an inability to follow patterns to the letter.

I'm also thoroughly impressed with the yarn. This wool is ever so slightly itchy, but for the most part nice and soft and cozy (I'm using this word a lot, aren't I?). I wore this cardigan on a cold, damp night on the west coast while camping, with just a t-shirt underneath, and couldn't believe how warm I stayed. At the same time, it is not too hot to wear in my office. All around I can see I will be wearing this often.

I hope to post some fall shots soon - there have been many sunny beautiful days, and a few quiet and grey.

his n' hers...

just back from a week on the mainland - an attempt to go climbing all week in Squamish, but the inclement weather only allowed two days before sending us to the big city and shopping. needless to say it's starting to feel a lot like fall around here, which actually isn't the worst thing, for a knitter anyway.

in the last bit the hat bug hit again, and in between my other WIPs, I fired off two quick toques for A and I. First up:

A's hat is Turn a Square (Rav link) by Jared Flood, in some delish Silk Garden and Sublime wool/cashmere/silk. At first I wasn't sure about the colours, as the Noro turned out darker than I expected, but I think it works out well and fits the colours A likes. Plus the dark bluey-black of the stripes slides right in with Project Spectrum.

Great pattern - knits up fast as most hats do.

My hat reflects my current pre-occupation with the slouch. This is Natalie Larson's Star Crossed Slouchy Beret. I decided to make it even more fall-appropriate, and knit it up in some Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed, which is nice and slubby. Had to do a bit of playing around as I used smaller needles, so I cast on 81 stitches, and added an additional 9 right after the ribbing. I'm pretty happy with the fit of the hat, although I think I would like it a bit tighter in the ribbing as it sometimes slides forward and down on my head.

However, this is the first of what I hope will be a few slouchy hats for fall, so I'll figure out the perfect shape as I go, I'm sure.

The sun has of course come out to celebrate my return home, which is a bit unfair since dry weather would have been a bit more useful for my holiday and the climbing of rock. But must enjoy it where I can get it - I still have a whole long weekend before I return to work!

west coast weekend...

Okay, so this is the west coast creative blog, but in reality I live on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the east coast of the West Coast, if you will. Anyway...

Last weekend we went to a wedding on the real west coast, as in next stop Japan. The wedding was hosted by West Coast Expeditions on phenomenal Spring Island, and various creative forms of transportation were required to get there by the guests. We chose to drive to Fair Harbour (lots of logging roads) and then set out on a 5-6 hour paddle out into the blue.


Here's me near the end of our kayak out, near the village of Kyuquot.

Spring Island

Bull kelp, my favourite.

Still on Spring Island.

A walk into the middle of the island, land of big, old trees.

The morning before we had to leave paradise, sunrise on the beach.

A rumpled fellow on the way home.

The entire weekend was just beautiful, and the wedding a memorable event. We were sad to only have the three days, but after another 5 hour paddle back to Fair Harbour, and a four hour drive home, we were tired and ready for our own bed.

more photos: project spectrum edition

dude, I need to catch up on all these photos I have been taking lately. This set highlights the last element of Project Spectrum, which began with the start of August - Water. I've got a few things in mind for water, knitting wise, as blues and purples are really working for me right now. I'm less into black, but will see where it goes. I really flaked on the Air element, I think mainly because I didn't do much knitting in June and July. However, I did start my new cardigan in the last days of July, and it is grey - it's going along well, but I don't have progress pics to show yet.


A trying out a few boulders on the beach.


Later the same day...longboard cruising, which just made worse my mysteriously swollen ankle. But it was so fun anyway.


Wandering along the marina on a clear evening.


See above.


And my first project that fits in with PS, on the sewing front instead of knitting. I wanted to make a cozy hoodie, but add a few twists from the standard. It's off-white sweater fleece, with a few fun purple accents and an off-centre button front. I might still add some more finishing touches, but I'm digging it so far.

a few thoughts on summer...

i don't have many words today. instead i will share some different views of summer, many centred around the bounty of the garden. enjoy.


the spaghetti squash are growing at an alarming rate. here one finds good support on top of P's whitewater kayak.


sunday morning french toast, cut thick and stuffed with raspberries & strawberries, topped with sauteed apples and maple syrup.


A trying out his new skimboard.


zucchini, bush beans, and pattypan squash fresh picked from the garden.


purple carrots and one lone golden beet.


multigrain pasta tossed in alfredo sauce, and topped with the aforementioned beans, zucchini, carrots and beets (after a light saute). a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.


noro stripe socks. more details here (ravelry link).


honey whole wheat bread rising in the windowsill. this bread is yum - also works well in the above french toast.

it's the simple things...

local free range eggs, poached. yummy camembert from just down the way. fresh spinach & chard picked up at the farmers market today, sauteed in a little garlic flavoured olive oil & spices. and beer bread baked yesterday, toasted. a generous sprinkle of pepper, and enjoy.

summer calls for simpler ingredients, simpler meals. i love it when i can find a meal from local, fresh ingredients. our garden too is perking up and revealing surprises from under tender leaves. the raspberries disappear quickly into our mouths, the strawberries are rescued from eager woodbugs. pattypan yellow squash is perfect on the bbq. the zucchini needs to be picked now before they are all a foot long. the tomatoes are turning from green to warm red. i keep meaning to take pics but the days get away from me.


there hasn't been much knitting lately, but there is one pair of socks on the go. i was inspired by amy to make striped noro socks knitting from both ends of the skein, but i now see many people are grabbing ahold of this trend. so far so good on my part, the first sock fits like a dream and the second is well underway.

i hope everyone is out enjoying the summer that has finally come to visit. on my end there has been much climbing, a little skimboarding, and now some quality time with my new toy. A and i got them this week and have been honing our skills during evening carve sessions. i definitely need some more practice before i venture onto busy streets, but a gentle slope on a quiet night is perfect right now.

marine explorations...

i'm slowly trying to catch up to new stuff...here are a few pics from a day out with my friend Jen's boat tour company. no whales or bears today unfortunately but still a gorgeous day on the water (although i do think any day on the water is gorgeous).

oh the places we'll go...

has it been so long since my last post? I suppose it has, but I will try to make up for it now with a few photo heavy posts. In the last month there has been a bit of exploring, some gallivanting here and there, and today I am a bit sunburnt and tired in the wake of it. But being Canada Day, it is my fourth and last day of a long long weekend and I think I've earnt a bit of relaxation, so will enjoy it well before the inevitable return to work tomorrow. We just got a new skimboard and may go try it out a bit later; more pics? We'll see.

But first: at the beginning of June, A and I went met up with friends at Pachena Bay in Bamfield. For those who don't know, Bamfield is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, just a bit south of one of my other favourite hangout, Tofino, and the start of the famous West Coast Trail. We had never been to Bamfield before, a tiny little town at the end of a 90km gravel logging road. Didn't explore the town too much, but here a few images from the couple of days we spent listening to the waves crash and exploring the seashore.



The dark clouds threatened a few times but there was no rain during our stay - a miracle on the wet coast.



Recent storms had left many creatures tossed up upon the sand.



I spent one morning eagerly peering into the lush tidepools.



We also did a bit of kayak surfing, although the waves were pretty mellow.




Nothing like a beautiful evening to cap it off!