tweed & stripes...

after this i might need to take a small knitting breather. introducing the brea bag in all its tweedy goodness. i have been complaining forever about needing a purse (picture me when i grocery shop, trying to juggle produce and my wallet, keys, phone, ipod, and sunglasses), but never seem to find one i like. i found this gem on ravelry (what did i do before ravelry?), and promptly added it to my to do list. i reallly enjoyed the knitting - was brainless but interesting nonetheless. i am a little disappointed with my choice in yarn, but only because i feel the fuzziness of it hides the lovely cables. reading other's comments after knitting this bag, i knew my best bet was to line it and add a zipper if i wanted real functionality. however, between my temperamental sewing machine and my general issues with sewing something to a knitted product, i think it's best if no one examines my handiwork too closely. the strap is just a scrap of beautiful leather i had.



next on the docket are my new candystriper socks. i started these a few weeks ago as an easy but fun project after the lacy challenges of the flower basket shawl. basic toe up, with a 2x1 rib at the top - 34 rows of it, but only because that's how much i needed to use up all the pink yarn (leftover from the shawl). again, a project that has a few quirks, such as discovering that the red wool is finer than the pink, so the sock with more pink is slightly larger, but given that they are pretty funky looking anyway, i won't be losing sleep over it. i'll just be enjoying them when i succumb to wearing socks again - but hopefully that won't be for a couple more months! rain and wind came roaring back last week after a brief few days of heat, but sunshine seems to have returned again so i am trying to actually believe maybe it is july, and not october as it is trying hard to be.

done!

Well, that was quick. Obviously I've been a bit preoccupied with this one. Start to finish took one week. Pattern is the Circular Shrug from Peony Knits. I made some significant modifications in that I abandoned the mock rib pattern used on the main body of the shrug, and instead used a the Vinnland Sock pattern from The Anticraft down the centre, bordered on each side by stockinette. Yarn? Oh, yes, the lovely Noro Silk Garden in #203. I knew the Noro striping would never match up perfectly for seaming, but was also unable to visualize where the seams would be while knitting this. When I discovered they pretty much run across my breasts, I wasn't sure I had made the best choice. But I decided to work with it, and used a three needle bind-off to create a nice but obvious seam figuring it was never going to be invisible anyway, so might as well go with it.

For my first adult sized sweater (albeit a small one) I am pretty happy, and the the commitment required for future large projects seems less imposing. But nonetheless I have a few small projects in the works for now - finishing my fun candystriper socks (yup, that's what I'm calling them) and a few other ideas spinning around in my head.

sweet treats...

I have been eagerly watching the developments of the garden, especially the zucchini. We have three kinds appearing: standard dark green, yellow, and a pale green variety that I've never seen before. There are so many things I love to make with zucchini, but here featured is a little something yummy, but with plenty of goodness in it too.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
3/4 cup butter
1 3/4 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk (or, in a pinch, mix some sour cream with some milk)
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla

Beat together butter and sugar; slowly add other wet ingredients. Then add:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves or nutmeg
a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips

Mix until blended. You can make muffins or bake in a loaf pan - I actually made six muffins and a medium loaf. Scoop into muffin tins until they are 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F - I baked the muffins for about 15 min and the loaf for about 35 - bake until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool on a rack. While cooling, add a little extra zing by putting chocolate chips on top - I usually use about 12 choc chips on each muffin (I have memories of my mother getting me to count out neat piles as a child), and a bunch on a loaf. Wait till the chocolate chips are softened, then use a knife to spread smoothly over the top.

YUMMMMMMMMMM.

ps - the lovely quilted potholders in the photo were made for me by my (also) crafty sister.

some kind of sickness...

I keep reading about knitters who love their Noro, but I had no idea. Now I'm seeing what happens. I bought five skeins of Silk Garden 203 on Sunday, and since then I've become obsessed. I'm knitting the Circular Shrug, and it seems to have taken over my life - I can't seem to get anything else done as all I want to do is knit. In this shot I am about 14 inches along - I'm sure it will be more before the end of the night. And to top off the craziness, it is 36 degrees out! Who on earth would knit a sweater in this heat? Thankfully, my apartment is wonderfully cool compared to the stagnant wall of air that hits you outside.

You may also notice I have abandoned the faux rib on the body and am doing straight stockinette on each side (the better to show off the yarn) with the vinnland socks pattern in the middle. I'm loving the result so far.

My only hope at this point is to keep going, so when I'm done I can actually pretend there are other things going on in my life!

the heat of summer...

I've been thinking lately that I am giving a bit too much focus to my knitting on this blog and ignoring all the other things I love to do. Not that I couldn't blather on about knitting all day, but I forget to post about all the sewing I do too, and how much I love to cook, and anything else that happens when I'm not parked in front a computer. So in an attempt to change this, here's a little something I came up with for dinner tonight. I find it a bit hard to get inspired when A is away and I'm cooking for one, but am trying to make an effort and make sure I still get something healthy into me.

Summer calls for nothing too heavy, full of fresh, crisp veggies and flavours. I had been thinking about coconut milk, but a curry seemed too rich. So here is a toss together, with nothing measured, but with yummy flavours and a good hit of spicy heat.

Coconut-lime Veggies & Rice:
First, cook some rice (I used brown basmati) - quantity and type up to your preference; cook according to package directions. While that is cooking:
• Medium-sized chunks of bell pepper (I used red and orange)
• Finely diced jalepeno (use more or less depending on your heat tolerance - I used 1/2 of one)
• A bit of finely diced ancho pepper (also catered to your heat tolerance)
• A can of diced green chilies (not spicy)
• Chopped snap peas (I cut them in half or thirds)
• About half a can of corn
• Maybe 3 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• Half a can of coconut milk (I used the organic stuff)
• Juice from half a lime
Saute veggies in a pan with a bit of olive oil, then pour in coconut milk and lime and let simmer while you wait for the rice to cook. When the rice is done, scoop some into a bowl and top with the veggie mix. Enjoy!

But....there certainly has been some knitting. I am well into the second of my striped socks, and have also cast on for Peony Knits' Circular Shrug with some beautiful Noro Silk Garden. And did I mention that Ravelry is sooooo much trouble? But in a good way ;)

By the way, it is finally summer here (no gradual change for us!).

other uses for a crashpad...

also titled: is it ever going to stop raining so i can go climbing? another FO - Evelyn Clark's flower basket shawl. this was pretty much my first real attempt at lace knitting, although i had a good grasp of the basics from doing some smaller lace patterns on all those fingerless gloves. it was definitely a challenge trying to figure out what tension to have, and to keep track of the pattern. i think if i attempt another shawl i will need to spring for some lace needles, as the straight 5mm were not ideal. there are a few errors in the finished product, but hopefully only i will notice them, although one is fairly obvious. i added one extra repeat of the lower flower basket chart.

the yarn i love - fleece artist merino sock, after i decided it was far too beautiful to hide on my feet. i think it works well for this pattern. and what else do we ahve going on here? little more than half an hour's work and some leftover classic merino and i have a little protective pocket for my new ipod nano, as well as an extra pocket for my fm tuner or a pair of headphones. basic stockinette knit in the round, with a top flap done in moss stitch.


what's next? a few things, but i need something definitely less lacey, although am still in love with the fleece artist. with that in mind, i have decided to combine the leftovers with the leftover red yarn from the diamond socks made earlier this year and create some fun basic socks with a simple stripe pattern. mindless, but i think the result will rock.

two FOs...

a toque in late june you say? would seem a bit unseasonal, if not for exhibit b, also known as the ridiculous pouring rain and black clouds outside. it's not that it's been all that cold, just not all that warm either, for june. so here i present shedir, which i had been thinking about for some time but kept being distracted by other projects. i also some black classic merino from patons, which had been knit and half knit into a few hat incarnations for A, each time with me becoming frustrated for some reason or other and undoing the whole thing. now with the weather being not so warm, toques weren't completely off my mind, and also because A is leaving today for a summit attempt on Mt Rainier, where a toque might be useful. however, the curse of this black yarn was not completely finished. i cast on and was paying less attention than intended, not realizing into late into the project that i was using 3.5mm dpns instead of 3.25, and as such the toque was much much much too big. accepting defeat yet again, i frogged the whole thing, and dutifully went to the LYS to get smaller needles, and just to be safe i got 3mm, as the hat seemed awfully large on the whole. again to cast on. and things went pretty smoothly...sort of. while the right size width-wise, it still seemed a bit long, so i only did four repeats of the main cable pattern instead of five. but yet it was still to large, but i had finally reached my limit for working with this poor yarn (which i normally love), so i decreased much faster at the top than the pattern allowed. i think it still looks good, despite a bit of puckering, although if i do this pattern again i may try some different techniques. all i can say is, at last i don't have to stare at the black wool anymore!! (also please excuse the bad photo - trying to take a pic of one's own head is hard, especially when in the dark sheltered area trying to stay out of the rain)

in other projects, and yet another example of my inability to follow patterns faithfully, is the vestee. i think it turned out quite well, although obviously the main garter stitch and probably so many other things are not quite as stated in the pattern. having never attempted a sweater before (i just don't have the commitment for a big project i think) i decided to start small. i used freedom denim which i think will be nice and light for summer, especially with the short sleeves. now i just hope the recipient isn't growing too fast to fit it!

raindrops on roses...

well, actually they're peonies, and oh so pretty. our backyard is turning into a jungle, and i'm sure i'll have more photos as the summer gets into full swing. and this rainbow shot was taken merely minutes ago, so big that i couldn't even fit the whole thing into my lens. i love the contrast of the dark, stormy clouds.

as for knitting, there has been some, but not much. the leyburn socks are still stagnating. however, the vestee baby sweater is oh so close - i will have shots soon to show. and a few other projects in the beginning stages. plus i've been doing a lot of sewing - i'll have to remember to take some pictures.

the cutest...

after making the kew gloves for amanda, i still had leftovers of the green wool used. add a little pink (don't remember what kind - i believe some kind of patons washable baby) and you have the cutest striped mitts for the cutest little girl (that being amanda's little girl, not mine). was hard to get a good shot of the mitts - this according to her mother, but i do know from experience that 2 year olds rarely sit still - but they do suit her perfectly i think, as she is regularly seen in green and pink. the pattern is my own, basic stockinette stitch except for a bit of 2x1 rib at the top and bottom. the stripe is alternating, with the main colour being 2 rows high, and the accent colour alternating between one and two high, and obviously i made the two gloves opposite just for a bit of variety. pretty sweet i think.

finally...

these have been sitting under the radar for a little while, as i didn't want to post about them until the recipient had had a chance to see them. but i'm very pleased to hear that they have been happily received my A's mom in Ontario, even though it is now getting much too warm to wear them! the pattern is just my basic fingerless mitts, knit in patons classic merino on 3.5mm dpns. the cable pattern was inspired from shedir (which i am also contemplating as a project soon). this photo probably doesn't show them at their best angle - but i'd love to see the new owner modeling them!

what has been occupying me lately? other than my new job that's keeping me very busy, i have just recently been taken over by the leyburn socks from pepperknit, which i'm finding a very easy but obsessive knit. not to mention i am knitting them in beautiful cherry tree hill yarn in golds, greens and blues - wait till you see it. more to come soon. although if the weather continues to be as beautiful today, i could be easily lured outside to climb...

river rapids...

finally completed - my version of the river rapids sock from sock bug. i've had this wool lying around for awhile, and the blue seemed perfect for the task. these took a little longer than expected due to the lure of other projects, but were in general a pretty enjoyable knit with a pattern that was easy to remember but still kept me interested.

west coast weekend...

ah, tofino. who can complain when there is lots o' sun, sand, and the huge ocean to awe you? i just got back from a few days with friends; a little vacation to help me relax, and also to wish a friend well before she departs on a new life adventure.
today we went out whale watching, which we'd all done before, but only one of us on the west coast. i rarely get seasick, but three & 1/2 miles out in the pacific in a large rolling swell makes one feel very small and insignificant. and we did get lucky and see one grey whale, a few spouts piercing the surface and a large rolling barnacled back disappearing back down under. not a chance for photos, but as you can see, we had plenty of time with the california sea lions, noisy and smelly but fantastic all the same. hard to snap shots when i was trying to maintain my balance in the rolling seas, but think i got a few good ones.

and some recent knitting - these fingerless mitts are getting quite popular. these ones are for amanda, and she used them all weekend, but somehow i neglected to get a photo until we were in the car on the way home. and they are in fact modeled by kristie as amanda was driving. knit with superlana from lanagrossa, and based on the kew socks from knitty, this pattern was a neat leaf variation that was fun to knit, although a bit more challenging in the thicker yarn. i will be doing a follow up with the same yarn - a little pair of mitts for amanda's little daughter, but will probably go with a different pattern as i don't think this will work at such a small size.

signs of industry...

i have always loved the seaspan barges - not sure why. something about those bright red boxes trudging along up the passage has always caught my eye. this one presented itself from a new angle and i snapped a few shots while on the ferry.

so much knitting...but nothing to show just yet.

umm, april fools?

the day started out alright, and ambitiously (or idiotically) i thought it would be similar to the past few days - a bit chilly perhaps, but with some bright spring sunshine to make up for it. i ventured outside the house in a puffy vest and dared to go sockless in my crocs. yikes, what was i thinking? suffice it to say the trip home was a bit cold, with fat wet snowflakes sticking to every surface as some cruel april fools joke.
it is kind of pretty though, and mystifying to watch the thick white blizzard flying out of the sky. but a bit out of season here on the coast. oh well, i'm sure it will be gone tomorrow. happy april!

spring green springgrass...

another FO to check out. these are my springgrass mitts, inspired by craftoholic's springgrass socks. i thought long and hard about making these socks, but after the mermaid gloves, i really wanted some fun new mitts for myself, and on discovering this vivid spring green, decided this was what i was looking for. or so i thought...i started the project, decided the pattern wasn't working, and proceeded to try countless other patterns with no success until i turned back to this. i modified it a little in that i took out the purl/knit section on each side, mostly to decrease size for my wrist, and added a 2x1 rib on each end (i also switched down to 2mm dpns). i am actually quite happy i didn't go with socks as i find this pattern very stretchy, and fear the socks would be falling down. so now i am ready for spring with my leaf mitts - bright green at my fingertips to make me smile everytime i wave my hands around. the colour is actually much more vibrant than in the photo, but you'll have to forgive that - i may take photos, but have never been a good poser, especially in hand photography, and while taking the photo myself, but there was no assistant to be found. and somehow what i'm seeing in photoshop today is ridiculously different than what shows up on the web. and i call myself a graphic designer...

up next? oh so many things catching my eye...

mermaids...

aren't they pretty? these are my friend kristie's new mermaid gloves that i made for her birthday. inspired by craftoholic's mermaid gloves, but minus the individual fingers which i didn't like, and her gloves were inspired by the pomotamus socks. when i saw them i knew this yarn would be perfect - the blue-green is completely fishy, which is the whole idea of this lovely scale pattern. this project came a bit out of nowhere, done up in 4 days as i needed a present. not that i hadn't been thinking about her present for a while, but i just wasn't finding the right present, until i remembered these. and they were well received, and she even modeled them so i could take this photo, so that makes me happy too! now to make myself a new pair...

clear morning...

just wanted to share a shot of echo lake yesterday morning on my way into the interior of the island. all was clear and calm, but that little riffle of wind on the lake should have been a clue - later it was rainy and windy and miserable, although i'm told it was clear and sunny down by the ocean. echo lake is directly beside the highway, but usually provides great photographs as you can't hear the mining and logging trucks rumbling by!

all natural...

surprise! i actually followed a pattern! who even knew it was possible? and so i present to you odessa from grumperina. i omitted the beads, as i just wasn't in the mood. the lovely pinky-beige yarn used is patons soy wool stripes - soooo soft. you may vaguely remember me posting an in progress of that same yarn soon to become mittens, but that project was scrapped.
and continuing in my natural fibres - A.'s new socks, made from trekking pro natura - wool and bamboo. these took much longer than expected, not because the pattern was particularly challenging, but as i have been much distracted lately. think the cabling turned out well, and still keep a masculine look.
next on the docket? am making headway in my first attempt at real colourwork - endpaper mitts from eunny knits.

signs of life...

yup, spring is showing signs of springing, which make me very happy. favourite season, hands down, although i'm also fond of fall. caught sight of these miniature irises poking up in my sister's yard, along with the crocuses (croci?) below. buds are starting to appear on the trees, but there has also been lots of snow up in the mountains in the past week. i planted some seeds for yummy yellow cherry tomatoes and also some tomatillos, which are nesting comfortably in the living room window with lots of light to sprout. no way are those babies going outside just yet.


but then of course, west coast weather always throws you a little curveball. it has been sunny but cold today, but the clouds are voluminous and drifting wildly in the wind. and then what do you know - it was hailing - big fat balls layering the ground with white before quickly disappearing again. gotta love it.
on other notes, knitting hasn't been very productive lately. have lots of projects in mind but am lacking the motivation and the time. spending lots of time climbing, and helping out at the gym with school groups, which is kind of fun. set a route yesterday - if you get to On The Rocks, try "she's the one" and nice little arete climb, probably 8-9ish, we didn't grade it just yet.

rainbows and then the wind blows...

i always seem to post the pretty day pictures when it is yucky and cold out - must be an attempt to cheer myself up. we went down to the beach today to check out the crashing waves, but it took only minutes to decide it was ridiculously cold and i wasn't going to take any pictures.
this rainbow, on the other hand, made my day on sunday while driving back from a visit with my sister and fam. the entire arc was visible for a little while, but even as i snapped shots i could see it fading away.