Olympic Challenges

Finally finished my custom order for the folks working in Whistler who do not want to wear gear machine made in China. Thanks for buying hand made!

The Long and the Short of it....

There is no short cut to making a really long scarf.

That is all.

Bits of Happy

One of the students brought me flowers for the last spinning class. So sweet. Really sweet. I am delighted to send another group of spinners out into the world and surprised and happy to receive such a lovely bouquet.

A surprise visit today had me on an amazing group walk at Jericho Beach. Perfect walking weather and it was the calm before the Olympic storm. Nice quiet, Vancouver.

On top of the fabu landscape, I found this little guy near the Yacht Club. Cute and scary strange.

One more bit of happy. Great Thursday drop in group. Due to extreme fun decided to stay until 10pm. Mostly so I could finish this......Hand dyed cashmere, merino and nylon blend.

100 grams
Plied 148 yards
twist not set

What to knit???

Procrastination = Clean/Decorate Homestead

In order to avoid the following:

• Paperwork
• Spare bedroom reorganization
• Jury pieces
• Custom Orders

I chose this opportunity to throw away a love seat that I wasn't really in love with anymore. It was in our dining room under the window. We moved it from Toronto and it has never really fit in the house well. Well, now it's gone.

And in it's place, some things I've always wanted...

• Grown up curtains
• A bamboo carpet
• A gossip corner (it's a Turkish thing)

It's an oasis of coffee drinking and backgammon play. Our marathons have been known to go on for several hours and I think having a station dedicated to it is a nice quirky design idea.

I hope I don't need any more excuses to not work. I can't afford to retile the bathroom right now.

Recreating Ucluelet

This piece is moving slowly. At this rate I think it will take at least a week for me to finish. I shouldn't be surprised since my only tool for this is a 2mm bamboo crochet hook. Fitting that it has the same pace as the island time it was inspired by.

I'll post completed pictures.......at some point.

And now for something really different.

I helped a friend destash yesterday. It was ruthless. The yarns went into several piles depending on type and function of the yarn. The stacks:

• Felting Projects

We have a friend who can felt the crap out of anything and make wonderful things.

• Charity Yarn

Another friend does a substancial amount of charity knitting and also makes kick ass socks so this pile was specifically for her.

• Keep

If there was a specific and doable project for the yarn it was okay to keep. That was brutal. Really.

• Sell

I really wanted the yarn in that pile. A lot. Drool ensued. This was the pile that had more than one skein of a yarn that might help someone out there in stash enhancement world with just those few extra skeins to complete a project when they came up short. It happens and who was I to deny someone those skeins. Also destashing should offer some small financial reward. It's a big thing to do.

• Carmen

This pile, was not the super stack, but the quality of the yarn....Yikes. At least three of the skeins were considered for bringing to bed with me.

Hand Maiden 8 ply Camel (2 skeins)
Indigo Moon Fingering Weight Merino (2 skeins, totally MY colours)
Honey Lane Farms from San Juan Island ( 1 skein from a little alpaca named Kaska
Habu---glorious Habu---the silk and stainless steel and a few other bits...if it is poop from Habu I want it!
Hand Maiden - (partial skeins of incredible colours of sea cell)

The strangest part of this was being thanked for taking the wool. It was tantamount to my stealing someone's wallet and then having them add me to their Christmas card list.

I love the peculiarity of knitters...Yes, I'm including myself.

Off the Charts...

January is the month when I get to play. The cold and wet is perfect for fireplace knitting and spreading all my yarn selections out on the carpet to choose a new palate of colour to work with. The fair isle capelet was a fabulous adventure for me. It made me crazy, but while I was making mistakes and tinking and thinking and just generally cursing the colour work, I was secretly LOVING it.

Consequently, I thought I might try a few designs of my own. In a million years I never thought I would enjoy charting. I looked to my Syrian table runner for inspiration.

After all of my trips to the Middle East, I can't believe that this is the first time that I have used those colours and designs in my work. They are incredibly rich tapestries of history and adding a modern twist to them gives them new life. I am already working on another design (on the needles first) I've figured out that when the math is right I can chart in my head.

Time to pull out the jesveh. I have a craving for Turkish coffee.

January Brain

Jury Pieces

Never jury with the same article twice (even if it got you into the show). You will look like a one trick pony. It's not enough that an artisan makes something, but they must be able to show some growth in their work. After 10 years of putting myself out there for judging, I might finally be getting a handle on this.

GST Filing

It's due in a week, but just because I have a week to go, doesn't mean I should wait until next Friday. The box of receipts is an ugly tangled mess. Although they are in one place, it's going to take a bit of wrangling to make them report worthy.

Custom Orders

They all have deadlines and all need to be done, but I need to decompress before finishing everything. One is straggling from 2009 and I'm just trying to make something perfect and maybe perfect isn't what's called for here. The others are apre Christmas, some designs for Olympic staffers, and replacement pirate hats. It will happen.

Clean the Studio

Substantial yarn purchases at the end of the year require more adjustment to the studio. A bigger dyeing area for sure and some drying racks. I need to maximize my vertical space...Mariegold...are you reading this?

Pet the Cats

When I'm at home, there is knitting in my hand at all times. I have to remind myself to put the knitting down so that I can pet the cats. Habib has learned over the years to insinuate himself under the knitting and on to my lap. It's still not the same as a good hug and squeeze.

Fair Isle Capelet

Completely finished the Fair Isle Capelet. Ends are now woven in and it is blocked. I just want to post the photos. I love it and hate it at the same time....

Love:

• Beautiful Aran Weight Alpaca/wool blend that was a pleasure to knit with.
• Great drape
• My favourite colours
• Pattern was extremely well written and kept me engaged
• Quick knit on 5mm needles.

Hate:

• The fit. Not that it doesn't fit...I just feel like I have to keep my arms at my side. Perhaps this is why I have not owned a capelet in the past. I think I'll wear it ice skating.
  
• The amount of ends to weave in.
  

Changes to the Pattern

• Slightly altered the ribbed bottom.
• Added a few extra textural rows
• Cast off ribbed neckline in a picot cast off.
  

I have officially crossed to the dark side and will now knit everything on circulars. I received several nods of approval from the drop in group tonight. Perhaps because I had it on a mannequin posing at entrance to the studio?

I admit it. I'm a proud mama. First circulars and first fair isle. First pattern in years (other than the thrummed mitts)and first FO of the year. I know I'm not alone..... What was your first FO of the year?

Back to Basics

Yesterday was the third week of my spinning class at Birkeland. Six new spinners ready to unleash themselves on the world. Or not.

Spinning is not easy. It is not for everyone. It can reduce a perfectly coordinated and gifted person to tears when "they don't get it". There is shock at how your hands and feet can betray you and how your mind alone cannot make the wool.

Initially it is less about technique and more about filling a bobbin. But what do you do when what is on your bobbin looks like baby barf? If you love the fibre ---you carry on. If you are stubborn-----you carry on. If you can put your ego to the side ----you carry on. Or sometimes you realize that it's just not for you.

I am happy to say that the entire group will carry on.

In order to prep for class last night, I went back to the beginning. I took a roving, tore it into equal strips and then just shoved it on to the wheel. It felt fantastic. First 110g of perindale were exhausted on to the wheel and then 200g of BFL.

This was the satisfaction of just letting raw fibre become wool. Sweet. It's been a while since I've let myself spin a single skein without trying to put lipstick on the pig, no art yarn, no balanced and plied yarn, just the basics...

Just before heading off to class I did manage to bump into a crazy batt that I carded and had to spin it. It's primarily dyed mohair locks and very kitchen sink. The exact opposite of the yarns I had just spun, and yet somehow the same.

On a completely different note, the "poncho/capelet" is done. Just some loose ends to weave in and blocking. There were some modifications. I like them, but I'll let you decide when I post the completed photos. I think there's a matching hat in me today before heading down to the studio.

On the Pacific Trail....

......all roads eventually lead to knitting. Some of the walks less travelled lead to inspiration. There are two new designs that have come out of this trip. Nothing will be committed to paper until "the list" is completed. Yes, there is a list. Now here's a little peak at yesterday's walk in the park....
The rain is back. Out here it never really goes away, but there are simple things that make it pleasant....Time to knit and these.

Rubber Boots and Coffee Art

I still have my capelet knitting to finish...I haven't been showing my progress as it's not happening as fast as I thought it would...I'm almost ready to get on to the smaller circulars now so I will still be completing my goal of having it done while on holidays. (that doesn't include blocking, does it?). I wish John would quit calling it a poncho. It makes me like it less.

Nature's Textures

Nobody does it better....



Like the most delicate lace.

Knitting Through the Storms

Ucluelet is one of the most beautiful places to knit during storm season. Find myself knitting in concert with the waves breaking against the rocks and the shoreline.


This is not the view from the house, although it is equally as impressive, but our walk on the Pacific Trail was invigorating, wet and led us to this vista.

Some of the clothes are in the dryer, shoes and socks by the fireplace. I think it's time to get back to work on the capelet. One, non water shot before closing...it will be reproduced as yarn

Taking the Knitting Outside

There was some sun, just for a few minutes, just long enough to take the knitting outside to photograph. Considering these colours were all online choices, I am thrilled. The alpaca blend is so conforting and sensuous in my hands. I'm loving the knitting so much, that I don't think I deserve to keep the finished capelet. It has already exceeded my expectations of happy.

The stranding is not making me crazy. I love the inside as much as the exterior. Maybe, even more.

I'm just introducing the 10th colour now as well as my first row of three colours in one row is sneaking up on me. I might even get to drop down to smaller circulars tomorrow. I've decided against the gauntlets. Really, if I was going to knit sleeves why not knit a sweater. Would a hat be too much? You know I want to make a hat for this.

Thinking of Tinking

How very, very humbling. After my marathon start last night....I was gobsmacked this morning to realize that my coffee shop and chatting time while knitting this ...so easy, I convinced myself.


And check it out. I was whipping along. This is 20 rows from last night and this morning. It was shortly after this photo that I screwed up.




Almost intuitive...I convinced myself that this was a walk in the park. Frack...you have to pay attention...best intentions, skill and time cannot make up for not fracking paying attention. I am no longer a knitting goddess, but a mere suffering subject to the colour work.

Please note that this is not good. How could I not notice this? The V is not a V. This is amateurish, really. So what's the big deal? Tink back two rows and get cracking. Just two little rows....Less than 500 stitches....yep.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

In retrospect, there are several other things that I don't like other than the one row of glowing mistakes. The bottom ribbing of 3 by 3 is too loose, it curls a bit and the colour stranding is pulling in the stitches more so I should be tightening up the ribbing.

Also, the green start with the red in combination is too Christmassy for me. Just because the pattern started that way, why should I? When have I ever.....A nice rich burgundy, the other green with the oatmeal V's...now we're talking.

So now I'm thinking, I'm not tinking....it's a bit too delicate for me. I'm shredding this sucker and starting over. Oh and the cast on wasn't even 219 stitches as titled in previous post, it is 216. I think it was doomed from the start.

I hope to finish casting on again before I get on the ferry today. Wish me luck.

Two Hundred and Nineteen Stitches of Happiness

I couldn't even tell you when the last time was that I cast on this many stitches. Ever since I saw this design ---Fair Isle Capelet and Gauntlets.----from Inspired to Knit. I think I may have blogged about it in September, but have only now gathered the woollie forces necessary to pull it all together.

Rather than the Tahki Charles Donegal Tweed at $16.00 a ball (10 balls required), I opted for Elann's wool/alpaca blend Peruvia Sierra Aran at $3.07 a ball (20 balls required) for the pattern. Definitely affordable and I scored a beautiful range of colours.

We are heading off to Ucuelet for a few days of storm watching. I am hoping to finish this on the drive and during the storms in front of the fire. Wish me luck. I'm not much for following patterns but I think some nice colour work will clean out the cobwebs.

I want stuff.

I took the ornaments off the holiday tree today. They were so beautiful, it was hard to box them up, but there are so many other lovely things to dangle off the tree. (Like I could ever leave any canvas blank).

I wish I was feeling better, but this new year's bug and I seem to be a ritual....burn the candle at both ends, dead stop and virus's attack what left of me after craft season. Stuffing myself with grapefruit, drowning in water and the lemon, honey, ginger mixture John has concocted. It doesn't taste bad at all and it seems to get magically replaced when I wake up from my brief, but frequent naps.

It's amazing how I can fall asleep with knitting in my hands and not drop a stitch and still can't make it two blocks without tangling everything on needles in my bag.

I have made a 2nd online purchase ---yes, on top of the recent cashmere purchase. This is two orders in one week....What a joke trying to make a stash resolution. I should have realized that the new year means new yearn.

I take back what I said in my previous post and I will not be taunted by anyone who has been able to stick to a strick no stash enhancement policy. I would, however, like to hear from someone, anyone who has bought yarn in 2010. Someone, anyone?

Endings and beginnings.

It's the 4th of January already. I can't believe it's taken me this many days to get back to the computer. (or get dressed, or attend to my personal grooming). I have really been enjoying life in my pyjamas. It's like the previous post...how do you deal when everything coming to a grinding hault?

It was a quiet new year's eve. We had an amazing dinner at Stone Grill overlooking Granville Island. Simple food. Raw meat that you cook yourself on a super heated lava rock. Even more simple for someone who likes her meat blue.



Since we were the last seating, they ran out of menu dessert and I ended up with the most divine tiramisu cake. John's was over the top chocolate. It didn't even catch my attention. That slice of cake was worth waiting a year for. And it will probably take me the next year to burn it off. C'est la vie!


New Year's Day was a brunch at our place for our french friends. (it just worked out that way). It was such a soft and gentle introduction into the new year. A clean house and a full table and wonderful conversation.




And to cap off the day, a 5 hour marathon on the Space Channel.....Torchwood, Children of the Earth. What better option for someone who wants to spend the rest of the day on the couch knitting. I was covered in a sea of beautiful wool and circular needles, knitting swatches and graphing out my first new design of the year. Hint, a children's sweater in the chunky hand dyed merino. Yippee.

I didn't set out to change the nature of my business last year and yet things seemed to morph and the business took on a life of it's own. Two patterns were published, much yarn was dyed. I cut down the number of shows I did and opened the studio for lessons.

I blogged a lot, and then not at all. John and I canoed with friends and enjoyed all that Whistler had to offer. The market was blessed with very few rain days, so much so that I did not have a tent for the last 8 weeks of the market.

I swore not to take on custom orders and yet I found myself intrigued by customers wonderful ideas and was thrilled to help make them a reality.



I started teaching, even while having so much to learn. It didn't take long to realize that this experience was transendant above all others. I was meant to teach. I feel it in my bones. I've always done small "teachy" things for customers, showing a technique here or there(Trying to convince people that the cable cast on is by far the BEST way to cast on. And now I have a regular gig at Birkeland teaching beginning spinning, advanced spinning, crochet and a drop in spinning group. I promise to add a margin to the side of the blog with my list of classes for the year. And there will be things going on at my studio as well.

Yes, the studio. It has been an intriguing year having the space. . What it has done for my designs, my inspiration and my friendships. Having that creative space gave many of us a crazy place to knit, spin, drink lots of coffee and just bounce ideas off of each other. Or bail water!



Even during the great flood, nothing could slow down my enjoyment of the space. Alive and giving, organic and addictive.

John took on a larger role in the business. Pearl and Toni were above and beyond and near the end of the year Nancy stepped in to lend a hand. The craft gods were kind. Joan and I continued to collaborate by incorporating her lovely buttons into the designs and sharing markets here and on the Island and even one day in Whistler. She is now a permanent fixture with her own space in the "cave".

I fell flat when it came to filling out paperwork and find the new year in a sea of forms and paperwork. It will get done.

Do I have any resolutions? A few.

I will speak with more value and less entertainment and I will speak with a softer voice. I will start earlier in the year to help Mariegold with her wonderful yarn bombing project providing accessories for the DTES. I will work less and ride my bike to the studio more often.

I will drink more water (which means having to put the knitting down once in a while). I will seam less, having finally being convinced after 20 plus years to embrace circulars and double points.

I wish everyone a new year filled with many completed projects and even though I sell yarn, I beg those of you with giant stashes, to knit, trade or give away some of your stash. It will make you feel good, I swear.

I leave you with warm wishes and one final pic of the finished thrummed mitts.

Oh, and of interest to very few, the prequel to Battlestar Gallactica will be debuting in a week. I expect abundant Caprica knitting.