New Pattern: Fairy Mist

Earlier this spring, I was working away on a lace weight cowl design for the May installment of the Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club, 2013. The result? Fairy Mist!



This cowl is knit with 500 yards (half the skein) of Pink Label laceweight, and it feels like a light and fluffy cloud around my neck and shoulders.



It's knit on 3.25 mm needles, and the pattern is easy to memorize. Combined with near-weightless yarn, it's a great on-the-go knitting project, since it didn't take up much room in my bag or weigh me down at all. And the best thing about knitting on the go is that even though the yarn is fine and the needles are small, it didn't take long at all to finish this.



The colours reminded me a lot of Victorian fairy paintings and A Midsummer Night's Dream, so I called it Fairy Mist. It's the kind of thing that's perfect to wear at dusk, when it's just a little chilly.



The pattern is exclusive with the yarn to the Year in Colour Club members, but it will be available for purchase in 2014.

WIP: Spring Tops, Tanks, and Tees KAL 2013

Last month I heard about the Spring Tops, Tanks, and Tee KAL started by Shannon, and I instantly knew I wanted to participate. And since I was feeling ambitious (you know, that beginning-of-a-KAL ambitious, when you think you are superhuman and your schedule is wide open and you'll be able to knit like like the wind), I decided to cast on for two projects. One for me, and one for Lila.

For Lila, I've long admired the adorable Marguerite top, which I think would be perfect for summer. I've chosen to knit it in a creamsicle orange (Tanis Fiber Arts blue label fingering in 'Orange Blossom').

For myself, I wanted to make another Wildflower tank, since I never got the original back. I've chosen a lovely green silk, and it's coming along really well (by really well, I mean it's on the needles):

It's so weird to knit your own pattern after a long time has passed, because I feel like this is the first time I've ever seen it. I'm knitting a size up, since I haven't lost the last 5 pounds from my pre-pregnancy days and I'm feeling a little resigned to them at this point. But I still fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, so it can't be that bad.

November KAL- Planning for Upsized Lace

I'm participating the November KALs for Tanis Fiber Arts, which is one holiday knitting KAL and one accessory knitting KAL. I'm knitting two things (one is a Christmas gift, shhh!) but the other is an experiment!

It has been raining and really overcast for 5 solid days. Good photos? What are those?

That skein on the far left is the Cobalt Colourway (Red Label) and the three skeins are the Deep Sea colourway (Green Label)

 
The Green Label is for Nashira, which I'm planning on upsizing. The pattern is originally for fingering weight yarn and a size 3 (3.25 mm) needle, but I'm going to knit it with aran weight yarn and a 5 mm (US 8) needle  for a big, wintery version. I can see how it will look in my head, and I hope that the awesomeness translates into reality on the needles! 

New Patterns! A Giveaway! The Stella Collection!

 I'm so excited that this is now live!! Tanis and I have been busy working on a summery little lace collection:

Clockwise from top left: Nashira, Adhara, Solaria, and Suncrest.

The collection features 4 lace shawls interpreted in different ways: Nashira is a rectangular stole, Adhara is a two-colour triangular shawl, Solaria is a cowl (can also be worn as a caplet), and Suncrest is a half-oval.The whole collection is available for $15 (bargain!), or individually for $6 each.

 I designed Solaria during the final stages of my pregnancy, but Nashira was designed entirely after Lila was born. I can't get as much knitting done as I'd like, but having a newborn just makes me choosier about my projects, and designs.

Tanis of course designed the lovely Adhara and Suncrest:

All of the designs feature a different Tanis Fiber Arts yarn base and colourway. And of course, there are tonnes of colours to choose from!

Let's get to the giveaway! We're giving away to one lucky knitter a copy of the ebook, which includes all 4 patterns. To enter, leave a comment below telling me which pattern you are most excited to knit. Don't forget to leave your email or Ravelry ID, so I can get in touch with you if you win!  You can enter until 7:00 a.m. on Friday, June 22nd. I'll announce a winner that Friday afternoon. Good luck!

Colours for a New Design (maybe)

Tanis Fiber Arts is having a Colourwork Knit/Crochet Along, May 14 - June 17th, and I'm really looking forward to participating! The goal is to knit pretty much anything, using as many colours of TFA yarn as you'd like. I'm having fun picking through my stash and leftover skeins from other projects ... I like the idea of a challenge, so I'm going to try to create a new design. We'll see what happens!

 I'm planning on doing something with the four colours above- I love how they look together. The yarns I have in my stash aren't necessarily the same weight, and the one on the far left is a single ply, but I'm interested to see how it plays out in the knitting.  I'm not too sure yet exactly what it will become- currently I'm leaning towards some mitts (maybe fingerless?), with a (yet undecided) main colour, and the four above as the focal point. I'm having fun exploring some different ideas, and I'll begin swatching today- cast on will take place officially on Monday, May 14th!

Giveaway: Stockholm Scarf Celebration!

 Yesterday my first ever knitting pattern- the Stockholm Scarf- hit one thousand projects on Ravelry!

To celebrate, Tanis Fiber Arts has generously agreed to send one lucky reader two skeins of Yellow Label (DK weight) in the colourway of their choice.

To enter: leave a comment telling me what your absolute #1 choice of colourway would be to knit up the Stockholm Scarf. And please leave me some contact info- an email address, a Ravelry ID name, something that allows me to get in touch with you! Deadline to enter is midnight on Friday (EST), the winner will be announced on Saturday!

TFA January KAL FO: Jewel Prism

 I'm participating/moderating the Tanis Fiber Arts January Knit/Crochet Along, which is happening over in the Ravelry Group thread. The official kick off was January 1st, and crafters are challenged to complete a project before midnight on January 31st. I've got a few projects lined up for this KAL, and the first finished is the Prism Shawl in the Jewel Colourway (Red Label).

I didn't make any modifications, although the pattern is more of a recipe than a hard and fast set of rules to knit by, which I enjoy. As for the yarn, you know me- I can't get enough of single ply goodness!! I'm loving how the red label knits up, it's sooo soft. And the colour is amazing. There is something so wonderfully luxe and yet rustic about single ply yarns, I find them addictive.

FO: Prism Shawl

Thanks everyone for all your comments and suggestions for what do with the awesome New Lanark yarn. By popular demand, Peterborough has won! I'll begin swatching soon.

Pattern: Prism Shawl

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Red Label in 'Cobalt'

Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5)

Mods: Changed needle size, my 4mm needles were busy with another project.

Thoughts: This is a great shawl 'recipe' pattern. You can add in larger stockinette sections, more eyelet rows, etc. I knitted this to have a one-skein knit ready to show at the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair in the Tanis Fiber Arts booth. It was my first time knitting with this new yarn- the single ply merino/cashmere/silk blend is so buttery soft!  The shawl is lovely- the single ply means that it's a bit thicker than a fingering weight, probably closer to a sport weight, which adds a lovely, soft warmth. My mom went crazy for this shawl, she wants one too!

That last kitty photo is my parent's cat, Finnigan. These were shot at my parent's place over Thanksgiving weekend.

New Pattern: Pink Grapefruit Cowl and Mitts

My latest pattern is now live!

The Pink Grapefruit Cowl and Mitts were created for the Tanis Fiber Arts year in Colour Club, which sends out an exclusive pattern and a custom-dyed colourway to each of the club's members every second month.  This means that for those of you not a member, this is a horribly teasing post about a pattern that is not available just yet! This pattern will remain exclusive to the TFA Year in Colour Club until next year. But don't despair! You can still purchase a membership to the club at any time, and you'll be sent all the yarns and previous patterns up to the current month.

And if you are willing to wait, I will be selling the pattern (both the mitts and the cowl/scarf are included in the pattern) next year. 

FO: Subtle Stripe Study

Pattern: Stripe Study

Yarns: Tanis Fiber Arts Cashmere Sock (in Chestnut), and Dyed by Design Solo (which I picked up in York, UK last year)

Mods: Only did 11 repeats of the stripe pattern, I underestimated my contrasting colour yardage. But I'm sort of on the small side, so a smaller shawl is perfect for me.

Notes: I don't think it's a big secret that I'm a sucker for Veera's gorgeous, uncluttered patterns, and test knitting this pattern was a dream. This kind of pattern is perfect for some really special yarn, something you love working with; because this is a heck of a lot of garter stitch and short rows. It's a perfect multitasking knit- something you can do while reading, or watching something really interesting (I watched a heck of a lot of Mad Men while knitting this).

This is really a cozy, soft, luxurious sort of shawl. it feels amazing. I mean, cashmere sock yarn- how can you go wrong?!

Some of you asked about my pin the last time I wore it, so I made sure to wear it again, and get some good shots of it this time. It is the Crawford clan crest, a wonderful treasure that my parents-in-law gave me for Christmas two years ago. The motto translates to "I will give you safety through my strength". I wear this pin a lot- it's so meaningful to me. And it looks damn good with just about everything.

FO: Retro Redux Shrug

Pattern: Retro Redux Shrug

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label

Needles: 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5 mm (US 8, 9, 10, 10.5)

Notes: I found the switching needle sizes in order to do the shaping a bit fiddly for my taste- I would have preferred increases and decreases. Don't get me wrong, I love this shrug, but I found that it wasn't as portable of a project because I needed 4 sets of needles in order to knit it. Having said that, It was a fast enough knit that just knitting it at home was no trouble at all (I do a lot of subway knitting usually) and the result  is fantastic- this just might be the perfect shrug. Quick, lacy without being over-the-top feminine, and nice back and arm coverage. The yarn was perfect for this project- the colours look lovely in the lace, and goes great with pretty much everything.

I actually knitted this in August, but didn't have a chance to get FO shots before our trip to Sweden and England. And then I sort of forgot about it...fall is full-on here, so it's a bit chilly for just a shrug. But spring will come again, and I'll be ready!

(in this last picture you can really see my chicken pox scar near my eyebrow- I've had since I was three so I forget it's there, but when the light hits a certain way, it's super visible!)

TFA Club and Nuit Blanche

 I've been waiting to share some awesome news:
Tanis Fiber Arts is starting up their first TFA's Year in Colour yarn club!! Every other month, participants will be sent a custom-dyed skein of finger weight yarn (that's 420 yards) and an exclusive pattern designed for the single skein. the pattern designers are: Tanis Gray, Glenna C , Julie Crawford, Laura Chau, Patti Waters and Kristen Kapur.

Did you see that, just up there? My name tucked in with all those awesome superstar designers? I mean.... whoa. Somebody call Keanue Reeves, only one of his whoas will convey my awestruck-ness.

I love the yarns Tanis makes. The colours are amazing, and the yarn is brilliant- resists pilling, doesn't split, wears like a dream. I've got a few things knit with Tanis Fiber Arts Yarn, and I love them all (now that I think of it, I have an FO from August that I've yet to photograph that is also made from TFA yarn...). The club is really affordable- you'll get 6 skeins of yarn, 6 exclusive patterns, and the shipping is included in the cost. Once you do the math, it's a steal. *EDIT: And it's international- doesn't matter what country you live in!

So yes... I'm starting to design some of my own patterns. I've got lots of ideas, and I'm excited to enter this new phase of my knitting. I'm already working on a free pattern that will come out in a few weeks- stay tuned!!

On Saturday night, Toronto was awash in contemporary art for the 5th anniversary of Nuit Blanche. There is something utterly magical about the city being transformed into amazing, Alice-in-Wonderland-esque pockets of art.

The Knit Cafe always has a magical window display for Nuit Blanche. This year did not disappoint:

It was an amazing night. I love it when cities encourage the arts and put on free events!!

2010 Knitter's Frolic- Toronto

The 2010 Knitter's frolic took place at the Japanese Cultural Centre in Toronto this past weekend, and it was fantastic. 

You all know how much I love a good photo mosaic, so here is the at-a-glance fun that was the Frolic:

I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked- I was so busy fondling the yarn and deciding what to buy I had to do another walk through to snap some photos! The full set is here.

 I tried to be a bit restrained this weekend- funds are a bit tight, but that didn't stop me from making a few purchases:

I'm utterly in love with the new St. Denis spring/summer 2010 issue. There are so many patterns in there that I'm desperate to knit! I also picked up a copy of Royale, a new pattern that I'm so in love with.

 Let's get a yarn close up, shall we? Top: Mirasol Sulka, one of my favourites:

I love Sulka for it's lovely, subtle heathering. The yarn is practically prismatic!

And on the left, a lovely skein by Indigodragonfly, in 'kitchen sink', and two skeins of Tanis Fiber Arts Green label in 'Stormy'. I have to confess I already own a skein of laceweight in the same 'stormy' colourway- I can't get enough of the grey blue and grey green tones. All the yarn is slated for gifts- cowls, shrugs, and the like. If only I could decide on which patterns to use!

FO: Dipped Infinity Scarf (kit) and Ravelympics 2010

First up, let's talk about Ravelympics  February 12-28, 2010.  I loved doing Ravelympics in 2008, and I'm excited to do it again. I was thinking of putting a team together- anyone want to join me? I know I could join an existing team, but I thought it might be fun to put one together, and cheer each other on!!  Here is the link to the official rules - we can knit whatever we want, all levels are welcome. I don't have a team name in mind (so open to ideas), but I'd love to knit with you guys, and cheer each other on to FOs for Feb. 28th!! Leave your Rav Id in the comments section if you'd like to join me on the quest to knitted victory!!! 

(***EDIT** For lack any other inspiration, I've called us Team Buttercream (because frosting is awesome). The link for the group is here, feel free to join!) 

And now, on with the FO!!

Pattern: Dipped Infinity Scarf

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Dipped Infinity Scarf Kit The 'green' colourway

Needles: 5 mm

Mods: Went down half a needle size.



Notes: I got this scarf kit for Christmas from my wonderful husband. I'm in love with Tanis Fiber Arts yarn, and I make no secret of that to my husband (or anyone else, for that matter). I was so excited to start on it- I cast on Christmas Day, even though I didn't have the exact needle size with me- I figured 5mm was definitely close enough, and I didn't want to wait until I got back home (which was days away) to cast on. The pattern is simple and intuitive, and really addictive- it's so much fun switching the colours, and watching how they work together. I wasn't sure how I felt about the yellow towards the end, but once it was all worked up-- magic!

This kit makes a long style cowl, which can easily be double and tripled around the neck and shoulders for lots of cosy options. And it's so nice to have a pop of colour in the winter. Of course,  finally having a sunny day to do FO shots helps, doesn't it?

FO: November Fitted Pullover

Pattern: February Fitted Pullover

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label (Aran Weight). I absolutely love this yarn!! soft and squishy, with great stitch detail.

Needles: 4.5 mm circulars 

Mods: knitted an extra two inches between the waist decreases and increases, and lengthened the 3/4 sleeves to full sleeves. 

Notes: I. Love. This. Sweater. It's the perfect marriage between a really wonderful yarn and a really wearable, flattering pattern. I knit about 90% of this sweater while drugged up and recovering from having my impacted wisdom teeth removed. Everyone warned me that knitting while under the influence was a bad idea. They shared stories of waking up in a pile of yarn or having to frog everything. I was amazed that the sweater turned out. Error-free, I thought. That is, until about 5 minutes ago when I was looking at the FO shots and thought to myself, "what's that funny line just under the bust section?" So I looked at the sweater. And sure enough, there is a mistake (it's a 2 row pattern, but it looks like I did row 1 twice, and then carried on as usual). So..... it seems I have not produced an error-free knit while under the influence.

Although you've got to admit- it's a pretty well-placed error. It looks like an empire waist detail! At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Decisions, Decisions....and Boatloads of Knitting

Look at this beautiful pile of Tanis Fiber Arts Aran weight, in the grape colourway:

Of course, now that I have a lovely, cuddly pile of this delicious yarn, I'm not exactly sure what I want with it. Definitely a pullover or a cardigan. Which only leaves me with, oh, a few hundred patterns, according to the Ravelry pattern search. So, I've decided to let the yarn tell me what it wants to be, via swatching. Here's the one long swatch I knitted up to see how the colours responded to different stitches:

I'm considering the Minimalist Cardigan (seed stitch), February Fitted Pullover (gull lace stitch), Garter Yoke Cardigan (garter and stockinette), Francis (seed stitch and stockinette), and Vaila (stockinette & ribbing). Which is more of a long list than a short list, to be fair.

And you know what this swatch tells me? It ALL looks great!! I was really hoping for a clear winner, but the yarn just knits up so well in all stitches, with no strange pooling. Which is great, but also makes the decision process that much more challenging. Any thoughts?

And I've been working on a lovely little confection, the Whisper Pullover. I'm modifying it quite a bit, and so far love the results. I'm ashamed to admit that this is my first time working with kidd mohair, and I have to say I love it- the garment is so lightweight and smooshy, it's like a cloud of pink cotton candy. I'm really looking forward to wearing this when it's all done.

I've also recently completed a new project, but it is a test knit, and I can't fully reveal it until the pattern goes live. So here is a little teaser shot:

 (why yes, I did think it looked a bit like I knitted with a bag of cheezies, too...)

Yarn Crawl, Toronto style- TTC Knitalong!!

When the weekend is approaching, people usually ask if you have any plans for the weekend. It's office small talk. And I had so much fun telling people that I was going on a Yarn Crawl. No one looked that surprised that I was doing something that involved yarn, but I did have to explain the concept of a yarn crawl to a few people. I was part of the East Team A (full of fabulous people, indeed!), which made stops at: The Naked Sheep The Purple Purl Lettuce Knit (where the above photo was taken) Americo and Romni I knew that in the face of 5 stores worth of delicious, delicious yarn, I'd need a game plan. So, my rules and goals were:

• no green yarn (I alread have so much green stash you'd think I'd killed Kermit the frog and all his little green friends and spun them into skeins)
• pick up yarn for the uber popular whisper cardigan
• get some yarn for the Tea Rose Halter
• get a set of 6 mm circulars

And I'm pleased to report, that it all worked out: That is 887 yards of grey pima cotton, 10 skeins Paton's DK cotton in blue, and one skein each of Tanis Fiber Arts laceweight in Chestnut and Stormy. I also got the 6mm circs I needed, A cute and kitchy needle case from recycled materials,and there was a bag of awesome swag from The Purple Purl which included a buttery soft skein of Earth Collection Mainland. And how awesome is the TTC Knitalong tote?! Let's have a close up of the beautiful handpainted laceweight for a second: ah, gorgeousness. One of those will be a whisper cardigan. I should confess that I didn't buy the Paton's DK cotton. I was lucky enough to win it for sporting the "Fiercest Knit" on my team- I was wearing my Honeymoon Swallowtail shawl. I'm not entirely sure I deserved it, there were so many great knits in the group, but I'm very pleased to have won- espeically since I was looking for dk cotton and didn't find what I had in mind. But when you go and win ten skeins of exactly what you need- I guess the knitting gods were sending a sign! This is Team East A with all our yarn piled on the tables at the Rivoli: Thanks to everyone who put the event together, and to the stores that hosted us. A good day, indeed!!