I love the smell of wet wool

Buttoned. And blocking.

Hello, my name is Andrea...

... and I am a bad blogger. To be perfectly honest, I am also a fickle knitter. Fickle in the sense that I have not been knitting for the past month or so. It's very hard to post to a knit-centric blog when there is no knitting to talk about.

In a concerted effort to fix my problem, I cast on this. I have even finished one sleeve. I'll post pictures after I locate my camera. It ran away again.

Swatching the February Lady

I did it. I swatched the February Lady.

I've actually become enamored with swatching lately, and one of my favourite things to do is swatch things for projects I may not even cast on for months to come. There's something oddly satisfying about making tiny squares (someday I'll have to make a quilt from them).

I was considering making the Lady Sweater from the coffee-colored Knitpicks Cotlin I purchased, but decided instead to use a special yarn for such a beautiful project, so my long stashed Artfibers Valparaiso will be lovingly knit into a sweater I will wear often. The Cotlin I had swatched previously for the Bridie cardigan in KnitKnit, but the dark color was too difficult to work with in the diamond-pattern. I couldn't see what I was doing except in the brightest light, and since it was so maddening in the swatch, I'm sure it would be even moreso in a full-sized garment! So, I'm on the hunt for some other yarn for that sweater, because it is absolutely gorgeous.

I'm most excited by the prospect of knitting a sweater for myself in a size medium. It's silly, I know, but I'm a busty and somewhat chubby gal, and a 41-42" bust is always a large or extra-large. Except, apparently, in the marvelously vanity-sized Lady Sweater.

Now I just need to get myself a size 8 circular, and I can cast on...

It still needs to be blocked and buttoned, but...

I finished it! On the bus to work this morning! And oh, if it isn't the 2nd cutest thing in the whole wide world (the cutest thing, of course, being my new baby girl, Elle). Even the finishing is all finished (because I am fanatic about weaving in all the ends as I go along).



This yarn is just GORGEOUS, from my swap, though I have absolutely no idea what kind of yarn it is (other than wool sock yarn).

It was the most pleasurable, satisfying thing to knit. The lace pattern is complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to memorize within a row or two. And I am in LOVE with garter stitch. Who knew it could be so elegant, yet so simple! I am amazed, and can't wait to start on the February Lady Sweater for myself!!

Oh dear

I seem to have lost my notions bag.

I've looked everywhere for it. In all my bags, big and small. In every cubby and corner of my apartment; between couch cushions and behind books and under beds; but it is nowhere to be found.

This is a HUGE problem. Crochet hooks, tape measure, stitch counters, stitch holders, darning needles, tiny scissors. My proverbial right-hand, without which I can not ever finish a garment (and unlike most knitters, I actually ENJOY finishing).

My worry is that it somehow fell out of my bag on the bus, or around town somewhere. It may very well be gone forever, and that would be a great tragedy. So please pardon me while I panic, and suspend all knitting until I have torn apart the house, the neighborhood, the entire city.

Not Another Hat!?!?!

June FO #6:

Not Another Hat!?!?! A free pattern for all the clever knitters out there.



This is another simple hat pattern that will grace the Internets. Like all budding designers, I felt the need to re-invent the wheel and actually write down this pattern. It is a simple ribbed brim hat with raglan style decreases. Enjoy!

Download PDF

View on Ravelry

FO Parade: Extended June Edition

So these last few weeks have been very busy and slightly insane for me. And how have I countered the craziness? Knitting of course. I have managed to finish 6(!) things in the last 3 weeks. All baby sized of course, but FO's none-the-less.

FO's 1-3:

A layette set for my co-worker:


The sweater is the February Baby Sweater from Knitter's Almanac. The bonnet is a modification of the Juniper Bonnet (I substituted the Gull Lace for the Feather & Fan) and the booties are Saartje's charming creation.

FO #4:



The Petal Bib from One Skein. This was knit in KnitPicks Comfy in Honeydew.

FO #5:



The Baby Hat from One Skein. (I love this book!) Knit in Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel, an altogether heavenly cotton yarn. Doesn't the lace detail look like bluebells?

Tomorrow, FO #6 and a free pattern!