stocking up...

boxing day (or week) sales help to do this... but i think it's time to stock up on more knitting supplies ;) our knit night group likes to go in on knit picks orders to help save on shipping... and we were pretty stoked to find out that until today, knit picks is offering free shipping! hurrah. well if that isn't incentive to make an order... ;)
so we made an order. lol.

Source: ravelry.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

and i've decided to stock up on some supplies... the main being dpns. but i so wish that all of that yarn was coming my way. hahaha ...  i think it's time i knitted more socks, no? although i enjoy quick knits with bulky yarns and fat needles (um my next project to myself is on 10mm needles).... i really really like the look of tiny stitches too... and really, i just don't knit very many socks. i hope to change that...
but here for some reason, i thought if i knit with nickle plated needles, that's all i probably should knit with. hahah how extremly silly of me. (and so narrow minded, really). and it's not that i've solely stuck with only one type of needle, except in the past couple of years, since i have my knit picks interchangeable set...
anways long story short... i was fairly uncertain on purchasing the harmony (wooden) 4" dpn set for smaller products... because i knit with nickle plated...

www.knitpicks.com

hahah oh dear. what a fiasco. honestly, i sat there at the computer contemplating for far too long... asking around as to who else switches to wood needles for smaller projects... i make myself laugh ;) i placed it in my order though. and i bet i'll love them. now i'm just hoping that the 4" isn't too short?! haha i often find the 6" dpns get in the way  though... .... i honestly hope all of that made sense... haha..

so after all of that ramble... (really, you guys are the ones who truely understand, and i appreciate your listening... ... because you should have seen the look on my husband's face when i was trying to explain to him my problem).... i'm going to have lots of dpns! hurrah!

of course, now that i'll be stocked up on needles, and technically i have "enough" yarn.. i'm so hesitant to say enough... because we always could use more...
i think i need some good flicks to watch while knitting..
um hello downton abbey! i couldn't find the box set (seasons 1 & 2) anywhere on boxing day... they were all sold out...  (also should have seen the look on my dear husband's face when we heard it... NOW he knows that it's popular.. lol) but i have found it on amazon.. i've already seen seasons 1 & 2... but i want to watch them again and again... and really, i need to refresh my memory before sinking my teeth into season 3...
so exciting!!.. also to be ready for the upcoming knit along!!!

Source: creativepins.info via Missi on Pinterest

ok so now that i'm feeling a little more stocked up.. (there will always be more yarn purchases)... time to get knitting! what's on your needles? any new christmas pressies that are helping you click away? do you knit with harmony needles? what do you think?? i'd love to hear about it! let's get ready for some serious downton abbey and knitting! xo

getting back to normal....

hellooo!!!! how was your christmas?? i can't believe it's already come and gone! it's always the way though.. you plan for it forever, and then it happens in a blink of an eye... our christmas was wonderful... and we had a lovely time...

Source: iamachild.wordpress.com via Anne-Laure on Pinterest

i missed you all! though i feel like i'm only very slowly emerging from the chaos of christmas. haha. hard to be motivated sometimes. also, it's hard when my hubby is on holidays until jan. 13th.... (lucky duck).
already our tree and decorations are put away. i did it on the 26th... i always do it that early, because well we put the tree up so early, and once it's done.. i feel so good to have life looking a little more back to normal.
and one of those things to get me feeling back to normal would have to be knitting. i can't believe i have hardly picked up my knitting needles in 4 days! (or something like that).... and i find myself perusing over patterns, and making yarn choices .... they're all just going into my wish list right now... and eventually i'll make a decision... want to see the pattern i'm thinking of?

Source: ravelry.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

isn't it pretty? i love mamatronic's version of this sweater... this pattern is called "road to golden" by lisa shroyer . it was published a while ago... in knitscene 2007... but i still like it...
there are many other patterns out there calling my name. i don't know if i'll be getting yarn for this one quite yet... but it's on the list :) actually i need to get knitting on more market items! because i will be a vendor at the local february fox fair! hurrah!! i'm excited. and i'll be sure to keep you posted on that event. the only link i could find was the facebook event for last year, so hang tight, and i'll find more info for you soon. :)

how are you doing? are you getting back into the swing of things? making new years plans yet? we will be going to a ball this year! (more on that later... and on my dress decision panic)... 
i'd really love to hear how your holidays were... come chat! xo

wishing you joy

well we're only 4 days away from christmas! and there is so so much excitement going on here! my little man has been having a tough time sleeping, because he's just so excited! haha. (and that might be true for me too..)

Source: google.com via Kathy on Pinterest

i'll be taking some time away from this space, to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, and to fully drink in the excitement, and anticipation of this special time...

thank you so much for your devotion to this space, and i'm so thankful for the friendships i've made with you! i have so enjoyed having you a part of my daily routine this past year, and i look forward to many, many more!

wishing you a very merry christmas! and hoping you can spend this holiday with your family and dear friends, because that is really what matters xoxo

hurraaahhhh!!!

it's a busy day today for us... my husband is coming home tomorrow from sea! so the house is getting some much needed attention :) as well as some quick secret wrapping!
the chrsitmas tunes are playing, and we're excited to have our holidays start!

Source: cafepress.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

umm have you guys been seeing all of the new fantastic patterns popping up?! seriously, my queue is huge!

have you seen jane richmond's welted cowl? sweet georgia's new yarn base is dying to be knit up in this pattern. no pun intended :)

and another fantastic friend of mine caitlin ffrench has just released another pattern called cold pine. of course it's also knit with sweet georgia.. in the superwash worsted..

i love it!

are you crushing on any new patterns lately? do tell! let's get all of our queues to grow! xo

oh the weather outside is frightful!

there's a couple of things i wanted to share with you today.... and considering the weather out west... (it's seriously crazy... blizzarding up island, pouring rain in victoria, heavy snowfall in vancouver... seriously strange) i figured i'd throw a little sunshine your way by showing you what i've come across this morning :)

most of you knitters probably already know that brooklyn tweed's wool people 4 is out. and gosh, it's lovely. there are so many wonderful patterns in there i just want to knit. wanna have a peek? it's nice on your eyes, i promise.. and with a nice mug of tea, or strongest coffee... it will make you forget about the weather maybe for a little bit ;)

Open publication - Free publishing - More american

also.. who doesn't love giveaways? i love following lots of blogs, and one blog i visit quite regularly is hosting a fantastic giveaway right now!

secretly... i hope i win, but i just have to share it with you, because these pillows are adorable!!!

don't you just love them? my fave is the invisible crown one.. ok but you should enter too! you'll have to head on over to one sheepish girl to get all of the info on how to enter! if you haven't followed this blog, you should start. it's uber sweet, and meredith has heaps of ideas, and is full of crafty love.

 

and i did check, this giveaway is open to international readers too! wahoo!! so head on over and enter!!!

so there you go. a couple of things for you to do, while the weather outside is as unfriendly as the grinch. hope this brightens your day! come chat... my needles have been clicking away, and i've been so productive! xo

click click

here's a little something to make you smile today :)

Source: slodive.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

this isn't my tattoo... but i kind of wish it were :) actually i totally wish it were :) i'm busy knitting away today ... much like this little gnome here... specifically... i'm about to seam up a sweater for me!

what are you working on? xo

final week!!!

do you know what i realized on the weekend? that for one day, my mug hug pattern was in the top 20 on ravelry!!!!

i couldn't believe it!!! you guys totally made my day... and then some! seriously, what a thrill.. i told everyone i knew. ha. 
and if you haven't downloaded yourself a copy of the pattern. you should! it's a great last minute christmas gift idea... you can find it here. and we really are in the last minute phase now, aren't we...

Source: countryliving.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

speaking of that....we are only one week away from christmas eve... and what happens? my camera has died :(
nooooooooooooooooooooooo...... and i've tried everything. i'm waiting for my hubby to come home on friday.. and then we'll probably make a quick early christmas gift to ourselves. because i clearly need a camera for christmas. clearly.

however.. i have been so productive!! and i do have a phone that apparently takes pictures. the funniest thing is that i am not sure how to put those pics on the computer. hahaha. anyways. the plan is to snap a few quick pics of the custom orders that are making their way to the post office today, and i hope to share them with you soon. :)

in the meantime.. i still have my needles clicking away... my house smells of gingerbread and sugar cookies... and soon to smell of a traditional meatball dish that my mil prepares every year. so good. so so rich. (this leaves more turkey though so it's good) :)

how is your last week before christmas shaping up? do you have lists for your lists as i do? are you getting much sleep? let's try to enjoy this final week of preparations. i absolutely love this season... but one of the things i love about it is the anticipation of christmas... i love the preparing.. the planning... the creating... but i have to remind myself to take a step back and really enjoy it.

so in honor of that  i've done a little bit of selfish knitting ... weee! i just might have a finished sweater to show you before christmas!!

i'd love to hear how you're doing. what's on your needles?  and on your lists? come chat! xo

stocking stuffer... for you !

 i think these make the best stocking stuffers. for real. and i know you're looking for some ideas with just days until the big man comes...

ok so i know you all are already aware of my mug hugs... they've been around a while.. but the pattern has only been available here in this pretty little blog... well i finally have set it up for you in ravelry as a pdf download! hurrahhhh! it's only taken me forever. that's not too bad ;)

finally the pattern is easier to access :) i'm just so sorry it's taken me so long ;)
also, i thought it might be fun to track projects, and see what all of you lovely knitters come up with!

you can still find the pattern under my tutorials tab, as well as in ravelry. and if you've already knitted up a few of these babies, make sure to link the pattern in ravelry! i'm so excited to see all of the mug hug love out there! and i can't wait to see the ones you've knit, so please put them up on ravelry!

mug hug pattern

merry christmas! and happy knitting, xo

a promise is a promise...

geez. i can't believe how late today's post is in going up! lol. oh well... sometimes when you really are this busy, things just shift around. ah well.. hope you are enjoying your tea, and having a little read here :)

remember when i went to knit city back in october? well one very wonderful friend of mine gave up her whole weekend just to help me out with the booth. how nice is that? we stayed at her place, ate her food... drank her wine (well maybe we bought some too... ) ;)
and to show my deepest thanks, i knitted her something.

and i love it. to be totally honest, i had a hard time wrapping it up to send with my hubby to go to sea. lol! he's stopping in vancouver on the weekend, and he'll deliver it to her for me then. how nice is that?

i'm betting a lot of you already know what pattern this is... but for the sake of being clear:
it's arbutus, by jane richmond.
i knit this with madelinetosh dk. in the colourway nebula. and it's stunning. i wish i had more time to take decent pictures. in fact, these pics weren't even taken in the day time! eeks! but i had to get a few, just to show you... (thus the massive editing to make me blurry. lol)

this pattern is amazing. i've never knit a cowl this way before, and i love it! it's so different, and it's just designed to showcase that beautifully dyed yarn perfectly. also, it used up all of the yarn.
total win..

 

i know carla will love it. she picked out the colour, ... i sooo loved knitting with this yarn.
now if there were just enough time in my day to knit one for myself in time for christmas. xo

have you been whipping up some quick pressies? have any of you knit the arbutus cowl yet? let's chat!! xo

psssst!

remember this?

well guess what?! the pattern has been released! i honestly loved knitting this cowl... and i promise you will too! it was a fun and quick knit. perfect for that last minute christmas gift, or for a gorgeous cowl for you to wear on your night on the town!

 

i really love annie's tastes in design. it's a simple knit, but offers beautiful lines, and amazing fun bobbles.
i knit mine with the softest yarn yet. it was devine! and soooo soft! check out this post to read more about my take on the pattern, and my yarn info :) and check out my ravelry page for heaps more photos.

go knit it. you'll love it so much you'll want to knit one for yourself to keep ;) and the bonus is it uses up all of your yarn. like all of it. (if you knit with what it's called for) you only might have enough to use as a bow on the wrapping when you gift it. xo how's that for not wasting an inch? love it!

you can purchase the pattern on YARN and read more of the ravelry info here.
head on over to annie's blog to show her some love, i know she'd love to hear from you! i think she's done a fab job on the cowl.. and i can't wait until it gets just a little bit colder here, so i can wrap myself up in mine ;)

also... for those of you who have been waiting so patiently on pins and needles for the new class list for 2013, it's up!! i'm so excited for this!  there are some fantastic classes lined up, and you'll want to get in quick. they'll make great christmas gifts, and perfect for those new years resolutions of learning to knit! make sure you call the cloth castle to reserve your spot! i can't wait to knit with you! xo

how's that for a surprise post? so there you have it. last minute christmas gifts for every type of knitter. a pattern and classes!!! we've got you covered. xo

countdown!

the weekend is over? serious blurr.... my hubby came home on friday, and then i had to teach a class. we had a work party to go to on saturday... and turkey shopping on sunday. and now he's already back at sea! wowza!! that means i have 2 weeks to figure out this christmas thing, and knit like m.a.d. hahah
totally doable. in fact, i have another pot of coffee brewing right now.

 

i'm definitely getting pretty excited for christmas :) the movies have been playing... and next week, baking will be in full force!

this is the last week i'll be running nook's facebook christmas sale. if you're local there's no shipping!totally something to be excited about ;)

tell me, what's on your needles? and christmas baking going on in your home? what music are you listening to right now? it's alabama christmas here ;) xo

toasty-warm

these have to be the softest, warmest arm-warmers ever....

and the fact that they're knit with malabrigo certainly doesn't hurt either! i'm not kidding. i really don't want to take them off!
but i have to. because unfortunately, they're not mine ;) i absolutely love it when a request is made that's knit with yarns as nice as malabrigo. i really enjoyed knitting every stitch of this project.


the deets?
pattern: toasty by leslie friend
needle: 4.5mm/US 7
yarn: malabrigo merino worsted  in cognac.

the yarn is so soft and squishy, and has amazing stitch definition... i absolutely love it! these were the simplest of designs, and fit like a glove. (har har)
now if only there were enough hours in the day for me to knit up another pair for myself... sigh. i totally will though. because i have to have a pair. these are amazing. and i know my friend is going to love them!

 i totally recommend the pattern.

how is your holiday knitting coming along? what are you currently working on? do share! i'd love to chat with you! xo

exciting opportunities! and more coffee, please.....

here i've been trying to be so organized in getting christmas knitting in there, and guess what. i've barely even started it! i've been staying up until 1am every night this week.... as is custom in december for me, but it's been for filling orders!
what a busy little place nook. has been!

this has been the first real winter season that nook. has been really involved in winter markets and the like. being more recognized, and now having my product in a store is amazing. yah, you heard that right! wilde and sparrow are now carrying my boot cuffs! i just wish i could knit faster so i could have sent more to them straight off! if you live in the nanaimo and parksville area, be sure to check them out!

you should also check out their facebook page and send them some love. xo being amongst the other super talented designers in their store is such an honor, and i'm excited about this adventure!

i have all of you to thank for this though :) you've given me such encouragement and confidence to keep this little dream of mine alive.. and i'm so happy that it's starting to explode with opportunities! what a happy mama this makes me! nook. is still very young, i realize.. but being almost at 300 likes on facebook also puts a silly grin on my face ;)

of course, this means, i'm still in the usual panic of pre-christmas creating, but for some reason, this is how i seem to be the most productive... under pressure ;)

and i have been productive! but i have pics yet to take, so i can share it with you ;) and this week, the weather has been so so dark and wet... also, owen and i have been running around and dashing about every day.. to the post office, running errands.. that it's already dark when we get home... so hopefully today, i'll have an opportunity to snap some photos :) and even more importantly, hopefully i can cast on for a special little christmas stocking  :)

my motto these days?

Source: dailydoseofstuf.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

of course while listening to christmas music ;)

how are you doing in this pre-christmas season? how is your crafting schedule? do you have the christmas music playing along in the background? and much coffee and tea?  are you up all hours as i am? maybe i'll bump into you you on facebook! sharing words of encouragement sounds like a plan to me ;) xo

whoooooooooooo's this?

 just a very short post today peeps...

it's been nutso around here. and i'm actually headed to the post office for the third day in a row! ha. it's a good nutso... but still... also, i have a certain almost 5 year old beginning to grow concerned that his christmas stocking is not yet on the needles.... soo i really need to get moving on that too, it seems.

in the meantime... i'd like to introduce you to gordon.

i learned how to needle felt while at knit city. because that's how i roll. the ladies were super nice and let me take him to my booth to stab away at...

he was a surprise gift for owen... and he loves him. owen named him gordon... and looks for him often in amongst the sea of toys in his bed. it's sweet. and i'm glad he loves him. i kind of do too...

any little gifts that you've created lately? i'd love to hear about it! come chat!! you know there's always coffee here... xo

online sale!

that's right! nook is having an online facebook sale! see? it pays to be a facebook follower! :)

i had such a fantastic time at the markets, and i was kept very busy... but i also wanted to have a chance to offer any christmas shopping to those of you who couldn't make it to the markets! here's a little peek ;)

also, as a bonus. several items are on sale! hurrah! sales before christmas rock. clearly.

the way the sale works is :
there is a facebook christmas sale album. you simply leave a comment under the photo of the product you are interested in with color choice, and your email so a paypal invoice can be issued. easy peasy!!!

hurrah for christmas shopping!! especially without the hassle of having to brave the traffic or the crowds. yesssssssssss....


how are you doing with your christmas shopping this year? already finished, or haven't even started... 
please feel free to spread the word to all! i know that this is a crazy time of year, especially for us knitters.... let's pour another pot er cup of coffee, shall we? i've got the egg nog. xo

becca's cabled boot cuffs!

i promised you on friday that i had something special to share with you today, didn't i? haha. well i do! though it's taken me longer to figure out all of the online stuff as i'd like to... (isn't it always that way)..

anyhoo, on with the show! check out my first pattern!!!

becca's cabled boot cuffs.

  

becca's cabled boot cuffs are knit with a very soft blend of alpaca, and are so cozy and warm! they take only approx 100g of yarn, so you can knit two (2) pairs with one skein! one for you and one for a friend. perfect!

having more of the ribbing at one end allows for versatility with how you choose to wear the cuff.

these boot cuffs are knit flat and then seamed together.the finished cuff measures approximately 11 in/28cm in circumference, and 6 in/15cm in height.
i really heart these. they are the warmest.
my hubby brought the yarn back from peru for me. and it's been patiently waiting for the perfect pattern, i'm so happy i can make that special pattern one of my own!

 and i absolutely love the addition of cables, and twisted stitches.

these boot cuffs don't take very long to knit at all, and would be a great addition to christmas gifts, or even a quick treat for yourself! (wink wink)

i'm thrilled to be able to share the news of this pattern with you first!

right now you can find the pattern in my etsy shop and in ravelry! i'm so excited to see all of the variations of these boot cuffs. :)

i wanted to release this pattern to give you knitters time to complete some in time for gift giving if you wanted to! i really hope you love them as much as i do!

find more of my patterns and products on:

shop | etsy | ravelry

happy knitting!!

so what do you think? are you a boot cuff kind of person? are you a fan of cables? i'd love hear from you!! come share my happy dance with me ;) xo