and just like that it's the weekend again!

want to know my plans??

i've got a race to run! i had actually signed up for the goddess run 5 weeks ago (or so) to get myself motivated and back in shape... i can't believe the race is already here! i'm sure it will be fun...

Source: squidoo.com via Danielle on Pinterest

then it's the usual t-ball games, & knitting. maybe there will even be a bit of balcony gardening? at any rate i'm hoping for some serious feet-up, knit the hours away, bevy in hand kind of weekend....

Source: Uploaded by user via Rebecca on Pinterest

what are you up to this weekend? are you starting to see some nice weather your way? come chat...  xo

... and then i did the math....

most of you who know me also know that i tend to set the bar pretty high for myself. it's just what i do. haha. so when i thought that for the "pour moi" kal i would knit up pendulum i thought, sure! no biggie... shawl knitting is fun... and quick... (wha?) haha. i probably hadn't had my morning coffee yet.

anyhoo, i've been loving the process of knitting the pendulum. and i look forward to each colour change. my plan was just go ahead and knit until i ran out of yarn... then i did the math.

the pattern calls for about 570 yds of yarn. and guess how much i have? 860yds. ummm that's a lot more! a lot!!! and i've been telling myself i could still have it done by the deadline... which is june 7th, people. on 3.5mm needles at that...

i know what you're thinking.... and you can just stop laughing at me. no. go ahead. it's deserved. haha. i'm nutso. but the shawl is soooo pretty. and bigger is better, right?
or should i just make some socks with the leftovers. (short ones). what do you think?

honestly. i'd love to know :) xo

have you had lofty goals in a way you thought were really just no big deal? and then you wake up one morning and actually do the math? lol.. tell me i'm not the only one, please! xoxo

thinking ahead....

lately, i've been involved in knit alongs, and it's been really good for my selfish knitting :) because i have to complete so much other knitting, it's important to have something for me, or a special something for someone on the needles as well as work. you know? ...(yes this is the sock for my hubby... i am farther than what you see in the pic, but i must say, i'm grateful that he's being so patient)

if you've been following this blog for a while, you've probably seen my latest f.o from the tttkal with luvinthemommyhood. i completed the work + shelter tee. and i love it!

 i'm also active in the pour moi kal hosted by projectstashEL, and i have to say... i'm really trying to book it to finish my pendulum in time for the deadline... eeks! shawls can get pretty big, and of course, i'm hoping to use up all of my yarn. i have a ways to go yet, and only just over a week to complete it in!

i'm already planning my next project for the next kal! haha the summer sweater knit along is one of my fave kals. hosted by luvinthemommyhood, it's one of the biggest kals, and oh so active!
though i'd love to be as ambitious as others and complete multiple projects, it's just not realistic for me, what with other deadlines... so i have to pick carefully.

last year i completed georgia, by jane richmond... and i love LOVE it. (i kind of want more than one!)
there are a few contenders this year.
one being boxy by joji locatelli. i'm sure you've seen it, as it's been very popular in ravelry. i just love the comfort factor in this sweater! for sure one i'll wear often, i know it.

 

this is joji's pic

i've always been in love with redy by ankestrick.  it's totally my style, and i can see myself reaching for this one often.

rav link here

i also love the tea leaves cardi (do you remember that?) by melissa labarre. only i saw one person who modified it into a pullover, and i looooooooooove it! check out her project page here.

there are also many by amy christoffers, like the bailey cardigan, the maxfield cardigan, and the pomme de pin cardigan. see? oh so many!!

all photos from ravelry. see links above.

yeah, and i'm absolutely certain that if i spent even 2 minutes longer, i'd find at least 10 more sweater and cardis that i'd want to add to this list. hahah so i clearly have some work cut out for me, in terms of what my decision will be.

but i like this part. it's so fun to pick patterns, to drool over yarns, and to dream. and this is just sweaters! i haven't even chatted about socks or accessories!!

what's big on your queue these days? come chat, it's a rainy day here in beautiful british columbia. perfect for knitting, sipping tea, and planning our next projects :) xo

pause

i can hardly believe that we're into the last week of may! honestly, it's true that the older you get, the days really do just fly by. sigh. all the more reason to remind ourselves to stop every so often and take it in.

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it's something i'm trying to tell myself often. so today, as some of you are celebrating a long weekend (lucky you!) i'm wishing you a day of rest, family, and happiness. xoxo


as for me? we don't have a holiday today.. that was last monday for us. but i have plans of bread baking, knitting, and spending time at the library :) what are you spending your day doing today? come chat. xo

so ready.

hurrah! it's friday! bring on the weekend :)

Source: ruffledblog.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

my plans this weekend include:

as much yarny time...
outside time...
garden time...
running time...
coffee time...
as i can get my hands on.

what are your plans for the weekend? come chat. i think we could all use a little relaxation! and for my US friends.. happy long weekend! xo

bloglovin too..

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kal progress and a boo boo...

soooo it feels like i say this every time i post these days, but how is it so late in the week already?? time is seriously flying here. but it's ok. we've been filling our days to the brim with heaps of fun activities, lessons, practises, race training.... and trying to be as productive as possible. to be honest, i'm a little scared of what summer has in store for us if we're this busy now! lol.

throughout the busy-ness and crazy of it all, i've been trying to keep poking away at pendulum. oh yah, remember that one? lol. i reeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaally want it done for the deadline for the "pour moi" kal. i still have a bit of time, and a fair bit of knitting so who knows what could happen? (but i must say...this is a bigger project than i once thought for some reason..)

the worst thing happened the other day, and since then, the shawl has been in time out. a stitch was dropped. usually not a big deal, but it stresses me out sooooooooo much when it's in garter st. i should have gotten a picture, i had to pick up the stitch all the way down to a colour change, it was several rows by the time i was done fiddling with it.
ugh. not fun. but i'm happy enough with the surgery results, (i think you can barely tell.... well you can kind of tell...)

 ...and i think i'll be ready to pick up the shawl today. though i'm sure it won't be until after my little man is in bed.

i'm still loving this shawl. to bits. the colours are pretty stunning together, and i'm excited to have it draped around me! my original plan was to knit until i run out of yarn. it's starting to make me think that i'll have a pretty big shawl. (and that's fairly ambitious for a kal with a looming deadline, i think) but i'm sticking to the plan.... for now :) there is a fair bit of yarn left....

we're still on good terms, this shawl and i... even though a time out was involved. i think more for my sake than for the shawl's. hahah i have been pretty tired what with our crazy schedule, and i couldn't risk dropping any more stitches. honestly, it took me way too long to fix. haha. i am still loving all of these rows of squishy garter though!!

i have so been enjoying reading the thread on this kal. doing something just for the sake of selfish knitting is so nice! especially since the majority of things on my needles these days are not for me.  queue work knitting, and now soon to be fall and winter market planning (wha?? what about summer!! i know... )

now i'm being sneaky and i'm eating a white chocolate and raspberry scone this morning for breakfast... and i need to finish it before the kiddo wakes up... because this one is just "pour moi" as well :)

hope your projects are going along well! anything special on your needles just for you these days? come chat! xoxo

chalkstone!

though this sweater and i came head to head on many occasions, it is now probably one of the sweaters that gets the most compliments, and a sweater i tend to grab for often.

this is chalkstone, by isabell kramer. i had the pleasure of test knitting this for her. a couple of summers ago i knitted her caramel and last year i knitted driftwood. all of these sweaters get compliments when i take them out.  isabell is definately one to keep on your radar. her patterns are lovely, and her style is very asthetic.  there are many more of her designs in my queue... i'm always excited to see what new things she has! she is also quite the test knitter herself, and churns out sweaters like you wouldn't  believe! i have many more added to my queue thanks to her :) haha.

this wasn't a difficult sweater to knit, but it pushed me to areas of knitting that i hadn't really encountered before, and so i left this pattern feeling pretty smart. hah. i did a lot of mods on this pattern to make it work for the wool i had chosen.  i had chosen an aran weight wool though the pattern calls for a dk. and i wanted my sweater to be more fitted...

but it was all worth it. because i love this sweater. i love the added length of ribbing , and the lacework looks so pretty in this yarn!

i used 7x skeins of nova value collection pure wool heather and a 4.5mm (US 7) needle.
to account for the smaller size, i took out 2x repeats of the lace pattern. my ravelry notes will be in more detail. so be sure to check them out. with all of the mods i had to do, the short row shaping in the back in the middle of the lacework was probably the trickiest for me. lol. of course silly me, i don't have a pic of the back, but it looks just the same as the front :)

this sweater is definitely one of my faves. and now i think you can see why :) thank you isabell for the opportunity to test this for you!

have you knit any of isabell's patterns? which is your fave? come chat. the coffee is on, and piping hot on this dreary wet morning. xo

a new fave...

i think it's time i showed you my progress on the tops, tanks and tees kal . don't you? i'm done! and i had a blast knitting this!!

first off, here are the deets:
pattern: work + shelter lace striped sweaters by allyson dykhuizen.
needle: 4.0mm / US 6
yarn: knit picks cotlin colour, pomegranate, 5x skeins

while i was deciding on a spring/summer top, i was hugely loving magicalgrammar's version, and i think it's fairly evident that i kind of wanted to follow her mods. and they weren't huge. basically just a blend of the two sweaters in the pattern.

i did have to go down to a size 4mm needle, but that's just because i'm a loose knitter. no big deal.

this pattern knits up uber quick. the stitch definition is fantastic, and really there is no shaping, so it was a pretty mindless knit. easy for toting around :) but breaking the top up with the bands of lace is such a great touch, and kept the knitting interesting enough.

i see this as being a very wearable knit. and i highly recommend knitting this! though i had to dip into the 5th skein, i still have a fair amount left over. like at least half a skein. i can just imagine another version of this top with 3/4 length sleeves. fun!

now i have to give some pretty huge props to my photographer. he's only 5 you know. and i think he did pretty well ;)

being a part of this knit along has been so uber fun! the chit chatter in the thread is massive, and so inspiring. my queue has grown (again), but i'm loving the inspiration and encouragement everyone has for eachother. it's really fantastic! thanks so much to shannon for hosting yet another amazing knit along! i'm already looking forward to the summer sweater one! xo

were you a part of this kal? did you get your top done or are you hoping for an extension? i'd love to know how you're doing! will you be signing up for the next one? come chat! the coffee is especially good on this rainy day :) xo

yes. really.

getting up at 5:30 this morning was hard... i so wanted to bury myself back into bed and not move. at all... but i booted myself out, because i have a race in just 2.5 weeks. and if that won't get me out of bed, then i don't know what will...

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann Johnson Design on Pinterest

last year i was running more, and i loved how i felt. but then i took a hiatus. and now i'm trying to get back to where i was... the best way for me to do that is to register... it's the incentive i need...
but i'm not going crazy here. i'm only trying to add to my plate what i know i can stick with. but in order for me to fit in these runs during the week, i have to get up at 5:30. !!! so this is going to be my motto for now. i don't want to stress how much i do at each time... but as long as i do it, and continue to do it...

Source: facebook.com via Charity on Pinterest

but right now i'm feeling better than i did when my alarm went off... because i did actually drag my butt out of bed... and now i can knit. right?

i realize today is the tttkal day... i still don't have pics for you, so that's on my list today too :)

i'd love to know what your day is looking like! come chat.. any inspirational tips for sticking to your goals? xo

the most important things.....

our little family has been so very busy these last few weeks. grandma and papa will  be headed back to alberta tomorrow, so today is our last day of visiting. i've been wanting to post more photos, (even take more photos) of knitting projects on the go, and even finished... but familiy visiting is first..

Source: turningpoint2.tumblr.com via Christy on Pinterest

i promise you though that we'll be getting back on track here soon, and you'll be subject to lots of knitterly photos :)

Source: littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

we've had a great visit though! and mixed with tball games and practises, slow pitch games, and swimming lessons, it sure has been a full one! please bear with me as i take the next couple of days to reorganize and regroup. i can't believe this next weekend is a long one! sadly we didn't even think of reserving a campspot... so i'm not sure what we're doing.

Source: teenytinypieces.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

at any rate it will be good. here's hoping i can get some balcony gardening in!

how are things going for you? are you a busy bee like us here? what is on your needles? come chat! xo

that was fast!

i can't believe the weekend is already over! and back to the grindstone we go :) how was your weekend? did you get lots done? i'm happy to report that i have an f.o! you'll have to wait for pics though, and then i'll share away :) so until then, this is what i'd like to be doing :)

Source: Uploaded by user via Rebecca on Pinterest

i had a lovely, full weekend. mothers day was nice! (i even managed a 10k! thank you jane!)

we still have gramma and papa here visiting... but they'll be going back home mid week... so we're still juggling our activities and visiting time... :)

i'd love to know how your weekend was! come chat! xo

for meeeee!

is it friday already! hurrah!! man last week kind of flew by (at least for me it did). i have missed a few progress reports this week, and i owe you a photo or two i believe.


if you're a reader of this space then you know that i'm currently taking part in 2 kals. (i never said i wasn't crazy). i'm super happy to say that i've been fairly productive this week!

first up, my work + shelter tee. for the tttkal with luvinthemommyhood. this is knitting up uber fast. !!! the sleeves have been attached and i'm just working the yoke now. i'm really nearing the end! who knows, maybe i'll be binding off today! i'm sure the knit picks cotLin will be a dream to wear. and all of these lace sections will make for an airy top.

my pendulum shawl is coming along.. but it's definitely a more leisurly knit. haha. it's so fun though to see it develop, and i can't get enough of these two colours together. the end date for the pour moi kal (hosted by evelyn of project: stash) is june 7th so i have some serious knitting to do if i want to qualify for prizes...  and that's always a good incentive, hey? but honestly, i don't really need the prize incentive to work on this shawl, it really is a great knit! :)

so i bet you can guess what my weekend will consist of! hahah. it's such a good thing that knitting is portable, because it will be coming with me to a tball game, and other fun things this weekend!

what do you have planned? any knitting just for you? some time in the sun? any sports events to be cheering at? come chat! the coffee is especially good. must be friday .. xo

a step back... for inspiration :)

i am recognizing that i can't necessarily fit it all in. though i desperately want to. sometimes i have to let one thing slide. and for me, yesterday it was the post. it's ok though. because i'll always come back to this space. i get so much from sharing with you, and chatting so much yarny goodness :) it's a favourite space for me for sure!

Source: etsy.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

and so it was a quiet one yesterday... it felt good to get the office organized though. one of these days, i might just "flash my stash" :) though i seem to have run out of shelf space. lol! i have been collecting some lovelies ever since vogue knitting live. and i really seem to have gotten "the yarn bug" pretty bad. lol. it's ok though. there are worse things to collect for sure. and i know i will knit with them. i so look forward to it too!

..aren't those mason jar covers the cutest ever??

i have felt really inspired by my stash. this is a really good thing! and i'm seeing heaps of colour. i'm super excited about that!

the only complaint i have is that i just don't have enough hours in the day. but isn't that the case with most of us? i think so :) in the meantime, i've got work knitting to tackle, and then some serious KAL knitting. i can't wait to show you my progress!

i'm also already dreaming of casting on another project :) it's a nice thing when us hard-core knitters are super excited about knitting all year long. don't you think so?

so tell me, what's on your needles? are you making good progress? feeling excited about your next knit or crochet project? i'd love to chat! let's stay inspired! xo

i'm in trouble.... haha

i feel terribly sidetracked. why? because two new issues of knitterly goodness has been released, just today. i can't focus. i feel itchy to cast on something new... to get armloads of yarn for all of these projects.

oh but wait, let me actually tell you what i'm talking about!

Source: brooklyntweed.net via Rebecca on Pinterest

i'm sure many of you are aware that we've been teased enough this past week by brooklyn tweed and his crew with the release of wool people 5. well geez, it's amazing. i mean, have you seen the look book? gah. so much lace and cably goodness. though i really would expect no less... i'm definitely on a shawl kick here.. just loving so many of them! i have to say though, amherst has caught my eye. i could see myself cozying up in this dress in the fall. rockin' it with some tall boots? and an uber bright coloured shawl? yeah... but i'm also loving bolt (because well it's veera. and she really doesn't ever disappoint) and there are just so many options with stripes, you know?


gah, i'm just loving them all...
and oh, did you also see that pom pom quarterly has released their summer issue? i need to knit every thing in this issue. for real. i'm loving it all!!!

Source: pompommag.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

and bonus, one of my friends caitlin ffrench has not one but two patterns in this issue!!!! hurrah!  so proud of her!!! and in case you were wondering, caitlin also dyes her own yarns using the coolest, and natural methods. i have a skein of hers that was dyed using onion skins. !! check out her etsy shop.

sadly, i can't get a hard copy here in canada!! sadface. but i'm on a mission ;)

guys. my queue has increased tenfold. (and then some). i'm in trouble. lol! i'm dizzy i'm so excited about all of these new patterns. i want to head to my LYS and stock up.. then drink ridiculious amounts of caffeine so that i can sit and knit non.stop.  sigh. haha i'm in love..!!!! and totally sidetracked. lol. i have to focus. ***shakes head**** ok. bring it.
it's amazing weather out. and knitting is portable. let's see what damage i can do, hey? xo

have you seen these new issues? anything you just have to knit? are you as excited as i am about these patterns? come chat! i'd love to enable chat knitterly goodness with you. ;) xo

just what i needed....

hiya! how was your weekend?? i have to say i am feeling really refreshed, despite having to rush around while camping :)

we had a t-ball game early saturday morning. and even though my very energetic 5 year old had huge plans of going to the park, riding his bike, playing uno, and playing with his water gun, we still managed to catch a few moments of rest.

we go to this campground a lot... and this time, i think has been my favourite spot. i loved camping right on the river. and the weather couldn't have been better.

i am pleased that i got lots of knitting done, and a chance to re-evaluate how my weeks will play out. it's no secret that we're pretty busy, and we've only got one kid! but i've needed a swift kick in the .. ahem... to try to get back into shape. this is the only body i've got... and i'd like to keep it. and enjoy hikes when i'm older, runs, camping adventures etc etc.

the best way for me to do that, is to register for a race. it gives me the incentive to get out there. and that's what i've done. i did really well with my running last year, but then life kind of got in the way, and my runs eventually stopped. i don't want life to get in the way of them... not this time... so i've decided to do something crazy. i'm just trying this out here, so i might change my mind. but i'm getting up at 5:30 to go for a run before my man has to go to work. i tried it this morning, and i feel pretty good!

honestly, it's going to start getting too hot to run, and i'm sure my motivation will be pretty low in the late afternoon most days... so first thing in the morning is good for me. of course this means i need to give myself a for real bedtime. lol! let's see if i listen to myself. (as my evenings and late nights are great knitting times)...

so i'm hoping to find time for it all. to fit in all of the knitting i can, to spend time with my little man, and my hubby, and get those fitness goals reached. i don't think it will be really easy. (these things never are), but now that i've put it out there, i feel like i've got some accountability now.. you know? 

of course, i'll still be knitting like a crazy woman. (when do i ever not do that?) i've made great progress on both of the kals, and i'm dreaming of casting on more projects :)  i've been keeping nice and busy with other knitting as well... of course, i think the knitting will be hitting full force in the fall... and i'll be able to take on more when my little man is in kindergarten (gasp, where has the time gone!!) but for now, i think i'm finding the right balance... and we sure are looking forward to this summer.

if you follow me on instagram you've probably already seen these pictures.. ;) but looking at them again reminds me of the importance of resting... and how much i'm looking forward to this summer :)

tell me, do you have some fitness goals that you need to reaffirm? how has your knitting been going? did you have a nice weekend? come chat! i always love your company. xo

marshmallows and knitting

it's friday already! hurrah!!! let's all do a happy dance, m'kay? yes.

want to know what i have planned for the weekend? camping!! that's right. it's gonna be amazing too because i think the weather is supposed to be up in the 20's . (that's good)

so as i rush about this morning, trying to pack, tidy up the house, and not forget my knitting... i'm seriously looking forward to putting up my feet this evening and getting a huge chunk of knitting done over the weekend. for real. i only realized yesterday that the ttt kal was over at the end of the month. hahah i have to seriously get my knit on! .. and i most definitely can't forget my headlamp :)

what do you have planned? i'd love to hear about it! any celebrations for may 5th? there might be a corona in my hand in the weekend... ;)  xo

selfish knitting... in the form of a KAL.

being a part of 2 kals, can make for a bit of slower knitting. also when i've got "work knitting" on my plate, as well as another test knit. :) ... (in the form of a sweater in tiny yarn and tiny needles... *facepalm*... it will totally be worth it though).

and i think it's important to remember that shawls are supposed to take a bit of time. we have to actually enjoy the process of knitting them, right? after all, it is "pour moi" :) xo
so without further ado, here's my pendulum so far :)

i am really really happy with how it's knitting up! i'm finding that it's one of those knits that is pretty easy to put down and pick up whenever. love those patterns. it makes for very portable knitting.

i like that i have a colour change to look forward to, and the short rows keeps things interesting throughout the knit.  my plan is to just knit until i run out of yarn. let's hope it works :) i'm loving these colours together. very west coast to me.


are you a part of the "pour moi" kal? how is your knit coming along? i'd love to know what you're working on! you can join the knit along here. everyone is doing such a fantastic job! i'm loving seeing all of the progress! xoxo