fit for my little knight. (once)

it turns out that i sometimes whip up projects that i forget to blog about, and put up on ravelry. actually... i do that a lot.. because of market knitting, and work knitting... well one fell through the cracks, and i'm so excited to have stumbled upon it this weekend!

owen has always been into battles, knights, army men.. you name it. so when i found a pattern for chainmaille, i kind of had to whip it up. and i did. 

this project is over a year old. in fact, we're going on about a year and a half old! haha and i'm sure you can believe my excitement when i found these amazing pics in my email! huge huge thanks to shannon cook for her amazing talent. i do remember owen not really wanting his picture taken at that moment.

he's so wee here!.... sadly, i don't even think this fits him anymore. at least not as good as this...  hah but i do remember this took me no time at all to whip up. and would be easy enough to make a larger size... (i'd just up the needle size)
i can't even remember the exact yarn and needle i used for this project... but i can tell you, it was an easy one. i had no issues with the pattern at all.

want to make one of your own? the pattern can be found here. bonus is it's free... and just requires a bit of worsted weight wool. yep. my little man was most definitely ready for battle :) xo

anyways, i just had to share this with you. xo

do you have any projects that have slipped through the cracks? anything you've forgotten to mention? actually, now that i think about it, i have another to show you! lol. come chat. i'd love to hear what you've been working on! xo

raring to go!

so excited it's the weekend! are you with me??

i did do that gauge swatch!! and i'm happy with my gauge...  want to know what i've decided on? it's the work + shelter lace striped sweater (though mine will be a tee...). hurrah! it's about time i made a decision :) haha .. and i'm determined to make the yardage work! xo

my inlaws are arriving on the island any time now, and my little man is very excited :) we couldn't ask for bettter weather... of course, i'm hoping this means that i get heaps of knitting in this weekend! and with my sample knits done and ready to be shipped off.. (yay byannieclaire!) i can focus more on kal knitting... (well and work knitting... but lots of kal knitting too)..

we'll have t-ball games, and a bday party to go to as well. such a fun weekend planned!

tell me, what do you have planned for this weekend? xo

placing an order for more time....

today is definitely one of those days where i wish i had many many more hours in the day....
we've got family arriving tomorrow for a big visit. every year my inlaws bring out their fifth wheel and stay a month. it's heaps of fun, but it's always my deadline for spring cleaning. (if i don't give myself a deadline, i'll never get it done...lol)
i've got heaps of knitting to get done... (most of it is "work knitting" and has deadlines too...)
the laundry pile is ridiculous... the recycling is over-flowing, i keep tripping over boxes "for donation"... and i have yet to organize our closet...  i have bagels to make, and our fridge seems to be empty...again. (why does it do that? lol)

but you know what? it will get done. the sun is shining, and the music is already playing... hopefully at some point today i can put my feet up and make a big dent in the knitting pile.... if i can, i'll show you my swatch for the tops, tanks and tees kal tomorrow! oxoxo

Source: Uploaded by user via Sandra on Pinterest

what are you working on today? has life caught up to you? are you buried in piles of laundry, cleaning, donations, and everyday chores? come chat. keep me company? xoxo

kal 911 (already)

today is cast on day for the tops, tanks, and tee's kal!
i was so ready. i have the yarn... and the pattern decided... wait, no. i'm second guessing the pattern!! what? on the day of?? seriously, i thought i was prepared. hahaha.

i have five skeins of knitpicks cotlin ... that would be about 615 yds. my original plan was to knit up date night. but now i'm thinking that i want something that doesn't fit as close to the body...  i've come up with 3 more options... yikes.
and just like that, i'm not really prepared..
my other three options are:
- bamboo agave tank by andrea rangel ... i am loving the layered look, and i think this would be a gorgeous layering piece.
- nachtfalter by stephanie pollmeier .... i love how different this top looks... though my concern is that i only have the cotlin. i'm worried it will grow too much for the ribbing section....
- work + shelter lace striped sweater by allyson dykhuizen ... actually i don't have enough yardage for this one it seems. lol. but i like it, and it's silly that i'm actually putting this up for the running.. haha but it's so cute! i do have some of the cotlin in tan that could possibly account for the remaining yardage, but where on earth would i put that colour change?

gack. so there you have it. i'm stuck. and i want to cast on!!! haah of course that would happen to me. thankfully while i'm thinking of what to decide on, i've got a sample knit that's just about finished here... but yeah, it's really almost done. and i'm wanting to cast on!!

do you have any advice? what's your vote on the three? (or the four, if date night is still something i should consider)... i'd love your feedback!! are you in the knit along? what have you cast on today? xo

slow progress is still progress...

... sometimes things really don't work out as planned... and we need to restart projects.. yeah, i'm talking about my pendulum for the "pour moi" kal. i really wanted to work the pattern differently so that i didn't have to cut my yarn. turns out that isn't really possible. haha (or else, i'm sure i would have seen so many others do the same).
and i firmly believe that it's really worth it to do the project right. i knew it would bother me if i didn't fix it..
i'm not all too sad though, because i've already re-cast on... and i'm almost ready to start the first colour change. gotta love my signature needles! they make this project really fly. ..

of course i really didn't want to take a picture of the frogging... we don't want to see that. so instead, want to see more yarn? of course you do!  since we're talking a bit about the "pour moi" kal this skein has full intentions of being something just for me :)

this is knit picks aloft. and it's so very soft! what do you suppose i've got planned for this? any guesses? i'll give you a hint. it's a jane richmond pattern. :)
and while we're oogling.. here's another...

though i'm not sure what it will become yet... but if i were you', i'd keep my eyes out come end of august... early fall...;)  it's so squishy! it's knit picks billow. (for those of you wondering)

so while i've had to take a few steps back on the "pour moi" kal... i'm still pressing forward... and am so excited to be wrapping it around me... and it will be just for me :) and it will be perfect... xo

do you want to take part in this kal?  you can find all of the details here. evelyn is such a fun host for this kal! be sure to check out her blog too!

are you taking part in the kal? what do you have on your needles? come chat! my needles are clicking away here :) xo

full

it was a whirlwind of a weekend, and oh so fun!! we had a t-ball game, a birthday party, i went to knit night, we went for a beach walk in the rain, and a lovely family dinner out.  these are my favourite weekends. so full that it almost leaves me tired for the week staring at me in the face on monday morning. almost though, because i have coffee... and i can totally take it ;)


time to get back on track this week.... and get ready for family coming to visit. i'm determined to finish spring cleaning, and have heaps of donations ready to go all before friday.

oh, and i have been working away on a pair of socks. for my man. because really. when do i ever not knit? haha.

i'm also loving.. and i mean l.o.v.i.n.g. the addi sock rockets. i want more.

how was your weekend? did you get outside at all? any crafting going on?  i'd love to hear about it!! xo

my yarn from vkl!

i can't believe vogue knitting live was actually 2 weeks ago now! and to be totally honest, i really wish i had taken more pictures... sadly i'm never good at remembering to take pics. especially getting infront of the camera myself.
though it was fantastic to also venture into seattle, and pike place market... my main purchases were really for the yarn and needles ;) so i thought today, i'll give you more  details on what came home with me. yes? ok.

i believe i showed some serious restraint at the marketplace. haha i only wish i had the budget (and space) to bring home so much more. honestly the yarns were stunning! so many amazing vendors! i wish i could have had so much more time to browse (and i actually browsed a lot), and then set myself down just to knit at a cafe. ... hah wait, i kind of did that. but maybe i just wanted many many more days of that.
truthfully, my ideal life would be to wander into a beautiful cobblestone street, with a gorgeous yarn store, filled with my favourite yarns, heaps of sunlight, a cafe next door where i could sit, knit, and people watch, and sip the most delicious coffee ever.... and also a bakery, and a flower store on this perfect street. couldn't you just imagine?
but back to vogue. haha. i honestly loved browsing though all of the booths. i kept dissapearing from my group just to wander more. haha sorry girls! but they knew i wouldn't have gone far...
so down to the details... i wanted to be sure to purchase yarn i had never tried before, and yarns that weren't really easily accessible to me in victoria... i'm pleased to say i stuck with the plan. in fact only two skeins of this bunch are skeins i had recognized. the rest are all brand spanking new to me.

first up is the skein of anzula dreamy. let me tell you it is soooo dreamy! i almost grabbed a skein of the grey, but this skein of "bark" just kept staring at me. also.. i kind of have a thing for the yellow family... 
this is a superwash merino, cashmere, silk blend that is soo squishy and so soft! at 385 yards i was thinking of maybe a lovely little (or not so little) shawlette? not sure. but oh so lovely!

i made sure to grab a skein of hazel knits. i've had this yarn on my radar for quite some time, and boy am i glad to have gotten some. i kind of wish i could have taken home more than one skein... haha but that's probably a given for all of the yarn that i saw :)

i brought home a skein of the artisan sock yarn. i had a hard time photographing this yarn (it also doesn't help that it's such a dreary rainy and dark day today).. there are so many hints of yellows, oranges, pinks and reds in this skein. so so pretty! "strawberry lemonade" is really the perfect name for it! i'm not sure what this will become, but i had to have it. with 400 yds, i have lots of options!

i totally fell in love with these two skeins of periwinkle sheep watercolors sock yarn. they were totally an impulse buy, but i don't care. the grey is called "suits him".. such a nice deep dark grey, still with mature depth to it. and the green is called "meagheen"... very springy. i love it!
whether i keep them together for a project or separate, the outcome will be stunning, i just know it! at a whopping 460 yds per skein i could do so much with this!

so pretty, hey?

as you can probably tell by now, i was totally into the fingering weight yarn on this trip :) i just am loving the possibilities with all of this fantastic yardage!! and this skein of knitted wit cashy light is certainly no different.

the colourway is "black magic" and i guess you could say i was totally under its spell. i was not walking away without it.

and last but not least..

finally my first skein of brooklyn tweed yarn! i was very seriously surprised at how light the loft is! it's beautiful! but will i knit with it? hmm not sure.. this one might be worth something now ;)

haha jared actually said no one has asked him to sign a yarn skein before. us girls felt pretty special ;)

so there you have it! see? i think that's a lot of restraint! of course, i bought needles too... but i'll save that one for another post.. and yep, i did get a few pics of non yarn skeins... but i'll save that also for another post.
we're good with drooling over yarn today, right? yeah. i thought so.

i'm super pleased with my haul, and very excited to knit with it (eventually). i guess i'm into fingering weight projects now? it's ok. i'm totally fine with that. i'd love to hear what your weekend plans are! what do you have on your needles? come chat! xoxo

and then THIS came along...

the hardest part of being as obssessive as i am about knitting, is that i'm always finding more projects to knit... i can't keep up! enter shannon cook's newest design the lansbury cowl. i'm in love!

for real. i didn't want to take it off!!i loved doing this photo shoot with shannon. but we always have so much fun together ;)
this is such a beautiful cowl! with only two skiens of sweet fiber yarn  this pattern showcases the yarn gorgeously! honestly, it's just lovely!

i'm still surprised when i look at the cowl to see that there are only 200 yds that make it up!
and you knitters, i have to tell you first hand, this cowl is gorgeous!!! and the yarn! oh my. i have got to get my hands on a skein (or more) of sweet fiber yarns! so very soft! the silk and cashmere content for this skein is hard not to touch...  i have been wanting to knit with this yarn ever since last october, when i first discovered them...... i think it's about time i did, don't you?

and the depth of the colour is really very stunning!
want to know something really exciting? shannon will be doing a giveaway on her blog next week for sweet fiber yarns! you'll definitely want to keep that on your radar!
make sure you head on over to shannon's blog today to read all about this cowl, lots more pictures, and where to get your own copy of this gorgeous pattern!! then go get your knit on! you'll be oh so happy you did! xo

tell me you're crushing on this cowl as much as i am. have you knit with sweet fiber yarns before? what do you think of the yarn? xo

knit along times 2

i know i know it's later than usual, but that's ok.... some days we're just busier... but look! yarn!!

now all is forgiven, right? if you are a follower on facebook, then you'll have noticed that i menitoned the knit along for luvinthemommyhood's tops, tanks, and tee's will be starting up again very soon....  and the roundup today is enough to make anyone drool... seriously, there are so many gorgeous patterns out there!!

are you joining in? do you have a pattern picked yet? now's the time to get serious about it!! it begins on april 24th... next week! eeps! and goes until may 22nd. plenty of time to get one (or more) projects finished and have you fabulous for the spring and summer!!

i think you should join. knit alongs are fun! that's why i'm in two of them now. lol!

so to join on in, head on over to luvinthemommyhood's blog that has all of the info. the sign up form is there for you too!

i'm excited for this one!! and yes, that's my yarn for this kal... but what will i be knitting? hmmmm tune in next week! xoxxoo

best moments...

this morning is probably one of the sunniest mornings we've seen in a while. and it kind of makes you be in a good mood. really, i think it's hard to be grumpy on beatuiful mornings....

Source: littlewoollie.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

and it's making me feel inspired. now those are the best moments. don't you think?

also this is the most adorable kitchen. i happend upon a blog...little woollie and especially for those of you who crochet, you'll love it! go check it out!

what are you up to? feeling inspired lately? are you swatching away? come chat. i'd love it! xo

pour moi....

as you know i've been a busy bee... and while i'm working on some secret test knitting (top secret!) as well as some sample knitting... i have decided to join a KAL! this one is the "pour moi" knit along. hosted by evelyn... she's projectstashEL on ravelry... and her blog is here.

i love the idea behind this kal. basically it's just an opportunity to do some selfish knitting. something that i have to remind myself to do, as the majority of my knitting is usually not for me :)

anyways, i'm loving it! the project i've chosen is pendulum. by amy miller. if you've been following this blog for a little while, you'll know that this shawl has been in my queue and on my brain for quite some time now! also, i happen to be in love with a lot of amy miller's designs... and this is the first one i'm tackling! back in january, the little fam went to calgary, alberta to visit our new nephew... and while there, i may have gone yarn shopping and had a lovely tea date ;) i scored the yarn for the pendulum then. and knew it would become this shawl almost immediately.

so far i'm loving this yarn and pattern pairing very much. of course, when i went to vogue knitting live (i promise to tell you more of my goods this week!) i also picked up my very first pair of signature knitting needles. and let me tell you, i'm in love!

yes. this project has happy written all over it! and it has a little special meaning to me too. the yarns really do remind me of the beautiful west coast that i'm so lucky to live in. i love it so much. !!!

do you want to join in on the KAL? there's plenty of time! the cast on date was april 7th, but it runs all the way to june 7th. just head on over to the projectstash ravelry group and post your progress pics! chat along, and be inspired to cast on something more!!  with every knit along, my queue grows more and more, and this knit along is no exception. haha. there are such lovely projects being knit :)

but so far, i'm in love with this one the most.... just as it should be ;)


i'm learning that i'm becoming a shawl knitter! what about you? are you a shawl knitter? have you joined in on any knit alongs? stay tuned, because i'll be chatting about another knit along in the near future! xo

two healthy doses of vitamin d please.

you can never go wrong with a dose of vitamin d. i'm sure we'd all agree with that. especially right now, while winter seems to hang on like a mother..... (what?)
enter sunny day..

i looove these mittens! i don't know why i never thought of having mittens in a sport weight yarn before, but let me tell you, they are perfect for the west coast weather! we usually have a lot of rain and wind here, and that little extra layer is perfect.

these are my favourite mittens. hands down. lol!

the deets? well i can only tell you right now that the design is jane richmond's. i'm such a tease. she hasn't released the pattern yet. but i do have permisson to show you these lovelies. sadly the yarn i have used, knitpicks felici sunny day, has been discontinued. oh how i wish i would have thought to snagged a few extra skeins.

oh well. at least i have these. and they do make me happy.

so happy :)
oh.. and when the pattern is released, i'll let you know.. promises... because we all need a pair of these lovelies. xo

any knitting on your needles that is screaming spring right now? i'd love to hear about it! xo

real life.

i know i've been a bit sparodic lately on the posting... but here's a peek why...
this is a the view from behind the swift :)

this is my work space today... now also, picture kids galaxy music playing in the background... and lego e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e..... seriously, you really have to watch your step here... :)

one of these days, i'll show you my actual office... but at the moment, it's hard to walk around in there, because i have another sweater blocking.....and there is yarn everywhere....but now you know. here's my life. and it's crazy.... and i love it . xoxo

tell me your work/craft space looks like mine? haha how is your day? i'd love your company. i'll pour you a cup of coffee. xo

rain rain... you can stay (for a little while)...

i'm sitting here listening to the sound of the rain hit the windows, while i'm sipping my morning coffee.these mornings really do just put me at ease, and make me slow down just a little.

Source: redbenchvintage.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

something that i really just don't do enough of. i'm always the girl multi-tasking like it's nobody's business.. i do everything fast (except eat.. but that's besides the point)..

i have huge plans for my spring cleaning list... purging, cleaning, and keeping on top of heaps of knitting... but right now, at this moment... i'm just quietly listening to the pouring rain... (and a little bit of max and ruby in the background).

Source: flickr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

and let me tell you. this is just what i need. the clicking of my needles, the smell of my coffee, and the rain on the windowpane... i feel refreshed already. and ready for this productive day of mine..

Source: etsy.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

how is your morning? are you finidng you need a little reminder to slow down every once in a while? i'd love to know what's on your needles... xoxo

hello?

it feels like forever and a day since i've written in this space! even though it's only been 4 days off.. crazy! i'm still more than tired, and i have yet to go through more pics to share with you... but vogue knitting live was such an incredible experience for me! i felt like i was on cloud nine the whole.entire.time.

i had the opportunity to meet so many uber talented designers including jared flood!! (eep! but a story i'll share with you soon)...  the booths were all just stunning, and the yarn... oh! the yarn!! i think i did pretty good with my haul... though i wish the funds were unlimited ;) i also really wish i could have attended some classes.. something i definitely plan to do next time...

and of course, i've returned hitting the ground running. one of these days i'll catch up on some sleep, right? lol! so in the meantime... how about a teaser photo? yes? here's one just of the yarn i scooped up :)

i promise to have a post very soon about all of the yummy details. ok? but i thought i couldn't just let another day go by without at least a peek! oh and there will be needles too! yessssssss.

as for what is on my needles now?

swoon. this is for a sample knit and i'm loving it...i just wish i could keep it!

anything new on your needles? did you have a chance to attend vkl?  i promise there will be a bigger post about it for sure... soon. come chat! i've missed you! xoxo

as pleased as....

this came off the needles just in time, and i'm so so pleased!! strathcona is from jane's book, ISLAND. if you have not yet seen this book you really really should. it's a beautiful addition to any home. the photos by nicholas kupiak are gorgeous, showing off not only the stunning knits but also the beauty of the island. i actually find myself flipping through the pages often!

so the deets!
this is strathcona. by jane richmond.
yarn: quince & co sparrow . colour: butternut
needle: 3.25mm

the amount of drape that linen gives you is just amazing! and it's a total bonus that it dries so quickly :)
the only mods i made to this pattern (completely by fault actually) is that i made the garter edging 9 inches long instead of the called for 6 inches. as a result, i just decided to use up all of 2 skeins of yarn. and i like the new length.

i thouroughly enjoyed this pattern... as you may have seen i even brought it with me camping. such an easy pattern to remember, and allowes you to easily pick it up and put it down whenever. no confusing marks to make in your notes.
there was just enough detail to the pattern though to not be bored with the knit either...

as always, i enjoy working with linen, but it's maybe a good idea to have another thing on the needles as well, to give your hands a break with the rawness of this fiber.

i'm loving this scarf already! and i'm sure it will be a constant staple in my spring and summer wardrobe. xo
highly recommend this pattern. it's suitable to every knitter, and the end result is stunning. you'll be oh so pleased you knit it! xo

have you knit with linen? what are your thoughts? any selfish knits on the needles for you these days? come chat! xo

if i had more time...

i would totally be knitting these...

Source: knittingfuckyeah.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

aren't they just the prettiest? i seriously would sport these on my dining room table. and for those of you who do have a little more time, and are wanting to cast on for these right away... i did a little searching, and the free pattern can be found here.

who knows, maybe one of these days i can knit something up like this. it would be fantastic. yes it would. ;) in the meantime though, i've finally cast on for pendulum!

 hurrah! i've actually cast on for it three times now. haha. because i'm relatively new to shawl knitting (surprise!) i had started with the stretchy mods, and thought maybe it was too lacy, and then cast on without the mods... after deliberation, and chatting with my gals who have knitted many shawls, it seems stretchy is the way to go... so i re-cast on...again... last night. hahah but it's official. my shawl is on the needles!

what are you working on today? i'd love to hear about it! xoox