Dominant Hands

Happy Easter Baskets!

2011-04-23T15:22:00.000-03:00

Happy Easter Weekend! My Mom crocheted them from this pattern on Ravelry.

I haven't been posting for a while. I'm been busy with mothering, volunteering, getting knock out colds and injuring myself at the gym. Oh, I also ripped down my hubby's Urban Aran Cardigan and started it again in the next size up.

Hope to be posting on a regular basis soon!

Happy Easter!

The Reveal: My Creation for the Tea Cosy Swap

2011-03-04T11:35:00.000-04:00

It is now safe to reveal the tea cosy that I knit for my partner in the Ravelry tea cosy swap. He received it this week.

I like to think of it as having a retro tartan vibe. The pattern is Grannie's Traditional Tea Cosy.

What do you think this Fiber Arts Friday?

Happy Knitting!

Ravelry Swap: My Tea Cosy Arrived!

2011-02-26T10:49:00.000-04:00

Another successful Ravelry Swap! My Tea Cosy arrived complete with tea.

I'm going to brew a pot now.

Happy tea sipping!

The Resurgence of Knitting: Worth a Listen

2011-02-19T17:04:00.000-04:00

A knitter from my knitting circle told me about this radio broadcast on NPR exploring The Resurgence of Knitting. You can listen to it by going here. Two of the guests are Franklin Habit a.k.a The Panopticon and Susan Strawn author of Knitting America: A Glorious Heritage From Warm Socks to High Art.

It spoke to me as a knitter. It's worth a listen.

Happy Knitting!

Still Knitting!: Well I've Got the Yarn

2011-02-16T15:45:00.000-04:00

I'm still alive and well in knitting land. Just to prove it, here is my newly arrived Knit Picks order organized by my knitting circle.

Baby alpaca and silk. Shawls perhaps?

I have no plans for this Chroma fingering yarn.

She did not come with my yarn order. She is the newest addition to my menagerie.

See the knitted afghan in the background. Long ago claimed by my older cat and now by Sophie.

Happy Knitting!

Tea and Cables This Fiber Arts Friday

2011-01-28T13:14:00.000-04:00

Only two projects have been occupying my time lately. My knit tea cosy for the Ravelry Swap is well underway.

I hope my fellow swapper does not visit my blog. I won't reveal the final product until it is sent and received!

Hubby's Urban Aran Cardigan is coming along. I was hoping to have the back finished eons ago, but I'm half-way there.

When my swapping is over, it's full steam ahead on this sweater.

That's it for me this Fiber Arts Friday. Andrea has more fiber blogging waiting for you at Wisdom Begins In Wonder. See you there!

Happy FAF!

Knitting In The Sun: No Sand Involved

2011-01-18T16:53:00.001-04:00

Early morning knitting in my pajamas, in the sun and in good company.

My tea cosy is progressing.

Happy Relaxing Knitting!

Accidental Felter: Sock Disaster!

2011-01-12T14:54:00.001-04:00

My first ever pair of knitted wool socks ended up in the washer and then the hot dryer with the rest of the sock and undie wash. The result...socks for very small feet!

The Horror!

All I have left now are my Mitered Socks which have been in limbo for quite some time. At least now, I have an incentive to take them out of hibernation and finish them.

Happy Knitting!

It's A New Knittin Year!

2011-01-03T16:39:00.000-04:00

I hope you all had good times with family and friends over the holidays. My new year is off to a slow start where fiber arting is concerned. I am determined to finish hubby's Urban Aran Cardigan and will be knitting away on it tonight. There will be no photos posted until serious progress has been made!

My tea cosy swap will soon require me to buy yarn. I'll be knitting Grannie's Traditional Tea Cosy. The colour combination will be determined by the limited selection at my small LYS.

Oh, the Ribbed Stitch Vest I knit for my mom as a Christmas present fit her! I was so happy.

Happy New Fiber Year!

I'm In Another Swap: Tea Anyone?

2010-12-20T20:40:00.000-04:00

The tea cosy swap on Ravelry is now accepting sign-ups. Get in on the fun.

I have knit tea cosies as gifts. I drink lots of tea but do not own a tea cosy! I'll fix this problem and have swapping fun at the same time.

Happy Tea Time!

Ribbed Vest Complete For Christmas Giving

2010-12-17T08:08:00.000-04:00

I did it! My marathon knitting to finish my Rib Knit Vest is over.

All I need to do is wrap it for Christmas morning. I hope my mom likes it. After years of her knitting me sweaters, I have finally knit her one.

Andrea is waiting for you over at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm. Enjoy Fiber Arts Friday.

Happy Knitting!

Feeling Useless?: Join the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long!

2010-12-13T16:14:00.000-04:00

I felt like doing something useless, after my Christmas Crunch Knitting. So, I've joined the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long. All you have to do is collect your ORTs (old ratty threads) in a glass container and post it's progress (or lack thereof) on your blog every New Moon in 2011.

This is the glass container I've commandeered for my ratty yarn scraps.

Here it is sans wine corks (which took me a life-time to collect, really) and with my first yarn scraps instead.

Oh, and did I tell you there is a giveaway at the end for the best useless stitch-a-longers? For the complete rules and to join up, visit here.

Happy Scrapping!

Christmas Crunch: Trying to Finish My Ribbed Vest

2010-12-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

I've been busy all week with everyone else's life and trying to finish this ribbed vest by Patons before my Mom arrives for Christmas next weekend.

Not much to look at yet. This is the front. I'm just about finished the back. Then I'll have to sew in the ends and block both pieces. The finished vest should look like this.

I'm hoping to be knitting the collar, knitting the armhole bands and seaming (not all at once!) this weekend.

My hands are getting sore from knitting. I promise I'll never wait this late again to knit a present even if the pattern is in chunky yarn and has no sleeves.

There has got to be more Christmas knitting this FAF over at Andrea's at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm. Or, how about at Creative Friday?

Happy Finished Objects!

Robin's Egg Blue Hat This Fiber Arts Friday

2010-12-03T08:44:00.002-04:00

My Robin's Egg Blue Hat is finito! While it's not Robin's Egg Blue, it is the hat.

Easy to make in Patons Shetland Chunky for a quick Christmas knit. The free pattern is here on Ravelry.

I'm off to see what other fiber adventures are being blogged about this FAF at Wonder Why Gal's or at Creative Friday.

Pinwheel Blanket Is Finished

2010-12-01T14:11:00.000-04:00

Knit, blocked and done! I'm pretty happy with the results.

This Pinwheel Blanket was a KAL for my knitting circle which meets tonight. We'll be donating our blankets to charity.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting for Christmas: Can I Finish It By December 25th?

2010-11-29T14:16:00.001-04:00

My mom maybe wearing this ribbed vest knit from Patons' Classic Wool Roving on Christmas day.

It was a last minute decision to knit this as a Christmas present. I figured it would be a quick knit. The pattern is easy. There are no sleeves. Knitting using a bulky yarn would be fast work. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans.

I've already ripped it down twice. The gauge was way off with an extra five inches in width. Gauge in the pattern is given for stocking stitch not the rib stitch used in the pattern. My swatch knit in stocking stitch was right on gauge.

What to do? First, I was knitting a size medium. Then, I was knitting a size small. Finally, I'm back to the size medium. Even knitting tighter, the gauge is still off by about one inch.

Over the years I've had to learn to loosen up my knitting. On this project, I have to revert to bad habits. It must be something to do with the roving which otherwise is a delight to knit with.

This thing better fit my mom!

Happy Christmas Knitting!

Hot Off the Needles: Pinwheel Blanket

2010-11-25T09:45:00.000-04:00

I just finished my Pinwheel Blanket which is a KAL for my knitting circle. I have yet to block it.

Patons Canadiana was my yarn of choice. The colourway is Morocco. It was easy to knit becoming a teeny bit tedious at the end. But, it's for charity and well worth it!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American fiberistas!

The Votes Are In And The Winner Is...

2010-11-21T18:45:00.000-04:00

The Robin's Egg Blue Hat is the winner by a landslide! Thank you all for taking the time to check out the projects and give me your opinion. I casted on earlier today.

I'm knitting this using Paton's Shetland Chunky in Denim Jeans Variegated which is an acrylic/wool blend. The seed stitch band for the hat starts on straight needles. The body of the hat is knit in the round.

Knitting this for a friend makes the knitting so much more meaningful.

Happy Knitting!

You Decide: What Will I Knit?

2010-11-19T10:45:00.000-04:00

My next cast on will be a gift for a dear friend. I'll be using Paton's Shetland Chunky yarn in this color.

I've whittled it down to three possibilities: a hat, a cowl or a hat!

I want you to decide which of these projects I will knit. Will it be the...

Slouchy Beehive Hat by Flora Cheung of Flower Pot Designs.
Burberry Inspired Cowl Neck Scarf by Julianne Smith.
Robin's Egg Blue Hat by Rachel Iufer.

Sorry there are no photos of the choices in this post. I'm being a good fiber girl and respecting the copyright.

Vote with your comment. I'll tally up Sunday and start the cast on for the winning project!

Now, vote for more Fiber Arts Friday fun at Wonder Why Gals.

Happy Voting!

The Finale: A Snowflake Potholder

2010-11-12T09:31:00.002-04:00

This is the fifth and final potholder I have crocheted for my Dazzling Dozen Potholder Swap.

It is the Snowflake Potholder. It is an easy pattern with a nice result.

I can see me making some of these for Christmas gifts to include with homemade goodies from my kitchen.

Any more gift ideas out there this Fiber Arts Friday? Find out at Wonder Why Gals!

Happy FAF!

Shaking Off The Cobwebs: My Urban Aran Cardigan Revived

2010-11-09T11:51:00.000-04:00

Hubby's Urban Aran Cardigan was suppose to be finished this fall. HA! If I turn it into an apron, it might make that deadline.

Now I'm projecting a conservative mid-winter finish. Hubby is patient.

It kinda got lost amid my square and potholder swaps. The summer heat didn't help. My knitting circle's Pinwheel Blanket KAL hasn't aided the effort either.

I do love knitting this sweater. The next time you see it, this back piece will be finished.

Happy Knitting!

Pinwheel Blanket Update

2010-11-01T15:38:00.000-03:00

My Pinwheel Blanket is getting bigger. It's now on circular needles. This is a KAL for my knitting circle.

I'm finding this a satisfying knit, at least since I got beyond the first few rows. You cast on 5 stitches in the round on four needles! After many tries on three needles, I was able to get beyond the initial row. Others seasoned knitters have experienced this too. I think the pattern needs a warning: It's not just you...

Happy Casting On!

Happy Halloween: Witch's Socks

2010-10-31T12:49:00.000-03:00

Happy Halloween to all you fiberistas!

I want the pattern to these witch's socks. Maybe I could use this Ravelry pattern as a starting point (or not!).

Happy Trick or Treating...

Woven Arrowhead Crochet Square

2010-10-29T14:41:00.000-03:00

This is the latest and last crochet square that I received from my ravelry swap group. I love it!

The black and white colour choice went with September's theme of back to school. The pattern is by Lily Chin and found in Interweave's fall crochet magazine. It's called Woven Arrowhead. Check out some particulars at Crochet Me.

Chains are used to create the arrowhead pattern on top of the crochet.

These squares would be handsome in an afghan. I would sew the squares together so the arrowheads would not all point in the same direction but instead switch back and forth from vertical to horizontal.

What do you think?

Happy Creating!

An Actual Finished Object: My Jamaica Pouch

2010-10-22T08:22:00.002-03:00

This fun project used the Brown Sheep Serendipity Tweed Yarn that I won from an Ally B blog contest.

I couldn't help thinking about a pumpkin when I photographed this pouch. Really it's more like a pumpkin Salvador Dali might paint. If I made it again, I'd use variegated yarn which would accent the spirals.

Like the pattern? Want to try it? Here's all you need to know via Ravelry.

It's great to be back with all you Fiber Art Fridayers!

Now, get on over to Wonder Why Gals to see some talented people.

Happy FAF!