Friends?

I started a new sweater.

Stitch markers. Sticky notes. Spreadsheets. Yikes.

Can you blame me for wanting to join thousands of other knitters in making the lovely Aidez cardigan? Despite all of the above paraphernalia, this project is breezing along. I am knitting the whole sweater body in one piece to minimize the finishing work, which is why there are so many markers in play. The yarn is some Cascade Ecological Wool that has been buried in my stash for a few years. I really love how quickly it is knitting up and how it shows off the cables to their best advantage.

Which is a good thing, because cables and I have a long history of not getting along. Thanks to this fun pattern, we might actually become good friends.

Before heading off to visit the wonderfully talented bloggers participating in WIP Wednesday with TAMI'S AMIS, I wanted to announce the winner of my little giveaway. Thank you so much for all of your great comments. It seems that the fashions of the 50's were a popular choice, as well as the gorgeous styling of the late Edwardian era as seen on Downton Abbey. Congratulations to collegeknitting! So happy to be getting rid of the evidence sending out your prize!

Varsity Mitts

It took awhile, but I finally finished the fingerless mitts for my nieces. Since Christmas and Valentines Day have come and gone, these are going in the gift box for next Christmas. Yay! In this case, procrastination ended up giving me a head start.

Ravelry is a great source for basic (and free!) patterns like this one which can be easily customized.

I added contrasting stripes to the ribbing and slip stitch crochet borders to the thumbs to give the mitts a sporty look. Plus little duplicate stitch hearts...just because.


(For all things awesome in knitting and crochet, go to FO Friday with Tami's Amis)

A Present for a Crafty Girl

My youngest niece celebrated a birthday this weekend. I usually gift her with something handmade, but this year I decided to mix things up a bit and give her some tools to make her own things.

This is a wonderful book filled with cute sewing, embroidery, cross-stitch and knitting projects. But what good is a craft book without the notions to make the projects, right?

I have already bookmarked the projects that she can make me for my birthday. Call me a sneaky aunt.

Sweet Treats

white chocolate macadamia nut cookies

Some sweet treats for my two Valentines. I figured these would be more appreciated than a handmade card. Happy Valentine's Day!

Picnic

Here is what the sky looks like on this February morning:

A perfect day for a picnic! So we are packing up the hamper with some of these delicious wraps. For dessert, we have a big bowl of this fruit salad chilling away. The picnic blanket is already spread out.

There are even flowers in bloom.

(For lovely knit and crochet projects to fit every season, check out WIP Wednesday with Tami's Amis. Also, I am having a little February giveaway. Go here for more details and to enter.)

FO: Muckle Cowl

Quick and easy. Those are two words that I normally would not use to describe stranded colourwork but this cowl really was a breeze to knit. I made mine a little bit more fitted than Kate Davies' lovely version. This yarn (Road to China Light by The Fiber Company) is so gorgeously soft and I wanted every bit of it to be in close contact with my neck.

Looking forward to knitting the matching Muckle Mitts. Here are the project details if anyone is interested in making a similar cowl:

Cast on 132 stitches. Knit 2x2 ribbing for one inch. Knit rows 1 through 23 of chart (skip rows 24 & 25 for now), then start second pattern repeat with row 4 of chart. After row 25, knit 2x2 ribbing for one inch. Mine ended up being 19 inches around and 8 & 1/2 inches tall. My gauge was 13 stitches x 13 rounds = 2x2 with size 5 needles.



(FO Friday with Tami's Amis is the place to be for awesome knit and crochet projects)