I want to learn ... Tunisian Crochet

I want to learn this ....

I have a small short term goal to teach myself Tunisian Crochet. It's very easy, Stitch Diva's Tutorials are very good, it's just something that I need to sit down and do. I've been meaning to for ages, funny how bad I'm getting at sitting down and doing things.

So I can make this

A Stashbuster Blanket. I won't be busting any stash, I'll probably be using Cascade Eco+  and a P/12mm hook. 

I also like these

Here are two more versions of the same blanket. I like the monochrome-ish palette. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

day-dreaming about projects to come

this is what I am thinking about making

I know, toques (Canadian vernacular for basic winter hat with a pom-pom on top, pronounced  Two-k) are out of season, especially in lieu of the premature summer weather we've been having around here. But I love it sooo much! 

and this is what I'm thinking about making it with

Malabrigo Worsted in 606 Frost Grey and 37 Lettuce. I also want to make it in a real neon, but I'll have to wait until those come in. I know what you are thinking, I know you're dissing the neon. This will just have to be one of those time where you think I'm on crack and I'm right in the end. Neon is going to get under your skin, it is going to creep in and you'll wonder why you didn't notice before.

Here's the deal, neons need neutrals. Sure, neons can be migraine/seizure inducing in large quantities, but are cool paired with neutral colours like off white, grey, beige, and camel. The savy girls at the PurlBee know what I'm talking about, they've been down with neons and fluorescents for a little while now.  Still don't believe me? That's ok, just sit back, put some Duran Duran on your iPod, and see what happens after a while. ;-) 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Mohair Magic

I am so pleased to report that this was a very satisfying finished object!  It is a Prism Wrap made with Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (held double).  It only used 2 skeins of each yarn, and was a great use of a muted (ie. blah) Noro colourway. Plus the kid mohair adds a light, airiness which feels delicious. It also lends it a soft aura that  is snuggly and pretty, without being wintry. The pattern is a no brainer, and the size comes out just right for spring warmth. Me likey - I'm glad I thought of it!  :-)

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Project Round-Up!

I finished my Ombre Cowl! Love it, it's light, airy, and pretty. I'm soooooo into both ombres (colour gradations) and kid mohair (mohair but thin and not particularly itchy) right now. 

Over the weekend I started another prismy wrap. I'm going to keep at it until I get it right! I don't think I'll have to die trying, this one is looking great. I'm using Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (holding the mohair double). This type of project makes especially good use of the more muted (dowdy) Noro colourways.

BTW, the Prism wrap is the greatest mindless knitting. Simple and effective. And it certainly moves along much faster when you use worsted weight yarn!

I finished the last prismy wrap, but am unsatisfied with my colour choices. The yarn choice worked well, the Berroco Remix can play either a lead or supporting role. 

Finally, we're working on a new project for the store, a little hoodie pattern called Arshile knit with Berroco Remix.  We've decreased our needle size, but it doesn't have anything to do with the pattern, Liane's tension on straight metal needles (they are her very favourite) is a bit looser than the suggested tension.  So far so good, I think it'll make a really cute year-round kid sweater.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Prism in Progress

This one is a store project. It is a Prism Wrap (it's really a shawl, free pattern on Ravelry) made with worsted weight yarns: Noro Taiyo and Berroco Remix as a contrast colour. When i chose the colours I was sure the teal blue would make a great contrast with this interesting shade of Noro, but now I don't know. I think the cream or even the oatmeal colour might have worked better. Otherwise, it is working up really nice, and I think 2 skeins of each yarn will make it a really nice sized shawl. 

Everyone poo-poos this colourway of the Noro, but I think it has potential, I just have to figure out how to bring it out. Perhaps the purple needs to be omitted? 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Ombre for Spring

Just a quick update! I've been busy, and most of the stuff I've been working on has been in bits and bobs, but here's one you might be interested in. It's an Ombre Cowl (free pattern on ravelry), made with 3 different shades of Debbie Bliss Angel kid mohair. But you see more than 3 colours in the picture above?  That is correct, the cowl is knit holding 2 strands of yarn together at the same time, and the fluffiness of the mohair blends the strands masterfully. 


Stripe 1: dark grey & dark gery
Stripe 2: dark grey & light grey
Stripe 3: light grey & light grey
Stripe 4: light grey & blue
Stripe 5: blue & blue


The cowl is light and airy and I think it will be lurvly on chilly, rainy spring days. I think I can finish it tonight, just in time for the thunder storm tomorrow morning! 


By the way,  Debbie Bliss Angel is currently on Sale 20% Off at Knit-O-Matic!

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Birthday Socks

Finally! I have a few minutes to share something finished. Actually, it's more like "Finally! I finished something!".

On display for your pleasure are my Boyfriend Socks. They are/were a birthday gift for my boyfriend. i made them with 2 skeins of leftover Regia 6-ply Design Line Kaffe Fassett and half a skein of the same yarn in a solid. The 6-ply is a bit thicker than a normal sock yarn, I knit it on 3mm needles, and the socks weren't really as big a commitment as they look. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Lil' Devil Helmet

My hats for Lucy are finally back on track!  After all the knitting drama with the Pussy Cat hats, I took a break and made little L something to match her red jacket. It started as a Lil' Devil Baby Hat, but I made modifications. I added some length at the back, and turned the ties into a strap (the straps are super cute, but they are a choking hazard) which attached with a snap (a great big one that little hands can't open). 

I made my mods on the fly, and while I wrote them down they got complicated and I don't think they are worth reproducing in their present state. I'll have to knit it up again in an easier way and write that up to share. 

 I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, and it was perfect for the project and felt great!  

Oh, BTW, the reason kiddo is modelling in her jammies is because she had just dropped a great big smelly log and it smelled soooooo bad that we (aka. my sister-in-law) had to change her out of her clothes before her afternoon nap. Seriously, it was nasty, seriously nasty. That kid should not eat chickpeas.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!