Potpourri

Chris is away all weekend for work, which means I have tons of time to knit. This morning, I started this:


(Potpourri mittens, from Vogue Knitting, Fall 2008. Yarn is Knitpicks Palette in Masala, Cream and Sky.)

I took that picture this afternoon. I have about twice as much done now. It's funny how quickly this is going considering how long it took me to knit a Christmas stocking with bulky yarn.

I'm loving the mittens, though I believe I should have chosen a lighter orange. Oh well. That's what happens when you order online. I will need to get a colour card next time I order from Knitpicks, because I plan on knitting more mittens this winter. Especially since I bought this last month (I think I forgot to mention it before):



It's a lovely, lovely book and I want to knit thousands of mittens now.

I also have a FO to share:


Pattern: Flora, by Margaux Pena
Yarn: Susan Andrew Collection Warani (green + cream)
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Modifications: I almost ran out of yarn at the end (I was using leftovers from my Fake Fake Isle hat.) So I skipped a couple of plain knit rows between the crown decrease rows.

The hat will go to my aunt, who is almost done with her treatments for breast cancer. I made her a Parrotfish hat a few months ago, but I wanted to give her something warmer for winter.

BTW, Robyn is going to be knitting all night long to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. I think it's a wonferful thing and I wanted to publicly thank her. I can't wait to read about it on your blog Robyn!

Christmassy FO

I've been a bad little blogger, I know.

I haven't been able to think of anything good to write about lately. I'm assuming it will all change since I have a few FOs coming, as well as some stash enhancement and a soon-to-happen meeting with a long time blogger-friend. So good things are happening. Expect posts and pics. Hopefully.

I do have one FO to share right now.


Pattern: Falling Snow Stocking, by Jennifer Hoel
Yarn: Lamb’s pride bulky in Blue Blood Red and White Frost
Needles: US 10 Circs + DPNs
Modifications: The tip of the toe is supposed to be white, but I ran out of yarn so it's all red.

I love the stocking and I'm supposed to give it to my mom, but I sort of want to keep it for myself. ;) I guess I'll have to make another one.

Snowflakes, photos and cough

I am sick :( I have a bad cold, and of course I got it just as I was about to enjoy a nice 4-day weekend. Sucks! I don't know yet if I'll be able to go to work tomorrow. Hopefully I will, but I hate being sick at work and I never know if it's better that I go and work or stay home to make sure I don't get everyone else sick.

I've been knitting a little, mostly on the Falling Snow stocking.



It's going slower than I expected, but I'm still hoping to finish it by the end of the month (that's what I call being optimistic).

Also, this is the time of year that I get jealous of everyone who gets to go to Rhinebeck. But this year, I'm not too jealous, because I wouldn't have any money for yarn even if I could go. That's because I got myself an early birthday/Christmas gift.



My first real (as in, not a point-and-shoot) camera! It's definitely nothing fancy (Canon EOS Rebel XS) and all the other models in the store were much fancier and pricier, but since I don't know a thing about photography, I'm happy with it. Now I just need to learn how to use it. It's too bad I'm currently so sick I can't even think about getting out to take pictures.

Habs socks

I still haven't decided what I'm going to make for the October Sockdown on Ravelry. I'm leaning towards a Christmas stocking, though I would need to buy some bulky yarn for that. We'll see.

In the meantime, I cast on for a new pair of socks last night, during the Habs game:



If I had started them last season, I would have called them my "Sock-u Koivu" socks, but since he's no longer in Montreal, I'm naming them "Jaroslav Spasock". My plan is to knit them during Habs game (that's a challenge because I love the yarn so much I want to keep knitting them today!). They're going to be a Christmas gift for my mom's boyfriend (who is like a father to me).

Speaking of Habs, yay for the win against Toronto last night! But I'm so sad about Markov. Apprently, he'll be gone a long time. That can't be good.

Mystery solved!

I finished the September 09 Mystery Sock:





Pattern: Fox Faces socks aka September 09 Mystery Sock, by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts, fingering weight (I LOVE THAT YARN)
Needles: 2.25 mm DPNs
Notes: Knit two at a time on two sets of DPNs. I made the leg a bit shorter (5 pattern repeats instead of 7).

I'm very happy with the socks and knitting a mystery pattern definitely was a challenge. I was scared I wouldn't like the result, but fortunately, I do. But I knew that with Nancy Bush, I would probably like it.

I cast on for a new project, that I wasn't able to photograph properly. I did my best:



Pattern is Flora and I'm using leftovers from my Fake Isle Hat. I'm making it for my aunt who is currently battling breast cancer. I already made her a hat Parrotfish during the summer, but I want to knit her something warmer.

I'm also trying to decide on my new sock project for Sockdown October. In October, we can knit:

a) Holiday stockings
b) Man socks (it has to be designed specifically for a man)
c) Socks for a Cause (proceeds from the sale of the pattern has to go to a cause)
d) Any sock designed by the designer of the month, Jeannie Cartmel

My problem is that I don't think I'll have time to knit more than one pair and I have too many options.

I want to make the Falling Snow Stocking. I like the Paul Atwell socks (man socks). I also like Having Hope (proceeds donated to cancer research). And I like a couple of Jeannie Cartmel patterns such as Starflower, Magic Mirror and Summer Sliding.

I don't know which one to choose. Yesterday, Having Hope was winning. Today, it's the holiday stocking. I have no idea. I also want to start a pair of Go Habs Go socks to knit during the Habs games (that won't be part of the Sockdown challenge). Stay tuned!

Habsolutely fantastic

Can you smell it? The beginning of hockey season is right around the corner. Tonight is the last preseason game and in a few days, October 1st, my beloved Habs will play their first real game of the season. I can't wait!

I had tickets for Thursday's game against Boston. Unfortunately, my new favourite player wasn't playing.


Brian Gionta ♥♥♥♥♥

I still enjoyed the game, even though we lost. I took a few pics but the stupid net ruined them all.


Plekanec ♥♥♥♥♥


My favourite goalie Jaroslav Halak ♥♥♥♥♥






I was seated close to Joël, Jacques and Alain from RDS.



I ♥ Youppi


Patrice Brisebois announced he was retiring and got the Jean-Béliveau trophy.

Sorry about the lack of knitting content. Expect a sock-related post soon.

Two at a time

I finished a pair of socks last night, like I had planned.



Pattern: None
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Multi, in Tucson
Needles: Two at a time on two 2.25 mm circulars

This is my second pair knit two at a time on two circs, and it's definitely not my favourite method. I like that when I'm done, I'm done (don't need to knit a second sock), but I still prefer my DPNs.