Seven Deadly Sins of Knitting

Jennifer is having a contest for her 777 posts. We have to list our 7 deadly knitting sins. Here are mine:

Pride: My first sweater was To Dye For, from the Stitch and Bitch. I was knitting it and everything was going well. I was so proud of myself. My first sweater! It's easy! I'm not making any mistakes! And then I got to the sleeves, realized I would run out of yarn, went to the LYS... they didn't have any more in stock and I never was able to find some online. I finished the sleeves in another colour just because I wanted the damn thing finished. But I wasn't so proud anymore.

Envy: Oh I frequently suffer from sweater envy. Because so far, I haven't made one sweater that I've liked. So all of you who are making beautiful, well-fitted, perfectly seamed sweaters: I envy you!

Gluttony: I think my sock yarn stash is starting to show how much of a glutton I am...

Lust: I discovered yarn lust the first time I went to Effiloche and saw the cashmere. And I have indulged, oh yes I have.

Anger: The blue cardigan of doom. Have I mentionned that it's been frogged?

Greed: Jennifer, I can't help but give the same answer you did. I'm extremely greedy with patterns, and knitting magazines. I know I won't make 90% of the patterns I have, but I need them and I'm keeping them! They're mine. My precioussss.

Sloth: The Kiri shawl. I started it in May 2005! And I still think I'm going to finish it someday...

I'm quite the sinner, aren't I? ;)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it. Easter, for me, usually means that Spring is coming. But I was just outside a few minutes ago and it does NOT feel like Spring! The Sun is shining and all, but it's so cold!

Speaking of cold, I am sick again! Can you believe this? I was sick the first week of March. Then I was fine for a week but my boyfriend was sick. And he's still not feeling better and I caught another cold! I will be spending the day on the couch, knitting.

Anyways. Because it's Easter, here are some links to super cute Easter-themed patterns. I realize that I probably should have shared this a month ago, so you'd have time to knit them for Easter, but there's always next year...

Easter peeps

Easter eggs

Easter egg dishcloth (not free, but it's super cute)

Easter egg basket

Kate Gilbert's bunnies (not free)

Bunny booties

Stuffed bunny

Little birdie

I finally picked my needles back up yesterday while watching the hockey game (we won!). I made good progress on the Bird in Hand mittens. I tried to take good pics, but I found out it's pretty difficult to photograph your own hand well. So I only have crappy pics, but it gives you an idea. I swear it looks better in real life.





Hopefully, I'll get to knit some more tonight, if my arms aren't too sore. I just got home from the gym and I had a GREAT workout! I made sure I stretched really well cause I don't want to get sore like I was last week. We'll see. Oh and by the way, are any of you readers on SparkPeople? I've been semi-active on the site lately so if you want to add me as a friend, I'm Amarillys on there.

Is it spring yet?

Skeins her way is having a Spring knitting goals contest, and while I don't think any Montrealer can truly believe that spring will be back soon (or ever it seems), it's nice to think about the warmer days.

That and I like to make lists.

So here are my knitting goals.

1. Get back into knitting already! I don't know what's wrong with me, I haven't knit since LAST SUNDAY! Not a single stitch! Surely that's not normal. My guess is that the new job is taking all my energy. But I need to get my knitting mojo back.

Ok, now the real knitting goals, things I want to do before summer:

1. Finish the Bird in Hand mittens. Right now, I'm almost at the decreases on the top of the first mitten. I love the yarn and I love knitting it so it should go well. I probably won't get to wear it until next winter though, unless we get snow here until the end of April and we don't want that.

2. Make Cable Net sock #2. I haven't finished a new pair of socks for myself in a LONG time.

3. Finish the cardigan for Merry. I only have a few rows done on the back.

4. Make a pair of plain vanilla socks. Just because I haven't made one in forever.

5. Start the Gilmore vest

That's it! What are your knitting goals?

A day in the North Pole

I don't have many news on the knitting front, so I figured I'd post a few pics from yesterday's snow storm (Tara, see what you're missing while you're having fun in Japan?)









And this is me, a few seconds before I lost my will to live:

Little birdie

I am definitely out of my knitting funk, thank God! I've actually been knitting quite a bit this past week. I'm starting the new job on Monday and I'll have lots of hours (I'm already scheduled full time next week) so I took advantage of the free time I had this week.

I finished the first Cable Net sock! I'm very happy with how it turned out. I would post a picture but I can't get the details to show well so it just looks like a plain old green sock. I'll try another day when the light is better.

I loved knitting the sock but it was a lot of work. So I'm taking a Cable Net break before I start sock #2. I casted on for Kate Gilbert's Bird in Hand mittens. I absolutely LOVE this pattern. It's a pretty quick knit so far and it's just a lot of fun, though I really hated doing the braid. Here's where I am:



I can't wait till I finish them. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to wear them this year. March may be starting tomorrow, spring is not here yet! They are going to be super comfy and I love the yarn I'm using (Frog Tree Alpaca). So soft!

Knitting these mittens made me want to knit a million more. And Aemmeleia just relased her Icewine Mittens as a free download. Coincidence? I don't think so. I love them and I want to make them too!

I've also been slowly working on my Woven Cables scarf. It's going slowly but I still love it. It's a very easy knit, perfect for TV watching.

Go Habs Go!

I was lucky enough to be at the Bell Center last night for the Habs' victory against the Rangers. It was the most amazing game I had ever seen, though it did NOT start well. We were actually losing 0-5 by the middle of the second period! After the second period, it was 2-5, which made me feel better, but I did consider leaving early. I'm so glad I didn't! The Habs scored three goals in the third period and Saku Koivu (aka Robyn's boyfriend) scored the winning goal in the shootout. The crowd went wild! I'm so glad I was actually there to see the win!!!

But this is a knitting blog and not a hockey blog, so here are some knitting news for the Montrealers out there. Mouliné is having a big spring sale! Some of the yarn is 60% off! I have to resist though. My yarn closet is starting to get full, I just got new yarn and I still have some gift certificates to Effiloché.

I forgot to mention in my last post that I got the Spring Interweave Knits. There are mixed reviews online, but personally, I think it's a great issue. I think the Auburn Camp Shirt, the Flutter sleeve cardigan, the Mirabella cardigan and the Printed Silk Cardigan are absolutely cute. The socks are in my queue. And I also like the Fountain Hat though I'm not sure it would look good on me. What do you guys think about it?

Yummy yarn

Last weekend, Ariadne had its Valentine Day Massacre Open House Party. Unfortunately, I was working on Saturday night so I couldn't go to the big party, but I did stop by yesterday and had a lot of fun.

I got to see again the beautiful Bird in hand mitten made by Molly Ann.



I decided I wanted to make a pair exactly like that (they are so soft, warm and comfy!). I bought the yarn and this morning I got the pattern as a "I got a new job, yay" gift.

Ariadne had a little yarn tasting in the afternoon. I got to bring home a few samples and I'll knit little swatches to see how they knit up. I'm especially interested in how the tweedy yarn softens up when knit and washed because I find the sample a little bit rough. Oh, do you want pictures?







I spent the afternoon knitting on one of the store's couches. I took the Woven Cables scarf out of hibernation and I actually enjoyed working on it. I don't know why I hadn't touched it in weeks. Muswell enjoyed knitting it too:



Thanks to everyone who congratulated me on the new job. There is one very bad thing about it though: I will probably be working every Wednesday and Thursday nights, which means no more Knit nights. I'll probably try to go to the Sunday afternoon meetups. That being said, if any of you are free to knit during the day and want to meet up somewhere, drop me an email: amarillys at hotmail.

I actually have to give my two weeks notice and I'm a little bit nervous. I feel bad for quiting after only three months, but I'm not leaving because I'm unhappy, I'm leaving because I got an offer that was too good to refuse. I hope my boss will understand.

In other news, the Habs are playing against the Rangers tomorrow night and I will be there! Robyn, maybe I'll see you! :)

The things you do...

A few days ago, I received an email from Veronik titled "Too much yarn". I was sure it was a joke email... how can someone have too much yarn?

Well some people do! Veronik wanted to get rid of some yarn and she asked if I could help her. Of course I said yes, cause I'm nice like that. It was a difficult task, but I managed to help her with this burden. :P

I stopped by her house yesterday afternoon and I had a lovely time picking yarn with Angela. I came home with this:



Yay! Free yarn! My favourite thing is this:



It's 100% wool and it's such a pretty colour. I have enough for a vest and Angela suggested the Gilmore vest. I really like it so I think we have a winner. Here's a closeup of the yarn again, just because I like it so much:



I also got a bag of cotton-linen, that I think is really pretty:



I have nine balls of it, if I remember correctly, but I'm not sure what the yardage is. I'd like to make me a summer top, but I'll have to try to figure out how much there is in one ball first. Or maybe I could make a cute baby outfit. We'll see.

I also have a huge cone of navy wool. I need to find a project for that too. The rest are just pretty balls of yarn that I just had to take home with me. Thank you so much Veronik, you're a very generous person! :)

***

In other (off-topic) news: it looks like I'm going to switch jobs again. I wasn't looking for a new job, but I got an offer that was just too good to refuse! It's going to be great to have more money (I'm still not rich, but I definitely won't have to count every penny anymore).

***

To get back on-topic : I haven't been posting my WIPs lately mostly because I've gotten bored with them. My woven scarf has been put aside, probably until next Fall. I still like it, I just don't feel like knitting a scarf right now.

I'm frustrated with my socks. I've turned the heel and I'm not sure I get the next part. I was probably just tired when I read the instruction and I'll get back to it soon.

I started the Cardigan for Merry but I only have a few rows done. I'll probably post a pic soon.

Destiny

Every year, I lose a hat. This year, so far, I've been lucky. But I have lost my mittens. My cute and warm pink angora mittens. *cries* I'm not 100% convinced they're totally lost, I think they could still be in the house, but I can't find them.

But just when I thought that I should cast on for a new pair, Knitting Daily releases the White Witch Mitts pattern.



I am totally, 100%, in love and I want a pair NOW.

Honey, I'm hooome!

Ok so I haven't updated in a while. Bad blogger.

The past few weeks have been odd in that I had no desire to knit. I did knit a little, but most of the time I just didn't feel like it. I still loved to look at patterns online and to read knitting blogs though. But that's why I didn't write in what, over a week now? Almost two maybe. Ouch.

I think I'm getting my knitting mojo back though. I went to Knit Night last night and I had a good time. We switched locations and went to a place called Java-U and it was great. So much better than the Second Cup we usually go to! The power went off for about 10 minutes at some point and we got to knit by candlelight which was nice.

I've been working mostly on theCable Net socks these days:



I'm telling you, they are the most complicated socks I've ever worked on. It's not that it's difficult, it just took me a long time to remember what every symbol in the chart means. Now that I do, it's going a bit quicker. Still, I don't think I'll finish them any time soon!

Tara and Needs-a-blog-Kate decided to do a Cardigan for Merry knit-along and I decided to virtually join them just because it's so damn cute! I looked through my stash and found some Bernat Softee Baby that I didn't know what to do with so I think I'll use it for this project. I'm not super crazy about acrylic but I don't mind using it once in a while. The colour is a super bright blue. I think it's even brighter than the one I used for the Cardigan of doom (I'll update you on that project in another post).

I'll end this post with a link to the spring preview of Interweave Knits. Looks like it's going to be a good issue!

The sock that was

The Cable Net sock? I realized that it was going to be a bit too big. And if I'm going to spend so much time on socks, I want them to fit like gloves. Gloves for my feet. So I frogged it and I'm going to make the small size. I'm starting to really enjoy the pattern anyways so I don't mind starting over.

Tara asked if I'm cabling without a cable needle and the answer is yes. Actually, the way this sock is written, you don't need a cable needle. (Check it out, you'll understand what I mean).

I received my Knitpicks catalog yesterday and while browsing the book section, I found this:



Details here, but the title is quite self-explanatory. Let's just say it's an interesting idea for a knitting book... :)

Weekly WIP report!

Not much to report this week, unfortunately. I feel like I've been knitting a lot since I'm all alone most days of the week, but there hasn't been much progress on anything. My Woven cable scarf is coming along nicely but there's not enough difference between the last pic and today to warrant taking a new pic. I'm almost done with the first ball of yarn and I think I'll use 3.

I've casted on and started working on the Cable Net socks. I've been working and working and working on them and here's what I have to show for it:



I'm telling you, this is NOT mindless knitting! It takes me 30 min. to finish one row!!! I hope I can stick to it, because if I do, I will have made myself some beautiful socks.

I really want to start some baby knitting. Now that the countdown to baby making has officially begun (not to mention that everyone around me seems to be pregnant), I really want to make tiny little things. I'll need to check into the "stash" to see what I have. I know I have enough for hat and booties sets, but I'd really rather make blankets and tiny sweaters. Maybe I'll have to use those gift certificates...

Mittens for my little hands!

The pink fuzzy angora mittens are finished! I now present you my first FO of 2008!



Pattern: No pattern
Yarn: Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit (a gift from my SP10)
Needles: 3.5 mm / US 4
Verdict: They are soft and warm. I love them! But I can never make a perfect thumb :(

As soon as I finished them, I wanted to start a new project. Socks. I haven't knit socks since November! It took all my willpower not to use my new Lotus Yarn, but I really want to make the 3 patterns I had planned (Cable Net, Anastasia and Annetrelac) first. So I used my super ball winder and wound a skein of Reynolds soft sea wool.



And I cast on for Cable Net. I think they're going to be beautiful socks.

*****

Ali at Skeins Her Way is having a contest! She wants us to post about a UFO that we resolve to turn into a FO by January 31st. Of course, when I saw that, I immediately thought about...



THE BLUE CARDIGAN OF DOOM!!!!

I actually finished knitting this cardigan in December... of 2006!!! It's been sitting in a plastic bin in my closet waiting to be seamed. Poor thing. I can't even explain why I have never taken the time to finish it.

So here I promise in front of all of you reader(s) that I will have this cardigan seamed by January 31st. Will it still fit me? Now that's another question...

Santa's little helper

Remember, in December, I wrote a letter to Santa asking, among other things, for some Lotus Yarn sock yarn?

Well it looks like Santa heard me! Look what I got in the mail today:



Sorry the picture doesn't do this beautiful yarn justice. It's Nirvana Superwash Merino in Hydroponic. If the yarn looks familiar, it may be because the Yarn Harlot herself posted pics of the socks she made with it. I totally fell in love with the colour, but because of the new very tight budget, I couldn't buy it. Thank you so much Melanie, you are fantastic!

I think I'm going to use the yarn with a simple sock pattern like this one (PDF file)... What do you guys think?

In other news, I have a little WIP report for you. Unfortunately, I have not yet finished my pink mittens:



The picture shows mitten #2. It's almost done, really. I should finish it in the next day or two, depending on if I'm working tomorrow or not (my boss is a bit late with the schedule this week).

The reason why the mitten isn't finished? I've been working on this:



The Woven Cable scarf (I'm too lazy to link the pattern, scroll down a post or two and you'll find it). I'm using the same yarn I was using with the now-frogged Woven Trellis scarf and let me tell you, I like this new pattern so much more! It's very easy to memorize but it's not boring like the Woven Trellis was. I have no idea if I'll finish it before spring, but I'll try!

I gotta go now but I'll be back later this week to answer some questions that were asked in comments. So if you have any question for me, comment!

Quickie!

Oooh this is my first post of 2008! Again, happy new year to everyone!

This is going to be a quick post because I have tons of stuff to do today. My mom and her boyfriend AND my boyfriend's parents are coming over for dinner. They've never met before. How exciting! But I have a lot of cleaning and cooking to do. I'm making beef in a beer sauce, with rice and steamed carrots. I'll also have bread from the bakery. Yum. And a salad. And for dessert, I'm going to make an apple crisp and a chocolate cake. I promise the diet will resume tomorrow!

Yesterday, I met a friend for brunch and gave him his belated birthday gift, the Fake Isle hat. I am SO going to knit for him again! He loved the hat and couldn't believe I made it for him and he wore it when we got out of the restaurant and he kept looking at it everytime we passed a window. It was great!

Also, I'm a little bit bored with my current projects. I need something new. I'm really liking a cardigan in the new Knit Simple magazine. You can see it here. (It's the first one, in the Over easy section). How cute.

That's all for today! I'll be back in a day or two with WIP pics... maybe even the first FO of 2008!

Bye bye 2007!

Wait, where did 2007 go? Seriously, could this year have gone any faster? I can't believe it's the last day!!! Now let's hope that 2008 goes by as quickly. Why? Because I have a very personal reason to want to be in 2009 now! My boyfriend and I talked and we will probably try to start our own little family in 2009. In one year! I can't wait. And I think I just shared too much, I hope I don't jinx it!

2007 in a flash:

-I finished 16 projects. My favourites : Coachella, Shedir, the endpaper mitts and the Fake isle hat.
-I made 8 pairs of socks. My favourites: Monkeys and Roza's socks
-I tried Fair isle (and I love it!)

And on a more personal level:

-I moved in with my boyfriend
-I quit my full time well paid job (that I hated) for a part-time job (that I love)

I was just looking at my last post of 2006 and I looked at my knitting resolutions. I wanted to try colour work and I did it. I wanted to learn to seam well and... well I didn't really. And I wanted to finish Kiri's shawl and the blue cardigan and they're still in a box somewhere. Oh well. Oh and I also wanted to knit a pair of socks a month. I knit 8. Not too bad.

In 2008 I want to:

-Learn to seam well
-Try entrelac

That's pretty much it. I already have knitting plans for the beginning of 2008. Right now, I still have the pink mittens on the needles. They would have been done had I not cast on for the Woven Cables scarf. I also want to knit socks: Cable Net, Annetrelac (from IK Holidays 2007) and Anastasia. And then there's the Streakers shrug that I've been meaning to make a while ago.

That should keep me busy, and out of yarn stores, for a while. Speaking of yarn stores, guess what my mom got me as a Christmas gift? Yes, another gift certificate to Effiloché! I'm going to buy the whole store!

Happy New Year everyone!

'twas the night before Christmas...

Aaaaah. Christmas eve! The decorations are up, there's a sugar pie in the oven, presents are under the (mini) tree... and I'm going to work in an hour! *cries*

I'll be all right. There are a lot of people who have to work tonight. Doctors. Taxi drivers. And me.

I've been in a knitting funk this week. I started the LaLa mittens and the pattern just wasn't right for the yarn. That and I didn't like the fabric I had with 4mm needles. So I frogged and cast on again with smaller needles. I didn't really use a pattern (though I did cast on the same amount of stitches than the Lala pattern required), I just knit by ear. And I really like the end result. A mitten!



Ok so there are still ends to weave in. And a thumb would be nice too. But I'm almost done.

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it!

It starts with a W, ends with a W and there's an O in the middle...

I got my last package from my Secret Pal!!!



I am SO SO SO SO lucky! Seriously, did you see that bag? I can't believe she took the time to make it for me, it's absolutely gorgeous! (It's even more beautiful in person too!). I love it.

Then there's Lorna's Lace. You can never go wrong with that yarn. It's beautiful. And on top of that, I got Raspberry-Chocolate flavoured coffee. My favourite flavour!!!!

Thank you Brooke, you've been a fantastic Secret Pal. I can't believe how spoiled I have been!

Not really a Fake Isle Hat...

Pattern: Fake Isle Hat, from Magknits
Yarn: Warani (Susan Andrew Collection). 50% Suri Alpaca, 50% extra fine merino wool. I bought it at Ariadne** and I was told the green was being discontinued so hurry if you want some!
Needles: 4mm (US6) 16" circular (I used my Denises) and DPNs in the same size.
Modifications: I used solid yarn instead of the Noro. And I chose not to do chart B at all because I didn't want too much white. I think it looks great. I am so pleased with that hat! And I had bought two balls of the green but I only needed one and I have more than half of the white left over so I will be able to make another one!

So I am now DONE with all my gift knitting! Yay! This year, I'm giving:

-A scarf to my boyfriend (already given)
-Socks to my mom
-A scarf to my mom
-Socks to my sister
-Socks to my stepdad
-A hat to my friend (technically for his birthday, not Christmas)

And since it's all done, I am now free to knit for myself! And I'm starting with a pair of angora mittens:



The pattern is Lala's Mittens (pdf here). I'm not sure how the cable will look in the fuzzy yarn, but we'll see.

**Those of you who had trouble finding the address for Ariadne's store, it's in the blog section of the website. They are probably too busy with the store to update the site and add the address on the main page. The store is at: 3837 Rue St. Jacques Ouest, Montreal. It's close to the Place-St-Henri metro station.