Knitting In The North

FO: Reclamation

It. Is. Finished.  And, it's the right size.  And... she likes it!  She really, really likes it!  Success all round, I'd say. 

Just in time, too, as we're off to Vancouver to pick up Stuart's "surprise" birthday present, and have a mini-holiday while we're there.  I'm taking along some really cool baby knitting, which I'll show you next week when we get back.  Or maybe I should take socks.  Or perhaps I should start Sabine...

Particulars:

Pattern - Reclamation, by Stefanie Japel

Yarn - Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Reef, 3 balls

Needles - 5.5mm Denise Interchangeables

Notes - There are really no great modifications to be made to this sweet little pattern.  It's easy, rhythmic, and looks wonderful finished.  I used almost all of the three balls I had left (you know what happened to the other ball!), and it came out a generous size.  It fits me nicely as a scarf, and drapes beautifully around Katie's slender neck.  She even wore it to school, the ultimate wardrobe test for a tween.

 

Collections and Lists

I love collecting things, and I love lists.  I'm not sure if there is a correlation, but I get the same sense of satisfaction from the two.  Something about an itemized list, or a laid out collection, soothes the need for order in my chaotic little world. 

Apparently, I'm not the only one like this - Gwenyth has started to show a great appreciation for both lists and collections; she seems to thrive in the safety of a careful list (ummm....  if we stick to it - life can get in the way around here), and has started to amass collections of things.  Sacred things.  Like these special rocks, carefully set up on the lid of Modge Podge.

This whole year (which is now almost half over - can you believe it?!) I've been part of a Ravelry group called Stash & Burn, which has been running a NaKniAnyMoDo - basically, set some goals at the beginning of the month, and then try to fulfill them.  I'm finding it terribly motivating, and when I read about Ali's Summer Knitting Goals Contest, I knew I was in. 

Here, then, are my summer knitting goals: 

• Copper Penny Socks from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn
• Sidelines Top from IK Fall 08
• Sabine, by Julie Weisenberger
• Knit some other pair of socks, possibly for one of the kids
• Finish the Palette scarf I started on my way to Hawaii, or rip it out and find a better purpose for the yarn.

Writing all these things down suddenly make my goals seem kind of big - what do you think, can I do it? 

Was, Wasn't, Will Be Again

 

 

Katie has been telling me that all the girls at school are wearing these triangular scarves draped around their neck, and it might be nice if she had one, too.  A scarf?!  For Katie?!  But of course!  Naturally, I turned to my stash, and the wonders of Ravelry, rather than the mall.

I dug up some Shine that I had sitting around, and whipped up Reclamation by Stephanie Japel.  Er - I thought I'd whipped it up, but it turned out she had dreamed of a larger version.  No big, I thought, I'll just undo the cast off, and add on.  Super easy. 

Then the soft yarn snagged on a zipper pull, and I changed the plan to unravelling a bunch, but not all of the scarf, and adding on.  Still pretty easy.

Today?  Today the much smaller triangle is nowhere to be seen.  Liam was carrying it around for a while, and it was last seen with Brian (on his head, the story goes), but does anyone know where it is now?  No.  No idea.  Fruitless searching.  Frustrated mom, ranting about messy houses where no one picks up after themselves.  

Now?  More peaceful mom, with a new ball of yarn, and a new beginning.  It was, then it wasn't, but it will be again.  

Lazy Days

The weather has been incredible here the last few weeks - I don't remember a time before now when we've had such a stretch of sunshine and warmth.  Gwenyth has taken to delightedly telling everyone she meets, "It's summer now!"; I agree, and feel with every bit of me that we need to gather up each of these days and hold them in our hearts. 

Naturally, Princess Gwenyth of the Universe needed a new skirt, and I chose to follow this wonderfully simple pattern from Oliver + S.  I mistakenly cut the fabric far too long, but Gwen seems to enjoy it anyway, evidenced by the difficulty I had taking a picture of her wearing it.  (She's far too busy dancing the hula, or waving a magic wand, or performing her latest song, you know.)

Both the fabric and elastic were thrift store finds, and I was pleased at how quickly this came together.  The Princess approves, and I'm sure we'll see a few more of these in days to come. 

 

Fibre Finding

Of course, on any trip, it's important to find a LYS.  Why would going to Maui be any different?  I did a bit of research before we went, and found two small shops, both in Lahaina (a main town on Maui). 

The first was called Yarn & Needlecraft, and it was a nice, small shop.  It happened to be right next door to a dive shop, so Stuart happily went next door to talk scuba while I looked around.  There was some luscious silk that was difficult to walk away from, but ultimately I decided that pretty much everything there I could find from home, and moved on.

 

The second, The Needlework Shop, was a mult-crafting shop.  They carry yarn, cloth, thread, needlepoint kits, ready-made items, and also offer classes in many different areas.  I purchased there one skein of sock yarn, hand-dyed on Maui.    It is called Maui Sunset, and if you'd like your own little taste of Maui, the dyer has an etsy shop for you to explore.

 

I also indulged in a half dozen batik fat quarters.  Although I'm still so new to sewing, I couldn't resist all the colours and patterns, so full of possibilities.  I also picked up a pincushion kit, which I hope to make up soon, to keep in my studio and remind me of Maui.

While in Vancouver, I found a few treasures, although some are for gifts, so are top secret.  At Christmas, Stuart gave me a gift certificate to Birkeland Brothers, with the thought of taking me yarn shopping while we were there, and I purchased 6 skeins of NaturLin, in a navy blue (which sadly does not photograph well).  At Three Bags Full, I picked up a couple of skeins of Shetland wool, found in their sale (!!) basket - I've never used Shetland before, so I'm looking forward to giving it a try this winter.

I feel I was pretty restrained, at least for me, in my purchases this time around.  I have been talking for ages about knitting from my stash, but it is only recently that I've found my perspective changing.  Rather than dragging my heels and making myself use what's here, I'm quietly enjoying my stash, planning and admiring the treasures I already have!  It's amazing how much things can change, depending on how you look at them, eh? 

A New Thing Every Day

I've been putting off telling you all about our trip, only because we took so very many pictures (750+!!) that I am overwhelmed when I go through them, trying to decide which to share with you.  I mentioned the other day that I did something new, that I had never done before, every single day.  This is important to me, and when I think back on the trip, these are the things, the activities, that stand out the most.  Here's a little list:

• On our way to Hawaii, we had a full day in Vancouver.  I have always wanted to visit the Granville Island Public Market, and had never had the chance before.  It was happy coincidence, but I was so glad that we had the layover in the city, so we could spend the day there.  We rented a car and drove over, and spent the morning walking around looking and smelling and touching amazing things.  After a wonderful lunch, we left Granville Island and checked out a couple of yarn shops before heading back to the airport.  I found a few special treasures, which I will show you in a later post.

 

   

• We visted a lavendar farm - walked the garden paths, picked and squished and smelled more varieties of lavendar than I can remember, admired the lavendar fields, purchased goodies in the shop.

 

  

• Attending a traditional luau is something that was a must in Hawaii, and the one we went to was amazing!  Delicious food, incredible service, and an incredible show.

 

• Parasailing is something that I've always wanted to try!  A few years ago, we were in the Okanagan Valley, and there was a boat offering parasailing on the lake.  It just happened to be my birthday, & I told Stuart that was what I wanted for my birthday present.  He got me all signed up, but just when it was my turn, the wind came up, and the outfit packed it in for the day.  I was so disappointed!  Parasailing over Maui more than made up for it, though! 

 

  

• After a very relaxing couple's massage, Stuart & I took a sunset sail.  It was beautiful weather, and we saw dolphins playing in the water alongside the boat!  So very lovely!

• The Haleakala crater is at the summit of the volcano on Maui.  We walked right to the top, which is 10,000ft above sea level.  It's like another world there above the clouds, so awesome to see.

• As well as seeing amazing things, we also ate many amazing things!  I had my first real sushi dinner, complete with very nice saki.  Apparently, saki makes me happy - who knew?

 

• At the very south end of the island is Maui's freshest lava flow.  There is a one lane track through it, so you can see where the lava came down the mountain, and poured right into the sea.  What I loved most, though, was to see the greenery growing around and through the massive flow.  The contrast was beautiful.

There you go - a week of new experiences through my eyes!

FO: Ishbel

Finally, finally, I can show you the super secret gift I knit for my mother!  I was given this beautiful skein of yarn, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was meant for her.  The colourway is, rather uninspiringly - I think, called Lavendar.  Really, it's a luscious royal purple in some lights, soft lilac at certain times, and a deep delphinium blue/purple in others.  The yarn is wool/silk/synthetic, with a strand of sterling silver spun in, and it's incredible.  At night, the silver glistens, and the yarn glows.

Particulars:

Pattern - Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague

Yarn -  Woolbearers Kraemer Sterling Sock Yarn, Lavendar, 1 skein

Needles - 4.5mm

Notes - I knit the smaller size, and had more than enough yarn at the end of it.  The pattern was very easy to follow, and I have at least one or two more of these in the planning stages.  I would also love to knit a larger version one day, if I can overcome my fear of laceweight yarn.  Personally, I quite enjoy these smaller shawls - they are just right for wearing around the neck as a scarf, but work magnificently as a shawl when needed. 

My mother seemed to really like it - there's always that tiny inner fear when you knit something, especially something that you are particularly proud of, that the recipient will not see the beauty that you see.  Mum, though, has always been a Noticer of Beauty - she taught me as a child to look, to watch, to see with open eyes, and it is one gift I sincerely desire to pass on to my own children.  I hope this little shawl will be a small expression of that to her.

Birthday Boys

The day we got home from Maui was Brian's 7th birthday!  My mom had made a beautiful cake, and had the house in great order, so we spent the afternoon running around pulling together a Friends & Family Birthday Bash for the big guy.

He's all Hawaii'd up here, in Hawaiian shirt, shark tooth & shell necklace, and check out that shark jaw bone on the table beside him!  It was a great way to come home, even if it was very busy.

Less than two weeks later, came the day I've been quietly dreading - Liam turned 1!  I would think about his birthday, and then push it away to the back of my mind.  Most of the time, I'm thrilled to celebrate the kids' big days, and I'm not usually the kind of mom who is sad to take my child to kindergarten, or whatever.  Liam is different though.  Knowing that he is my last babe, everything is bittersweet.  Top it off with a not-very-wonderful first year, and I'm hanging on to his babyhood with my fingernails!

We decided to have a family night on his birthday, and the kids were sure that Liam would like to eat pizza and cupcakes for his special meal.

They hit the nail on the head!  Liam tucked right in to his meal, although when the cupcake came, he wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

Clever boy that he is, he figured it out!

Happy Birthday, to both of my guys!