Black slouches!

People began requesting black hats almost as soon as I opened my etsy shop. The problem was that I couldn't get black yarn from either of my sources. I guess that's what I get for using a discontinued yarn to knit my hats.

That's where Ravelry comes in. I searched people's stashes and found someone on Ravelry who had 10 skeins of black yarn she was willing to part with, so I snapped it up. Two hats were already spoken for before I started knitting, and soon two more were sold!

 

Now there's only one black Abbotts Harbour slouch left, so if you're in the market for a handknit black hat, get it while you can!

So, I've been busy . . .

A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned that a store in Indianapolis was looking to sell some handknit wash cloths. She encouraged me to contact Homespun to see if they were interested in stocking my wash cloths. I sent off an application and only two days later, I got an answer. Not only did they want my wash cloths, they also wanted my hats and wristwarmers! I had enough wash cloths to send off, but I needed to knit many, many more hats and mitts to fill their order. I started knitting, and knitting, and knitting some more! Finally, today I'm sending off a big box full of these beauties to Indiana!

I'm so excited to have my handknits in a real store. This is so huge for me.

In the meantime, there's a new grey ombré Abbotts Harbour slouch in the shop! It was a little experiment and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'm kind of in love with this one. <3

More hats!

I'm trying to knit a hat a day to keep up with demand, and I have a potentially exciting opportunity coming up that I hope to be able to share soon. In the meantime there are some more hats in the shop, including an Abbotts Harbour slouch in rust, a Minique's slouch in grey and this Minique's slouch in mist.

I just got another shipment of yarn. More grey and a really nice denim blue! Don't forget to like my Facebook page.

New designs!

I was going to write to tell you all that there are two new hats in the shop, but they're already sold! Thanks so much for your support. I'm beyond surprised!

The first new design is the Minique's slouch, named for the little road where I grew up, Minique's Hill.

It's another slouchy hat, but this time a little bumpy, like Minique's Hill. I'm really pleased with this one and will be knitting it up in some more colours as soon as I get that yarn shipment I've been waiting for ...

The next is the Dennis Point tuque. It would be perfect for any of the hundreds of fishermen who fish out of Dennis Point because it hugs the head nicely and the soft merino keeps you toasty! Or, perhaps a fisherman's wife could sport it while she's waiting for her husband to sail in.

My fingers are going to be busy for the next little while, knitting some more hats! I'm so glad people are liking my designs.

Grey Abbotts Harbour slouch

There's a new Abbotts Harbour slouch in the shop! I'm kind of tempted to keep this one. It's such a nice grey.

I've discounted it 25% because there's a slight variation in colour between the top half and bottom half. It's not noticeable when it's worn (as you can see from the modeled photos) but if you're looking for it, you can see it.

In the meantime, I'm working on a new hat design -- my third in the 8 in 2013 challenge!

darn it all is on Facebook!

I've given in to self-promotion and made a Facebook page for darn it all. I'm not on Facebook personally, so I feel kind of weird about this, but I must admit that it's a great way to promote my handknits. And I've already sold a hat because of Facebook, so I guess there's no denying that it works!

 

I'm busy knitting and re-knitting (and re-knitting again), trying to perfect a new hat design.

Pubnico Point wristwarmers

I have been working on my second original design and I'm proud to say that my Pubnico Point wristwarmers are now in the shop!

I'm continuing with the trend of naming my designs after places in my small village of Pubnico. These are fingerless mitts knit in a very soft and squishy superwash merino. The ribbed section on the top gives the mitts some stretch and helps them hug your hands.

On the palms, I've used a pretty textured stitch for some added interest.

These are in the mist colourway. More colours will be coming soon. They're the perfect match for your misty Abbotts Harbour slouch!

spinning yarns

I bought this beauty at Rhinebeck 2012. The colours just grabbed me.

It's Misty Mountain Farm BFL in rainforest. Gorgeous, no? I really didn't want to screw up spinning this into yarn, so I waited until I finished taking the Spinning with Dyed Fibers course on Craftsy before I decided how exactly I would maintain the pretty colours. The course was fabulous. I learned so much about the different ways one can play with colour when spinning dyed fibres. Really, I had no idea there were so many possibilities. Craftsy sometimes has amazing sales, so if you can wait until classes are half-price (or even less!), do so!

So, I decided to try my hand at fractal spinning and this is the result!

 

218 yards of perfection. Well, it may be a little lumpy, but it's perfect to me.

I couldn't wait to start knitting to see how the colours would manifest! In under 24 hours, I had this beauty in my crafty little hands.

Pattern: The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief by Orange Flower
Needles: US8/5mm
Started: January 21, 2013
Finished: January 22, 2013
raveled

The only modification I made was to add an extra two rows of the garter edge before casting off. I had some extra yarn and wanted to use up as much of it as possible.

This kerchief has not left my neck since I finished it. It's been really chilly out, so it keeps me warm, and I just love the way it looks. The colours slowly shift from aqua to a more marled mauve and then to gold. As I said: perfection!

New Abbotts Harbour slouch in the shop!

I'm working on some more Abbotts Harbour slouches in new colours, the first of which is in "mist."

It's exactly the colour of the sky and ocean today here in Abbotts Harbour. Coincidentally, it's also the colour of my nails.

matchy matchy!

The hats are in the shop now!

SOLD!

Just checking in to say that the Abbotts Harbour slouch is SOLD OUT! I sold both the rust and red hats last night and sent them off this morning. I'm so excited about my first sales!

My fingers are busy, busy, busy knitting some more Abbotts Harbour slouches in new colours! I'm working on one that's a greenish grey, the colour of the ocean on a cloudy day.

Unfortunately my new business cards and stickies from moo arrived a few hours late -- the slouches were already on their way to their new homes. But the good news is that they look fantastic!

My super talented husband designed the cards and stickies (under my direction. heh.) and I couldn't be happier with the result.

So stay tuned for more Abbotts Harbour slouches! In the meantime, there are still lots of luxurious organic cotton wash cloths in the shop!

My Kiwi 2

Did I forget to mention that I bought a spinning wheel? While I was at Rhinebeck 2012? Did I forget to mention that I made it to knitters' mecca last year?

this passes for "normal" at NY Sheep and Wool

Well, in case I happened to forget, I went to Rhinebeck and had a friggin' blast. I stayed in a mansion with 12 lovely ladies, met some Internet friends, bought stuff, took a train, and spent a few hours in the city that never sleeps. And I bought a spinning wheel, the stereotypical thing to do in Rhinebeck.

applause! applause!

I only really received the wheel at Christmas because it was a gift from my parents. It's an Ashford Kiwi 2 (unfinished) so I put three coats of Danish wood oil on it before assembling it with my handy brother. As soon as it was in one piece, I sat down, put my feet on the treadles and starting spinning. It's amazing how much easier it is to spin on a proper spinning wheel when one has been spinning on a drop spindle all summer.

Speaking of the summer, I'm an interpreter at Le Village historique acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse. I spend my days in a house that was built in 1832, cook and bake on a wood stove, knit, spin, quilt, garden and talk to tourists. It's obviously the best job ever. Someone gave the Village some wool for spinning, but we don't have a working spinning wheel on site (and I'm the only staff member who spins), so I brought it home to tinker with. Instead of breaking out my good fibre right away, I decided to start spinning with some of the freebie wool from le Village. And here is the result.

It's unknown natural/undyed wool, spun to a two ply fingering or sport weight. 480 yards and 178 grams. I'm hoping to dye it at the Village this summer with some onion skins.

I wasn't 100 per cent sure how to use the built in lazy kate on my Kiwi 2. The first time I tried, my singles got royally fouled up in the treadle yoke (it was a nightmare to unfoul. trust me.). That's when I decided to wrap the singles around my thighs and up into my hands to ply the yarn. It worked well.

I have a small (it's actually minute) stash of fibre that I cannot wait to get spinning, but apparently I can't shut myself in my office/craft room while my kid fends for himself all day. Who knew?

Warm legs

It's not been a terribly cold winter, but I still find myself layering socks and slippers, shirts and sweaters, and, in extreme cases, tights and pants to stay cozy.

Enter: the utterly practical legwarmers!

Pattern: some cloudy day by tiny owl knits
Materials: 1 skein Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight in Every day grey (bought at Rinebeck 2012!!)
Needles: US4 (3.5mm) dpns
Started: January 1, 2013
Finished: January 7, 2013

Raveled

Notes: I weighed the skein and divided it into two equal skeins. I managed to get 25 pattern repeats out of one half skein. I casted on with 4.5mm needles to ensure stretchiness at the top. I didn't follow the pattern for the bottom cuff -- instead I ended with four rows of stockinette stitch and four rows of 2x2 rib. What can I say? I like symmetry.

Verdict: My calves are delightfully toasty and I love how ugly/cute legwarmers look.

Stop the presses.

It's true. I'm back.

Hello world! Here I am!

I stopped blogging after I procreated. There was just no time to write with a new little human being in my life. The newt is now a three-year-old kid and he's so much fun, although potty training is threatening to take the fun out of motherhood, but I digress.

I'm back because I just opened an etsy shop for my handknits. People have been asking me to sell my handknits for a while now, but I never thought it would be possible since I'm not a designer. I really don't know the first thing about writing a pattern, but I buckled down over Christmas break and decided to make a valiant attempt at creating my own design. The result is the Abbotts Harbour slouch.

Voilà! The Abbotts Harbour slouch!

It's nothing fancy. Just a slouhcy stockinette hat with a ribbed brim. But it's mine. And I like it.

I also have some 100% organic cotton wash cloths in the shop and I'm working on my second design as I'm writing this.

Mmmm. Scrubby.

In fact, I'm taking on a new project since this is a new year and all. I'm jumping on my friend Steph's bandwagon and setting a goal to write eight original patterns in 2013. (Read more about the 8 in 2013 project here.)

I haven't decided if I'll publish a pattern for the Abbotts Harbour slouch. I mean, does the world really need another pattern for a slouchy knit hat? No, not really. But if I come up with anything earth shattering, I'll certainly consider it.

So, carry on, as you were. I'm hoping to be back here blogging regularly. It feels nice to write again. Thanks for reading.

A warm blankie for the newt

It didn't take long to finish the newt's blanket and, since I finished it on a sunny day, I dunked it in the sink and spread it out on the patio to block in the sun. It was dry and ready to photograph in no time.

Pattern: Baby Chalice Blanket by Lykkefanten
Materials: 3 skeins of Green Label Tanis Fiber Arts in Spearmint
Needles: US 10.5/6.5 mm
Started: August 29, 2009
Finished: September 16, 2009
Raveled here

Mods: I cast on an extra 20 stitches for two more pattern repeats after reading that the blanket is rather narrow. I wanted to end up with a square blanket and I accomplished that.

I really like the way this turned out. It's really soft and squishy and will be nice and warm this winter. The lace pattern is pretty and simple, and the colour! I'm a fan of turquoise.

And I seem to be forcing my colour preference onto the unborn. I whipped up a little snuggly swaddler for the newt on Sunday from a turquoise Echino damask and white flannel. The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby. Very smart design -- you stick the baby's feet in the bottom pocket and wrap the two velcro-ed flaps around the baby. I hope it works!

I learned an important lesson whilst sewing this. Now that my body is changing, I need to stop cutting my fabric on the floor and move to a table. I had an awful backache after spending an hour or so plunked down on the floor and bent over my cutting mat. Ouch!

The newt will not be short on handknits

The parade of baby knits continues chez words starting with "p." In a fit of nesting, I've been churning out the handknits at a steady clip.

First up, the cardigan that every baby born to a knitting mama is required to have: the BSJ.

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Source: The Opinionated Knitter
Materials: less than one skein of Fleece Artist Trail Socks
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: August 5, 2009
Finished: August 12, 2009
Raveled here

No mods. Brilliant design. What more can I say?

I had some yarn left over, so I knit some booties (which I've somehow neglected to photograph) and an elf hat.

Pattern: Stella Pixie Hat by Kristen Rengren
Source: Vintage Baby Knits
Materials: bits of Fleece Artist Trail Socks and Koigu KPM
Needles: US 4/3.5mm and US 3/3.25 mm
Started: August 24, 2009
Finished: August 29, 2009
Raveled here

The only problem is that the newt will never be able to wear the matching set at the same time . . . unless he/she has a really, really humongous head and a wee little body. I realize babies have big heads, but I hope (for my own sake) that the newt has a normal-sized cranium.

Since I'm having a winter baby, a woolly hooded sleeping bag would be nice, no?

Pattern: Hooded Carrying Bag by Debbie Bliss
Source: Essential Baby
Materials: a little more than 4 skeins of Wool Gatto by Lana Gatto in Brick
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm
Started: June 30, 2009
Finished: September 7, 2009
Raveled here

I finished knitting this long before September 7, but it languished in the knitting basket for a while whilst I contemplated sewing in a zipper. I knew I wouldn't be able to do it on the sewing machine because garter stitch is so stretchy and my sewing machine is a little too "basic," and my hand sewing skills leave a little to be desired. My Gramie, however, is a very talented and well-rounded crafter. I figured she might even want to put a zipper in the bunting since it's for her first great-grandchild. She happily took on the project until she, ahem, realized that it was probably the most frustrating sewing task she's even undertaken. I'm so sorry, Gramie! But I'm really glad I didn't try to do it because she did a flawless job. The newt thanks you.

Jesse and I were at The Loop a few weeks ago and, while ogling some yarn, I asked, "Will our baby need a handknit blanket?" He said, "Of course." I bought some delicious, squishy merino. I have the best husband ever.

I have about seven rows left on the blanket and then I have to figure out where I'm going to block the darn thing. Oh Annie. Why did you have to move away and leave me without a decent blocking space?

I'm an award-winning knitter

One of the ladies in knitting group has been entering her work into the local exhibition for years and has been appalled at what has been passed off as "award-winning" knitting. She explained to the rest of the ladies that if we were to enter some of our work in the fair, we would all come away with some fancy ribbons and could call ourselves "award-winning" knitters. Sounded good to me.

So last week, I went to the exhibition office and bought myself a $25 membership. That allowed me to enter as many knitted objects as I wanted (it's usually $5 per entry) and I'd get free admission to the fair. I picked out five of my best FOs, filled out some paperwork, and handed my items over to the exhibition staff. Jesse and I went to the fair this evening and, lo and behold, there are ribbons attached to all of my entries.

I am an award-winning knitter.

First place for Dad's felted blue jay!

First place for Mum's Porom tam!

First place for my Ishbel neckerchief!

Second place for Mr. P's Trellis! (ahem. Some pink acrylic atrocity won first place.)

And third place for Gramie's Forest Canopy Shawl!


Since the prizes are ribbons AND cash, I'm pretty sure I won enough to cover my entry fee.

But the real honour is being able to call myself an award-winning knitter. I like the way it sounds.

FO: The newt's vest

Baby knits are so quick! Especially when you don't have to knit sleeves.

Pattern: Vest by Debbie Bliss
Source: Essential Baby by Debbie Bliss
Materials: 1.5 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Sea green
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: June 12, 2009
Finished: June 17, 2009
Raveled here

I love a nice sweater vest. I love them on kids, women and especially on men. Nothing is cuter than a grown man in a sweater vest. Give him a beard and I melt. Speaking of beards, I had a dream that I gave birth to the newt and it was a boy who looked exactly like Jesse except he was blonde. Sounds kind of cute, but instead of looking like baby Jesse, the newt looked like a teeny version of grown-up Jesse, complete with a beard. I also had a dream that Jesse met a couple who had been trying to conceive for ages so he decided to sign away our rights to the newt and give him/her to this couple . . . without asking me! I was pissed.

More baby knits are in the works. I am over the moon about knitting for the newt!

More spinning

This alpaca/silk/merino blend from FreckleFaceFibers . . .

turned into this . . .

and then into this!

I'm getting better at this spinning business!

I'm thinking of knitting something for the newt with my handspun. I don't think I have enough for a sweater, so it might become some booties and a hat. This kid's going to be born in December so he or she will need lots of warm woollies!

Oh! And you can keep track of my weekly belly bump pics over here!

FO: Gooseberry Hat

Just a little FO to show you.

Pattern: Gooseberry Hat by Suvi S.
Materials: bits of leftover Louet Gems Sport in Chickadee
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: April 20, 2009
Finished: May 22, 2009
Raveled here

I knit this up for my friend Ashley's baby, Isac. It's a little big on him now, so I'm hoping he'll get some use out of it this fall.

And you'll be seeing some more baby knits here in the near future because I'm working on building my own little person!

The newt is due to arrive in early December!