Ripping, Ripping, Ripping

Knitting patterns are always written for the perfect knitter - one who reads and understands the instructions perfectly, goes fast enough to finish the knit, but slow enough to never screw up.

The perfect knitter is someone who I pretend to be when I first start the pattern of choice - I review carefully other comments from Ravelry users, and make sure I don't make the same mistakes. I am prepared to start.

And then, the first mistake happens. The choice: do you rip back to where you should have put a life line in, or do you fudge and keep going? Oh, it's only one stitch, fudge and keep going!

That one little stitch hangs like the voice of the devil on your shoulder, weighing you down, daring you to keep going in that lace. And you are happily knitting the 400 stitches/row of lace weight yarn, until you get to the end. When you are 3 stitches short. After a long purl only row and a knit lace row. Bloody fantastic.

And before you know it, you want to swipe that little devil off your shoulder once and for all, and you know, you just know, you need to rip back to where you were the perfect knitter. Because in the end, you just can't handle knowing for the rest of the life of the knitted item, you screwed up at least once.

Then you tinker - what I like to call "backwards knitting".

After feeling bad about not blogging for the last two months, I realized that this summer has been like backwards knitting. I have a project (blogging), and a commitment, and I did not allow for the trips and the weddings and the lack of blogging mojo.

So knitters, when you go to knit the next pattern - plan for some of that backwards knitting time - because it will come!

Although I did not blog, here are a couple of things that have happened to me in the last couple of months:

1) I had my wedding - which was beyond my wildest dreams. I am now at a higher commitment level with the love of my life and my best friend, we had such wonderful people share in that moment, with great food, such memorable speeches and moments.

2) I went to England/Scotland for 10 days, in part to be a bridesmaid at my elementary school best friend's wedding at a castle!

And now, here for September, back to the blog.

My knitted projects since the last post:

1) My Rock Island for Mom:

I love this shawl. As my friend MarianelaP says, I would actually knit this one again (and she doesn't knit the same pattern twice!).

Obviously, beautiful yarn makes for a beautiful shawl - this is in SweetGeorgia Yarns Merino Silk Lace (of course), in Mist. Purpley, greyey - light, delicate, and intricate.

The border is pretty cool when picked up. It's one of those projects where you just figure out how many repeats of the border you will do each day, and just keep working away.

Allow for about a month-ish for this shawl - no last minute gifting with this shawl!

Project Details:

Pattern: Rock Island by Jared Flood
Yarn: SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Lace  in Mist (1 skein)
Ravelry Project Page: Rock Island

2) Azzu's Shawl

This was purely a stash buster with the yarn bringing the excitement. Another SweetGeorgia Yarn - this time Tough Love Sock in the Knit City 2012 colourway. Honestly, it's a bit busy for me, and I'm not a sock knitter, so when I saw my friend kpwerker's Knit City 2012 Azzu's Shawl, I knew I just had to copy it.

This was purely a stash buster with the yarn bringing the excitement. Another SweetGeorgia Yarn - this time Tough Love Sock in the Knit City 2012 colourway. Honestly, it's a bit busy for me, and I'm not a sock knitter, so when I saw my friend kpwerker's Knit City 2012 Azzu's Shawl, I knew I just had to copy it.

Busy yarns work well with lots of YO netting - so this worked out great. Great way to add a pop of colour to a neutral outfit.

Project Details:


Pattern: Azzu's Shawl by Emma Fassio
Yarn: SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock in Knitcity 2012 Colourway
Ravelry Project Page: Azzu's Shawl

3) Owlet:

Again, a stashbuster. Worsted yarn in my stash really does take up some space, especially two bright "Blue Blood" Gourmet Crafter Yarn Gourmet Worsted from my friend Gourmet Crafter from my friend Gourmet Crafter (Alexa of Tin Can Knits). This is coveted yarn though, as she is focussing on her booming designs over yarn dying. This bright blue called for a child outfit. I picked this one, and just new I had to get rainbow buttons from ButtonButton. I hunted in that store for 1/2 hr to find these perfect buttons.

Love it. Can't wait to give it to the little 1.5 yr old to wear this fall/winter.

Project Details:

Pattern: Owlet by Kate Davies
Yarn: Gourmet Crafter Yarn Gourmet Worsted in Blue Blood
Ravelry Project Page: Owlet

4) Summer Moon Shawl:

Keeping with the stash-busting theme, I dug into the creme-de-la-creme of my stash - the SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Fine in Savory (which is apparently a discontinued colourway due to technical issues with duplicating the recipe).

The pattern is beautiful, and well-written, and the green shows off the bottom portion nicely with it weaving almost like leaves and shoots. I have 2 skeins, but I'm choosing to use the next skein in something else, just need to figure out what.

Blocking helped with size, as always, but it's a little small, so I'm going to pick up the natural shawl pin sold at Wet Coast Wool for it.

Project Details:

Pattern: Summer Moon Shawl by Judy Marples
Yarn: SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Fine in Savory
Ravelry Project Page: Summer Moon Shawl


On the needles:

 1) Valeriana Estonica 

I am currently working on the gorgeous light shawl in Yummy Yarn Studio 60/40 Silk-Cashmere in the Worm Wood colourway. I also picked this up at KnitCity2012. I was really forcing myself then to pick colours outside of my comfort zone of blues and greens, and I'm so glad I did. This sandy gold is super soft, shiny, and just gleams as I knit. I've had tons of compliments as I knit this.

I should have used a lifeline with this project - I ignored that, went to fast, and lost a lot of time tinkering back - (see above rant). But I'm well on my way, lifeline in, and taking my time.

2) Sunnyside

I splurged on this yarn (aka didn't stash-bust) for my sister's best friend's first baby girl, Mia, in the UK. I feel it's quite grey in the UK in the winter, so this little cardi will make her stand out. Love the colour.

The feel of fall is in the air - anyone thinking about Christmas knitting yet?

Thanks for the patience today! Super long post - but it's been a super long time!

What I Love - June 10, 2013

What I Love - June 10, 2013 - The Blog Edition, Round 1

There are so many blogs that I continually discover and now follow. My previous way to do this was create a link on my blog, and visit my blog, and check them out individually.

Not anymore - I now am on Bloglovin'.

Bloglovin' keeps track of all your favorite blogs, and sends a daily email with all of your blogs most recent posts that you haven't read. What I really like about this over an RSS feed is that the format of the blogs remain how they normally would. No reduced format.

Also, the picklist at the top is awesome. You can sort by category also - so if you really do not want to see gorgeous food pics from smitten kitchen, you can avoid it - if you can....

I have a link to Bloglovin' on my sidebar -------------> sign up and follow me!

Top 2 knitting blogs I love to follow:

1) Miso Crafty

(her photo - like I say below - beautiful!)


What I love: 1) her pics are stunning. 2) her writing style - sense of humor! 3) She's local - on the Island! 4) Her aesthetic!  5) Her super awesome project bags! As a proud owner, I can attest they can stand the "Ashley uses this bag test" (which is a challenge for any bag!)

Also, she updates frequently - at least once-a-week, so it keeps it interesting.

2) Yarn Harlot

(photo courtesy of the internet)

Why I love it - always good for a laugh. She's frank, and states everything that most knitters are thinking re a knitter's crazy mindset. Get her books - she will also have you laughing by yourself in a bed in Africa. Just sayin'. Her posts can get a little long, but check out this one. Freakin' hilarious.


What are your top two knitting blogs?

over and out.

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5174771/?claim=h4p4cnm4k24">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Secret No Longer - Dahlia Sproutlette

Introducing....Baby O's Dahlia Sproutlette!

I have a darling knitting friend, who just had a beautiful baby girl (complete with Spock ears!)

Obviously, she needed a knitted item - mom likes bold colours for babies, none of this pastel or natural baby wear, so, I went to my stash and came up with my Dahlia Madelinetosh Sock yarn purchased at Churchmouse Yarns several years ago.

Now, I just needed to find a baby girl sock yarn pattern, super pretty, super girly - because she has not yet decided she will be a tom-boy, or hate dresses, or not like being called cute.

Luckily, Tanis Fiber Arts Sproutlette Dress fit the bill. Requirements met:

• sock yarn
• 1 skein project
• pretty leaf design
• easy to follow
• cute accents like leaves, scalloped edging
• fun way to add a button

Done. 

I am super happy with how this turned out. And although this was finished a while ago, I had to wait before posting details, as she is a Ravelry user, blog-checker, and a skilled figure-out-the-gift-ahead-of-time kind of person.

Beautiful Baby O now has a great 6-12 month dress to wear. And she has an extremely proud Aunty A! Now for the hard part - waiting 6 months before she can try it on.

What I Love - May 29th, 2013

Ok, so I couldn't wait until Monday to post more.

What I Love - May 29th, 2013
(photos from their websites)




1. Dahlhaus

Why I love it: With the soft and bright colours, geometric shapes, and curvy wares, this pottery is at the top of my list.

I currently own the poppy mug, which is on my glossy (sorry Kim, I like it that way!) desk at work:




 



2. Chris Stiles Wood Working:

I came across this beautiful wood working at the Spring Fling in Vancouver.
Why I love it: I can't stop thinking about this ice cream scoop! He is making more for the June 7th show in North Vancouver - some in cherry wood! What a perfect gift for Father's Day, or any day, really...

Also, check out his Etsy shop - he has FANTASTIC response time.



The thing with gifting I have discovered - plan ahead! You know that birthday is coming up, you know that Mother's Day comes once a year - why not get the card/gift when you think of it? Then you're good. Everyone's happy. You are, they are - it's a wonderful thing.

How much stress goes into last-minute gifting?

Also - if you find a "perfect" gift for so-and-so - get it then! Or plan on doing it sooner! Just get it!

I have learned this the hard way. Key points:

1) remember where you have put what you bought
2) remember you have already bought something
3) you do not need to buy more!

Bring on the rain!

It's a Secret - Knitting this Week

I have just finished the cutest thing on this earth - well, knitted, that is. But it's a surprise. For a little baby who will definitely be a future knitter.

More photos once the gift has been received.

Keep you in suspense!

Cutest daisy button from Button Button!

What I love - Monday, May 27, 2013

What I Love: May 27, 2013
(all photos courtesy of the websites)



1.  Seva Fitness

2 very passionate ladies who want to make a difference, change your life habits.

Why I love them: they are personal trainers. With a focus on the personal. If you're in Vancouver, and are in the mood for a group, personal, or challenge training session, check them out.



2. Bloom Essentials

A boutique neighborhood spa in Vancouver, it is fun, friendly, and quaint.

Why I love it: hand-painted nails in fun designs for your footsies and fingatips. It's a place to get a pedicure and feel pampered, not serviced. Also, a great place for fun girly products.

Happy Monday! Over and out.

New: What I Love

Blogging has always been a project.

And I am notorius for starting projects, and just not quite following through. Why? I get bored. Or, I get too involved, too complicated, that it's too much to handle.

Looking at other fave blogs I love, I realized I am a short-and-sweet kind of girl. I need a burst of inspiration, lots of photos, and to-the-point "reading" material.

I have my novels, I get them from the library. And I love them.

Blog reading is totally different.

In the world that is too fast, everyone is trying to slow down. But who has time for that when reading a blog? Life is too short for slow electronics, that's what I say.

So, in this mindset, I have joined the Twitter (pronounced "Twitta") movement - nice little 140 character packages. I would rather use majority of my time to gather life experience - researching, working, connecting, knitting!, and progressing. Onwards and upwards, I say!

Onwards and upwards!

I am a woman of lists.

- 1 blog post every Monday (because we all need a little inspiration on Mondays)
- a new column called What I Love.
- knitting, reading, life comments, etc.
- lots of photos

One thing you'll notice about me in my photos. I love my Lululemon navy blue/purplish hoody. I will probably be buried in it. It is washed often. Don't judge.

Question of the week:

What piece of clothing will you be buried in?

Nice to meet you (again).

2013 And the Next Project

Ok, so it's been awhile. A longggggg while since that last post.

Life got in the way. I was enjoying the summer, and for the first time, started my Christmas present knitting in August. And therefore, I couldn't blog about those. Then, there was a 2 week trip, crazy work days, and there you go. It's now Feb. 2013, and I finally feel like blogging again.

As always, the Next Chapter on CBC is my favorite podcast, and recent episodes has reminded me of Canada Reads 2013, where celebrities defend the 5 finalists of top Canadian novels in fiction.

 

So, I take this, as always, as a last minute challenge. Immediately putting these books on hold, like numerous people in Vancouver, I was able to first get February, by Lisa Moore.

I really liked how readable this book was. It was a page turner, with lots of breaks and shifts of timelines to keep it interesting. I am also a sucker for historical fiction, learning about real history through the comfort of fiction. Previous to this book, I was quite ignorant about the Ocean Ranger disaster in 1981. This book made me laugh, and cry, mostly thoughtful, and it provided a different perception on what it might have felt like to be on that rig going down.

 

The second book, The Age of Hope, by David Bergen, was also easy to read. Looking at the "perfect" housewife and how she is unable to keep the facade with others.

One passage I thought was great, being a reader, and not a bad idea, although I cringe at actually cutting a book:

"When Emily heard that Judith was heading off to Europe, she had said that Hope should read the Drifters, a story about boys and girls Judith's age who travel through Europe in the late sixties. Hope ordered it through Book of the Month Club. It was eight hundred pages and she did immediately what she did with all big books. She cut it into three sections so as to make it more manageable and to save her wrists. A heavy book was hard on the joints, and in bed the weight lay on her chest. The problem with cutting the book up was that sometimes she misplaced the second or third section and so had to hunt through the house, trying to remember where the rest of the novel was stored."

I just finished the third book, Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese. This book was an absolute surprise. From the first chapter, which is quite short (I love books with short chapters), this book floored me. Combining the narrative of a boy going through residential schools, finding the way through hockey, and traveling the Canadian small town working lifestyle, it was masterfully written, and again, easy to read.

I was super ignorant about residential schools before reading this book. Prior to reading this my thoughts of residential schools was it was a Catholic brain-washing schooling of Indian youth, with sexual abuse involved.

Boy, did I only have a piece of the puzzle. Residential schools were labour camps, where they were lucky to read anything. No grades, no proper classrooms, strapping, beatings, torture, suicides, trapping in the dungeon in iron cages, children dying without mention. This is Canadian history. This is my beloved country in the 1960s. No wonder this affects generations.

Read this book, you will understand.

 

Next up: Jane Urquhart's Away.

On the needles this week: 2 more honey cowls on commission!

Sprout Craziness

Well, the last week or so has been great.

Why?


1. I got to see Yarn Harlot and take her class through Knit Social! It was so awesome (although I mistakenly though it started at 7 pm, instead of 6 pm - that sucked!) Nothing is as bad as walking into a room at the library full of 17 knitters who all turn to look at you and I bet they were wondering: "Oh my goodness, I can't believe ANYONE could possibly be late for a Yarn Harlot class!" Trust me, I couldn't either.

But once I was there, I had a blast. She is just as sarcastic in person as she is in her blog and books, and I am trying to learn her way of lever knitting, to make myself more efficient and avoid injury so I can knit forever! She also did a lecture on the history of knitting which was actually quite fascinating and surprisingly entertaining. History and knitting for Ashley? Yay!

2.  I took this great photo walk in the Olympic Village, with a pro photographer Feeling Photography. I really wanted to learn how to use my point and shoot camera better, to take better photos for the
blog - and what better way to spend an afternoon in my neighborhood?

I learned lots of great tips and techniques, and although it is better in these classes to have a SLR camera, I learned a lot as well, and feel more confident after the 2 hours of practice. Check it out, I highly recommend it.

3. That same day, I had a knitting party at my house, with the ladies! Andrew was scared out of the house quite quickly :) Some people think knitting just isn't condusive to summer - I think this just proves them wrong!

Closest to farthest: the amazing Joanne, Kynna, and Kim (let's just say this is evidence that a whole lot of knitting wasn't going on - mostly posing, drinking beer, and looking at hot men pictures)

The lovely Iona, showing off another hot man photo specifically this one.

Here is Janice - the wine is down, and she's actually knitting. Good work!

The latecomers - Laura and Melanie - I'm glad you ladies could join! Too bad Melanie forgot her knitting - thankfully she could make fun of my very loose tension on my crochet square and she could finish one up too! I'm just saying, mine will be the centre square - the largest in the land :)

Miss Marianela knitting with her gorgeous Madelinetosh in Jade. And having a bloody fantastic hair day, if she does say so herself!

Alexa chillaxin' in her chair - if you are expecting though, this really is the most comfy chair in the house, and closest to my stash. Check out her upcoming book!

4. I have been knitting up a Sprout storm! I love this pattern, and when I realized just how many babies are about to be born in the next couple of months, I started a knitting factory! And the yarn was on sale at Urban Yarns in some great colours, so that's fabulous!

Sprout #1: in Sage for Cindy at work's #2:

Sprout#2: in baby blue for a boy (for a recipient that cannot be named):

Sprout#3: in rose for the Miki Sushi (my Friday sushi lunch hang out - the manager lady has great customer service) lady:

Sprout#4: in rose for little Holly just born:

Sprout #5: in hunter green for Mary (a client)'s little one to come:

Sprout #6 is on it's way for little Ethan born a couple of months ago, who I am very excited to meet shortly.

Love whipping these up!

My latest Urban Yarns KAL is coming along great - although carrying 3 skeins is a bit bulky. The short rows are also not that short any more, but I'm almost to the end.

As it's almost the end of July (crazy how time flies), I was inspired to start looking at projects that are near completion - getting those WIP (work in progress) that are sitting there like couch potatoes, and giving them some action. Either frogging completely (rip rip!) and getting them out of much not-needed project bags (but that's beside the point) or just finishing them. Either way, make a decision, and get them out of my hair, and into someone's hands to use as a gift. Out of my house!

So, once this KAL shawl is blocking, this is the plan. Tighten things up for fall.

Happy summer knitting!