Chuggin`Out the Knits

Well, February is almost gone (except for that blessed extra day we get this year! - which, unfortunately lands on a Wednesday - but I'm going to make up for it by enjoying a day full of exactly what I would want to do if I had an extra day, sometime in the future.

In the meantime, I finally am blogging this month - so much has happened.

Let's start with January goals from my last post:

Before Jan 30th, complete my last Christmas present, the Fiddleheads:




Done! Emilia loves them, especially the pop of pink on the inside:



Pattern: Fiddlehead Mittens
Ravelry Link: Emilia`s Fiddleheads
Outer Mitten Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Melange in Teal and Grey
Inner Mitten Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri in Lollipop

2) Start and complete 2 baby shower gifts for Kim and Arshdeep:

I did! (although it was after Jan 30th) - I completed these cutie Owlie Hats, one for each:



Pattern: Owlie Hat
Ravelry Link: 2 Owlie Hats
Yarn: Springtree Road Philomath Worsted in Tannis

My first time at embroidering - but the owls look cute!

I hope they really like them, and they get to wear them once or twice!

3) Knit my way through 9 Months of Knitting:

I haven't started yet, but I can't wait to make the I Heart Rainbows Hat and Sweater out of this gorgeous sock yarn purchased in Tofino:

4) Knit 6 items using my stash - and this means stash previously acquired prior to Jan. 1st 2012:

Item No. 1 complete: Samantha the Sock Monster from my purple and yellow Cascade 220!





Pattern: Sammie the Sock Monster
Ravelry Link: Samantha the Sock Monster
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool in Purple and Yellow

Finally, I have accomplished something that I have never done before: I have completed a Urban Yarns KAL on TIME! (Just because they extended the deadline is besides the point). Introducing my softest stylin` cowl, Ships and Seaside by Tiny Owl Knits:



Pattern: Ships and Seaside
Ravelry Link: Ships and Seaside
Yarn: Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca in Cerise, Hunter Green, Chocolate, Navy

I am currently knitting up Jane, by Jane Richmond - a super simple pattern for a gorgeous slouchy hat. I have not yet tried a slouch hat, but this one is for someone who can pull off the slouchiest of slouches - the gorgeous Baltic colourway of Madelinetosh Vintage will make her eyes pop. Very quick knit so far.



Ysolda finally released the Pear Drop shawl as an individual pattern on Ravelry - I swooped that up and I think this will be a March knit.



Check out this awesome Sh*t Knitter`s Say video. So true...

Goals - January 2012

Those who know me know that I love to make goals.

My knitting goals to finish before January 30th:

1) Finish my last belated Christmas present, the Fiddleheads:



2) Start and complete 2 baby shower gifts, which I think I will copy this that I found on Etsy:



Super cute!

I am going to use up some worsted yarn in my stash, so I will update you on the colours then. Love the pompom at the end!

No pattern yet - will have to improvise.

My two knitting goals mentioned previously were:

1) Knit my way through 9 Months of Knitting

2) Knit 6 items using my stash - and this means stash previously acquired prior to Jan. 1st 2012. It will be difficult, but I will persevere!

Ysolda just came out with some new patterns (yay), and I am loving this one, Pear Drop, a 1 skein lacy shawl ( her pic of course):


I am just awaiting the release of the individual patterns on Ravelry. This will be a great knit up!

I'm also eyeing up this Gin and Tonic Hat, that is not released yet, from Knitted Bliss (Tanis Fibre Arts Yarn):



This would be super awesome to use up all of the 1 skein variegated sock yarns I have, and, I have a friend in mind would look great in this. Hurry up and release!

Oh, and I just received my new DPN holder in the mail:



Isn't it gorgeous? Check out the rest of her cases on Etsy!

Urban Yarns KAL 2012 - Tiny Owl Knits

As mentioned in my last post, Urban Yarns has started a new KAL (knit-a-long): anything by Tiny Owl Knits.

Tiny Owl Knits, aka Stephanie Dosen, hit the big-time in knitting design after the release of her Beekeeper's Quilt pattern that went viral by word of mouth (her photo below):



Definitely a better version than the standard crochet grannie blanket.

But...it did take her 3 years to do! Crazy.

The rest of her patterns, are, well, just not my style, except the Ships & Seaside cowl:



This is my pattern of choice the KAL.

I've decided to do mine in a much softer yarn, Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca and blue (of course) being the main colour, with green, brown, and pink as the accents:



Check out my Ravelry project page.

Other Urban Yarns KAL participants so far are:

IJD and her Catching Butterflies (TOK photo):



kpwerker's Forest and Frill (TOK photo):



Happy Knitting!