J & M

A while back my friend Viv gave me this lovely gift  -- it's precisely the kind of book that makes you want to invite all of your friends over and embroider a chicken on an apron and set a big fancy table for dinner. 

I've had my eye on the pattern for monogrammed napkins for a good long time. And every few months, I would open up the book and look at the instructions. I would then choose my floss and iron the napkins. And then, of course, I would totally chicken out. 

But I finally pulled myself together and made these for my friend's birthday. I winged the first one (J) and then after it was finished, I decided it might be a good idea to watch some online videos that show how to do the satin stitch. Heh. Ah well. All good in the end :)

I heart..

:: The Simple Collection - a free (and gorgeous) pattern series coming soon from Tin Can Knits

:: So this is how you keep lipstick off your wine glass!

:: I love totes. And I love yarn. And I love pompoms. So this tote is a good thing indeed.

:: When I was in Vancouver, I went to a fancy grocery store and was tempted by this kettle chip chocolate bar. I saved it until I came home and tried it today. Good grief, it's so delish, I can't even.

:: My Canadian friends might appreciate this book trailer for David Rakoff's last book due this summer - lots of famous Canucks take a turn telling the tale that includes this gem, "A life that is good is a life that's forgiving."

>> - - - - - - - - >

Happy weekend 

Waffles and coffee

I wish I had the patience to rib my socks from cuff to toe but the best I can do is this compromise of knitting two rows, followed by 2 rows of knit 2, purl 2.

This yarn was a wee bit scratchy which I'm hoping means they will be good and durable.  I spilled my travel mug full of coffee on the skein as I was knitting (seriously travel mug, this is the game you want to play with me?) and strangely the portion that was doused in coffee became super soft. The other part, not so much. Does coffee have some hidden fabric softening properties?

The details:

Yarn - Online

Needles - Good ole 2.5 mm

Pattern - Blueberry Waffle socks (free)

I heart...

:: I prettied up some clothespins with some washi tape using this tutorial. (The stars - oh how I love the stars!)

:: Pin cushions from warp and weft -- and so happy to find a nearby place that sells the awesome Merchant and Mills merch.

:: These fingerless gloves.

:: The return of a nice cold spring. Hot summer, wait your turn!

:: This Toronto timelapse.

:: Really want to make strawberry fruit leather this summer.

:: These knitted bunnies are the bee's knees.

:: Pretty crocheted polka dotted hot pad.

:: Always remember to say please and thank you.

:: Adorable little gift boxes.

High fives and feeling happy!

The dear man who sold me this fabric said that he was happy I chose this colour (and well, who doesn't like to make other people happy, right?). He then promised me that when I wear this colour, I will feel happy. And then he gave me a high five. (I actually left him hanging there for five seconds because I was kind of stunned and normally don't give high fives when I'm buying fabric). 

The details: 

Pattern - Wiksten tank

The fabric - Handkerchief linen

Alterations: I trimmed a little off the sides and the bottom because I tend to get a weird tentlike pouf with my first Wiksten. 

Colourblock bias loop

Stockinette and airplanes go together like cake and ice cream, no? 

I powered through the purple portion of this loop on my way to and from Vancouver (while also cramming in as many free movies as possible). This project was a good travelling companion, portable and easy peasy. I love knitting with mohair so much that I dreamed up a big plan to one day knit a massive colourblock kid silk garter blanket (wow, seeing all those words together --- hmm, maybe a touch crazy.)

The details:

Pattern - Churchmouse Bias loop

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Angel (one blue and one purple skein)

Needles: 6.5 mm

Hello Vancouver

Hey y'all! Anyone still out there? It's been a while.

I was in Vancouver last week for work (a nice surprise for me indeed!) I had one day off and it poured buckets, a true wet coast welcome. I trekked around finding crafty shops, snapped quick pics when the rain eased, oohed at the mountains, and filled up on smoked salmon.

A couple of nifty places I was happy to visit:

Cloth, an amazing quilting shop on Granville Island

Maiwa, crafty supplies of all kind also on Granville

Three bags full, a lovely knitting shop

Some actual crafty things to show soon (time on a plane is good for finishing up long lingering projects it seems). Happy Victoria Day to my Canadian friends :)