Sign of Spring

I know it's wishful thinking, but I really need Spring to be coming... or at least around the corner. It feels like it's such a long way off these days, especially as it's snowing again today.

When I saw fresh buds on a plant that I thought might not flower again, it just made my day!

Sewing Project!

Now that I have my new sewing machine, a lovely Janome S313, I'm practicing sewing straight lines. That means little projects, like my first real project: a 30x30" Furoshiki I sewed for a friend last week from this pattern, (I printed and included these excellent folding instructions from the government of Japan!).

Yesterday, I knit up the Magic Rice Bag in this photo, (it's the same fabric I used for the Furoshiki). I used the pattern from Mommy Cooks as a guideline, and used plain white 100% cotton for the inner layer. I did divide the inner bag into 3 compartments, to hold the rice in place. I'm already glad that I included that modification. It added maybe 10 minutes of extra work, but made a big difference.

I know I did a good job, because 2 minutes after it was done, it was out of the microwave and on my boyfriend's head. Yes, his head. Apparently, he had ear tension. I'm not asking.

Knitting In Costume

Here's some multitasking for you:

Knitting backstage, while playing scrabble (poorly), waiting to go onstage, and wearing fake eyelashes.

This was taken in the Green Room of my last show -- I managed to get a number of girls bringing their knitting. We would all sit around knitting/crocheting/scrabbling while between scenes.

And yes, the fake eyelashes get in the way of everything. But aren't they fun? (You can click on the photo to make it big, and see them closeup!)

Lunch!

Mmmm, kiwi.

They were on sale, and I'm trying to eat more healthily again. Kiwis are definitely an easy way for me to get my fruit intake in!

And nice to photograph, too.

Stay tuned for Pink Lady apples, grapes, and pomelos. (Don't worry, I'm not exclusively blogging fruit on my knitting blog - although, that could be fun.)

In actual knitting news, I've been gifted some purple cotton to knit Isabelle's bunny, (thanks, Vanessa!). I had no idea mercerized cotton could be so soft!!! Once there's been centre-pull-ball winding, I'll get some knitting done!

Bunny By Request

My cousins' kids came to visit last weekend, and of course got a sneak peek at some of my knitting. The older one, Isabelle, is just under 3 years old. She took one look at my knitting, and said:

"Lindsay, can you knit me something?"

Of course, I said yes, and asked her what she wanted me to knit for her. The joyful answer was:

"A sheep, a bunny, and a sweater."

"What if I could only knit you one thing?"

"A bunny. A purple bunny."

My first response was to think of the baby bunny I knit her when she was born:


But, of course, Miss Isabelle is no longer a baby, and needs a supremely wonderful toddler bunny.

I am thinking of a purple version of the Jean Greenhowe bunny I knit Krish a couple Christmases ago:


You know, with the addition of a ballerina tutu, and some other sparkly bling. Perfect for a little girl who loves bunnies and purple.

Sweet Pea Hat

And the Surprise Baby Prezzie has FINALLY been delivered to its intended baby recipient - Miss Piper. Isn't she lovely? Now I can show you some photos!

As Piper's initials are P.E.A., it seemed only fitting to knit her the Sweet Pea Hat. It turned out a little large (two inches is a lot on a baby), so it's rolled up in this photo. What this means, is that you can't see the darling brim - knit in the contrasting sage green you see at the top of the hat.

I loved this pattern, and adore this hat. The vines, peas, and pea pod were so fun to knit. (I actually knit the hat top-down following Susan Pierce Lawrence's directions. I love avoiding swatching at all times.)

I can't wait to knit more of Susan B. Anderson's designs, like this beautiful cupcake hat that Alison at the Blue Blog knit for her one-year-old!

Project Details:

Pattern: Sweet Pea Hat by Susan B. Anderson, with some modifications (knit top-down as per Susan Pierce Lawrence's directions, in the round)
Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool in 4474 (Raspberry) and 4440 (Moss).
Needles: 5.5mm Addi Turbo Circular Needles, 24" long
Ravelry Link: Here.

Pretty Pashmina

Here is my lovely new pashmina that I was gifted today by my boyfriend's mum. Yes. I love it, and was just thinking I needed a brown pashmina!

There are little sparkly bits of ribbon-yarn in it. Pashmina + silk + ribbon yarn = perfect.

Project 365: Day Three

Because I have such lovely brick in my loft, it only seems fair to show off the pattern it makes, as a part of one of this week's themes for Project 365, Patterns.

Happy Valentine's Day, all!

I've managed to catch another cold. Bleagh. I'm giving Cold-FX a try, cross your fingers that it works -- Thursday through Saturday are my busiest teaching days!

Project 365: Day Two

One of the Themes for this week's Project 365 is Patterns. The explanation mentioned how brick can create pleasing patterns, and I immediately thought of my new loft. Not only do I have pleasing brick patterns, but I also have pleasing pipe patterns.

Icarus Project Details

Pattern: Icarus Shawl, by Miriam L. Felton, from Interweave Knits, Summer 2006
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Laceweight, in colourway C743. Scrumptious
Needles: 2.5mm Holz & Stein Ebony Circulars

Be sure to check out my post about the magic of blocking!

Project 365: Day One

Here is my very first photo for Ravelry's Project 365. Info about the project is in my previous post. You can click on any of these photos to see them enlarged, at my Flickr site.

Winter is prevailing here in Toronto, and I think we've had enough already! As much as I love snow, it's getting a bit tough getting around the city. There are snowbanks the size of cars, and the side streets (and my parking lot) are all crusted with a sheet of ice. I just know I'm going to glisser* any moment now, and land on something that shouldn't be landing on ice!

If you pull up the Large Size of this photo on Flickr, you'll actually see individual snowflakes! Huzzah for the macro setting!

*The Word of the Week from CBC Radio's show "C'est la vie" - it means "to slide")

Ravelry's Project 365

I've joined a group on Ravelry, called Project 365.

The idea is that you take a photo a day for a whole year. At the end of the year, you have a photo-journal of the year, day by day.

Hmmm, this might just be the inspiration I'm looking for!

NB: I'm also streaming the RSS feed from the "365ravelry" Flickr tags. If you can't get into Ravelry, you can at least add photos here, and get the feed!

How I'll wear my Icarus

Yep, I got to wear my Icarus out in public, to a party, tonight! She got rave reviews!!! Huzzah!!

Excuse the photo, I can't quite figure out the light in my apartment. This one makes me look great - it's my supermodel shot. I don't actually look like this in real life . . .

Snow Day!

Oh, did I ever need a snow day.

I've finished part one of two, of the Sneeeeeeky Surprise Baby Project! Huzzah!

AND, I'm blocking Icarus!!! That means you need photos! (Click on photos to see them BIG, in Flickr!)

I'm hoping to wear her tonight, but maybe that's over-optimistic.

I definitely loved this project, and can't wait to take post-blocking photos! I knew that once I'd gotten the chance to block this shawl, it would drastically different. However, I think I knew that on a purely intellectual level. Once I got Icarus all pinned out, I was quite shocked at the difference. (Just like I am every time I block lace! I really should remember how cool this process is!)

Pre-blocking vs. Blocking:

Yup. It's love.