Cuba!!

 

Knitwit

Well, it seems most of my posts revolve around knitting...but, well, most of my time is spent divided between yoga and knitting. Since I don't have any photos of yoga, it looks like knitting is my topic of choice for the time being. Also, I'm pretty pleased with my progress! 

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First, I tackled the leaf cuddler.  It was actually much easier than I anticipated and I'm happy with the finished product.  I think I'll make some alterations; the pattern is a bit loose on my mug, but I like the challenge of having to make changes to a pattern.

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After the leaf cuddler, I learned how to cable knit and took on a toque.  It's partially alpaca, and so it's super cozy. Despite screwing up the pattern several times, ripping out everything I did a couple of times, I finished it!  I would actually make another with this pattern.  It was fun and I dig the end design.

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I tinkered around with some patterns of my own design, but then tried an infinity scarf.  This pattern was super easy, but the end result is fun and REALLY forgiving!  Ha!  You can hardly tell that I effectively screwed up the first 2 inches!

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I'm getting very speedy with my knitting these days...I started this toque on my lunch break, then did a few rounds after work (before yoga) and finished it up this evening.  In all fairness, the pattern difficulty was labelled as "easy peasy" (which just further encouraged me to do it...afterall, the designer and myself are clearly on the same wavelength and share a vocabulary!) .  I think the yarn I used was too thick, but I like the finished product.  Here's hoping the weather will remain mild and I won't need to wear it!

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So...what's next?  I think I'm going to tackle a sweater.  We'll see how THAT goes!!

Take THAT, Winter!

Well, it's official! Brad and I have booked out first hot holiday together! In just a short while (yeah, as if I'm going to post on the internet when we are going to be out of the country and away from our house!) we'll be flying from Calgary to Santa Clara airport for a week in Santa Maria! I pulled some photos from our resort website, the Memories Azul, and superimposed myself so you can see what it will be like for me to be in Cuba. Also, so you too may drool in envy at the powdered sugar beaches and crystal clear ocean!

 

 

Why, it's like I'm there already!!

Vulcan, Alberta = Awesome!

I recently found myself travelling between Calgary and Lethbridge and realized that, while not exactly directly en route, Vulcan Alberta happens to be situated between the two.  In case you are not familiar, Vulcan Alberta is home to a Vulcan Starship.  Imagine my delight to find that I would have the chance to swing by and add another amazing landmark to my collection of photos with Canada's Tacky Lawn Ornaments!

Not only is there a starship, but there are also two commemorative signs...one in Vulcan and one in Klingon!  AMAZING!   

Also, if you are fortunate enough to be travelling with someone, you can take each others' photos in the faces of various crew members...  Sadly I was on my own and had forgotten my tripod at home.  Sigh...another time, perhaps!

And, for a change, a post about ...Knitting!!

I've been a knitting machine lately (Da wonders if I'm knitting in my sleep), and have done some work that I'm quite proud of.  First, I made up my own pattern using a "faux cable knit".

Then I finished up my little mousie.  I was pretty tired last night when I finished up the legs and decided Mousie looked chilly and that I should probably make a cowl for warmth.  Everyone else gets a cowl, why not Mousie??

I;m not going to lie, Mousie was the most twiddly knitting project I've attempted yet!  I've used a coffee cup so you can see the scale.

Ryann's Hippo - updated

 While I've been visiting Leah, I finished the Hippo from the Wee Ones collection.  I finished off the hippo last night (waaaay past my bedtime) and the shirt today.  The sleepiness I feel today is totally worth it when I gave the little hippo to Ryann!

Update: His name is Hank.

More Knitting!

Update: Yesterday I watched an online tutorial and learned how to knit on double pointed needles!  WOOT!  I started with the easiest pattern I could find for a toy and could not stop until I was done.  This resulted in being up until midnight last night.  Whoops!  I'm not going to lie though, it was totally worth it!

My New Hobby (read: "obsession")

On January 1st, for the second time in my life, Mum taught me to knit. This time it made sense and stuck. She sent me on my way back to Swift Current with a variety of yarn, a set of needles and an assortment of knitting notions and accessories to get me started. I've since become fairly obsessed and have started buying patterns and downloading patters to try new ideas and techniques. 

This was what I worked on during the drive from Smithers to Swift.  I had intended to make a really big scarf, but by the time I got back I had discovered the plethora of patterns online and decided to start fresh.   Notice the inconsistent shape and the random hole?  Ah well...
These are the three cowls I've made so far.  Each one took me about two evenings (the beige one was first, followed by the green, and the white one is the most recent).

 I wore the green one to work one morning and showed my coworker who was totally impressed and declared that it "doesn't even look homemade!"  I'm seriously very proud (probably disproportionately, but whatever).
So, since I don't want my first project to go to waste, and I'd like to have it as a reference point (where I am now compared to where I started), I've put it to use:

~next, I'm moving on to stuffed toys.  We'll see how THAT goes!