Monday 28 February 2011

Random : Knit worthy


As a knitter, I'm always willing to knit something for the people I love. For my dear boyfriend, for his mom, for my mom, for my close friends (the ones that don't know how to knit!), for my relatives. And as knitters, you guys know what a knitted gift means to us. It's neither just yarn nor just time. It's the love we put in. Every knitted stitch is made with the recipient in mind. And we want the gift to be perfect, to be amazing! Even if it's a simple scarf. Because you know that they'll love and cherish it.

As a knitter, I've also knit for not so knit worthy people. You know, you say yes, you don't really want to but the person seems so enthusiastic. And so you knit, and knit, and sometimes it's not a project you really want to knit but you do it anyway. You can't wait to finish it, so you can knit something you will really enjoy. And you hope that, at least, the recipient will like it. And they don't always do.

Where do I go with this? Well, this week-end I just discovered a knit worthy friend. For Christmas I knitted him a simple yet filled with love scarf. I didn't know how he would react. It was the first time I was knitting for him. He loved it, but you know how sometimes guys are, they do not extend their joy. So, I can say that I was pleased with his reaction.

Fast forward to this week-end. It was his 25th birthday, and we were having a great time with friends. One of his girl friends that I just met was staring at my knitted shawlette and asked : "Are you his friend who knits?" I said yes. She was so excited to meet me, because apparently my friend talks about me when he wears his scarf. And he wears it. A lot.

As a knitter, there is absolutely nothing that can beat the feeling of a loved knitted gift. Absolutely nothing. And I think that, if we think about it, that's why we knit. Have a nice week!

Friday 25 February 2011

Sneak Peek: Gespeg


It's off to the test knitters...

Tuesday 22 February 2011

What's Hot: Ravelry (16)

It's hot hot hot and it has just been listed on Ravelry! Every week or so, I show you the finest recently added patterns on Ravelry! Don't worry if you've missed it! Click on the image and queue it! Please note that all the images are not mine. They belong to the designer. You may need a Ravelry account (free!) to view the pattern profile.

Hi Guys! You are lucky. Two What's Hot on Ravelry within a week! I couldn't wait any longer to post it, there is some gorgeous new patterns that came out over the week-end! Enjoy!

Monday 21 February 2011

Random : Stylish Blogger award!


Hi Guys! This morning I woke up with a sweet surprise: I was nominate by Bridget from Spinndiva and received a Stylish Blogger award! If you're wondering what it is, it's a unofficial award designed by a person who reads your blog. This person was also nominated by one of her/his follower. Isn't it a great way to say "continue to blog!"?

I love awards like that, because they are a great way to hear about readers. The other fun part is: you have 3 small tasks to do. The first one is thanking the person who nominated you. So here I go Bridget, thank you again for nominating me! You've been one of my first followers, if not the first, and you've always been there. My success, my sad story, my projects... I am more than happy I have been nominated by you! Check out her blog, she really is a giving person, she is so lovely and delightful! Ok. Did I thanked you enough? hihi!

The second task sharing with you 7 personal things that you probably don't know about me:
  1. When I was about 18 years-old, I had my hair dyed. I had every color. Blue, red, orange, pink (that was awesome), violet, green, yellow, black... Since then, my hair have always stayed brown, my natural color.
  2. Before knitting, I had 2 passions: music and drawing. I studied music for more than 10 years. I play piano, bass clarinet, orchestral percussions and I babble drums. And I used to sell my drawings. I stopped, because I didn't had fun anymore...
  3. I don't have any allergies.
  4. I don't smell anything. Yes, you read right: I don't smell anything or so. I was born this way (funny reference to Lady Gaga perhaps?).
  5. I love to exercise.
  6. I also love to eat, which balances it out!
  7. I don't like summer!
Hey that was fun! Now my third and last task is to give the Stylish Blogger Award to 15 other blogs! Wow that's a lot! But hey, I love to give, so here we go!
  1. Thea from Baby Cocktails : I love her designs and her posts!
  2. Eva from Missingstitch : We can see her bloom at every project!
  3. Allison from The Sweatshop of love : Always so lovely!
  4. Kristen from Skein : I'm just so jealous of her success!
  5. Hannah from Palindrome Knits : We have so much same tastes!
  6. Gudrun from The Shetland Trader : Huge fan. It says it all.
  7. Hannah from Knitbot : Again, huge fan.
  8. Veera from 100% rain : Who doesn't love her designs?!
  9. Alana from Never Not Knitting : Her photographs are always so beautiful!
Have a nice week everyone!

Friday 18 February 2011

What's Hot: Ravelry (15)


It's hot hot hot and it has just been listed on Ravelry! Every week or so, I show you the finest recently added patterns on Ravelry! Don't worry if you've missed it! Click on the image and queue it! Please note that all the images are not mine. They belong to the designer. You may need a Ravelry account (free!) to view the pattern profile.

15th What's Hot on Ravelry! Thank you so much guys for all the wonderful comments about this column. And to thank you even more, use the coupon code WHATSHOTONRAVELRY and get 25% off of everything in my Ravelry pattern store and my Etsy boutique! The promotion runs until 8pm Sunday night (Eastern North America time)! Enjoy!


Wednesday 16 February 2011

FO: Lace Legwarmers


Raveled here!

Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Six
Needles: 3.0 mm / US 2.5
Source: CEY website, by Pam Allen
Overall: I love them!

Daylight time in Winter is short. So short, that I waited at least 2 weeks before I could take pictures of my lovely Lace Legwarmers! So after school, I grab the camera and took advantage of the last sunshine rays...


They're perfect over leggings, with a short winter skirt, or even with skinny jeans!



I did follow the pattern throughout: I did one cuff 1.5" long, 8 chart repeats, and then another 1" long cuff. The pattern says to do increases at some point. I didn't need to! I used smaller needles than recommended and they ended just the right size! And if I would've follow the pattern, I would've run out of yarn... now, both legwarmers weight exactly 50g each!



I would totally do them again, if I hadn't so many things to do, for school and knitting...

Monday 14 February 2011

On the needles: Squeezing in


Despite school and work, I manage to squeeze in some *small* knitting time.


Gespeg (here the prototype in some Cascade 220 leftovers from Émilien) is a crossbreed between a beret and a beanie. I love wearing hats, but berets have the unfortunate tendency to be useless in winter, and beanies don't have enough space for all my hair.


After finishing the Gespeg prototype, I wanted to test knit it, but with a truly gorgeous yarn. And, one of my knitting resolution this year was to buy some Madelinetosh for the first time. And so I did, I bought some gorgeous Madelinetosh Vintage in Isadora colorway. I love the subtle tone changes! And Isadora is a color that will be in this Spring!


Do you remember the German assistant who bought from me three scarves for Christmas? Well the recipients loved them, and now she wants one for herself! Since she's allergic to animal fibers, I'm using some Pure Cotton DK from Rowan for another Béthanie. I think I'll have to finish it soon, before Winter ends!

I'm also working on something that I can't show you... but it has a deadline!

Friday 11 February 2011

Villeray


3.00$ USD

Raveled here!

Yarn : 2 skeins of Fleece Artist Merino 20/60 (115g, 342 yards per skein). To achieve the pattern’s lenght, you will only use a small amount of the second skein. You will use approximately 450 yards of yarn. If you want to use a substitute yarn, one skein of Malabrigo Sock or Madeline Tosh light will be enough.

Needles : One pair of straight 3mm/US 2.5 knitting needles or needles size to get gauge

Gauge : 22sts x 30 rows = 4’’ in Spider lace pattern, blocked.



Villeray is an airy and flowy scarf, perfect for chilly Spring mornings and evenings. The all-over lace pattern gives a feminine touch to this upcoming season accessory.


Long and wide enough to be worn many ways, Villeray is ideal to complete any outfit!


I'm really, really happy about this design. It came out exactly as I wanted, lacy, light but just enough warm to be worn all day in an office, at school or outside!



And as for a knitter, Villeray is a really convienient pattern: it only requires one skein of sock yarn! It’s time to use that cherished skein!

Tuesday 8 February 2011

What's Hot: Ravelry (14)

It's hot hot hot and it has just been listed on Ravelry! Every week or so, I show you the finest recently added patterns on Ravelry! Don't worry if you've missed it! Click on the image and queue it! Please note that all the images are not mine. They belong to the designer. You may need a Ravelry account (free!) to view the pattern profile.

After receiving positive comments about the new format (yay!), I reiterate this week! Enjoy!

Friday 4 February 2011

Sneak Peek: Villeray


Pattern coming soon!
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