FO : Flowing Lines

Almost a year almost casting on, I finally get to wear it. The perfect fall sweater.

Flowing Lines by Veera Välimäki, knitted in Malabrigo Worsted, colorway Dark Earth.

Oh, and let's just say that it's the perfect Rhinebeck sweater... Because I'm going to be there! I'm so excited! I really hope I can meet some of you!

Yarn Candy : Twist Festival Frenzy

Did you ever enter a store a bought everything you thought was pretty? Or you know, in TLC's What not to wear show, you don't look at the price and buy everything? Well, I kinda did that on Sunday.

I went to the Twist Fiber Festival in St-André-Avelin, and believe me, it was like Christmas. And by that I mean I spent waaaaay too much on yarn and fiber. Busted budget? Check. Enough yarn for at least a year worth of knitting? Check. A discouraged husband? Check.

I'm still glad I bought all this because I will get to try new yarns, such as Julie Asselin's, Purlin' J's Roving Yarn and Mrs. Crosby's. I like to think I'm really up to date in the yarn world, but I've never heard of them (except for Julie Asselin, of course). I can't wait to cast on!

I also got my hands on beautiful spinning fiber, which I can't wait to spin. *Oh god, so many projects...*

How will I ever be able to go through all that with a 4 months old baby???

Riverside Studio Merino Top, 100% Merino, in grey and yellow. I still don't know if I'll spin a single or a two ply. A shawl? A cowl? Ply with another roving? 

Some gorgeous Jullie Asselin's Merino Roving. I'm think of a single (so laceweight yarn), and a shawl, to show off those great colors!

Malabrigo Nube in Piedra! So psyched to finally put my hand on some!

A brand that I didn't know of, Violette Yarn Co. I now have in my stash two skeins of Cashmerino Fingering in a "celeri" colorway. It's so soft, it'll definitively be a scarf!

Purlin' J's alpaca yarn, worsted weight. Another new brand to me! So new, it's not even listed on Ravelry! The (superr sweet) owner handdyes yarn from a local Ontario alpaca farm. And you should see her shop : it's a truck! Yes yes, a "milkman" bright red truck, full of dreamy yarn!

Another (yes!) discovery for me, Mrs. Crosby Hat Box yarn, in Hot Pimiento colorway. Just for the sake of trying it!

Aw yeah, some totally awesome Zen Garden Yarn Serenity 20. This will become a garter stitch shawl. 

Riverside Studio Merino singles. Ocre/yellow colorway. I couldn't resist!

I think I was really impressed by the Riverside Studio stand, because I also bought some Merino Sock. Oops!

This one as hard to photograph : white on white... Still dreamy, some Sheldridge Farm Soft Touch Lace.

A Quebecer brand, Biscotte & cie. I took some Felix in Gris-gris colorway.

Last but not least, two yummy skeins of Jullie Asselin's Piccolo yarn. And yep, those are new colorways from her Fall 2014 line, Anémone (purple) and Parchemin (beige). Those will become a Life on Sundays shawl by Veera Välimäki.

Didn't I say it was like Christmas?

On The Needle : Flowing Lines

These days, knitting is keeping me mentally balanced. Yep, adjusting to motherhood is hard (and sometimes harder than I thought). Parents keep telling me that the first 6 months are the hardest, and yet others say it's between 1 and 2 years old that the "party" really begins... So I guess I'll just keep on knitting!

I started this sweater (Flowing Lines by Veera Välimäki)just before getting pregnant. In my baby knits frenzy, I put it aside. Now that my belly is back to its almost normal size, I feel like I can work on it. After all, I kinda deserve it ;) Plus, it will be a great sweater to wear this fall.

I didn't have any problems to hop back into the cable pattern, even after this several months break. Plus, Veera's pattern is really simple and well written, so even though the cabling requires a bit of concentration, the Malabrigo Worsted (colorway Dark Earth) and big needles make it go fast!

FO : Tobias II

No, I do not have the time to knit that fast... This FO was knitted before little M. arrived. I hope you can understand that there weren't occasions to take pictures!

This hat is another take at my pattern, Tobias. I knitted the brim longer to really cover the ears, and the bodylonger to give it a slouchier feel.

I had some leftover Malabrigo Worsted in Mineral Red from my Oscar cardigan, and a skein of Malabrigo Worsted again in Azul Profundo (if I remember correctly). I knew these two colors would look great together. I'm so happy with the result! 

Eyelet Infinity Scarf and a little baby

It's been months since I last posted something on the blog. I have a good reason (and barely time to knit). I present to you my little wonder, Maxence.

He was born on April 7th, so he is a little more than 3 months old now. He is super curious, joyful and really funny. He loves songs, baths, to dance and his toys. He already lets his parents sleep at night.

He insisted on posing with me for my lastest (and only) FO of the last few months, an eyelet infinity scarf. Generic stitch pattern, I simply changed skein when running out of yarn. I had two skeins of Phildar Partner baby in gray and one skein in white. Just enough for an infinity scarf. Mindless knitting is a must now.

**As per request, here is the stitch pattern from the book Knitting in 300 stitches:

Multiple of 5 sts + 3 sts

Slip the first st and K the last st. They are not included in the instructions below.

Row 1 (RS) : *P1, K1 through the back loop (TBL), P1, K2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, P1, K1TBL, P1.

Row 2 (WS) : K1, P1TBL, K1, *P2, K1, P1TBL, K1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3 (RS) : *P1, K1TBL, P1, K1, YO, K1, repeat from * to last 3 sts, P1, K1TBL, P1.

Row 4 (WS) : K1, P1TBL, K1, *P3, K1, P1TBL, K1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 5 (RS) : *P1, K1TBL, P1, K3, pass the third st of the right needle over the two first sts (so basically, the first K st of the 3 you just knitted over the other 2), repeat from * to last 3 sts, P1, K1TBL, P1.

Repeat rows 2-5 over and over!

On the needles : Baby Knits

Oscar by Lili comme tout in Malabrigo Merino Worsted

Binic by Solenn Couix-Loarer in Indigo Moon Merino superwash

Raking Leaves (handspun) in Wollen Mills St. spinnin fiber (Merino superwash/Nylon)

[WIP] Ella Funt by Pamela Wynne in Anny Blatt Baby Blatt

[WIP] Evrim by Teresa Cole in Blue Moon Fiberarts Socks that Rocks Heavyweight

[WIP] Little Ivanhoe by Lena Gjerald in Fleece Artist Trail Sock, Earth colorway

I tried to post last week but a nasty, nasty cold took over our household (thanks to all your nice comments on Twitter!). Glad to feel better and to be able show you some of my baby knits!

I almost forgot to tell you that you can now follow me in Instagram. Lots of knitting and cats on the menu!

On the needles : some of my WIPs

Even if we have been in our new place for over a year now, almost all my yarns and WIPs were stored in cardboard boxes. Many many boxes stored in the office, aka the "storage room".

Over the holiday break, we decided to empty the office and convert it in a nursery. We manage to get everything out without cluttering the other rooms. Let's just say that many trips to IKEA were made.

It meant that I had to sort, organise and manage my yarn stash. I had dreaded this moment, but I had no choice. I had to do it. It took one complete afternoon : Dear BF was at work, I put some music on, made myself a cup of tea and opened the first box. I sorted yarns, putting some away, donating others, keeping beloved skeins. I frogged WIPs, discovered unfinished yet gorgeous sweater that went in the "to finish" pile. I classified, stored and labeled storage boxes. It was easier and less dreadful that I imagined. It kinda brought my knitting mojo back.

It helped bring it back so much that I casted on for some serious projets that need knitting commitment. 

My Fair Isle baby blanket, using five colors of Knit Picks Palette. I know this one will take forever and might not be finished before baby arrives. Still I really love how it's turning out. Oh, and it's my pattern. AND I'm working a steek for the first time (aaah!).

My beekeeper's quilt by Tiny Owl Knits. Needless to say that this one too will take forever. I try not to think about how many hexipuffs (which are absolutely addictive to make) I will need to make the quilt. I just keep on making them with leftovers and underloved sock yarn skeins. You can see some of leftover handspuns too in the lot.

Don't be fooled, there is plenty of other WIPs on my needles.