misswoollyknits

Moving Forward...

2012-01-27T02:00:00.003-08:00

Here I am, crocheting merrily away...

It's been difficult to hold my knitting needles ever since I injured my hand last year. Crochet has come to the rescue in a big way and I'm so grateful to be re-learning this lovely craft.

I've made another Claudia Scarf (this seems to be my go-to pattern lately)...

from no-name thrift shop yarn. It's a DK weight nubbly cotton and I added the blue mohair fringe just for fun, never realizing how dramatic it would look...

early morning in the harbour...

and along the waterfront...

The crows were having a conference...

whilst squirrel was filling his face...

We're having a few days of glorious sunshine after what seems like months of rain and snow and fog. I know it's still January but I'm almost certain I can see little hints of spring here and there; I'm probably wrong but it's more fun to be optimistic, don't you think. See you soon, dear reader.

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
~ Hal Borland

Snow Day...

2012-01-20T02:00:00.011-08:00

It was a snow day...

that lasted all week...

and brought more snow to the mountains...

and strange clouds...

the garden is mostly frozen...

but still looks beautiful...

mister was busy shovelling early one morning...

I have lots of finished projects but I've been a bit scattered this week with the snowfall and a power outage and the icy cold temps. and all kinds of crazy distractions; maybe next week I'll have more to share. In the meantime I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
~ Japanese Proverb

Cheap, Cheap...

2012-01-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

I love making something pretty (and practical) that doesn't cost a lot of cash...

This is my Lacy Scarf knit with two strands of Patons Classic Wool in Cognac Heather and 8mm (US11) needles. I used only one skein (210 yd / 192 m) by knitting the inside and outside strands together on 15sts; it's a quick and thrifty scarf, even more so if you make it in a less expensive yarn that the classic wool.

Final size is 5” x 56” / 12.7cm x 142cm after smooshing with the steam iron...

For the crocheters we have another Claudia Scarf made from 2 skeins of Sugar 'n Cream in Countryside...

I started with 22 sts. and size 4.5mm (G hook). Size after smooshing is 4-1/2” x 60” / 11.5cm x 152 cm...

January sunrise along the river...

It's all about the peanuts...

The rooftops are frosty in the morning and it's definitely scarf weather, so I'll wrap my new woolly creation around me and have a wee walkabout. I hope you have a peaceful week, dear reader.

“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Squished...

2012-01-06T02:00:00.005-08:00

We knitters are often told not to squish acrylic yarn but I pay no mind...

Here we have a firmly squished Unscrunchable Scarf in Bernat Berella 4 (discontinued now, boo!)...

and my very first crocheted hat from Kathy North's Crochet Hat and Ravelry link...

This is the most easy peasy hat pattern I could find. I changed the single crochet to half doubles after awhile and added a frilly trim along the edge (the flower was knit by a friend). The colour is actually midway between both photos...

Early morning light...

Competition for the peanuts...

I now own a donkey! This little critter (I named him Doug) was sewn by a member of our local seniors centre; she's 90 years young and still making these adorable stuffed toys...

So, a new month and a new year with only one resolution: to enjoy each day to the fullest. See you soon, dear reader.

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
~ Oprah Winfrey

'Tis The Season...

2011-12-23T02:00:00.011-08:00

to knit...

and crochet in cheerful colours...

First up is a Sinful Ribbed Scarf using two skeins of Sugar 'n Cream in Holiday Stripes...

and from my crochet hook another Autumn Frost Scarf made with two skeins of Sugar 'n Cream in Mistletoe...

early morning peace...

before the rush...

caught in the act...

wishing you a peaceful Christmas and hoping to see you in 2012. Take care, dear reader, wherever you may be...

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.”
~ Harlan Miller

Button Up...

2011-12-09T02:00:00.013-08:00

I wanted a chubby scarf that would stay in place and keep me warm in this chilly land but I didn't have any chubby yarn so I had to improvise...

I took two skeins of worsted weight yarn and knit them together on 8mms (US11) and made a modified version of the Brulee Scarf - really modified because I used the Sinful Ribbed Scarf for the pattern and the Brulee Scarf for the concept. Final measurements are 6” x 48” / 15cm x 122cm after a light blocking...

I added one button and now I have a scrunchy warm scarf that stays in place and there is no need to make a buttonhole as the stitches are loose enough to allow a button to slip through...

I can also wear it as a cowl, should I want to...

This little brown stripey bird sat still for such a long time, I thought he might want his picture taken, so I did...

peek-a-boo...

December sunrise...

a couple of cubs from the hug, hanging out...

The days are chilly and sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy and sometimes zooming by and sometimes ticking over slowly but they are all good days because I can play with yarn, which I am going to do right now, dear reader. I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“But what minutes! Count them by sensation, not by calendars, and each moment is a day.”
~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ambrosia...

2011-12-02T02:00:00.020-08:00

This Ambrosia Scarf seems to be identical to the Claudia Scarf that I made earlier in the year...

No matter which pattern you choose, the scarf is a delight to make and wear...

I followed up with an adorable kitty ornament
(even though it has wonky eyebrows)...

To all you dear knitters who come here expecting to see pictures of knitted projects, so sorry! I will try to balance both crafts here when I can but it may be a little more heavy on the crochet side for awhile, as it has captivated me - see what I mean...

(The pattern is a Ruffle Flower on Ravelry).

Here is the wee dusting of snow we had last week...

and our Chinese lanterns are still going strong...

a peaceful morning in the harbour...

So, time for another rest and maybe a few moments with my crochet hooks. I`ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

``Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.``
~ Vernon Howard

another snack...

2011-11-18T02:00:00.005-08:00

I made me another Morning Snack Scarf exactly like the last time, only this one is dyed...

It started out as this colourway...

but it didn't have the pizzaz I was looking for, so I dunked the finished scarf in a purple dye bath and I am so happy with the final result. I think I will call it my winterberry scarf...

gusty days on the coast...

and the squirrels are busy...

they named a boat after me, imagine that...

We have no snow on the coast yet but there's lots on the mountains and up country; here we are having frost and sun and rain and very chilly days, but it's all good because we have mornings like this...

I hope your days are filled with good cheer, in spite of the weather. See you soon, dear reader.

****Red Alert***** I just looked out the window and we have SNOW! A light dusting of snow, but it's snow. woohoo! Thank you, that is all. See you next week.

“If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one.”
~ Cavett Robert

The Weather Report...

2011-11-11T02:00:00.001-08:00

It's been a busy week here, weather wise...we've had frost...

and sunshine...

and mist...

and more frost...

and sunshine...

and mist...

and busy times on the river...

but no knitting pictures this week...instead you can look at Rudolph (yes I am already decorating for Christmas, just because I can)...

Chat with you next week if all goes well, dear reader.

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”
~ George Santayana

Dyeing With Tea...

2011-11-04T02:00:00.002-07:00

I dyed some cotton yarn again and this time I used tea bags! Yes, I sacrificed several tea bags to the dye pot (but first I made a ginormous pot of tea with them). I wanted the white in this yarn to be a little less glaring and the tea was just what was needed to give the scarf a gentle beige tint without messing with the green...

There are lots of online tutorials for dyeing with tea but I didn't use any of them because I am hopeless at following directions. I just took a bunch of tea bags, threw them in some very hot water and swirled the scarf around until I thought it was done (which lasted about ten minutes because I lost interest).

This is the Isar Scarf (a free pattern, scroll down the page a bit). I used two skeins of Bernat Handicrafter (136 yd / 125 m) and a 4.5mm hook on 14 stitches for a total length of 70 in / 178 cm...

The only problem is....I don't like the colour now...it looks like someone was a very messy eater and dropped blobs of green stuff all down their front. Never mind though, it was fun and I'd probably do it again, just because I could.

After that exhausting experiment, I knit me another Feather & Fan Neckwarmer (and no tea bags were involved in this project)...

Here is a lovely new shelf in my laundry room, built by the mister (no room is complete without a teddy watching over it)...

a fuzzy visitor...

and a gorgeous November 1st morning...

Time now to wander off and make myself a cheery cup of tea, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week...
The bottom is out of the Universe.”
~ Rudyard Kipling

There's always something...

2011-10-28T02:00:00.002-07:00

to smile about, like these feather & fans in shades of autumn...

outside a garden centre in Steveston...

mushrooms in the grass...

my favourite river..

wet but not defeated...

Steveston harbour in early morning light...

and a cheery note in our newly painted laundry room...

I'll share more photos of our lovely laundry room next time, dear reader, but for now I must lie down again, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“Through the blackest night
morning gently tiptoes,
feeling its way to dawn.”
~ Robert Brault

Our House...

2011-10-21T02:00:00.003-07:00

Soon as I saw the pattern for this 1900 House I had to make one, complete with embellishments...

and another DW Cloth for me…

Still a few bright notes amongst the purple...

Early morning fog bank...

Into the mist...

Yesterday afternoon I was resting on the bed when I heard a noise outside the window. One of the black squirrels was sitting on a branch of the willow tree, staring in at me and chittering madly as if to say “get off that bed and come downstairs and feed me”. So I did, because I have been trained well by these furballs...

The caramel colours of autumn...

Time now for another long rest so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. “
~ Jane Austen

up and down...

2011-10-07T02:00:00.002-07:00

Another
One Row Lace Scarf (Ravelry link)...

I doubled two skeins of Sugar 'n Cream cotton and knit with size US13 / 9mm needles on 16 sts. to create this fluffy scarf...

The squirrels are in hoarding mode since the weather turned colder, but they always eat a goodly supply of peanuts before carrying the rest back to their home...

The berries are just starting to turn red on our (fill in the blank) shrub (no idea what it's called)...

Still a few blue stragglers...

A cloud watcher's delight...

We have the best sunrises this time of year...

I had a dental appointment this week, just a regular cleaning. I'm always hopeful it will be the kind of visit that ends with “everything is great, see you in six months” but somehow it never seems to go that way, even though I am diligent about my dental hygiene. So next Friday I'm back in the chair for some drilling and filling and impressions and whatnot. Life is always up and down, is it not?

I am grateful for my lovely dentist though, so at least it's not a scary process anymore. At this visit the hygienist covered me with a woolly blanket when I said I was a bit chilly then gave me a pair of sunglasses to keep the light from bothering my eyes; I almost fell asleep during the process. Next week won't be nearly as much fun and I don't know if I'll be able to post, dear reader, but I will do my best.

Either way, I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

"If you expect your life to be up and down, your mind will be much more peaceful."
~ Lama Yeshe

cheery colours...

2011-09-30T02:00:00.015-07:00

I started knitting a Feathery Cowl then decided I needed a Feathery Scarf, so I continued on until I had 58 inches (147 cm)...

then I had the brilliant idea I would dye the scarf but the only dye colour I had available was rose pink; I actually like this cheery-uppy colour and feel quite smiley when I wear it...

If you decide to try this at home, do remember the scarf will curl a bit because of all the purl rows, but if it's worn European style you won't even notice...

Autumn colours, muted...

and bright...

The days are crispy and crunchy but some flowers are still blooming...

Mt. Baker in autumn mist...

Early morning along the Fraser River...

and that is all I have to share today dear reader, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

"Life is Colour and Warmth and Light and a striving evermore for these."
~ Julian Grenfell

autumn is here...

2011-09-23T02:00:00.004-07:00

and the pumpkins are in the fields...

and in a front garden...

hydrangeas don their purple hues...

and raindrops are everywhere...

the days are a bit blurry...

but the squirrels don't mind as long as there are peanuts...

in between the raindrops...

I have no knits or crochets this week as I'm a bit under the weather, but I hope you enjoyed the colours of our autumn here on the coast, dear reader. See you soon.

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all."
~ Stanley Horowitz

Back and forth...

2011-09-16T02:00:00.002-07:00

between knitting and crocheting...

My hands are a bit more at ease with the crochet hook; this is the Vogue Aqua Mesh Scarf (scroll down for pattern)...

I started with a chain of 32 stitches, my 4.5mm hook (G) and two skeins of Sugar 'n Cream in the Love colourway; final measurements are 6” x 68” (15 cm x 173 cm) and it's a toasty and colourful scarf...

Splish splash we were taking a bath...

The photo is blurred a bit but I love this little squirrel's expression; he looks like he's laughing...

Traffic on the river...

When I'm sitting here at my computer, I can now look out at this weird contraption perched on top of our garage...

I'm told it's a weather station but it looks more like a space station to me (I just hope we don't make contact with aliens; I'm not going anywhere I can't take my knitting or crochet).

So, enough silliness. I'll leave you now and wish you a peaceful week, dear reader.

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
~ e.e. cummings

Morning Snack...

2011-09-09T02:00:00.005-07:00

A new-to-me pattern, this Morning Snack Scarf is a fun knit (Ravelry link)…

I used 2 skeins of Bernat Handicrafter in Sun Kissed Ombre and 5mms (US8) for a total of 136 yd / 124 m. Final measurements are 4” x 60” (10 cm x 152 cm)...

My scarf doesn't look like the original, however. I started with 18 sts. then added an extra stitch to the pattern as I didn't like the k2tog. ending, so a different look but just as pretty...

The squirrels are mostly in hiding; I think our warm summery weather has them confused...

Early morning at the harbour...

I can't believe the hydrangeas are already wearing their purple colours. It seems only yesterday that summer was arriving on the coast. I am perpetually astonished when a new season approaches, as if it had never happened before...

I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“You have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.”
~ James Matthew Barrie

Steveston, My Steveston

2011-08-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Our little town has been invaded by film crews and recently morphed into Storybrooke, Maine, USA for a new tv series...

Even my favourite craft store has changed their name...

We watched the props crew take most of the signs down early one morning after filming, but some signs stayed behind...

This was a slow knitting week as my finger continues to heal but I did manage one little knitted card holder...

The pattern is for a Kitty Coin Purse but for the life of me I could not sew a kitty face on that purse without it looking like something possessed, so I stopped at a single button closure and it works well, even though it's a bit ratty on the edges...

The blue hydrangeas are already muting their colours into autumn tones...

No post about Steveston would be complete without a scene like this...

Now it's time to toddle off somewhere, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Peace - that was the other name for home.”
~ Kathleen Norris

Crochet To The Rescue...

2011-08-19T02:00:00.001-07:00

When I can't knit, thankfully I can crochet...

I managed to badly infect a finger and it's difficult to hold my knitting needles but I am able to manage a crochet hook. I'm so grateful I learned the basics of this craft; when I do sit down and crochet, I realize how much I enjoy the process and wonder why I don't do it more often. It just seems an automatic response to pick up the knitting needles instead of the crochet hook but I think I am going to make more of an effort to expand my crochet skills.

In the meantime, this is the lovely Claudia Scarf (written in UK and US terms) with a chain of 30 stitches, a 4mm hook and a ginormous skein of Sugar 'n Cream yarn...

I crocheted until the scarf was 63 in / 160 cm in length; width is 7 in / 18 cm...

This scarf is wind-proof and incredibly warm, despite the lacy design...

Filling up at the feeding station...

and lazing in the pool on a summer's day...

I will toddle off now to enjoy whatever the day brings but not before I wish you a peaceful week, dear reader. See you soon.

"Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, it is the only time we have."
~ Art Buchwald

Knitting For A Friend...

2011-08-12T02:00:00.002-07:00

My furry friend Spenser is watching me work on his new Teddy Bear Sweater…

I'm knitting a larger size than the pattern calls for and the colour is similar to his old sweater, so he should feel quite comfortable when it's finished...

Now I know why the adult squirrels were missing for awhile; they've been hatching another batch of babies...

River watching...

and a splash of colour from the flower basket...

I have to go work on Spenser's sweater now as he's keeping track of my progress...

so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“In a world gone mad, a bear is a comforting, uncomplicated, dependable hunk of sanity."
~ Pam Brown

Cotton Candy...

2011-08-05T02:00:00.001-07:00

is what I call this scarf, knit from a large skein of Bernat Handicrafter Stripes - ( 152m / 166 yd.)...

I used my Lacy Scarf pattern and 5mm / US8 needles with a cast on of 21 stitches...

Final measurements are 5.6 in / 14.2 cm width x 55 in / 1.4 m length after blocking...

The hydrangeas are blooming madly in all directions now that we are having summery weather...

but the squirrels have been very quiet this past month...most likely the parents are recovering from raising their young and the kids are off somewhere tormenting other humans...

A quiet moment in the harbour..

I think I'll wander outside and admire the hydrangeas, then sit in the shade and watch the clouds float by, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky is hardly a waste of time.”
~ John Lubbock

A Warm Hug...

2011-07-22T02:00:00.006-07:00

Isn't this Romney Kerchief beautiful? Bear insisted he should be the first to model my kerchief so I tried to straighten him up a bit but his flyaway fur refused to settle (although I did manage to polish his nose to a bright shine)...

My dear friend Mary knit this for me from a skein of Grass in colourway no. 9088. The colours are more intense than what my camera shows; there is a hint of purple and green running through the silvery grey base and reminds me of a swift flowing river. It feels so soft and manages to make me look all grown-up and fashionable (which is a miracle, really). I love this kerchief SO much...I feel like I'm being hugged by a friend...

I started to knit myself an Unscrunchable Scarf with two skeins of Sugar 'n Cream stripes...

and it was coming along just fine until I decided I'd rather use the yarn for cloths, so now it is in the process of being made into several feather & fans. It did look pretty as a scarf though, so I might just revert back again; good thing this yarn is strong...

My kiddo taking photos whilst I take photos of him (and the boats)...

We came across this wild and crazy tree/bush/shrub along the boardwalk; I call it the purple sausage tree but kiddo says it looks more like cotton candy...

I think now would be a good time to stop talking and take a nap, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.”
~ Leo Buscaglia

One Row Of Lace...

2011-07-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

That's all there is to this One Row Lace Scarf; it's an easy pattern and simple to memorize...

I used up all my blue and white bits of Sugar 'n Cream cotton (approx. 200 yards / 193 metres) and followed the pattern as written. It's light and airy and just right for summer. Final measurements are 5.5 in / 15 cm x 56 in / 1.4 m...

Hydrangea row...

They mostly all popped out within two days; some are still in the pale stages...

and others are in full bloom...

A rare sunny day in the harbour...

Even the squirrels are soggy from the rain...

Not to worry though; the rain is lovely in its own way and our grass is green and needs no watering (and that's a good thing because we never do water it). Time now to wander off somewhere and do something so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.”
~ Vivian Greene

Love...

2011-07-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

what a lovely name for this colour of Sugar 'n Cream yarn...

I had more success with those two cloths than I did with my Eloomanator Dishcloth. I was almost at the very end when I realized I had unknowingly added an extra hole along the bottom left corner – and I was so proud of this knit until that discovery...drat...

The hydrangeas are finally opening up and showing off their blue beauty...

and for the first time in years our calla lily has bloomed...

Someone enjoyed an early morning 'tailgate party' on the river...

and another someone hitched up their micro-yacht for a dip in the water...

who, me? I didn't do anything...it was that mean old raccoon who knocked over the water dish and ate all the peanuts...I was just an innocent bystander...

I'm late this morning as I had forgotten it was Friday (see what happens when you are retired). I'm just about to start my day so I'll toddle off now but not before I wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that."
~ Michael Leunig

What A Difference A Stitch Makes...

2011-07-01T02:00:00.014-07:00

I made myself two facecloths from two skeins of Bernat Handicrafter in Lavender Ice but knit with different designs. The first cloth is the Kitchen Cotton Dishcloth pattern…

and the second one is the DW Cloth...

It's hard to believe they are from the same colourway. My third facecloth was knit with Bernat in Beach Ball Blue, using the Basket Rib Hand Towel pattern...

I cast on 46 sts. to my 4mm (US6) needles for all three cloths and knit until I ran out of yarn. The finished size is 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" (24cm x 24 cm), just right for a facecloth...

Early morning at the pier...

and flowers in a church garden...

Greytail...

It seems that words are hard to come by this morning, dear reader, so I'll just wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

"Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts."
~ Margaret Lee Runbeck

Now We Are Six...

2011-06-24T02:00:00.004-07:00

Six years of blogging, wheeeeee!

We've had sun...

and we've had rain...

Just enough to keep the roses in the park happy...

There's been a wee bit of knitting; it's another Bridges Towel (Ravelry link), this one in Sugar 'n Cream Lava Lamp. I added 2 knit stitches to each side for a total of 42 stitches...

and more Feather & Fan cloths in buttery shades of Sugar 'n Cream...

So, here's to another year of blogging! Thank you for visiting and sending me such lovely emails. You, dear reader, make this all worthwhile.

“But now I am six,
I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six
now and forever.”
~ A.A. Milne

Flower Power...

2011-06-17T02:00:00.009-07:00

So many beautiful colours...

in our new flower basket...

On the knitting front, I made me another Basket Rib Hand Towel with Sirdar Calico in the Shrimp colourway...

It's a DK weight cotton with 60% cotton/40% acrylic and very nice to work with. I used my 3.75mms (US5) and cast on 62 sts. The towel has 33 repeats and finished size is 11” x 18” (28 cm x 46 cm)...

Rocky paid a short visit...

Squirrel was not impressed as that fat raccoon ate all the peanuts but one and then drank the water bowl dry...

So, I know I had lots more stuff to tell you but as I seem to have the attention span of a flea nowadays, I've forgotten what it was I wanted to say; instead I'll just wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Flowers are those little colourful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark, sombre skies blanket our thoughts.”
~ Dodinsky

It's Ok To Eat The Daisies...

2011-06-03T02:00:00.027-07:00

This little one was chomping on the daisies with great enthusiasm; good thing we don't use any chemicals on the lawn...

Lots of Feather & Fan Cloth knitting going on for Canada Comforts, these two in Bernat Handicrafter Stonewash and French Blue...

This one was knit from 9 little bunches of leftovers..

Blooming rhodos in Steveston...

and a favourite spot for us to sit and watch life on the river...

It has been another wet week but the sun is supposed to arrive soon for an extended visit. We're also being visited by tall ships in Steveston harbour today, which means a certain someone who passed the BC Boating Licence exam this week will be out in his micro-yacht, taking photos up close...

Time for a wee rest now, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“There is NOTHING - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
~ Kenneth Grahame

Under Cover...

2011-05-27T02:00:00.002-07:00

Our ratty old rubber mat is hidden with my second
Dishrack Cover...

I used the same number of stitches (69) with a seed stitch border and stockinette stitch for the centre...

This cover was also knit from a large Bernat handicrafter skein so I still don't know exactly how many yards / metres it takes to knit. For my next cover I'll use the smaller skeins so I can tell you the amount of yarn you'll need...

These wee flowers are peeping out from under our black currant bushes...

Mama squirrel is busy feeding her young...

We are once again squelching our way through the puddles, with the occasional brief visit from the sun. I like the rain though. I will often open an upstairs window and watch the raindrops falling on the leaves of our willow tree and listen as they plonk, plonk, plonk on the rain gutters; soon enough we will be wilting in summer's heat and looking wistfully at the sky, hoping for a glimpse of a rain cloud on the horizon.

So, I think I'll go potter around the garden and admire the beautiful shades of green on our rain-soaked Douglas fir...

and maybe catch a raindrop or two. I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.”
~ John Updike

From Here...

2011-05-20T02:00:00.003-07:00

from here..

to here...

Sunny weather has arrived and there is colour everywhere...

and everyone is enjoying the sunbeams...

and just because it is sunny I had to knit another Scarfy Come Home scarf using the same ingredients and measurements as my first Scarfy, just a different colour...

It's nice to have a cotton neck wrap at this time of year...

Now it's time to enjoy the sun while it lasts...

so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.”
~ William Arthur Ward

Leafy...

2011-05-13T09:45:00.007-07:00

The Leaf Lace Washcloth from Jan Eaton is a delicious little knit (sorry but I can only find the Ravelry link)...

I'm trying to decide which cloth to knit with this little bunch of leftovers...

Fluffy stuff...

Heading off to work...

We're all a bit damp from the rain...

but the sun has decided to pay us a visit for a few days and it feels like the first week of Spring, yay! See you soon, dear reader.

“The sun, with all those planets revolving
around it and dependent upon it,
can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if
it had nothing else in the universe to do.”
~ Galileo

What I See...

2011-05-06T02:00:00.034-07:00

from our kitchen window; so many shades of green and all of them rich and vibrant from our April rain...

In spite of our incredibly cold and wet April, these flowers are still blooming and smell so sweet...

42 yards or 38.4 metres is all it took to make this DW Cloth from leftover cotton, starting with 34 sts. on my 4mm (US6) needles...

The finished cloths are 7" x 8" (18cm x 20cm). I knit them a bit longer because they tend to shrink in height after repeated washing (hmmm, maybe that is what's happening to me)...

One of us had fun tootling around Vancouver harbour on a rare sunny day...

Is anyone home? I'm hungry...

And now it's time to say adieu, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Why try to be someone you're not? Life is hard enough without adding impersonation to the skills required.”
~ Robert Brault

Renewal...

2011-04-22T02:00:00.002-07:00

For awhile now I've been covering up our ratty old rubber dish mat with an oversized kitchen towel...

The mat is a billion years old and should probably be thrown away but it's not recyclable and we don't want to add one more piece of junk to the landfill, so knitting will come to the rescue. I found inspiration at the Homespun Living blog...

but since I don't sew anymore, I searched for a knitting pattern instead and decided to use the Goldenrod Towel design (Ravelry Link)...

with a few alterations for size. My stitch count is 69 stitches on my 4.5mms (US7) and the final measurements are 15” x 22” (38 cm x 56 cm). I used a large skein of the Bernat Handicrafter so I can't give you the yarn requirements yet but I'll be making more of these and I'll let you know next time...

I'm so happy when I can fix something with my knitting...

My first trip to Steveston in two months and the scenery is as beautiful as ever...

The hydrangeas are green all over and I can't wait for the blue buds to start showing...

I'll wish you a happy Easter and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

'Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.'
~ Jean Paul Richter

Spring Fling...

2011-04-15T02:00:00.020-07:00

On a day in Spring I flung some Sugar 'n Cream in Violet Stripes on my needles and made this colourful scarf from the Bridges Kitchen Towel pattern (the Ravelry Link)...

I did adjust the pattern size to scarf size and added some heart buttons just for fun (the bear is handmade by a friend)...

I'm still making cotton granny squares with my cotton leftovers, using the pattern from Purl Bee...

I love how our neighbour shares his colourful plants with us...

I've heard that grey squirrels are a common sight in many parts of the world but they don't visit us as often as the black squirrels, so each time is a treat...

It's been quite chilly here with lots of rainy days and even a smidge of snow, so a little spring colour indoors is welcome...

Now for more resting, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go.”
~ Christopher Morley

The Little Things...

2011-04-08T02:00:00.003-07:00

This happened awhile ago when I had several small leftover bits of Sugar 'n Cream in Natural Stripes and I couldn't decide which cloth pattern to use it for. I started with a Feather & Fan cloth but the blocks of colour were not working well...

So I crocheted my favourite Tulip Stitch Cloth but that didn't look right either...

My next attempt was the new-to-me Round Dish Cloth. I rather liked this one but my brain kind of got away on me and I lost my place in the pattern...

Finally I resorted to cutting and pasting the ball of yarn together in order to get a look I could live with...and at the end of the day, I didn't even care much for this one. Still, it was fun to play and learn. Sometimes it's the little things that defeat us...

However I recently did tackle another little thing and this time it came out just right. I made a tea coaster (or mug rug) out of 15 yards / 13.7 metres of Sugar 'n Cream leftovers. I used the Waffle Knit Dishcloth pattern - Ravelry Link - with 23 stitches cast on. It is too cute under my tea mug...

This is the one and only daffodil in our garden. I don't know why we had such a poor show this year unless it was the incredibly ginormous amount of rain that fell on us...

Crow was willing to brave the rain for some peanuts...

As I write this the sun is shining madly in all directions, so I am going to wander around in the garden and enjoy each moment of sunny goodness. I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

'Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.'
~ Henry L. Doherty

Green Words...

2011-04-01T02:00:00.021-07:00

How are you, dear reader? I never intended to be away this long, but pneumonia is not something you can argue with; if it says you are down for the count, then you better listen. I am weak as a kitten but slowly working my way back...and I have a heartfelt appreciation for the simple act of breathing without pain. There was no knitting done for the past month but I did manage to hold a crochet hook once in awhile...

I seem to be enthralled with my granny squares and now that I have a sizable number I may try putting them together for a blanket. It will be a very colourful blanket, if so...

I have no new knitting but I can show you this cute little towel I made a few months ago. It's the Wheatfields Cloth pattern. I cast on the 42 sts. to my 4mm (US6) needles and kept knitting until I finished one skein of Bernat Handicrafter (80 yards / 73 metres) in Forest Green...

Life is blooming in the garden...

What a joy it is to look out the window and see so many shades of green, including our very new hydrangea buds...our humble garden brings me so much pleasure...

Speaking of green, we have a new green bird feeder. It keeps the squirrels away and the pigeons are afraid to land because their weight makes the the side dip down and they panic and fly off, so it's doing a wonderful job of feeding the small birds and not wasting seed...

Lunch break in the garden...

Now I am going to have another little rest, so I will wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday if all goes well.

“Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.”
~ Lindley Karstens

Southwest...

2011-02-25T02:00:00.005-08:00

I made this Southwest Cloth in Sugar 'n Cream hot blue...

I also used up a bunch of cotton leftovers for another Basket Rib Hand Towel ...

The daffodils are still growing in spite of the chilly temps. and snowflakes this week...

Leaving harbour...

Another view of the north shore mountains with Vancouver airport in the foreground...

A feathery friend on the wharf..

I'm having a 30 year old filling replaced by my lovely dentist early this morning, so I must toddle off and make myself clean and spiffy. I'll wish you a peaceful week dear reader and hope to see you next Friday.

“Some tortures are physical
And some are mental,
But the one that is both
Is dental.”
~ Ogden Nash

The Crochet Bug...

2011-02-18T02:00:00.011-08:00

I've been bitten once again by the crochet bug and can't stop making the Tulip Stitch Cloth from my cotton leftovers...

I love these cloths for their fat squooshiness, plus they dry so quickly...

I ventured even further into crochet with some granny squares (shades of 1970)...

My skills are a bit rusty but it was fun to play with crochet for awhile...

Storm clouds on the horizon...

and a happy customer...

PS: I came across some free wallpaper of frost flowers, baby chicks and a big woolly sheep at the Morehouse Farms website.

I do love my tea for any reason)...

I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

“Those who are clever, who have a Brain, never understand anything.”
~ Winnie the Pooh

A hint of spring...

2011-02-11T02:00:00.007-08:00

Our daffodils are bravely pushing through the soil...

and the crocuses are bursting out all over the park...

Another new-to-me scarf pattern, the Sinful Ribbed Scarf has only two repeat rows and is a very soothing knit (scroll to bottom of page for the pdf and Ravelry link)...

I used 3 skeins of Bernat Handicrafter in Cherry Swirl, for a total of 204 yards on my 4mm (US6) needles; finished size is 5-1/4” x 56” (13 cm x 145 cm). I liked it so much I made another one in the Sun Kissed Ombre colours...

A different view from Richmond, looking towards Vancouver and the snowy north shore mountains...

I came across an interesting scarf-related site called Tie My Scarf. Who knew you could need lessons in scarf tying? Apparently I do; I tried to copy the Figure 8 style in one of the videos and almost strangled myself in the process (hopefully you aren't as clumsy).

This beautiful heart box was created by my kiddo in his workshop...

It's time to celebrate with chocolate so I'm off to get my supply of vitamin C. I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

'There's not a leaf that falls
upon the ground
But holds some joy,
of silence or of sound.'
~ Samuel Blanchard, Hidden Joys

The Big Cowl...

2011-01-28T02:00:00.014-08:00

I thought I'd knit myself a new cowl, so I enjoyed a leisurely browse through the Ravelry collection until I finally settled on the Ithacowl (Ravelry link)…

I started my cast on with a 5mm (US8) circular, knit the remainder of the cowl with a 4mm (US6) circular and then switched back to 5mm and bound off in the rib pattern...

This cowl is bigger in diameter than any I've knit before but I'm really happy with it and I think I will make more of this design; it will be especially nice to wear in the spring when I need something light and soft around my scrawny neck to keep the chill away.

I used two skeins of Bernat Handicrafter in French Blue and at the end, only a few inches were left...

Early morning at river's edge...

further along River road...

It's not easy to be well-groomed when you're this soggy...

I had intended to start another cowl right away but somehow a scarf was flung on the needles before I realized what had happened. I'm not very clever at working on more than one project at a time but I am brilliant at planning dozens and dozens of projects for the future, most of which I never make; so whilst I tootle away at my longish scarf I'll browse and dream about the next cowl I might knit.

In the meantime I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"I never think of the future - it comes soon enough."
~ Albert Einstein

Ripples...

2011-01-21T02:00:00.006-08:00

I made another wee towel this week from the Ripple Hand Towel pattern. This design is surprisingly easy for my wobbly brain to decipher, in spite of there being 8 pattern rows (I just never know what will work and what won't)...

I used a 80yd / 73 m skein of Bernat Handicrafter in Hot Green. The finished size after blocking is 9”x12” / 23 x 30 cm) and it's already in use...

Golden ripples...

from a golden sunrise...

It's only January and the first buds of the blue hydrangeas are peeking out from their winter sleep...

Stormy weather...

A west coast January...

Soon it will be time for a small walkabout in the rain, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"All rivers, even the most dazzling, those that catch the sun in their course, all rivers go down to the ocean and drown. And life awaits man as the sea awaits the river.
~ Simone Schwarz-Bart

Mosaic...

2011-01-14T02:00:00.002-08:00

I've actually knit with something other than dishcloth cotton! This scarf was made from one skein of Bernat Mosaic in the Spectrum colourway...

I really like this yarn. It reminds me of Noro Kureyon with the long colour changes and the thick and thin component, except it's 100% acrylic. It feels almost like a thick brushed cotton and knits up beautifully, so if you have a wool allergy, this might be a nice substitute...

My finished Unscrunchable Scarf measures 6” x 60” (15cm x 147 cm) after blocking and swooshing with the steam iron...

We had snow on Wednesday morning...

but it didn't stop this intrepid fisherman...

There, I think I've said all I had in mind for today, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only."
~ Joseph Wood Krutch

Ladders and Bridges...

2011-01-07T02:00:00.008-08:00

Hello, dear reader! I hope you've been well. Now that life has returned to a more peaceful routine I am slowly picking up the needles again; still making the simplest knits, but enjoying the process...

For some reason I have this urge to fill up the house with small towels, so I'm busy making one after another. These two were knit with a skein each of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton which is 80 yards (73 metres) and makes a tea towel approx. 9” x 12” (23cm x 30.5cm). Mind you, I increased the stitch count to 42 on each towel, so your measurements will differ if you follow the pattern...

The first towel is a cloth pattern called the Laddered Cloth (Ravelry link). I messed up this towel, big time. The pattern consists of only two rows, yet I added a purl row in between each of the two rows, so I was working a four-row pattern all the way through. I have no idea why my brain fluffed this so badly, but the finished towel didn't turn out too awful...

I decided to try another towel from the same designer; this one is called the Bridges Towel (Ravelry link). The only change I made was to add two knit stitches at each end to give a neater edge, which brought the stitch count up to 42....

We've had some beautiful winter sunrises...

along River Road...

and some heavy rainfall too; wee squirrel is soggy but determined to have lunch...

Now I'm off for another long nap, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." ~ Colette

Old Year...

2010-12-17T02:00:00.003-08:00

Earlier in the year I finished this Unscrunchable Scarf from Sugar 'n Cream Meadow Stripes...

It's surprisingly warm and cheery too...

I don't have any photos of squirrels in snow this year, so I thought I'd share my favourite from December 2007...aren't these furry snowflakes too cute...

Not a quality photo, but I thought this festive tugboat looked so colourful in the early morning light...

If you are still trying to knit or crochet gifts for the holidays, Rachel is posting a Dishcloth Pattern-A-Day Countdown to Christmas and another good website has 50 free holiday knitting and crochet patterns listed. I've found some lovely new-to-me patterns from both sites.

So dear reader, this will be my last post of 2010. I will miss you but I do need a few weeks to lie low and conserve my energy through all the excitement that comes this time of year. I'll wish you a peaceful holiday season and hope to see you in 2011. Merry Christmas and happy new year!

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."
~ Joey Adams

What's Next...

2010-12-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

I finally reached my goal of 1,000 Feather & Fan cloths...

For 2011, I'm thinking of knitting all the cloths from the Dishcloth Boutique site. I`ve already made a few of the patterns so I can start slowly with those old familiars and work my way up to the more challenging designs. It might be a way for my wobbly brain to learn new techniques without being overwhelmed by one ginormous project. Little bits are the way to go, I think (unless of course I change my mind and start something completely different, which is always a possibility with me).

In the meantime I`m having fun crocheting Tulip Stitch cloths in cheerful colours...

Reflections on the water...

Morning sky...

Winter light in Steveston harbour...

Munchies...

Now it`s time for my munchies, so I`ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

~ Victor Frankl

Some Clover and Some Snow...

2010-12-03T02:00:00.016-08:00

This Clover Tweed Dishcloth looks bright and cheery in blue and white...

If you don't like to purl, this is the pattern you want; it's knit, knit, knit all the way - and very quick to make...

The snow may have gone but I still have good memories of those lovely white days...

Isn't it beautiful? I do hope we get more snow, but in the meantime I'm enjoying every day as much as I can, no matter what the weather. See you soon, dear reader.

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"
~ J.B. Priestley

It's A Marshmallow World....

2010-11-26T08:45:00.001-08:00

in the winter...

when the snow comes to cover the ground...

It's a time to play...

It's a whipped cream day...

I wait for it all year round...

(with apologies to Carl Sigman for messing with his beautiful song).

We had two lovely snowfalls this week and because it was freezing cold the first snowfall didn't melt, so we had snow upon snow....I was over-the-moon happy (but I stepped on my angel when I finished as I wasn't too steady by this time)...

When there is snow my knitting falls to the side so I haven't much to show, but I did manage another Tulip Stitch Cloth (my crochet edges are always a bit wonky, but at least I finished)...

I'm also mesmerized by something new in my life (I'll tell you more about this next time)...

Last night the temperature rose and rain returned and this morning the sun has popped out, so our snow is slowing disappearing, but what magic there was for those few days.

So dear reader, I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday, but I'll sneak in just one more snow picture before I go...

"Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below,
Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along."

~ J.W.Watson

One Skein...

2010-11-19T02:00:00.001-08:00

I made a bunch of stuff from one very large skein of Bernat Handicrafter in Crown Jewels ombre, like this Tulip Stitch Cloth (with a mauve trim)...

lots of Feather and Fan cloths...

and a Basket Rib Hand Towel...

Early morning sunrise...

on two different mornings...

Our house is looking bright and festive...

Now it's time for some hot chocolate before I carry on with my holiday decorating, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

North of 60...

2010-11-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

I celebrated my birthday this week; so far I like being 60 very much, especially when there is chocolate cake involved...

I unravelled the Twisted Rib scarf from last week and started to knit one of my Feather & Fan cloths, but somewhere along the way I veered off course and continued making one very long cloth/scarf...

What a blast it was to keep knitting my favouritey pattern forever and ever until the yarn ran out. I used a ginormous skein of Bernat Handicrafter yarn so I didn't have any joins to fiddle with; it's a lovely warm cloth/scarf and the colour matches my chocolatey brown jacket...

Early morning at the Steveston docks...

Ben loves my cloth/scarf too...

So, dear reader, I'm off to do stuff that a 60 year old would do, like...hmmm...I'm not sure yet what 60 year olds do that would be any different from what 59 year olds do, but I'm sure it involves having lots of fun and eating lots of chocolate, woohoo!

In the meantime, I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope we'll meet here again next Friday, when I will try to be on time, but I make no promises, being 60 and all...I might just be having too much fun...

“Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know why I look this way. I've travelled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.”
~ Will Rogers

Mistakes...

2010-11-05T02:00:00.003-07:00

There seems to be a million ways to knit the mistake rib pattern but I decided to use the easy peasy Mistake Stitch Scarf from The Purl Bee...

All I did was cast on 39 stitches to my 4mms (US6) and k2, p2 until the last 3 stitches, ending with k2, p1. I'm using Bernat Handicrafter cotton in beige twist colourway and so far it's measuring a width of approx. 4 inches, although when I started the measurement was 8 inches. The mistake rib really squeezes the stitches together as you knit, so if you use this pattern be sure to cast on more stitches than you think you'll need. I'm not 100% sure I'll continue on as the cotton is feeling a bit heavy with all those stitches scrunched up together. I might just rip it all out and start over...

A Feather & Fan cloth and a Circle cloth from one skein of Sugar 'n Cream in bright yellow (with just a wee smidge left over)...

The pumpkins were on the small side this year (and some of them were red)...

An early morning visitor...

and an early morning sunrise...

And now I'm going to wander around and see what the day brings, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.”
~ Steven Wright

Bigfoot...

2010-10-29T02:00:00.003-07:00

I'll bet you didn't know Bigfoot is real and lives at our house (he's also bilingual)...

This furry fellow was a promotional offer from Lipton soup in the mid 80s. We owned a Bigfoot trailer at the time and Mr. Gros-Pas was our travelling mascot...

On the knitting front, I've discovered a new-to-me pattern called the One Row Handspun Scarf...

I used Bernat Berella 4 in the Grape colourway. I cast on 30 sts. to my 4.5mm (US7) needles and knit until I ran out. After blocking with the steam iron - swoosh, swoosh - my scarf measures 6" x 56" (15.24 cm x 1.4 m)...

This pattern has been around for 4 years and I've just discovered it, so now I have to catch up. I like how one twisted stitch can make all the difference in a simple design – it's so pretty!

Squirrel in a basket...

Early morning moon in Steveston...

Now it's time to fill my face with munchies (and maybe some hot chocolate) so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"When having a smackerel of something with a friend, don't eat so much that you get stuck in the doorway trying to get out.”
~ Winnie the Pooh

Fern...

2010-10-22T02:00:00.003-07:00

I knit this Unscrunchable Scarf awhile ago...

I used Bernat Berella 4 in the Fern colourway...

A soft cozy hug...

The squirrels are frisky...

A rare visit from a flicker...

Another beautiful sunrise with Mt. Baker in the background...

and a view I never grow weary of...

I had more to tell you, dear reader, but I've forgotten what it was, so instead I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

"All my life I've wanted, just once, to say something clever without losing my train of thought."
~ Robert Brault

Camo...

2010-10-15T02:00:00.021-07:00

Another Unscrunchable Scarf in Bernat Camouflage (I think this yarn has been discontinued)...

I did my usual 24 stitches on 5mms (US8) and zipped along until just a wee speck of yarn was left...

It fits snuggly warm around my scrawny old neck...

A hawk looking for a meal in our yard...

This fellow wasn't worried...

The very last blue...

I probably should have deleted this photo from my camera but it's exactly what my eyes experienced when the sun peeked over the horizon and everything was backlit with a beautiful yellow haze...

I'm writing this post from my new desktop pc and so very happy to be here. If this pc performs as well as my old one, I shouldn't need to talk about computers for another seven years - and won't you enjoy that?

Now it's time for a long autumn nap, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“In the old days people robbed stagecoaches and knocked off armoured trucks. Now they're knocking off servers.”
~ Richard Power

Fifty One...

2010-10-01T02:00:00.082-07:00

That’s how many feather and fan cloths I’ve left to knit before I reach my personal goal of 1,000…

It's been almost five years since I started knitting these cloths for charity...

So, here I am, almost finished…and I’m losing momentum. Does that ever happen to you? You’re within reach of your goal and suddenly those last few whatevers (cloths, miles, pounds, inches) seem impossible to achieve. I’m hoping to reach 1,000 by the end of the year, but the only way I can see it happening is to bribe myself with chocolate (I may be quite fluffy in size, come January)...

My furry friend doesn't care one way or the other, just as long as the peanuts keep showing up...

We’re in the midst of some warm, sunny days and these flowers are having one last colourful hurrah…

Mind you, now that I’ve mentioned the sunny weather, we’ll surely be back to rain in no time…

Blogger has made some changes to how we create blog posts, so if this post doesn't look right to you, it's not my fault, honest!

Speaking of changes, it’s been five months since my lovely old computer fizzled out (and I'm still feeling the pain) but I’ve finally chosen a replacement. It should be here early next week, so I’m trying to prepare myself for a new learning experience with windows 7…and we know how well I deal with change...wheee!

In the meantime I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

User, n. The word computer professionals use when they mean "idiot."
~ Dave Barry

Autumn...

2010-09-24T02:00:00.026-07:00

This lovely Autumn (Automne) cloth is rated as 'expert' but if I can knit it, anyone can...

More autumn colours in Sugar ‘n Cream: Pine, Banana Yellow and Hot Orange…

Purple reigns in the garden…

A foggy photographer’s day…

I’m not sure…

Does this tail look ok to you?

Spenser’s all caught up in autumn-y goodness (and still waiting for his new sweater)…

This is a lovely time of year on the coast; in between the many raindrops there are moments of crisp sunshine, crunchy leaves and glorious colours. I’m going for a wee walkabout in the garden now so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"The only thing of importance, when we depart, will be the traces of love we have left behind."
~ Albert Schweitzer

Chris and Henry...

2010-09-10T02:00:00.005-07:00

are two new members of the teddy hug. They arrived in the mail last week from my friend and I immediately posed them for their official photograph. Aren't they too cute?

I'm still knitting my Feather & Fan cloths for Canada Comforts. You would think I’d be tired of them by now, but my mind and fingers seem to find comfort in the repetition. These are knit with Sugar 'n Cream in Countryside, Robin’s Egg Blue and Soft Violet…

These two cloths are from the same dyelot of Coolspun Cotton in Gumdrops colourway, yet they came out so different…

Deep purple with a hint of blue…

A chickadee resting on the flower basket…

Backlit ears and shiny whiskers…

I need a faster camera…

And now it’s time to fling another feather cloth on the needles, dear reader, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers, but above all, the world needs dreamers who do.”
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Licorice...

2010-09-03T02:00:00.002-07:00

I had one skein of the Dalmation colourway from Coolspun Cotton left in my stash so I knit me another Circle Cloth…

This one reminds me of licorice allsorts. It isn’t as pleasing as the Tulip Stitch Cloth I made a few weeks ago but I don’t think there are many patterns that would do this colourway justice; nevermind though, it’s a-ok for washing dishes…

There are lots more fishing boats in Steveston harbour with the huge run of sockeye salmon this year…

A quiet moment before the opening…

and the photographer is waiting…

The hydrangeas have turned mostly purple but there are a few still hanging onto their blueness…

How many peanuts can I eat at one time...

Now I’m going to look through my meagre stash and see what’s next on the needles. Autumn is almost here and it’s beginning to feel like scarf or mitten or hat knitting weather; hopefully some browsing will help me make up my mind. Meanwhile I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."
~ Mary Engelbreit

Stripes...

2010-08-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

A stripey Circle Cloth…

knit from a batch of Sugar ‘n Cream leftovers…

It adds a splash of colour to my dish washing time…

I’m often asked if I really like washing dishes. Yes! Washing dishes by hand has always been one of my favouritey ways to wind down from the day. I find it very soothing to the soul and washing with colourful cloths adds a bit of zip to the routine, like this Circle cloth made with blue bits and pieces…

Zoom, zoom…

Bobby and Spenser will soon be changing into their autumn clothes (must knit more teddy clothes)…

Sorry for today’s late post. I had some difficulty with Blogger yesterday and I wasn’t able to schedule it ahead of time. I hope this comes through ok for you, dear reader, and you can forgive any glitches I've made.

Now I’m ready for a long nap, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“There is no daily chore so trivial that it cannot be made important by skipping it two days running.”
~ Robert Brault

Mooooo....

2010-08-13T02:00:00.001-07:00

This Tulip Stitch Cloth is knit with the Dalmation colourway from Coolspun Cotton and I like it SO much; it reminds me of a black & white moo cow…

I’m hanging my cloths on the new little gizmo thingie that K made me for me and it’s most excellent for air drying the cloths quickly…

I thought I’d show you my room where I keep my knitting stuff and where most of the teddies hang out…

That small pile of yarn is my complete stash. I don’t keep much on hand and it’s mostly cotton (the two plastic containers are my cotton bits and pieces).

The cabinet in this photo is where I store my button collection. I have more buttons than yarn - and definitely more stuffed toys than yarn (must buy more yarn)...

You probably didn’t know this about me but I have magical powers. It’s true. I am able to change the weather just by blogging about it; no sooner did I write last week’s post about the heat and summery warmth than the rain came back…

Ok, so I don’t really have magical powers, but it was nice to have some rain in our days…

The sun has since returned (but don’t tell anyone)…

Now I'm going to take off my silly hat and lie down. I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humour to console him for what he is."
~ Francis Bacon

Fading...

2010-08-06T02:00:00.003-07:00

The hydrangeas are starting to fade in the summer warmth, so I’m bringing a few of them indoors…

I've knit another new-to-me scarf – the Misti Ribs and Ruffles Scarf (the Ravelry link) …

I used one skein of Bernat Berella 4 (210 yds / 192 m) and a 9mm (US13) circular needle and knit the yarn from both ends at the same time. It came out to a decent size after a bit of swooshing with the steam iron: 5 in. (12.7 cm) width by 52 in. (1.32 m)…

Now I’m back to knitting the Circles Cloth - (Ravelry link) in Sugar 'n Cream Mod Ombre…

These two little ones were ignoring each other for a long while, then suddenly they started a crazy zigzag chase around the backyard…

And now I'm starting to fade so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”
~ Russell Baker

Endless...

2010-07-30T02:00:00.003-07:00

days of summer and I am knitting an endless supply of feather & fan cloths for Canada Comforts. The cloth on the left is knit with the new Mod Ombre colourway from Sugar ‘n Cream (the other two colours are Summer Splash and Dark Pine)…

Left to right: Strawberry Cream, Country Yellow, Playtime from Sugar ‘n Cream…

Peonies in the park…

An early morning harbour view…

I’m hungry no matter what the weather…

Now I’m off to slowly wander through another summer's day, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.”
~ Ada Louise Huxtable

Gold...

2010-07-23T02:00:00.002-07:00

We are having a warm spell this week, so of course I had to make myself another unscrunchable scarf; this one is knit with one skein of Bernat Berella 4 in the Light Tapestry Gold colourway…

I started with 27 stitches on my 5mm (US8) needles and knit until I had just a speck of yarn left over. It’s very snuggly and the perfect colour for autumn...

Squirrels are never not hungry…

I love morning glory, except when it grows in my backyard and tries to smother my hydrangeas…

We bought some hanging baskets and they are a pleasure to look at from our kitchen window…

Sorry I don't have much to say lately, but I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon, dear reader.

"As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time."
~John Mason

Summer...

2010-07-16T02:00:00.008-07:00

and there are apples on the trees...

and flowers in the park…

and fishing boats in the harbour...

As I always seem to knit winter garments in the summer months, I've stayed true to form and completed a Darkside Cowl (scroll down left sidebar for pdf pattern)…

It fits like a charm. I knit the cowl exactly to the pattern specs with 5mms (US8) and Berella 4 in Aqua colourway. The ribs and welts create a smooshy feel – not too loose and not too tight. It's a lovely pattern and I will make more...

We’ve been having some glorious sunny weather after our very wet spring. There’s nothing quite like a midsummer’s day when the sun is shining and the hydrangeas are blooming madly in all directions...

I should have put a small object beside this blossom for size comparison, but you'll just have to take my word for it - our hydrangeas are ginormous!

See you soon, dear reader.

“Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sun...

2010-07-02T02:00:00.002-07:00

We had a wee bit of sun last week and suddenly all the hydrangeas burst into bloom in one day…

I don’t think I will ever get tired of looking at these blossoms…

I’ve knit two more of my favouritey Circle Cloths…

I like how thick and squooshy they feel…or maybe I just like saying ‘thick and squooshy…

This fellow looks a little battered but still has a healthy appetite…

Early morning in Steveston harbour…

and the sun peeks out behind the clouds…

Now I think I will go outside and wander amongst my hydrangeas, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine."
~Morris West

Five...

2010-06-25T02:00:00.003-07:00

Five years, that’s how long I’ve been bumbling my way along this bloggy path. I think I’ve done rather well at the quantity of weekly posts – only missing a few here and there – and I’ve shared bunches of pictures to take your mind off the lack of intelligent conversation around here. Look, more shiny pictures!...

These brilliant blues and whites were sitting in a wildflower garden along River Road…

Daisy, Daisy…

An urban squirrel hanging out in front of the Steveston bread store…

and a gray cutie hanging out in our yard…

On the knitting front I have another Scarfy completed…

I used the same quantity and type of yarn and same dimensions as my white Scarfy and it’s cuddly soft and the perfect weight for summer…

Last post I was moaning about my hydrangeas being slow to bloom, so I had a look back in the archives and it seems they never bloom in abundance until late June/early July. So, I must learn some patience – or acquire a memory…

So, here we are heading into our sixth season…bloggityblogblog. I hope you’ll continue to share this journey with me, dear reader. It’s a delight to have you along.

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey!"
~ Barbara Hoffman

Layers...

2010-06-11T02:00:00.009-07:00

I’ve been playing with layers in the Circle Cloth. Each section uses approx. 8 to 10 yds. (7.3 to 9.1 metres)...

My squooshy popsicle cloth in use...

This one reminds me of a pink icing cake with layers of jam in the middle…yum…

The hydrangea blossoms are still in the baby stage; only one bloom has opened completely. It can’t be from lack of water as we’ve had plenty of rain the past few months (and I’m not complaining - I love the rain)…

Our black currant bushes are right on schedule…

and we have frequent visitors to our yard, both feathered…

and furry…

I had lots more stuff to share with you, dear reader, but my wheels fell off and my brain went all mushy so instead I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.”
~ Winnie the Pooh

Reverse...

2010-06-04T02:00:00.012-07:00

Do you ever wonder where the creative urge comes from? One minute I’m happily knitting away on some favouritey cloths and suddenly I cast them aside to start a cotton hat in reverse from the top down. Here’s what it looked like just after I’d completed the increase rows and switched to my circular needle...

Not very neat, I agree. I was knitting happily along on my double-pointed needles when suddenly my eyes got all blurry from vertigo and I lost count of how many increases I’d made (make a note – always use a row counter). I should have corrected the error right then but the thought of tinking back on dpns was scary enough to keep me moving forward…

I used the Noro One-Skein Hat pattern (sorry I can only find a Ravelry link to the pattern). I knit my hat with a skein of Sugar ‘n Cream in Dark Pine colourway and a set of 4.5mm (US7) dpns and one circular needle. I also increased to 96 stitches as my head circumference is ginormous…

Meanwhile the teddies had a meeting...

and decided Buster looked better in the hat than I did…

Other than a few issues (all emanating from my lack of skills, not the pattern) I managed to complete my first top down hat. I love knitting this way, especially being able to try the hat on before it was finished – that was cool. So, having said all that, once I’d finished the last row and cast off, I knew I wasn’t going to be happy with the decreases and I also knew my brain was too soggy to cope with the counting issues again, so I rewound the yarn and knit two of my feather & fans…

You are probably thinking what an idiot I am and you would be right. Nevermind though, I have two new cloths for Canada Comforts and although I'll never be a wizard knitter, I haven't lost my enthusiasm for learning something new.

Little gray squirrel enjoying a snack break...

Now it’s time for me to take another long nap, dear reader, so I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you soon.

“A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all - he's walking on them.”
~ Leonard Louis Levinson

First...

2010-05-28T02:00:00.004-07:00

This is the first and only full blossom on the hydrangeas so far, but the others aren't far behind…

as beautiful as ever…

I don’t know the name of this shrub but it’s green and healthy and lives in our front yard, just in front of the living room window. I can see the top half from my chair…

Two of my favouritey cloths in Sugar ‘n Cream Sun-Kissed Ombre…

The Circle Cloths are piling up here…

and the food bandit is visiting every day…

Now I’m going to take a small stroll in the yard and say hello to all the new growth, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.”
~ Terri Guillemets

Circles...

2010-05-21T02:00:00.024-07:00

I’ve been having ever so much fun knitting a new-to-me pattern called the Circle Cloth…

It’s my new favouritey cloth with its raggedy edges and thick squishy circles, so of course I had to make another one...

This very relaxed pigeon was enjoying a rest in the sunshine…

the park in early morning sunlight...

Now I am going to fling more yarn on my needles for another Circle cloth and watch those fat cushiony circles unfold...

ps: I haven't made a decision on a new pc yet, dear reader, so expect more interruptions until my computing is back to full power. In the meantime, I'll wish you peaceful days and hope to see you soon.

"A circle is the reflection of eternity. It has no beginning and it has no end."
~ Maynard James Keenan

Intermission...

2010-05-07T02:00:00.003-07:00

There's new growth on the fir tree...

and the white flowers are smelling sweet...

Soon this momma's babies will be visiting our yard...

Two feather & fans in Sugar 'n Cream Country Red...

I wanted to let you know, dear reader, that my posts may be a bit sporadic for awhile as my computer - the one I've worked at for seven years - has finally shuffled off this mortal coil (in other words, it bit the dust). I am currently working with our old-ish notebook and whilst I am enjoying its compactness, I have yet to become familiar with the keyboard or discover what all the buttons do, exactly. It's taken me a bazillion hours to put this little post together and I am hoping that it actually works when I push the 'post' button. Now I have to focus on choosing a new pc to replace my old faithful. Monkey has offered to help me...

So, I will post as often as I am able but don't worry if you don't see a change here for a bit; you'll know what I'm about (and you can still contact me by email). In the meantime, I will wish you peaceful days, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done."
~ Andy Rooney

Fiesta...

2010-04-30T02:00:00.008-07:00

A colourful Fiesta Cloth (scroll to bottom of pattern for the English directions)…

Knit with a skein of Sugar ‘n Cream in Over The Rainbow and 4mm (US6) needles. Final measurements: 8-1/2” x 8-1/2” (22 cm x 22 cm) and I used approx. 61 yds (56 m) of yarn…

If you knit this cloth, make note that Row 10 is missing in the directions, probably lost in translation. I think it should be worked as all the previous even rows (at least I hope so, because that’s what I did)...

A slightly damp squirrel, enjoying a snack…

and a crow, mucking up the birdbath…

Our backyard is brilliantly green from the abundance of rain and these white blossoms make a nice contrast…

Now I’m going to stroll outside and sit in the garden for awhile, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.”
~ Linda Solegato

Buttons...

2010-04-23T10:45:00.001-07:00

I finally made a Leftover Towel complete with button tab…

I can’t believe it took me this long to make one; they are soooo cute and fun to knit…

The big change I made is I knit the whole thing upside down...

I started at the tab and reversed the instructions so I would use every speck of yarn in one skein of Sugar ‘n Cream (Sunny Sky colourway). I knit the tab with 3.75mms (US5) and the body with 4mms (US6)...

Final measurements (with tab closed) are 10.5 in (26.6 cm) width x 12 in (30.4 cm) height. Now if I want to make another one, I can just count the rows of patterns and make it from the ground up and still use my whole skein. Sorry if there are too many pics of this little knit but I just find it so delightful and it makes me smile...

We had some very wet days last week but it didn’t keep this soggy squirrel from her food…

As soon as the sun returned, a robin came for a refreshing bath…

Hydrangea leaves shine after a wash…

I’m late with today’s post and I have very good excuse. I tried changing my blog over to the new "draft blogger" site, but I couldn't understand how to upload photos, so I’m back to the basic blog until they move out of draft. The last time they made a change several years ago, I was almost the last one to upgrade and it looks like the same will happen this time. No worries though, this old blog seems to be working just fine.

So I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.”
~ Stephen King

Dandelions...

2010-04-16T02:00:00.007-07:00

a new Scarfy scarf in dandelion yellow…

much like the beautiful dandelions growing on our lawn…

I feel sunny when I wear it…

The hostas have multiplied…

Snack time…

and guess who went on a camping trip this week…

I’ll have more photos to share of Edward and his adventures soon but for now I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.”
~ Andrew V. Mason

Buttercream...

2010-04-09T02:00:00.001-07:00

I love the name of this yummy colourway from Sugar ‘n Cream...

and this is the new Country Green…

In between times, I’m supplementing my knitting with a bit of crochet work – my favouritey Tulip Stitch Cloth…

We’ve had some wild storms the last few weeks but this particular morning the mood was mellow…

Squirrel takes it all in stride…

an Orange Star flower from South Africa…

The hydrangeas leaves are growing quickly. I can't wait to see the first flower buds...

And now I should step away from the computer and step outside to enjoy this glorious spring day, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment."
~ Ellis Peters

Gumdrops...

2010-04-02T02:00:00.006-07:00

I knit me some gumdrop colours this week, in the shape of a Lattice & Columns Cloth (scroll down to the free pdf file). Mine is made with 4 mms (US6) and 41 sts. The yarn is SRK Coolspun Cotton…

I also finished more feather & fan cloths with bits and pieces of leftovers…

We’ve been having some stormy weather in between bursts of sunshine…

Taking a rest amongst the branches…

and sharing the bath water with magnolia leaves…

Furry friends...

And now I must toddle off so I'll wish you a Happy Easter, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
~ Mark Twain

Pink...

2010-03-26T02:00:00.008-07:00

A pink magnolia tree is a beautiful sight…

and even prettier close up…

I decided to crochet this Tulip Stitch Cloth to the exact specs in the pattern...

so I chained 35 sts. and worked 16 rows of Sugar ‘n Cream Pink Stripes…

It’s obvious my crocheting gauge is way off, as it came out much bigger than my usual Tulip cloths, but I love it just the same and it looks so pretty at my sink…

and just to keep my hand in with the knitting, I made this pink DW Cloth...

Gray squirrel contemplating lunch…

This natural gas commercial from Brussels is woolly...

And now I must lie down, dear reader, so I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

“Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much deeper and much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you’re misunderstood.”
~ Charles Swindoll

Patchwork...

2010-03-19T02:00:00.001-07:00

A patchwork of odds and ends, starting with some feather & fans in spring colours...

bright yellows...

and another pretty Tulip Stitch Cloth...

This squirrel was resting on the mat in front of our sliding door...

The hydrangeas are flourishing...

We are having some glorious weather here on the coast, days of sunshine with just enough rain to keep everything green. It's a beautiful time of year, especially along the river...

So dear reader, I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

“We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Country...

2010-03-12T02:00:00.007-08:00

The new country colours of Sugar ‘n Cream are pleasing to the eye, especially the yellow…

Another Tulip Stitch Cloth already in use…

Our daffodils are slow to bud this year…

whilst other plants are in bloom…

A March day in the harbour…

This little fellow has light patches on his black fur…I wonder if he is morphing into a gray squirrel...

And now, dear reader, I am going to rest my weary brain, so I will wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
~ James Baldwin

Celebrate...

2010-03-05T02:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I would celebrate the end of our west coast winter with a cheery scarf...

Knit with Sugar ‘n Cream in the Field of Dreams colourway (two skeins) and the Unscrunchable Scarf pattern…

It’s difficult to tell if Spenser likes it or not...

A furry friend enjoying a snack...

and the crows checking out their territory…

This is Gordon, dressed for our winter weather...

I can’t believe spring is just around the corner. It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the Christmas season and now we can look forward to the warmth and light. Happy days. I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

"There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate."
~Robert Brault

Squish...

2010-02-26T02:00:00.009-08:00

Time for another squished Unscrunchable Scarf (knit a few weeks ago but unblogged until now)…

Monkey is pointing out the differences in the stitches pre and post squishing with the steam iron…

Even though it looks like the stitches have lost their definition, once the process is completed and the scarf wrapped around a neck, it’s all good. I used Bernat Berella 4 in Redwood colourway…

Our neighbour’s flowers are blooming in all their pinkness…

Some creative and energetic person(s) built a row of stone Inukshuks along River Road…

You know I am full of silly ideas, so you won’t be surprised when you read this, dear reader. I made a little dress for baby bear from an old sock. I had a pair that were destined for the trash bin but it bothered me to throw them away when only the soles were worn out. I cut approx. 10 cm (4 inches) from the top, snipped two small holes for the arms and now baby is wearing a new dress...

I have plans to decorate the edges with trim and embroider the dress with flowers and other cute stuff but whether that will ever happen is anyone’s guess. In the meantime all this creative energy has exhausted me, so I’m going to lie down again and hope to see you next Friday if all goes well.

“The best things in life are silly.”
~Scott Adams

Scarfy...

2010-02-19T02:00:00.016-08:00

After a bazillion attempts at making something different, I managed to knit a Scarfy Come Home (this links directly to a pdf file; you can also find Scarfy on Ravelry...

I had 3 small leftover skeins of white cotton in my stash, adding up to approx. 137 metres (150 yards). I cast 20 sts. onto my 5mms (US8) and followed the pattern – sort of – until I ran out of yarn. The blocked size is 10 cm (4 inches) x 140 cm (55 inches)…

I changed the edges because I couldn’t figure out how to start a row with a YO. The yarn would slip off the edge of the needle and I was left without a YO (hoho) and when I finally did manage it, the edges looked untidy, so instead I knit 2 sts. each end of every row and then the pattern sts. Oh, and I forgot to purl the YOs on the second row because I am an IDIOT and cannot read directions, so each row is full of knit YOs. Nevermind, it's my Scarfy and I like it...

I like it so much, I will probably knit another one…and another one...until we are all sick of little Scarfy…

A free form Inukshuk created from driftwood on the beach…

February sunrise (you can’t see it in this photo but moments before I snapped the picture, the rising sun created a long vertical streak of light that intersected a horizontal line and it looked like a celestial cross; sometimes the most breathtaking moments are the ones we don’t capture on film)…

Now it’s time for a cup of tea with teddy and a long nap, then another attempt at playing badly with yarn. I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”
~ George Washington Carver

Heart...

2010-02-12T02:00:00.009-08:00

I don’t have the heart for knitting anything more complex than a cloth or an Unscrunchable Scarf, but as long as I can still knit, I'm happy...

This scarf was knit with Bernat Berella 4 in Soft Periwinkle Blue…

I really like this yarn for its softness and durability; it washes up well with no pilling and no itch factor (and it squishes nicely with the steam iron)...

My next project just might be another scarf, using all my leftover blue cotton…

I've finally acknowledged that Christmas is over and it's time to move on to my next favourite holiday...

I came across a link to this free pattern for Chocolate Bar Coasters from the purl bee and I know I'm going to have to make some, just because I love the name so much.

Happy Chocolate Day, dear reader. I'll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

“kisses are a better fate
than wisdom.”
~e.e. cummings

One...

2010-02-05T02:00:00.001-08:00

one little knit stitch – that’s all it took to defeat me…

I’ve been wanting to make A Noble Cowl for a long while, so a few days ago I cast on 120 stitches, using my stitch marker and row counter to keep track. I was full of enthusiasm until I came to the end of row 3 and realized I was missing a stitch needed to make a knit2together.

I was too tired (and lazy) to figure out where I'd gone wrong, so I just knit the one stitch and hoped it would pass for a k2tog. I tootled along thinking how clever I was - until I came to the end of row 5 and discovered I now had one extra stitch sitting on the needle. What????

By this time my eyes were starting to twirl in their sockets and my brain was cramping (I'm in the midst of another bout of vertigo) so I unzipped the 119 or 121 sts. and cast on an Unscrunchable Scarf…

I still want to knit A Noble Cowl one day when I am feeling stronger. I am in awe of all the Ravelry knitters who have knit this beautiful cowl so effortlessly (658 as of today); you are brilliant.

I also need to knit another sweater for Basil as he was quite upset when he saw Wilfred wearing this garter stitch cardigan…

A leaf is born...first buds on the hydrangeas (very early this year)…

Little one enjoying some munchies…

Early morning along River Road…

And that, dear reader, is that. I hope you have a peaceful week and I look forward to seeing you next Friday if all goes well.

“Our business in life is not to succeed, but to continue to fail in good spirits.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Why...

2010-01-29T02:00:00.006-08:00

One of the questions I’m often asked is why I bother to block and iron my cloths…

This is why…just off the needles, my Feather & Fan Cloth is wrinkled, out of shape and a bit ratty looking, much like me on a good day...

I’ve since started another feather & fan in Sugar ‘n Cream Country Yellow (I like the new country colours)...

Another question I’m asked is ‘do you really eat as much chocolate as you say you do?” No, of course not. I eat waaay more, I’m just too modest to talk about it all the time. (ps: don’t hesitate to ask me any questions you have about what you read on this blog. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make one up).

Basil is hoping I will knit him a new sweater as this one seems to have shrunk recently (I think he's been helping himself to my chocolate stash...and look at those chunky legs)...

Now I will stop the silliness, dear reader, and leave you with my wish for a peaceful week and the hope that we will meet next Friday.

“Eeyore was saying to himself, "This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it."
~Winnie the Pooh

Curiosity...

2010-01-22T02:00:00.003-08:00

Another cotton Unscrunchable Scarf, this one in Sugar ‘n Cream Weathered Rose colourway…

I used two skeins and the finished scarf size was 5” x 60” (12.7 cm x 152.4 cm) after blocking…

Did you notice I said it WAS that size? After wearing it for awhile and enjoying the softness of the yarn and the lovely colours, curiosity got the better of me and I just had to see what this yarn would look like as a Feather & Fan Cloth. Of course I didn’t have any more skeins of this colour, so I unzipped my beautiful scarf, rewound the yarn and made these…

I was pleased with the cloths, but after I had admired them for awhile, I wanted my scarf back. There are days when I really shouldn’t be allowed near my yarn and needles.

At least I have my pictures…

K taking close-ups in Steveston harbour…

Another January sunrise…

This little guy takes care of the smallest seeds…

And now I am going to take care of a mug of hot chocolate - and try to keep my hands off my finished knitting. I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
~Dorothy Parker

Caramel...

2010-01-15T02:00:00.006-08:00

This yummy scarf is the colour of caramel…

I used one skein of Bernat Berella 4 in the Topaz colourway and did my usual Unscrunchable scarf on 24 sts. and 5mm (US8) needles. To make a neater edge, I always slip the first stitch of every row knitwise…

I flattened this scarf, just like the chocolate scarf. I found instructions for the process here but I didn’t follow them. All I did was throw the scarf on the ironing board, place a towel over a section of the scarf and swoosh across it with the steam iron until it looked just right. The blocked scarf dimensions are 5” x 63” (13 cm x 160 cm). I love the silky feel of this yarn after a good steaming…

I didn’t see the little sparrow sitting on the fence when I first looked out the window….

We are having our usual winter weather on the coast…

Although it’s the middle of January, I don’t feel willing to let go of the holidays just yet. I have Christmas wallpaper on my monitor (I found the best free Christmas wallpapers here) and I’m still watching Elf and The Snowman; maybe by Valentine’s Day I will be ready to move on…

I came across this link to a plentiful supply of free knitting and crochet patterns at Webs online store and I am passing it on to you, dear reader. I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."
~ W.T. Ellis

Teddy...

2010-01-08T02:00:00.019-08:00

My talented friend Dorothy gifted me with another of her beautiful creations – this little teddy wears a cowboy hat. Look how tiny those two cubs are compared to Spenser...

Our masked friend is back. I think he is saying grace before eating…

I’m not sharing…

with anyone…

Mom told me to always wash my paws after a meal…

Early morning sunrise along River Road…

and a few minutes later…

And now, dear reader, I’m off to play with my teddies and my yarn and maybe eat some chocolate and take a long nap. I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday, when I may have some knitting content for this knitting blog.

“My childhood may be over, but that doesn't mean playtime is.”
~ Ron Olson

Chocolate...

2010-01-01T02:00:00.002-08:00

I've decided to start the new year as I mean to go on...with more chocolate...

My chocolate scarf was knit using the Unscrunchable Scarf pattern with Bernat Berella 4 in Rustic colourway…

When it first came off the needles, the scarf felt stiff and unfriendly, so I killed it with my steam iron. I set the temperature to low and ran the iron over the surface quickly as I didn’t want to scorch it, just make it more pliable. Now my scarf has a soft, silky texture and measures 4-1/2” x 63” (11.7 cm x 160 cm)…

our hydrangeas on a frosty morning...

fog in Steveston harbour…

and a visit from a friend…

So dear reader, I’m off to scrounge through the cupboards for more chocolate. I’ll wish you a Happy New Year and a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.

“There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE.”
~ Linda Grayson

Winter Break...

2009-12-18T02:00:00.003-08:00

We had snow...

White icing...

Early morning Steveston...

Now the rain is back...

These guys chase each other most days, but when it's cold and they are hungry, peace reigns...

Our teddy wreath...

I'm knitting another Twisted Rib Watch Cap in the currant colourway from Patons Merino Wool...

Next Friday is Christmas Day, so I am taking a winter break through the holidays. I'll wish you a peaceful season, dear reader, and hope to see you in 2010.

I'll leave you with this video of a cat discovering snow for the first time...

“Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway."”
~ Maya Angelou

From Cowl To Scarf...

2009-12-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

I knit a new scarf …

from old yarn…

I took apart this cowl and reknit it into another Unscrunchable Scarf…

I liked my cowl very much but for some reason this yarn wanted to be a scarf, so now we are both happy…

Would you like a candy cane…

or the man in the moon...

I seem to be later and later with my posts. I’ve been trying to write them from scratch on Friday mornings instead of pre-planning through the week but I don’t think it’s working well, so I’ll have to go back to the old way. In the meantime I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"A good day is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours."
~John B. Priestly

Frosty...

2009-12-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

We woke to frost this week…

Everything was sparkly in the early morning light…

It was cold enough to wear my favourite scarf…

and my only scarf; I’ve donated every other scarf I made, but I always thought this one wasn’t good enough for charity. I used so many different yarns and some of them weren’t the same weight or thickness, so the scarf has a tendency to wander in and out in width…

I knit this scarf in 2005 from mostly DK weight yarns on a 8mm (US11) circular needle, casting on 45 stitches and knitting round and round until I ran out of yarn, then I seamed the two ends closed (not very neatly). I love it best of all my scarves, how silly is that…

Scrunchy leaves underfoot…

and the squirrels are bulking up in preparation for winter…

And now I am going to have another long winter’s nap so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

“People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile.”
~Lee Mildon

Is It Too Early...

2009-11-27T02:00:00.001-08:00

to decorate for the holidays? I don't think so...

I've been knitting but I'm feeling too wobbly to talk about it, so instead I'll share some scenes from our hometown, like these mushrooms in the Richmond Nature Park...

paper birches along River Road...

colourful floats...

Steveston fog...

munch, munch, munch...

last colour for the hydrangeas...

I love snow globes...

I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you soon.

"Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats."
~Voltaire

Tweed...

2009-11-20T02:00:00.002-08:00

Another Twisted Rib Watch Cap in Patons Classic Wool Paprika Tweed…

I’ve discovered I don’t care for tweed yarn. Those little bits of fluff in different colours that stick out everywhere don’t appeal to me, for some reason. I do like the rich paprika colour though…

Tweed Bear…

Then there’s my ginormous noggin…

We had another week of stormy weather. It was wild and windy at Garry Point park in Steveston…

High winds and high tide…

Remember Alfred? I planted him in this glass about 4 months ago and he finally decided to sprout. Another ten years and I could be eating avocados from my own tree…

My blogging friend Stacie is selling her beautiful knitwear on etsy until December 31, 2009. All proceeds go to the Lymphoma Research Foundation and shipping is free if you tell her you read about it here. So please take a moment to visit Stacie's shop if you are looking for quality knitwear items for gifts this holiday season. Thank you.

And now I am going to take a long winter’s nap, even though it isn’t officially winter yet in Richmond. I like to be prepared. I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next week.

“Don't try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough.”
~Arthur Freed