Hat exchange - Part 1

We (our knitting group) were finally able to hold our hat exchange that was planned for mid-February in mid-April! Yé! I can finally share it on the blog!

First information I couldn't share: the yarn (and that was not just any yarn). First of all, the objective was to use yarn from our stash. Well, I don't really have a stash (or at least I think that less than 5 skeins does not offer enough option). Hence, I had to sacrifice myself and go to Espace Tricot (first visit there too!). I chose some nice Tough Love Socks from Sweet Georgia in the amazing Blackberry colorway:

Isn't it just beautiful to look at? Although I spent quite a few minutes to choose it (yes, that would be me picking one, seeing another one, changing again, etc.), I am very pleased with my choice! It may be hard to see on the picture, but the yarn color changes very subtly. It was lovely to knit with as well!

Here is the final result: Skinner Hat by Melissa LaBarre:


Lovely pattern as one could expect from Melissa LaBarre:


Pattern: Skinner Hat by Melissa LaBarre (a.k.a Knitting School Dropout).
Yarn: Touch Love Sock by Sweet Georgia.
Needles: US 1 - 2.25 mm and US 2 - 2.75 mm.
Color: Blackberry.
Start to finish: January 9 to February 5 2011.
For: ?
Modifications: No modifications and I really enjoyed knitting it!

Here is a picture of me modeling it! Not a bad picture considering that I took it myself!


I recommend both the yarn and pattern! I truly enjoyed knitting it!

Doesn't it just feel like spring?

Here are my favorites from the new Twist Collective!

Pergola by Sandy Rosner:

Addie by Whitney Gegg-Harrison:

Madrigal by Kristen Rengren:

Avivah by Mary-Heather Coger:

It makes me dream about being a full-time knitter ;-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Such a lovely surprise!

I'm so spoiled! Two weeks ago, I won a contest organized by My sister's knitter. Make sure that you visit this blog regularly. I guarantee that you will love it!

Isn't it incredible how many giveaways there are all over our knitting community? Not only is it exciting to participate, it is pure happiness when you receive an email that announces you that you win!

As you may have guessed, I received the much awaited package today! I couldn't wait to open it! I can't take my eyes off of its content since then! See for yourself!

The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga handpainted sock yarn in the Leaf Insect colorway:

I can't wait to knit with it! Look at this amazing blend of greens! So perfect at this period of the year!

Then, there was an amazing skein of Malabrigo Sock yarn in the Impressionist Sky colorway:

It was totally unexpected! I can't wait to knit socks with this yarn! They will be like a treasure! Blue is a color that makes me feel so good!

And as if this wasn't already too much, it was accompanied by a lovely card and note, caramel truffle ground coffee and note cards with cute little owls from Sweet Malien:

Thank you so much again Andi! It feels like a knitter's dream ;-) I can't wait to knit with it but in the meantime, it will be almost as good to admire it!

Have a great week everyone!

FO: Bella's Mittens

Last time I looked, there were 5008 finished Bella's Mittens on Ravelry! Short, long, flip tops, with lining, etc. There are so many different versions and colors!

Mine are knitted accroding to the original pattern by Subliminal Rabbit with the Moss Stitch Palm Variation by Nancy Fry. From the beginning, I loved the palm of the mittens as in the movie.

Pattern: Bella's Mittens by Subliminal Rabbit and Nancy Fry.
Yarn: Rowan Cocoon
Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Color: Scree (1.5 skein)
Start to finish: October 25, 2010 to March 16, 2011
For: Me!
Modifications: I knitted rows 67 to 74 of the mitten tops twice because I have long hands. That way, they fit perfectly!

This yarn seems very warm and is softer than I thought. We're having lovely days these days! I'm not sure this is the best of timing to try on my Bella's, but I will be wearing them to get the mail later this morning ;-)

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Sweet dreams...

I'm so glad that baby Penelope and her parents are using the blanket I knitted for them! Look at those tiny little fingers... I wonder what she's dreaming about?

Have a great weekend everyone!

FO: Baby Tweed Blanket

Last night was our knit night and Catherine came! Catherine is a co-worker who I discovered a few months ago is also a great knitter and I had decided to knit the Baby Tweed Blanket for her baby girl to come! I still can't believe how lucky I have been to be able to give her her gift before the baby is born (and that is one day after her due date)!

I had planned to finish it early January before she'd stop working but no... with the cold that kept me sleeping for days and the fact that I had to order a sixth ball of Tahitian Pearl just two rows from the end, I finished a little later than planned.

Knitting that blanket went like a charm! The stockinette was really soothing. The yarn is really nice and spongy. Then, the edge is so pretty and interesting to knit. It does not look as neat as on the pictures below before it is blocked, but the blocking worked its magic once again.

Drying or I should say sun bathing on my new "blocking mats":

Oh, do I love the curly edge!

Pattern: Baby Tweed Blanket by Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed)
Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed DK
Needles: US 9 / 5.5 mm and US 10 / 6.0 mm
Color: Tahitian Pearl (5.3 skeins) and Orca (2.14 skeins)
Start to finish: November 20, 2010 to January 22, 2011
For: Catherine
Modifications: Absolutely no modification. It's the first time I knit a pattern from Jared Flood, I could not have modified it! However, to be able to knit it without modification, I've had to order an extra skein of Tahitian Pearl! If I had read comments on Ravelry, I would have known...

I think this is my favorite picture:

I could not resist trying to take a photo like the one on the pattern:

It looks rather rustic but really is soft and enveloping...

And finally, I had fun simply wrapping it with a large pink ribbon:

Now, I can't wait to hear from Catherine and see her baby girl! Hoping that they will both join us soon at our knit nights!

WIP I can blog about!

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend! Here's it's very warm for this time of the year and the sun is gorgeous. It feels so good!

I started the Douglas mittens yesterday morning. It took me all morning to figure out how to knit the cuff! I almost decided to knit a simple 2x2 rib but then, when I got to when the cuff is turned and give such a nice finish, I was glad I stuck to the pattern instructions!

Also, I found a brilliant method to do a provisional cast on on YouTube: take a look here! I'll use this technique from now on. It really helps since I tend to knit a bit tight and this one is a dark color on rather tiny needles (note to myself for second mitten: use 3.5mm to knit the cuff, then 3.25 to turn and join it and finally, 3.75 for the hand of the mitten)! Yes, you saw it, the resulting stitches do not need to be picked, they are already on a circular needle waiting to be knitted ;-)

Here's a sneak peek:


Enjoy the rest of the day!