tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88381809753815084692024-03-13T12:16:42.103-04:00Sel & PoivreOn Ravelry, (as everywhere else) I'm "Canadian Eh"Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.comBlogger777125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-33812988957192016572020-02-11T21:53:00.000-05:002020-02-11T21:53:35.803-05:00Well well well...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
So what happened here? Why did I stop posting? A couple of things...<br />
<br />
The struggle to become a proficient knitter...the thing I loved to document here, ended, happily...in success! So it felt like I had nothing more to write about.<br />
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And life...not mine so much as those around me had "events" that required my attention, attendance, most importantly my energy, that had to come from somewhere. So it seemed apt, in that moment, to take it from here.<br />
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sigh.</div>
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But! That was then. <i>This </i>is now and IG feels right for me to <i>show</i> rather than <i>say</i> things...and once again, I feel like I have things to say.<br />
<br />
So I might just do that here. Not just about knitting...other stuff too...we'll see.<br />
<br />
I haven't even looked at what's here in ages...I feel like I'm standing in a dusty old garage looking at a car I used to love to drive all the time but haven't tried to start up in forever.<br />
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I wonder if when I hit "post" whether it will even still work.<br />
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I think I'll try it and find out!</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-60581289687433071182017-04-13T10:09:00.000-04:002017-04-13T10:09:07.364-04:00"Daelyn" by Isabel Kraemer FO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Pattern: Daelyn by Isabel Kraemer</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Source: Ravelry Download</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Size: M1</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Yarn: 9 balls Noro Solo</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Colour: 1 Lot: A</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Source: Knitomatic</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Needle: 5.5 mm</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Start: July 28 Finish: August 15, 2016</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Modifications: Shortened/Omitted short rows at lower back/Knit one size down</b></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
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<i><i>('Going to try to catch up on posting recent makes starting with this one as I've been loving it the most in these early weeks of spring.)</i></i></div>
<br />
The success of this make was about being patient with pattern and yarn selection and realistic about fit and style.<br />
<br />
I first saw it as a test knit on Ravelry, months from its release. I was eager to start on it though so I worked up an improvised pattern of my own and started looking for yarn.<br />
<br />
A top down pullover, with a garter stitch back flowing forward along the shoulder increase line over a stocking stitch front, seemed simple enough to work out. 'Trick is though, to <i>successfully </i>manage the differing row gauges of those front and back sections.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, as I worked at the math for my version, Isabel's pattern came out and I bought a copy right away. What a great decision. The pattern is simple and fun to work where my own would have needed constant thinking and attention.<br />
<br />
Of course I still wanted to cast on ASAP but I kept my eyes open to find just the right yarn.<br />
<br />
Then at the <a href="http://frolic.torontoknittersguild.ca/">DKC Knitter's Frolic</a>, it was standing right in front of me. I was chatting with Emily Foden (phenom indie dyer violaemily of v<a href="http://www.violaandthemoon.com/blog-1/">iola</a> yarns) I couldn't take my eyes off the pullover she was wearing. She'd knit it up in Noro Solo in a colourway I'd admired at <a href="http://www.romniwools.com/">Romni</a> weeks earlier but never thought of for Daelyn.<br />
<br />
Well I bought that <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/noro-silk-garden-solo">Noro </a>at <a href="http://www.knitomatic.com/">Knit-O-Matic</a> the next week (no one had it for sale that day at the Frolic.) I was warned to expect stretching and a lot of drape with it. Since I also wanted a tidier, less slouchy fit than the pattern I took that advice, then went one step further and cast on a size smaller than what I'd normally make.<br />
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It was great advice about the yarn. Great drape and a it does grow as you wear it. It needs a bath to bring it back into shape often but it is totally worth it. This yarn in this colourway is magical.<br />
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Shiny silk and fuzzy mohair somehow carry a rainbow of crazy <span style="color: lime;"><b>bright</b></span> <u>and</u> <span style="color: magenta;"><b>florescent</b></span> <u>and</u> <span style="color: #660000;"><b>natural </b></span>earthy colours. They pop out of the background as they come into view, while knitting and seem pretty perfect for a clown costume of some sort...<br />
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From a distance though the look morphs into more of a springtime-soft-go-with-anything...<br />
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The pattern's short rows accommodate the varying row gauges perfectly. (Did I mention there is little chance mine would have done so?) Most wonderfully, the line of paired increases between front and back sweep forward to perfectly connect with the 2x2 ribbing around the bottom.<br />
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<u>Very</u> satisfying!</div>
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Before you get to that ribbing there are more short rows - a few for row gauge and a few more to give a longer back to the piece. I omitted these latter ones to give me an even hemline all the way around.<br />
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The longer back really suits the styling of the pattern which is a longish, loose, super relaxed and looks amazing in the pattern photos but I know would just look a mess on me.<br />
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So not only did I omit the longer back but I also stopped short of the recommended length. Mine is a more square, tidy Daelyn that just reaches my hip bones - better styling for me.<br />
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In the Noro Solo yarn it's also a light weight knit perfect for early spring, late summer, early autumn. It is great on its own (as I'm wearing it today) or over a t-shirt and feels comfortable against the skin. During the winter, on less bitterly cold days, I like it over a blouse.<br />
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However I wear it (and I wear it a lot) I love how it turned out.</div>
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<i>Also </i>love that...<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I bailed on my own efforts to work out the pattern for myself - it wouldn't have ended as well.</li>
<li>I waited until I found just the right yarn/recognized it when I saw it then bought it right away.</li>
<li>Listened to advice</li>
<li>Stayed focused on the styling I need despite loving the way Isabel presented it in the pattern.</li>
</ul>
Mostly though, I love living in Toronto - with so many great yarn shops, inspired/inspiring knitters and a climate that lets me wear knits for the majority of the year.<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-12614464228890281392017-01-12T16:39:00.002-05:002017-01-12T16:39:56.791-05:002016?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lets just say "Phew!"<br />
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There was a ton of travelling for us - plus the summer up north at the cottage.<br />
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In July, Number One Son, returned from two years in England, in September left for a month in L.A. and then arrived baaaaaaak! Its so great to have him home again!<br />
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Carving out studio/storage space for him and his <u>many</u> endeavours meant rethinking/jigging so many things it was like moving house. Plus there's the comings/goings/appetites of he and his friends at all hours while keeping things on the rails for the business-week drill the other two "house mates" (sister and dad) have going.<br />
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Entertaining, work-related social committments and even Hudson's calendar were also epic all year long.<br />
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We helped out with preparations for the summer wedding of Darling Daughter's closest friends. During that week, we were also robbed, resulting in the loss of my 2 year old all-in-one desktop containing 30,000 photos and I don't even know how many knitting patterns. Retrieving, re-storing and sorting out what to do about all of it going forward is a huge job I'm still working through.<br />
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2016 also saw me <i>really</i> lean into cooking/making our diet even more local, seasonal, healthier, ethical and humane. Establishing these new habits has taken so much more effort than I thought it would!<br />
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As for purchases other than groceries, its never been more important to me to support businesses and jurisdictions that treat people, animals and the environment carefully, ethically and fairly. Dollars are powerful ballots of a sort and I'm determined to cast ours with a purpose beyond just getting stuff.<br />
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Knitting can be a big part of that whole equation and when <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/CanadianEh">my Ravelry page</a> tells me many FO's* were practical over inspired, that a few were gifts and there were even donations to our local Syrian refugee support programs I feel like it really was.<br />
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I don't remember much about knitting any of it. 'Guess I'm now sufficiently adept at avoiding overly ambitious projects and successfully making those within my capacities that I can knit while avoiding memorable struggles!<br />
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So may as well up the ante. I'm going to trying making a (mostly) hand made wardrobe.<br />
<br />
Many knitters are doing this of course and there are so many resources on line I've been trying to figure out the best ones for me.<br />
<br />
Unlike knitting, I don't enjoy sewing very much. But I have the skills, the time and I'm equipped to do it (currently 4 sewing machines in this house, the most recent addition being a commercial machine on loan to Number One Son!)<br />
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I've made a few small efforts but there's really no excuse not to jump right in and see what happens.<br />
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So that's the plan going forward. Knit, Sew, Cook (EAT!)and of course hang out with Hudson. I plan to get back to posting too. Last year I drafted many posts about a range of things that weren't essentially about knitting so I never put them up. Now I don't think I'll hold this space to that kind of standard any more. How exactly it might look, I'm not really sure but with this post I've decided not to wait until all the t's are crossed and i's dotted. Instead, like my grand wardrobe plans I'm jumping in and I'll see what happens from here!<br />
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2017 Here I come!<br />
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<i>*4 sweaters, 3 hats, 2 colour work cowls, 2 headbands, a pair of fingerless mitts, a pair of thrummed mitts and a colour work pair, 2 blankets, 2 embellished felted bowls and 3 trivets, 4 pot scrubbers, 3 dishcloths and a pair of men's 2x2 ribbed socks.</i><br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-13518201870527544422016-08-18T16:06:00.000-04:002016-08-18T16:06:44.756-04:00Wadda Ya Know...I've Actually Made Some Stuff!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite being here there and everywhere I have been finding time and opportunities to finish things...<br />
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...This infant tomten/hat set and accompanying receiving blanket was done in time for gifting to an Australian friend we saw in Nantes France for her new grandson back home in Melbourne...<br />
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This "Jessamin" linen cardi saw completion over several hours of train travel through France in early July and its seen a lot of wear ever since...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73RX9_BBUM6lvqb1o4BAwRAs8SYRF68EKggsbqmct2RWDXMmHxXYspGncpkVsuKnJ-mrda1BIdsVuGWlwaLKgnnxS4Lql77jI6AGQEXxBnueCi5T3McgvHpIRwi7VtcCG_qO4LGZr67pn/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73RX9_BBUM6lvqb1o4BAwRAs8SYRF68EKggsbqmct2RWDXMmHxXYspGncpkVsuKnJ-mrda1BIdsVuGWlwaLKgnnxS4Lql77jI6AGQEXxBnueCi5T3McgvHpIRwi7VtcCG_qO4LGZr67pn/s400/IMG_7935.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson prefers if knitting and the knitter just stay home!</td></tr>
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Here at the cottage we spend hours every day in the ski boat dragging Number One Son around the lake. Its windy and bumpy but it can yield a good amount of knitting time for mindless stockinette so while watching stuff like this...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6gnM3e-VM5QJgbaYOSdhq-IzMVuOQUxE0XuH4dSAH3GB5UUzdlR67fsevBoTp3cUp7yMN_MDtVs0KkshWn6bdLaMVacRWW8Vdn6Nl54nSBFvoeyNTXOb6M-VCwFKKiojXX3W-fEkFoAc/s1600/IMG_7743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6gnM3e-VM5QJgbaYOSdhq-IzMVuOQUxE0XuH4dSAH3GB5UUzdlR67fsevBoTp3cUp7yMN_MDtVs0KkshWn6bdLaMVacRWW8Vdn6Nl54nSBFvoeyNTXOb6M-VCwFKKiojXX3W-fEkFoAc/s640/IMG_7743.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He isn't attached to that wake skate board - its just grip tape and running shoes and somehow he makes it do all kinds of things.</td></tr>
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And this...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU56wCqHc57WZDE0nlRshJjMcW3GJ5KHvG13dXxNeR4HidkrnwFYoVCih68QBtmDobJ9q7ISiaP-GSk1cJTccm3T92oXpoWrwnh7NtyIzYkeV-QfR8nsOYeDrkss7ulqjMzpEmetcX-FH/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU56wCqHc57WZDE0nlRshJjMcW3GJ5KHvG13dXxNeR4HidkrnwFYoVCih68QBtmDobJ9q7ISiaP-GSk1cJTccm3T92oXpoWrwnh7NtyIzYkeV-QfR8nsOYeDrkss7ulqjMzpEmetcX-FH/s640/IMG_7618.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By contrast - this happens at 32 miles an hour with both feet strapped into that ski.<br />
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And while spending time in the car and on the road I got this "Daelyn" pullover done in a couple of weeks...<br />
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Meanwhile the "Gift for the Girls Blanket" grew too big to move from the cottage but it is done and ready for the wedding in the woods ten days from now...<br />
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Ditto Darling Daughter's Bride's Maid dress The shot below shows it in progress at the cottage where it saw the bulk of its post-toile construction...<br />
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There have also been a number of these "Tawashi Knots" produced...<br />
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A great little project with a fun new yarn...more on that and details of the other pieces to come of course but for now at least I'm up and blogging!<br />
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Onward!<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-30371324015010820942016-07-15T10:53:00.000-04:002016-07-15T10:53:40.891-04:00'Doesn't Feel Right Just Now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been writing posts over the past weeks about knitting, about adventures with Hudson, dipping my toe back into sewing clothes for myself. Yesterday I wrote about our trip to France last week. This morning I planned to add photos and post it.<br />
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But every time I'm set to hit "Publish" it seems another terrible event occurs somewhere in the world making me feel small and selfish to go on about stitching with linen or running around with my my crazy-fluffy white poodle.<br />
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There is so much sadness and pain about, some of which we've been close to just a very few days ago.<br />
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Last week we were in France. Our trip started in Nantes where we were part of an international group. There I had, as my dinner companions one night, some Texans from Dallas and the conversations eventually turned to gun control and semi automatic weapons and of course just hours later, the horrible shootings occurred there.<br />
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At lunch one day a representative from Instanbul spoke to the assembly, encouraging people to visit her city with assurances of security.<br />
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Waiting for a train to Paris I spoke with a man from San Diego who expressed concern about his Republican Party back home.<br />
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In Paris we enjoyed beautiful summer days and evenings, watched Euro Cup games in open air cafes and visited museums crammed with tourists from across the globe. All friendly and peaceable.<br />
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But there were armed police patrolling the streets and guarding facilities, full body scans and bag checks necessary to gain access to department stores.<br />
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Refugee families, with small children, sat on the streets begging, young refugee men trying to make any money they could selling cold bottled water and beer to tourists.<br />
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On our flight home a young teenaged boy sitting with his dad in the seats across the aisle from us had a violent seizure. He received immediate care from generous doctors and paramedics on the flight but I'm haunted by the image of his parents, sister and grandparents enduring the hours and hours remaining in the flight and I keep hoping he's now okay.<br />
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Meanwhile, Number One Son is currently travelling home today after two years in Europe. He'll take two trains and three flights to get here and he's already been delayed at the Paris Airport where he'll likely now spend the night. I'll figuratively holding my breath until he arrives but it isn't lost on me, unlike so many others, we are among the luckiest of parents this morning.<br />
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Sigh.<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-48259042913007856652016-06-01T13:23:00.001-04:002016-06-01T13:23:31.123-04:00Me Made May<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the last day of May I kind of dipped my toe into the thing.<br />
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I went to <a href="http://www.theworkroom.ca/studio/sew-by-the-hour/">The Workroom</a> (conveniently down the street from Romni) and for the first time in decades, bought myself a couple of sewing patterns.<br />
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"Me Made May 2016" blog posts wherein the bloggers/instagrammers put up photos of themselves <u>every day in May </u>wearing their own hand made clothes is prompting me to work up casual basics like tops, tanks, pj's, maybe even the odd simple skirt or dress.<br />
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I'm likely late in discovering the world of indie sewing pattern drafting. It seems an echo of the explosion in knitting patterns early in the 2000's but now pairing hand knits and home sewn pieces.<br />
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For a while, and for all the fair trade/ethical/shop local reasons, I've also been weaning myself from mass produced/marketed clothing and department/chain store shopping. Its been more of a challenge than I imagined and I hope sewing some stuff will help make it easier.<br />
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This is what I've now assembled so far...<br />
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The amazing hand dyed indigo from London, I think is going to become a swingy tank...<br />
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...possibly lined so as to keep indigo from rubbing off on me and my clothes.<br />
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Gauzy plaid cotton will be a lightweight, sun blocking scarf edged with embroidery using the French floss Number One Son gave me from Loop last Christmas...<br />
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<br />
...This fabric/yarn combo I've already shown you now has a sewing pattern for the top portion of my own top/cardi set.<br />
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Then in a fit of optimism I picked up a roll of sewable tracing paper-type stuff from Sweden with which to duplicate patterns for re-use or even to make up some of my own from existing pieces I need to replace but the fit/function of which I love.<br />
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I want to sew up at least a couple of these things to "warm up" my technique before tackling Darling Daughter's Bride's maid dress.<br />
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Fun and exciting, <i>colourful </i>things to ponder as I take a break from afghan knitting. Another baby has been born into our social orbit so my trip to Romni yesterday yielded yarn for Tom Ten Jacket IV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0VZDNg2tI2YtVJwrVUw4janhQ0gRib99539LN4UERsyoo6LUxYyzoPIN4Sy2fNh49FFurWVcG3sd1fah5GzxYhmcAn9cYPUT5E-6LhArk1hF43N2RNnYZyXT1Sog5VEqRcpqfw84IOQv/s1600/IMG_6917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0VZDNg2tI2YtVJwrVUw4janhQ0gRib99539LN4UERsyoo6LUxYyzoPIN4Sy2fNh49FFurWVcG3sd1fah5GzxYhmcAn9cYPUT5E-6LhArk1hF43N2RNnYZyXT1Sog5VEqRcpqfw84IOQv/s400/IMG_6917.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Not a lot of colour here either but the yarn's 50% cotton content is novel in my hands, the prospect of a sweatshirt vibe in the FO is engaging and the creamy cotton wool planned for a little hat is lifting my knitting spirits even more.<br />
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And so onward!</div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-60717715856011766782016-05-31T08:13:00.000-04:002016-05-31T08:13:26.305-04:00Darling Daughter's Darling Cardi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Trellis" from Knitty in Superwash <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cascade</span></td></tr>
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'Have to say I love having FO's seemingly "pop up" around here. Darling Daughter finally got the buttons sewn on and they finish it off so nicely!<br />
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She needed very little help knitting/assembling. Hard to believe she'd only been a knitter for six months when she cast on for this.</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-27869633679596267102016-05-30T14:35:00.001-04:002016-05-30T14:35:25.836-04:00That was then but this is now...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Gift for the Girls blanket is coming along...half way into #6 of 9 skeins, two more to go in the main colour before the final ball in dark green garter edging.<br />
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Casting on, the colours looked like the British Racing Green and tan of a <a href="http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=37467">classic MGB Roadster</a>.<br />
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Now, all I see on my needles is something akin to muddy greyed brown.<br />
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Switching from wooly wool to superwash at the outset was the right thing to do and knowing that made me confident in the switch.<br />
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Still I can't convince my hands to stop balking at the feel of this superwash yarn.<br />
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Starting/knitting the first half felt like a grand gesture.<br />
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This second half now seems more like a sacrifice.<br />
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Sometimes, even as a project moves along, the further and further it feels like it is from ever being finished.<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-39899635128675209942016-05-27T10:46:00.000-04:002016-05-27T10:46:09.617-04:00I Spied (But Didn't Buy) Wool in London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NwaHfuIpM1QSaCNI99DgoWP91ffDGxI-_ReoJjHhwqKxLuIde_xt_TiQXE7YtjV6MB7mTizgJCoX9Zo4sfEfvVDS2MUE09kahH8wxnkF8F4gBmPcXi2tNejkgkUPtpf51COxU-ojQJHo/s1600/IMG_5982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NwaHfuIpM1QSaCNI99DgoWP91ffDGxI-_ReoJjHhwqKxLuIde_xt_TiQXE7YtjV6MB7mTizgJCoX9Zo4sfEfvVDS2MUE09kahH8wxnkF8F4gBmPcXi2tNejkgkUPtpf51COxU-ojQJHo/s640/IMG_5982.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this moving water sculpture just outside the security zone at Pearson Airport in Toronto.</td></tr>
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As we stood in the line snaking through airport security en route to London we kept passing a young woman whose backpack had skeins of hand dyed yarn flopping out of the pockets. She was wearing a Steven West shawl over a hand knit wool cardigan. I saw her as a good omen for wooly fun ahead.<br />
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A few hours later as we walked into our room at the uber hip Ace Hotel in Shorditch, there under the window, with a great view of the Gherkin was an expansive day bed that immediately called out..."why not sit here and knit?!"<br />
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(In the end, Number One Son's 18 hour-a-day tours left no time or energy for knitting but even the prospect of it was a lovely thing to imagine.)<br />
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Out and about I was ever on the look out for wool and there was plenty of it to be seen.</div>
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The families lounging upon wool blankets on the grass at Kew were only the beginning. Unlike here in Toronto, many of the home wares shops I visited offered pure wool blankets for sale - in an array of wonderful colours...<br />
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Knitted bunting hung in shop windows that didn't stock yarn...<br />
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In Churchill's underground WWII War Room, literally preserved as it was on the day of the Armistice, wool yarn was tacked up on huge wall-spanning maps to illustrate the ever changing picture of enemy/allied advances...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wondered at the prospect of someone, in the days of the Blitz, going out to pick up the yarn for this.</td></tr>
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On the streets of London, I saw many people, and especially males, wearing fantastic wool jackets, sweaters and scarves. This little boy was my hands down favourite!...<br />
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Of course, there was also my plan to bring some wooly goodness home with me from Loop!<br />
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I wanted a hardy, UK tweed wool yarn for a "cracking good", British sweater or vest for My Beloved.<br />
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Then there was my additional idea - the one I went on about in my last post - to nab a sweater quantity of rosy pink wool yarn for myself.<br />
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Images of such soon-to-be purchases were on my mind as we headed out walking from Shoreditch to the neighbourhood of Islington where Loop is located.<br />
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Our route took us alongside a picturesque canal lined with boats that serve as people's homes. That in itself was worth venturing off in the direction of the shop but the little alleyway in which Loop sits is also utterly adorable...<br />
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And the alley runs behind an equally beautiful, leafy roadway lined with interesting shops and cafes.<br />
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The tiny store looks like its associated web site and at first glance seemed a perfect combined distillation of London and Knitting. As I slipped through the narrow doorway into the shop my heart raced at the prospects therein.<br />
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Then the shop owner greeted me...with an American accent? The salesperson on the upper floor offered to assist me - another American. Two knitters, sitting round a table upstairs chatting - one of whom worked in the shop - both Americans. Nothing wrong with Americans, just not what I was expecting at all.<br />
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Not surprisingly, as with the web site, many, many of the yarns were also North American (Debbie Bliss and Rowan yarns I can find here any day of the week won't evoke London to me once back at home.)<br />
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Overall I'd say the selection was international - Brooklyn Tweed in all its forms, South American yarns, Quince and Co., Japanese and Icelandic yarns - you get the idea.<br />
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The worsted weights were alpaca, silk and some blends - none of it was what I was looking for.<br />
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Loop has had custom colour ways in some yarns but they were sold out.<br />
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There were a couple of dozen shades of Shetland Jumper Weight but nothing in that British rose kind of colour I was hoping to find.<br />
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In the end I picked up a copy of Loop's 10th Anniversary Pattern Book. The photography captures the feel of what I'd hoped to find. I'll source the yarn from home. Book in hand I rejoined My Beloved and Number One Son outside the shop. They greeted me with shocked amazement. "That was quick!" "No yarn?" "Are you sure? We don't mind waiting."<br />
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I assured them I'd exhausted the possibilities of the store's inventory to my purposes and off we went.<br />
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That quick exit paid off a couple of days later though. On a rare few hours without our "guide" My Beloved suggested we go back to Liberty of London (thank you Lorraine for that fantastic recommendation!) so I could maybe get some fabric to commemorate our trip since the plan for yarn had been abandoned. On our way to Liberty we stumbled upon a street with many fabric shops and there I found the most fantastic little place, every bit as charming as Loop and maybe even then some. I spent over half an hour inside and came out with some wonderful goodies...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcJ8Zi9yeB7nQYWlCPHSOS7tc8ckhUgYeHG4_6ivZi77jLMbyBdyMvnhTN4eXvBopoqpioVttW19sR46qFOxenM7jYYBtImcBqt_eb57zG5i66MCtqiolwGeyGsVIDWyv46EzjYxsMMN9/s1600/IMG_6611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcJ8Zi9yeB7nQYWlCPHSOS7tc8ckhUgYeHG4_6ivZi77jLMbyBdyMvnhTN4eXvBopoqpioVttW19sR46qFOxenM7jYYBtImcBqt_eb57zG5i66MCtqiolwGeyGsVIDWyv46EzjYxsMMN9/s400/IMG_6611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breezy, plaid cotton gauze from France, some hand dyed in India indigo and a wee little embroidered initial from Japan for Darling Daughter.</td></tr>
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So, wool was a big feature of London for me - its just the only wool I brought home in my bag was the Debbie Bliss, Irish tweed I took with me in the first place. </div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-36845272867663404292016-05-25T14:55:00.001-04:002016-05-25T14:55:31.764-04:00(Our) Spring Time in London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
London was, as ever sprawling, bustling, clearly ancient yet confidently modern.<br />
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Seeing it with Number One Son, whose been there a couple of years now, was a headlong race to tour, taste and meet up with the fantastic gems he's discovered. So much so, I only recognized the details of all we did once back at home last week sorting the hundreds of photos I took.<br />
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Impossible to miss in real time though, was the perfection of the sunny spring weather and its accompanying sights. We even had a few light rain showers one afternoon to make things feel properly British.<br />
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The leaves on the trees were beginning to unfurl.<br />
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The weekly Columbia Flower Market was extra crammed<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was literally the only place this little guy could stand and not get trampled!</td></tr>
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There were folks picking up fantastic looking plants for their plots at home...<br />
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But no less showy was the quantity and array of cut flowers both in Columbia Road and in the little street corner stalls across the city we saw as we toured about.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peonies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkGaGBC5le2HzAzD6aMT9QdqMulHEv174tnzQgJgaHxQuem0c8ThHHgvOfQvvFCo8sN_0ufS1l8nXZ70TRGCfTVfY368NfwY-0vuHoej6l6G_pyZgX8WCsFRTSOa2CX9QkRcVtGXuub7W/s640/IMG_6093+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrot Tulips</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHY5Jgcw4buTpZuzyUB7ToVXVaPAvKzCIUdKeWwYn8i4a3dcQ11OiJ05fSHyQIREa4u00S4aIx8uoVrU82O1s8GldOeeJ7_5jsA-Ht3wNHwbugoJeuz6JD1aFNa8C7PsTiXfsAeLtMUmL/s1600/IMG_6028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHY5Jgcw4buTpZuzyUB7ToVXVaPAvKzCIUdKeWwYn8i4a3dcQ11OiJ05fSHyQIREa4u00S4aIx8uoVrU82O1s8GldOeeJ7_5jsA-Ht3wNHwbugoJeuz6JD1aFNa8C7PsTiXfsAeLtMUmL/s400/IMG_6028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bouquets of Crocus like I've never seen here at home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneGxdZtPTzWKfwJN9K4I52MjUOv6sx2NjreJmh8d4wcnBASn73kxMw4XLAJ2FxqIUPWl1VTZpwcxTP9bmvf-10ihaCfbmdOBuvmabGSYRImQ8DPTJLOiUX8W1oNBhu6sDrBLGRgm8bHE6/s1600/IMG_6089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneGxdZtPTzWKfwJN9K4I52MjUOv6sx2NjreJmh8d4wcnBASn73kxMw4XLAJ2FxqIUPWl1VTZpwcxTP9bmvf-10ihaCfbmdOBuvmabGSYRImQ8DPTJLOiUX8W1oNBhu6sDrBLGRgm8bHE6/s640/IMG_6089.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several different colours of light pink roses to choose from in this one stall!</td></tr>
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Maybe its the nature/quality of the light in London but there's something about the way the Brits "do" pink - sophisticated and cool without looking lurid, or girly.<br />
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Just look at this beautiful (delicious) chocolate coconut wafer cookie...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ClP9jX1Fhhk32pLgLQqMDr_8pb4gW1MuB4YGeV5Ckek90eYme3inCWuwP4KZytMSbW2Jwm6JKhDF70I5vLlCHdDFWZRaZK2AV1ctHA_uUN9yPQCcOSQGF5Sqyf0Eytnaas015PY5oqnu/s1600/IMG_6579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ClP9jX1Fhhk32pLgLQqMDr_8pb4gW1MuB4YGeV5Ckek90eYme3inCWuwP4KZytMSbW2Jwm6JKhDF70I5vLlCHdDFWZRaZK2AV1ctHA_uUN9yPQCcOSQGF5Sqyf0Eytnaas015PY5oqnu/s320/IMG_6579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't these stripes look great on a knitted pullover?</td></tr>
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And I just had to snap a picture of this great looking bike...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XG4Tyl0tu28KIjNIF9V-w9MSMWdtRlC-pik_PXsiMD81WmN-2X9WNTLUaaE9wYn63z-ViECSeD2dDsb19zv7vLwNCERNKdYsZvs6_plAwpNTdwYawcmgYEVnTnrQV_bOuOcz_iJ6BwlS/s1600/IMG_6489.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XG4Tyl0tu28KIjNIF9V-w9MSMWdtRlC-pik_PXsiMD81WmN-2X9WNTLUaaE9wYn63z-ViECSeD2dDsb19zv7vLwNCERNKdYsZvs6_plAwpNTdwYawcmgYEVnTnrQV_bOuOcz_iJ6BwlS/s320/IMG_6489.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Mb1xhFWXMCOaHG38tum5IsLSfAHeKQN1QE7jTwiCiyz5RqEByXeCnB9aIVa5XWTs3gheeS6iSPFoLGN8lRx_IJUDOUb_-4CmQOLzNpyyQ2l_NAFluze8qAsVo_FLfp2m2U7kHqi-j2NZ/s1600/IMG_6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Mb1xhFWXMCOaHG38tum5IsLSfAHeKQN1QE7jTwiCiyz5RqEByXeCnB9aIVa5XWTs3gheeS6iSPFoLGN8lRx_IJUDOUb_-4CmQOLzNpyyQ2l_NAFluze8qAsVo_FLfp2m2U7kHqi-j2NZ/s320/IMG_6200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even big, beautiful blush pink meringues were calling to me as colour inspiration for knitting.</td></tr>
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All these sights got me resolving to pick up rose-coloured yarn as a souvenir of this trip when I finally made it to Loop.<br />
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Before that, however, we were to head to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSBhXgJ6z5Y">Kew Garden</a> and it didn't disappoint. The scale and ambition of the plantings are literally without parallel.<br />
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Trees planted to create the appearance of landscape paintings complete with forced perspective - here, along with the meandering mown path leading the eye to an unassuming bench.<br />
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Clipped vistas set against lush expanses of lawn...<br />
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Photo-inducing frames for Kew's collection of period structures and buildings...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGNNILVZzKOM3jHrn2onfCI0V-_PPP-PJnqjwnQQBpTBuy6s7Uqlj_w_KlS9G_Eyw2IpXanXJN-6fwgEsWl44QpVXKeRGwEcQGKUbPN-BXB7lVBHYHC2K5_2n0lNFk3upbiBr9ImcRhGy/s1600/IMG_6247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGNNILVZzKOM3jHrn2onfCI0V-_PPP-PJnqjwnQQBpTBuy6s7Uqlj_w_KlS9G_Eyw2IpXanXJN-6fwgEsWl44QpVXKeRGwEcQGKUbPN-BXB7lVBHYHC2K5_2n0lNFk3upbiBr9ImcRhGy/s320/IMG_6247.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kew's famous "Pagoda"</td></tr>
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Luckily the garden seemed free of tourists on the Bank Holiday we visited, instead, local families lounged on the grass atop wooly plaid blankets as if out of a BBC television program.<br />
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Kids were making daisy chains...<br />
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Then there were these two gardens, set virtually next to each other...one, behind Kew Palace...<br />
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The other...behind the building housing the Palace Kitchens...<br />
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They evoked many, many British books, movies and television programs. I half expected to see Peter Rabbit in his little blue waistcoat hopping around the lettuces in this one!<br />
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Of course, back in central London signs of the British spring were everywhere too. Grand floral displays...<br />
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Charming domestic plantings...<br />
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Flowering fruit trees in Notting Hill looking almost artificial against the pure blue sky...<br />
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Probably the sweetest, most spring-timey sight though...flowers on little girls...in their hair...<br />
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Printed on their dresses<br />
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Encircling their heads...</div>
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Finally (and best), we even had a bit of springtime in our room at the hotel...Number One Son organized a sweet little arrangement of flowers for us...</div>
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I've never had such a treat before while away on holiday but 'have to say it was surprisingly fantastic to come back to the sight of them and their scent hanging in the air after touring the streets of London for hours and hours each day.<br />
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Yup, all this had me primed and ready to splash out on some rosey British yarn. I'd been looking forward to my trip to Loop before but now I couldn't wait. Day 3 would start with the half hour walk there from our hotel!<br />
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Details on that tomorrow and thanks so much for dropping by today!<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-8864141909126171792016-05-20T11:54:00.001-04:002016-05-20T11:54:19.568-04:00Pit a Pat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So many things happening that have had my heart racing...London with Number One Son, new adventures with Hudson...and now, after almost 8 months, we're finally headed back to the cottage!<br />
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I've been working on posts about much of it but they've been so meaty they're taking forever.<br />
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Next week will be short and once again jammed with fun stuff. Nonetheless I'm hoping to hit the "publish" button on something.<br />
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In the meantime...this...<br />
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Which had my heart pounding the second I saw it.... evidence of Hudson paying full attention in a competition ring! (And the hundred other shots of the run show him maintaining that focus for most of it!)<br />
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Literally, years of effort paying off, all summed up in one photo!<br />
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"Pit A Pat" indeed!<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-88138491204422253782016-04-28T13:07:00.000-04:002016-04-28T13:07:56.321-04:00Cities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Great cities offer fantastic travel experiences - people, food, museums, parks, civic buildings, markets, transit and traffic - all right there outside the door of your hotel. 'Love it!<br />
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Last weekend, acting as tour guides, we waded into our own city with one-thing-after-the-other intensity we usually only undertake when we're away and I have to say it was just great fun.<br />
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(Drafting this post I surprised myself at how many spots we managed to visit in a couple of days.)<br />
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Friday evening we dined in the revolving restaurant <a href="http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/360-restaurant/overview.html">"360"</a> at the CN Tower. (One of the 7 wonders of the modern world pictured on the right below...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Island (on the left) our harbour and the downtown waterfront punctuated by the CN Tower on a stunningly perfect cool spring morning.</td></tr>
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With that overview fresh in our minds we set out Saturday morning to explore things at ground level.<br />
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Our first stop - the St. Lawrence Market - named "best market in the world" by National Geographic. Back bacon sandwiches are a breakfast <a href="http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/vendors/vendor_detail/56">t</a><a href="http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/vendors/vendor_detail/56">radition</a> there. Canadian butter tarts <i>and </i>nanaimo bars also made their way onto our "strolling menu". (<i>It may have been a bit early in the day for these treats but its important to immerse yourself in the local cuisine!</i>)<br />
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'Being a "tourist" I didn't buy groceries but I was tempted by these beautiful bluish-green duck eggs...<br />
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Fragrant locally roasted, fair trade organic coffee...<br />
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And these pointy beauties...<br />
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Never mind the cheeses, seafood, meats, sausage, rice, grains etc. etc. etc. also on offer!<br />
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After the market we toured the waterfront east of downtown (Over the course of the weekend we'd eventually see the central and western bits too.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A sun drenched walk along the Boardwalk in the Beach</td></tr>
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Then it was off to explore a few of the 55 great neighbourhoods in the city; strolling residential streets and checking out their local shops. (By weekend's close we managed to visit 15 in all)<br />
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We also hit a couple of look out points. The one pictured below is high above the <a href="http://www.evergreen.ca/blog/entry/a-superpark-hides-in-torontos-don-valley/">Don River Valley</a> overlooking the Evergreen Brick Works (which we toured after leaving the Lookout).<br />
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The Brickworks was the source for much of the traditional red brick of Toronto homes but once its quarries were exhausted it sat, abandoned and derelict for years until Evergreen and the City of Toronto teamed up to re purpose it into a bustling hub of Green commerce with a revolving schedule of farmer, Etsy and antique/vintage markets, a children's garden, off leash dog park, extensive walking trails and about a millionty other things that change with the seasons.<br />
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Post Brickworks we headed to another repurposed industrial property - the Hiram Walker Distillery (built almost entirely of red brick) in the neighbourhood of "Corktown" where love seemed to be in the air.<br />
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LOVED lunch at <a href="http://clunybistro.com/gallery">"Cluny"</a> (can't recommend it highly enough!)<br />
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Then, LOVED a coffee-to-go from Balzacs'...<br />
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Walking around with coffees in hand we couldn't help but see these two clearly loved each other...<br />
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And this group, was of course, all about the love...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of three weddings we saw over our Saturday wanderings.</td></tr>
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Then it was on to the main downtown shopping area at The Eaton Centre to check out a certain flock of <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=flying+geese+sculpture+Eaton+centre&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH4cP4uLHMAhUEQJoKHWKxC0YQsAQILg&biw=1440&bih=732">flying geese </a>, and as we went I couldn't help noticing how funky our skyscrapers are getting...<br />
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Next we turned to government buildings...<br />
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Old and New City Halls...<br />
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The latter, of course home to the Toronto Sign...<br />
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Then it was on up University Avenue past the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Courts, the Ontario Parliament Building at Queen's Park all en route to a tour of the amazing "Hogwarts-ian" <a href="http://harthouse.ca/about-us/">Hart House </a>at the University of Toronto.<br />
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From there we walked the quiet, treed length of the Philosopher's Walk ravine between, the Faculty of Music and Royal Conservatory of Music and the Gothic Revival buildings of Trinity College before leaving the University grounds to emerge onto Bloor Street at the <a href="http://libeskind.com/work/royal-ontario-museum/">Royal Ontario Museum</a> where Daniel Libeskind has fused its traditional architecture with some pretty modern ideas...<br />
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Next, east along Bloor - where the luxury branded shops cluster then to Yorkville, checking out its unlikely mix of chic renovated Victorian homes, condo buildings and bustling patio restaurants before finally finishing our day at Canada's largest Public Reference Library.</div>
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We headed home after that - a dog needed walking - our friends 'heading to the Entertainment District for dinner at "Luma in the Toronto International Film Festival "Lightbox". </div>
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And that was just Saturday!</div>
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Sunday morning, also gloriously sunny, we started in the empty-on-the-weekend Financial District checking out some of the bank towers (why not cover a bank building with <a href="http://www.blogto.com/photo_of_the_day/2011/02/royal_bank_plaza/">gold impregnated glass</a> right?).</div>
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To really understand this area of the city we headed down into the underground "neighbourhood" of the <a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f537b454b35a2410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=04708b7a29891410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD">PATH</a> - the world's largest network of underground shopping it also connects subway, hotels, trains, office towers, condos and music halls and its really handy for just getting from "A" to "B" when the weather isn't great.</div>
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Then it was off to tour more neighbourhoods, passing through our "fairgrounds", High Park (the biggest in the city) and its residential surroundings before a walk through what's been called the second "coolest" street in the world - West Queen West.</div>
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As noon approached, there were planes to catch . It was time to wind up our Toronto tour.<br />
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Just as we'd started with a food market so too we ended with one - this time peeking into a gorgeous second story Loblaws Grocery on Queen Street where we naturally found store brand butter tarts and nanaimo bars prominently displayed - bearing out our assurances these treats are a "thing" in Canada.<br />
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It was a great two day adventure in our own backyard and it has us ready and primed for this coming weekend when My Beloved and I will be the ones taking rather than giving a tour, this time, of London with Number One Son acting as guide. (I'm looking forward to the trip but as a mom, have to say, really excited to see our "boy" for the first time since Christmas!)<br />
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Which reminds me...I've got some packing to organize - 'best to start with "travel knitting" right?<br />
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Thanks for dropping by and today taking this little tour of our town with me!<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-81049417192826367522016-04-22T09:25:00.000-04:002016-04-22T09:25:34.852-04:00"Pro" Baking Tip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After letting bread rise for the final time it best to <u>remove</u> plastic wrap before baking...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Granola Round", <u>Flavoured Breads</u> by Linda Collister</td></tr>
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...Because it's quite fiddly picking it off afterwards. (At least this loaf - for weekend toasting and honey drizzling is almost clean!)<br />
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Have a good weekend. That's what I'm planning to do. Thanks for dropping by!</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-70983625714925848112016-04-19T10:55:00.001-04:002016-04-19T10:55:35.054-04:00And this why I need a dog...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The FO's of recent months have led to piles of patterns, receipts, remnants, labels and valuable project notes cluttering up my space and my brian.<br />
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Yesterday, I finished filing the whole works away into my little archive, clearing the decks and my mind for spring/summer knitting, travel and yet-to-be-thought-of new projects.<br />
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Ahhhhhhh....</div>
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Early this morning, feeling newly free of creative encumbrance, I dove into researching yarn shops in London ahead of our trip there in May. As I surfed I was sucked into a swirling vortex of inspiration that quickly escalated into crazed clicking and planning where, in less than half an hour from starting to research British yarn I was mentally sewing myself a new wardrobe from scratch.<br />
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Because here's the thing...<br />
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Big British brands like Debbie Bliss and Rowan have long been in our LYS's and now, newly available breed-specific British yarns are for sale in Toronto too. So I do not need to spend time in London shopping with British pounds to buy yarn I could pick up with Canadian dollars half an hour from home any time I want.<br />
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Plus...<br />
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London shops are featuring yarns from <u>this</u> side of the pond. Again, I'm not looking to buy yarn in London dyed by Torontonian Viola or Koigu from Ontario or the likes of American Quince and Co. either.<br />
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None of this will stop me making a trip to Loop for goodness sakes but for that all I need is a map to the shop from our hotel.<br />
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Instead of doing that and saying "job done" I pour another coffee and start looking at British <u>fabrics</u>... which lead me to <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/">Merchant and Mills</a>... which led to their <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/products/stationery/workbook-new/">"Workbook"</a> pattern collections... which led to the idea of a home sewn wardrobe...<br />
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<u>Time to step <i>away</i> from the computer</u>.</div>
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And as I reluctantly do, there he is, steadily staring his silent reminder what we need to do is exercise. There may be only so many hours is in a day but at least a couple of them need to be spent moving.<br />
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I may <i>want </i>to spend all my time on other things like trying my hand at <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/products/patterns/landgate-pattern-new/">making this oilskin jacket </a>in <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/products/oilskin/conker-oilskin/">this </a>or yardage of dress weight <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/products/cloth/seaside-2/">Irish linen </a> and maybe an indie British pattern to go with it but what I <u>need</u> to see to first is that I spend a good couple of hours up and out and moving briskly in fresh air every day.<br />
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If I do, I can actually make more stuff because being fit and healthy gives me more energy and it means what I make is smaller/cheaper and quicker and so for less money.<br />
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And <u>this</u> is why I need a dog...<br />
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Off we go!</div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-77984024818226995322016-04-18T15:31:00.001-04:002016-04-18T15:31:04.316-04:00A week for "Plan B" 's<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<u>A "Plan B" will not be necessary for My Elmont</u> (wet blocking showed the sleeve will work as is). So, with it being much closer to completion than Daelyn it "wins" the "what will I knit next" lottery.<br />
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I'd love to have it done to take along to London at the end of the month when we go to see Number One Son. We'll see how things go this week then I'll know better.<br />
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These felted slippers, knit in Briggs and Little Country Roving a couple of weeks ago do need a "Plan B"...<br />
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<u>T</u>hey were HUGE to start with. Machine felting (many trips through the washer and dryer) did shrink them but not enough to fit me and I think they're about as small as they're going to go.<br />
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So Plan B will be to find bigger feet for them. My Beloved's might do the trick. 'Hard to say just yet because they've dried into pretty wonky shapes so I'll need to wet them again and get them to dry in the shape of a shoe and then we'll make the call.<br />
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Meanwhile...<br />
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The "Gift for the Girls" Blanket (A whole Plan B <i>project</i>) is feeling like its suddenly gone from looking like a scarf to the beginnings of a nice sized throw.<br />
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These knits, the task of nailing down travel knitting and a plan for shopping at Loop if I manage to make it there while in London are my knitting list for the week. What are you up to?<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-59444365961188009272016-04-15T14:53:00.001-04:002016-04-15T14:53:19.405-04:00Eeeny Meeny Miney Moe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Post op issues and our persistent "wintery weather mix" have had me knitting, sewing, cooking, baking bread and working with the dog at home for weeks now.<br />
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Its been refreshingly quiet (and delicious!).<br />
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Thing is, its about to get warmer and busier. The garden will be needing attention (because there won't be snow falling on it every week), the cottage will open (because the ice will break up, go off the lake and allow us to access the cottage, as we must, by boat), we have some travel planned and there are dog trials to do with Hudson.<br />
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I need to get organized if I'm going to have knitting going as well.<br />
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So as I lower the setting on blanket knitting from "boil" to "simmer" I'm reacquainting myself with with "My Elmont" and "Daelyn" - two great sweater projects I'd like to get back to after setting them aside months ago.<br />
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Fingering weight Elmont had me worried the first sleeve was too narrow but is it really? What if I blocked what I've got and everything was fine and I had a piece that was half finished just sitting there waiting? 'Need to get to the bottom of that question.</div>
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Then there's Daelyn, in the most magically coloured/thick/thin Noro yarn ever. (Have to admit that yarn is calling to me!)<br />
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The top down hit the ground running format was too demanding of attention during an otherwise busy/distracted period so that's how it got shuffled off into hibernation. Right now though, the yarn's little hits of colour would be so fun to see on the needles...<br />
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<br />
It's time to be wearing rather than knitting these - 'time to take some time, dig into those project bags and decide which one I'll attend to first. There's a project for the weekend.<br />
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'Hope you have a good one!</div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-78120143926313336152016-04-14T09:11:00.000-04:002016-04-14T09:11:18.708-04:00Gift for the Girls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
The wedding gift blanket is progressing.<br />
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Meanwhile I mourn the blanket that was to be but won't (at least not immediately).<br />
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<i style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></i><br />
<br />
Darling Daughter says the current one is just exactly what the recipients will like/relate to so I need to focus on having that vs. something for me. (This is so much harder than it should be for an otherwise mature adult hmmmm...)<br />
<br />
I've finished knitting three of the nine balls so I'm 30% in and feel like that's a decent head start.<br />
<br />
A week and half working loooong rows has been hard on my hands and caused no end of knotting up across my shoulders so I'm switching up how I knit row by row.<br />
<br />
On the straight knitted rows I'm working Continental style.<br />
<br />
Purls rows; throwing with my hand atop the right needle.<br />
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Combination knit, purl rows; throwing with my right hand in a pencil grip.<br />
<br />
Plus I'm making a point of getting up/moving around more aiming to knit just one ball per week into the thing.<br />
<br />
At that rate it will still be finished before summer/weeks before the wedding.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile I'm hatching a plan to make a spot for some kind of commemorative label in the final garter border. It could be something I knit into it or something maybe felted and applied or maybe hand embroidered/duplicate stitched.<br />
<br />
It could include simple graphics copied from the wedding invitation or a heart with initials, the date of the wedding?...not sure yet. Still lots of time to think on that.<br />
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Little amusements all..."small things for small minds" they say.</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-92199996854504174422016-04-07T15:02:00.000-04:002016-04-07T15:06:49.655-04:00Buenos Aries Throw FO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Last post for this one - I promise!</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Pattern: "Bulky Throw" by Heidi Gustad</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Source: Free Ravelry Download</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Size: 45" x 52"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Yarn: Natural Argentinian Thick and Thin Wool Yarn</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Source: Buenos Aries Yarn District November 2015</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Colour: Natural, Undyed Cream</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Needles: 15mm, 47" Circular</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Start: December 29, 2015 Finish: February 27, 2016</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Modifications: Added randomly placed rows of Reverse Stocking Stitch</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">This single ball of locally produced roving would have been a great souvenir for me of our visit to </span><a href="http://selandpoivre.blogspot.ca/2015/11/ola.html">Buenos Aries last autumn </a><span style="color: #134f5c;">but with My Beloved's encouragement (and the extra bag he tucked into his luggage to accommodate a larger yarn purchase) I brought home enough authentic, local yarn to make even better souvenirs we can all enjoy for years to come.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I hesitated to knit the yarn for this bulky throw right away as I loved just looking at it rolled in huge balls...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Then, after knitting the first couple of balls I let the project linger again as I enjoyed the sight of it in another room, tumbling out of this rustic basket...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">When I finally knit it up the combined size of needles and yarn meant moving my whole arm from the shoulder for every stitch but the airy lightness of the yarn meant it wasn't as tiring as stitching Briggs and Little "Super" into a Double Knit Dog Mat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><span style="color: #134f5c;">It sure yielded something a whole lot loftier too!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Every step in the process was pure pleasure. Now, all finished, I couldn't be happier with the result. I love the way it looks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKZPIS1DV-STCAw9T-QDPhQuJatVwTE5VS_ogffDDNDuMcIueAM0GKEFfvDEMv0Zy7KmKPMUcMlAVrRg1vuyxpFsKbmDpADtZS1703bfBgX5bBV4RTQ3CLEp0uyy2adHyk_czzBUdaQ-G/s1600/IMG_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKZPIS1DV-STCAw9T-QDPhQuJatVwTE5VS_ogffDDNDuMcIueAM0GKEFfvDEMv0Zy7KmKPMUcMlAVrRg1vuyxpFsKbmDpADtZS1703bfBgX5bBV4RTQ3CLEp0uyy2adHyk_czzBUdaQ-G/s640/IMG_5749.JPG" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Had to encourage him to lie on this, then tell him to stay. It probably makes him feel hot just looking at it.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><u>Everyone</u> in the house loves the way it feels - </span><span style="color: #134f5c;">like it has some kind of internal power source kicking out heat. I'm predicting arguments over who gets to use this one on cold winter nights!</span></div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-41273757205021767622016-04-05T08:10:00.001-04:002016-04-05T08:10:22.944-04:00Angora Cowl FO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Pattern: "Amalia Cowl" by TheKnitterInMimi FO</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Source: Free Ravelry Download</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Yarn: Cream - Orkney Angora St. Magnus DK</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"> Lavender - Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Needles: 3.75 mm 16" circular</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Start: February 13 Finish: March 23, 2016</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Modifications: None</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">A straightforward little pattern just high and wide enough to fit neatly into the collar of a coat. Ingenious how the bottom garter stitch edge, with its wider gauge than the stockinette above it, gives the fit some needed flare at the bottom allowing it to settle onto the shoulders a bit without ever changing the number of stitches.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Then the 2x2 rib at the top does an equally important job of preventing the stockinette from rolling over under the chin.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">I hunted for a cowl pattern to "go" with these DROPS design mittens for quite a while.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">When I saw the "X"'s and zig zags in this design I liked how they were similar to the ones featured on the back of the mittens without being a literal match.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75;">What is a perfect match though is the appearance of the softer than soft marled lavender and cream with how the baby merino/silk/angora yarns feel agains the skin.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">I think it's pretty and cozy in a perfectly "early spring" kind of way and I love that its made using remnants and a free pattern.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Just one of those projects where everything comes together. Nice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">And nice of you to drop by today - thanks!</span></div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-37193955818502405582016-04-04T13:42:00.001-04:002016-04-04T13:42:19.028-04:00Back to the Drawing Board<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">J</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ust a note before getting to the meat of the matter - I'm feeling oh so responsible taking time and care to both plan and swatch and then, when swatching revealed something other than "what a great idea", I didn't whine, instead listened to the thing and moved on, better informed and hopeful of an improved outcome. How many, many years its taken me toe realize the value in such an approach! Better late than never though.</span></i></div>
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<br />
I'm told by my Review Committee (Darling Daughter - close friend of recipients), my swatch for <a href="http://www.yarn.com/product/debbie-bliss-welsh-blanket-pdf-pattern/">"Welsh Blanket"</a> is "dingy" and I concede, it is. Important not to take offence that unlike me, she doesn't mourn the need to let go of one vision for another. She's quite free of passion for creative pursuits - more of a mechanic than an artist - and so just calls 'em as she sees 'em.<br />
<br />
To me though, in that dinginess is the feeling of well worn denim - useful, comfortable, practical, ready for years of use filled with kids and dogs and family life.<br />
<br />
For young women just starting out , thrilled with the prospect of a shiny, new, first married home" I get it might read instead a bit "university dorm".<br />
<br />
Importantly I'm also told it doesn't look like something the recipients would choose for themselves if they saw it in a shop.<br />
<br />
So back to Ravelry, where <a href="http://quinceandco.com/products/nebraska-throw">"Nebraska Throw"</a> jumps out from among my favourites. <a href="http://quinceandco.com/collections/patterns">Quince and Co.</a> patterns have a rustic delicacy about them that to me feels quietly feminine, young and fresh - just what I'm looking for. "Committee" says absolutely perfect!<br />
<br />
Then I focussed on searching superwash yarn (Committee says that would be preferable) in the rustic colours of the wedding invitation. 'Can't go wrong with those can I? Committee says "great idea!"<br />
<br />
So I ended up with a less graphic design, hopefully to stand the test of time across many years of married bliss.<br />
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The web told me only Eweknit had enough Berroco Vintage "Oats" and "Douglas Fir" in stock so off we went and picked it up then I came home and cast on before the bulk of the snow started to fall yesterday.<br />
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None of this means I'll be returning the original yarn I picked up at Romni of course!<br />
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As soon as it seemed the Welsh Blanket was doomed My Beloved requested a <a href="https://www.brooklyntweed.com/shop/dunaway/">"Dunaway"</a> scarf in the blue yarn. (He's been coveting one since seeing the navy version Darling Daughter knit as a Christmas gift.)<br />
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As for the natural, buff coloured "baby" yarn, of which there's about 800 meters, it might become a rustic baby wrap of some kind...like a <a href="https://www.brooklyntweed.com/shop/kelpie/">"Kelpie"</a> shawl knit in a square or a vintage baby piece. Time will tell.<br />
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So "The King is dead, long live the King". One project was swatched right out the window, another project cast on to take its place.<br />
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And there's new yarn and knitting aspirations in the house to boot.<br />
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All something to ruminate on while I bathe and groom a certain grimy cream poodle today.<br />
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Thanks for dropping by!</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-36354610703394169252016-04-01T21:04:00.000-04:002016-04-01T21:04:13.316-04:00A Most Successful Outing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, I did the rounds of my usual yarn shop haunts....<br />
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Starting with Romni Wools to hunt up yarn for a mosaic stitch <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/29-welsh-blanket">"Welsh Blanket" </a> - a wedding gift, for the couple who've asked Darling Daughter to be in their August wedding party.<br />
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This is what I bought...<br />
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...and I feel pretty sure its going to look great - having help selecting the colours from designer <a href="http://knitsforkeeps.blogspot.ca/">Kiomy Burgin</a> who is no stranger to fantastic colourwork (and works at Romni!) and, importantly, being of the same age range as the Brides-to-Be, could advise on something more "Millennial" than "Boomer".<br />
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We considered yarns from the DK, Worsted and Aran sections, as she explained the variances in yarns mean that, for example, lighter, loftier Arans <i>can</i> work with a beefy DK etc. depending on the technique used to combine them.<br />
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As we crouched over a basket, contemplating options I asked her whether yarn dominance exerts itself or could be used to affect the look of mosaic knitting and therefore balance mixed yarns of different sizes but before she had time to answer, none other than colour work and mosaic designer <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/barbara-gregory">Barbara Gregory</a>, a former member of the Romni team, seemed to materialize behind her with a bright "hello there" and an explanation that, because there is only one colour being carried across any single row in mosaic knitting, yarn dominance is absent from it.<br />
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The two of them then talked a bit about pairing yarns and referenced the difference between actual weight and what I think they called "label weight". In other words, two seasoned yarn experts discussing the fact you shouldn't rely exclusively on the information on a yarn label when deciding on the suitability of a yarn for a particular application. There's a sobering thought eh?<br />
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All the more reason to seek good advice on yarn when you're considering something you've never done/worked with before.<br />
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All the more reason for me to then feel good about what I would buy because I couldn't have asked for better, more informed advice. I had a little knitting "dream team" right there helping me!<br />
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After that, obviously confident with my 20 balls of DK, I headed off from Romni to visit Eweknit. It is <u>the most beautiful yarn store ever </u> but I wasn't looking for yarn there, rather yesterday, I forced myself to focus on their selection of fabrics.<br />
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Darling Daughter's Bride's maid muslin is now complete so I'm going to "dip my toe" in the home sewing pond a bit deeper and sew up a simple top to go with a linen cardi called Jessamine, the yarn for which I picked up at my <i>next </i>destination - Knit-O-Matic - where Quince and Co. Kestral just arrived this week.<br />
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I've planned a linen something-or-other several spring times in the past but I've always left buying the yarn too late and run up against insufficient stock by the time I was ready to make a purchase.<br />
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Not this year though! I left Knit-O-Matic with ten skeins of this crisp, chainnette, tape-like, 100% organic linen yarn. I love how it goes with one of the cotton prints I bought at Eweknit.<br />
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Yup, a successful outing indeed. Thanks for dropping by - have a great weekend!<br />
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-24933304572651662772016-03-30T16:11:00.002-04:002016-03-30T16:11:55.192-04:00"Turn a Square" Hat by Jared Flood FO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Patttern: "Turn a Square" by Jared Flood</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Source: Free Ravelry Download</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Yarn: Miscellaneious Remnant Worsted Wool</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Needles: 4.0, 4.5mm circular, 4.5mm dpns</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Start: March 11 Finish: March 11, 2016</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Modifications: extended band to 1.5", added 1 row of MC between each CC stripe.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">One recent Saturday morning</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> I pulled together</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> this</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> little sack of equal toned remnants with the printed pattern I queued </span><i style="color: #134f5c;">years ago. </i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Ravelry says almost 18,000 of these have already been knit - time to get to it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">As a pattern designed to use up remnant yarn, the necessary quantity of contrast colour yarn is given in weight rather than "balls" which made it easy to switch from the self striping Noro of the pattern to equal toned, separate remnants...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">I wanted something a bit softer looking than the original snug design so...</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #134f5c;">Lengthened the ribbed section 'round the bottom </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c;">Added another round of black between each coloured stripe.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Having a full day of Saturday "stuff" to do, I then resolved to stitch this little piece whenever I did sit down that day. So by the time I went to sleep that Saturday night I had a new hat!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">My slouchier fit lets the "square" hang down the back rather than sitting atop the head all but hidden from sight of my tallest friends...</span></div>
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And the feather lightness doesn't mess with my hair either! This one is all good, now posted <u>and</u> gone from my queue!</div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-11087553748287591852016-03-30T07:52:00.000-04:002016-03-30T07:52:34.294-04:00"Spring Chick" by Barbara Prime FO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>In case anyone's interested...the details on the little knitted chicks from yesterday's post...</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICi0E9B2BKH0UVZ6WHFBxEbkirt-UUU5x2fjJlqkIylg_j8KK7pcfNl7bPrDwESvMUATnEXmCPssuGqjcTn3TjAfGgJnjpi_G5Ov_vq2QnTgywzEN4KD_ZY8rz89r5oPWwofDWIssturb/s1600/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICi0E9B2BKH0UVZ6WHFBxEbkirt-UUU5x2fjJlqkIylg_j8KK7pcfNl7bPrDwESvMUATnEXmCPssuGqjcTn3TjAfGgJnjpi_G5Ov_vq2QnTgywzEN4KD_ZY8rz89r5oPWwofDWIssturb/s640/IMG_5649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Pattern: "Spring Chick" by Barbara Prime</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Source: Free Ravelry Download</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Yarn: Remnant Worsted</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Needles: 4.0mm</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Start: March 24 Finish: March 26, 2016</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Modifications: None</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="color: orange;">Fantastic little pattern with clever use of shaping - especially around the chick's head and shoulders. The worsted weight yarn also yields something just the right size too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">My sister's cat "Olive" enjoys the catnip-stuffed <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/CanadianEh/bunny-nuggets">"Bunny Nuggets" </a>I knit for her a couple of years ago so I thought I'd knit for her again this Easter...</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">I only put catnip in one this time so my nephews could play games with her "nose"...</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">She instantly recognized the "good" one.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Then, turned her back on the whole works and set about "enjoying" the tissue and purple paper ribbon...</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">This project also reminded me of two things...stuffed animals get most of their personalities from the addition of "eyes"....and there is no such thing as saving a piece of felt that is too small. The little scrapes of orange felt I had stashed among bigger pieces were still much more than I needed to finish these off.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Hey thanks for dropping by!</span></div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-33536286957609854402016-03-29T09:13:00.000-04:002016-03-29T09:13:03.059-04:00Good Weekend...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ours extending through yesterday. Just the three of us, so a bit weird, but we kept ourselves amused.<br />
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'Saw a movie - "Eye in the Sky" - really well done.<br />
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Accomplished a surprising amount of knitting - among the projects - some fun little Chicks...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Cannot stand how quick and cute these turned out to be!</td></tr>
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'Put in three solid days of cooking/baking.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It was a full on Martha Easter here. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Her early stuff really is soooo complicated but special</span> efforts for special occasions...this round my hands down favourites...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Cross Buns - Martha Stewart Living 1998 - beyond "yum"!</td></tr>
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With Easter weekend behind us, the clocks "sprung" forward, Spring officially underway I'm manic to finish up "winter" knitting around here.</div>
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(Also seriously need to address the backlog of unblogged FO's, some from as far back to <i>last </i>spring?!)</div>
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Onward!</div>
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Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838180975381508469.post-23362957368004720422016-03-23T12:20:00.001-04:002016-03-23T12:20:28.605-04:00So Sew?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yup, I've been sewing! ('knitting too of course - more on that later.)<br />
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I've been <i>thinking about sewing</i> again for a while after seeing many fantastic home sewn wardrobes - that can really show off the hand knits - there's gobs of them on Instagram and Kollabra.<br />
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"Reminds me of the early 2000's when the knitting explosion blew through the internet but today, these "Slow Fashion" enthusiasts are diving in and also sewing stuff to go with their knitted pieces.<br />
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They're stitching tops, shirts, skirts, dresses, shorts and even jeans, lined jackets and lingerie. <a href="http://scaredstitchless.blogspot.ca/2016/03/blue-leather-ballet-flats.html">Some make shoes for themselves</a>!<br />
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So, so much to be learned from the Millennials I'll tell ya!<br />
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Anyway, my own Millennial Darling Daughter recently came home with yardage of soft pink broadcloth for a dress she'll wear in a wedding this summer so I talked her into letting me make the muslin version to nail down fit/size/style before she hands it over to a dressmaker.<br />
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(I'm secretly hoping to sew the finished product and save her the hundreds of dollars it will cost to have it professionally made but I won't float that notion until we have success with this phase first!)<br />
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She agreed and since the Bride-to-be will be in town over Easter for a dress fitting of her own we're aiming to have something ready to model for her when she's here.<br />
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Is sewing something for myself in the cards? Maybe. First I've got a muslin to finish and I'm having great fun diving into a basket of CO-ready knitting "kits" I assembled 10 days ago while avoiding the two sweaters-in-progress I should be attending to.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally landed on an edging Darling Daughter is happy with on the little hand stitched lunch sack I made for her birthday. Not super exciting from a stitching point of view but she's happy with it so we'll call this one "done".</td></tr>
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I'm hoping the two little knit projects I finished last week/blocked yesterday and the one to be bound off tonight get me back in the mood for some sweater knitting.<br />
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I'll let you know how that goes! Thanks so much for dropping by!</div>
Sel and Poivrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675373771037014713noreply@blogger.com1