All Through the Winter - Part Two

 
I know we've seen this pattern on the blog before, but it really is my favourite baby cardi to knit.  In fact, it's the third time; first for little Leo back in 2012, then in January of this year for Zachary (that's yesterdays post), and also in April of this year for little Leona - isn't it odd that Leo and Leona have such similar names?!  The world can be a strange small place sometimes.

Leona is the first grandchild of my Aunt Jean who lives in far away Norway, and I thought a long time about what sort of small something I'd like to knit for this little one, before I decided on the Scottie pattern.  I opted to add a smattering of subtle symbolism into this cardi through my yarn choices.  The main body of the cardigan is knit with a cream-coloured yarn, Rowan Wool Cotton 4Ply.  That's an English yarn and it represents Jean, Leona's English grandmother.  The red and black yarns are Viking Baby Ull, my favourite of all the baby yarns I've tested over the years (also, it has the best shade of red I've ever seen in a yarn - EVER!).  It's a Norwegian yarn, like the rest of wee Leona's family.  The Scottie dog pattern is a nod to Scotland, because if you go back through the family tree just a little bit further, brand-new, little Norwegian Leona and middle-aged Canadian I would find a common ancestor who came from Scotland.  It is a strange, small world isn't it?

Though the scottie pattern is the same on all three cardis I've made, there are two differences that separate this cardi from the others; both are revealed in the buttons.  This cardi was made for a little girl instead of a little boy, so the button plackets are reversed, jacket and cardigan buttonholes are on the right side for females, on the left for males.  Did everyone know this?  It's true, check out the jacket/shirt/cardi you're wearing right know if you're unsure whether you're wearing menswear or women's wear, your clothes will tell all.  Also, the boys cardis had black buttons, whereas little Leona got red ones with fancy scroll work patterns on them.  See:

Oooo...pretty!

Welcome to the world, Leona!



     

All Through the Winter - Part One

I'm awake!

Well, it's hard to believe, but this is my first post of the year.  I've been hibernating - waiting for the snow to melt.  It's been a very long winter in these parts and I'm really, really glad it's over.

I've been busy knitting, of course, and have lots and lots of projects to share.

There have been three new, little ones born.  In January, a wee boy named Zachary was born.  A brother to A.J. (he who received this sweater and booties nearly two years ago).  I chose my favourite baby sweater pattern, the Scottie Cardi.

 
I had been in a deep funk through the autumn and winter and dragged my feet getting this cardi started, as a result my favourite yarn was sold out in the cream colour, so I had to resort to using what was available in the correct colour and gauge.  As a result I had to use an acrylic yarn.  Yes, I know - shameful!  However, it will wash and wear like iron, and it looks adorable.  I made the three month size - I know, I know, that's also a no-no!  My thinking was that wee Zachary and little A.J. would be fitting their respective knits at the same time, and Zachary will still get the hooded cabled number as a hand-me-down.

Born in February was Jackson, another wee boy, born to my son's guitar teacher Stephen and his girlfriend.  I've never met the girlfriend, in fact, I don't even know her name, but I didn't let that stop me from knitting away!

I chose a vintage knitting pattern by Pinguoin, published back in the 1980's - probably around the time the parents of this wee one would have been born.  It was a called "Classic Cardigan" in the magazine, it's knit in alternately rows of stocking stitch and garter stitch, with a contrasting edge.  The cardi is worked in Berroco Vintage DK in the Delphinium colourway, and is edged with Sublime Yarns Baby Cashmere Merino Silk in the colour 245 - an acid mustard sort of shade. 

What?  You don't think acid mustard is a good baby shade?!

Well, too bad, I made a hat to match.

The third little one to be born is going to get her own post, stay tuned - possibly tomorrow!

Also off the needles this winter, a pair of socks.  The pattern is Mojo  (that's a Ravelry link, it may not open if you're not a member), worked in Lang Yarns Jawoll Magic 6-fach, in a vivid pastel colourway.  These socks look quite kooky, they're worked in a series of alternating bands of ribbing and stocking stitch/garter stitch rings.  They're suppose to be mismatched like that - they are surprisingly comfortable.  I've been wearing them around the house when it's cold outside (that's been most of this winter and ALL of this spring).

Also off the needles, though nowhere near finished is a surprise....

Hmmmm.....what could it be?

Let's enjoy Belle and Sebastian while they're still awake...

Christmas Buttons and a Fab Friday Find

Did everyone have a fabulous Christmas?  I've been quite spoiled, with lots and lots of gifts, all of which were fantastic and one being particularly spectacular.  If you haven't yet figured it out, it's the item showcased above.  How awesome?  Very. 

The killer gift from Nigel this year was an antique box set of buttons, buckle and hatpins, purchased through my favourite antique dealer, Frank - who found this through an estate sale and kept it especially for Nigel to purchase for me for Christmas.  Thanks to both of you! 

Frank's opinion was that the set was from the late 1800's, but I initially thought 1920's - my notion was based solely on the bright azure/turquoise of the enamel on the buckle.

Having studied it a little longer, I'm inclined to think it's Edwardian, as belts were very popular.  Remember the cinched waist of the time? 

The mother-of-pearl buttons are quite fine and delicate and come with their own "keepers", small rings to attach the buttons to clothes without having to sew them on.   At the time buttons would have been removed from a fine garment before it was laundered - these buttons, being small and removable were probably intended for a blouse.

The two hatpins are also mother-of-pearl.  The tops are attached to the pins in an articulated manner, allowing movement when the wearer turned her head.

The entire set is quite perfect and I feel very privileged to be its "keeper" for the next generation of button collectors.

Nigel wasn't the only person to gift me with buttons this season, my friend Betsy sent a parcel with much loveliness, including many celluloid buttons on tiny cards, this Glow Bubble Celluloid made me laugh:

the seller tagged it as a Glow Buble.  Funny.

And what of the :::Fab Friday Find::: mentioned in my post title?

Well, deary, deary!  I really didn't need another thing after receiving so many goodies at Christmas, but I was out and about today and stopped in at Things on Corydon Avenue and this necklace caught my eye:

I knew it was Victorian cut steel when I cast my eye upon it, and on flipping it over, could see that it was one half of a huge,old cloak clasp.  Someone had strung a sterling chain through it and called it a necklace.

It will take its place of honour in the button collection.

I was going to link to a Michael Buble video, but I didn't like any of them.  Someone needs to tell that man to sing about celluloid buttons.

TinselTown

'Tis the season - I managed to miss Hallowe'en here in blogland, but I'll try to make up for it with more than one December post.  Ambitious words, I know.

The small tinsel tree has been set up on the upstairs landing.  I love this wee tree, it stands just over four feet tall and is bedecked with loads of vintage glass ornaments.  I think it's charming, however, if I remember correctly, Nigel described it as "looking like it belonged at a junk store".  He's almost as charming as the tree.  Perhaps he feels it's simply not good enough to be hanging out with his autographed Star Wars snaps.  Speaking of autographed snaps, we have a small stack of Star Trek ones I've yet to frame - the wall will eventually be quite crowded.

Back in the first week of November Nigel and I went to ComicCon and stood in line to get Patrick Stewart's autograph - he was very nice (chattier than William Shatner in a previous year).  Nigel also stood in line for Marina Sirtis and Billy Dee Williams, possibly also Nichelle Nichols (though I can't remember now, and the photos aren't on the wall yet).  Nigel tried to be charming to Marina Sirtis, telling her she "looked great", and also remarked that she was "aging much better than Jonathan Frakes".  Apparently the first line went over better than the second.

Off the needles in the recent past:

A pair of mittens in the Horatio and Oren pattern from Barbara Gregory in the Fall 2012 issue of Twist Collective.  The pattern is very sweet, with an option to make snowy owls (worked as a pale owl on a darker background, and with a rounded top), or as horned owls (dark owls on light, with tiny points worked off each side of the top).  How sweet are they?  I gifted them to Elly.

They even have tail feathers!  Adorable!  I neglected to make a note of which yarn I used, but I think it may have been Sublime Extra Fine Merino , and made in the adult small size.  It's not like me to not make a note of the yarn I've used, but it's really not been the best Autumn.

Also finished is the Slanted and Enchanted scarf from this post, back in June.  I didn't care for it for myself when I finished it, so gifted it to Yolande in the back garden.  Doesn't she look festive?

 
Lastly, off the needles (a fair ways back) is Wilhelmina Witch, from two posts ago.  After much sewing and wrapping and gluing, she was finished by the beginning of October and resides on a bench in the kitchen with Bill the Pirate and the Octopuss.

 The light wasn't the best when I took this picture, but her face is sweet and funny with a huge nose.

In my next post I'll show you all the new things on the needles.

Goodbye to Whimsy

 After a stressful month of family health issues, we passed through a difficult week-end, having to say goodbye to Elly's beloved Shih Tzu, Whimsy. 

Though tiny in stature, she made her presence felt.  She would easily tolerate hand-knit sweaters, fancy dress costumes and small children...

but almost never tolerated Sunday morning joggers passing the living-room window, interlopers in her home or Gus sitting on a bed next to her - she taught him that the cold, hard floor was good enough (a rule he only followed when she was near).  

She could be both sunshine and storm, snuggly and squirmy, often loving, always lovable.

 Goodbye, Whimsy-Doodle.  You'll be missed.

Things a Jellin'

It's that time of year again - the time when there's a crispness to the air and I can think straight again.  My whole life seems to melt into a puddle of laziness through the summer, but come autumn, things start jelling and work gets done.  Fittingly, I've made mint jelly and roasted garlic jelly, both with loveliness harvested from the garden.

The garlic jelly is a dreamy, pale amber colour - the mint jelly would have been too, but I added the tiniest hint of kelly green food colouring, just so I could tell them apart.  I have plans too, to make some mango chutney, that doesn't use anything from the garden though, so, no rush for that.

Off the needles recently, a neckwarmer in a sequined fuchsia wool/acrylic blend.  I'm not one for acrylics normally, but I saw this one lone ball of King Cole Galaxy in the bargain bin at Wolseley Wool, and I couldn't resist the sparkly twinkle.  I hope to get much wear out of it this autumn (still a shade too warm around here just yet).

 

More impressive, also off the needles this month is the Union Jack slipover.  I made the smallest size, and it's still plenty big on Ian, it hangs in my closet though - hee, hee.

I'm fairly pleased with the neckline.  I usually hurry through the last parts of a project and my finishing work can leave something to be desired, but I took my time with it, and it looks pretty good.

 

Recently on the needles is Wilhelmina Witch by Alan Dart.  I love his toy patterns, though I always fail to remember just how much work they are to assemble.  The knitting takes no time, in fact, all her pieces are finished, I just have to sew them up and embroider her features - I suppose at the rate I've been blogging she should be done well before I blog again.

And, never on my needles (or hook, in this case); I found an old crocheted tablecloth while out trolling the thrift sales/estate sales (can't quite recall where I found this).  It's not especially large and it had an old stain - something greasy, I suspect - and a bit of unravelling, but I couldn't resist giving it a home.  I darned the tattered bits with white cotton thread and thought I'd pop it in a dye bath to give it a bit of life.

I chose gunmetal dye, thinking it would turn a lovely steely grey colour.  No such luck.

It went a dusty chambray blue.  Hmmm....not what I wanted.  So I re-dyed in a jet black dye bath.

Success!  Gunmetal!  It's going to look fab on the table nearer Hallowe'en!

Ubiquitous Garden Shots and Some Knitting

Through the magic of blogging I'm going to make my garden appear lush and successful. 

Why, look at the colour on those hollyhocks!

And all the new growth on the bay laurel!
 

What sweet blooms on that scented geranium!

Oooo... what's that?   Why it's a new variety of black-purple tomato called Indigo Rose - isn't it something?!

Mmmm...!

What's the secret to growing such a fab looking garden?   Why, it's nothing more than getting the camera really, really close so you can't tell how few hollyhocks actually sprang from the earth, or how shamefully tiny that bay laurel is after three years of tending.  Pretty clever, yes?

The knitting has been growing equally fitfully.  Off the needles a while back was Telephone (that's a ravelry link), by Kelley Deal.  This is a very straightforward knit, just a long rectangle in reverse stocking stitch, with a few garter stitch rows in the middle where you fold it in half to sew together.  Then finished with a thrifted, old school telephone cord (hence the name!) as a strap.  Not being a big fan of reverse stocking stitch, I opted to fold it in half "inside out", basically making it a plain stocking stitch pouch, with a garter stitch base.
 

Consequently, the bottom corners of the bag flipped out, reminiscent of Marlo Thomas in "That Girl".  It's definitely got a vintage vibe to it, though I'm not sure if a bouncy, swingy telephone cord is the most flattering accessory for a saggy, baggy middle-ager like myself.  However, it's the perfect sized bag to hold a small knitting project like a pair of socks or gloves, so it may get some use yet, and I'm getting a small thrill from being the first person to record working this project on the ravelry page!

Still on the needles, is Lennon by Martin Storey (that's another ravelry link).  This is a men's v-neck slipover knit in fingering weight yarn in a union jack pattern in intarsia.  Quite a fitting project, what with the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics - though I won't finish it before the end of the games.

(I'm adding a link to the definition of intarsia, because blogger doesn't even believe it's a real word - it also doesn't like the word "slipover".  Honestly!) 

I'm making this in the smallest size, and though I have every intention of wearing it myself, I'd secretly love for Nigel to tell me his wardrobe is too conservative and that he longs for something bold and kooky to liven up the blandness of the office.  I wonder if he will?

Perhaps I could also make him a belt with this fabulously huge bakelite belt buckle recently purchased through Vintage in the Village. 

He could work on a whole new look!

***I just need to add that blogger also doesn't like the word "bakelite".  Who are these people?!***