Sweater Panic

I don’t have a sweater on needles…not from this decade anyway, and I, I feel ...weird. How does that happen? I have at least four sweaters projects in my head, the yarn bought and I haven’t even started the gauge swatches, let alone the designs.

I list the projects in notebooks, in the ravelry queue, favorites, in my head; but until I go upstairs to the ‘loft’ and find the yarn, touch it and become inspired again, look through magazines and I don't start knitting.

What to start? The fair isle cardigan that I promised my niece two years ago and is six now? (I did buy a lot of yarn).

A cardigan for my Aunt who is nearing ninety years old…eek!

 My mother who has knitted all her life but nothing for herself since the 1950s and she is also in her eighties, a sweater 'top'.

A shrug for my hair stylist of 20 years and her bare shoulders make me cold just looking at her.

Or a vintage inspired item – not even an image yet in my head, for a successful business woman, my niece (sorry girls, husband side of the family!) A sister in-law who needs a hug...(husband's sister) and most likely will not be a sweater.

The fair isle cardigan is winning out. I have not designed or knitted color work for at least 15 years. Design decisions – am I going to steek the centre front – not for a six year old! I can only stretch the mind and fingers so far. But I do know how to chart a pattern...and I have not coloured for years!!

yes Vicki, there is a knitting fairy!

The alpaca teddy bear and rabbit have been found…..

It helps to organize, clean out the loft more than once a year. Okay, searching through piles of magazines, bags and boxes of yarn, many unfinished projects and drawers with doll parts!

They were knit from a Debbie Bliss pattern and one ply alpaca…before progressive lenses in glasses.

To go where no knitter wants to go….

I wanted longer socks! I had left over yarn and by the time my stout foot and leg filled out the socks, they were too short.

So I used a ‘technique’ called ‘cutting’ that I have used when ‘mending’ sweaters and needed the same yarn to make the patch.

I see knitting as fabric so it doesn’t bother me to cut it.

Heart stopping moments, but once you cut, you are the point of no return.

Keep picking, keep the faith and within an hour all stitches will be safely on the needles ready to be knitted.

Knit On!

Oh Henry!

What did you bring me today? The last pieces of your memories?

Upon further inspection...and a closer look, there are issues!

Not all things can be saved and choices must be made.



When there is hope, I will try; sometimes we just have let go….but I will save the Buttons!!

Out with the Vintage, In with the New!

20^th century stove, white coil burners, brown accents, condition fair to poor.

21^st century stove, stainless steel, ceramic burners under glass top, black accents, condition minty new!

Flooring, can I hope for new flooring in this century?!

Swishy Goodies

Finally took time to look around...or rather drool (sorry how un-lady like!) at most things last night at Swish-Vintage Finds For Your Sassy Self store. Here are some recent finds!

 A very Barbie like dress Silken Flame..

Knitted scarf from Sylvancoft. I knit my first white and yellow afghan in this stitch!

Babies, Babies, you would think it was Spring!

You know it was a long cold winter in Alberta when….babies start arriving fast and furious in September.

I have a new niece, my Aunt is a proud Great Grandmother to her first great grandchild – a girl, my cousin’s daughter is about to give birth; and these are just the ones I know about. On my husband side, our niece is expecting, not sure when.

These vintage baby items are cute, I bought them at some garage sale.

Here is my project for my new niece: