Painting,Step by Step.

I have never taken photos of my paintings at different stages of done-ness, but thought it may be fun to see the bicycle and balloon "appear" on the canvas. The subject was from a photograph I found on the Web and the whole image just made me happy, so I thought I would enjoy painting it. The painting is on a 20" by 16" canvas, with acrylic paints.

The end result pleases me. The old fashion bike and the romantic sentiment are things I find charming and timeless. I think it will make me smile for many years.

Open Mesh Cap-sleeve Pullover....

Took a detour from the Vogue Cape Collared Jacket (done back and sleeve and started front left), to whip up a little treat found on Knitting Pattern Central. It's an open mesh cap sleeve pullover, using a clearance yarn I found at Cloth and Clay in Waterloo, Modern Cotton,elite, from Gedifra. The yarn is 50% cotton, 35% viscose and 15% poly. It has a stretch to it and a silky soft feel. I found 5 balls at 75% off in January and stashed it for a spring project. I am not sure there will be enough yarn, but would be willing to make the neck a short rib band instead of the cowl, if I am running low by then.

Its the kind of simple fun project that I should be able to whip up in 2 to 3 nights, and if it weren't so cold still, I would be wearing it by Sunday! Oh well, off to knit...

Bilingual Knitter....

I find it difficult sometimes, the way knitting needles are not universally sized, and some patterns mention a needle size without stating US, or Metric. We usually have to do a bit of detective work to understand fully, check the gauge, or research the yarn. I pride myself with being bilingual in knitting needle sizes, only looking up the more obscure 13US/9mm, and only have a tough time with the elusive 7mm = ???? Being Canadian, I tend to "get" the metric numbers, as they relate to the ACTUAL diameter of the sticks. I am also quite Bilingual with the 50gm / 2oz skeins, and can convert Kg to Pounds and back. Handy when ordering full cones of lace weight and knowing if it's enough for a wrap or full size triangle shawl. I can do the length of sleeve in centimetres or inches. And I understand that 25 Celsius and 80 Fahrenheit are pretty much a nice sunny summer day. I also can make my car go 100 KPH or 60 MPH, and know when it's OK to do more than that (most of the time).

So, if there was an official vote, I would make all the needles metric, and balls of yarn grams, and length of sleeves centemetres.... and I definately like driving 100 kph, as it sounds way faster than 60 mph.

Works in Progress: Here's the stainless steel scarf so far....

Oh and..

You would think being Canadian would also have me bilingual in French and English, but other than recognising the french side of the cereal box and turning it around, not so much.

Au revoir.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter... I have some extra folks in the house, visiting for Easter. My aunt from Ottawa, who knits mostly fine yarns on 3mm needles. She has great knitting patience. This trip she brought a simple diagonal scarf in the softest teal wool, snagged from her stash.

We also have my sister from Winnipeg, who brought some delightful Easter goodies, and from her bag out came the Inukshuk, sent to her on her birthday. She claimed she did not want to lose her way while visiting. She also brought her knitting and finished a sleeve of a Ram Wool Coat. I was knitting the stainless steel scarf, as it is easy stocking stitch, and I can chat with everyone and not worry about the pattern.

Short post, as we have more chocolate, more wine and more knitting to do today.

Cheers!

Works in the works...

I am done the swatch (sleeve) of the cape collar jacket, and have started on the back. The cable section will be done on 4mm needles and a few more stitches to allow for the elastic behavior of the esprit yarn. I hope it works.

The finger puppet pack for March is ready to deliver to my clown... 20 pairs of kids and puppies, all bagged and set to take to the hospital. I got some lovely photos of kids with puppets on fingers and smiles on faces, but will not post here, as they need privacy. See story here.

The current sock project is one of my hand dyed yarns, and looks good so far.

In Spring a Knitter's thoughts turn to.....

Finally a sign of spring on the doorstep, a few days of sunshine and above freezing temps. The snow is melting fast, and the windows of the car and home are cracked open just a bit! At this time of year a knitter's thoughts turn to ... cotton. With that in mind I have ordered my newest fantasy yarn, Matsuri, a cotton - wool blend from Noro, with all the great colours of my favourite Silk Garden. I have visions (in my mind) of a hoody, cottony, sweatshirt style pullover, maybe with a pouch, like my great old soft and cozy cotton Roots hoody.

The big project currently underway is the Cape Collar Jacket from Vogue Winter 2008. I am working it from Esprit (elann) in wine colour. Unfortunately I find the full bag sale last month indicated a discontinuing of this yarn (one of my favourite cottons). Instead of a swatch, I just started on the sleeve, to check the pattern and gauge. It seems fine, although I may need to increase the cable ribbing pattern along the bottom edge of front and back, since the Esprit yarn stretches and contracts and ribs tightly. I like it since you can get a cotton garment, but not the cotton droop and sag. I will post photos in a few days of work in progress. It will likely be a 2 - 3 week job.

Of course I will be knitting socks, finger puppets, and the steel scarf at the same time....

Quick Slippers, Felted Feet.

I paused for a day from my steel scarf and my newest cardigan and my current socks... to knit some new slippers. The ones I have been wearing are too big and fall off and slip around (aren't slippers supposed to slip?), and seeing as they were store bought (gasp) I knew I could do better by my feet. I had some Classic Wool left over from my Inukshuk project, and knew it would felt well. I found lots of felted patterns, but most have a high "boot" style, with the ankle covered and my feet get too hot in that style. These are more ballet slipper style, but needed a bit of elastic to make sure they stay on (and don't slip off).

Slippers:

Yarn: 2 balls of Patons Classic Wool (or any feltable worsted weight wool), Worked with 2 strands held together: in this case, dark grey and light grey. Start at toe. On 6 mm Double Point needles, cast on 16 sts. Evenly space on 3 and join in a circle. Knit around, increasing 4 sts evenly around each row until 48 sts are done. Work even in the round until 7 inches from start. Cast off 12 sts at top of foot, and work back and forth on 3 needles placing 10 on the first, 16 on the second and 10 on the last needle. Continue in stocking stitch until 12 inches from the start. Cast off the 10 stitches on the start of the next two rows, and work on the remaining 16 sts only until that part is 3 inches, cast off.

Sew the heel flap to the sides (the 10 st cast off) and sew closed the toe opening (cast on sts).

Felt in the washing machine (approx one cycle through the hot wash, but check halfway to make sure). Mold to foot shape and dry thoroughly, then run an elastic thread around the opening edges and tie at top of foot (see photos). Finished size fits my size 8 feet, and a few more rows (or less) would make a bit bigger or smaller. The reshaping when wet can also make the size a bit bigger or smaller. That's the beauty of felting.

OK, back to the socks and the steel scarf and the new cardigan and the charity finger puppets.... Only four knitting projects on the go right now, but I also have a new painting in the works, just in case I need a break from knitting. When golf season starts, I will be forced to cut back on the knitting.... oh well.