Lonesome mitten!

It is supposed to be the "Handsome Mittens", not the "Lonesome Mitten"...

Seriously, I don't know if I took too long of a break from knitting this summer, but I seem to be a worse knitter than I was last year!

While I knit the first mitten in one weekend last year, I have been trying and trying - it must have been more than 10 times - to knit the second one.

First, I did not remember how to change colors. The instructions seem to confuse me. I don't understand why it says that I must bring the second color "from beneath" the first color. It turns out that I get the best results from just brining the second color in the front just as it is "from beneath nothing". I think it works out very well - see middle of picture below - even with the two increases. It's so simple in the end, no wonder I did not leave myself a note!

Second, I have had other times when one stripe became two - don't ask me how I do that! This morning, it turns out that the yarn was cut in the middle of the skein and when I wanted to undo a few stitches to have enough to weave it in, it resulted in having a stripe becoming two again... So, I tried and tried to correct that - without almost undoing the whole thing once again - but with no success. Hence, I started again the part with stripes. Grrr...

All in all, this is the current state of the second mitten. I've closed the TV hoping to concentrate better.

... and I will call the second mitten "Patience"...

I hope your projects are going well!

Have a great Sunday!

The multitasker of Montreal in Vogue Knitting!

"Véronik Avery talks about her new yarn, pattern and magazine company, St-Denis." - Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2009.

There is an article about Véronik Avery in this issue of Vogue Knitting! I wish her a lot of success!

I have to admit that I bought the magazine for this article because I don't feel that there is any pattern that I would knit in that issue... Oh, well, you never know. Sometimes, I think there is no interesting pattern in an issue and it turns out that I see a version from someone else, styled differently, and I change my mind ;-)

Aside from that, I'm trying to knit the second Handsome Mitten and it's driving me craaaazy! I am having such a hard time with it. I make errors after errors... Pastaza is not a yarn that likes to be frogged! Don't know what's wrong with it or me!!! Obviously, I love this pattern, because I will not abandon, but... will I loose my mind?

Wish you all a great week!

Brrrrr...

It got pretty cold over here this week! And days are getting shorter so fast. There has also been a lot of rain...

But, this morning, I thought that such weather was a good excuse for me to take a bit of time to knit and well, get ready for those colder times!

First, I swatched for Fetching. I think these fingerless gloves will be gorgeous in that yarn and they should feel very soft. I will have to order new dpns which is perfect because I'm pretty sure that I will also need new circular needles for Bliss.

Then, I decided to cast on for the second Handsome Mitten! It will make me feel good to finish this pair of mittens before I start Fetching. And I think I will be able to knit a Handsome Scarf ;-) with the remaining yarn!

Have a great week!

FO: Branching Out

Fall has arrived. I started a class of Spanish and finished Branching Out!


I remember when I originally printed this pattern. It represented for me a challenge: learn how to knit lace!

I remember that I used to knit very tight and that k3tog was impossible... It's all taken care of now and I have a much looser tension, although I still tend to knit tighter than the average knitter.

The yarn is what was left from my first Thermal. The resulting length of the scarf is decent. It will be perfect for the autumn!

Pattern: Branching Out by Susan Pierce Lawrence
Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss
Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Color: Black
Start to finish: March 2009 - September 2009
For: Me
Notes: -

Mindless knitting

I haven't started any new projects yet - not even swatching. The only thing I did is adding my next two projects on the side bar. Now, that doesn't mean that I am not looking forward to starting them, you know... ;-)

I'm still very enthusiastic about knitting my second Thermal, so this is what I do! It's going very well and it could be ready for the fall! Perfect!


As you can see, no mods for this Thermal. At least, I don't expect to make any. This one is going to be exactly like the original: same yarn, same color, same shape, ...

I bought my copies of Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting this week. I really like the hat patterns in Vogue Knitting. Very tempting...

Have a great week!

New yarn

In July, I went to Mouliné. This yarn store is located in south-west Montreal. It's a very good yarn store. It has a wide variety of yarns and very good specials. The lady is always very nice and gives excellent recommendations. I already knew what I wanted, but I was really excited about going there again (my second visit) and see what colors were available.

My next projects will be Fetching and Neoknits' Bliss Shawlette.

Fetching is a very popular pattern and I've always wanted to knit it. The recommended yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, but the lady at Mouliné told me that Extra Merino would be an excellent choice in substitution to it. I bought two skeins. I think I will really enjoy working with it. Although this is not a color that I am used to wearing, I find it rich and it will look great this fall!

Then, you will have to forgive me for my lack of originality for the Bliss Shawlette choice of yarn, but among the colors that were available, I was really drawn to HandMaiden Double Sea Silk in Topaz. The designer used the same yarn and color. I have to say, for my defense, that the color really inspired the name I suggested. I really like that it looks like if the sun was shining on it all the time! I bought two skeins as well.


Then, being in a very happy mood, I went knitting in a park. I had one and a half hour to kill before going out for dinner with my friends! Of course, when you knit, one and a half hour is a very short time!

Have a great weekend!

The good side of fall

A lot of previews from our favorite magazines are appearing this week.

My favorite knitting magazine IK, among others, have great patterns. Unfortunately, I honestly don't think I will have time to knit any of them. At least, short term. But I always buy a copy. You never know ;-) Here are my favorite patterns:

Also, Vogue Knitting will be releasing the previews shortly. We can already find some of the patterns on Ravelry. I find this one especially nice:

HOWEVER, what really cought my attention is news about Brooklyn Tweed. He will be releasing a booklet of patterns with Classic Elite Yarns this August (if some of you see it in Montreal, please, let me know if you don't mind). You may go to SWAK News for a preview of the patterns.

You may also want to take a look at this interview with Jared Flood. I haven't bought any patterns yet from Brooklyn Tweed, but I regularly visit his blog. Every time I see a new pattern of his, I immediately fall under the charm! Here are my favorite patterns at first glance (but really, all of them are gorgeous).

There is a lot of talent in this community!