Thankfulness

I've been looking forward to this day for what feels like the entire year, but really my excitement for Thanksgiving day started last month. This is the first time in years where I am not working on Turkey day. Even more special is that my mother is also not working today. There are so many things that I'm thankful for, it's simply a blessing to have woken up today. Life may not be perfect but then again neither am I. Now that I have a break from work, my hope is to finish up quite a few of the projects languishing on my needles. Time had been in limited supply for knitting but nevertheless I've found moments to squeeze it in. I knit everywhere now, from the train to the doctor's office. No place is off limits.
Since my last post I've finished an item or two. First up is a hat requested by a former co-worker. She saw this hat and requested one for herself but in a different colour. Unlike past requests, she wanted her hat to be made from machine washable wool. Easy care maintenance. I love making hats I just don't enjoy making the same style more than once in a row. It takes away from the process. Surprisingly, however; I didn't experience boredom this time. Maybe, it was the softness of the wool blend I chose or the colour or maybe it was the fact that it kept me company on the train. I'm not quite sure why I didn't balk from picking my needles up to knit the hat. I'm just happy I enjoyed the process.



The long brim gives the wearer many styling options. Winter temperatures shouldn't mean you have to sacrifice being fashionable.



The recipient loves the hat. She sent this picture with her wearing it. I think it looks good on her.

Times I wished I said "NO FREAKING WAY"

I love being able to create. When I used to crochet, bags were my all time favourite thing to make. Now that I knit, hats are my obsession. I love almost every hat I see. I truly enjoy the process of making hats. Sure some take a bit longer than others but for the most part I rarely ever mind. I've been asked a few times whether or not I don't become bored with making hats....the answer:- HA nooooo. Do you get bored eating your favourite dish? Or wearing your favourite outfit? Exactly! That's how I feel about my hats. But every now and then someone asks me to step out my comfort zone and make them a scarf. Sighs...you probably already guess where this is going. I don't enjoy it.
A few months ago (feels more like a lifetime), I was commissioned to make a hat and scarf for a very nice woman. How could I say no? I happily agreed and settled on a colour that I knew she would like. I had no trouble selecting a pattern for the hat and in no time it was finished.




Unfortunately, the same did not happen with the scarf. Everything that could go wrong went wrong with it. The ball of yarn used for the hat was perfect but for the scarf the worsted weight felt more like either sport or DK. This would added a few more weeks of torture. The yarn wasn't complementing the pattern. I knew I had to change something. The only logical thing to do was to change the pattern to fit the yarn. So I did. Still couldn't get past a few rounds of knitting. I would be lying if I said I wasn't fed up with the whole thing. I even tried returning the money for the scarf. Ms. M wouldn't dream of accepting it. Instead, she said "you can do it"... Not the words I want to hear. Especially when I was thinking "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE". I even found myself trying to come up with a list of people who I could ask to knit it for me. Hey, I was desperate. After, another few weeks or months had passed, I felt I needed to create my own pattern. I ended up working the yarn doubled to compensate for the thinness of it. It worked. Doubling the yarn meant that the amount purchased wouldn't be enough. Sighs again. By this time, I hated everything about the scarf, the colour, the yarn, the scarf, my needles...even the project bag it was kept in. I was over it. Way over it. Every night I begrudgingly knitted a row that took forever. Almost five hundred stitches every night. Fast forward a few nights ago....




I FINISHED IT. I finally finished it. After almost three months of ripping out and starting over I finished it. This is why I love knitting. Because despite the frustrations and setbacks and torture we sometimes put ourselves through, we stick with it because deep down we know the challenge will be worth it in the end. Giving up is not option even when it's the only thing that makes sense. This was my "make it work" moment. (I love Tim Gunn and Project Runway)



The moral of the story:- stick to what you love or be prepared for bumpy ride over the hill :)

Juggling Act

I have been a bad blogger. I have every intention of blogging but between being tired and trying to finish up my ongoing wips I just don't have the energy. This month is going at rapid speed but I am not complaining. This it's what I've asked the good Lord for and as the scripture said "ask you and you shall receive". Imust say though, that I have a newfound respect for other crafters who work full-time ave still find the time to actively create with passion. I hope to find that balance very soon. I am happy to report that I was able to finish two thirds of a hat package. It doesn't sound like much but right now I'm taking all the progress I can get. This is my second time making this hat but the first time making it after learning that I was twisting my stitches. I'm constantly amazed by the difference between making a project where the stitches are twisted and not twisted. It is like night and day.



The above picture is the hat done in twisted stitches. I still love it. It holds a special place in my knitting heart as it was the first baby beanie I ever made.
The second hat was done in the exact style and colour as well as size.



I got the opportunity to see it on the baby and boy oh boy he looked quite dapper in it if I do say so myself :). I'm loving the finished touches that my customized stamp adds to it.
Picture below is of the wrong side of the hat. Had I gotten a different label I would call this style reversible.



Until next time
CEE

New Beginnings

"There should be a day between Sunday and Monday" says everyone that works on Mondays. I can't believe the weekend is over already. This week is one filled with new changes. Life is moving and I am doing my best to keep up with the pace. Yesterday, I said goodbye to my job. It was a bittersweet feeling but one that was necessary for my growth as a professional. To mark the occasion, I did what I love to do which is:- KNIT. I don't need a reason, season or time to justify knitting for someone. This is one of the problems I have to work on...I want to knit everything for everyone but there's never enough time or hands...sighs. Anyway, as my farewell gift to someone at work, I made a hat. Months ago, the request was made and I mentally filed it away. But as the time approached I decided it would be now or never. The recipient had asked for a plain black hat that would be a beanie style fit. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it before but I dislike knitting with black coloured yarn. It is number one on my yarn related dislike lists. What's a knitter to do? The only thing to do was to focus on the fact that this isn't for me, it's for someone else. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't hate the process as much as I had anticipated. I wanted the hat to be warm and comfortable. My favourite pattern that is turning out to be a go-to this season is David's Hat by Kenny Chua. With pattern selected I went through my stash and settled on leftover patons classic worsted in black for the lining and filatura Lanarota in black for the rest of the hat. Both yarns have been dependable workhorse loves for me in the past. They are a dream to knit with and wears well over time.





Taking photographs of this hat was challenging for me. I couldn't get the right image. I'm overdue for a photography class brush up. I think the pic below shows the hat in a better light...



Life happens whether we are ready for it or not....goodbye old hello new! Ohhhh here's something else I will be celebrating this week:- MY BIRTHDAY! Yup...hello old once again :)
Hope your week is good one

Bye-bye Week hello Weekend

One of the things about knitting that I am grateful for is the distraction from everyday life it offers. This week has been emotionally rough. Luckily, I had my needles and yarn to help me through. I finished two more hats. Normally, this would be great news but it isn't...see a few weeks ago Andi from My Sister's Knitter started a kal focused on completing WIPS casted on prior to the 1st Sept. You probably already guessed it:- the hats completed this week were not WIPs (works in progress). I completely ignored the other projects that have been neglected for weeks or months (Sawtelle cardigan) and started something new. Sighs. In my defense, I was under the spell of new yarn. Yarn is my kryptonite. I just couldn't pass up the urge to play with new friends.
The first project is for a swap I am taking part in. Will post pictures once my partner receives her package. I don't think she reads my blog but you never knowwwwwwww.
The other hat I can talk about. In my knitting process I create the yarn feels/looks heavenly and I can't resist or I see a design that I must try. It was the former for the second hat. I spotted bernat Mosiac during a yarn sale not too long ago. I had never worked with it before. The sample knits in the store caught my eyes and before I knew it I had two balls in the fantasy and calypso colourways. I knew because the yarn was striped and colourful I needed a simple design to highlight it.



I made a Pom-Pom from wool-ease in eggplant. I love the way it brings out the burgundy colour in the yarn. I see myself making a few more hats with Pom-poms :)



I definitely don't regret buying clover Pom-Pom makers. It's much better than the one I got a few years ago.

The hat is on the big side but that's ok with me.

Fall Favourite pt 1

The air is beginning to feel chilly. I love fall- for the fashion. I love wearing cardigans, sweaters, tights, boots and HATS. If you can't tell by now I love hats. In my everyday life I try to wear them as often as I can. You would think for as many hats that I've made that I would have many for myself. Sadly, I have very few hats for me made by me. I don't always like how certain styles look on my head. I got lucky when I made Bergen street. It fits me exactly how I want it to. I wasn't sure it would fit since I mistakenly over blocked it. It is now more of a slouchy toque than it was prior to blocking. This is going to be my fall/winter staple.




Looking forward to discovering even more faves

Mid week update

Last week I posted my first attempt at dabbling with knitting without a pattern. Guess who did it again? This chick did! A few days ago, a coworker asked if I would knit him a hat. I needed an "in between project" kind of knit. Sure my WIPs list keeps growing and yes I have two projects that I need to finish before the month is over but how could I resist the chance to experiment on my own again. I was told that the hat must be fitted with a thin gray line around it, must cover ears and be able to turn brim up slightly. The emphasis on slightly was stressed several times. Very specific instructions but easy enough for me to follow. Armed with my needles and yarn I set out to make a hat. Two days later, Aruba was finished. It came out exactly as I envisioned it.