The sea, the sea...

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my baby tulip sweater. Sadly, they've all been wiped from my site (but luckily I have them in my archives) because I've switched to Haloscan which enables me to respond directly to your comments (which blogger doesn't allow for some inexplicable reason).

Anywhoo, this is just a quick note to tell you that I'm headed for the ocean. That's right, it's time for a little coco r&r and boy do I need it! I'll be hitting the road with my darling for a 2-week camping trip around the Gaspésie, New-Brunswick and Maine coasts. The car is packed with lots of treats (Goodies and Ringolos, yum!), tons of tunes (Martha Wainwright, Charlotte Gainsbourg and the new Wilco are current faves) and a pile of vacation knitting. Cross your fingers for lots of sun, ok?


(A glimpse of what I'll be working on)

Ciao! See you in 2 weeks...

If you look up the word cute in the dictionnary...

you'll find a picture of this adorable sweater.

I'm so happy to finally be able to show you this. I knit it last weekend for a friend and co-worker who's expecting her first child. She reads this blog, so I had to keep the in-progress details to myself. Today we threw her a knitting baby shower where she received many lovely knitted gifts from all the ladies at our work knitting club. Lucky baby, we can't wait to meet you!


As you no doubt know, I first came across this pattern on the queen of all knitterly things' blog. Having now knit one of these, I totally understand why Stephanie ran over to Lettuce Knit and bought every kit in sight. This is such a pleasant knit! The soft, squishy yarn, the top-down construction (no sewing up, yay!), the positively cheery palette. I don't often want to knit the same thing twice, but I'd revisit this darling thing in a heartbeat.

Pattern: Tulip Baby Cardigan, designed by Lindsay Pekny (mail-ordered it as a kit from Lettuce Knit)
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy Worsted Superwash Merino in Cool Fire, Giant Peach, Strange Harvest, Spring Tickle, Happy Forest, Blue Lagoon, Summer sky and Visual Purple (don't you just love the colour names?)


Given the thickness of the yarn (a heavy aran weight), this knit up really quickly. It was my first time trying applied I-cord and although I was intimidated at first, I'm tickled at how simple and neat this edging is. Expect to see I-cord finishing popping up on all my new knits :) Another charming detail is the K1, P1 row where the colour changes. It just adds that little pop that really makes the sweater come alive. A great, easy-to-follow pattern.

Catching up

Its been a while, hasn't it? I wish I had a good excuse, but I don't. Just chalk it up to plain old hot-weather laziness.

My time away has not been a complete write-off, as I have done quite a bit of knitting in the last little while. So lets just get right to the goods, shall we?

Fresh off the needles:



Pattern: Swank by Kim Hargreaves
Rowan Knitting Magazine, Number 29
Yarn: Summer Tweed in Ghost
Needles: 4.5mm



I'm very happy with the final product. A big, comfy "walking on the beach on a cool day" belted wrap. The yarn is not the most pleasant to work with (stiff cotton & slippery silk) but it washes up to a soft fabric with a beautiful hand.

I was trying my best to have that nonchalant cool "Rowan model" look in these pictures, but my husband saw right through me and did his best to make me laugh and lose my composure.


Here I am trying to keep it together...




... getting the giggles...




... doubled-over with laughter...




... and finally giving it all up to the goof gods.