Bressay in progress

With only 18 days left before I leave for my Shetland trip, it's going to be a race for the finish on my Bressay dress. I've been extremely busy with EPIC samples (which I can't wait to show you) but now, it's all about trying to get my dress done so I can match this lovely lady (you must check out her FO blog post, the pictures are just magical!)

If I run out of time, this might end up being a tunic rather than a dress... We'll just have to wait and see. This weekend is all about miles of stockinette and Wimbledon nail-biting (sad about Genie, but go Fed!!!!)

What are you up to this weekend?

Halligarth, a sample for Wool People 7

Whoa, two blog posts in a week — careful not to fall off your chair!

Photo courtesy of Jared Flood

This beautiful thing is Halligarth, a shawl pattern designed by Gudrun Johnston for the latest Wool People collection, from Brooklyn Tweed. I knit the smaller beige sample.

Photo courtesy of Jared Flood

Photo courtesy of Jared Flood

It's one of those lace projects that look impressive and difficult but is in fact easy and fun to knit. I definitely have plans to make one for myself. I think it would be heavenly in pale grey. Other things I'd like to knit from the collection: everything! Ok, if I had to choose a few, I'd go with Ivar, Merle, and Natsumi, in the exact same colours featured in the photos. I tell you, they know what they're doing, these wool people!

Photo courtesy of Jared Flood

On a side note, I've seen a lot of positive talk about the use of a gorgeous silver-haired model in this collection. I too am a fan, and dream of a day that this is no longer an extraordinary event but the norm in the media (and hoping too that we'll see a better representation of different body shapes, cultures, abilities, gender expressions etc...)

Now wouldn't that be lovely?

Swatching for Shetland

Happy Easter everyone! The weather here is absolutely beautiful. I think we're going to go for walk in the woods this afternoon, and perhaps go to see The Grand Budapest Hotel later.

In the meantime, I'm playing with my new wooden toy, getting some lovely Loft ready for my Bressay Dress. Several of us lucky Shetland trip goers have planned to knit the dress for the tour (see Lori's beautiful version here). I'm sure it will make for some funny group photos!

I've organized a little Bressay KAL if anyone's interested in joining (you don't need to be an "ltp" (lucky trip person) to join.

I hope the Easter bunny brings you lots of lovely treats!

Spring forward!

Come on Spring, we can't wait to see you!

In the absence of anything colourful outside, I'm drinking in the lushness of some indoor beauties.

Hope things are blooming in your neck of the woods.

Dreaming of warmer days

I'm now starting to wonder aloud what has happened to Spring. This morning was -22 C (-6 F), the coldest St. Patty's day on record! Longtime readers of this blog will know that I love winter, mostly because I'm a cross-country ski fanatic. But I've had to hang up my poles in favour of my running shoes — I'm training for a half-marathon in May. I have to say, the cold weather is making it really hard to hit the pavement each morning!

Oh well, at least my vast collection of handknits is seeing lots of action.

In other news, I'm super busy with more sample knitting, which is good because I'm saving all my pennies for a very very special trip this summer.

I am so excited to join Gudrun and Mary Jane on this grand Shetland adventure! And on top of that, one of my very favourite bloggy friends, the sweet and talented Lori, will be there too. I can't wait!

I've already started planning my travel wardrobe. Daytime summer highs in Shetland are pretty cool, so I'll definitely be packing my woolies. I'd love to knit this dress, this shawl, these mitts, and this cardigan. Hmm... I better start swatching soon!

Made for Madder, part 2

Photo courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge

 Here's another sample I knit for Carrie, again modeled by gorgeous Hannah in her Brooklyn home.

Photo courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Liv cardigan is an elegant piece knit in dreamy Canopy Worsted by the Fiber Company.

Photo courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge

Hope that you are all having a lovely weekend! My plans mostly revolve around avoiding housework with more sample knitting and skiing.

Made for Madder, part 1

Hello friends. I hope the cold, dark days of winter are not getting you down. I've been keeping quite busy, with lots and lots of secret samples on the needles. I'm excited to eventually show you...

First off, the beautiful and aptly named Uniform Cardigan, by Carrie Bostick Hoge. This was a chance for me to play with some very yummy yarn: Quince and Co's Owl. Divine!

Photo courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge

Photo courtesy of Carrie Bostick Hoge

I was very excited to have the chance to knit this for Carrie. Recently she launched a new website and has been releasing the most wonderful, wearable patterns! This particular pattern is especially cool. It includes instructions that allow you to mix and match different elements to make it perfectly "you": long and shorter length, 3 different body shapes, fitted or bell-shaped sleeves, simple or shaped neckband, patch, inset or no pockets. I can imagine making a whole wardrobe of these lovely and utilitarian garments!

And there's another reason why I'm tickled to have knit this sample. The model is the beautiful daughter of my sweet friend Lori.