Chapter 21

With the weather coming a bit cooler, all the handknit have the tendency to come out.  As they should be, you knit all year long, it's about time all the handknits were shown off.

Unfortunately, I don't have any finished object this time around as I am currently fighting a cold and also have gone for a quick holiday.  But I'm hoping that I will be able to finish my vanilla toe up socks really soon.  I'm using Desert Vista Dyeworks self-stripping yarn in the Emeralds, Sapphires and Prince colourway on US1.5 (2.50mm) needles.  My socks are being kept in my songbirds bag by The Tangled Skein Ca.

I haven't been able to make any headway on the V-neck cardigan, for some reason, no matter how much I knit, it won't get past 11 inches long.  But I will persevere, it will just take a really long time it would seem.  And the cardigan has been in my nevermore bag by Zig Zag Stitches.

The Yarn Snob podcast had a Halloween Swap where one was gifted by Debbie also known as Iwork4yarn with stitch markers shaped with jack-o-lanterns among other goodies, including yarn.  I was gifted  Tempting Ewe Yarns, ewe so sparkly sock base in The Great Pumpkin colourway.  It is a 75/20/5 superwash merino/nylon/sparkle blend, has 438 yards and weighs 100 grams.  Also received was a cake of Freia, fine handpainted in the Ember colourway.  This yarn is in a fingering weight and is a blend of 75% wool and 25% nylon.  I will keep these skeins for special projects, I don't think that I've found the right project for this yarn.

Also while away on a mini holiday, my family and I stopped off at a little yarn shop called Close Knit Quality Yarns in Stratford, Ontario.  I couldn't help it and got a couple of hank of Fleece Artist in the Trail Socks line in the Aurora and Nova Scotia colourways.  I'm thinking about making a shawl with these, but first I want to do another shawl.

There are so more goodies on route to my home, but haven't received them yet, some of which include Knit Picks Felici.  Until next time, happy crafting!

Chapter 20

It's been a while, but life happens.  The Mary Margaret's Lace Tam by Mary Craver is now complete.  The needle size was US3 (3.25mm) in the Knitsch Scratching the Knitting Itch in the 1/4 acre dream and the yarn base is 100% merino wool.  

As for what I 'm working on at the moment, one has decided to knit a cardigan for my mother and hopefully gifted at Christmas.  My mother chose the v-neck pattern found in the Knit Today magazine (March 2015 edition).  The yarn used is Knit Picks The Mighty Stitch which is a 20% superwash wool and 80% acrylic in the pomegranate colourway.  The needles being used US7 (4.50mm) for the ribbing and US9 (5.50mm) for the body of the knit.  So far I am enjoying the knit, but just the back has 6 cables on it.  Wish me luck as it will be needed, if I'm to complete this project. I have not other works is progress at the moment, but I'm considering starting another project, but the cardigan needs to get further along before anything else gets started.  

Now as to the goodies that were purchased at the Kitchener/ Waterloo Fibre Festival.  From Unraveled I got two balls of Regia 6-ply (sock) in the 06974 and 06966 colourways.  This yarn is a 75% virgin wool and 25 % polymide and has 410 yards (375 meters). 

Regia 6-ply colourways 06974 and 06966 respectively.  

I couldn't help it, I had to make a stop at the Zig Zag Stitches and I found this pretty green wedge bag, perfect for the winter/Christmas season.  I had to have it.  I know, I know, I have too many knitting bags, but knitting bags are like pairs of shoes, you can't have just one.  

Zig Zag Stitches, Baby It's Cold Outside Wedge Bag

From All Strung Out I got two hanks of The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze in the Flynn base and The Times colourway.  It is 100% superwash merino wool, 175 yards (160 meters), in a worsted weight.  I liked this yarn so much, it is so soft, that I can barely wait to start knit something up with it.  I will purchase this yarn again, this is for sure that is how much I liked it.  One would think that this is a very new colourway as the dye lot that I purchased was dye lot #2.  

The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze, The Times colourway

And finally got from Dye Version a hank of BFL sock in a 80% superwash BFL and 20% nylon in the Merlin colourway and has 375 meters.  And everyone who purchased this yarn received a free pattern called the Zig Zag Cowl.  I always like to get free patterns and it used one hank/skein of fingering/sock yarn, perfect for those single skeins that most knitters tend to collect.

Dye Version in the Merlin colorway

I didn't get a chance to purchase from Wellington Fibres and Georgian Bay Fibre Company but I will be purchasing from them in the new year hopefully.  It would be great if one could order something sooner, but first, I live in a condo and have limited space and second, from now until the end of the year I will be spending a bit of money with Christmas and a family occasion and a quick vacation/break coming up soon.  I just simply can't afford it at the moment.  But the new year is only a few months away, so that isn't too bad.  

Until next time, happy crafting!

Chapter 19

Welcome everyone!  Sorry for being a few days late, I was hoping to add another finished object but I'm afraid that it will have to wait until next week.  Without further a due, here are the knitting goods.   

Let's start with the finished projects, well there is only one and it would be the Handbreak Cowl by Kay and Dan Jones from the Bakery Bear podcast.  The pattern costs only £1 and all the proceeds go toward cancer research.  The pattern may be purchased through Ravelry.com.  My handbreak cowl was knit up using a size US7 (4.5mm) on Diamond Luxury Collection Mulberry Merino, which is a 50/50 blend of merino wool and mulberry silk, in colourway no. 100 (silver gray).  I really like this yarn, it is really soft and shows great stitch definition, as can be seen from the photograph below.  

As for my works in progress, since my last post one has since frogged the Fish Scales and Fairy Tales socks by Kari Verge.  Nothing against the pattern or the yarn for that matter.  The yarn that I had used was from Knitsch Scratching the Knitting Itch in the 1/4 acre dream, which is 100% merino wool. The sock was too tight and not comfortable.  I may give this pattern a try in the future but I will be using a different yarn and a bigger needle size.  

The yarn has not gone to waste, it has been used instead to do a Mary Margaret's Lace Tam by Mary Craver.  This pattern calls for a US3 (3.25mm) needle size.  Some people that have done this pattern have stated that the sizing was too big, but I did a gauge swatch and took by measurements and decided to make the pattern as is.  But this is something that was good to know ahead of time so as to not make the tam and then find out it is too big or too small.  

Now for stash enhancements, but I couldn't help it, I just had to get this bag from ZigZagStiches on Etsy.  I can't help it, she makes great bags that have very good construction with interfacing on the inside and lined as well.  This particular bag has a draw string, but there some available with a zipper, but I like the draw string.  

Also purchase some yarn from Knit Picks in the Mighty Stitch Yarn in the Pomegranate colourway. Each skein is made of 80% acrylic and 20% superwash wool and weights 100 grams.  The other yarn purchased from Knit Picks is the Wool of the Andes Tweed yarn in the Rabbit Heather colourway. This yarn on turn is composed of 80% Peruvian Highland Wool and 20% Donegal Tweed, with each skein weighting 50 grams.  

Not much this time around but I can guarantee that there will be more goodies in the next post.  Until then happy crafting.  

Chapter 18

Welcome to new and returning readers!  I don't know about you, but there seems to be a chill in the air.  So long summer, too bad you couldn't stay a little bit longer.  At least it gives us a reason to wear some handknits.  Not that we need it.

Finished Objects

Well, I don't have any finished objects and I don't think that there will be any for a couple of weeks as one has been working steadily on my works in progress.

Works in Progress

I have been knitting the Fish Scales and Fairy Tails sock pattern by Kari Verge.  This is a free pattern and it is available on Ravelry for download.

The pattern is constructed toe up.  The toe that was decided on was the moccasin toe, to try and give more wiggle room as I don't like snug socks.  This style of toe appears to be more comfortable, which is good as the stitch created throughout the sock makes the sock much tighter than expected.  The needle size used for the foot was a US1 (2.25mm), after doing the Fish Lips Kiss Heel I decided to switch to a slightly bigger needle and used a US1.5 (2.50mm) for the leg and cuff.  The sock is being kept in my Zig Zag Stitches telephone booth box bag.

The yarn used is 100% merino wool in the 1/4 acre colour by Knitsch Scratching the Knitting Itch, this may not have been the best yarn for socks as it doesn't have nylon but will reserve judgement until it has been washed and blocked.  The second sock will not be started until such time as the first sock has been tried out.  The reason for this is that the first sock appears to be a bit on the snug side,

Another project on the needles is the Handbreak Cowl by Kay and Dan Jones, the pattern costs £1 with all of the proceeds going to cancer research.  The cowl is being knit on 32" long needles US7 (4.5mm).  The yarn is a 50% merino wool and 50% mulberry silk in the colourway no. 100 in a silver grey by Diamond Luxury Collection Mulberry Merino line.  The cowl is being kept in the Songbirds bag by The Tangled Skein CA.  I've also been using my Yarn It to keep the yarn from leaving fuzz all over the place.

Stash Enhancements

Not many things have been acquired since the last post, but one just had to obtain some Knit Picks Felici become it was all gone.  I purchased colourways Glacier (no. 26744), Countess (no.26741), Highland (no.26742) and Mosaic (no.26745).  The yarn is a fingering weight yarn with a 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon blend, with each skein containing 218 yards and weights 50 grams each.

Not much progress this week, but perhaps there may be a few somethings to show next time around.  Until next time happy crafting.

Chapter 17

Hi there and welcome to Rocha Knits!  I know it has been a while, but I'm back.  As you can see I have reverted back to the written blog instead of a video podcast, because I've always been more comfortable with the written word as opposed to film/video.  Plus like the saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  

Finished Objects

Just a few days ago I finished the Sakura Tee by Cassie Castillo the pattern was in the summer/July 2012 issue of Interweave Knits.  Even though the pattern asks for size US 3 (3.25mm) and US 4 (3.5mm), I instead used needle sizes US 5 (3.75mm) and US 6 (4.00mm).  The yarn used was Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima, 100% pima cotton in colour number 3762 also known as light green.

Sakura Tee by Cassie Castillo

Some of the other projects that were completed unfortunately don't have any photographs as of yet, or were given away before remembering to take a photo, but will try to include as many details as possible.  

I purchased a couple of kits from the Black Sheep and Ewe, one was the Bling Cowl Kit and the other was the Spice Berry Shawl Kit at the Creativ Festival.  These were easy and quick knits that were knit up using US 9 (5.5mm) needles.  

Another project was the Lace Scarf by Cathy Davies using the Diamond Luxuary Collection Mulberry and Merino line in cream and I used needle size US 7 (4.5mm).  Once I visit the person that I gifted it to, I will try to get a photograph to show everyone.  

Last, but not least is the Scraptastic Hat by Jane Tanner in the Patons Canadiana in the royal blue and white colourways using the US 3 (3.25mm).  This hat was essentially a simple stockinette toque like hat, it was striped with alternating blue and white.   


Works in Progress

The only project that I'm working on at the moment is the Fish Scales and Fairly Tales by Kari Verge.   I've decided to try the moccasin toe for this particular sock, just to try it out, it appears to be a bit more comfortable than the standard toe up construction, we will just have to wait to see if it is or isn't.  The yarn being used is the Knitsch Scratching the Knitting Itch, this New Zealand yarn was gifted to me a bit over a year ago, I think, in a swap, but can be ordered on knitschyarns.co.nz.  The yarn is out of 100% merino wool in the 1/4 acre dream colourway.  So far it has been an enjoyable knit, but then again I haven't decided which heel to use.  We will just have to wait and see what may work best with the pattern and my mood.  

Moccasin toe of Fish Scales and Fairy Tales by Kari Verge

   

 Stash and Equipment Enhancements

While at the Woodstock Fibre Festival I picked up a few things.  I picked up a couple of knitting bags from Zig Zag Stiches, I picked up the phone booth box bag and the haunted halloween bag.  This is the second time that I have purchased her bags and I'm pleased to have purchase more of them.  





I also got a bit of fibre from Shetland Meadows, you may contact Judi Meadows should you be interested in obtaining some fibre yourselves.  The fibre obtained has a light grey colour and is 100% Shetland fibre.

Shetland fibre from Shetland Meadows

When attending the Creativ Festival, spring show, one may have gone over board, but oh well.  While at the Shears to You Fibre Pro's booth three different hanks of sock yarn caught my attend and I couldn't decide which to get, leaving me no other choice but to purchase all three.  They are composed of 20% nylon and 80% alpaca in the sparkle base.  Each hank weighs 150 grams and has 402 meters each.  None of the hanks have colourway names, and so decided to call them dark chocolate, burnt orange and mixed berry.

dark chocolate

burnt orange

mixed berry

Finally, a couple of kits were also purchased from Black Sheep and Ewe the Bling Cowl Kit and the Spice Berry Shawl Kit.  These kits are really inexpensive and each has all the yarn you will need and the pattern for both a shawl and a cowl.

More recently I stopped at a local shop to get a circular needle and picked up a few more skeins of yarn, because we all know you can never have too much yarn.  As seen below, most of them are Patons Kroy Sock, each skein has 50 grams, 152 meters or 166 yards and is of 75% washable wool and 25% nylon.

#1301-jumpin jacquard

#1304-springtime jacquard

#1403-grey marl

#1411-gentry grey

While getting the Pattons yarn I also obtained some Sock It To Me in the colourways 52304 and 52306, which are 75% superwasher wool and 25% nylon.  Each skein is 100 grams and has 400 meters.  

As a treat to myself for Valentine's Day I decided to order The Yarn It with a bronze base.  Due to a manufacturer issue, my order had been delayed, but Kate was great at trying to assist in the matter.  I got my yarn it in the base colour that I wanted and a bonus base in green, this before the green base was available to sale.  I would highly recommend the yarn it, and once Kate has come up with a bigger sized yarn it, which is in the works, I will most definitely get the bigger version. 

And finally, upon seeing these bags on the two tangled skeins podcast prior to Sue updating her etsy shop and I just had to get them.  One has a pretty fabric with a variety of song birds and the other has sparkly crowns on a cream background.  

   

Sorry for having such a long update, but since it has been a while, just thought you deserved a bit of detail.  I plan on posting more often now that things have become up-to-date.  Thank you for reading and happy crafting!