Thursday, December 20, 2007

Picture heavy, text light

I can't tell you how nice it is to be back - typing, knitting and not handing out my credit card to Home Deput/Rona/Canadian Tire four times a day for stuff that should be way cheaper seeing as how its invisible. Like plumbing for example. And electrical outlets. So...

Kitchen update

Remember this (scroll down to the bottom for the horror that was)?

Here it all is on my balcony waiting to be hauled away. That was one fancy kitchen I had going!

See the flat pieces on the left side with the regularly spaced marks? Those would be massive NAILS. Taking up the floor was probably the most tiring and labour intensive part of the job.

But let's not dwell on the past any more than necessary (plus I like the debris picture - how much crap can you fit on the corner of your balcony?).

In with the new! Still work to be done - one last cabinet, hardware and a countertop but much much better...

Play time...

My Christmas present to me this year was some new dye colours that I ordered last week from Pro Chemical and Dye. I tend to like the Washfast Acid dyes...lots of colours and good lightfastness etc. Plus the price is right.

Last night I pulled on the gloves and went a little nuts on about 100 grams of South African top. It started out looking less than promising...


But somehow, it always turns out in the end. This braid (yes I learned how to braid roving - there is something about braided roving that just makes my ridiculously happy) is so much prettier than this picture - there is a lot more turquoise, deeper purples and blues and bits of magenta in there. I really need to figure out how to take good pictures of roving and yarn.

I deliberately kept the dye from fully penetrating. When it is spun, the white portions will lighten the darker parts when it all blends together a bit.


A few finished things...

The Fleece Artist favourite soft mittens mentioned in the previous post. Perfect for the snowy weather we're having right now.


I have a few skeins of Mirasol Miski burning a hole in my stash. This started as a hat band (as I was inspired by J and Leanne and their beautiful Coronets) but when I picked up the stitches for the brim it really didn't work so now it is a neck warmer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the naked baby llamas in Peru for their fleece - this stuff is nice! And the stitch definition is better than I hoped. It also has a lovely halo without it being "too much."


An EZ EPS Raglan sweater for Madeline. I really enjoyed knitting this - particularly when I finally got past the arms and was knitting up the chest. I followed the directions in Knitting Without Tears - including the instruction to start the neck when there are 10 stitches left to decrease at the shoulder but next time I will follow The Sweater Workshop instructions instead which have you begin the neck when there are still 20 to decrease. It was challenging to get a loose enough cast off to fit a head through.

Madeline likes it although she seems to think its a bit too warm. I think it will be really great in the Spring when the days start out cold but it gets too hot for a winter coat in the afternoon.


We have put up our mini-tree. Presents (except for the Santa gifts of course) are making little fingers a bit itchy. I will be able to get some photos of the Wedding Dress Quilt when it is revealed on Christmas morning...I can't wait to show you all how it turned out!

Happy holidays to everyone who celebrates this time of year!

5 comments:

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

It's nice to have you back into the land of knitting. I'll bet it's a relief.

I so understand the Miski thing...every time I go near it I have peruvian urges. But I've got other things calling my name louder than the cry of baby llamas.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you are feeling better. The kitchen looks great. Happy knitting :-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful kitchen - congrats on it being almost done. The roving is gorgeous! Very cute mitts and sweater too (the roving is gorgeous!)

Laurie (Moo!) said...

Your South African top is amazing! And so are your finished projects, which includes your kitchen.

Welcome back to fiber-land. :-)

Anonymous said...

Lisa, those tiles in your kitchen are to die for! What a difference.

I'm so glad you're feeling better.