Stitch Rabbit

The Process.

I was talking with a friend over a beer about the importance of documenting your process. Not only for personal reference, but as part of your public outreach in whatever platform you choose. Whether you blog or instagram or tumblr or facebook your personal hobbies, art and business, I think it's just as important to present your process, your tools, your systems, your space as it is to present your finished work.

 

For me, if I didn't document my process, you wouldn't see very much.

That is because the finished product doesn't come as often as the times you are in your studio or in your shop. The hours that go on behind your own works of art are such a beautiful part of the story. I find it so interesting getting a chance to peek at how other people are spending their precious "work time", when it's something that they do for love.

 

 

Many of my photos are of my materials in use because I find them beautiful on their own. A skein of yarn or a pair of shears, a length of fabric that has been dyed and waiting for possibility.

 

 

It's within that process that you will find people being exactly who they are. I am happy to finally be in the stages of styling a finished product to shoot a photo, but it is actually here, peeking in my studio, in my garden, in my baskets upon baskets of projects, that you will find me, exactly the way I want to be. Never finished, always wanting more.

 

 

Patterns and Color and Taking Breaks

 

I'm trying to get out more, be more social. It's hard for me, when I've got so much going on at home and in the studio that I'm happy and excited about, but I am also recognizing in myself how isolated I can become - even when it's for something I love to do.

 

 

When you have these tiny kids and you are choosing to be at home with them, you are also making this choice that your daily life contains a very tiny group of human beings in comparison to the rest of the world. I remember days when I felt like the only mother alive with two kids and a dirty kitchen and a pile of clothes I never got to wear anymore because the stay-at-home uniform was jeans, gumboots and an apron.

 

 

For me, knitting and sewing came as a need for sanity, a need to be doing something other than hanging diapers on a line and cleaning up sparkle glue. I started to get creative with the small pieces of time I could get to myself and it gave me a huge sense of satisfaction, that I was contributing in some way that felt artistic... it was like I was contributing to myself. 

 

 

And now with kids bigger and busier and more independent.. I find more time to do the things I love, the anticipation of thinking about how I want to do something, or how this might look cool motivates me to get downstairs and work on these things...

 

 

 

And I get lost in it in such a fantastic way. Quilting and dyeing and knitting gives me this stuff to think about, to use my brain and work things out and discover - and LEARN, constantly. Getting busy with materials has saved me from boredom and given me a lot to think about.

 

 

 I'm on this edge of seeing another side to things, finding patterns and colors in different ways and different places than I'd expected to. And that's exciting. But like everything, like someone who works too much or overloads themselves with classes and homework or simply doesn't ever come up for air, I too have to remember to balance my act. Get out. Like out of the backyard and into conversations with people. See my friends and go to shows and do different things. I'm proud of the work that I do, but I need to remind myself to put down the work sometimes, it will be there when I get back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knit On.

 

I've made some mistakes in my knitting. I've knit when I should have purled, ignored swatches, dropped stitches, and elaborated on pattern instructions - much to my woe a few rows further.

This sweater has not been exempt. I'm not an advanced knitter. I am only a few sweaters further than over-dressing my family in the numerous scarves and hats that are stuffed in baskets by our back door. And this sweater is one that needs my full attention. Not something I can do as often as I'd like to believe. So I've made some mistakes. I've cursed them, recounted stitches and unknitted a few rows at a time. Still, I pursue. Partly because I adore the yarn and the pattern and the end result of two sticks and some knots, and partly because like most mistakes... it can be hard to undo them.

And so I knit two together here and there to get back to where I should be, and ignore the place where the yarn should zig but really it's zagging. And it's all going to be just fine. Because what's life without those mistakes? How would you recognize and learn from them, except when you discover the holes you have made? Sure you can rip it all apart - and I have ripped projects, weeping and swearing and pouring a very full glass of wine.. but this sweater, it seems to represent more than that. I couldn't bear to just rip it up.

So instead, I will sigh and press on, determined and counting and recounting and increasing and decreasing until I find myself where I want to be. Happy with my work, and warm. Will it be a perfect sweater? No. But who wants a perfect sweater anyways? And, like many learned mistakes in life, it becomes a part of the pattern that makes up who you are.

In the famous words of Elizabeth Zimmerman, The Opinionated Knitter;

"Knit On, with confidence and hope, through all crises."

Renew.

It's feeling like a fresh new start over here... the New Year has been good to us so far, and there is a lot of new around the house. And a new look for the blog! With the holidays past us and the somewhat regular routine back I've been feeling refreshed and energized and ready for a fantastic year ahead.

My shop is now closed until Fall 2013. It is a little early for a close, but I am looking forward to next winter season's new designs and new materials. Thank you so much for all your support in buying handmade this season.

 

 

After cleaning out every basket and knitting bag around the house after the holidays, I have cast on about four or five..er, maybe even six new projects, including a few hats for the adults, a triangle scarf by Cait Ffrench and, though I have yet to cast on for this one yet, I am very excited to begin Jane Richmond's lovely cardigan "Grace" from her new book, Islands. I'm using Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock yarn... and this cardigan is all for me.

Looking forward to a year filled with creativity, love, and a whole new light.

My Kitchen Table

From one end to the other...

 

Choosing buttons for Frankie's french cardigan.

 

Freehand stitching winter goodies.

 

Growing a triangle scarf.

 

Loving winter evenings.

 

 

 

Keeping It All Together

I spent a good day organizing my knitting and sewing notions and materials and I wanted to show you a few things that keep me organized so I spend less time looking for scissors and more time click-clacking the sticks.

 

My studio is downstairs, in the one sort of finished room in our unfinished basement. It's where I sew and keep all my sewing and crafting materials. It's also where I store the majority of my yarn stash.

But I don't knit downstairs. I knit upstairs in our life, in my bed, on the couch, in the yard, in the car, at Frankie's school... knitting is part of the every single day.

So most of my knitting and notions are upstairs. And it can get a little yarn-crazy. The kids know Rule Number One is don't touch Mama's knitting. I keep it stashed in baskets all over the house. I like orphaned wire ones the best, I find them often...

 

Some baskets are knit themselves. I have a tutorial like this one that I made, or if you really screw up a hat in a heavier yarn and it's too big, just turn it over and stuff it with some things. Works like a charm!

 

I keep my most-used needles together with this really awesome needle case I made a few years back and store the rest in jars. I also use the amazing Addi Click circular needle set and I love, love the interchangeable needles. Projects get put into individual baskets around the house to keep them separate from each other.

 

Notions!! I keep all my notions like stitch markers, pins, darning needles, scissors and everything else you could possibly need for knitting stashed in a couple of zippered bags and usually tucked in one of my knitting baskets.

 

 

Probably my favorite wire basket of yarn is the yet-to-be basket.. the inspiration... the most recent "lost yarn that I found and brought home" basket. If it doesn't get used for a must-make-right-away-because-this-yarn-is-so-nice project it goes downstairs to the (ahem) bigger stash for when I need a specific yarn for a pattern I fall in love with.

I get the feeling I'm sounding a little crazy...

Anything else I buy and love but don't have a use for yet usually ends up on display somewhere in the house... like these buttons I picked up last week... as long as they are out in plain sight they keep me thinking on the perfect project to use them for.

 

Quick Cowl For The Kids

Very simple cowl, knit in the round to keep the kids cozy this winter. It's the yarn I want to talk about!! I picked it up at a yarn shop in Toronto called The Knit Cafe earlier this year - I only bought one skein. It was pricey but I was not willing to leave the shop without it! It's Anzula's For Better or Worsted and it's so, so nice to knit with. If you see it, I suggest you pick some up. Feel free to drop a skein or two at my door while you're at it.

 

Dipped Mittens

 

These were so much fun to make!! I used the Debbie Bliss Como I had and a pattern called HipCat Mittens from Ravelry to whip these up. I used a bit of red to dip the finger tips.

These are super easy mitties, and I think my new favorite winter gift idea.

Though I think I'll keep these ones for my own two hands.

On and Off The Sticks

Just a few photos of what my hands have been busy with so far this week...

 

Blocking Frankie's french cardigan. It's been a project in the making for a long time... I forgot about it awhile back and brought it back out recently.

 

Sewing seams and finishing. Looking for the perfect buttons at the secret sewing wholesale warehouse tomorrow.

 

Immediately casting on another sweater. And then immediately after finding out from the lovely Caitlyn ffrench at Baaad Anna's that Debbie Bliss Como has been discontinued.       WTF Debbie.

Unravel and begin much smaller projects.

 

I even got down here over the weekend!

Hello studio, I love you in the winter.

 

 

 

Why Game of Thrones and Knitting Go Hand In Hand.

 

 

All the good yarn stores have re-purposed the famous line from Game of Thrones, "Winter Is Coming" in some form or another - I mean, how could you resist! Tongue in cheek and oh so clever - Written on their sidewalk sandwich boards, sent out in newsletters and check out this yarn shop in Kamloops BC I discovered a few weeks ago:

 

 

 

Across their front window alongside their own personal handmade "shop banner". I spotted it as we were driving through and let out this weird yelp and made Gabe pull over immediately.

Of course I love the series, and I'm still considered a baby in the game.. I'm just finishing book two right now. I know - shit's gonna get all craaay, I heard. Of course, now that the air is cooler and the sticks are all stacked with projects, I'm finding all kinds of inspiration for you Game of Thrones crafty nerds.

Here are a few of my favorites:

 

House of Stark Knitting Pattern from Shawnallama

(doing it. for my kids, ahem.)

 

 

Photo by KnitPicks Pattern by Freshisle Fibres

(Ah!! Would like to believe I'm gonna do it!)

 

The Starks of Winterfell - Kati at LunasCrafts

(Wanna play with it!)

 

Cross Stitch Pattern at Zahmira

(Perfect for the living room wall)

 

 

 

Sick Days and Suggestions on How To Milk It.

 

I spent the other day sick in bed.

Well.. bedridden might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I had a bit of a cold, and one sleeve left to knit on Frankie's sweater... and it was raining. Well.. it was drizzling.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You will never look like a lazy whimp with a tiny cold lying in bed weakly calling out for tea if you are knitting. If you are knitting whilst lying in bed with a cold you look like a champ. Like you can't get a good guy down, even when he's down. Like someone who won't let illness and disease stop you from warming the bodies of your children, stitch by aching cold-and-flu-season stitch. Try to let out a little sigh every know and again - remember, even though you're lying on your death bed - your sheer determination to clothe the wee ones will bring admiration and more tea and possibly some toast to your bedside. For added effect crumpled tissues arranged on each side of your body and around your knitting will really drive it home. Not that you are sick and ought to be in bed... but that EVEN THOUGH you are sick - bedridden (!!) - you are still an unbelievably amazing Mom to sit up in that bed and knit the entire day.

 

The Knitting Club.

I joined a knitting club. But it's not the knitting club you might expect. It has beginners and almost-beginners and some well on their way to finishing beautiful projects, but there is something a little different about this group... mostly that the average age of the members is roughly six to ten years old. It's the knitting club at my daughter's school.

I can't even tell you how excited I was as I waited in the hallway for lunch to begin today. A total geek, clutching my knitting bag and the extra needles and yarn to share with the group. I was blown away by how many kids were there, all sitting around tables in tiny chairs, mounds of yarn in front of them, clutching their bare needles, excited by the possibilities. Some of them have been knitting you know, "for a really long time." Some had picked it up "just recently again" since their Grandmothers had taught them. Some had never picked up a pair of sticks in their life.

There was the usual chatter you'd hear at any good knitting club. "Why are knitting needles so pointy" and, "I really like cats." I settled in on a chair and started casting on for some of the kids and knit and talked the entire lunch hour. I would say the only thing really missing was a bottle of wine or four on the table... but I think that would be deemed innapprpriate and I don't think I'd be invited back.

While talking to my Mom excitedly at approximately 1:02 PM (she is a faithful fellow knitter and will be joining us sometimes) she mentioned how neat it was that here were these kids doing something that has been done by groups of ladies (and men) for hundreds of years. It is really neat. That even in the modern child's world saturated with electronic entertainment and the instant gratification of technology, here is this group of kids, sitting around a table making knots on sticks, talking and laughing and learning, just like their Moms, just like their Grandmas, and all the other generations before.

By the end of the class I think almost every kid was really actually knitting. We're making scarves for those who might need a little handmade winter warmth this year. There was even talk of a little yarn bombing. I think I found the best knitting club I could have ever hoped for.

Frankie in Knitting Club

Since September Began.

Since September began I have breathed some new life back into my knitting.

 

As the summer ended and the days rolled into autumn, new stashes of yarn came up from the studio and took over all the corners of my home.

 

I've been working on new patterns for cowls with my trusty side-kick.

 

 

And experimenting with new yarns for a new collection...

 

 

I've been filling order requests from the little ones with grand ideas.

 

 

And filling early fall orders from my shop... and for Paper BlueJay's bridesmaid gifts!

 

 

Frankie crawled in beside me one morning and asked how to knit... I actually can't believe how quickly she understood it. She's making a pink scarf for her Dad.

 

 

And I'm slowly but surely working on whittling down the stash of unfinished projects.. a couple of cardigans, some socks and hats and cowls.

 

What are some of your fall projects (question mark)

(i think i will need a new keyboard soon)

 

 

Today I Am...

Reading more about the syphon coffee process after finding this gem while thrifting.

 

Winding the last of the denim colored Anzula yarn I got on my trip to Toronto. It's their For Better or Worsted hand-dyed yarn and it's unbelievably beautiful.

 

Working away at mustard colored socks and flipping through Ravelry patterns for ideas for my newest yarn.

 

Considering a tamer version of the Master Cleanse... or at least just juicing all these lemons and drinking the hell out of them.

 

Wondering how much longer I'm going to have to wear a jacket over all these pretty dresses. Come on May, work your magic.

On The Sticks.

I finally FINALLY got the cardigan from Erica Knight's "Men's Knits" book. I seriously cast on this sweater A YEAR AGO. It's not done yet, I still have to block and piece it together, but it's done in most sense of the word. Photos soon. Whew.

I'm also nearing completion on the beautiful Purl Bee Striped Cotton Cowl, just in time for spring. I think you've seen peeks of it over the last little while.

I also cast on for a sweater for Frankie this week, found on Ravelry. The original pattern is from a French blog, and written in French. After Google translate, I thought I could decipher it... well as of this moment I'm sitting on a website that translates french knitting abbreviations into english for poor folks like me.

If the French lessons don't work out for me tonight, I think I'm gonna cast on for this rug from Purl Bee that I can't stop thinking about. I've got some big yarn that would knit up nicely for it and at this point I could use the distraction from all my almost completed projects!