I Have A New Obsession - Sleep Socks

It all started a few months ago! I kept seeing the Sloffen Slipper Socks on Instagram. They’re a simple ankle sock design from The Kitchen Sink Shop.  What made them even more appealing - besides the fact it was March and my feet were freezing - was that they’re knit in DK weight so I knew they’d also be a quick knit. Toasty toes were within my grasp!

I chose to knit them in some sock yarn held double. Sock yarn that had previously been cursed! (The curse is now unbroken obviously). When I say cursed I mean that over the years I’d started no less than three or four times to turn this yarn into socks and somehow something would go awry every single time. This yarn is at least 15 years old so it seemed as good a time as any to get it made up into something.

The yarn is snuggly and warm and perfect for slipper/bed socks. It’s Estelle Arequipa in the Scarlet colour way and is a blend of wool, alpaca and nylon.

I was correct in the speediness of the pattern. I knit my socks and were wearing them to bed in under two weeks!!

Emboldened by my success and new found love of bed socks I decided to knit a new pair. This time using Lichen and Lace sock yarn in the Rosewood colourway and the stunning Saltwater Socks book (both were given to me for Christmas by my daughter and son in law!) I chose the Nighty Night Sleep Sock pattern of course!

These have taken considerably longer to knit being in fingering weight - they took one day shy of two months, although the second sock only took nine days for me to complete. I finished them last night and I’m so pleased with how they turned out!! I did lengthen the ankle by ten rows just to have a slightly longer pair of sleep socks!

I’m now without a project on my needles which is rather disconcerting so I’ll need to remedy that quickly. I don’t like having nothing ready to work on. I’ve been going through my pattern library trying to narrow down what to choose next, but so far haven’t pinpointed anything at all. It’s a decision paralysis of sorts I guess. Being spoiled for choice makes it hard to narrow it down.  So we’ll see what I come up with!

Algarve

Well holy smokes. It’s been awhile. Life has been busily flying by on me these last few months! I’ve been getting lots of projects done which I always love because I’m always glad to spend time with my creative pursuits. I’ve been knitting on and off and sewing lots of things. When I’m not actually knitting or sewing I’m definitely plotting and planning projects.

I have really scaled back testing patterns and try to be really discerning when choosing which ones to do. Well to be honest I’m trying to be a bit more discerning about what I choose to make in general. Not just diving head first in on the next new shiny thing. (That’s not to say I don’t occasionally fall off my noble project planning wagon - I have some hot pink boiled wool sitting newly in my stash that would definitely go against any and all discernment. Lol)

Anyways I was starting to talk about pattern testing for a reason. I decided to do the Algarve* test - it’s the latest pattern to be released from Itch to Stitch. I had fabric in my stash and I’m in dire need of some new tees this summer. A lot of the tees I have were made several years ago and are definitely getting a bit worse for wear. I had the time and felt it would also be a fairly simple project, so it felt like a good choice.

I’m glad I did test this one! It’s bound to become a TNT pattern for me. It’s neckline is somewhat boat necked with a from and back yoke that help to form a grown on sleeve. The back falls straight from the yoke while the front gathers along the gently curved seam. I Made mine in a size 18 regular and blended to a size 16 at the hips. I also added 1 1/2” of length.

My first version is sewn up in viscose spandex. I’ve had this Lady McElroy Mademoiselle print for several years. (I’m think I was still in the parts room at Gen Mills when I bought it and I’ve been gone from there for six years now) I love the fancy vintage ladies on this fabric but never quite knew what should make with it until now!

My second version is just an inexpensive “fibre content unknown” jersey from a bin at Fabricland. I think I’ve had it tucked away for at least a few years too!

I had fun sewing both versions and am pretty excited to have some fresh new tees for spring! The Algarve pattern is, of course, available as part of the extensive Itch to Stitch pattern collection.

Châle Saison

Hello, hello! What an exciting time we’ve had since I last popped on here! On February 16th our little Grandson was born and let me tell you I have had the hardest time focusing my brain on anything besides updates and photos and baby snuggles! He is the light of our lives without a doubt and we are all completely smitten with him!

In much less exciting news, I finished my Châle Saison shawl out of some absolutely beautiful yarn from Cog Yarns that my eldest son and daughter-in-law gave me for Christmas!  The colours are absolutely beautiful and the yarn is so very soft! I used two full skeins to make the shawl.

I cast on my shawl straight away on Boxing Day. Châle Saison is a free pattern on Ravelry by the designer Laine Poudrée. I was quite impressed with both the pattern - it’s so straight forward - and the speed in which I was able to knit it! I actually finished it February 8th despite pausing to knit a few things for the baby in January (booties, socks and a Puerperium Cardigan)

I finally took the plunge (or my shawl did in any case) and I gave it a good Euclan wool wash bubble bath and blocked it out this weekend. 

My timing was impeccable because winter hit again yesterday (we had another extreme weather closure day which made it two closures in as many weeks! You won’t hear me complaining! Lol) I was able to bundle up in my shawl today to ward off the chill as I headed to work. My shawl cuff is from Knox Mountain Knitting Co. in case you were curious. 

I’ve got some other knitting finished in the last week too - both projects that have been in my WIP basket for awhile but I’ll save those for another day. I also cast on a pair of socks last night. It would seem my knitting mojo has returned with gusto!!

The Boalsburg Top

Hello, hello!  I'm back again!

I've been pattern testing for Itch to Stitch* again and this one is such a good one! Ok - I've pretty much loved every pattern that I've tested for Kennis.  I do realize I'm probably a broken record on that subject, but they just always fit me so well.  I've made so many of her patterns over the years and I don't think I've ever been disappointed in any of them.  Some of them maybe my fabric choice has led to me feeling kind of "meh" about them, but certainly not the pattern's fault.  It's as though she creates her patterns just for me! LOL!

So let me introduce you to this newest pattern.  Boalsburg is a dropped shoulder beauty that allows for either colour blocking or a single colour sweater with some interesting seam details.  My favourite thing about it is the fact that it's allowed me to use up some randoms bits and bobs of fabric in my stash that weren't big enough for any single project.  

Stash busting is one of my goals this year. Obviously not one I'll stick to rigidly. I'm not about to sign up for the Last Sewist Standing Challenge or anything like that.  I'm still going to get new fabric and not feel badly about it - I love being part of the Minerva Ambassador team, so I'll have new fabric coming to me through that, and sometimes a project just calls for something that I don't have readily at hand.  But my thought is, that if I have something suitable, I'll try to use stash fabric first when possible.  I'm going to see if I can take the stash down at least a bit this year, because my sewing room is slowly being taken over by it.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.  The Boalsburg.  My first one was a wearable toile basically.  I didn't finish any of the seam allowances and didn't worry too much about my thread not matching well because I wasn't terribly sure how I would feel about it.  I felt a bit iffy about my fabric choices.  Now I'm thoroughly annoyed with myself because I love it and wish I'd taken more care in the inner details. Thankfully no one but me can see those minor details and because the fabric is jersey, it's not going to fray at all, so no need to worry there.

As I said, this first version is jersey and made entirely from fabrics from the Fabric Snob's Luxe Solids line.  The Thistle coloured one was leftover from my Sunday Romper I made a few summers ago.  The black from my sweater knit/jersey Lamma Hoodie and the grey I can't remember what it was used for.  

For my second version, I dug through my bins of fabric and found some sweater knits all of the same weight and gave that a go.  This time I used matching thread and finished off all the seam allowances with my serger so that I'd be just as happy with the outside as the inside of my sweater.  

The dark grey fabric was from a Blackwood Cardi I made for my daughter several years ago, the blue from a Blackwood I made for my mama for Christmas this year and the light grey from my Coimbra Wrap Top that I made last winter!

This is the softest, snuggliest sweater ever!  I'm so impressed with how it all came together. And will get lots of wear out of it.  It's a nice light weight so perfect for the days where I want to wear a sweater, but nothing too heavy.  

I've thought about making a single colour Boalsburg.  Several testers did, and they look fabulous, but I feel when a colour blocking/stash busting opportunity presents itself I should take full advantage of it!

The Boalsburg will be on sale for the release week over on the Itch to Stitch website if you're wanting to pick up a copy for yourself.

A Wooly Catch Up

Well hello dear reader!  How are we already into February? It's shocking how time flies lately!  Is it too far into the year to wish you all a Happy New Year?  I hope your 2024 has started out well.

Anyways, I thought I'd pop on here to share a project I fully intended to share as soon as it was finished.  An honest to goodness knitting project!  If you follow on Instagram, you'll already have seen it a few times, but for those of you who don't, may I present my Lately Pullover!  It was a new pattern release last summer from the talented Shannon of Very Shannon Knits.  

As soon as she released it, I was OBSESSED.  I was also completely obsessed with knitting it in my cranberry coloured Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted yarn that I'd purchased a year earlier at Wolseley Wool during a sale. Unfortunately I didn't have enough yarn.  I knew I would be at least a skein, possibly even more, short.  I checked Wolseley Wool, but of course they no longer had any in stock.  So I started scouring the Internet for the more yarn, because I just couldn't let go of the obsession of using that particular yarn for that particular pattern.  I found some at Purlin' J's Yarn Emporium in Ontario and decided to order another two skeins, busily trying to plan the best way to combine what would obviously be two different dye lots.

Imagine my surprise when my yarn arrived and it was the exact same dye lot!  What are the chances of that happening?!?  Two different stores, from two different provinces, bought a year apart.  I couldn't believe my luck!  Obviously my Lately Pullover was meant to be.

I started knitting it mid-July, crazily thinking that maybe I could get it done so I could wear it during our Newfoundland trip in August, but alas, of course I didn't get it done.  I knit quite a bit of it through football practices, but it's hard to knit a wool sweater outside in the blazing heat of summer.  So I changed my deadline and decided that having it done before the freezing cold of winter would be good timing.

I did it!  My pullover was finished in November.  It took me about a month to actually block and unfortunately it's not got as much wear as I thought it would.  Not because I don't love it.  I do.  I absolutely do.  It's because this winter has been mostly a non-winter. El Nino has definitely put a damper on wearing warm wool sweaters.  I mean, it was +5C in Manitoba in January last weekend.  That's absolutely crazy - not to mention not just a bit disconcerting environmentally wise!!!!

But my pullover is at the ready for when the temps dip and I do want a cozy, warm layer.  (At least there's been a few times I could wear it and not be at risk of sweating to death, but certainly not as much as I had envisioned!)

It did kick off a renewed love of knitting again and I've got several projects on the go currently and finished quite a few as well.  More on that another day... Right now I've got to get myself off the computer and down to the sewing room.  I have a few things on the go there too that I really want to get working on!  I'm taking part in the #FinishItQal over on Instagram hosted by Village Bound Quilts this month and I'm not going to get anything finished if I don't get at it!

A New Skirt for All Seasons

 Hello, hello!  I’m back here again today with a super quick drive by post to tell you about another new Itch to Stitch* pattern! I sewed it up a couple of weeks ago for pattern testing, but it’s just been released today.

This is the Quebrada Skirt. It’s a gored A-line skirt with a total of 11 panels (five in the front and six in the back). It has a center back zip and waist facing. The pattern also comes in two lengths but really you could easily make it whatever length you wanted.

I made mine out of a medium weight cotton twill. I figure i can wear it with a sweater, tights and boots in colder weather and with sandals and a tank or tee in warmer weather!

I keep eyeballing my leftover denims thinking it would be fun to do the panels in different shades of denim like one of the testers did. Or like Kennis, the designer did, maybe repurpose some of those old jeans that I have hung on to for so long. 

Or maybe I’ll just make some more cotton skirts. The Quebrada Skirt whips up pretty easily and quickly and I have some other cottons in my stash that would be perfect for it!

The Andes Jacket

 Well hello dear reader!  So sorry to have gone missing again for months on end.  We had such a busy summer, including an amazing trip to Newfoundland for ten days in August.  Then we got back and I was right back into the full swing of work and football season.

I've been doing some projects here and there, although not a lot because I have also been really tired. Our schedule was such that I was on the constant move the entire fall.  Home from work, throw some food on the table and walk the dog, then back out the door within 20 minutes to get to the boys to the football field on time.  Football season is done now though and I'm hoping since I'll have more time in the evenings, maybe I'll be able to get back to doing crafty things with more regularity.  I'm always happiest when I have time to be creative!

If you want to see some of the things I've been working on since I last wrote, you can check out my posts on Minerva or check out my grid on Instagram if you so desire.  I usually post my craftiness in one of those two spots. 

I did want to pop on here today though to tell you about a new make that I'm very proud of.  I did have some dicey moments in which I was sure there was no way I was going to finish it, because this week went south on me a bit, but I ended up having a good sewing session on Thursday evening and then another chunk of time on Friday and then finished up on Saturday.  I so often choose projects that are fairly easy and straight forward, but every now and again I do like to do a project that I can really sink my teeth into, so when Kennis of Itch to Stitch* posted a testing call in our group on Facebook for the Andes Jacket I applied right away.  

The Andes Jacket is just the sort of jacket I've been hunting for!  It's made of softshell (here's an example at Minerva in case you're unsure of what that fabric is - I was until I went shopping for it!) so is a waterproof jacket that will be perfect for spring and fall. I've even test driven it on the weekend, when the snow turned to rain, but figure that might be the last opportunity I get since other than today, winter seems to be mostly here to stay.  The Andes has a slim, athletic fit, zipped pockets, a fully lined hood that now I'm wishing I'd put the optional drawstring in - walking east my hood kept blowing off my head on Sunday. LOL! It features a lower hem in the back of the jacket so keeps your lower back and butt warm too. It also has loads of topstitching which I always think elevates a project!

I purchased my soft shell fabric from Marshall's Northwest in Winnipeg and the zippers and faux suede that I made my pockets and hood lining from our local fabric store Faye's Fabricvilla.  I was certain I would have black fabric and zips in my stash that I didn't bother even looking at Marshalls for them.  Regret! Regret!!  Of course I didn't have anything suitable, so I was stuck with the meagre choice in town.  I ended up spending a small fortune on the pocket zips because I had to get ones that were about twice the length I needed.  So annoying!!

If it's helpful at all, I don't mind telling you that I made a size 18C and graded down to the 16 at the hip for my Andes and I feel like the fit is perfect for me.  I also added one inch of length on the upper lengthen/shorten line so that the waist shaping would hit at the right spot.

Anyway, I am rambling on here, but suffice it to say, I'm incredibly happy with my new jacket.  I wish I'd had it on my trip to Newfoundland and it would have been great at the football field!  Oh well, better late than never.  I'll be prepared for next year's football season!

If you're interested in getting a copy of the Andes Jacket pattern you can pick it up on sale for the release week over on the Itch to Stitch site!