Olympic Red Meret

Pattern: Meret size L.
Yarn: Mirasol "Tupa"
Needles: 4 mm
Mods: 2 extra pattern repeats to achieve desired 'slouch' effect + I-cord loop at crown


Modeled with the appropriate Vancouver 2010 mitts!


I know -- I look like I'm dressed for winter, but it was actually a very sunny, balmy 14 C today -- wonderful for us; not so happy for the mountains in desperate need of snow!

I've had the flu since a week ago today and haven't been ANYWHERE except for a brief trip into the market yesterday. There was a moment where I thought my "wet noodle" legs were going to give out on me -- not a great moment.

Most of my time this past week has been spent indoors, watching the Olympics and knitting, or reading, so, today we spent a couple of hours this afternoon in our lawn chairs, on the back patio, enjoying the sunshine and admiring my crocuses (in full bloom!). I actually got a bit of pink on my face and chest -- sooooo weird, for February! Hopefully, I'll be recovered by the weekend as I am fully determined to be at several Olympic venues next week -- no way am I missing out on this once in a lifetime chance!

Spray mist blocked over my Ikea dinner plate. Worked out really well. As you can see, I did a small I-cord at the crown. After I decreased down to the last 4 stitches, I did an 8 row I-cord, flipped it in half and tacked in to the inside, to finish it off. This is far more stable than simply drawing the yarn through the last few stitches and knotting off. I've had a previous one explode on me and spent the better part of an hour scrambling to recover the stitches :P******!


I probably could have gotten away with having made the size M, but I would rather have a hat a bit loose, so as to avoid the whole "hat head" drama. If it stretches too much, I'll simply thread some red-coloured elastic thread through the back of the ribbing rows.


Here's my hubby, on his way out the door to the Olympic Women's Hockey Game last night. Not tooooo excited ... :)

Our daughter called in the a.m. to say that she'd won a pool at work and was presented with two tickets, and did her Dad want to go???

Here he is, back at home, after the game and having a celebratory drink ... in his Olympic mug, of course! Doesn't matter if it isn't from this particular Winter Olympics, does it?

Ishbel ...

Loved this project ... although the photos, not so much. Looks a bit like I'm wearing a bib or an apron in the second photo ... I was going to do a 'slung-across-the-chest-to-the-other-shoulder kinda thing', but my photographer was "done", if you catch my drift :)

Handmaiden Casbah Sock yarn in "Wine" -- amazing yarn! I promptly put in an order for another skein, once I'd finished with this one. I actually had a good 2" ball of yarn leftover, which I'm sure could be used up in Saartje's booties, or something equally tiny and darling.

There is nothing bad to be said about either the yarn or the pattern -- only superlatives.

Tutti Frutti ... "ICING"

Pattern: "Icing" by Samantha Roshak
Yarn: Ella Rae 100% Merino Lace in #119 "Wine Cooler" (used about 250m of 400m)
Needles: 3.5mm
Dimensions: 71"L x 11"W
Started: February 5 - 9, 2010

As I mentioned in the previous post, this was a test knit of a new pattern to be released shortly. It's a quick knit, with lots of yo's and k2tog's, which made it fast and easy, but not boring. The perfect TV watching project!

It's unusual shape caused my husband to comment that it looked more like the bottom of a kayak, and therefore would have been more appropriately called "kayak", rather than "icing"! Thanks for taking an interest in my work, dear :)

BTW, did you notice how high my daffodils are in the background of the photos? Everything is at least 6 weeks ahead of normal here ... I was out pruning my roses yesterday and that would typically be a March task. It's been very mild, with some sunny days and we're very grateful! Typically, February is my least favourite month in B.C., but this one is proving to be an anomaly, and happily so!

Now, to get back to my Tea Leaves Cardigan and get it completed, so I can start my Olympics project, which is yet to be determined ... I'm dithering between the Wedgewood Blouse in a dark burgandy cotton and the Gail Shawl in Handmaiden sea silk -- Nova Scotia colourway ... hmmm.

Sssssh ... Top Secret Project Underway !

Knitting Designer Samantha Roshak has a new pattern on the way, and it has a delicious name - "Icing"!

Myself and a few others have been tasked with the test knitting of the pattern, and it's well underway.

I'm using a perfectly yummy 100 % merino lace yarn that I discovered at a not so LYS last week. It's by "Ella Rae" yarns in colourway #119 "wine cooler". It's heavenly to work with (very sproingy) and the colours remind me of a bowl of Fruit Loops, minus the green!

More to follow!

Earl Grey Update ...

I haven't worked on this in about 3 weeks, due to being sidetracked by the baby cobblestone (detailed in last post) and then the Ishbel shawl, which I'll save for the next post.

When there is nothing but endless stocking stitch, I tend to come down with "knitter's ADD" and find myself gravitating to another more interesting or complex pattern. Usually, I will go back and forth between the two (or sometimes 3 or 4) different patterns, so my interest doesn't wane and I end up with yet another UFO in my knitting basket. However, this time there has been only 'forth-ing' and no 'back-ing'! Even the desire to wear the cardigan hasn't been sufficient motivation to get it completed.

Note to self: I will finish this cardi ... I will finish this cardi ... I will finish this cardi!