$1.50 CAD

ON THE NEEDLES:

Of the three projects I have on the needles right now, this one is my favourite. I am knitting the Platte River Pullover by Kirsten Jensen (rav link) and I am so excited with how well it is going. This fair isle pullover is knit in sport weight at a tighter gauge. This pattern is free, however it only comes in one size, 34-inch bust. I am a 36, but luckily my stitch gauge is resulting in this being the perfect size. It’s like it was meant to be, because my row gauge is spot-on. I am knitting my version out of Mirasol Nuna, in Metallic Gold and Cardinal Red, on size 2.75mm needles. It’s knit bottom-up and in the round and is really quite easy. I’m actually nearly done the bust shaping, but here is the most recent photo I have of my progress:

The next project is a test-knit (rav link) for Twiss&Weber. It’s an awesome shrug/cardigan with really unique construction. I love how it’s turning out. I’m knitting it out of Berroco Blackstone Tweed Worsted & Chunky on 6.5mm needles. I only need to finish the edging and it’s done.

Lastly I have been working on Candelia (rav link) which is an adorable short-sleeved cardigan with pockets. I’m knitting it out of Loopy Ewe Solid in Mulberry on 4mm needles. I’m following the pattern so far, but I have decided to make mine with long sleeves instead of short. It’s going to be so cute, at least after I block it.

RECENTLY FINISHED:

On the Christmas front, in April I knit a pair of house-socks (rav link) for my Auntie. I knit the Comfy Socks pattern which is available for free on the KnittingDaily website. It also appeared in KnitScene Fall/Winter 2005. I knit this pair out of Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds on 6mm needles. These only took me three days to knit, they were that fast.

Later that month I knit the Child’s Beach Top which is available for free on the LionBrand website. I knit this top (rav link) for my niece, who was in swimming lessons this spring. It was part of her birthday gift in May. I knit it out of Patons Bamboo Baby on 4.5mm needles. This took no time at all, less than a week.

And at the end of April I participated in a local fingerless gloves swap. Round-robin, the person you knit for did not knit for you. I knit a pair of cabled fingerless gloves (rav-link) for my swapee out of Mirasol Yarn K’acha. Can you tell I love Mirasol? These were lots of fun to knit, and are really soft and quite beautiful. She loved them.

FUTURE PLANS:

I am participating in another local swap this winter, but this time we’re knitting shawls. I’m planning on knitting Daybreak (rav-link) by Stephen West. It’s an awesome pattern, knit in fingering weight using two contrasting yarns for a cool striped effect. I’m planning to knit my version out of Noro Silk Garden Sock, which has been languishing in my stash for too long. I’m using a beautiful cream, with a variegated rainbow colourway for accent.

I am also playing with the idea of knitting my niece and nephew double-knit blankets with their names in binary stripes. I think it could be super cute, and need to think it through. It could be so awesome and geeky, even if I’m the only one that gets it.

Next up is a market bag I knit for my mom for Mother’s day (rav link).

And lastly is a hood/scarf I knit for myself. I finished it right before the warm weather hit and never really got to wear it, but now that it’s fall I’m looking forward to colder weather. It’s so soft and going to be totally warm (rav link)

Graduating High School:

When I was nearing the end of high school I was doing what everyone else does. Considering my options. I was fortunate enough to have options. My parents were, and still are, very supportive. I never felt pressured to do anything I didn’t feel comfortable with or ready for. I really had no idea what I wanted to do. Looking back, I don’t think I full understood what a “job” was. My only experiences with work had been volunteering with kids, parks and recreation, boy scouts, and working at Domino’s. Since I had no idea what I wanted to do, I turned to college/university course books. I scanned the lists, looking for something that might interest me. To be honest, very little did.

Decision making:
First, university. I honestly believed I was too stupid for university. I had this misconception (fueled by high school teachers warnings) that to be a university student would be significantly above my abilities. I went through those books half-heartedly. I know I would never apply for any of those programs. I also felt guilty when I thought about the money for tuition.

When I decided on graphic design for my studies, my decision was met with support, love, and pride. I don’t even think I knew what it was, in reality. I had taken a couple classes in school, and done a co-op term, but I still didn’t fully comprehend what I was embarking upon. College itself was hard. It was the most challenging thing I have ever had to do, both socially and academically. I did learn to love the craft. I fell hard for typography.

I love print, and I do love what I do. I know that’s rare, and I feel lucky to love my job. Finding a job, and a workplace, that I loved was not easy. I held a series of jobs that I knew were stepping stones toward something better. Better money. Better fit. Not to say I didn’t enjoy aspects of those workplaces, or the people I worked with.

Now:
In the fall, Chris and I got married. He is my rock and my family, since the rest of mine are 7 hours away. I love my life here, yet I feel like something is missing. I learned to knit because I was lonely and wanted to get out and meet people on my own terms. I wanted friends that were mine. I know that’s probably selfish of me, but I felt the need to build something of my own here, so that I wouldn’t feel like moving “home” anymore.

Change:
And now for the change I was speaking of. The graphic design industry is changing. I don’t know how or what it’s going to do, but things can’t stay the way they are and remain stable. The design industry in Ottawa is too dependent on government, and government is becoming less and less of a stable client. A lot of firms in the area have closed/downsized/merged. Things have slowly been trending toward freelancing, and that’s simply not something that I’m interested in doing.What I need to consider is where my career will be in ten years, and whether or not I will be satisfied with the direction my life has gone.

I need a plan. I think I will soon want to do something very different with my life, and I need a long-term goal. I’ve decided to go back to school part-time. The long-term goal is a BA in Sociology, which I’m doing through Athabasca University, online. I don’t know if this will mean a career change. I don’t even know if I will succeed in getting a degree. But there are so many uncertainties in life, in general, that I can’t just continue on the way I have. I need to take action while I have the resources and the time to do so.

So this is my life. I’m not unhappy, but things are changing. Hopefully for the better.

~ Elizabeth

PS: I promise a knitting update soon.

Pattern: Opulent Raglan
Source: KnitScene Winter 2008
Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool (discontinued)
Needles: 5mm
Size: to fit 36-inch bust (34-inch)

I extended the neckline by about 2 inches after reading that some people find the neckline to be higher than in the pattern photo. Now that the body is finished, I can see that one inch would have been fine.

I’m giving this pattern a “difficult” rating because of all the math and figuring out I had to do, but 5 stars because it’s a beautiful pattern and well-worth the effort.

Other mods to length include adding 4 inches to the the length of the waist (before hip-increases), and am adding 1.5” to the bottom of the sweater. I then added a 1.5” 2×2 ribbed hem instead of the fold-up the pattern suggests.

OMG I am so happy with this!

Last week, I went off shampoo. I also went off sulfates and silicone. I’m extremelly happy with how my hair is looking these days, and if you have curly/wavy hair, check out http://www.naturallycurly.com. Seriously. Go there and learn!

I also finished another Christmas gift. This one is a shawl for my mother-in-law.

Pattern: Andrea’s Shawl
Source: Knitpicks.com
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Treasure
Needles: 4mm

I found a recipe awhile back for muffin-donuts. Or, muffins that taste like donuts! I made them this afternoon and they are just awesome! The only modifications to the recipe I made were that I used shortening instead of butter for the muffins, and used mini-muffin trays instead of big ones. I used butter for the topping. They’re delicious!

I started a pair of Fetching gloves in January, but I added fingers. These fall under the WIPsDancing event, and I’m very pleased that they’re done. Before and after pictures!

I’m also extremely pleased with the bunny I knit for the Hot Cocoa Swap 2010. He’s made out of some yarn in my stash that I dyed in a workshop in Perth. He’s awesome, and I’m particularly proud of the embroidery. And the tail!

Let’s see… what else can I show you? OH! I knit a pair of lined mittens for my sister in law. They’re made out of Miraso K’acha and it’s beautiful! She loves them

I really have been doing a lot of knitting but this is the highlights. Check me out on Ravelry (riizu) if you want to see more. I’m really going to try and blog more often again. Happy winter everyone!

At the end of March I finished Topaz (ravlink) for my niece, Emma’s first birthday. Unfortunately I was sick this weekend, and missed being able to give it to the happy proud parents. My fiance did it for me though, and ensures me there were appropriate oohs and aahs.

I finished my double knitted, dk weight cowl and it’s beautiful. I even managed to wear it a couple times before the weather got nice.

I finished the woodland shawl for one of my bridesmaids as a thank you gift:

Knit a kitchen set for my brother’s wedding, which is this weekend (!!!)

And finished knitting a thank you shawl for my Maid of Honour just last week.

Major progress was made on my fiance’s sweater; both front panels are done, as well as the back. The sleeve caps are intimidating!

And I even knit a baby blanket for charity! Whew… I’m glad I got that off my chest. I’ll be away for the next week or so for my bro’s wedding, and hopefully will be back to show you more knitting (and maybe some pretty wedding pictures, who knows!)

I’ve starting practicing making flowers out of fabric for the bouquets, and one of my bridesmaid found a dress! Even if she needs to have it altered, it’s still a great start. The last week has been full of phone calls to vendors, which means we get to start deciding on the menu. I’ve also been scouring second-hand shops for vases for the centerpieces. I’m loving this matching by not-matching theme I’ve got going on. It’s making this fun instead of stressful.

In knitting news, I’ve rejoined the Yarn Bearer’s sock club coming up, and I’m very excited to see what new yarn will be coming my way. I’m almost done one of my bridesmaid’s shawls, and I’m almost done all the kitchen-knitting for my brother’s wedding gift (he’s getting married in May). I still think I might have time to make them coordinating slippers ^_^

Happy spring everyone!