Let’s just sweep this 2 year long pandemic fully under the rug with a catch-up post or 3, shall we? Since I completely fell off the posting train in late 2020, I have a lot - like, a lot a lot - of projects I haven’t shared. Fortunately, knitting doesn’t go bad, so here we go. Like the most irritating recipes on the web, these next posts will be long on photos and short on details. But don’t worry, I’ll link to the relevant patterns and provide yarn deets wherever I can.
Market Bag
I subscribed to KnitCrate for a couple of years and enjoyed many of the yarns and patterns I’ve received, this market bag being one of them. It’s the Adventure is Out There pattern - available for purchase on Ravelry - made in Audine Wools Interlock, in the colourway Beaches. It’s so pretty and so stretchy.
KnitCrate made a number of changes to their service, including a substantial price hike, so I seldom opt in to a shipment anymore. But it was fun while it lasted.
Button Boot Slippers
I can’t remember for sure, but I have a very strong feeling that I bought the yarn and pattern as a kit from Craftsy at a screaming deal on Black Friday. I know I got a few things that way, and I think this is one of them. The buttons, on the other hand, definitely came from Amazon. They were cute, well-reviewed and it was during a time when browsing in-store for interesting buttons seemed like a bad idea. I regret nothing (about this decision in particular, at least.)
Anyhoo, the pattern is 3-in-1 Button Boots, and I love the looks of them. That said, I recall the moss stitch or whatever that is on the shaft being hella-tedious, and I did look for a simpler pattern for the next slippers I made. The yarn is Cloudborn Fibers Wool Bulky Naturals; the main colour is Smoke Heather, and the sole is Espresso Heather.
Lego Toques for a Pair of Pooks
Sometimes I knit gifts that take lots of time and effort, and I never hear boo. I’m left wondering if the recipient even received them, let alone enjoyed them. Other times, I knit gifts and I get profuse thanks, in addition to immediate photo evidence of enjoyment. That makes me so happy!
These two toques use the Building Blocks Hat pattern by Becca Hulme Designs. Like all Becca Hulme Designs, the pattern is well-written and easy to follow. The green one is Toddler size, and the blue one is Child size. The red and white yarns are James C. Brett Double Knitting with Merino, while the blue, orange, and green are Paton’s North America Astra. Paton’s is excellent as always, while I found the James C. Brett to be kind of splitty to work with. The models are Kevin and Josh, and both are freakin’ adorable, yes?
Sitka Spruce Hat and Mitts
These lovely patterns for both the hat and mitts are bundled together from the ever-popular Tin Can Knits. I have in my notes that they run small, so that may well be true. What is equally likely to be true is that I didn’t check gauge before embarking on the pattern and knit tighter than the pattern designer did. I do recall that the yarn – Audine Wools Sleek, which is 55% Merino wool, 30% alpaca, and 15% silk – really retained its shape, despite some vigorous attempts to block slightly larger. Love the look of them, and they did fit the recipient nicely, so all is well in the world.
Bolt Legwarmers
I mostly mention these Bolt Legwarmers in order to complain about the yarn. It’s barely yarn, in fact, maybe a couple of sturdiness steps up from roving. It’s Uru.Yarn Chonk (82% Merino, 18% Cotton) in the colourway Shiraz in the City, which is a sturdy shade of brown. I am not interested in drinking brown shiraz myself, but different strokes, I guess. . Despite the nice stitch definition when first knit as shown in the photo, this yarn does not hold up. Like at all. Even while knitting I had to watch that I wasn’t pulling too hard and fraying the yarn. Do not recommend. The pattern itself, mind you, is easy-peasy and well-written.
Hill 60
My mom wanted a simple, warm toque that would cover her ears and keep her head warm while taking Tarzan-the-man for walks. Well, what else could I do than make a toque that would colour coordinate with the pooch, while keeping her toasty? The free Hill 60 pattern by Galt House of Yarn paired with Knitologie Worsted Merino were the perfect choices for an absolutely squoooshy hat that would brighten anyone’s day. The darker brim is in the Safari Sunset colourway to match Tarzan’s jacket, and the remainder is in the gorgeous Golden Lion.
Hats and mitts for meeeeeee!
Sometimes a girl just needs a little glitter in her life, and this toque delivers in comfort and classic Canadian style. The Angel Hat pattern offers a lovely texture that is also a fast and easy knit. The yarn, a Christmas present from my favourite son, is Bernat Premium in Soft Grey Sparkle. I made the hat a little longer than the pattern called for because I wanted to make sure I would be able to make a deep brim, despite my abundance of head and hair. Mission accomplished! I got a new winter coat this year in a light pink, and it looks so pretty together.
And because one hat is never enough - and because my new winter coat has a delicious aubergine zip out lining that can be worn on its own as a lighter jacket – I made another, lighter toque to keep it company. For this one, I used Cloudborn Fibers Highland Superwash Sock Twist Handpaints (80% wool, 20% nylon) in the Art Gallery colourway and the Happy Hipster pattern.
Now that I had two new hats, obviously I needed new mitts. The warmer and sturdier the better, so when making a pair for myself, I opted for the classic: Newfoundland Mitts. I mean, why on Earth wouldn’t I? I used Vidalana Celestial in Ganymede grey for the cuffs and frames and the practically bullet-proof (said with affection and admiration) Briggs & Little Softspun Hand Painted in Eggplant for the windows. Please note the extreme genius level colour coordination that means these mitts match both of my new toques.
I know. I amaze me also.
Dorm boots
As I mentioned earlier, the button boot slippers I made last winter (see above) are warm and comfy, but they were tedious to knit. This winter - yes, items in this post span a full year! - I wanted to make something similar for a friend, and I wanted to have them finished in just a few days. I searched around and came up with the Better Dorm Boot Slippers – and they really are! Very simple indeed to knit, sturdy and cosy. All the boxes checked off. They are knit with yarn held double, so they are extra padded too.
Because I am trying to shop in my cabinets first these days, I was happy to see that I had just what I needed already. For the soles I used Cloudborn Fibers Wool Bulky Naturals in Espresso Heather (same as the earlier pair of slippers). The rest of the boot is one strand of Wool Bulky and one strand of Vidalana Celestial in Ganymede, which I used in my Newfie Mitts.
Grampy’s Hat
Because I made a poncho for my mother-in-law last Christmas, details of which will be posted soon, I wanted to make something for my father-in-law this year. But what to make? I have a strong hunch that if I made a sweater it would either be too heavy or be kept for “good” - aka never worn or enjoyed. So I went simple. A classic but special toque for a classic but special gentleman. I used the Ditto pattern and what was perhaps the last of the Cloudborn Fibers Wool Bulky Naturals in Espresso Heather in my stash. I just really like it, okay?! I don’t know if he wears it, but I do know he was pleased to receive it so that’s what matters. And I’ve just gotten the fresh idea that maybe he would like a vest next year. Hmmm…. Something to think on.
Return of the skull!
One last hat before I hit Post. This fella is my very own Skull Toque pattern, which I first made a few years ago. This time I used a black worsted weight mystery yarn and Audine Wools Chill (90% alpaca, 10% cashmere goat) in Clouds Are Very, Very Free colourway.
This version revises the pattern to include instructions for small, medium, and large. Feel free to download and make it for your own self or someone you love. If you do, I’d love to hear about it and any feedback.
