Posts Tagged ‘SweetGeorgia’

Out of the Loop

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

twig-back_medium2

So far I have managed to keep Hunter from feeding/carrying her brother (mostly) but I was feeling really out of the knitting loop so yesterday I passed the kids to Daddy and spent some solid Ravelry time. It’s not that I NEED a new project with new yarn to match, it’s just that I was looking for an excuse….What should I come across but the latest pattern from Felicia of SweetGeorgia, Twig Shawl!

twig-closeup_medium2

It’s just what I needed, something fussy to work on in the evening or during nap time! I love how rustic meets delicate in this lacy shawl. The twig pattern is earthy while the fine yarn and open work is sophisticated and pretty. I love a good shawl and one skein of Merino Silk Lace will make a big one or two smaller scarf-sized shawls.

Go Canadian for Canada Day

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

There are so many great Canadian yarn dyers and pattern makers that it’s not too hard to go Canadian for Canada Day. If you haven’t tried any of the following I encourage you to support your countrymen and countrywomen!

1. Biscotte and Cie: we shall start with the newest, Biscotte and Cie. These self striping yarns from Quebec will make an adorable baby sweater or a funky pair of socks!

2. SweetGeorgia: always a favorite of mine pick up a luscious skein of Merino Silk Lace or CashSilk lace and knit up a summery shawl for those cool nights. img_4448

3. Me!: I can’t say enough about how great I am really ;-) There are Gourmet Crafter patterns and yarn as well as Tin Can Knits book 9 Months of Knitting! Gourmet Crafter yarn is inspired by photographs I have taken of the world around me. Whether it’s Moraine Lake in the Rockies or Cherry Blossoms on Highbury street!

jenn_wrap_stripe_style_medium2

4. Amanda Kaffka: a popular gal around the shop, check out Amanda’s chic and trendy knits. Here latest Jenny wrap is a summery striped version, perfect for a night out!

5. Michael Wynne: If you are looking for the perfect heirloom baby blanket check out Michael’s Hap Style. It has the perfect combination of simple garter and pretty lace to create a blanket any mum would be delighted to receive.

Julie and Jane Patterns

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

There are some exciting new patterns in the shop from 2 great designers, Jane Richmond (that’s right they arrived, time to choose your project for tomorrow!) and Julie Hoover. I’ve mentioned Jane a few times before (ok a lot of times, get used to it, I love her designs!) but Julie Hoover is new to me.

Encadre by Julie Hoover

Encadre by Julie Hoover

Her designs are both fresh and classic, with simple but effective looks. I’m particularly fond of Encadre, a pretty cowl knit in a 2 colours of lace weight yarn. I suppose any lace weight would do but I’m definitely thinking some SweetGeorgia Cashsilk Lace would be amazing. Perhaps some charcoal and china doll for a black/pink combo?

Tisse by Julie Hoover

Tisse by Julie Hoover

Tisse is another pretty lace weight number from Julie. It has a woven look to it that I adore. The herringbone pattern lends a wonderful texture to a simple scarf. This one might be best knit in a neutral shade, something to be worn with anything. A tip, choose a hand dyed yarn with a lot of shade variation, the more the merrier. A flat colour tends to lose the stitch pattern and the woven feel.

I hope you enjoy these new designers as much as I do!

The Great Wide North (a hat)

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

north-wind-hat_medium2
This week has led me to believe that winter is in fact, right around the corner. It’s a sad fact for walking in the park but quite a pleasant thought for the prolific knitter. It’s time to pull out the winter woolies (or whatever your preferred fiber might be) and bundle up. This year I’m pretty pleased with Hunter’s winter wardrobe. She is able to parade around town in warm sweaters and hats that have been knit by myself as well as some pretty knits from friends. I did notice an important lack in my own knitterly wardrobe though: the knitted toque.

I recently got some bangs (don’t ask, curly hair + lazy at styling + bangs = bad scene) so I’ll be adorning my head with hats this winter. Not having a job (unless you include running after an 8 month old yelling “please don’t put your finger in the electrical socket!” a job) means I don’t even really have to worry about hat hair, whose going to make me take it off?

north-wind-hat-detail_medium2

With this gap identified I will be casting on for Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia’s latest hat pattern (in her Superwash Worsted, Riptide if you care to know) North Wind Hat. It’s done in a worsted weight but you could double a sock yarn for the same effect. You will need some 5mm needles and one skein of the Superwash Worsted, so cast on and enjoy!

A Shawl to Remember

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

2011-07-1610-21-21felicia_and_daniel_medium2

Felicia of SweetGeorgia recently said ‘I do’ in the most stunning shawl. She had an interesting journey to the finished product (you can read more about that on her blog here) and it was well worth whatever swatches and debates she may have had.  Not only is the yarn luscious, and the pattern is so popular for good reason,  but the colour is one she was able to make just for herself. It got me thinking about the many wedding projects I have seen come and go at Urban Yarns and how wonderful it is to have a knit for such a unique and special occasion as a wedding.

2011-07-1609-57-53felicia_and_daniel_medium2

Shawls are definitely the obvious choice for a wedding (although we all remember Ann’s stunning shrug, so shawls are certainly not the only choice). As an accent piece they are perfect if you are the bride to be, a wedding party member, or even a guest. The thing I love the most about Felicia’s shawl has to be the beautiful bright colour. It may be tempting to go with more of a neutral but something cheery and bright in the sun lends a festive feel for sure.

2011-07-1610-22-16felicia_and_daniel_medium2

Felicia’s shawl is a Swallowtail by Evelyn Clark. The yarn is her lovely Merino Silk Lace. This colourway is a one of a kind but I’m sure there is a colour suitable to you in the shop!

All the pretty photos here were taken by Jeff Chang, Felicia’s wedding photographer!

Happy Canada Day!

Friday, July 1st, 2011
crw_4418

Maple Leaf Mittens

Time to pick up some red and white  yarn and knit yourself up something Canadian! I am personally proud to be a Canadian and I’m pretty excited for baby Hunter’s first Canada day. She will be appropriately clad in red and white and waving a flag (while mummy makes sure she doesn’t poke herself in the eye with it….) today.

There is something fantastically unique about our flag, it stands out distinctively on an encyclopedia page and the symbol of the maple leaf is easily recognizable around the world. On the knitting scene there are many fantastic Canadian designers and dyers so perhaps today you might want to check out their work.

1. Fleece Artist and Handmaiden yarn, dyed in Nova Scotia for your knitting pleasure. Fleece Artist and Handmaiden are lovely hand dyed yarns that come in a wide variety of colours and fibers.

2. SweetGeorgia, dyed in Vancouver. Felicia is (obviously) one of my very favorite dyers and her ‘Unapologetic Colour’ is stunning both in the skein and on the needles.

3. Koigu handpainted sock yarn. This yarn hails from Ontario and has long been a favorite. Be sure to check out the Babette blanket in the shop, all Koigu and stunning!

4. Gourmet Crafter Yarns. This is my own line of yarns with colourways based on photographs I have taken around town. Perhaps some Davie Street or Granville Island Cherries to make you feel Canadian!

Re-Knits

Friday, June 10th, 2011

crw_8946

I’m always very excited when I start a new project. In fact, perhaps a little too excited. At first I’m just excited to cast on. This fresh new project is going to be the best ever created. Then I start thinking, maybe I’ll knit one for a friend. I bet my mum would really like one of these. This would also look great in blue….thus a monster is created. Then by the time I finish the project I’m usually pretty glad to be done. Time has been spent, mistakes have undoubtedly been made and I am no longer having visions of grandeur.

img_0636

That being said, it is a sign of a great pattern when I really do knit it up again and again (even twice is a pretty big complement). One of my particular faves is the Shetland triangle. I am enjoying my second summer of excessive lace knitting (several shawls have been cast on in a fit of startitis) and when I lovingly pulled my first Shetland Triangle out of it’s hiding spot I immediately wanted to cast on for another. The lovely leafy sort of pattern is so pretty and the excellent yarn I picked for the first one (Cashsilk by SweetGeorgia in Riptide) didn’t hurt my desire to cast on for the second. Second time around I’m enjoying this knit just as much, a great pattern and a great finished product.

crw_8944

Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along!

Monday, May 16th, 2011

screen-shot-2011-05-16-at-113706-am

Clapotis Fun! We had a grand time drinking Dorian Grey tea (pinkies out) on Friday night and showing off our charming Clapotis’! It’s such a nice thing to see a project done a few different ways and to enjoy some knitterly bonding. The last couple of Knit Nights we have been tossing around the idea of a KAL (knit along) and finally decided on a theme: Brooklyn Tweed.

5595151503_58fc026210_z1

Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed has long been a favorite designer around the shop. His work can be both simple and complex (sometimes even within the same project) and his designs are some of the most popular around. I think Brooklyn Tweed makes a great KAL because there are just so many options! There are the more simple designs like the Romney Kerchief and the Noro Stripe Scarf and there are more complex like Rock Island (pictured above) or the Juneberry Triangle. There are also projects on different scales, ranging from blankets and sweaters to shawls, hats, and gloves. The perfect thing to entertain a wide range of knitters!

3776454778_039514d44c_z

So, how this KAL works:

1. This week: take your weapon of choice (pattern and yarn combo) and cast on

2. Join the Urban Yarns KAL Ravelry group (if you joined us for the knitting Olympics you are already there)

3. Finish your project in a month

4. Come for a Friday night party at Urban Yarns June 24th

Simple right? I encourage everyone to share their projects and progress on Ravelry, I love to know what’s going on!

1161877610_7c63f36118_z

I’ll be casting on my Rock Island today in SweetGeorgia Silk Lamb Lace, wish me luck! And in case anyone is wondering what other project have already planned out, the gals at Knit Night last friday area casting on 3 Rock Islands, 1 Terra, and rumor has it a Hemlock Ring Blanket.

Breaking out the Lace

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

img_8416

A couple of months ago a did a post about some popular sweaters I was thinking about knitting and FYI I cast on the Tea Leaves Cardigan for my Mom. She is pretty fabulous to knit for since she is 1. small. It takes the least amount of yarn and time to knit her a sweater because she is a small, it’s pretty great. 2. appreciative. Mom is a crafty lady herself and she always appreciates a hand knit. 3. wears knitting. It’s so nice to make things for someone who not only appreciates the work done, but loves to wear knitwear! She doesn’t worry about itchyness (although I do try hard not to knit itchy things obviously) and she is willing to design an outfit around a pretty knitted item, instead of the other way around. The sweater is well under way in SweetGeorgia Worsted, the colourway is Cypress.

This brings me to my next obsession: lace. The weather is slowly turning (looks like one nice day and one rainy day but I’ll take it) and I find nothing lovelier than lace in summer. Last summer I completed 5 lace shawls and this summer I am planning at least 5 more. I thought I would share my top picks.

5595151503_58fc026210_z

1. First up is Brooklyn Tweed’s Rock Island. This is not a shawl for the faint of heart. It has lace on both sides (no purl row breaks) and a slightly more complicated construction than the traditional triangle. It is, of course, stunning though! And without sounding redundant, it’s very lacy. There are a lot of shawls out there that have large portions of stockinette or garter stitch with a little lace edging. These are fabulous, don’t get me wrong. But Rock Island, while it does have some garter stitch, has a lot of large holes, making it a more open piece. 680 yards of lace is needed for this project.

5106021182_89150d3849_z

2. Damask is one of the most popular projects on Ravelry at the moment and I think it’s just lovely! I’m not sure if it’s partially because I’m a real sucker for mustard yellow right now but there are some really beautiful projects in the pattern. I am thinking about some Malabrigo sock or possibly some Alchemy Juniper for this project. 380-650 yards of sock weight (approximately 28 stitches per 4 inches) is needed for this project.

vesna03_medium2

3. Vesna is a shawl from the latest Twist Collective and it’s done up in one of my personal faves, SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Lace. I have a skein of this with a generous 680 yards so I could start either the Rock Island right away…tough decisions!

A Rant on Baby Sizes

Friday, April 15th, 2011

img_8965

It’s not that I don’t love knitting baby items. I actually love knitting them even more now than when I was preggers. It’s that there is no real way to size a baby. They are all just too darn different.  Above is a photo of 2 baby sweaters that are apparently the same size – 9-12 months. They are only a little bit big on miss Hunter (who is 12 weeks old) right now.

img_8506

Does this mean that the patterns are flawed? Nope. I really enjoyed the Owlet pattern, it knit up so quick and it looks so cute! It just means that babies are very different sizes and it’s nearly impossible to knit for a particular age for the first year or two. I originally knit the Owlet so it would fit her at 9 months, in September/October when the weather is turning cold again. Not gonna happen. She will be wearing it on some cooler summer nights instead.

img_8964

Once I accepted that I cannot size a baby to a specific month, or even a small range of months, life as a knitter became easier. I could freely knit some larger sweaters and not concern myself with the exact date she would be able to wear the garment. I remember when she was first born and I was disappointed nothing I knit would fit her. Now I have a slightly different spin on the subject: who could know? My mum is tells me about how she didn’t have a sleeper big enough to take my youngest brother home from the hospital because he was so big when he was born. There is just no telling! So if you’re knitting for a babe, just knit a bigger size and go with the flow.

img_8973

The sweaters above are the Owlet and the Simple Raglan Top Down Baby Cardigan (knit for Hunter by the lovely Kynna). They are both aran weight sweaters (18 stitches per 4 inches) so they knit up in no time! Pick up a couple of SweetGeorgia skeins and knit something sweet for a babe today!