Is it wrong that I’ve started knitting for December? I feel a twinge of embarrassment so I guess I know the answer! I picked up two skeins of sweetgeorgia superwash worsted and thought they would be perfect for Knitting Pure & Simple’s Children’s Neck Down Bolero #275. This will go to a little girl whose nickname is “Leaping Lill”. The vibrant colour should suit her nicely!

The button was an Etsy purchase from Buttonalia. I may just have to order these cherry red buttons as well!

[Ravelled]

Wabbit Season

Doublish

Catacomb

There’s so much to love about Malabrigo – it comes in fantastic colourways and is unbelievably soft. The Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry love it so much they’ve named an entire month after it – Malabrigo March.

Alexandra Tinsley of Presents Knits has designed five cute and easy accessories using Malabrigo yarns. I love her take on the earflap hat, Wabbit Season. It’s so sweet with the pompoms and flaps that double as little pockets. This pattern also placed first in the Malabrigo Junkies Malabrigo March 2010 Design Contest. Congratulations Alexandra!

The collection includes two hats and a shawlette (pictured here) as well as a ruffled scarf and headband/ neckwarmer. You can buy the patterns separately or together in the ebook Go Go Malabrigo. If you’re not on Ravelry, you can also buy them from Alexandra’s Etsy store.

[Photos courtesy of Alexandra Tinsley]

I ordered this beautifully soft roving from Hedgehog Fibres. It’s hand-dyed 21 micron merino in the colourway Fallen. I was really drawn to the muted purple and brown tones.

My first go resulted in one overspun single. I experienced some technical difficulty (the hot weather had caused an elastic band on my wheel to disintegrate), and some frustration. However, the corkscrew, telephone cord look of it has grown on me. Another skein to add to my ‘novelty’ pile, which is by far the largest pile as far as my handspun goes!

In contrast, my second go at this roving resulted in one underspun single. I reduced the tension on my wheel and was a bit gun shy when it came to the twist. Now, if only I could settle on a happy medium!

Two skeins of Habu Linen XS-21 just waiting for me to start on Kirsten Johnstone’s Paper Crane cardigan pattern. The perfect summer cardigan, or autumn or spring . . . I’m hoping to start swatching sooner rather than later. This grey is the fibre’s natural colour – so lovely and weathered. Linda of Rose Haven Farm Store ordered it for me. This could be the beginning of a dangerous Habu habit.

This yarn bowl was a gift from Katherine – an Etsy find from the Deep South. I love it! The perfect thing to keep this linen in check. You just feed the yarn through the guide and away you go.

And a very happy 33rd birthday to my knitting partner for life! I only wish I could be in Boise to help celebrate!

Three nice things from this week. The first, vintage Japanese buttons from assemblage’s Etsy shop. Just waiting for the perfect project!

The second, the first installment of sweetgeorgia’s May-July fibre club. Bluefaced Leicester fleece in the colourway Foundation, which is named after the restaurant at Main and 7th in Vancouver. This brought back memories of tasty food, my friend Johnny B introduced me to The Foundation a few years ago on a trip back west. A great vegetarian place if you happen to be passing through the city!

The third, a wonderful loaf of St. John’s Bakery Red Fife. Red Fife wheat is a heritage wheat grown in Ontario that has been recognized by the Slow Food movement. It’s a sourdough bread with a nutty flavour, and perfect for summer picnic lunches!

It’s a blustery day today, so I took Jane’s suggestion and decided on a different approach to documenting the completion of this finished object. One that keeps me inside!

I love this feather and fan cardigan – Ysolda Teague’s Liesl. The lace stitch combined with the bulky wool gives it so much texture. It’s knit top-down as well, which makes it particularly fun to knit.

I picked up two skeins of Naturally Hand Knit Alpine 14 ply at Romni’s winter sale. This is my first project using New Zealand wool (at least that I know of, I have a small supply of mystery fibres). Oh, how I would love to take a trip to New Zealand.

The vintage button was an Etsy purchase. It’s milk glass with gold lustre.

While I was contemplating my Liesl, I took a look at the 554 projects currently on Ravelry. They all look so different! I think part of what makes this pattern so great is the room for variation. It’s perfect for knitters who may not be comfortable making their own pattern modifications. Clear details are given on how to vary sleeve and body length, the neckline depth, and the addition of an ornamental bind off.

I used up the last of my Misti Alpaca handpainted suri and silk for this lovely knit from Ysolda Teague’s Whimsical Little Knits collection. The Tiny Shoes are tiny indeed. I think this Mary Jane style will be very cute on. There is something so satisfying about making such small, sweet shoes.

I finished them off with mother of pearl buttons from Etsy. Every time I knit with this yarn I love it more. Baby alpaca suri and silk!!! It’s absolutely beautiful.

My original intention was to give this elephant away. I don’t think I can do it. It’s just too cute. It’s knit from Ysolda’s Elijah pattern and is worked in one piece by picking up stitches for his (or her) appendages. I think this elephant is definitely a Peanut. It has been suggested before, for Big Teddy Bear, but it’s sticking this time!

Peanut’s eyes are embroidered French knots. This video tutorial was really helpful – I haven’t done much embroidery so I needed the guidance. As it turns out, French knots are easy!

This is an unbelievably tiny sweater. So tiny I’m having trouble picturing a person small enough to fit in it. A six-12 month old Albertan will be wearing it soon enough though! The pattern is from Debbie Bliss‘ The Baby Knits Book. A straight-forward cardigan knit in moss and stockinette stitches with cabling throughout and inset pockets.

I really love these vintage mother of pearl buttons (courtesy of Etsy). And furthering my crusade to dress babies everywhere in luxurious materials, cashmerino aran was perfect for this little sweater! 55% merino wool, 33% microfibre and 12% cashmere. Yummy!

My first attempt at amigurumi is finished, well almost. I still have to pick up some ribbon for around his neck. I used some mystery yarn for his head and paws and Fibra Natura‘s Mermaid from The Purple Purl for his body. Mermaid is an interesting yarn – a mix of cotton, superwash merino wool, silk and seacell. Seacell is a cellulose fibre made with seaweed – I’ve never worked with it before but definitely will again. It’s really fine and not too slippery.

I have to say this project has me thinking a lot more about crochet. After a 10-year break from it I think I may be back on. It’s definitely fun and faster than knitting for projects like this. Oh, and I have to recommend the Etsy seller I bought the eyes from. They’re hand-painted, non-toxic and all that good stuff.

My little sister came to visit for Thanksgiving. Yay! In honour of her visit I knit her up the La-La-Love-You Cowl by Sandra Park. We picked up a skein of Manos del Uruguay in Stellar (110) at The Knit Cafe. It took a little less than a skein to make the cowl. It’s hard to tell from this picture, but it’s a pretty heart lace pattern.

I bought the lion brooch awhile ago from HeliS’s Etsy shop. Very cute and even cuter with this cowl!