I picked up the autumn/winter 2010 Rowan magazine while at Romni Wools last weekend. I drooled over the pattern preview and couldn’t resist the chunky cables of the Nomad collection and vibrant colours of Russian Doll. I think I might have to tackle the Tamara mitts (in a different colour scheme) – just the thing to try out some colourwork!

[All photos from Rowan Magazine 48. Patterns clockwise from top left: Meander, Rover, Rambler, Tamara, Maya, Wayfarer]

Another sweet, seamless pattern by Tora Frøseth! My first Tora knit was the Magda Tunic and I fell in love with the top-down construction. I used the same yarn in this Sweetheart Dress for Anaya – Cadenza by Estelle. Merino and tussah silk! Not too warm for an L.A. baby I hope.

The heart detail around the yoke is too cute. The body of the dress is worked in stockinette stitch, with rows of garter stitch at the bottom to stop it from curling. This project had me thinking about a me-sized knit dress, and then I remembered this lace dress from Védis Jónsdottir’s book Einband. Hmmm.

You can just make out this handsome Pottageville horse in the background of the top photo. As you can see, we were more interested in him than he was in us!

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 picked up some beautiful 50/50 silk and merino wool from Romni Wools – Palace by Berroco in Shanghai Blue. It took two balls to make this neck warmer and it’s long enough to wear as a hood as well.

The pattern is from Knit 2 Together. Knit in a feather-and-fan lace stitch, it’s a really classic looking piece that comes together really quickly. I love the look of lace knit in a chunkier wool. Feminine and cozy!

More black lace! This time a stole knit in an openwork pattern. I used DROPS extra fine merino – a beautiful, beautiful yarn from Norway. Perfect for a textured piece like this. I used just under seven balls of colour 02 from Romni Wools.

And here is Joeline in her birthday stole! Lovely!

Magda is finished! I love this pattern by Tora Frøseth and am really happy with the finished product. It’s hard for me to imagine that this will fit a three-year-old – I have no concept of children’s sizes! And in the end I think it’s more dress and less tunic (due to my creative increases, yeah). But look how cute the little sleeves are!

This is pre-blocking, pre-puffy sleeves, pre-finishing but shows the shape nicely. I used Cadenza by Estelle. 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Tussah Silk. I’ve never knit with Tussah Silk before – a silk produced from wild cocoons where the worm is allowed to leave the cocoon and complete its life cycle. It’s beautiful and impractical for a child, which I like. Why shouldn’t a child wear wild silk and get it all mucky? Spoken like a non-mother, I know. Children deserve precious things too though. Even if they only wear it once, it’s still worth it.

I picked up many, many skeins of Misti Cotton in Kiwi at Romni’s summer sale a couple of months ago. I’ve wanted to get started on the Blessingway Blanket from Knitalong ever since I saw it and figured this yarn would make a soft and cozy blanket for a friend’s soon-to-be-born baby.

So far I’ve completed one of the two Piece As. It was really fun to work on and forced me to overcome my fear of charts! Four more pieces to go and three months until the due date . . .

This was knit from the Tea Cozy pattern in Joelle Hoverson’s Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. At the speed of my knitting none of the patterns I’ve tried have been last-minute, but the book is full of wonderful projects. I really have to visit her shop Purl the next time I’m in New York!

I used Lambs Pride in sapphire from Romni. I love the colour. But I was riddled with insecurity after completing it. I still can’t decide if it’s a bit too kitsch for its recipient . . . but fortune favours the bold, so I’ll give it a whirl.

I just got back from the post office where I mailed my latest project to a dear friend. It was a long, long time in the making (she can attest to that!). The Perfect Pie Shawl from Melanie Falick’s Weekend Knitting.

The pattern intimidated me a few years ago when I first received the book. I don’t know what scared me, maybe it was all that lace. I ended up finishing it off with a knit rickrack lace edging. The pattern calls for Koigu Premium Merino for the lace edging, and gives instructions for a crochet picot edging as well as the rickrack lace that I used. I wish I could have found the Koigu. I don’t know why it’s so hard to get in Ontario, especially considering the fact that their farm is in Chatsworth, Ontario.

I’m not crazy about working with mohair. It can be a pain to fix mistakes. I substituted the Berroco Mohair Classic called for with some Idena Dream Mohair I picked up at Romni Wools. This is definitely the first project I’ve worked on where I haven’t been cursing the mohair. It’s really soft and the wispy fibres didn’t get all matted looking!

This shawl was a lot of fun to make and I have to say I was pretty proud to see it finished!

This bear is for little Jindra. It, or he, or she was a labour of love. I’m hoping that Jindra won’t want to take off and put on the lamb suit. I’m hoping he’ll just leave it on. Hiding the weird neck work I did.

Ugh. I just found this very helpful assembly post. Why didn’t I look for this before I butchered the neck. I ended up making a second gusset and attaching it to the neck opening.

I really like this book though – Debbie Bliss’ The Baby Knits Book. Really sweet and cozy things. And knitting with her cashmerino aran is really lovely.