Back at home

Hum home sweet home... :) Glad to go and glad to come back for sure ! But we all got a cold in France and being sick with jetlag is not a good combinaison especially for a little one of 2 months and a half ...

Anyway we had a very cool trip here some pictures for you to enjoy

Cute view of Kaysersberg

Showing my Rose Red beret in Strasbourg

Cathedral of Strasbourg

Freiburg in Germany

Of course I did knit with my daughter help !

Kaysersberg again



I will need some more time to update my blog with my knitting project, I am really busy with my 3 months old and all my Christmas knitting but I will try to do as fast as possible.

Happy Monday everyone!

Good bye Canada

at least for 3 weeks ! We are leaving today for 3 weeks in France. It's the first time that N. is back to his country since he leave in January 2009. The funny thing is that he came here single and he comes back less than 2 years later with a "wife and kid" (I know we are not married already but with a kid it's almost the same).

Paris here we come !!!

FO : Secret Cobblestone

Yes I made it !!! The surprise was perfect, he never had a single though about my plan in his back... Let say with the pregnancy it has been quite easy to hide while on maternity leave, and before that I cast on and work on it when I was on lunch time at work, while waiting for him when he's playing tennis or soccer... I am pretty proud of my surprise ! :-)

 

Let's see the spec of my new FO.

Pattern : Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood

Needle : 4.5mm

Yarn : 10.5 skeins of wool of the andes worsted weight (KnitPicks) in mist color

 

Cast on May 21st

Cast off : July 22nd

The Man love his new pullover and wears it a lot in the past few days, I am already thinking about a number 2... maybe for Christmas ... ;)

Already 46 days for my little princess

Hello !!! Already 46 days since I gave birth to my lovely princess... the time goes so fast since she's in my life ! ...and it's wonderful. She kept me busy and away from my knitting but I do enjoy taking care of her so much that I don't mind. She's a very calm baby and as you can see she's now smiling for about 10 days !!! This is the mommy's and daddy' paycheck for rough moment don't you think ?

I just begun knitting again yesterday so I will be posting more again ...

SOAB swap box

Finally I got around posting about the fabulous swap box I received in SOAB swap from lakeside (on Ravelry) and show you all my precious gifts !!

I receive a fabulous kicking bag for my baby, 2 balls of super soft Teddy print yarn, a little angel, a notebook with a sheep on it (!), the cutest clothespins ever, a magnet from Germany , an assortment of tea and most of all : Weleda products for baby and I (how did you know that I could walk miles for them !!!)

Thank you so much lakeside, I am totally spoiled :)

FO : Tri-Peak hat

Yes I actually had time to knit since I gave birth to my daughter... awesome ! :)

Let be honnest, she was sleeping on me and that was only stockinette but I am still very happy to be able to knit a bit, let's see the specs.

with my proud father

Pattern : Baby Tri-Peak Hat by Woolly Wormhead

Needle : 4.5 mm

Yarn : Lana Grossa Teddy print in a lovely varigated color (received in my last swap box) about half a skein (80 yards)

Cast on August 15th and cast off August 17th

Super cute and neat project, perfect to keep a small baby warm outside or inside. the yarn is very very soft and I really enjoy knitting with. I still have about 1.5 skein so I will find another cute project for baby Florence to match, maybe a cardigan ?

with great-grand-mother

Welcome to the world Florence

It's been a little time since I posted here, you may excuse me when I present you my newborn daughter : Florence...

She was born on August 7th at 16h05, weight 8 pounds and 52 cm.

2 socks at the time but not really...

...not really using the regular method on circular. No I wanted to knit simple socks on DPN but knit them at the same pace to avoid the second sock syndrome of having one bigger than the other.

It's my first cast on project for Christmas 2010, not telling for who they are ! Even if the persons concerned have no chance to read my posts or very small chance I prefer to keep the secret for myself only. The only one that will know my every little secret for those Christmas gifts will be my little belly baby daughter, lol!

I choose Stroll yarn in fingering weight because it's Superwash and since those are intended to be socks, I find it useful. Plus the beautiful Pine color suits the pattern perfectly...

...more progress soon.

Almost FO post

Finally cast off the Cobblestone pullover for my fabulous boyfriend's birthday. Actually it's been kind of hard to keep it secret and keep on knitting other projects enough that he won't know what I am knitting while he's at work. Plus the fatigue due to my pregnancy I am pretty happy to be done one week before deadline.

Still have to give it a good bath and block it in the only place he don't go too much : the laundry room and keep my fingers crossed that he will not have the brilliant idea of helping me out on laundry task without prompting by me !!! Or just that baby girl will finally comes out and keep us busy until my lover's birthday on July 29th.

So FO post to be done with my Nicolas wearing it after July 29th !!! So excited !!!

Update on Friday

Yes already a week without posting, but I was just so busy and not much to post about on knitting avenue...

So last week end I end up going to the lake with my extended family on my dad side, that was fun and I wasn't the only preggo belly out there since my sister in law is also preggo, she is due for October so showing too. We had a blast enjoying swimming in the lake, taking boat ride and laughing a lot too ! My boyfriend played with the kids since he still one himself and went in all the mothers heart because the kids were tired at the end of the day ! I can tell he will be the best dad ever !!! :)

This whole week has been about three things mostly : cooking (I filled the freezer with so many food that I have no more place in it!), cleaning and doing paperwork for the immigration of my love, since he will change his job soon and we need to change his work permit. I can't wait to have answer about his permanent residency. Life will become easier when he will be permanent resident I hope and the only little step to do in a few year will be Canadian citizenship...

On the knitting side, I am doing great progress on my last post project that I will have a FO very soon, just a lot more of stockinette to do and hours of seaming too ! Also going fast on my birthday sweater for my boyfriend. I need to finish soon enough because baby is coming soon too and I won't have that many time to knit after birth.

at least I took lovely pictures too...

Sneak peek on a wip

A little preview of my current project...

FO : Cloud bolero

Yes another one again ! So fun to bust quick project like those one. I am super productive these days with my knitting and also with my cleaning, must be close to end of my pregnancy I am super active in cleaning too!

This one was mostly knitted while watching Wimbledon and being so proud of Nadal !!!

Here are the spec

Pattern : Cloud bolero by Ysolda Teague

Size : medium (36-38)

Needle : 8mm

Yarn : Mano del Uruguay Cotton stria in pink color that I love, just under 2 skein (approx. 220 yards)

Cast on : June 30th and Cast off July 2nd

Mods : none I just for sure didn't use yarn called for but was right on gauge (for one time a year that I check...)

Errata : there is a little errata in the pattern in the first section at row 20, after you place the second marker B it says (k1, yo) 3 times, but it must read (yo, k1) 3 times. It's not fatal and doesn't compromise your knitted bolero if you don't notice but it's always fun to know that we made the best we can to achieve the best knitting in each piece.

___
18th FO of 2010, already have knitted 6496 yards so far

FO : Capitan hat

Another FO in no time was done! Cool huh ? I am quite a bit behind on my blog because of the bad weather we had last week, that was not fun to take pictures in my condo, so I waited until today to take the coolest pictures with the big bright sun !

I also use leftover of yarn which is always a good news and I had fun too. Bonus point, it fits me well too even if it's not for me...

Pattern : Capitan hat by Rosi Garmendia

Needle : 6mm

Yarn : Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in wine color, about 1 skein (137 yards)

Cast on and cast off : June 28Th

Mods : Umm it wasn't enough long after 3 repeats of the cable repeat as stated in the pattern, so I added one more repeat before the decrease. I also improvised a bit in the decrease as I don't really like to follow pattern for that, I know what to do anyway to make a cute decrease.
First hat with a brim, I must have to admit that I like it and it makes me smile. Did you see the perfect buttons I had in stock for this hat ?

===
6276 yards knitted so far in 2010 and this one is my 17th FO of 2010 !! not bad...

New header

...as you can see I just receive my photos from my photo session and create my first custom header. Let me know how you like it...

FO : Baby stroller blanket

Yes I finally finish THE blanket for my daughter and I am very proud of it ! So I also decided to publish my pattern, not that it's so complicated but it may be useful for any knitter that what it and likes my work on this one. So here are the instructions for my first free pattern ever !!

Pattern : Stroller baby blanket by Sophie Bergeron

Needle : 3.5mm

Yarn : Bernat Baby Sport in white and popsicle blue about 150 gr of each color (478 yard of each color)

Pattern :

The blanket has been created to be perfect size for a stroller, a car seat or also to carry around in little hands. I choose acrylic yarn to be easy on care and mom budget too ! Contrast colors are also great for our kids eyes and are easy for them to focus on. Also with two different texture it will be a great exploration for the little hands as well.

The little story behind this blanket is that the day that my love, Nicolas, and I found out that we were having a little girl at the ultrasound, we bought the stroller in a turquoise color that we both love and then my boyfriend came back from the end of the row at Walmart with two huge balls of Bernat Sport Baby and his best smile asking if I can do something for our daughter to go in the stroller. So I cast on for a blanket without any other though and I finally made something from my mind completely.

Finished size is : 24 inches 1/2 by 24 inches 1/2

Squares instructions :

Using 3.5mm needles, CO 72 sts

Row 1 : k 36, place marker, k36

Row 2 : k 2 sts before marker, ssk, k2tog, k til the end of the row (70 sts)

Row 3 : k all sts

Repeat row 2 and 3, 2 more time (66 sts)

Attach contrast color

Stockinette section

Row 1 : p until 2 sts before marker p2tof, p2tog, p til the end of the row (64 sts)

Row 2 : k all sts

Repeat row 1 and 2, 3 times (58 sts)

Continue with main color

Garter section

Row 1 : k 2 sts before marker, ssk, k2tog, k til the end of the row (56 sts)

Row 2 : k all sts

Repeat row 1 and 2, 3 times (50 sts)

Repeat stockinette and garter section one after the other alternately until there are 10 sts left on needles. Using main color.

Row 1 : k3, ssk, k2tog, k3 (8 sts)

Row 2 : k

Row 3 : k2, ssk, k2tog, k2 (6 sts)

Row 4 : k

Row 5 : k1, ssk, k2tog, k1 (4 sts)

Row 6 : k

Row 7: ssk, k2tog (2 sts)

Row 8 : k2tog

Leave a long tail to sew squares together later on.

Using any color contrast you like, make 16 squares and sew them together. I begun with 4 bigger squares together and then I assemble the 4 big squares together and weave all ends in too.

You can add a liner to hide the wrong side, personally I will buy white polar fleece to add some comfort to the blanket and made it easy for me to wash it as often as needed... :)

Let me know if you do this little blanket for your own little kids !!!

Only thing left for me now...have my own bundle of joy and be super hot with my matching blanket and stroller ! Hip mama, watch out I'm coming !

FO : Citron vert

Yes yet another FO in my knitwear collection 2010, already have completed 15 projects in 2010, not so bad ! :) Here are the spec :

Pattern : Citron by Hilary Smith Callis

Needle : 4 mm

Yarn : Malabrigo yarn Lace, almost exactly one skein, less than one yard left after stretchy bind off at the end in color Verde which is a very deep green.

Cast on : June 13th

Cast off : June 19th

Mods : I did add 2 rows in the ruffle section of the fourth and the fifth repeat and then follow the pattern but use a yarn over bind off like for my last FO Haruni shawl/scarf.

It was fun and mindless, perfect project to begin my maternity leave without thinking too much in a complicated pattern. Yes you read well, I finally took my maternity leave and it's a real joy to be able to relax at home and enjoy my free time before being a full-time mom in a few weeks.

 

Destash project : 4301 before this project before reducing stash before 2010 level minus 470 yards today, have 3831 yards left.

First day of summer 2010 !!!!

Today it's the first day of summer and I am thankful for many things :

- Perfect weather
- Being 34 week and 4 days pregnant
- Having great plans for tonight with my love (cooking together a wonderful strawberry cake- picture to come later on this week)
- Seeing my fine herbs growing and gosh it's smell so good
- Being on maternity leave (Yippee!)
- and so many more...

Have a wonderful day everyone !

travel contest

Little contest to travel around the world...

I just suggest you to participate in a contest that can makes you fly around the world to a dream destination with 7 of your friends...tempting no ?

I personnaly choose India as my dream destination, what's yours ?

Travelalerts.ca

WWKIP day in Quebec city

Last Saturday we had our WWKIP day on the Plaines d'Abraham here in Quebec city and it was so much fun !!! Last year I missed it because I was busy moving but I made my family came with me even if I was the only one knitting and we add a little picnic to enjoy the beautiful weather we had.

Here my belly  at 33 weeks and 2 days

I wish everybody enjoyed it as much as we did and you all showed the world our talents in knitting and how proud we are !!! :)

FO : Haruni

Yes finally presenting my new addition to my collection of knitwear 2010, here are the spec

Pattern : Haruni by Emily Ross

Needle : 3.5 mm (with a needle broke on my harmony set so sad)

Yarn : Malabrigo Lace in an unknown colorway, about 70% of the skein (329 yards), will confirm when I get my scale!

Cast on May 22nd and cast off June 13th

Mod : none but I wish I made it larger to use most of the skein and made it more like a shawl than a scarf/shawl.

Anyway I still love it and enjoy knitting it, I did great knitting and un-knitting many time the same row ! I knit the row 17 of Chart B 4 times, after that I put work aside and continue next day and made the whole knitting part except for cast off.

For the cast off, I used the yarn over cast off to have a stretchy bind off while having no need to use a crochet as suggested in pattern. Since my crochet skills are not so great I wanted to avoid a mess on finishing and It's perfect cast off for a shawl, stretchy and neat too.

About my cold sheep goal : I said I have 4630 yards to knit before reducing my stash from what it was before 2010...

So after this project I still have : 4301 yards to knit before being in the target !!!

Progress on secret knitting

Still working on my secret project, I need to work on it more and more because it have the same "due date" as my growing belly : July 29th. So far I am at 15'' on 16'' before working on sleeves and I love it ! I was smiling today because Nico kept asking if I was doing him a sweater soon and that he would like to have a dark gray one !! LOL I think I took the best color for him and I know him well.

And so far I used 4 balls on the 12 I bought originally. I think I will have plenty and maybe a little leftover too. I will kept you posted when I am home alone and since I still work it's not that often, almost 34 weeks pregnant I will be more than happy on maternity leave, soon, very very soon...

Almost FO...

Almost done with my Haruni shawl/scarf... it's currently blocking in my living room. I am pleased with it but it's a bit too small and I have plenty of yarn left on my skein. So I will find a way to use it as well and I will take a note to myself about these kind of pattern : listen to myself when I want to make a shawl larger : just do it ! They do sell yarn anyway if I run out of yarn and even I had made one more repeat I am pretty sure I would had enough and leftovers too.

This project was a bit of pain sometimes because I couldn't knit it while tired or not concentrate on my knitting or I would mess everything also I broke one of my needle tip in my Knit Picks Harmony needle set, so now I need to order a size 4 needle to replace it but again... little problem : I am currently in a yarn diet AND it cost the same to order for 5$ or 50$ in shipping from them :( Will think about it and maybe wait to combine my order with other items.

At least I have my almost FO to comfort myself on my knitting habilities...

Stash management

Do you ever bought yarn without knowing what project you are going to make with ? It happens to me everytime I buy yarn in a LYS unless it's sock yarn, not too difficult to choose a project after buying. When going throught my yarn I do discover yarn that I have no idea what to make with and it's a little problem when you try to reduce the amount of yarn waiting to be knitted.

 

So in my reduce that stash year, I have more time to think about yarn management and also with my little one on the way I also needed to move my stash from his previous emplacement (now converted from a office/craft room to a girlie baby's room). After 5 months this is how it goes...

New additions :

- 14 skeins of Cascade 220 that I bought myself (3080 yards)

- 2 big balls of Bernat baby sport from my BF (2228 yards)

- a big bag of unknow fiber from my BF (approx 1200 yards)

- 7 balls of Bergère de France Merino from my mother-in-law (798 yards)

- 2 balls of Bernat Cottontots from mother-in-law too (300 yards)

- 2 skeins of wool from Laine douceurs from my BF (860 yards)

- 1 skein of Kiss and Curl (Fleece Artist) from my BF too (547 yards)

total of 9013 yards

and that's all... I made not so bad if I look at what I pay or not, but the 3 last skeins are totally on my head because even if he insist and pay, I did choose the yarn myself and enter in the LYS by myself too !!!

I did use :

- 476 yards for the Trellis toddler sweater

- 626 yards for my February Lady sweater

- 1144 yards for my Tilted for the Olympics

- 93 yards for the Hodge Boy

- 70 yard for the Hodge girl (I made them smaller)

- 303 yards for the Easter's BSJ

- 176 yards for my Rose Red

- 231 yards for my Bird in hand

- 287 yards for the Pea Pod baby set

- 460 yards for my dad's sock

- 363 yards for the Baby girl jacket

- 88 yards for the Aviatrix hat

- 66 yards for the Flakey socks

not counting the WIP I have on needle I used up : 4384 yards so far in 2010

 

 

So if I want to be cold sheep by the end of the year I need to knit at least 4630 yards of FO by the end of 2010 to be reducing my stash...at least with my 3 current project I will used more than 2000 yards so as usual, just keep knitting.

 

Happy knitting dear readers

Mister I do accept your excuses

My lovely and tender boyfriend went on a business trip to Toronto last week and came back soon but with empty hands. It didn't matters to me, it was way more important to have him back in my arms than having any kind of gift but on Saturday he wanted to make apologies for his lack of time to shop on his trip for a little skein of yarn... did I ever mention this man is PERFECT... he think about buying me yarn on a business trip. Even though he hadn't the occasion because he was too short on time...he thought about it.

So we went for a little walk to bakery on Saturday morning and it happen to be next door from a LYS and he bought me 3 fabulous skein of yarn all Canadians products. The first two are from Kamouraska, Quebec. The barn's name is Les laines douceur and it's the first I saw this yarn so I bought 2 skeins one black and a turquoise. They don't have color name and strange weight it will be fun to work with. The third one is from the well known Fleece Artist, Kiss and Curl.

Let just say I am one happy girlfriend !