Pints and Purls

see a light at the end of the tunnel - I'm only a Kitchener stitch away from completing the socks and then...

Well, ideally I'd get around to finishing those kilt hose I started. On the other hand, Helen got me an amazing birthday present; a copy of Pints and Purls.

There's a top-down knit shirt that looks too easy to pass up. Any excuse to buy new wool will do, I guess!

Summer in the Fall

ada!

She posts on the blog! I've almost finished the magic loop socks, I swear, but over on the writing side of my life National Novel Writing Month has me cracking out at least 15,000 words per week to finish the S*&^$%y First Draft by the end of the month.

Caught my niece in her dress this weekend though!

Can't get cuter than that!

Illustrations and Progress

ust when I thought I had no concrete news to create a blog update, I came across a new source of inspiration.

It's always exciting when you stumble upon a new word or author or illustration that warms your insides and incites your own creativity. I attended a meeting of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors Illustrators and Performers last week that featured "A Harvest of New Books": local children’s book authors Nancy Gow, Jennifer Lloyd, P.J. Bracegirdle, Jill Murray, Alan Silberberg and local children’s book illustrators Susan Mitchell and Yayo (Diego Herrera).

Susan Mitchell's work might be familiar to some of you, whether through the children's books and cookbooks she's illustrated, or from the lines of greeting cards, giftware and other articles she's provided paintings and creations for. Her Etsy shop is here.

I say creations, because I'm in love with her needle felted characters! I mean, just look at this fellow!

So that's what Mole of The Wind in the Willows looked like come winter time!

I also love Camouflage and Little Red.

But my favourite at the moment are the creatures on her calendar, available from Lulu or Red Bubble. I'm very partial to November, but as this is a knitting blog, here, for your viewing pleasure, is March:

Oh yes, progress - I've almost finished the socks! Photos coming soon.

Summer Dress for Summer

inally able to report that I've completed the summer dress for my niece, Summer!

No photos of her wearing it yet, unfortunately - though she did try it on - as it's autumn and she's already begun wearing layers.

Here's the dress on the flat:

And here it is hanging:

 I've got to get back to the kilt hose, but first - more socks on the Magic Loop! Here are the ankles started:

Blog Awards!

hanks so much to Nicki Elson for the One Lovely Blog Award!

Don't forget to head over to Nicki's page to watch her book trailer!

I hereby bestow this lovely award on...

Zia, who creates lovely patterns

Anne at Wool-tyme Kingston, cos it's one lovely store

Susan, because she recently featured a lovely piece of crochet

Stephanie, for Enrique

...and...

Helen! Knitting buddy extrordinaire!

Vintage Patterns

raft of vintage patterns, all found here!

As If I Needed New Patterns...

ipping through to tell you about...

Véronik Avery, who has a new book out, featuring some truly gorgeous designs.

Knitting 24/7: 30 Projects to Knit, Wear, and Enjoy, On the Go and Around the Clock (Stewart Tabori and Chang 2010) is reviewed here, and available here.

I've got to finish these dresses and start on something new!

And, All Beatrix Potter All The Time - here's a recent post on Beatrix Potter, to go along with my photos here and here of knitting in some of her books.

Okay, so I'm a little behind...

've been forsaking my knitting projects and have been busy wrapping up the first draft of my latest novel. Also, I'm hosting a writers' houseparty on the Compuserve Books and Writers Forum! Invitations are up now, so if you're a writer, come play - everyone's invited!

Helen, however, has been knitting up a storm: here's her cowl neck sweater and a leaf pattern tee.

I'm only a few rows away from finishing the second summer dress; then I've got to make one more, and then start on socks for Christmas gifts...

Football and Knitting?

ho'd have thought that football season and knitting would go together? Yet Kathleen of Knitting Daily is right, while the men watch game after game, it's a perfect time to get together and knit.

Of course, you don't always need football as an excuse. Any ol' movie or tv show will do for me. Still working on dress #2, which is taking longer not because I've been slacking lately *cough* but because I chose to make the largest size given in the pattern... That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Meanwhile, a question for you:

Harem Scene

ourtesy of the wonderful website, The Orientalist Gallery, here is a 19th Century painting by Rudolph Ernst, featuring spinners: