Flora Finished

Here's a finished object, finally! I admit, it's a quick knit, but I really needed the satisfaction of finishing something during the Christmas festivities. It's a Fall 2005 Knitty pattern, named Flora by Kate Kuckro. I love the simple pattern, especially the flower. I've seen other examples of this pattern completed with crocheted flowers, but the moss stitch flower pattern is the perfect complement to the scarflet that also has a moss stitch border. I also enjoyed learning the twisted loop technique used for the centre of the flower. I didn't quite "get" the technique at first, but after reading the directions over a couple of times, it was pretty straightforward. Initially, I thought of giving this scarflet to my grandma, but my sister loved it so much after seeing it on Christmas Day that I gifted her again. My grandma will probably appreciate a more simpler version of this scarf. I'll be making another Flora for myself next, but I will be modifying it by making the scaflet skinnier and shrinking the flower, either by fulling or using only one strand of yarn vs. two. Who knows, I might even offer my grandma the modified scarflet before taking it for myself. Here are the specs for the finished neck warmer:

Pattern: Flora
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino (Col. Burgandy)
2 strands held together for pattern
Needles: 5.5 mm needles
Notes: great small project with quick satisfying results!

I hope everyone experience some joy this Christmas and holiday season. Eat, drink, and savour any knitting or spinning time that you can get.

Hoping It's Not Another Barbeque

The official first Christmas present arrived yesterday morning. D just pushed the big box around the house from room to room the whole day, probably hoping to batter up the box so badly that we'd have to open the box. We showed D on the calendar as to when he and R could open up the box, and needless to say, he wasn't too thrilled that he couldn't open it up that night. The tape's getting a bit loose on top and there are the beginnings of new holes from curious fingers, but I can safely say that the whole box is still sealed. Thanks Uncle L and Auntie C!!! Our guess is that it's from you two! D's just wondering...it's not another barbeque, is it?

Paper Airplanes

Amidst all the Christmas activities that surround us, childrens' parties, staff dinners, decorations, shopping, music... all I want to do is this:

I found this cool pack of Japanese paper airplane folding paper at Daiso at Aberdeen Centre in Richmond on my Sunday break sans the boys. For those of you who have never heard of Daiso, it's a Japanese "toonie" store full of imported gadgets and goodies of all kinds, including Japanese teacups, notebooks, bamboo knitting needles, and kitchen gadgets. Everything is priced at $2 each, so one can easily go beszerk in here. I know, because I have on more than one occasion. However, it's always worth the effort to go to Daiso, because I always come home with something wonderful or inspirational.
So, like all Japanese crafting books, the Japanese airplane instructions are a little puzzling to follow at first, but the diagrams are so good that I eventually figure it out. D was so excited with his "eagle" airplane that it was hard calming him down for bedtime last night.

Reflections and Resolutions 2006/2007

sweetgeorgia posted some great questions to think about and here are my thoughts in a nutshell....
HOW WAS 2006 FOR YOU? A mix of missing my mom and busy, busy, busy….just trying to keep up with the toddler and preschooler and making time for the husband, as well as myself.

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR YEAR? There are many highlights to mention…1) Our first family vacation introducing the boys to camping 2)Digging out the wheel to spin again 3) Moving on from Kool-Aid dyeing to acid dyeing 4) Learning to knit socks and 5) starting a blog

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT YOU DIDN’T GET TO? Finishing that Electra vest that I started last year. Must finish!

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR 2007? There is so much I'd like to do. There's learning how to use my new DSLR Olympus Evolt...there's taking courses at Fibrefest or at Place des Arts....but I think I should just try to keep up with the spinning, dyeing and knitting. Oh, I'd also like to experiment with handmade felt and plan for another family vacation or two….