Fairy Cakes and Yogi

September brings the Equinox - Being in the northern hemisphere that's the Autumn Equinox, and it's time to shed what doesn't serve you anymore.  Now the Equinox may not be until late this month, but I'm starting to get in the Autumn mindset.  During Autumn I love to try new things, bake, knit and try to get into a better mindset.

This year I decided to start the 30 days of yoga challenge, from Yoga with Adriene.  I've only completed just over a week so far, but I love it, and Adriene is absolutely fun and amazing.  Every day I look forward to the next video, and seeing how far my pose has changed just with a bit of daily practice.  I've never been to a yoga class before, but this is a lot of fun, and something I can see myself doing for a while. Actually, I've been enjoying her home studio yoga videos so much I decided to knit Miss Adriene a little gift, so send once I've finished the 30 days (and I get her PO box!).  A Wee Yogi Mouse!

And of course, you want to know about the fairy cakes!  Who doesn't love Fairies and cupcakes?
This tiny gal is all of six inches tall, from the top of her hat to the tip of her toes!  I see quite a few of these being made in the future, with numerous different themes in mind!

Hats, Hats, Hats!

Last year I designed a basic ribbed hat for my brother. When I saw him a few days ago, I asked him what knit item he would like for Christmas - I'm usually scrambling to find projects to knit my family in December, as they all seem to be bad at telling anyone what they'd like! I try to knit everyone a gift (something rather difficult, as it seems not many people want knit gifts), so they have something made with love, not just something commercial. To my surprise, my brother said he wouldn't mind another hat in a different colour!

This gave me the idea to design a few basic hats for the different people in my life. Once I write up the patterns (I have them written in my messy design book), I'll publish the patterns and ebook, but until then I give you my basic hats! Every one of them can be knit by any beginner knitter who can knit in round, purl and decrease.

Since my brother asked for a hat in a different colour (last year I made him a black one), I made him a grey one in the same pattern (Brotherly), and a second in the TML colours to go with the mittens I made him a few years back.

After I made these, I decided to make one for my dad, who has a rather large head and I often have trouble finding patterns large enough to fit him (it would seem the one I knit last year was too small). After tinkering with a few ribbed varieties, I came up with Fatherly:

Next I made Motherly, and though the pattern may look complex in comparison to the more basic looking ribbed hat, it's just as simple to make:

And finally, I made Sisterly, for my sister-in-law.  I wanted an easy pattern that could be made knit by a first time knitter without being too complex or too boring.  Why? Because the real gift is actually knitting lessons, and the pattern is the end goal! I hope she both likes the hat, and enjoys knitting it when it comes down to it!
Once these are available as pdf patterns I'll post a link!

Reducio!

I joined in on my first Reducio swap!  A mini sock and small item swap, great for branching out into more Harry Potter fun!

This round's (32) theme was Divination, so you must knit one mini sock and one mini divination item.  I made a few tiny items for my partner and added some treats (which I didn't get photos of).  My Hogwarts name for this round was Violet Granger (I took a random hp name generator quiz), and in Gryffindor, my partner was in Ravenclaw.

First a pair of socks - one for my partner and one for myself, in Ravenclaw colours

For the divination aspect, I decided to go with conventional and unconventional.  I designed a crystal ball for the traditional tool, and one of Hermione's Crafty Fires.

 

My partner sent me (spoiled, really) quite a few amazing items, in a form of Ornithomancy - divination based on actions of birds!  

I'll definitely be joining for another round, I found this swap to be quite fun!

TTCKAL 2015

Another year has come and gone for the TTCKAL.  I was on the pink team again, and had a wonderful time!  I didn't manage to get many photos this year, but here is my adventure anyway!

My 2015 bag, 10 years!	My spoils of war
Schedule and coupons	Patterns
Wall of Turtle Purl, over at the Purple Purl	Crazy garden car in Kensington Market

Firkin on Bloor

Closing ceremonies

Ghouls Rule

Back in January, my mum asked me to teach her how to knit socks toe up.
We picked yarn, and started.  I showed her how to cast on and work her way up the toes, and by the end of our coffee date, she was set to work on the foot. 

I finished the first sock February 1st, but I've done very little with them since.  This was the first pair of sock I used the Fish Lips Kiss Heel on, and loved how the first sock fit.

Today, I finally got around to completing the pair!


Why Ghouls Rule?
I was watching the Monster High Ghouls Rule movie while knitting the first sock, and the colourway reminded me of so many of the characters I had to dub these socks as “Ghouls Rule” socks.

Agatha and Chuck

Agatha is a cropped lacey sweater, and if I had of used a nicer yarn, I likely would have finished it much faster.

These pictures aren't the best, but you can see some of the lace details - yet another project needing proper photos.

Once I finished Agatha - a sweater I started back in March and didn't end up finishing until the beginning of this month, I felt like knitting a full length sweater.

As some of you may know, I have a bit of a thing for Chuck.  (This past year I made not one, but two!
Both need proper FO pictures, although it seems like most of mine do - I need to get myself a proper dslr!) Chuck, however, is a cropped sweater, like Agatha.  I decided when I made my last Chuck that at some point I would figure out the shaping to make myself one in full length.  I picked up the yarn back in May, a lovely silver-grey colour and incredibly soft, and cast on August 4th.  After some shaping and length, it turned out quite well!

I have a feeling Chuck will pop up quite a few more times, in different colours and different lengths - I'm already thinking of another full length in red sparkle yarn for xmas holidays.

A month snuggley knits.

Somehow July ended up being a month full of toys.

A Voodoo for someone who requested it.

A Wasabi made from handspun yarn.

 

A Rollie for my Grandma's 75th birthday 

An Octopus for my dad's birthday

And although it was knit yesterday rather than July, I'm including it in this post - Cal & Mari!