Books, CAWcreations Pattern, CAWcreationsPodcast, Fleece and Harmony, knitting

Happy Victoria Day — May 21, 2018 CAWcreations Episode 21

cherylcan

CAWcreations Episode 21 May 21, 2018

CAWcreations provides a brief overview of knitting I am doing and the books I am reading. I live in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island Canada with my family and my dog Molly. Hope you enjoy my ramblings.

You can find Cheryl Ann on Ravelry & Instagram as Cherylcan or email via cherylann@cawcreations.org

Don’t forget to check out the CAWcreations group on Ravelry where I host the KALs and chatter about all things knitting.

WIPs

New Baby Blanket pattern for Fleece and Harmony (so new I have not named it yet and did not show the right side of the fabric). It is knit with 5 mm (US 8) needles and Fleece and Harmony’s Baby Boo yarn. Blankie (light blue) and Cupcake are the main colour (MC) and contrast colour (CC) respectively. The 100% lambswool is so soft. I love it!!

It is in the SWEATER Oh Canada project bag by Prairie Dye Studio. It is such a roomy bag and well made. It would be better if we could cut the nasty Canada geese off the bag but I guess the symbolism is important. I love that the lobster, fish, and everything except the Canada geese. The heavier interfacing is great because it stands up.

The next project is housed in my Wonder Woman – large wide-mouth bag by The Knitting Bag PEI. You can get your own for $35 in The Knitting Bag PEI Etsy shop. It is a new T-shirt pattern for Fleece and Harmony (again no name yet). I am using Fleece and Harmony’s new light fingering yarn in Seafoam and Tidal. The rib is knit using 4 mm (US 6) needle and the rest of the sweater is knit using a 4.5 mm (US 7) needle. I love the light fabric this makes. It is a perfect summer T-shirt.

Took a moment away from the WIPs to show off my new needle case by The Knitting Bag PEI. I love the straight knitting needles in many colours on the black background for the outside and then the white background on the inside. I chose the blue background for the wool and sheep fabric on the clasp. So well made and so good to have. You can get one for yourself at the Fleece and Harmony store in 3130 Garfield Road, Belfast PE.

The third project I showed was the Binsey sweater by Fiona Alice in Fleece and Harmony’s Signature yarn using the Quartz colour. This sweater knits up so fast and Fiona Alice’s patterns are so well-written that it really is giving me confidence in garment knitting. It looks wide and short but she says in the pattern that blocking will help that so I am trusting my designer. I cannot wait to finish this so I can wear it by the campfire on those cool evenings this summer and then all winter. It is going to be so cozy!

The last project I showed was Gavin’s Blanket — full-sized — in  my XL wide-mouth bag by The Knitting Bag PEI. It will be coming out in October of the 2018 CAWcreations Knitting Calendar ebook of patterns. The Baby Blanket pattern is already published. I am knitting in Knit Picks Dishie in the Clementine colour. I love how it looks I just have to continue working away on it. It has to be finished soon.

Apologies to people to have the 2018 CAWcreations Knitting Calendar eBook of Patterns. I am so slow getting out the last couple of patterns. All I can say is that I am redesigning my template to make the patterns flow better. I hope you like them. They should be up by the end of May. There is no new pattern in June as the new calendar picture is the Slouchy Wave Socks in Pinecone. I love pinecone the tones are so beautiful. Also, my son wears those socks all the time and they are wearing well. I think he has even felted them a bit and he loves them in his work books on job sites.socks3b

New Prizes for the Worsted Weight Sock KAL:

  • The Knitting Bag PEI donated a Tartan Knot Bag. It is perfect for a small project. I love the PEI and Canada tartans. So much fun.
  • Knitty Little Secret donated a mint chocolate lip balm and I added a cute multicoloured pom pom.

Stash Enhancement

Fleece and Harmony Spring Colours Open house highlighted their Meadow Collection new 2018. I loved all the colours and their new light fingering yarn. I managed to keep my purchases down to three new colours:

You should check out all the new colours. It is so hard to just choose a few.

I also got some 2-ply fingering yarn in Mayflower to go with Bramble that I already have to attempt a Brioche sweater. I plan to try the Reversible Brioche Sweater by Elaine Phillips.  Not sure how it will turn out but the colours are so great together I just had to try.

Book

Into the Green by Charles de Lint was another story about a world that has magic. I love these stories of his. This one is about Angharad–tinker, harper and witch–as she travels through the Green Isles seeking to awaken the inherited magic (“Summerblood”) in those “Summerborn” who have forgotten it. It is a slow burn as we become immersed in this world and its people. How magic is waning but then everything is threatened and the pace picks up. I do not want to spoil the story but I loved the flawed characters best as they give true depth and realism to the story. Everyone does their best, when they can. I loved this so much it took me less than 12 hours from purchase to finish of the book. I love fantasy and this is a particularly good one.

What’s Up with CAW?

I have been hiking when my health allows and getting my yard looking good. I did a short video of some of my flowers. I live on a windy island so that is a bit of an issue but I had to leave the audio because I love the sounds of the birds around my house. Next time I will try to have a steadier hand.

Happy knitting and reading until next time!

CAWcreations Pattern, Fleece and Harmony, knitting

CAWcreations Episode 20: One Year Podcasting

cherylcan

27 March 2018 CAWcreations Episode 20: One Year Podcasting

A podcast about knitting and books I am reading from PEI, Canada.

 

FOs

Beach Day Cowl (in press) for Fleece and Harmony. I have people test knitting it for me now. Mine is in Fleece and Harmony’s Signature yarn using the company colours as for the large Beach Day Shawl: Night Without Stars, Linden Blossom, Take the Ferry, and Dandelion. I used a 6 mm (US 10) needle. I love how soft this yarn is when you use larger needles to knit with. The fabric is soft and fluffy. They have lamb’s wool in all their skeins. I find that really makes it soft for around your neck. Can you see my mistake? Obviously, I cannot see different shades of green when I am knitting.

Find Your Fade by Andrea Mowry. I used mostly Bayview Fiber Arts yarn on the Providence Bay Sock because I love Paula’s colours so much and added the 2016 Rhinebeck colour by Lisa Sousa as a reminder of my first Rhinebeck experience. The final order of the colours was:

  1. Cleopatra’s Wing
  2. Cleopatra in the Snow
  3. 2016 Rhinebeck on Lisa Souza Deluxe Sock!
  4. Pansy
  5. Rejoice
  6. Querencia
  7. Chocolate and Wine

I knit it using a 2.5 mm (US 1) needle because I knit so loose and I wanted a reasonable sized shawl. I have mentioned before that I like stocking stitch to highlight the beautifully coloured hand dyed yarns. But I do like the finished garter stitch particularly with the Chocolate and Wine colour.

I drew first quarter winners from the Stash or Shelf KAL. No entries in the Worsted Weight Socks KAL so I drew two from the FOs in the Stash or Shelf KAL. These two will receive a mini skein and a progress keeper donated by Bayview Fiber Arts. Thank you so much Paula.

I also randomly chose two of the members of the CAWcreations Ravelry Group to win a project bag and CAWcreations pin. Message me on Ravelry if your name was drawn and you do not live on PEI. I need your address to mail out your prize.

WIPs

Another pair of Barista socks in Diamond Select Footsie colour 523 using 2.5 mm (US 1) needle. I love the rib stitch from Knitter’s Mitts by H.Wulfraat designs so I used it here. I am turning the heel on the second sock so almost finished.

Fingerless Mitts in Bayview Fiber Arts yarn. I am working out another pattern by Heather Publicover. She did the headband from February of the 2018 CAWcreations Knitters Calendar eBook of Patterns. This is being knit to work out the pattern for the fingerless mitts using the same rib pattern. I love it and these mitts will match the had I finished earlier this year.
Book
After the Cure by by Deirdre Gould.  A plague has swept the Earth turning much of the population into violent, man eating beasts, but a cure has been administered. Now everyone cured and immune must deal with how they survived. The people responsible for releasing the plague are being put on trial. Nella Rider, the court psychologist and Frank Courtlen a defense attorney are trying to establish the truth.
I am enjoying following Nella and Frank through the twisted story slowly being revealed by two scientists responsible that are in custody (the lead scientist on the research study has escaped). Naturally, there are a few leaps of faith that you take with a story essentially about the zombie apocalypse but the characters are so engaging and the pace is fast so the distraction is minimal. I like the social and psychological issues that all characters are dealing with just due to what they had to do to survive the plague. It creates and interesting society with immune and cured still navigating how they will deal with each other. So far a great read.

 

 

Books, CAWcreationsPodcast, Fleece and Harmony, knitting

CAWcreations Episode 19: A Quick Check In

cherylcan

04 March 2018 CAWcreations Episode 19: A Quick Check In

A podcast about knitting and books I have read.

Find me as Cherylcan on Instagram and Ravelry and please join my CAWcreations Group on Ravelry.

Check out Fleece and Harmony (www.fleeceandharmony.com) because they have amazing yarn and wonderful knit wear designers. I am so happy to be one of them.

 

FOs

Connections Hat by CAWcreations in Worsted Weight, but the Bulky Pattern will be published first through Fleece and Harmony’s Website. They are waiting on me finishing the charts for the final version of the pattern. Hopefully, it will be there soon (in a week or so). Worsted weight hats two in Pine Forest and Thistle, and two in Pine Cone and Lighthouse. I reversed the main colour (MC) and (CC) on each had. They are all closed top hats. The pattern does have a messy bun option and a ponytail option as well.

How to do…

Reversible Cables. I do a short video on reversible cable construction. I wish to thank Fiona Alice who taught a class at Knit East 2015 that I took. It was really the seed of an idea for the development of the Connections hat.

WIPs

Quick Knit Throw by Lionbrand Yarn uses 15 mm (US 19) needles. Knit in Premier Yarns Sweet Roll in Frosty Swirl, Ice Pop, Raspberry Swirl, and Grape Swirl. I told Vicky I got the yarn for high school graduation but she will have to finish university to get the finished afghan. I am hping to finish it before that.

Binsey by Fiona Alice using Fleece and Harmony Signature yarn in Quartz. I love the pattern. It is so well written and easy to follow and knits up so quick. My mom bought the pattern at Knit East 2017 too so we are making our sweaters together. I am barely keeping ahead of her knitting.

Book

Boundary: The Last Summer by Andrée A. Michaud is set in the late sixties in deep woods of the Maine boarderlands. It is a mystery that begins with the death of a local teen. You walk with the police and local residents as they search for what happened in this cottage area. I loved the characters and was really engaged in the events of the area. It was also a great book to read in the middle of winter to remember that warmer days are coming. Although disturbing at times, this book is well written and engrossing.

Purchases

Little French Meadow Mini Skein Club. Lighthouse Yarn, Stormy Seas yarn, and a lighthouse locking progress keeper.

Prairie Dye Studio skein of More Merlot Please on Anna’s Sock, RED Little Love Kelmscott Designs Embroidery Scissors, LOCKING Ladybug Progress Keeper, SWEATER Oh Canada Project Bag, and SMALL Roses & Skulls Project Bag.

The Knitting Bag PEI Wonder Woman large bag with a sheep zipper pull.

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My Life…

I am getting glasses. I picked the lightest most comfortable pair on my face. On a side note, I do not take selfies very well. Maybe that ages me?

Check out the video of me ripping apart my newest design. I had a sizing error so needed to fix it.

KALs

I have 3 KALs going on right now:

 

 

 

Books, CAWcreations Pattern, CAWcreationsPodcast, Fleece and Harmony

2018 Feb 16 episode 18 PJ Party & Repairs

cherylcan

Find me as Cherylcan on Instagram and Ravelry. Please join my CAWcreations Group on Ravelry. We have 3 KALs going on right now: Stash or Shelf KAL, Beach Day KAL, and Worsted Socks KAL.

Check out Fleece and Harmony (www.fleeceandharmony.com) because they have amazing yarn and wonderful knit wear designers. One of them is me the other is Simone of Sand and Sky Creations.

Episode 18 of the CAWcreations Podcast on February 16, 2018

FOs (2:00) Fleece and Harmony Connections Hat in Bulky weight Signature yarn.

I am sure that Jennifer from Fleece and Harmony can take much better pictures of these. I am working on writing up the pattern. It involves reversible cables. Thank you to Fiona Alice for teaching them to me at Knit East 2015. I love these beanies.

WIPs (6:30)

Binsey Sweater by Fiona Alice in Fleece and Harmony’s Signature yarn in quartz. I love the pattern it is so pretty and so easy to follow.

Sock Yarn Blanket by by Shelly Kang. I have have modified it so that the blanket is in stocking stitch because I like how the I can really see the colours. I am using leftovers from other projects, except  the Little French Meadow January 2018 mini skeins club. I love all the new squares I added. It was a great project for when I was not feeling well.

KALs (16:35)

Stash or Shelf KAL for the entire year. I stated this KAL as a copycat to This Old Knits podcast Stash or Shelf KAL (I did ask her first before I tagged along). It was a great idea so I just had to join. I have lots of stuff in my stash that I have not used this is to help us use up what we have purchased. Anything that was bought before January 1, 2018 is considered stash (yarn) or shelf (patterns).

Worsted Socks KAL for the entire year. Knit a pair of worsted weight socks any size gets you an entry. I will give you a bonus if you use one of CAWcreations sock designs: either the Old Fashioned Socks or a pair of socks from the 2018 CAWcreations Knitting Calendar eBook of patterns Basic Worsted Sock or any of the others that come out later this year.

Beach Day KAL runs until May 31 2018. Knit a project using the Beach Day Shawl as a basis for your shawl, scarf, or cowl.

Knit Repairs (21:58)

I fixed a healing shawl I made using the arpeggio pattern. Picked up the stitches that had unraveled. Knit the rows onto the threads that were there, cast off and tied it off.

Daniel’s extra fine merino sweater… I need to buy some merino to match. Shopping time.

Vintage sweaters from a colleague. They just had small one stitch holes. I used the ends that were not woven in to fix the sweaters. I will now not sew in ends on the inside of sweaters (great excuse to be finished without sewing in ends).

Fire in the Blue sweater needs bigger arms (I wondered about that), and I need to add some more in the back so the yarn is not stretched too much. Pattern design changes.

Book

Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman. I love how she writes. This is number seven from the  Peter and Rina Decker series. I am familiar with the characters but I have not read all of the books in this series. The books can be stand alone but reading others in the series adds enjoyment. An entire family had disappeared and Peter Decker is assigned the case. Rina has an old friend call up out ot the blue to come for a visit with her children. These seemingly unrelated events intertwine to reveal a deeper mystery. It was a fast paced book that was exactly what I needed to read this week.

 

 

 

 

Books, CAWcreationsPodcast, Fleece and Harmony, knitting

2018 Feb 3 episode 17: KALs

cherylcan

Find me as Cherylcan on Instagram and Ravelry (Join my CAWcreations Group on Ravelry).

Check out Fleece and Harmony (www.fleeceandharmony.com) because they have amazing yarn and wonderful knit wear designers. One of them is me the other is Simone of Sand and Sky Creations.

Episode 17 of my CAWcreations Podcast on February 3, 2018

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FO

Slouch Hat by Heather Publicover from the 2018 CAWcreations Knitting Calendar ebook of pattern. Made using a 3.25 mm (US 3) needle for rib, a 3.5 mm (US 4) needle for rest of hat and Bayview Fiber Arts Providence Bay Sock in lavender blur. I am adding a pom pom from Elle Vintage.

WIPs

Knitter’s Mitts by H.Wulfraat designs. Made using 2.25 mm (US 1) dpns and UK Alpaca SuperFine 4-Ply.

Fingerless Mitts making up the pattern as I go using a combinations of the two projects above. I used a 3.25 mm (US 3) needle and Bayview Fiber Arts Providence Bay Sock in lavender blur. I love how these are turning out.

Fair Isle Mitts with a Thumb Gusset with Julia Farwell-Clay Knit East 2017. I am going to use Fleece and Harmony Signature yarn in Crow Wing and Moonlight. It will be cast on this week. Mom and I took the class together. Obviously Mom is way ahead of me knitting. I am hoping to play catch up this weekend.

Phentax Checkerboard Slippers in pink and purple. They will wear so well. I do not like how it feels to knit though.

KALs

Worsted Weight Socks KAL (bonus points if you use one of my two published worsted weight socks) all of 2018.

Beach Day KAL based on the Beach Day Shawl until May 31, 2018. I have modified to make a cowl and my friend Michelle Holland modified it to a scarf for me.

Stash or Shelf KAL tag along with Nina B’s This Old Knit Podcast all of 2018. Use stash yarn for an entry, and/or a pattern from your shelf (i.e. bought before January 1, 2018).

Book

House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi. I read for my bookclub. It is about a women who is found in her yard with her husband who has just been murdered. We follow her trial and incarceration. The female characters were recognizable and vibrant, but the male characters were rather one dimensional. It is a who done it with a few twists and turns some of which make more sense than others. It was an important read that covers some difficult topics.

Blather

My cookbook updated for me by my daughter this Christmas. I used it to make my husband’s birthday dinner — homemade lasagna.

Plan to see Amanda Jackson trio on February 18.

Next Friday, I am going to see Raised on TV a series of short plays. My husband is in one of them and my knitting friend Melissa is going with me.

Mom and I are making the same sweater. Jennifer at Fleece and Harmony says that she dyed Mom’s Blueberry Preserves this week. I chose Quartz Sweater.

Clean up my craft room so I can show my bookshelf that my Dad made for me. Maybe sometime this year.

Happy Knitting & Reading.

 

 

 

 

 

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Books, CAWcreationsPodcast, knitting

2018 January 31 CAWcreations Episode 16

cherylcan

Find me as Cherylcan on Instagram and Ravelry (Join my CAWcreations Group on Ravelry). Current KAL is worsted weight socks.

Check out Fleece and Harmony (www.fleeceandharmony.com) because they have amazing yarn and wonderful knit wear designers. One of them is me the other is Simone of Sand and Sky Creations.

Episode 16 of my CAWcreations Podcast on January 31, 2018

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Notes will come after work.

Books, CAWcreations Pattern, CAWcreationsPodcast, Fleece and Harmony

2017 Dec 31 CAWcreations Episode 15

cherylcan

Find me as Cherylcan on Instagram and Ravelry (Join my CAWcreations Group)

Check out Fleece and Harmony (www.fleeceandharmony.com) because they have amazing yarn and wonderful knit wear designers. One of them is me the other is Simone of Sand and Sky Creations.

Episode 15 of my CAWcreations Podcast on Dec 31, 2017

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FOs

  1. Simple Santa Hat in Fleece and Harmony Signature worsted weight yarn in Lighthouse and Natural colourways. Gauge was 4 sets and 5 rows per inch of stocking stitch. Since I use smaller needle sizes than most people, telling everyone the size I used confuses them from now on I will try to remember to use gauge.
  2. Reversible Cable Hat in Fleece and Harmony Signature fingering weight yarn in Oyster and The Catch Colourways. Gauge was 6 sets and 6 rows per 2.5 cm (or one inch). Inspired by Fiona Alice teaching me reversible cables at Knit East three years ago.
  3. Box of Sock (FO fail only 6 pair of finished socks)

Show CAWcreations 2018 Mini Desktop Calendar
Reminder that the ebook of patterns 01 Basic Worsted Socks will be published tomorrow on January 1, 2018 and delivered directly to people who have purchased the ebook.

Announced winner of BABY KAL

WIPs

  1. Seb’s Ski Socks Seb’s Ski Socks in MyColourWheelhouse yarn. Knitting two at a time. Taking longer than they should. Plan to focus on these to get them finished this month.
  2. Erin’s Socks These are in cashmere. My first pair of socks in this fiber. I like them but am worried they are a bit big. We shall see.
  3. Cheryl’s Socks Basic Vanilla sock fingering weight. Used a Christmas gift card.
  4. Helix Sock Homage to the Stashbusting Helix Hat. Used the same technique to make socks in Fleece and Harmony Signature worsted weight yarn in Mayflower, Lupine, and Take the Ferry. Showed my error. Note: do not twist the yarn.
  5. Grey Sparkle Hat for Peggy in my drawstring Christmas bag by TheKnittingBagPEI on Etsy. Used Fleece and Harmony Oyster in fingering weight held with sparkle thread. Making a lovely fabric now that I have figured out the technique. Now I just need the patience to finish this slow project.
  6. Gavin’s Blanket Full size cotton throw in my XL knitting bag by TheKnittingBagPEI on Easy. Used Knit Picks Dishie yarn in clementine. Showed my Design Feature (mistake) I am NOT ripping back.
  7. Knitters Mitts by H Wulfraat Designs in Alpaca yarn UK.

Purchase
PomPom subscription to Magazine. Love it! Want to make a sweater and a hat from it.

2017 Knitting Review
Box of Socks for me Fail only made 6 pair for me

20 Hats (2017 year of the hat)
Socks 8 adult pair, 2 kid pair, and 3 baby pair
1 Scarf
4 Shawls
1 Sweater
2 pair of kids mitts
Other little projects

CAWcreations Designs
5 Patterns for Fleece and Harmony

  1. The Beach Day Shawl
  2. Hap(py) Shawl
  3. Zig Zag Baby Cardigan
  4. Baby Pants/shorts
  5. Squall Scarf

1 ebook of 10 patterns from the CAWcreations 2018 Knitting Calendar

Read 60 books this year. This is a bit less than most years but considering

Review “The Book of Names” by Jill Gregory and Karen Tintori

Blather… sick over holidays but feeling better now.

Slow TV… drive with me from Charlottetown to Fleece and Harmony in Belfast, PEI