It is a snowy day here so the best thing to do is knit. 

The sweater I made (see January 14th post) for my friend Diana came out really nice I think.  It fits her perfect and she looks beautiful!  I adjusted the pattern sizes and it really worked. 

 

I needed a new challenge so I started - again - the Alice Starmore Boudicca's Braid, a Celtic knot pattern using 5 colours from her book Aran Knitting 1997.  I started this back in 2000 - I bought all of the wool, Alice Starmoure's Scottish Campion - but found it really hard to get it going.  I was working and didn't have the time and I don't think I had the skill then.  When our daughter came home from Africa and wanted to learn to knit and wanted to Knit Rowan's Sweet, book 26, 1999.   It called for a fine yarn and the only yarn I had that would work was the Scottish Campion for Boudicca's Braid.   So she made the sweater out of that and even a little purse using the contrasting colours.  He first sweater was just beautiful and it was selected to be in a juried craft exhibit and the Mary Black Gallery in Halifax, NS.  So my sacrifice was well worth it.  About 8 years ago I found the kit for this sweater on e-bay at a very reasonable price and I was the only bidder so I had the yarn again.  Now I have no excuses not to try again so .... here goes.  I am actually enjoying it now.

 

 

 

 

This is what it should look like when it is finished - and a detail of the knots.

 

 

 

 

 

Call me crazy but it seems to be working well this time - I think I now have the patience and more understanding of what I am doing.  I hope this does not become my life's work but finishing this sweater is on my bucket list.

Once we had grandchildren it seems that we are so busy and time goes so fast as we watch them grow.  I still find time to knit and hook rugs but we do have to travel more - to Austin and to Toronto. 

I have been knitting shawls of late.  I really love "Bermuda" by Ilga Leja  ilgaleja.com,  I have made 3 of these so far and on my fouth.  One I gave to my daughter-in-law, one I gave to raffle at the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Craft Splash and one I kept for myself.  I make them from Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn.  The colours just go together so nicelly with the pattern. 

 

 

 

I did one little mat.  Our Rug hooking groups have a Christmas dinner and we do a coaster exchange.  I made this one from a picture I found in a colouring book and sort of mucked around with it.  Little Grandson loves, loves trains - as does his Granddaddy.

 

 

 

 

I also made a sweater for a friend on commission.  I love this.  It is a wrap sweater.  It is from designer James C. Brett, Monsoon.  It is made with Monsoon yarn, It is a wool/acrylic blend and worked very well.  Really kept the shape and gage.  Enjoyed knitting it.

 

 

I guess it has been a long time since I added anything to this blog.  I also made a cowle for my Daughter-in-law from the Rowan "free" pattern and yarn you get when you get a subscription to their magazine.  I got this some years ago and finaly picked up needles and got it done.  It is a pattern called Lace Scarf by Sarah Hatton.  It turned out really nice - soft and the lace pattern came out very well after blocking.

 





 

 

And the last thing I knitted was a little short scarf for our granddaughter.  She likes bling so I designed this with yarn that had a little gold fleck in it.  My own design and it turned our really cute.  This was a Christmas request from son, Clay.  He said Lana needed a scraf to go with her new coat.

 

 

Now 2013 is a whole new year of knitting and rug hooking.  What shall I do next??

Ann