cosmicpluto knits!

my desk, no gloss

Kim asked in her latest blog post to see desks without any tidying or styling. Why not? Here’s mine!

Notes:
- The painting in the corner was a gift from a good friend in high school. I still haven’t had it framed or anything but I’m hoping to finally do that soon!
- I use Yorufukurou for my Twitter desktop client and I love it.
- There is a lot of yarn on my desk.
- My iPad wallpaper is Jake from Adventure Time. He’s the best. Also, I’ve been playing HayDay – the shifty-eyed sheep are great, but beware, this game will take up a lot of time!
- That glass of water should really be on the coaster.

After a bit of a break, I’m back knitting on Sheepcote – I’m on the yoke and it’s coming along nicely, but I only have one skein of yarn left! Will I make it? We’ll see. I might have to change it to a v-neck to use less yarn.

holiday weekend

This past weekend was Victoria Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer! I mostly stayed in, enjoying some relaxing time at home and out on the porch. I participated in “A Day in the Life” photography project with some folks on Flickr, so I thought I’d share some of them here! (Photos taken mostly with i-devices.)

Buttons for a new sweater (not all of them!).

Hardening off tomato seedlings that I grew from seed – they’re doing so well! Will be replanting some of them outside this week, and I really need to get some more buckets or planters.

Mmmm, chocolate.

Dinner – pasta with bacon, mushrooms, spinach, creamy sauce.

Knitting, of course.

Out for an evening walk around the neighbourhood.

the quilting bug

I made a pieced quilt in high school – it had a tree on it, made from half square triangles and big solid blocks. Machine pieced, machine quilted (stitched in the ditch). I was doing a lot more sewing back then, including bags and skirts. Not that I knew what I was doing, far from it. I really think sometimes I’m just not precise enough for sewing, which is why knitting is so great for me!

With the spring weather coming (eventually, anyway), I really need some lighter covers for the bed. I can’t really sleep under just a sheet, but even my lightest duvet is too warm and too big! I’ve been thinking about a whole-cloth quilt for ages, so last week I finally went down to the Workroom on Queen West, and picked up some supplies.

My boyfriend and I use separate duvets for sleeping (like this) so I don’t need a full width cover. I just went with 2m of regular 45″ wide quilting cotton and trimmed the batting and backing to fit. For the backing, I’m using a duvet cover from Ikea that doesn’t actually fit any of our duvets!

I think I might be more about the process of actually quilting, rather than piecing and making an intricate quilt top (although who knows, that might come later). The fabric I picked is actually perfect for some easy quilting because it has lines on it! I’m just hand stitching along the diagonals. I think it’s going to be great, and I’m really enjoying having something other than knitting to work on in the evenings.

My stitches aren’t perfect and I’m sure I’ll mess up somewhere along the way. I’m okay with that.

random tuesday

Seedlings are happening! After last year’s critter carnage in my container garden, I’m trying to plan for ways to protect everything once it’s out on the balcony . Need to buy more chicken wire. Unfortunately it’s not pretty, but I’ll take functional if it prevents everything from being eaten by squirrels!

Various heirloom tomato seedlings – I’m terrible about labelling my seedlings, but I’m ok with that. I mean, it’ll be clear once the fruit comes in, right?

Tiny mint sprouts.

Cilantro, though now that I think about it I should start a dedicated pot and plant lots of seeds for maximum edibles.

Knitting:

Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace that I bought in the UK in 2011. I’ve been waiting for the perfect idea and I think I have it!

Madelinetosh Pashmina in Stovepipe.

Cascade Heritage Silk. I’ve been working on this one for ages and just had to rip out the upper body (sleeve cap issues)…here’s hoping it’ll be done soon so I can wear it!

Leonarda Shawl

Spring showers are in full force here in Toronto today, so I’m bringing in a little brightness with my new shawl pattern, Leonarda!

Leonarda is an elegant and fun accessory featuring Elongated Garter Stitch and an unusual drop-stitch twist pattern. Perfect for wrapping around your neck or over your shoulders – and for knitting up that skein or two of special sock yarn! Three different size and shape options so you can find the perfect fit.

Scarf and Shawl are worked from the top down, in a modified triangular shape with extra-long points for wrapping. Stole is worked sideways by casting on for the length of the piece. Stole can be turned into an infinity scarf by sewing short ends together. Technical Editing by Alexandra Virgiel.

Size
Scarf (Shawl, Stole)
Scarf is 58” wingspan x 19” depth at centre / 147 x 48cm
Shawl is 75” wingspan x 24” depth at centre / 190 x 60cm
Stole is 66” long x 11.5” deep / 168 x 29cm

Yarn
Fingering weight yarn, 400 (800, 770) yds / 365 (730, 704)m
» Scarf shown in Indigodragonfly MCN Sock (80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 400 yds / 365m per 4 oz / 115g skein) in “Paging Dr. Smart-Ass”, 1 skein.
» Shawl shown in Old Maiden Aunt 100% superwash merino 4ply (100% superwash merino, 400 yds / 365m per 3.5 oz / 100g skein) in “Cherry”, 2 skeins.
» Stole shown in Anzula Squishy (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 385 yds / 352m per 4 oz / 115g skein) in “Charcoal”, 2 skeins.

Needles and Notions
» US 6 / 4mm circular needles, 32” / 80cm or longer
» 2 stitch markers
» tapestry needle

More Info
3 page PDF pattern includes abbreviations. Payment through Paypal and electronic delivery through Ravelry (no accounts required).

$5.00 CAD

Queue Leonarda on Ravelry!

And, if you’re in Toronto this Saturday, you should definitely check out the Knitter’s Frolic! Saturday’s marketplace is sure to be chock full of ever so lovely yarns, fibers, books, and everything else a knitter needs. The Leonarda sample will be with Kim at Indigodragonfly – check it out, buy the pattern, and get some of her super awesome yarn to go with!

a Winona for me

My Winona!

For my version, I used stash yarn that I’ve had for a few years – Sliver Moon Farm fingering weight merino, which is super squishy and bouncy. I used less than 4 skeins in a lovely grey blue. I knit the size 36.5″, which fits me well in the shoulders with a bit of negative ease (an inch or so), but is nicely flared over my stomach and hips. It’s a more exaggerated silhouette than you might be used to, but it is so easy to wear. I’ll be wearing it over a dress (the one above is from Garnet Hill) all spring and summer.

Not a dress wearer? No worries, jeans are awesome too!

Buy it at Twist Collective!