cosmicpluto knits!

spring cleaning: wip or rip?

Well, it’s supposedly spring, but here in Toronto that still means snow! I know lots of people are tired of winter, but I love it – I like wearing layers and wool and cozying up under lots of covers, and eating lots of hot soup and stew. It’s not that unusual for it to flurry into April (though those ones are really just for looks, they never stick around) so I’ve still got some cool weather ahead.

I do like the longer daylight hours though, and there’s a bit of that changing of the seasons in the air, which leads me to spring cleaning! I was looking through my stash the other day for something in particular, and found the Pile Of Stalled Knits. Everyone has one, right? Things that just aren’t going the right way, or are just boring. Sometimes you just have to be in the right mood to deal with them. Today – the laceweight edition!

This one is really pretty – it’s Blue Moon Laci. Alas, it’s also a laceweight sweater that I started maybe 4-5 years ago! I knit a fair amount but it just stalled out. I’ll definitely revisit the idea though. I’d love to knit this yarn up into something else, maybe a lacy shawl or shrug.

Black laceweight sweater? Yikes. This one didn’t get very far. Maybe I’ll try again though, with the yarn doubled, and from the top down. Ripped!

More WIP/RIP to come!

Levina Pullover

Levina is a comfortable and feminine pullover, worked in a peekaboo all-over lace pattern. Ostrich Plumes lace is easy to work and knits up in a jiffy on larger needles. The gorgeous yarn is Jill Draper’s superwash merino, which is smooth, soft, and a joy to knit with (the colour is awesome too!).

Levina is knit seamlessly from the bottom up, in the round, with raglan sleeves. The flattering ballet neck is lowered in the front using short rows, and the simple long sleeves are edged with deep garter stitch cuffs.

Meant to be worn with zero or positive ease. For the best fit, measure a sweater you like the fit of, and make the size closest to it. Shown in size 38.25” / 95.5cm with 2” / 5cm ease.

Technical Editing by Alexandra Virgiel
Graphic design by Vanessa Yap-Einbund

FINISHED BUST
31.5 (34.75, 38.25, 41.75, 45.25, 48.75, 52, 55.5, 59)”

MATERIALS
Worsted weight yarn. Shown in Jill Draper Makes Stuff Hudson (now replaced by Hudson Made in the USA), 5 skeins in “Bing Cherry” for size 38.25″.
945 (1040, 1090, 1300, 1415, 1525, 1630, 1740, 1850) yards

US 8 / 5mm circular needles, 29” or longer
US 8 / 5mm double pointed needles
waste yarn
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts and 26 rnds = 4” / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
6 page PDF pattern includes lace pattern (charted only), measurements in Metric and Imperial, schematics and abbreviations.
Payment through Paypal and electronic delivery through Ravelry (no accounts required).

$7.00 CAD

Queue Levina on Ravelry!

I asked my partner to use his Photoshop skills to edit some photos – and I got this!

Awesome.

a gloomy monday

Looks like my almost non-stop vacation knitting ended up throwing off my game – my elbows are sore. I know enough to stop when my body gives me that hint, though I really really want to be knitting right now! Still, it’s best not to push too hard, since I don’t have any hard deadlines at the moment. Maybe a few days of spinning instead would be a good break, just to change things up a bit.

I ended up ripping out the body of Sheepcote that I’d started last week, but I’m back on track now and finished one sleeve.

I recently got a new, huge and awesome counter for my kitchen from Ikea, so here’s a recipe I made over the weekend for a get-together. They went over great!

Jam Bars – based on these from Loveless Cafe.
Makes one 9×9″ pan (scaled from original – no nuts, more jam)

2/3 cup rolled oats
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 cup jam or preserves (I used homemade strawberry freezer jam, partially pureed.)

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a 9×9″ pan with parchment paper.
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and baking soda with a spoon or mixer.
Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press half the crumb mixture into a pan and bake until golden and set, about 20 minutes.
Pour jam over crust and top with remaining crumble mixture.
Bake another 20 minutes or until golden and set on top, and jam is bubbly.
Let cool completely before lifting out and cutting into bars. Yum!

it’s a monday

First of all, thanks for the awesome reception of my new patterns, Tiverton and Innisfil!. I’m really happy to be self-publishing again, and I’ve even got a couple more things nearly ready to go. It might be March but there’s still a lot of snow and ice on the ground here. I can alllllmost feel the hint of spring in the air, but my many layers and down coat say otherwise. The change to Daylight Savings on the weekend will be nice for more light in the evenings, although the time change always throws me for a loop.

I’ve pretty much been on vacation this last week, but that means I’ve gotten lots of knitting done! I’m working on a top-down triangular shawl that’s nearly done, but boy those last few rows are loooong.

Out for a walk the other day I went into a yarn shop and “accidentally” purchased a sweater’s worth of yarn. Whoops! The good thing is I’ve already cast on and I’m loving it.

This sweater is actually one that’s been out in the world for awhile – Sheepcote from Twist Collective! The sample I knit for the magazine was * ahem * considerably smaller than I am, so I’m knitting another one for myself. I’m using Manos Silk Blend, and so far I’m having a great time – it’s so nice to knit something and not have to be doing math and writing notes all the time! Plus I’ll have something to blog about.

Reading: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. I have some issues with this series (character and writing) but the story is enjoyable and engrossing.
Watching: The Walking Dead, season 1.
No wonder I’m having post-apocalyptic dreams lately!

Tiverton

It might be March 1, but spring still seems pretty far away – it’s freezing here today! Luckily I have a super cozy new pullover to share with you.

TIVERTON PULLOVER

Tiverton is a classic, easy to wear pullover featuring mirrored cables on front and back, long twisted rib cuffs and a deep scoop neck. Perfect for layering, and versatile enough to throw on with jeans or a flirty skirt.

Tiverton is knit in four pieces and seamed together, with a casual straight fit and set in sleeves. The ribbed collar is picked up and knit in the round. The squishy organic merino from O-Wool provides amazing stitch definition and a smooth yet wooly feel.

Meant to be worn with zero or positive ease. For the best fit, measure a sweater you like the fit of, and make the size closest to it. Shown in size 36” / 91cm with zero ease.

Technical Editing by Alexandra Virgiel.

SIZES
28 (30.5, 32, 34.5, 36, 38.5, 40, 42.5, 45, 48, 50.5, 53, 56)”

YARN
935 (1015, 1070, 1150, 1170, 1375, 1435, 1520, 1605, 1720, 1805, 1890, 2005) yards

Shown in O-Wool Legacy DK, 9 skeins in Overcast for size 36”

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 6 / 4mm straight or circular needles
US 6 / 4mm circular needles, 16” / 40cm
cable needle
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts and 30 rows = 4” / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
7 page PDF pattern includes Imperial and Metric measurements, charted-only cable, schematic and abbreviations.

Payment through Paypal and electronic delivery through Ravelry (no accounts required).

$7.00 CAD

Queue Tiverton on Ravelry!

Innisfil Cardigan

I love new pattern day!

INNISFIL CARDIGAN

Need a nice warm hug? Innisfil is here for you! Cozy up by the fire (or laptop) in this chunky cabled cardigan with big buttons and a deep, snuggly ribbed collar. The large-scale Baroque Cable panel is fun to knit and delivers huge visual impact!

The longer length and fully fashioned waist shaping are super flattering and easy to wear, perfect for a heavy winter layer or fall jacket. Innisfil is worked seamlessly from the bottom up with full length sleeves knit in the round, raglan shaping, garter rib side panels and ribbed buttonbands.

Meant to be worn with zero or positive ease, 0-3” / 0-7.5cm. For a close fit as shown, make the bust size closest to your high bust measurement (just below underarms). For a looser fit, choose one size up. Shown in size 36” / 91cm with zero ease.

Technical Editing by Alexandra Virgiel.

SIZES
Finished Bust, closed: 28 (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 45, 50, 54)”

YARN
Chunky weight yarn. Shown in Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes, colour 2003 – Ecru.
1225 (1310, 1400, 1475, 1500, 1660, 1750, 1835, 2015, 2190, 2365) yards

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 9 / 5.5mm circular needles, 32” / 80cm or longer
US 9 / 5.5mm circular needles, 16” / 40cm
US 9 / 5.5 double pointed needles
waste yarn
stitch markers
tapestry needle
eight buttons, 1 3/8” / 3.5cm diameter

MORE INFO
7 page PDF pattern includes cable (charted only), Imperial and Metric measurements, schematic and abbreviations.
Skills needed include: knit and purl, following a cable chart, picking up stitches, short rows.

Payment through Paypal and electronic delivery through Ravelry (no accounts required).

$7.00 CAD

Queue Innisfil on Ravelry!