Life LackaDaisiCal

  Visit my youtube episode  “December Already” Grab a tea (or coffee) and join me for a bit of knit chat! I’ve been very busy and have started a couple of new projects. I’m joining in on the Arne & Carlos Christmas Balls advent Knitalong. Can I keep this up and make 24 balls before Christmas? We shall see! You can still join in.....find the pattern on the Arne & Carlos web site http://www.arnecarlos.com and make sure you follow their youtube advent adventures! I’ve fallen for the new Kaffe Fasset shades in Rowan Felted Tweed, and have started the Paint Daub Blanket - but I’m knitting a shawl/scarf !!! See the blanket pattern here https://knitrowan.com/en/designs-patterns/paint-daubs-blanket Finished objects from my Rowan Magazine 68 queue....are.....the Marram Throw and the Fiction cardigan, both designed by Erica Knight and both using Rowan Brushed Fleece! Check out my review of Magazine 68 and my Mag 68 Queue! I’m looking for new things to do while we “stay ho...

The Life LDC June video update is here! I've joined the Swish & Flick Collective by Kay F. Jones.  Swish and Flick Collective - 7 designs inspired by the 7 Harry Potter Books! (Anything Harry Potter and I'm in!!!! Bonus Pattern... Choose you House Socks Burrow Wrap - inspired by the Philosopher's Stone The Whispers in the Walls socks! - inspired by the Chamber of Secrets I'm just dying to know what the project will be for The Prisoner of Azkaban! Will it be something inspired by Sirius or Buckbeak maybe???  Koigu, the ORIGINAL hand painted yarn - established 1992! Vogue Knitting have always featured Koigu....a couple of samples of Vogue patterns that use Koigu and are my favourites! Koigu Squares Scarf from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2010  - FREE! Colour Band Pullover The Empress Jacket - Now, right now I'm in LOVE with this design....the Empress Jacket - It has modular pieces on the back, a fair isle section at the under...

August 15 was the official release date for the new Rowan Yarns Autumn/Winter collection! I've been a fan of Rowan Yarns FOREVER! As a Rowan Brand Ambassador, I am provided with samples of new yarns, and copies of brochures for review. (Opinions are my own :) Watch out for the bonus content at the end :) CHECK OUT THE NEW ROWAN WEB SITE AT WWW.KNITROWAN.COM !  There are a few bugs and teething issues....totally expected with the redesign and launch of a web site that is this HUGE!!! so be patient and things will get sorted! :) Happy Knitting! Anne (With Lackie and Daisy not talking to her....because we went on vacation and didn't take them!)

If you are like me, if you are sitting...you are knitting - right? Once you've got that stitch pattern down pat or when you are knitting swathes of beautiful fine gauge stocking stitch, you NEED entertaining! My latest project, Amaryllis by Marie Wallin (from her Springtime Collection ) is an interesting combination of challenging knitting, followed by LOTS of stocking stitch! The charted border of the body and the sleeves.....has some tricky irregular spacing...caught me out I have to admit! Then there are those LONG floats! But once those borders are done.....it's all stocking stitch....knitting to motor along with! Thank goodness for our modern technology! Technology today makes it EASY to keep yourself entertained while knitting! You can watch a favourite DVD (the more times you watch a DVD the less you actually have to watch it - as you are knitting you see the movie in your mind even though you might not be watching the screen! I'm right aren't I???)  You...

Nagano, by Vibe Ulrik +Rowan Yarns   Pure Linen This is a unique construction - each half of the sweater, so the right front and back, are knit as one. The left piece is one of those lovely lace stitches that Vibe does....with knit 2 together through the back loop on the right side and purl 2 together through the back loop on the wrong side. I did swatch it, but I have to tell you, I love the rustic look of this yarn in plain old vanilla stocking stitch...so I decided to do both sides the same. I love the way it grows diagonally from the centre seam! The pattern calls for the sleeves to be knit and then sewn onto the body pieces. I chose to pick up stitches and decrease down to the size of sleeve called for in the pattern, then knit top down following the pattern instructions! It worked just fine! I love the feel of this top - it is light and airy and flowy and it is the perfect length!!! As with all of my Pure Linen sweaters, I do wear a camisole und...

"Harry Harrods" has already claimed the new blanket in the house! See my PS for the story of how Harry came to live with us! Marie Wallin has started a twelve month (yes, a year long) Fair Isle Blanket Knit-a-Long! When you join, you are sent your first square, detailed yarn requirements for each block, a beautiful portfolio (to store your patterns in) and a lovely project bag! Each month thereafter, you receive details of the Fair Isle block for the month. Each block when finished measures 18" square. The yarn used is  +Rowan Yarns  Felted Tweed. Twelve 18" squares over Twelve Months - I'd say that was EPIC! While Marie's design calls for the squares to be knit flat, I've decided to knit them in the round. You can see the steps of my process here in my Facebook photo album...where I will continue to post updates. A 12 month fairisle blanket knit-a-long! design by Marie Wallin Designs. Knit in Rowan Yarns Felted Tweed. Posted by...

a little touch of fair isle as a "palate cleanser" in preparation for my next "big" project! an adorable design by Carol Meldrum in Felted Tweed and Rowan Tweed Sheil Wrist Warmers , a free pattern on the Rowan web site! (I shopped my stash and chose these shades, with no inspiration in mind) The first one knit up really fast and it seemed like no time at all and they were done! (The pattern calls for them to be knit flat, then seamed. I knit them in the round, on 4 double pointed needles!) I realized that for some bizarre reason, they reminded me of Liquorice Allsorts :) How could I resist? Seems purple is a popular shade! Nails by Jamberry! These are the "Reminisce" design and I sort of love them! Have you tried Jamberry Wraps? If you love having your nails done, but don't like the muss, fuss and fumes of regular nail polish, you really need to try Jamberry! You do them yourself, at home! If you want to give Jambe...

Friday the 13th knitters!  You know what that means! Well, this is what happened today...rip rip rip.... because on Monday, while contemplating Clue 4 of the  Follow Your Arrow 2 KAL, I discovered a dropped stitch down in my Clue 3 wrapped bundles! It took until today for me to get down to ripping it out (boo hoo) and yes, now I have a marathon of knitting to do this weekend  to be ready for Clue 5 on Monday! Can I do it? What have I been doing all week then you might ask :) Well, my Earth Stripe Wrap  (the one I am supposed to be knitting 5" a month on) is now....pretty long..... I must say it is addictive...and I love the way the colours work with each other. Did you know that this is the 13th year that  Rowan have produced Kidsilk Haze? 13 years and still going strong! I've also been playing around with Crochet. Yes, the "C" word!!!! My little Tilley  Book of Crochet has large diagrams... which makes it really easy to see what is ha...

I have knit 6 trees for my Martin Storey Rowan Nordic Garland so far.  (I cheated and started on November 30 so that my finished garland ta da post would be on Christmas Day!) Not only did I start knitting a day early, I had my first Advent chocolate a day early too! I used Treacle for the trunk, and Pine (158) and Gilt (160) for the tree! The "official" start on December 1 was this adorable little tree done in Mineral (181) These are quick and easy little garter stitch trees! December 2 - not sure what I was thinking this morning!  The trunk is offset (like so many Christmas Trees that you buy) but I decided that it had to be finished and gave it a little wonky top too! This one is done in Maritime (167) and Mineral (181) December 3 - The pattern shows that the small garter stitch tree is alternated between each of the other patterns..... so you will be seeing a lot of them! This one is kit in Jaffa (188) which was a new shade added to the Felted Tweed D...

+RowanYarns   Fur Brown Bear (092)  Make 2 large "fur" pom poms! Combined with Rowan's Brushed Fleece! Cavern (252) The "Muddy" scarf from "North" by Kim Hargreaves Hubby calls it "The Thing" (and he swears he saw it moving !) See my Ravelry Project Page for any thoughts I had while knitting this! "The Thing" on Ravelry ! I hope you'll take a moment to  Join the Life LackaDaisiCal community, by following in a reader of your choice, or by e-mail, or subscribe to be notified  of new posts (or new comments) Handy links are at the top right for you! I do appreciate all of my followers! Anne   :) \          /\/\   \\          .    .              Daisy and Lackie like followers too!