Life LackaDaisiCal

November 30 is the first day of Advent, so it seemed appropriate  that I start my "tree a day" adventure today! My first tree is the largest of the 3 designs. My tree trunks will be in Rowan Felted Tweed Treacle (145) and for my first tree, I went with a traditional green/gold colourwy of Pine (158) for the tree, and Gilt (160) for the fair isle accents. ahhh, there was a "Hazelnut Heaven" chocolate behind that open door..... but between the first and the second photo, I ate it! Sorry! FYI -  Thorntons  Hazelnut Heaven - a delicious hazelnut truffle wrapped in our heavenly white chocolate!  I can attest to this description! Thank you to fellow Rowan Ambassador Konrad for reminding me that this was the first day of Advent.  I realized that if I wanted to have a finished garland for December 25...I needed to start today :) So I did!  The tree isn't actually sewn on the garland yet....but I did have a root around in my button box and found 3 ad...

Yes, that's right!  A hashtag! Isn't this the cutest garland! My knitting buddy Claire and I discovered that we both wanted to knit the Nordic Garland from Martin Storey's new book "easy fairisle knits"! We have decided to have a Rowan Nordic Garland knit-a-long! Claire is going to knit the garland as designed, 15 trees! (She is a busy Mom and at this extra-busy time of year, this will be a challenge for her!) You can follow Claire on her blog  Knit and Purl Garden ,  on Facebook and Instagram ! I have challenged myself to knit A TREE A DAY!  Yes, one tree (at least) each day, December 1 - 25, so that on December 25 I will have a whole lotta Nordic Tree Garland! :) CONFESSION!  Before I even contemplated this, I started knitting the icord , because I was worried that the icord would be my downfall!  I have to tell you! The icord is easy and super quick.  If you follow me on instagram, you will have seen me knitting icord at ...

"easy fairisle knits" Martin has created a  collection of contemporary simplified fairisle designs. 14 designs including hats, socks, scarves and cushions plus a slipover, bag, throw and garland  - all with only two colours in a row. I love "Kitten and Stripe" scarf featured on the cover! (Check out that bag too!) Look at the "Soft Stripes Gloves and Hat" combo! A band of fair isle...then some fabulous stripes! Great "Plaid and Diamond" socks with fair isle on the leg portion only! Love those boots too Martin! And look at the collection of pillows, all with fair isle motifs  to brighten up your home! (L-R Little Circles, Paper Dolls and Simple Spots) Want to see more of the designs in "easy fair isle knits" - click on through to the KnitRowan web site! Rowan Yarns Felted Tweed DK is the yarn used for these projects. Felted Tweed is o ne of my favourite Rowan yarns - yes it is! Why?  Because it comes in  28 g...

+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!

What am I doing you might ask! 3 swatches for one sweater! (L-R, Rowan Felted Tweed DK, Kidsilk Haze (held double), Kidsilk Haze (single) One design, 3 options! In Kidsilk Haze, knit using two strands (left) this sweater would be great for every occasion, from house party to fancy night out! Want a dramatic sheer look? Knit it in a single strand of Kidsilk Haze....wear it with a slinky little camisole, oh my! Knit in Felted Tweed DK (right), it's a great sweater for a more casual layered look! I love this one design, many options idea by Sarah Hatton! "ROWAN Loves..." a new series of books by Sarah Hatton This first one features  +RowanYarns  Kidsilk Haze and Felted Tweed You can knit the 9 designs using either yarn giving the garment completely different looks! The cover cardigan offers design options to make it your own! The brochure features 9 designs with plenty of options.  Use Felted Tweed or Kidsilk Haze ! Gosh.....

A direct opposite to the Woodstock Fleece Festival.....is the big city "Creative Festival" held in the Toronto Convention Centre. To get to the Creative Festival from Milton....you either have to drive the dreaded 401 (you never can actually say how long it takes to get into downtown Toronto - anywhere from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours or more!) or you get dropped off in the drop and go parking area of Go Transit, you get on the train, you get our knitting out and you enjoy the ride! What would you choose? The train hadn't even left the Milton station and my needles were out! It didn't seem to take long and there it was...the CN Tower in the distance! Yes Anne, you are in the BIG CITY NOW! I was there early...had time to sit and knit while everyone was lining up.  I had bought my ticket on line, handed in my receipt upon arrival and had my hand stamped to show that I was "official".  It was still rather early so I had time to sit and knit while ever...

The Life LDC Kaffe Klatch has been busy! Clue 4 Turquoise! While Ann started late..... She is keeping up by always doing the new "Clue" and going back to catch up on previous ones! Ann tells me that her two daughters are already claiming the Kaffe Afghan.... looks like she might have to make another one! I am LOVING the Red colour way! Looks like I need to do a "Whole Lotta Blockin'" ha ha ha Darlene (Pastel) is enjoying.. just a quiet evening at home - knitting!  I am loving this Pastel colour way! Ros' Brown colour way is beautiful! This would have been my "other" choice ..... Ros tells me she isn't quite sure about this colour way :) I think these "Brown" squares are quite original  in colour combinations - don't you?    With Clue 5 being released on Wednesday....we will have reached the half way point for this KAL! It is NEVER too late to start!   Want to "Katch Up" on ...

Autumn is my FAVOURITE time of year, and this year, the leaves have been particularly spectacular! This was taken as a zoom with my iPhone - so it is pixelated... sort of like what you'd get with the Waterlogue app.... this is just down the road from us - these trees put on a show every year,  but this year they are truly outstanding! While walking Lackie and Daisy, I've been collecting leaves and ironing them with wax paper! Did you do that when you were young? It became quite a thing with me this year, and so I had lots of leaves  to decorate my Thanksgiving table! Every year at this time, fibre enthusiastics....knitters and spinners, weavers and felters....all start to think about winter fibre projects....and a lot of us get a kick start by going to a local, or not so local, festival!  One of the most popular ones is the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival ....more commonly referred to as "Rhinebeck".  Lots of Canadians make the road...