Lace 2 Ways

Project #3,

Orange Shawl

This is not the first time I've knitted this pattern...


I enjoy this pattern so much that I knitted two pieces that sold at the last Christmas Make It Show. Now, this is project 3 and 4.


As I rummaged through my yarn stash I found this rich orange fingering wool. Right away, I wanted to make this lace shawl. 

Shawl or scarf!

I was having so much fun, I knitted this shawl in no time. Call it warp speed. So, back to the yarn stash and I discovered a left-over of a yellow/gold mohair. Not quite enough to make anything, but it would work well together with another left-over yarn I had.

I'm very happy to see how the colors mixed and how the textures work well together. Finishing it with a few rolls of just mohair completes this beautiful ready to wear, luxurious scarf!

These two will be on sale at the next Make It Show in November!

Project #4,

Mohair mixed with a 

fingering yarn worn as scarf...

worn as shawl.

Back... with a Red Pom Pom

I've decided to return ...and keep the Galstudio blog going!

I did not feel comfortable to keep the cooking and knitting adventures on the Red Dots Cycling Blog.

I'm happy to say that Galstudio will be my own personal blog... all things I also love to do. Looking back, this blog is like a journal of all my beautiful knit stuff. Often, it's hard to remember everything that I've made.

So this is my latest creation...

Simple Scarf with Red Pom Pom.

I discovered, from my stash, this thick 100% wool. Usually I prefer fingering yarn. But I happen to have this fabulous two-tone wool, I had to use it.

I didn't follow a pattern, I ad lib and created this scarf from a simple k1 p1 and finished with a point. It needed a little accent to make it more fun...

OMG, I haven't made pom pom's since grade six!

Off I went to make Pom Pom's. You can find how to make them online. I was stumped as to what size to make them. My first attempt was way too large, then I made them too small.

Third try ... this time right, I made them the right size. 

I love this design, a scarf I would wear. It will be going into my sale stock at the next winter craft show.

I'm very happy to be back sharing all my creative endeavors. In fact, I already cast on for a pair of socks... Stay tune!

Pom pom size matters!

Initiation à l'entrelac & Introductory Crochet.

As far as I can remember, I've embraced knitting. Most of my aunts including my mother were passionate knitters. So, knitting came naturally to me. Already by 15 years of age, I've knitted throws and sweaters.

I'm from a generation where knitting was not the hip thing to do. At that time, young women hid behind close doors to knit... we were closet knitters. By age 20, my knitting needles were collecting dust bunnies.

I took back my needles in the late eighties when one dear friend was looking for a special knitted above the knee socks. I answered that call and from then on never put down my needles... again.

Arbol from Malabrigo

I was so excited when Karen from Bird on a Wire Creations, first asked me to teach a knitting class. I suggested to teach a knitting class in French. So I can combine my two passions of speaking French and knitting!

I realize that this would present a challenge; to re-learn knitting in French. It's quite complex really. I know why I embrace the English pattern due to it's ease of understanding. 

I'm extremely happy to present the Entrelac pattern, I have adapted and translated, for the upcoming classes. 

Turner from Malabrigio.

I'm also teaching an introduction to Crochet in English using this wonderful green wool. I will use a pattern I have modified to make a beautiful Bruges lace scarf.

Please check this link  for details on all the classes and ...sign up.

Let's knit together!

There Are NO Mistakes Only Opportunities!

Anybody with a 26 inch head?

Yesterday, I finished my funky looking knit hat .... and it was challenging.

I've never made this kind of hat before. I had to assemble the band first, grab more stitches along the edge before finishing the point. To my surprise, it took me three attempts at picking up the stitch along the circular edge. Whatever I did, it never looked right. Finally, it came together. For some unknown reason, the hat seem to grow as I was knitting it. Sounds odd? The 22 inch band grew to a whopping 26 or so inches.

It was not big but really big. Not even a giant could wear this hat. Ok, I'm exaggerating. As I learn from past experience, when life throws you lemons you had better learn to make lemonade. I'm really good at lemonade but I don't know much about felting.

There was no other option. I grabbed the finish hat and threw into an old pillowcase, tie it with a knot, and tossed it along with my wash and hope like hell for a miracle.

My miracle pillowcase...

It happened! Miracles to come true. This hat is better than it could ever have been if it was regularly knitted. I wonder if they have a good book, at the library, on felting. I'm feeling a new project coming up!

Voila! My lovely first felted hat!

Mme. Bonbon meets the Bruges

I'm lost in my creativity. Where's time gone to? 

I have so many projects on the go that I wonder how I can ever get around to completing them. The good thing, yesterday I managed to finish two knitting projects.

The winter of 2009, I completed my first double knit project. When I purchased the bamboo yarn I thought it would be perfect. I love the way how double knit allows you to create a different pattern, on both sides, at the same time. Here, I kept it really simple with horizontal lines in the back and verticle lines in the front. It makes me think of one thing... a candy store!

I consider myself more of a knitter. The book, 'Crocheting Master Class', caught my attention because I wanted to know what the top crocheters of the world are doing. There's a fine line with crochet: either it's really good or tacky. No middle ground. This book represents the best and the worst of the crochet world.

I love the technique of Bruges Lace. I have seen it done before with fine cotton yarn. Then I saw it, in this book, with wool and I was inspired. I didn't follow the pattern exactly because I didn't have enough wool. Instead, I decided on modifying the pattern to make a nice long scarf.

It was so nice to crochet again. I'm planning my next crochet project, in fact, right now!

Loving the Entrelac Way!

The Entrelac Bible!

I came across this excellent book from the library. It's called Entree to Entrelac.

My first Entrelac design,

The Queen of Diamonds Scarf.

Two years ago, I found online, a scarf with an interesting diamond pattern. A free pattern was offered and I tried it. The pattern was written without graphics. And, it took me a few trials to follow the pattern. It was difficult to understand. I sketched it out and discovered it was ....easier.

I made my first Queen of Diamonds Scarf and it sold right away.

After my second scarf I wanted to knit something else. I came across this book and it all made sense. Everything I figure out two years ago, was here in this book with fantastic easy to follow diagrams. I'm so excited with all the different patterns that you can do with Entrelac but I don't know which project that I'll knit from this book.

One things for sure, my next project will be something with the Entrelac design!

My Queen of Diamonds Scarf #2.

Early teaching days & two new projects

 Le Cowl

There's always time to knit. Or should I say crochet. I just finished a big cowl (above) & a knitted scarf (below).

I don't remember when I crochet something so big. The largest project I made lately are dishcloths. Although, when I was young I was crocheting more than I was knitting. I was in grade 4 and Madame Pinard was my teacher. She always gave us 1 hour free time at the end of the day. Call it down time.

I suggested to her that it would be fun to gather students to crochet. I was making my mother a blanket and this gave me the opportunity to work in secret at school. It was a surprise. I remember the colors: four squares sewn together mostly black with accents of teal, purple & yellow. Even now, when I think about it those colors were dynamite. I bet that one of my family members has it in their Québec cabin.

My classmates thought the idea was fun, too. Their was five girls involved including one boy. I actually helped them all in their Christmas projects. After Christmas, it ended lasting for one term. It was short and intense and a lot of fun. It was an experience that I will always remember showing people my love for crochet. It was my first teaching experience.

I finished a similar scarf (last posted here) 

so comfortable that I wear it everyday.

So, I decided to make this one for sale!

Knitting 24/7

This is the first book I picked up while I was sick with bronchitis. I did a lot of knitting. That's all I felt like doing... knitting 24/7.

I love it when I find numerous projects from reading one book. The book, 'Knitting 24/7' by Veronik Avery, is divided into different sections; 'AM, PM & Weekends'. All together thirty different projects. There's a great range from quick projects to advance knitter. At first glance, you may think that the patterns are difficult but they are actual very easy to memorize. I'm a beginner when it comes to following patterns, but I was able to start easily.

For the scarf, I had to modify the pattern for the amount of yarn I had. So, I ended up with a scarf half the size of what she shown in the book. I'm happy with the results. Here, in Vancouver, I don't really need a heavy scarf. This little silk bamboo mix is just perfect!

My silk bamboo scarf perfect for Vancouver!

This Winter: Most Wanted Scarfs!

I sew everyday. But, I also knit. It's a need for relaxation & fun. And, knitting allows me to showcase my one-of-a-kind pieces on my Etsy shop.

Last year I place my knitwear for sale and almost sold out. By December most of my knitwear sold so I got back into it aiming for twenty scarfs. I'm constantly surprise when I finish a project put it away and forget them only to rediscover them later. It's a fun moment. Some of them I haven't seen in eight months. Due to time constraints & the fact that I'm currently knitting more socks than scarfs, I won't be able to reach it but I'm knitting away and bound to have a few more scarfs soon.

Scarfs are great knitting projects. They're small enough to keep costs down, quick to finish and allow me to explore with different stitches. I enjoy it and for the simple fact that it allows me to zen out. Sometimes, I find inspiration from books. But most of the time I don't follow it and end up using different size needles & yarn sizes just to see how far I can push the design. It's exciting how a stitch can look so different just by changing the needle & yarn.

I present my six dazzling scarfs (above) for sale now in my Galstudio Etsy Shop!

Love lace

My mini shawl.

I always loved lace work. I love the intricacies of the fine work. It's a refine way to create holes to form a complex pattern. Usually lace work is very feminine. Not entirely my style. But, I found a pattern with a little border of lace. With the choice of color I could even wear it casually with jeans. I used a 10 US circular Addi Turbo needle with a super fine weight #1 yarn. I enjoyed doing it and found it easier than I thought. As I was knitting this lace work I came across, from my favorite library, a book on lace.

This extraordinary book, 'Victorian Lace Today' by Jane Sowerby sparks me to do more with lace. This book has so much to offer that I'm going to add it to my library. Sowerby starts from the history of lace, reworking old patterns to make it easier for us. Back then, needles used were often as small as 0000 US. Can you imagine that? And I'm using the 00 US to knit my socks. I thought that was small.

The photography is beautiful and very professional with the UK as the elegant backdrop. Placing the old Victorian landscapes as a romantic background. Instructions and layout is easier to follow for the beginner. But enough to keep the experienced knitter interest level high. You can also learn how to design your own pattern. This is 'the' book on lace to have. I'm putting in my order!

Sock it ...to me!

I looked through my stash and I realize that I had left over bits of sock yarn left. Mostly pink. As a knitter, it's sacrilege not to make your own socks. Store bought commercial socks are soo different from handmade ones. The big difference is the comfort & style. I hate boring socks. When you start to wear handmade socks afterwards you don't go back. I have just four pairs of hand knitted socks from last winter. They have a long life to them. There so resistant and very durable. I keep them going by machine washing and hanging them to dry.

My plan is to bring my collection up to at least seven pairs. This is numero five. One things for sure, I say NO to store bought socks. And when it gets too hot I'll go bare feet. After this, I'll have to convince my partner to get rid of his store bought socks. He already owns three pairs of handmade socks so I'll have to get busy.

I love and enjoy knitting socks and have made them for friends. It's a little pleasure of life. Considering each pair takes about 35 hours to make. I would have to charge $350 per pair! That's if I wanted to make a living off it. That's crazy.

For now, I'll have fun knitting socks for myself and a few of my lucky friends!

Where no knitting has gone before!

I’m so busy with  Galstudio  I try to reserve a relaxing hour each  night.  Quiet and away from the production table I enjoy going to another dimension. I space out with my knitting watching my guilty pleasure … Star Trek!

Engage!

Thankfully, I’m a quiet fan of the series in this order: Jean Luc Picard (he’s so suave), Star Trek (Capt. Kirk), The Enterprise, Deep Space Nine and lastly Voyager. My partner says that I’m a Trekkie. I don’t go to conventions but I own most of the television series. And, I love all the movies, too. I’m a stay at home fan.

The most recent offering, Star Trek the movie was surprisingly really good. I enjoyed it and already watched it a few times. So glad that a second one is in the works.

My latest needle project is a pair of socks for my friend Joey. I bought this beautiful wool made in Italy. Joey put in this request because he’s going to Winnipeg very soon and the weather is still pretty cool out there. This wool brand is called Regia. A sock wool that I’m using for the first time. It’s a a bit thick for Vancouver weather. A scarf would suit it better. Hey, that’s another project!

In my world, knitting and Star Trek go hand in hand. In the words of Jean Luc Picard …Engage!

Big Scarf, Big Addi!

Remember the big sale I told you about? Well I finished my first project. I made this great big 8 foot long scarf! I just love the mix of different size wool. I was so excited and enjoyed so much to work this pattern that I never stopped. I didn't consider that Vancouver never gets cold enough to wear this kind of scarf... Hum! There's a good chance that this scarf will make it to the 'knitting selection' of my shop next winter.

I didn't lose any time and started another project right away. This time I'm making a throw. Last November, I bought this super big 15 mm Addi hook and never had a chance to use it. Until now. I know why some knitter's work exclusively with large size needle's and hook's, it's so fast!.... it made my head spin!

The crazy yarn deal in Vancouver.

I was shopping yesterday for fabric and found sweet deals at Dressew here in Vancouver.

To my surprise I found name brands like: Nashua (kid Mohair), Rowan, Gedifra and many more. All yarn is on sale for $1.99 CDN a ball. I know for a fact the Nashua sells for $10.00 CDN per ball. I went nuts!

The only thing that held me back was that Dressew doesn’t take credit cards. It’s rather annoying when you could only pay in cash. The sales clerk told me that another shipment is expected just before or after the Olympics. I’ll definitely be there afterwards. So far I have declared a "no-go" zone for the downtown area. I won’t go anywhere close to downtown until March. I’ll stay around my home nice and quiet knitting & sewing during the Olympics!

Another gift for me!

After knitting my last pair of socks I was really excited to be done. But it didn't take long before I got knitting withdrawal. Quickly, I turn to my stash and found this beautiful clover color Patons sock FX. I know socks would've been great with this color yarn but I really needed a scarf.

I use 2 balls of 50g, cast on 35 stitches on my Addi Turbo #10US and knit with this simple pattern:

1 row - K3, *K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SKP, K3* (SKP = slip a stitch, knit the next, pass over the knit)

2 row - K3, *P5, K3*

repeat row 1& 2 until desired length.

That pattern was so easy and relaxing. Then again I may just do another scarf because I can always use some more relaxation!

Ouf! I finished the cable sock!

Last October I gave myself a challenge. I always admire the cable knit. And I love making sock's so I chose this pattern for my first cable project. It was not as easy as I thought but I finished it! I would never consider knitting cable sock's for sale. This kind of work takes lots of time. Be advise, if a knitter gives you a pair of cable socks it can only mean one thing... this person loves you!

I love my sock's, and if I ever make another pair of cable sock's I would definitely not use a varigrade yarn. I worked so hard on the pattern but it's hard to see the definition with this kind of yarn.

Reversible knitting with Addi

Wow! I didn't know nothing about reversible knitting before this book but now I feel confident to take on any reversible project. You will find in this wonderful book great project's for beginner to more advance knitter. Every technique is explained clearly including; drawing's, full frame photo's as well as close-up of swatches showing both sides of the design. The only negative point I could find in this book is the bland choice of color, nothing here gets the WOW! factor for color. I almost never follow a pattern suggestion of yarn and color, this book is crying out to let your imagination run wild considering all the different patterns in your own color palette.

As soon as I picked up this book I knew I wanted to knit something right away. I decided on the "Double Take" neck warmer because it looked simple enough for a first project. I couldn't wait to try my new Addi Turbo and I had some left over of black & gray 100% wool.

The Addi are the best ever circular needle I have ever knit with. The are not call "Turbo" just for fun they actually mean business. Be aware when you try Addi Turbo for the first time, at first you might feel a little by dizzy, it's OK you're just not use to the speed of it! I bet your overall knitting ability will improve too!

Just a few more row's before I finish. I love the nice thickness obtain by the double knit. It's a little bit warm for the mild Vancouver weather, oh well, I could offer it on my Etsy shop!

Winter Knit.

Well it rained in Vancouver most of last week, which means the winter is coming. This is the time I miss Québec the most, not that I miss the cold but I will take snow anytime over rain. There is something magical about knitting by the fireplace looking out at the snow falling slowly to the ground, it's like time stops in this frozen land. So many knitting memories and good winter stories come to mind.

I'm finding new sock's books at the local library. If you are into sock's and love cable this is the best book for you. "Sock Innovation" is a fantastic book, it clearly explains the different techniques involve in making sock's. From cuff to toe options making it easy to design your own sock patterns.

For my first cable sock I decide to use one of the 15 designs included in the book. At first look it appears easy enough and I love the big cable running in the back.

Well it wasn't as easy as I thought, I had to redo it about three times to figure out the proper gauge to use for the yarn. I had to because I wanted to use my favorite sock needle #00. After looking at this picture I realize that using the variegated yarn does not show well the beautiful pattern. Oh well this is the yarn I have and it's still a good project for my busy hands!

My favorite logo's of Mary Maxim.

I was looking through the many beautiful Mari Maxim patterns that my sister had sent me and I notice how different the logo changed. It seems that the company changed the logo every ten years or so. I looked everywhere on line to find some more information about the history of their logo. All I could find was the history of the company on their web page and on Wiki.

Here is some of my new collections of patterns above and below. I made a composite of all the different logos I could find online. Notice the one on the left top corner (the badly crop one) I had never seen that one anywhere before. Too bad the only image I have is cropped.

I wish I could find a reference on all the logo's used by Mary Maxim!

Happy Mary Maxim Memories...

I was born in a small community in northern Quebec, and like most families we didn't speak one word of English. My mother had no problems figuring out the patterns and just by looking at the image, knitted many wonderful Mary Maxim sweaters. As long as I can remember my mom had a sweater on her needles. I don't quite remember where she got the wool or the pattern's but it was always there in my childhood. A fond memory. Everybody in my extremely large family received at least one finished jacket. It was a ritual, my mom would choose the family member, and they would sit down and choose from the catalogue. I don't know how long she would spend on a jacket but she made many each year. Talking about love for your craft!

My mom was the worst knitting teacher. I even had to threaten her to teach me a garder stitch. Well, the threat was minor but the dinner was late that evening. I was around four years old!

Too my surprise, my oldest sister told me that she had saved all the pattern's after my Mom passed away, twelve years ago. My sister sent me this special package, a few days ago, and I was surprised to recognize my own handwriting along with my Mom's on those old patterns. I wished my Mom had recorded who received which sweater. Here are some of the oldest pattern's...