Here is a Picture of a Cake to Show I'm Still Alive

WiP: Wedding Shawl, wedding socks

 

Yes, this cake is what you think it is - and it was Dallas's birthday cake! Sooooo tasty! Made by Cakeworks out of  Calgary, AB. I'll definitely be going back at some point!

This weekend is the Victoria Day Long weekend in Canada, and it is supposed to rain, which is perfect for me - I want to sit down, pop some movies in, and hopefully get through the remaining 4 repeats on my shawl. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

What are you up to this weekend, if you're in Canada?

Katie =^..^=

Tuesday 2!

WiP: Wedding socks for Dallas, Wedding shawl for me!

Another week gone! And this is what I have to show for it:

These are two-at-a-time toe-up socks for Dallas for the wedding! These are not so glaringly different colours in person; both are very dark, with the toes being navy and the foot being a forest/hunter green. There will be an "I Do" at the top of the sock, along with something extra.

Otherwise, I've been reading LOTS the last little bit, having read both The Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet this past weekend...I am also now working on The Catcher in the Rye. I also finished Da Chen's My Last Empress. If you're interested in keeping up with what I'm reading, you can find me on GoodReads!

What are you reading right now? (I'm actually running out of books on my shelf...It's terrifying!)

Katie =^..^=

Oops, I Did It Again...

WiP: Super Secret Projects, Toe-up socks (for me!) - Bicotte & Cie Poisson Tang, Calligraphy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

So, the whole blogging thing went way off course! I'll definitely be trying harder this next week.

My weekends and life are going to be pretty busy right up until the end of July, though, so please bare with me. We're down to the under 6 month crunch for the wedding! Eeek! (This is an eek of excitement...and slight terror! haha)

Otherwise, we've just been plain busy. Dallas worked a longer shift last week, which means an extra day from home, but then we went to Fernie for the weekend, and I had a downhill skiing lesson, which was fantastic! Tiring, but it turned out way better than I was expecting it to!

Other than that, just at the 9-5, and working on wedding stuff, and generally trying not to go into full-on panic mode quite yet.

What have you all been up to?

Katie =^..^=

WIP Friday

On the needles: Calligraphy Cardigan, Non-Felted Slippers (by Yoko Nakamura)

I didn't do much work for the shop this week - but that's OK. This is my rest period/time to finish up my own cozy cardigan, so I don't steal Dallas's! hehe

This is Hannah Fettig's "Calligraphy Cardigan" - I started it just before we went on vacation to Disney World, and have been chipping away at it since.

Because I'm taking a break from consistent shop knitting after what I did for Market Collective, this is my time to finish up some projects for myself.

I am also working a pair of non-felted slippers for the shop, but I unfortunately don't have a picture of them! So they'll probably be featured next week.

I have also come to the difficult decision to switch the pattern I'm using for my wedding shawl. So I am now going to knit the Blooming Stitch Shawl by Mary R. White


Picture by: Gia

It's going to be awesome!

Have a lovely weekend, my dears! I'll type at you on Monday. :)

Katie =^..^=

Getting Back in the Saddle (And Goals for 2014)

On the Needles: Calligraphy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, non-felted slippers
Complete: A bag to felt; Owls by Kate Davies; Trim Clogs from The Knitted Slipper Book, and a crocheted rainbow scarf with clouds at either end!
In the plans: Items to Stock!

Phew! That was a busy last two months of 2013. I'm sorry for the lack of updates there at the end! 2013 was a whirlwind year as it was - and December doesn't even feel like it existed.

Market Collective was a resounding success! And I want to thank the organizers, shoppers, and vendors. It was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to be back!

As such, 2014 is a year full of item stock goals.

However, 2014 is also going to be full of personal experiences, so I have a schedule that I'm working out right now.

So, for the blog, we're going down to one to two posts per week; probably one on Monday and one on Friday. One will be a week recap: a "in the works" post, along the lines of Needlings, and one will be random chatter.

Because of my wedding in July, expect to hear very little from me that full month - in fact, expect a hiatus of all posting activity for the month of July. haha

Personally, I have a baby shower for a friend that I'm working on right now - which includes some knit items for the tyke. And I have my own wedding shawl to knit...Before July!

As for the shop, I cannot guarantee the update dates, but I will be posting to all my social media when I post items. If the update is "major" (i.e. 5 items or more), there will be a special post to let you know!

If you're not following me, you can find me on Twitter and Facebook!

I have a long list of items that I want to attempt, which you'll start seeing here as they develop. However, it does include the fan-favourites of mittens - and I'm adding felted slippers (including men's sizes!), felted rose purses, and felted wool dryer balls.

I'm also working on more box bags at the moment, and have had an amazing suggestion for a sewn item from a little guy, which you'll get to see soon!

Anyway. I hope all is well with everyone - and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

By the way, the item I'm most proud of is in my shop right now for custom order:

Custom Order Men's Zippered Cardigan (Model not included - he's mine).

Have a lovely day!!

Katie =^..^=

Busy for the Whole Weeks Through...

On the needles: Mittens to felt!

So, I've been a busy, busy girl. Between a busy day job, and stocking for my first show of the season, I haven't had any time to catch my breath (not to mention the chest cold that's haunting me three weeks later, but at least it's better...)!

Anyway. I was a vendor at Crestmont, which was a fantastic show - lots of traffic, and the most profitable yet! The only drawback to that day was how bitterly cold it was! haha

As you can see above, there were lots of mittens. This is the stack of them on my ironing board beforehand:

And I'm working on more now! I have Market Collective December 6-8 at the King Edward School (1720 20th Ave SW).

So...More knitting and sewing to come! I've almost hit all of my goals for stock for this show, but keep your fingers crossed for me nonetheless - I don't have that much longer to go! haha

Have a lovely day, my dears! I promise I'll be more present after December 14th (Last Minute Christmas Show in Cochrane - Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre).

Katie =^..^=

Busy, Busy, Busy!

WiP: Mittens
Sewing: Box Bags
Finished: Lots!

Ummmmm...Hi! I've been super busy. Along with a vacation hubby-to-be and I took (I'll post photos soon) at the beginning of the month, I'm stocking up for a show in Edgemont on November 16! So there's been lots of knitting and sewing going on here - mostly me knitting and sewing like a mad woman. I think I might have scared Dallas a little bit!

I've included some highlights below, but trust me, it's not the only things that have been finished! I have a few more highlights to post over the next couple of weeks, but this is what I'll share with you for now. :)

Last night, I finished these mitts with the sparkly cuffs:

This past weekend, I finished these unlined drawstring bags:

I'll be introducing these crocheted, decorate-your-own-tiara kits at Edgemont:

And this was my world on Sunday:

Finally, A Tuesday Chatter Again!

WiP: Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker Knit in Cascade 220 Heathers, Forest Green (leftover from Dallas's Emilien)     
Swatched for: Firefly Seeker by Cassandra Dominick; using the leftovers from my Gemini
Going to swatch for: Georgia by Jane Richmond; using my Meow Yarn! I'll post pictures soon. :)

FO: Radian Yoke by Wendy Bernard (photos of it, the itty-bitty baby cardigan, and the Gemini to come!)

So, on top of all the knitting I've been, I've also been hard at work on my sewing! If you saw the collage, that was the majority of what I've worked on, but I have also produced these owl box bags, which would be prefect for a small project, such as mittens, socks, or a shawlette:

 

 I ended up completing and posting the kitty-cat bags, and now I'm going to settle in and work on the froggy notions pouches. 

I'm hard at work trying to find some craft fairs to be at, live and in the flesh, so keep your eyes trained on the Blog/Twitter/Facebook to find out the details!

In other news, I've read quite a bit recently, so I'll actually have a Wednesday post for you all about what I've been reading.

AND, hubby-to-be and I are going on vacation, so I will be offline the first part of October, but you'll hear all about it when I get back! (Hence the swatching - I need plane knitting!)

What have you lovely folks been up to lately? 

Katie =^..^=

Friday Chatter?! This is the Madness That is my Life!

WiP: Radian Yoke, Kate Davies' Owls

First! Since it's Labour Day, get free shipping in my shop until September 3rd! This is applicable on any and all orders, new or already listed items. Please use: SHIPFREELDW to receive your discount!! :)

That's right folks, it's been crazy busy. And it's not going to stop this weekend. The picture of the fabric? That's the awesomeness I bought last night to make bags of all sorts for you guys!! Box bags will be available out of all fabrics but the "eyes" fabric on the far left, as that will be made straight into drawstring bags.

Because of the limited quantity of these, I will be adding a "Limited Edition" section to my shop, so keep your eyes peeled!!

I was at IKEA the other day and saw this rug:

I think it would look awesome in my craft room. What do you think?

 

Fan service shot of one of two big (yarn) balls!

What're you up to this weekend?? I'll be sewing and knitting!! Although tonight I'm going to go to dinner with a friend, and hopefully partake of a couple patio drinks. While knitting on my Radian Yoke. hehe

Have a lovely day! :)

Katie =^..^=

Onto the Weekend!!

WiP: Radian Yoke by Wendy Bernard; Spanish Peacock by Meg Swansen (You can now see my progress in the "My Projects" under "My Shop" in the sidebar)!
FOs: None

In the plans: 3 custom drawstring bags

Summer has finally arrived in Calgary! The only annoying part is that I'm at work! Booooo. So that means lots of walks and outdoor knitting in the evenings/this weekend!

I plan to do some spinning, the drawstring bags, and some knitting this weekend - I have a couple pairs of felted mittens to finish! I also realized, as I was poking around my craft room the other day, that I need to take photos and post them of the phone cases that I've completed! (Felted and embellished.)

On that note, I hope everyone else is able to enjoy some of the sunshine for me! Time to get cracking so that I can work out in it, too!

Katie =^..^=

Finishing Means I'm on the Hunt (Kind Of)

WiP: Radian Yoke by Wendy Bernard (In Classic Elite Yarns' Firefly "Green Apple" - love the sheen!); Spanish Peacock by Meg Swansen (In Handmaiden's Silk Lace "Ruby Red" - Gorgeous yarn)
FOs: Itty Bitty Baby Girl Cardie by Sirdar (In Sweet Georgia Yarn's Superwash DK Snapdragon and Cascade Yarn's Superwash 220 Sport, Ivory)

That's right! Everything I have on the needles right now is current projects, which means...I'm making my Ravelry queue grow even more. Although I know what the next project is, and I'm still working on both the Radian Yoke and the Spanish Peacock, so I really shouldn't. However, it's becoming sweater season, and a whole bunch of new cardigans have been posted recently!

But, must stick to the, plan, especially considering that there is Christmas knitting I need to finish now...And my Radian Yoke needs to be finished for October, and the Spanish Peacock for next July. To the grindstone! haha

Let's see...It's one of those weeks where I'm going to be absolutely exhausted, so I think a lot of knitting it going to occur, just because it's something I can practically do in my sleep.

And then this weekend will be sleep and some custom order bags for my future sister (in-law), and general craftiness.

I have posted lots of new items and renewed some old items on my Etsy page - I would greatly appreciate it if you were to take a look. You can just click on the link in the sidebar!

Anyway. Have a lovely evening, my dears. I'm going to work on my Radian Yoke!

Katie =^..^=

Weekend Completions

FOs: Dallas's cardigan, Wedding #2 blanket, and Etsy postings!! Also, Gemini by Jane Richmond
Next on the needles: Radian Yoke by Wendy Bernard

Indeed, this was the weekend to finish items! I sewed three box bags (one was a complete fail due to a different interfacing I had, so it's mine now), three surprise notions pouches (a surprise because I didn't know I was going to make them until I made them), finished the wedding #2 blanket (it's drying), and Dallas's cardigan (sewed the zipper in on Monday, along with a surprise element I'll tell you about later). And then I finished my Gemini late last night, which was awesome! It needs its ends woven in and a blocking, but I'll do that in a bit - right now, I'm counting it as done.

The last almost-finished UFO right now is the Itty Bitty Baby Cardigan, which needs a collar...So I'll work on that this weekend, maybe, while we're going for a drive. :)

I think I need more three-day weekends! (Can't wait for Labour Day - it's going to be a similar process, except that I'm hoping to get more work on my shawl done that weekend.)

What did you get up to this weekend?

Katie =^..^=

Exciting News Parts 1, 2, & 3

WiP: Gemini by Jane Richmond (almost there!!!); Wedding #2 Log Cabin Blanket
HF: Slipper
Need to seam: six slippers

Exciting News Part 1!

I'm getting my fall shows lined up! So far:

November 16 - Edgemont Christmas Craft Fair, Edgemont Community Centre (9-3)

November 30 - Handmade Craft Parade, St. Michael School (10-3)

Tentative: December 6 - Mountain Made, Canmore, AB.

I think that'll keep me sufficiently busy for this holiday season, as I am going to be more regularly updating Etsy.

Exciting News Part 2!

I will be able to accept Visa & Mastercard at these markets, as I went and purchased a Square card reader. This means that I can now accept payments via these two large credit card companies.

Exiting News Part 3!

I'm going to be updating Etsy this weekend.

Watch this space, as well as Facebook/Twitter for the updates to come!

Have a lovely day, my dears!

Katie =^..^=

And There She is, Gone

WiP: Gemini by Jane Richmond (Gemini is a free pattern, so definitely worth taking a look at...!), Wedding # 2 Log Cabin blanket edging (simply eyelet border, four lace rows)

Well, the summer came for one day, and now it feels like fall and time for even more knitted sweaters!!

Standing on the train platform this morning, I got to thinking about what kind of mittens, hats, and scarves I wanted for the winter.

Also, there will be some changes upcoming around here, but they're under wraps for now. I can let you know that they're exciting, however!

Also, there will finally be an Etsy update within the next week! I'm going to be photographing my items this weekend and likely posting them on Monday.

That's all for now, though!

Have a lovely couple of days!

Katie =^..^=

And Then, the Fabric Became Bags!!

WiP: slippers, Meg Swansen's "Spanish Peacock" shawl

Needs a zipper: Dallas's cardigan

What I'm Reading: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

I had a super busy weekend!! I've got the schedule on schedule so far, with the completion of the 12 drawstring bags I have planned to post at the beginning of August in the start of my Etsy updates!

I also got the chance to go to the Hays Breakfast at Heritage Park with my friend! We stood right behind Nenshi, AND I got to see a sheep with her lambs, and get some Chuckwagon Drivers' autographs!

Finally, I'm nearly finished Dallas's sweater. So happy for it, too. Since this picture, the collar's been sewn down and all the ends woven in. I just need to sew the zipper in!

What have all you lovely folks been up to?

Katie =^..^=

My Summer so Far

WiP: Felted Mittens, Chunky Slippers
FOs: Chunky Slippers (blue)

It's going to be a busy summer here at Nekozuki Yarns!

After I posted that I was looking for inspiration, I sat down, cracked the whip, and started a calendar along with a schedule for the next three months; now I need to plot out the three months after that.

This will not be a hard and fast sort of thing, as I'm starting to new products never seen in my shop before!

Like, box bags out of this awesome Marvel fabric I just found last night:

There will also be some of the same, like the felted mittens I worked on outside of Starbucks while I read the other day:

And although this is not something that I'm going to sell, but I finished Dallas's cardigan on Canada Day (and that's his blanket drying in the background - Log cabin baby blankets will likely be available at some point in the next year):

 

Finally, this is the Trans-Canada, only 9 days after it had been devastatingly washed out by the floods! (Sunday of Canada Day weekend, no less.)

 

So, my summer's going to be busy!  Look for more posts and photos as it progresses!

(Also, so glad that summer weather has finally got here...Although on the hottest days I have now been knitting mittens!)

What have you been up to so far this summer?

Katie =^..^=

Chatter: Looking for Inspiration

WiP: Felted Mittens, Wedding Blanket #2

Heat: Too High

I keep hitting points where I have so much to do that I don't know where to start, and then I hit a roadblock for inspiration of all sorts...And then I get bored and feel completely uninspired. Right now, I have tons of things I could work on, but don't feel like doing any of it. At all.

I know that there is lots of inspiration all around me all the time...But recently it hasn't triggered much. It seems like it might be time to sit down, make a list of what I want to do, and start checking it off as I go.

The Etsy update for the summer looms large right now, so that means that my first priority is getting a couple personal knits out of the way, and getting more of my felted items actually made and felted. So I know I'll start there.

I need to start my wedding shawl, but I'm uninspired there because I'm daunted by the size and how much I've screwed up the lace the last couple of times I've tried to start it.

I think it might be time to switch crafts for this weekend, since I've really got a bug to do some sewing, but my knitting itch has drifted to the way side for a bit.

I think sewing might be it. I want to make some drawstring bags to go along with any box bags I get finished for August.

I think a day of sewing will make me feel that much more inspired to knit.

What do you do when you get into a creative funk?

Katie =^..^=

Finally, Some Chatter

WiP: Emilien for Dallas; felted mittens; wedding blanket for Wedding #2 (last August. Shhhhh...)
FOs: None

Reading: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Remember, you can donate to the Canadian Red Cross here (any amount at all): http://www.redcross.ca/donate
You can also donate at your Alberta-local Starbucks, although if you need a tax receipt, you need to donate online. Only donate as much as you can, but remember that if you are more affluent, $20+ will get you a tax receipt. ;) I'm pretty sure that if you donate to the "Disaster-Relief Fund," if the Red Cross has left over money, it gets shuffled to the next disaster they need money for...Never a bad thing to have the extra!

It's been a busy couple week around here! Between flooding and not, we've done our engagement photos, and I had my birthday, and we even went up to Olds to take a look at their Fibre Festival market this past Saturday!

Dallas and I have been walking a lot, as I am now trying trim up a bit after all the weight training. Although the night before last we got absolutely soaked by a thunderstorm that rolled in halfway through our walk!

This weekend is Canada Day, and our forecast looks amazing! I'm stoked about having a long weekend to relax at home, although our plans had originally been to go out to my parents'.

I'm hoping to finish Dallas's sweater, and then to be able to block it, have it dry, and take some photos in Confederation Park this weekend! Fingers crossed he doesn't melt in it! If it's nice, I'll try to also coerce him into taking some photos of me in my Marion cardigan as well.

Otherwise, need to patch up his blanket, where some of the squares have had their sewing unravelled, try to finish the wedding blanket, and then maybe, just maybe, start my shawl.

But that might have time high jacked by the whole felted mitten thing.

Have a lovely long weekend, and Happy Canada Day! :)

Katie =^..^=

P.S. The Calgary Stampede is selling these t-shirts: "Hell or High Water" t-shirt
These are while supplies last, but proceeds are going to the Canadian Red Cross fund. 

Legitimate Progress on Dallas's Cardigan!

WiP: Dallas's Cardigan

Pictures from Tuesday, May 28, 2013. 

Finished the back and fronts...Now just for the sleeves and collar~!

Katie =^..^=

We Were On an Adventure!

WiP: Dallas's cardigan
FOs: None

That's right! We drove out to Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, and then went down and explored Banff's Cave & Basin, the birthplace to the Canadian National Park System!

We also visited Jacques Cartier Clothiers, which is the shop that carries Quiviut. I have 1 skein at home, and I needed a pattern, so I found it's destiny in a Wavy Lace Scarf. I'll keep you updated as I go on that.

Otherwise...Dallas's cardigan went into  a time out yesterday, although it rode along with us. I messed up the shaping for the fronts, since I followed the directions to a T...And had to pick out all the shaping from the arm hole up on both fronts (I'm knitting them two-at-a-time so that they match). So I lost all of my work from Saturday morning. I was soooo peeved.

But, I got it more or less back to the same spot on Saturday (at least I used up the same amount of yarn, so that's a good sign), and now I'm ready to finish the fronts and move onto the sleeves. I hope.

Other than that, a quiet weekend. I think we're going to go Star Trek tonight, which I'm super excited for.

And I'll actually have a crane update tomorrow!

So, the knitting agenda as it stands now:

Dallas's cardigan
Cast-on shawl
Cast on Hanna Fettig's Calligraphy Cardigan
Cast on SSP
Cast on a pair of mittens to felt
Put cuffs on other mittens to felt
Make more felted bags for Etsy update in August.

...

There's a lot of work to do, and very little time, so I will leave you here!

Have a lovely evening, my dears!

Katie =^..^=