Happy Canada Day, eh!

What did you do for WWKIP Day?

Were you out there bringing knitting to the people? I didn't actually go out and knit, but I did stop on by the Kniterary and donated an old project (an acrylic cardigan that will never be finished) for their tree cozy along with some perishable items. Local knitters were out their doing their thing, but it was a busy day for me so I couldn't stay. Hope you did something fun!

Tilly's Garden Shawl (on a very hot day)

It's so hot here this weekend that the last thing anyone needs is a wool shawl, but I did finish Tilly's Garden Shawl and it does match the poppies!




More over at Flickr and Ravelry.

P.S. to KD. No, you can't have it!

Spinning Wheel Alpacas

Yesterday morning Mom called and said suggested we go to Ikea, but I came up with another suggestion. My local yarn store advertised an event that was a short drive out into the country to the Spinning Wheel Alpacas farm. So off Mom and I went to visit some of the cutest alpacas ever at their shearing and fibre show. It was a small scale event with vendors selling everything from yarn, to stained glass, jewellery and artwork. But the best part were the alpacas.

















When we arrived, the alpacas were calmly moving in a bunch back and forth in their large pen. These ones were already sheared, and inside the barn was where the cuts were taking place. Apparently it takes about nine people to hold an alpaca down, but it was all very calmly done.
















Also in the pen were two of these awesome, friendly dogs and two funny pot belly pigs. I'm sure the dogs were there for safety and protection of the herd, but what the pigs were there for I have no idea, other than comic relief.

































There were a couple of ladies there spinning and selling yarn (no credit cards?!) . It was a great little visit and if I were ever to have a radical life and career switch, I might be an alpaca farmer. A few more photos over at Flickr.

Birthday unSurprise!

There's not much surprise left over when the recipient chooses the pattern, picks the yarn, even lends you the needles and then you start to knit it in front of her. I prefer to give things that people really want so it's a no fail method.




The gift was A Good Bias from Interweave Spring 2005, knit with Louisa Harding Kashmir DK (in Olive), a curiously spongy yarn because of its chained structure.



It was a pleasure to make, which is good because it looks like I'll be knitting it again!

Front and Back

Rhiannon Sock Pattern

From Cookie A