The Blue Brick

New Pattern coming soon!

March 4, 2013

Thank you to everyone who commented or messaged me during my bout with the flu, I really appreciated the kind words :) Besides, it was a nasty flu – the kind that comes with bonuses, in this case, extreme back pain. On the plus side, it did lead to me trying the massage clinic near my work and oh.my.goodness what a great discovery. It’s as delightful as new yarn.

Here’s a sneak peek of the hat I designed last week – it’s for a dear friend who’s Scotch/Irish and far too manly to wear anything that’s too ornamental. I designed something far more interesting to knit than my man slouch – but still guy tested and approved.

The central celtic braid plus side ornaments are both written and charted. The hat uses one skein of DK weight yarn and is a very snug, comfortable fit with no slouch. Decreases are charted as well as written for clarity – they’ve been arranged to sit symmetrically around the cable motif, which runs right to the crown. I’m so excited about this one, I can’t wait to share it!

Tito loves it so much that I’m making him one this week, and taking the advantage to test knit it one last time while I’m at it. Look for the pattern to be available Friday :)
The Vacuum and the Spam

February 28, 2013

So I haven’t blogged in super long time. Into that vacuum has come an incredible amount of blog spam for some reason… those telltale comments in obsequious tones and terrible grammar have been clogging my inbox.

So to keep the blog alive and keep the spammers at bay here is a short post. I’ve been sick with the flu which is lousy, but does have it’s upside. For a start, it’s enforced rest, something I need because I’m lousy at getting it on my own. The other good thing about the flu is that it has a definite ending to it; you feel like walking death for a while but then comes the day where every nap has you waking up stronger. Then you wake up famished and that’s a really good sign. Next thing you know you’re back to normal, albeit a bit weak. The cold, on the other hand, the cold feels like it can stick around for an entire season, like you’ve been cursed by a persistent, yet underachieving arch nemesis.

I have, however, been designing. New goodies to share soon!
Tiny FO

February 19, 2013

Sometimes you just need instant gratification. Like, instant.

Calorimetry. Does the trick. Believe it or not, this is also my first knitty pattern.

It’s a great stash buster – used a tiny amount of yarn, in this case some TFA Green label in ‘grape’ that I had left over from this.

Only mod: I cast on 1oo instead of 120 for a tighter fit. Love it!
Ravelry project page here:
Disorganized Knitters: Why they are Awesome

February 15, 2013

Because long after Christmas has passed, and you’re into that long, dreary period of no holidays and slushy weather, odds are if you know a disorganized knitter then you still have at least one gift to look forward to. This, at least, is what I told myself as I cast off, almost 2 months late, Beverly’s scarf.

The pattern is ‘Magrathea‘ by Martina Behm, charmingly named after the planet factory in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It’s an asymmetrical knit, worked sideways for the most part with squishy garter stitch for the body.

I worked 30 repeats of the lace pattern before I ~~couldn’t take it anymore~~ felt I had made it large enough. I kept thinking I should max out the delicious 500 yard skein of Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk, but I’m glad I stopped when I did.

Blocking never fails to amaze. When it came off the needles it was wrinkly and little and I was regretting not going for more repeats. It ended up blocking to an impressive 66″ wide though, and 20″ deep, and a beautiful crescent shape. I went from ‘ugh’ to ‘love’ :)

This is my first pattern from Martina, and I was really pleased with the result. The pattern is well written, and sizing is very flexible. I would definitely make another :)

Ravelry Project Page here:
The Morning After the Deluge

February 9, 2013
Tito and I are taking off to Montreal today :) I promised I wouldn’t take my camera or computer (knitting, of course, is still coming. To do otherwise would be madness). To get my shutterbug out of my system I went out an hour before dawn this morning to snap some shots of the beautiful snow we got yesterday.

Who says we don’t have white beaches in Canada?

PS – For those interested – here is my set up this morning. I shot everything RAW, at f.10 for sharpness, and processed the details in Lightroom.
- Canon 7D
- Tripod
- Remote Release
- Lee Filter System with .6 Graduated Neutral Density Filter
- Sigma 10-20mm, f4.5 Lens
Weather with Benefits

February 8, 2013

This morning I found a snow drift high enough to attempt a vertical snow angel =D

Of course, I had to take a bit of a run at it – which means it was less like making a snow angel and more like trying to make a cartoonesque Shireen-shaped-hole in the Skydome, but still. Good times.

Enjoy the weather today folks!
Sewn Away

February 5, 2013

I’m taking another crack at this ‘learning to sew’ thing.

I tried to be a good knitter about it. I looked at the pattern, bought enough fabric, looked into the notions, saw things like ‘piping’ and ‘zipper’ and bought those too.

Buying a sewing pattern is like opening an envelope written in a foreign language, by someone who was a bit nutty, and who didn’t like you. At least… this is how I felt.

And it’s like pandora’s box. You pull out all these mysterious symbols, on crepe paper, and you can’t get them back in!

Armed with tenacity and Tito (who can actually sew, and that means it’s extra frightening when even he doesn’t get the pattern..) I took a crack at it.

And step after step, like your first raglan sweater, the thing started to take shape and resemble a skirt. I was so excited, but then –

Then the pattern went and called for ‘interfacing’ whatever the heck that is. I know what it isn’t though… and it ISN’T in the ‘notions’ list.

The skirt is shelved until I can find interfacing and time to finish it.

In the meantime I took lots of photos… because there’s no better way to take the sting off something you suck at than by documenting it with something you’re good at ;)
The Scourge of the Music Garden

February 1, 2013

We’ve had a hawk take up residence in the Toronto Music Garden.

The little birds are not having an easy time of it, they’re not used to having a predator in their midst. Poor little buggers!

I can’t deny though, it is a lovely bird.
Lee Filter System + Snowy Saturday = Love

January 30, 2013

Recently I purchased a Lee Filter system for my camera. I was dubious as to the worth of an on-camera filter system – after all, Lightroom has a graduated filter built in where I can adjust exposure, white balance etc. However, having taken it for a walk I can honestly say that being able to make adjustments while shooting is amazing. The filter can rotate, and slide in it’s holder to achieve a variety of effects, and the creative possibilities are endless. I foresee a new place to dump my camera funds – for sure the big stopper is coming on my next trip!

Here’s an image-heavy post of the beautiful Leslie Street Spit here in Toronto – almost every shot here is taken with the filter on. I’m using the 4×6 holder, on a 10-20 mm sigma wide angle lens, my trusty Canon 7D and a 0.6 graduated neutral density filter.
Jeanette – Free Cowl Pattern!

January 28, 2013

I’m on a designing binge lately – though to my shame I confess I have an embarrassing number of WIPs – including (gasp!) Christmas knitting that is long overdue. But really, what’s more exciting than getting an idea in your head and bringing it to life? Against such fun my poor WIPS, including the shawl-that-just-won’t-end don’t stand a chance.

The Jeanette Cowl is like a collection of my favourite things – it’s a worsted weight, one skein project, simple without being boring, classy and good for quick project gratification :) The finished cowl is seamed together to create pockets for a drawstring that gathers it fetchingly at the neck, or is let out to maximize warmth.

You will need 100 grams of worsted weight. A quick word of advice here – though it’s not mandatory, to really shine this piece needs a wet block before seaming. Therefore, I don’t recommend acrylic, or acrylic blends. Wool, wool blends with merino, cashmere or alpaca, all this is perfect :)

The sample is knit using Classic Elite Yarns, Vista, in the colourway ‘Alabaster’, purchased from Eweknit here in Toronto :)

Download the pattern for free on Ravelry – project page here: