Christmas Knitting

I knit this toque for Jered (Chelsea's man) last year or the year before. It's funny, it has relaxed since I knit it, but the top part forms a cone and won't loosen up. So it pops up off Jered's head. I decided to knit him a new one and kept this one because I like how it makes me look like an elf or a pixie.


At the craft sale a lady that was working one of the make-up tables came by and loved this hat I made that was small, for a child, but her baby is only a year old so she knew it would be too big. I knit her one exactly the same but for a little baby's head. The problem is, I can't find her number now! I hope I find it soon before her baby's head grows out of it and before winter is over...


My partner from Novartis, Robin, and his family came by my stand at the craft sale and his adorable wife decided the family all needed new toques. So they all put in their orders and this is what they got. I measured their heads to make sure I knit hats that fit. Robin is the only one I am concerned about. His head is quite large and I just hope I made his hat big enough!


On the way home for Christmas (on the drive from Regina to Winnipeg) My darling sister Chelsea drove the entire way so I could knit these little ditties up. I started them as we left Regina and when we got to Brandon, we were supposed to swap spots. I was already on the second one and Chels decided to let me finish them and drive the whole way.


So when we got to Winnipeg, all I had left to do was felt them! And they are so awesome. I love them. They are comfortable (because of the double sole) and so warm!! Finally some slippers for myself :)


I have so much knitting to do in this new year. I am working on some legwarmers for my bff Andrea, and just finished some fingerless mitts for her. She bought the wool a few months ago and I said I would knit them for her, but kind of got side tracked with the craft sale and Christmas and stuff. I also have to knit a couple hats for my cousin Jana's friend, a baby dress for Nikki's baby girl Sloane, and some slipper boots for Chels and my mum, and get started on craft sale stuff so I am not so rushed next November. So much knitting I don't know how I am going to do it. But maybe I can knit some stuff up during my two weeks in Mexico next month?

Boneses new boots

Boneses new boots
Originally uploaded by tarra.gray

It is BLOODY FREEZING here in SK. I pretty much hate the prairies all winter. It has been below minus 20 for a week now and I often question why anyone in their right mind lives here. Or, why AJ and I do, anyway. We have both lived in warm, or at least mild climates. This is just silly. Anyways, our poor little puppy basically has a brushcut for fur and ends up limping or crying when we walk him because the ground in so cold. We have a hoody and down doggy jacket for him, so his body is warm, but the little paws suffer. So we bought him these Mutt Luks. He didn't even try to bite them off or anything, he just walked around being hilarious and I had to video it. I was in tears he looked so funny. Enjoy.

PS. Now that he has warm body and warm feet, we realize he needs warm ears. His floppy little (actually huge) ears get so cold and now I have to somehow design a dog toque that will stay on to keep his ears warm. I'm thinking Weimaraners are not really meant to live in the Canadian prairies....

Baby Leland dancing to BEP

Baby Leland dancing to BEP
Originally uploaded by tarra.gray

Was in Canmore last weekend visiting Pre and Leanne and baby Leland. First of all, this baby is the cutest cuddliest little peanut ever. He let me hold him for so long and never fussed. He is so amazing. So happy, so cute and just an awesome baby. He loves dancing in his Jolly Jumper and I snapped this quick vid catching him in the act.

My First Craft Sale

So here is the latest picture of Bones. He is getting so big. It has taken a colder turn here in S'toon and he is a huge wimp (not that I wouldn't be too). He hates going outside to pee, etc, and on walks he periodically limps through the snow and licks his feet to warm them up. Poor thing, little does he know that this -10 C business is nothing compared to what is to come. We are going to buy him little dog boots. And I am going to knit him a sweater.


Tristin brought the kids by the craft sale on Saturday. Chels got Ryder to try this hat on and we all decided he looked so cute, he had to have it. I am going to make strings for the ear flaps.


Here's all my hats! I knit between 30-35 for the craft sale. I sold about 20 preknit hats and then had about 10 custom orders, which I am working away at right now. I knit hats for 3 people during the craft sale which they picked up and were happy with. So I anxiously await a day where I can point someone out and say - Hey! I knit that!


So I also had homemade doggie biscuits that I baked all week. Peanut butter, banana buckwheat, peas n cheese, sweet potato and carrot oat, and bison bones. They sold like crazy! People love pampering their dogs. And on the far left there are some Christmas ornments I felted and needle-felted.


Below are the peanut butter bones before hitting the oven,


and after.


I was the only one selling homemade dog biscuits (I'm not that surprised), and I am definitely going to do it again next year. I even got AJ to taste some of them for me to see how they were. He said the peanut butter ones were too dry, but the sweet potato carrots were a bit better. Refused to try the bison bones (I used ground bison). Of course I tried them out on Bones, but since he likes garbage I couldn't really trust his opinion. If he didn't like them, I would have been concerned.

Not much longer till Christmas!

Leland

Have you ever seen a cuter baby? I don't think I have! Look at those eyes. He will definitely be a heartbreaker some day :)

Leland
Originally uploaded by tarra.gray

This is the little blue hat I was knitting in the car with the kiwis. It is a little baby aviator hat knit in a soft baby blue yarn. I have to say it's a pretty cute hat. I got the pattern for free off the Ravelry website (as usual).

November Fun

So my friend Kate Yakimow had a little baby girl in December and when I visited with her while in Toronto I got to cuddle her. Beautiful little baby Leo. I knit her this dress. I got the pattern off the Ravelry website for free. It's called Little Sister Dress and it is a fantastic pattern. Knit in the round so no seams (I hate sewing up) and very quick. I have had many ladies ask for a big girl version :)


While Jenny, Wallis and Sidonie were here in Canada (Winnipeg) for my wedding, I spent a lot of time knitting. I was knitting the little blue aviator hat for Leland in this picture. We had lots of shopping trips and my mum would drive to I would knit in the back seat. A bit squishy with all three of us in the back, but fun being with my little kiwi sisters again. It was amazing having them here. A huge honour that they would make the trip.


We got our skiddy, ugly sliding doors taken out and a big window put in at the front. It still needs to be finished up, but we are really happy, it looks so much better. AJ was watching the hockey game with Bones in this picture. Bones is so funny, he actually does watch tv sometimes.


And here is he being superdog. We love when he stretches out like this. He's a very funny little dog.


Lastly I have a multi-coloured toque I knit for myself. I had originally used this wool to knit myself a scarf about 5 years ago. I never wore the scarf, even though I love the wool so much. Then I frogged it and knit a baggy toque. Didn't like that either. This is my newest knit with this wool. We'll see how much use it gets this winter. I like it a lot better as this toque than the other things.



I have a table at a craft sale on November 27th, 28th and 29th at Wilson's Greenhouse here in Saskatoon. So far I have knit 26 adult toques and 3 child toques. I am a knitting machine. All improvised designs and every one is different. Will post pictures of my toques next time. Off to the dog park with Bones :)

Beth and Ryan's wedding

So my sister-in-law Beth and her man Ryan got married on September 12th. My parents and Chels came for the wedding and it was a lot of fun. I knit Beth her garter too! The funny thing is, I have no pictures of Beth and Ryan, or of the wedding. I happen to be a lazy photographer and if others have cameras I don't bother. This means, sadly, that the only pictures I can post are of me and people :)

So first up, my friend Matt and I. Who knows what we are doing or what part of the night this is (my guess is later since I can't remember).


Matt's wonderful wife Kristen took the above and below pictures. Below is Chels and me right after the ceremony. It was so great to have my whole family their for a big day with my new family. Chels and I had a blast.


I have some new knits I need to post but don't feel like it now. So check back soon - I'll get them up.

Good news is that my cousin has been drumming me up some business and I am almost finished my first paid-for project! Will post soon. Am also going to try to get a table at a craft sale at a nearby church on November 14th. Hope I can get one. I'm going to knit up a bunch of toques and maybe some mitts too. Stay tuned.