Knit With Me.

There’s something about the change of season, the fall winds whipping trees against windows, and the smell of apples in the air that makes me crave the feel of cool knitting needles and soft yarn between my fingers.

I know I’m not alone. So who’s with me? Who has dipped into their stash? Who’s been wandering tharn through Romni wool entranced by the colours and textures?

Fess up yarn junkies, I know you’re out there!

Knit Close BabyKnit OneKnittingYou Looking At Me?Branching Out In Hemp

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

40 thoughts on “Knit With Me.

  • September 15, 2006 at 6:11 pm
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    Anyone trying to kick the habit should stay away from Romni, that den of knitting iniquity. No junkie should knit alone; no one will know if you OD. Feel free to bring your needles and yarn by for a cup of tea, I just got a new book of patterns to drool over, all made of things like alpaca and merino, and other fibres to break the bank. I can just see myself, outside Romni at 2am, pleading for a ball of bliss (Debbie Bliss, that is).

    (PS: I tried to comment yesterday, but my wifi was tempermental. See, you get comments, and inspire posts!!)

    Reply
  • September 16, 2006 at 9:10 am
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    Would you believe I was outside Romni @ 2am yesterday?  Staring in the windows from the streetcar as we drove slowly by.  Oh, I SO wanted to jump off and go roll around in the colours. 

    And thanks for the offer, I just might talk you up on the (k,p2,sip tea)*12.

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  • September 20, 2006 at 2:52 pm
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    did you say tharn? what a great use of that word. I love it!

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  • September 20, 2006 at 3:06 pm
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    I’m with you. I need a scarf but I’m not sure how I want to knit it.

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  • September 20, 2006 at 3:12 pm
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    Me me me me!  Been knitting socks all summer, but I agree that knitting takes you to a whole new pleasure level when the weather turns cool.   I just dug out a cabled scarf I started for hubby back in May that got shelved when things got hot, and working on a pair of felted clogs.  =)
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  • September 20, 2006 at 3:46 pm
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    Hey you made it as a highlight! 
    Now, I’ve got to consider what I’m going to make for my godsister’s baby…

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  • September 20, 2006 at 4:05 pm
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    I’m with you; knitting is amazingly relaxing.  Not to mention instantly rewarding!

    High five for the highlight, too!

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  • September 20, 2006 at 4:40 pm
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    Wow – highlighted… that’s cool.  Thanks for dropping by and reading.
    nepenthegirl – thanks.  Count on me to random insert esoteric words in amongst the dreck.

    Terie – The scarf in the photos is a knitty.com lace pattern called Branching Out. I used a green hemp yarn Gerry bought me in Fergus (yay Gerry!) and finished it Monday. I have a couple more photos on flickr. Your turn!

    Mander – socks! Wow! In the summer no less. My friend Creampuff just finished a felted bag for her brother, but felted clogs – triple wow!

    Spy – for kidlings I usually do quilts – much faster and more colourful. (but shhhh don’t tell anyone).  Check out Margo Tinto’s Baby Blu Jeans post.  Great project and cute photos too.

    Molly – amazingly relaxing… but if you’re anything like me, you find yourself staying up late to knit… so less sleep but more relaxing.  I guess that’s proof of the addictive nature of knitting.

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  • September 20, 2006 at 4:46 pm
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    Yes!  There’s a pair of socks for a friend I’ve finally dug out with a mission to get finished.  I’m trying to make time to get to the Stich n Bitch knitting group as well, which looks fab.

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  • September 20, 2006 at 5:56 pm
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    I haven’t made it to a Stitch’n’Bitch yet, but I hear they are great.  Have any of you been to one?  Where?

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  • September 20, 2006 at 6:58 pm
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    As soon as it got cool I started knitting again.  Right now I am
    making a Turtleneck Shrug by Teva Durham from Scarf Style.  Two of
    my friends have already fallen in love with it so I probably won’t get
    to wear one until I make one for each of them.  I thought of even
    making one for my daughter.  She loves all the stuff I make for
    her.

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  • September 20, 2006 at 6:59 pm
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    Paul O  — –  Another of the blogs I read is this one, in which Maria describes her knitting and other adventures:
    mividaentoronto.blogspot.com

    roro  — — Me!
    Me! I’m knitting too! It’s a chilly, rainy day in Vancouver and I’m
    cuddled up on the couch trying to finish my last summer project so that
    I can get onto the fall projects. What are you making? It looks
    gorgeous!

    Margotinto posts Ain’t no hollerback yarn junkie — — Yesterday,
    Lex dared all those yarn junkies out there to reveal themselves. And I
    ain’t no yarn junkie. I’m not one of those knitters who…
    Read More…


    roro   — — Oooh,
    that’s lovely. I just finished that birthday scarf for Chris and a baby
    blanket for a friend; I’m just about to start a hat for another friend
    but today I remembered that she got a new winter coat last year and the
    hat I’m planning might not match. FOILED!!

    Lex   — — ahem, ahem… my winter coat is black, and my b’day is Jan 3rd. You know, just in case, you have extra yarn or something.


    Kelly — — I
    admit, I’m a yarn junkie too. At first all I needed was a little box,
    now I have one of those ridiculously massive rubbermaid containers, and
    I can’t even get the lid on that anymore. But I swear eventually I’ll
    use all the yarn…

    Reply
  • September 20, 2006 at 7:31 pm
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    There’s a pair of mittens I’ve been working on for a few weeks which I should finish.  The yarn came from Romni, a trip I took there two winters ago.  And there’s a Grey’s Anatomy KAL starting tomorrow – woo hoo!

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  • September 20, 2006 at 9:15 pm
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    Don’t wow me yet, I haven’t felted them yet, LOL.  They’ve actually ridiculously easy to make as long as you don’t lose our spot on the pattern.  Just checked out Creaff’s bag – it’s fantastic!!!  I love the color combo she used.
     
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  • September 20, 2006 at 11:35 pm
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    wow i just felt the urge to knit again!

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  • September 20, 2006 at 11:53 pm
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    I never stop knitting.  :D  It is the perfectly cool day to get cranking on my vest though so I can wear it soon.  I really, really wish I could drop by Romni but I’m about 500 miles away.  Damn that place is awesome.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 2:06 am
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    It’s funny that I found this post; just yesterday I decided that it was time to knit again and cranked out two head-hugger hats for my kits.

    I did Branching Out in very fine alpaca wool last year; using the patter as found on knitty.com the “scarf” was only three inches wide because the yan was only as thin as sewing thread.  :)  I’m using it as ribbon on packages this coming Christmas.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 2:07 am
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    ooh, I meant hats for my kids.  Typo.  I friended you, too.  🙂

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  • September 21, 2006 at 2:36 am
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    I have vowed, just this week, that THIS will be the autumn that I learn to knit. I have been crocheting for years but now I feel I’m ready to move up to join the big girls (and boys) in knitting land.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 3:12 am
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    Oh, god, I can’t help it either! I’m starting (and hopefully this time I’ll finish) Fetching from Knitty’s summer issue, in a lovely Zara merino extrafine. It’s so soft, and the color is so pretty! If I only had the money to buy larger amounts of yarn, I’d totally attempt a sweater or something big like that. Alas, it’s just hats and scarves and arm/hand warmers for now.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 11:24 am
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    I haven’t knitted a pair of socks or mittens, but I’ve knitted 2 afghans. I’ll have to get some pictures taken and share them with you.

    A friend of mine drives semi and keeps one with him all the time. He says it’s his “blankie.” I made the other one for my husband. His grandmother made one for all of his other siblings, but died before she was able to make one for him. They are in the Anderondac (I spelt that wrong) pattern.

    They were fun to make.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 11:52 am
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    I haven’t started to knit, but I keep trying to start. I bought a kit to make a scarf and I am going to Boston’s knit out this weekend.  I will become motivated to knit. It seems like such a nice way to spend the evenings as the weather gets cooler.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 5:22 pm
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    I have knitted all summer (there’s some sort of pregnancy virus going around), mostly baby blankets in 100% acrylic, but I’m ready to move on. I have some fingerless gloves that I’ve just started in cashsoft that I can’t wait to finish. And I just spent a bit too much time on http://handmaiden.ca/ – yep, it’s that time of year.

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  • September 21, 2006 at 8:24 pm
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    I’ve finally started a pair of socks for MYSELF!  But I’ve been on a knitted/felted bag kick, so I’ve been busy with some Sophies!

    BTW – I love the color of that hemp yarn!  What brand is that?

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  • September 22, 2006 at 12:25 am
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    I’ve completely neglected my knitting, but now you’ve inspired me to pick it back up. I have an unfinished scarf (what else?) from last winter, and you’re so right about the weather being perfect for knitting. Fall makes me want to do all sorts of things.

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  • September 22, 2006 at 1:11 am
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    I started a cabled hat in Lamb’s Pride as soon as the mornings dipped below 45 degrees here two days ago. I’ve been knitting socks and lace all summer despite the heat (and the blackout), but now I’m itching to pull out the half-finished sweaters I put away last spring. I’ve been in a finishing mood; just posted pictures of two different socks and two scarves on my blog. As soon as the hat is done, I think I’m going to get Celtic Dreams out of the storage container and finish the sleeves. Or maybe start Bristow with the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes that’s been patiently waiting since July.

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  • September 22, 2006 at 6:13 am
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    In the past month, I finished two scarves I started at the beginning of the summer (one for a friend and one for me) and just started on a new scarf made from incredibly soft Baby Bee Lambkins from Hobby Lobby.  I suppose transatlantic flights are good for something.

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  • September 22, 2006 at 6:17 am
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    I haven’t knitted more than a scarf – and even that came out patchy! But that was a couple of years ago, and I’m finishing up with school in two weeks, so I’m giving this a shot!! Worth it, right? I want to make it look good, anyway.

    Thanks for reminding me! =P

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  • September 22, 2006 at 9:59 am
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    Kate – where is the stitch n’ bitch group
    you’re looking at?

    Nedra – that turtleneck shrug is
    fascinating. Is it comfortable?

    Girl Tuesday – I try and keep myself down
    to one visit to Romni Wool per
    year.  But I can’t stop myself from
    going in when I’m in the neighbourhood. I get seduced by the colours and
    textures into buying way more than I need. 
    Perhaps we need some sort of mystery yarn exchange, where we all pull
    one ball from our stash and send it to someone else.  It wouldn’t reduce our stash, but might inspire us to use new
    colours and try new things.

    Mander – it’s the felting that intimidates
    me!  Honestly, I haven’t even graduated
    to socks yet. 

    Bekah – happy to feed the urge!

    Starfallz – never?  Wow! 
    That’s passion.  Re: your vest –
    I’ve never made anything that I’ve kept for myself.  Even the sweaters and scarves I end up giving away.  Re: Romni
    – yup – it’s totally awesome. They do have a website, but it’s just the same
    experience at all.  Also see the note to
    Girl Tuesday.

    Ginny Sanchez – What’s a head-hugger
    hat?  I love, LOVE, your idea of using
    the mini scarf as an Xmas ribbon. Brilliant.

    Aarika – you’ll love it!  As you can tell by all the responses to this
    post – it’s fun, social, and gets you cool, warm stuff to wear.

    Paulina – it’s not a cheap hobby.  One year, when I was going to be stuck on an
    island for a month (more
    on that elsewhere
    ) I hit Value Village (or Chez VV as we call it at home)
    and bought some sweaters just for the yarn. 
    I took them apart and used the yarn to knit Xmas presents.  It was a cheap way to get some wonderful
    yarns and wools to work with.

    Schady_Circle – Afghans are big projects –
    wow.  It’s wonderful to have people who
    appreciated them!

    Superfizz – You’d better come back and give
    us a link to your posts about Boston’s knit
    out
    .  It sounds fascinating!

    vj –thanks for the link to handmaiden.ca.  They’ve got some very interesting yarns.  Are you posting photos of your projects on
    your blog?

    Miss Beehive – What’s are Sophies?  The yarn is from Hemp For Knitting and it’s Peridot
    10.

    Shitty Kitty – Fall really is inspiring isn’t
    it.  I think it comes from the fresh
    crisp air, and the years of training that September means an opportunity to
    start fresh at school. (19 years of that in my case)

    Spinning Phoenix – you are a busy
    woman!  I love the “finishing mood” you
    mentioned. It’s so rewarding.

    Zena – Do they let you take knitting
    needles on Transatlantic flights again? 
    In the past, I’ve had them force me to check my cross stitch, my
    scissors and even my knitting needles. 
    Pissed me right off, but what could I do?

    Falulatonks – pht!  Patchy!  That’s just your
    creative side forcing it’s way to the surface. 
    Or in my case, my laziness to rip it out and do it again…  Call it art and move on.  Or try blocking, it really does work
    wonders!  I’m almost embarrassed to say
    I’ve never done it before the scarf shown above.  And I’m blown away by how it effectively hides mis-stitches and
    tension fuddles. 

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  • September 22, 2006 at 11:02 am
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    I’m a Florida girl who *just* took up knitting while pregnant w/ my son
    (he was born last December).  Since his birth, I haven’t picked up
    my needles, however, seeing those gorgeous photos has me poking around
    my stash of cotton yarn (too hot for wool) and thinking of things to
    get started on… I should probably finish the 3+ projects that are
    currently dangling off of needles, but eh, who wants to do that?

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  • September 22, 2006 at 12:31 pm
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    how’d knitting branching out treat you?  and what yarn weight did you use?

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  • September 22, 2006 at 12:33 pm
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    Romni is AMAZING!!!!!! When we visited Toronto, we made absolutely sure to go there. Branching Out is a great pattern. I’ve been wanting to make another one, but haven’t found quite the right yarn for it.

    found through the vox homepage.

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  • September 22, 2006 at 5:10 pm
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    Oooh yes! I’m working on a skinny white scarf…hehe

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  • September 22, 2006 at 7:40 pm
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    Oh I’ve been called out and now forced to break out my stash. 😉 This is good. I shall spend this weekend generally sitting on my butt knitting and blogging about it. Lex, 90% of the patterns on knitty.com are just far too advanced for my knitting skillz. LOL.

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  • September 22, 2006 at 10:33 pm
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    A headhugger hat is a smallish skullcap; there’s a good reference over at http://headhuggers.org/ That site shows how to make may different varieties of them.  They’re smallish because they’re usually for people undergoing chemotherapy, therefore don’t have hair, so they need to be a little snugger to “hug” the head.  I make them just a little bit bigger than the pattern for myself and my kids, so they’re more like skullcaps.  But the pattern is very easy and very quick.

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  • September 23, 2006 at 8:40 am
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    It’s the one in London – I haven’t been yet, but I’m hoping to go on Tuesday before I start university – damn my busy schedule!
    They’ve got a myspace here: Stitch and bitch and might be able to point you in the direction of a local group.

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  • September 23, 2006 at 7:29 pm
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    Lex,
    My First attempt at Faire Isle, Faire Isle Skull.  This pattern will be used for a scarf though it may be used with a different yarn. Not too bad for a newbie. I’ve got my knitting bug back. 🙂

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  • September 24, 2006 at 11:40 am
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    Your photos are amazing. I’ve not done nearly as much actual knitting as I’ve wanted to lately. I’m thinking this is something I need to change, pronto.

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  • September 24, 2006 at 12:47 pm
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    am just getting ready to order some yarn.  Have a major itch to knit!

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  • December 13, 2006 at 1:05 pm
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    Re: stuff for self vs. for others.  I knit a lot for myself because sometimes things are experiments and I’d rather mess up something for me and learn than something for someone else.  I usually find some sort of balance between stuff for me and stuff for others.  

    Re: Romni Yes, I’ve found the website… but it just isn’t the same as being overwhelmed by the walls and aisles and balls of yarn throwing themselves at me.  :D  I’d like to go back some day.  Especially visit the wall of Fleece Artist. 

    Re: Mystery Yarn Exchange.  This sounds like fun!

    Reply

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