Nice, Low Intensity Knitting

I think I deserved a little low intensity project after the last one.  This knit up in two days.  It’s the Petawawa Toque from Tara Lynn-Morrison of Good Night Day.

The yarn is Knit Picks Swish Tonal in Thunderhead.  I wasn’t sure if the tonal would look too busy for all-over cables, but I think the cables kept it from striping.  I really like the effect.

Tara says this is a really pleasurable knit: lots of stockinette, with cables thrown in for interest, and she’s right.  I thought that I really should be finishing one of my Classic “Must Knit” KAL sweaters, but I couldn’t put this down.  When I did finish this one, which is for a friend, I found myself casting on another in Gynx yarn for myself.

I think I’m becoming one of those knitters with a million WIPs stowed all over the house.  No!  I can’t go there.  I don’t have enough space for that.  My second Petawawa has to be my last interruption to finishing those sweaters.  Famous last words.

I used size US 4 and 6 needles for this one.  My only mod was to cast on 6 fewer stitches than recommended.  I always do this with ribbing because my ribbing is usually loose.  I, then, increased after every 4 stitches on the increase row, to get back to the correct number of stitches for the cabling.  Other than that, I did everything by the book.

Want to see a neat trick?  Sad hat:

happy hat:

This is my second pattern to try from Good Night Day Vol 2.  I made two Belleville shawls last year.  I have yarn for the Kingston sweater, also, though I’m not sure if it’s the right pairing for that design.

I find that every time I turn to one of Tara’s patterns it is a bit restorative.  If I’m feeling stressed out, these fairly quick knits seem to soothe me, especially if they’re in bulky wool.  The print copy, with notes in the margins, seems to add to the relaxing vibe.

I have made three of the patterns from Vol 1 : an Elora (which is the best for cold evening walks), a couple of Markham Loop Collars, and a couple of Pembroke Tanks.  I will probably make the rest of the patterns in that one, eventually.  However, since I received VOl. 3 in the mail, I’ve been itching to cast on an Omemee cable toque in Voolenvine yarns.

If you’re interested in sampling some of the Good Night Day patterns, Tara has her Kawartha cropped sweater pattern as a free download on Ravelry, along with some others.

Links, links, and more links, right?  Ah, I’ve missed writing here.  I think my little blog hiatus is over.  I’ve been going through some health things that leave me super fatigued.  I think I’m finally on the upswing, though, so I should be posting more.  I have tons of posts started in drafts, but have lacked the time and energy to follow through.

Is this not the loveliest smile?  I don’t care how tall she gets, and she is tall, her face will always be that of her four year old self to me.

(more on my ravelry, kollabora, instagram, and flickr)