Today is overcast in Montreal, but still warm with a high of 25, so it wasn't so stifling that I couldn't wear a wool blend, and I finally photographed this.

So here she is, my lovely Gemini.  I'm so happy with her :)

As mentioned in past posts I knit this with a double strand of Sweetgeorgia Merino Silk Lace.  I started with 200 grams and had 40 grams left over after making a size small.

Along the way I could see that this was knitting up to be something special, but I didn't know how great it could be until it was blocked.  It totally transformed.  I know many of you are well aware of the magic of blocking, but for those of you who don't see it being the worth the extra work...IT IS!

Also I thought I should note that the pattern recommends you make a size smaller than you usually are for negative ease.  I'm usually a 36" bust and made the size for a 31" bust and it fits perfect. 

The only thing that made me doubt my yarn choice was the fact that while knitting I had to keep my eyes on my stitches at all times in case I failed to knit in both strands.  The stitches that lacked one strand really stood out and looked like holes in the fabric.  I had to go in and add yarn to some that where too far away to frog and re-knit.  But since that worked well, I would use these materials again and have less stress about these potential holes.

Danny and I are moving in a few days to a prettier and cheaper place here in Montreal.  It sadly has even less storage than our current place, but has 2 patios!  I'll put my natural dye plants on the deck off the living room, and the spice plants on the one off the kitchen :)  We are putting our bed on stilts for storage containers to fit into, and I've managed to find some nice trunks and suitcases that we can fill up and won't look awful around the house (unlike our current cardboard tool box in the kitchen).  I also scored a fluorescent chartreuse high-back lounging chair from the fripe prix that will fit nicely in the new place.  Ooooo, can't wait to get settled.  The weeks leading up to moving are so unsettling.  I just want to be there already!

I'll post some fun stuff about my dye plant adventures once we are all moved in and settled.

X Janna

PS.  Here's the Ravelry page for my Gemini

I must say, Van is chock-full of talented people!  Many of which work in fibre I might add.  Vancouver is a lot more DIY than Montreal (where I'm currently studying) and those DIYers tend to have a larger web presence than most artists I know here, so it works out well for me as I watch what's happening at home from a distance.  It's important to me to be in touch with what's going on in Vancouver; I started this blog to celebrate such things after all.  The fact that I am far away doesn't change that :)

So, there are a bunch of exciting things going on that I want to share with you.  First off, congrats to Alison Ross whose gorgeous Cathedral Grove socks where published in the current First Fall issue at Knitty.  I love that she used Sweetgeorgia yarn too.  Go Van!


And speaking of lovely patterns Jane Richmond is having a 3 for 2 sale.  So far I've got my eye on the Audrey and the Classic Reglan Pullover.  I'm stoked on trying out Portuguese Knitting for the Audrey, what with all that purling (I'll do a purling garter stitch).  BTW I have finished my Gemini but haven't blocked or photographed it yet.  It's amazing though.  I can't wait to share it.

Over on the Sunshine Coast Kim at Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge is celebrating her recent purchase of Aurelia Wool & Weaving.  She is now the sole distributor of the lovely New Zealand fibre!  Unwind is quite a fibre destination with this exciting addition.  Congrats Kim!

Event-wise there is currently a textiles exhibition at the Silk Weaving Studio that I think you should check out.  It's titled TEXTiles and features pieces by many talented local fibre artists, including Ana Sousa and Farideh Birani who both graduated with me at Cap in 2010.  The fact that they are exhibiting alongside our talented instructor Ruth Scheuing is really exciting.

Coming up this Saturday is Baaad Anna's Knit in Public event at Hastings Race Track.  They are meeting on the West side of the grandstands at 2pm.  And if I do recall Baaad Anna's is having a mini sale coming up too.  Check her blog for an update on that soon I'm sure.

I'm SO looking forward to being in Van in August.  I'll be teaching some natural dyeing, indigo dyeing and knitting workshops while I'm there.  More about that soon I promise.  If you're curious I've announced a couple of the workshops already on my workshops blog over at my website.

xJanna